The overall purpose of this study was to understand the influence of selected factors on the adoption of eXtension by Texas Cooperative Extension County Extension agents. Specifically, the study looked at how the relationships between stage in the innovation-decision process, characteristics of agents, characteristics of the innovation, and barriers to adoption affect the diffusion of eXtension. A random sample of 237 agents was selected for participation in the study. A majority of agents reported they were in the knowledge stage (52%); 31% had no knowledge of the innovation; 8% were in the implementation stage; 3% were in the persuasion stage; 3% were in the decision stage and 2% were in the confirmation stage. Respondents had positive perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and trialability as those characteristics related to eXtension. They had the most positive perceptions of complexity. They did not perceive eXtension to have a high degree of observability. Agents perceived at least five barriers existed to the adoption of eXtension. Reducing or eliminating these barriers, particularly the barrier related to concerns about time, would be expected to positively affect the rate of adoption. Agents’ perceptions of complexity and compatibility significantly differed by primary agent role and gender, respectively. The differences may be attributable to varying job experiences based upon role and gender. Agents’ perceptions of a lack of eXtension incentives significantly differed by education. Significant relationships existed between selected characteristics of eXtension and potential barriers to the adoption of eXtension. Based on the findings, offering monetary incentives may increase the rate of adoption, and decrease agents’ financial concerns. Significantly more respondents reported they were in the “no knowledge” stage in the innovation-decision than would be expected to occur by chance. Agents may have ignored repeated messages about eXtension because it was not perceived as consistent with their attitudes and beliefs. This implication should be noted by those hoping to increase the diffusion of eXtension. On a broader level, these findings support expanding the model of the innovation-decision process to include the “no knowledge” stage.

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-270).

Lors de leur mise en forme par thermo- estampage, les pré-imprégnés à matrice polymère thermoplastique et renfort fibreux tissé se déforment selon différents modes encore mal maîtrisés, dont les cisaillements plan et transverse, ce dernier traduisant la friction entre les plis tissés. Une fois formés, des contraintes résiduelles de fabrication sont également générées au cours du refroidissement des pré- imprégnés et altèrent leur stabilité dimensionnelle, tout comme les variations d’humidité relative. Dans ce travail, nous avons étudié ces deux aspects. Dans un premier temps, des essais de traction de biais ont été réalisés sur des pré-imprégnés de polyamide renforcés par des tissus de fibres de verre à hautes températures. L’analyse multi-échelle de la structure des échantillons déformés par tomographie à rayons X met en exergue des mécanismes de déformation des mèches de fibres dont certains ne sont pas pris en compte dans les modèles rhéologiques actuels. En outre, nous avons mis au point un dispositif pour l’étude du cisaillement transverse et la friction inter-plis. Les résultats obtenus montrent et quantifient les influences de la contrainte normale, de la vitesse de déformation et de la température sur le coefficient de frottement inter-plis. Un modèle de frottement basé sur le nombre d’Hersey est ensuite identifié. Dans un deuxième temps, l’exploitation de la mesure de la courbure globale des échantillons après refroidissement a permis d’estimer, via la théorie modifiée des stratifiées, les contraintes résiduelles et leur évolution avec les conditions hygrothermiques ambiantes. / During their thermo-stamping, prepregs made of thermoplastic polymer matrices and woven fabrics are subjected to large deformation including in-plane and transverse shear, the last deformation mechanism being related to inter-ply friction. Once shaped, prepregs can still deform due to residual stresses induced by their cooling and/or hygrometric variations. In this work, we focused on these two aspects. Firstly, prepregs made of polyamide reinforced by layers of woven fabrics (glass fibre bundles) were subjected to bias extension at high temperatures. The fibrous structure deformed specimens was analysed with X-ray microtomography, allowing fiber bundles deformation mechanism to be emphasized.Some of them are not taken into account in current rheological model developed for prepregs. In addition, using a dedicated apparatus, we performed transverse shear tests to analyse inter-ply friction within prepregs. Experimental results underline the influence of the normal stress, the shear strain rate and the temperature on the interplay friction coefficient. A friction model based on the Hersey number is then fitted. Secondly, we measure the curvatures of deformed prepregs was to estimate, via the modified laminated theory, residual stresses and their variation with temperature and relative humidity.

Land programme of Varanasi

Multi-media approach

Technology transfer model

consequences on symbolic adoption

Measurement of agricultural progressiveness

Gap in tribal farming system

Genesis and development of agriculture education