Digital Commons Network^™

Validation Of A Modified Parallel Compressor Model For Prediction Of The Effects Of Inlet Swirl On Compressor Performance And Operability, Reggie Floyd

Masters Theses

Engine inlet distortion complications have plagued the turbine engine development community for decades, and engineers have developed countless methods to identify and combat the harmful effects of inlet distortion. One such type of distortion that has gained much attention in recent years is known as inlet swirl, which results in a significant flow angularity at the face of the engine. This flow angularity can affect the pressure rise and flow capacity of the fan or compressor, and subsequently affect compressor and engine performance.

Previous modeling and simulation efforts to predict the effect inlet swirl can have on fan and compressor …

Dendrogeomorphic Analysis Of Debris Slides On Mt. Le Conte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, U.S.A., Maegen Lee Rochner

Masters Theses

Research conducted during the past 30 years tested the use of tree rings to date mass movement events in the mountain areas of Europe and the western and southwestern United States, but few studies have been performed in the eastern U.S., where debris flows, landslides, and rock falls in the Appalachian Mountains pose a common threat to human life and property. One area of particular interest is Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). For this study, I tested mature red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees located on or near a debris slide boundary on Mt. Le Conte (LC01) in …

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) Habitat Selection On A Reclaimed Surface Mine In Western Kentucky, Ashley Marie Unger

Masters Theses

Reclaimed mines present an opportunity to provide large tracts of habitat for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Reclaimed mine sites are commonly planted to non–native species, including sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix), which can inhibit growth of more desirable plant species and limit favorable structure for bobwhite. Although bobwhite are found on reclaimed mine sites, there have been no studies documenting how bobwhites use various vegetation types common to reclaimed mine land. Habitat use studies can provide information on how bobwhite select vegetation types on these landscapes and help direct future …

An Assessment Of Broiler Litter Bacterial Diversity Using Next Generation Dna Sequencing, Jack Liu Davitt

Masters Theses

Broiler chicken farms produce large amounts of litter, comprised mainly of used bedding and bird fecal waste, which is land applied. The regional concentration of broiler farms and land application of litter in the United States is a water quality concern. Geographically concentrated production also increases biosecurity concerns with potential pathogens and high nutrient contents as the litter is moved and land applied. Previous studies have attempted to characterize the bacterial population within litter because of these concerns. To date, this effort has not provided comprehensive information on the bacterial community structure within broiler litter. This lack of knowledge hinders …

Zone Refining Of Raw Materials For Metal Halide Scintillator Crystal Growth, Thomas Williams Mcalexander

Masters Theses

In recent years, scintillators have been researched for homeland security applications where properties such as high light output and low energy resolution are required for efficient gamma ray spectroscopy. Several promising scintillators, including SrI₂ [Strontium Iodide], CsSrI₃ [Cesium Strontium Iodide]_, and KSr₂I₅ [Potassium Strontium Iodide] are activated with EuI₂ [Europium Iodide]. The quality of EuI₂ raw material is generally poor and inconsistent as-received from the manufacturer. Material purity is known to affect its scintillation performance, and so purification processes have been investigated to improve the performance of Eu-doped [Europium-doped] scintillators. In this …

Effect Of Urbanization On Base Flow Hydrology Among Ecoregion Ii Catchments In Eastern United States, Barry Nolan Blanton

Masters Theses

Urbanization is a common parameter discussed among hydrologists and its effect on base flow hydrology and the 7Q10 [seven Q ten] statistic varies wildly. Population growth and urban development has grown at an alarming rate in recent years; especially in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic United States. This is due to the fact that 50% of the world’s inhabitants live in cities and over 500 cities house more than 1 million people. Development as it sprawls from urban centers is thought to have negative effects on groundwater recharge and the 7Q10. There are still questions as to how urbanization effects stream …

Detecting Tropical Cyclone Signals In Tree Rings Of Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris Mill.), Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.A., Savannah Anne Collins

Masters Theses

The study of past hurricanes to help interpret the patterns of current and future tropical storms is vital to our economy, society, and infrastructure. Understanding how hurricanes are influenced by a warm climate is critical, and hurricane reconstructions from former periods of the Holocene (the last ~11,500 yr) will be beneficial. Paleotempestology is the study of past tropical cyclones and uses historical, biological, and geological proxies to reconstruct tropical cyclone activity to create a record of historical hurricane patterns. A tropical cyclone (TC) is a chaotic weather event that is influenced by several elements, including warm ocean waters from which …

Differentiation Of Equine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Into Cells Of Neural Lineage And Their Application Into A Novel Model For Acute Peripheral Nerve Injury In The Horse, Claudia Cruz

Masters Theses

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are able to differentiate into extra-mesodermal lineages, including neurons. Positive outcomes were obtained after transplantation of neurally-induced MSCs in rats, rabbits and guinea pigs after nerve injury, but the effect of these cells is unknown in horses. Our objective was to test the ability of equine mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into cells of neuronal lineage, and to assess differences, if any, in morphology and protein expression. Additionally, we wanted to investigate if horse age and cell passage number contributed to the ability to achieve neural differentiation.

The first part of this …

Predictors Of Termination Of Parental Rights Following Allegations Of Child Maltreatment, Joanna Marie Elmquist

Masters Theses

Extant research has identified important risk factors for single and recurrent child maltreatment. Parental substance use, severe mental illness, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are among the risk factors significantly associated with child maltreatment. However, there is a paucity of research that examines whether empirically supported risk factors are significantly associated with psychologists’ assessments of parental fitness and courts’ decisions regarding reunification following allegations of child maltreatment. Thus, in an effort to elucidate the process through which reunification or termination of parental rights is achieved in cases of child maltreatment, the current study (1) examined the relative importance of different …

The Impact Of Acute Bouts Of Two Types Of Physical Activity On Cognition In Elementary School-Aged Children, Aslynn Courtney Halvorson

Masters Theses

Purpose: To determine the effect of acute bouts of two types of physical activity on cognition in elementary school-aged children. Methods: Subjects were 21 6-11 year old children (8.8 ± 1.6 years) who were free of any cognitive or learning disabilities or delays. Children participated in three randomly ordered conditions. The control condition included watching 20 minutes of TV while seated, the cycle condition included 20 minutes of cycling on a pediatric cycle ergometer at 60% of estimated heart rate maximum, and the play condition include 20 minutes of semistructured free play activity. After each condition, the children completed 2 …

Impact Of Heat Stress On Germinal Vesicle Breakdown And Lipolytic Changes During In Vitro Maturation Of Bovine Oocytes, Leah Marie Hooper

Masters Theses

The main objective of this research was to examine the lipolytic changes in triglyceride and phospholipid as well as the incidence of germinal vesicle breakdown during IVM of heat-stressed oocytes compared to non-stressed oocytes. To this end, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured for 0, 2, 4, 6 or 24 hIVM at 38.5 or 41.0°C (first 12 h only, then transferred to 38.5°C). Triglyceride and phospholipid levels decreased by 2 hIVM (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.0005, respectively) but remained fairly constant to 24 hIVM; lipid decline was not affected by maturation temperature. Elevated maturation temperature hastened meiotic progression by 4 …

Investigating The Effects Of Urbanization On Residual Forest Soils In Knox Co., Tennessee, Benjamin Lee Reichert

Masters Theses

As the process of urbanization advances across the country, so does the importance of urban forests, which include both trees and the soils in which they grow. Soil microbial biomass, which plays a critical role in nutrient transformation in urban ecosystems, is affected by factors such as soil type and the availability of water, carbon, and nitrogen. However, the microbial dynamics of urban forest soils remain largely unknown. A key mechanistic link between plant species diversity and ecosystem function is heterotrophic microbial communities that inhabit the soil and mediate principal processes that control ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. …

Consumer Perceptions Of A Brand's Social Media Marketing, Taylor Michelle Smith

Masters Theses

This project seeks to inform corporate marketing efforts, as well as add to the growing body of literature on social media marketing. The purpose of this project is to assess consumer perceptions of a brand’s social media marketing. Participants were obtained from the PetSafe® brand Facebook fan page, and a total of 195 respondents completed all measures and were included in the study. The results show that brands must be actively engaging their consumers via social media in order to compete in a competitive marketplace. Engagement can be promoted through entertaining and interactive posts, useful and relevant content, word of …

Adult Attachment, Emotional Intelligence, And Resilience As Correlates Of Social Engagement, Academic Engagement, And Confidence Of Persistence In College Students, Yacob Tewolde Tekie

Masters Theses

The current study investigated freshmen university students (N = 210) to examine the role of attachment style (anxiety, avoidance), emotional intelligence (repair, attention, clarity) and resilience in predicting student adaptation to college (academic, social, personal and academic engagement). Four multiple regression analyses were conducted for each subscale of adaptation to college. The results indicated that; a) emotional intelligence (attention, clarity) and resilience significantly predicted student academic adjustment; b) emotional inelligence (repair) predicted student social adjustment; c) emotional inteligence (clarity), resilience, and adult attachment (anxiety) significantly predicted student personal adjustment; and d) emotional intelligence (repair, clarity) and resilience, significantly predicted …

Modeling Integral Fuel Burnable Absorbers Using The Method Of Characteristics, Erik Daniel Walker

Masters Theses

Modern core designs that utilize Westinghouse fuel technology employ the use of Integral Fuel Burnable Absorbers (IFBA) that consists of very thin coatings of boron absorber material on the fuel pellets. While IFBA has proven to be an effective burnable absorber, it does present a neutronics modeling challenge. The difficulty of modeling IFBA using the Method of Characteristics (MOC) transport method is well known, and arises from the fact that IFBA is a very small, but also very important, region in nuclear fuel. Experience in modeling IFBA at the pin cell and single assembly lattice level requires a decrease in …

Social Support In An Internet-Based Weight Loss Intervention Among College Students, Yijia Zhang

Masters Theses

Objective: To assess college students’ perceptions regarding online social support in an 8-week Internet-based weight loss intervention.

Participants: Participants were those randomized to the intervention group of an online weight loss intervention targeting overweight and obese college students.

Methods: Members of the intervention group had access to a private discussion forum and weekly live chat sessions, allowing for anonymous interactions. Following the 8-week intervention, intervention group members were invited to complete an online focus group, discussing these tools. The transcripts were directly copied from the live chat conversation history. Using thematic analysis, perceptions regarding online social support were identified, coded …

Metamorphic Evolution Of Eastern Blue Ridge Calc-Silicates In Southwestern North Carolina, Northeastern Georgia, And Northwestern South Carolina, Gina Brianne Smith

Masters Theses

Calc-silicate rocks in the eastern Blue Ridge of SW North Carolina, NE Georgia, and NW South Carolina are products of contact and regional metamorphism. Two types of calc-silicates occur in this area: Type A rocks occur as contact metamorphosed xenoliths in the ~336 Ma Rabun Granodiorite batholith, and Type B rocks occur as mappable thin, elongate, ribbon-like units in the Tallulah Falls Formation east of the Rabun batholith. Petrographic and geochemical data confirm similar composition for both types and mineral assemblages that includes amphibole, garnet, epidote, diopside, quartz, and plagioclase with accessory zircon, sphene, and opaque minerals. Calcite, however, is …

The Effect Of Soluble Soybean Polysaccharide On Crystallization Behavior Of Lactose, Xueqian Shi

Masters Theses

Lactose can be recovered from cheese whey permeate concentrate by crystallization, and improving the recovery efficiency and purity of lactose crystals is significant to the profitability of the dairy industry. Lactose is also the major component in spray-dried dairy ingredients such as milk and whey powder. Lactose in spray-dried powder is amorphous and causes quality problems such as caking due to the crystallization of amorphous lactose during storage. Technologies are thus needed to improve the crystallinity of spray-dried lactose. In this study, soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) was studied for the effects on lactose crystallization in aqueous solutions and during spray …

Performance Of Beef Cattle Grazing Native Warm-Season Grasses In An Integrated Forage/Biofuels System In The Mid-South, William Matthew Backus

Masters Theses

Early season (ES) and full season (FS) grazing strategies were used to evaluate performance of stocker steers grazing native warm-season grasses (NWSG) in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in two experiments. Experiment one was conducted at the Research and Education Center (REC) at Ames Plantation near Grand Junction and experiment two was conducted at Highland Rim REC near Springfield in which Angus and Angus cross steers (268±25kg) were used in completely randomized design with three forage treatments: 1) switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.); 2) a combination of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans); and 3) …

Tillage, Cover Crop And Nitrogen Fertilization Effects On Soil Microbial Carbon Dynamics Under Long-Term Cotton Production, Molefi Jacob Mpheshea

Masters Theses

Effective soil management requires a deeper understanding of how internal soil carbon (C) works. This is vital as cycling is tightly linked with nutrient cycling processes. This study evaluated the effect of agronomic practices including tillage (no-till and tilled), cover crops (no cover, hairy vetch - Vicia villosa L, and winter wheat - Triticum aestivum. L ) and different N fertilizer rates ( 0, 34 and 101 kg N per hectare ) on soil microbial C dynamics as measured by soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) along with soil microbial respiration over the 2013 cotton growing season at Jackson, West …

Mind, Body And Soul: Performance Landscapes For A Healthy Community, Angelike G. Angelopoulos

Masters Theses

According to the World Health Organization, there have been increases in the adverse physical, mental and social conditions amongst urban populations in recent years. These issues have been attributed to impediments to healthy lifestyles, a lack of physical activity and poor food choices (WHO 29). This can lead to obesity, increasing risk of diabetes, heart disease and other health related problems. Sedentary lifestyles are worsened by modern technologies such as cell phones, computers, and video games.

Urban landscapes have evolved over time to suit the needs of various, and sometimes-competing priorities of growing cities. As a result, the health of …

A Step Towards Understanding Of The Molecular Basis Of Ligand Promiscuity In The Aminoglycoside Modifying Enzymes, Sherin R. Raval

Masters Theses

Aminoglycosides have proven very useful in the treatment of infections; lately their effectiveness has been greatly reduced due to increasing resistance. Among many known mechanisms of resistance to aminoglycosides, enzymatic modification is the most prevailing. More than 14 aminoglycoside -N3-acetyltransferases- a class of aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, are known today. This study focuses on a pair of acetyl transferases: The aminoglycoside-N3- acetyltransferase IIIb (AAC-IIIb) and the aminoglycoside-N3- acetyltransferase IIa (AAC-IIa). AAC-IIa and AAC-IIIb are very similar in their amino acid sequence and structure – yet they have a strong difference in their substrate selectivity, kinetic …

Diversity And Function Of Sulfur Cycling Microorganisms In Sediments From Subglacial Lake Whillans, Antarctica, Alicia Marie Purcell

Masters Theses

There is a growing consensus that metabolically and phylogenetically diverse assemblages of microorganisms mediate subglacial nutrient and elemental cycling. Subglacial Lake Whillans (SLW), located under 801 m of glacial ice, was recently penetrated using environmentally clean protocols. SLW is a permanently dark, cold (-0.5 °C [degrees Celsius]), and shallow (~2.2 m) freshwater lake beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The presence and diversity of key functional genes involved in dissimilatory sulfur oxidation and reduction were examined at various depths in two sediment cores taken from SLW. Our data show a diversity of sulfur transformation genes throughout the top 34 cm …

A Sensor For Oxygen In A Potassium-Sodium Alloy, Michael George Pastis

Masters Theses

This project supports a research project to determine the configuration for heat exchanger welds in a space reactor. The reactor is a sodium-potassium (NaK) cooled reactor for use on future missions on the lunar surface or on Mars. Various types of welds in Type 316L stainless steel have been positioned in a furnace which is part of a NaK test loop. The specimens are bathed in circulating NaK at 600 degrees centigrade.

Since the oxygen concentration in the NaK is a major factor in corrosion of the weld specimens, it must be carefully monitored and controlled. However, few techniques are …

Reviving First Person Understanding In Ethical Inquiry, Matthew Allen Reese

Masters Theses

Virtue Ethicists who follow the arguments set out in Elizabeth Anscombe’s Modern Moral Philosophy have consistently referenced problems with modern ethical thought. It is unclear, however, whether a single theme unites their dissatisfaction. Discovering ‘the problem’ is important for two reasons: first, it is, itself, historically interesting were there to emerge a common thread running through modernity; second, it is potentially insightful for providing future direction to ethicists. In the following two sections I argue, respectively, that such a theme underlies modern ethics and, further, that it is problematic.

In Section I, I take up three influential dichotomies. I situate …

Protective Coating Of Titanium Diboride Reinforcement Particulates For Improvement Of Titanium Metal Matrix Composite Armor Systems, Robert Cody Pack

Masters Theses

Titanium and titanium diboride (TiB₂) are two materials that have attracted interest for application in armor systems. Titanium exhibits a high strength-to-weight ratio and good corrosion resistance while TiB₂ exhibits high hardness and stiffness. Combining these into a titanium metal matrix composite would allow the superior ballistic properties to be taken advantage of in one composite material and lead to an improved armor system. The main obstacle behind doing so is the detrimental in situ reaction during processing between the Ti matrix and the TiB₂ reinforcing particles that converts TiB₂ into TiB. It was hypothesized …

Integrating Social Media In The Development Of A Special Event Population Dynamics Model, Kelly Michelle Sims

Masters Theses

With society’s increasing participation in social media, scientists now have access to new sources of data that reflect our daily activities in space and in time. Such data are plentiful and, more notably, at an unprecedented granular level. The ability for users to capture and express their geolocation through their phones’ global positioning system (GPS) or through a particular location’s hashtag or Facebook Page provides a great opportunity for modeling spatiotemporal population dynamics. High resolution population models and databases for episodic special events can be extremely useful for enhancing emergency management and response. This research assesses the feasibility of improving …

Investigating Instabilities With Hec-Ras Unsteady Flow Modeling For Regulated Rivers At Low Flow Stages, Jennifer Kay Sharkey

Masters Theses

Dams are used throughout the United States for generation of electricity and flood control. The Tennessee River Valley’s regulated river system extends through Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Of the dams in this area, 49 are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The TVA forecasts and monitors the activities related to these dams and others in the area on an around-the-clock basis to ensure maximum generation potential is attained and to prevent flooding of the surrounding cities. To best forecast hydrology for the regulated river system, the TVA chose to …

The Benefits Of Ffa Membership As Part Of The Three-Circle Model In Agricultural Education, Chelsea Brooke Rose

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the benefits of membership in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) student leadership organization among Tennessee FFA members by surveying members attending Camp Clements FFA Leadership Training Camp. The study focused on the fulfillment of FFA members’ basic human needs as defined by Abraham Maslow (1943). The three needs on which this study focused are: love and belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization (1943). The study found that a majority of FFA members’ three basic human needs are met due to their involvement in career development events, leadership positions, and other FFA activities. Of …

An Analysis Of Methodological Differences In Longitudinal Studies Of Infant Manual Preference, Sabrina Lynn Thurman

Masters Theses

Studies on infant manual laterality can be very similar in terms of the goals of the research, but they often show wide variability in several aspects of methodological approaches. This can be problematic when researchers directly compare findings from studies that employ different methodologies. The most common methodological inconsistencies are how many trials are utilized, which behaviors are observed, and how bilateral behaviors are addressed in computations. Here we aim to address whether methodological differences can lead to dissimilar conclusions about patterns in infant manual behaviors like laterality and coupling for three versus eight trials, reach versus grasp actions, and …