No description available.

No description available.

In the wetter climates associated with the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, coarse woody debris (CWD) accumulations in the form of snags, downed boles, and large branches can be large in natural forest ecosystems. Although maintaining organic matter for sustainable site productivity is not in dispute, the importance of CWD as a source of soil organic matter is questionable. Forest managers attempting to optimize timber production need to know how CWD affects short-term forest tree growth and productivity. This study addresses the question of the immediate value of CWD for growth of mature (90 year old) western hemlock (Hw). Because of practical difficulty with mature trees growing in different substrates, we utilized fine root distribution or proliferation, as an indicator of important substrates.

This thesis investigates inkjet printing of fully-integrated modules fabricated on organic substrates as a system-level solution for ultra-low-cost and eco-friendly mass production of wireless sensor modules. Prototypes are designed and implemented in both traditional FR-4 substrate and organic substrate. The prototype on organic substrate is referred to as a Smart Wireless Integrated Module (SWIM). Parallels are drawn between FR-4 manufacturing and inkjet printing technology, and recommendations are discussed to enable the potential of inkjet printing technology. Finally, this thesis presents novel applications of SWIM technology in the area of wearable and implantable electronics. Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to inkjet printing technology on organic substrates, wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and the requirements for low-power consumption, low-cost, and eco-friendly technology. Chapter 2 discusses the design of SWIM and its implementation using traditional manufacturing techniques on FR-4 substrate. Chapter 3 presents a benchmark prototype of SWIM on paper substrate. Challenges in the manufacturing process are addressed, and solutions are proposed which suggest future areas of research in inkjet printing technology. Chapter 4 presents novel applications of SWIM technology in the areas of implantable and wearable electronics. Chapter 5 concludes the thesis by discussing the importance of this work in creating a bridge between current inkjet printing technology and its future.

The concept of accumulating xenobiotics within the human body as a health risk is well known. However, these compounds can also be endogenous, as in the case of inborn errors of metabolism. Biotransformation of both exogenous and endogenous toxic compounds is an important function of the liver, and the critical balance between these systems is of fundamental importance for cellular health. Fatty acid ?-oxidation deficiencies are associated with characteristic clinical symptoms as a consequence of the accumulation of specific metabolites. For these accumulated metabolites various nutrients are indispensable for optimal biotransformation and continuous accumulation of metabolites can ultimately result in the depletion of biotransformation substrates and cofactors. In this study, a novel model (the unbalanced biotransformation metabolism model) is proposed that describes the critical balance between Phase I and Phase II biotransformation and how a disturbance in this balance will increase the oxidative stress status. The significance of this model lies within the treatment possibilities, as the assessment of biotransformation metabolism and oxidative stress status can lead to the development of nutritional treatment strategies to correct imbalances. The value of this model is illustrated by its application to a clinical case investigated. In addition to the use of nutritional supplementation in treatment, biotransformation substrates and cofactors were also used to develop a ?substrate loading cocktail?. This cocktail ensured sufficient availability of biotransformation substrates and precursors to stimulate coenzyme A biosynthesis. The application of this ?substrate loading cocktail? in subjects with both induced and inborn errors in fatty acid oxidation demonstrated that such a novel approach is a useful tool to give new insight into these kinds of deficiencies and open the possibility for the identification of new deficiencies. Interesting observations made in subjects originally referred for biotransformation and oxidative stress status profiles led to the first in vivo evidence of an inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid on short-chain fatty acid metabolism possibly at the level of isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Since not all individuals were affected to the same degree, this observation can potentially be used to detect individuals with rate-limiting polymorphisms or mutations in the isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The concept of accumulating xenobiotics within the human body as a health risk is well known. However, these compounds can also be endogenous, as in the case of inborn errors of metabolism. Biotransformation of both exogenous and endogenous toxic compounds is an important function of the liver, and the critical balance between these systems is of fundamental importance for cellular health. Fatty acid ?-oxidation deficiencies are associated with characteristic clinical symptoms as a consequence of the accumulation of specific metabolites. For these accumulated metabolites various nutrients are indispensable for optimal biotransformation and continuous accumulation of metabolites can ultimately result in the depletion of biotransformation substrates and cofactors. In this study, a novel model (the unbalanced biotransformation metabolism model) is proposed that describes the critical balance between Phase I and Phase II biotransformation and how a disturbance in this balance will increase the oxidative stress status. The significance of this model lies within the treatment possibilities, as the assessment of biotransformation metabolism and oxidative stress status can lead to the development of nutritional treatment strategies to correct imbalances. The value of this model is illustrated by its application to a clinical case investigated. In addition to the use of nutritional supplementation in treatment, biotransformation substrates and cofactors were also used to develop a ?substrate loading cocktail?. This cocktail ensured sufficient availability of biotransformation substrates and precursors to stimulate coenzyme A biosynthesis. The application of this ?substrate loading cocktail? in subjects with both induced and inborn errors in fatty acid oxidation demonstrated that such a novel approach is a useful tool to give new insight into these kinds of deficiencies and open the possibility for the identification of new deficiencies. Interesting observations made in subjects originally referred for biotransformation and oxidative stress status profiles led to the first in vivo evidence of an inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid on short-chain fatty acid metabolism possibly at the level of isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Since not all individuals were affected to the same degree, this observation can potentially be used to detect individuals with rate-limiting polymorphisms or mutations in the isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

A new manufacturing paradigm may lower the cost and environmental impact of existing products, as well as enable completely new products. Large scale, roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible electronics and other functionality has great potential. However, a commercial breakthrough depends on a lower consumption of materials and energy compared with competing alternatives, and that sufficiently high performance and reliability of the products can be maintained. The substrate constitutes a large part of the product, and therefore its cost and environmental sustainability are important. Electrically conducting thin films are required in many functional devices and applications. In demanding applications, metal films offer the highest conductivity.   In this thesis, paper substrates of various type and construction were characterized, and the characteristics were related to the performance of inkjet-printed metal patterns. Fast absorption of the ink carrier was beneficial for well-defined pattern geometry, as well as high conductivity. Surface roughness with topography variations of sufficiently large amplitude and frequency, was detrimental to the pattern definition and conductivity. Porosity was another important factor, where the characteristic pore size was much more important than the total pore volume. Apparent surface energy was important for non-absorbing substrates, but of limited importance for coatings with a high absorption rate. Applying thin polymer–based coatings on flexible non-porous films to provide a mechanism for ink solvent removal, improved the pattern definition significantly. Inkjet-printing of a ZnO-dispersion on uncoated paper provided a thin spot-coating, allowing conductivity of silver nanoparticle films. Conductive nanoparticle films could not form directly on the uncoated paper.   The resulting performance of printed metal patterns was highly dependent on a well adapted sintering methodology. Several sintering methods were examined in this thesis, including conventional oven sintering, electrical sintering, microwave sintering, chemical sintering and intense pulsed light sintering. Specially designed coated papers with modified chemical and physical properties, were utilized for chemical low-temperature sintering of silver nanoparticle inks. For intense pulsed light sintering and material conversion of patterns, custom equipment was designed and built. Using the equipment, inkjet-printed copper oxide patterns were processed into highly conducting copper patterns. Custom-designed papers with mesoporous coatings and porous precoatings improved the reliablility and performance of the reduction and sintering process.         The thesis aims to clarify how ink-substrate interactions and sintering methodology affect the performance and reliability of inkjet-printed nanoparticle patterns on flexible substrates. This improves the selection, adaptation, design and manufacturing of suitable substrates for inkjet-printed high conductivity patterns, such as circuit boards or RFID antennas.

No description available.

[Truncated abstract] The principal aim of this thesis was to examine the response of the microbial community to the addition of small amounts (<50 μg C g-1 soil) of organic C substrates (‘trigger molecules’) to soil. This addition is comparative to indigenous soluble C concentrations for a range of soil types in Western Australia (typically measured between 20 and 55 μg C g-1 soil). Previously it has been reported that the application of trigger molecules to European soils has caused more CO2-C to be evolved (up to six fold) than was applied . . . Findings from this study indicated that there was an additional CO2 release (i.e. greater than the C added) on application of organic C substrates to some soil treatments. However, findings from this study indicate that the response of the microbial community to small additions of soluble C substrate is not consistent for all soil types and may vary due to greater availability of C, and supports the premise that microbial responses vary in a yet to be predicted manner between soil type and ecosystems. Differences in microbial response to the addition of soluble organic C are likely attributable to differences in soil attributes and environmental factors influencing both the diversity of microbes present and the frequency of food events. Theoretically, trigger molecules could also provide a possible control mechanism for microorganisms in arable farming systems. These mechanisms include stimulating either targeted pathogenic microorganisms that starve after depletion of a suitable substrate; or stimulating beneficial microorganisms to manipulate nutrient cycling, by targeting specific functional groups and altering mineralisation and immobilisation turnover rates.

Thesis (Ph.D.); Submitted to the Univ. of California, Davis, CA (US); 10 Jun 2003. / Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information. "UCRL-LR-153347" Maghribi, M. 06/10/2003. Report is also available in paper and microfiche from NTIS.