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The current research program was designed to evaluate the impact of various dietary and ingredient nutrient profiles and exogenous enzyme inclusion on growth performance and energy utilization in broilers. Experiment one was designed to observe increasing levels of distillers’ dried grains with Solubles (DDGS) and a non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme (NSPase) on energy digestibility. Experiment two evaluated the influence nutrient variation in corn and xylanase supplementation on growth performance and nutrient utilization. In experiment one, DDGS concentration was increased from 0 to 15% in 5% increments and included the addition of an NSPase enzyme. Early broiler body weight and FCR was negatively affected with increasing DDGS concentration up to 15%. The decreased growth performance was associated with a decrease in energy and nitrogen utilization as a linear decrease was observed in IDE, INDC, and AMEn. Addition of the NSPase negated many of the negative effects on nutrient utilization as improvements in all digestibility measurements were observed. Interactions were observed with DDGS concentration and NSPase inclusion as the benefit of enzyme inclusion was augmented as DDGS level increase. Experiment two evaluated different corn crops from six geographical locations in the US in an effort to determine the effects of xylanase inclusion and corn nutrient variation on growth performance and nutrient utilization. Significant differences were observed in growth performance, IDE, and AMEn in broilers when fed corn. Corn source impacted early body weights, and FCR throughout the experiment. Energy utilization was also impacted on all measured parameters, following the starter phase (day 17) and at the conclusion of the trial (day 41) by corn source. Xylanase inclusion improved FCR during the finisher phase as well as the cumulative FCR (day 1-41). Digestibility data indicates that corn source impacts the xylanase effectiveness in young broilers, as improvements were not observed in all corn types. Xylanase inclusion, however, did increase IDE and AMEn in all corn sources on day 41 of age. Data from this research program confirm that ingredient nutrient content, through the presence of ingredients with anti-nutritive properties or the incidence of varying nutrient profiles, does impact observed growth performance as related to reduced nutrient digestibility. Additionally, the inclusion of a dietary exogenous enzyme does improve energy and nitrogen digestibility in broilers, ultimately improving growth performance of broilers and improving efficiency.

This thesis is an exploration of the phenomenon of energy healing told from the inner world of a healer. Briefly, this complementary and alternate medicine (CAM) modality involves the manipulation of subtle energy fields to affect health, something that I have known for over 15 years. Because energy healing is experienced differently by different people I chose to use autoethnography to capture and share my own personal understanding of this phenomenon. This methodology allowed me to delve into my intimate stories and experiences and through the writing process, I learnt more about energy healing than I had initially expected. In finding my personal voice and investigating the silence that has accompanied my relationship with this much maligned healing practice, I was able to explore the stories that had remained in the shadows: tales that had been influencing my relationship with this phenomenon for many years. This thesis also includes conversations that I had with my teachers and fellow healers. As I reflected on our discussions, I followed themes that appeared when we spoke and I discovered not only a deeper personal understanding of the phenomenon of energy healing, but a new profound awareness of myself. In the final presentation of this thesis, I have shared my discoveries as stories and anecdotes and I have surrounded these tales with my artwork. It is my hope that the colour and movement of my paint brush will help translate the emotions and sensations that I have known in places where words have trouble traversing. The experiential sense of knowing that speaks from my intimate perspective of this alternate healing modality comes from a private journey that is imbued with awe and wonder, stumbling and doubt, and an inspiring sense of connection - a perspective that is absent in the academic literature on energy healing. In sharing this inner world with my readers, I hope that my writing and my artwork have captured a small fragment of the elusive and esoteric nature of this phenomenon, something that for me exists in a place where there are no words.

The purpose of the work was to investigate the thermal stratification in solar storage containers. Three domestic thermally stratified hot water storage containers were designed with the main object of improving and stabilizing thermal stratification of the stored water as a means of improving the overall efficiency of solar water heating systems. Testing of the three storage containers was carried out under similar conditions and the results showedthat TYPEI storage container behaves as a three-segment stratified system, TYPEII storage container behaves as a two-segment stratified system with a thermocline occupying approximately half of the height of the storage container, and TYPEIII storage container behaves as a two-segment stratified system with a thermocline occupying two thirds of the height of the storage container. It was found that TYPEI storage container, with a LID equal to 3/1, gave the best results in terms of heat collected, and also had the maximum stratification which is the main goal of this study. The effect of each of three flow rates (0.01 kg/Sm2 , 0.015 kg/sm2 , 0.02 kg/sm2 ) on stratification was studied and it was found that the flow rate of 0.01 kg/Sm2 of collector area gave the better result. A low-cost simulator for studying the performance of solar energy storage containers was designed. The design was based on a relatively inexpensive micro-computer linking into a mains power regulator with an 8-bit digital control system. Meteorological data was used to compute radiation income on any inclined plane and the output to the power regulator is controlled by the computed instantaneJus rate of energy gain from the collector system undergoing simulation. A comparison has been made between some of the experimental and theoretical results for mE I storage container. The theoretical prediction was based on two mathematical IOOdels of Duffie and 2 44 Beckman , and Close • A computer system model has been developed to assist in the design of a solar water heating system.

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