This study quantifies spatial and temporal patterns in snow water equivalent (SWE), chemistry, and water isotopes associated with snowpack shading due to aspect and vegetation in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico. Depth, density, stratigraphy, temperature, and snow chemistry, isotope, and biogeochemical nutrient samples were collected and analyzed from five snowpit locations on approximate monthly intervals between January-April 2007. SWE showed little variability between sites in January (~10mm) but differences expanded to 84mm (30%) by max accumulation in open sites and 153mm (45%) between all sites. Sulfate varied by 22% (10.6-13.5 microeq/L), Cl- by 35% (17.4-26.9 microeq/L), and d18O by 17% (-16.3 to -13.5), with SWE exhibiting inverse correlations with d18O (r2=0.96), SO42- (r2=0.75), and Cl- (r2=0.60) at max accumulation. Regression relationships suggest variability in SWE and solutes/water isotopes are primarily driven by sublimation. Mass balance techniques estimate sublimation ranges from 1-16% between topographically- and non-shaded open sites.

Three experiments were conducted for this dissertation with the goals to; 1) determine conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) effects on net-energy balance (EBAL) and milk production parameters during periods of nutrient/energy stress, and 2) investigate temporal CLA effects on mammary lipogenic gene expression. Study one was designed to determine if abomasal CLA infusion could reduce milk fat synthesis and partition nutrients towards alternative milk components in feed restricted rotationally grazed dairy cows. Data indicate abomasally-infusing CLA reduced milk fat synthesis in nutrient restricted grazing dairy cows and improved calculated EBAL and milk protein production. Another period of transitory stress experienced by the lactating dairy cow is immediately postpartum and study two objectives were to feed rumen inert-CLA to evoke milk fat depression (MFD) and investigate production and bioenergetic parameters. Data indicated a high CLA dose (3 x greater than needed in established lactation) inhibited milk fat synthesis immediately postpartum and improved calculated EBAL in grazing dairy cows. A curvilinear relationship existed between the severity of CLA-induced MFD and milk yield response. Moderate CLA-induced MFD (<~35%) tended to increase milk yield whereas severe MFD (>~35%) diminished this response. Previous research speculated that extensive MFD might decrease Δ⁹-desaturase (stearoyl CoA desaturase; SCD) and subsequent membrane fluidity to such an extent as to adversely affect cellular functions and inhibit milk secretion, thus decreasing milk yield. However, SCD inhibition was temporally independent in the present study, offering little support for the aforementioned theory. Mammary sensitivity to CLA increased as lactation progressed and previous speculations attributed this to reduced contribution of de novo synthesised fatty acids or increased competition from circulating non-esterified fatty acids immediately postpartum. However, data indicate that de novo fatty acids and milk fat trans-10, cis-12 CLA content don’t appreciably change during early lactation, (even though MFD became more severe) offering little support for either hypothesis. Study three investigated the effects of intravenous CLA infusion on temporal expression of mammary lipogenic genes to determine if trans-10, cis-12 CLA down regulates expression of a key gene (i.e. acetyl CoA carboxylase, ACC, the rate limiting enzyme in de novo fatty acid synthesis) and reduction in other mammary lipid synthesis genes is due to lack of substrate (i.e. malonyl CoA), or an alternative indirect mechanism. Data indicated however, that mammary lipogenic genes (ACC, fatty acid synthetase and SCD) followed a similar temporal pattern, providing more support for a global regulator (i.e. sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ or nuclear factor- κB) rather than a specific key enzyme effect.

This thesis work was done in order to improve the capabilities in a preliminary aircraft analysis program, DIBA, at Saab Aerosystems. The areas that this was done are in the sizing and balance. One sizing tool was developed in order to make a performance analysis with the DIBA generated geometry and customer and/or regulation based criteria. A balance diagram, a neutral point estimation function, a landing gear plot and a trim program was created in order to extend the weight and balance analysis. Results show that various aircraft both military and civil can be analyzed with good comparison to other analysis and reality. For example EXCEL implemented analysis and graphs over real aircrafts shown in the report.

Tapus Europos Sąjungos nare, Lietuvoje pasikeitė kai kurie ekonominiai ir teisiniai aspektai, reguliuojantys tarptautinę prekybą. Todėl yra svarbu susipažinti su galiojančiais reglamentais bei kitais veiksniais (muitinės), kurie nustato reikalavimus tarptautinei prekybai. Taip pat svarbu sekti pokyčius prekyboje, siekiant išnaudoti atsiradusias galimybes įstojus į ES. Darbo objektas yra tarptautinės prekybos režimo pasikeitimai, Lietuvai įstojus į ES. Darbo tikslas yra išanalizuoti tarptautinės prekybos pokyčius Lietuvai įstojus į ES. Šiam tikslui pasiekti yra numatyti tokie uždaviniai: apibūdinti tarptautinės prekybos ir protekcionizmo sampratą; apžvelgti Lietuvos tarptautinės prekybos politikos raidą; apibūdinti tarptautinės prekybos Lietuvoje teisinį reglamentavimą; išanalizuoti ES bendrosios prekybos politiką; išanalizuoti Lietuvos muitinių veiklos pokyčius; išanalizuoti užsienio prekybos struktūrą. Darbe naudojami tokie metodai, tai yra, mokslinės literatūros apžvalga, publikacijų analizė, teisinių dokumentų bei lyginamoji analizė. Darbe pateikiama tarptautinės prekybos bei protekcionizmo samprata, teorijos, užsienio prekyboje taikomos priemonės. Analizuojama bendra prekybos politika (bendri išorės muitai, vienodos prekybos reguliavimo priemonės visose ES valstybėse, sudaromi bendri prekybos susitarimai su trečiosiomis šalimis), kuri yra taikoma Lietuvai įstojus į ES. Taip pat analizuojami muitinių veiklos bei užsienio prekybos struktūros pokyčiai. Taigi ES viduje... [to full text] / With the newly acquired membership in the European Union, certain economical and legal aspects regulating international trade have undergone changes in Lithuania. Thus, with a host of norms regulating trade between member states, the work in the new legal environment has become one of the major challenges facing Lithuania’s companies. Monitoring of trade-related changes with a view of benefiting from the new opportunities that have emerged with the country’s accession to the EU is not less important. The subject of this paper relates to changes in the international trade regime upon Lithuania’s accession to the EU. The objective of the work is to make analysis of changes in international trade upon Lithuania’s accession to the EU. To achieve this objective the following goals have been set: to define the concept of international trade and protectionism; to review the evolution of Lithuania’s international trade policy; to define the country’s legal regulation of international trade; to analyze the EU common trade policies; to analyze changes in Lithuania’s customs activities; to analyze the foreign trade structure. The methods used for this work are: review of research literature, analysis of publications, analysis of legal documents as well as comparative analysis. The work describes the concepts of international trade and protectionism, the underlying theoretical background, tools and remedies applied in international trade. The general trade policy as applicable for... [to full text]

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a progressive exercise program on vestibular control of standing balance, in older adults referred for home care physiotherapy because of balance impairment. Methods: Ability to use vestibular inputs for postural control in standing was assessed using the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB). Participants who had CTSIBTest 5 scores of < 15 seconds were accepted into the study. Participants were randomly assigned to an 8 week intervention of progressive balance exercise targeting ability to use vestibular control and high intensity progressive resistance exercise (PRE) or high intensity PRE only. Results: The difference in CTSIBTest 5 scores of the RBE Group (median 23.3 s) was greater than the difference in CTSIBTest 5 scores for the RE Group (median 0.60 s) (W = 18.0, p <0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that the ability to use vestibular control in older adults, referred for home care physiotherapy for balance impairment, can be modified by progressive balance training and resistance exercise but not by resistance exercise alone.

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st century, the global temperature has been on the rise, a process that has been accelerated in the Arctic. The Arctic surface temperatures have risen at a factor of 3 greater rate than the global average, leading to the term Arctic Amplification of climate change. In this study, the enhanced warming of the Arctic, and the enhancement at the Arctic surface in comparison to the warming of the atmosphere aloft, is investigated through a reconstruction of the past surface energy balance by a model driven by downwelling irradiance reconstructed using radiosonde profiles and the radiative transfer code SBDART. The downwelling irradiance is shown to be increasing over the time-period of 1994-2009, and the sources of this increase are diagnosed. The time-evolution of the surface flux terms are discussed, and the sensitivity of the surface temperature to changes in atmospheric temperature is investigated.

In this study, four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion level of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) or modified wet distillers grains plus solubles (MWDGS) (0, 16.7, 33.3, and 50% of ration DM) on performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behaviour, nutrient balance, nutrient excretion, and enzymatic activity using whole corn grain-based finishing diets. In experiment one, there were no effects (P > 0.05) of dietary treatment on final BW, ADG, days on feed, rumen pH at slaughter, dressing %, hot carcass weight, marbling score, lean yield, and lean color. Liver abscess score was lower in steers fed DGS than steers fed the control. Visits of cattle to the feeder (VF) increased when cattle were fed up to 16.7% of DDGS or 33.3% of MWDSG. Number of meals (NM) and eating rate (ER) was greater and time per meal (TM) was lower in cattle fed MWDGS compared to those fed DDGS. Also, increasing the distillers grains plus soluble (DGS) increased daily time at feeder (TF); however, ER decreased when cattle were fed up to33.3% of DGS and after that increased. In experiment two, total tract DM, OM, and starch digestibility decreased with increasing DDGS up to 50%. Daily intake and total excretion of N, P, S, Mg, and K increased linearly with increasing level of DDGS. Nitrogen retention did not change with level of DDGS; however, P retention tended to increase and S retention increased with increasing DDGS. The digestion and retention of Se, Mg, K, and Na did not differ among the treatments. In experiment three, although the pancreatic protein concentration (mg/g) increased linearly with increasing DGS levels, pancreatic mass (g and g/kg BW) did not change. Feeding DGS increased the pancreatic concentration of α-amylase and trypsin activity (U/g) compared to the control diet. Increasing the DGS level increased pancreatic concentration of trypsin activity (U/g). In experiment four, increasing DGS linearly increased kidney weight (g). Hepatic and renal glutathione peroxidases (GPX) activity was not influenced by inclusion level or form of DGS. However, renal GPX activity per kilogram of BW was affected by the form and linear effect interaction. Increasing inclusion level of DGS linearly increased carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) activity (kU/liver, and U/kg of BW), argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) and ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC) activity (U/g, kU/liver, and U/kg of BW).The results of these studies suggest that feeding DDGS or MWDGS up to 50% diet DM in whole corn grain-based finishing diets does not negatively affect animal performance, although animals appear to adapt by altering feeding behaviour and nutrient metabolism. However, environmental implications of manure should be considered in the feedlot. / Beef Cattle Research Council, and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs

Current stormwater management practices (SMP) are not sufficient for maintaining predevelopment runoff volumes. Low impact development (LID) uses site scale SMP to reduce runoff. Bioretention cells, one practice within LID, are small planting beds designed to filter and infiltrate runoff using amended soil and vegetation. The bioretention cell can create a harsh soil moisture regime for plants that has not been adequately characterized. Bioretention cell construction, meteorological, and soil science data were built into the Happy Plant Model to determine how often bioretention plants were saturated and experienced water stress over a thirty year period. The model takes into account eight design factors: soil media depth and texture, gravel storage, ponding depth, drainage area, in situ soil infiltration rate, the landscape coefficient, and root zone depth. The Happy Plant model will aid future studies and landscape architecture practitioners with bioretention plant selection.

Little is known about the work life of those employed in the residential construction sector or the conditions under which they work that might influence the quality of the house they build. The main goals of this investigation were to uncover the work-life balance issues faced by male residential construction workers and how the structural organisation of residential construction work impacted them. While a growing body of literature exists on work-life balance, most of it has concentrated on working women and/or those employed in professional occupations. In semi-standardised interviews conducted with new home construction workers in Southern Ontario, it was found that these men were, for the most part, content with their work-life balance. It would seem that a culture of long work hours remains predominant in home construction, which is problematic for an industry seeking to recruit young workers and women workers, who may want a better work-life balance.

With a precipitation falling to as low as 100 mm/yr, a high rate of non-renewable groundwater depletion, a growing population resulting in increased food demand and a lack of concern for water management, it is crucial to use all available tools to conserve water. One of the most important factors related to water management is crop evapotranspiration. This research examines five crop evapotranspiration models (one combination model, three radiation based models and one temperature based model) under hyper arid environment at practical field level. These models have been evaluated and calibrated using an alfalfa weekly water balance in 2010. The calibrated models have been evaluated and validated using wheat and potatoes on a weekly water balance, respectively. Based on the results and discussion, FAO-56 PM proved to be superior at estimating crop evapotranspiration while radiation and temperature based models underestimated evapotranspiration and would require subsequent local calibration. However, the drawback of FAO-56 PM is that it requires all weather data and is also significantly more complicated than other models. Important observations that were made are that calibrated Turc and Makkink models performed poorly even when they were calibrated while simple models such as calibrated Hargreaves-Samani (temperature-based) and Priestley–Taylor (radiation-based) can be adequately used for irrigation scheduling in a hyper arid environments. / Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Cultural Bureau in Canada. Saudi Agricultural Development Company (INMA).