A compact air separator demonstrator based on centrifugally enhanced distillation has been studied. The full size device is meant to be used on board of a Two Stage To Orbit vehicle launcher. The air separation system must be able to extract oxygen in highly concentrated liquid form (LEA, Liquid Enriched Air) from atmospheric air. The LEA is stored before being used in a subsequent rocket propulsion phase by the second stage of the launcher. Two reference vehicles are defined, one with a subsonic first stage and one with a supersonic first stage. In both cases, oxygen collection is performed during a cruise phase (M 0.7 and M 2.5 respectively). The aim of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of the air separation system, investigate the separation cycle design, and assess that the separator design selected is suitable for the reference vehicles. The project is described from original base ideas to design, construction, extended testing and analysis of experimental results. Preliminary computations for a realistic layout have been performed and the motivations for the choices made during the process are explained. Test rig design, separator design and technical discussion are provided for a subscale pilot unit. Mass transport parameters and flooding limits have been estimated and experimentally measured. Performance has been assessed and shown to be sufficient for the reference Two Stage To Orbit vehicles. The technology developed is found suitable without further optimization, although some volume and mass reduction would be desirable for the supersonic first stage concept. There are many ways of optimisation that can be further investigated. The aim of this program, however, is not to fully optimize the device, but to demonstrate that a device based on a simple, robust, low-risk design is already suitable for the launch vehicles. On top of that analysis, directions for improvements are suggested and their potentials estimated. A complete assessment of those improvements requires further maturation of the technological concept through further testing and practical implementations. Directions for future work, general conclusions and a vehicle development roadmap have also been provided.

Prions são agentes etiológicos das encefalopatias espongiformes transmissíveis, doenças que acometem tanto homens quanto animais. A proteína infecciosa, PrPsc, é uma isoforma de uma proteína celular normal denominada PrPc. As funções de PrPc ainda causam controvérsia na literatura, mas já foi demonstrada a participação de PrPc em uma variedade de fenômenos biológicos, como homeostase de íons cobre, proteção contra estresse oxidativo, sinalização celular e neuritogênese entre outros. A interação de PrPc com laminina, uma proteína de matriz extracelular, leva a formação e manutenção de neuritos em neurônios hipocampais. Seguindo este caminho, demonstramos no presente trabalho a interação de PrPc com outra proteína de matriz extracelular, vitronectina (Vn). Esta interação também leva ao crescimento neurítico, tanto em células do sistema nervoso central quanto do sistema nervoso periférico. No sistema nervoso periférico, a ausência de PrPc é compensada por integrinas, no fenômeno da neuritogênese. Relatamos também que a interação de PrPc com STI1, uma cochaperonina, leva tanto a neuritogênese quanto a neuroproteção por vias de sinalização distintas. A ligação de PrPc com Vn e STI1 se dá através de domínios contíguos, de modo que as interações são excludentes sendo aquela com Vn mais favorável, como observado em ensaios de ligação in vitro, quanto através do fenômeno de neuritogênese. Já a ligação de laminina se dá em um domínio distante daqueles de ligação à Vn e STI1. Assim, pode ser observada cooperatividade entre laminina e STI1 no fenômeno da neuritogênese. Por fim, demonstra-se que a interação PrPc-laminina in vivo é importante para os mecanismos de consolidação da memória. / Prions are involved in numerous neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. PrPsc, the infectious protein, is an isoform of a normal cellular protein named PrPc. PrPc functions are still under debate, among them Cu++ homeostase, protection against oxidative stress, cell survival signaling and neuritogenesis. PrPc interaction with laminin (Ln), an extracellular matrix protein, leads to neurite growth and maintenance. PrPc interaction with another extracellular matrix protein, vitronectin (Vn) is here demonstrated. This association leads to neurite growth in hippocampal and dorsal root ganglia cells. In dorsal root ganglia cells, PrPc ablation can be compensated by integrins, at least in the neuritogenesis phenomenon. PrPc is also a cellular ligand for STI1, a co-chaperone, mediating neuritogenesis or neuroprotection, depending on the activated cell signaling pathway. Vn and STI1 binding sites at the PrPc molecule are localized in contiguous domains what makes their binding to PrPc mutually exclusive. The first is more favorable, as observed in vitro and ex vivo. On the other hand, Ln binding site at PrPc is confined to a domain distinct from those where Vn or STI1 associate. Furthermore, laminin and STI1 have additive effects on neurite outgrowth. The importance of PrPc-Ln interaction is also observed in vivo, since the complex participates in memory consolidation mechanisms.

Science educators are currently facing the challenge of reforming the practices of science education. Publications of various science and educational organizations have established new criteria for accomplishing this goal. The new goal of science educators is scientific literacy for all.

This study aimed to explore teaching difficulties of Natural Sciences teachers when offering lessons in the Planet, Earth and Beyond strand. The aim was to understand their teacher knowledge, type of instructional strategies, and classroom discourse and interactions in their Natural Science classroom. The following question guided the study: What are the teaching difficulties of Planet, Earth and Beyond strand? A qualitative case study design was used for the study. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. The study revealed that NS educators: carry misconceptions to class; show poor knowledge of context in specific aims and assessment strategies while also choosing poor and irrelevant instructional strategies and; still see themselves as authority in class by applying a one- way approach. It is recommended that: educators be trained on how to implement active and critical learning, while empowering them with knowledge on NS specific aims and assessment strategies; departmental heads, SMTs, and subject advisor should engage in regular class visits in the NS educators` classes, reviewing lesson plans that educators prepared; schools should provide educators with CAPS relevant documents; the DoE should provide more education to educators on the importance of following the curriculum as prescribed in the CAPS document; the department should provide educators with relevant teaching aids and practical apparatus and in the absence advice educators on how to improvise and; the subject advisors should assist educators in identifying misconceptions. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Sciences Education)

A compact air separator demonstrator based on centrifugally enhanced distillation has been studied. The full size device is meant to be used on board of a Two Stage To Orbit vehicle launcher. The air separation system must be able to extract oxygen in highly concentrated liquid form (LEA, Liquid Enriched Air) from atmospheric air. The LEA is stored before being used in a subsequent rocket propulsion phase by the second stage of the launcher. Two reference vehicles are defined, one with a subsonic first stage and one with a supersonic first stage. In both cases, oxygen collection is performed during a cruise phase (M 0.7 and M 2.5 respectively). The aim of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of the air separation system, investigate the separation cycle design, and assess that the separator design selected is suitable for the reference vehicles.<p><p>The project is described from original base ideas to design, construction, extended testing and analysis of experimental results. Preliminary computations for a realistic layout have been performed and the motivations for the choices made during the process are explained. Test rig design, separator design and technical discussion are provided for a subscale pilot unit. Mass transport parameters and flooding limits have been estimated and experimentally measured. Performance has been assessed and shown to be sufficient for the reference Two Stage To Orbit vehicles. The technology developed is found suitable without further optimization, although some volume and mass reduction would be desirable for the supersonic first stage concept. There are many ways of optimisation that can be further investigated. The aim of this program, however, is not to fully optimize the device, but to demonstrate that a device based on a simple, robust, low-risk design is already suitable for the launch vehicles. On top of that analysis, directions for improvements are suggested and their potentials estimated. A complete assessment of those improvements requires further maturation of the technological concept through further testing and practical implementations.<p><p>Directions for future work, general conclusions and a vehicle development roadmap have also been provided.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished