In this thesis, I examine the experiences of breastfeeding mothers who chose to give birth with Certified Professional Midwives at a free-standing birth center, and the factors that influence their known high rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Using grounded theory and data collected from participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and...
Concerns over climate change and energy security have spurred governments worldwide to encourage the development of renewable energy. Although public attitudes and macro-politics, in general, show moderate to strong support for renewables- in particular, wind power- largely because of the economic and environmental benefits associated with it. However, local politics...
With continual and worldwide human population growth, our impact on the natural environment expands and intensifies every day. We consume natural resources, burn fossil fuels, and release toxic compounds into the air, water, and earth. We build roads that fragment the landscape, construct new settlements, and develop agricultural lands in...
Low-distortion architecture is widely used in wideband discrete-time switched-capacitor delta-sigma ADC design. However, it suffers from the power-hungry active adder and critical timing for quantization and dynamic element matching (DEM). To solve this problem, this dissertation presents a delta-sigma modulator architecture with shifted loop delays. In this project, shifted loop...
In the majority of poultry slaughter houses in the United States, birds are hung on shackles and then not touched by human hands until the carcass is processed and packaged. As a result, a reliable method of slaughter that can be automated must be available. Stunning addresses the welfare needs...
This report includes information concerning experimental use of unregistered pesticides or unregistered uses of pesticides. Experimental results should not be interpreted as recommendations for use. Use of unregistered materials or use of any registered pesticides inconsistent with its label is against both Federal Law and State Law.
The publicly subsidized Federal Crop Insurance Program has expanded rapidly in recent decades in the United States. With the reform in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Federal Crop Insurance Program has become the most important component of U.S. farm policies. The primary goal of the program is to provide risk...