The primary objective of this study was to determine the degree of correlation between internal water potential of Engelmann spruce trees and selected environmental factors. The secondary objective of the study was to determine the effect of summer precipitation, both in meadow and forested sites, on the soil drying cycle. Four study plots (each roughly 154 square meters) under spruce cover and two study plots (100 square meters) in a small meadow were established. At each spruce plot, a thermocouple psychrometer was installed at one meter above the ground on the north side of three selected, mature Engelmann spruce trees. Thermocouple psychrometers were installed at 5, 15, and 30 cm depths in the soil at the meadow plots and at 15, 30, 45, and 90 cm depths at the spruce plots. A tensiometer and two soil temperature thermocouples were installed near the thermocouple psychrometers at each of the plots but at 15, 30, 45, and 90 cm soil depths. Throughfall gages were placed at each plot to obtain an estimate of rainfall which was not intercepted by the canopy but which fell to the forest floor. Gross precipitation was measured by a 20.3 cm diameter recording gage located at the meadow. Global radiation and wind were recorded at the meadow area also. Air temperature and relative humidity were recorded in wooden shelters. One shelter was located at the meadow area and one was located in the vicinity of the four spruce plots. Except for wind, weather parameters were recorded continuously. Wind movement was totalized on a digital counter and recorded on data sheets when needed. Psychrometric, pressure chamber, and soil data were obtained according to two schedules. Diurnal measurements of trunk water potential in six trees and independent variables were made during seven days in the summer months of 1971. Seasonal measurements of trunk water potential in twelve trees and independent variables were done at periodic intervals during the summer averaging every three to four days. Data to evaluate the effect of summer precipitation on the soil drying cycle was obtained periodically the summer of 1970 and concurrently (for the most part) with tree water potential measurements during 1971. Significant findings of this study included the following: as shown by analyses of variation of the data, within-season variations of tree water potential (by psychrometer and pressure chamber measurements) were statistically significant. In other words, fluctuations in water potential with time were large enough that they could not have been due to chance alone. On an hourly basis for seven cycles of diurnal measurements, daily peaks in wind movement corresponded roughly with trunk water potential minima, peak radiation occurred about two hours before water potential minima, and maximum vapor pressure deficits corresponded closely to water potential minima. Diurnal fluctuations in water potential of small understory branches, as determined by the pressure chamber, did not correlate well with weather factors. Seasonally, trunk water potential appeared to be highly correlated with fluctuations in vapor pressure deficit and less correlated with global radiation and wind. Soil factors such as matric potential and temperature were not correlated with trunk water potential. Correlations between water potential determined by the pressure chamber and environmental factors were not consistent. Pressure chamber values of water potential, however, did correlate roughly with trunk water potential during the latter half of the summer of 1971. By multiple regression analysis, a predictive equation was devised to predict trunk water potential on a daily and on a seasonal basis. With diurnal input data, radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and a transformation of vapor pressure deficit were significant variables. The model explained 81 percent of the diurnal variation in trunk water potential. Evaluation of the model with seasonal data input showed only one variable, vapor pressure deficit, highly significant. With seasonal data, 72 percent of the variation in trunk water potential was explained. Analysis of 18 rainstorms which occurred during two summers of study showed that roughly 0.25 cm of rain must fall before interception storage of a spruce canopy is satisfied and measurable amounts of rain can fall to the forest floor. Variability among sample catches of a given storm was great, apparently reflecting the irregular nature of the overmature spruce canopy. On the average, 96 percent of rainfall from storms between 0.0 0 and 0.13 cm, 70 percent between 0.13 and 1.3 cm, and 38 percent between 1.3 and 2.5 cm was intercepted. The influence of rain on soil matric potential was restricted to the first 45 cm of soil at the spruce plots with no substantial increase of matric potential before the onset of fall rains. The effect of rain on matric potential of soil in the meadow was more pronounced. The matric potential of the 5, 15, and 30 cm depths fluctuated greatly. A temporary increase in matric potential of these depths following summer storms was noted while more marked increases in matric potential were measured after heavier fall rains. The major conclusions made as a result of this study are (1) relative vapor pressure in the trunks of Engelmann spruce changes markedly from hour-to-hour and from day-to-day during the summer months, (2) trunk water potential as measured by thermocouple psychrometers is functionally related to atmospheric factors of radiation, wind, and vapor pressure deficit, (3) fluctuations in trunk water potential with weather factors imply a causal relation with transpiration, (4) precipitation during the summer months modifies soil matric potential-but only in the shallow profiles, (5) matric potential fluctuations in the meadow areas are extreme (from saturation to low as - 40 bars) and would impose a serious threat to the water economy of young Engelmann spruce seedlings established in such meadows, and (6) Peltier type thermocouple psychrometers are useful instruments for investigation of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in field situations.

No description available.

This degree project aims to research if stand-up comedy has the potential to be a tool for social change, in terms of awareness-building and empowerment. It also researches if a specific comedian can be a voice and representation for multiple social movements. The research uses content analysis of stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle to also answer how he jokes and comments on social movements. The literature review and theoretical framework covers important concepts and theories regarding the background of using humor and comedy as a tool for social change, and theories regarding representation, intersectionality and stereotyping.   The research method used is content analysis to interpret segments from Chappelle’s Netflix specials and clips on YouTube, as well as online articles and social media comments from the audience of these clips. In total 9 clips were analyzed. The content analysis focuses on Chappelle’s stand-up comedy, his jokes, and comments between the jokes.    The conclusion of this research is that stand-up comedy can be a powerful tool for empowerment and spreading awareness but needs to be finely calibrated to serve its purpose and still be entertaining. Purpose, identity, representation, and an intersectional perspective are key factors for performances that can be awareness-building and empowering. Stand-up comedy has the potential to lower the threshold for important discussions in and between groups regarding sensitive and difficult issues. In regard to Chappelle, his point of view as an African American man makes his jokes on social movements and issues both empowering but also controversial. It also shows that jokes and comments are most effective when talking about issues that relates closely to the identity of the performer.   The degree project contributes to C4D by exploring stand-up comedy as a communication tool for promoting social and development issues through awareness-building and empowerment. The findings of the study can be useful for NGO’s, governments, and other actors working in the field of development and social change and in collaboration with influencers.

The development of innovative propulsion systems requires testing in suitable facilities that reveal the efficacy of design models and allow for design refinement. The qualification process starts from ground tests and ends in vacuum chambers. The aim of this project is to design a versatile space propulsion facility capable of hosting different rocket engine architectures and providing an adequate supply line for different types of oxidizers and fuels in gaseous form. Identifying the key and critical components and implementing such components for the development of the facility and study the state of the art on safety standards and good practices for rocket engine testing. The test bed should be designed to withstand the structural stresses generated by the engine during static tests, while the supply line system should provide the mass flow required by the engine to deliver the design thrust (maximum thrust of 5kN). In this project, different types of rocket engines and their testing, fuel and oxidizers feed supply, risks involved and safety precautions in working of rocket test facilities are studied. A list of components for the development of such a rocket test facility and design of a logical layout plan consisting of various critical components for the propellant and oxidizer feed system is carried out. A total budget for the rocket test facility by evaluating the costs of various high quality and reliable components involved is produced. By accommodating different rocket architectures to withstand a maximum load of 5kN, an efficient design of the rocket test bed was realized and a static structural analysis of the same was performed that suffice for the objectives of the project.

The research includes critical analysis of scientific literature, discoursive analysis of stand-up comedy show scripts. The following methods used in the research to reveal the pragmatic effectiveness of the speech influence on public are: the statistic method and the method of translating. The linguistic material was collected with the use of the lingvocultural approach and based on the stand-up comedy show scripts and their translation into Russian language. The research reveals the peculiarities of creating comical effect in English-language stand-up comedy and the aspects of saving the comical effect during the translation of stand-up comedy shows into Russian language. The results of the research may be used as a guidance for translation of prose, interpreting humorous texts, revealing the role of cultural aspect in the process of creating and understanding comedy. It is also appropriate as a teaching material for students majoring in cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, the theory of translation and intercultural communication. / В исследовании используется критический анализ научной литературы, дискурсивный анализ скриптов «живых» выступлений в жанре стендап комедии. Также в ходе исследования используется статистический метод и метод перевода, позволяющие определить степень эффективности речевого воздействия выступающего на публику в рамках изучения прагматического потенциала речевых фрагментов, представленных в форме монолога. Выбор языковых явлений для анализа осуществляется с применением лингвокультурологического подхода, на основе скриптов выступлений в жанре стендап шоу на английском языке и текстов их перевода на русском языке. В ходе исследования выделяются особенности создания комического эффекта в стендап комедии в английском языке, а также приемы и способы сохранения комического эффекта при переводе на русский язык. Результаты исследования могут быть использованы при переводе художественных текстов, интерпретации юмористических текстов, раскрытии роли культурного аспекта в процессе создания и понимания комического, а также в преподавании таких лингвистических дисциплин в высших учебных заведениях, как когнитивная лингвистика, психолингвистика, теория перевода и межкультурная коммуникация.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to determine how stand-up comedians outside the U.S. have succeeded to adapt the art of stand-up comedy to their own regional contexts and to define the extent of the influence of American comedians on comedians from other countries, discussing the concept of Americanisation and globalised media. Two stand-up comedy presentations, one by American comedian Bill Hicks, Revelations; and one by Swedish comedian Magnus Betnér, Inget är heligt, were analysed using comparative content analysis in order to determine similarities and differences in the subjects addressed during the presentations along with similarities and differences in the style of performance. In-depth interviews were conducted as part of this research with professional comedians from Costa Rica: actor and stand-up comedian Hernán Jiménez, and members of the comedy group “La Media Docena” Édgar Murillo and Erik Hernández.

Uppsatsen tar sitt avstamp i en våldtäktsdiskurs där förövaren osynliggörs och den utsatta utmålas som ansvarig. Syftet är att undersöka hur manlighet konstrueras i kampanjen ”Where Do You Stand?” i förhållande till hegemonisk maskulinitet. En semiotisk analys av kampanjens bildmaterial kopplas till rådande diskurser om maskulinitet och teoretisk inspiration hämtas från representations- och genusteori. Dessutom presenteras en bakgrund som behandlar mäns syn på våldtäktsmän, hur mäns våld har en direkt koppling till alkohol och manlig samvaro, och en diskussion kring den nya feministiska mannen. Bilderna analyseras utifrån ett semiotiskt och diskursivt perspektiv. De fyra bilderna tar på många sätt avstånd från rådande våldtäktsdiskurs och försöker skapa en mer rättvisande bild av sexuella övergrepp än den som syns i media, och en ny sorts manlighet som inte är beroende av styrka och våld, men misslyckas i sin okritiska representation av män som något annat än goda allierade. Representationerna speglar på många sätt den rådande hegemonin genom sina bestämda kroppsuttryck och blickar.