Environmental Effects on Gross Production and Respiration in a Facultative Oxidation Pond

Oxygen exchange by effluent samples taken at weekly intervals from a facultative oxidation pond was investigated over a 7 month period. Concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total and reactive phosphorus, alkalinity, total inorganic carbon, and free CO2 were measured over 12 months. Gross daily oxygen production within the community compensation depth ranged from 8 gO_2 m^-2 in winter to 43 gO_2 m^-2 in summer. The corresponding range for dark respiration was 5-17.5 gO_2 m^-2 d^-1. On average, light saturated rates of net oxygen production and total net production extended to the upper 2 and 15% of the 1.3 m mean depth profile respectively. Community respiration to gross production ratios ranged from 1.58-7.14. Light saturated rates of net oxygen production and dark rates of oxygen consumption increased with seasonal rise in pond temperature as did net production per unit detectable pigment. However, the most important factor affecting the rate of oxygen production was the concentration of detectable pigment. In laboratory studies, oxygen exchange rates were optimal at pH 5-8, but rates declined rapidly as the pH was increased from 8.0-8.5. Pond pH varied between 6.7 and 7.8 throughout the year. Net CO2 uptake under saturating irradiance (at pH 4.5) was maximal at 30 microM CO2 and compensation was reached at about 5 microM CO2. The minimum concentration of free CO2 observed in the pond was 190 microM

Distance Education: Perceived Barriers and Opportunities Related to Extension Program Delivery

A Delphi study was conducted to determine obstacles, advantages, and potential topics that could be developed related to distance education as perceived by Extension educators. Respondents suggested that clientele connectivity, clientele lack of technology, and lack of competencies associated with technologies were major obstacles for distance education utilization. Respondents identified savings in travel time and travel expenses, reaching new audiences, and opportunities for multiple delivery systems as major advantages of distance education. Respondents said programs focused on lawn, ornamental, household gardening; general horticulture; and pesticide usage were highly valued and could be successful with clientele

Preliminary Dose Assessment for Emergency Response Exercise at Disaster City Using Unsealed Radioactive Contamination

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University currently supports emergency response exercises at Disaster City, a mock community used for emergency response training that features full-scale, collapsible structures designed to simulate various levels of disaster and wreckage. Several times a year, sealed radioactive sources are used at Disaster City to create radiation fields in which emergency responders can become more familiar with dose rates and how to use their radiation detection equipment. This research seeks to enhance emergency response exercises by using unsealed radioactive sources to simulate a more realistic response environment following an incident involving the dispersion of radioactive material. Limited exercises are performed worldwide using unsealed radioactive sources, and most of that information is not published. This research compiles that information and presents the process for selection of a short-lived radionuclide for use at Disaster City. Historically-used radionuclides were considered, as well as other short-lived radionuclides commonly utilized or capable of being produced at Texas A&M. A preliminary dose assessment for the exercise was performed based on conservative calculation methods used in assessments for unsealed contamination exercises performed at other sites. The assessment was broken into four parts: activation, distribution, exercise participation, and post-exercise monitoring. The computer code, MicroShield, was used to determine external exposure from the source during and after distribution. Internal exposure via inhalation and ingestion was estimated by assuming fractional intakes of activity and converting to dose using allowable limits on intake and dose conversion factors. The selection process identified seven radionuclides that could be used in an unsealed contamination exercise at Disaster City. Pharmaceuticals ^99mTc and ^18F are suitable and available for purchase from nearby vendors. In addition, the Texas A&M Nuclear Science Center TRIGA reactor could be used to produce ^24Na, ^56Mn, ^64Cu, ^82Br, and ^140La via thermal neutron activation. It was determined from the dose assessment that a radionuclide-dependent range of 1-40 mCi can be used to achieve detectable dose rates during the exercise without exceeding assumed administrative dose limits. Tc-99m results in the lowest dose and is recommended from a radiological safety standpoint. However, the choice of which radionuclide and what activity to use for an exercise should be made based on budget and the logistics of the actual exercise

A study to determine if in-depth professional development provided to extension educators on program development has an effect on planning, implementing, and evaluating extension educational programs

Program excellence in Extension is contingent on an Extension educatorâÂÂs ability to identify issues, prioritize these issues, implement educational programs to address these issues and resulting in measurable outcomes, evaluate these issues and utilize the results of these evaluations to redirect educational programs, and utilize these evaluation results as the foundation for program interpretation. The future success of Extension programs is dependent on the capacity of Extension to retain highly qualified Extension educators and the ability of these Extension educators to implement the process of Extension program development. A comprehensive professional development intervention, entitled the âÂÂSouth Region Excellence in Programming Academy,â was designed and implemented from May 2006 to November 2006 to provide early to mid-career Extension educators with comprehensive instruction related to program planning, program implementation and evaluation and interpretation. A Pre-experimental research, One-Group pre-test-post test, involved the administration of a pre-test (O1) to research subjects followed by the Academy (X) and then followed by a post-test (O2) to determine if Extension educatorsâ knowledge in program development increased as result of participation in the Academy. Extension educators perceive that their proficiency in the Extension program development process increases as a result of their participation in the Academy. Extension educators incorporate principles covered during the Academy and were satisfied with the Academy in terms of providing skills that will enhance their ability to execute the Texas Cooperative Extension Program Development Model. This study showed that as an Extension educatorâÂÂs knowledge of the program development process increased, and their perception of the elements of program development increased, Extension educators will incorporate the principles of program development covered during the Academy, and Extension educators were satisfied with the Academy. Recommendations are offered to improve future professional development interventions focusing on program planning, implementation, evaluation, and interpretation. The results of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge that will enhance the ability of personnel to provide quality professional development related to program development

Mechanically Advantageous Wheelchair

This project will utilize a gear system to create a multispeed wheelchair. Multiple gears will allow users to adjust the speed of the wheelchair for appropriate scenarios. Our device will be modular and use a different gear mechanism than products currently in the marketplace

Influence of Newspaper Images on Student Perceptions of Agricultural Issues

In today's technological environment, there is constant competition for audience readership and viewership between various media outlets. News media provides a great deal of information to the general public through television, print, and web sources, especially in terms of agriculture. This study aimed to discover audience perceptions of two different natural disasters by examining the effects of photographic inclusion in print news articles including agricultural perceptions and content recall. Additionally, differences between self-perceived milk industry advocacy and a milk campaign story are also examined. Newspaper articles about the effects of the 2010-2011 drought in Texas and the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene were also used. Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University were surveyed in online pre and posttests. Student responses displayed a moderate relationship between photos and article content in regards to the Hurricane Irene article. A significant relationship was present between self-perceived non-advocates and their outlook on milk consumption and the dairy industry with the inclusion of photographs. There were differences seen between students who have family who work in agriculture, claim membership in an agriculture association, live on a farm or ranch, and were members of FFA as they viewed the drought article to be more positive than those who did not have these agricultural backgrounds. Furthermore, student responses show a relationship between the milk industry article in the pretest (photos included) and posttest (photos not included) by viewing the photos as positive, humorous, and shocking. This study found student perceptions of the two news articles related to the drought as well as the tropical storm to be the same regardless of photographic presence. This leads the researcher to conclude that photos had no effect on the overall perceptions of the news stories. However, students who received photographs did see a relationship between the photos associated with the flood article and the content presented in the story. This effect was not seen with the photographs of the drought story. Since the photos associated with the flood story were the original photos printed with the news story, it is probable to conclude that students properly associated photographic elements with that of the story's content

A Case for Changing I-131 Transfer Factors Based on Changes in Dairy Industry Practices

Following a large-scale radioactive release, transfer factors (TF) are used to estimate the amount of radioactive material retained by an organism. These values are based on the concentration of the consumed radionuclide and where it is deposited in the biological system. TFs exist for several radionuclides but special attention is paid to isotopes which might enter our food chain following a radiological event. Iodine-131 is one of these radionuclides and if ingested by a cow, it will pass through the animal and concentrate in its milk. The milk can subsequently be ingested by humans, with infants being the sensitive pathway. TFs for the grass-cow-milk-infant pathway that are used to assess radiation doses to the public are based on research performed in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the dairy industry has changed drastically in the past 40 years. Dairy cows are now capable of producing more milk due to genetic advancements and administration of hormones. In fact, this increase in production is 5-fold: from 5,000 to nearly 25,000 lbs of milk per cow per year. By examining food intake and other production factors, a sensitivity analysis of the TFs was performed. This preliminary work indicates that TFs used to calculate public dose may no longer be valid and may significantly overestimate potential doses to the public

Worth a Thousand Words: Conceptualizing Adolescent Female Body Image Formation through Photovoice

Body image is a multi-dimensional concept that can affect many facets in adolescent females’ lives. The social comparison theory is a widely utilized theory when studying body image. This theory framed around the premise that individuals rely on comparisons made in a social environment. This purpose of this study was to investigate the sociocultural factors that influence adolescent female body image—largely focusing on mass media. This focus was to broaden and explore the normative assumptions in research on body image and to support the development of youth led initiatives appropriate for young people. To achieve this study is divided into four studies. The first article contains a systematic literature review that examines previous studies regarding media and the formation of adolescent female body image perceptions. The second, third and fourth articles utilize Photovoice methodologies to explore the overall concept of body image in relation to sociocultural factors and the media. Finally, the social comparison theory is utilized to assess these issues from a theoretical standpoint. All participants in this study displayed characteristics of individuals with positive body image and therefore offer a unique lens to conceptualize body image. Based on findings, it remains necessary to continue to accurately understand the body of literature as it relates to these populations since recent focus has shifted away from adolescents and the media in the United States. These findings also related a need for understanding media in a sociocultural context

Result Demonstration: A Method That Works

7 pp., 9 photographs, 2 figures, 1 checklistThe result demonstration is one of the most effective ways to transfer research-based knowledge to agricultural producers or to any audience. This publication explains the factors affecting a learner's decision to adopt an innovation and the five steps in developing effective result demonstrations

Advancing Our Understanding of Corneal Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Immune Evasion Mechanisms and Future Therapeutics

Herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) is a disease that commonly affects the cornea and external eye and is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus infects approximately 66% of people worldwide; however, only a small portion of these people will develop symptoms in their lifetime. There is no cure or vaccine available for HSV-1; however, there are treatments available that aim to control the inflammation caused by the virus and prevent its recurrence. While these treatments are beneficial to those suffering with HSK, there is a need for more effective treatments to minimise the need for topical steroids, which can have harmful effects, and to prevent bouts of disease reactivation, which can lead to progressive corneal scarring and visual impairment. This review details the current understanding of HSV-1 infection and discusses potential novel treatment options including microRNAs, TLRs, mAbs, and aptamers