We are now witnessing changing environmental conditions and these changes will likely continue into the coming decades due to projected increases in temperatures on the earth surface. Recent model projections suggest that the global mean surface air temperatures will increase by 1.4 to 5.8 °C by 2100. The consequences of these high temperatures include reductions in crop yields. Soybean is one of the major crops grown in the US, where high temperatures (>35 °C) during reproductive growth decreased yield. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of temperature on soybean pollen germination properties and identify responses to temperature among genotypes. Pollen collected from 44 genotypes grown outdoors in large pots was subjected to in vitro temperature treatments that varied from 15 to 50 °C at 5 °C increments in Experiment I. The mean cardinal temperatures (Tbase, Topt, and Tmax), averaged over 44 genotypes, were 13.2, 30.2 and 47.2 °C for pollen germination and 12.1, 36.1 and 47.0 °C for pollen tube growth. The relationship between Tbase and Topt for pollen germination was high indicating that genotypes with high Tbase also had higher Topt. The relationship was weak between Tbase and Tmax. The Topt for pollen tube growth was 5.8 ¢XC higher than the Topt for pollen germination. The study also showed significant genotypic variability for physiological parameters studied, but no significant correlations between the observed physiological parameters with any of the pollen germination or pollen tube growth parameters were studied. This indicated that physiological parameters, measured under ambient conditions may not be useful to identify reproductive tolerance to high temperatures in soybean. Total response index (TSRI), the sum of individual responses of all pollen parameters differentiated genotypes and their tolerance to high temperature. A heat-tolerant genotype (DG 5630RR) identified using TSRI technique, when grown at optimum and high temperature conditions in experiment II, were actually less sensitive to high temperatures compared to heat-sensitive and heat-intermediate sensitive genotypes indicating that pollen can be used as screening tool for heat tolerance. The identified high-temperature tolerant genotypes, based on pollen germination parameters, might be useful in current and future soybean breeding programs.

Vacuum-assisted toilets make use of a large pressure difference between the ambient pressure and a vacuum tank to transport waste from the toilet bowl to the septic tank. This process requires 98% less water per flush making it an attractive product for transport vehicles such as airplanes, cruise ships, and trains. Unfortunately, the water savings come at the cost of high noise levels. This thesis investigates the acoustic characteristics of a vacuum-assisted toilet flush and several methods to reduce the radiated noise. Some methods include changing rinse parameters such as rinse pressure, rinse length, and rinse timing, adding structural damping of the bowl to reduce re-radiation, inserting a tube between the bowl and valve that utilizes a larger bend radius and longer tube length than what is currently installed, and modifying the valve. The most effective solution without requiring more water per flush was to insert a tube. The initial peak level was reduced by 16 dB and the steady-vacuum noise was reduced by 5 dB. Evidence of evanescent decay and reduced flow velocity as possible mechanisms for the noise reduction are presented and discussed. Rinse variations show a strong impact of the rinse-tube interaction on the noise reduction. In addition to these techniques, a modified flush plate opening and closing velocity profile is suggested which optimizes the sound generated by the opening and closing of the valve. Finally, a promising dual-valve solution that may take extra coordination of vacuum-assisted toilet manufacturers and airplane/cruise ship/train manufacturers is presented. By placing a secondary valve near the septic tank, the main noise from the valve is significantly reduced.