7141 research outputs found
Sort by
Designing Harvesting and Hauling Cost Models for Energy Cane Production for Biorefineries
Get PDFThe harvesting and hauling operations of bioenergy feedstock is an important area in biofuel production. Production costs can be minimized by maintaining optimal machinery units for these operations. The objective of this study is to design an optimal harvesting unit for bioenergy refinery and estimate harvesting and hauling costs of energy cane. A biorefinery with the annual capacity of processing twenty-five million imp. gallons of ethanol were considered. Given the efficiency of harvesting, a two-row soldier system was considered. Considering the year-round supply of energy cane to the refinery, the optimal machinery unit was designed, and the combined operation costs were derived. The average estimated ownership, repair, labor and fuel and lubricant costs of biomass harvest unit were calculated to be 0.54, 1.51/mt, respectively. The costs distribution generated showed harvesting and hauling costs could range between 9.23/mt of energy cane. The methodology and the research output will provide guidelines for investors in designing harvesting and hauling units and estimating costs for different scales of operation
Training the Multiethnic Therapist in Playfulness and Spontaneity: An Autoethnographic Qualitative Study
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of a multi-ethnic counseling psychology doctoral student participating in improv as form of playfulness and spontaneity training, examine how the training experiences impacted work with therapy clients, and identify cultural elements in various improv experiences. An autoethnographic qualitative research method was used to capture and report these experiences. The hard data included 45 reflexive audio journal entries and their transcriptions. A cultural analysis of the transcriptions led to four primary themes: Culture, Characteristics of the Therapist, Skills of the Therapist, and Professional Identity and Development. The findings and subsequent narrative support current theories of positive psychology, specifically as it relates to challenging emotional states of anxiety for those who are culturally diverse. Clinical and educational implications were discussed. These included adapting learning strategies and intentionally designing learning environments that provide practical and emotional resources to culturally marginalized students; appropriately responding to culturally-influenced learning styles and abilities; and ensuring racial representation by providing models from diverse backgrounds. Overall, the findings supported the use of reflexive, culturally-sensitive improv, as form of playfulness and spontaneity training for counselor education and professional development
An Examination of African American Women\u27s Post-Relational Growth Utilizing the Self-Determination Theory
No full textAnger, anxiety, and depression have all been linked to abandoning a relationship. Since most people will go through at least one breakup, which is linked to an increased risk of suicide, obsessive thoughts, mood swings, sleeplessness, anxiety, and despair, it is essential to understand the process of relationship disintegration. Following a breakup, post-breakup adjustment is critical. To date, studies have concentrated on the negative repercussions of relationship breakdown. However, the emphasis on positive consequences has been neglected. This study will examine how African American women cope after a relationship ends. This study will use a sample of 8-12 African American women who have undergone post-relationship development as a research technique and methodology. Two research questions guided this study. RQ1 was: How do African American women describe their post-relationship growth? Three themes were used to address this question; the first RQ1 theme was: overcoming barriers to permanent dissolution. Grief and self-doubt were the second RQ1 topic. The third RQ1 topic was embracing self-extent determinations and bounds. Similarly, the second RQ was: How do the descriptions of African American women regarding their post-relationship growth relate to the constructs of self-determination theory? The theme used to address this question was: Needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness were intrinsic motivators of post-relationship growth. The new study may add to the body of knowledge about post-relationship development in African American women. The data may also be utilized to compare African American women’s relationships with other women and relationship therapists dealing with women
Mindfully Decentering to Self-Transcendence
No full textAccording to Maslow’s updated hierarchy of motivational needs, self-transcendence is a stage beyond self-actualization. In self-transcendence the individual pursues a cause outside of the self, experiences an expansion of the boundaries of self and a union with other people and nature. Mindfulness, the present moment awareness of unfolding experience and decentering, an ability to objectively witness inner experience without identifying or reacting to it were predicted as precursors of self-transcendence in this study. A sample of 509 participants with 258 mindfulness practitioners and 250 non-practitioners was used to test the hypotheses. Results demonstrated that mindfulness practitioners had higher scores on decentering as well as self-transcendence compared to non-practitioners. Decentering not only predicted self-transcendence, but also partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness practice and self-transcendence. Contrary to study hypothesis, meta-awareness dimension of decentering and not the dis-identification dimension emerged as a significant predictor of self-transcendence out of the three decentering dimensions. Meta-awareness was also the only dimension out of the three that was significant in the partial mediational model of mindfulness practice and self-transcendence. The results confirmed previous research and added to a theoretical framework that can be utilized to develop accessible and affordable interventions for individuals who are seeking mental health healing as well as spiritual goals. Clinical implications, social change implications, limitations of research, and future directions are discussed
Incidence of Drug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Strains in Organic and Conventional Watermelons Grown in Tennessee
Get PDFThe production and consumption of organic fresh produce have constantly increased since the 1990s. Consumers prefer organic produce because it does not contain synthetic chemical residues that are often implicated in health problems. The contamination of fresh produce by pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae strains remains a major challenge, and is responsible for frequent foodborne disease outbreaks. The use of antibiotics has proved an effective treatment, but the increase in occurrences of antibiotic resistance is becoming a health challenge. This study seeks to establish the presence of antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae on organic and conventional watermelon fruits. Watermelons used for this study were cultivated at the Tennessee State University Certified Organic Farm, Nashville. At harvest, nine fruits were selected from among fruits lying on plastic mulch, and nine from fruits lying on the soil of both organic and conventional plots. These were placed in sterile sample bags for microbial analysis. Spread plating technique, API 20E, and apiweb software were used for microbial isolation and identification. Identified strains were tested for antimicrobial resistance against 12 common antibiotics. Seventeen Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated and identified. Isolates were susceptible to gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol, but were resistant to cefoxitin. Citrobacter freundii showed a 14.3% resistance to Streptomycin. Pantoea spp. and Providencia rettigeri showed 50% and 100% resistance to tetracycline. Findings from this study confirm the presence of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains on organic watermelons in Nashville, TN
Zero Discharge of Nutrient Solution to the Environment in a Soilless Greenhouse Cucumber Production System
Get PDFWith the development of the economy and society, more attention is being paid to energy costs and the potential environmental pollution caused by vegetable cultivation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of zero discharge of nutrient solutions on cucumber growth, leaf photosynthesis, and the yield and quality of cucumber under greenhouse conditions. The results show that zero discharge treatment did not change plant height, stem diameter, internode length, leaf area, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (Tr), and leaf relative chlorophyll content on the most measurement days. Only Pn and relative chlorophyll content were significantly reduced after 16 days of treatment but soon recovered over time. Cucumber plants can adapt to treatment circumstances over the course of days. Leaf mineral element contents showed significant differences on some treatment days compared to the control, and trace elements of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Mo can be appropriately supplied during the treatment days. The cucumber yield and fruit quality in the zero discharge treatment did not change during the whole experimental period. This study confirmed that the irrigation method of a nutrient solution with zero discharge can be applied in cucumber cultivation practices. The strict management of irrigation strategy, plant growth, and greenhouse climate are very important for zero discharge cultivation. The cultivation method with zero discharge of nutrient solution can reduce the energy costs of disinfection, save water and fertilizers, and reduce the environmental pollution in cucumber cultivation
