Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidos sistemas de aquisição portáteis de formato esférico, capazes de sensoriar forças de compressão e impacto ao longo dos três eixos cartesianos. Os instrumentos desenvolvidos foram utilizados em diferentes experimentos feitos em estabelecimentos de beneficiamento de frutas (packinghouses) durante o processo de pós-colheita a fim de verificar os danos mecânicos sofridos pelas mesmas. Os instrumentos são sistemas microcontrolados compostos por quarto sensores (acelerômetros, célula de carga, temperatura e umidade), memória Flash para o armazenamento dos dados, transceptor de rádio freqüência e uma porta de comunicações serial universal (USB). A coleta, apresentação e processamentos dos dados obtidos foram feitos por um software desenvolvido em ambiente C++ para o sistema operacional Windows. Fortes forças de compressão e impacto foram registradas, sugerindo a necessidade de mudanças no processo de seleção (mecânica e manual), empacotamento e transporte de frutas. Quatro protótipos diferentes foram desenvolvidos, dois com cabos e dois sem. Os dispositivos provaram ser úteis, funcionando como esperado e o seu projeto modular permite o desenvolvimento de diferentes instrumentos. Os resultados obtidos propiciaram pesquisas relativas aos danos sofridos por frutas durante o processo de pós-colheita. / In this work, spherical shape portable data acquisition systems that are capable of sensing compression and impact forces along the three Cartesian axes were developed. The developed instruments were utilized in several different experiments done in fruit packinghouses during the post harvest process in order to check the mechanical damages they suffer. They are microcontrolled systems composed by four sensors (accelerometers, load cell, temperature and humidity), Flash memory for data storage, radio frequency transceiver and a universal serial bus (USB) communication port. The download, presentation and data processing were done by developed C++ software that runs in a Windows environment. Strong compression and impact forces were recorded, suggesting a need for changes in the mechanical and manual selection, packing and transportation of fruits. Four different prototypes were developed, two corded and two wireless versions. The devices developed were proven to be useful, worked as expected and their modular design permit future developments. The results allowed for different research concerning the damages suffered by the fruits, during the post harvest process.

Este trabalho descreve o projeto e implementação de um kernel computacional integrado e de baixo custo, utilizando para aplicações em coleta de dados e controle de processos. A filosofia do projeto é o desenvolvimento de um circuito que possa ser facilmente aplicado a várias atividades, com pequenas alterações no hardware ou simples troca de software. O kernel foi desenvolvido com um microcontrolador programável que permite uma grande redução na complexidade do circuito. O kernel foi usado em duas aplicações diferentes: a aquisição automática de dados em pluviômetros e o controle de experimentos com PCR (Polimerase chain reaction). / This work describes the Project and implementation of a low cost, highly integrated, microprocessor-based kernel for applications in intelligent data acquisition and process control. The Project philosophy concerns the development of a circuit that could be easily applied to several fields with few hardware alterations or just software change. The kernel was developed using a programmable microcontroller which enables large reductions in circuit complexity. The kernel was used in two different applications: the automatic data aquisition in pluviometers and in control of experiments of PCR (Polymerase chain reaction).

Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidos sistemas de aquisição portáteis de formato esférico, capazes de sensoriar forças de compressão e impacto ao longo dos três eixos cartesianos. Os instrumentos desenvolvidos foram utilizados em diferentes experimentos feitos em estabelecimentos de beneficiamento de frutas (packinghouses) durante o processo de pós-colheita a fim de verificar os danos mecânicos sofridos pelas mesmas. Os instrumentos são sistemas microcontrolados compostos por quarto sensores (acelerômetros, célula de carga, temperatura e umidade), memória Flash para o armazenamento dos dados, transceptor de rádio freqüência e uma porta de comunicações serial universal (USB). A coleta, apresentação e processamentos dos dados obtidos foram feitos por um software desenvolvido em ambiente C++ para o sistema operacional Windows. Fortes forças de compressão e impacto foram registradas, sugerindo a necessidade de mudanças no processo de seleção (mecânica e manual), empacotamento e transporte de frutas. Quatro protótipos diferentes foram desenvolvidos, dois com cabos e dois sem. Os dispositivos provaram ser úteis, funcionando como esperado e o seu projeto modular permite o desenvolvimento de diferentes instrumentos. Os resultados obtidos propiciaram pesquisas relativas aos danos sofridos por frutas durante o processo de pós-colheita. / In this work, spherical shape portable data acquisition systems that are capable of sensing compression and impact forces along the three Cartesian axes were developed. The developed instruments were utilized in several different experiments done in fruit packinghouses during the post harvest process in order to check the mechanical damages they suffer. They are microcontrolled systems composed by four sensors (accelerometers, load cell, temperature and humidity), Flash memory for data storage, radio frequency transceiver and a universal serial bus (USB) communication port. The download, presentation and data processing were done by developed C++ software that runs in a Windows environment. Strong compression and impact forces were recorded, suggesting a need for changes in the mechanical and manual selection, packing and transportation of fruits. Four different prototypes were developed, two corded and two wireless versions. The devices developed were proven to be useful, worked as expected and their modular design permit future developments. The results allowed for different research concerning the damages suffered by the fruits, during the post harvest process.

Urbanized areas with increased amounts of impervious surfaces alter hydrologic systems by increasing stormwater runoff, decreasing infiltration, and reducing vegetation cover and evapotranspiration. Modeling hydrologic systems here is especially difficult due to the increased impervious land cover, which makes predicting processes such as urban streamflow and flooding challenging. By understanding the drivers of hydraulic processes, such as soil characteristics, bedrock depth, and land use, the quality and accuracy of models can be improved. The goal of this study was to use soil moisture loggers and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) along the Pennypack Creek (Philadelphia, PA) to evaluate soil infiltration and bedrock depth in urban areas to ultimately access their impact on critical zone modeling. ERT was also used to validate or dispute recent seismic interpretations. Four study sites adjacent to Pennypack Creek were selected based on variations in underlying geology: Triassic basin sedimentary rock (Lukens), Paleozoic mafic gneiss (Meadow), Piedmont mica schist (Pine Road), and coastal plain weathered down to mica schist (Rhawn Street). Soil moisture sensors were installed at each site to a depth of up to 50 cm. ERT surveys were conducted at Pine Road and Rhawn Street sites. High infiltration variation at Pine Road and Meadow indicated macropores, which create preferential flow paths whereas low infiltration variation at Rhawn Street and Lukens indicated compaction associated with their land use (public parks). Comparing field capacity data to USDA soil type maps indicated the soil type was not a good predictor and in situ sampling was needed to estimate soil properties. ERT demonstrated bedrock was not shallow at the streambed as predicted by the seismic inversion and showed the need to corroborate depth to bedrock from seismic surveys beneath streams with resistivity inversions. Structure beneath the streambed was particularly noisy for the seismic surveys due to the flow of stream water. This study demonstrates that an accurate critical zone model, especially at urban sites, must rely on in situ investigation of hydrologic parameters based on land use, rather than assumptions of parameter values based on the underlying geology or soil type. / Geology

The objective of this research was to analyze the workers’ compensation insurance system for the logging industry in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Insurance rate components were fairly consistent among the nine states investigated. Approximately 72 percent of the workers’ compensation insurance rate is composed of loss components and components utilized to update and predict future losses of the year (time period) that the manual rate is in effect. The higher manual rates for the production based 2705 classification can be explained, in part, due to the different premium basis, i.e., production versus payroll. Upset factors based on 1) historical wage and productivity information and 2) a logging contractor survey, indicated that statewide upset factors were too low to equate production based payroll to actual payroll. Low upset factors provide a direct disincentive for contractors to move to an actual payroll basis. Experience modification, premium discounts and retrospective rating are used to customize premium to firm specific characteristics. The credibility test of the experience modification parameters indicated that a greater weight to firm specific characteristics is warranted for harvesting operations. The majority of logging injuries in North Carolina and Virginia occurred during felling and topping activities. An increase in lacerations as an injury type and topping as an occupation type in the coastal plain region may indicate that feller bunching and gate delimbing reduced neither the number or type of injuries. The high number of inexpensive losses contributes substantially to the logging industry’s poor safety image. A number of recommendations for improving the workers’ compensation system are presented. Recommendations which focused on system changes included eliminating numerical exemptions, establishing a $500 deductible clause, creating a mandatory retrospective rating plan for assigned risk policies, and designing greater credit and debit modifications based on firm characteristics. It was also suggested that a regional accident reporting system, funded from surcharged assigned risk policies, be established to provide actuarial data for rate hearings and loss control programs. Other recommendations included eliminating the 2705 "pulpwood only" classification, increasing and indexing the state’s upset factors, and determining the amount of premium slippage that occurs. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Technology and People: an analysis of the forest workforce, technology and the sourcing decision in forest harvesting in South Africa. M.Sc. Forestry thesis, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. 124pp. This thesis looks at the profiles of the workforce in forest harvesting in the forestry industry in South Africa. It provides methods and models to measure and understand people (human capital) and technology. It highlights some of the current and strategic challenges in: employee conditions of employment; occupational health and safety; worker nutrition; training; worker dynamics (employee absenteeism and labour turnover); and the technology in forest harvesting. This study puts additional emphasis towards measuring and understanding the grower company/contractor interface (i.e., the contractoring philosophy, contractor profiles and competitive strategies) and discusses the contracting decision by the grower companies. The latter, the contracting decision is important because it forms the foundation and framework upon which forest harvesting contractor businesses are built and the background for both the people and technology dynamics. Forest harvesting employees in South Africa are working in forestry because they cannot get other jobs elsewhere. They have the following profiles and mobility characteristics: median age, 34 years; median completed school level, Standard 3; median time spent working for forest contractors and grower companies, 2 and 7 years, respectively (contractors have been in the business for a median period of 7.5 years); and median labour turnover and absenteeism, 4 % and 6 %, respectively. The employee median daily wage is R24.00 and the budgeted employee training cost per year per employee is R41.40. There is a high level of occupational safety awareness amongst both the contractors and the employees and significantly high injury rates in forest harvesting. Contractors and staff from grower companies believe that the current and future forest harvesting technology depends on the type and nature of contracts between the grower companies and the harvesting contractors, backup services from machine suppliers, the exchange rates between the Rand and other major currencies and worker health linked to HIV/AIDS. The study shows that in forest harvesting, there is a need to develop approaches and business strategies to define and manage the workforce since it is the people and the technology that work together to generate results. The thesis concludes that, human skill and knowledge should form the base of an industry along with logic of systems or operations. The study challenges forest harvesting organisations to measure and integrate human capital and technology with business objectives. Thus, sustainability in forest harvesting in South Africa will depend on the ability of forest harvesting organisations to handle the human dimension and to develop/acquire, exploit and manage technology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie en die Mens: 'n Ontleding van technnology, die dinamika van uitkontrakteer en bosontginnings arbeid in Suid Afrika. M.Sc in Bosbou tesis, Universiteit van Stellenbosch, Suid Afrika. 124 bl. Tegnologie en die mensepotensiaal is van uiters belang in alle industrieë. Technologie moet toepasbaar wees en die mens moet van 'n geskikte gehalte wees met 'n paslike profiel. Hierdie proefskif focus op die tegnologie en die menslikehulpbron in bosontginning en evalueer Suid Afrikaanse Bosbou maatskappye se besluit om uit te kontrakteer. Dit bied metodes en modele aan om die menslikepotensiaal en tegnologie te evalueer en te verstaan. Die klem word geplaas op huidige en strategiese uitdagings in: diensvoorwaardes, beroepsgesondheid en -veiligheid, voiding, opleiding, arbeidersdinamika (arbeidsafwesigheid en -omset) en tegnologie in bosontginning. Hierdie studie plaas verdere klem op die ondersoek en begrip van die interaksie tussen bosbou maatskappy en kontrakteur (b.v. kontrakteur's filosofie, profiel van kontrakteurs en mededingende strategie) en om die bosbou maatskappye se besluit, om oor te skakel na kontrakteurs, te evalueer. Laasgenoemde, is van uiter belang, aangesien dit die fondament en raamwerk daarstel waarom die kontrakteurs se besigheid ontwikkel en dit gee agtergrond tot die dinamika van beide die mens en die tegnologie. Die grootste gedeelte van die arbeid in diens van die Suid Afrikaanse bosbou industrie het daarop gewys dat hulle slegs in die industrie werk omdat daar nie ander werksgeleenthede beskikbaar is nie. Kenmerke aspekte van die arbeidersmag in die Suid Afrika se bosbou industrie is die volgende: middellyn vir ouderdom - 34 jaar; middellyn vir skool qualifikasies - standard 3; middellyn vir dienstydperk by bosbou kontrakteurs - 2 jaar, en by bosboumaatskappy - 7 jaar (middellyn vir tydperk as kontakteur - 7.5 jaar); arbeidsomset en -afweesigheidis 4 % en 6 %, onderskeidelik. Daaglikse arbeidsloon is R24.00 en die begrotte opleidingskoste is R41.40 per arbeider per jaar. Beroepsveiligheid geniet 'n hoë vlak van bewustheid by beide die kontrakteurs en arbeiders. Kontrakteurs en maatskappy bestuurders glo dat die huidige en toekomstige tegnologiese ontwikkeling afhanklik is van die aard van kontrakte, ondersteuning en diens van verskaffers, die wisselkoers en arbeiders se gesondheid (gekoppel aan HIVNIGS). Aangesien die mens en tegnologie gesamentlik bydra tot werksproduksie, bestaan daar 'n behoefde in bosonginning vir die ontwikkeling van naderings en besigheids strategieë om die bestuur van mense en tegnologie te defineer. Die werkstuk beslis dat die menslike kennis en vermoeë, saam met logika van stelsels of activiteite, die fondament van die industie daarstel. Bosontginnings maatskappye word aangespoor om die gebruik van tegnologie te ondersoek, en die menslike hulpbron en tegnologie te meet en met die maatskappy se doelstelling te integreer. Ten slotte, die standhoudenheid van bosonginning in Suid Afrika sal afhang van die vermoeë van bosontginnings maaskappye om die menslike dimensie korrek te kan bestuur en om tegnologie effektief te ontwikkel (of aan te koop), te gebruik en te bestuur.

This thesis examines the space use, movement and contact rate patterns of a high- density, group-living, Eurasian badger (Meles meles) population in the UK naturally infected with bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Recently developed proximity logging devices were deployed on a representative sample of 51 badgers from eight different social groups to track their movements using radio-telemetry and to quantify their within- and between-group contact rates. Whilst interactions within social groups accounted for more than 90% of contacts, the entire study population was ultimately connected through interactions among individuals from neighbouring groups. Both within and between-group contacts, and also the use of denning sites, were heavily influenced by seasonal and demographic factors, which appear to be motivated to a large extent by reproductive behaviours. Nevertheless, by using social network analysis I found that badgers that tested positive for bTB were found to interact with fewer of their group members and for a shorter amount of time. Specifically these test-positive individuals were found to associate with test-negative group members significantly less than would be expected by chance. Those animals testing positive for bTB were also found to use outlying setts significantly more frequently than those that tested negative. The within and between-group contact rates of individuals were found to correlate with their sett use patterns. Those animals that spent less time interacting with group members and those that spent more time interacting with members of foreign social groups, were found to spend a greater proportion of their time at outlier setts. The findings in this thesis suggest a link between wider roaming behaviour and the disease status of an individual. This adds support to the argument that the social disruption of badger populations, for example through culling, may promote rather than alleviate the spread of bTB as a result of increased movement and contacts between groups. State-of-the-art technology has enabled me to demonstrate the strong influence that badger social organisation may have on the transmission of an economically significant infectious disease. My findings suggest that disease control measures might be enhanced by taking into account seasonal and individual-level variation in ranging behaviour and use of outlier setts, for example, by identifying and targeting functional groups of individuals, specific areas, or times of the year that contribute disproportionately to disease spread.

Evaluates and assesses the probes and associated probeware of three manufacturers using a variety of criteria that are essential information for a consumer. The probes and probeware examined include Pasco Scientific's ScienceWorkshop, Venier's LabPro, and Onset's HOBO. Three experiments were used to test each of the criteria for comparison. Based on the data in the study no manufacturer proved themselves to be clearly the best, and taken collectively the benefits and drawbacks balance out.

A common measurement of body temperature during exercise in a hot, humid environment is mean skin temperature collected from 3-12 sites on the body. However, such an approach fails to demonstrate localized differences in skin temperature that are likely to exist as a function of gender. The purpose of this study was to examine potential differences in skin temperature between men and women at 17 different locations on the body. Young women (21 ± 1 y; n = 11) and men (23 ± 3; n = 10) were recruited to complete a 60-min walk/jog interval protocol in a hot (34 ± 1 °C), humid (64 ± 8%) environment while skin temperature was measured. Data was analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA (p < 0.05) and location of interaction effects determined using a Fisher’s least squares difference test. We observed a higher change (p < 0.05) from baseline skin temperatures (ΔTsk) for women in three locations: left upper back (women: avg. ΔTsk = 4.12 ± 0.20 °C; men: avg. ΔTsk = 2.70 ± 0.10 °C), right upper back (women: avg. ΔTsk = 4.19 ± 0.07 °C; men: avg. ΔTsk = 2.92 ± 0.05 °C), and right mid-back (women: avg. ΔTsk = 4.62 ± 0.14 °C; men: avg. ΔTsk =3.55 ± 0.09 °C). Individual time differences between genders occurred after 7- (left upper back) and 15-min (right upper back, right mid-back) of exercise and were maintained until the end of exercise. Women have a greater increase in skin temperature at three locations on the back following the onset of exercise in a hot, humid environment. This report provides important information regarding the implications of women exercising in a hot, humid environment.

Student Number: 0218322F Master of Science School of Physiology / The high morbidity and mortality of wild mammals and livestock during capture and transport is generally ascribed to thermal stress. Consequently, capture operators can benefit from improved methods that may reduce thermal stress. The aim of my study was to develop a practical method of measuring the body temperature of mammals during capture and transport operations. Firstly, I determined whether intermittent temperature recordings, which allow for minuteby- minute monitoring of an animal’s temperature, could accurately reflect continuous measures of an animal’s rectal temperature. Intermittent temperatures were measured via telemetry while continuous and off-line recordings were measured with data loggers. Secondly, I compared rectal and abdominal temperatures to determine if rectal temperature can provide a practical, noninvasive method of estimating core body temperature. Additionally, I measured body temperature and environmental conditions throughout transportation and compared pre- and post-transport levels of faecal cortisol, and blood cortisol, haematocrit and catecholamines. Measuring rectal temperatures seems to be the only feasible, non-invasive technique to obtain temperature during transport operations. However, rectal temperature records required about 30 minutes to stabilise after inserting a thermometric device. After rectal temperature stabilised, generally the difference between abdominal and rectal temperatures varied greatly for individual animals, while the average differences in temperatures between the body sites were not significant for all, except one, species. I have also shown that telemeters and data loggers can be used interchangeably to measure the body temperature of animals. The differences between temperatures measured by the devices were not significant, except for substantial differences shown in two animals. The addition of earphones and a large aerial inside the vehicle improved the telemetry results, by limiting the extraneous noise of the capture and transport environment. These conditions probably caused the anomalous readings in the two animals. General thermal responses to stress are that animals showed a peak in temperature due to capture and a decrease in temperature during transport. Therefore, capture-related stress and the likelihood of animals dying during capture could be minimised by ensuring that the animals are not chased longer than a set cut-off time. Further, globe temperature should be monitored to ensure that animals are not captured in high thermal conditions. In contradiction with the current guidelines regarding the appropriate time of day for capture, I recommend that animals should not be caught at the end of the day, as my results show that this is when their body temperatures are the highest. Body temperatures during transport and differences in faeces cortisol before and after transport seem to indicate that animals adapt to repeated stress events.