Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Scott A. Staggenborg / Current demand for ethanol production is stressing feedstock production. Previous research has shown sweet sorghum and photoperiod sensitive sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] as viable feedstocks which may supplement or replace current feedstocks. Studies were conducted at two dryland locations in north central and northeast Kansas in 2008 and 2009 to determine the effects of cultivar, nitrogen fertilizer rate, plant density, and harvest date on sweet sorghum juice and biomass yields. The cultivar study indicated the cultivar ‘M81E’ generally had the greatest yield. Other cultivars were not well suited for this region. No significant results were found in the nitrogen rate trial, indicating sweet sorghum may be insensitive to nitrogen fertilizer applications. The plant density trial results indicated that sweet sorghum possess a great ability to compensate for plant spacing. No differences were found in juice yields across densities, and the only difference found in total dry biomass was at the highest plant density. Results from the harvest date study indicate that sweet sorghum harvest should be delayed until at least the grain soft dough stage and can be continued for at least 10 days after a killing freeze without a yield penalty. Delaying harvest allowed for an increase in total dry matter and fermentable carbohydrates without a decrease in juice yield. Two studies were conducted at two dryland locations in northcentral and northeast Kansas in 2008 and 2009 to determine the effects of plant density on photoperiod sensitive sorghum yields, with an additional study to determine the effects of winter weathering. Photoperiod sensitive sorghum was found to be similarly insensitive to plant density, with few differences found in total dry biomass yield. Yields were found to decrease significantly due to winter weathering. A final study was conducted to examine a variety of sorghums as biofuel feedstocks. Photoperiod sensitive sorghum yielded the greatest in 2008 while sweet sorghum yielded less. In 2009, sweet and photoperiod sensitive sorghum yielded less than the cultivar TAMUXH08001. Sweet sorghum yields are generally the greatest with ‘M81E’ and when harvested after soft dough. Yields of both sorghums are occasionally influenced by plant density.

In this thesis, we study time-sensitive applications where it is important to minimize the completion time, i.e., time passing between receiving the instance and finishing the implementation of the solution. Different from the traditional approach, we are directly focusing on the minimization of the computation time as well as finding the optimal solution to the problem. The conventional approach to these conflicting objectives is generally to trade off one for the other. As an alternative, we propose a new approach called Computation-Implementation Parallelization (CIP), and develop methods to embed the computation time into the solution-implementation to minimize the total completion time. We implement our CIP approach and show its effectiveness on a type of TSP we call the TSP Race problem, where the goal is to minimize the time between receiving the instance and finishing the travel. We demonstrate a method for determining a priori when CIP will be effective. We also implement our CIP approach on Computation-Time Limited Capacitated Vehicle Routing (CTL-CVRP) problems, and show that it is possible to decrease the computation-only time while maintaining the solution quality. By this means, some of the computation time can be set free and used to improve the customer service either by delaying the order cutoff time or dispatching the trucks earlier. As a tangential study, we develop a new TSP tour length estimation model. Our model is distribution-free, and is shown to produce very accurate estimates on many different node dispersions.

No description available.

Polymer hydrogel films change their properties in response to environmental change. This remarkable phenomenon results in many potential applications of polymer hydrogel films. In this thesis colored thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel film was prepared by firstly synthesizing polymer latex and secondarily crosslinking the nanoparticles and casting the polymers onto glass. The shape-memory effect has been observed when changing the environmental temperature. The temperature-dependent of turbidity of polymer hydrogel film was measured by HP UVVisible spectrophotometer. This intelligent hydrogel might be used in chemomechanical systems and separation devices as well as sensors. Polymer adsorption plays an important role in many products and processes. In this thesis, surfactant-free three-dimensional polystyrene (PS) nanoparticle network has been prepared. The infrared spectroscopy and solubility experiment are performed to prove the crosslinking mechanism, also the BET method was used to measure the adsorption and desorption of polystyrene network. The BET constant (C) is calculated (C=6.32). The chemically bonded polymer nanoparticle network might have potential applications as catalyst or used for chromatographic columns.

La partie céphalique de notre corps est le siège de douleurs qui, comme la migraine, peuvent être très invalidantes. Le sous noyau caudal du trijumeau (Sp5C) assure le transfert des messages nociceptifs provenant de la face et des méninges vers les centres supérieurs. Ce transfert est modulé par des projections descendantes provenant de centres supraspinaux dont l'hypothalamus. Comment sont organisés les contrôles descendants hypothalamiques sur le Sp5C ? En utilisant le traceur retrograde, Fluorogold (FG), nous avons analysé les projections hypothalamiques sur le Sp5C. Elles proviennent du noyau paraventricular (PVN), de l'aire hypothalamique laterale (LH), de l'aire hypothalamique perifornicale (PFX), du noyau A11 et de l'aire retrochiasmatique (RCA). La zone ophtalmique V1 du Sp5C reçoit la plus forte densité de projections. Ces projections sont systématiquement bilatérales. Par double marquage immunohistochimique traceur/phénotype, nous avons précisé les phénotypes neurochimiques des neurones projetant du A11, LH et PFX vers le Sp5C. Dans le noyau A11, 60% environ de ces neurones sont dopaminergiques (DA) et 10% environ contiennent l'alpha-calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP). De plus, 15% de ces neurones dans LH et 30% de ceux-ci dans PFX sont oréxinergiques. L'expression de Fos est augmentée dans le noyau A11 après stimulation nociceptive tonique inflammatoire (formol facial sous-cutané), indiquant que ce noyau contribue au traitement de l'information douloureuse. Cependant, ni les neurones DA ni les neurones FG expriment Fos. Par une approche comportementale et électrophysiologique, nous avons précisé le rôle des contrôles hypothalamiques dans la modulation de la nociception trigéminale. La lésion par acide kaïnique ou 6-OHDA d'un noyau A11 abaisse les réponses nociceptives comportementales (test au formol) chez le rat vigil. Pour tester l'hypothèse d'un contrôle hypothalamique orexinergique, nous avons enregistré les réponses électrophysiologiques de neurones trigéminaux à la stimulation électrique de leur champ récepteur. L'injection intracisternale (0.6 nmol dans 5μl) d'orexine A réduit (environ 50%) les réponses à l'activation sélectivement des fibres afférentes de type C sans modifier leur windup. Au total, plusieurs de nos résultats méritent d'être soulignés. (1) Les voies hypothalamiques descendantes semblent contrôler préférentiellement les inputs méningés. (2) Un dysfonctionnement prolongé du noyau A11 provoque un état d'hypoalgésie, suggérant que l'activation des afférences DA provoque un état d'hyperalgie. Or, les résultats d'injections locales de DA ou de manipulations aigues du noyau A11 suggèrent un contrôle DA inhibiteur sur l'information nociceptive. Le dysfonctionnement DA pourrait favoriser une plasticité dans le Sp5C. (3) Enfin, l'inhibition sélective des réponses C par l'orexine A, suggère l'existence d'un contrôle présynaptique inhibiteur du message nociceptif trigéminal. / Pain syndroms located in the head, such as migraine, can be particularly invalidating. Sensory inflow generated bynociceptors in the face and meninges activate neurons in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH), within the trigeminal system.There, a network of descending projections from cerebral structures enhance or inhibit the transfer of nociceptive informationto higher centers. However, the functional anatomy of such descending controls of nociceptive information are still ill-defined.Here, we investigated the descending hypothalamic projections to the MDH. Using the retrograde tracer, Fluorogold (FG), we analyzed the organization of hypothalamic projections to MDH. They originate from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral hypothalamic area (LH), perifornical hypothalamic area (PFX), A11 nucleus and retrochiasmatic area (RCA). Within MDH, the V1 area, where primary afferent fibers of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve terminate, receives the strongest hypothalamic projections. Hypothalamic projections to MDH are bilateral. Using double-immunolabelling, we determined the molecular phenotype of A11 nucleus, LH and PFX projecting neurons to MDH. In A11 nucleus, about 60% of projecting neurons to MDH are dopaminergic (DA) and about 10% contain the alphacalcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP). Fifteen percent of LH projecting neurons to MDH and 30% of PFX ones contain orexin. Pain (facial formalin test) elevates Fos expression in A11 nucleus, suggesting that it contributes to pain processing. However, it is worth noting that Fos-immunoreactive neurons are neither DA nor projecting neurons. We combined behavioral and electrophysiological techniques to get further insights into the role of hypothalamic projections on trigeminal pain. Lesion of A11 nuclei, by locally injecting kainic acid or 6-OHDA, reduces spontaneous pain behavior (facial formalin test). To examine whether orexin descending hypothalamic projections control trigeminal pain, we examined the effect of intracisternally applied orexin A on electrophysiological responses of trigeminal neurons to electrical stimulation of their receptive field. Orexin A (0.6 nmol in 5μl) selectively reduces (about 50%) C-fiber-evoked responses but not the windup phenomenon. Several of these results are worth to note. (1) Descending hypothalamic projections predominantly control VI area of MDH, where primary afferent fibers innervating the meninges terminate. (2) The effect of long-lasting dysfunction of A11nucleus suggests that activation of descending DA projections produce a state of hyperalgesia. This is at odds with theconclusion of previous reports on the effects of local administration of DA or acute manipulations of A11 nuclei, suggestingthat descending DA projections rather inhibit nociceptive transmission. Long-lasting dysfunction of descending A11 DAprojections might enable plasticity changes in DH neuronal network. (3) That orexin A selectively inhibits C-fiber-evokedresponses suggests that orexin A selectively controls the transfer of nociceptive information via a presynaptic mechanism.

The research aims to investigate the responses of teachers and learners in a particular rural context to a chapter from a South African English First Additional Language textbook which is currently being developed for commercial publication. The activities and content of the chapter aim to encourage learners to think critically about power relations in teenage relationships. The material was used in two classes of Grade 11 English learners by two English teachers from the same school. Data from classroom observations, from learners’ writing and from interviews with teachers and learners was analysed in order to respond to a series of questions which focus on teachers’ and learners’ responses to a theme which was assumed to be a sensitive and controversial one and responses to the design features of the material. Firstly, the theme appeared not to be considered sensitive or controversial by either teachers or learners. Secondly, the teachers ignored almost completely the pedagogic design of the materials and in doing so negatively affected opportunities for learners to learn. Possible explanations for both findings are discussed.

This study investigates health care providers’ perceptions and practice in culturally sensitive care. 8 in-depth interviews were conducted with health care providers that lasted an average of 25 minutes. The findings revealed that health care providers tend to understand culturally sensitive care within the patient-centered care perspective. Their practice of culturally sensitive care is partially limited by language barriers, cultural barriers, and limited trainings in cultural sensitivity, while interpreting services, verbal and nonverbal communication strategies, collaborations with colleagues and self-education promote their practice of it. These findings underscore the importance of acknowledging health care providers’ influences in promoting culturally sensitive care, and the necessity of offering adequate amount of teachings and trainings in cultural sensitivity at health care programs and hospitals.

En kvalitativ studie har gjorts där personer med en högre känslighet än genomsnittetintervjuats. Fokus för studien har varit att undersöka hur dessa så kallat högkänsliga individer möter de krav och utmaningar som arbetslivet ställer, samt hur de kan använda sin högkänslighet som ett verktyg i sitt arbete. Syftet med studien var att få en djupare förståelse för, samt öka medvetenheten kring egenskapen högkänslighet och hur den kan påverka individen i arbetslivet.Vi var även intresserade av hur självbilden hos dessa individer ser - och har sett ut.Detta ville vi göra genom att gå ut och möta människor som har egenskapen och sedan skildra deras berättelser. Tematisk analys användes för att behandla data. Undersökningens resultat visade att högkänslighet många gånger är en tillgång i yrket, samtidigt som det kan vara svårtför högkänsliga att hitta rätt i arbetslivet. Genom rätt resurser och en ökad medvetenhet kring egenskapen, skulle högkänsliga ges större möjligheter att nå framgång och bidra med sin kompetens. / Program: Organisations- och personalutvecklare i samhället

Objective: To examine the discourses used by trainee and qualified clinical psychologists from the South West of England to manage discussions of spirituality and religion as they relate to clinical practice. Methods: Four focus groups were carried out with a total of 25 qualified and trainee clinical psychologists. Transcripts were analysed using discourse analysis. Results: Three key discourses were identified, giving insight into how cohorts of qualified and trainee clinical psychologists manage discussions of these difficult topics. These were: balancing medical and therapeutic discourses, particularly when discussing psychosis and religious or spiritual beliefs; positioning and the Other, including religion and spirituality as a proxy for talking about race; and negotiating what can or cannot be said, principally when sharing personal views. Conclusion: Ensuring that clinical psychologists have an awareness of the different discourses in use within the profession and how these may impact practice is important. Explicit discussion of the medical and therapeutic discourses likely to arise across different settings should be encouraged, including how these can constrain discussions around difficult topics such as spirituality and religion, race, and sexuality. Training should equip psychologists to have an awareness of othering, particularly in relation to religion or spirituality and race, and the potential effects this could have on power and engagement in therapy and broader work.

Objetivos: Este estudo in vivo avaliou comparativamente diferentes técnicas de clareamento de dentes polpados, quanto ao grau de mudança de cor e estabilidade do tratamento num período de doze meses, sensibilidade dentinária e o condicionamento ácido prévio ao clareamento. Métodos: Quarenta e cinco voluntários foram selecionados, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, e divididos aleatoriamente em 5 grupos (n=15). No clareamento em consultório, apenas na hemi-arcada direita (inferior e superior), o gel clareador foi ativado com uma fonte de luz híbrida enquanto no outro lado o gel não foi ativado, assim um mesmo voluntário participou de dois grupos. Além disso, um primeiro pré-molar superior direito ou esquerdo foi condicionado previamente ao clareamento com ácido fosfórico a 37% durante 15s. G1- Lase Peroxide (DMC Equipamentos), a base de peróxido de hidrogênio (PH) a 35% + duas ativações do gel com luz híbrida (LED e Laser de Diodo) (Whitening Lase II DMC Equipamentos) por três minutos e intervalo de 1min; em três aplicações; G2- Lase Peroxide em três aplicações de 15min e intervalos de 15mim; G3 - Opalescence Xtra Boost (Ultradent), a base de PH a 38% + duas ativações do gel com luz híbrida por três minutos e intervalo de 1min; em três aplicações; G4- Opalescence Xtra Boost em três aplicações de 15min e intervalos de 15mim; G5 - Opalescence PF (Ultradent), a base de peróxido de carbamida (PC) a 15%, 2 horas diárias por 10 dias. A avaliação da cor quantitativamente foi realizada com o espectofotômetro Vita EasyShade (Vita), antes do clareamento e após 24horas, 1 semana, 6 e 12 meses. A diferença de cor (_E) foi mensurada através do programa CIELab. A sensibilidade dentinária foi avaliada por meio do questionário VAS antes, imediatamente após o clareamento, 24 horas e uma semana. Resultados: A análise estatística não revelou nenhuma diferença estatística significante entre os grupos com e sem ativação do gel com luz híbrida. Diferença estatística foi observada entre os resultados após 24h, 1 semana e 1, 6 e 12 meses para todos os grupos experimentais. O clareamento em consultório utilizando o Lase Peroxide mostrou um aumento significante na sensibilidade quando comparado com o clareamento caseiro. O Lase Peroxida utilizado com luz híbrida e condicionamento prévio do esmalte demonstrou aumento significante da alteração de cor. Conclusão: Pode-se concluir que todas as técnicas e agentes clareadores usados são efetivos no clareamento dental. O uso de condicionamento ácido prévio ao clareamento aumenta o grau clareamento dos dentes. / Objectives: This study was evaluated color change and stability and tooth sensitivity in patients submitted to different bleaching techniques. Methods: Forty five patients were selected according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and divided in five groups (n=15). A half-mouth design was conducted to compare two in-office bleaching techniques with the same product and the effect of acid condition before treatment. G1: 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) (Lase Peroxide, DMC Equipments) + hybrid light (LED + Diode Laser) Whitening Lase II (DMC equipments); G2: 35%HP; G3: 38%HP, X-tra Boost (Ultradent) + hybrid light; G4: 38%HP and G5: 20% Carbamide Peroxide (PC), Opalescence PF (Ultradent). For G1 and G2, PH was applied on the enamel surface for three consecutive times and activated by hybrid light during 6 min; G2 and G4, PH was applied on the enamel surface for three consecutive times during 15min and interval of 15min; G5, 15% PC for 2 hours daily during 10 days at home. The spectrophotometer VITA Easyshade (VITA) was used for color change, before the treatment and 24h, 1 week, 1, 6 and 12 months after. Color differences (_E) were assessed by means of the CIELab Program. VAS questioner was used for sensitivity tooth before the treatment and immediately, 24h and 1 week after. Results: The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant difference between activated or not by hybrid light. Statistical difference was observed between the results after 24h, 1 week and 1, 6 and 12 months, for both experimental groups. In-office bleaching with Lase Peroxide showed significant increase tooth sensitivity compared to home bleaching. Lase Peroxide with hybrid light and acid condition showed a significant increase in color change. Conclusion: It could be concluded that all the techniques and bleaching agents used are effective for dental bleaching. The use of acid condition before bleaching increase color chance.