This project deals with the potential of membrane stratified solar ponds which consist of two water layers, where one is a salt solution here, and a separating translucent membrane. An experimental pond was set up to study the thermal behaviour of such collector systems. The input is mainly solar radiation, sometimes when the ambient temperatures are higher than the pond temperatures also heat from the environment is transferred into the pond. The measured temperatures of the pond, the ambient temperature, the global radiation and wind speed were the basis data for thermal calculations which showed that the pond was working well as a solar collector and thermal storage system all in one. Heat was not extracted from the pond however, only the losses to the environment were studied. It was found out that the pond temperatures were higher than the ambient temperature over the whole measurement period of 12 days, and insulation and pollution problems as well as future prospects and suggestions for further studies are discussed at the end of this paper.

Stratified two-phase flows were investigated at different test facilities with horizontal test sections in order to provide an experimental database for the development and validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. These channels were designed with rectangular cross-sections to enable optimal observation conditions for the application of optical measurement techniques. Consequently, the local flow structure was visualised with a high-speed video camera, delivering data with high-resolution in space and time as needed for CFD code validation. Generic investigations were performed at atmospheric pressure and room temperature in two air/water channels made of acrylic glass. Divers preliminary experiments were conducted with various measuring systems in a test section mounted between two separators. The second test facility, the Horizontal Air/Water Channel (HAWAC), is dedicated to co-current flow investigations. The hydraulic jump as the quasi-stationary discontinuous transition between super- and subcritical flow was studied in this closed channel. Moreover, the instable wave growth leading to slug flow was investigated from the test section inlet. For quantitative analysis of the optical measurements, an algorithm was developed to recognise the stratified interface in the camera frames, allowing statistical treatments for comparison with CFD calculation results. The third test apparatus was installed in the pressure chamber of the TOPFLOW test facility in order to be operated at reactor typical conditions under pressure equilibrium with the vessel atmosphere. The test section representing a flat model of the hot leg of the German Konvoi pressurised water reactor (PWR) scaled at 1:3 is equipped with large glass side walls in the region of the elbow and of the steam generator inlet chamber to allow visual observations. The experiments were conducted with air and water at room temperature and maximum pressures of 3 bar as well as with steam and water at boundary conditions of up to 50 bar and 264°C. Four types of experiments were performed, including generic test cases as well as transient validation cases of typical nuclear reactor safety issues. As an example, the co-current flow experiments simulate the two-phase natural circulation in the primary circuit of a PWR. The probability distribution of the water level measured in the reactor pressure vessel simulator was used to characterise the flow in the hot leg. Moreover, the flooding behaviour in this conduit was investigated with dedicated counter-current flow limitation experiments. A comparison of the flooding characteristics with similar experimental data and correlations available in the literature shows that the channel height is the characteristic length to be used in the Wallis parameter for channels with rectangular cross-sections. Furthermore, for the analysis of steam/water experiments, condensation effects had to be taken into account. Finally, the experimental results confirm that the Wallis similarity is appropriate to scale flooding in the hot leg of a PWR over a large range of pressure and temperature conditions. Not least, different examples of comparison between experiment and simulation demonstrate the possibilities offered by the data to support the development and validation of CFD codes. Besides the comparison of qualitative aspects, it is shown exemplarily how to treat the CFD results in order to enable quantitative comparisons with the experiments.

ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in Taiwan. The development of hepatocellular carcinoma is a multi-step process associated with alterations in genes expression such as activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Mutation/deletion of tumor suppressor gene p53 occurs in 40-50% HCC. Moreover, patients with p53 inactivation have significantly shorter survival after surgery. Inactivation of p53 leads to chromosome instability and may alter expression of its downstream target genes including 14-3-3s for cell cycle arrest or PUMA for apoptosis induction. In this thesis study, we employed five human hepatoma cell lines and ten surgical HCC samples containing paired normal and tumor tissues to investigate 14-3-3s and PUMA expression during liver carcinogenesis. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that 14-3-3s mRNA expression was detected in well and poorly differentiated hepatoma cells except Mahlavu cells. Western blot analysis further validated such finding that 14-3-3s protein is not detectable in Mahlavu cell. In human surgical HCC tissues, qRT-PCR showed that 14-3-3s mRNA was elevated in 90% of HCC tissues. Western blot analysis indicated that 14-3-3s protein level was increased in 60% of HCC tissues. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 14-3-3s was up-regulated in 50% of HCC tissues comparing with their adjacent non-tumor tissues. Together, these results indicated that 14-3-3s expression was up-regulated in HCC. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis indicated that PUMA mRNA and protein levels were decreased in human and rat hepatoma cells. In human surgical HCC tissues, qRT-PCR showed that PUMA mRNA was reduced in 60% of HCC tissues. Western blot analysis indicated that PUMA protein level was decreased in 100 of HCC tissues. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PUMA was down-regulated in 70% of HCC tissues comparing with their adjacent non-tumor tissues. Together, these results indicated that PUMA expression was down-regulated in HCC. In the future, large-scale analysis using more HCC samples will be required to delineate the correlation of 14-3-3s/PUMA expression with clinical parameters of HCC.

Šiame darbe nagrinėjama speciali atraminių elementų erdvė – tiesinių elementų erdvė. Šios geometrijos bendrąją tiesinių ir afiniųjų siečių teoriją sukūrė V. Bliznikas. Jis parodė, [5] kaip tiesinės sieties geometrinis objektas indukuoja aukštesniųjų eilių afiniųjų, taip pat tenzorinių siečių objektams. V. Blizniko sukurtais tyrimo metodais dalinai naudojomės ir šiame darbe. Metrinių hiperplokštuminių elementų erdvė yra taip vadinamų normalizuotų erdvių atvejis. Normalizuotos erdvės tai tokios, kuriose apibrėžtos koks nors diferencialinis – geometrinis objektas, kurio invariantai ir sudaro normalizuotos erdvės geometrijos turinį. Tokiais objektais dažnai būna skaliarinė funkcija. (Finslerio ar Kartano erdvės), metrinis tenzorius (tiesinių ar hiperplokštuminių elementų erdvės), afiniosios sieties objektas (afiniosios sieties erdvės) ir pan. Šiame darbe nagrinėjamos metrinių tiesinių elementų erdvės, kurios yra normalizuojamos metrinio tenzoriaus pagalba. Be to, tas tenzorius turi specialią struktūrą (žr. [1]). Ta struktūra charakteringa tuo, kad visuomet tokios erdvės yra Landsbergo erdvių analogai. Darbe pavyko tokioms metrikoms sukonstruoti vidines beveik kompleksines ir beveik sandaugos struktūras, surasti jų integruojamumo sąlygą, kurios dėka metrikos specifika yra kitokia nei analogiškos sąlygos Finslerio erdvėse. Darbas sudarytas ir iš įžangos ir 8 paragrafų. Pirmajame paragrafe dėstomas įvadas į liestinių sluoksniuočių geometriją. Antrajame nagrinėjama šių erdvių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The elements of metric space with a special form of metric are dealt with in the work. It is shown how in such spase linear and affine links are defined with the help of metric tenzor, the ogjects of curvature are founds the existence of the type of metric affine links is proved. It is proved that the metric tenzor induces two parametric almost complex and almost the structures of product, the integration criteria of these structures are found. Keywords: • differentiable manifold • tangent stratified; • linear and affine traceable; • integrated struktures; • structural tensors.

Šiame magistro diplominiame darbe, naudojant skirtingas atstumo funkcijas ir kalibravimo lygtis, išvedami Horvico ir Tompsono įvertinio dispersijos įvertinių svoriai. Tokiu būdu, sukonstruojami aštuoni nauji Horvico ir Tompsono įvertinio dispersijos įvertiniai. Naudojant Teiloro ištiesinimo metodą pateikiamos sukonstruotų įvertinių apytikslės dispersijos ir pasiūlyti šių dispersijų įvertiniai. Be to, darbe atliekamas matematinis modeliavimas, kurio eksperimentai atlikti naudojant darbo autorės sukurtas MATLAB programas. Matematinio modeliavimo tikslas - naujus įvertinius palyginti tarpusavyje ir su standartiniu įvertiniu. Tiriama, kaip įvertinių tikslumas priklauso nuo pasirinkto imties plano. / In this master's graduation work, the weights of estimators of Horvitz & Thompson estimator of variance are defined by using some different distance function and calibration equations. In such a way, the new eight estimators of Horvitz & Thompson estimator of variance were constructed. Using the Taylor linearization method the approximate variances of the constructed estimators were derived. The estimators of the variances of these estimators are proposed as well. Also we perform here a mathematical modeling using MATLAB program. The aim of this mathematical modeling is to compare the new estimators with each other and with a standard one. We analyze also how the accuracy of estimators depends of selected sampling design.

[Truncated abstract] The lake boundaries are an important source of sediment, nutrients and chemicals. For life inside the lake, the exchange between the lake boundaries (littoral) and lake interior (pelagic) is of central importance to Limnology as the net flux of nutrients into the water column is both the driving force and limiting factor for most algae blooms found during the stratification period. Consequently, the understanding of the relevant processes defining such an exchange is a further step toward a sound basis for future decisions by lake managers in order to ensure high water quality. The objective of this research was to investigate the physical processes responsible for the exchange of water and particles between the lake boundaries and the lake interior. An integrated approach using field experiments and 3D modelling as applied to Lake Kinneret (Israel) is presented. The field data revealed large-scale metalimnion oscillations with amplitudes up to 10 m in response to westerly diurnal winds, the existence of a well-defined suspended particle intrusion into the metalimnion of the lake, characterized by high concentrations of organic matter, and a well-mixed benthic boundary layer (BBL). The changes in the thermal structure explained the observed vertical and horizontal movements of the suspended particle intrusion. The horizontal advective transport via the metalimnion, associated with the velocities induced by the basin-scale mode-two Poincare wave, controlled the exchange between the lake boundaries and lake interior on daily time scales. The observed BBL over the lake slope varied markedly with time and space. Detailed comparison of simulation results with field data revealed that the model captured the lake hydrodynamics for time scales from hours to days. The model could then be used to extract the residual motions in the various regions of the lake. The residual motions below the surface layer were predominantly forced by the basin-scale internal wave motions, but the residual motion in the surface layer was found to be very sensitive to the curl of the wind field. The residual circulation was responsible for redistributing mass throughout the lake basin on time scales from days to weeks. A clear connection of dynamics of the BBL with the large-scale features of the flow was addressed. The time history of the mixing in the BBL and the resulting cross-shore flux was shown to vary with the phase of the basin-scale internal waves.

[Truncated abstract] The process of selective withdrawal has, over many years, been used as an effective tool for extraction of water of particular quality from stratifed reservoirs. While the formation and steady-state theory of selective withdrawal in a stratifed fluid at rest has been extensively studied, little is known how vertical displacements of stratifcation due to long internal waves affect the water quality of the outflows. The first part of this study investigates the effect of basin-scale internal waves on the water quality parameters in Lake Burragorang, a large water supply reservoir for the city of Sydney, Australia. It is shown from field observations how the steady-state formulation of selective withdrawal can be used to predict the outflow water quality in reservoirs where internal waves are present, with a temperature prediction accuracy within 0.2 oC. . . In order to explain fluctuations in water quality parameters of the outflows, such as turbidity, it is important to know not only the stratifcation conditions in front to the offtake, but also to understand the dynamics of suspended particles in the upper reaches of the reservoir. In the third part of this study, transport and settling of suspended particles was investigated in the Wollondilly arm of Lake Burragorang by combination of direct and inverse methods. The inverse method was modifed to enable the separation of advective and diffusive transport of suspended particles from Stokes settling controlled by gravity, yielding twodimensional fields of particle velocities and settling fluxes in the upper reaches of the reservoir. These estimates are compared to the direct measurements of sedimentation fluxes made by the sediment traps and LISST-100.

Thesis (MPhil (Informations Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Karl E. Weick’s Theory of Organizational Sensemaking and Elliot Jaques’ Stratified Systems Theory are not often deemed to be complimentary. The generally accepted view is that these two positions represent two poles on a spectrum of organization theory. The thesis attempts to bring these two theories in conversation with one another and argues that organizational sensemaking is enriched in a requisitely structured organization. The essence of stratified systems theory is that all humans have an inherent cognitive potential level of coping with complexity. As people mature they gain the potential to handle the next level complexity jobs. Similarly, jobs have a certain span within which they can or should be successfully mastered. In organizations one can then identify different strata, according to job complexity. A requisitely structured organization uses strata to create a managerial hierarchy. Jaques argues that a hierarchy is not repressive if applied requisitely as people will naturally be drawn to jobs in the strata where they are most effective. Sensemaking on the other hand, is the cognitive ability to impose frames on ongoing flows and so make the world sensible. Normally it is an automatic process, but in organizations the sense made is often fragile and under threat. Sensemaking and management are two mutually interacting activities that influence each other constantly. The type of frame imposed on an object, the interpretation given to events, the plausibility of explanations forwarded and the contextualization of circumstances is dependent on one’s applied cognitive capabilities. It is argued that if there are no discontinuites in cognitive capabilities and if the organization is requisitely structured then sensemaking is enhanced. This argument serves as the bridge between Sensemaking Theory and Stratified Systems Theory. Other links are in pertinent properties that are common to both theories, for example, requisite variety, trust, meetings and leadership, which are fundamental requirements in both theories. While the theories are complementary, there remain some gray areas and some others of contention and these are considered towards the end. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Karl Weick se Teorie oor Organisatoriese Singewing en Elliot Jaques se Stratifiseerde Sisteemteorie word nie gewoonlik as komplimentêr gesien nie. Die algemeen aanvaarde siening is dat die twee teorieë eintlik pole aan weerskante van ‘n teoretiese spektrum is. Die tesis probeer om die twee teorieë met mekaar in gesprek te bring en argumenteer dat organisatoriese singewing in ‘n genoegsaam gestruktureerde organisasie verryk word. Die kern van Stratifiseerde Sisteemteorie is dat alle mense ‘n inherente kognitiewe potensiaal vir kompleksiteitshantering het. Soos mense natuurlik verouder kan hulle potensiaal vergroot word en kan hulle ‘n volgende vlak van kompleksiteit hanteer. In organisasies beteken dit dat verskillende rolle in organisasies verskillende tydsperiodes vereis waarbinne dit suksesvol bemeester kan of behoort te word. In organisasies kan verskillende vlakke op hierdie manier geïdentifiseer word. Volgens Jaques gebruik ‘n genoegsaam gestruktureerde organisasie hierdie vlakke om ‘n hierargiese bestuurstruktuur daar te stel waarmee mense aangewend word op die vlakke waar hulle die effektiefste sal wees. Singewing daarteenoor, is die kognitiewe vermoë om raamwerke op deurlopende vloeie af te dwing. Normaalweg is dit ‘n outomatiese proses, maar in organisasies word singewing dikwels bedreig. Singewing en bestuur is twee aktiwiteite wat mekaar deurlopend beïnvloed. Die soort raam wat op die vloei afgedwing word, die interpretasie van gebeure, die geloofwaardigheid van verduidelikings en die kontekstualisering van omstandighede hang saam met mens se kognitiewe vermoëns. Daar word geargumenteer dat die afwesigheid van diskontinuïteite in kognitiewe vermoëns is en ‘n genoegsaam gestruktureerde organisasie singewing sal bevorder. Op hierdie manier word ‘n brug geslaan tussen Singewingsteorie en Stratifiseerde Sisteemteorie. In die proses word eienskappe wat sentraal staan vir beide teorieë, soos vereiste varieteit, belang van vergaderings, vertroue en leierskap, uitgelig as gedeelde eienskappe tussen die twee toerieë. Laastens word die grys areas en besware bekyk en waar die grense van komplimentariteit tussen die twee teorieë lê.

Title: Parameter Estimation under Two-phase Stratified and Cluster Sampling Author: Mgr. Michaela Šedová Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: Doc. Mgr. Michal Kulich, Ph.D. Abstract: In this thesis we present methods of parameter estimation under two-phase stratified and cluster sampling. In contrast to classical sampling theory, we do not deal with finite population parameters, but focus on model parameter inference, where the ob- servations in a population are considered to be realisations of a random variable. However, we consider the sampling schemes used, and thus we incorporate much of survey sampling theory. Therefore, the presented methods of the parameter estimation can be understood as a combination of the two approaches. For both sampling schemes, we deal with the concept where the population is considered to be the first-phase sample, from which a sub- sample is drawn in the second phase. The target variable is then observed only for the subsampled subjects. We present the mean value estimation, including the statistical prop- erties of the estimator, and show how this estimation can be improved if some auxiliary information, correlated with the target variable, is observed for the whole population. We extend the method to the regression problem....

Les ondes internes de gravité jouent un rôle essentiel dans la dynamique océanique. La relation de dispersion anisotrope de ces ondes conduit à des lois de réflexion qui sont différentes de celles dont nous avons l'habitude avec les ondes acoustiques ou les rayons lumineux. Dans cette thèse de doctorat, nous nous intéressons aux structures créées par ces ondes en deux dimensions puis en trois dimensions. Dans la plupart des géométries 2D, le parcours des ondes va converger vers un attracteur. Nous étudions d'abord expérimentalement, dans une géométrie trapézoïdale, l'aspect énergétique d'un de ces attracteurs d'ondes. Nous examinons ensuite expérimentalement la transformation de ces attracteurs dans des géométries tridimensionnelles. Dans certaines géométries, la réflexion des ondes conduit à un phénomène de piégeage dans un plan 2D. Ce phénomène, d'abord étudié à l'aide de tracés de rayons, a été reproduit dans une géométrie trapézoïdale ainsi que dans une géométrie de canal. Cette mise en évidence expérimentale du piégeage pourrait expliquer certaines mesures in-situ réalisées dans l'estuaire du Saint Laurent où la propagation des ondes internes est encore mal comprise. Cette thèse est enrichie par deux études expérimentales portant sur la propagation et la réflexion d'un faisceau d'ondes interne : d'une part, l'instabilité créant un courant moyen dans le cas d'un faisceau se propageant dans une géométrie tridimensionnelle et d'autre part la génération d'ondes rétro-réfléchies lors de la réflexion sur des surfaces courbes. / Internal waves play a critical rôle in the ocean dynamics. The anisotropic dispersion relation of these waves leads to reflexion law which are different from what we are used to with acoustic waves or light rays. In the PhD thesis, we are interested in structures generated by these waves, in two dimensions then in three dimensions. In most of the 2D geometries, wave path will converge onto an attractor. We firstly study experimentally, in a trapezoidal geometry, the energy aspect of one of these attractors. Then, we survey experimentally the future of these attractors in tridimensional geometries. In some of them, reflexion leads to a trapping event in a 2D plan. This phenomenon was firstly studied by means of ray tracing, and was reproduced in both a trapezoidal and a canal geometry. The experimental obtainment of trapping could explain some in-situ measurements done in the Saint Laurent estuary, where internal wave propagation is still under scrutiny. This thesis is enhanced by two experimental studies on propagation and reflexion of an internal wave beam. Firstly, the instability generating a mean flow from a beam propagating in a three-dimensional geometry. Secondly, the generation of back-reflected waves from beam reflexion on a curved surface.