Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles are increasingly becoming more popular in recent years. Stricter regulations from government agencies to curb emissions and reduce impact on climate have led to automobile makers adopt electric powertrains. Eco-Routing is one such method to reduce energy usage in personal transport. EcoRouting is a methodology that determines the route with the least energy consumption between two points. Standard navigation systems often determine the shortest or the fastest route, emphasizing travel time. EcoRouting considers an alternative criterion - energy consumption. In this thesis, an automation methodology is presented that determines the EcoRoute among given route alternatives based on route distance, speed limits, road grades, traffic signs, driver aggression and the powertrain. There are three major objectives in this thesis: Developing the automation methodology for the determination of EcoRoute for use in on-board applications, validating the EcoRouting methodology on actual driving conditions and studying the impact of traffic on the choice of EcoRoute. The automation methodology has been developed on the Android framework for use with on-board applications on Android mobile devices. The automation methodology used to conduct sensitivity studies show that factors such as driver aggression, distance and conditional stops impact energy consumption. The comparison of results of simulation using the automation methodology against results from actual driving to validate the methodology on actual driving conditions show that transient traffic conditions can have significant impact on energy consumption. Finally, route energy consumptions for various traffic conditions are estimated using simulation to understand the impact of traffic on energy consumption and EcoRoute choice. Results that are obtained show that apart from traffic affecting the energy consumption, travel times can have an impact on choice of EcoRoute. / Master of Science / Government agencies have been introducing tighter regulations in order to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. These regulations are targeted at reducing the impact of vehicle usage on climate. Automobile manufacturers have increasingly adopted electric powertrains to meet these regulations. Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles are more popular than ever. Other methods in reducing environmental impact by automobiles are also being conducted. EcoRouting is one such method. EcoRouting determines the route that consumes the least energy between two locations. EcoRouting requires no modifications to be done on the vehicle or its powertrain. A methodology has been developed in this thesis that takes into account various factors such as traffic signs, speed limits, road grades, powertrain and driver aggression to determine the route that consumes the least energy. Research in this thesis has been divided into three major parts: development of the automation methodology, validating the methodology for actual driving conditions and understanding the impact of traffic on energy consumption. Results of case studies show that the input parameters affect energy consumption significantly. Traveling speeds affect the energy consumption and since transient traffic conditions can affect traveling speeds, transient traffic conditions can have a significant impact on energy consumption. Since energy consumption alone is not considered in determining the EcoRoute and the travel times are also considered so as to not inconvenience the user, traffic conditions impact the choice of EcoRoute both due to differences in energy consumption and travel time.

Water scarcity has quickly become one of the most pressing issues in the 21st century. Knowledge of the stress consumption places on water supply is therefore necessary for improved resource management. This research leverages monthly facility level withdrawal and discharge data from two different sources to provide important observations of consumptive water use across several spatial scales and water use sectors in Virginia between 2010-2016. Consumptive water is defined as water which is withdrawn and not returned to a water resource system. Consumption was estimated on statewide, watershed, county, and facility levels. The agriculture/irrigation, aquaculture, commercial, industrial, energy, and municipal sectors were considered for analysis. Facilities were matched between the two data sources by narrowing potential matches by distance and then by facility name using an approximate string distance mechanism. This analysis revealed that inconsistent discharge reporting affects estimates of consumption through time and any errors at finer spatial scales are ultimately masked at coarser levels. Statewide energy consumption in Virginia was found to be between 4-20% considering all available data and 0.4-4% across matched facilities. Non-energy consumption was an estimated 37-51% considering all available data and only 28-33% across matched facilities. Inconsistent reporting of discharge made it difficult to determine if consumption trends truly exist in Virginia, but monthly consumption appears to be persistent through time and slightly increasing in non-energy sectors. Industrial consumption in Virginia was also found to be higher than literature values. Results from this study are beneficial for water supply modeling and planning by providing more refined estimates of the actual stress withdrawals place on water supply. / This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement No. G17AC00322. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the author and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. / Master of Science / Water scarcity has quickly become one of the most pressing issues in the 21st century. Improved water resource management is critical for sustainable development, especially in historically water-rich states that have not had an urgency to improve water planning. This research provides key information about the impact consumption has on water supply in Virginia, using water use data from two different sources between 2010-2016. Consumptive water is defined as water which is withdrawn and not returned to a water resource system. This includes losses through evaporation, transpiration, conveyance, and incorporation into products and animals. Consumption was estimated on statewide, watershed, county, and facility levels. It was also estimated for the agriculture/irrigation, aquaculture, commercial, industrial, energy, and municipal sectors. Facilities were matched across the two data sources by narrowing potential matches by distance and then by facility name. This study revealed that statewide energy consumption in Virginia is between 4-20% considering all available data and 0.4-4% across matched facilities. Non-energy consumption is then between 37- 51% considering all available data and only 28-33% across matched facilities. Inconsistent reporting of return flow data made it difficult to determine if consumption trends truly exist in Virginia, but consumption appears to be persistent through time and slightly increasing in non-energy sectors. Results also suggest that industrial consumption in Virginia may be higher than published literature values. This study ultimately introduces a feasible method for water managers to estimate consumption using data from multiple sources. Results from this approach are beneficial for predicting future water demand and long-term resource planning by providing more knowledge of the actual stress withdrawals place on water supply.

The classical objective of wildlife managers is to provide the public with the maximum number of hours of outdoor recreation by means of the wildlife resource without impairing that resource for future use. A biologist is continually concerned with the deterioration of wildlife populations and habitats. However, to evaluate populations and habitats from quantitative view is not sufficient; the quality or condition must also be evaluated if managers are to achieve their long-run objective. Any technique that would assist biologists in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations could further elucidate ecological nutritional relationships and could help assure that neither wildlife populations nor habitat would be seriously impaired for future use. / Master of Science

The current study employed an ABA design with a control group to assess the effectiveness of a commitment strategy in reducing meat consumption among university students (n=70). Participants who were randomly assigned to the commitment condition did not consume significantly less meat than participants in the control group, t (48)=.74, p=.47. 79% (n=19) of participants in the control group decreased their meat consumption from baseline to treatment phase, compared with 96% (n=27) of participants in the treatment group. Additionally, when both groups were collapsed, all participants reduced meat consumption from baseline to treatment phase t (51)=8.6, p<.001. Participants' scores on the Motivation Towards the Environment Scale, a measure of self-determined motivation towards environmental behavior, were not significant predictors of meat consumption behavior before or during the intervention, t(67)= -.26, p=.80, t(51)=.53, p=.60. Implications and directions for future research are discussed within the paper. / Master of Science

This study was designed to measure the effect of selected consumer practices on energy consumption of refrigerators. Seven tests designed to simulate consumer practices were performed three times each on four refrigerators. Four tests involving variations in temperature control setting, frequency and duration of door openings, and placement of the refrigerator near a heat source were each performed on a manual-defrost refrigerator, a cycle-defrost refrigerator-freezer, and a no-frost refrigerator-freezer. A test involving the use of an energy-saver switch was performed on a no-frost refrigerator-freezer, and two tests related to the effect of frost accumulation on energy consumption were performed on a manual-defrost refrigerator. Watt-hour consumption and interior cabinet temperature were recorded for all tests. Increasing the temperature control setting, frequency of door openings, and duration of door openings; the use of an energy-saver switch; and the defrosting process all increased the energy consumption of the refrigerators. Operating the refrigerator near a heat source did not affect energy consumption to the extent of the other tests. Due to inconsistent results, the effect of frost accumulation on energy consumption needs further investigation. / Master of Science

Childhood (ages 2-9 years) and adolescence (ages 10-19 years) make up important periods of human life. Food preferences and dietary behaviors are developing during this time, and health status can impact noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk in adulthood. Many of the behaviors associated with developing NCD are modifiable and include dietary behaviors. Globally, children and adolescents are impacted by NCD, and obesity prevalence is growing among this population. One of the recommendations for combating obesity is to promote the consumption of healthy foods and beverages and the reduction of sugar-sweetened beverage intake. In order to assess beverage patterns, the Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) was created for adults. This tool provides a score from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better adherence to evidence-based beverage recommendations. Because many beverage recommendations for children and adolescents differ from those for adults, the purpose of this thesis was to develop the HBI for U.S. Children and Adolescents (HBI-CA). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data was used to calculate HBI-CA scores among a sample of U.S. children and adolescents. The HBI-CA resulted in scores similar to the adult HBI and provides a reference of beverage pattern quality in this population. Significant differences in scores were found among males and females and certain races. Evaluation of the HBI-CA demonstrated its construct validity and reliability. The HBI-CA still needs to undergo predictive validity tests. Overall, the HBI-CA provides a method to assess beverage pattern quality in clinical, public health, and research settings for this important population. / Master of Science / Children (ages 2-9 years) and adolescents (ages 10-19 years) makeup an important population for the implementation of dietary interventions because they are still developing their food preferences and dietary behaviors. The rise of obesity among these age groups indicates that their dietary behaviors may not be aligned with recommendations. Beverages can easily be overlooked as a dietary component, but they currently constitute a large portion of daily energy intake. In order to assess beverage pattern quality in this population, the Healthy Beverage Index for U.S. Children and Adolescents (HBI-CA) was developed based on the HBI for adults. This tool provides a score from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better adherence to evidence-based beverage recommendations. The HBI-CA also provides a resource of comprehensive beverage recommendations for these age groups, which was previously limited in the literature. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data was used to calculate HBICA scores among a sample of U.S. children and adolescents. The HBI-CA resulted in scores similar to the adult HBI and provides a reference of beverage pattern quality in this population. Significant differences in scores were found among males and females and certain races. Evaluation of the HBI-CA demonstrated its ability to reliably and consistently measure beverage pattern quality. Future evaluation of the HBI-CA should include examination of the relationship between HBI-CA scores and dietary-related health outcomes. Overall, the HBI-CA provides a method to assess beverage pattern quality in clinical, public health, and research settings for this important population.

Yes / This paper makes use of a leading UK supermarket’s loyalty card based data which records information on purchase decisions by consumers who shop at its stores in order to assess the effectiveness and impact of the UK reduced salt campaign. We present an empirical analysis of consumption data to assess the effectiveness of the UK Food Standard Agency’s (FSA) ‘reduced salt campaign’ on the basis of information on health related announcements undertaken by the FSA under its ‘low salt campaign’. We adopt a general approach to determining structural breaks in consumption data, including making use of minimum LM unit root tests whereby structural breaks are endogenously determined from the data. We find evidence supporting the effectiveness of the FSA’s reduced salt campaign.

The effect of competing food sources on termite consumption of hexaflumuron bait and subsequent mortality was examined. Also, the effect of hexaflumuron on the termite gut fauna was evaluated to determine if hexaflumuron could kill termites via a secondary mode of action. Hexaflumuron consumption in no-choice and choice tests was evaluated at 2d and 5d. Total diet consumption was not different between the treatment groups. Hexaflumuron consumption was reduced by a factor of 3 in the presence of a competing control diet and reduced by a factor of 57 in the presence of an inulin diet. In the choice test, termites preferred inulin over hexaflumuron. Termite mortality after hexaflumuron consumption was quantified at 5d, 15d, 20d, 25d, and 35d in three treatment groups. Mean mortality for termites fed only hexaflumuron diet was significantly higher than termites fed only control diet. Mean mortality for termites given a choice was no different than mortality for termites fed only hexaflumuron or control diet. LT50s for termites fed control diet, hexaflumuron diet, or both diets in the choice test, were 24.4d, 18.7d, and 20.6d, respectively. The choice test LT50 did not differ from the LT50 of either no-choice test. Termites fed only hexaflumuron diet had an earlier LT50 than termites fed only control diet. The effect of hexaflumuron on gut fauna survival was evaluated at 5d and 15d. No significant differences were found in total numbers of protozoa in termites fed either hexaflumuron or control diet. Pyrsonympha was the only protozoa significantly reduced by hexaflumuron consumption. / Master of Science

No / Love them or hate them, most of us have an opinion about cars. If not the cars themselves, then it’s driver competence and behaviour that can offend us. And then there’s modification: alloy wheels, custom audio systems and bespoke paint jobs. For some, changing the look, feel and sound of a car says something about themselves, but for others, such enhancements signify a lack of taste, or even criminality. In subtle and complex ways, cars transmit and modify our identities behind the wheel. As a symbol of independence and freedom, the car projects status, class, taste and, significantly, embeds racialisation. Using fascinating research from drivers, including first-person accounts as well as exploring hip-hop music and car-related TV shows, Alam unpicks the ways in which identity is rehearsed, enhanced, interpreted.

Yes / The Reverse Osmosis (RO) process has been expansively used in water treatment as a result of its low energy consumption compared to thermal distillation processes, leading to reduced overall water production cost. Evaluation and minimisation of energy consumption (expressed in kWh/m3 of fresh water production) in a medium-scale spiral wound brackish water RO (BWRO) desalination plant of the Arab Potash Company (APC) are the main aims of this research. The model developed earlier by the authors has been integrated to simulate the process and achieve the main aims. Energy consumption calculations of low salinity BWRO desalination plant, with and without an energy recovery device, have been carried out using the gPROMS software suite. In other words, this research evaluated the impact of adding an energy recovery device on the RO process energy consumption of the APC, which is introduced for the first time. Also, the effects of several operating conditions of BWRO process include the feed flow rate, pressure and temperature on the performance indicators, which include the energy consumption and total plant recovery at different energy recovery device efficiencies, were studied. The simulation results showed that the total energy consumption could be reduced at low values of feed flow rates and pressures and high values of temperatures. More importantly, there is an opportunity to reduce the total energy consumption between 47% and 53.8% compared to the one calculated for the original design without an energy recovery device.