This diploma thesis is focused on the study of the structural phase transitions in intermetallic compounds LaPd2(Al,Ga)2 by low-temperature x-ray powder diffraction and macroscopic measurements on single crystals. The results obtained from powder diffraction at room temperature confirm that the compounds crystallize in tetragonal CaBe2Ge2 structure type (space group P4/nmm). At low temperature all the compounds undergo the same structural phase transition by lowering the symmetry to the orthorhombic space group Cmma. Although the structural transformation is of first order, the transition is not-manifested in step-like change of the phase at a certain temperature, but occurs in a broader temperature interval. In this interval the different phases coexist and transform gradually from high- to low- temperature phase. After application of hydrostatic pressure the structural transition is shifted to higher temperatures. Despite that the low temperature structures are of the same type, there is a difference between compounds containing Ga and Al in the discontinuity of the lattice parameters resulting in a distinct anomaly in electrical resistivity. In pressures >0.6 GPa this characteristic anomaly on single crystalline CePd2Al2 is changed, indicating a pressure- induced change of the low-temperature...

Magnetic properties of RCo2 compounds have been studied since the sec- ond half of the last century. However, there was recently observed new mag- netic state, so-called parimagnetism. The aim of this thesis was to find the real behavior of TmCo2, which exhibits many discrepancies in the published results, by means of preparation of high-quality single-crystals, its characteri- zation around the ordering temperature and to study parimagnetic behavior. Obtained results showed differences between the samples, which should be caused by the instability of Co and Tm magnetism. It might be the reason of discrepancies in the literature. The results however show the same struc- ture of measured curves with two present phase transition. We suggest two possible interpretations: a) magnetic reorientation of Tm magnetic moments below the ordering temperature of the Tm sub-lattice or b) consequent or- dering of the rare-earth sub-lattice followed by ordering of the Co sub-lattice at lower temperature, which seems to be more realistic. We observed pari- magnetic anomalies at 38 K, 80 K, 168 K only in the case of single-crystals containing small amount of impurity phase, which probably affects the for- mation of magnetic clusters. 1

In the current study a variable speed pump controlled hydrostatic circuit where an underlapped shuttle valve is utilized to compensate the unequal flow rate of a single rod actuator is analyzed. Parameters of the shuttle valve are included in the system analysis, rather than treating it as an ideal switching element as handled in literature. A linearized model of the system is obtained. An inverse kinematic model, which calculates the required pump drive speed for a desired actuator speed and given pilot pressure input, is formed. A numerical stability analysis program is developed, and the stability of all possible shuttle valve spool positons is determined. The theoretical findings are validated by non-linear simulation model responses.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are responsive to mechanical stimuli that play an essential role in directing their differentiation to the chondrogenic lineage. A better understanding of the mechanisms that allow MSCs to respond to mechanical stimuli is important to improving cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Hydrostatic pressure (HP) in particular is known to be a primary mechanical force in joints. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that facilitate HP mechanotransduction. Understanding the signaling pathways in MSCs in transducing HP to a beneficial biologic response and their interrelationship were the focus of this thesis. Studies used porcine marrow-derived MSCs seeded in agarose gel. Calcium ion Ca++ signaling, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) involvement, and sirtuin1 activity were investigated in conjunction with HP application. Intracellular Ca++ concentration was previously shown to be changed with HP application. In our study a bioreactor was used to apply a single application of HP to the MSC-seeded gel structures and observe Ca++ signaling via live imaging of a fluorescent calcium indicator in cells. However, no fluctuations in Ca++ concentrations were observed with 10 minutes loading of HP. Additionally a problem with the biore actor design was discovered. First the gel was floating around in the bioreactor even without loading. After stabilizing the gel and stopping it from floating, there were still about 16 µm of movement and deformation in the system. The movement and deformation was analyzed for the gel structure and different parts of the bioreactor. Furthermore, we investigated the role of FAK in early and late chondrogenesis and also its involvement in HP mechanotransduction. A FAK inhibitor was used on MSCs from day 1 to 21 and showed a dose-dependent suppression of chondrogenesis. However, when low doses of FAK inhibitor added to the MSC culture from day 21 to 42, chondrogenesis was not inhibited. With 4 hour cyclic HP, FAK phosphorylation increased. The beneficial effect of HP was suppressed with overnight addition of the FAK inhibitor to MSC medium, suggesting FAK involvement in HP mechanotransd ucation by MSCs. Moreover, sirtuin1 participation in MSC chondrogenesis and mechanotransduc tion was also explored. The results indicated that overnight sirtuin1 inhibition in creased chondrogenic gene expression (Agc, Col2, and Sox9) in MSCs. Additionally, the activity of sirtuin1 was decreased with both 4 hour cyclic hydrostatic pressure and inhibitor application. These two together demonstrated that sirtuin1 inhibition enhances chondrogenesis. In this research we have investigated the role of Ca++ signaling, FAK involvement, and sirtuin1 activity in the mechanotransduction of HP in MSCs. These understand ings about the mechanisms regulating the chondrogenesis with respect to HP could have important implications for cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative studies.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第19505号 / 理博第4165号 / 新制||理||1598(附属図書館) / 32541 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 津田 敏隆, 教授 石川 裕彦, 教授 余田 成男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20264号 / 医博第4223号 / 新制||医||1021(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 椛島 健治, 教授 松田 秀一, 教授 羽賀 博典 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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No / The standard shallow water equations (SWEs) model is often considered to provide weak solutions to the dam-break flows due to its depth-averaged shock-capturing scheme assumptions. In this study, an improved SWEs model using a recently proposed Surface Gradient Upwind Method (SGUM) is used to compute dam-break flows in the presence of a triangular hump. The SGUM allows the SWEs model to stably and accurately reproduce the highly complex shock currents caused by the dam-break event, as it improves the treatment of SWEs numerical source terms, which is particularly crucial for simulating the wet/dry front interface of the dam-break flow. Besides, an Incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (ISPH) modeling technique is also employed in this study to compare with the performance of the SGUM-SWEs model. The SPH method is totally mesh free and thus it can efficiently track the large free surface deformation. The ISPH approach uses a strictly incompressible two-step semi-implicit solution method. By reproducing a documented experimental dam-break flow, it has demonstrated that both model simulation results gave good agreement with the experimental data at different measurement locations. However, the ISPH simulations showed a better prediction of the dam-break peak wave building-up time, where its superiority was demonstrated. Furthermore, the ISPH model could also predict more detailed flow surface profiles across the streamwise flow direction and the velocity and pressure structures.

<p> A solution to an industrial problem of designing a hydrostatic drive system for logging vehicles is presented. A computer program using Land and Doig's method of Branch and Bound Mixed Integer Programming is used to obtain an optimal solution to the problem. A comprehensive users guide to allow the use of the program by unsophisticated users is provided. </p> <p> An attempted alternate method of solution using the Gomory method of Integer Programming is presented and reasons for its failure discussed. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)