Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68]-73).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1996. / [Gar] appears in Greek letters on t.p. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68]-73).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68]-73).

The alligator gar Atractosteus spatula is a euryhaline fish found in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding drainages. However, the extent of its hypo-osmotic abilities are not well understood. To determine effect of salinity on growth, metabolic rate, and osmoregulation abilities the following question was developed: when does the alligator gar have the osmoregulatory capabilities to survive in hyperosmotic environments? To answer this question, two different age groups (60 and 330 days after hatch [DAH]) of juvenile alligator gar were exposed to 4 different salinities (0, 8, 16, and 24 ppt) for a 30-day period. Specific growth rate, oxygen consumption rate, plasma osmolality, plasma ion concentrations, tissue Na+, K+-ATPase activities, and drinking rate were measured. I determined that the 60 DAH alligator gar had a greater ability to grow and regulate ions than did the 330 DAH alligator gar in increased salinity.

Simulation and game content includes the levels, models, textures, items, and other objects encountered and possessed by players during the game. In most modern video games and simulation software, the set of content shipped with the product is static and unchanging, or at best, randomized within a narrow set of parameters. However, ideally, if game content could be constantly and automatically renewed, players would remain engaged longer in the evolving stream of content. This dissertation introduces three novel technologies that together realize this ambition. (1) The first, NEAT Particles, is an evolutionary method to enable users to quickly and easily create complex particle effects through a simple interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) interface. That way, particle effects become an evolvable class of content, which is exploited in the remainder of the dissertation. In particular, (2) a new algorithm called content-generating NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (cgNEAT) is introduced that automatically generates graphical and game content while the game is played, based on the past preferences of the players. Through cgNEAT, the game platform on its own can generate novel content that is designed to satisfy its players. Finally, (3) the Galactic Arms Race (GAR) multiplayer online video game is constructed to demonstrate these techniques working on a real online gaming platform. In GAR, which was made available to the public and playable online, players pilot space ships and fight enemies to acquire unique particle system weapons that are automatically evolved by the cgNEAT algorithm. The resulting study shows that cgNEAT indeed enables players to discover a wide variety of appealing content that is not only novel, but also based on and extended from previous content that they preferred in the past. The implication is that with cgNEAT it is now possible to create applications that generate their own content to satisfy users, potentially significantly reducing the cost of content creation and considerably increasing entertainment value with a constant stream of evolving content.

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A luta de Judô tem uma característica dual, em que os lutadores tentam derrubar um ao outro mutuamente, de forma que o ambiente se encontra em constante mudança. Os golpes de projeção do Judô são constituídos de três partes, o kuzushi (desequilíbrio), o tsukuri (preparação) e o kake (finalização), que devem ser executados em sequência. A execução de cada parte influencia a execução da parte subsequente, de maneira que para o sucesso do golpe, colocar o oponente em desequilíbrio (kuzushi) é primordial, visto que é condição para a execução bem-sucedida das partes seguintes. Durante a luta, para desequilibrar o oponente, é comum ocorrer deslocamentos mútuos de empurrar e puxar, que podem ser denominados de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi. Considerando que o kuzushi é fundamental para o sucesso do golpe, e que os deslocamentos pré-kuzushi favorecem a ocorrência efetiva do kuzushi, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da organização de prática na aprendizagem dos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi. Inicialmente foram realizados dois experimentos utilizando o golpe o soto gari: o primeiro experimento com iniciantes e o segundo com participantes não iniciantes (experiência entre três e seis meses de prática). Em cada experimento foram formados três grupos experimentais: o grupo de prática constante (Co), que praticou o golpe o soto gari com somente uma possibilidade de deslocamento pré-kuzushi; o grupo de prática variada por blocos (Bl), que praticou três possibilidades de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi variando-as a cada dez tentativas; e o grupo de prática variada aleatória (Al), que praticou três possibilidades de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi de forma aleatória. O delineamento experimental constou de três fases: pré-teste (3 tentativas), aquisição (250 tentativas) e teste de retenção (3 tentativas, uma semana após o último dia de aquisição). Mediante o uso de vídeo foram analisados os padrões de movimento com relação à configuração total do golpe, aos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi e ao kuzushi no tocante a ação motora e o efeito. No Experimento 1 (iniciantes) o Co apresentou superioridade aos grupos com variabilidade (Bl e Al) nos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi que foi o objeto manipulado na organização da prática, e foi o único grupo a apresentar evolução no efeito do kuzushi. No Experimento 2 (não iniciantes) os grupos com maior variabilidade (Al e Bl) apresentaram superioridade em relação ao grupo Co nos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi; já na ação motora do kuzushi o grupo Al foi superior ao grupo Co e somente os grupos com variabilidade apresentaram melhora no efeito do kuzushi. A partir dos resultados dos Experimentos 1 e 2 foi realizado um terceiro experimento, em que foi adicionado um novo grupo experimental aos três grupos do Experimento 1, Co-Al (grupo constante-aleatória), que praticou 50% iniciais da aquisição de forma constante e os 50% restantes de forma variada aleatória. Os resultados apresentaram superioridade do grupo Co-Al em relação a todos os outros grupos (Co, Bl e Al) no teste de retenção para configuração total do golpe. Concluiu-se que a prática constante ou experiência anterior antes da prática variada é importante na aprendizagem dos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi que influencia a configuração total do golpe. Provavelmente se beneficiando do que foi adquirido no aprendizado do deslocamento pré-kuzushi, os grupos Co e Co-Al nos iniciantes e o grupo Al nos não iniciantes apresentaram melhora no item efeito do kuzushi, posicionando o oponente desequilibrado / The judo contest has a dual feature, when the fighters try to throw each other, so that the environment is constantly changing. The Judo throwing techniques are consisted of three parts, the kuzushi (unbalance), the tsukuri (preparation) and kake (finishing), which must be performed in that sequence. The execution of each part influences the execution of the subsequent part. Thus, to let the opponent unbalanced (kuzushi) is essential for the successful implementation of the next parts. During the fight, to unbalance the opponent, it is common mutual displacements of push and pull movements, which can be called pre-kuzushi displacements. Considering that the kuzushi is crucial to the success of the throwing technique, and that pre-kuzushi displacements facilitate the effective occurrence of kuzushi, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the practice organization in learning pre-kuzushi displacements. Initially two experiments were carried out using the o soto gari technique: the first experiment with beginners and the second with participants not beginners (experience between three and six months of practice). Each experiment was composed by three groups: the constant practice group (Co), which performed the o soto gari technique with only one pre-kuzushi displacement; the blocked varied practice group (Bl), which practiced three possible pre-kuzushi displacements varying every ten trials; and random varied practice group (Al), which practiced three possible pre-kuzushi displacements at random. The experimental design consisted of three phases: Pre-test (3 tries), Acquisition (250 attempts) and Retention Test (3 tries, a week after the last day of Acquisition). The movement patterns were analyzed using recorded videos, considering the total configuration of the throwing technique, the pre-kuzushi displacements and the kuzushi concerning motor action and effect. In the Experiment 1 (beginners) Co showed superior results to the groups with practice variability (Bl and Al) in the pre-kuzushi displacements that was the aspect manipulated in the practice organization, and it was the only group to present progress in the effect of kuzushi. In the Experiment 2 (not beginners) the groups with practice variability (Al and Bl) were superior to Co in pre-kuzushi displacement; Al was superior to Co in relation to the motor action of kuzushi and only the variability of practice groups (AI and BI) showed improvement in the effect of kuzushi. Based on the results of Experiments 1 and 2 it was conducted a third experiment, adding a new experimental group to the three groups of Experiment 1 - Co-Al (constant-random group) that practiced 50% initial acquisition trials constantly and the remaining 50% randomly. The results showed superiority of Co-Al compared to all other groups (Co, Al and Bl) in the retention test for total configuration of the throwing technique. It was concluded that the constant practice or previous experience before the variable practice is important in learning pre-kuzushi displacements that influences the total configuration of the throwing technique. Probably by benefiting from what was acquired in learning pre-kuzushi displacement, Co and Co-Al in beginners and Al in the non-beginners showed improvement relative to the effect of kuzushi, positioning the opponent unbalanced

A luta de Judô tem uma característica dual, em que os lutadores tentam derrubar um ao outro mutuamente, de forma que o ambiente se encontra em constante mudança. Os golpes de projeção do Judô são constituídos de três partes, o kuzushi (desequilíbrio), o tsukuri (preparação) e o kake (finalização), que devem ser executados em sequência. A execução de cada parte influencia a execução da parte subsequente, de maneira que para o sucesso do golpe, colocar o oponente em desequilíbrio (kuzushi) é primordial, visto que é condição para a execução bem-sucedida das partes seguintes. Durante a luta, para desequilibrar o oponente, é comum ocorrer deslocamentos mútuos de empurrar e puxar, que podem ser denominados de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi. Considerando que o kuzushi é fundamental para o sucesso do golpe, e que os deslocamentos pré-kuzushi favorecem a ocorrência efetiva do kuzushi, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da organização de prática na aprendizagem dos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi. Inicialmente foram realizados dois experimentos utilizando o golpe o soto gari: o primeiro experimento com iniciantes e o segundo com participantes não iniciantes (experiência entre três e seis meses de prática). Em cada experimento foram formados três grupos experimentais: o grupo de prática constante (Co), que praticou o golpe o soto gari com somente uma possibilidade de deslocamento pré-kuzushi; o grupo de prática variada por blocos (Bl), que praticou três possibilidades de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi variando-as a cada dez tentativas; e o grupo de prática variada aleatória (Al), que praticou três possibilidades de deslocamentos pré-kuzushi de forma aleatória. O delineamento experimental constou de três fases: pré-teste (3 tentativas), aquisição (250 tentativas) e teste de retenção (3 tentativas, uma semana após o último dia de aquisição). Mediante o uso de vídeo foram analisados os padrões de movimento com relação à configuração total do golpe, aos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi e ao kuzushi no tocante a ação motora e o efeito. No Experimento 1 (iniciantes) o Co apresentou superioridade aos grupos com variabilidade (Bl e Al) nos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi que foi o objeto manipulado na organização da prática, e foi o único grupo a apresentar evolução no efeito do kuzushi. No Experimento 2 (não iniciantes) os grupos com maior variabilidade (Al e Bl) apresentaram superioridade em relação ao grupo Co nos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi; já na ação motora do kuzushi o grupo Al foi superior ao grupo Co e somente os grupos com variabilidade apresentaram melhora no efeito do kuzushi. A partir dos resultados dos Experimentos 1 e 2 foi realizado um terceiro experimento, em que foi adicionado um novo grupo experimental aos três grupos do Experimento 1, Co-Al (grupo constante-aleatória), que praticou 50% iniciais da aquisição de forma constante e os 50% restantes de forma variada aleatória. Os resultados apresentaram superioridade do grupo Co-Al em relação a todos os outros grupos (Co, Bl e Al) no teste de retenção para configuração total do golpe. Concluiu-se que a prática constante ou experiência anterior antes da prática variada é importante na aprendizagem dos deslocamentos pré-kuzushi que influencia a configuração total do golpe. Provavelmente se beneficiando do que foi adquirido no aprendizado do deslocamento pré-kuzushi, os grupos Co e Co-Al nos iniciantes e o grupo Al nos não iniciantes apresentaram melhora no item efeito do kuzushi, posicionando o oponente desequilibrado / The judo contest has a dual feature, when the fighters try to throw each other, so that the environment is constantly changing. The Judo throwing techniques are consisted of three parts, the kuzushi (unbalance), the tsukuri (preparation) and kake (finishing), which must be performed in that sequence. The execution of each part influences the execution of the subsequent part. Thus, to let the opponent unbalanced (kuzushi) is essential for the successful implementation of the next parts. During the fight, to unbalance the opponent, it is common mutual displacements of push and pull movements, which can be called pre-kuzushi displacements. Considering that the kuzushi is crucial to the success of the throwing technique, and that pre-kuzushi displacements facilitate the effective occurrence of kuzushi, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the practice organization in learning pre-kuzushi displacements. Initially two experiments were carried out using the o soto gari technique: the first experiment with beginners and the second with participants not beginners (experience between three and six months of practice). Each experiment was composed by three groups: the constant practice group (Co), which performed the o soto gari technique with only one pre-kuzushi displacement; the blocked varied practice group (Bl), which practiced three possible pre-kuzushi displacements varying every ten trials; and random varied practice group (Al), which practiced three possible pre-kuzushi displacements at random. The experimental design consisted of three phases: Pre-test (3 tries), Acquisition (250 attempts) and Retention Test (3 tries, a week after the last day of Acquisition). The movement patterns were analyzed using recorded videos, considering the total configuration of the throwing technique, the pre-kuzushi displacements and the kuzushi concerning motor action and effect. In the Experiment 1 (beginners) Co showed superior results to the groups with practice variability (Bl and Al) in the pre-kuzushi displacements that was the aspect manipulated in the practice organization, and it was the only group to present progress in the effect of kuzushi. In the Experiment 2 (not beginners) the groups with practice variability (Al and Bl) were superior to Co in pre-kuzushi displacement; Al was superior to Co in relation to the motor action of kuzushi and only the variability of practice groups (AI and BI) showed improvement in the effect of kuzushi. Based on the results of Experiments 1 and 2 it was conducted a third experiment, adding a new experimental group to the three groups of Experiment 1 - Co-Al (constant-random group) that practiced 50% initial acquisition trials constantly and the remaining 50% randomly. The results showed superiority of Co-Al compared to all other groups (Co, Al and Bl) in the retention test for total configuration of the throwing technique. It was concluded that the constant practice or previous experience before the variable practice is important in learning pre-kuzushi displacements that influences the total configuration of the throwing technique. Probably by benefiting from what was acquired in learning pre-kuzushi displacement, Co and Co-Al in beginners and Al in the non-beginners showed improvement relative to the effect of kuzushi, positioning the opponent unbalanced

Extensive use of the organophosphate diazinon has led to its accumulation in aquatic environments and negative effects on fish health. Most studies focus on the effects of short term exposure to high levels of organophosphate pesticides. This research was conducted to assess the effect of chronic sub-lethal exposure to 0, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/L diazinon for 15 and 30 days on blood parameters and histopathological damage in alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula. Fish exposed to either concentration were motionless, produced excess mucous, had lighter skin color, and had skin lesions. Blood indices of red blood cells, leukocytes and hematocrit values significantly decreased but there was no significant change in mean cell volume. Hemoglobin values significantly increased in fish exposed to the low dose for 15 days, but significantly decreased for the other exposure doses and times. On the contrary, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration values significantly increased in fish exposed to both concentrations and duration times. Leukocyte differentials showed significant decreases in lymphocytes with significant increases of monocytes in fish exposed to the high dose in both exposure times. The most frequent biomarker for exposure to organophosphate pesticides is the inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE). Diazinon significantly reduced plasma ChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, with 62% and 72% in the low and high concentrations for 30 days, respectively. Plasma ChE could be determined from peripheral blood samples and did not require sacrifice of the fish. Fish exposed to either diazinon concentration or duration time developed histopathological changes in skin, gills, liver, and kidney tissues. The skin lesions were on the head and body, and progressed into deep ulcerations. The histopathological changes in the liver included hepatic vacuoles, swollen hepatocytes, steatosis, aggregation of macrophages, necrosis, and hepatic fibrosis. Also, exposed fish demonstrated vacuolar degeneration in the hematopoietic tissues of the kidney. Gills showed epithelial hyperplasia in the secondary lamellae. In conclusion, long term exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of diazinon induced significant changes in hematological indices and histopathological alteration in various tissues. Plasma ChE can be used to monitor diazinon exposure in wild gar populations.