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Chemical And Biological Control Of Pythium Root Rot Of Tobacco Seedlings, Choo Yieng Hamilton

Masters Theses

There has been a substantial increase in the utilization of float systems to produce tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) seedlings for transplant by tobacco producers within the last ten years. In Tennessee alone, 80% of transplants were produced in the float system in 1999. Pythium species are some of the most common and destructive root-infecting pathogens of tobacco grown in float culture. They cause damping-off and root rot of seedlings. Pythium spp. infect seedlings by motile spores called zoospores. Characteristic symptoms of Pythium disease are stunting, yellowing and wilting of leaves and severe reduction of the root system. Besides cultural …

Reduction Of Yb(Iii) To Yb(Ii) To Separate Yb From Other Lanthanides, Rebecca Joan Mack

Masters Theses

The electrolytic reduction of Yb(III) to Yb(II) using a Pb cathode was performed in various media. The effects of the medium, current and pH on the formation of Yb(II) were studied. The best experimental conditions for the reduction of Yb(III) to Yb(II) and the subsequent precipitation of YbSO₄ were found to be ~0.11M YbCl₃*6H₂O in 1.1 ethanol dioxane, direct current of -20 mA and a pH of approximately 2.0, followed by precipitation with 3.0M (NH₄)2SO₄ Under these conditions, a maximum of 30% of the Yb(II) could be removed from the system.

Sequential Convergence With Exceptional Sets, Chaka Karieem Edwards

Masters Theses

The classical definition of convergence of a sequence {s„} of real numbers may be extended by permitting the defining inequality to fail on an infinite, but relatively small,exceptional set of integers n. In this thesis the cases of exceptional sets of linear density zero and logarithmic density zero are considered. Basic properties of classical convergence are shown to hold for these cases, an example is constructed to show that a set of logarithmic density zero need not have linear density zero, and for each case a Tauberian condition sufficient to deduce classical convergence is provided.

F/A-18 Single-Engine Minimum Control Airspeed : An Investigation Of Angle-Of-Attack And Lateral Weight Asymmetry Effects, David L. Woodbury

Masters Theses

F/A-18 developers failed to identify the dependency of single-engine control on angle-of-attack and lateral weight asymmetry despite numerous test efforts and nearly twenty years of operational experience. This failure was the result of over reliance on classic flight test techniques, a lack of understanding with regard to certain F/A-18 specific characteristics, and insufficient emphasis on constraints imposed by the shipboard environment.

A discovery made during testing of the navy's newest aircraft, the F/A-18E/FSuper Hornet,prompted another investigation into the single-engine control characteristics of the original Hornet. The test program used an innovative constant AOAtechnique to quantify a strong dependency of single-engine …

A Pc-Based Numerical Model Of A Hydrogen Diffusion Flame And Flare Stack In A Crosswind, Marcus Ulysses March

Masters Theses

During the component testing for launch-class rocket engines, large amounts of unburned hydrogen must be safely transferred away from the testing area into the environment surrounding the test complex. This calls for the use of a flare stack. A large diffusion flame is created at the stack exit and a majority of the hydrogen is consumed in the reaction. Hydrogen diffusion flames release an enormous amount of heat into the air surrounding the flare stack. Because of this, environmentalists at NASA Stennis space center are greatly concerned about the vertical extent and trajectory of these flames m stagnant air and …

The Kairomonal Response Of Native Predators To The Sex Pheromones Of Matsucoccus Spp. (Homoptera: Margarodidae) In Pine-Dominated Forests Of East Tennessee, John David Nelson

Masters Theses

A study was initiated in May of 1999 to assess the effectiveness of sex pheromone traps in attracting predators of Matsucoccus spp., and evaluate those predators as potential biological control agents for soft-bodied insect pests of southern Appalachian forests. Sixty sticky traps equipped with rubber dispensers saturated with the pheromones were exposed at monthly intervals in mixed pine stands at six sites along an elevation gradient m the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the University of Tennessee Arboretum, and the Foothills Parkway Captured predators included hemerobiids, anthocorids, and coniopterygids.

A total of 514 hemerobiids were captured during the 1999 and …

Structure, Stratigraphy, And Migmatization In The Southwestern South Mountains, North Carolina, Scott Travis Williams

Masters Theses

This thesis presents stratigraphic, structural, and geochemical data for parts of the Glenwood, Dysartsville, and Sunshine 7.5-minute quadrangles, which are located in the southwestern South Mountains of western North Carolina. The study area, roughly equal to one 7.5-minute quadrangle, is located within the Inner Piedmont geologic province of the southern Appalachians. Detailed geologic mapping confirms the presence of a stratigraphic sequence that is established in other portions of the Inner Piedmont. This stratigraphic sequence consists of the Talluluah Falls Formation and overlying Poor Mountain Formation. Mapping has also determined the eastern extent of the Dysartsville orthogneiss and revealed the presence …

Determinants Of Ultimate Ph Of Pork Longissimus Muscle, Jun Yang

Masters Theses

Annually, millions of dollars are lost due to the variation in meat quality. Ultimate pH (pHu), one of the most important quality traits, has a great influence on water holding capacity and meat color. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) quality solutions team suggested an ultimate pH within the range of 5.6-5.9 as optimum. The project of the study was to evaluate the possible determinants of ultimate pH. The effects of glycolytic potential (GP), creatine phosphate (CP), buffering capacity (BFC) and titratable acidity (TA), and the enzyme activities of phosphorylase (GPa) and AMP deaminase (AMPD) were investigated. Sixty pigs of …

An Analysis Of Factors Related To Areawide Highway Traffic Congestion, Elisabeth Anne Hahn

Masters Theses

Roadway expansion is a traditional strategy used to accommodate travel demand and reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. The potential negative effects of roadway expansion and mounting concerns over urban area congestion, however, have spurred research into the factors that control congestion.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between traffic congestion, travel demand, and supply of roadways. To accomplish this goal, data for the top 138 urbanized areas (by population) were assembled for developing a least squares regression model. Travel Rate Index,a congestion measure developed by researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute, was selected as the …

A Flight Test Methodology For The Determination Of A Reference Approach Airspeed For General Aviation Aircraft Modified With A Stol Kit, Ryan J. Smith

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a test methodology for establishing reference approach speeds for General Aviation (GA) aircraft that have been modified with Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) kits. Supplemental certification information included with the kits usually lists aircraft performance after modification as "equal to or better than" performance listed in the original aircraft flight manual. As the aircraft may still be operated in accordance with the original flight manual procedures, the supplemental information may not address changes in aircraft operational speeds. However, to realize actual performance gains, pilots must become familiar with tire stability and control characteristics of the aircraft …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Monitoring Dynamic Behavior Of A Fluidized Bed Using A Piezoelectric Accelerometer, Tiang-Yong Teh

Masters Theses

Results obtained from the Geldart’s group B and D solids in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed indicate that significant information about the bed dynamics can be obtained from acoustic sensors. With simple pre-processing of acoustic signals with RMS filtering, the bed dynamics can be monitored by extracting the low-frequency acoustic-intensity modulation. Both linear and nonlinear analysis techniques show that pressure and acoustic signals share significant amount of information by characterizing various fluidization regimes associated with near minimum fluidization, developing slugs, slugging, and breaking slugs. Results demonstrate that piezoelectric accelerometer can be a useful tool for monitoring the dynamic behavior of fluidized …

Apparel Online Shopping : Perceived Risk And Risk Relievers, Siriporn Sangratwatchara

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine whether product characteristics can alleviate some of the perceived risks in consumers' minds when they are involved in online apparel shopping. And if it could, to what degree Extrinsic product characteristics will be mostly used in this study. This is because the lack of touching and inspection of the product directly for online shopping makes the extrinsic characteristics dominate over the intrinsic characteristics, and consumers usually rely on the intrinsic factors when they shop in a traditional mode (Levy, 1999). The two most important extrinsic factors' once and brand name, which were …

Instabilities Of A Rich Premixed-Flame, Jonathan Robert Vincent

Masters Theses

The instabilities of rich premixed-flames in a low-NO_x burner operated with overfire air were experimentally investigated. Specifically, the effects of equivalence ratio and gas volumetric flowrate on the instabilities of the flame were examined. The transition from stability to instability was explored and documented as burner parameters were varied. The feasibility of using both linear and nonlinear time-series analysis techniques of pressure and light measurements to predict instabilities was also studied. A frequency generator was also used to further study the effects that very small changes in equivalence ratio have on flame stability. Using overfire air the flame had …

Forgiveness As A Coping Strategy, Karen Elizabeth Friedman

Masters Theses

The process of forgiveness is receiving increased research attention as both a state and a trait. Some observers have noted the conceptual similarity between forgiveness and some strategies of coping. The purpose of this research was to determine the degree of convergence between measures of forgiveness and measures of coping and,in particular, to determine if state or trait forgiveness are more closely linked with either problem-focused or emotion-focused coping or their components. College students (n = 241) completed surveys containing measures of both state and trait coping and state and trait forgiveness in counterbalanced order. Results indicated that although forgiveness …

Establishment Of Wildlife Plantings Using Quality-Improved Seedlings In Conjunction With The Tennessee Seed Zone System, Jason Shane Maxedon

Masters Theses

The feasibility of establishing locally adapted wildlife plantings using quality-unproved seedlings in east Tennessee was studied on four different Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) properties. Seeds of various mast producing species were collected over a two-year period (fall 1998-faIl 1999) and were guided by the Tennessee Seed Zone System. Seeds were collected by individual mother trees.

Seven different species of oak (Quercus L.) were grown at the Georgia Forestry Commission's Flint River Nursery in 1998. The seedlings were grown by genetic family for one year to obtain optimal size. They were lifted and visually separated into three grades (cull, good, …

Leptin Phase-Advances The Suprachiasmatic Circadian Pacemaker In Vitro, Harriet Elizabeth Bergeron

Masters Theses

The primary circadian dock in mammals is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SON). Two rhythms controlled by the SON clock are feeding and metabolic rate. The hormone leptin is a potent regulator of food intake and energy metabolism. Immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization studies have indicated the presence of leptin receptors in several hypothalamic nuclei. Also, rodents with mutations in the leptin receptor or leptin protein exhibit abnormal circadian rhythms. These data raised the possibility that leptin may modulate SON clock activity. Therefore, we investigated the effects of leptin on SCN neuronal activity rhythms in vitro. Leptin was applied at …

Probing The Secondary Structure Of A[Beta] (1-40) Fibrils, Brian Anthony Bledsoe

Masters Theses

Limited information has been obtained on the secondary structure of amyloid fibrils. In the absence of high resolution structural data, several groups have proposed models for amyloid fibril structure. However,these models differ in hydrogen bonding patterns and residues that make up the rigid core of the fibril structure. Significant insight into fibril structure could be derived form a knowledge of the hydrogen bonding patterns within fibrils. Structural studies were performed on Aβ (1-40) fibrils using hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry as well as limited proteolysis under native conditions. Data was obtained which illustrate differential amounts of exchange within the monomer sequence. …

Bear/People Conflicts In Gatlinburg, Tennessee: An Analysis Of The Social, Political, And Ecological Elements, Kate Mitchell Newton

Masters Theses

Nuisance black bears cause property damage, threaten public safety, and heighten wildlife use conflicts among people across the United States. Wildlife managers have solutions to control nuisance black bear behavior and the accompanying conflicts that occur. The solutions are to require bear-proof garbage disposal, to prohibit intentional feeding, and to educate the public about black bear behavior. However, these solutions are either slow to be adopted or are ignored by local legislative bodies.

In 1999, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, adopted a local ordinance mandating bear-proof garbage containers. This thesis will explain why the city of Gatlinburg adopted the ordinance by documenting the …

The Localizaton Of A Putative Target Cell Binding Domain Of The Pasteurella Haemolytica A1 Leukotoxin Using A Neutralizing Single Chain Fragment Variable, Brian Shayne Ranger

Masters Theses

Bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis is the resultant acute respiratory disorder that arises from a variety of primary physical and infectious stressors with subsequent infection of the lower respiratory tract by Pasteurella species, the most common isolate being Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A1. Although this microbe possesses several virulence determinants, the primary virulence factor is a secreted, rummant-specific, pore forming cytotoxin called leukotoxin (LKT) As the name suggests, leukotoxin executes its effector function(s) on ruminant leukocytes. By reducing the population of functional infiltrating phagocytes, leukotoxin-induced damage leads to promotion of bacterial proliferation in the lower respiratory tract. Furthermore, leukocyte destruction enhances tissue injury …

Gis Landslide Inventory Along Tennessee Highways, Brett Tyler Rose

Masters Theses

The GIS application was for the management of landslides located along Tennessee roads. Two main goals of this application are (1) development of a statewide GIS landslide database accessible to Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) planners, engineers and geologists, and (2) production and visualization of landslide thematic maps accessible via the Internet. The GIS landslide application automates integration of location information with attribute data such as landslide type, age, scale, impact or bedrock geology. Landslide locations were collected using GPS technology and are represented in the GIS as point events on a linear referencing network model 30-meter digital elevation models …

System Redesign And Testing For The Internet : A Case Study, Janet Marie Seib

Masters Theses

This thesis is a case study of the system redesign, testing, and project management of an Internet application for a medical device manufacturer. The original software is a two-tier application written with Visual Basic using an Informix standard engine database for data storage. The proposed redesign is a three-tier web application using an Internet browser for the interface written with HTML and Active Server Pages, VB COM for business logic, and Informix Dynamic Server for data operations.

Part I of this research describes the design of the three tiers, the development of the testing model, and the description of the …

Student Perceptions Of Online And Traditional Classroom Communication, Benjamin Smith

Masters Theses

The development of online instruction and the continuing increase in the emphasis toward distance education have changed the methods by which instructors communicate with students and vice-versa. The purpose of this study was to determine student perceptions of how online instructional communication and traditional classroom instructional communication differs. The study was conducted in the setting of the undergraduate Human Resource Development, Training and Development core, and an online survey was administered to students enrolled for the Summer, 2000 semester. Major implications of the study indicated (a) that students have definite communication preferences which the educator should strive to recognize and …

Predicted Injury Reduction Of A Proposed Cockpit Airbag System In Us Army Uh-60 And Oh-58 Helicopters, Christopher Francis Smith

Masters Theses

U.S. Army UH-60 and OH-58 helicopter accident data was reviewed to determine injury mitigation effectiveness of a developmental cockpit airbag system The analysis methodology required that each accident file be completely reviewed to develop an understanding of injury mechanics and sequence. Pilot and copilot injury data and the associated injury producing mechanics were analyzed and injury mitigation envelopes considered. For the UH-60, the U S Army Safety Center accident database was reviewed via the Army Safety Management Information System (ASMIS) from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1996 yielding 55 accident cases involving 59 aircraft. Forty-four accidents were classified as …

Effect Of Butyrate On Apc-Driven Tumorigenesis, Sonia Shahnaz

Masters Theses

Butyrate is produced in the colon of mammals as a result of anaerobic fermentation of undigested fiber and has been found to be associated with the maintenance of colonic epithelium homeostasis. Studies have revealed that butyrate plays an important role in decreasing cellular proliferation, promoting differentiation, and inducing apoptosis in a number of colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines in vitro and thus provides a basis for investigators to hypothesize that butyrate might have antineoplastic properties against the development of colon cancer. The effects of butyrate on colon carcinogenesis in vivo studies still are not clearly delineated. Effects to demonstrate similar effects …

Throwing Fuel On The Fire: Reggie White's Role In The Media Coverage Of A Tennessee Church Arson, Roger Norman Hammitt

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research study was to examine the ability of a celebrity to influence how national and local media cover an event. It focused on the influence of football superstar Reggie White over the media coverage of an arson fire that destroyed the Inner City Church in Knoxville, Tennessee in January 1996, where White was an associate pastor. Also studied were the rise in church arsons as a result of the increased media coverage and the involvement of politicians, civil rights and religious organizations in the coverage. This thesis was based on my personal experience as Public Information …

A Bench Scale Activated Sludge Study Of Nitrification And Carbon Treatment Uning Municiple Wastewater, Shawn Allen Hawkins

Masters Theses

A new bench scale biological treatment system was constructed to simulate the conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment process. This system included a novel bench scale external secondary clarifier design in place of the traditional internal bench scale clarifier. Special emphasis was placed on this design feature since external clarification and solids recycle place strong selective pressure on the bacterial population within the bench scale reactor, namely selecting for flocculent species of bacteria that are predominant in full-scale reactors. EPA’s effluent suspended solids (SS_eff) standard of 30 mg/L was adopted to benchmark the success of this new bench scale …

The Utlization [Sic] Of New Urbanism In Local Land Use Planning : A Case Study Of The Township Concept In Cherokee County, Georgia., Kevin D. Keller

Masters Theses

This study examines the utilization of New Urbanism concepts into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan in Cherokee County, GA. Specifically, the study addresses the impact of the Township Concept in Cherokee County that was presented as a development model in Cherokee County's 2017 Comprehensive Plan. The study was conducted as a case study and included a literature review, research of local government records, and interviews of persons who played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Township Concept. The initiation and implementation of Township Planning Process in three individual communities were specifically researched. The study also looks …

Experimental Validation Of Computer Simulations Of Ceramic Core Injection Processes, Anh Hoang Ly

Masters Theses

In this study, a computer simulation of a three-dimensional transient ceramic injection molding (CIM) process, developed by the Advanced Casting Laboratory at the University of Tennessee for Howmet Research Corporation, was experimentally validated. Experiments were designed and conducted to measure temperature of ceramic core material as a function of time for both filling and packing stages of the injection molding process. In addition to fluid temperature, die wall temperature data were also collected for this analysis. The results were used to validate the CIM model to insure that ProCAST simulation is realistic and accurate.

The experiments were conducted under production …

Complex Scene Modeling And Segmentation With Deformable Simplex Meshes, Ernesto Lautaro Juarez Valdes

Masters Theses

In this thesis we present a system for 3D reconstruction and segmentation of complex real world scenes. The input to the system is an unstructured cloud of 3D points. The output is a 3D model for each object in the scene. The system starts with a model that encloses the input point cloud. A deformation process is applied to the initial model so it gets close to the point cloud in terms of distance, geometry and topology. Once the deformation stops the model is analyzed to check if more than one object is present in the point cloud. If necessary …

Grandchildren And Dependent Grandparents: A Qualitative Study Of Family Caregiving For The Elderly, Brooke Judkins Matchen

Masters Theses

Due to the population growth of persons aged 65 and older, there will be increasing numbers of frail, elderly requiring assistance with daily living. Often, it is families that provide care for the dependent elderly, and the typical caregiver is an adult daughter who is middle-aged. While there has been substantial research on adult children caring for parents, there have been few studies that have considered the third generation, or grandchildren, in caregiving families. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the meanings that grandchildren of physically or cognitively impaired elders give to the experience of family caregiving. …