The Influence of Urban Green Spaces on Declining Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (open access)

The Influence of Urban Green Spaces on Declining Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are adept pollinators of countless cultivated and wild flowering plants, but many species have experienced declines in recent decades. Though urban sprawl has been implicated as a driving force of such losses, urban green spaces hold the potential to serve as habitat islands for bumble bees. As human populations continue to grow and metropolitan areas become larger, the survival of many bumble bee species will hinge on the identification and implementation of appropriate conservation measures at regional and finer scales. North Texas is home to some the fastest-growing urban areas in the country, including Denton County, as well as at least two declining bumble bee species (B. pensylvanicus and B. fraternus). Using a combination of field , molevular DNA and GIS methods I evaluated the persistence of historic bumble bee species in Denton County, and investigated the genetic structure and connectivity of the populations in these spaces. Field sampling resulted in the discovery of both B. pensylvanicus and B. fraternus in Denton County's urban green spaces. While the relative abundance of B. fraternus in these spaces was significantly lower than historic levels gleaned from museum recors, that of B. pensylvanicus was significantly higher. Statistical analyses found …
Date: May 2016
Creator: Beckham, Jessica L.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Transportation Planning for Future Renewable Energy Products: Final Report (open access)

Texas Transportation Planning for Future Renewable Energy Products: Final Report

Report on Texas transportation planning for future renewable energy products.
Date: August 2016
Creator: Astroza, Sebastian; Patil, Priyadarshan N.; Smith, Katherine I.; Kumar, Vivek; Bhat, Chandra R. & Zhang, Zhanmin
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Field Validation of Zero Energy Lab Water-to-Water Ground Coupled Heat Pump Model (open access)

Field Validation of Zero Energy Lab Water-to-Water Ground Coupled Heat Pump Model

Heat pumps are a vital part of each building for their role in keeping the space conditioned for the occupant. This study focuses on developing a model for the ground-source heat pump at the Zero Energy lab at the University of North Texas, and finding the minimum data required for generating the model. The literature includes many models with different approaches to determine the performance of the heat pump. Each method has its pros and cons. In this research the equation-fit method was used to generate a model based on the data collected from the field. Two experiments were conducted for the cooling mode: the first one at the beginning of the season and the second one at the peak of the season to cover all the operation conditions. The same procedure was followed for the heating mode. The models generated based on the collected data were validated against the experiment data. The error of the models was within ±10%. The study showed that the error could be reduced by 20% to 42% when using the field data to generate the model instead of the manufacturer’s catalog data. Also it was found that the minimum period to generate the cooling …
Date: May 2016
Creator: Abdulameer, Saif
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Performance Evaluation of UNT Apogee Stadium Wind Turbines (open access)

Performance Evaluation of UNT Apogee Stadium Wind Turbines

The following report chronicles the University of North Texas Wind Turbine Project at Apogee Stadium. The timeline of events will include the feasibility study conducted by and for the university, grant awards from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office to fund the project, and a three-year sample of real time performance data since installation. The purpose of this case study is to compare the energy generation estimates by various stakeholders to the measured energy generation using a new but uniform performance relationship. In order to optimize energy generation in wind turbine generator systems, the most common wind speeds measured at the site should also be the most efficient wind speeds at which the wind turbine can convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy and ultimately electrical energy. The tool used to convey this relationship will be a figure plotting the wind speed profile against the efficiency curve of the wind turbine. Applying this relationship tool to the UNT Apogee Stadium wind turbines provided valuable results. The most common wind speeds at Apogee Stadium are not the most efficient wind speed for the turbine. Also, the most common wind speeds were near the lower limit of the wind …
Date: May 2016
Creator: McCary, William D., III
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
[University-wide Spring 2016 commencement ceremony and UNT's 125th Anniversary celebration] captions transcript

[University-wide Spring 2016 commencement ceremony and UNT's 125th Anniversary celebration]

Video recording of the University-wide Spring 2016 commencement ceremony held at Apogee Stadium on Friday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. Approximately 3,411 undergraduate students, 740 masters students and 119 doctoral students were honored at the ceremony. The ceremony includes remarks by UNT President Dr. Neal Smatresk, System Chancellor Lee F. Jackson, System Regent Laura Wright, President of the Student Government Association Adam Allatry, former U.S. Army Sergeant and UNT Alumnus Steven Davidson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Finley Graves, and member of the Alumni Association Byron Campbell. Preceding the commencement, the video includes a narrated highlight on the origin and history of UNT, as well as a message delivered by President Dr. Neal Smatresk in celebration of the university's 125th (quasquicentennial) anniversary.
Date: May 13, 2016
Creator: University of North Texas.
Object Type: Video
System: The UNT Digital Library
Angelo State University Requests for Legislative Appropriations: 2018 and 2019 (open access)

Angelo State University Requests for Legislative Appropriations: 2018 and 2019

Report submitted by Angelo State University to the Texas 85th regular legislature requesting appropriations to fund programming and activities. It includes an overview of the institution's goals, summaries of appropriations requests for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and supporting documentation.
Date: August 5, 2016
Creator: Angelo State University
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 2, 2016 (open access)

Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 2, 2016

Publication of Texas State University with stories about campus events, new programs, or notable students/alumni.
Date: 2016
Creator: Texas State University
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 1, 2016 (open access)

Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 1, 2016

Publication of Texas State University with stories about campus events, new programs, or notable students/alumni.
Date: 2016
Creator: Texas State University
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Why Breastfeed? Understanding the Factors that Influence Women to Breastfeed in Southeast Fort Worth (open access)

Why Breastfeed? Understanding the Factors that Influence Women to Breastfeed in Southeast Fort Worth

Today breastfeeding is a common conversation with the ever-growing holistic movement and the effort to 'go green' as demonstrated by the proliferation of the organic food industry in recent years within the United States. Breastfeeding may reduce poor health outcomes including infant morbidity and mortality. Infant mortality is a priority in Tarrant County within southeast Fort Worth as defined by this project’s client Healthy Moms – Healthy Babies – Healthy Community. The purpose of this research was to identify the contextual factors that influence breastfeeding decisions among the zip codes in southeast Fort Worth in which infant mortality is greatest. In analysis of the data among breastfeeding mothers and stakeholders, support was the greatest contribution to successful breastfeeding.
Date: May 2016
Creator: Jimenez, Lesley S.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 3, 2016 (open access)

Hillviews, Volume 47, Number 3, 2016

Publication of Texas State University with stories about campus events, new programs, or notable students/alumni.
Date: 2016
Creator: Texas State University
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil and Gas Freight Transportation Alternatives (open access)

Oil and Gas Freight Transportation Alternatives

The policy project discussed in this report examined potential options regarding the use of rail and pipeline infrastructure to address the growing costs of roadway rehabilitation in the energy production areas of Texas. This project studied whether offering state incentives for expansion of rail or pipeline infrastructure along with roadway improvements might be an effective approach to address the increased freight transport needs of energy development and subsequently provide longer-term economic development opportunities in Texas shale energy regions. Specific rail and pipeline improvements have the potential to divert some heavy-truck traffic from energy production area roadways and thereby decrease roadway rehabilitation costs and increase traffic safety for roadway users on state and local roads.
Date: October 2016
Creator: Rutter, Allan; Morgan, Curtis & Warner, Jeff
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
UNT Honors Day: 2016 captions transcript

UNT Honors Day: 2016

Recording of the 2016 UNT Honors Day event held at Winspear Hall to honor accomplished and distinguished students, faculty, and staff. Included are musical performances, speeches and introductions from Provost and Vice President Dr. Finley Graves and Dr. Elizabeth With, a keynote speech from Wisteria Wells and Ke'Yonna Hall, as well as the recognition and presentation of awards and honors to students and teachers alike.
Date: April 1, 2016
Creator: University of North Texas. College of Music.
Object Type: Video
System: The UNT Digital Library
Poststructuralist Critical Rhetorical Analysis as a Problem Analysis Tool: A Case Study of Information Impact in Denton’s Hydraulic Fracturing Debate (open access)

Poststructuralist Critical Rhetorical Analysis as a Problem Analysis Tool: A Case Study of Information Impact in Denton’s Hydraulic Fracturing Debate

Energy and the natural environment are central concerns among stakeholders across the globe. Decisions on this scale often require interaction among a myriad of institutions and individuals who navigate a complex variety of challenges. In Denton, Texas in 2014, voters were asked to make such a decision when tasked with a referendum to determine whether the city would continue to allow hydraulic fracturing activity within its borders. For social scientists, this situation requires further analysis in an effort to better understand how and why individuals make the decisions they do. One possible approach for exploring this process is a method of poststructuralist critical rhetorical analysis, which is concerned with how individuals’ identities change through interaction with institutions. This study reflects upon the texts themselves through a poststructuralist critical rhetorical analysis of images employed by those in favor of and those against Denton’s ban on hydraulic fracturing in an attempt to identify images that alter the grid of intelligibility for the audience. The paper includes deliberation about the relative merits, subsequent disadvantages, and possible questions for further study as they relate to the theoretical implications of critical rhetorical analysis as information science. Ultimately, the study identifies poststructuralist critical rhetorical analysis as …
Date: May 2016
Creator: Sykes, Jason
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 44, Ed. 1 Monday, May 9, 2016 (open access)

Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 44, Ed. 1 Monday, May 9, 2016

Daily newspaper from Henderson, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: May 9, 2016
Creator: Linebarger, Les
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 31, 2016 (open access)

The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 31, 2016

Weekly newspaper from Kermit, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: March 31, 2016
Creator: Parks, Phil
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 21, 2016 (open access)

Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 21, 2016

Daily newspaper from Henderson, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: April 21, 2016
Creator: Linebarger, Les
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 14, 2016 (open access)

The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 14, 2016

Weekly newspaper from Kermit, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: April 14, 2016
Creator: Parks, Phil
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gainesville Daily Register (Gainesville, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 117, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 13, 2016 (open access)

Gainesville Daily Register (Gainesville, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 117, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 13, 2016

Daily newspaper from Gainesville, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: February 13, 2016
Creator: Trigg, Delania
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 43, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 8, 2016 (open access)

Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 43, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 8, 2016

Daily newspaper from Henderson, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: May 8, 2016
Creator: Linebarger, Les
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 280, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 14, 2016 (open access)

Henderson Daily News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 280, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 14, 2016

Daily newspaper from Henderson, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: February 14, 2016
Creator: Linebarger, Les
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 19, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 20, 2016 (open access)

Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 19, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Weekly newspaper from Elgin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: April 20, 2016
Creator: Lucio, Rachel
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 41, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 2016 (open access)

Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 41, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 2016

Weekly newspaper from Dallas, Texas that includes local, state, and national news and advertising of interest to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.
Date: February 19, 2016
Creator: Nash, Tammye
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature: House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs (open access)

Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature: House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs

Report from the Texas House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs describing the group's goals, activities, accomplishments, and other information, for review by the 85th Texas Legislature.
Date: December 2016
Creator: Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 13, 2016 (open access)

Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 126, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Weekly newspaper from Elgin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: January 13, 2016
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History