Le suivi de la qualité de l'eau a été d'une grande importance depuis ces dernières décennies afin de trouver des solutions de contrôler la contamination de l'eau, induite en grande partie par les activités agricoles et industrielles. Bien que les méthodes conventionnelles, comme la chromatographie, sont des outils très précis et sensibles, un intérêt grandissant a été placé sur des techniques prometteuses qui peuvent être utilisées sur site, sont bas coût, et offrent la possibilité d'effectuer des analyses rapides. Le travail présenté ici est dédié au développement de composant Laboratoire sur Puce pour l'analyse de la toxicité de l'eau. Il consiste en un système portable pour la détection sur site et offre la possibilité d'une double détection complémentaire : optique et électrochimique. Comme la partie dédiée au capteur électrochimique a préalablement été validée, cette étude est focalisée sur l'implémentation d'un biocapteur électrochimique basé sur l'utilisation d'une algue, pour la détection de polluants dans l'eau. Le principe basique de détection consiste au suivi de changements de l'activité métabolique d'algues induits par la présence d'herbicides. La réponse de l'algue est différente pour chaque concentration d'herbicide dans un échantillon examiné. Deux herbicides sélectionnés affectent l'activité photosynthétique de l'algue et par conséquent, induisent des modifications dans la quantité des espèces électroactives produites par l'algue : O2, H2O2 et H3O+/OH-. Avant le développement du composant final type Laboratoire sur Puce, les principes de détection aussi bien que les matériaux d'électrode qui vont être intégrés, ont été validés en utilisant un type de composant plus simple, qui a été réalisé grâce aux technologies de fabrication silicium et qui a été caractérisé par des procédures plus simples. Une puce sur silicium contenant un microsystème électrochimique intégrant trois électrodes a été mis en place. Une fois validés, les matériaux de détection et les configurations choisis précédemment ont été utilisés pour la fabrication des composants Laboratoire sur Puce. Les composants Laboratoire sur Puce ont été ensuite utilisés pour des tests biologiques afin de détecter les herbicides d'intérêt. Une attention spéciale a été placée sur le suivi de O2 comme indicateur de la présence d'herbicide, étant donné que cet élément est le plus représentatif de modifications de l'activité métabolique. Un effet d'inhibition sur la photosynthèse, dépendant de la concentration de l'herbicide a été démontré. La détection de l'herbicide a été réalisée avec une grande sensibilité et sur une gamme couvrant la limite de concentration maximale acceptable imposé par le gouvernement canadien. / Water quality assessment has attracted wide attention during the last decades in order to find ways to control contamination of water bodies induced, in a big part, by agricultural and industrial activities. Although conventional techniques, such as chromatography are highly accurate and sensitive tools, increasing interest has been placed lately to powerful alternative techniques that can be used on field, are cost-effective and offer the possibility of conducting rapid analysis. The present work was therefore dedicated to the development of a lab-on-chip device for water toxicity analysis. It consists in a portable system for on-site detection and aims at offering the possibility of conducting double complementary detection: optical and electrochemical. Since the optical sensor is already validated, this study focused on the implementation of the algal-based, electrochemical biosensor for detection water contaminants. The basic detection principle consists in monitoring disturbances in metabolic activities of algae induced by the presence of the herbicides. Algal response is different for each herbicide concentration in the examined sample. The two selected herbicides affect algal photosynthetic activity and consequently induce modifications in the quantity of electroactive species, O2, H2O2 and H3O+/OH- ions related to pH, produced by algae. Prior to the development of the final lab-on-chip device, the detection principle as well as the electrode materials that were going to be integrated were validated using a simpler device that was implemented using a silicon-based fabrication technology and was characterized using simpler procedures. A silicon chip containing the integrated three-electrode electrochemical microsystem was fabricated. The performance of the microsystem was evaluated through electrochemical characterization and calibration was performed. Once validated, the aforementioned materials and configurations were used for the fabrication of the lab-on-chip devices. The lab-on-chip devices were further used in bioassays to detect the herbicides of interest. Special emphasis was placed on O2 monitoring as indicator of the presence of herbicide, as it is the element the most representative of variations in metabolic activities. A concentration-dependent inhibition effect of the herbicide on photosynthesis was demonstrated. Herbicide detection was achieved with a greater sensitivity and a range covering the limit of maximum acceptable concentration imposed by Canadian government.

I den här rapporten undersöks hur en vävd textil kan fungera som ett hjälpmedel i analys av vätskor, såsom förorenat vatten eller blod från människor och djur. Det finns i dagsläget ett stort forskningsområde, kallat mikrofluidik, som behandlar förflyttning av vätska i kanaler på mikrometerstora ytor, där det här projektet till viss del kan hjälpa forskningen på området att komma framåt ytterligare ett steg.   Undersökningen har genomförts med hjälp av tester i laboratorium där en väv i polyeten, med kanaler i Coolmax® (polyester) för att transportera vätskan har använts. En mängd olika testomgångar med olika fokus, har genomförts: test i bitar med raka kanaler, test där wickingen avbrutits med hjälp av sax, test där wickingen har pausats på olika sätt för att sedan startas på nytt samt ett mindre antal tester där försök till styrning av vätskan. Syftet har varit att undersöka huruvida alla sex utvalda vätskor (metylenblått, mjölk, nötblod, olivolja, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) och syntetisk urin) har en förmåga att wicka och om det finns skillnader mellan hur långt vätskorna förflyttar sig.   Wickingtesterna har genomförts i både horisontellt och vertikalt läge, detta för att se om och i så fall hur mycket det skiljer, gällande hur långt en vätska flödar i kanalen. Det som framkommit i projektet är att alla vätskorna hade en förmåga att wicka. Metylenblått förflyttade sig längst i horisontellt läge medan urin förflyttades längst i vertikalt läge. Nötblodet förflyttade sig kortast sträcka i både horisontellt och vertikalt läge. Det som däremot har varit svårt att fastställa är vad skillnaderna egentligen beror på. Baserat på matematiska formler för wicking har det konstaterats att vätskornas kontaktvinkel bör ha betydelse, men detta har dessvärre inte kunnat undersökas i det här projektet. / This thesis examines how a woven textile can act as an aid in the analysis of fluids, such as contaminated water or blood from humans and animals. There is currently a large research area, called microfluidics, which deals with the movement of fluid in channels on micrometer-sized surfaces, where this project can, to some extent, fill some gaps and open for further questions in other parts.   The study has been carried out by using laboratory tests where a polyethylene weave, with channels in Coolmax® (polyester) for transporting the liquid has been used. Several different test rounds with a little different focus have been carried out: test in straight pieces, tests where the wicking has been interrupted by scissors, tests where the wicking has been paused and then restarted, and a smaller number of tests where attempts to control and navigate the fluid has been tested. The purpose has been to investigate whether all six selected fluids (methylene blue, milk, blood from bovine, olive oil, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and synthetic urine) have the ability of wicking and if there are differences between the fluids, and how far they reach.   The wicking tests have been carried out in both horizontal and vertical positions, to see if and if so, how much it differs, how far a fluid reaches. What emerged from the project is that all the liquids had the ability to wick. Methylene blue was the fluid that moved furthest in the horizontal position while urine moved furthest in the vertical position. The blood from bovine moved the shortest distance in both horizontal and vertical positions. What has, however, been difficult to determine is what the differences really depend on. Based on mathematical formulas for wicking, it has been found that the contact angle of the liquids should be important, but this have not been investigated in this project.

No description available.

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) uses earth’s heat to heat or cool space. Absorbing heat from earth or rejecting heat to the earth, changes soil’s constant temperature over the multiple years. In this report we have studied about Soil temperature change over multiple years due to Ground loop heat exchanger (GLHE) for Zero Energy Research Laboratory (ZØE) which is located in Discovery Park, University of North Texas, Denton, TX. We did 2D thermal analysis GLHP at particular Depth. For simulation we have used ANSYS workbench for pre-processing and FLUENT ANYS as solver. TAC Vista is software that monitors and controls various systems in ZØE. It also monitors temperature of water inlet/outlet of GLHE. For Monitoring Ground temperatures at various depths we have thermocouples installed till 8ft from earth surface, these temperatures are measured using LabVIEW. From TAC Vista and LabVIEW Reading’s we have studied five parameters in this report using FLUENT ANSYS, they are; (1) Effect of Time on soil Temperature change over Multi-years, (2) Effect of Load on soil temperature change over Multi-years, (3) Effect of Depth on soil temperature change over Multi-years, (4) Effect of Doubling ΔT of inlet and outlet of GLHE on soil temperature change over multi-years and (5) Effect on soil temperature change for same ZØE Laboratory, if it’s in Miami, Florida. For studying effect of time on soil temperature change for multi-years, we have varied heating and cooling seasons. We have four cases they are Case A: GSHP always “ON” (1) 7 months cooling and 5 month cooling and (2) 257 days are cooling and 108 days heating. Case B: GSHP “OFF” for 2 months (1) 7 months cooling and 3 months heating and (2) 6 months cooling and 4 month heating. For Studying Effect of Load on soil temperature change over multi-years, we have considered maximum temperature difference between inlet and outlet for heating and cooling season for simulation. For studying effect of doubling ΔT of inlet and outlet of GLHE, we have doubled the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of GLHP. There will be soil temperature change over year at various depths. For studying Effect of Depth on soil temperature change for multi-years, we have consider 5 depths, they are 4ft, 6ft, 8ft, 110ft and 220ft. The Densities of soil are known from site survey report of ZØE GSHP manufacturers till depth of 13ft. For studying effect of soil temperature over multi-years for same ZØE in Miami, Florida, we have considered equivalent cooling and heating season from weather data for past one year and assuming same number of days of cooling and heating for next 20 years we have simulated for soil temperature change.

No description available.

This project investigates the relationships between form and light in architecture. It explores how light as matter can be manipulated and used in material and spatial practices, to develop into habitable spaces with complex spatial relations. / Detta projekt undersöker förhållandet mellan form och ljus i arkitekturen. Undersökningen fokuserar på ljus som materialiseras och manipuleras som sedan används I materiella och rumsliga metoder. Med målet att utvecklas till beboeliga rum med komplexa rumsliga relationer.

At ITICSE 2002, the Lego Working Group first outlined how the Robots can be used to teach CS1 using Java. It was decided that a special session at SIGCSE 2003 designed to collect "best assignments" would simplify highlighting the benefit of using Robots to teach CS1. The creator of the assignment judged to be best would then be awarded a LEGO MINDSTROMS:Robotics Invention System 2.0 that will be provided by Sun Microsystems.

It is important for health clinics to capture clinical laboratory results such as point-of-care testing (POCT) data in order to meet personal health information needs while increasing patient throughput and improving clinical and economical outcomes. Personal health information needs should be exchanged at three levels: among patients and providers, across a community, and across the country. Health information technology is an important tool in addressing such a need while providing efficiency, safety, and quality. Electronically stored clinical data are necessary to attain the benefit of health information technology, so that the provider can achieve greater patient safety and efficiency through provider order entry, disease management, and clinical decision support. In any field of health care and medicine it is important to carefully document all forms of data. The purpose of this study was to examine the workflow associated with the collection of clinical lab data at the point of care. Staff members at an ambulatory, multi-specialty primary care clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana, were observed via a continuous time-motion study. Flowcharts were created for the step-by-step workflow process of a general POCT, lab, and for each role observed. Analysis of the subjects’ interview responses revealed the content of the pros and cons of possible data transfer modes from an electronic medical record (EMR) to a health information exchange (HIE). The tables derived from the time-motion study table were then analyzed, resulting in the creation of tables summarizing the approximate total time and percentage involved for each category of tasks observed. It was found that the majority of the time spent throughout the workflow process is on behalf of the nurse vs. the medical records clerk, who is involved, the least amount of time. The nurse plays the role of directing the entire workflow process of point of care testing and clinical laboratory tests. It was observed that the POCT results are recorded directly into a patient’s chart, resulting in no electronic documentation, while clinical laboratory test results are stored electronically in an EMR and printed out for chart storage. The processing task category takes the most amount of time throughout the duration of workflow process for POCT, clinical laboratory test, and the observed subject. Changes in the workflow process would most likely affect the phlebotomist; least likely affect the primary care provider, while the nurse, check-out clerk, and medical records clerk would be minimally affected. Overall, a change in the workflow process for a provider such as the medical facility observed in the study would create a higher patient intake and faster result turnaround, resulting in quality patient care. The use of data transfer of POCT and the clinical laboratory from an EMR to a HIE would create a broader depth of content that would be available for healthcare providers locally, regionally, nationally, and ultimately internationally.

The Q-weak experiment aims to measure the weak charge of proton with a precision of 4.2%. The proposed precision on weak charge required a 2.5% measurement of the parity violating asymmetry in elastic electron - proton scattering. Polarimetry was the largest experimental contribution to this uncertainty and a new Compton polarimeter was installed in Hall C at Jefferson Lab to make the goal achievable. In this polarimeter the electron beam collides with green laser light in a low gain Fabry- Perot Cavity; the scattered electrons are detected in 4 planes of a novel diamond micro strip detector while the back scattered photons are detected in lead tungstate crystals. This diamond micro-strip detector is the first such device to be used as a tracking detector in a nuclear and particle physics experiment. The diamond detectors are read out using custom built electronic modules that include a preamplifier, a pulse shaping amplifier and a discriminator for each detector micro-strip. We use field programmable gate array based general purpose logic modules for event selection and histogramming. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations and data acquisition simulations were performed to estimate the systematic uncertainties. Additionally, the Moller and Compton polarimeters were cross calibrated at low electron beam currents using a series of interleaved measurements. In this dissertation, we describe all the subsystems of the Compton polarimeter with emphasis on the electron detector. We focus on the FPGA based data acquisition system built by the author and the data analysis methods implemented by the author. The simulations of the data acquisition and the polarimeter that helped rigorously establish the systematic uncertainties of the polarimeter are also elaborated, resulting in the first sub 1% measurement of low energy ( 1 GeV) electron beam polarization with a Compton electron detector. We have demonstrated that diamond based micro-strip detectors can be used for tracking in a high radiation environment and it has enabled us to achieve the desired precision in the measurement of the electron beam polarization which in turn has allowed the most precise determination of the weak charge of the proton.

Lab-on-a-chip devices are changing the way that medical testing is performed by allowing rapid testing with small samples. Optofluidic biosensors are a type of lab-on-a-chip device that use light excitation on a fluid sample. One such application of an optofluidic biosensor is a device that can detect antibiotic resistant bacteria by combining DNA from a sample with fluorescent beads, flowing that sample through a hollow channel, and shining laser light on the channel. If the bacteria tested for is present, the fluorescent beads will give off photons that can be detected as a positive signal. The main method for illumination for these devices has been coupling light through a fiber optic cable to a waveguide on the side of the chip. Though effective, this method is impractical in a real world setting such as a hospital due to the difficulty of aligning to the side of the device. One solution to this problem is the use of illumination from the top of the device. Top-down illumination allows for more alignment flexibility, but also introduces the risk of additional noise or false signal as extra light reflects of the device. This dissertation discusses the viability and development of top-down illumination for optofluidic biosensors. This includes the development of an anti-reflective layer compatible with optofluidic biosensors, comparison of top-down illumination to side illumination, and simulations of various methods of performing top-down illumination. Based on the research and findings discussed in this dissertation, it has been found that top-down illumination is a viable illumination method for optofluidic biosensors. Additionally, the use of a pattern of laser lines combined with a light blocking anti-reflective layer is the recommended method for top-down illumination.