Analysis of Waveguides Filled with Uniaxial Media and Metamaterials for Filter Applications using the Mode Matching Method

This dissertation will explore the analysis of waveguide discontinuities for the purpose of dielectric filled waveguide filter analysis and design. The filling media studied are uniaxial media and uniaxial media embedded with metamaterial. A literary search provides numerous methods and numerical techniques for analyzing waveguide class problems, but ultimately the Mode Matching Method (MMM) is chosen as the numerical analysis technique for this dissertation. An overview of waveguide theory and its application to the Mode Matching Method are presented. The Mode Matching Method is then used to analyze simple cases to confirm the numerical accuracy. Once accuracy is confirmed, Mode Matching theory is applied assuming the waveguides are filled with anisotropic medium. This theory is extended to uniaxial media with special orientations of the optic axis, because in practice the coordinate systems of media and waveguide do not always coincide. The Mode Matching Method with rotated optic axis is also extended to include the losses of the dielectric. This thesis also goes on to demonstrate the Mode Matching Method can accurately analyze dielectric waveguides with embedded metamaterial, specifically thin wire metamaterials Finally two dielectric filled waveguide filters are designed using the Mode Matching Method: one filter with embedded metamaterials and one filter without metamaterials. The filters are then manufactured. The measured results are compared to the Mode Matching results and shown to have excellent agreement

A house efficiency investigation using a full life cycle analysis and measured operational data through the ’10 house Living Labs’ project

The building industry currently accounts for approximately one fifth of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. With the expected rise in population as well as the combination of smaller family sizes and the demand for larger more comfortable houses the impact of the building industry will continue to increase. Many different mandatory and voluntary rating tools have been developed around the world to ensure buildings move to become more sustainable, however studies have shown that these sustainable homes often underperform as they consume more energy than expected. Under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), Australia has targeted the operational energy reduction for heating and cooling. It has been found that there is a gap between the rating and the actual operational output of the houses as poor build quality, inaccuracy of the assessment tools and the occupants lack the knowledge on how to operate and maintain their homes efficiently all contributing to higher than expected operational energy. A broader outlook on sustainability outside of the operational energy demand of a house, Life cycle assessment tools are becoming increasingly more common. A life cycle assessment tool provides a complete evaluation of the carbon footprint in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions for the entire embodied and operational energy of a house which can be used in combination with the existing NatHERS to increase the understanding of sustainability in the Australian building industry. A life cycle assessment also has the potential to be used as a decision making tool to identify and influence the products or processes that would optimise the sustainability of the building. This study includes monitoring the energy and water used in each home in addition to the photovoltaic solar production observed during the first year of the two year monitoring period for ten existing houses. The houses consist of both new six star rated homes as well as older retrofitted homes with different occupancies. The houses were all assessed with life cycle assessment software called eTool which measured the full lifecycle global warming impact of the existing houses. The operational data was then compared with the eTool prediction to investigate the house efficiency comparing the two ratings to identify specific areas of operational reduction improvements. Further analysis of the houses operational monitored data occurred via the process of an audit to further investigate how the occupant’s behaviours and house inefficiencies influence the performance of the house in terms of energy and water efficiency and whether there were any common trends identified among the houses. The results of the study found that the eTool life cycle assessment provides an accurate representation of the actual energy and water usage based of the ten houses when compared with the 2015 measured values. The variations that did occur through the eTool assessment were identified further via the audits and were found to be associated with behaviour choices of the occupants, inefficiency with build quality, design or problems with technologies employed. Some technology problems encountered during the audit was that solar hot water systems were underperforming for some houses due to shading occurring during winter. An insight into the house inefficiencies was achieved by investigating the thermal performance of the building during the audit. The tool used was a thermal imaging camera. This identified that the major areas of heat gain were through missing insulation and unshaded east and west facing windows. From the life cycle assessment inefficiencies with solar photovoltaic production were detected at three of the houses due to the systems being shaded, dusty and located on a southern facing roof. The Life cycle assessment report also helps identify that the older houses which consist of lightweight construction have a lower embodied energy than the newer double brick houses. Interestingly the embodied energy of a retrofitted house with the old section being double brick and the new section being lightweight bulk insulated cladding has its highest impacting materials being brick and concrete. Another finding was that most of the houses had a higher portion of the solar production exported to the grid rather than utilised by the house which indicates that perhaps the PV systems are not being used to their full potential

Descriptive Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Nebraska, 2005-2021

Objectives: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is naturally sustained in a Culex mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle and can cause disease in birds, equines, and humans. Most human infections with WNV are asymptomatic; however, West Nile fever (WNF), or West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) can develop and be fatal in some circumstances. Between 2005 and 2021 there have been over 1,800 cumulative cases of WNV in Nebraska, which currently ranks as fourth in the United States for reported cases. WNV cases are a mandatory reportable disease in Nebraska through an electronic reporting system managed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS). This passive surveillance system has been in place since 2005; however, no analysis has been done on WNV surveillance data in Nebraska. The objective of this study is to examine trends in WNV infections in Nebraska from 2005-2021 and examine characteristics between WNF and WNND cases between 2005 and 2021. Methods: To examine the burden of WNV disease in Nebraska, descriptive epidemiology using data reported in Nebraska Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) from 2005-2021 was performed using the SAS analysis tool. WNF and WNND cases were compared using Chi Square analysis, and predictors for developing WNND were examined by logistic regression analysis. Finally, maps to visualize the cumulative incidence by local health department (LHD) jurisdictions were created using ArcGIS software. Results: 1,822 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis. Case counts have varied every year between 2005-2021, with noticeable outbreaks occurring in 2006, 2013, and 2018. The average cumulative incidence for Nebraska between 2005-2021 was 5.86 cases per 100,000 people. Urban residence, people aged 65+, Hispanic ethnicity, and races other than white or black were significant predictors for developing WNND. Conclusion: The overall burden of WNV in Nebraska remains higher than the national average. Continued surveillance and better understanding of the distribution of disease across Nebraska create the best opportunity for utilization of prevention and control resources

Multidimensional simulations of magnetic field amplification and electron acceleration to near-energy equipartition with ions by a mildly relativistic quasi-parallel plasma collision

The energetic electromagnetic eruptions observed during the prompt phase of gamma-ray bursts are attributed to synchrotron emissions. The internal shocks moving through the ultrarelativistic jet, which is ejected by an imploding supermassive star, are the likely source of this radiation. Synchrotron emissions at the observed strength require the simultaneous presence of powerful magnetic fields and highly relativistic electrons. We explore with one and three-dimensional relativistic particle-in-cell simulations the transition layer of a shock, that evolves out of the collision of two plasma clouds at a speed 0.9c and in the presence of a quasi-parallel magnetic field. The cloud densities vary by a factor of 10. The number densities of ions and electrons in each cloud, which have the mass ratio 250, are equal. The peak Lorentz factor of the electrons is determined in the 1D simulation, as well as the orientation and the strength of the magnetic field at the boundary of the two colliding clouds. The relativistic masses of the electrons and ions close to the shock transition layer are comparable as in previous work. The 3D simulation shows rapid and strong plasma filamentation behind the transient precursor. The magnetic field component orthogonal to the initial field direction is amplified in both simulations to values that exceed those expected from the shock compression by over an order of magnitude. The forming shock is quasi-perpendicular due to this amplification. The simultaneous presence of highly relativistic electrons and strong magnetic fields will give rise to significant synchrotron emissions.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. This work was presented at 21st International Conference on Numerical Simulation of Plasmas (ICNSP'09). Accepted for publication IEEE Trans. on Plasma Scienc

Social identity and leadership in the Basque Region: a study of leadership development programmes

The purpose of the study is to explore how social identity influences the construction of leadership development programmes in the Basque Region. The Basque region is recognised as having a strong social and national identity (Kaufmann and Tödtling, 2000; McNeill, 2000). Historically leadership development has been focused on practising leaders and managers and delivered by universities, consultants and other intermediaries. A recent study undertaken by Olga Rivera has shown managerial dissatisfaction with current provision in the Basque Region and has illustrated a need for provision to focus on 'skills' for 'leadership'. What is meant by 'skills' and 'leadership' is, however, embedded within the Spanish language and identity of the region; as illustrated by the influence of the co-operative movement (Kasmir, 1996; Whyte, 1999). The paper introduces theories of social identity as they are applied to the study of leadership and it explores how theories of social identity can help explain perceptions of leadership in the Basque region

Isolation and characterization of the elusive cyanoformate ion and the dependence of its stability on solvent dielectric constant

xvi, 164 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-164).The cyanoformate ion, speculated to be an intermediate by-product in the biosynthesis of ethylene in plants for decades but never observed, was successfully isolated for the first time as its tetraphenylphosphonium salt ([PPh[subscript 4]][NCCO[subscript 2]]). Full spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of [PPh[subscript 4]][NCCO[subscript 2]] is provided, including characterization of [superscript 13]C-labelled isotopologues. In situ infrared spectroscopic analysis of the decomposition of cyanoformate in various solvents has revealed that cyanoformate will dissociate into CN- and CO[subscript 2] in higher dielectric media. The active site of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACC oxidase) bears an iron atom which may be protected from produced cyanide by its complexation with CO[subscript 2] as cyanoformate. When cyanoformate migrates out of the active site of the enzyme to the higher dielectric cytosol, it then dissociates, producing CN[superscript -] or HCN, which is subsequently metabolized

Distinguishing Discourses of the Dísir

ABSTRACT: Previous studies of the dísir have tended to focus on either their links with fertility or use of the term to designate a wide range of supranatural female figures. This study reassesses the textual evidence for the nature of these beings, applying Jens Peter Schjødt’s notion of “discourse” to argue that we should not be searching for a single coherent category of beings. Rather, it argues, our sources depict three semidistinct “dísir” discourses: a group of prosperity-focused female figures with strong links to local landscapes worshipped during the late pagan Iron Age; the use of the signifier “dís” as a poetic synonym for a range of female figures in verse; and a medieval textual discourse of “martial dísir” construed on the basis of poetic texts, but which has no basis in pre-Christian religion. RESUME: Tidligere studier af diserne har haft en tendens til at fokusere enten på deres forbindelse til frugtbarhed eller på brugen af termen til at beskrive en bred vifte af overnaturlige kvindeskikkelser. Dette studier revurderer tekstgrundlaget for disse væseners natur og benytter Jens Peter Schjødts begreb ”diskurs” til at argumentere for, at der ikke er tale om én standardiseret kategori af væsener. I stedet argumenteres der for, at kilderne afslører tre mere eller mindre særskilte diskurser om ”dísir”: En gruppe kvindefigurer med fokus på velstand med stærke bånd til lokale landskaber, som blev dyrket i den sene jernalder; brugen af termen ”dís” som et poetisk synonym for diverse kvindeskikkelser i digte; og en middelalderlig tekstdiskurs omkring ”krigeriske dísir” konstrueret ud fra poetiske tekster, men uden understøttelse in førkristen religion

Think Small, Build Big:Lessons from SME Housebuilding in Germany

There has been a catastrophic decline in the size of England’s SME housebuilding sector. This is not the case in Germany, where the SME sector dominates the housebuilding market. We diagnose a ‘toxic triangle’ of problems facing English SME builders, with mutually reinforcing problems stemming from the planning system, the land market, and insufficient access to finance. Drawing on experience from Germany, we recommend to government a seven-point plan to give England the greatest prospect of revitalising its SME building sector, thus making a substantially greater contribution to housing output

Field amplification, vortex formation, and electron acceleration in a plasma protoshock: effect of asymmetric density profile

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to originate from highly relativistic jets. The fireball model predicts internal shocks in the jets, causing magnetic field to be amplified and particles to be accelerated. We model the effects of an asymmetric density configuration for an internal plasma collision in a quasi-parallel magnetic field. We measured electron acceleration and found that a tenuous population of electrons is accelerated to Lorentz factors of \sim 300 - close to energy equipartition with ions. We found that the filaments did not remain static, but were deflected by the Lorentz force and rolled up into small vortices, which themselves merge to form a larger current vortex.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; Procceedings of the workshop "High Energy Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows III" (HEPRO III), Barcelona, June 27 - July 1, 201

'Mini'-Roadmapping - Ensuring Timely Sites' Cleanup / Closure by Resolving Science and Technology Issues

Roadmapping is a powerful tool to manage technical risks and opportunities associated with complex problems. Roadmapping identifies technical capabilities required for both project- and program-level efforts and provides the basis for plans that ensure the necessary enabling activities will be done when needed. Roadmapping reveals where to focus further development of the path forward by evaluating uncertainties for levels of complexity, impacts, and/or the potential for large payback. Roadmaps can be customized to the application, a “graded approach” if you will. Some roadmaps are less detailed. We have called these less detailed, top-level roadmaps “mini-roadmaps”. These miniroadmaps are created to tie the needed enablers (e.g., technologies, decisions, etc.) to the functions. If it is found during the mini-roadmapping that areas of significant risk exist, then those can be roadmapped further to a lower level of detail. Otherwise, the mini-roadmap may be sufficient to manage the project / program risk. Applying a graded approach to the roadmapping can help keep the costs down. Experience has indicated that it is best to do mini-roadmapping first and then evaluate the risky areas to determine whether to further evaluate those areas. Roadmapping can be especially useful for programs / projects that have participants from multiple sites, programs, or other entities which are involved. Increased synergy, better communications, and increased cooperation are the results from roadmapping a program / project with these conditions. And, as with any trip, the earlier you use a roadmap, the more confidence you will have that you will arrive at your destination with few, if any, problems. The longer the trip or complicated the route, the sooner the map is needed. This analogy holds true for using roadmapping for laying out program / project baselines and any alternative (contingency) plans. The mini-roadmapping process has been applied to past projects like the hydrogen gas generation roadmap and the subsurface contaminant focus area (SCFA), and it’s basic form is being applied in the formulation of the ‘2012 Plan’ at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). There are also plans to apply this process in the near future for other projects/programs