Digital Commons Network^™

Validity And Reliability Of Dynamic Virtual Interactive Design Methodology, Renran Tian

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on testing the validity and reliability of dynamic Virtual Interactive Design (VID) methodology with dynamic ergonomics analysis. Virtual Interactive Design methodology has been introduced and applied on practical problems in several previous studies, and initially validated with posture-based static ergonomics analysis tools. Although most results have proved the validity and reliability based on static information considered, such validation processes is not sufficient since risks for performing certain tasks can not be fully examined without examining dynamic aspects. But the dynamic virtual interactive design environment has not been validated sufficiently. In my subsequent study, a dynamic ergonomics analysis …

Sbe Notícias, Ano 2, No. 59, August 11, 2007, Marcelo A. Rasteiro, Delci K. Ishida

SBE Notícias

SBE na Adventure Sport Fair - Palestra na SBE sobre arquitetura ecológica - Curso de introdução: Fenomenologia de Goethe - UPE e GREGO iniciam parceria nas cavernas de Goiás - Resgate em caverna espanhola durou 4 dias - Ossos humanos com 1 milhão de anos são encontrados na Síria - Exploração descontrolada põe em risco o Aqüífeto Karst - Parque de Ubajara tem 120 dias para renovar convênio - Descoberta nova espécie de morcego - Foto do Leitor: Gruta Jaú (GO).

A Desiccant Technology Instructional Module, Matthew Dale Riley

Theses and Dissertations

Desiccant technology is a category of HVAC equipment used for dehumidification. A desiccant material is a material that attracts and holds large amounts of water vapor. Desiccant materials are used in complete desiccant cooling units, air pretreatment devices, and HVAC system enhancements. The instructional module has been developed to introduce engineering students to desiccant technology and the use of desiccant systems. In the typical engineering curriculum, a number of courses could contain topics related to desiccant systems. Thermodynamics, heat transfer, HVAC, thermal systems design, and alternate energy systems courses are appropriate for desiccant related topics. The instructional module contains lecture …

Continuous Simulation Of Groundwater Use And Effluent Discharge In Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Ponds At Five Locations In The Southeast U.S, Sugeng Triyono

Theses and Dissertations

Long-term climatological data were used to evaluate the effectiveness of a drop/add management strategy to reduce groundwater use and effluent discharge in catfish ponds in the southeast U.S.. A drop/add approach is based on the creation of a storage volume in the pond for rainfall collection. The storage volume is created by allowing water level in the pond to decrease until some minimum level is reached. When the minimum level is reached, the pond is partly refilled, leaving the remaining volume available to capture incident precipitation. In this way, the role of precipitation in the water budget is increased. In …

Free-Form Deformation For Computer-Aided Engineering Analysis And Design, Amy Lynn Ladner

Theses and Dissertations

Toward support of the use of geometry in advanced simulation, a freeorm deformation (FFD) tool was designed, developed, and tested using object oriented (OO) techniques. The motivation for creating this FFD tool in-house was to provide engineers and researchers a cost efficient, quick, and easy way to computationally manipulate models without having to start from scratch while readily seeing the resulting geometry. The FFD tool was built using the OO scripting language, Python, the OO GUI toolkit, Qt, and the graphics toolkit, OpenGL. The tool produced robust and intuitive results for two-dimensional shapes especially when multiple point manipulation was utilized. …

Egocentric Depth Perception In Optical See-Through Augmented Reality, James Adam Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Augmented Reality (AR) is a method of mixing computer-generated graphics with real-world environments. In AR, observers retain the ability to see their physical surroundings while additional (augmented) information is depicted as simulated graphical objects matched to the real-world view. In the following experiments, optical see-through head-mounted displays (HMDs) were used to present observers with both Augmented and Virtual Reality environments. Observers were presented with varied real, virtual, and combined stimuli with and without the addition of motion parallax. The apparent locations of the stimuli were then measured using quantitative methods of egocentric depth judgment. The data collected from these experiments …

Asperger's Syndrome And Metamemory:How Well Can One Child Predict His Knowledge Of The World Around Him?, Jacqueline Brooks Bell

Theses and Dissertations

We investigated whether a child with Asperger?s Syndrome would demonstrate deficits in awareness of cognitive processing similar to those demonstrated for awareness of social interactions. The cognitive processes examined were memory and metamemory, or knowing about knowing. With regard to procedural metamemory, the child was unable to accurately predict his own memory, particularly which items he would not be able to recall. Declarative metamemory also was impaired. Tasks requiring imitation of the researcher or that were largely nonverbal resulted in particularly poor performance. The findings indicate that the child?s social deficits related to Asperger?s Syndrome extended to the cognitive domain. …

An Active Core Fiber Optic Gas Sensor Using A Photonic Crystal Hollow Core Fiber As A Transducer, Venkata Satya Sai Sarma Tipparaju

Theses and Dissertations

An active core fiber optic gas sensing technique has been developed by using a photonic crystal (PC) hollow core fiber (HCF) as a transducer and a tunable diode laser as a light source for multi-gas sensing. The intrinsic optical absorption signal of an analyte molecule in the near nfrared region is monitored for sensing C2H2,CO2 and NH3. Although the overtone absorptions are known to have low absorption cross-sections, this sensor can detect these gas components down to the parts-per-million (ppm) level by using a 1-meter hollow core fiber as a transducer. This sensor is an example of application of PC-HCF …

The Effect Of Pasteurization Temperature On Consumer Acceptability, Sensory Characteristics, Volatile Compound Composition, And Shelf-Life Of Fluid Milk, April Lynne Gandy

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship among consumer acceptability, descriptive sensory attributes, and shelf-life was determined for 2 % milk pasteurized at 77, 79, 82, or 85?aC. Pasteurization temperature had no effect (p>0.05) on shelf-life. Consumers preferred (p<0.05) 79?aC over other treatments on day 0; however, six days post-pasteurization 79?aC milk was only preferred (p<0.05) over 77?aC. Consumers were grouped into eight clusters based on product liking for both day 0 and 6 evaluations. The largest cluster liked all pasteurization treatments, and 79?aC was highly acceptable to all consumers that liked milk. Similar sensory descriptors indicated the end of shelf-life for all pasteurization treatments even though treatments could be differentiated by descriptors on day 0. This research reveals that altering pasteurization temperature from 79?aC may cause a decrease in consumer acceptability to some consumers. Altering pasteurization temperature does not affect shelf-life or sensory descriptors and volatile compound profiles at the end of shelf-life.

The Effects Of The Secondary Carbon Source Glycerol On The Lipid Accumulation And Fatty Acid Profile Of Rhodotorula Glutinis, Emily Ruth Echols Easterling

Theses and Dissertations

Producing biodiesel from triacylglycerol (TAG) generates glycerol as a byproduct which could be recycled and used to grow the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula glutinis. R. glutinis has the ability to produce up to 70% of its weight in the form of TAG. This study is designed to determine the effects of glycerol on the TAG and fatty acids produced by R. glutinis. After 24 hrs, R. glutinis cultured on medium containing dextrose, xylose, glycerol, dextrose and xylose, xylose and glycerol, or dextrose and glycerol accumulated 16, 12, 25, 10, 21, and 34% TAG on a dry weight basis, respectively. The fatty …

The Influence Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Glucose Uptake By Caco-2 Cells, Arun Kumar Rooj

Theses and Dissertations

The resident microbes of human gastrointestinal tract cause both harmful and beneficial effects and these effects can be modulated by the administration of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Probiotics attribute several therapeutic and preventive beneficial effects, for both humans and animals. Despite the good effects of probiotic bacteria, the role of probiotic bacteria or their metabolites on the nutrient uptake by enterocytes is very less known. Most studies describe the genomic effects of probiotic bacteria on the transport properties. This thesis describes the short term (10 min or less) non-genomic effects of probiotic bacteria on the glucose uptake by human enterocytes like …

The Relationship Of Diet, Stress, Intestinal Nitric Oxide Production, And Intestinal Microflora In Chickens, Monticha Putsakum

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were first, to investigate the effect of stress and ascorbic acid (AA) supplement during stress on intestinal microflora of broilers and layers, and secondly, to determine nitric oxide (NO) production in intestinal tract of broilers during stress, when supplemented with L-arginine, and NO production in cecal bacteria. The intestinal microflora from broilers and layers were analyzed for bacterial populations during stress and when supplemented with ascorbic acid. In both studies, stress response was induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) via a mini osmotic pump for 7 days, and intestinal samples were collected before and after stress …

The Role Of A Non-Microtubule-Based Spindle Matrix In Eukaryotic Cellular Division, Melissa Gwen Chambers

Theses and Dissertations

A non-microtubule-based spindle matrix has been observed in Drosophila melanogaster meiotic and somatic cells. This matrix comprises the proteins: Skeletor, Megator and Chromator, which localize to the nuclear periphery and chromosomes at prophase and to the microtubule spindle during mitosis and meiosis. This matrix might play a role in nuclear organization and microtubule assembly and stabilization. It is important to determine the presence or absence of this matrix in other species in order to compare form and function to that in Drosophila. These matrix proteins were studied in both normally dividing cells and cells in which division was disrupted. Our …

The Use Of Geospatial Technologies To Quantify The Effect Of Hurricane Katrina On The Vegetation Of The Weeks Bay Reserve, Adam Wayne Murrah

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the changes to NDVI value in the Weeks Bay Reserve following the impact by Hurricane Katrina. Four Landsat images from March 24, 2005 (Pre-Katrina), September 16, 2005/ April 26, 2006 (Post-Katrina) and August 7, 2002 (Control) were classified into different landcover types and run with the NDVI vegetation index. Those images were compared against each other and showed that the September image had a NDVI value drop of 49% and the April image had a 47% drop as compared to the previous March. The emergent vegetation surrounding the shoreline was most susceptible to changes in NDVI …

Proteome And Phosphoproteome Dynamic Change During Cell Dedifferentiation In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Brahmananda Reddy Chitteti

Theses and Dissertations

Cell dedifferentiation is a cell fate switching process in which a differentiated cell reverts to a status with competence for cell division and organ regeneration like an embryonic stem cell. Although the phenomenon of cell dedifferentiation has been known for over two and a half centuries in plants, little is known of the underlying mechanisms. Here, the proteome map of Arabidopsis cotyledons has been established and investigated the dynamic change of the cotyledon proteome in the time course of cell dedifferentiation. Among the 353 distinct genes, corresponding to 500 2-DE gel protein spots identified with high confidence, 12% have over …

Kinetic Study Of The Side-Door Mutants Of The Model Carboxylesterase Pnb Ce, Timothy Michael Streit

Theses and Dissertations

Carboxylesterases (CEs) metabolize a wide range of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics containing ester bonds. Crystal structures of mammalian CEs indicate a ?side door? located adjacent to the catalytic gorge that may act as an alternative pore for the trafficking of substrates and products. This study investigated the role of the ?gate? residue of the side door during para-Nitrobenzyl esterase (pnb CE)-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters. Purified recombinant pnb CE proteins were examined for their hydrolytic activity toward several esters. Mutation of the gate residue altered the kinetic parameters of pnb CE toward these substrates, demonstrated by increased Km values and decreased …

Economic Impacts Of White-Tailed Deer From Hunting In Mississippi, Micah Whittington Whiteside

Theses and Dissertations

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an important ecological, social, and economic resource in Mississippi. Studies have been conducted on expenditures by white-tailed deer hunters, but none have administered a research-based, economic impact assessment for white-tailed deer in Mississippi. The economic impacts and associated values of white-tailed deer in Mississippi through a selfministered mail questionnaire were examined to collect white-tailed deer hunter expenditure data during the 2003/2004 hunting season. Expenditures of white-tailed deer hunters were obtained from a mail survey (N = 1,257, 38.6% response rate) and were used in an input-output model to determine economic impacts for the State. Economic …

Effects Of 6/85-Strain Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Inoculation Alone At 10 Weeks Of Age Or In Conjunction With Fmg Inoculation Overlays At 22 Or 45 Weeks Of Age On The Performance, Egg, Blood, And Visceral Characteristics Of Commercial Egg Laying Hens, Kristin Allo Viscione

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of 6/85-strain M. gallisepticum (6/85MG) inoculation alone or in conjunction with a F-strain M. gallisepticum (FMG) over-lay and its timing on the performance, egg, blood, and visceral characteristics of commercial egg laying hens were investigated. The applied treatments did not affect layer performance, but did affect yolk moisture and fatty acids, liver moisture, and plasma protein. The plasma protein and liver moisture changes may be indicative of the effects of the treatments on the hydration statuses of the birds during lay, whereas alterations in yolk palmitic, oleic, and linolenic acid levels with treatment may have been manifested by …

An Analysis Of The Keetch-Byram Drought Index As A Predictor Of Forest Fire Potential, John Andrew Morris

Theses and Dissertations

Forestry management relies on combating the challenges posed by fire. Knowledge of fire risk helps in the planning for and reacting to forest fires. One method used is the mapping of the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). Though it was not specifically designed to be a fire risk assessment tool it is used to highlight areas with a high potential of fire due to climactic factors. A statistical analysis is performed to determine the relevance of the use of this drought index to measure fire potential. Analysis is performed by testing the relationship of KBDI to the number of fires and …

Understanding The Nifm Dependence Of Nifh In Azotobacter Vinelandii: Functional Substitution Of Nifh By A Nifh-Chll Chimeric Construct In A Nifm- Strain, Kelvin Harris Jr

Theses and Dissertations

The enzyme nitrogenase catalyzes the energy-dependent reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia via biological nitrogen fixation. Nitrogenase is composed of two metalloproteins known as the molybdenum-iron (MoFe) protein and the iron (Fe) protein. The Fe protein, a 60-kDa dimer of the product of the nifH gene, contains a single 4Fe-4S cluster and two Mg-ATP-binding sites, one at each subunit. The Fe protein is the obligate electron donor to the MoFe protein. To date, no other mutual protein has shown to substitute Fe protein in biological fixation, and the NifH is functional only in the presence of the nifessory protein NifM. Interestingly, …

The Ecology And Morphological Variation Of Opuntia (Cactaceae) Species In The Mid-South, United States, Lucas C. Majure

Theses and Dissertations

Opuntia species have been poorly studied ecologically and taxonomically in the eastern United States. This study deals with the ecology of Opuntia species in the mid-south United States and covers not only the high degree of morphological variation exhibited by taxa, but also the taxonomy and distributions of the group for Mississippi. The taxa in the mid-south have distinct habitat preferences and can be separated based on habitat characterization. Information from this work provides valuable data useful in predicting possible routes that an invasive species, Cactoblastis cactorum (the cactus moth), might use in its potential westward migration. Phenotypic plasticity exhibited …

Genetic And Virulence Diversity Of Flavobacterium Columnare, Esteban Soto

Theses and Dissertations

Flavobacterium columnare is a freshwater fish bacterium responsible for columnaris disease, the second leading cause of mortality in pond raised catfish in the southeastern United States. Pulsedield gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a particularly powerful tool in epidemiology and is now regarded as the gold standard for molecular typing of microorganisms. We developed methods for conducting PFGE on F. columnare, and determined its efficacy for characterizing F. columnare strains isolated from different locations in the Southeastern United States. Virulence diversity was observed in two different immersion challenge experiments conducted with 16 different isolates in channel catfish fingerlings. A direct correlation was …

Interview With Dan J. Wilson, Sudan Farms, 2007 (Audio), Dan J. Wilson

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Dan J. Wilson by Jason Keaton at Canby, Oregon on August 10th, 2007.

The interview index is available for download.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha, August Commencement 2007, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Florida Sentinel Bulletin, August 10, 2007, Gwen Hayes

Florida Sentinel Bulletin Collection

The August 10, 2007, issue of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin.

The Implications Of Climate Change Litigation For International Environmental Law-Making, David B. Hunter

Working Papers

Climate advocates are increasingly raising specific climate change concerns before domestic courts, human rights tribunals, international commissions and other national and international decisionmaking bodies. Win or lose, these litigation strategies are significantly changing and enhancing the public dialogue around climate change. This article discusses the awareness-building impacts of climate litigation as well as related impacts such strategies may have on the development of climate law and policy. The article argues that litigation's focus on specific victims facing immediate threats from climate change has increased the political will to address climate change both internationally and nationally. It has also shifted the …

Vol.35 N.12 August 9th 2007, Brown Publishing Company

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

The Murray Ledger And Times, August 9, 2007, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Effects Of White-Tailed Deer Herbivory On Forest Plant Communities, John Thrift

All Theses

ABSTRACT
The impact of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory on forest ecosystems has received more attention as deer populations continue to increase in many areas. We investigated the effects of deer herbivory on plant communities in three different geographic regions to increase the general knowledge of herbivory impacts and also to investigate specific regional effects where research has been lacking.
Twelve exclosures were constructed in clearcut hardwood stands on the Clemson Experimental Forest, SC. Sapling, seedling, and understory species richness (S), Shannon's Diversity Index (H'), and Evenness (J') were compared between exclosures and paired control plots after the first and …

Thrombocyte Response To Lipopolysaccharide In Stress Induced Broiler Chicks, Farzana Ferdous

All Theses

The role of thrombocytes, nucleated blood leukocytes, on immune responses in chickens fed diets supplemented with vitamin C has not been studied in the past. This study investigates the effects of three types of diets(control, control with corticosterone, and control with corticosterone and vitamin C) in 14-day old broiler chicks on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-12 in thrombocytes. In addition, the effect of LPS, a microbial component to which broiler chicks can be exposed, on the expression of these pro-inflammatory cytokines was investigated. After two weeks of feeding, blood samples from the chicks were collected and …