Four trials were conducted to determine the influence of feeding 200 ppb Cr as chromium picolinate (CrPic) on dry matter digestibility, nitrogen balance and leanness in growing-finishing pigs. In three similar trials, 12 crossbred barrows (littermate pairs) were used in each trial for two nitrogen balance periods (end of grower and end of finisher). After the second nitrogen balance period, all the barrows were killed and carcass data were collected. Growth rate was similar for control and CrPicfed pigs in all trials. Absorption of N was increased by feeding CrPic (P < .07). Neither retained N nor apparent biological value (aBV) was affected by added CrPic. Dry matter digestibility was increased (P < .03) by feeding CrPic. Dressing percent and backfat thickness at the tenth and last rib were not different between pigs fed diets with or without CrPic. Longissimus muscle area was larger (P < .04) for pigs fed CrPic. For blood samples taken 30 min, 4 h, and 12 h after feeding, serum glucose, urea N, and cholesterol concentrations were similar for pigs fed diets with or without added CrPic. In Trial 4, 12 crossbred barrows (littermate pairs, initial BW=82.0 kg) were used in a switch-back design with an extra period. Dry matter digestibility (P < .02) and N absorption (P < .06) were improved. No carryover effect was observed. These results showed that pigs fed 200 ppb Cr from CrPic had larger longissimus muscle areas without their backfat thickness being affected and they appeared to have greater nitrogen absorption, although retained N and apparent biological value were not significantly greater than control pigs. / Master of Science

Geosynthetic reinforcement was utilized in the construction of eighteen laboratory flexible pavement test sections. The test sections were designed to simulate a low- traffic volume secondary road built over a weak subgrade. Three types of geosynthetics were used: two types of woven geotextiles; and a geogrid. The test sections were constructed, cyclically loaded, and the resulting data were collected and analyzed. The performance of reinforced test sections was compared to that of unreinforced sections to estimate any improvement due to the reinforcement. The test sections were loaded dynamically at a frequency of 0.5 Hz using a computer controlled loading system. The loading system imparted a force of 9,000 Ibs (40 kN) to the pavement surface. The load was transn1itted to the pavement surface by a 12 in (30.54 cm) diameter rigid steel plate, which approximated a dual tire load from an 18 kip (80 kN) truck axle. Both the forces applied to the steel load plate and the deflections of the pavement surface were monitored using a computer-controlled data acquisition system. The deflection of the pavement surface was measured using an array of LVDTs. An analysis and comparison of the cumulative displacement of the pavement surface due to the number of applied loads was performed for the test sections. Load induced dynamiC and cumulative vertical earth pressures within the subgrade were monitored, analyzed, and compared for a series of reinforced and unreinforced test sections. Composite section stiffness was calculated and compared among test sections with similar subgrade CBR values. / Master of Science

This thesis addresses the problem of developing a statistical method for validating the ESDM strain-field output. Specifically, it addresses the problems of estimating the ESDM strain-field uncertainty, choosing an appropriate standard measurement, estimating the uncertainty in the standard measurement, and comparing the ESDM strain-fields against a finite set of standard measurements. A solution to each of these problems is presented. Specifically, it is shown that 1) the uncertainty in the strain-field may be estimated from the ESDM dynamic stiffness matrix; 2) strain gages are chosen to validate the ESDM strain-fields; 3) the uncertainty of the strain gage measurements may be estimated from the uncertainty in the system calibration, the output voltage of the system and the tolerance of the strain gage gage factor; and 4) the ESDM strain-fields may be validated against a set of strain gage measurements by a combining a 2-group z-test (hypothesis test on two means with known variances) with a qualitative analysis of the field. This statistical validation method is then evaluated in test-based simulation to determine if it provides reliable assessments of the ESDM strain-field accuracy. The results of the simulation show that the validation method does, indeed, provide reliable assessment of the ESDM strain-field accuracy. The results also show that the ESDM method should be capable of accurately estimating dynamic strain-fields, provided it is not subjected to substantial error in the calculated position and orientation of the laser or nonstationary behavior in the structure. / Master of Science

I tested hypotheses that daily mortality rates (DMR) of smallmouth bass offspring were influenced by life stage, density and growth, parental male attributes, fungus infection (egg stage), and predation during parental care in the North Anna River, Virginia. In 1994, stream discharge was relatively low and stable during spawning, and nest success was high (64%). Mortality (attrition) averaged 9.5% per day (range 5.2-13.9%) and 94.1% total (range 80.9-99.5%) for broods that survived to dispersal. Mean DMR for the interval from swim-up to larval metamorphosis (14.0%) was higher (p=0.04) than earlier (egg to swim-up, 6.7%) and later (metamorphosis to juvenile, 9.1%) periods. Persistent factors during parental care (e.g. nest habitat, male attributes) did not strongly influence survival. Brood size and DMR also were unrelated (r<0.34, p>O.07) during each developmental period, suggesting density-dependent regulation was not prominent at the brood scale. Clutch size and nest success were important determinants of juvenile production for mating males. Larger males received more eggs (r=O. 40, p<O.01) and, since variation in DMR was minimal among broods, maintained larger broods until dispersal (r=0.55, x=0.01). Fungus (Saprolegnia parasitical infection was a major source of egg mortality. In field and laboratory studies, severity of infection was enhanced on clutches with higher dead egg abundance ("colonization points") and egg densities. Fungus growth rate also was strongly influenced by temperature and level of bacterial contamination. Predation was a primary cause of nest failure (70% of nest loss in 1994) and brood attrition. Diurnal nest predators were generally successful only in the absence of parental males, but American eels (Anguilla rostrata) were common nocturnal predators of larval and juvenile (14-20 mm SL) offspring and contributed to brood losses prior to swim-up. Brood mortality information (1994) and annual data (1992-94) on nest success, swim-up larvae production, and August juvenile abundance suggest post-larval survival is an important determinant of annual cohort abundance. / Master of Science

This thesis is an intersection. This thesis is at an intersection. This thesis is about an intersection. / Master of Architecture

Early in this century Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe, among others, made conscious efforts to break the box. Since boxes contain, breaking the box liberates. In building a box parameters are set for enclosing. Can a house be closed in or can there be a simultaneous opening and closing when the idea of box is applied to a house? Can a house become a box or can a box become much more than a box? / Master of Architecture

The purpose of this study was to compare levels of perceived risk between apparel retail buyers and customers to make a purchase decision of women's pantsuit within product specific criteria. The comparison of product risk was identified as product category risk (PCR), product specific risk (PSR), and acceptable risk to want to buy (AR), acceptable risk to need more information (ARI). In this study, the second stage of decision making process, information search and alternative evaluation, was focused on. Structured-in-Person interview is used for retailers, and shopping mall survey was used for customers. T -test was used to compare peR, PSR, AR and ARI upon decision making tasks with twenty four hypothetical situations. Manaova was used for analyzing the influence of decision factors: (a) four designs; (b) six information. There were no difference with: (a) PSR, (b) ARI, (c) the interaction effect of PSR with decision, (d) the interaction effect of brand, (e) the importance of decision criteria, and (f) the choice of best design and best information card. There were difference with: (a) PCR, (b) AR, (c) decision frequency, (d) the interaction effect of PSR with design and information card, (e) the information source, (f) the choice of best item, and (g) the decision rule. / Master of Science

In this study, we assess the robustness of four distinct control approaches: pole placement; the command generator tracker (CGT) approach to model reference control; model reference adaptive control (MRAC); and MRAC using a fixed feedback gain. We use a second order, single-input single-output (SISO) plant to examine the performance and stability of each method. This evaluation spans a broad range of design goals and uncertainty in models of the plant. Pole placement and CGT designs are linear and relatively easy to implement, but require explicit knowledge of the plant. Although MRAC schemes require little knowledge of the plant's dynamic characteristics, such algorithms are non-linear and involve design variables whose effects are not readily apparent. Currently, there are no general design procedures for MRAC. In this study, we propose a method for designing an MRAC controller applied to a second order SIS a plant. This method does not require the controller to be tuned for different closed-loop performance goals. This procedure also creates a consistent basis for comparing the robustness of all four algorithms. Pole placement and the CGT control perform as designed if the plant is modeled correctly. Under this circumstance, the adaptive controllers also perform at levels equivalent to the linear algorithms. However, conditions with plant modeling error highlight enormous differences among the four algorithms. Pole placement suffers the largest response error and for extreme testing conditions, instability. The CGT controller exhibits better performance than pole placement and remains stable over all testing variables. NIRAC maintains a high performance level under severe testing conditions. MRAC requires minimal plant knowledge to guarantee stability and good performance. / Master of Science

This dissertation examines some of the more subjective aspects of individuals' experiences of isolation within the context of racialized and gendered work organizations. This research develops two constructs--institutional and social isolation--and attempts to ascertain the extent to which racial and gender groups experience isolation similarly. Other attitudes, such as intent to turnover, affective commitment, and alienation, are analyzed with respect to feelings of isolation for these groups. Finally, because current thinking has advocated the use of organizational interventions, such as mentoring programs, to ameliorate individuals' feelings of separateness within the organization, the relationship of mentoring to the aforementioned constructs was examined for its usefulness in understanding similarities and differences between these groups. This research extends previous work by providing support for new conceptualizations of social isolation and isolation. It extends work done by Nkomio and Cox (1990) and others who found that individuals who had achieved some objective measures of success in organizations, still did not feel, subjectively, as if they were a part of the organization. Thus, the use of these isolation constructs will expand our knowledge of organizational processes in examining groups based on gender and race/ethnicity. The results indicate that isolation docs exist on two dimensions: institutional isolation and social isolation. Asian-Americans have higher levels of institutional isolation, and African-Americans have higher levels of social isolation than any other group. Females experience higher levels of social isolation--but not institutional isolation--than males. There are some differences when race and gender are examined simultaneously in levels of experienced institutional and social isolation. Younger faculty feel more institutionally and socially isolated than older faculty. There is no significant effect of the presence of mentoring on institutional or social isolation; nor is there differential access to mentoring relationships by race. However, females enter mentoring relationships in greater proportions than males. There are also effects from cross-racial mentoring relationships. Finally, there are no significant differences, by race or gender, in the levels of affective organizational commitment or intent to turnover. / Ph. D.

BEZERRA, José Eudes Baima. Princípio da subsidiariedade, corporativismo e educação: para a crítica da gestão participativa. 2010. 385f. Tese (Doutorado em Educação) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Educação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Brasileira, Fortaleza-CE, 2010. / Submitted by Maria Josineide Góis (josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-10T11:36:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_JEBBezerra.pdf: 2037989 bytes, checksum: aa430a0e299729319a807173f79b3e43 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-17T16:29:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_JEBBezerra.pdf: 2037989 bytes, checksum: aa430a0e299729319a807173f79b3e43 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-07-17T16:29:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_JEBBezerra.pdf: 2037989 bytes, checksum: aa430a0e299729319a807173f79b3e43 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / The overall study aims to examine the introduction of policies to democratic and participatory management in the public education in Brazil, in the limits of the Brazilian State management "reform", with emphasis on the Ceará state experience between 1995 and 2006, considering its articulation within the guidelines issued by the multilateral agencies. In this sense, the study focuses on the ideologies that inform the above process, Corporatism and the Principle of Subsidiarity, examining his reappearance in the political theory underlying the "reform" of the State. It is a documental and bibliographical research based on theoretical and methodological horizon of historical and dialectical materialism. The research resulted in approaches that reveal: management "reform" of the Brazilian State, responsive to the crisis of capital, founded in participatory bases, prefigures a integralist political regime, averse to the political independence of the working class organizations; in the current context, decentralized and participatory management aims to capture, in the State apparatus, the classist representations (corporatism) in the context of governance in which an alleged autonomy in the base is designed to manage the overall strategic plan of the State (principle of subsidiarity); management participatory appears as a sine qua non of accaountability, in other words, the transfer of public services to the sphere of civil society, the sphere of the market; the study of the introduction of participatory management in the Ceará public education web showed the link between the new managerial methods and imperatives posed by the State tax adjustment; the process is not completed, because, in a hand, of the resistance of teachers and students and, in onother, by inaction of governments, or by little attraction exerted on the private sector, although the models of participatory and democratic management continue being the preferred way of introducing of the State managerial "reform". / O trabalho tem o objetivo geral de examinar a introdução das políticas de gestão democrática e participativa no campo da educação pública brasileira, no marco da “reforma” gerencial do Estado Brasileiro, com ênfase na experiência do estado do Ceará entre os anos de 1995 e 2006, tendo em vista a articulação de tais diretrizes com as linhas emanadas das instituições multilaterais. Nesse sentido, o estudo enfoca as ideologias que informam o referido processo, o Corporativismo e o Princípio da Subsidiariedade, examinando sua reaparição na teoria política subjacente à “reforma” do Estado. Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental e bibliográfica fundada no horizonte teórico-metodológico do materialismo histórico e dialético. A pesquisa resultou em aproximações conclusivas que revelam que: a “reforma” gerencial do Estado brasileiro, responsiva à crise do capital, fundada em bases participativas, prefigura um regime político integralista, avesso à independência política das organizações de classe; no atual contexto, a gerência descentralizada e participativa visa a capturar, no âmbito do aparato estatal, as representações classistas (corporativismo) no âmbito de uma governança na qual a suposta autonomia na base se destina a gerenciar o plano geral estratégico do Estado (Princípio da Subsidiariedade); a gestão participativa surge como condição sine qua non da publicização, isto é, da transferência dos serviços públicos para a esfera da sociedade civil, esfera do mercado; o exame da introdução da gestão participativa na rede pública cearense mostrou a articulação entre a introdução dos novos métodos gestionários e as necessidades postas pelo ajustamento fiscal do estado e que o processo não se completou, seja pela resistência de professores e estudantes, seja pela inação dos governos, seja pela pouca atração exercida sobre o setor privado, embora os modelos de gestão participativa e democrática sigam sendo a forma privilegiada de introdução da “reforma” gerencial do Estado.