Doctoral thesis is dealing with the methods for analysis of surfaces by photoelectrons being emitted by X-ray radiation. The methods are: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy - XPS, Angle-resolved XPS - ARXPS and X-ray Photoelectron Diffraction - XPD. The work is especially focused on a method of ARXPS, which is used for the depth compositional analysis of sample surfaces. To obtain an information about the depth composition from the measured ARXPS spectra, a calculation software in the Matlab environment has been developed. The software has been tested both for simulated and real sample data. For an experimental implementation of these methods, a complete manipulation system has been developed. It ensures the transport of samples inside a vacuum apparatus and the experiment itself. The system is controlled mainly by a software and enables to run the experiments automatically.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional profile of mono- or multi-species pastures of native warm season grasses. One of four treatments were randomly assigned to Twelve pastures: 1) BG; 2) IG; 3) Mix G; 4) Mix NG. Growing steers (n = 225) were randomly assigned to one of nine pastures. Grass samples were taken from all pastures every 28 days during a four-month period and were analyzed for nutrient composition. Bermudagrass pastures had greater crude protein and ADF, but less NDF concentrations compared with the native warm-season grasses. Crude protein, IVDMD, and NDF IVDMD concentration decreased while NDF, ADF, and Hemicellulose concentration increased as grasses matured. Steers grazing IG and Mix G pastures gained more weight and consumed more forage than those on BG pastures. It appears that native warm-season grasses may offer a viable alternative to BG for grazing cattle during the summer.

Considering the commonality of breast cancer among women in the United States and the increasing popularity of precision medicine and data analytics in healthcare, the aim of this study was to use self-organizing maps (SOM) to profile and make decisions about breast cancer patients. Breast cancer mass measurements were combined with nine non-medical attributes—family income, history of cancer, level of education, preference of probability level, presence of dependents, employment status, marital status, age, and location—that were randomly generated based on recent population statistics and fed into a SOM. The SOM’s accuracy was evaluated at around 80%. To show the decision-making capabilities of the SOM, a subset of the patients were treated as new patients and placed on the map. Profiles of these clusters were created to show how decisions made about patients’ diagnosis, delivery, and treatment differed based on the cluster to which they belonged.

Vibrio vulnificus is a foodborne bacterial pathogen associated with raw oyster consumption. Shellfish depuration for 48 hours is a dynamic process where coliform bacteria are purged; however, this process is ineffective against V. vulnificus. The current study investigated the use of prolonged two-week depuration on V. vulnificus populations in Gulf Coast oysters. The study evaluated the impact of prolonged depuration on V. vulnificus fatty acid profile change and the ability to survive in simulated gastric fluid. Oyster depuration in seawater (10 or 22oC, 14 days) reduced V. vulnificus counts, but not to non-detectable level, indicating close ecological relationship between the pathogen and mollusk. Greatest V. vulnificus count reductions were seen in 12 ppt 10°C seawater (2.7 log10 CFU/g) and in 20 ppt 22°C seawater (2.8 logs). Mesophilic vibrios dominated the overall microflora of freshly harvested oysters, while refrigeration selected for psychrotrophic bacteria. Depuration at 22°C retained dominance of mesophilic vibrios, including pathogenic species. Although aerobic plate counts were lower in 22°C depurated oysters (5.0 logs vs 6.0 logs), depuration at 10°C had little to no advantage over 22°C in terms of vibrio population reduction. Use of prolonged depuration remains economically questionable since this method failed to completely eliminate V. vulnificus. Starved V. vulnificus behavior in artificial seawater showed that low temperature (4oC) and high seawater salinity (35 ppt) contributed to pathogen population reduction. Starved V. vulnificus did not adjust membrane fluidity to storage temperature within the investigated time frame. However, a significant fatty acid switch from C18:1w7c to C18:1w6c by double bond relocation was observed. The relocation was faster at ambient temperatures compared to refrigerated temperatures. The majority of V. vulnificus foodborne infections occur during warm summer months. Vibrio vulnificus ATCC 27562 was significantly less resistant (3.7 min D-value) to simulated gastric fluid (pH 4.0) after 7-day storage at 4oC compared to the control (7.8 min D-value). Therefore, greater gastric fluid sensitivity of the pathogen may occur in winter-harvested oysters and may partially explain the low number of winter outbreaks.

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The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of self-reported resistance training to lipid profiles. The study consisted of 10 subjects between the ages of 19 and 35. Participants were assigned to an exercise group or control group based on self-reported resistance training and according to ACSM standards. After means were determined for the data gathered, the exercise group had lower averages of weight, percent body fat, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, as well as, a higher average of high-density lipoproteins. Two sample t-tests were performed to determine significance. It was determined that no significant difference existed between serum lipid profile levels of the control group and the self-reported exercise group. This study is important because it expands our knowledge of the relationship between resistance training (RT) and lipid profiles, relying on self-reported data and focusing on an at-risk population.

The purpose of this study was to measure the change in joint energy of the hip,knee and ankle of the right and left leg, in the sagittal plane during the delivery phase of the rotational shot put. We hypothesized that (1) throwers who produced a greater total hip energy change would have greater horizontal displacement and (2) throwers who produced a higher ratio of hip energy, in each leg independently, would produce greater horizontal displacement. Subjects (n = 8) must have been right-handed, collegiate or post collegiate level throwers trained in the rotational technique. Vicon Nexus System (Denver, CO, USA) used six MX13+, two F20, two T20 cameras recorded at 240 Hz, and the body Plug-in Gait model to track the body position during each trial. Two AMTI force plates (OR-6, Watertown, MA, USA) were used for collecting ground reaction force data at 960 Hz. A linear regression analysis was performed to determine a relationship between total hip energy change and horizontal displacement. A mixed model regression was used to determine any correlation between horizontal distance and left and right energy change ratios. Athletes who produced a greater total hip energy change had the greatest horizontal displacement (p = .022). Also throwers who produced a higher ratio of left hip energy change to total left leg energy produced the greatest horizontal displacement (p = .02). The ratio of right hip energy change to right leg energy change was found to not be significant to horizontal displacement (p = .955). We feel the findings on the left leg energy change are an attempt by the athlete to both accelerate the shot put as well as stop the rotational progression to allow the athlete to complete a fair throw. The athlete extending both the right and the left hip rapidly during the delivery phase can help explain the combined right and left hip energy change. This action accelerates the ball in a proximal-distal sequence, which allows athletes to reach high final shot put velocities. The higher the final velocity on the shot put positively correlates with the horizontal displacement.

Estimates of the depth and variation of lateritic weathering profiles are especially important in tropical areas such as Oahu, HI. Shear-wave velocity data were obtained by a new application of Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) to map the base of the critical zone, to show variations in the LWP, and to derive weathering rates. The MASW technique proved highly capable of imaging the base of the critical zone, confirmed by lithological well data and direct field measurements. Profile thickness can be obtained without drilling, which has applications in engineering and geochemical studies. The measured rate of advance of the weathering front derived from the thickness measured by MASW ranged from 0.019 m/ka to 0.30 m/ka in mesic zones; about 1500 mm of annual rainfall, while a zone of 800 mm of annual rain fall revealed rates ranging from 0.011 m/ka to 0.013 m/ka. These rates are comparable to geochemically derived rates in previous studies. Standard p-wave seismic reflection data were insufficient for detecting boundaries as the weathering boundaries are gradational and do not produce reflections. Shear-wave models also showed internal velocity variations that may be caused by weathering heterogeneity due to textural differences in parental lava flows. Soil chemistry revealed the nature of weathering products as enriched in Al, Fe, Ni, and Cr, and commonly contain alteration minerals such as halloysite, kaolinite, maghemite, and ferrihydrite. Imaging depth limitations were overcome by innovative experiment designs, pushing the boundaries of the current technology. Increasing offsets and combining dispersion curves allowed for a more objective picking of the dispersion curve into the lower frequency domain. Even further improvements were made from a newly developed form of the active/passive technique. These advancements in technology allowed for detailed imaging of the subsurface with greater modeling confidence. This study showed that velocity models derived from MASW are accurately able to describe laterite weathering profiles in terms of depth and variability, expanding the use of the MASW technique beyond its traditional applications and making it a potential tool of interest for many fields of geoscience.

The purpose of this research was first to study the Wildland-Urban Interface and Wildland-Urban Intermix (WUI) fire problem, and then to design, develop and implement improved fire assessment and fire protection features for structures in the these interface fire-prone areas. The findings included that several areas of the world are prone to devastating fires that claim lives and destroy property, and their fire problems continue to exacerbate. None of these compare to the property loss experienced in Southern California due to its vast development in fire prone areas. It is because of the continuing huge property loss and frequency of major WUI fires that Southern California was selected as the concentration for research and the case studies used in this paper. However, the results of the research are applicable to other interface fire-prone areas in the world. The author is motivated by a need to dramatically improve our ability to effectively deal with what is no longer a fire “threat,” but the reality that people have chosen to live in an area of the world in which wildland fires are part of natural forest dynamics. To reduce the economic and social impacts of these inevitable fires, we need to understand the causes of fire damage, and establish methods to minimize damage when fires occur. This thesis proposes several fire protection strategies for increased fire resiliency and safety of individuals. Following a search of fire history and analysis, three related fire assessment matrixes were synthesized (see Chapter Five). The Fire Profile Index is the principal fire assessment matrix. It was developed empirically and applied to historical fire spreads for a sense of accuracy. The intended users of the Fire Profile Index are design professionals, public agencies charged with oversight for development in the WUI, insurance agencies, building and landscape contractors, homeowners, potential homeowners, residents and fire service professionals. From the Fire Profile Index two derivative special-use matrixes were established for use by diverse groups. The first of these matrixes, the Developers Guide, is intended for design professionals, public agencies, insurance agencies, and building and landscape contractors. The second matrix is the WUI Fire Assessment Guide, whose intended users are those concerned with development in high fire hazard areas, who should have a fundamental knowledge of fire behavior. This group includes fire agencies, developers, homeowners, potential homeowners and insurance companies. This thesis contributes to increased residential structure fire resistiveness and occupant fire safety in the WUI, by proposing site-specific fire assessment and corresponding design features in both structures and landscapes. Chapter Seven covers the development of noncombustible fire shields to divert airflow and diminish flames and embers blown towards structures. Wind tunnel modeling research was conducted at the Aerospace Program’s wind tunnel at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.