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The Effects of Story Discourse Structure and Self-Relevance on Narrative Transportation
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to determine if story discourse structures (suspense, surprise, and curiosity) and self-relevance elicitation affect narrative transportation and presumed downstream effects: inclination to act, perceived value of time spent (PVT), delight, and proclivity to recommend. Narrative transportation is a transitory state of consciousness in which an individual���s attention, imagery, emotions, and agency are focused on an unfolding story about a place, time, or set of circumstances other than their own. Participants were 306 youth who had attended a faith-based camp operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Participants ages varied from 11 to 18 years. Six modernized parables were used to test two determinants (story discourse structure and self-relevance elicitation) and four results (inclination to act, PVT, delight, and proclivity to recommend) of narrative transportation. Each parable was video recorded. Thirty-five groups of youth participants were randomly assigned to a self-relevance elicitation or no self-relevance elicitation group and a modernized parable structured using one of the three discourse structures (suspense, surprise, or curiosity). Participants listened to their assigned parable in a simulated camp experience, then responded to a questionnaire measuring narrative transportation, inclination to act, PVT, delight, and proclivity to recommend. The interaction effect was significant. Self-relevance increased transportation when the surprise discourse structure was used, but decreased narrative transportation when the curiosity discourse structure was used. The effect of narrative transportation on participants��� inclination to act was mediated by the latent variable experience value-after-use consisting of perceived value of time spent, delight, and proclivity to recommend
Machine Learning and Signal Processing Algorithms for Automating the Prediction of Tubers and Root Crop Biomass Using Ground Penetrating Radar, a Geophysical Tool
No full textDespite their important role in food security, farmers and breeders specializing in subterranean crops such as cassava and sugar beet are challenged to properly determine harvest time, having to rely on destructive sampling to determine when roots and tubers are ready. Recent advances in remote sensing have made it possible to estimate and image root biomass using technologies such as X-ray computed tomography (CT), MRI, hyperspectral imaging, and lidar. However, these techniques do not address the issue of destructive sampling and generally require the removal of the plant canopy to obtain a clear image of the root system. This dissertation addresses the issue by exploring the potential of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) as a non-destructive alternative for accurately predicting root biomass of potato and sugar beet using novel data analysis techniques. Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were employed in both simulated and field trial data to assist in linear regression analysis of predicted and observed biomass values. Results demonstrate that Multiresolution analysis (MRA) methods, such as continuous wavelet transform, can be effectively employed to extract features from the GPR signal to predict potato and sugar beet root biomass. ML regression models yielded significant prediction accuracy up to r=0.9 for sugar beet and r=0.82 for potato. Although the strong correlations demonstrate that GPR technology is suitable as a decision-support tool for monitoring root growth, our study found that results are highly influenced by deleterious effects, such as soil type, noise, or signal interference. Therefore, future research will need to address these effects in order to improve results. Furthermore, the antenna array employed in this research was initially designed as a prototype for the detection of plastic landmines; while promising for biological applications, its appropriateness for root measurement requires further evaluation
Preliminary Results of the Implementation of Multiphase Plasma Hydrocarbon Processing in Field Attained Heavy Oils
No full textGlobal energy demand continues to rise annually with projections of 50% by 2050. The demand of petroleum and other liquid fuel will increase by 25% and natural gas by 45% within this period of time. Conventional crude oils currently dominate the majority of global daily production; however, unconventional crude oils make up 70% of total global oil resources and only represent 11.45% of global daily consumption and demand. This deficit in exploitation unequivocally drives a demand for new technologies to enhance heavy crude oil production from reservoirs and surface processing that are economically feasible for oil companies to maintain their global energy consumption market share.
An alternative technology is used utilizing non-thermal nanosecond pulsing plasma processing with methane gas flow in field attained heavy crude oil samples in a designed oil-treatment-reactor for high temperature (OTR HT) as a means to investigate the chemical conversion and economic feasibility of heavy crude oil upgrading with a benchmark focus compared to current literature and future implementation feasibility. Results will focus on preliminary experiments of plasma induced chemical conversion focused on atmospheric tower bottom (ATB) as a pilot heavy crude oil while superficially characterizing other heavy crude oils attained in the field: heavy gas oil (HGO), unconverted crude oil (UCO), heavy naphtha (HN), and Massie West crude (MWC). The organization of these results and additional complementary work targets being a project report deliverable to the company sponsor.
Experiments on ATB were conducted at atmospheric pressure at 100��C inside an OTR HT at 3mm and 10mm electrode gap distances under a fume hood and the results were quantified with a full mass balance on the liquid, condensate, gas, and solid constituents. The liquid and condensate constituents were analyzed using a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer (GCMS) while the gas was analyzed in a gas chromatograph with a flame ionizing detector (GCFID). Experimental parameters including temperature, electrode gap distance, gas composition, gas flow rate, and electrical circuit capacitance and resistance were predetermined from results of rigorous experimentation by Dr. Kunpeng Wang whom this work is built upon from Dr. David Staack���s Plasma Lab at Texas A&M University. Experiments were also conducted to study the importance of these parameters to establish an optimal operating condition for ATB while keeping the electrical circuit parameters and gas composition constant. Preliminary results indicate the induced chemical reactions by non-thermal nanosecond pulsed plasma favor cracking and conversion of high carbon number heavy hydrocarbons into lighter gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbon species while increasing octane number. This pathway is evident from new species of methyl group terminations from the addition of methane gas in analyzed converted light oil liquid fuel samples. The preliminary results will provide insights into the chemical conversion feasibility and economics of non-thermal nanosecond pulsed plasma induced cracking of ATB crude oil with general implementation strategy for future pilot testing of this technology
Teaching Rangeland Literacy Outside the Classroom Through the Prairie Project
No full textCreating agents of change equipped with the knowledge of sustainable and profitable management practices is crucial to the conservation of vulnerable grassland savannas facing woody plant encroachment. However, effectively educating today���s Extension agents, youth, future landowners, and range managers may require various approaches to successfully implement those types of practices. This project evaluated the impact of the Prairie Project Extension Fellows program with Texas Extension agents, educators, and ranchers. Additionally, this project assessed the effectiveness of various outreach and education methods on improving the knowledge and attitudes of K-8th, 9th-12th, college, and adult participants on prescribed fire, multi-species grazing, and patch-burn grazing as effective woody plant control methods. Throughout the course of this study, I conducted 22 workshops throughout Texas and recruited 377 participants to participant in various learning designs crafted to optimize knowledge and attitudes regarding prescribed fire, multi-species grazing, and patch-burn grazing management strategies in savanna systems throughout the Edwards Plateau. I designed curriculum that utilized the USDA web application - Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) which enables participants to see the vegetation cover impacts of prescribed fire, patch-burn grazing, and pyric herbivory on partnered Prairie Project demonstration ranches. Key findings indicate that multimodal training programs are effective ways to engage and train Extension agents. This is also evidenced by Lakai et al. (2012) which found small group training workshops, online training, and mentoring to be the most preferred teaching methods by Extension agents. Furthermore, teaching methods which employed web-based and blended learning modalities were most effective at improving knowledge and attitudes of both youth and adult participants. Complementarily, teachings methods which used hands-on methods were also effective at improving participants predisposition towards prescribed fire as a management tool. Lastly, we identified that the 9th-12th age groups benefited the most from this study regarding increased knowledge and improved attitudes regarding prescribed fire, multi-species grazing, and patch-burn grazing. These findings hold significant implications for Extension professionals, educators, and natural resource professionals, offering valuable insights for the design and implementation of impactful programs regarding strategies for woody plant management while simultaneously catering to a diverse range of age groups