| 1. |
- Abbasi, Saeed
(författare)
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Characterisation of airborne particles from rail traffic
- 2011
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Since the investigation of wear particles in rail transport started in late-1910s, the high mass concentration of these particles has raised worries among researchers concerned with air quality. However, effective action has yet to be taken because of lack of relevant knowledge. This thesis provides applicable information for the airborne wear particles in rail transport. Some aspects of their characteristics such as diameter size, mass concentration, number concentration, and morphology of particles were investigated in field tests and laboratory tests.The effects on particle characterisations from different operational conditions in the field tests, and applying different braking materials, conducting tests in different applied loads or sliding velocities in the laboratory tests were studied. The main advantage of conducting laboratory tests was to focus on studying particles from one source. The possibility of repetition, using high sensitive instruments and conducting tests at low costs are the other advantages of laboratory studies. Paper A describes how a pin-on-disc machine was used to reproduce similar real operational conditions during mechanical braking in a train. The results were validated by comparing the field tests results with the laboratory studies. The particles morphology and size distribution were also studied.Paper B presents a summary of field tests results. The effects of curve negotiating and applying braking in different real conditions were investigated with an on-board measurement.The element composition of the particles and their potential sources were also investigated outside of the particles morphologies.Paper C presents comprehensive results from laboratory studies on airborne particles from different braking materials. The differences in the particle characteristics in similar test conditions were attributable to different material compositions and dominant wear mechanisms. A new index was introduced in this paper and is suggested to be used as a qualitative factor with regard to the airborne wear particle emission rate.Paper D is a review of the recent studies of exhaust emission and non-exhaust emission from rail vehicles. A summary of results, measurements, adverse health effects, and proposed or applied solutions are reviewed in this paper.
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| 2. |
- Abenius, Erik, 1971-
(författare)
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Direct and Inverse Methods for Waveguides and Scattering Problems in the Time Domain
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Numerical simulation is an important tool in understanding the electromagnetic field and how it interacts with the environment. Different topics for time-domain finite-difference (FDTD) and finite-element (FETD) methods for Maxwell's equations are treated in this thesis. Subcell models are of vital importance for the efficient modeling of small objects that are not resolved by the grid. A novel model for thin sheets using shell elements is proposed. This approach has the advantage of taking into account discontinuities in the normal component of the electric field, unlike previous models based on impedance boundary conditions (IBCs). Several results are presented to illustrate the capabilities of the shell element approach. Waveguides are of fundamental importance in many microwave applications, for example in antenna feeds. The key issues of excitation and truncation of waveguides are addressed. A complex frequency shifted form of the uniaxial perfectly matched layer (UPML) absorbing boundary condition (ABC) in FETD is developed. Prism elements are used to promote automatic grid generation and enhance the performance. Results are presented where reflection errors below -70dB are obtained for different types of waveguides, including inhomogeneous cases. Excitation and analysis via the scattering parameters are achieved using waveguide modes computed by a general frequency-domain mode solver for the vector Helmholtz equation. Huygens surfaces are used in both FDTD and FETD for excitation in waveguide ports. Inverse problems have received an increased interest due to the availability of powerful computers. An important application is non-destructive evaluation of material. A time-domain, minimization approach is presented where exact gradients are computed using the adjoint problem. The approach is applied to a general form of Maxwell's equations including dispersive media and UPML. Successful reconstruction examples are presented both using synthetic and experimental measurement data. Parameter reduction of complex geometries using simplified models is an interesting topic that leads to an inverse problem. Gradients for subcell parameters are derived and a successful reconstruction example is presented for a combined dielectric sheet and slot geometry.
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| 3. |
- Aftab, Obaid, 1984-
(författare)
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Towards High-Throughput Phenotypic and Systemic Profiling of in vitro Growing Cell Populations using Label-Free Microscopy and Spectroscopy : Applications in Cancer Pharmacology
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Modern techniques like automated microscopy and spectroscopy now make it possible to study quantitatively, across multiple phenotypic and molecular parameters, how cell populations are affected by different treatments and/or environmental disturbances. As the technology development at the instrument level often is ahead of the data analytical tools and the scientific questions, there is a large and growing need for computational algorithms enabling desired data analysis. These algorithms must have capacity to extract and process quantitative dynamic information about how the cell population is affected by different stimuli with the final goal to transform this information into development of new powerful therapeutic strategies. In particular, there is a great need for automated systems that can facilitate the analysis of massive data streams for label-free methods such as phase contrast microscopy (PCM) imaging and spectroscopy (NMR). Therefore, in this thesis, algorithms for quantitative high-throughput phenotypic and systemic profiling of in vitro growing cell populations via label-free microscopy and spectroscopy are developed and evaluated. First a two-dimensional filter approach for high-throughput screening for drugs inducing autophagy and apoptosis from phase contrast time-lapse microscopy images is studied. Then new methods and applications are presented for label-free extraction and comparison of time-evolving morphological features in phase-contrast time-lapse microscopy images recorded from in vitro growing cell populations. Finally, the use of dynamic morphology and NMR/MS spectra for implementation of a reference database of drug induced changes, analogous to the outstanding mRNA gene expression based Connectivity Map database, is explored. In conclusion, relatively simple computational methods are useful for extraction of very valuable biological and pharmacological information from time-lapse microscopy images and NMR spectroscopy data offering great potential for biomedical applications in general and cancer pharmacology in particular.
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| 4. |
- Alayon Glazunov, Andres, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Modeling of MIMO Antennas and Channels by Means of the Spherical Vector Wave Expansion
- 2009
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this paper we propose a new physically motivated model that allows to study the interaction between the antennas and the propagation channel for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems. The key tools employed in the model are the expansion coefficients of the electromagnetic field in spherical vector waves and the scattering matrix representation of the properties of the antenna. We derive the expansion of the MIMO channel matrix, H, in spherical vector wave modes of the electromagnetic field of the antennas as well as the propagation channel. We also introduce the channel scattering dyadic, C, with a corresponding correlation model for co- and cross-polarized elements and introduce the concept of mode-to-mode channel mapping, the M-matrix, between the receive and transmit antenna modes. The M-matrix maps the modes excited by the transmitting antenna to the modes exciting the receive antennas and vice versa. The covariance statistics of this M-matrix are expressed as a function of the double-directional power-angular spectrum (PAS) of co- and cross-polarized components of the electromagnetic field. Our approach aims at gaining insights into the physics governing the interaction between antennas and channels and it is useful for studying the performance of different antenna designs in a specified propagation channel as well as for modeling the propagation channel. It can furthermore be used to quantify the optimal properties of antennas in a given propagation channel. We illustrate the developed methodology by analyzing the interaction of a 2x2 system of slant polarized half-wavelength dipole antennas with some basic propagation channel models.
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| 5. |
- Alayon Glazunov, Andres, et al.
(författare)
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Spherical Vector Wave Expansion of Gaussian Electromagnetic Fields for Antenna-Channel Interaction Analysis
- 2008
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this paper we introduce an approach to analyze the interaction between antennas and the propagation channel. We study both the antennas and the propagation channel by means of the spherical vector wave mode expansion of the electromagnetic field. Then we use the expansion coefficients to study some properties of general antennas in those fields by means of the antenna scattering matrix. The focus is on the spatio-polar characterization of antennas, channels and their interactions. We provide closed form expressions for the covariance of the field multi-modes as function of the Power Angle Spectrum (PAS) and the channel cross-polarization ratio (XPR). A new interpretation of the Mean Effective Gains (MEG) of antennas is also provided. The maximum MEG is obtained by conjugate mode matching between the antennas and the channel; we also prove the (intuitive) results that the optimum decorrelation of the antenna signals is obtained by the excitation of orthogonal spherical vector modes.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Claes, 1978-
(författare)
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Fusing Domain Knowledge with Data : Applications in Bioinformatics
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Massively parallel measurement techniques can be used for generating hypotheses about the molecular underpinnings of a biological systems. This thesis investigates how domain knowledge can be fused to data from different sources in order to generate more sophisticated hypotheses and improved analyses. We find our applications in the related fields of cell cycle regulation and cancer chemotherapy. In our cell cycle studies we design a detector of periodic expression and use it to generate hypotheses about transcriptional regulation during the course of the cell cycle in synchronized yeast cultures as well as investigate if domain knowledge about gene function can explain whether a gene is periodically expressed or not. We then generate hypotheses that suggest how periodic expression that depends on how the cells were perturbed into synchrony are regulated. The hypotheses suggest where and which transcription factors bind upstreams of genes that are regulated by the cell cycle. In our cancer chemotherapy investigations we first study how a method for identifiyng co-regulated genes associated with chemoresponse to drugs in cell lines is affected by domain knowledge about the genetic relationships between the cell lines. We then turn our attention to problems that arise in microarray based predictive medicine, were there typically are few samples available for learning the predictor and study two different means of alleviating the inherent trade-off betweeen allocation of design and test samples. First we investigate whether independent tests on the design data can be used for improving estimates of a predictors performance without inflicting a bias in the estimate. Then, motivated by recent developments in microarray based predictive medicine, we propose an algorithm that can use unlabeled data for selecting features and consequently improve predictor performance without wasting valuable labeled data.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Karl, 1972-
(författare)
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Characterization of Biomolecular Interactions Using a Multivariate Approach
- 2004
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis presents a novel bioinformatic methodology denoted the bio-chemometric approach. The methodology is designed for generation of detailed descriptions and predictions of biomolecular interactions. It is based on multivariate analysis of the sensitivity of a biomolecular interaction to multiple minor changes in the experimental conditions. In this work, either the chemical environment where the interaction takes place, or the molecular structure of one of the interacting molecules, was varied. The sensitivity of the interaction to the performed variations was presented as a vector called the sensitivity fingerprint. The bio-chemometric approach was tested on several biomolecular interactions. Useful descriptions of the interactions were obtained by measuring binding kinetics for each interaction in 12-20 different buffers and correlating buffer composition to binding kinetics. The obtained chemical sensitivity fingerprints were reproducible, significantly different and showed a weak correlation to binding site properties for the tested interactions. The results indicate that the fingerprints contained useful information about the binding site. The predictive ability of the bio-chemometric approach was tested on two different biomolecular interactions where one of the binding partners was slightly modified into multiple analogues by amino acid exchanges. In one example, interactions of 18 peptide analogues with an antibody gave data that could be used for accurate prediction of the dissociation rates of novel analogues. Reliable predictions of binding kinetics and affinity were also obtained for single domain camel antibody analogues binding to a protein antigen. By using the three-dimensional structure of camel antibodies and data obtained using the bio-chemometric approach, even the importance of non-exchanged amino acids for the binding could be estimated. The bio-chemometric approach can potentially improve the development of peptides and proteins for therapeutic and diagnostic use. It is suggested to be valid for general use in biochemistry.
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| 8. |
- Andersson-Sköld, Yvonne, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Microplastics from tyre and road wear: a literature review
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This literature review concerns microplastics from tyre and road wear caused by road traffic. As there is limited knowledge about microplastics in general, and microplastics from road traffic in particular, the Swedish Government commissioned the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) to, during 2018-2020, develop and disseminate knowledge about microplastics from road traffic. The chapters in this report summarises existing knowledge about microplastics from road traffic with respect to the following aspects: sources, spread and presence; effects on and risk to the environment and human health; characteristics and chemical composition; tyre and road wear; sampling methods; analysis and sample preparation; and measures. The report also includes a chapter with overall conclusions, and a chapter about further research, development and investigation needs. The purpose of this report is to provide a basis for reducing the generation and spread of microplastics from road traffic. One aim of the report is to collate and disseminate knowledge about microplastics generated by tyre and road wear, and to review the current level of knowledge. A second aim is to identify knowledge gaps and research requirements in relation to microplastics from road traffic. This literature review is based on a review of scientific articles and reports, as well as technical literature and some information from experts and industry.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Asraf, Daniel
(författare)
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Optimal Detectors for Transient Signal Families and Nonlinear Sensors : Derivations and Applications
- 2003
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is concerned with detection of transient signal families and detectors in nonlinear static sensor systems. The detection problems are treated within the framework of likelihood ratio based binary hypothesis testing.An analytical solution to the noncoherent detection problem is derived, which in contrast to the classical noncoherent detector, is optimal for wideband signals. An optimal detector for multiple transient signals with unknown arrival times is also derived and shown to yield higher detection performance compared to the classical approach based on the generalized likelihood ratio test.An application that is treated in some detail is that of ultrasonic nondestructive testing, particularly pulse-echo detection of defects in elastic solids. The defect detection problem is cast as a composite hypothesis test and a methodology, based on physical models, for designing statistically optimal detectors for cracks in elastic solids is presented. Detectors for defects with low computational complexity are also formulated based on a simple phenomenological model of the defect echoes. The performance of these detectors are compared with the physical model-based optimal detector and is shown to yield moderate performance degradation.Various aspects of optimal detection in static nonlinear sensor systems are also treated, in particular the stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon which, in this context, implies noise enhanced detectability. Traditionally, SR has been quantified by means of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and interpreted as an increase of a system's information processing capability. Instead of the SNR, rigorous information theoretic distance measures, which truly can support the claim of noise enhanced information processing capability, are proposed as quantifiers for SR. Optimal detectors are formulated for two static nonlinear sensor systems and shown to exhibit noise enhanced detectability.
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