The overall goal of this doctoral dissertation is to develop a prototype instrument, a Portable Aerosol Collector and Spectrometer (PACS), that can continuously measure aerosol size distributions by number, surface area and mass concentrations over a wide size range (from 10 nm to 10 µm) while also collecting particles with impactor and diffusion stages for post-sampling chemical analyses. To achieve the goal, in the first study, we designed, built and tested the PACS hardware. The PACS consists of a six-stage particle size selector, a valve system, a water condensation particle counter to measure number concentrations and a photometer to measure mass concentrations. The valve system diverts airflow to pass sequentially through upstream stages of the selector to the detectors. The stages of the selector include three impactor and two diffusion stages, which resolve particles by size and collect particles for chemical analysis. Particle penetration by size was measured through each stage to determine actual performance and account for particle losses. The measured d50 of each stage (aerodynamic diameter for impactor stages and geometric diameter for diffusion stages) was similar to the design. The pressure drop of each stage was sufficiently low to permit its operation with portable air pumps. In the second study, we developed a multi-modal log-normal (MMLN) fitting algorithm to leverage the multi-metric, low-resolution data from one sequence of PACS measurements to estimate aerosol size distributions of number, surface area, and mass concentration in near-real-time. The algorithm uses a grid-search process and a constrained linear least-square (CLLS) solver to find a tri-mode (ultrafine, fine, and coarse), log-normal distribution that best fits the input data. We refined the algorithm to obtain accurate and precise size distributions for four aerosols typical of diverse environments: clean background, urban and freeway, coal power plant, and marine surface. Sensitivity studies were conducted to explore the influence of unknown particle density and shape factor on algorithm output. An adaptive process that refined the ranges and step sizes of the grid-search reduced the computation time to fit a single size distribution in near-real-time. Assuming standard density spheres, the aerosol size distributions fit well with the normalized mean bias (NMB) of -4.9% to 3.5%, normalized mean error (NME) of 3.3% to 27.6%, and R2 values of 0.90 to 1.00. The fitted number and mass concentration biases were within ± 10% regardless of uncertainties in density and shape. With this algorithm, the PACS is able to estimate aerosol size distributions by number, surface area, and mass concentrations from 10 nm to 10 µm in near-real-time. In the third study, we developed a new algorithm–the mass distribution by composition and size (MDCS) algorithm–to estimate the mass size distribution of various particle compositions. Then we compared the PACS for measuring multi-mode aerosols to three reference instruments, including a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) and a nano micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (nanoMOUDI). We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to measure the mass of collected particles on PACS and nanoMOUDI stages by element. For the three-mode aerosol, the aerosol size distributions in three metrics measured with the PACS agreed well with those measured with the SMPS/APS: number concentration, bias = 9.4% and R2 = 0.96; surface area, bias = 17.8%, R2 = 0.77; mass, bias = -2.2%, R2 = 0.94. Agreement was considerably poorer for the two-mode aerosol, especially for surface area and mass concentrations. Comparing to the nanoMOUDI, for the three-mode aerosol, the PACS estimated the mass median diameters (MMDs) of the coarse mode well, but overestimated the MMDs for ultrafine and fine modes. The PACS overestimated the mass concentrations of ultrafine and fine mode, but underestimated the coarse mode. This work provides insight into a novel way to simultaneously assess airborne aerosol size, composition, and concentration by number, surface area and mass using cost-effective handheld technologies.

The early selection and use of an appropriate amplification system may be the most important aspect in the aural! rehabilitation of children who are hearing impaired. The main goal guiding the selection of hearing aids for children is to maximize their residual hearing through amplification in order to facilitate speech and language development. Seewald, Ross, and Stelmachciwicz (1987) have developed a speech-spectrum based procedure for selecting hearing aid characteristics for children referred to as the Desired Sensation Level Procedure (DSL) approach. This is an objective method which has been developed specifically for use with young pre-verbal children. I The purpose of the present study was to determine how closely the previously fitted amplification systems of profoundly hearing-impaired children approximated the amplification targets that would be prescribed for their hearing losses by the DSL method. The data were used to examine the feasibility and appropriateness of the DSL method for prescribing amplification for children with profound hearing impairments. Twenty amplification systems worn by profoundly hearing-impaired children were electroacoustically evaluated to discover how closely they approximated the DSL fitting criteria. Hearing thresholds were obtained for each subject for the frequencies 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz using puretone audiometry. The DSL computer program was used to generate prescribed 2 cc. coupler targets at each frequency. The subjects' amplification systems were electroacoustically analyzed to determine the measured 2 cc. coupler response. Means and standard deviations were reported for prescribed and measured gain values at each frequency. Two-tailed t-tests were computed to determine if a difference exists between prescribed and measured gain. The tests were considered significant at the .05 level. A significant difference between the means was found at 2000 and 4000 Hz. Correlation coefficients were calculated at each frequency to determine if a predictable relationship between prescribed and measured gain existed. Correlation coefficients showed weak relationships between the two groups of data. These results showed the difficulty of meeting prescribed amplification targets, particularly in the high frequencies for children with profound hearing impairments.

The TEL-PHONE Telecoil Simulator Program was invented as a solution to the problem of customizing programmable telecoils (T-coils) in a standardized and convenient manner. The objective of this project was to evaluate the suitability of the device for clinical use. A preliminary review of the TEL-PHONE protocol revealed that the protocol was in need of refinement. Following a preliminary examination of the TEL-PHONE device, a detailed evaluation of acoustic and electromagnetic output was conducted. The output was analyzed using information gleaned from Electronic Industries Association Recommended Standard RS-504 (EIA RS-504) Magnetic Field Intensity Criteria for Telephone Compatibility with Hearing Aids and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S3.22-1996 Specification of Hearing Aid Characteristics. This analysis indicated that the controls on the device were not reliable and the output did not approximate that of a standard telephone.

The interactions between plants and their insect herbivores are one of the main generators of biological diversity. A fundamental process generating this outstanding diversity is diet expansion to novel host plants. During the last four decades scientists accumulated evidence showing that co-adaptation between plants and herbivores is a major process assembling plant-herbivore interactions. However, rescent research suggests that adaptation is not always a prerequisite to generate novel plant-herbivore interactions. Novel associations between plants and insect herbivores may be assembled by ecological fitting - an ecological process whereby herbivores colonize novel host plants as a result of the suites of preadapted traits that they carry at the time of colonization. A widespread assumption concerning the architecture of insect herbivore genotypes is the "Jack of all trades master of none" principle. This principle proposes that there is a trade-off in genotype performances between host plants. The main prediction of this principle is that genotype performance will be negatively correlated among hosts. Genotypes displaying high performance on a given host will perform poorly on other hosts. This constraint of adaptation to multiple host plants implies that diet specialization will be selected over generalization. Contrary to these theoretical expectations, in most cases, genotypes that perform well in one host will also perform well in other host plants. Positive correlations in cross-host performance represent ecological and evolutionary dynamics opposite to the "Jack of all trades" principle. In this scenario genotypes with high performance on one host plant also have high performance on other plants, promoting generalization. The predictions of the current theory on the assemblage of novel plant-herbivore interactions focus on the fact that most insect herbivores are specialists. However, to fully understand the processes underlying the assembly of novel plant-insect interactions, it is necessary to study diet expansions in both specialist and generalist insect herbivores. This dissertation was performed at La Selva Biological Station, a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica, Central America. We studied a group of neotropical herbivores, the "rolled-leaf beetles" (Cephaloleia, Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) and their host plants, neotropical plants in the order Zingiberales. Cephaloleia beetles have evolved with neotropical Zingiberales for the last 40-60 MY. Four paleotropical and one South American members of the Zingiberales have been introduced to La Selva during the last decade. After these introductions, currently seven Cephaloleia beetles are expanding their diets to exotic Zingiberales. These incipient diet expansions represent an opportunity to understand: 1) the relative roles of adaptation vs ecological fitting on the demography and colonization success of novel hosts in generalist and specialist herbivores and 2) whether genotypic performance across original and novel hosts are negatively correlated, as predicted by the "Jack of all trades" principle, or genotype performances across original and novel hosts are positively correlated. For most of the experiments included in this dissertation, I focused on the performance of larvae and adults of two generalist (Cephaloleia belti, C. dilaticollis) and two specialist beetles (Cephaloleia dorsalis, C. placida) reared in the laboratory on native or exotic Zingiberales. Generalist and specialist species display similar responses when changing their diets to novel hosts. Larvae preferred and performed better in the original than in the novel hosts. Adults usually displayed the opposite pattern, i.e. higher preference for and longevity on the exotic than on the novel hosts. In most novel interactions between Cephaloleia beetles and exotic Zingiberales, larval performance required adaptation, but adult performance was pre-adapted to the novel hosts. Therefore, both adaptation and ecological fitting are playing a role during diet expansions to novel hosts. Vital rates estimated through experimental demography show that population growth is reduced on novel host plants for both generalist and specialist Cephaloleia. Although in some cases population growth on the novel hosts is negative, suggesting the potential outcome of extinction after colonization or source-sink dynamics, several beetle species displayed positive population growth in the novel host plants. Positive instantaneous population growth rates in novel hosts supports diet expansions without substantial initial evolutionary change through ecological fitting. In quantitative genetics experiments testing for cross-host genetic correlations in performance between the original and novel host plants, we did not find evidence for negative genetic correlations, as predicted by the "Jack of all trades" principle. Most genetic correlations in performance between original and novel hosts were either not significant or they were positive. These results represent very different ecological and evolutionary dynamics than those predicted by the "Jack of all trades" principle. In this case, genotypes with high performance on original hosts also displayed high performance on novel hosts, promoting generalization. In conclusion, interactions between Cephaloleia beetles and plants from the order Zingiberales are labile. In some cases diet expansions may occur without substantial evolutionary change. In addition the genetic architecture of genotypes promotes generalization during diet expansions to novel hosts.

In this thesis we focus mainly on special finite differences and finite volume methods and apply them to the pricing of barrier options.The structure of this work is the following: in Chapter 1 we introduce the definitions of options and illustrate some properties of vanilla European options and exotic options.Chapter 2 describes a classical model used in the financial world, the  Black-Scholes model. We derive theBlack-Scholes formula and show how stochastic differential equations model financial instruments prices.The aim of this chapter is also to present the initial boundary value problem and the maximum principle.We discuss boundary conditions such as: the first boundary value problem, also called  Dirichlet problem that occur in pricing ofbarrier options and European options. Some kinds of put options lead to the study of a second boundary value problem (Neumann, Robin problem),while the Cauchy problem is associated with one-factor European and American options.Chapter 3 is about finite differences methods such as theta, explicit, implicit and Crank-Nicolson method, which are used forsolving partial differential equations.The exponentially fitted scheme is presented in Chapter 4. It is one of the new classesof a robust difference scheme that is stable, has good convergence and does not produce spurious oscillations.The stability is also advantage of the box method that is presented in Chapter 5.In the beginning of the Chapter 6 we illustrate barrier options and then we consider a novel finite volume discretization for apricing the above options.Chapter 7 describes discretization of the Black-Scholes equation by the fitted finite volume scheme. In  Chapter 8 we present and describe numerical results obtained by using  the finite difference methods illustrated in the previous chapters.

In recent years, uranium pollution in the environment has been recognized as a serious threat, and novel in situ microbial bioremediation strategies have been incorporated into field-scale contaminated sites. The Oak Ridge Integrated Field-scale Subsurface Research Challenge (IFC) site is one of the largest uranium contaminated areas in the United States, and a literature review has revealed the potential of uranium reduction by dominant Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans species that respire during bioremediation. A genome-scale model of A. dehalogenans, a unique microbe with diverse metabolic capabilities that thrives in the natural environment, has been developed, and applied to an in silico field-scale computational setting for evaluation of the biotic uranium reduction in the Oak Ridge IFC site. The metabolic model of A. dehalogenans was integrated into an expanded microbial community framework for the prediction of chemical profiles, and subsequent scenario evaluation of in situ measured data.

The aim of this thesis is to develop discrete fractional models of tumor growth for a given data and to estimate parameters of these models in order to have better data tting. We use discrete nabla fractional calculus because we believe the discrete counterpart of this mathematical theory will give us a better and more accurate outcome. This thesis consists of ve chapters. In the rst chapter, we give the history of the fractional calculus, and we present some basic de nitions and properties that are used in this theory. We de ne nabla fractional exponential and then nabla fractional trigonometric functions. In the second chapter, we concentrate on completely monotonic functions on R, and we introduce completely monotonic functions on discrete domain. The third chapter presents discrete Laplace N-transform table which is a great tool to nd solutions of -th order nabla fractional di erence equations. Furthermore, we nd the solution of nonhomogeneous up to rst order nabla fractional di erence equation using N-transform. In the fourth chapter, rst we give the de nition of Casoration for the set of solutions up to n-th order nabla fractional equation. Then, we state and prove some basic theorems about linear independence of the set of solutions. We focus on the solutions of up to second order nabla fractional di erence equation. We examine these solutions case by case namely, for the real and distinct characteristic roots, real and same, and complex ones. The fth chapter emphasizes the aim of this thesis. First, we give a vi brief introduction to parameter estimation with Gomperts and Logistic curves. In addition, we recall a statistical method called cross-validation for prediction. We state continuous, discrete, continuous fractional and discrete fractional forms of Gompertz and Logistic curves. We use the tumor growth data for twenty-eight mice for the comparison. These control mice were inoculated with tumors but did not receive any succeeding treatment. We claim that the discrete fractional type of sigmoidal curves have the best data tting results when they are compared to the other types of models.

This thesis explores and implements techniques for frequency domain modelling and time domain simulation of overhead transmission lines. The popular Vector Fitting algorithm is employed to approximate the frequency domain model using rational functions, and the recursive convolution technique is applied to the rational approximation to generate a time domain form. The frequency domain model is translated into the time domain using delay extraction, modal decomposition, passivity enforcement, and rational approximation. Several approaches to each of these procedures are investigated. The thesis also discusses several choices for the integration method used within the recursive convolution procedure. In order to make the transmission line modeller and simulator easy to use, a Java-based library and partial graphical interface were developed. Specifically, the goal was to develop a platform-independent program that can run either stand-alone or as an applet inside a web page. / October 2005

Metal deposition is an additive layered manufacturing process that deposits molten metal droplets on a substrate and by repeating this process layer by layer, a complex shaped 3D geometry can be manufactured. In this thesis, the metal deposition process is performed by a robot with a wire feeder tool and a laser as energy source to melt the metal wire. The robot programming for robotized metal deposition process can be completely automated by computer aided robotics software. University West is currently developing an add-in application in a computer aided robotics software, Process Simulate, that is capable of programming the robotized metal deposition process. The first goal of this thesis was to verify the up to now developed software and the process from CAD drawing down to robot code. Another goal was to find and implement an algorithm that will reduce the number of locations on a circular arc to three locations. The algorithm to minimize the locations must be capable of changing all the different curvature paths to linear and circular arc motions which are easy to translate to robot code. The user should be able to decide the fitting precision of the approximated motion path to the original path. A real robot cell setup is modelled in Process Simulate. This lets Process Simulate generate the correct robot code for that specific cell.  Since each robot cell has its own unique setup, a custom script will be developed that changes the universal robot code, that Process Simulate generates, to the custom robot code required in this specific robot cell. The software is improved and tested from CAD drawing down to robot code but still needs to be debugged more and needs implementation of some non-existing features.

Varför ser både din kropp och tröjan som du hittade i butiken annorlunda ut iprovrummet? Belysning i provrum är ett återkommande problem.Belysningsbranschens blomstrande framfart borde ha löst denna angelägenhet förflera år sedan. I denna studie utreds problematiken ur tre olika intressenterssynvinklar för att kunna redogöra för rekommendationer som behandlarbelysningen i provrum. Följande frågeställningar formulerades:1. Vilka kriterier definierar god belysning i provrum?2. Vilken funktion har belysningen i provrum sett ur butikspersonalens ochkundernas perspektiv?3. Anser kunden att upplevelsen av sig själv i provrummet påverkar köpbeslutet?Inledningsvis genomfördes en förstudie med observation av befintliga provrumoch intervjuer med belysningsplanerare. Efter det intervjuades butikschefer frånfem olika butiker i Jönköping. Studiens två metoder, enkätundersökning ochljusmätning, användes på butikerna. 70 enkätsvar ställdes i relation tillprovrummens fysiska förutsättningar som dokumenterats genom ljusmätningar iprovrummen.Resultatet visar att korrekt visuell färgupplevelse följt av rättvis bild av kroppenoch ansiktet är belysningens viktigaste funktioner i provrum. Överraskandeförekommer det provrum där belysningen medvetet gjorts bristfällig för attmanipulera kunden till att gå ur provrummet. Detta ger butikspersonalen ökadechanser att skapa en relation med kunden för att påverka köpbeslutet, ettförhållningssätt vi inte skulle vilja rekommendera.God provrumsbelysning karakteriseras av belysningstekniska val som välharmonierar med provrummets övriga utformning för att ge en rättvis bild avbåde färger, detaljer och kroppens form. Belysningen ska dessutom samspela medbutikens övriga belysning.I enkätundersökningen frågade vi kunderna i hur hög grad fyra olika faktorerpåverkat deras beslut att köpa eller inte köpa klädesplagget som provats. Denfaktor som mest påverkar kundens beslut till köp är kundservicen (vid köp) ochpriset (vid uteblivet köp), efter dessa kommer upplevelsen av sig själv iprovrummet (vid båda). Detta resultat stämmer väl överens med hur bådebelysningsplanerare och butikspersonal resonerar kring frågan vad som avgör omkunden köper eller inte.Vår slutsats är att belysningen i provrum ska ge en rättvis bild av kropp, färg ochkläder. Rekommendationer för provrum skulle underlätta planering, men någonoptimal lösning går inte att redogöra för då alla människor är olika ljuskänsliga ochhar skilda behov i provrummet. Upplevelsen av provrummet går att koppla tillköpbeslutet. / Why do both your body and the shirt look different in the fitting room comparedto how they did in the store area? The continuing problem with lighting in fittingrooms is a fact. The lighting industry should have resolved this matter severalyears ago through the development process. This study investigates the problemfrom the viewpoint of three different stakeholders in order to presentrecommendations for lighting in fitting room. The following concerns are raised:1. What criteria’s defines good lighting in the fitting room?2. Seen from the store staff and customers perspective, what function does lightingin the fitting room have?3. Does the customers’ perception of themselves in the fitting room affect theirdecision to buy?Initially there was a pilot study with an observation of existing fitting rooms, andinterviews with lighting designers. After these, additional interviews with storemanager from five different stores in Jönköping were undertaken. Our two studymethods, survey and measuring of light, were used in these stores. The 70 surveyresponses were compared directly with the fitting rooms physical attributes thatwere documented by light measurements in the fitting rooms.The most important features with regard to lighting in fitting rooms are anaccurate visual color experience and a fair image of the body and face.Surprisingly, there are fitting rooms where lighting is deliberately weakened inorder to manipulate the customer to exit the fitting room. This will allow the storestaff to increase the chances of creating a relationship with the customer toinfluence purchasing decisions; an approach we would not like to recommend.Good lighting in fitting rooms is characterized by technical lighting choices thatharmonize with other features in the fitting room to create an unbiased image ofcolors, details and body shape. The lighting must also interact with all otherlighting in the store.In the survey we asked customers to what extent the four different factors listedabove influenced their decision of buying the tested garment. The factor that mostaffects the customer decision of purchase is the customer service (purchase doesoccur) and the price (purchase does not occur), thereafter the experience ofthemselves in the fitting rooms (for both). This result is congruent with well withlighting designers and store staff’s reasoning about what affects the customerspurchasing decision.Our conclusion is that the lighting in fitting rooms should give a fair picture ofbody, color and clothing. Recommendations for lighting in the fitting room wouldease the planning, but an optimal solution cannot account for the reality that allpeople have different sensitivity to light and diverse needs in the fitting rooms.The experience of the fitting room and specifically the lighting within can belinked to the decision of purchases.