The Role of Orexin-A in Anxiety and the Emission of Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats

Central administration of orexin-A has been shown to activate autonomic arousal in rats, reliably inducing anxiety-like behaviours in the open field. To date, there has yet to be a study investigating the role of orexin-A in the communication of such negative affective state. In the current study, forty-six adult male rats were chronically cannulated and administered orexin-A into the medial preoptic area/anterior hypothalamic area to determine the effect of this neuropeptide on anxiety-like behaviour and the production of 22 kHz aversive ultrasonic vocalizations. It was found that intracerebral administration of orexin-A increased autonomic arousal as measured by a significant increase in fecal boli output, however orexin-A did not significantly affect locomotor activity or induce 22 kHz calling. These data suggest that orexin-A is involved in the regulation of the autonomic aspect of anxiety-like behaviour but not in the vocal communication of such negative affect

Photograph - Baie Comeau, Unloading Ship

A photograph of the ship called "Shelter Bay" as it sits for unloading at the main wharf.

Sketch of the ship "Jane C. Woodruff"

A black and white copy of a sketch of the ship "Jane C. Woodruff". This appears to have been in a scrapbook. There is a slight tear which affects the picture slightly. [The Jane C. Woodruff was a barquentine ship built in St. Catharines in 1866 by Lewis Shikeluna. The ship belonged to John Battle who was an associate of Samuel D. Woodruff. She was named in honour of Samuel and his wife, Jane Caroline. She originated as a square timber trade boat before being converted into a 3 masted schooner. She collided with the "Mary Battle" in a snow squall in Georgian Bay. The ship passed out of existence in 1902].

Receipt from J. Jarvis and Co., Sail Makers and Ship Chandlers, St. Catharines

Receipt from J. Jarvis and Co., Sail Makers and Ship Chandlers, St. Catharines for window awnings and irons, July, 1887.

Ship-in-a-bottle synthesis of 2,4,6-triphenylthiapyrylium cations encapsulated in zeolites Y and beta: a novel robust photocatalyst

The 2,4,6-triphenylthiapyrylium ion has been obtained imprisoned inside the supercages of the tridirectional, large pore zeolites Y and beta via ship-in-a-bottle synthesis from chalcone and acetophenone in the presence of hydrogen sulfide. The resulting solids are efficient and robust photocatalysts that are able to degrade phenol and aniline in water with a higher efficiency than the P-25 TiO2 standard. Preliminary tests have shown that these encapsulated dye materials are also efficient photocatalysts for the oxidative degradation of malodorous sulfurcontaining molecules.

Characterization of radio frequency plasma using Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy

The radio frequency plasma generated during the sputtering of Indium Tin Oxide target using Argon was analyzed by Langmuir probe and optical-emission spectroscopy. The basic plasma parameters such as electron temperature and ion density were evaluated. These studies were carried out by varying the RF power from 20 to 50 W. A linear increase in ion density and an exponential decrease in electron temperature with rf power were observed. The measured plasma parameters were then correlated with the properties of ITO thin films deposited under similar plasma conditions.

Optical emission spectroscopic studies on laser ablated zinc oxide plasma

Optical emission spectroscopic studies were carried out on the plasma produced by ablation of zinc oxide target using the third harmonic 355 nm of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, in vacuum and at three different ambient gas oxygen pressures. The spatial variations of electron density Ne and electron temperature Te were studied up to a distance of 20 mm from the target surface. The kinematics of the emitted particles and the expansion of the plume edge are discussed. The optimum conditions favorable for the formation of high quality zinc oxide thin films are thereby suggested.

Optical Emission Diagnostics Of Laser Produced Plasma From Graphite And Yba2cu3o7

This thesis is entitled “OPTICAL EMISSION DIAGNOSTICS OF LASER PRODUCED PLASMA FROM GRAPHITE AND YBa2Cu3O7. The work presented in this thesis covers the experimental results on the plasma produced with moderately high power laser with irradiance range in between 10 GW cm 2 to 100 GW cm -2. The characterization of laser produced plasma from solid targets viz. graphite and high temperature superconducting material like YBa2Cu3O7 have been carried out. The fundamental frequency from a Q - switched Nd: YAG laser with 9 ns pulse duration is used for the present studies. Various optical emission emission diagnostic techniques were employed for the the characterization of the LPP which include emission spectroscopy, time resolved studies, line broadening method etc. In order to understand the physical nature of the LPP like recombination, collisional excitation and the laser interaction with plasma, the time resolved studies offer the most logical approach

Laser emission from transversely pumped dye-doped free-standing polymer film

We present a compact solid-state laser based on leaky mode propagation from a dye-doped polymer free-standing film waveguide. The edge emitted spectrum clearly indicated the existence of periodic resonant modes. The reflections from the lateral faces of the free-standing film provided the optical feedback thus giving rise to a Fabry–Perot like optical cavity. This together with the guidance through the gain medium gave rise to intense narrow emission lines. For a pump energy of 1.82 mJ/pulse, an intense line with FWHM ∼0.4 nmwas observed at 576.5 nm.

Laser emission from transversely pumped dye-doped free-standing polymer film

We present a compact solid-state laser based on leaky mode propagation from a dye-doped polymer free-standing film waveguide. The edge emitted spectrum clearly indicated the existence of periodic resonant modes. The reflections from the lateral faces of the free-standing film provided the optical feedback thus giving rise to a Fabry–Perot like optical cavity. This together with the guidance through the gain medium gave rise to intense narrow emission lines. For a pump energy of 1.82 mJ/pulse, an intense line with FWHM ∼0.4 nmwas observed at 576.5 nm.

Laser emission from transversely pumped dye-doped free-standing polymer film

We present a compact solid-state laser based on leaky mode propagation from a dye-doped polymer free-standing film waveguide. The edge emitted spectrum clearly indicated the existence of periodic resonant modes. The reflections from the lateral faces of the free-standing film provided the optical feedback thus giving rise to a Fabry–Perot like optical cavity. This together with the guidance through the gain medium gave rise to intense narrow emission lines. For a pump energy of 1.82 mJ/pulse, an intense line with FWHM ∼0.4 nmwas observed at 576.5 nm.

Optical emission studies of C2 species in laser-produced plasma from carbon

Optical emission studies of C2 molecules in plasma obtained by Nd:YAG laser ablation of graphite in a helium atmosphere are reported for irradiances in the range (1–9:2/ x 1010 W cm−2. The characteristics of the spectral emission intensity from the C2 (Swan band) species have been investigated as functions of the distance from the target, ambient pressure and laser irradiance. Estimates of vibrational temperatures of C2 species under various irradiance conditions are made. Results of measurements performed under different ambient helium gas pressures are also discussed.

Optical emission studies of C2 species in laser-produced plasma from carbon

Optical emission studies of C2 molecules in plasma obtained by Nd:YAG laser ablation of graphite in a helium atmosphere are reported for irradiances in the range (1–9:2/ x 1010 W cm−2. The characteristics of the spectral emission intensity from the C2 (Swan band) species have been investigated as functions of the distance from the target, ambient pressure and laser irradiance. Estimates of vibrational temperatures of C2 species under various irradiance conditions are made. Results of measurements performed under different ambient helium gas pressures are also discussed.

Development of Best Practices for Ship Recycling Processes

Ship recycling has been considered as the best means to dispose off an obsolete ship. The current state of art of technology combined with the demands of sustainable developments from the global maritime industrial sector has modified the status of erstwhile ‘ship breaking’ involving ship scrap business to a modern industry undertaking dismantling of ships and recycling/reusing the dismantled products in a supply chain of pre owned product market by following the principles of recycling. Industries will have to formulate a set of best practices and blend them with the engineering activities for producing better quality products, improving the productivity and for achieving improved performances related to sustainable development. Improved performance by industries in a sustainable development perspective is accomplished only by implementing the 4E principles, ie.,. ecofriendliness, engineering efficiency, energy conservation and ergonomics in their core operations. The present study has done a comprehensive investigation into various ship recycling operations for formulating a set of best practices.Being the ultimate life cycle stage of a ship, ship recycling activities incorporate certain commercial procedures well in advance to facilitate the objectives of dismantling and recycling/reusing of various parts of the vessel. Thorough knowledge regarding these background procedures in ship recycling is essential for examining and understanding the industrial business operations associated with it. As a first step, the practices followed in merchant shipping operations regarding the decision on decommissioning have been and made available in the thesis. Brief description about the positioning methods and important preparations for the most feasible ship recycling method ie.,. beach method have been provided as a part of the outline of the background information. Available sources of guidelines, codes and rules & regulations for ship recycling have been compiled and included in the discussion.Very brief summary of practices in major ship recycling destinations has been prepared and listed for providing an overview of the global ship recycling activities. The present status of ship recycling by treating it as a full fledged engineering industry has been brought out to establish the need for looking into the development of the best practices. Major engineering attributes of ship as a unique engineering product and the significant influencing factors on her life cycle stage operations have been studied and added to the information base on ship recycling. Role of ship recycling industry as an important player in global sustainable development efforts has been reviewed by analysing the benefits of ship recycling. A brief synopsis on the state of art of ship recycling in major international ship recycling centres has also been incorporated in the backdrop knowledgebase generation on ship recycling processes.Publications available in this field have been reviewed and classified into five subject categories viz., Infrastructure for recycling yards and methods of dismantling, Rules regarding ship recycling activities, Environmental and safety aspects of ship recycling, Role of naval architects and ship classification societies, Application of information technology and Demand forecasting. The inference from the literature survey have been summarised and recorded. Noticeable observations in the inference include need of creation of a comprehensive knowledgebase on ship recycling and its effective implementation in the industry and the insignificant involvement of naval architects and shipbuilding engineers in ship recycling industry. These two important inferences and the message conveyed by them have been addressed with due importance in the subsequent part of the present study.As a part of the study the importance of demand forecasting in ship recycling has been introduced and presented. A sample input for ship recycling data for implementation of computer based methods of demand forecasting has been presented in this section of the thesis.The interdisciplinary nature of engineering processes involved in ship recycling has been identified as one of the important features of this industry. The present study has identified more than a dozen major stake holders in ship recycling having their own interests and roles. It has also been observed that most of the ship recycling activities is carried out in South East Asian countries where the beach based ship recycling is done in yards without proper infrastructure support. A model of beach based ship recycling has been developed and the roles, responsibilities and the mutual interactions of the elements of the system have been documented as a part of the study Subsequently the need of a generation of a wide knowledgebase on ship recycling activities as pointed out by the literature survey has been addressed. The information base and source of expertise required to build a broad knowledgebase on ship recycling operations have been identified and tabulated. Eleven important ship recycling processes have been identified and a brief sketch of steps involved in these processes have been examined and addressed in detail. Based on these findings, a detailed sequential disassembly process plan of ship recycling has been prepared and charted. After having established the need of best practices in ship recycling initially, the present study here identifies development of a user friendly expert system for ship recycling process as one of the constituents of the proposed best practises. A user friendly expert system has been developed for beach based ship recycling processes and is named as Ship Recycling Recommender (SRR). Two important functions of SRR, first one for the ‘Administrators’, the stake holders at the helm of the ship recycling affairs and second one for the ‘Users’, the stake holders who execute the actual dismantling have been presented by highlighting the steps involved in the execution of the software. The important output generated, ie.,. recommended practices for ship dismantling processes and safe handling information on materials present onboard have been presented with the help of ship recycling reports generated by the expert system. A brief account of necessity of having a ship recycling work content estimation as part of the best practices has been presented in the study. This is supported by a detailed work estimation schedule for the same as one of the appendices.As mentioned earlier, a definite lack of involvement of naval architect has been observed in development of methodologies for improving the status of ship recycling industry. Present study has put forward a holistic approach to review the status of ship recycling not simply as end of life activity of all ‘time expired’ vessels, but as a focal point of integrating all life cycle activities. A new engineering design philosophy targeting sustainable development of marine industrial domain, named design for ship recycling has been identified, formulated and presented. A new model of ship life cycle has been proposed by adding few stages to the traditional life cycle after analysing their critical role in accomplishing clean and safe end of life and partial dismantling of ships. Two applications of design for ship recycling viz, recyclability of ships and her products and allotment of Green Safety Index for ships have been presented as a part of implementation of the philosophy in actual practice.