Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed December 6, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Graduation date: 1995

Pulsed laser deposition method was employed to grow MgO thin films with preferred orientation on bare Si(100) and SiO₂/Si(100) substrates. The orientation of MgO thin films was systematically investigated by varying deposition parameters. XRD analysis showed that the preferred orientation of MgO thin films would change from (111) to (100) when laser fluence decreased and oxygen pressure increased to certain extend. But it was difficult to fabricate completely (100)-oriented MgO films. Substrate temperature seemed to have little influence on the orientation of MgO thin films at high laser fluence. SEM images of the MgO thin films on Si(100) deposited at 400°C and the laser fluence of 5J/cm² in the oxygen ambient of 200mTorr demonstrated that there was no presence of interfacial reactions or cracks and the film surface was very smooth. Such film is suitable as buffer layers for the growth of high-quality ferroelectric and superconducting overlayers. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Thin film lithium microbatteries were investigated in this project in which LiCoO₂ cathodes about 200 to 500 nm were fabricated by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) at different processing parameters such as laser energy and fluence, substrate temperature, background gas pressure, and target-substrate distance. Structure, microstructure and composition of as-deposited LiCoO₂ films were determined by XRD, SEM and XPS. Optimal deposition parameters were identified. Relaxation of open-circuit voltage of as-prepared cells and charge-discharge cycling were conducted to characterize the electrochemical properties of microbatteries made of these LiCoO₂ films. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

The prevention and control of salmonellae in commercial swine operations are becoming increasingly important. The current approach focuses on identifying sources and/or origins of salmonellae contamination before swine are processed for human consumption. The objective of the current study was to assess strain variability among salmonellae grouped by serotype and to determine common origins of contamination (farm or slaughter plant). Salmonellae were previously collected from swine at slaughter, serotyped by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and stored at - 70??C. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to genotypically characterize serotypic isolates using restriction endonuclease XbaI. Dendrogram comparisons were also used to assess genotypic similarity when multiple genotypes existed. This study found PFGE to be more discriminatory than serotyping indicating that multiple genotypic strains existed among selected serotypes. On the basis of PFGE results alone, origins of contamination could not be determined in this study. It is suggested by the author, that origins of contamination could be further defined pending future research, in which in-depth longitudinal studies are included. When used as an adjunct to conventional typing methods, PFGE may prove to be a substantial subtyping system in epidemiologic investigations to identify point-of-entry contaminants to the food chain.

Graduation date: 1992

The prevention and control of salmonellae in commercial swine operations are becoming increasingly important. The current approach focuses on identifying sources and/or origins of salmonellae contamination before swine are processed for human consumption. The objective of the current study was to assess strain variability among salmonellae grouped by serotype and to determine common origins of contamination (farm or slaughter plant). Salmonellae were previously collected from swine at slaughter, serotyped by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and stored at - 70??C. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to genotypically characterize serotypic isolates using restriction endonuclease XbaI. Dendrogram comparisons were also used to assess genotypic similarity when multiple genotypes existed. This study found PFGE to be more discriminatory than serotyping indicating that multiple genotypic strains existed among selected serotypes. On the basis of PFGE results alone, origins of contamination could not be determined in this study. It is suggested by the author, that origins of contamination could be further defined pending future research, in which in-depth longitudinal studies are included. When used as an adjunct to conventional typing methods, PFGE may prove to be a substantial subtyping system in epidemiologic investigations to identify point-of-entry contaminants to the food chain.

none

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: rapid prototyping; solid freeform fabrication; LENS; laser engineered net shaping; laser; titanium. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-85).

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Robert W. Ashton, William B. Maier II. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-84). Also available online.