The problem of this study is a comparison of lab method films with traditional instruction in the introductory, non-technical college physics laboratory.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

A magnetic bead-based DNA extraction and purification device has been designed to be used for extraction of the target DNA molecules from whole blood sample. Mixing and separation steps are performed using functionalised superparamagnetic beads suspended in the cell lysis buffer in a circular chamber that is sandwiched between two electromagnets. Non-uniform nature of the magnetic field causes temporal and spatial distribution of the beads within the chamber. This process efficiently mixes the lysis buffer and whole blood in order to extract DNA from target cells. Functionalized surface of the magnetic beads then attract the exposed DNA molecules. Finally, DNA-attached magnetic beads are attracted to the bottom of the chamber by activating the bottom electrode. DNA molecules are extracted from the magnetic beads by washing and re-suspension processes. The numerical simulation approach has been adopted in order to design the magnetic field source. The performance of the magnetic field source has been investigated against different physical and geometrical parameters and optimised dimensions are obtained with two different magnetic field sources; integrated internal source and external source. A new magnetic field pattern has been introduced in order to efficiently control the bulk of magnetic beads inside the mixing chamber by dynamic shifting of magnetic field regions from the centre of the coils to the outer edge of the coils and vice versa. A Matlab code has been developed to simulate beads trajectories inside the designed extraction chip in order to investigate the efficiency of the magnetic mixing. A preliminary target molecule capturing simulation has also been performed using the simulated bead trajectories to evaluate the DNA-capturing efficiency of the designed extraction chip. The performance of the designed extraction chip has been tested by conducting a series of biological experiments. Different magnetic bead-based extraction kits have been used in a series of preliminary experiments in order to extract a more automation friendly extraction protocol. The efficiency of the designed device has been evaluated using the spiked bacterial DNA and non-pathogenic bacterial cell cultures (B. subtilis, Gram positive bacteria and E. coli, Gram negative bacteria) into the blood sample. Excellent DNA yields and recovery rates are obtained with the designed extraction chip through a simple and fast extraction protocol.

The aim of this thesis is to summarize already published tutorials for experiments with the Vernier lab system and to write new tutorials respecting requirements and specifics of the Czech educational system. Six new detailed tutorials were prepared. All of them were, or would be, published on the Internet web site of The Framework Education Programmes (www.rvp.cz). Following tutorials were written: Bulb flickering, Warm-up of a compact fluorescent lamp, Relation between illumination and distance of the light source, Relation between illumination and number of filters, Why is salt used in the winter on the roads, Photochromic glasses. Each experiment is accompanied by a classification with respect to The Framework Education Programmes and by requirements for The State High School Leaving Exam (``maturita'').

Nanoplasmonics has provided a way to control light with extremely high precision, into nanoscale volumes. In many circumstances, the nanoplasmonic devices which can be realised are fabricated using processing techniques which rely on planar technologies. This thesis provides a general method to make nanoplasmonic devices on a flexible membrane structure, which can be free standing, extremely thin (less than the wavelength of visible light), but retains the ability to be manipulated without loss of optical function. These devices are very pliant and conformable. Flexibility allows the integration of nanoplasmonic devices into many new applications where curved surfaces or the ability to conform to another object is required, as well as providing a route for post-fabrication tunability. Two specific applications are considered: lab-on-fibre technology and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Lab-on-fibre technologies have been advancing the ability to miniaturise experiments which would normally require a whole laboratory. Fabricating a membrane and then later applying it to the fibre decouples the choice of fibre from the design of the device. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is a powerful diagnostic tool which can uniquely identify an optical fingerprint of different molecules. The technique has been held back from widespread clinical adoption because of the difficulty of reproducibility of the substrates used. A repeatable and reliable rigid substrate is demonstrated, which can identify the concentration of a three component mixture of physiologically relevant biomolecules. This same design is then shown in a flexible form factor, which is applied to a non-planar landscape where it can identify the locations where a molecule of interest has been deposited. This thesis details the development of the fabrication protocol, the construction of experimental apparatus for characterisation, and the use of numerical modelling to advance the flexible nanoplasmonic membrane platform.

A importância dos circuitos de moagem nos setores de mineração, pelotização e cimenteiro - seja por determinar o desempenho de processos subsequentes, seja por sua significativa parcela nos custos operacionais - encorajou o desenvolvimento de extensivos estudos na área. Dois campos continuam, contudo, pouco explorados: a moagem a seco e a moagem fina de concentrados (ou remoagem). Por outro lado, os circuitos de cominuição têm ganhado gradativamente mais importância ao longo dos anos para o mercado de minério de ferro, devido ao aprofundamento das cavas em operação e, por consequência, ao tratamento de minérios mais compactos e com menores teores de ferro. Por si só, essas novas características geraram a necessidade de moer produtos cada vez mais finos e de etapas adicionais de concentração e pelotização. Nesse ínterim, a moagem fina ganhou extrema importância. Este trabalho se concentrou no desenvolvimento de um método de ensaio de laboratório para a previsão do consumo específico de energia na etapa de remoagem a seco, adequado à aplicação em minérios de ferro itabiríticos. Foram investigadas diversas variáveis que podem interferir nos resultados de laboratório e definidas as melhores condições para os ensaios. Em seguida, os resultados dos ensaios foram confrontados com dados de uma operação de remoagem a seco industrial. O método proposto apresentou boa aproximação com os resultados industriais em relação à geração de finos (porcentagem passante em 45 ?m). Em relação à geração de área superficial - parâmetro importante para a pelotização -, os desvios foram maiores devido à sua correlação com a composição mineralógica para as misturas investigadas. Contudo, a relação entre a geração de área superficial com as diferentes mineralogias para o minério de ferro, especialmente o de Carajás, demanda maiores investigações. A relação linear proposta por Rittinger entre a geração de superfície e o consumo específico de energia na moagem também pode ser comprovada para a moagem a seco. / Studies on grinding area are vast due to its importance for mining, pelletizing and cement industry: grinding operations define both the throughput of following processes and operational costs. However, there are two grinding processes that lack deeper understanding: dry and fine grinding (re-grinding). On the other hand, as rich iron ore deposits get depleted and the necessity of treating more complex ores increases, the necessity of re-grinding concentrates prior further steps of concentration grows. Therefore, fine grinding of iron ores is progressively gaining importance. This study focused on the development of a bench scale test to predict the specific energy consumption of dry re-grinding circuits for iron ore. The variables that can affect grinding tests results were evaluated and the best conditions were defined. In sequence, the results of a series of lab tests were compared with data from an industrial circuit. The proposed test presented good correlation with industrial results regarding the generation of fines (percentage passing 0.045 mm). Regarding new surface generation - parameter of great importance for ore pelletizing - the differences between lab and industrial results were bigger, due the correlation of this parameter with the mineralogical composition of the samples investigated. However, the correlation between surface generation and mineralogical composition for iron ores, especially ores form Carajás complex, demands deeper investigations. Moreover, the linear relationship between energy consumption and surface area generation, as proposed by Rittinger was also observed for dry grinding.

Orientador: Júlio Borges de Souza / Banca: Luís Carlos Origa de Oliveira / Banca: Aguinaldo Lenine Alves / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta um portal de educação à distância que integra várias funcionalidades direcionadas ao aperfeiçoamento do ensino de Engenharia Elétrica. Possui ambiente para videoconferência, acesso a webcam robótica e demais recursos tradicionalmente utilizados em aplicações similares bastante difundidas. Destaca-se a concepção e implantação de um Laboratório de Qualidade de Energia para acesso remoto via Internet, LRQEE. O Laboratório dispõe de vários recursos visando-se flexibilidade e agilidade na integração entre diferentes instituições de ensino. Contribui, assim, para a evolução do aprendizado e racionalização de recursos financeiros, evitando-se duplicidade de equipamentos, sobretudo aqueles mais específicos e de maior custo. Permite acesso a diversos equipamentos, como fontes harmônicas programáveis, sistemas de aquisição de dados, sensores e configuração e acionamento de cargas elétricas. Todos os procedimentos são realizados remotamente sob uma interface gráfica amigável constituindo-se, assim, um importante instrumento para apoio ao ensino colaborativo, com práticas experimentais realizadas à distância, visando consolidar o aprendizado / Abstract: This work presents a distance learning portal that integrates several functionalities addressed to the improvement of the teaching of Electric Engineering. It possesses a video conference environment, access to a robotics webcam and other resources traditionally used in widespread similar applications. It can be stands out the conception and implantation of a Laboratory of Quality of Energy for remote access through Internet, LRQEE. The Laboratory has several resources aiming the flexibility and agility in the integration among different teaching institutions. It contributes, therefore, for the evolution of the learning and rationalization of financial resources, avoiding duplicity of equipments, mainly the more specific ones and of greater cost. It allows access to several equipments, such as programmable harmonic sources, data acquisition systems, sensors and configuration and electric loads drive. All of the procedures are carried out remotely under a friendly graphic interface performing an important instrument for supporting the teaching, seeking to consolidate the learning / Mestre

[pt] A caracterização geotécnica de um depósito de argila mole da Baixada Fluminense foi realizada neste trabalho. Sobre o depósito, foi executado um extenso aterro para implantação da Indústria Rio Polímeros, abrangendo aproximadamente 500.000m2. Uma ampla campanha de ensaios de laboratório foi realizada em amostras extraídas da camada de argila mole, antes do lançamento do aterro. Este programa de investigação incluiu ensaios de caracterização, ensaios de adensamento convencionais (SIC) e contínuos (CRS) e ensaios triaxiais drenados e não drenados. Os ensaios CRS foram realizados sob diferentes velocidades de deformação, a fim de avaliar a sua influência nas características de compressibilidade e de adensamento do material. Foi também realizado um ensaio CRS em amostra previamente amolgada. Os parâmetros geotécnicos obtidos foram confrontados e mostraram-se razoavelmente concordantes com os valores reportados na literatura, para a Baixada Fluminense. A influência da velocidade de deformação dos ensaios CRS foi significativa. Entretanto, para a faixa de velocidades adotada no presente trabalho, os parâmetros resultantes situaram-se dentro da dispersão observada na área. O amolgamento prévio da amostra resultou numa redução dos parâmetros de compressibilidade e de adensamento. / [en] This work has focused on the geotechnical characterization of a soft clay deposit in Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro. In this area, a large embankment of approximately 500.000m2 was executed for implantation of Rio Polimeros Industry. An extensive laboratory program was carried out on undisturbed samples, extracted from the soft clay layer before embankment construction. The geotechnical investigation consisted of characterization tests, conventional (SIC) and controlled deformation (CRS) consolidation tests, and drained and undrained triaxial tests. CRS tests were carried out under different deformation velocities, in order to evaluate its influence on compressibility parameters and on consolidation rates. An additional CRS test was also performed using a disturbed sample. The geotechnical parameters were analysed and revealed a resonable agreement with the results reported in the literature, for the Baixada Fluminense soft clay deposit. The strain rate of CRS tests has a significant influence on compressibility parameters. However, the results still remain within the range of experimental data, avaliable for the soft clay deposit of Baixada Fluminense. It is worthwile to notice that a limited range of velocities was used in this research. The sample disturbance resulted in a reduction of both compressibility parameters (cr, cc) and coefficient of consolidation.

Até recentemente as novas tecnologias de fabricação digital só eram encontradas na indústria e em algumas universidades. Hoje essas tecnologias estão cada vez mais acessíveis e baratas e têm se consolidado como grandes aliadas no processo de projeto em áreas como Arquitetura, Design e Engenharia. Ambientes como os Fab Labs têm auxiliado o processo de desenvolvimento de produto e a realização de experimentações através da prototipagem rápida e da fabricação digital, oferecendo de forma aberta, suporte na utilização de um conjunto de ferramentas digitais. Dessa forma, buscou-se, como objetivo geral neste trabalho, evidenciar o potencial dos Fab Labs como ambientes para o uso da fabricação digital e da prototipagem rápida no processo de projeto. Como forma de atingir esse objetivo, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de estudo de caso e por meio de entrevista com gestores de três Fab Labs situados no Brasil. Inicialmente, foi feita uma abordagem sobre temas como prototipagem rápida e fabricação digital, buscando o esclarecimento do tema e a formação do corpo teórico. A pesquisa bibliográfica abordou temas como tipos de protótipos e a importância do ato de prototipar. Os resultados obtidos por intermédio das entrevistas e das observações, apresenta considerações importantes em relação ao conceito Fab Lab enquanto potencializador no desenvolvimento de projetos. / Until recently the new digital manufacturing technologies were only found in the industry and some universities. Today these technologies are increasingly affordable and cheap and have been established as major allies in the design process in areas such as Architecture, Design and Engineering. Environments such as Fab Labs have aided the product development process and performing trials through rapid prototyping and digital fabrication, providing an open, support the use of a set of digital tools. Thus, it sought to, the general objective of this study was to highlight the potential of Fab Labs as environments for the use of digital manufacturing and rapid prototyping in the design process. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative survey was conducted through case study and through interviews with managers of three Fab Labs located in Brazil. Initially, an approach on issues such as rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing was made, seeking the theme of enlightenment and the formation of the theoretical body. The literature has addressed such topics as types of prototypes and the importance of prototyping act. The results obtained through the interviews and observations, presents important considerations regarding the concept Fab Lab while potentiating the development projects.

Este estudo tenta mostrar as condições de trabalho em uma planta industrial na cidade de Montevidéu, a fim de compreender a importância de conhecer quais são as condições em que as pessoas estão trabalhando, se essas condições estão dentro das normas trabalhistas e se elas podem ser melhoradas. Foram realizadas pesquisas de sons de toda a planta industrial, obtendo-se, em todos os casos, níveis inferiores a 84,0 dB (A). A partir dos resultados obtidos, foi feito um mapa de ruído, foi calculada a dose de ruído dos funcionários e foram estudados em profundidade os pontos críticos, onde as exigências não foram cumpridas, a fim de propor soluções. / This work depicts working conditions inside an industrial plant in the city of Montevideo with the aim of highlighting the importance of knowing said conditions and whether or not they can be improved. Sound measurements of the entire industrial plant were made, obtaining levels under 84.0 dB(A) in all cases. With these results, a noise map was made, the noise dose of workers was calculated, and critical areas where requirements weren’t met were thoroughly studied in order to propose solutions. / Este trabajo intenta mostrar las condiciones de trabajo en una planta industrial de la ciudad de Montevideo, con el objetivo de comprender la importancia de conocer cuáles son las condiciones en las que las personas se encuentran trabajando y si las mismas se pueden mejorar. Se realizaron relevamientos sonoros de toda la planta industrial obteniéndose niveles en todos los casos menores a 84,0 dB(A). A partir de los resultados obtenidos se realizó un mapa de ruido, se calculó la dosis de ruido de los funcionarios y se estudiaron con profundidad los lugares críticos donde no se cumplan los requerimientos, con el fin de proponer soluciones.