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Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Christopher D. Reinhardt / Three experiments were conducted to examine nutritional and management strategies for different segments of the beef industry. The first experiment examined the effects of feeding traditional step-up diets (STEP) vs. limit-feeding (LIMIT) the finishing diet to adapt cattle to high-concentrate diets. When all cattle reached ad libitum intake of the finishing diet there was a trend (P = 0.09) for DMI to be different between treatments. During week 1, STEP cattle had higher total VFA concentrations (P = 0.02), while LIMIT cattle had higher valerate absorption (P = 0.02) and disappearance (P = 0.08). During week 4, LIMIT cattle had higher total VFA concentrations (P = 0.03) and lower valerate disappearance and absorption (P = 0.05) than STEP cattle. These results indicate that limit-feeding the finishing diet may inhibit nutrient absorption from the rumen or this method may cause increased production of valerate by lactate utilizing bacteria due to a more acidotic rumen environment. The second experiment examined the effects of feeding 5% (DM basis) dried, full-fat corn germ (GERM) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of naturally raised yearling steers and heifers. Carcass-adjusted ADG was higher for GERM cattle (P = 0.04). There were no other differences in performance or carcass characteristics. Total incidence of liver abscesses and the incidence of severe liver abscesses were decreased by 12 and 8.2% (P = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively) when GERM was added to the diet. Corn germ can be added to finishing diets at 5% without affecting performance and carcass characteristics. Producers raising natural cattle may also be able to benefit from the reduced incidence of liver abscesses. The third experiment examined concurrent metaphylactic treatment of high-risk calves with tulathromycin and chlortetracycline. Calves were placed on 1 of 3 treatments: 1) no top-dress pellets; 2) diet top-dressed with pellets containing chlortetracycline; or 3) diet top-dressed with pellets containing no chlortetracycline. There were no differences in the performance or health of these calves (P > 0.25). There are no additive benefits of concurrent metaphylaxis using both tulathromycin and chlortetracycline. This information could assist producers when designing receiving health protocols for high-risk calves.

There is some evidence from scholarship that politeness norms in China are diversified. I maintain that a study aiming to provide systematic evidence of this would require an approach to politeness phenomena that is able to address such diversity. Drawing upon the insights of recent scholarship on the distinction between the modernist and postmodernist approaches to politeness, I survey relevant literature. I show that many current works on politeness argue that the modernist approach (Lakoff 1973/1975, Brown and Levinson 1987[1978], Leech 1983) generally tends to assume that society is relatively homogeneous with regard to politeness norms. By contrast, I demonstrate that the postmodernist approach to politeness (e.g. Eelen 2001, Mills 2003, Watts 2003) foregrounds the heterogeneity of society and the rich variability of politeness norms within a given culture. I argue that, by using a postmodernist approach to politeness, it is possible to show evidence of differences between groups of the Chinese in their politeness behaviour and the informing norms of politeness. I then explore this issue in depth by focusing on compliments and compliment responses (CRs). I show that studies on these speech acts in Chinese have to date tended to adopt a modernist approach to politeness and often assume a compliment and a CR to be easily identifiable. Moreover, I show that they do not address the heterogeneity of Chinese society and generally assume interactants to be homogeneous in terms of politeness norms that inform compliment and CR behaviours. On this basis, I raise the questions as to whether, by adopting a postmodernist rather than modernist approach, there is empirical evidence that politeness norms informing compliments and CRs vary among the Chinese, and whether these norms correlate with generation. v To this end, by audio-recording both spontaneous naturally occurring conversations and follow-up interviews, I construct a corpus of compliments and CRs generated by two generations of the Chinese brought up before and after the launch of China's reform. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of these data show that there is variation in compliment and CR behaviours in Chinese and the informing politeness norms. Furthermore, the result shows that this variation is correlated with generation. I then show how, by using a research methodology which emphasizes the interactants' perceptions obtained through follow-up interviews, my study brings to light problems with previous studies on compliments and CRs which hitherto are not addressed. By showing evidence that compliments and CRs are not as easy to identify as many previous researchers have indicated. I argue that my emic approach to data analysis provides a useful perspective on the complexity of intention in studies on speech acts and perhaps beyond. My study, therefore, makes an interesting contribution to the debate over this notion central to politeness research. Moreover, I argue my methodology which is able to categorize and analyze data according to participants' self-reported perceptions allows me to draw out differences in the two generations' compliment and CR behaviours and the informing politeness norms.

Orthopedically impaired (OI) students face a formidable challenge during the writing process due to their limited or non-existing ability to use their hands to hold a pen or pencil or even to press the keys on a keyboard. While they may have a clear mental picture of what they want to write, the biggest hurdle comes well before having to tackle the basic elements of writing such as grammar, punctuation, syntax, order, coherence, and unity of thought among others. There are many examples of assistive technology that has been deployed to facilitate writing for these students such as: word processors, word prediction software, keyboards and mice modified to be manipulated by feet and even mouth, and speech recognition software (SRS). The use of SRS has gained great popularity mainly due to the leaps in technology that have occurred during the last decade, particularly during the last three to five years. SRS is now capable of delivering speech to write with a verifiable accuracy rate in excess of 90% with as little as 10 hours of training. The current SRS industry recognized leader is Nuance Communications with its iconic Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS) which is on version 12.5 at the time of this writing. DNS has practically eliminated the competition on SRS applications. This investigation explored the feasibility of using SRS as a writing tool by OI students to take notes and to complete writing projects. While others have tested the efficacy of SRS in general and of DNS in particular, this exploration is believed to be the first investigation into the use of SRS in the general classroom. One OI and two regular students were observed taking notes in three different classrooms after having received 10 hours of training using the software. Results indicate that all students dictated at a rate at least twice as fast as typing while averaging 90% accuracy rate. While the OI student dictation speed was consistently lower than that of the other students, there was minimal difference in accuracy. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS) questionnaire revealed a positive effect of the use of SRS on all three students with the OI student showing a higher index of improvement than the regular students in the areas of competence and self-esteem while all students experienced a closely similar score in the area of adaptability.

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4 pp. / This short fact sheet is taken from "Arizona Well Owner's Guide to Water Supply" currently in print. We plan to complete part 2 of this fact sheet by the end of July, 2009. Please note that the text has already been incorporated into the eXtension Community of Practice web page - - I am the author for the COP/Drinking Water group text on chemistry of naturally occurring water contaminants. / Arizona well water is often contaminated with elevated concentrations of naturally occurring constituents that are a human health concern. This short fact sheet is the first in a two-part series about what naturally occurring contaminants may be found in your water supply well and includes a brief discussion on environmental pollutants that originate from land use activities. If you own a well in Arizona, you have the sole responsibility for checking to see if your drinking water is contaminated. Arizona state law does not require private well owners to test or treat their water for purity. The second part of this series outlines what to sample for and how to understand your analytical results.

A pesquisa desvelou o circuito espacial de produção do algodão naturalmente colorido na Paraíba. Procuramos destacar o papel da pesquisa pública, através do sistema de ações da Embrapa Algodão, localizada em Campina Grande-PB na transformação das condições tecnológicas desse tipo de algodão e sua viabilização para exploração comercial; a organização espacial da produção; os atores envolvidos e as novas relações que se estabelecem com o sistema de produção do algodão naturalmente colorido orgânico. Nossa tese é de que a Embrapa Algodão foi central no processo de recuperação da cotonicultura brasileira, que enfrentou grave crise na década de 1980 e levou ao declínio dessa cultura até o início década de 1990. De modo geral o presente trabalho, inserido nos recentes debates da geografia, procurou destacar o papel da ciência, da pesquisa, da inovação na constituição de um circuito espacial de produção, tendo como estudo de caso a Embrapa e o Algodão Naturalmente Colorido. No contexto da crise nacional do algodão essa empresa foi responsável pela pesquisa, melhoramento e desenvolvimento de cultivares de algodão branco adaptado para as condições ambientais do bioma Cerrado e o algodão naturalmente colorido, uma planta silvestre nativa para as condições do Semiárido e viável para o processamento industrial. Na pesquisa constatou-se que a reorganização da produção algodoeira na Paraíba (colorido), a partir dos anos 2000, foi resultado da combinação de diferentes variáveis, dentre as quais destacam-se a pesquisa (Embrapa) e o marketing e propaganda (empresários), além de variáveis regionais/locais representadas pela agricultura familiar e produção orgânica. Tal reorganização apresenta atualmente duas regiões de produção distintas: região do Cerrado e a região Semiárido, regiões que se caracterizam por diferentes modos de produção concretos, no sentido proposto por Santos ([1996] 2008). Além do algodão naturalmente colorido atualmente ser desenvolvido em sistema de produção orgânica, nas outras fases de produção, os pequenos empresários que fazem uso do algodão colorido em suas produções tem buscado se adequar as exigências das normas estabelecidas pelos mercados consumidores, formado principalmente por turistas, pessoas preocupadas com a sustentabilidade ambiental e social, com destaque para os consumidores dos países europeus. A pesquisa demostrou ainda que a confiança que há em torno dos trabalhos de pesquisa da Embrapa Algodão extrapolam os limites das pesquisas agronômicas, a ponto da instituição ser utilizada no marketing comercial de empresas. / The research unveiled the space circuit of naturally coloured cotton production in Paraíba. We try to highlight the role of public research, through the actions of Embrapa Algodão system, located in Campina Grande (Paraíba) in the transformation of technological conditions aforementioned sort of cotton and their development for commercial exploitation; the spatial organization of production; the actors involved and the new relations established with the naturally coloured organic cotton production system. Our thesis is that the Embrapa Algodão was very important in the process of recovery of the Brazilian cotton industry, which suffer crisis in the 1980s and led to the decline of this farming until the early 1990s. Overall this paper, inserted in recent debates geography, sought to highlight the role of science, research, innovation in the creation of a spatial circuit production, taking as a case study the Embrapa Algodão and Naturally Coloured Cotton. In the context of national cotton crisis such company was responsible for research, improvement and development of white cotton cultivars tailored to the environmental conditions of the Cerrado biome and naturally coloured cotton, which is a native wild plant to the conditions of semi-arid and feasible for processing industrial. This research found out that the reorganization of cotton production in Paraíba (coloured), from the 2000s, was a result from the combination of different variables, among which stand out the research (Embrapa) and the marketing and advertising (business) as well as regional/local variables represented by family farming and organic production. Such reorganization currently has two distinct production areas: the Cerrado region and the semi-arid region, which are regions characterized by different specific modes of production, in the sense proposed by Santos ([1996] 2008). Besides naturally coloured cotton currently being developed in organic production system, at other stages of production, small business owners who uses coloured cotton in their productions have been trying to adapt yourselves to the requirements of the standards set by consumer markets, mainly consisting of tourists, people concerned about the environmental and social sustainability, especially for consumers in European countries. The survey also demonstrated that confidence that there is about research works of Embrapa Algodão transcend the limits of agronomic research, to the point of the institution to be used in commercial marketing companies.

Sweden has a climate target to get a total renewable electricity production by 2040, in order to succeed with the goal, the proportion of solar energy needs to increase. Increased environmental awareness and increased profitability of solar cells have led to an increase. A new way of attaching solar cells to buildings is by integrating them into building materials. A solution that optimizes material, makes the installation easier and creates better design. Today, there is concern that the temperature of the solar cells may become very high as their cooling decreases. The consequences of an increased temperature in the solar cells is that the efficiency of the electricity production decreases. The purpose of this study is therefore to increase understanding of the influence of modular temperature on electricity production. The aim of the study was to find out how much electricity production [kWh/m2, year] varies in solar cells depending on whether they are applied to buildings or if they are integrated into building materials for solar cells placed in Nordic climate. In order to do this, a calculation model was built in Simulink Matlab to calculate how the modular temperature varied during the varying weather conditions that occur during a year in Gothenburg. Air flow in the gap is created by self-convection. Some periods blew the wind into the gap in the ceiling and then the wind was also assumed to contribute with an air flow. In order to describe the self-conception, a theoretical relationship was established, to describe how the wind influenced the airflow of the roof, a connection from an experimental study was used. With the help of the calculated calculation model, it was possible to determine how much electricity production varied during integrated or applied assembly in Gothenburg. The result found was an increase of 4% for ceiling-mounted and 2% respectively for wall-mounted solar cells with applied mounting compared to integrated installation. The model was also tested for a warmer and a colder climate, Rome and Luleå. The conclusion was that building-applied solar cells can increase electricity production by up to 4% for solar cells on roofs and up to 2% for solar cells placed on the wall in Nordic climate compared to fully integrated solar cells, an air gap is therefore more effective for solar cells placed on roofs than on the wall. It was found that in warmer climates, as in Rome, the corresponding increase in electricity production was about double that for both roof and wall, an air gap is therefore more efficient in a warmer climate.

This thesis is aimed to calculate the effective permeability tensor and to simulate the fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs. This requires an understanding of the mechanisms of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs and the detailed properties of individual fractures and matrix porous media. This study has been carried out to address the issues and difficulties faced by previous methods; to establish possible answers to minimise the difficulties; and hence, to improve the efficiency of reservoir simulation through the use of properties of individual fractures. The methodology used in this study combines several mathematical and numerical techniques like the boundary element method, periodic boundary conditions, and the control volume mixed finite element method. This study has contributed to knowledge in the calculation of the effective permeability and simulation of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs through the development of two algorithms. The first algorithm calculates the effective permeability tensor by use of properties of arbitrary oriented fractures (location, size and orientation). It includes all multi-scaled fractures and considers the appropriate method of analysis for each type of fracture (short, medium and long). In this study a characterisation module which provides the detail information for individual fractures is incorporated. The effective permeability algorithm accounts for fluid flows in the matrix, between the matrix and the fracture and disconnected fractures on effective permeability. It also accounts for the properties of individual fractures in calculation of the effective permeability tensor. The second algorithm simulates flow of single-phase fluid in naturally fractured reservoirs by use of the effective permeability tensor. This algorithm takes full advantage of the control volume discretisation technique and the mixed finite element method in calculation of pressure and fluid flow velocity in each grid block. It accounts for the continuity of flux between the neighbouring blocks and has the advantage of calculation of fluid velocity and pressure, directly from a system of first order equations (Darcy???s law and conservation of mass???s law). The application of the effective permeability tensor in the second algorithm allows us the simulation of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs with large number of multi-scale fractures. The fluid pressure and velocity distributions obtained from this study are important and can considered for further studies in hydraulic fracturing and production optimization of NFRs.