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This thesis describes the results of an investigation into the effects of vertical alignment design standards upon the energy costs of constructing and operating major rural roads in the United Kingdom. Alternative road designs have been produced for a series of ground profiles, and for each of these designs the energy costs have been calculated. The construction energy cost has been calculated from the fuel consumption and production output of earthmoving plant. The energy costs of structures and surfacing was assumed to be constant for the design changes examined. The energy costs of operation were calculated from the results of fuel consumption tests undertaken by the author. These tests showed a clearer and more accurate relationship between gradient and fuel consumption than other tests undertaken in the United Kingdom. The alternative designs produced examined the effects of altering the standards for maximum gradient, minimum curve radii and length, formation width, minimum gradient, and side slope gradient. The effect of choosing an alternative route was also investigated. The results of the energy calculations for these alignments showed that in general, the more constrained the design, the lower the total energy costs. This conclusion is insensitive to changes in construction cost, but is highly sensitive to changes in vehicle numbers or types. For a motorway type design, the average flow on trunk and motorway roads, and a thirty year design life the maximum gradient standard that produced the minimum energy cost was about 1. 5 percent. This is considerably lower than used at present, and the most recent standard encourages the use of steeper gradients. This research suggests that vehicle operating costs are an important factor when designing the vertical alignment of a road, and that present methods do not accurately determine the effects of road design on vehicle costs.

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Does the inclusion of recycled fiber in the Through-Air-Dried (TAD) manufacturing process of a virgin-fiber premium-grade tissue product positively impact the manufacturing process and product? This question is explored by varying combinations of recycled fiber in a premium-tissue virgin-fiber furnish and measuring the impact on dewatered consistency and other important tissue quality attributes of tensile strength, permeability, modulus (Slope A) and caliper. The study indicates that the addition of even a minimal amount of recycled fiber into premium virgin-fiber furnishes negatively impacts dewatering and therefore requires more energy in the drying phase of the manufacturing process. Product quality attributes are negatively impacted as well. The common perception that using recycled fiber in a premium product is environmentally beneficial is also not an absolute conclusion for premium TAD products. The type of fiber available, the equipment utilized, recycling events and ultimate product disposal, are all factors requiring consideration for optimum environmental benefit.

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As the effects of global climate change become increasingly apparent, many concerned individuals are making efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. One simple and effective method of reducing one's personal carbon footprint is through energy conservation behavior. Studies have shown that occupant behavior can control as much as 50% of residential energy use and that energy use varies widely between residences with the same number of occupants depending on consumption behavior. In light of this, energy conservation behavior is a valuable method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing the effects of climate change. Motivating people to conserve energy could have profound positive effects on the environment. The following study applies Icek Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (1991) to energy conservation behavior among college students in the state of Florida. This research tests the hypothesis that pro-environmental attitudes, influence of peers, and a high level of perceived control over behavior have a significant impact on energy conservation behavior.

Ten healthy young females (age 22.3 ± 0.2 y, V0₂ₘₐₓ > 40 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) volunteered to participate in a randomized, double-blinded study that examined the effect of both (A) the timing of PRO/CHO/FAT supplementation, pre- and post-endurance exercise, and (B), extra-energy supplementation ( ~ 400 kcal) on indices of protein metabolism. Each subject completed each of three, 7-day supplementation trials conducted at least 1 week apart: a pre-exercise trial (PRE), a post-exercise (PO) trial, and a post-exercise with extra energy (POE) trial. All females were eumenorheic and tested during the early (days 4-7), middle (days 8-11 ), and late (days 12-14) periods of the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Subjects were weighed prior to and following each trial to determine weight loss. During each trial, subjects would consume a checklist diet (days 1-3) and a prepackaged diet (days 4-6) that were isoenergetic, isonitrogenous, and matched for diet composition (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) to the individual's habitual dietary intake. Subjects cycled at 65% V0₂ₘₐₓ for 1 hr, according to their target heart rate on Days 1,3, and 4 and for 1.5 hrs on Day 6 with Days 2 and 5 being rest days. Expired gas and blood samples were collected on Day 6 during exercise (t=0,30,60,90 min) and post exercise for 2 hrs (Blood t=30,60,90,120, Gas t=10,20,30,45,60,90,120 min). On Day 5, expired gas samples were collected post- supplement consumption at the same timepoints as Day 6. 24 h-urine collections were performed on Days 5 and 6. A 75% V0₂ₘₐₓ performance ride to exhaustion was performed in a fasted state on the morning of Day 7. During each trial, subjects had consumed their daily meals at regular intervals by 1500 h prior to the exercise bout (1600 h). In the PRE trial, a PL can+ PRO/CHO/FAT Supplement (Results® + 0.5 g·kg CHO powder[Gatorade®]) was consumed with breakfast (BKFT), and a PL Supplement (I can+ powder) was consumed immediately following the cessation of exercise. In the PO trial, a PL Supplement (2 cans+ powder) was taken at BKFT and the PRO/CHO/F AT Supplement was consumed post-exercise. The POE trial was identical to the PO trial with the exception that subjects received an extra 400 kcal of energy·d-1 at BKFT (Boost®-250 kcal and an extra 150 kcal CHO powder). During the POE checklist diet (Days 1-3), the extra energy was given by the addition of extra items to their daily food consumption. Although plasma estrogen levels were significantly higher during the PO trial (P <0.05), plasma progesterone levels were not significantly different between trials, and both hormones indicated that subjects were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Significant main effects for time occured in which hematocrit, sodium, potassium, and lactate were observed to increase during exercise and decrease post-exercise. Glucose concentration increase was signiciant for time (P < 0.01) increasing post-exercise after consumption of the supplement. Significant main effects for insulin were observed across time (P < 0.000001) and for trial (P < 0.01) with the POE trial having the largest post-exercise insulin response. No significant differences were observed between the three trials for urinary creatinine (g·24 h⁻¹) and urea (g·24 h⁻¹ and g·g Cr⁻¹). Day 6 urinary 3-methylhistidine (μmol·g Cr⁻¹) was significantly different between trials (POE>PO>PRE)(P < 0.01). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between trials for resting metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, thermic effect of exercise, and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. However, on Day 5, Apparent Nitrogen Balance trended toward signifcance for trial (P=0.086) becoming significant on Day 6 (P <0.005) wherein POE and PO trials were positive and PRE trial was negative. There was a trend towards increased performance times when comparing the POE and PO trials versus the PRE trial (P =0.074). Furthermore, weight loss was significantly lower with post-exercise supplementation (POE<PO<PRE)(P < 0.01). This study suggests that the protein balance of females regularly engaging in endurance activity may benefit from immediate nutritional supplementation following exercise. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

We draw on a unique dataset for energy use by manufacturing firms in 18 Sub-Saharan African countries to estimate the relationship between energy intensity of production and firms' characteristics. Our results show that lower levels of energy intensity are associated with export activity, foreign ownership, size and capital-labor ratio, while higher levels of energy intensity are associated with a higher share of fuels in total energy consumption. We do not find a statistically significant relationship between energy intensity and the age of capital equipment or ownership of a generator, while our results on quality management certification are inconclusive.