Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Life on the ground'
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Worobo, Rodney Jason. "Ground beef quality and extended storage life." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/mq21225.pdf.
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Prokuda, Julie Patricia. "Quality and storage life of ground beef." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ40095.pdf.
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Tran, L. (Linh). "Life cycle assessment of ground mounted photovoltaic panels." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2019. http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfioulu-201908022724.
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Abstract. Nowadays, the problem of carbon emission attracts a lot of attention from people in the world. To solve this problem, many solutions are proposed to get the target of Greenhouse Gas emission reduction. Among of all, the increase of the share of renewable energy is known as a feasible and promising approach for achieving this goal. Solar power and wind power is considered as two dominant renewable sources having a significant contribution to the power generation as well as reducing CO₂ emissions. In this study, ground mounted photovoltaic plant is taken as a approach for achieving this target.
The objective of the study was to answer three research questions: (1) What are the life-cycle environmental impacts of ground-mounted photovoltaic (GMPV) systems; (2) What are the missing data to perform life cycle assessment (LCA) of GMPV? and (3)What are the future development projections for GMPV and how would they impact on their LCA? Furthermore, the state of the art of GMPV technology is also reviewed.
The thesis is based on the data of Ecoinvent v3.3, available in open LCA, associating with six cases studies on GMPV, will give an evaluation about the state of the art of technology, the data gap of GMPV in Ecoinvent v3.3. The LCA method is known as a quantitative approach which is utilized to make an evaluation of whole process of a product. The four steps of LCA are goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation.
Based on the six case studies from literature, the data gaps were recognized regarding the power output, number of modules, performance module and degradation rate, and the materials in the mounting system. These data gaps are very important because they have the significant impacts on the implementation of LCA approach. If these data gaps were filled, operators would be likely to have a more precise evaluation of GMPV systems.
It was concluded that multicrystalline silicon module is the commercially available material with highest efficiency but, because of their high cost, the development is shifted towards CdTe thin film materials. CdTe thin film is gradually proving its position in the photovoltaic (PV) commercial market because of growing efficiency and reasonable cost, which are very important when applying in the large scale of GMPV systems. Finally, it was suggested that the third generation technology, which is the combination between Generation 1 technology and Generation II technology with the feature of high efficiency and reasonable cost, has the highest potential for applying in GMPV.
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Jakobsen, Pål Drevland. "Estimation of soft ground tool life in TBM tunnelling." Doctoral thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for bygg, anlegg og transport, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-24209.
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Increased urbanisation constantly demands more infrastructure, often requiring the construction of tunnels and facilities underground. The complexity of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) function and the complicated nature of soft ground and soil working environments make the estimation of wear a challenging issue. The following tests and procedures are included in the original contribution to this PhD study; 1) an overview and presentation of various laboratory methods designed to estimate and assess soil abrasivity in connection with soft ground TBM tunnelling, 2) the development of models, based on simplified laboratory tests, for the estimation of TBM tool life when excavating soil and soft ground, 3) the development of the Soft Ground Abrasion Tester (SGAT), designed to increase the validity of simplified estimation tools. The simplified laboratory tests incorporate the Soil Abrasion Test (SAT™), quartz content measurements, and the geotechnical uniformity index Cu. Test results have been correlated with, and validated against, TBM tool life and performance data from 16 TBM projects. Laboratory test results obtained from the SAT™ provide a good estimation of soft ground excavation tool life. Furthermore, an empirical formula obtained by means of multiple regression analysis using SAT™ and Cu values as variables, and soft ground tool life as the dependent variable, has been derived, and provides a good estimation of soft ground excavation tool life. In addition, the validity of the formula is evaluated against an on-going European TBM tunnelling project. The SGAT has been developed in order to study how variation in geotechnical parameters such as soil compaction and density, water content, groundwater pressure and soil conditioning additive’s influence the abrasivity of soils. Furthermore, the SGAT provides opportunities to measure the influence of abrasive wear by varying TBM parameters such as thrust, rpm and torque. The main results obtained from the SGAT are that the moisture content of a soil sample, and thus its compactibility, influences soil abrasivity by as much as ±250%. There is a clear correlation between measured weight loss and torque requirement, and a reduction of torque by approximately 40% is achievable with proper soil conditioning. In addition, measured wear can be as low as 20% of that for an unconditioned sample. Research results have been achieved mainly by using the following four approaches, 1) literature studies, 2) laboratory tests, 3) field research, and 4) discussions and experience sharing with individuals, users and experts in the tunnelling industry. These methods were chosen since they offer a variety of approaches to the complex problem of soil abrasivity in soft ground TBM tunnelling, and to avoid an exclusive focus on any single source such as ideal laboratory tests, published literature or field experience.
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Luo, Robert Keqi. "Fatigue life evaluation of railway vehicle bogies using an integrated dynamic simulation." Thesis, London South Bank University, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358233.
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Lajom, Jennifer Ann. "Driven towards a middle-ground: Passion and work-life balance among Filipino professionals." Phd thesis, Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/101781.
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Guided by the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP; Vallerand, et al.,
2003), border (Clark, 2000) and enrichment (Rothbard, 2001;
Sieber, 1974; Marks, 1977) theories, this dissertation tested a
mediated model that examined the role of work-life balance in the
relationship between harmonious and obsessive passion (HP and OP,
respectively), with performance indicators such as in-role and
organisational citizenship behaviours, and well-being indicators
such as job and life satisfaction. HP for work was hypothesised
to positively relate with employee performance and well-being,
while OP for work will be negatively related. This relationship
is mediated by work-life balance. Employees with HP will have
higher levels of work-life balance, enabling them to have
favourable performance and well-being outcomes. In contrast,
employees with OP will experience less work-life balance,
preventing them from attaining optimum work outcomes. This
dissertation utilised a field survey methodology across three
studies— validation of the passion for work scale (Study 1),
main effects of passion for work (Study 2), and mediating effects
work-life balance to employee outcomes (Study 3).
Study 1 tested the two-factor structure of the passion for work
scale using confirmatory factor analysis (Study 1a) and
established convergent and divergent validity through
correlations of conceptually similar and dissimilar constructs
(Study 1b). Results concurred with previous validation of the
original passion scale (Vallerand, et al., 2003), where
harmonious and obsessive passion for work serve as two separate
factors. Results also showed that HP and OP for work are
distinct constructs in comparison with work involvement, goal
orientation, workaholism, work engagement, and calling. Study 2
tested the role of passion for work on in-role and organisational
citizenship behaviours, and job and life satisfaction. Hypotheses
were partially supported. Findings showed that HP for work was
positively related to indicators of employee performance and
well-being, while OP for work was not significantly related to
all outcomes. Study 3 tested the indirect effect of work-life
balance in the relationship between passion for work and
performance and well-being outcomes. Findings lend partial
support to the hypotheses. The indirect effects of work-life
balance in the relationship between HP and OP for work and
performance outcomes were not significant. However, significant
indirect effects of work-life balance were found between both
types of workplace passion and indicators of employee well-being.
This research program contributes to the workplace passion
literature in several ways. First, further validation of the
passion for work scale among samples from a non-Western
developing context further broadens the applicability of the
Dualistic Model of Passion. Second, examining the role of
passion for work substantiates the claims of popular press and
also determines the extent to which passion can be an enabler or
deterrent of optimum work performance and well-being. Finally,
integrating the DMP, and border and enrichment perspectives
further extends our understanding of how passionate employees
manage work and non-work life domains to attain balance, and its
consequences to employee work outcomes. Implications for research
and practice are discussed.
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Kartal, Önder, and Oliver Ebenhöh. "Ground state robustness as an evolutionary design principle in signaling networks." Universität Potsdam, 2009. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2010/4498/.
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The ability of an organism to survive depends on its capability to adapt to external conditions. In addition to metabolic
versatility and efficient replication, reliable signal transduction is essential. As signaling systems are under permanent
evolutionary pressure one may assume that their structure reflects certain functional properties. However, despite promising theoretical studies in recent years, the selective forces which shape signaling network topologies in general remain unclear. Here, we propose prevention of autoactivation as one possible evolutionary design principle. A generic framework for continuous kinetic models is used to derive topological implications of demanding a dynamically stable ground state in signaling systems. To this end graph theoretical methods are applied. The index of the underlying digraph is shown to be a key topological property which determines the so-called kinetic ground state (or off-state) robustness. The kinetic robustness depends solely on the composition of the subdigraph with the strongly connected components, which comprise all positive feedbacks in the network. The component with the highest index in the feedback family is shown to dominate the kinetic robustness of the whole network, whereas relative size and girth of these motifs are emphasized as important determinants of the component index. Moreover, depending on topological features, the maintenance of robustness differs when networks are faced with structural perturbations. This structural off-state robustness, defined as the average kinetic robustness of a network’s neighborhood, turns out to be useful since some structural features are neutral towards kinetic robustness, but show up to be supporting against structural perturbations. Among these are a low
connectivity, a high divergence and a low path sum. All results are tested against real signaling networks obtained from databases. The analysis suggests that ground state robustness may serve as a rationale for some structural peculiarities found in intracellular signaling networks.
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Canbek, Cetin. "Life-cycle cost study of ground source heat pumps in hot humid climate zone." FIU Digital Commons, 2010. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1992.
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Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are gaining recognition as a cost effective and green heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) alternative in the United States. Still, this technology is not highly utilized due to factors such as high initial investment, lack of confidence and uncertainties in cost items.
This study focuses on the reflection of the variations in cost items on the feasibility and life-cycle cost of a typical GSHP system. For this purpose, life-cycle costs were calculated for a typical GSHP system and cost data was gathered for several projects. Possible variations on cost variables are defined. Then, the effect of these variations on life cycle cost is analyzed on a comparative basis with a conventional system. It was concluded that the GSHP systems may not be economically favorable over a conventional HVAC systems without current incentives in hot and humid climate regions.
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Baysal, Adnan. "Social and economic implications of the life histories of ground stone at Neolithic Catalhoyuk." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.526782.
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Ground stone studies have been dominated by a typological approach to artefact interpretation that has relied on the basic description of the appearance of an artefact in the condition in which it entered the archaeological record. Such a methodology has led to stagnation in understanding of ground stone artefacts because, unlike chipped stone and ceramic technologies, they display very little chronological change in typology. Ground stones were an important element in the development of settled life, large items such as querns could not be easily transported by nomadic groups, sedentary life and the adoption of agriculture and herding resulted in changes in the way that tools were designed and used. The Neolithic period saw an intensification in the everyday use of many forms of ground stone tool and the adequate description of the way this came about is a necessary step in the study of ground stone artefacts. The methodology that has been used in this thesis discards the previous static 'snapshot' view of artefacts in favour of an approach which takes into account the dynamic processes that each artefact underwent from initial sourcing of raw material to final discard and including episodes of breakage, reuse or reshaping during that time. The innovative methodology that has been employed involves a more detailed approach to the detection of ground stones in the archaeological record with the retrieval of ground stone debitage from wet sieving or flotation and the three dimensional recording of artefacts. The recording of the ground stone artefacts has been adapted to include information on previous use surfaces, indication of recycling or breakage, levels of fragmentation at point of deposition and includes the assemblage of debitage as would be the case in a chipped stone report. A programme of raw material sampling, including samples from both artefacts and nearby sources of similar rock types completes the strategy. The re-opening of the excavations at c;atalh6yuk under the direction of Hodder has provided a superlative opportunity with which to test the recording of the dynamics of ground stone use. The detailed excavation and recording strategy employed at the site in combination with the unusual location of the settlement on an alluvial fan, which renders it remote from any source of rock, makes it an ideal testing ground for my new approach. The GatalhayLik ground stone assemblage has formed the focus of the research presented here. In combination with other case studies (Pmarba!?1. Can Hasan, Konya Plain Survey, A!?lk" HayLik and Musular) I have explored the potential wider use of such methodology and the effect of different artefact collection and recording methods on the levels of interpretation that can be achieved.By challenging traditional methods of artefact recording I have shown that ground stone assemblages have the potential to yield information about previously unexplored aspects of the society and economy of the Neolithic period and because of their nature also elucidate changes in the daily activities of households from the onset of sedentism onwards
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Ayiter, Elif. "Ground : a metaverse learning strategy for the creative fields." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/1244.
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In this thesis I cover the theoretical framework and the practice based implications of bringing the fundamental principles of a cybernetic art educational strategy, the Groundcourse, which was developed and taught during the 1960’s in England by Roy Ascott, into the virtual, three dimensional builder’s world of the metaverse; to be implemented there as a non-institutional, voluntary, self-directed, adult oriented learning system for avatars – one which is expected to be taught by avatar instructors who will formulate the specifics of their curriculum and their methods based upon the cardinal tenets of the Groundcourse, which have been summarized by Roy Ascott as a flexible structure, “within which everything can find its place, and every individual his way,” which would give dimension and substance to the will to create and to change. In order to be able to set the groundwork for the adaptation of the Groundcourse’s principles to my model I have conducted literature reviews in experiential learning theories, with an emphasis on self-directed learning; as well as cybernetic learning. These I have combined with a survey of play theory and virtual world studies, particularly those focusing upon the avatar and metaverse creativity. From all of these I have woven together a foundation which I have combined with a visual documentation which may serve as case studies for my proposal. The new knowledge embodied through this thesis is a learning system for the creative fields that is designed specifically for the residents of online virtual worlds, and yet has its foundations in an earlier, well established and well regarded model.
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Ghris, Sofiane. "Effect of the CO2 grinding on modified atmosphere and color shelf life of ground beef." Connect to this title online, 2007. http://etd.lib.clemson.edu/documents/1202498603/.
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Bowden, Joseph. "Biodiversity, biogeography and life history of ground-dwelling spiders (Araneae) in the Yukon Territory, Canada." Thesis, McGill University, 2011. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=103653.
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Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are one of the most diverse and abundant taxa in the Arctic and are affected by fine scale changes in their environment, including temperature, precipitation, and habitat structure. This thesis describes research that occurred across the boreal forest tundra transition zone in the Yukon Territory, Canada. This study system provides an opportunity to test hypotheses about biogeographic patterns and determinants of diversity and life history of spiders in the north. There were four objectives of this research: first, to determine which environmental factors most influence spider assemblage structure (i.e., composition, richness, abundance) at a regional scale in the Arctic; second, to understand patterns of spider assemblages across latitudinal and elevational gradients; third, to understand relationships of life history traits (i.e., body size, body condition, fecundity, reproductive effort) and some of the factors (i.e., density, parasitism, developmental timing) that might influence these traits; and fourth, to determine the effects of elevation on life history traits (i.e., body size, fecundity) in the region. I employed the use of pitfall traps and visual surveys to collect ground-dwelling spiders across latitude and elevation at a regional scale spanning the boreal forest tundra transition zone. My results show that, at a regional extent, spatially structured changes in vegetation best explain the patterns of spider assemblage structure. Elevation has significant effects on spider composition, species richness and overall abundance, but species-specific responses differed along the gradient. For wolf spiders (Lycosidae), female body size best explained variation in fecundity and body condition was the best predictor for relative reproductive effort. I found evidence for egg size-number tradeoffs and very high incidence of parasitism in some populations (e.g., 52% of individual egg sacs) of the species studied. I found that body size (which is correlated with fecundity) varies with elevation, between the sexes and among species. This thesis provides quantitative data about the regional biogeography of arctic spider assemblages, as well as relationships between life history traits for northern wolf spiders. These data can also serve as a foundation upon which to develop and test hypotheses in the contexts of biodiversity, biogeography, life history and climate change in the Arctic.Les araignées (Arachnida: Araneae) font partie des taxons les plus riches et abondants en Arctique et sont affectées par les changements environnementaux à faible échelle. Cette thèse décrit les recherches menées dans le territoire du Yukon, Canada, au niveau de la transition entre la forêt boréale et la toundra. Ce système d'étude nous donne l'opportunité de déterminer les patrons biogéographiques de diversité et d'histoires de vies des araignées. Quatre objectifs ont été poursuivis lors de cette étude. Premièrement, déterminer les facteurs environnementaux influençant le plus la structure des assemblages d'araignées (c.-à-d., composition, richesse spécifique, abondance) à l'échelle régionale en Arctique. Deuxièmement, comprendre les patrons d'assemblages d'araignées le long de gradients d'altitude et de latitude. Troisièmement, comprendre les relations entre les traits d'histoire de vie (c.-à-d., taille, condition, fécondité, effort reproductif) et certains des facteurs pouvant potentiellement influencer ces traits (c.-à-d., densité, parasitisme, chronologie du développment). Enfin, déterminer les effets de l'altitude sur les traits d'histoire de vie (c.-à-d., taille et fécondité) à l'échelle régionale. J'ai utilisé des pièges fosse et des collectes visuelles afin de collecter les araignées du sol sur une région couvrant la zone de transition entre la forêt boréale et la toundra. Mes résultats montrent qu'à l'échelle régionale, ce sont les changements géographiques de végétation qui expliquent le mieux la structure des assemblages d'araignées. L'élévation a également un effet significatif sur la composition, la richesse spécifique et l'abondance des araignées mai les réponses de chaques espèces à ce gradient sont variables. Chez les araignées-loup (Lycosidae), la taille des femelles est le meilleur prédicteur de leur fécondité, mais la condition explique le mieux les variations d'effort reproductif. J'ai également mis en évidence un équilibre entre le nombre et la taille des oeufs ainsi qu'une forte incidence de parasitisme (p. ex., 52 % par sac d'oeufs) chez certaines populations. J'ai enfin montré que la taille, étant corrélée à la fécondité, varie avec l'altitude. Cet effet n'est cependant pas équivalent selon l'espèce ou le sexe des individus considérés. Les recherches présentées dans cette thèse nous ont permis d'obtenir des données quantitatives sur la biogéographie régionale des assemblages d'araignées et d'apporter des informations sur les traits d'histoire de vie des araignées-loup nordiques. Ces données pourront servir de base afin de développer et tester de nouvelles hypothèses sur la manière dont la biodiversité, sa répartition biogéographique et ses traits d'histoire de vie, sont affectés par le changement climatique.
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Hubbard, Jeffrey Miller. "Developing a model to assist in designing ground vehicular electronic equipment for minimum life cycle cost." Master's thesis, This resource online, 1991. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01202010-020237/.
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Baldassari, Trillian. "THE ACUTE TOXICITY OF GROUND RECYCLED AUTOMOBILE TIRES ON AQUATIC LIFE WITH MODEL SPECIES P. PROMELAS." Master's thesis, University of Central Florida, 2008. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/3616.
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Used tires have the potential for becoming popular in pollution control media used in stormwater applications including pervious pavement sub bases, green roof growth media, and upflow filters. Using tire crumb to decrease nutrients can minimize impacts on ecology while reducing the human footprint left by used tires. However, if tire crumb is not examined for toxicity, the ecological balance could unknowingly be disrupted. This research tested the acute toxicity of tire crumb in aquatic systems by finding the Lethal Concentration for 50% kill (LC50). Using an extreme tire crumb load, P. promelas (fathead minnow) were exposed to leachates created with tire crumb and several different types of water including distilled water, tap water, and detention pond water. For distilled and tap water, the addition of tire crumb increased the survival of P. promelas. For detention pond water, the addition of tire crumb decreased the survival of P. promelas, though only enough to find an LC50 for detention pond water influenced immediately by stormwater runoff. An LC50 was found when 100 percent tire crumb filtrate is prepared with 25 grams of tire crumb per liter of detention pond water collected directly after a storm. The LC50 found is resultant of a tire crumb load significantly higher than what can be expected in the environment. Based on this research, tire crumb is considered non-threatening to aquatic fish and safe to use with detention pond water.M.S.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Environmental Engr MSEnvE
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Brown, Grant R. "Garden life : the influence of garden age and area on the biodiversity of ground active arthropods." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/6815.
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Urbanisation is a global issue, and rapidly gaining attention from researchers as a major cause of biodiversity loss. Gardens represent a considerable proportion of the urban landscape in the UK and have significant potential to promote urban biodiversity and reduce species loss providing they can be designed and managed appropriately. This research focused on gardens in St Andrews, Scotland, and investigated the influence of environmental variables such as age and area on arachnid and beetle biodiversity with the aim of identifying key predictors of arthropod species richness in urban environments. The key result of this research was that the age and area of individual gardens was not a strong predictor of ground active arthropod biodiversity. This suggests that more recently developed or smaller gardens can contribute to the overall urban region species richness pool as well as larger or more ancient gardens. The most important predictor of ground active arachnid and beetle species richness was the proportion of porous (or 'green') habitat surrounding each garden, and suggested that urban density and habitat connectivity at the regional scale are of key importance. In general, variables measured within gardens (e.g. the provision of microhabitats such as leaf litter, non-managed vegetation, etc.) did not exert any measurable effect on the biodiversity of arachnids or beetles. The findings of this research suggest that the regional availability of heterogeneous greenspace habitat is of high importance for promoting and maintaining urban arthropod biodiversity.
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Alarcón, Eddy. "Biodiversity of Insects from the Syrphidae and Carabidae Families in Three Ecological Niches (Forest, Forest Boarder, and Farming Area) in Three Communities of the Coroico Municipality, Nor Yungas, La Paz." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2008. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5327.
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Today, biodiversity is one of the most studied disciplines because it encompasses all species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that exist and act within an ecosystem. In recent decades, biodiversity has been degrading rapidly due to the simplification of agricultural systems, and the irrational use of pesticides that alter the normal function of ecosystems. Within nature, each insect population is attacked by one or more natural enemies. In this investigation, during a six month period from June to December 2006, the biodiversity of predatory insects from the syrphidae and carabidae families was determined in three ecological niches of three communities with two posed risks (Malaise and Pitfall) for the Carabidae family and one (Malaise) for the Syrphidae family. This investigation presents the differences in composition of morphospecies from three ecological niches in three communities of the yungas of La Paz. In total, we recorded 67 morphospecies from the Carabidae family in a population of 1107 individuals and 38 morphospecies from the Syrphidae family in a population of 1333 individuals. From the data above, it was found that the most diverse community was San Juan de la Miel with 33 morphospecies from the Syrphidae family and 42 morphospecies from the Carabidae family. However, in the case of the Syrphidae family, a smaller quantity of individuals found were related to the other communities whereas in the case of the Carabidae family, a larger quantity of individuals found were related. The similarity indices show only around 8-15% between the different ecological niches and communities which is relatively low and indicates that dominant species exist in these ecological niches, whether in the forest or in cultivated areas. The Carabids are insects similar to beetles, coming in varied sizes and colors, with dark and bright metallic colors being the most prominent. The family contains between 20,000 and 30,000 known species. The Syrphids are similar to dipterous insects, coming in different sizes and colors. Generally, black and yellow, or a combination of both similar to bees, are the most predominant colors. The family contains around 5,400 known species. The Carabids and Syrphids are very important in the biodiversity of ecosystems as well as in ecology because they regulate the pest populations through predation. In addition, when they are adults, they pollinate crops thus reducing the use of petrochemical insecticides. The area studied has a good diversity of species due to the geomorphology of the site. It has small patches of crops and fallow land surrounded by forests that allow the maintenance of its diversity, which is very important for the balance of ecosystems.
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Bradford, Michael J. "The role of environmental heterogeneity in the evolution of life history strategies of the striped ground cricket /." Thesis, McGill University, 1991. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=70319.
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I examined the effect of heterogeneity in the thermal environment on the life history of the cricket Allonemobius fasciatus. Variation in the life cycle was the result of a mixture of phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation in phenology-related traits along a latitudinal cline in growing season. Females from a partially bivoltine population have a conditional life history because they can adjust the proportion of diapause eggs in accordance with the likelihood that a second generation will grow and reproduce before winter. The thermal environment is not variable enough to result in the evolution of a marked bet hedging response, as is predicted by theory. A quantitative genetic analysis of the diapause reaction norm revealed significant heritabilities as well as correlations with other traits that could be related to common physiological mechanisms.
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Copeland, Emily. "Life history response to infection and the potential for dishonest signals in the ground cricket, Allonemobius socius." Master's thesis, University of Central Florida, 2012. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5176.
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In order to maximize fitness, individuals must partition their limited resources among competing physiological processes, creating negative statistical associations between processes known as "life-history trade-offs". Evidence indicates that individuals tend to decrease their reproductive investment when confronted with a significant immunological challenge in order to increase investment in immune defense. This trade-off is often accompanied by a significant decrease in the sexual signal, which provides an honest signal of the male's infection status to potential mates. However, if individual residual reproductive value is low, they may instead increase their reproductive investment to maximize reproductive success before the end of their life (a.k.a. terminal investment). Here, we investigate the potential for terminal investment in the ground cricket Allonemobius socius by inoculating males with varying dosages of an immune challenge. We predicted that both high dose and advanced male age would induce terminal investment. Furthermore, we predicted that terminally investing males would produce a dishonest signal by increasing their signaling effort. We found that upon infection We found that upon infection, young males and old males differentially alter their reproductive strategy. Young males exhibited the classic deceleration of reproductive effort. However, old males increased their calling song energetics and decreased their parental investment (nuptial gift size), suggesting that old males are dishonestly signaling their condition to the female.M.S.
Masters
Biology
Sciences
Biology
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Peterson, Stephen L. "Legacy Effects of Habitat Degradation by Lesser Snow Geese on Ground-Nesting Savannah Sparrows along the Hudson Bay Lowlands." DigitalCommons@USU, 2013. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1455.
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Increased growth of the mid-continent population of Lesser Snow Geese (LSGO) has led to the degradation of coastal salt marsh and sedge meadow habitats across Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. It is believed that a human-induced trophic cascade caused by agricultural habitat modification along migratory routes and wintering grounds has contributed to the increase in LSGO numbers, which has resulted in the alteration of habitat quality and connectivity along northern breeding and stopover sites used by various avian species. This habitat degradation has been shown to decrease the presence and temporal persistence of ground-nesting passerine and shorebird species at a local level and may lead to decreases of Arctic / sub-Arctic breeding avian species across landscapes that LSGO utilize and degrade.
In 1999, four paired study plots were established, and used in conjunction with a single study plot from 1976, in order to measure the composition of habitat parameters (barren ground extent; graminoid and shrub cover) and to estimate the number of avian nests found in these plots. Using this historical data along with our findings from 2010 and 2011, our main objectives were to: 1) document the change in the aforementioned habitat parameters over time; 2) estimate the local nesting occupancy rates of the common Savannah Sparrow (SAVS), a robust and adaptable ground nester; and 3) determine which habitat variables are indicative of the rates of change and occurrence of nesting by SAVS within the study plots.
By using ANOVA, linear mixed effects, and multi-state occupancy models, results suggest that an increase in barren ground, decreases in shrub and graminoid cover, and a loss of connectivity between suitable nesting patches has led to a 10% (λ = 0.90) annual decline in the probability that SAVS nesting occurred across the study plots from 1999 to 2010.
These model results may be used to estimate long-term trends in persistence of breeding SAVS and other similar ground-nesting avian species that share habitats with LSGO along Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. (93 pages)
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Cox, Glenda. "Cobern Street burial ground : investigating the identity and life histories of the underclass of eighteenth century Cape Town." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14289.
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Bibliography: leaves 215-239.The Cobern Street site was shown to be a burial ground only in 1994, when a number of skeletons were disinterred prior to building operations. Attempts to locate documentary records of the burials have been unsuccessful, and we do not know who these people were. The lack of documentary records is unusual, and suggests that Cobern Street may have been the burial ground for lower-class citizens. From the history of the site, and the few items buried with the bodies, we can deduce that they are eighteenth century burials. As part of the investigation into the identity of these people five techniques of dietary tracing have been applied to 53 of the excavated skeletons, and are reported in this thesis. Analysis of different skeletal elements has allowed us to reconstruct the life histories of some of these people. Of particular interest are several skeletons with filed teeth. This practice is not known from the Cape, but is common further north in Africa. Isotopic analysis of teeth and long bones from the skeletons with decorated teeth show that these individuals were of tropical origin, from diverse areas, and are likely to be slaves brought to the Cape.
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Lin, Letian. "Line-of-Sight Guidance for Wheeled Ground Vehicles." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596630464772653.
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Thompson, Leslie K. "Effect of dried plum mixtures on extension of shelf-life of ground meat and physical effect on foodborne pathogens /." Search for this dissertation online, 2005. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ksu/main.
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Köchy, Martin, and Sven Bråkenhielm. "Separation of effects of moderate N deposition from natural change in ground vegetation of forests and bogs." Universität Potsdam, 2008. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2008/1662/.
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The effect of moderate rates of nitrogen deposition on ground floor vegetation is poorly predicted by uncontrolled surveys or fertilization experiments using high rates of nitrogen (N) addition. We compared the temporal trends of ground floor vegetation in permanent plots with moderate (7–13 kg ha−1 year−1) and lower bulk N deposition (4–6 kg ha−1 year−1) in southern Sweden during 1982–1998. We examined whether trends differed between growth forms (vascular plants and bryophytes) and vegetation types (three types of coniferous forest, deciduous forest, and bog). Trends of site-standardized cover and richness varied among growth forms, vegetation types, and deposition regions. Cover in spruce forests decreased at the same rate with both moderate and low deposition. In pine forests cover decreased faster with moderate deposition and in bogs cover decreased faster with low deposition. Cover of bryophytes in spruce forests increased at the same rate with both moderate and low deposition. In pine forests cover decreased faster with moderate deposition and in bogs and deciduous forests there was a strong non-linear increase with moderate deposition. The trend of number of vascular plants was constant with moderate and decreased with low deposition. We found no trend in the number of bryophyte species. We propose that the decrease of cover and number with low deposition was related to normal ecosystem development (increased shading), suggesting that N deposition maintained or increased the competitiveness of some species in the moderate-deposition region. Deposition had no consistent negative effect on vegetation suggesting that it is less important than normal successional processes.
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Igue, Roberto T. "Experimental Investigation of a lift augmented ground effect platform." Wright-Patterson AFB, OH : Air Force Institute of Technology, 2005. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA440437.
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Allman, Eric Christopher. "The ground state of two-dimensional Hubbard-like models." W&M ScholarWorks, 2002. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539623394.
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We present results from a constrained path Monte Carlo (CPMC) study of a modified two-dimensional Hubbard model. We include more general forms of the band structure and electron interaction in order to examine their effects on ground-state properties, such as electron pairing correlations. Both next-nearest neighbor hopping, t', and third-nearest neighbor hopping, t″, are introduced in the Hamiltonian. A nearest neighbor interaction of strength V is also included. We carry out CPMC calculations on system sizes up to 16 x 16, at various electron fillings, to investigate the ground state of the model for different values of these parameters. For realistic systems, these calculations indicate that Hubbard-like models are not capable of showing enhanced pairing. The modified Hamiltonian also presents an opportunity to more closely examine the accuracy and robustness of the CPMC algorithm. Results of further benchmark calculations involving CPMC are presented. These benchmarks confirm that CPMC is able to show enhanced pairing in systems where such behavior is known to exist.
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Wirén, Hampus. "Asset Management of Electrical Transportation Systems with Life Cycle Cost Analysis for Ground Support Equipment: Case Study Stockholm Arlanda Airport." Thesis, KTH, Skolan för elektroteknik och datavetenskap (EECS), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-253272.
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We have come a long way in the pursuit of reducing our carbon footprint from our way of living, bycontinuously development of batteries and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles to decrease thedemand for fossil fuels, improving the overall energy efficiency and to increase awareness of the problemto the population. One of the industries, that during the last decades has undergone vast improvements,is the development of the airplane engines due to increased emission regulations, for the aviationindustry, and to reduce the costs of air travel. Despite tighter regulations, global impact from travellingby air is increasing due to the explosive increase in number of travels and travellers. In order to copewith the situation, it is of course necessary to further develop fuel and emission effective airplanes, butalso to study the whole chain of emission sources correlated to the air transport industry. So, whilewaiting for improved airplanes there are well known emission effective technologies that can beimplemented already today – implement electric vehicles as support vehicles at airports.Today, and throughout history, most of the focus of air travel has been on the airplane itself. This thesis,that was carried out at KTH Royal Institute of Technology during late spring and autumn 2018, didinstead study the support vehicles used in airports. In this thesis, a generic economic model wasdeveloped in order to estimate the costs involved when replacing traditionally vehicles to suggestedelectrically propelled alternatives. To test and support the development of an economic model, a casestudy has been carried out at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. This case study included a field study to thementioned airport, and in combination with interviews with former employees from one of the groundhandling companies that are currently active in the airport. Raw data was collected over the equipmentand vehicles currently in use. This data was used to describe the vehicles purpose, requirements and toensure that the alternative electric vehicles proposed would offer at least the same performance as thetraditional vehicles. The developed generic economic model was modulated with five stages thatrepresented a selection of input parameters. The collected data became a result in itself and was used asinput to three concurrent theses.The results from the five stages presents the costs during an investment period of between of one tofifteen years. One of the most significant result could be seen from Stage V. This stage showed that thecombined cost to replace all vehicles currently used, with either all new diesel vehicles or electricalternative vehicles, are lower for electric vehicles than for diesel vehicles. Another significant resultcould be seen from the investigation of Stage IV, Stage IV-B, were the model was modulated to representthe case of replacing a vehicle. The results showed that the Letter and Cargo procedures, that travel thefarthest and has the highest fuel consumption of the investigated vehicles, had negative costs throughthe whole investment period. This means that the expenses will always be lower when these vehicles arereplaced. The model was validated through a sensitivity analysis, performed on the discount rates,depreciation rates and as well as costs for battery replacement during the depreciation period.Vi har kommit långt i vår strävan att minska vårt koldioxidavtryck genom vårat sätt att leva, genom attkontinuerligt utveckla batterier och laddningsinfrastruktur för elfordon med syftet att minskaefterfrågan på fossila bränslen, förbättra den totala energieffektiviteten och öka befolkningensmedvetenhet om problemet. En av de branscher, som under de senaste decennierna har genomgått storaförbättringar, är utvecklingen av flygplansmotorer och regler för flygplan. Men eftersom antaletflygresenärer fortsätter att öka årligen krävs ytterligare arbete för att förbättra den totala effektivitetenoch minska det negativa globala avtrycket från flygresor. Medan väntan på att morgondagens flygplanska utvecklas så finns det teknik som redan kan appliceras idag – elfordon.I dag, och genom historien, har det mesta av all fokus för flygresor varit på flygplanen själva. Dettaexamensarbete, som genomfördes på KTH, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, under den senare delen avvåren och hösten 2018, utredde istället de fordon som omger ett flygplan, under den tid flygplanet stårstilla på en flygplats. Under denna uppsats utvecklades en generisk ekonomiskmodell, med syftet attestimera kostnaderna att ersätta och använda elfordon istället för de nuvarande fordonen. För attutveckla den ekonomiska modellen genomfördes en fallstudie på Stockholm Arlanda Airport.Fallstudien innehöll en fältundersökning till den nämnda flygplatsen, och i kombination med intervjuermed tidigare anställda från ett av de marktjänstföretag som är verksamma på flygplatsen, insamladesrådata om vilken utrustning och fordon som vid tillfället användes. Denna data användes för att beskrivafordonens syfte, vilka krav som ställs på fordonen. Detta var för att säkerställa att det valda elfordonetkunde utföra uppgiften. Den utvecklade generiska ekonomiska modellen modulerades med fem steg,som representerade vilka indataparametrar som bör väljas. De insamlade uppgifterna blev ett resultat isig och användes som indata till tre samtidiga avhandlingar.Den generiska modellen resultat presenterade kostnaderna från de fem stegen under en varierandeinvesteringsperiod på ett till femton år. Ett av de viktigaste resultaten var från Steg V, som visade attden sammanlagda kostnaden för att ersätta alla de fordon som för närvarande används, med antingenalla nya dieselfordon eller elektriska alternativa fordon, är lägre för elfordon än för dieselfordon. Detandra betydande resultatet kommer från undersökningen av Steg IV, Steg IV-B. I Steg IV-B moduleradesmodellen i syfte att representera scenariot då ett fordon ska ersättas, där Letter och Cargo procedurernavar de som färdades längst och även har den högsta bränsleförbrukningen utav de undersökta fordonen,hade en negativ kostnad under hela investeringslängden. Detta betyder att kostnaderna alltid är lägre,om fordonet ersätts. Modellen har validerats med hjälp utav en känslighetsanalys som utfördes pådiskonteringsräntan, avskrivningssatsen och kostnader för ersättningsbatterier.
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Olson, Richard W. "The high ground at risk making a difference in the continuing care retirement community industry /." Online full text .pdf document, available to Fuller patrons only, 2000. http://www.tren.com.
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Chen, Yuanyan. "Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) Follower Design." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1470951910.
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Larsson, Stefan. "Mixing Processes for Ground Improvement by Deep Mixing." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Civil and Architectural Engineering, 2003. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-3667.
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The thesis is dealing with mixing processes havingapplication to ground improvement by deep mixing. The mainobjectives of the thesis is to make a contribution to knowledgeof the basic mechanisms in mixing binding agents into soil andimprove the knowledge concerning factors that influence theuniformity of stabilised soil.
A great part of the work consists of a literature surveywith particular emphasis on literature on the processindustries. This review forms a basis for a profounddescription and discussion of the mixing process and factorsaffecting the process in connection with deep mixingmethods.
The thesis presents a method for a simple field test for thestudy of influential factors in the mixing process. A number offactors in the installation process of lime-cement columns havebeen studied in two field tests using statistical multifactorexperiment design. The effects of retrieval rate, number ofmixing blades, rotation speed, air pressure in the storagetank, and diameter of the binder outlet on the stabilisationeffect and the coefficient of variation determined byhand-operated penetrometer tests for excavated lime-cementcolumns, were studied.
The literature review, the description of the mixingprocess, and the results from the field tests provide a morebalanced picture of the mixing process and are expected to beuseful in connection to ground improvement projects and thedevelopment of mixing equipments.
The concept of sufficient mixture quality, i.e. theinteraction between the mixing process and the mechanicalsystem, is discussed in the last section. By means ofgeostatistical methods, the analysis considers thevolume-variability relationship with reference to strengthproperties. According to the analysis, the design values forstrength properties depends on the mechanical system, the scaleof scrutiny, the spatial correlation structure, and the conceptof safety, i.e. the concept of sufficient mixture quality isproblem specific.
Key words:Deep Mixing, Lime cement columns, Mixingmechanisms, Mixture quality, Field test, ANOVA, Variancereduction.
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Dimmock, Paul Simon. "Tunnelling-induced ground and building movement on the Jubilee Line extension." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2003. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/272090.
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Sanchez, Merino Leopoldo Antonio. "Receiver, bearer, and giver of God's Spirit Jesus' life and mission in the Spirit as a ground for understanding christology, Trinity, and proclamation /." Online full text .pdf document, available to Fuller patrons only, 2003. http://www.tren.com.
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Rodriguez, Janet. "Puerto Rican Adolescents Striving to Live a Normal Life with HIV: A Grounded Theory." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194481.
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According to the Puerto Rico Health Department as of January 2008, 258 cases of HIV, ages 10 -19 had been reported and 224 cases of AIDS, ages 13-19 (Puerto Rico Health Department, 2008). The purpose of this research was to describe the basic social processes of medication adherence in Puerto Rican youth who are HIV positive. Three research questions were proposed: 1) What are the basic social processes of medication adherence in Puerto Rican youth who are HIV- positive?; 2) What factors influence medication adherence (or nonadherence) among HIV- positive adolescents?; 3) What behaviors indicate that the HIV- positive adolescents adhere or do not adhere to their prescribed medications? The Autonomy Development of Adolescence by Steinberg provided the theoretical framework for this study. Grounded theory was used to study 13 Puerto Rican HIV-positive adolescents. Data collection included semi-structured, in-depth interviews, field notes, participant observation, and a demographic questionnaire. A substantive theory Striving to Live a Normal Life, with the core category of normal emerged from data analysis. Striving to Live a Normal Life explains how these Puerto Rican HIV-positive adolescents try to integrate their HIV status and treatment with their lives. These adolescents concentrate their lives on striving to live a normal life. A variety of ways is used to deal with HIV and has helped them visualize themselves as a normal adolescent with a normal life. Because they see themselves having a normal life, taking or not taking their medications for HIV is also seen as a normal part of their lives. This study suggests the beginning of understanding the concept and process of normalization in this population. These findings support the findings in a study done with HIV-positive adolescents from France in which the concept of normality was related to their lives. It also informs interventions to promote improved medication adherence among Puerto Rican youth who are HIV -positive.
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Stefansson, Gudmundur, Suvrath Mahadevan, Leslie Hebb, John Wisniewski, Joseph Huehnerhoff, Brett Morris, Sam Halverson, et al. "Toward Space-like Photometric Precision from the Ground with Beam-shaping Diffusers." IOP PUBLISHING LTD, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/626043.
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We demonstrate a path to hitherto unachievable differential photometric precisions from the ground, both in the optical and near-infrared (NIR), using custom-fabricated beam-shaping diffusers produced using specialized nanofabrication techniques. Such diffusers mold the focal plane image of a star into a broad and stable top-hat shape, minimizing photometric errors due to non-uniform pixel response, atmospheric seeing effects, imperfect guiding, and telescope-induced variable aberrations seen in defocusing. This PSF reshaping significantly increases the achievable dynamic range of our observations, increasing our observing efficiency and thus better averages over scintillation. Diffusers work in both collimated and converging beams. We present diffuser-assisted optical observations demonstrating 62(-16)(+26) ppm precision in 30 minute bins on a nearby bright star 16 Cygni A (V = 5.95) using the ARC 3.5 m telescope-within a factor of similar to 2 of Kepler's photometric precision on the same star. We also show a transit of WASP-85-Ab (V = 11.2) and TRES-3b (V = 12.4), where the residuals bin down to 180(-41)(+66) ppm in 30 minute bins for WASP-85-Ab-a factor of similar to 4 of the precision achieved by the K2 mission on this target-and to 101 ppm for TRES-3b. In the NIR, where diffusers may provide even more significant improvements over the current state of the art, our preliminary tests demonstrated 137(-36)(+64) ppm precision for a K-S = 10.8 star on the 200 inch. Hale Telescope. These photometric precisions match or surpass the expected photometric precisions of TESS for the same magnitude range. This technology is inexpensive, scalable, easily adaptable, and can have an important and immediate impact on the observations of transits and secondary eclipses of exoplanets.
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Sapparth, David James. "Refining topographic line maps for use with ground based night vision systems." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2002. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/15877/1/Dave_Sapparth_Thesis.pdf.
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This study aims to refine the current cartographic standards and specifications used by the Australian Defence Force to produce the 1:50 000 scale Topographic Line Map (TLM) so that TLMs can be read with both normal chromatic vision and with achromatic NVG vision.
The proliferation and integration of Night Vision Goggles (NVG) into the Australian Army has increased the operating capacity of forces at night. The Australian Army has incorporated NVG into standard operating procedures and training to the effect that Australian military personnel do not operate, at night, without NVG. The increased use of NVG in the Australian Army has required existing systems to be modified or redesigned to be effective within the limitations of NVG. The inability to read TLMs effectively with NVG is an identified problem within the Australian Army. This research has investigated the problems associated with using NVG and the information, which cannot be read on TLMs with NVG. This information was compared to a survey of features on a TLM that are critical for successful military operations. The combined information determined which features on a TLM were to be refined to enable effective reading with NVG.
The scope of this research limited refinements to current or previous cartographic standards and specifications used by the Australian Army to produce TLMs. Refinements were limited to symbology, size, and colour and three critical information features of contours, watercourses and vegetation. The problems of cartographic design for a dual vision system (chromatic/achromatic) were investigated and it was determined that the common factor of value contrast exhibits the greatest effect on the refinement process.
Prototype TLMs were produced and tested with normal and NVG vision to determine the best cartographic portrayal of the critical information features, without compromising the Figure/ground relationship, balance and cognitive meanings of the TLM. A final product was produced from the prototype experiment results providing a TLM for use with both normal and NVG vision. The refined TLM has changed contours from brown to black without changes to symbology or size and watercourses from 0.1mm width to 0.2mm width without changing colour or symbology. Vegetation was retained at the current standard and specification.
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Sapparth, David James. "Refining Topographic Line Maps for Use with Ground Based Night Vision Systems." Queensland University of Technology, 2002. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/15877/.
Full textAbstract:
This study aims to refine the current cartographic standards and specifications used by the Australian Defence Force to produce the 1:50 000 scale Topographic Line Map (TLM) so that TLMs can be read with both normal chromatic vision and with achromatic NVG vision. The proliferation and integration of Night Vision Goggles (NVG) into the Australian Army has increased the operating capacity of forces at night. The Australian Army has incorporated NVG into standard operating procedures and training to the effect that Australian military personnel do not operate, at night, without NVG. The increased use of NVG in the Australian Army has required existing systems to be modified or redesigned to be effective within the limitations of NVG. The inability to read TLMs effectively with NVG is an identified problem within the Australian Army. This research has investigated the problems associated with using NVG and the information, which cannot be read on TLMs with NVG. This information was compared to a survey of features on a TLM that are critical for successful military operations. The combined information determined which features on a TLM were to be refined to enable effective reading with NVG. The scope of this research limited refinements to current or previous cartographic standards and specifications used by the Australian Army to produce TLMs. Refinements were limited to symbology, size, and colour and three critical information features of contours, watercourses and vegetation. The problems of cartographic design for a dual vision system (chromatic/achromatic) were investigated and it was determined that the common factor of value contrast exhibits the greatest effect on the refinement process. Prototype TLMs were produced and tested with normal and NVG vision to determine the best cartographic portrayal of the critical information features, without compromising the Figure/ground relationship, balance and cognitive meanings of the TLM. A final product was produced from the prototype experiment results providing a TLM for use with both normal and NVG vision. The refined TLM has changed contours from brown to black without changes to symbology or size and watercourses from 0.1mm width to 0.2mm width without changing colour or symbology. Vegetation was retained at the current standard and specification.
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Shepard, Robert Michal. "Tree Rings In Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.): An Exploratory Study of Wood Anatomy, Crossdating, Climate-Growth Relationships, Life History, and Above-Ground Biomass." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/605122.
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Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) is a common tree in semi-arid, southwestern U.S. savanna ecosystems. While there are studies that examine some of the physiological and ecological aspects of this tree (response to fire, net ecosystem exchange, encroachment into grasslands, yearly growth through dendrometer bands, among others), the wood anatomical features of a growth ring, suitability for dendrochronological research, life history, and above-ground biomass through time are knowledge gaps that can be filled. The purpose of this study was to examine these gaps in order to better understand the role of velvet mesquite in these ecosystems. Wood anatomical analysis showed that velvet mesquite has a semi-ring porous structure and termination of the growth ring is indicated by a small band of parenchyma. Visual crossdating of velvet mesquite was successful but a complex growth habit, with both eccentric and lobate growth, combined with ecological pressures hampered statistical validation of the chronology. Seasonal climate-growth analysis of dated rings showed a strong positive correlation to previous year September and October precipitation and a strong positive partial correlation to previous year September and August mean temperature. Life history through growth curve analysis showed no age related growth trend (either s-shaped or log normal) indicating the maximum age of velvet mesquite stems sampled (130 years old) can become much older with many releases and few suppressions. Above-ground biomass of these trees are low compared to higher elevation forest biomass, but similar to other savanna ecosystems of the southwest. The use of velvet mesquite in dendrochronological research would greatly benefit from a complete analysis of wood anatomy, and addition of more samples from various locations to verify dates and begin building more reliable chronologies for this species across its range. These additions would allow for a greater understanding of stand and tree level responses through suppressions and releases, and understand the biomass accumulated above-ground through time.
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Gooney, Dawn. "Life and death in Iron Age Orkney : an osteoarchaeological examination of the human skeletal remains from the burial ground at Knowe of Skea, Westray." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/25744.
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Archaeological excavations were conducted by EASE Archaeology at the Knowe of Skea on the island of Westray between 2000 and 2009 and discovered a multi-phase site with evidence for activity dating from the Neolithic through to the Viking era. Excavations revealed that the site had been used as a burial ground for a prolonged period during the Iron Age. Human remains recovered during the first seasons of excavations were radiocarbon dated to the turn of the first millennium BC/AD. These dates highlighted the significance of this burial ground; burial evidence of Iron Age date is sparse in Atlantic Scotland and often overlooked due to the lack of a recognisable, dominant burial rite. Burials of individuals of all ages, including a very high number of infants, were recovered and represent the largest known collection of burials of this date from Scotland. Iron Age research in Atlantic Scotland has traditionally been dominated by study and discussion of the impressive stone-built architecture of domestic buildings and working places of a population about which very little is actually known. Examination of the burials from this site and comparisons with similar sites in the Orkney Islands is building a greater understanding of the treatment of the dead in this region during a period for which so little evidence exists. The burials had been placed in the rubble of earlier collapsed buildings which appears to be a common feature of many Iron Age burials in the Orkney Islands and north-eastern Scotland. Site records, photographs and views of excavators were consulted and combined with the results of the osteological analysis to determine burial patterns at the site according to age, sex or burial location. The large volume of infant remains recovered from the site created the possibility to investigate such high infant mortality and the general health of infants and children. High numbers of infant burials can often lead to suggestions of infanticide; the likelihood of this is also discussed. The results of basic stable isotope analysis (13C and 15N) were examined to interpret breastfeeding and weaning practice. The evidence provided in the results of isotopic analysis was also used to interpret the diet of this population and compared with archaeological evidence of diet from excavation of domestic sites across Atlantic Scotland. Of particular interest was the extent to which the population of the islands may have exploited marine and other wild resources when compared with similar dietary studies in the rest of Scotland and Britain. Results of osteoarchaeological analysis of the human skeletal remains from the Knowe of Skea allowed a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and health of a population for which there has been little evidence to date.
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Helveston, John Knox. "Life rings a manual for developing small group ministry in an established church /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1997. http://www.tren.com.
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Clark, F. Stoner. "New wine/new wineskins reassessing church life in light of biblical paradigms /." Online full text .pdf document, available to Fuller patrons only, 2004. http://www.tren.com.
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Yang, Weilu. "Moments of Absence Phenomenology of Perception in Representing the Absent Moments." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1397737336.
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Pekins, Peter Jeffrey. "Winter Ecological Energetics of Blue Grouse." DigitalCommons@USU, 1988. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4680.
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This study investigated relationships between blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) winter habitat and blue grouse adaptive strategies and overwinter survival. Blue grouse metabolism, physical characteristics of use-trees and roost sites , microclimatic parameters at roost sites, daily winter energy costs, and specific energy-saving behaviors were studied. Blue grouse have a relatively low standard metabolic rate (SMR; 0.835 ml o2 · g-1 · hr-1) and lower critical temperature in comparison to other northern tetraonids . Metabolic rate did not significantly increase from -5 to -20 C. Ambient temperature (Tal and the square root of wind speed were significantly correlated with metabolic rate.
Blue grouse selectively roosted in the largest Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and subalpine firs (~ lasiocaroa) during the day and night, respectively. All roost sites were typically adjacent to tree trunks in the lower 2/3 of trees . Nocturnal roosts provided greater canopy coverage and were located in continuous stands more often than diurnal roosts . Wind speeds were reduced by 63 and 85% at diurnal and nocturnal roosts, respectively. Douglas-firs provided exposure to solar radiation , protection from wind, and a food source during the day. Subalpine firs increased protection from the wind and provided near maximum canopy coverage at night. Nocturnal subalpine roost sites provided a 10% net energy savings in comparison to diurnal Douglas-fir roost sites. The average T a at the study area was with in the thermoneutral zone of blue grouse.
The average field metabolic rate (FMR) of blue grouse measured with doubly-labeled water was about 1.4 times SMA, and was not influenced by weather. The proportion of FMR due to basal metabolism was twice that commonly assumed for other species, indicating the importance of microhabitat selection and relative inactivity by blue grouse in minimizing energy costs . Other energy saving behaviors included sunning , snow roosting, and walking uphill instead of flying. FMR measures (657 kJ·d-1) were within 12% of the energy costs estimated from average microclimatic values, and within 5% of the energy assimilation by captive blue grouse.
Habitat selection by blue grouse, particularly microhabitat selection of roost sites , reflects active choices designed to minimize energy costs imposed by winter weather. This selection indicates the importance of Douglas-fir and subalpine fir for overwinter survival.
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King, Shiva. "Measurement of the double beta decay half-life of ¹⁰⁰Mo to the 0⁺₁ excited state, and ⁴⁸Ca to the ground state in the NEMO 3 experiment." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2009. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/15784/.
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NEMO 3 is a double beta decay experiment situated in the Fréjus tunnel which runs between France and Italy. If neutrinoless double beta decay is observed it will prove the neutrino is a Majorana particle and may potentially become the most sensitive method of measuring the absolute neutrino mass. It would also have huge implications for not only particle physics, but also nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. The study of two-neutrino double beta decay gives us a better understanding of the nuclear models used to calculate the nuclear matrix elements, which are so important in extracting new physics parameters from the neutrinoless double beta decay search. The purpose of this thesis is primarily to report on the measurement of the two neutrino double beta decay of two isotopes, ^{100}Mo and ^{48}Ca, currently inside the NEMO 3 detector. The double decay of ^{100}Mo to the O^{+}_{1} excited state of ^{100}Ru is studied as well as the double beta decay of ^{48}Ca to the ground state of ^{48}Ti. The two neutrino half-life measurement for ^{100}Mo is found to be T^{2\upsilon}_{1/2}(O^+\rightarrow O^{+}_1}) = 5.70^{+1.15}_{-0.82} (stat) \pm 0.77 (syst.) \times 10^{20} yrs. This being the first result where all the final states have been measured. For ^{48}Ca, the two neutrino half-life is T^{2\upsilon}_{1/2}(g.s. \rightarrow g.s.) = 4.44^{+0.49}_{-0.40}(stat.) \pm 0.29 (syst.) \times 10^{19} yrs, which is the worlds most accurate measurement of this decay process. A limit on the neutrinoless double beta decay of ^{48}Ca has also been obtained.
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Callini, Gianluca 1976. "Assessment of an expert system for space life sciences : a preliminary ground-based evaluation of PI-in-a-Box for the Neurolab Sleep and Respiration Experiment." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49666.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78).
Principal Investigator-in-a-Box (abbreviated [PI]) is an expert system designed to assist astronauts with the performance of an experiment outside their field of expertise when contact with the Principal Investigators on the ground is not allowed or impossible. The latest version of [PI] was designed to assist with the calibration and troubleshooting procedures of the Neurolab Sleep and Respiration Experiment, launched on the Space Shuttle Columbia on April 17, 1998. The role of [PI] in this application is to display physiological signals in real time during the pre-sleep instrumentation period, and to alert the astronauts when a poor signal quality (due to incorrect application of the instrumentation or a hardware malfunction) is detected. As the first expert system ever designed to be an integral part of a Space Life Sciences experiment, a formal and structured evaluation of the efficacy of such a system is unprecedented. The study presented in this thesis is a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of [PI] with the "poor signal quality detection" process. The twelve subjects used for this study were required to monitor a set of pre-recorded physiological signals and identify signal artifacts displayed on the screen. Every subject performed the experiment twice, once with the assistance of [PI] and once without, in a balanced design. Results indicated a positive effect of [PI] on overall time to detect anomalies. The combination of previous exposure to signal monitoring (training) and [PI] assistance was a significant factor in the improvement of overall reaction time. Also, the assistance of the expert system dramatically reduced the number of undetected anomalies. Having been designed for a life sciences experiment, the evaluation of [PI] was modeled after that of ground-based medical information systems. As for most medical expert systems, evaluation is an iterative process, and this study represents the first step, providing many insights and recommendations for more in-depth studies in the future, as well as exploring possible ramifications and expansions of the uses of expert systems in space.
by Gianluca Callini.
S.M.
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Gumberidze, Alexandre. "Experimental studies of the ground state QED corrections in H- and He-like uranium /." [S.l. : s.n.], 2003. http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=968945406.
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Barrington-Leigh, Christopher Paul. "Geography, reference groups, and the determinants of life satisfaction." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3696.
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This dissertation combines three contributions to the literature on the determinants of well-being
and the social nature of preferences. Departures from self-centred, consumption-oriented decision making are increasingly common in economic theory and are empirically well motivated
by a wide range of behavioural data from experiments, surveys, and econometric inference. The
first two contributions are focused on the idea that reference levels set by others’ consumption
may figure prominently in both experienced well-being and in decision making. In the first
paper, the well-being question is addressed empirically through the use of self-reported life satisfaction and high-resolution census and survey data in Canada. Strong income externalities
are found at multiple spatial scales after controlling for various confounding factors. The second paper explores the general equilibrium consequences of a utility function having an explicit
comparison with neighbours’ consumption. The question is investigated in a model in which
decision makers knowingly choose their neighbours — and hence their consumption reference
level — as well as their own consumption expenditure, thereby helping to set the reference
level for nearby others. For both discrete and continuous distributions of types in an economy
with a heterogeneous population undergoing such endogenous formation of consumption reference groups, there exist general equilibria in which differentiation of neighbourhoods occurs
endogenously. The novel welfare implications of growth in such economies are described. The
final paper addresses econometric reservations about the use of subjective reports as dependent
variables. The date and location of survey interviews are combined with weather and climate
records to construct the random component of weather conditions experienced by respondents
on the day of their interview. Standard inferences about the determinants of life satisfaction
remain robust after taking into account this significant source of affective bias.
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Shillaber, Craig Michael. "Toward Sustainable Development: Quantifying Environmental Impact via Embodied Energy and CO2 Emissions for Geotechnical Construction." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64935.
Full textAbstract:
With rising awareness that future generations may not have access to the resources and quality of life that exist today, sustainable development has become a priority within civil engineering. One important component of sustainable development is environmental stewardship, which concerns both the resources taken from the environment, and the wastes and byproducts emitted to the environment. To facilitate more sustainable development, environmental accounting is necessary within civil and geotechnical engineering design and construction. Historically, geotechnical practice has focused on maximizing design performance while minimizing monetary costs, and well established methods exist for quantifying these factors. Quantitative consideration of environmental consequences has seldom played a large role in geotechnical design and construction, and clear guidelines and a methodology for such an assessment are not available within the geotechnical profession. Therefore, this research has focused on establishing a method for quantitative streamlined environmental Life Cycle Analysis of energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for geotechnical ground improvement works, known as the Streamlined Energy and Emissions Assessment Model (SEEAM). The boundaries for the SEEAM extend from raw material extraction through the completion of construction, including the energy and CO2 emissions associated with construction materials, construction site operations, and the transportation of construction materials and wastes. The methodology relies on energy and CO2 emissions coefficients, which represent typical industry average values and not necessarily the specific processes contributing to a project. Therefore, there is uncertainty in SEEAM analyses, which is addressed via a Monte Carlo simulation framework that assumes the energy and CO2 emissions coefficients each follow a lognormal distribution. Data sets of total energy and CO2 emissions generated by the Monte Carlo simulation framework with the SEEAM may be used to statistically compare the energy and CO2 emissions of different geotechnical design alternatives. Such comparisons can help facilitate designing for minimum environmental consequences, thus advancing sustainable development within geotechnical engineering. For clarity, the development and application of the SEEAM is illustrated using two different geotechnical case history projects, including rehabilitation of levee LPV 111 in New Orleans, LA, and the construction of foundations for a replacement dormitory on the Virginia Tech campus.Ph. D.
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Leibold, Robert Charles. "Spiritual direction and small group ministries." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1997. http://www.tren.com.
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Heine, Richard. "Role of on-board sensors in remaining life prognostic algorithm development for selected assemblies as input to a health and usage monitoring system for military ground vehicles." College Park, Md.: University of Maryland, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/7868.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2008.Thesis research directed by: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.
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Archila, Manuel. "Directionality effects of pulse-like near field ground motions on seismic response of tall buildings." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/51615.
Full textAbstract:
Earthquake ground shaking at near-field sites has produced severe damage to buildings and infrastructure, caused large economic and human losses. These earthquakes continue to pose a great threat to many populous urban centers around the world. Over the last 4 decades, major research efforts have been devoted to characterize near-field ground motions and their effects on the response of buildings.
A challenging engineering problem that remains unsolved in the seismic design of buildings is the directionality effect of near-field pulse-like ground motions on tall buildings. This dissertation presents a computationally efficient method to calculate the critical displacement response of tall buildings. In this method, the duration and amplitude of the ground velocity pulses contained in the input motion and the building’s first mode translational period are compared to determine the orientation of the Conditional Maximum Velocity (CMV), a new ground motion metric. Nonlinear response history analyses (NRHA) using the CMV ground motion provide a close estimate of the critical displacement response of a tall building along the structural axis.
The CMV Method is developed on the basis of a series of parametric studies. First synthetic pulse-like excitations and simple structures were used to systematically investigate the effects of pulse duration and amplitude on the dynamic elastic and inelastic response of structures. It is found that the critical displacement response is influenced significantly by the CMV ground motion.
This finding is further validated through series of NRHA of simple structures and several case study tall buildings to near-field ground motion records. It is shown that the NRHA using CMV ground motions result in approximate, but significantly accurate estimates of the critical displacement with small errors and moderate dispersion.
Ground motion pairs rotated to fault-normal (FN) orientation do not always result in the critical displacement response. Neither does the maximum direction (MD) ground motion at the fundamental period of the building. Analyses made using FN or MD may result in significant underestimates of critical displacement response compared to the proposed CMV. The use of the CMV Method may lead to a better quantification of potential seismic demands on tall buildings.Applied Science, Faculty of
Civil Engineering, Department of
Graduate
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Taylor, Graham Robert. "Building response to tunnelling-induced ground subsidence : some case histories from the Jubilee Line extension." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/11499.
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