The behaviour of electrons in nanostructures such as quantum wells is of interest for the design of new electronic and electro-optic devices, and also for exploration of basic many-body physics. This thesis develops and tests improved methods for describing such electronic behaviour. The system used for this work was the parabolic quantum well (PQW), an important special system which has recently attracted much experimental and theoretical attention. We firstly report self-consistent nonlinear groundstate solutions of the Poisson equation together with the Thomas-Fermi (TF) hydrostatic equations. In contrast to most previous solutions, all the electron density profiles were inhomogeneous and continuous. We also added a von Weizsacker term with and without the exchange/exchange-correlation to the above treatment, using a novel numerical approach allowing for wider electron gases than previously possible. We also report for the first time the effects of spatially varying effective mass and dielectric function in theories of this type. To investigate infrared response of these systems, we apply new hydrodynamic theories recently proposed by Dobson. By using this type of theory, we simultaneously satisfy the Harmonic Potential Theorem (extended generalized Kohn theorem) and obtain the correct 2D plasmon dispersion, as well as obtaining the correct spacing of standing plasmons. Other inhomogeneous hydrodynamic theories do not achieve this. We also showed analytically an exact solution for a plasmon mode at the Kohn frequency in addition to one found in the Harmonic Potential Theorem. An open hydrodynamic theory was then developed based on this type of mode. Numerical application of Kohn Frequency Theorem theory was shown and the results were compared with other existing hydrodynamic theories.

The development of composite materials by combining two or more constituents with improved mechanical properties, when compared to either of the constituents alone, has existed since biblical times when straw or horse hair was mixed with clay or mud to produce bricks. During the second half of the twentieth century, modern composites known as fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) - consisting of a reinforcing phase (fibers) embedded into a matrix (polymeric resin or binder) - were developed to meet the performance challenges of space exploration and air travel. With time, externally-bonded FRP applications for strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures gained popularity within the construction industry. To date, the confinement of RC columns using FRP systems is a convenient and well established solution to strengthen, repair and retrofit structural concrete members. This technology has become mainstream due to its cost effectiveness, and relative ease and speed of application with respect to alternative rehabilitation techniques such as steel or concrete jackets. However, significant margins exist to advance externally-bonded composite rehabilitation technologies by addressing economic, technological, and environmental issues posed by the use of organic polymer matrices, some of which are addressed in this dissertation. Articulated in three studies, the dissertation investigates the development of a sustainable, reversible, and compatible fiber reinforced cement-based matrix (FRC) composite system for concrete confinement applications in combination with a novel test method aimed at characterizing composites under hydrostatic pressure. Study 1 develops and characterizes a FRC system from different fiber and inorganic matrix combinations, while evaluating the confinement effectiveness in comparison to a conventional FRP system. The feasibility of making the application reversible was investigated by introducing a bond breaker between the concrete substrate and the composite jacket in a series of confined cylinders. The prototype FRC system produced a substantial increase in strength and deformability with respect to unconfined cylinders. A superior deformability was attained without the use of a bond breaker. The predominant failure mode was loss of compatibility due to fiber-matrix separation, which points to the need of improving fiber impregnation to enable a more efficient use of the constituent materials. Additionally semi-empirical linear and nonlinear models for ultimate compressive strength and deformation in FRC-confined concrete are also investigated. Study 2 compares through a life cycle assessment (LCA) method two retrofitting strategies: a conventional organic-based, with the developed inorganic-based composite system presented in Study 1, applied to concrete cylinders by analyzing three life cycle impact indicators: i) Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, ii) embodied energy, and, iii) carbon foot print. Overall the cement-based composite provides an environmentally-benign alternative over polymer-based composite strengthening system. Results also provide quantitative information regarding the environmental and health impacts to aid with the decision-making process of design when selecting composite strengthening systems. Study 3 is divided into two parts, Part A presents the development of a novel "Investigation of Circumferential-strain Experimental" (ICE) methodology for characterization of circumferential (hoop) strain of composite laminates, while Part B uses the experimental data reported in Part A to explicitly evaluate the effect of FRP jacket curvature and laminate thickness on strain efficiency. Results showed that the proposed ICE methodology is simple, effective and reliable. Additionally, the ultimate circumferential strain values increased with increasing cylinder diameter, while being consistently lower when compared to similar flat coupon specimens under the same conditions. The ultimate FRP tensile strain was found to be a function of the radius of curvature and laminate thickness, for a given fiber ply density and number. The effect of these findings over current design guidelines for FRP confined concrete was also discussed.

In this study the action of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on compression heating of liquid foods and pressure transmitting fluids, inactivation of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua in different food media (milk and fruit juices), pulsed pressure and high pressure carbon dioxide treatments was investigated. The experimental results in this study allowed pointing out some important results: (i) The thermal effects of compression should be taken into account when HHP pasteurization processes are developed. Initial temperature of the food product and compression rate should carefully be selected in order to compensate the compression heating / (ii) The HHP inactivation kinetics need not follow traditional first-order kinetics, hence alternative inactivation models are ought to be found. Weibull model can be used for HHP inactivation kinetics of microorganisms / (iii) The pulsed pressure treatment could be an alternative to continuous HHP, but optimization should be done between the pulse holding time, the number of pulses and the pressure level to reach the desirable number of log-reduction of microorganisms (E. coli and L. innocua) compatible with an industrial application / (iv) The storage duration and storage temperature after HHP treatment should carefully be optimized to increase the safety of HHP treated fruit juices since the growth of injured microorganisms can be avoided during storage / (v) The high pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) treatment in combination with pulsed pressure can be an efficient way to inactivate the microorganisms in skim milk and to reduce the maximum pressure level for the desired log-reduction.

High interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) in tumours is recognized as a barrier to drug delivery resulting in reduced efficacy. High IFP impedes the normal process of convective fluid flow (CFF) from blood vessels into the interstitium. The aim of this study was to develop an in vitro model that could be used to measure CFF and to study its effects on drug delivery. The model consists of a transwell cell culture insert which supports the growth of multicell layers (MCL) on collagen coated membranes. A graduated tube is inserted into the transwell and a pressure gradient is applied across the membrane by raising the volume of medium in the tube above that of the bottom chamber. CFF is determined by measuring the weight of medium in the bottom chamber as a function of time. CFF was inversely proportional to MCL thickness and 41.1±3.6µm thick MCL has completely stopped CFF. Using a physiologically relevant hydrostatic pressure of 28mmHg, a CFF of 21µL/min was recorded using a DLD-1 MCL that was 12.21±3.2µm thick. Under these conditions, the rates of penetration of doxorubicin, imatinib and gefitinib were respectively 42, 26 and 13 folds greater than when no CFF exists. Reversing the CFF so that it opposed the drug diffusion gradient significantly impairs drug penetration. In conclusion, a novel in vitro model for assessing the impact of CFF on drug delivery has been developed. This model could be used to evaluate strategies designed to increase drug delivery to solid tumours by modifying the CFF.

The recent substantial increase in world demand for energy and raw material resources has accelerated oil and gas exploration and production. At the same time, the depletion of onshore and shallow water oil resources presents a challenge to engineers to develop new means of harvesting and transporting oil and gas from harsh and remote areas. Sandwich Pipe (SP) is a relatively new design concept developed to address the transportation of oil in deep and ultra-deep waters as well as in cold environments. The main focus of this thesis is on the characterization of the structural performance of these novel systems. Deep and ultra-deep water offshore pipelines are subjected to excessive hydrostatic external pressure during installation and operation. In this research, an innovative analytical solution was developed to evaluate the external pressure capacity of SPs by calculating the linear eigenvalues of the characteristic equations of the system. In the proposed solution, the interface condition between the layers of the system is accounted for in the governing equations. As well, a set of comprehensive parametric studies using the Finite Element (FE) method was developed to investigate both the elastic and plastic buckling response of SPs. The influence of various structural parameters such as the material, geometrical and intra-layer interaction properties on the characteristic behavior and the buckling pressure of SPs was examined. In addition to the proposed analytical solution, two sets of semi-empirical equations based on the FE analysis results were recommended in calculating the elastic and plastic buckling pressure of SPs. As bending represents an important loading state in the installation and service life of SPs, it should be considered a governing loading scenario. In this thesis, the behavior of SPs under bending was investigated using a comprehensive set of parametric studies. SP systems with a wide practical range of physical parameters were analyzed using the FE method, and the influence of various structural parameters on the characteristic response and bending capacity of the system was explored, including pipe geometry, core layer properties, material yield anisotropy of high-grade steel pipes, and various intra-layer adhesion configurations.

Hypertension and salt-sensitivity are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Although both conditions are idiopathic, they develop due to a complex interplay between susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Given that the kidney plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, in particular, by maintaining sodium and water balance via pressure-natriuresis, it is not surprising that disturbances in the proper functioning of this intrarenal mechanism have been linked to these conditions. Although direct coupling of changes in renal arterial pressure (RAP) to renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) and consequent sodium excretion is well established, few studies have characterized the moment-to-moment aspects of this process. Thus, the main focus of the research presented herein was to characterize the moment-to-moment RAP-RIHP relationship, and assess the functioning of this intrarenal mechanism in various animal models of genetic and environmentally-induced hypertension and/or salt-sensitivity. In adult normotensive rats, the response time of RIHP to acute changes in RAP was rapid (<2 seconds), and the moment-to-moment RAP-RIHP relationship was linear over a wide range of pressures. Additionally, the functioning of this relationship was not affected by inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system and autonomic nervous system. Further, the acute RAP-RIHP relationship was impaired in hypertension and/or salt-sensitivity. Specifically, animals with a hypertensive phenotype (i.e. young spontaneously hypertensive rats [SHR] and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide gene-disrupted mice [ANP -/-]) displayed a rightward shift in the moment-to-moment pressure-natriuresis curve towards higher RAP. This rightward shift was associated with increased structurally-based vascular resistance properties in the hindlimb of young SHR versus their normotensive controls. Salt-sensitive phenotypes were associated with a blunting of this acute mechanism. Specifically, this blunting was evident in both the ANP -/-, a transgenic model of salt-sensitive hypertension, and in adult perinatal iron deficient (PID) rats, a developmentally programmed model of salt-sensitivity. It appears that a blunting in the RAP-RIHP relationship is influenced by an imbalance of key blood pressure modulating factors (e.g. ANP). Further, visceral obesity was associated with salt-sensitivity in PID rats; however the mechanism(s) are yet to be elucidated. Novel methodologies (MRI, abdominal girth) were developed for non-invasive assessment of visceral obesity to aid future research. / Thesis (Ph.D, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2010-05-12 10:11:21.197

Les géomètres de la section Survey de l'Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN) utilisent le nivellement hydrostatique HLS pour effectuer des alignements verticaux précis. Le HLS atteint des précisions micrométriques, ce qui lui permet d'être utilisé pour les expériences à but de physique fondamentale comme le Large Hadron Collider (LHC). HLS mesure certes des déformations qui ont pour conséquence de désaligner tout accélérateur de particules lié au sol, mais il mesure également d'autres phénomènes aux caractéristiques bien particulières. Parmi ces phénomènes mesurés, les marées terrestres représentent une part très largement majoritaire du signal. Leur effet sur les mesures HLS est périodique et engendre une inclinaison longue base qui n'aboutit pas au désalignement relatif des aimants constitutifs d'un accélérateur. Les objectifs de ce doctorat sont de pouvoir prédire les effets ne perturbant pas l'alignement relatif d'un accélérateur de particules et ainsi corriger les mesures HLS de ces signaux. En effet, les tolérances planimétrique et altimétrique à respecter dans le domaine des accélérateurs de particules sont de plus en plus serrées. Par exemple, le Compact Linear Collider (CLIC), aujourd'hui à l'étude de faisabilité, nécessite une précision d'alignement à 3σ de 10 μm dans une fenêtre glissante de 200 m selon les directions transversale et verticale. Le HLS est candidat pour assurer cet alignement vertical mais l'amplitude de marée est d'environ +/-20 μm à 200 m, rendant nécessaire la prise en compte de ce phénomène longue base pour que l'instrumentation réponde aux besoins du CLIC. Ce doctorat est inspiré des travaux déjà réalisés sur les inclinomètres longue base et décrit les effets mesurés par HLS afin de classer ces phénomènes selon qu'ils désalignent ou non un accélérateur de particules. Enfin, les outils et modèles pour prédire les effets maitrisables sont utilisés pour anticiper les différents signaux mesurés par les HLS installés au CERN.

The topic of this thesis is called "Technical Landmarks in the Třeboňsko Region and their Application in First Grade Primary School Education." The theoretical part focuses on project teaching and the competencies of the first grade primary school pupil in the area of technical education according to the FEP for basic education, chapter "Humans and Their World (Člověk a jeho svět)". Furthermore, this thesis deals with technical landmarks in the Třeboňsko region. The practical part contains several technical landmarks which may be used as inspiration when creating educational projects for structural and technical education. Some of these projects have been applied in teaching in a small-class primary school. The final part of the thesis contains questionnaires given to first grade primary school teachers to test the indicative functionality of these projects.

L’ingénierie tissulaire est une stratégie médicale qui repose sur la régénération de tissu par les cellules avec ou sans matériaux. Pour maîtriser cette synthèse, il faut comprendre la cellule comme une part intégrante du tissu. Hormis ses interactions biochimiques avec son support, la cellule interagit également mécaniquement avec son environnement. Elle s’accroche à ce dernier et évalue sa dureté pour adapter sa réponse biologique. Dans cette étude, j’ai développé des modèles numériques pour analyser l’influence de la rigidité du substrat sur le comportement mécanique de la cellule, sur sa structure contractile interne et les efforts qu’elle génère. En d’autres termes, j’ai essayé de comprendre comment la cellule ressent la rigidité de son environnement. De plus, au lieu de me focaliser sur les propriétés mécaniques quantitatives, j’ai cherché à développer un modèle conceptuel simplifié plus proche de la structure cellulaire. / Tissue engineering is a medical strategy based on utilizing cells and materials to regenerate a new tissue. Yet, it involves intertwined interactions that allow cells to act as integrated parts of an organ. In addition to chemical reactions, the cell interacts mechanically with its environment by sensing its rigidity. Here, we used several computational models to understand how substrate rigidity affects a cell’s structure as it adheres and spreads on it. In other words we tried to understand the way a cell feels how soft or hard it surrounding is, how it affects its internal structure and the forces that transit within it. In addition, instead of focusing on mechanical properties, we developed a simplified, yet coherent conceptual understanding of the cellular structure.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-04-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:08:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 martinsfilho_pc_me_bauru_prot.pdf: 4223424 bytes, checksum: bd55a8655c281a39d67ddb8401906d98 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Objetivou-se analisar estruturalmente um fermentador de 32 [m] de altura com colunas metálicas de sustentação, submetido ao carregamento de vento estático segundo o procedimento descrito pela norma NBR 6123 (1988), pressão hidrostática e pressão interna dos gases. Duas situações distintas foram consideradas para um melhor entendimento da análise: a primeira, sendo o fermentador vazio submetido aos esforços de vento; a segunda, o fermentador em operação submetido ao carregamento hidrostático e a pressão interna dos gases. Para se obter as tensões nos itens que compõem o fermentador (teto, costado, viga de transição, colunas e fundo cônico) e reações nas bases, foi utilizado o Método dos Elementos Finitos ou MEF. Para isso, foi elaborado um modelo geométrico bem próximo ao real, com os detalhes de chapas internas e externas. Determinou-se a espessura das chapas do costado pela norma NBR 7821 (1983) e verificou-se tensões, e possíveis pontos de falha já ocorridos no setor sucroalcooleiro. Apresenta-se também três problemas analisados pelo MEF que confrontados com os resultados analíticos, permitiu a constatação da validade dos resultados obtidos numericamente o ganho de confiança no uso da ferramenta. O MEF é uma ferramenta auxiliar em casos em que não é possível a utilização de cálculos tradidionais (analíticos) / The objective was to structurally analyze a 32 meter height Fermenter, with columns, submitted to static wind load according to the procedure described by the NBR 6123 (1988) norm, hydrostatic pressure and internal pressure of the gases. Two different situations have been considered for a better analyze comprehension: the first one with the empty Fermenter submitted to wind efforts; the second with the operating fermenter submitted to the hydrostatic load and the internal pressure of the gases. In order to obtain the stresses on the items that make up the fermenter (heads, shell, beam transition, columns and conic bottom) and bases reactions the Finite Element Method or FEM has been used. For this we have developed a geometric model very close to reality, with the details of internal and external plates. It was determined by the thickness of the side shell plating by the NBR 7821 (1983) and there were tensions, and possible points of failure that have already occurred in the alcohol sector. It was also presented three issues addressed by comparing FEM with analytical results, which allowed the verification of the validity of the results obtained numerically and gain of confidence in using the tool. The MEF is an auxiliary tool in cases where it is not possible to use traditional calculations (analytical)