Introduction: Currently, there are no objective techniques to assess burn depth. An early assessment of burn depth would enable accurate management decisions, which would improve patient outcomes. Near infrared (NIR) technology has shown promise as a non-invasive monitor of oxygenation and perfusion, and its potential to assess the depth of burn injuries has been investigated clinically over the past five years. The purpose of the thesis was to determine the capacity of NIR technology to differentiate acute thermal injuries. Methods: Burn sites (n=5) and control sites (n=5) were created on the dorsum of sixteen animals with brass rods held at constant pressure and heated to 100°C and 37.5°C respectively. NIR data was collected from the burns and control sites pre-burn, immediately post-burn, and 1, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 96 hours after the burn injury. Biopsies of the burn and control sites were acquired at each time point and used to confirm the depth of injury. NIR data was processed for the content of water, oxy-, deoxy- and methemoglobin. Results: Oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin decreased as burn depth increased. The proportion of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin to total hemoglobin showed that the ratio of oxy- to deoxyhemoglobin decreased as burn injury increased. Methemoglobin levels as a ratio of total hemoglobin also showed that as the severity of injury increased the proportion of methemoglobin also increased. Finally, superficial partial thickness injuries (3 s and 12 s) showed early peak levels of water, which rapidly declined towards baseline. The deep partial thickness injuries (20 s and 30 s) do not experience peak levels and retain water over the course of the experiment. The full thickness injuries water levels remain close or below baseline levels throughout the experiment. Conclusion: NIR spectroscopy could distinguish burn depth using water, oxy-, met- and total hemoglobin as separate entities. The presence of methemoglobin in the burn wounds is a novel finding that has not been described previously in burn literature.

Polymeric depressant adsorption on the surface of talc was investigated using in situ Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy. The polymeric depressants investigated were an unmodified polyacrylamide (Polymer-N) and a hydroxyl substituted polyacrylamide (Polymer-H), an unmodified dextrin (Dextrin WY) and a hydroxylpropyl substituted dextrin (HP Dextrin), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of adsorption, the kinetics of adsorption and desorption, and the mechanisms driving adsorption. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2007.

Thin coatings of photoresponsive, pyrimidine-terminated molecules, attached to gold or quartz substrates in contact with water, undego photodimerisation and wettability changes when irradiated with UV light at 280 and 240mm. Spin-casting and chemisorption techniques were used to prepare the thin films. / Thesis (PhDApSc)--University of South Australia, 2000.

Thin coatings of photoresponsive, pyrimidine-terminated molecules, attached to gold or quartz substrates in contact with water, undego photodimerisation and wettability changes when irradiated with UV light at 280 and 240mm. Spin-casting and chemisorption techniques were used to prepare the thin films. / Thesis (PhDApSc)--University of South Australia, 2000.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-54).

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-54).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, 2001. / "A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours), University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury" Bibliography : leaves 60-66.

Thesis (Ph. D., Chemistry)--University of Idaho, December 2006. / Major professor: Peter R. Griffiths. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by subscription or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (MSc.(Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Macdonald College of McGill University. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/08/04). Includes bibliographical references.