Zugl.: Ludwigsburg, Pädag. Hochsch., Diss., 2009.

Zugl.: Düsseldorf, University, Diss., 2007.

Antennas in hand-held radios must be compact and unobtrusive. Electrically small and low-profile antennas experience high input reactance, low input resistance, and low radiation efficiency.Further degradation of radiation efficiency occurs in hand-held radios due to size-reduced ground planes, losses within the plastic device casing, and losses due to coupling with the tissue of the user. These factors may also affect the radiation pattern of the antenna. This discussion reports on antenna designs that are well suited for hand-held radios. The design issues are covered for electrically small antennas and the hand-held environment. A review of Microstrip Antenna (MSA) theory, and the theory of the Inverted-L Antenna (ILA), and variations on the ILA including the Inverted-F Antenna (IFA), Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA), and Dual Inverted-F Antenna (DIFA) is included. Two specific antenna designs are presented: the DIFA and the Proximity-Coupled Rectangular Patch MSA. The radiation patterns and input impedance of the DIFA are calculated numerically and measured empirically. The Proximity-Coupled Rectangular Patch Microstrip Antenna is treated numerically. / Master of Science

Background: There is lack of measurement methods to evaluate postoperative rehabilitation for people who have undergone orthopedic surgery of the foot at Uppsala University Hospital. One objective method is to measure muscle strength with MicroFET2, which is available at the hospital. Before implementing the method it is necessary to ensure the the reliability of supination and pronation measured with MicroFET2 because there are no studies that have explored this. Pronators and supinators are important muscles for the stability of the foot and to the arch of the foot. Objective: To examine intra-rater reliability of peak strength of pronation and supination of left and right foot using handheld dynamometer (MicroFET2) in adults without leg- or footpain. Methods: The intra-rater reliability was evaluated in 24 adults by test-retest with 7 days between measures. The test were supination and pronation of the left and right foot. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) and standard error of measurement (SEM and SEM%) were calculated. Results: The results from this study showed high intra-rater reliability for both supination and pronation with ICC between 0.73-0.88 for mean of three trials and 0.74-0.89 for highest value of three trials. SEM och SEM% varied between 14.5-24.4 N and 7.7-11.9% at mean of three trials and 14.1-25.6 N and 7.2-11.9% at highest value of three trials. Conclusion: MicroFET2 is a reliable instrument to measure strength in the foot supinator and pronator-muscles in healthy adults. / Bakgrund: Vid Akademiska sjukhuset i Uppsala saknas det ett objektivt sätt att mäta maximal muskelstyrka vid rehabilitering efter fotoperation. En objektiv mätmetod för maximal muskelstyrka är dynamometern MicroFET2 som finns på sjukhuset. För att implementera denna metod behövs säkerställande av reliabiliteten för pro- och supination mätt med MicroFET2 eftersom det saknas studier som undersöker detta. Pronatorer och supinatorer är viktiga muskelgrupper för fotens stabilitet och fotvalv. Syfte: Undersöka intrabedömarreliabilitet vid maximal isometrisk muskelstyrka av höger och vänster fots supinatorer och pronatorer med handhållen dynamometer (MicroFET2) hos vuxna individer utan ben- eller fotsmärta. Metod: Intrabedömarreliabiliteten undersöktes genom test-retestförfarande med 7 dagars intervall på 24 personer. Muskelgrupper som mättes var fotens supinatorer och pronatorer på både höger och vänster fot. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) samt standard error of measurement (SEM och SEM%) beräknades. Resultat: Resultatet från studien visar på hög relativ intrabedömarreliabilitet i både supination och pronation med ICC mellan 0.73-0.88 vid medelvärde av tre försök och mellan 0.74-0.89 vid högsta värde av tre försök. SEM och SEM% varierade mellan 14.5-24.4 N och 7.7-11.9% vid medelvärde av tre försök respektive mellan 14.1-25.6 N och 7.2-11.9% vid högsta värde av tre försök. Slutsats: MicroFET2 är ett reliabelt instrument för att mäta styrka i fotens pronatorer och supinatorer på friska vuxna personer.

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Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-06-22T16:33:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tarço da Costa dos Santos_.pdf: 1338016 bytes, checksum: 05409e4637fc6c7e27b027fe5b6259ba (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-22T16:33:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tarço da Costa dos Santos_.pdf: 1338016 bytes, checksum: 05409e4637fc6c7e27b027fe5b6259ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / Nenhuma / Esta pesquisa buscou analisar o desempenho econômico-financeiro das companhias abertas listadas na BM&FBOVESPA pelo método Estrutural-Diferencial. A análise deu-se em dois períodos, a saber: de 2003 a 2007 e de 2010 a 2015. Com isso foi possível não só analisar o desempenho econômico-financeiro do conjunto das companhias em cada período, como também comparar os resultados de ambos os períodos. Esta análise foi desenvolvida por meio da variação dos elementos patrimoniais das companhias e essa variação foi relacionada com os indicadores de liquidez, endividamento e rentabilidade, fazendo-se uso do método Estrutural-Diferencial que apresenta uma série de vantagens na descrição das variações ocorridas nos elementos patrimoniais das companhias. Para tanto, fez-se algumas adaptações no método, pois ele foi construído e aperfeiçoado para avaliar questões relacionadas ao crescimento regional, emprego, entre outros. Crê-se que essa seja uma contribuição importante desse estudo, uma vez que os resultados encontrados ofereceram informações significativas para a estratificação das companhias, no que se refere à determinação de alguns componentes relevantes para a mensuração do desempenho econômico-financeiro. Os resultados mostraram que no primeiro período o conjunto das companhias apresentou um melhor desempenho. Naquele período verificou-se um crescimento dos indicadores de liquidez e rentabilidade, e redução dos indicadores de endividamento das companhias. No segundo período os indicadores de desempenho das companhias pioraram, evidenciando uma redução dos indicadores de liquidez e rentabilidade e crescimento dos indicadores de endividamento das companhias. / The purpose of this study is to analyze the financial performance of corporations listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) using the Structural Differential method. This analysis was conducted in two periods: from 2003 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2015. This made it possible not only to analyze the financial-economic performance of companies in each period but also to compare the results in both periods. This analysis was based on variations in their asset balances, which were correlated with their liquidity, debt and profitability indicators using the Structural-Differential method, which offers a series of advantages for describing the variations occurred in the companies’ asset balances. Several adaptations to the method were required, since it was built and perfected to analyze factors related to regional growth, employment, etc. It is believed that this represents an important contribution made by this study, since the results generated significant data for stratifying the companies in order to determine certain relevant components used to measure financial performance. The results show that in general the companies performed better in the first period than in the second. During the first period, the companies registered increases in liquidity and profitability indicators and declines in debt indicators. However, in the second period, the companies’ indicators worsened, since the results show declines in their liquidity and profitability indicators and increases in their debt indicators.

Zugl.: Trier, Universiẗat, Diss., 2005.

This thesis presents the design and development of a hand-held electronic reader, designed to decode conductive patterns printed on a paper substrate. Data read from the patterns, by the reader, is used to trigger events in the digital domain. The reader and associated conductive patterns are devices for linking paper documents with the digital world. The patterns are formed by masking conductive-coated paper with a non-conductive, printed lacquer. The reader is a low cost and ergonomic device, capable of transmitting the embedded data from the conductive paper to the computer. The first reader designed and developed was tethered to a computer by data cable, using the USB communication protocol. The second design was developed further, with transmission of data achieved by replacing the cable with short-range Bluetooth wireless technology. Both devices were designed and developed using embedded systems and low cost electronic components. Additional work was undertaken to optimise the device's mechanical structure, ergonomics and integration of hardware. Alongside the development of the reader, test and development work was carried out to optimise the printed media, in materials and design. User trials demonstrated that the complete printed and reading system was functional, with varied rates of success among participants. Further work is required to improve the conductivity of the coated paper, and the accuracy of the decoding algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is an extensively studied enzyme required for gene expression. In our Laboratory we found a new protein named HelD. HelD copurifies with B. subtilis RNAP. HelD is a ~90 kDa protein from the UvrD/Rep helicase family, which contains protein with the 3'-5' DNA unwinding activity. The molecular role(s) HelD in cell are still unknown and its potential role in transcription has not been studied so far. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this Diploma project was to describe HelD. APPROACHES: The characterization was carried out on three levels: (i) bioinformatics analysis in silico was used to identify HelD homologs in other bacteria; (ii) growth tests in vivo were used to determine the phenotype(s) of the HelD-null mutant strain compared to wt; and (iii) biochemical experiments in vitro were utilized to describe the effects of HelD on transcription, and to test whether HelD has DNA binding and DNA unwinding activities. RESULTS: The in silico analysis revealed that HelD is present in Firmicutes, an industrially and medicinally important group of G+ bacteria. The phenotypic experiments showed that HelD is required for rapid adaptations to nutritional changes in the environment. The biochemical experiments showed that HelD stimulates transcription despite the fact that it...

The Highveld region of South Africa contributes substantially to the aerosol loading over southern Africa because of its importance as an industrial, mining and farming base. Aerosols affect climate by absorbing or reflecting incoming solar radiation, and by affecting cloud microphysics, cloud albedo and precipitation. The physical and optical properties of industrial/urban aerosols over the Highveld region of South Africa were analysed during a 32-day winter sampling period (21 May to 21 June) in 2002; a 32-day summer sampling period (21 October to 21 November) in 2002, and a second 32-day winter sampling period (19 May to 19 June) in 2003. Synoptic circulation systems were examined in as far as they affect the horizontal transport of aerosols over the Highveld region. Measurements of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from the ground to the top of the atmosphere and aerosol size distribution characteristics over the Highveld region were taken using hand-held hazemeters and a CIMEL sun photometer. The AOT observed over the region during the winter 2002 and 2003 sampling periods and during the summer 2002 sampling period indicated high turbidity. In the 2002 winter sampling period, the AOT530nm ranged between 0.05 to 0.7 with an average of 0.14. In the 2002 summer sampling period, the AOT530nm ranged between 0.05 to 0.6, with an average of 0.24. In the 2003 winter sampling period, the AOT500nm ranged between 0.06 to 0.6, with an average of 0.21. The Ångström exponent value had a wide range, 0.8 to 2.4 in the 2002 winter and summer sampling periods and also in the 2003 winter sampling period, indicating that a range of particle sizes was present over the Highveld region. The Ångström exponent values obtained were derived from the influences of Aeolian dust, coarse-mode industrial particles and, to a small extent, fine-mode biomassburning aerosols. Case studies, based on trajectory analysis and meteorology of the sampling area, were made of the aerosols emanating from the township sites during each of the three sampling periods to observe the build-up and dispersion of aerosols at that time.