Anaerobic digester design and operation influences the biomass degradation efficiency performed by complex and diverse microbial communities. Optimum anaerobic digester design and operational parameters in residential on-site wastewater treatment sites (OWTS) establishes physiochemical environments suitable for the growth and stability of the microbial communities responsible for organic waste degradation. A comparative study of the microbial communities and their functional profiles between different OWTS designs and operational parameters have not been done despite their functional importance in residential organic waste removal. Using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing, microbial community compositions and functions were compared between two digester designs: conventional box septic tanks and septic tanks equipped with a novel closed-conduit tube called the InnerTubeTM. Wastewater was sampled along the length of each digester to explore the microbial community stratification during the anaerobic digestion treatment process. Additionally, the effect of effluent, aerobic recirculating-lines on the digester microbiome was also explored. Physiochemical characteristics in the form of oxygen demand, nitrogen and solids content was used as endpoints and correlated with microbial community and functional gene abundances to explore the microbes driving anaerobic digestion. Conventional digesters were characterized by syntrophic proprionate-oxidizing microbes and acetoclastic methanogens, while InnerTube™ digesters were characterized by syntrophic sulfate-reducing microbes and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Recirculating digesters were enriched with denitrifying microbial consortia in syntrophy with hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Microbial communities were organized according to hydrolytic, acidogenic, acetogenic, and methanogenic groups along the digester treatment process. Insight into the core microbiome of OWTS can inform bioaugmentation and digester design and operation optimization strategies to improve the treatment of decentralized residential sewage sources. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Anaerobic digesters are used throughout North America to treat residential sewage. Despite their prevalence, the composition and function of the microbial communities driving sewage degradation in residential digesters has not been studied. We used DNA sequencing to compare the microbial communities and functional genes in different anaerobic digester designs across Southern Ontario. Our findings suggest there are successive microbial groups along the length of septic tanks and that different septic tank designs harbor characteristic sulfidogenic and methanogenic microbes. Characterization of these microbes could inform septic tank bioaugmentation, design and operational optimization strategies to improve sewage treatment performance.

Yes / In a novel development on previous computational fluid dynamics studies, the work reported here used an Eulerian two-fluid model with the shear stress transport k–ω turbulence closure model and bubble interaction models to simulate aeration tank performance at full scale and to identify process performance issues resulting from design parameters and operating conditions. The current operating scenario was found to produce a fully developed spiral flow. Reduction of the airflow rates to the average and minimum design values led to a deterioration of the mixing conditions and formation of extended unaerated fluid regions. The influence of bubble-induced mixing on the reactor performance was further assessed via simulations of the residence time distribution of the fluid. Internal flow recirculation ensured long contact times between the phases; however, hindered axial mixing and the presence of dead zones were also identified. Finally, two optimization schemes based on modified design and operating scenarios were evaluated. The adjustment of the airflow distribution between the control zones led to improved mixing and a 20% improvement to the mass transfer coefficient. Upgrading the diffuser grid was found to be an expensive and ineffective solution, leading to worsening of the mixing conditions and yielding the lowest mass transfer coefficient compared with the other optimization schemes studied. / College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK

<p dir="ltr">Numerical investigation of Ocean Brick system is carried out in nonlinear depth NWT, Modified Ocean Brick is proposed to increase the effectiveness of the original Brick. Further numerical simulations are conducted on modified brick.</p>

To support the large growth in wireless devices, such as personal data assistants (PDAs), wireless local area network (WLAN) enabled laptop computers, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), the FCC allocated three high-frequency bands for unlicensed operation. Of particular interest is the 5-6 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band intended to support high-speed WLAN applications. The UNII band is further split into three smaller 100 MHz sub-bands: 5.15 - 5.25 GHz; 5.25-5.35 GHz; and 5.725-5.825 GHz. VCOs that can be switched between each of the three UNII sub-bands offer flexibility and optimum phase-locked loop (PLL) design versus non-switchable VCOs. This work presents switched-tank voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) designed in Motorolaà ­s 0.18 à µm HIP6WRF BiCMOS process that could be used in multiband receivers covering the three UNII sub-bands. The first VCO was optimized for low power consumption. The VCO draws a total of 6.75 mA from a 1.8 V supply including buffer amplifiers. The VCO is designed with a switched-capacitor LC tank circuit that can switch to two center frequencies, 5.25 GHz and 5.775 GHz, with 200 MHz of varactor-supplied tuning range. The simulated output voltage swing is 2.0 V peak-to-peak and is kept constant between sub-bands by an active PMOS load integrated into the biasing circuitry. The second VCO was optimized for a high output voltage swing by replacing the current biasing circuit with a degenerating inductor. This design targeted three center frequencies, 5.2 GHz, 5.3 GHz, and 5.775 GHz, with 100 MHz of tuning range. This design has an output peak-to-peak voltage swing of 5.2 V but consumes an average of 16.5 mA from a 1.8 V supply. The two fabricated circuits exhibit tuning ranges similar to the simulated results; however, the center frequencies of each decrease due to interconnect parasitics there were unaccounted for in the designs. The measured center frequencies are 4.4 GHz and 5.37 GHz for the first design, and 4.4 GHz and 4.7 GHz for the second design (with one state inoperative due to a faulty switch). The phase noise of the fabricated VCO designs was limited primarily by the low quality factor (Q-factor) of the on-chip LC tank circuits. Oscillators referenced with high-Q off-chip components such as quartz crystal references and surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators in a PLL can exhibit much improved performance; however, these off-chip components add packaging/assembly cost and higher bill of materials, impedance matching issues, and parasitics that can significantly affect performance for RF applications. Thus, there is tremendous incentive for integrating high-Q components on-chip with the eventual goal of consolidating all of the RF/analog/digital components onto a single wireless-enabled chip, commonly called RF system-on-a-chip (SoC). Microelectromechanical (MEM) resonators have received significant attention based on their ability to provide high on-chip Q-factors at RF frequencies using fabrication techniques that are compatible with modern IC processes. MEM resonators transduce electrical signals into extremely low-loss mechanical vibration and vice versa. Consequently, this thesis also describes the modeling, simulation, and fabrication of contour-mode disk-shaped MEM resonators. This resonator geometry is capable of providing high-Q oscillation at frequencies exceeding 1 GHz at sizes easily within the limits of modern photolithography techniques. Finite element analysis is used to predict the frequency response of disk resonators under various operating conditions and to determine variables that are most critical to the resonator design. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) fabrication process for constructing the disk is also discussed. Finally, the possible future integration of MEM resonators with multiband VCOs in a common IC process is proposed. / Master of Science

No / The orientation-sensitive performance of the Schlumberger array, when used to survey narrow, linear features, has long been recognized in geophysical prospecting for geology. However, in spite of frequent use of the array for archaeological survey, particularly in eastern Europe and the Far East, this directional effect is not apparent in the survey of walls and ditches. In order to examine the array's performance some experiments were carried out in a shallow electrolytic tank using insulating and conducting cylinders. Broadside and longitudinal traverses with systematic expansion of the current electrode spacing facilitated the production of pseudosections. The results confirmed the high selectivity of the Schlumberger response to the orientation of the feature. Broadside traverse of the conductor and longitudinal traverse of the insulator produced very large changes: much smaller signals were recorded for the alternative orientations. A subsequent experiment, however, on a simulated ditch in bedrock revealed no signal. The directional effect for a linear insulator was confirmed in field studies of a simple stone-walled structure. Implications for survey of low-contrast linear archaeological features are discussed.

Time-domain simulations were performed to investigate the influence of passive and active anti-roll tanks and moving weights on ship motions. A point mass moving across the ship was used to model the non-linear effects of the tank systems in various computer simulation environments. PID control of the mass position was used for the active tank (pump) systems and a vibration absorber was used for the passive tank systems. A single-degree-of-freedom non-linear code was developed to investigate the influence of various coefficients and control strategies. The final active and passive tank system implementations were included in the LAMP code developed by SAIC. Results of the time-domain simulations are shown, which indicate the effectiveness of these types of roll control systems. / Master of Science

Tank track pads have been known to degrade rapidly under adverse conditions, especially during cross country service where the average life has been estimated to be 500 miles. Several factors have been identified as being the cause for such low service life. One of these is the 'quality of dispersion' which plays an important role in the performance of any rubber compound. In order to evaluate the effect of the quality of dispersion on the service life of rubber compounds, a controlled blending experiment was carried out with a recipe modeled on a standard track pad formula. Mechanisms of failure produced by a bad dispersion have been identified. Two interesting observations were made, one of which was the formation of voids and the other was crack propagation along flow lines which are directly relatable to processing conditions. / Master of Science

Yes / This paper models a hydro turbine based on the dynamic description of the hydraulic system having a surge tank and elastic water hammer. The dynamic of the hydraulic system is transformed from transfer function form into the differential equation model in relative value. This model is then combined with the motion equation of the main servomotor to form the nonlinear model of the hydro turbine, in which the power of the hydro turbine is calculated using algebraic equation. A new control model is thus proposed in which the dynamic of the surge tank is taken as an additional input of control items. As such, the complex hydraulic system is decomposed into a classical one penstock and one machine model with an additional input control. Therefore, the order of the system is descended. As a result, the feasibility of the system is largely improved. The simulated results show that the additional input of the surge tank is effective and the proposed method is realizable. / National Natural Science Foundation of China (50839003, 50949037, 51179079), Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (No. 2008GA027)

[pt] Pela observação e análise das condições dos locais atingidos por violentos sismos destrutivos, pode-se demostrar a grande importância do comportamento do maciço de solo na resposta dinâmica das estruturas na superfície. Embora esta importância tenha sido há muito reconhecida, só recentemente uma investigação sistemática dos fatores intervenientes na interação dinâmica solo-estrutura vem merecendo a atenção adequada. Graças ao avanço de técnicas numéricas e métodos de análise, é possível hoje estudar-se este problema de forma eficiente, ampla e racional. O presente trabalho consiste em uma análise pelo método dos elementos finitos do problema do comportamento dinâmico dos tanques de armazenamento de combustível da Refinaria Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE) freqüentemente sujeitos a abalos sísmicos. A avaliação da amplificação sísmica dos solos da região da refinaria, o comportamento estrutural dos tanques sob solicitações dinâmicas, a análise comparativa dos métodos de projeto recomendados na Costa Rica, os efeitos da interação dinâmica solo-tanque, etc., são alguns dos pontos examinados em detalhe neste trabalho. O conhecimento do comportamento dinâmico dos tanques da Refinaria de RECOPE, Costa Rica, foi significativamente aperfeiçoado pela realização deste trabalho. / [en] Through observation and analysis of the local conditions of regions subjected to violent seismic excitations, one can conclude the great importance of the dynamic behavior of the soil mass on the response of structural systems founded in it. Although the importance of the soil behavior has long been recognized in the literature, systematic investigations on the influencing factors on the dynamic soil-structure interaction problems have received the due attention only recently.Given the modern developments in numerical methods as well as the now common availability of powerful microcomputers in design offices, it is now possible to study this problem following a rational and efficient manner.In the present work, an analysis of the dynamic behavior of steel tanks for fuel storage at the industrial plant of RECOPE (Petroleum Refinery of Costa Rica), frequently subjected to severe earthquakes, has been carried out using the finite element method.The main points investigated in this thesis are: the evaluation of dynamic amplifications due to local soil properties, the structural behavior of tanks under dynamic forces, the soil-structure interaction effects as well as a comparative study with the design procedures currently employed in Costa Rica.The technical knowledge about the dynamic behavior of RECOPE`s fuel tanks has been significantly improved by this research. / [es] Por la observación y análisis de las condiciones de los locales castigados por violentos sismos destructivos, se puede demostrar la gran importancia del comportamiento del macizo de suelo en la respuesta dinámica de las extructuras en la superficie. Aunque esta importancia há sido reconocida hace mucho tiempo, solo recientemente una investigación sistemática de los factores que intervienen en la interacción dinámica suelo extructura ha merecido atención adecuada. Gracias al avance de técnicas numéricas y métodos de análisis, es posible hoy estudiar este problema de forma eficiente, amplia y racional. EL presente trabajo consiste en un análisis por el método de los elementos finitos del problema del comportamiento dinámico de los tanques de almacenamiento de combustible de la Refinaría Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE) frecuentemente sujetos a sacudidas sísmicas. La evaluación de la amplificación sísmica de los suelos de la región de la refinaria, el comportamiento extructural de los tanques bajo solicitaciones dinámicas, el análisis comparativo de los métodos de proyecto recomendados en la Costa Rica, los efectos de la interacción dinámica suelo-tanque, etc., son algunos de los puntos examinados en detalle en este trabajo. EL conocimiento del comportamiento dinámico de los tanques de la Refinaría de RECOPE, Costa Rica, fue significativamente perfeccionado por la realización de este trabajo.

中國被稱為是一個已崛起的世界大國已是不爭的事實。然而為何中國會迅速崛起，除了外在因素的配合外，最重要還是要歸功於鄧小平實施「改革開放」以來，社會知識增長，經濟蓬勃發展的緣故，其中中國政府高層對智庫及學者、專家的重視，使各項政策的出臺，在合理性、周延性、可操作性與前瞻性上大為提高應為重要成因。 毛澤東當政時期智庫幾乎不存在（尤其是文革時期）。鄧小平掌權後重建一些舊有研究機構，並陸續成立新的研究機構，是為中國現代智庫發展之濫觴。近30年來，中國官方智庫蓬勃發展，而民間智庫（尤其是政治、外交、軍事方面）卻因受政治環境的影響，出現巨大起伏變化，其後續發展值得觀察。 中國官方智庫扮演的角色頗多，與美國等西方智庫比較，其中擔任政府政策宣傳者的角色，以及作為情報機關的掩護機構，較為特殊，另外部份官方智庫已成為政府與外國「二軌」對話之主要管道。在功能上，由於中國由落後中崛起，故其發揮之功能頗為顯著，至於「旋轉門」及儲備與提供高層官員人才二項功能，由於中國遴選人才制度的關係，目前發揮有限，惟未來可望逐漸提升。 由於政治制度的不同，中國智庫相較於西方，有以下三點差異，第一、高度的壟斷性，面對民間智庫的競爭相對較少；第二、經費來源單一、量少；第三、可透過一種屬於常態卻「非正規」管道直接提供高層政策建議，發揮其影響力。 中國民間智庫因為法律註冊問題及政治信任問題，生存發展遭受挫折，針對中國特有的政治環境，吾人以為中國智庫未來可能出現以下的發展走向：一、續將部份官方研究機構改為民間（或半官方）智庫，二、調整法律註冊方式，開放民眾成立真正民間智庫。 / China, being called a rising world strong power, is an indisputable fact.Why can China rise rapidly? Apart from external factors to support its development, the most important internal factor is the social and economical grows due to the “reform and opening” policy of Deng Xiaoping. With consulting to think tanks, scholars and experts, Chinese government carry out national policy in a more rational, compre- hensive, feasible, far-sighted way. One could hardly find a think tank in Mao’s period (especially during the Cultural Revolution). After Deng came to power, he reconstructed some research institutions and established new ones, which became Chinese modern think tanks later on. China's official think tanks have acted vigorously for nearly 30 years. However, the non-official think tanks (especially in the areas of politics, diplomacy, and military) have gone through huge ups and downs with the changing of political environment. The subsequent development of the think tanks needs to be watched closely. Compared with think tanks in the West, China's official think tanks play multiple roles. They not only serve as media for government propaganda, but also act as fronts for intelligence agencies. Further- more, some of the official think tanks have served as the "dual-track" channels to communicate with foreign governments. Think tanks play important roles for China’s development in recent years. Their func- tions, however, as a “revolving door” and human power providers, are still limited. It is expected that above situation will change gradually. There are at least three differences between Chinese think tanks and the western ones. First, a high degree of monopoly- there is little competition from non-official think tanks. Second, they have a single and limited source of funding. Third, they provide policy suggestions to the government officers through normal, but "informal" channels. It is difficult to register as a “think tank” in China. Even a think tank can register legally; it’s still hard to get political trust from the government. This thesis finds that there are two possibilities for the development of Chinese think tanks in the future. First, Chinese government will transfer the government research institutes to non-official (or semi-official) think tanks. Second, Chinese government will amend the law to allow the public to set up non-official think tanks.