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Scanning Electron Microscopy, Histological, And Tissue Culture Studies Of Powdery Mildews Infecting Dogwoods, Leigh Ann Klein

Masters Theses

Powdery mildew has become a common and widespread foliar disease of dogwoods. Microsphaera pulchra Cooke and Peck, and Phyllactinia guttata (Wallr.: Fr.) Lev. are two causal agents of powdery mildew on dogwood species in eastern North America. A clear understanding of the host-pathogen relationship between these fungi and their host must be obtained to advance research in disease management and resistance breeding.

A necessary step in studying a disease is to identify the causal agent. Leaves of C. florida 'Cherokee Sunset' and C. amomum (silky dogwood) were observed under a compound microscope to determine causal agents of powdery mildew based …

Isolation And Characterization Of Cadmium Hypertolerant Mutants Of Arabidopsis Thaliana, Santiago Xavier Navarro

Masters Theses

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant which accumulates by deposition from anthropogenic activities. Plants readily take-up cadmium from soil and is concentrated in shoot tissues. Plant and animal systems are affected detrimentally by the exposure to cadmium and are known to produce metal binding peptides as part of detoxification mechanisms. In an attempt to find alternative methods of soil cleanup, efforts are being undertaken to isolate heavy metal accumulating plants. Alternatively, to reduce the accumulation of cadmium in food, plants that exclude heavy metals are also being sought. The objective of this project was to isolate mutants which can be used …

The Effect Of Drying And Rewetting On Single Fiber Flexibility For Chemical And Mechanical Pulps, Mark E. Dulemba

Masters Theses

Over the years, various attempts have been made to develop methods to measure fiber flexibility. In the course of developing test methods for fiber flexibility, various studies have been performed that measure the flexibilities of different wood pulps.

In this study, never-dried individual thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and bleached kraft fibers were mounted on the tip of a glass tube submerged in water and deflected by water flow. The deflection of the individual fibers was measured using a microscope and image analysis software. The fibers were then dried, rewetted, and the deflection was measured_again. This drying and rewetting cycle was repeated …

Effect Of Insulin And Vanadate On Sre-Mediated C-Fos Expression And Jnk Activation, Francisco J. Berguido

Masters Theses

Insulin mimetics are compounds that mimic the action of insulin in the body and are currently being studied as possible therapeutic agents against diabetes. Vanadium has been identified as an element with insulin-like properties with regard to metabolic processes such as lowering blood glucose levels. Few studies have implicated vanadium in mitogenic actions such as cell growth and differentiation. We studied the action of vanadate on the expression of the insulin-induced SRE, a cis-element of the well-characterized mitogenic gene c-fos. We measured this expression by means of a plasmid containing the reporter gene luciferase linked to the sequences from c-fos …

Activation Of Signal Proteins By Insulin And Selenite In Primary Rat Hepatocytes, Ginny Lynn Garlock

Masters Theses

Insulin has a wide range of metabolic and mitogenic effects in cells. The mechanism of insulin action in controlling these events is not well understood, but involves, at least in part, a complex phosphorylation cascade. Selenate has been shown to mimic insulin on several metabolic processes, including the regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) gene expression. Its mechanism of action, however, is not known. To investigate the mechanisms of insulin and selenate action on the regulation of G6PDH, signal proteins from primary rat hepatocytes were first studied. Insulin and sodium selenate similarly increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the β-subunit of the insulin …

The Repulping Of Wet-Strength Paperboard, Angelo N. Melchiorre

Masters Theses

Beverage carrier paperboard containing the polyamide wet-strength resin is one type of fiber that is presently landfilled. In this study, it was repulped at a 15% consistency and a pH of 10 at 150° F. in a z-bar mixer. Hydrogen peroxide (HP), ammonium perswulfate (AP), sodium persulfate (SP) and dimethyldioxirane (DMD) were used during repulping. The HP was added at 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0%, based on O.D. weight of the fiber. The remaining chemicals were added at the same oxidation equivalent. During repulping, the pulp was screened using a Britt Jar to determine percent yield over time. Samples were taken …

Relationships Among Food Insufficiency, Dietary Status Index, And Food Group Intake In Women Of Childbearing Age: Secondary Data Analysis Of Nhanes Iii, Mary Leigh Miller

Masters Theses

(From the Introduction)

The purpose of this research was to study women of childbearing age at different levels of food sufficiency and to examine differences in relationships between food group intake and DSI. Specifically, this study attempted to determine if intake of a particular food group relates to dietary status (DSI) differently when women experience food insufficiency compared to food sufficiency. Examination of such relationships serves as a foundation for appropriate, population-specific interventions, policy-making agendas, and further surveillance efforts which affect women of childbearing age and their families. The following text is a review of current literature on …

Fish Fauna Of The Upper Cumberland River Drainage In Tennessee, John T. Baxter

Masters Theses

This thesis reports the findings of an ichthyofaunal survey of the upper Cumberland River drainage in Scott, Campbell, and Claiborne counties, Tennessee. This drainage lies on the Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Tennessee and has been impacted by extensive coal mining activity in the region. Present in the drainage are five listed species of primary concern to this study, Phoxinus cumberlandensis, Ericymba buccata, Notropis rubellus rubellus, Etheostoma baileyi, and Etheostoma sagitta. An additional species found in this drainage, Etheostoma nigrum susanae, is being considered for protected status. Field work for this survey was conducted mainly during May-August 1996 and May-August …

Caloric Production Of Black Bear Foods In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Robert Michael Inman

Masters Theses

Understanding energetic potential of habitat patches is important for management designed to provide adequate habitat for wildlife species. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has a high density of black bears that have been studied intensively from 1968-1997; habitats within the Park are relatively undisturbed, and similar vegetative cover types can be found throughout the southern Appalachian mountains. Black bear reproduction in the Park has been correlated to hard mast production, however little work has been done to assess the importance of soft mast. Geographic Information System (GIS) based habitat use models have been developed for bears in the Park, …

The Role Of Free Radicals In The Plant's Response To Pathogen Attack In Tobacco, Phillip L. Peters

Masters Theses

Previous studies have implicated the involvement of free radicals, specifically reactive oxygen species (ROS), as a key component in plant response to pathogen attack. In this study we examined the effect free radical scavenging compounds have on lesion area, salicylic acid levels, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in response to inoculation with Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), a viral pathogen. Hydroponically grown Nicotiana tabacum (Xanthi nc) were pretreated with one of two antioxidants, either purpurogallin (PPG) or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Antioxidants were supplied to the plant via the root system and the leaves were subsequently challenged by inoculation with theTMV. Leaf material …

The Vascular Flora Of The Upper Clinch River In Claiborne, Grainger, And Hancock Counties, Tennessee, Bobby Christopher Bullington

Masters Theses

The vascular flora along a portion of the Upper Clinch River (UCR) in Claiborne, Grainger, and Hancock Counties, Tennessee was inventoried for two full growing seasons in 1994 and 1995. A total of 526 species and lesser taxa in 108 families and 338 genera were documented. Three hundred and twenty-six taxa were determined to be county records. Six taxa are state listed as threatened or special concern species in Tennessee.

Distributions of the taxa indicate a strong northern extraneous influence on the flora. However, intraneous elements still represent the single largest category. Northern taxa comprise almost 52% of the total …

The Relationship Between Creativity And Leadership Traits Among Dietetic Professionals, Theresa Marie Cornelius

Masters Theses

The health care system is rapidly changing. In order to survive as a profession, dietetic professionals need to know about health care innovations and adapt to them. Leadership theories, such as transformational leadership may facilitate this adaptation. Transformational leaders are persuasive, creative, intuitive and have the ability to enhance these skills in others. This type of leadership facilitates organizational change and may be enhanced by creativity. Zemel and colleagues found that in Public Health Nutritionists the performance of both the innovator and broker roles were performed significantly less often than other leadership roles. These roles are paramount to dietetic professionals …

A Biogeographic Review Of The Spider Genus Agelenopis (Araneae Agelenidae), Thomas Charles Paison

Masters Theses

This study is a review of the biogeography of the North American spider genus Agelenopsis (Giebel) (Araneae: Agelenidae). Previous theoretical and empirical work provides support for the hypothesis that many North American taxa have been subject to disjunction and divergence due to the effects of Late Pleistocene glacial/interglacial cycles. A summary of the current knowledge of the biology and ecology of the 13 Agelenopsis species is developed and new distribution maps for each species are generated from published collections. A reconstructed phylogeny for the genus is created based on the adult sexual morphology of the species. A detailed hypothesis for …

Effect Of Wire Gauge, Web Speed, And Coating Solids On Leveling Of Streaks In Rod Coating, Mukhtar A. Khan

Masters Theses

The behavior of coatings and their study is becoming more important in proportion to additional use of coated paper. Good coating is key to enhance print quality. Blade coating is quite common, but rod coating is coming back for the advantages it has over blade coating. The process of rod coating is simpler and maintenance is easier. Coatings at low solids can be applied with ease and the impurities are washed away by rod rotation. The surface profile of coating is a potential concern, due to streaks in the machine direction. If the coating is immobilized before the streaks heal, …

Southern Appalachian Fir And Fir-Spruce Forest Community Changes Following Balsam Woolly Adelgid Infestation, George Francis Smith

Masters Theses

The southern Appalachian fir and fir-spruce forests are unique glacial relict communities that occupy 26,600 ha at the highest elevations of only seven mountain areas. Over the last three and a half decades an exotic insect, the balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae Ratz.), has caused catastrophic mortality to populations of the endemic Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) throughout its entire native range. In 1990 and 1991, a set of temporary and permanent plots were established at the summits of five mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains to study processes of community change in overstory and understory composition …

Influence Of Metal Ions On Brightness Reversion Of Mechanical And Tmp Pulps, Ajay K. Jain

Masters Theses

High-yield mechanical pulps possess high opacity, bulk, compressibility, and excellent printing properties as well. But these pulps are still not suitable for producing high-grade papers because of discoloration. The brightness with age may be due to the presence of lignin, hemicellulose (and even cellulose), resins, metal ions, and additives such as rosin, alum, starch, and other polymers.

This study includes the effects of different metal ions on brightness stability of wood, thermomechanical pulps, chemithermomechanical pulps, and alkaline peroxide mechanical pulps. Also studied were the influences of metal ions on bleached pulps towards brightness loss. The metal ions selected for this …

Biological Species Concepts In Eastern North American Populations Of Lentinellus Ursinus, Andrew N. Miller

Masters Theses

As part of a biosystematic study of the Lentinellus ursinus species complex, field and herbarium specimens from North America, Central America, and Europe were examined. Single basidiospore isolates from basidiomata collected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, and Austria were crossed in all possible combinations to determine the mating system operating in each population. All populations exhibited bifactorial or tetrapolar mating systems. Tester strains were then crossed to identify intercompatible populations and to determine if morphological species in the L. ursinus species complex are congruent with biological species. Three biological species were recognized …

Environmental Requirements For Sporocarp Germination In Marsileaceae, Kevin J. Kruep

Masters Theses

Experiments were conducted on sporocarps of Marsilea quadrifolia L. to determine whether temperature had any influence on the length of the reproductive period and initial sperm emergence from microgametophytes. Data were then compared to results of similar studies undertaken with the species M. vestita Hooker and Greville to determine whether there was any variation between them. A slight variation was recorded, ranging from 1 to 1.5 hours for initial emergence.

An additional set of experiments was performed with 58 year old sporocarps and approximately two-year-old sporocarps of M. quadrifolia. A difference of 2-6.5 hours for initial sperm emergence occurred between …

Adaptive Significance Of Re-Nesting Following Nest Abandonment In The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila Caerulea), Melissa Nicole Helton

Masters Theses

We studied the adaptive significance of nest abandonment and re-nesting in the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) in east-central Illinois from 1995 through 1997. This Neotropical migrant is widely distributed and highly persistent in re-nesting following nest abandonment. Nest abandonment may be a response to brood parasitism, predation or other nest disturbances. We studied the nesting behavior of gnatcatchers and investigated the cues which may elicit nest abandonment. We monitored 57 pairs of gnatcatchers which built a total of 98 nests. Twenty pairs successfully fledged a total of 63 young and overall nest success was only 8.5%. Daily mortality rates for …

Relationships Between Habitat Variables And Biotic Integrity Of The Embarras River Basin, Ann Marie Hogan

Masters Theses

In agricultural watersheds, channelization and the conversion of native vegetation into agricultural crops contribute to a loss or simplification of near-stream vegetation and a reduction in the complexity of the physical stream environment. Since changes to near-stream vegetation can have a significant effect on the stream biological community, this study investigated the relationship between a habitat quality index and stream fish assessment indices used to evaluate stream quality. Fish data and stream habitat quality data were collected from 13 sampling localities associated with the Embarras River basin. Habitat quality was measured using the Stream Habitat Assessment Procedure (SHAP), while stream …

Roost Site Selection Of The Red Bat (Lasiurus Borealis), Kenneth J. Mager

Masters Theses

I monitored the roosting activity and evaluated roost site selection of red bats (Lasiurus borealis) at study sites in Coles County during the summer of 1996. Red bats were mist-netted and radio transmitters were affixed to 12 individuals. A total of 105 transmitter-days were recorded with 75 roost locations identified. The roost types consisted of eight different species of trees, prairie grass, and residential structures but the vast majority of roosts (92%) were in large, deciduous trees. The height of the roosts ranged from 0.5 to 21.4 m, but 54.7% were between 5-10 m. Movement between consecutive roosts ranged from …

Transfer Of Immunity Against Hymenolepis Diminuta Parasites In Mice, Jerome F. Atta-Fynn

Masters Theses

The potential transfer of resistance against the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, from adult BALB/c mice to their young, was tested by comparing the worm burdens of 24 experimentally infected pups from previously infected females to 14 experimentally infected pups from uninfected females. The mean number of worms recovered, mean weight of recovered worms and frequency of mice pups with eggs of the parasite in their feces were significantly lower in infected pups from infected mothers than in infected pups from uninfected mothers. The lower worm burden observed in the infected pups from infected mothers suggested that the resistance to …

The Effects Of Habitat Fragmentation And Factors Influencing Nest Box Use On The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Volans) In Southern Illinois, Catherine J. Woodworth

Masters Theses

I studied the effects of habitat :fragmentation on the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in 30 forest fragments in southern Illinois. The fragments ranged in size from 6 ha to 5264 ha, and had varying degrees of isolation. I placed 10 nest boxes in each habitat fragment and checked them monthly. I captured southern flying squirrels in 24 of the 30 fragments, and found evidence of squirrels (i.e., nests and feeding stations) in 4 additional fragments. Thus, only 2 fragments did not show any evidence of squirrel use suggesting that the southern flying squirrel may not be particularly …

A Study Of The Lichens At Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, Eric B. Grunder

Masters Theses

In 1971, a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University, James E. Wiedman, studied the lichen flora of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois. During his study he collected, identified, and recorded a total of 64 lichen species. Since 1971, Rocky Branch Nature Preserve has experienced a dramatic increase in use by people and a concomittant decline in the quality of lichen habitats. In order to assess the decline of suitable lichen habitats and the reduction of lichen species a second study of the lichens at Rocky Branch Nature Preserve was undertaken. As part of this study, ten habitat sites …

The Determinants Of Agriculture Growth In China, 1978-89, Jiefei Qiu

Masters Theses

Agriculture growth in China during the first dozen years of the economic reform could be attributed to an increase in inputs, technological progress, and institutional innovation. This paper introduces a couple of measurements for technological change and institutional reform, which include the imported capital for advanced technology, the number of high school graduates for improved human capital and the size of the free market for price reform. The study examines the effects of education, foreign capital, and price reform in rural China using data for both agriculture and farming over the period of 1978-89. Descriptions are made regarding the changes …

Comparisons Of Genetic Variance And Physiological Responses In Two Populations Of Western Mosquitofish, Gambusia Affinis, Brett Egger

Masters Theses

The study was conducted to determine the effects of lowered genetic variance in the Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) on the physiological parameters of critical thermal maximum and minimum pH. Mosquitofish were obtained from two small central Illinois ponds, Lost Pond and Shadow Pond, by seines and dip nets. Once caught, fish were returned to the laboratory and acclimated for a minimum of five days at a temperature of 27°C and a pH of 8.25. At the beginning of each experimental run, fish were subjected to the physiological experiments for determination of critical thermal maximum and minimum pH, and then measured …

Life History Characteristics Of Daphnia Lumholtzi And Its Susceptibility To An Invertebrate Predator, Eden L. Rawski

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.