Deployment and Evaluation of an Active RFID Tracking System for Precision Animal Management

A better understanding of animal space utilization in current livestock facilities could lead to improved facility design and animal health. This study was conducted to determine whether an active RFID tag tracking system could accurately provide animal locomotion data on an individual animal basis. The system is composed of four sensors, located in the corners of a swine pen, and compact tags, which attach to the animals and transmit a signal. The sensors use the tag signals to determine 3-D positions in real-time. A data acquisition system was developed to capture raw data from the system software into a database for analysis. The first test was performed with 34 tags placed at a known location, followed by a second test with 34 tags arranged in a 1-m×1-m grid across the pen. Results from the first test were consistent with the manufacturer’s claim of 15 cm accuracy. Error was higher in the second test. The system was used to track pigs for two days. Visual analysis indicated 84.4% tracking accuracy. Finally, the system was used to track animals from different genetic lines and temperaments. Statistical analysis of this data indicated significant differences in movement data based on sex of the animal, lineage, and temperament. Further work revealed that the system is prone to generate large jumps in the data that need to be filtered if the desired use is for instantaneous measurements. Without data filtering, the system is best suited for monitoring hourly or daily average values for animal movement parameters. Advisors: Deepak Keshwani and Tami Brown-Brand

Deployment and Evaluation of an Active RFID Tracking System for Precision Animal Management

A better understanding of animal space utilization in current livestock facilities could lead to improved facility design and animal health. This study was conducted to determine whether an active RFID tag tracking system could accurately provide animal locomotion data on an individual animal basis. The system is composed of four sensors, located in the corners of a swine pen, and compact tags, which attach to the animals and transmit a signal. The sensors use the tag signals to determine 3-D positions in real-time. A data acquisition system was developed to capture raw data from the system software into a database for analysis. The first test was performed with 34 tags placed at a known location, followed by a second test with 34 tags arranged in a 1-m×1-m grid across the pen. Results from the first test were consistent with the manufacturer’s claim of 15 cm accuracy. Error was higher in the second test. The system was used to track pigs for two days. Visual analysis indicated 84.4% tracking accuracy. Finally, the system was used to track animals from different genetic lines and temperaments. Statistical analysis of this data indicated significant differences in movement data based on sex of the animal, lineage, and temperament. Further work revealed that the system is prone to generate large jumps in the data that need to be filtered if the desired use is for instantaneous measurements. Without data filtering, the system is best suited for monitoring hourly or daily average values for animal movement parameters. Advisors: Deepak Keshwani and Tami Brown-Brand

Development of Atomistic Potentials for Silicate Materials and Coarse-Grained Simulation of Self-Assembly at Surfaces

This thesis is composed of two parts. The first is a study of evolutionary strategies for parametrization of empirical potentials, and their application in development of a charge-transfer potential for silica. An evolutionary strategy was meta-optimized for use in empirical potential parametrization, and a new charge-transfer empirical model was developed for use with isobaric-isothermal ensemble molecular dynamics simulations. The second is a study of thermodynamics and self-assembly in a particular class of athermal two-dimensional lattice models. The effects of shape on self-assembly and thermodynamics for polyominoes and tetrominoes were examined. Many interesting results were observed, including complex clustering, non-ideal mixing, and phase transitions. In both parts, computational efficiency and performance were important goals, and this was reflected in method and program development

Improving the service delivery of a department through physical role co-location restructuring : an action research approach

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-130).The Underlying Problem The management team (hereafter referred to as „management‟) of a leading international oil company identified significant problems within the transport scheduling department operation, extending from concerns related to fragmented roles, the physical location of roles and management isolation, to fragmented department processes and procedures. The resulting poor communication further exacerbated the department‟s inability to provide an effective service to both internal and external customers. Based on this, management decided to act and embark on an extensive restructuring process in an attempt to improve overall service delivery and ensure department sustainability into the future. This action then paved the way for an extensive restructuring process focussing on changes based on role co-location changes. This process began with the appointment of a new scheduling manager to head up the department and to design and oversee the project plan for restructuring. It was obvious to management that, if action was not taken soon, the department would continue to degrade, thus forcing management to decentralise the transport scheduling function within the company that would result in the disbanding of the department. In Part 1 the description of the problem is defined, beginning with a detailed account of the scheduling department restructure, thereby clearly defining the case study as a research topic. The restructuring account describes inter-role communication, co-location changes through cluster team implementation and the communication changes that were made with customers. It outlines how quality assurance and technological advancements were introduced during the restructuring process in an attempt to improve service delivery, together with the improvement of quality of department outputs that define the level of service to customers. After defining the research topic, the problem situation that must be addressed through this study is delineated. The problem situation defined in this study addresses two main areas of concern. Firstly, whether it is possible to achieve an improvement in service delivery of a department through physical role co-location changes. Secondly, whether it is possible to effect such changes without disrupting the motivation and performance levels of the staff necessary to ensure department sustainability into the future. It is hypothesised that restructuring success and staff motivation and performance are inseparable in ensuring the future of the scheduling department, because they are unified enablers for sustainability. The disruption caused by the restructuring process could have a negative impact on staff motivation and performance levels, without which improved service outputs by the department would not necessarily be achieved. Therefore, focusing on both of these factors throughout this research process is very important in order to satisfactorily address the research question and concern that has been raised. The description of the department restructure as a case study for research thus highlights a „problem situation‟. A concern is raised that requires urgent research: If improvements in the service delivery of the department have not been realised through the physical role co-location restructure, and, if staff motivation and performance levels have not been maintained during the restructuring process, then the restructure project will have been a costly waste of time, threatening the future sustainability of the department. This concern, therefore, defines the research question that must be answered by this research process, namely that of the level of service improvement and the „recipe‟ for maintaining staff motivation and performance levels. The answer to this question will be achieved by determining both the level of success of the role co-location restructure against pre-defined service improvement indicators, and the management approach required to ensure sustained levels of staff motivation and performance through the restructuring change process of the scheduling department. In order to complete this investigation, the researcher embarks on a rigorous methodological research process that adopts the main stages of the action research cycle

Leading Development of Skilled Workers: Transforming Unskilled Labor to Skilled Craft Labor in the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry

The demand for entry level skilled trades workers in the pulp and paper industry has far outnumbered the supply of workers currently available in the United States. Many pulp and paper manufactures have dozens or even hundreds of unfilled high paying jobs with great benefits currently available. Concurrently to this, an available workforce of unskilled workers with little to no formal technical training remains available. These unskilled workers are frequently working in lower wage jobs with poor benefits that offer very little opportunity for advancement. This research explores and attempts to identify what is the most effective process that can be used to develop unskilled workers into entry level skilled trades workers in the pulp and paper industry. Grounded Theory qualitative research methods were utilized for this research. Expert opinions and experiences were gathered from nine seasoned individuals with maintenance leadership experience in the pulp and paper industry by conducting a series of interview questions. The data collected from the interviews were summarized into 21 different main topics of importance. These topics were further grouped into six significant themes that will help to build an effective and efficient process for skilled worker development. The potential benefits from this research and the resulting conclusions are two-fold. First, the potential of filling the employment gap for organizations, which will allow them to continue to operate profitably and be a strong economic force in communities. Second, individuals in unskilled jobs can potentially be given the opportunity for career advancement and improved financial stability

Federal Preparedness Grants: An Investigation Of The Impacts To Local And State Emergency Management Programs

Disasters begin and end locally, but anecdotal evidence suggests that national disaster policies significantly influence state and local approaches. The federal government influences local and state emergency management through national emergency management doctrine as well as providing considerable grant programs to local and state governments who adopt the federal policies. The study attempts to explore some effects of this policy dichotomy. A survey along with selective interviews were conducted of local and state emergency management officials in North Carolina to examine the impacts of select federal preparedness grants. From 70 surveys and 6 interviews, the following findings were identified. There is limited secondary data on the grant programs, but overwhelmingly respondents felt the grants were critical. There is evidence to suggest that state and local response agencies have become reliant on federal grant programs to support operations, especially the state agencies. The grant programs may also contribute to the creation of programmatic silos that are not well integrated at all levels of government, and provide little support for the accepted principles of progressive and flexibility. Several key concerns were raised that require additional study to improve the federal preparedness grant programs and by doing so improve the national emergency management system

Severe Hyperosmolar Metabolic Acidosis Due to a Large Dose of Intravenous Lorazepam

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200204183461618.No abstract is available for this item

COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRAVENOUS NICARDIPINE VERSUS SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE FOR POSTOPERATIVE HYPERTENSION AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY.

Postoperative hypertension after cardiac surgery is common and associated with substantial morbidity. Both sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nicardipine (NIC) are effective in its management. SNP is inexpensive, but associated with labile blood pressure (BP) control, cardiac ischemia, and metabolite toxicity. NIC is well tolerated and provides stable BP control, but is limited by high acquisition cost. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis from an institutional perspective of NIC versus SNP in subjects experiencing postoperative hypertension after cardiac surgery. A retrospective, cohort study identified subjects who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or valve surgery at our institution between 2007-2009. We included adults experiencing postoperative hypertension requiring ≥ 30 minutes of either NIC or SNP infusions. Institutional-specific data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and University HealthSystem Consortium national databases and our financial and electronic medical records were used. The number of infusion rate changes divided by the infusion duration was calculated. We considered ≥ 1 dose change/hour to represent excessive dose changes and presumably uncontrolled blood pressure. The rate per 100 subjects in each group who avoided excessive dose changes served as the efficacy variable for the economic model. Direct postoperative costs were calculated. Data were compared with t, Wilcoxon Rank Sum, Chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. Log-binomial regression was used to control for surgery type and severity of illness. Of the 112 subjects identified, 72 received NIC and 40 SNP. Demographics including hypertension history, number of preoperative antihypertensive agents, surgery type, and postoperative length of stay were not significantly different. NIC required significantly fewer dose changes/hour (1.2±1.6) versus SNP (1.7±1.8, p=0.004). After controlling for surgery type and severity of illness, the risk of excessive dose changes was 60% higher in those subjects prescribed SNP compared to those prescribed NIC (adjusted relative risk = 1.60, 95%CI, 1.10-2.34, p=0.0147). In the entire cohort and each specific surgery type, NIC remained cost-effective when compared to SNP. NIC use may be limited due to decisions based solely upon acquisition costs. We found that NIC resulted in less frequent dose changes and was cost-effective when compared to SNP in the treatment of post-cardiac surgery hypertension