Master of Science

thesisMicroelectromechanical gyroscopes are readily used in cars and cell phones. Tactical gyroscopes are available inexpensively and they offer 0.01 to 0.1 % scale factor inaccuracy. On the other hand, strategic gyroscopes with much better performance levels are 100,000 times more expensive. The main objective of this work is to explore the possibility of developing inexpensive strategic grade gyroscopes using microelectromechanical systems technology. Most of the available gyroscopes are surface micromachined due to fabrication issues and misalignment problems involved in multistep fabrication processes necessary to use the bulk of the wafer as the proofmass in MEMS gyroscopes. It can be shown that the sensitivity of the gyroscope is inversely proportional to the natural frequency; so if bulk micromachining technique is used it is possible to decrease the natural frequency further than current limits of surface micromachining in order to increase sensitivity. This thesis is focused on proposing a way to use bulk of the silicon wafer in the gyroscope to decrease the natural frequency to very low levels, such as sub-KHz regime, that cannot be achieved by single mask surface micromachining processes. It then proposes a solution for solving the misalignment problems caused by using multiple fabrication steps and masks instead of using only one mask in surface micromachined gyroscopes. In our design discrete proofmasses are linked together around a circle by compliant structures to ensure the highest effective mass and lowest effective spring constant. By using a proposed double sided fabrication technology the effect of misalignments on frequency mismatch can be reduced. ANSYS software simulations show that 20 µm misalignment between the masks causes a frequency shift equal to 0.3% of the natural frequency that can be compensated using electrostatic frequency tuning. Acceleration parasitic effects can also be a major problem in a low natural frequency gyroscope. In our design a multiple sensing electrode configuration is used that cancels the acceleration effects completely. The sensitivity of the gyroscope with 3126 Hz natural frequency is simulated to be 574 mV/(deg/sec) , or about four times higher than 132 mV/(deg/sec) , which was used as a benchmark for a sensitive gyroscope

A tapestry of resistance: Afghan educated refugee women in Pakistan: 'agency', identity and education in war and displacement

This study addresses how educated Afghan refugee women in Pakistan have experienced,contributed to and challenged the gendered constructions of national, ethnic and religious identities in war and displacement. In addition, this study addresses the lived experiences of educated Afghan refugee women of formal education in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, and their `agency' in utilizing education to further the cause of equity in their families and communities. This is a qualitative study using twenty in-depth and semi-structured interviews, as well as extensive participatory observation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and library-research over the period of 1996 to 2003. It is the result of immersion, as an `in-between' feminist researcher, in Afghanistan and Afghan refugee life in Pakistan since 1996, and an effort to link academic endeavor with activism and life as a development/humanitarian practitioner. This study shows the symbolic and actual role of women in the gendered constructions of dynamic and shifting identities, and their mobilization by patriarchal, political and military processes in war and displacement. It highlights the specificity of Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan, as the `near abroad'. This includes national `modernization', Sovietization and Islamization efforts and the influence of regional and global politics on Afghanistan and Afghans. The study also shows that many Afghan women, in all their diversity, have challenged not only patriarchy but also other dogmatic and undemocratic process of exclusionary politics. Their lives and efforts challenge Westocentric/orientalized stereotypes of Afghan women (and men), as well as generally those of Moslem women, women of the South and refugee women, and their constructions purely as victims. Formal education, as one of the first and most important public spaces available to girls and women, with its contradictory yet critical potential in enhancing the awareness, skills and resistance of girls and women, is further reviewed and analyzed. While addressing the above issues, this study also highlights the need to undertake further in-depth research on Afghanistan, Afghan women, Afghan refugee women and female education in Afghanistan. Such research can be used to support Afghan women and Afghan refugee women with due consideration to their heterogeneity, `agency' and struggles for wellbeing, choice and respect

USCID fourth international conference

Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Volumetric delivery of water in irrigation networks has been recognized as a major step for optimum use of water for agricultural purposes. This requires an appropriate water demand management, associated equipment, and an information system. In this paper, a summary of a guideline for volumetric water delivery in irrigation networks of Iran has been presented. In this regard, the principles and prerequisite conditions for volumetric water delivery have been discussed. Also the processes of signing an agreement with the water users and details of water delivery have been defined. Furthermore topics of training for different stakeholders in the irrigation network including managers, water distributors, and representatives of the farmers have been introduced

Reclaiming Impact in the Age of Awareness-raising for Human Rights

In the last decade, the practice of awareness-raising for human rights has appeared as notably common across the board. Nevertheless, widespread awareness-raising has not necessarily always resulted in meaningful and sustainable impact. Accepting that awareness raising is not a panacea, we challenge the global collective fascination with big impact, while considering the power of small strategic impact that invests in education, and building alliances, and has the potential to last and to expand by way of gradual encroachment through contextually-defined grassroots means natural to its course. Empowered through social media, advocates are increasingly enthusiastic about reaching massive audiences by way of campaigns which if effectively designed and executed, travel far and wide. Acknowledging the potential power of awareness-raising, this practice should not be mistaken as an end in and of itself. In fact, if viewed as an end, such campaigns can arguably bear detrimental unintended consequences: While giving an impression of activism they may fail to channel the collective energy of the public into strategic and sustainable action focused on appropriately-scoped and scalable change. In this context, we explore the original aim(s) of awareness-raising as a concept, as well as its limitations and capacities. Moreover, we will revisit the parameters of structural, foundational and sustainable impact. In doing so, we will examine successful strategies for translating awareness-raising into behavioral change and measurable impact in other contexts (e.g., environmental movement, or public health). Finally, we will challenge the notion of global as it stands today, rejecting the notion that the west always seem to have lessons learned on human rights to offer to the Global South. As western societies struggle with backlash and hostility towards progress, there are valuable opportunities to learn from experiences of the Global South on grassroots activism, and the importance of patience in seeking impact

Numerical Analysis of Concrete Block Pavements and Comparison of Its Settlement with Asphalt Concrete Pavements Using Finite Element Method

Regarding time consuming properties and complex intervention of layers and different materials, it is better to replace laboratory based design and analysis of pavements with quick and powerful software including finite element, finite reduction software and etc. Using finite element software ABAQUS, at first, the paper investigated effects of changes of concrete block thickness in vertical stress and it was validated with experimental results. Also, using this software, effect of asphalt concrete thickness change was studied in vertical strain. And finally, results of finite element model were validated, using experimental data. Regarding that finite element analysis is suitable for crust environments and concrete block pavement does not have such environment, this research tends to compare these two types of pavements, using mathematical equations to analyze settlement. To do this, first, two models were designed, one for concrete block pavement and the other one for asphalt concrete pavement. Subgrade and base layers' models were the same in geometrical point of view and types of materials, but thickness of asphalt and concrete block pavement layers and bedding sand changed, alternatively and based on the obtained relations and diagrams, there has been a chance to equate indices of these two types of pavements

Emerging antioxidant therapies in Friedreich's ataxia

Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a rare childhood neurologic disorder, affecting 1 in 50,000 Caucasians. The disease is caused by the abnormal expansion of the GAA repeat sequence in intron 1 of the FXN gene, leading to the reduced expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. The disease is characterised by progressive neurodegeneration, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus and musculoskeletal deformities. The reduced expression of frataxin has been suggested to result in the downregulation of endogenous antioxidant defence mechanisms and mitochondrial bioenergetics, and the increase in mitochondrial iron accumulation thereby leading to oxidative stress. The confirmation of oxidative stress as one of the pathological signatures of FRDA led to the search for antioxidants which can be used as therapeutic modality. Based on this observation, antioxidants with different mechanisms of action have been explored for FRDA therapy since the last two decades. In this review, we bring forth all antioxidants which have been investigated for FRDA therapy and have been signed off for clinical trials. We summarise their various target points in FRDA disease pathway, their performances during clinical trials and possible factors which might have accounted for their failure or otherwise during clinical trials. We also discuss the limitation of the studies completed and propose possible strategies for combinatorial therapy of antioxidants to generate synergistic effect in FRDA patients.ZR was supported by funding to SA from the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and Ataxia UK. FE was sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat

A powerful mitochondria-targeted iron chelator affords high photoprotection against solar ultraviolet A radiation

Mitochondria are the principal destination for labile iron, making these organelles particularly susceptible to oxidative damage on exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA, 320–400 nm), the oxidizing component of sunlight. The labile iron-mediated oxidative damage caused by UVA to mitochondria leads to necrotic cell death via adenosine triphosphate depletion. Therefore, targeted removal of mitochondrial labile iron via highly specific tools from these organelles may be an effective approach to protect the skin cells against the harmful effects of UVA. In this work, we designed a mitochondria-targeted hexadentate (tricatechol-based) iron chelator linked to mitochondria-homing SS-like peptides. The photoprotective potential of this compound against UVA-induced oxidative damage and cell death was evaluated in cultured primary skin fibroblasts. Our results show that this compound provides unprecedented protection against UVA-induced mitochondrial damage, adenosine triphosphate depletion, and the ensuing necrotic cell death in skin fibroblasts, and this effect is fully related to its potent iron-chelating property in the organelle. This mitochondria-targeted iron chelator has therefore promising potential for skin photoprotection against the deleterious effects of the UVA component of sunlight

Hormone Receptor Status in Breast Cancer and its Relation to Age and Other Prognostic Factors

Background Increasing evidence shows the importance of young age, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) status, and HER-2 expression in patients with breast cancers. Patients and methods We organized an analytic cross-sectional study of 105 women diagnosed with breast cancer who have been operated on between 2008 to 2010. We evaluated age, size, hormone receptor status, HER-2 and P53 expression as possible indicator of lymph node involvement. Results There is a direct correlation between positive progesterone receptor status and being younger than 40 ( P < 0.05). Also, compared with older women, young women had tumors that were more likely to be large in size and have higher stages ( P < 0.05). Furthermore patients with negative progesterone receptor status were more likely to have HER-2 overexpression ( P < 0.05). The differences in propensity to lymph node metastasis between hormone receptor statuses were not statically significant. Conclusions Although negative progesterone receptor tumors were more likely to have HER-2 overexpression, it is possible that higher stage and larger size breast cancer in younger women is related to positive progesterone receptor status