Sub-Surface Navigation Using Very-Low Frequency Electromagnetic Waves

This research proposes two schemes utilizing very-low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic waves to navigate underground. The first scheme consists of using above-ground beacon transmitters to broadcast VLF signals to an underground mobile receiver which uses methods such as triangulation and trilateration to obtain a position solution. The second scheme consists of using above-ground reference receivers along with an underground mobile receiver to form time-difference- of-arrival measurements of incoming VLF signals of opportunity, such as lightning strike emissions, to calculate a position solution. The objective of this thesis is to develop positioning algorithms and use simulations as a tool to characterize the effects that varying parameters such as measurement errors, measurement type, number of measurements, transmitter/ reference receiver location, mobile receiver position, and material constant errors have on the accuracy of a position solution. The results show trends that would still be expected using more complex methods and models

An Overhand Passing Test for Girls Volleyball

The purpose of this study was to construct and validate an overhand passing test for experienced volleyball players. The test designed in this study required each player to pass to two different targets, 90 degrees from each other. The two targets were three feet from the junction of two unobstructed walls. On each wall a horizontal line was taped three feet long and ten feet above the floor. At the end of each horizontal line, a vertical line was taped, extending three feet above the ten foot line and perpendicular to it. Sixty-three high school girls at Stewardson-Strasburg High School, Stewardson, Illinois, were tested. All had experience in overhand passing. The test consisted of the number of overhand passes alternated between the two wall targets in 30 seconds. The player could begin in front of either target and begin by tossing the ball to herself and then overhand passing to the target. To score the second pass had to be made into the opposite wall target. If the ball was dropped, the player put it back into play with a self-toss. Scoring resumed with the second wall pass. If the ball did not contact the target or any of its boundary lines during a succession of passes, the player could continue to volley but that contact was not counted in the score. Each student took three test trials. The highest reliability coefficient, .87, determined by the Pearson product-moment method of correlation, resulted between the scores of trial two and trial three. This indicated that three test trials should be administered. To determine the validity of the test, three high school coaches were asked to judge the players\u27 overhand passing skill. The judges rated each player\u27s setting skill from a scale of one to ten points. The final rating for each player was the total of the three judges\u27 ratings. These ratings were correlated with several different methods of scoring the test, using the Pearson product-moment method of correlation. The validity coefficient of the best score from all three trials was .8274. Besides having a high validity, taking the best of three trials was the easiest method of scoring the test. The research established the two wall test as valid and reliable. The study concluded that using the highest score of three trials was a valid and simple method of scoring the test

An Overhand Passing Test for Girls Volleyball

The purpose of this study was to construct and validate an overhand passing test for experienced volleyball players. The test designed in this study required each player to pass to two different targets, 90 degrees from each other. The two targets were three feet from the junction of two unobstructed walls. On each wall a horizontal line was taped three feet long and ten feet above the floor. At the end of each horizontal line, a vertical line was taped, extending three feet above the ten foot line and perpendicular to it. Sixty-three high school girls at Stewardson-Strasburg High School, Stewardson, Illinois, were tested. All had experience in overhand passing. The test consisted of the number of overhand passes alternated between the two wall targets in 30 seconds. The player could begin in front of either target and begin by tossing the ball to herself and then overhand passing to the target. To score the second pass had to be made into the opposite wall target. If the ball was dropped, the player put it back into play with a self-toss. Scoring resumed with the second wall pass. If the ball did not contact the target or any of its boundary lines during a succession of passes, the player could continue to volley but that contact was not counted in the score. Each student took three test trials. The highest reliability coefficient, .87, determined by the Pearson product-moment method of correlation, resulted between the scores of trial two and trial three. This indicated that three test trials should be administered. To determine the validity of the test, three high school coaches were asked to judge the players\u27 overhand passing skill. The judges rated each player\u27s setting skill from a scale of one to ten points. The final rating for each player was the total of the three judges\u27 ratings. These ratings were correlated with several different methods of scoring the test, using the Pearson product-moment method of correlation. The validity coefficient of the best score from all three trials was .8274. Besides having a high validity, taking the best of three trials was the easiest method of scoring the test. The research established the two wall test as valid and reliable. The study concluded that using the highest score of three trials was a valid and simple method of scoring the test

Use of Evaporative Cooling Systems and Their Effects on Core Body Temperature and Lying Times in Lactating Dairy Cattle

A study was performed to assess the effect of an evaporative cooling system on respiration rates, rear udder temperature (Tu), core body temperature (CBT), and resting time in lactating dairy cows. Cows were divided into two treatment groups and rotated between two facilities. Cows were either housed in a bedded pack barn (PACK) equipped with an evaporative cooling system (Cyclone fans, Chippewa Falls, WI) or a tie-stall barn (TIE) equipped with cooling cells. Cows housed in PACK had two cooling treatments: FAN (Cyclone fans only, no fog); and FANFOG (Cyclone fans and fog on). Groups of cows rotated between TIE and PACK every 8 hours, and effects of housing as well as cooling treatment within PACK were analyzed. During FANFOG, PACK cows had a reduction (P \u3c 0.05) in respiration rate (breaths per minute) in comparison to TIE (69 vs 76 ± 2.4 BPM). Breaths per minute also increased significantly throughout the day for TIE but this was not the case for PACK. No differences were found in Tu between treatments. While exposed to the FANFOG environment, cows spent decreased time above 102.2°F CBT when compared to FAN. Cows housed in PACK during FAN and FANFOG also spent fewer hours/ day above 102.2°F CBT vs TIE. Cows housed in TIE showed numerically greater total daily lying times during FAN and FANFOG compared to cows housed in PACK, although these results were not significant. These results confirm that evaporative cooling systems (Cyclone fans and fog) are effective at decreasing respiration rates and CBT, while having no effect on Tu and lying times in lactating dairy cows

The Grizzly, February 13, 1987

Greek Life Grits Teeth at State\u27s Hazing Law • Free Roses for Lorelei • Letter: Fellow Student Reports on Chang • News Notes: R.A. Selection Underway; St. Andrew\u27s Scholarship; National Women in Sports Day • Bears Bump LaSalle and Haverford, Racich Wins 100th • Udovich\u27s Career High Leaves Bears to 74-69 Win • Mer Men\u27s Streak Ends vs. Loyola • Gymnastics Takes Fourth Win • Track Men Break Records • Swimmin Women on Warpathhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1181/thumbnail.jp

Cord Blood Vα24-Vβ11+ Natural Killer T Cells Display a Th2-Chemokine Receptor Profile and Cytokine Responses

Background: The fetal immune system is characterized by a Th2 bias but it is unclear how the Th2 predominance is established. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a rare subset of T cells with immune regulatory functions and are already activated in utero. To test the hypothesis that NKT cells are part of the regulatory network that sets the fetal Th2 predominance, percentages of Vα24(+)Vβ11(+) NKT cells expressing Th1/Th2-related chemokine receptors (CKR) were assessed in cord blood. Furthermore, IL-4 and IFN-γ secreting NKT cells were quantified within the single CKR(+) subsets. Results: Cord blood NKT cells expressed the Th2-related CCR4 and CCR8 at significantly higher frequencies compared to peripheral blood NKT cells from adults, while CXCR3+ and CCR5+ cord blood NKT cells (Th1-related) were present at lower percentages. Within CD4negCD8neg (DN) NKT cells, the frequency of IL-4 producing NKT cells was significantly higher in cord blood, while frequencies of IFN-γ secreting DN NKT cells tended to be lower. A further subanalysis showed that the higher percentage of IL-4 secreting DN NKT cells was restricted to CCR3+, CCR4+, CCR5+, CCR6+, CCR7+, CCR8+ and CXCR4+ DN subsets in cord blood. This resulted in significantly decreased IFN-γ /IL-4 ratios of CCR3+, CCR6+ and CCR8+ cord blood DN NKT cells. Sequencing of VA24AJ18 T cell receptor (TCR) transcripts in sorted cord blood Vα24Vβ11 cells confirmed the invariant TCR alpha-chain ruling out the possibility that these cells represent an unusual subset of conventional T cells. Conclusions: Despite the heterogeneity of cord blood NKT cells, we observed a clear Th2-bias at the phenotypic and functional level which was mainly found in the DN subset. Therefore, we speculate that NKT cells are important for the initiation and control of the fetal Th2 environment which is needed to maintain tolerance towards self-antigens as well as non-inherited maternal antigens

The Grizzly, February 5, 1988

Cavorting Cop Caught • Lewis Disclaims Labels at Forum • Rock\u27N America • Patterns Campaign Nears Completion • Hockey Held as Hokey • Contra-versial Censorship Irks Student • History Department Interviews a New Way • Concert Features Christian Music • Summer Study in France a Fun-do • Notes: R.A. Rap Session Announced; Presidency Probers Convene; ALF Re-runs Rewarding; Child Safety Course Offered • Men\u27s Hoopsters Suffer Temporary Setback • Track Team Making Great Strides • Record Books Rewritten • U.C. Matters: Wrestling Tough and Confident • Men \u27Mers Holding Their Ownhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1203/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 27, 1987

Depts., Dean, Court New Faculty Free Agent Team • No Busts, But Bummer Booze Bar Dims Lorelei • Grizzly Poll Points Couple to Final Home • Letters: Impossible Crossings?; Adoption Instead of Abortion; Plea for Soviet Jewry • Ecoliers de Francais: Fly to France Pour Parler • Treasuring Modern Art Takes Time ... And Protest • Men\u27s B-Ball Sponsors Art Auction • Fencing Alive at Ursinus • Bears, 20-3, Looking for Fourth or Better at MAC • Swimmers to Celebrate Wins With Skins • Women Runners Capture MAC Title • Men\u27s Track Runs Third at MAC\u27s • Swimmin\u27 Women Go to MAC\u27s • Notes: Meistersingers\u27 50th Tour; Chambliss Family Lecture; Upcoming Forum Scheduled • Bear Dave Durst Dominates Entering MAC Tourney • Migliore Caps Nine-Letter Career with Athlete of the Week Honors • Two U.C. Gymnasts Go to Nat\u27ls • Robert Cray Band\u27s Strong Persuader Receives a B plushttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1183/thumbnail.jp

WHOOPING CRANE STAY LENGTH IN RELATION TO STOPOVER SITE CHARACTERISTICS

Whooping crane (Grus americana) migratory stopovers can vary in length from hours to more than a month. Stopover sites provide food resources and safety essential for the completion of migration. Factors such as weather, climate, demographics of migrating groups, and physiological condition of migrants influence migratory movements of cranes (Gruidae) to varying degrees. However, little research has examined the relationship between habitat characteristics and stopover stay length in cranes. Site quality may relate to stay length with longer stays that allow individuals to improve body condition, or with shorter stays because of increased foraging efficiency. We examined this question by using habitat data collected at 605 use locations from 449 stopover sites throughout the United States Great Plains visited by 58 whooping cranes from the Aransas–Wood Buffalo Population tracked with platform transmitting terminals. Research staff compiled land cover (e.g., hectares of corn; landscape level) and habitat metric (e.g., maximum water depth; site level) data for day use and evening roost locations via site visits and geospatial mapping. We used Random Forest regression analyses to estimate importance of covariates for predicting stopover stay length. Site-level variables explained 9% of variation in stay length, whereas landscape-level variables explained 43%. Stay length increased with latitude and the proportion of land cover as open-water slough with emergent vegetation as well as alfalfa, whereas stay length decreased as open-water lacustrine wetland land cover increased. At the site level, stopover duration increased with wetted width at riverine sites but decreased with wetted width at palustrine and lacustrine wetland sites. Stopover duration increased with mean distance to visual obstruction as well as where management had reduced the height of vegetation through natural (e.g., grazing) or mechanical (e.g., harvesting) means and decreased with maximum water depth. Our results suggest that stopover length increases with the availability of preferred land cover types for foraging. High quality stopover sites with abundant forage resources may help whooping cranes maintain fat reserves important to their annual life cycle