This dissertation examines the impact of major hurricanes on changes in GDP for counties in four states – Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The analysis examines the effectiveness of intergovernmental financing for major hurricanes between 2000 and 2014. It also examines whether institutional proximity of the disaster management function to the Governor's Office and the career status of the director affect the speed of recovery from the disaster. The analysis also assesses the impact that a counties's prior experience at dealing with disasters has on the speed of recovery.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Women describe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery as difficult to recover from. Expectancy is related to recovery in other surgeries but has not been examined in POP. There is no established measure of surgery expectancy or utility in women with POP. This research had four aims: 1) to establish the factor structure of a new measure of POP surgery expectancy; 2) to establish predictive validity of the expectancy measure by examining its ability to predict self-rated recovery over time; 3) to establish concurrent validity of the expectancy measure; and 4) to examine the ability of utility to predict additional variance in recovery. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution. Factors are conceptualized as: 1) Bladder/Bowel Function; 2) Sexual Function; and 3) Physical Function. Bladder/Bowel Function correlated with optimism and self-efficacy (r = .17, p = .03 and r = .27, p = .00, respectively). Physical Function was predictive of recovery at 42 days (standardized coefficient = .25; p < .05). However, these factors were generally poor and inconsistent predictors of recovery. Utility did not predict additional variance in recovery. Potential explanations for the poor predictive ability of the measure are discussed. The development of a measure that amends these limitations may still be beneficial. Further, exploring and establishing the relationship between surgery expectancy, utility, and recovery may guide physician-patient discussions and lead to improved surgical outcomes.

Yes / In this work, the process of ethane recovery plant was simulated for the purpose of Front End Engineering Design. The main objective is to carry out a series of simulation using Aspen HYSYS to compare recovery of ethane from Joule Thomson (JT) Valve, Turbo-Expander and Twister Technology. Twister technology offers high efficiency, more ethane recovery and lower temperature than JT valve and turbo-expander process. It lies somewhere between isenthalpic and isentropic process due to its mechanical configuration. Three processes were compared in terms of recovery of ethane. To conduct the simulations, a real gas plant composition and design data were utilized to perform the study for comparison among chosen technologies which are available for ethane recovery. The same parameters were used for the comparisons. Effect of operating conditions including pressure, temperature, and flow rate as well as carbon dioxide on the recovery of ethane was examined.

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Determining residential airconditioning waste heat recovery system costs and savings is achieved using a computer program. A worksheet is designed to accept consumer data as an input to the program. The program features load and waste heat recovery calculations on a monthly basis. Economic criteria, including rate of return, present worth, and payback period are computed. Sensitivity of these criteria to fuel escalation and consumer discount rate is demonstrated. the program provides the user with both thermal analysis and economic analysis summary reports.

A wealth of research indicates that depression is a serious global health issue, and that it is often characterized by a complicated and varied course. The ability to predict depressive course would be tremendously valuable for clinicians. However, the extant literature has not yet produced an accurate and efficient means by which to predict the course of depression. Research also indicates that cognitive variables - and cognitive vulnerability factors in particular - are related to the course of depression. In examining data provided by participants in the Temple-Wisconsin Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression Project (N = 345), the current study aimed to elucidate the relationship between cognitive vulnerability and depressive course using an actuarial statistical method. Results indicated that several cognitive measures predicted aspects of the onset and course of depression at rates significantly better than chance; foremost among these was the Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ; Alloy et al., 2000). The CSQ was found to be the variable that best differentiated between participants who developed an episode of depression and those who did not. Furthermore, in comparison to participants who did not develop an episode of depression, the CSQ was found to differentiate between participants who recovered from a given depressive episode and those who did not, as well as between participants who experienced a single episode and those experiencing a recurrent course of the disorder across the prospective phase of the study. Conceptual and clinical implications of these results are discussed, as are directions for future research. / Psychology

Growing concerns regarding climate change, the increase in demand for energy and the efficient utilization of energy have become of major interest in applications of heating and power generation. A large portion of the energy input to these applications is lost, due to their typical inefficiencies, in the form of waste thermal energy which, if captured and utilized, can offer an abundant source of energy for electricity generation and heating purposes. The use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) of different designs in waste heat recovery applications has been pursued over the past few decades as the generation of electrical power using TEGs has become viable compared to other conventional systems at low temperatures. This study focuses on the implementation of an annular design for integrated TEG modules in a heat exchanger device for waste heat recovery and the investigation of the effect of different TEG design parameters on the device performance. The integration of the annular TEG design in the heat exchanger was studied using a developed numerical model to investigate the interaction between the heat transfer and the thermoelectric effects and evaluate the performance under specific operating conditions. The heat transferred from the exhaust to the water flow through the TEGs was modelled using a thermal network for the heat flow, coupled with an electrical circuit for the power output. The model was validated using experimental results of the first generation of the TEG device with good agreement (3-6 %) between the predicted and measured performance results: power output, efficiency and the exhaust and water flow temperatures. With the objectives of maximizing the power output and improving the power characteristics, a half annular TEG design was presented. It was able to generate the same power output with double the voltage and half the current, thus improved the power characteristics required for functional operation, compared to the full annular design. The effect of the annular TEG design dimensions on the device performance was studied for a multi-row heat exchanger using the numerical model. The results showed that a maximum power output can be obtained at optimum TEG diameter ratio and thickness. In addition, the TEGs performance was studied under different electrical connection configurations in series and in parallel. The series connection between TEG rows showed better power output characteristics with lower current output, minimal power loss due to temperature mismatch and higher voltage output. The effect of heat exchanger design considerations such as the axial heat conduction was also investigated using the numerical model and the results were compared with an ANSYS model for verification. Good agreement was demonstrated and the results showed a decrease in the total power output of multiple TEG rows when axial conduction of heat was allowed between the TEGs hot-side surfaces in the heat exchanger. A dimensions map was created for annular TEGs integrated in a heat exchanger combining the effects of varying the TEG diameter ratio and thickness on the power output. Further, a dimensionless design parameter (β) was introduced to locate the maximum power region on the map. Using the map as a design tool, the dimensions of the annular TEG modules in a heat exchanger were determined to maximize the power output under a typical current output constraint in order to improve the system power characteristics. Using the map, it was shown that the current output could be reduced by 46 % of its value at the maximum power available on the map and the resultant power output could be maintained at 98 % of its maximum value. This also resulted in a 48% reduction in the TEG material volume and an increased voltage output of the device. As a result, the power output was maximized, the current output was limited to reduce losses in the power management system components and material volume reduction was achieved which would increase the device power density and reduce its overall cost. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

A Hill-based muscle model was used to assess the influences of series elastic recovery in stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) contractions at the human elbow. Elbow torque, EMG and joint kinematics were recorded as eight male subjects performed a vari ety of elbow flexion and extension tasks. A significant performance enhancement was observed in SSC vs non-SSC elbow flexions (20% greater angular impulse). The muscle model used activation-force, length-tension and force-velocity functions to estimate instantaneous elbow flexor and extensor moments. These moments were summed with a passive elbow moment to obtain estimates of net elbow moment and angular impulse. The estimated values were compared to actual measures of joint torque and angular impulse. The model accurately estimated the angular impulse generated by non-SSC contractions, but demonstrated substantial underestimation errors in SSC contractions. The majority of the SSC performance enhancement could not be attributed to either neural potentiation or to a better exploitation of contractile component mechanics. Since the model was designed to account for these influences but did not possess an ability to account for series elastic recovery, the performance enhancement which was not accounted for by the model was attributed to the recovery of strain energy stored in the SEC of the flexor muscles during the stretch phase. Past studies of SSC enhancement in voluntary movements have been unable to discern between the influences of elastic recovery, neural potentiation and other SSC phenomena. The methods employed in this study permitted the influence of elastic energy recovery to be partitioned from a net SSC performance enhancement. The results indicate that elastic recovery can play an important role in human movement, and that Hill-based muscle models offer a useful tool for studying physiological phenomena which can not be isolated experimentally. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Nutrient removal is one of the primary goals of wastewater treatment and large amounts of ammonia are present throughout the wastewater treatment process. Conventional ammonia removal technologies are energy intensive and do not result in recoverable forms of the nutrient. Anaerobic dewatering side-streams are the liquid recovered during the biosolids dewatering processes following anaerobic digestion. The dewatering side-streams contain high concentrations of ammonia (~1000 mg/L NH4-N) making them an excellent candidate for resource recovery technologies. In this study electrodialysis (ED) was investigated for ammonia (NH4-N) recovery from anaerobic dewatering side-streams with an emphasis on fouling and scaling control on ion exchange membranes (IEMs). The experimental set-up consisted of 3 bench-scale electrodialyzers operating in parallel. The dewatering side-stream (centrate) was collected directly from centrifuges at a local WWTP and pretreated using a 0.3-mm screen. Electrodialyzer operation over 2.25 hrs achieved 95% NH4-N removal and the ammonia separation rate was slowed down by the concentration gradient between concentrate and diluate streams. A combined 269 hrs of operation during fouling experiments showed that electrodialysis (ED) performance decreased over time due to IEM fouling and thus clean-in-place (CIP) procedures was conducted every 60-120 hrs to restore the ED effectiveness. The two stage CIP procedures consisted of a NaCl Clean (5% NaCl, 2 hrs recirculation) and an Acid Clean (5% v/v HCl, 2 hrs recirculation). The NaCl Clean targeted organic fouling and the Acid Clean removed scales that precipitated on the IEMs. CIP procedures were able to recover 84-90% of the initial separation efficiency, the permanent loss in separation efficiency indicating that a portion of IEM fouling (10-16%) is irreversible. The higher applied voltage condition (7.5 V) showed faster fouling rates compared to low voltage conditions (4.5 V), while the degree of irreversible fouling was independent of the applied voltage. Organic fouling and inorganic scaling were individually quantified during CIP procedures using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). While both fouling and scaling contributed significantly to the overall increase in the IEM stack resistance (63% scale formation, 37% organic fouling), inorganic scaling was found to play a more important role in reducing the separation rate in ED. ICP and SEM-EDS analysis identified the scale that formed on the surface of the IEMs as mostly of CaCO3 precipitation with smaller amounts of struvite. This finding indicates that the pretreatment of dewatering side-streams should be more focused on removing divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+), but also still consider organic foulant removal for its treatment in ED. Since organic fouling primarily affects anion exchange membranes (AEMs), the impacts of fouling were investigated on two types of AEMs (AR908, AR204). Fouling experimentation showed minor differences in current density and separation efficiency over 269 hrs of operation, with AR204 AEMs showing signs of worse irreversible fouling. Particle size analysis of centrate suggested that large suspended particles could obstruct electrodialyzer chambers. Screening pretreatment (0.3 mm) effectively removed large particles and mitigated clogging issues without having to increase intermembrane distances. The experimental results suggest that ED is a promising technology for recovering ammonia from nutrient rich wastewaters. ED was able to efficiently achieve high levels of ammonia separation from centrate, while fouling was shown to be manageable using CIPs at reasonable intervals. Overall ED was shown to be an effective way to recover ammonia from dewatering side-streams, but pretreatments targeting scaling and organic fouling could better mitigate performance losses due to fouling and further improve the process. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)