Vitamin K acts a cofactor for the gamma-carboxylation of several proteins in the coagulation cascade. The clinical spectrum of vitamin K deficiency (VKD) can be asymptomatic to a significant bleeding. VKD is classically seen in newborns. However, this can manifest later in patients with risks such as sub-optimal nutrition, fat malabsorption, medications including antibiotics. A 17-year-old male with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 1, tracheostomy with ventilator dependent, gastrostomy tube feeding was seen by the gastroenterologist following treatment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Investigations showed coagulopathy following which he was transferred to the Pediatric ICU. Labs revealed prothrombin time (PT) 114 s [Normal 9.4-12.5 s], INR (International normalized ratio) 12.6 [Normal < 1.1] and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) 90 s [Normal 25.1-36.5 s]. Mixing studies and coagulation assays were consistent with VKD (low Factor VII and Factor IX with normal Factor V). His home blenderized feeding regimen met the caloric requirement but not the adequate intake (AI) values for vitamin K and other minerals. He received intravenous vitamin K (phytonadione) for five consecutive days with resolution of the coagulopathy (PT 13.2 s, PTT 37.1 s, INR 1.2). The patient was discharged on enteral vitamin K and additional supplements following dietary review by a nutritionist. Clinicians should be cognizant of VKD in patients on blenderized tube feeds which may not meet the adequate intake (AI) goals. In patients who are not receiving nutritionally complete formulas or receiving inadequate volumes, it is important to monitor macro and micronutrients.

The combustion behavior of methane and ethane is important to the study of natural gas and other alternative fuels that are comprised primarily of these two basic hydrocarbons. Understanding the transition from methane-dominated ignition kinetics to ethane-dominated kinetics for increasing levels of ethane is also of fundamental interest toward the understanding of hydrocarbon chemical kinetics. Much research has been conducted on the two fuels individually, but experimental data of the combustion of blends of methane and ethane is limited to ratios that recreate typical natural gas compositions (up to ~20% ethane molar concentration). The goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive data set of ignition delay times of the combustion of blends of methane and ethane at near atmospheric pressure. A group of ten diluted CH4/C2H6/O2/Ar mixtures of varying concentrations, fuel blend ratios, and equivalence ratios (0.5 and 1.0) were studied over the temperature range 1223 to 2248 K and over the pressure range 0.65 to 1.42 atm using a new shock tube at the University of Central Florida Gas Dynamics Laboratory. Mixtures were diluted with either 75 or 98% argon by volume. The fuel blend ratio was varied between 100% CH4 and 100% C2H6. Reaction progress was monitored by observing chemiluminescence emission from CH* at 431 nm and the pressure. Experimental data were compared against three detailed chemical kinetics mechanisms. Model predictions of CH* emission profiles and derived ignition delay times were plotted against the experimental data. The models agree well with the experimental data for mixtures with low levels of ethane, up to 25% molar concentration, but show increasing error as the relative ethane fuel concentration increases. The predictions of the separate models also diverge from each other with increasing relative ethane fuel concentration. Therefore, the data set obtained from the present work provides valuable information for the future improvement of chemical kinetics models for ethane combustion.

The inclusion of human fetal skeletons in the archaeological record can reveal much about past cultures' perception of life and death. The preservation of fetal remains in the archaeological record is a rarity, and the discovery of pathological skeletons is even rarer. A fetal skeleton from a Roman period cemetery (c. 31BC - 303AD) in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, displays what are thought to be classic skeletal indicators of the neural tube defect, anencephaly. The published literature concerning the skeletal diagnosis of anencephaly is scant so in order to diagnose this individual it is pertinent to create a diagnostic standard. The purpose of this thesis is twofold - first to create a quantitative standard from which researchers can determine the presence of anencephaly in the archaeological record, thus ruling out trauma or taphonomic processes as reasons for missing cranial elements. The second objective of this research is to conduct a qualitative comparison in order to diagnose the individual from the Dakhleh Oasis. A comparative analysis of nine documented anencephalic skeletal remains housed at the Smithsonian Institute was conducted to create a diagnostic standard for the skeletal characteristics of anencephaly. The comparative analysis of the Dakhleh specimen supports the diagnosis of anencephaly.

Shock-tube experiments were performed with syngas mixtures near atmospheric pressure with varying equivalence ratios behind reflected shock waves. Pressure and hydroxyl radical (OH*) emission traces were recorded and used to calculate ignition delay time for a single mixture at equivalence ratios of [phi ]=0.4, 0.7, 1.0, and 2.0 over a range of temperatures from 913-1803 K. The syngas mixture was tested at full concentration as well as with 98% dilution in Argon. The full concentration mixtures were used to compare ignition delay time measurements with the theoretical calculations obtained through the use of chemical kinetics modeling using the Davis et al. mechanism. The dilute mixtures were used to study the OH* emission profiles compared to those of the kinetics model. The model was in poor agreement with the experimental data especially at lower temperatures with an ignition delay difference of more than an order of magnitude. These ignition delay time data supplement the few existing data and are in relative agreement. The species profile comparison of OH* compared to the model also showed poor agreement, with the worst agreement at the highest temperatures. While the disagreements with ignition delay time and profile comparisons cannot be explained at this time, the data presented support other findings. The data provide additional information towards understanding this disagreement relative to syngas mixtures despite the relatively well known kinetics of the primary constituents Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide.

Shaft mounted speed reducers are used in material handling applications, such as conveyor systems for transporting ore out of mine shafts. A subbase joins the reducer with an electric motor, and serves to limit the misalignment between the motor shaft and the reducer input shaft. The entire assembly is supported at two points: the axis of rotation of the reducer output shaft, which is fixed, and a clevis-pin joint under the motor, which prevents rotation of the assembly about the reducer output shaft axis. In an effort to reduce the production and material costs of subbases that support shaft mounted reducers, Rexnord Corp. is implementing subbase designs that are lighter weight and easier to manufacture than current designs. Impeding the implementation of lower cost designs is the lack of an equation to properly choose subbase dimensions for acceptable values of shaft misalignment. Trial and error in subbase construction may provide designs that give acceptable results for misalignment. Given an equation, however, the weight could be minimized while still limiting misalignment at the coupling location. The project goal is to provide equations that give shaft misalignment as a function of three subbase parameters: tube thickness, mounting strap width, and end cap thickness. Developing design equations by analytical methods is investigated first. Next, finite element models are used to check the analytical results for accuracy. Finally, finite element models are used to perform design sensitivity studies where needed. The final equations for misalignment are given as functions of the three design variables. / Master of Science

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today. Transient or prolonged heat stress can be detrimental to plant reproductive development. The male gametophyte, pollen, is particularly sensitive to heat stress, resulting in sterile pollen (pre-anthesis) or deformed/stunted pollen tubes (post-anthesis). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has recently seen a rise in global interest due to its nutritional qualities, but global expansion of quinoa is partially hindered by its susceptibility to heat. It has been hypothesized that introgression of heat tolerance traits from wild relatives that occupy warmer environments can increase thermotolerance in quinoa. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of heat stress on mature pollen grains from quinoa and its wild relatives, C. berlandieri and C. hircinum. To answer this question, several experiments were performed: 1. The nuclear number of the pollen of wild relatives was assessed to determine whether mature pollen grains were released at the trinucleate stage. All pollen was found to be trinucleate. 2. Pollen germination medium was optimized for four accessions: C. quinoa (QQ74; PI 614886), C. berlandieri var. zschackei (CB; BYU14118), and C. hircinum (CHA; Hircinum-069 and CHC; BYU17105). Optimal sucrose and PEG concentrations were determined to be: 5% sucrose/20% PEG for QQ74 and CB; 20% sucrose/0% PEG for CHA; and 10% sucrose/20% PEG for CHC. 3. Temperature optima for pollen germination for QQ74 was 32°C-36°C; CB was 30°C-34°C; CHA was 36°C; and CHC was 32°C -34°C. Overall, pollen from wild relatives was not found to be more heat-tolerant than pollen from domesticated quinoa. 4. Pollen tube elongation over time was observed for all four accessions at 34°C and 38°C, with CHA and QQ74 having the lowest decrease in rate at 38°C (35 and 45%, respectively). This study provides a new method for pollen collection for quinoa and its wild relatives, further optimizes the pollen germination media for QQ74, introduces pollen germination media for three wild accessions, and investigates the effect of heat stress on mature pollen grains. These observations can be employed in future studies investigating heat stress response of pollen in quinoa and its wild relatives.

The objective of this study is to elucidate as much as possible the theory and analysis of BOURDON tubes. Both thick-walled and thin-walled tubes are considered. Three papers, representative of the state-of-the-art of BOURDON tube analysis, are reviewed (References 1, 2, and 6): <p> 1. Wuest, W. "Theory of High-Pressure BOURDON Tubes". </p><p> 2. Andreeva, L. E>, "Elastic Elements of Instruments" </p> <p> 3. Dressler, R., "Elastic Shell-Theory Formulation for BOURDON Tubes" </p><p> Reanalysis of (3) above, with a different approach (Appendix A) checked and completed the general formulation by Dressler. The final forms of all necessary equations, boundary conditions, etc. to the solution of the three governing equations of the BOURDON tube with an elliptical cross-section are given. </p><p> Comparison of results of Andreeva's sensitivity equation with test data of Kardos, Mason and Exline (References 3, 4 and 5) using a qualitative approach as set out by Kardos (References 3 and 17) showed good correlation. </p><p> The study concludes with recommendations for the approach of future research and preliminary design procedures for BOURDON tubes. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

The PATCH Program: Promoting and Teaching Confidence for the Home is a distinct approach developed to address the problem of high emergency department visit (8.6%) and hospital readmission rates (3.9%) associated with pediatric gastrostomy tube (GT) placement (Goldin et al., 2016). Recent literature regarding negative outcomes associated with pediatric GT placement identified the failure of current GT education and training practices to properly prepare caregivers to manage care in the home (Berman et al., 2017; Franklin & Rodger, 2003; Russell, Jewell, Poskey, & Russell, 2018). Developed by an occupational therapist, the PATCH Program offers an innovative approach to reducing facility rates of negative pediatric GT-related outcomes through family-centered education and self-efficacy enhancing components. Theory-based and evidence-driven, the PATCH Program integrates problem-solving training, formal education, and interactive skills practice to empower caregivers in developing the skills and self-efficacy needed to manage their children’s GT care. Adopting an occupational therapy perspective, the PATCH Program acknowledges that effective home management of a child’s GT care is the product of careful integration of familial context, skills, resources, and support systems. This doctoral project (1) summarizes the theory and evidence base supporting the PATCH Program’s development, (2) describes the PATCH Program curriculum and approaches, and (3) outlines future directions for PATCH Program implementation, including evaluation, dissemination, and funding. The PATCH Program demonstrates the value occupational therapy offers to supporting families in successfully managing a child’s medically complex condition, to reducing post-surgical emergency department visits and hospital readmissions, and to promoting health and wellness among caregivers and families.

The high-pressure shock tube facility (HiPER-STAR) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is analyzed experimentally to demonstrate the practicality of hypersonic aero-optical testing in an impulse facility without the use of an expansion nozzle or acceleration tube. The investigation analyses driver gas blending with helium and hydrogen to raise the speed of sound ratio in an attempt to increase the Mach number for aero-optics testing. HiPER-STAR has a unique ability to withstand pressures up to 1000 atm and run in a double diaphragm configuration allowing for a significant pressure differential to be created between the driver and driven sections. Results from this study show that hydrogen and helium blending can drastically increase the maximum Mach number of HiPER-STAR; Mach numbers up to 15 were generated at a variety of altitudes. Experiment test time varied on shock velocity but was purely dependent on the arrival of the reflected shock wave to measurement locations. The aero-optics data that was collected and visually captured with a high-speed camera clearly shows beam aberration due to density gradients and a diminishing light intensity indicating that hypersonic aero-optical phenomenon can be captured reliably and repeatedly with a shock tube.

Chemiluminescence from the OH(A-X) transition near 307 nm is a commonly used diagnostic in combustion applications such as flame chemistry, shock-tube experiments, and reacting-flow visualization. Measurements of the chemiluminescent intensity provide a simple, cost-effective, non-intrusive look at the combustion environment. The presence of the ultra-violet emission is often used as an indicator of the flame zone in practical combustion systems, and its intensity may be correlated to the temperature distribution or other parameters of interest. While absolute measurements of the ground-state OH(X) concentrations are well-defined, there is no elementary relation between emission from the electronically excited state (OH*) and its absolute concentration. Thus, to enable quantitative emission measurements, a kinetics model has been assembled and optimized to predict OH* formation and quenching at combustion conditions. Shock-tube experiments were conducted in mixtures of H2/O2/Ar, CH4/O2/Ar and CH4/H2/O2/Ar with high levels of argon dilution (> 98%). Elementary reactions to model OH*, along with initial estimates of their rate coefficients, were taken from the literature. The important formation steps follow. CH + O2 = OH* + CO (R0) H + O + M = OH* + M (R1) H + OH + OH = OH* + H2O (R2) Sensitivity analyses were performed to design experiments at conditions most sensitive to the formation reactions. A fitting routine was developed to express the key rate parameters as a function of a single rate, k1 at the reference temperature (1490 K). With all rates so expressed, H2/CH4 mixtures were designed to uniquely determine the value of k1 at the reference temperature, from which the remaining rate parameters were calculated. Quenching rates were fixed at their literature values. Comparisons to predictions of previously available models show marked improvement relative to the new shock-tube data. An approach for using this work in the calibration of further measurements is outlined taking examples from a recent ethane oxidation study. The new model qualitatively matches the experimental data over the range of conditions studied and provides quantitative results applicable to real combustion environments, containing higher-order hydrocarbon fuels and lower levels of dilution in air.