Digital Commons Network^™

Numerical Heat Transfer Model Of A Traditional Ice Cellar With Passive Cooling Methods, Kyle D. Wendler

Engineering

Permafrost ice cellars have been used for generations by Arctic communities for subsistence food storage. Many of these ice cellars have been recently reported to be difficult or impossible to maintain due to thawing and water accumulation inside the cellar. The thesis objective is to investigate the effectiveness of implementing passive techniques to lower the surrounding permafrost temperature, ideally to 0°F, the USDA recommended temperature, throughout the year. Numerical finite element modeling was used to investigate the effects on permafrost temperature with the addition of two-phase, closed thermosyphons and/or ground insulation. Thermosyphon condensers installed both above and below ground were …

Engineering Economic Analysis Of A Rail Extension From Dunbar Siding To Livengood, Alaska, Charles W. Bohart

Engineering

The Dunbar Siding to Livengood rail extension study is an economic prefeasibility investigation, and is conducted from two perspectives as a cost benefit analysis. The first perspective is, that of the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) in which the capital and operating costs of the proposed extension are recovered through the revenue stream resulting from the out-bound mineral freight loads, the in-bound re-supply freight loads, and the potential commuter passenger service to mining projects and communities in the Livengood area. The second perspective is that of the private sector in which a shipping sensitivity and employee transport analysis with respect to …

Pedometers Accelerometers And Observational Methods: A Comparison Of Measurements Of Physical Activity In Fourth-Grade Students., Amanda E. Greene

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years physical inactivity among students has become a matter of great concern. Nearly 65% of students do not meet the daily recommended level of physical activity, which is 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, with 50% of that time being spent in moderate to vigorous levels of activity (CDC, 2010b). As a result, the 21^st century has shown to be a time of many health problems such as, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In fact, nearly one third of all children are considered obese or overweight (Slawta & DeNeui, …

On The Imperishable Face Of Granite: Civil War Monuments And The Evolution Of Historical Memory In East Tennessee 1878-1931., Kelli Brooke Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After the Civil War individuals throughout the country erected monuments dedicated to the soldiers and events of the conflict. In East Tennessee these memorials allowed some citizens to promote their ideas by invoking both Union and Confederate Civil War sympathies. Initially, East Tennesseans endorsed the creation of a Unionist image to advertise the region's potential for industrialization. By 1910 this depiction waned as local and northern whites joined to promote reconciliation and Confederate sympathizers met less opposition to their ideas than in the past. After 1919 white East Tennesseans, enmeshed in the boom and bust cycles of the national economy, …

Innovative Design: Design Of A Press System And Molds To Produce A Skateboard Deck., George William Linke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skateboarding is a passion for many people. Homemade skateboard machinery has been fabricated throughout the country. While the demand for skateboards is steady; there is a steady growth in the homemade skateboard deck market. The desire to create a one of a kind deck that expresses a person's individualism is growing. This applied research and development effort - designing and fabricating a fluid powered press system and 2-part mold assembly for forming glue up laminations for skateboard decks - is an attempt to gain understanding of the different phases of the product design process.

An Investigation Of Reading Instruction In Northeast Tennessee., Karen Pierson Reach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine specific prekindergarten- through 8th-grade reading programs, instructional best practices, academic interventions, and educational activities that are perceived as successful practices in four high achieving schools within the parameters of Northeast Tennessee. This study was accomplished through a protocol of open-ended interviews with 15 participants comprised of 4 school principals, 4 primary reading teachers, 4 intermediate reading teachers, 2 Title I reading specialists, and 1 district language arts coordinator. Additionally, school-specific documentation and basal reading programs were reviewed to triangulate the findings of this investigation.

The findings from this study suggested that …

Positive Solutions For Rural Solid Waste Management, Jessica L. Meyer

Rural Development

Rural solid waste management is and will continue to be one of the leading environmental problems facing the twenty-first century. As the global south, under developed, and developing countries progress, proper solid waste management must be a priority to keep humans and ecosystems healthy and safe. This study provides an overview of the Republic of Macedonia's solid waste management and the discoveries of public and environmental health risks as a result of unsanitary landfills and illegal dumping. These problems are caused by low enforcement of environmental laws, minimal governmental and public support, as well as lack of funding and infrastructure. …

Commencement Convocation Exercises - December 2011, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

Validation Of Seaplane Impact Load Theory And Structural Analysis Of The Martin 270, Carrie Sell

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Flight and drop tests of the Martin 270 (M270) seaplane were conducted in 1955. Theoretical and empirical pressures were determined by use of Wagner’s theory and also by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The pressure results from the experimental tests on the hull were compared with pressures calculated from Wagner’s theory to determine how well the theory correlated with the measured pressures. The experimental pressure data was also compared with the CFR results to determine how the current industry standard of estimating impact loads compares with actual pressures a seaplane is subjected to.

Using the structural design and geometry …

Identification Of Power System Stability Using Relevant Modes, Rogers Whitlock Jr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation is to identify appropriate location of capacitor banks and sources of reactive power by studying power system stability in the vicinity of system equilibrium states. The locations for reactive power sources are determined by identifying those modes of the system that participate most in the system behavior in general and in dictating the final state of the system after experiencing faults or disturbances. To identify the relevant modes of the system that participate most in the system dynamic, we shall make use of modal and participation analysis for different system conditions. We also apply modal …

The Restinga, Valerie Harbolovic

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Restinga explores dysfunctional sexual relationships in the familiar context of a love triangle, but it is set in the exotic African landscape of pre-war colonial Angola in 1960, where the author spent her childhood. The Restinga evolved from a short story presented at a graduate fiction workshop led by Joseph and Amanda Boyden at the University of New Orleans’ Madrid campus in the summer of 2007.

Research for this project included:

• Many interviews with the author’s parents
• Compilation and review of family home movies made at the time
• Interview with Richard J. Houk, author of the article: “The Hotel …

Synthesis And Applications Of Luminescent Quantum Dots In Bioassays, Venkata Ramana Kethineedi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Luminescent quantum dot (QD) based probes have gained significance in the last decade for optical imaging of cells, tissues and in bioassays as alternatives to conventional organic fluorophores. The main objective of my PhD dissertation was to develop luminescent quantum dot based bioassays for real time monitoring of enzyme activity and simultaneous detection of several biomarkers. The quantum dot based bioassays developed will be potential tools in identification and diagnosis of several ailments that interfere with normal living conditions of human beings.

In Chapter 2 new liposome encapsulated quantum dot based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes have been fabricated …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha, December Commencement 2011, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Ecosystem Management And Its Application At The Local Level: Apnep, Cama And Local Land Use Planning In North Carolina, Traci L. Birch

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A fundamental purpose of state-mandated growth management has been to infuse regional environmental concerns into local land use planning. Similarly, collaborative ecosystem planning efforts have attempted to encourage local communities to participate in regional planning efforts, and to adopt regional environmental goals and objectives into local land use plans. This paper presents results from a study of state-mandated local planning and collaborative regional planning, addressing in particular local ability to adopt and implement ecosystem planning initiatives for development management.

I found that a state mandate not only achieves plans from communities that would not otherwise plan, but also the plans …

Analysis Of Biomass/Coal Co-Gasification For Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (Igcc) Systems With Carbon Capture, Henry A. Long Iii

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Technology (IGCC) has become more common in clean coal power operations with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Great efforts have been spent on investigating ways to improve the efficiency, reduce costs, and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on investigating two approaches to achieve these goals. First, replace the subcritical Rankine steam cycle with a supercritical steam cycle. Second, add different amounts of biomass as feedstock to reduce emissions. Finally, implement several types of CCS, including sweet- and sour-shift pre-combustion and post-combustion.

Using the software, Thermoflow®, this study shows that utilizing …

Milneburg, New Orleans: An Anthropological History Of A Troubled Neighborhood, Betty A. Smallwood

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

For nearly 200 years, there has been a neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana named Milneburg, which has been constantly reimagined by its inhabitants and others. From its inception as a port of entry in 1832 until the 2011, it has been called a world-class resort, the poor-man's Riviera, a seedy red-light district, a cradle of jazz, a village, a swath of suburbia and a neighborhood. It has been destroyed eight times due to storms, fires, and civic or governmental neglect. Each time its residents have rebuilt it. In its last iteration as a post-Katrina neighborhood, the residents reestablished the Milneburg …

An Information Value Approach To Route Planning For Uav Search And Track Missions, Ryan R. Pitre

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has three contributions in the area of path planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Search And Track (SAT) missions. These contributions are: (a) the study of a novel metric, G, used to quantify the value of the target information gained during a search and track mission, (b) an optimal planning horizon that minimizes time-error of a planning horizon when interrupted by Poisson random events, and (c) a modified Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm for search missions that uses the prior target distribution in the generation of paths rather than just in the evaluation of them.

UAV route planning …

Wisteria And Other Stories, Michael Clayton

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

We are forever shaped by the worlds we live in. The following stories are musings on the importance of time and place and on the conflicts that arise for characters who are born into and who live with or rail against those forces. The stories are set in and around Laurel County, Georgia over a period of decades. They look at the people who are made there and the lessons they learn or fail to learn as they work to make their way there.

Junior Faculty Perceptions Of Their Doctoral Level Teaching Preparation: A Cross Disciplinary Examination, Franz Reneau

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

It seems reasonable to assume that the realization of the doctoral degree denotes that one is proficient in college teaching. However, the literature indicates that doctoral programs are failing to adequately prepare doctoral students for teaching in collegiate settings. The seminal work on doctoral student experiences suggests that doctoral programs are adequately preparing doctoral students for their research function, but concerns emerge around teacher preparation. Four bodies of literature inform this study: (a) the literature on the teaching role in higher education (b) the literature on doctoral students’ experiences as it relates to their teaching preparation (c) the literature on …

The Role Of The Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Paul T. Arsenovic

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is a highly conserved protein complex known to play an important role in the development of metazoan organisms, but its molecular function is not well understood. Recent evidence from experiments using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model supported the hypothesis that the NAC is either a chaperone or a component of the cytosolic chaperone network that interacts with nascent peptides emerging from the ribosome. We tested this model in C. elegans and found that the homologues of the NAC , icd-1 and icd-2, behave like chaperones in the worm. Lack of icd-1 or icd-2 altered the worms …

A Case Study In Wetlands Conservation: Identifying Best Management Practices For Landowner Stewardship, Allison M. Bredbenner

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This research explores wetlands conservation techniques employed by private landowners owning 1,000 or more acres who were recipients of an Environmental Law Institute National Wetlands Award. Study of private landowner stewardship is timely and important because in the United States, 75 percent of all wetlands are under private ownership. Given that wetlands provide a suite of valuable ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood abatement, and carbon storage, their conservation is critical to a healthy environment and productive economy. To accomplish this research, landowner files were processed into a digital archive and sub-categorized for research purposes. Telephone interviews were conducted …

Investigating Hydrogen Enhanced Combustion In A Sustainability Context, Glenn Zammit

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Since their invention, internal combustion engines have played a major role in the social and economic development of many countries by allowing people and goods to move from one place to another for longer distances and in shorter times. However, the negative environmental impacts of the widespread use of internal combustion engines in private and commercial vehicles have reached alarming values, with future prospects being much worse. In addition, fuel consumption and the dependency on oil imports of many countries have increased sharply in the past years as vehicle populations and use increased. The current trends are clearly unsustainable and …

Development Of A Methodology For Dormitory Energy Load Estimation And Analysis, John Michael Real

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

In recent years interest in reducing energy consumption at the building levels has been increasing, especially in the higher education sector. Many examples exist of higher education institutions reducing their environmental impact through energy consumption reductions, however the majority of these are anecdotal examples and it is difficult to replicate these initiatives at other institutions, either due to resource constraints, financial constraints, or a lack of reproducible methodology. This issue is further compounded by the fact that a generalized methodology does not exist for the purposes of estimating building energy loads, especially in dormitories in the absence of expensive and …

The Development And Fabrication Of A Modular Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor System For The Transportation Of Materials To And From A Mezzanine., Matthew Paul Crum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this developmental project was to design and fabricate a vertical reciprocating conveyor in order to eliminate the process of manually carrying 27 pound containers of plastic resin up and down a flight of offset space saver stairs. This project took place and was built for Phoenix Closures Incorporated. The conveyor was designed and built in house because there are no commercially available vertical reciprocating conveyors available that meet the necessary requirements.

The capabilities of the proposed vertical reciprocating conveyor are not limited to the carrying of the containers but designed to carry vacuum cleaners, tool boxes, and …

Genome-Wide Association Analysis Of Major Depressive Disorder And Its Related Phenotypes., Nagesh Ramarao Aragam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex and chronic disease that ranks fourth as cause of disability worldwide. Thirteen to 14 million adults in the U.S. are believed to have MDD and an estimated 75% attempt suicide making MDD a major public health problem. Recently several genome-wide association (GWA) studies of MDD have been reported; however, few GWA studies focus on the analysis for MDD related phenotypes such as neuroticism and age at onset of MDD. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors for MDD, identify genome-wide genetic variants affecting neuroticism and age at onset as quantitative …

Mesoporous Functionalized Materials For Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture., Kolade Omoniyi Ojo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Novel highly functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic materials were synthesized by polycondensation of bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]amine in presence of cationic and anionic surfactants. Reaction media strongly affected gelation time. Thus, in basic media gelation occurred immediately while acid increased gelation time. Material structures were studied by IR spectroscopy, porosimetry, XRD, and SAXS methods. In spite of the absence of an inorganic linker, obtained bridged silsesquioxanes had mesoporous structure. A material prepared in the presence of dodecylamine as a template had higher surface area and narrow pore size distribution while the use of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate resulted in formation of mesopores with wide size ranges. …

The Book Of Enoch And Second Temple Judaism., Nancy Perkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the ancient Jewish text the Book of Enoch, the scholarly work done on the text since its discovery in 1773, and its seminal importance to the study of ancient Jewish history. Primary sources for the thesis project are limited to Flavius Josephus and the works of the Old Testament. Modern scholars provide an abundance of secondary information. These scholars include R. H. Charles, D. S. Russell, Albert Baumgarten, Seth Schwartz, George Nickelsburg, and James VanderKam. The Book of Enoch was composed from roughly 300 BCE to 10 BCE. The Book of Enoch stands as substantial proof that …

The Dunning Man, Kevin Fortuna

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Fisher Of Men, Ashley N. Moore

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Fisher of Men tells the story of an ancient and secretive group of supernatural balance keepers. When God goes missing, it is up to them to locate him before the armies of Heaven and Hell lay siege to the earth, but they have their own problems. When knowledge of a secret weapon surfaces, they are tasked to find it and destroy it before it falls into the hands of either side. The secret weapon is Charitie Newman, a young woman from rural Indiana who moved to New Orleans with her sister. Charitie has special abilities that have no limits, and …

Spatio-Temporal Population Genetic Structure And Mating System Of Red King Crab (Paralithodes Camtschaticus) In Alaska, Scott C. Vulstek

Fisheries

Population genetic data can be used to make inferences about the Population structure and mating system and inform management decisions of overharvested species such as red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) in Alaska. Red king crab tissue and hemolymph samples were collected from 11 geographically distinct locations from Norton Sound through Southeast Alaska (n = 845). At six locations, two collections were taken at least one generation apart. Heterogeneity of allele frequencies over time was detected in three of the six locations examined, which suggested signs of recent population bottlenecks. An overall Fst = 0.025 (P <0.00 1) suggested moderate genetic differentiation among red king crab collections. A two-region model of spatial differentiation in which collections from Southeast Alaska diverge from those in the Gulf of Alaska and Westen Alaska was supported by pairwise Fst Values, homogeneity tests, Bayesian clustering, and discriminant analysis of principal components. However, spatial analysis of molecular variance suggests some finer-scale structuring within regions and greater differentiation occurs among collections within Southeast Alaska than among the rest of the collections. In addition to population genetic structure analyses, 24 female red king crab and their broods were collected from the Bering Sea. Ovigerous females and 20 offspring per brood were genotyped in order to determine whether multiple mating of a female occurred. There was no evidence of multiple paternity in any brood. The results of this study support continued management of distinct geographic groups within the Gulf of Alaska/Western Alaska/Western Alaska region and suggest that finer-scale management may be beneficial in Southeast Alaska.