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Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) possesses a variety of extraordinary properties including ultra high elastic limit and strength and has been applied in diverse fields such as industrial coatings, sporting foods, medical devices, defense and aerospace sectors. The cross-section thickness of a few millimeters for cast BMG alloy components limits their application to manufacturing structural components. However, continuing global efforts are underway to increase the critical part size cast with BMG alloys. There are two phases tot his project. Phase 1 investigates the feasibility of using suitable BMG alloys to manufacture a pivot assembly in an Airborne Gravity Gradiometer (AGG) via net shape manufacturing techniques. Success of Phase 1 will enable a quantum leap in the capabilities of the present day AGG devices to successfully and accurately scope the vast untapped mineral and petroleum resources globally. Requirements of high tolerances in the pivot assembly with very specific material properties and a net shape manufacturing route coupled with the lack of any database for BMG alloys were the inherent challenges. Suitable BMG alloys have been identified for this purpose and continued efforts are underway to manufacture the pivot assembly. Phase 2 of this project lays the foundation for a much needed tool to predict the Glass forming Ability of BMG alloys. This will enable to scientifically develop novel BMG alloys to suite specific application in lieu of the current ad-hoc development trends. A viable thermal model to understand the relationship between growth rate of solid phase and melt undercooling during uni-directional solidification coupled with a solidification model based on competitive growth principles have been developed. Novel experiment program and setup have been developed to verify these models. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Pile-supported geogrid-reinforced embankments are an exciting new foundation system that is utilized when sites are limited by a soft soil or clay. In this system, an embankment is supported by a bridging layer, consisting of granular fill and one or multiple layers of geogrid reinforcement. The bridging layer transfers the load to piles that have been driven into the soft soil or clay. The load from the embankment induces large deformations in the geogrid reinforcement, causing tensile forces in the ribs of the geogrid. Many of the current methods used to design geogrid reinforcement for this system simplify the approach by assuming that the reinforcement has a parabolic deformed shape. The purpose of this thesis is to thoroughly examine the behavior of the geogrid in a pile-supported embankment system, in an effort to determine the accuracy of the parabolic deformed shape, and identify the most important parameters that affect reinforcement design. The geogrid was analyzed using a three-dimensional model that included a cable net to represent the geogrid and linear springs to represent the soil underneath the geogrid. A larger pressure was applied to the geogrid regions that are directly above the pile caps so that arching effects could be considered, and the stiffness of the springs on top of the pile were stiffer to account for the thin layer of soil between the geogrid and the pile cap. A Mathematica algorithm was used to solve this model using the minimization of energy method. The results were compared to another model of this system that used a membrane to represent the geosynthetic reinforcement. Additionally, the maximum strain was compared to the strain obtained from a geosynthetic reinforcement design formula. A parametric study was performed using the Mathematica algorithm by varying the pile width, embankment pressure applied to the soil, embankment pressure applied to the pile, stiffness of the soil, stiffness of the soil on top of the pile, stiffness of the geogrid, geogrid orientation, rotational stiffness of the geogrid, and the layers of geogrid reinforcement. / Master of Science

Throughout the International Monetary Fund's history it has been criticized for failing to address the negative impact its adjustment programs have on the poor in borrowing countries. This study examines the Fund's declared intention and actions regarding the construction of a social safety net in Indonesia from October 1997 until May 1998. A historical narrative using Constructivism as a theoretical framework is used to explain the relationship between the IMF, Suharto and the effect their interaction had on social safety net construction. This historical perspective reveals that rather than working towards building a social safety net, the Fund's main priority was the decentralization of Indonesian political and economic structures. / Master of Arts

Thesis advisor: John J. Piderit / This paper examines state and county-exclusive incentives on battery electric vehicle (BEV) registration in the United States. Using two main methods, a differences-in-differences method and a sigmoidal growth rate equation, I examine the impact of non-federal incentives on the total amount of electric vehicles between 2017 and 2022, as well as estimate the years that each state will reach its net-zero goals for carbon emissions in the transportation sector. I hope to provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of incentive policy, based on differing levels of incentive policy between regions, in order to best increase electric vehicle adoption in a cost-effective method. In addition, I hope that my estimates of net-zero projections will serve as a beneficial comparison to track states’ respective progress towards sustainable energy in vehicles. These findings can be used to assist policymakers in determining appropriate BEV adoption policies based on regional consumer demographics and needs, as well as visualize a timeline for the next century of rapid electric vehicle growth. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics. / Discipline: Departmental Honors.

The two most common options for post-mining land uses in the southern Appalachians are forestry or hayland/pasture. Hayland/pasture has become the predominant reclamation type due to ease of establishment and strict regulation standards requiring quick and dense erosion control by herbaceous cover. Recently, more landowners have become interested in returning mined land to an economically valuable post-mining land use, such as forestry. Landowners are becoming more aware of the possible future profits from timber stand harvests, as well as other benefits (monetary and aesthetic) derived from a forestry post-mining land use. Although hayland/pasture lands can provide economic returns through forage and grazing rents, many post-mining pasture lands are left fallow, with no economic returns being gained. Current research has provided the biological and technical information needed to reclaim mine lands to productive forest stands and achieve bond release. Cost information though has been lacking, or variable at best. The purpose of this study is to understand the processes of reclamation for both forestry and hayland/pasture, and calculate detailed cost estimates for both reclamation types. Total costs of reclamation are determined using a cost engineering method, in conjunction with Office of Surface Mining Regulation and Enforcement bond calculation worksheets. In Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, hayland/pasture reclamation is more costly on a per acre basis. The cost of hayland/pasture reclamation is greater than the cost of forestry reclamation by $140 per acre to $350 per acre. In Ohio, forestry reclamation is more expensive by nearly $60 per acre. Grading costs are four times as costly for hayland/pasture reclamation, as compared to forestry reclamation. Pasture reclamation requires more grading passes to prepare the seedbed, requiring four passes. Forestry reclamation typically involves only grading the site with one dozer pass to prevent compaction of minesoils which inhibits tree growth. Hyrdoseeding costs are also higher for hayland/pasture reclamation due to higher application rates of fertilizer and herbaceous seed. The hydroseeding costs make up the largest percentage of the total per acre cost for both forestry and hayland/pasture reclamation. Lime and mulch costs are equal for both reclamation types and are included in the hydroseeding equation. Due to the increased grading costs and higher hydroseeding costs, hayland/pasture reclamation is more expensive for all states analyzed in the Appalachians, other than Ohio. These cost estimates can provide useful tools for mine operators and landowners to determine the most economical and suitable post-mining land use for their individual property. / Master of Science

Big data is a term used to describe large amounts of data. The aim of the work has been to develop an efcient system that analyzes large quantities of data. Which in this case is the transport of wood between forest and industry. By man- aging this amount of data, the user can quickly receive information about the lo- cation of the timber and compare historical data regarding it. This report de- scribes the work of implementing a dashboard that compiles "Big data" in real time and in a comprehensible way. The project uses scrum as a project tool. This means an iterative development where you work towards smaller sub-goals. The report also includes evaluations conducted with a focus on usability and also a compilation of research within the subject of data visualization and BI. The evalu- ation indicated that by using the developed dashboard, it took a standard com- puter user an average of 3.4 seconds to fnd the requested information. Before, programming skills would be required and it would take much longer to obtain corresponding information. / Big data är ett begrepp som idag används flr att beskriva stora datamängder. Må- let med arbetet har varit att utveckla ett efektivt system som analyserar stora mängder data. I det här fallet transportfldet av virke mellan skog och industri. Genom att hantera den här mängden data får användaren snabbt fram information om vart virket befnner sig och mljlighet till att jämflra historiska data. Den här rapporten beskriver arbetet med att implementera en dashboard som i realtid sammanställer Big data på ett begripligt sätt. Projektet använder sig av scrum som projektverktyg. Det betyder ett iterativt arbete där man arbetar mot delmål. Rap- porten innehåller även utvärderingar som genomflrts med användbarhet i fokus samt en sammanställning av forskning inom området datavisualisering och BI. Utvärderingen visade att med den utvecklade dashboarden så tog det flr en nor- mal datoranvändare i snitt 3,4 sekunder att hitta den efterslka information. Tidi- gare så krävdes det programmeringskunskaper och betydligt längre tid flr att få fram motsvarade information.

Micro- generation is the small-scale and localised provision of heat or electricity. Micro-generators have the potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and enhance energy security by providing heat or electricity from either renewable sources, or via the more efficient use of fossil fuels. But this potential is often unquantified or unclear, and hence quantitative information is required concerning both the energetic performance of micro-generators and their ability to provide net reductions in carbon emissions. <br /> In the context of household energy provision in the UK, thermodynamic and related carbon analyses of three micro-generation technologies have been carried out. These studies contribute to the research of the SUPERGEN ‘Highly Distributed Power Systems’ Consortium, which has been addressing a broad range of issues regarding micro-generation. The technologies analysed here are a grid-tied micro-wind turbine (rotor diameter 1.7m, rated power 600 W at 12 m/s), a grid-tied solar photovoltaic array (15 m2, 2.1 kWp mono-crystalline silicon), and a solar hot-water system (2.8 m2 flat-plate collector, direct-feed system). Annual energy outputs were estimated and contextualised against the demands of representative UK households. The overall energy-resource and carbon savings provided by the micro-generators were assessed on the basis that they (partially) displace the established supply systems. Savings were then compared with the energy-resource and carbon ‘debts’ of the micro-generators to determine their net performance. <br /> The displaced energy or carbon payback periods of the micro-generators were estimated to be well within their estimated lifetimes: a maximum 2.5 years for the SHW system, 3.1 years for the micro-wind turbine installed in an ‘open’ environment, and 7.4 years for the solar PV system. After payback, net energy-resource and carbon savings accrue. This thesis thus demonstrates that, given appropriate UK installations, all three micro-generators can reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security by reducing use of, and dependence upon, fossil fuels.

Dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) é um hormônio esteroide secretado pelas glândulas adrenais, gônadas e cérebro, que juntamente com sua forma sulfatada (DHEAS) constituem os esteroides mais abundantes da circulação. É um importante precursor para hormônios sexuais e exerce funções diretas sob diversos sistemas do corpo, dentre eles, o sistema imune. A relação entre sistema endócrino e imune já é bem estabelecida, tendo hormônios a capacidade de modular a resposta imune e vice-versa. Dentre os componentes da resposta imune, estão os neutrófilos, importantes células da imunidade inata que reconhecem e eliminam patógenos através de diversos mecanismos efetores como fagocitose, produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), desgranulação, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Já é descrito que o avanço da idade é acompanhado pela redução dos níveis plasmáticos de DHEA, assim como a redução da atividade efetora de neutrófilo, podendo estes dois mecanismos estarem relacionados com estado de senescência e aumento da suscetibilidade de idosos à infecções. Porém, poucos estudos existem mostrando relação entre DHEA e neutrófilos. Desta forma, o objetivo do nosso trabalho, foi avaliar a influência do hormônio DHEA nas diversas funções efetoras de neutrófilos. Para tanto, neutrófilos humanos isolados do sangue periférico foram submetidos a um pré-tratamento com DHEA e infectado com Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ou estimulados com LPS. Observamos que o tratamento prévio dos neutrófilos com 0,01 ?M de DHEA é capaz aumentar a fagocitose da S. Typhimurium, assim como aumento da atividade microbicida destas células. Para investigar o mecanismo pelos quais a capacidade microbicida foi aumentada, avaliamos a produção de EROs e formação de NETs. Curiosamente o hormônio não influenciou em nenhum destes processos. Então, por fim, avaliamos o perfil de produção de citocinas in vitro produzidas pelos neutrófilos tratados com DHEA e infectados com S. Typhimurium ou estimulados com LPS (lipopolissacarídeo). Nosso estudo mostrou que os neutrófilos infectados ou estimulados reduzem a produção de quimiocinas como IL-8, MIP-1? e MIP-1?, quando comparados aos neutrófilos sem tratamento. Em adição, neutrófilos tratados com esteroide e estimulados com LPS tiveram a produção de TNF-? reduzida, a produção da IL-4 foi aumentada nos neutrófilos tratados com DHEA e infectados e a relação entre IFN-?/IL-4 foi reduzida. Nossos dados mostram que o DHEA pode estar contribuindo para o controle da infecção por S. Typhimurium, principalmente através da fagocitose e killing intracelular. Apesar dos dados de citocinas mostrarem que o DHEA está direcionando a resposta de neutrófilos para um caráter menos inflamatório, acreditamos que este possa ser um mecanismo protetor ao organismo, a fim de evitar uma resposta inflamatória exacerbada que poderia causar lesões teciduais. Concluímos então, que o DHEA é um importante esteroide com atividades imunorreguladoras que podem estar contribuindo para o controle da infecção por S. Typhimurium, porém mais estudos são necessários para o entendimento dos mecanismos utilizados por este esteroide para modular a resposta de neutrófilos, células tão importantes ao organismo humano. / Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, gonads and brain, which along with its sulfated form (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating steroid. It is an important precursor to sex hormones and exerts direct roles in several body systems, including the immune system. The relationship between the endocrine and immune system is already well established, with the hormone modulating the immune response and vice versa. Among the components of the immune response, neutrophils are important innate immunity cells that recognize and eliminate pathogens through various effector mechanisms such as phagocytosis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). It is reported that advanced age is accompanied by the reduction of plasma levels of DHEA as well as the reduction of the effector activity of neutrophils, these two mechanisms may be related to the state of senescence and increase in susceptibility of the elderly to infections. However, few studies exist showing the relationship between DHEA and neutrophils activity. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of the hormone DHEA in the several effector functions of neutrophils. To that end, human neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood were subjected to a treatment with DHEA and infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium or stimulated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). We observed that the treatment of neutrophils with 0.01 ?M of DHEA can increase phagocytic rates of S. Typhimurium, as well as increase the microbicidal activity of these cells. To investigate the mechanism by which the microbicidal capacity has been increased, we evaluated the production of ROS and formation of NETs. Interestingly the hormone did not influence in any of these processes. Then, we finally evaluated in the cytokine production profile produced by neutrophils treated in vitro with DHEA and infected with S. Typhimurium or stimulated with LPS. Our study showed that pré-treated and infected neutrophils or LPS-stimulated cells reduced the production of chemokines such as IL-8, MIP-1? and MIP-1? compared to untreated neutrophils. In addition, when steroid treated neutrophils were stimulated with LPS, a reduced TNF-? production was observed and the levels of IL-4 was increased in treated neutrophils with DHEA and infected with S. Typhimurium. The ratio of IFN-? / IL-4 was reduced. Our data show that DHEA may be contributing to the control of infection by S. Typhimurium, mainly by phagocytosis and intracellular killing. Although cytokines data show that DHEA is directing the neutrophil response to a less inflammatory response, and we believe that this may be a protective mechanism of the organism in order to avoid an exacerbated inflammatory response that could cause tissue damage to the body. We conclude then, that DHEA is a steroid with important immunoregulatory activities that may be contributing to the control of infection by S. typhimurium, but more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms used by this steroid to modulate neutrophil response, cells so important to the human body.

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar os picos de momento proximal resultante (MPR) e força proximal resultante (FPR) no ombro em alguns exercícios de reabilitação (elevação no plano escapular, flexão e abdução) em três diferentes situações de carga: sem carga (SC), com peso livre (HA) e com resistência elástica (RE). Participaram do estudo 21 indivíduos do sexo masculino, destros e sem histórico de lesão no ombro direito. Para análise cinemática foram utilizadas cinco câmeras digitais conectadas a cinco microcomputadores e, para análise cinética na situação de carga com RE, foi utilizada uma célula de carga. Cada indivíduo realizou cinco repetições de cada movimento com as três situações de carga em uma ordem randomizada, totalizando a participação em nove situações para análise. Um modelo matemático tridimensional foi utilizado para o cálculo do MPR e da FPR, a partir dos eixos: póstero-anterior (x), caudal-cranial (y) e médio-lateral (z). Na análise estatística dos dados a normalidade dos dados foi confirmada por meio do teste de Shapiro-Wilk. Os dados de pico de MPR e FPR e ângulo de ocorrência desses picos nas três situações de carga e nos três diferentes movimentos foram comparados entre si em relação às suas magnitudes por meio do teste ANOVA two-way com um post hoc de Bonferroni (nível de significância de p< 0,05). Os resultados mostram que no eixo x e no z houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para todas as variáveis analisadas nos dois fatores. Já no eixo y o ângulo de ocorrência dos picos da FPR no fator movimento não apresentou diferença estatística. Houve interação dos fatores para o ângulo de ocorrência dos picos do MPR no eixo x e para o pico do MPR no eixo y. Os exercícios de reabilitação que apresentaram maior pico da FPR no eixo x e no eixo y foram o de elevação e flexão, e no eixo z o de abdução e os que apresentaram maior pico do MPR nos eixos x e y foram o de abdução, e no eixo z o de flexão e elevação. As situações de carga que apresentaram maior pico da FPR no eixo x foram a HA e a RE, e nos eixos y e z foi a HA. A situação de carga que apresentou maior pico do MPR nos três eixos foi a HA. / The objective of this study was to determine the proximal net moment (PNM) and proximal net force (PNF) peaks of the shoulder in some shoulder rehabilitation exercises (elevation, flexion and abduction) with three different load situations: without load (WL), with free load (FL) and with elastic resistance (ER). Twenty-one male subjects, right-handed and without right shoulder injury history participated in the study. For kinematics analysis, five digital cameras connected to five computers were used and, for kinetic analysis for the ER load situation, a strain gauge was used. Each subject carried out five repetitions of all movements with the three load situations in a randomized order and, therefore, participated of nine situations of analysis. A three-dimensional mathematic model was used to calculate the PNM and PNF and the axes used are: posterior-anterior (x), inferior-superior (y) and medio-lateral (z). In the data statistic analysis, data normality was confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk test. The data of PNM peak, PNF peak and angle which these peaks occur in the three different situation loads and in the three different movements were compared using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc test (significance level of 0,05). The results show that in the x and z axes there is significant statistical difference for all variables analised in the two factors. However, in the y axis the angle where the peak PNF occur does not reveals statiscal difference in the movement factor. With regard to factors interaction, there are just two significants for PNF peak angle in the x axis and for PNF peak in the y axis. In conclusion, the exercises that have the greater PNF peak in the x and y axes were elevation and flexion, and in the z axis was abduction. The exercises that have the greater PNM peak in the x and y axes was abduction and in the z axis were flexion and elevation. The load situations that presented the greater PNF peak in the x axis were FL and ER and in the y and z axes was FL. The situation load that has the greater PNM peak in all axes was FL.