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I quantified habitat selection for the endangered Zuni Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus yarrowi and the Navajo Nation Genetic Subunit (NNGS) Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus - a recent taxon described from genetic information. Both taxa are found in northern Arizona and New Mexico border regions. I examined fish [≥50 millimeters (mm) total length (TL)] selection of microhabitat conditions (i.e., water velocity, substrate size, overhead cover, water depth, instream cover, and mesohabitat conditions [i.e., pool, run riffle], during summer base flow conditions for NNGS Bluehead Suckers, and during both summer base flow and high spring flow conditions for Zuni Bluehead Suckers in six streams). Electrofishing, seining, and snorkeling were used to evaluate fish occupancy. From this information, I developed stream specific habitat suitability criteria (HSC) and then generalized HSC for each taxon, and tested transferability of the generalized HSC to individual streams. Zuni Bluehead Suckers and NNGS Bluehead Suckers occupied similar habitats: low velocity pools; sand, silt, and pebble substrate; high percent of instream cover; and water temperatures ranging from 2-21°C. However, Zuni Bluehead Suckers selected for low (0-25%) overhead cover where as NNGS Bluehead Sucker selected for high (0-75%) overhead cover. This was likely due to the source of instream cover–aquatic macrophytes that required sunlight in the Zuni Bluehead Sucker streams, and large woody debris falling from overhead branches in the NNGS Bluehead Sucker streams. Suggestions for managers includes maintaining existing cover or artificially construct additional instream cover; promote overhead cover (e.g., maintaining large trees along streams) and pool mesohabitats. In addition to this work I also tested the new method of environmental DNA (eDNA) to further help conservation efforts for these taxa. Environmental DNA has typically been used to detect invasive species in aquatic environments through water samples. I compared the efficacy of eDNA methodology to American Fisheries Society standard snorkeling surveys to detect presence of a rare fish species. My study site included three streams on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona and northern New Mexico containing Navajo Nation Genetic Subunit Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus and the Zuni Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus yarrowi. To determine sample sites, I first divided entire wetted area of streams into 100-m consecutive reaches. I systematically selected 10 of those reaches for snorkel and eDNA surveys. Water samples were taken in 10-m sections within each 100-m reach, and fish presence via snorkeling was noted in each 10-m section as well. Water samples were collected at the downstream starting point of each reach, and continued upstream in each section 5 to 8 m ahead of the snorkeler. A qPCR was run on each individual water sample in quadruplicate to test for sucker presence or absence. I was able to positively detect both species with eDNA sampling techniques in two out of three streams. Snorkeling resulted in positive detections of both species in all three streams. In streams where fish were detected with eDNA sampling, snorkeling detected fishes at 11-29 sites per stream, where as eDNA detected fish at 3-12 sites per streams. My results suggested that AFS standard snorkeling was more effective at detecting target fish species than eDNA. To improve eDNA sampling, the amount of water collected and tested should be increased. Additionally, filtering water on site may improve eDNA techniques for detecting fish. Future research should focus on standardizing eDNA sampling to provide a widely operational sampling tool similar to electrofishing, netting, and hydroacoustics.

This work enables accelerated fluid recovery in oil and gas reservoirs by automatically controlling fluid height and bottomhole pressure in wells. Several literature studies show significant increase in recovered oil by determining a target bottomhole pressure but rarely consider how to control to that value. This work enables those benefits by maintaining bottomhole pressure or fluid height. Moving Horizon Estimation (MHE) determines uncertain well parameters using only common surface measurements. A Model Predictive Controller (MPC) adjusts the stroking speed of a sucker rod pump to maintain fluid height. Pump boundary conditions are simulated with Mathematical Programs with Complementarity Constraints (MPCCs) and a nonlinear programming solver finds a solution in near real-time. A combined rod string, well, and reservoir model simulate dynamic well conditions, and are formulated for simultaneous optimization by large-scale solvers. MPC increases cumulative oil production vs. conventional pump off control by maintaining an optimal fluid level height.

Denna undersökning berör de genuskonstruktioner som finns i skapandet av actionhjältinnor. Jag har valt att undersöka Salt (2010) Sucker Punch (2011) samt Resident Evil:Retribution (2012) Undersökningens frågeställningar är, Hur motiveras användande av våld då det utförs av kvinnliga actionhjältinnor? Vilka arketyper går att urskilja i representationerna av kvinnliga actionhjältinnors våldsutövande? Vilka symboler går att urskilja i kvinnliga actionhjältinnors utövande av våld? Min undersökning grundar sig i teorier om genus med utgångspunkt i Raewyn Connel, för att vidare knyta det samman till Stuart Halls representationsteorier samt stereotypifiering. Teoriavsnittet avslutas sedan med kvinnlig medieforskning från Liesbeth Van Zoonen samt Laura Mulvey. Min tidigare forskning grundar sig i en förklaring till hur den manlige hjälten genom tiden har representeras och vad som är representativt för denne. Den andra delen som utgör min tidigare forskning berör Rikke Schubarts forskning om genomgående arketyper som kvinnliga actionhjältinnor genom tiden blivit porträtterade som, detta för att kunna undersöka huruvida dessa även i samtiden finns kvar i skapandet av kvinnliga actionhjältinnor. I min undersökning har jag kunnat framställa att motivet till våld faller tillbaka på de representationer som finns av kvinnor respektive män, våra förutfattade meningar och stereotypa bilder om vad som är manligt och vad som är kvinnligt. Kvinnliga actionhjältinnor porträtteras även i samtida filmer i form av genomgående arketyper, och de symboler som går att urskilja i våldet är rotade i manligheten.

Maleic hydrazide (MH) applications have been standard practice for sucker control in burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production for the last half-century because it is relatively inexpensive, effective and easy to apply. Non-MH suckercides such as fatty alcohols and local systemics can be utilized to reduce or replace MH and lower undesirable residues in the cured leaf. The objective of this study was to evaluate various nozzle types and arrangements for efficiency to determine if sucker control with fatty alcohol could be consistently improved over the currently used TG3-5-3 arrangement, as well as examine sprayer positioning (center vs. off-center) and leaf orientation variables using artificial plants. In the field study, the TG4-6-4 arrangement performed the best (p<0.05) when applying the same volume per hectare providing 80% sucker control with fatty alcohol only, not significantly different (p>0.05) than MH+Butralin treatment. For the artificial plant study, the TG4-6-4 provided more solution collected (p<0.05) at leaf axils as well as the highest percent of solution intercepted. Sprayer position and leaf orientation had less effect on solution intercepted with this arrangement than it did with the TG3-5-3. Results from this study support a recommendation of the TG4-6-4 over the TG3-5-3 for the application of contact chemicals for sucker control in burley tobacco.

There is concern regarding exposure of aquatic organisms to chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system. Disruption of the endocrine system can lead to impacts on sexual development, altered hormone levels, intersex, and ultimately reproductive failure. While effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on standard laboratory species have been subject of intense study, to this day there is a large gap in knowledge and a high degree of uncertainty regarding the sensitivity of wild fish species to these compounds. One of the main concerns with current toxicity testing approaches is that they require the use of a large number of live animals, particularly when working with native species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop in vitro tissue explant assays that would enable the assessment of the sensitivity of different wild fish species native to North America to the exposure with EDCs. Specifically, two in vitro assays were developed: 1) A liver explant assay to assess effects of EDCs that can interact with the estrogen receptor (environmental estrogens), and 2) a gonadal explant assay to assess effects of EDCs on sex-steroid production. The test species selected were northern pike (Esox lucius), walleye (Sander vitreus), and white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) that were sampled from Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, Canada, and white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) that were randomly selected from an in house stock reared from eggs. Liver tissue was excised from male fishes and exposed for 24 h to a synthetic estrogen, 17α- ethinylestradiol (EE2). Transcript abundance of vitellogenin (VTG), estrogen receptor (ER) α and β in liver tissue were quantified using qPCR. Gonad tissue from both male and female were excised and exposed for 24 h to a model inducer (forskolin) and inhibitor (prochloraz) of steroidogenesis. 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and estradiol (E2) were quantified in media by use of ELISA. Exposure to EE2 resulted in a concentration dependent increase in VTG in all species, and an increase in ERα in northern pike. Walleye males showed the greatest sensitivity to EE2. Gonad tissues exposed to forskolin showed a concentration dependent increase in 11-KT and E2. Exposure to prochloraz resulted in a decrease of 11-KTand E2. Male and female white sucker showed greatest sensitivity to forskolin, while male and female walleye showed greatest sensitivity to prochloraz. The seasonal time point during which gonad explants were excised and exposed had an impact on the potency and magnitude of response, resulting in a seasonal effect on sensitivity. Also, gonad explants from these species were found to have greater sensitivity than responses previously reported for in vitro explants of other fish species such as the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), and stable cell lines currently used as screening applications to detect chemicals that might disrupt the endocrine system. Therefore, current approaches that use stable cell lines or tissue explants from standardized small bodied laboratory species might not be protective of some wild fish species. These tissue explants represent a promising approach to help understand species sensitivity to EDCs, and if appropriately validated, could be a powerful tool for chemical screening.

There are some alternatives of artificial lift methods to increase the production of oil well or to keep it producing. Sucker rod pumping (SRP) and electrical submersible pumping (ESP) systems are selected for the design and economical evaluation of thirteen oil wells of R field. Although selected wells are already producing artificially, they are redesigned for SRP and ESP. LoadCalC software developed by Lufkin and SubPUMP developed by DSSC are used for SRP and ESP designs respectively. For economic evaluation, the rate of return (ROR) of each design is calculated for ten year period. In technical comparison, advantage of higher production ability with lower power consumption was observed in ESP applications. In wells which have lower production than 100 bpd, SRP takes the advantage as it has the ability of low volume lifting. In economical comparison it was observed that using both methods together was given better result. By increasing the number of wells that were applied ESP, 3.61% of increment in ROR was obtained relative to the present status.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:08:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FilipeCAL_DISSERT.pdf: 1482396 bytes, checksum: ac4b807c36f7a7406c75156b433df756 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-07 / This work aims presenting the development of a model and computer simulation of a sucker rod pumping system. This system take into account the well geometry, the flow through the tubing, the dynamic behavior of the rod string and the use of a induction motor model. The rod string were modeled using concentrated parameters, allowing the use of ordinary differential equations systems to simulate it s behavior / Este trabalho visa apresentar a modelagem e a simula??o computacional de um sistema de eleva??o de petr?leo por bombeio mec?nico. Tal sistema leva em considera??o a geometria do po?o, o escoamento do fluido na coluna de produ??o, o comportamento din?mico da coluna de hastes e o uso de um modelo para o motor de indu??o. A coluna de hastes foi modelada de forma a utilizar par?metros concentrados, permitindo o uso de sistemas de equa??es diferenciais ordin?rias na simula??o do comportamento da mesma

abstract: August Krogh, a 20th century Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine, once stated, "for such a large number of problems there will be some animal of choice, or a few such animals, on which it can be most conveniently studied." What developed to be known as the Krogh Principle, has become the cornerstone of bioinspired robotics. This is the realization that solutions to various multifaceted engineering problems lie in nature. With the integration of biology, physics and engineering, the classical approach in solving engineering problems has transformed. Through such an integration, the presented research will address the following engineering solution: maneuverability on and through complex granular and aquatic environments. The basilisk lizard and the octopus are the key sources of inspiration for the anticipated solution. The basilisk lizard is a highly agile reptile with the ability to easily traverse on vast, alternating, unstructured, and complex terrains (i.e. sand, mud, water). This makes them a great medium for pursuing potential solutions for robotic locomotion on such terrains. The octopus, with a nearly soft, yet muscular hydrostat body and arms, is proficient in locomotion and its complex motor functions are vast. Their versatility, "infinite" degrees of freedom, and dexterity have made them an ideal candidate for inspiration in the fields such as soft robotics. Through conducting animal experiments on the basilisk lizard and octopus, insight can be obtained on the question: how does the animal interact with complex granular and aquatic environments so effectively? Following it through by conducting systematic robotic experiments, the capabilities and limitations of the animal can be understood. Integrating the hierarchical concepts observed and learnt through animal and robotic experiments, it can be used towards designing, modeling, and developing robotic systems that will assist humanity and society on a diversified set of applications: home service, health care, public safety, transportation, logistics, structural examinations, aquatic and extraterrestrial exploration, search-and-rescue, environmental monitoring, forestry, and agriculture, just to name a few. By learning and being inspired by nature, there exist the potential to go beyond nature for the greater good of society and humanity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Mechanical Engineering 2020

Like many native endemic desert freshwater fish species, the June Sucker (Chasmistes liorus) is currently listed as endangered. Managers have increasingly turned to habitat restoration as a key component to recovery plans. For endangered species, one of the primary outcomes of habitat restoration is that it should result in successful reproduction and recruitment of individuals into the adult population. Confirmation of natural recruitment as a function of habitat restoration can only be achieved by establishing natal origins. Recent research has proven the validity of otolith microchemistry, a technique that analyzes small quantities of elements, to trace potamodromous fish to their natal tributaries. Previous studies have documented that localized habitats in terms of microchemistry are reflected in otolith composition, thereby potentially making this a valuable way of determining fish origins. The primary goal of this study is to use otolith microchemistry to establish natal origins of June Sucker, ultimately in order to evaluate whether tributary habitat restoration results in natural recruitment. To accomplish this I first determined if the water chemistry among the three main spawning tributaries differed from one another. Second, I determined if the otolith chemistry reflected the otolith chemistry. Lastly, I developed a statistical model capable of classifying fish to their respective tributary based the element:calcium ratios in the otolith microchemistry. Water chemistry differed significantly among all three spawning tributaries, and I observed a strong and significant relationship between otolith chemistry and water chemistry. The classification models based on otolith element:Ca signatures were capable of accurately classifying individual fish to their natal tributary (classification tree 89% accuracy; random forest model 91% accuracy), increasing the ability to determine if the fish’s origin is wild vs. hatchery. The data obtained from this study will advance the current understanding of the June sucker recruitment dynamics and result in a fundamental improvement in our ability to determine where natural recruitment into the adult spawning population is occurring. In addition, this knowledge may help evaluate factors limiting recruitment in Utah Lake tributaries, identify future restoration localities, and assist effectiveness monitoring of spawning habitat restoration efforts.