845 resultados para Diffraction efficiency
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This paper develops a bargaining model of wage and employment determination for the public sector. the solution to the model generates structural wage and employment equations that are estimated using data from New York State teacher-school district collective bargaining agreements.
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It is highly desirable for an allocation of goods to be efficient. However, one might also deem it important that an allocation gives individuals what they deserve. This paper investigates whether it is possible for an allocation to be both efficient and give people what they deserve. It will first of all consider comparative desert, and conclude that it is possible to satisfy both desiderata. It will then consider absolute desert by integrating Shelly Kagans work on desert and economic theory. The conclusion will be that there are potential conflicts between absolute desert and efficiency. The paper will then examine how to select the best compromise between the two values, considering several different conceptions of absolute desert.
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L'lastographie ultrasonore est une technique d'imagerie mergente destine cartographier les paramtres mcaniques des tissus biologiques, permettant ainsi dobtenir des informations diagnostiques additionnelles pertinentes. La mthode peut ainsi tre perue comme une extension quantitative et objective de l'examen palpatoire. Diverses techniques lastographiques ont ainsi t proposes pour l'tude d'organes tels que le foie, le sein et la prostate et. L'ensemble des mthodes proposes ont en commun une succession de trois tapes bien dfinies: l'excitation mcanique (statique ou dynamique) de l'organe, la mesure des dplacements induits (rponse au stimulus), puis enfin, l'tape dite d'inversion, qui permet la quantification des paramtres mcaniques, via un modle thorique prtabli. Paralllement la diversification des champs d'applications accessibles l'lastographie, de nombreux efforts sont faits afin d'amliorer la prcision ainsi que la robustesse des mthodes dites d'inversion. Cette thse regroupe un ensemble de travaux thoriques et exprimentaux destins la validation de nouvelles mthodes d'inversion ddies l'tude de milieux mcaniquement inhomognes. Ainsi, dans le contexte du diagnostic du cancer du sein, une tumeur peut tre perue comme une htrognit mcanique confine, ou inclusion, affectant la propagation d'ondes de cisaillement (stimulus dynamique). Le premier objectif de cette thse consiste formuler un modle thorique capable de prdire l'interaction des ondes de cisaillement induites avec une tumeur, dont la gomtrie est modlise par une ellipse. Aprs validation du modle propos, un problme inverse est formul permettant la quantification des paramtres viscolastiques de l'inclusion elliptique. Dans la continuit de cet objectif, l'approche a t tendue au cas d'une htrognit mcanique tridimensionnelle et sphrique avec, comme objectifs additionnels, l'applicabilit aux mesures ultrasonores par force de radiation, mais aussi l'estimation du comportement rhologique de l'inclusion (i.e., la variation des paramtres mcaniques avec la frquence d'excitation). Enfin, dans le cadre de l'tude des proprits mcaniques du sang lors de la coagulation, une approche spcifique dcoulant de prcdents travaux raliss au sein de notre laboratoire est propose. Celle-ci consiste estimer la viscolasticit du caillot sanguin via le phnomne de rsonance mcanique, ici induit par force de radiation ultrasonore. La mthode, dnomme ARFIRE (''Acoustic Radiation Force Induced Resonance Elastography'') est applique l'tude de la coagulation de sang humain complet chez des sujets sains et sa reproductibilit est value.
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La gazeification est aujourd'hui l'une des strategies les plus prometteuses pour valoriser les dechets en energie. Cette technologie thermo-chimique permet une reduction de 95 % de la masse des intrants et genere des cendres inertes ainsi que du gaz de synthese (syngaz). Le syngaz est un combustible gazeux compose principalement de monoxyde de carbone (CO), d'hydrogene (H2) et de dioxyde de carbone (CO2). Le syngaz peut etre utilise pour produire de la chaleur et de l'electricite. Il est egalement la pierre angulaire d'un grand nombre de produits a haute valeur ajoutee, allant de l'ethanol a l'ammoniac et l'hydrogene pur. Les applications en aval de la production de syngaz sont dictees par son pouvoir calorifique, lui-meme dependant de la teneur du gaz en H2. Laugmentation du contenu du syngaz en H2 est rendu possible par la conversion catalytique a la vapeur deau, largement repandu dans le cadre du reformage du methane pour la production d'hydrogene. Au cours de cette reaction, le CO est converti en H2 et CO2 selon : CO + H2O CO2 + H2. Ce processus est possible grace a des catalyseurs metalliques mis en contact avec le CO et de la vapeur. La conversion catalytique a la vapeur deau a jusqu'ici ete reserve pour de grandes installations industrielles car elle necessite un capital et des charges dexploitations tres importantes. Par consequent, les installations de plus petite echelle et traitant des intrants de faible qualite (biomasse, dechets, boues ...), n'ont pas acces a cette technologie. Ainsi, la seule utilisation de leur syngaz a faible pouvoir calorifique, est limitee a la generation de chaleur ou, tout au plus, d'electricite. Afin de permettre a ces installations une gamme dapplication plus vaste de leurs syngaz, une alternative economique a base de catalyseur biologique est proposee par lutilisation de bacteries hyperthermophiles hydrogenogenes. L'objectif de cette these est d'utiliser Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans, une bacterie thermophile carboxydotrophe hydrogenogene comme catalyseur biologique pour la conversion du monoxyde de carbone en hydrogene. Pour cela, limpact d'un phenomene de biomineralisation sur la production dH2 a ete etudie. Ensuite, la faisabilite et les limites de lutilisation de la souche dans un bioreacteur ont ete evaluees. Tout d'abord, la caracterisation de la phase inorganique predominante lorsque C. hydrogenoformans est inocule dans le milieu DSMZ, a revele une biomineralisation de phosphate de calcium (CaP) cristallin en deux phases. Lanalyse par diffraction des rayons X et spectrometrie infrarouge a transformee de Fourier de ce materiau biphasique indique une signature caracteristique de la Mg-whitlockite, alors que les images obtenues par microscopie electronique a transmission ont montre l'existence de nanotiges cristallines sapparentant a de lhydroxyapatite. Dans les deux cas, le mode de biomineralisation semble etre biologiquement induit plutot que controle. L'impact du precipite de CaP endogene sur le transfert de masse du CO et la production dH2 a ensuite ete etudie. Les resultats ont ete compares aux valeurs obtenues dans un milieu ou aucune precipitation n'est observee. Dans le milieu DSMZ, le KLa apparent (0.22 0.005 min-1) et le rendement de production dH2 (89.11 6.69 %) etaient plus eleves que ceux obtenus avec le milieu modifie (0.19 0.015 min-1 et 82.60 3.62% respectivement). La presence du precipite n'a eu aucune incidence sur l'activite microbienne. En somme, le precipite de CaP offre une nouvelle strategie pour ameliorer les performances de transfert de masse du CO en utilisant les proprietes hydrophobes de gaz. En second lieu, la conversion du CO en H2 par la souche Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans fut etudiee et optimisee dans un reacteur gazosiphon de 35 L. Parmi toutes les conditions operationnelles, le parametre majeur fut le ratio du debit de recirculation du gaz sur le debit d'alimentation en CO (QR:Qin). Ce ratio impacte a la fois l'activite biologique et le taux de transfert de masse gaz-liquide. En effet, au dessus dun ratio de 40, les performances de conversion du CO en H2 sont limitees par lactivite biologique alors quen dessous, elles sont limitees par le transfert de masse. Cela se concretise par une efficacite de conversion maximale de 90.4 0.3 % et une activite specifique de 2.7 0.4 molCOg1VSSd1. Malgre des resultats prometteurs, les performances du bioreacteur ont ete limitees par une faible densite cellulaire, typique de la croissance planctonique de C. hydrogenoformans. Cette limite est le facteur le plus contraignant pour des taux de charge de CO plus eleves. Ces performances ont ete comparees a celles obtenues dans un reacteur a fibres creuses (BRFC) inocule par la souche. En depit dune densite cellulaire et dune activite volumetrique plus elevees, les performances du BRFC a tout le moins cinetiquement limitees quand elles netaient pas impactees par le transfert de masse, l'encrassement et le vieillissement de la membrane. Afin de parer a la degenerescence de C. hydrogenoformans en cas de penurie de CO, la croissance de la bacterie sur pyruvate en tant que seule source de carbone a ete egalement caracterisee. Fait interessant, en presence simultanee de pyruvate et de CO, C. hydrogenoformans na amorce la consommation de pyruvate quune fois le CO epuise. Cela a ete attribue a un mecanisme d'inhibition du metabolisme du pyruvate par le CO, faisant ainsi du pyruvate le candidat ideal pour un systeme in situ de secours.
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Le premier volet de ce travail portera sur lexprience acquise lors dun stage dtude Tokyo, au Japon, dans le groupe de recherche du Pr. Makoto Fujita, une sommit denvergure internationale dans le domaine de lauto-assemblage. En continuit avec les plus rcents travaux du Pr. Fujita, des systmes poreux auto-assembls prsentant des cavits fonctionnalises ont t dvelopps dans le but dencapsuler des acides gras afin den dterminer la structure cristalline. Ces ponges ont t caractrises par des techniques courantes telles que la spectroscopie rsonance magntique nuclaire 1H, 13C{1H} et Cosy, la spectromtrie de masse, lanalyse lmentaire, la microscopie optique infrarouge ainsi que la diffraction des rayons X. Une autre approche employe pour obtenir de meilleures proprits spectroscopiques fut la synthse de dendrimres mtalliques de gnration 0. Un nouveau ligand de type 1,3,5-triazine a t synthtis par une raction typique de cyclisation de nitrile en prsence catalytique dhydrure de sodium. Des espces mono-, bis- et trinuclaire de Ru(II) furent synthtiss ainsi que deux espces htromtalliques de Ru(II)/Pt(II) et de Ru(II)/Os(II). Tous les complexes obtenus furent caractriss par spectroscopie rsonance magntique nuclaire (1H, 13C{1H} et Cosy) ltat liquide, par spectroscopie de masse haute rsolution et par analyse lmentaire. La gnration de dihydrogne partir de lespce htromtallique a t tudie. Les proprits optiques et lectroniques ont t analyses par spectroscopie UV-Vis, par analyse de la luminescence, du temps de vie de luminescence, par des analyses de rendement quantique ainsi que par des analyses de voltampromtrie cyclique balayage. Finalement, dans le but damliorer les proprits spectroscopiques dabsorption de complexes mtalliques, nous avons synthtis une srie de polymres homo- et htromtalliques, intgrant des ligands de type bis(2,2:6,2-terpyridine). Les complexes gnrs furent caractriss par diverses techniques tel que la spectroscopie rsonance magntique nuclaire (1H, 13C{1H} et Cosy) ltat liquide, par spectroscopie de masse haute rsolution ainsi que par analyse lmentaire. Les proprits optiques et lectroniques ont t analyses par spectroscopie UV-Vis, par analyse de la luminescence, du temps de vie de luminescence, par des analyses de rendement quantique ainsi que par des analyses de voltampromtrie cyclique balayage.
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We consider two new approaches to nonparametric estimation of the leverage effect. The first approach uses stock prices alone. The second approach uses the data on stock prices as well as a certain volatility instrument, such as the CBOE volatility index (VIX) or the Black-Scholes implied volatility. The theoretical justification for the instrument-based estimator relies on a certain invariance property, which can be exploited when high frequency data is available. The price-only estimator is more robust since it is valid under weaker assumptions. However, in the presence of a valid volatility instrument, the price-only estimator is inefficient as the instrument-based estimator has a faster rate of convergence. We consider two empirical applications, in which we study the relationship between the leverage effect and the debt-to-equity ratio, credit risk, and illiquidity.
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The increasing interest in the interaction of light with electricity and electronically active materials made the materials and techniques for producing semitransparent electrically conducting films particularly attractive. Transparent conductors have found major applications in a number of electronic and optoelectronic devices including resistors, transparent heating elements, antistatic and electromagnetic shield coatings, transparent electrode for solar cells, antireflection coatings, heat reflecting mirrors in glass windows and many other. Tin doped indium oxide (indium tin oxide or ITO) is one of the most commonly used transparent conducting oxides. At present and likely well into the future this material offers best available performance in terms of conductivity and transmittivity combined with excellent environmental stability, reproducibility and good surface morphology. Although partial transparency, with a reduction in conductivity, can be obtained for very thin metallic films, high transparency and simultaneously high conductivity cannot be attained in intrinsic stoichiometric materials. The only way this can be achieved is by creating electron degeneracy in a wide bandgap (Eg > 3eV or more for visible radiation) material by controllably introducing non-stoichiometry and/or appropriate dopants. These conditions can be conveniently met for ITO as well as a number of other materials like Zinc oxide, Cadmium oxide etc. ITO shows interesting and technologically important combination of properties viz high luminous transmittance, high IR reflectance, good electrical conductivity, excellent substrate adherence and chemical inertness. ITO is a key part of solar cells, window coatings, energy efficient buildings, and flat panel displays. In solar cells, ITO can be the transparent, conducting top layer that lets light into the cell to shine the junction and lets electricity flow out. Improving the ITO layer can help improve the solar cell efficiency. A transparent ii conducting oxide is a material with high transparency in a derived part of the spectrum and high electrical conductivity. Beyond these key properties of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), ITO has a number of other key characteristics. The structure of ITO can be amorphous, crystalline, or mixed, depending on the deposition temperature and atmosphere. The electro-optical properties are a function of the crystallinity of the material. In general, ITO deposited at room temperature is amorphous, and ITO deposited at higher temperatures is crystalline. Depositing at high temperatures is more expensive than at room temperature, and this method may not be compatible with the underlying devices. The main objective of this thesis work is to optimise the growth conditions of Indium tin oxide thin films at low processing temperatures. The films are prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering under various deposition conditions. The films are also deposited on to flexible substrates by employing bias sputtering technique. The films thus grown were characterised using different tools. A powder x-ray diffractometer was used to analyse the crystalline nature of the films. The energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for evaluating the composition and morphology of the films. Optical properties were investigated using the UVVIS- NIR spectrophotometer by recording the transmission/absorption spectra. The electrical properties were studied using vander Pauw four probe technique. The plasma generated during the sputtering of the ITO target was analysed using Langmuir probe and optical emission spectral studies.
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Chemical bath deposition (CBD)is one of the simplest, very convient and probably the cheapest method for thin film preparation. Photovoltaic is the cleanest and the most efficient mode of conversion of energy to electrical power. Silicon is the most popular material in this field. The present study on chemical bath deposited semiconducting copper selenide and iron sulfide thin films useful for photovoltaic applications. Semiconducting thin films prepared by chemical deposition find applications as photo detectors, solar control coatings and solar cells. Copper selenide is a p-type semiconductor that finds application in photovolitics. Several heterojunction systems such as Cu2-xSe/ZnSe (for injection electro luminescence), Cu2Se/AgInSe2 and Cu2Se/Si (for photodiodes), Cu2-xSe/CdS, Cu2-xSe/CdSe, CuxSe/InP and Cu2-xSe/Si for solar cells are reported. A maximum efficiency of 8.3% was achieved for the Cu2-xSe/Si cell, various preparation techniques are used for copper selenide like vacuum evaporation, direct reaction, electrodeposition and CBD. Instability of the as-prepared films was investigation and is accounted as mainly due to deviation from stoichiometry and the formation of iron oxide impurity. A sulphur annealing chamber was designed and fabricated for this work. These samples wee also analysed using optical absorption technique, XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and XRD.(X-Ray Diffraction).The pyrite films obtained by CBD technique showed amorphous nature and the electrical studies carried out showed the films to be of high resistive nature. Future work possible in the material of iron pyrite includes sulphur annealing of the non-stochiometric iron pyrite CBD thin films in the absence of atmospheric oxygen
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A new method for enhancing the 2.1 VSWR impedance bandwidth of microstrip antennas is presented. Bandwidth enhancement is achieved by loading the microstrip antenna by a ceramic microwave dielectric resonator (DR). The validity of this technique has been established using rectangular and circular radiating geometries. This method improves the bandwidth of a rectangular microstrip antenna to more than 10% (= 5 times that of a conventional rectangular microstrip antenna) with an enhanced gain of I dB
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This work presents an explicit formulation for multiple- edge diffraction for mobile radiowave propagation in terms of uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) coefficients when a spherical incident wave is considered. This solution can be used in an UTD context and sharply reduces the computing time over existing formulation. Results can be applied in the planning of microcellular systems
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For the analysis of productivity, capacity utilisation and profitability the data relating to the manufacturing central public sector enterprises in Kerala have been collected from the published annual reports of the companies, public enterprises surveys of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Economic Review of State Planning Board (SPB) and statistical review of central government enterprises by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). Primary data have been collected by conducting personal interview with the high and middle level executives.
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Nanoscale silica was synthesized by precipitation method using sodium silicate and dilute hydrochloric acid under controlled conditions. The synthesized silica was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), BET adsorption and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The particle size of silica was calculated to be 13 nm from the XRD results and the surface area was found to be 295 m2/g by BET method. The performance of this synthesized nanosilica as a reinforcing filler in natural rubber (NR) compound was investigated. The commercial silica was used as the reference material. Nanosilica was found to be effective reinforcing filler in natural rubber compound. Filler-matrix interaction was better for nanosilica than the commercial silica. The synthesized nanosilica was used in place of conventional silica in HRH (hexamethylene tetramine, resorcinol and silica) bonding system for natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber / Nylon 6 short fiber composites. The efficiency of HRH bonding system based on nanosilica was better. Nanosilica was also used as reinforcing filler in rubber / Nylon 6 short fiber hybrid composite. The cure, mechanical, ageing, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of nanosilica / Nylon 6 short fiber / elastomeric hybrid composites were studied in detail. The matrices used were natural rubber (NR), nitrile rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and chloroprene rubber (CR). Fiber loading was varied from 0 to 30 parts per hundred rubber (phr) and silica loading was varied from 0 to 9 phr. Hexa:Resorcinol:Silica (HRH) ratio was maintained as 2:2:1. HRH loading was adjusted to 16% of the fiber loading. Minimum torque, maximum torque and cure time increased with silica loading. Cure rate increased with fiber loading and decreased with silica content. The hybrid composites showed improved mechanical properties in the presence of nanosilica. Tensile strength showed a dip at 10 phr fiber loading in the case of NR and CR while it continuously increased with fiber loading in the case of NBR and SBR. The nanosilica improved the tensile strength, modulus and tear strength better than the conventional silica. Abrasion resistance and hardness were also better for the nanosilica composites. Resilience and compression set were adversely affected. Hybrid composites showed anisotropy in mechanical properties. Retention in ageing improved with fiber loading and was better for nanosilica-filled hybrid composites. The nanosilica also improved the thermal stability of the hybrid composite better than the commercial silica. All the composites underwent two-step thermal degradation. Kinetic studies showed that the degradation of all the elastomeric composites followed a first-order reaction. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that storage modulus (E) and loss modulus (E) increased with nanosiica content, fiber loading and frequency for all the composites, independent of the matrix. The highest rate of increase was registered for NBR rubber.
