INTRODUCTION: Many species of ambystomatid salamanders are dependent upon highly variable temporary wetlands
for larval development. High larval densities may prompt the expression of a distinct head morphology that may
facilitate cannibalism. However, few studies have characterized structural cannibalism within natural populations of
larval salamanders. In this study we used...
In this work, a hybrid thermochemistry compressed air energy storage (CAES) system is investigated. Following a review on chemical reactions investigated for use in thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems, from these chemistries, the conversion of magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, to magnesium oxide, MgO, and carbon dioxide, CO2, was further analyzed for...
The bioavailability of chemical compounds in the marine environment fundamentally influences the growth and physiology of microorganisms. Organic and inorganic chemicals that are produced by some marine plankton can be consumed by other plankton for energy production, growth, or to initiate essential physiological processes. Cultures of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana,...
In this thesis, we introduce alignment-based algorithms for improving the performance of reinforcement learning solutions for problems where the reward signal cannot be collapsed into a single number. Many real world problems require an agent to balance performance, longevity, and safety, and do so across different timelines. The key to...
Timber harvesters are high powered industrial grade rigs used to fell, delimb, and cut to size large trees. Hydraulic motors power sprockets that drive chains around a guide bar that get extended through logs during cuts. As technological advances allow for higher speeds a phenomenon called “chain shot” has...
Plywood production scheduling for years has been
considered, more or less, a sacred activity in which only
a select group of individuals with the experience and
knowledge could take part. With the advancements in
computer technology and related fields, the plywood
industry is in a position where more people can...
This thesis is the first of three sections in what will be a book-long project of creative nonfiction essays. The book will parallel the author's diary with three other family diaries, spanning four generations. This thesis deals with the first of those diaries, written by Antonio Bonetti's, the author's great-grandfather....
The objective of this study is to complete life cycle inventories (LCI) for laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and composite I-joist (I-joist) production in the two main forest products producing regions in the U.S., the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Southeast (SE). LVL and I-joists are composite wood building materials that are...
The sexual harassment of women by men is a social phenomenon that exists in academia as well as business and industry. It has only recently been recognized as a significant social problem. The purpose of this study was to determine if men who have a high proclivity toward sexual harassment...
Interaction between mixed layer baroclinic eddies and small-scale turbulence is studied using a nonhydrostatic large-eddy simulation (LES) model. Free, unforced flow evolution is considered, for a standard initialization consisting of an 80-m-deep mixed layer with a superposed warm filament and two frontal interfaces in geostrophic balance, on a model domain...
