The objectives of this study were to develop MAP conditions, using mixtures of oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), to prolong the shelf-life of ground turkey thigh meat. The effect of fat level and effectiveness of natural antioxidants were evaluated. Product quality was determined semi-weekly by sensory, microbial, chemical, and instrumental analysis to evaluate rancidity, and sensory flavor changes. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) tests were conducted to objectively measure changes in oxidative rancidity. Microbial analysis included psychrotrophic, lactic acid, and anaerobic bacteria enumerations, pH determinations were conducted to evaluate the effects of each treatment on the meat. Instrumentation color analysis CIE L* a* b* values were determined to measure color changes. Test results indicate the pH changed significantly only in the air packaged samples. Psychrotrophic, lactic acid and anaerobic bacteria counts were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the 100% CO₂ packaged samples, than all other treatments and the control. Low TBA values, less than 4, were found with the 100% CO₂ samples. Sensory evaluation found the 80% O₂/20% CO₂ and 60% O₂/40% CO₂ packages were no longer acceptable at day 14, and air samples were unacceptable at day 18. The 100% CO₂ sample maintained acceptable over-all taste throughout the test period. Colorimeter values did show the 100% CO₂ atmosphere caused discoloration of the product during the first week. Fat level did not affect microorganism growth or shelf-life extension. Rosemary oleoresin was effective as an antioxidant. TBA values of rosemary treated samples remained under 1.0 for the entire 28-day storage period. / Master of Science

Social science research has consistently revealed that dating violence victims differ in their use of violence against their dating partners. Some victims use violence in mutually violent dating relationships while other victims remain nonviolent in unilaterally violent dating relationships. The present study sought to understand how mutually violent victims, unilateral victims and women in nonviolent relationships differ in their use of conflict resolution resources. Findings indicated that mutually violent victims used more direct and confrontational resources when resolving conflict with their partners than did women in nonviolent dating relationships. However, there were no differences between the mutually violent victims and the unilateral victims, nor between unilateral victims and women in nonviolent relationships. Although conflict resolution resources did not discriminate between mutually violent victims and unilateral victims, broader contextual and systemic factors may contribute to the likelihood that a victim will or will not use violence when resolving violent conflict in her dating relationship. Future research should examine the contextual and systemic factors that may lead to the use of mutual violence by victims in dating relationships. / Master of Science

The main objective of this research is to develop a model to predict congestion. This model is developed using the techniques of simulation and as the model requires dynamic modeling, DYNAMO is used. This model incorporates the three-regime linear model for establishing a relationship between speed and density of the traffic stream. The input to this model is obtained from a presence type detector system. These measurements are then used to calculate various parameters and then the state of the traffic flow for the vehicular stream in the test zone is determined. This model also predicts the state of the traffic stream in any other section of the highway behind the test section. The model developed is flexible and easy to incorporate in any traffic control system. This research is also intended to simulate the various traffic stream models and evaluate their performance regarding their capability to represent highway traffic flow conditions. A thorough review of the fundamentals of traffic flow is required to achieve these objectives. The simulation models developed for these traffic stream formulae incorporate various measures of effectiveness to determine congestion. These measures of effectiveness are used to define congestion. The study of the various traffic stream models is necessary in order to develop a flexible and efficient model to predict congestion. The congestion prediction model developed incorporates all the parameters required to define congestion. / Master of Science

A laser-based automated mechanical mobility measurement system has been developed that can obtain a very high spatial resolution of frequency response functions (FRFs) for experimental modal analysis where one-dimensional structural motion predominates. With this system FRFs are measured and recorded in a format that is readily imported into a popular modal analysis software. A scanning laser Doppler velocimeter is coupled to a multi-channel FFf analyzer system for efficient data collection and management of spatially distributed FRFs. The objectives in designing this measurement system is to take advantage of the laser's non-contacting nature, its high spatial resolution, and its fast point-to-point movement. By using the scanning capabilities of the laser, experimental mobility FRF data can be collected in those structures that have dominant response in one direction at up to 16,000,000 positions. Moreover, the laser does not mass load the structure thus making the structure time invariant unlike "roving" accelerometers. The design and implementation of this automated mechanical mobility measurement system is presented. Instrumentation interfacing and control issues as well as software development issues are addressed in this thesis. Procedures required to implement the laser-based measurement system are presented. The performance of the laser-based system is presented along with an illustrative example of its use on a free-free rectangular plate where the vibration response is primarily in one direction. / Master of Science

The enhancement of a CAD tool called Modeler's Assistant is discussed. This tool allows VHDL behavioral models to be developed more rapidly than with traditional techniques. The limitations present in the previous version of the tool (Version 2) are discussed. The correction of these limitations and the enhancement of Modeler's Assistant are the focus of the work described in this thesis. New features present in the enhanced version of Modeler's Assistant (Version 3) include the ability to create and maintain a library of parameterized process primitives and the ability to graphically represent hierarchy in VHDL behavioral models through the use of supernodes. Other enhancements that allow more features of the VHDL language to be used in Modeler's Assistant are described. Several examples that illustrate the use of these enhanced features are presented. / Master of Science

To reduce the variance of metamodel coefficients, simulation analysts often advocate the use of correlation induction strategies. Under certain conditions, these strategies have been shown to reduce the variance of metamodel coefficients without producing significant bias in the coefficient estimates. Although these procedures are very useful for estimating metamodels, the application of many statistical analysis techniques is inappropriate unless the analyst is assured that a pure error component is present in the response. Crenshaw and Tew have demonstrated the absence of pure error in experiments in which all random number streams are used to induce correlations. Mihram argues that a pure error component can be maintained by selecting the seeds for at least one random component randomly and non-repetitively for all design points and replications. In this thesis, random components for which seeds are randomly and non-repetitively selected are referred to as pure error generators. This thesis examines the selection of pure error generators in the context of univariate response, replicated simulation experiments. To assess the impact of pure error generator selection, we give the results of an extensive series of Monte-Carlo experiments in which the Schruben-Margolin strategy is applied for each possible pure error generator in each of two simulation models. To determine causes for the differences in pure error generator performance, four pure error generator selection methods are outlined, tested, and compared to the results of the Monte-Carlo experiments. The results strongly suggest the importance of careful pure error generator selection and indicate that the primary difference in their performance is related to their ability to maintain the prescribed correlation structures of the correlation induction strategy. / Master of Science

This research addresses the problem of integrating software at a high level of integration (analysis or design level) using Computer Aided Software Engineering. The assumption is made that the source code of the two applications to be integrated is available in language C or FORTRAN 77. Following the research done by Sandra Pennington (Penn91) and Michele Grieshaber (Grie91) on this subject, a new analysis has been led. Sandra Pennington (Penn91) conceived and proposed an "Integration CASE workbench" to support an integrator in his task of integrating two software. The Integration Source Code Analyzer (ISCA), one of the components of the Integration CASE workbench has been designed and implemented as well as some utilities and features supporting the integration of software. Relevant information is extracted from the source code by a parsing tool. The input to this tool is the source code of the software to be integrated and their call trees generated by the TeamworkjC Rev reverse engineering toolkit. A database of the relevant information is created and can be consulted via the ISCA Display Manager developed using the Motif window manager. The Teamwork CASE workbench provides an interactive environment to lead the analysis and the design of software, automating standard structured methodologies in software development, Some features have been developed to extend the Teamwork capabilities and to import information into its environment. Some new utilities to help the integrator visualize a structure chart around a selected module have been developed and included in the environment using Teamwork User Menus capabilities. The parsing tool embedded in the environment can also be used as a stand-alone tool to lead re-engineering operations on software. / Master of Science

Master of Science

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Atlantic, BelRus, Kennebec, Superior, and Yukon Gold, grown at six locations in Southwest Virginia, were analyzed for yield, percent dry weight, specific gravity, soluble protein, and ascorbic acid. Thereafter. tubers were cold stored at 3 C for six weeks, reconditioned at 25 C for two weeks, and analyzed for percent dry weight, specific gravity, soluble protein, and ascorbic acid. Potato grown in one location was analyzed for glucose, fructose, sucrose, and total sugars. Another experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed type and in-row spacing on yield and quality of Yukon Gold. Cultivar and location influenced yield and quality of potato at harvest, after cold storage, and following reconditioning. Kennebec, Atlantic, and Yukon Gold produced higher yield of US No. 1 tubers than Superior and BelRus. Atlantic and BelRus had higher percent dry weight and specific gravity than the other cultivars. Specific gravity increased during cold storage and following reconditioning. Percent dry weight increased during reconditioning but did not change during cold storage. / Master of Science

The object of this study is to incorporate a nonlinear material law for wood in the finite element program ABAQUS to develop effective finite element models of glulam domes, and to investigate the buckling behavior of glulam domes using this finite element program. The material law is implemented with a FORTRAN subroutine. Results from thorough testing of the subroutine are presented. The dome is then modeled with I-DEAS and, analyzed with ABAQUS. The modeling procedure is briefly discussed, and the results from the stability analysis of the dome are presented. Finally, conclusions and further research scope based on this study are presented. / Master of Science