Paragraph Structure in Arabic and English Expository Discourse

Submitted to the Department of Linguistics and the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

The characterisation of key processes in sous vide meat cooking : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Engineering at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

Figures 2-1, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16, 2-17, 2-18, 2-19, 2-20, 2-21, 2-22, 2-23, 2-24, 2-25, 2-28, 2-29, 2-30 & 2-31 have been removed for copyright reasons, but may be accessed via their sources in the References.Sous vide (French for “under vacuum”) is a method of cooking under precisely controlled conditions, which employs the principles of long-time-low temperature treatment. Better control over texture, flavour, and doneness are a few of the numerous advantages that sous vide enjoys over traditional methods of cooking. However, the requirement of a long time makes the sous vide process often uneconomical at industrial scale, particularly when applied to tougher cuts of meat, briskets for example. To improve the economics of the process, it is essential to better characterise the sous vide process, specifically understanding the cook-loss, how different conditions affect the extent of collagen dissolution and tenderisation will enable products with better sensory to be produced. The aim of the current work was, therefore, to characterise the key processes in order to facilitate the optimisation of sous vide cooking. Samples of beef semitendinosus (‘eye of round’) were cut into blocks of approximately 60x60x100 mm and were cooked at 50—60 °C (in increments of 2 °C), 70, 80, and 90 °C for five time-points: 1.5—73.5, 1.5—49.5, 1.5—25.5, and 1.5—9.5 hours, respectively. Cookloss (CL), Warner—Bratzler shear force (WBSF), total collagen in raw samples (TC), cookloss- heat-soluble collagen (CLDC), and percent dissolved collagen within the cooked meat (%CMDC) were all measured (a new method was developed for determining %CMDC as no existing methods were found). Kinetic models were developed for the rate of CL and the CLDC as a function of temperature. A rapid cook-loss (which was attributed to the denaturation of myofibrillar proteins) followed by slow phase was observed for all temperatures. The higher temperatures (70—90 °C) showed a similar equilibrium cook-loss of approximately 42%. The cook-loss of the lower temperatures did not, however, equilibrate but showed an increasing trend with increasing temperature. The WBSF measurements showed a sharp increase (from the raw measurements) then sharp decline, followed by a slow decline phase. The TC was found to be 35 mg-collagen/g-meat. The CLDC increased with both time and temperature – the highest measured value was 3.15 mg-collagen/ml-cook-loss (80 °C, 25.5 hours). This value is very low compared to the TC and therefore CLDC is not an accurate measure of the dissolved collagen within the meat. The %CMDC increased with increasing temperature and to a lesser extent the time – the maximum %CMDC was 80% (90 °C, 9.5 hours). A two reaction, non-isothermal, first order (with fitted kinetic parameters) system was found to satisfactorily model both the CL and CLDC. Although the mechanism of meat tenderisation is complex, the dissolution of collagen, the denaturation of myofibrillar proteins, and the level of cook-loss appear to be the key factors influencing the tenderness of the resulting meat. The developed conceptual model integrates the key factors and shows how these undergo changes as the temperature is increased, but further research is required to elucidate these and to develop tools to rapidly identify processing conditions for different meat cuts and products

Numerical behavior of steel H-plies repaired using layered concrete jacket

“This study developed finite element models (FEMs), using LS-Dyna software, to investigate the repair of corroded steel H-piles using concrete jacket. The concrete modeled as a layered material simulating 3D printed concrete. 3DPC is a new technology that can be used to repair or build structures without formwork by depositing concrete mixture layer by layer. For the 3DPC, this study investigated the feasibility of using alkali-activated concrete (AAC) synthesized using class C fly ash as the main binder. The fresh properties, extrudability, and buildability of the proposed concrete were investigated through open time and deformation tests, respectively. Hardened properties were also investigated through compressive strength. The effect of different cycle times (CTs) between subsequent layers and the effect of the loading direction on the compressive strength were investigated. Furthermore, a microstructural analysis was conducted to evaluate the bond area for a better understanding of the bond between subsequent layers. The developed mixtures had open time ranging from 2.5 to 31 minutes. The axial strain due to the deposition of concrete ranged from 0.17 to 11.2%. In terms of compressive strength, increasing the CT decreased the compressive strength of the 3DPC specimens. Anisotropic behavior was observed for 3DPC specimens tested in different directions. Microstructural analysis showed relatively high and low bond strength between layers having short and long CT, respectively. The FEMs showed that the behavior and the axial capacity of steel H-pile repaired with either 3DPC or traditional concrete were relatively close, which indicated that 3DPC using AAC has the potential to be used for repairing steel H-piles”--Abstract, page iv

Some contextual considerations in the use of synonymous verbs: The case of steal, rob, and burglarize

This paper explores the use of the synonymous verbs burglarize, rob and steal in various authentic contexts in an attempt to identify the semantic and syntactic constraints that differentiate them from one another. The study, drawing data from newspaper articles, books, spontaneous speech as well as the BNC and concordance systems, shows that each of these words possesses semantic and syntactic features that distinguish it form the other two. The study also shows how contextual factors determine the choice of one verb rather than the other. After presenting many illustrative examples that reveal the peculiar nature of each verb, the paper attempts a componential analysis of these three synonymous items that further illustrates the uniqueness of each one of them

Arab EFL learners’ acquisition of verbs of senses

This study attempts to explore the difficulties that Arab EFL learners of English encounter in the use of five verbs of senses when used as copulas, main verbs, main verbs with a metaphorical use, and as parts of idioms. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was specially designed to elicit the necessary data for this study at the levels of recognition and production. The subjects of the study were 30 randomly selected senior English major university students. The results of the study show that the students encountered tangible difficulties in using the five target verbs. A hierarchy of difficulty was established and the main causes of the problem were identified

Effects of verapamil on atrial fibrillation and its electrophysiological determinants in dogs

Background: Atrial tachycardia-induced remodeling promotes the occurrence and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF) and decreases L-type Ca2+ current. There is also a clinical suggestion that acute L-type Ca2 channel blockade can promote AF, consistent with an AF promoting effect of Ca2+ channel inhibition. Methods: To evaluate the potential mechanisms of AF promotion by Ca2+ channel blockers, we administered verapamil to morphine-chloralose anesthetized dogs. Diltiazem was used as a comparison drug and autonomic blockade with atropine and nadolol was applied in some experiments. Epicardial mapping with 240 epicardial electrodes was used to evaluate activation during AF. Results: Verapamil caused AF promotion in six dogs, increasing mean duration of AF induced by burst pacing, from 8±4 s (mean±S.E.) to 95±39 s (P<0.01 vs. control) at a loading dose of 0.1 mg/kg and 228±101 s (P<0.0005 vs. control) at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Underlying electrophysiological mechanisms were studied in detail in five additional dogs under control conditions and in the presence of the higher dose of verapamil. In these experiments, verapamil shortened mean effective refractory period (ERP) from 122±5 to 114±4 ms (P<0.02) at a cycle length of 300 ms, decreased ERP heterogeneity (from 15±1 to 10±1%, P<0.05), heterogeneously accelerated atrial conduction and decreased the cycle length of AF (94±4 to 84±3 ms, P<0.005). Diltiazem did not affect ERP, AF cycle length or AF duration, but produced conduction acceleration similar to that caused by verapamil (n = 5). In the presence of autonomic blockade, verapamil failed to promote AF and increased, rather than decreasing, refractoriness. Neither verapamil nor diltiazem affected atrial conduction in the presence of autonomic blockade. Epicardial mapping suggested that verapamil promoted AF by increasing the number of simultaneous wavefronts reflected by separate zones of reactivation in each cycle. Conclusions: Verapamil promotes AF in normal dogs by promoting multiple circuit reentry, an effect dependent on intact autonomic tone and not shared by diltiaze

On the stability of a double porous elastic system with visco-porous dampings

In this paper we consider a one dimensional elastic system with double porosity structure and with frictional damping in both porous equations. We introduce two stability numbers $\chi_{0}$ and $\chi_{1}$ and prove that the solution of the system decays exponentially provided that $\chi_{0}=0$ and $\chi_{1}\neq0.$ Otherwise, we prove the lack of exponential decay. Our results improve the results of \cite{Bazarra} and \cite{Nemsi}

The impact of the spatial context on accessibility choices in Algeria - the case of the city of Constantine

As we experience climate change and a lower quality of life in auto-oriented cities, smart growth and new urbanism are dominating urban paradigms, reshaping urban spatial structures worldwide. Naturally, urban planning, policy, and design aim to create cities that have a low auto-use, high pedestrian-friendly urban form. Walkable communities have several advantages, including reduced automobile journeys, more street activity for local retailers and the community, and better health for inhabitants. Thus, we need to understand the determinants of walking activities to encourage the creation of pedestrian-friendly urban structures. Many studies have focused on socioeconomic features as the main determinants of walking. These studies specifically suggest that population and employment density, land-use patterns, and land-use mix determine the pedestrian volume in cities. Within a specific area. However, few studies focused on street conditions and connectivity to generate walking alternatives. Early studies of street effects focused on the influence of topological and physical settings on walking choices. However, most pedestrian movement volume models were constructed for urban areas that developed on the basis of pre-modern planning. In this thesis, we confront neighborhoods that were built upon modern planning doctrines, combining the functional hierarchy of streets with the neighborhood unit concept, with neighborhoods that developed from traditional organic streets based on self-organized planning. We employ space syntax analysis to study how the structural elements of their roadway network interact with pedestrian movement distribution. The research was carried out in two physically and historically distinct cities in Constantine, Algeria, namely the ancient and modern towns. These disparities are attributed to the lack of a self-organized circular causation between street network construction, business, and movement in modern planned districts. This research builds on the premise that structural aspects of the physical environment, in addition to functional factors, also need to be considered as offering a significant, even over-riding, influence on walking behavior, reducing automobile dependence and inducing non-auto commuting. The topic connects to the current walkability issue and introduces the concept that the arrangement of the urban grid might impact the proportion of pedestrians. In conclusion, this study confirmed the effects of access to the built volume of various land uses along street networks on walking activities. If the results are firmly tested and generalized, they could be applied to create more effective urban designs. Further, by including the considered preferences of pedestrians, the key findings could contribute to shifting autooriented urban structures mainly in the new towns toward pedestrian-friendly urban settings by learning from the urban layouts of the traditional cities. In terms of future research directions, further studies could examine how reinforcing pro-pedestrian policy relieves urban issues, such as traffic congestion, energy overuse, and climate change

Differential efficacy of L- and T-type calcium channel blockers in preventing tachycardia-induced atrial remodeling in dogs

Background: Tachycardia-induced remodeling likely plays an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF) maintenance and recurrence after cardioversion, and Ca2+ overload may be an important mediator. This study was designed to evaluate the relative efficacies of selective T-type (mibefradil) and L-type (diltiazem) Ca2+-channel blockers in preventing tachycardia-induced atrial remodeling. Methods: Dogs were given daily doses of mibefradil (100 mg), diltiazem (240 mg) or placebo in a blinded fashion, beginning 4 days before and continuing through a 7-day period of atrial pacing at 400 bpm. An electrophysiological study was then performed to assess changes in refractoriness, refractoriness heterogeneity and AF duration. Results: Mean duration of burst-pacing induced AF was similar in placebo (567±203 s) and diltiazem-treated (963±280 s, P = NS) animals, but was much less in mibefradil-treated dogs (3.6±0.9 s, P<0.002) and non-paced controls (6.6±2.7 s). In contrast to mibefradil, diltiazem did not alter tachycardia-induced refractoriness abbreviation or heterogeneity. To exclude inadequate dosing as an explanation for diltiazem's inefficacy, we studied an additional group of dogs treated with 720 mg/day of diltiazem, and again noted no protective effect. Acute intravenous administration of diltiazem to control dogs failed to alter atrial refractoriness or AF duration, excluding a masking of remodeling suppression by offsetting profibrillatory effects of the drug. Conclusions: Whereas the selective T-type Ca2+-channel blocker mibefradil protects against atrial remodeling caused by 7-day atrial tachycardia, the selective L-type blocker diltiazem is without effect. These findings are potentially important for understanding the mechanisms and prevention of clinically-relevant atrial-tachycardia-induced remodelin

Stratégie de commande distribuée pour les manipulateurs rigides et flexibles assurant la stabilité des erreurs de suivi de trajectoires

Cette thèse de doctorat propose et valide expérimentalement une nouvelle stratégie de commande distribuée pour les manipulateurs rigides et flexibles assurant le suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace articulaire et cartésien. Cette stratégie est développée, dans un premier temps, pour les manipulateurs rigides. Ensuite, elle est modifiée pour prendre en compte la flexibilité des bras au niveau des manipulateurs flexibles. Dans le cas des manipulateurs rigides, cette stratégie est utilisée pour assurer un bon suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace de travail. Dans le cas où les paramètres du système sont parfaitement connus, une stratégie de commande distribuée est utilisée. Cette stratégie de commande décompose, dans un premier temps, la dynamique du manipulateur en plusieurs sous-systèmes non linéaires interconnectés. Chaque sous-système représente une articulation. Ensuite, la commande distribuée consiste à contrôler le manipulateur en commençant par la dernière articulation (sous-système) toute en supposant que le reste des articulations est stable. La même procédure est utilisée au rebours jusqu’à la première articulation. Dans le cas où les paramètres du système ne sont pas connus, une commande adaptative est développée. Dans ce contexte, la commande distribuée et adaptative peut être interprétée comme étant une commande hiérarchique. En effet, les paramètres inconnus, existant dans l’équation de mouvement du dernier sous-système, sont tout d’abord estimés et la loi de commande est ainsi déduite en fonction de ces paramètres. Puis, passant à l’avant-dernier sous-système, la loi de commande est développée en fonction de leurs propres paramètres estimés, existant dans l’équation de mouvement de l’avant-dernière articulation, et les paramètres estimés du sous-système de niveau supérieur. La même stratégie est utilisée à contresens jusqu’au premier sous-système. L’approche de Lyapunov est utilisée pour prouver la stabilité globale des erreurs de suivi. Les deux lois de commande sont validées expérimentalement sur un manipulateur rigide à 7 ddl et elles montrent un bon suivi dans l’espace articulaire et cartésien. Dans le cas des manipulateurs flexibles, cette stratégie est modifiée et étendue pour assurer un bon suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace articulaire et, en même temps, minimiser les vibrations au niveau des bras flexibles. Donc, en plus de l’objectif de suivi de trajectoire utilisée dans le cas des manipulateurs flexibles, la stratégie de commande doit assurer la déformation bornée et minimiser les vibrations des bras flexibles. Au contraire des manipulateurs rigide, les manipulateurs flexibles sont des systèmes sous-actionnés, c’est-à-dire ils possèdent plus de degrés de liberté que d’entrées de commande. Dans ce cas, chaque sous-système est composé d’une articulation et le bras flexible associé. Dans le cas où les paramètres du manipulateur sont parfaitement connus, une commande distribuée est développée pour assurer la stabilité des erreurs de suivi dans l’espace articulaire et réduire les vibrations des bras flexibles. Cette stratégie consiste à commander et stabiliser la dernière articulation ainsi que le dernier bras flexible en supposant que le reste des sous-systèmes sont stables. Puis, passons aux contrôle et stabilité de l’avant-dernier sous–système de la même façon. Cette démarche est suivie, au rebours, jusqu'au premier sous-système. Sa version adaptative, dite « hiérarchique », est également développée. La stabilité globale est prouvée en utilisant l’approche de Lyapunov. La validation expérimentale des deux lois de commande sur un manipulateur flexible à 2 ddl montre un bon suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace articulaire et des vibrations minimales au niveau des bras flexibles. Dans le cas de suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace de travail des manipulateurs flexibles, la cinématique inverse, utilisée pour les manipulateurs rigides, n’est plus suffisante pour transformer les trajectoires désirées de l’espace de travail vers l’espace articulaire. En plus d’une relation cinématique, il existe une relation dynamique entre l’espace de travail et articulaire. Pour résoudre ce problème, un espace intermédiaire, nommé « virtuel » et la méthode quasi-statique sont utilisés. En effet, la cinématique inverse est utilisée pour transformer la trajectoire désirée de l’espace de travail vers l’espace virtuel tandis que l'approche quasi-statique est utilisée pour le passage de l'espace virtuel à l'espace articulaire. Lors du contrôle direct de l’extrémité, les manipulateurs flexibles deviennent des systèmes à non minimum de phase et la dynamique interne n'est plus bornée. Pour surmonter ce problème, la technique de la redéfinition de sortie est utilisée pour sélectionner une sortie la plus proche possible de l'extrémité assurant une dynamique interne bornée. Cette sortie est composée de la position angulaire plus une valeur pondérée de la déformation de l’extrémité du bras flexible. Une étude de stabilité de la dynamique interne (ou dynamique des zéros) en utilisant la passivité est utilisée pour déterminer la valeur critique du paramètre caractérisant cette sortie paramétrisée. Deux lois de commande sont développées pour un robot à deux bras flexibles. La première loi de commande basée sur l’approche de linéarisation par retour d’état assure juste la stabilité locale des erreurs de suivi. La deuxième loi de commande constitue une généralisation pour assurer la stabilité globale de la dynamique des erreurs de suivi. Ces deux algorithmes sont testés sur un robot à deux bras flexibles et montrent un bon suivi de trajectoires dans l’espace de travail