Digital Commons Network^™

An Accurate Vo2max Non-Exercise Regression Model For 18 To 65 Year Old Adults, Danielle I. Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a regression equation to predict VO2max based on non-exercise (N-EX) data. All participants (N = 100), aged 18-65 years old, successfully completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) to assess VO2max (mean ± SD; 39.96 mL∙kg-¹∙min&sup-1; ± 9.54 mL∙kg-¹∙min-¹). The N-EX data collected just before the maximal GXT included the participant's age, gender, body mass index (BMI), perceived functional ability (PFA) to walk, jog, or run given distances, and current physical activity (PA-R) level. Multiple linear regression generated the following N-EX prediction equation (R = .93, SEE = 3.45 mL∙kg-¹∙min-¹, %SEE = …

A Comparison Of Bioaccumulation And Digestive Enzyme Solubilization Of Copper In Two Species Of Sea Cucumbers With Different Feeding Habits., John W. Bundridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mode of feeding exhibited by different organisms may influence the form or quantity of copper that is bioaccumulated. This hypothesis has been tested by exposing 2 species of sea cucumbers, Pentacta anceps and Stichopus chloronotus, which possess different feeding modes, to varying concentrations of copper.

The digestive tract and body wall were dissected and analyzed for copper concentration using atomic absorption spectroscopy. A trend was present, exhibiting a small dose dependent curve. The results did not show a significant difference between species or treatments. This study indicates that feeding mode may influence the amount of copper accumulated but …

The Effects Of Neoprene Sleeve Application On Knee Joint Proprioception In Adolescent Female Athletes., George Ballou Barrett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fifteen female subjects ages 13-16 were recruited to determine if differences exist in knee joint proprioception, with and without application of a neoprene knee sleeve (NKS), when performing reproduction of target angle test (RTA), movement sensation test (MS) using a Biodex testing machine, and single leg standing test. Ten subjects had not worn a NKS and five subjects had worn a NKS.

After completing all IRB approved documentation subjects underwent a test trial of each of the three testing methods. Subjects were randomly assigned a number that determined if the subject began the test trial with or without a NKS. …

The Osteogenic Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Oral Supplementation Of Androstenedione In Middle-Aged Men., Troy Matthew Wills

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence suggests that declining bone mineral density (BMD) in males is related to declining circulating estrogens. The majority of endogenous plasma estrogens in males result from peripheral aromatization of plasma androgens. Thus, it was hypothesized that dietary supplementation with an aromatizable androgen (androstenedione) may stimulate increases in BMD.

BMD (measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and biochemical markers of bone turnover (1, 25 OH2 Vitamin D, calcitonin, deoxypyrodinoline, and parathyroid hormone) were assessed before and after 12 weeks of dietary androstenedione supplementation (200 mg/d). Twenty-four volunteers were randomized into either an androstenedione supplementation or placebo groups. Study volunteers also …

Analysis Of Weight-Related Advertisements And Nutrition Articles In Popular Women's Magazines, Jennifer Cardall Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether the weight-related messages and themes from food advertisements in women's magazines reinforce or contradict the messages communicated in nutrition-related articles focusing on weight control within the same magazines.

Design: Content analysis of 48 issues of weight-related content six popular women's magazines, 2001-2002. There were three magazines in each of two categories, "homemaking" and "health." All food and nutrition advertisements were analyzed (n=954), along with all nutrition articles (n=336). Advertisements and articles were identified as being either weight-related or non-weight-related. Type of food/product advertised, claims used to market the product, and …

Optimization Of Bacterial Luciferase For Expression In Mammalian Cells, Stacey Swiger Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations

This study describes the optimization of expression of the bacterial luciferase enzyme in mammalian cells. Previous attempts to express this heterodimeric enzyme complex in mammalian cells have been met with only modest success. In this research effort, several vector formats were evaluated to fully determine the optimal format for the expression of these genes. It was determined that the bacterial luciferase enzyme produced optimal bioluminescence in mammalian cells when the genes were cloned and expressed as a bicistronic transcript fused with an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). To optimize the enzyme expression further, a novel approach to codon optimize the …

The Development And Utilization Of A Survey Instrument To Determine The Acceptance Of National Standards For Technological Literacy, Robert Malcolm Donan

Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past six years, practitioners in the field of technology education within the State of Tennessee have been mandated with nearly constant curricular change with the latest being the implementation of a revised set of content standards for technology education, a major change in programs within the curriculum framework, and most recently a new name for the state-wide program. These programmatic changes, other than the name change, although they addressed the majority of the national content standards for technological literacy, were not correlated with either the programs or grade level content explicit in the national standards developed and published …

Transgenic Approaches To Study Nodulation In The Model Legume, Lotus Japonicus, Crystal Bickley Mcalvin

Doctoral Dissertations

The soybean apyrase, GS52, characterized as an early nodulin, was further investigated for its possible role in nodulation. GS52 is expressed in roots and localized to the plasma membrane. In addition, it is rapidly induced upon rhizobial inoculation. Treatment of soybean roots with anti-GS52 antibodies blocked nodulation by Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Transgenic Lotus japonicus plants were generated expressing gs52 and showed enhanced nodulation and infection thread formation upon inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti that correlated with expression of the transgene. Surprisingly, expression of GS52 allowed L. japonicus plants to be infected but not nodulated by B. japonicum, the natural symbiont of soybean. …

Elucidation Of The Players And Events Regulating The First Meiotic Division In Mouse Spermatocytes, Amy Lynn Inselman

Doctoral Dissertations

Meiosis is the process that ensures the continued propagation of new organisms and is a source of genetic variability within a population. During meiotic prophase many dynamic rearrangements occur in the nucleus of the cell. These rearrangements include homologous chromosome pairing, recombination, synaptonemal complex breakdown, chromosome condensation and spindle assembly. The regulatory mechanisms behind these complex processes at the G2/MI transition have not been completely elucidated, preventing our complete understanding of the processes. The purpose of this work is to provide new insight to the events and players involved in the regulation of the G2/MI transition in mouse spermatocytes.

Part …

Fine-Scale Habitat Use Related To Crop Depredation By Female White-Tailed Deer In An Agricultural Landscape, Kent Allen Adams

Masters Theses

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most popular game animal in the United States but is also responsible for a large amount of damage to agricultural crops. Understanding how deer use agricultural landscapes on a small scale will facilitate management. Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry collars were attached to 16 female white-tailed deer at Chesapeake Farms, Kent County, Maryland, during 2 summer growing seasons (10 in 2001 and 6 in 2002). Twelve collars collected usable data and collar success averaged 90 and 86 percent in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Mean adaptive kernel home-range sizes (25.22 ha in …

Initial Effects Of Silvicultural Treatments On Food Availability And Vegetation Structure For Wild Turkeys, Ryan G. Basinger

Masters Theses

The eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) is an important game species in the mid-South region. Many non-industrial private landowners along with state and federal agencies actively manage property to enhance habitat for wild turkeys. In the past, diameter-limit cutting has been commonly used to harvest hardwood timber on public and private land in this region. Unfortunately, diameter-limit harvests typically “high-grade” stands, leaving low quality stems and altering forest composition in favor of less desirable species, such as red maple (Acer rubrum), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), winged elm (Ulmus alata), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). While the most biologically sound method …

Forest Certification: From The Perspectives Of Fsc Certified Land Managers In North America, Angela Hartsfield

Masters Theses

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification emerged nearly a decade ago from the realms of environmental non-governmental organizations, which sought greater environmental and social accountability from the forestry sector. Since its birth, FSC forest certification has had significant impacts on land managers who have adopted FSC forest management certification for their organizations. Given limited information on impacts of certification, and in order to better understand and assess the implications of FSC forest certification on land managers and on land management; I employ a mail survey, sent to all FSC certified land managers in North America. The results of this survey are …

A Management Plan For The Imported Fire Ant (Ifa) Migration Into Gateway Communities In East Tennessee, Elizabeth Ann Long

Masters Theses

This thesis outlines a management plan for Gateway communities to use as a preparedness guide dealing with the establishment of the hybrid species of the Imported Fire Ant (IFA). The red species of IFA, Solenopsis invicta Buren, and the black species of IFA, Solenopsis richteri Forel, are located in southern Tennessee, but it appears that it is the hybrid species of their crossbreeding that is migrating into east Tennessee. The two species of IFA and their hybrid are moving north, both by natural migration and by being brought into the east Tennessee area on landscape plant materials and by the …

Utilization Of Organic Co-Solvents To Enhance Bacterial Conversion Of Poorly Water-Soluble Compounds, Miguel Rodríguez Jr.

Masters Theses

Mass transfer of a poorly water-soluble gas in fermentations can reduce the performance of bioreactors. In aerobic fermentations, oxygen often becomes a limiting factor. In the biodegradation of volatile organic contaminants, their poor water solubilities often regulate the process. In fermentations of synthesis gas to fuels and chemicals, the issue of mass transfer is apparent. Since the mass transfer rate of the gaseous substrate to the aqueous phase is often the rate-limiting step in the bacterial conversion, many different reactor configurations have been suggested. An alternative approach could be to incorporate a co-solvent, which has properties that will increase the …

Development Of A Method For Determining Antioxidant Efficacy Against Hydroxyl Radicals, Cherie Hacker

Masters Theses

Hydroxyl free radicals are biologically important molecules in that they attack proteins, lipids and DNA to obtain an electron to fill their outer valence shell. The consequences of such attacks include protein degradation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, which leads to many diseases and cancer. While there are many antioxidant assays available to predict anti-radical properties of compounds against different free radicals, the assessment of hydroxyl radical damage has been challenging. This is due to the extremely high reaction rate of hydroxyl radicals. The present study defines an in vitro assay that quantitatively detects antioxidant efficacy against hydroxyl free radicals, …

Molecular Padlock Assay Of Crude Plant Leaf Extracts For Detection Of Listeria Monocytogenes, Allison L. Hurlburt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A molecular padlock assay was developed and assessed for detection of Listeria monocytogenes that operated in crude plant extracts. The molecular padlock assay was developed by Liu et al. (1996) and modified by Lizardi et al. (1998). We further modified and described a padlock probe that detected L. monocytogenes oligonucleotide, cDNA and genomic DNA containing a 16s rRNA sequence (GenBank Acc. No. X56 153). This technique was effective in the presence of crude potato leaf extracts in contrast to PCR, which failed to detect the presence of L. monocytogenes targets in crude leaf extracts. Sensitivity of the padlock procedure was …

Analysis Of The Spatial Dynamics Of The American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) Fishery Along The Coast Of Maine, Kevin M. Scheirer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) supports the most valuable commercial fishery in the northeastern United States, thus the fishery is critical to Maine's economy. No systematic study has been done to collect information about, identify, and quantify the spatial dynamics of the Maine lobster fishery. This project helps to provide a better understanding of Maine's lobster fishery dynamics, and it will aid f'iture efforts to improve the stock assessment of Maine's lobster fishery. The analysis consists of three distinct parts: (1) comparison of data collected by two separate fishery dependent sampling programs; (2) spatial analysis of electronic logbook data; and …

The Effects Of Retinol During In Vivo And In Vitro Oocyte Maturation And Embryonic Development., Tracy Elizabeth Livingston

Doctoral Dissertations

Previous studies demonstrated that retinol administration to ewes, followed by natural service, resulted in embryos with improved competence to develop in vitro. In vivo studies with sheep and in vitro experiments with bovine embryos, were designed to evaluate the effects of retinol and to understand its mechanism(s) of action.

The primary objective of the first experiment was to analyze ovine oocyte metabolism, and to assess the effects of retinol on this process. Sheep oocytes were matured in vitro over a 24 hour period in the presence of different radiolabeled substrates. Results revealed that oxidative metabolism measured by glutamine showed …

The Effects Of Dietary Additives On The Growth Performance And Occurrance Of Resistant Bacteria In Weanling Pigs, January Beth Pulliam

Doctoral Dissertations

Three replicate trials, with a total of 36 ileal cannulated pigs, were conducted to determine the effects of including carbadox or mannanoligosaccharides in weanling pig diets. Individual crossbred (Yorkshire X Landrace X Duroc) pigs were used as the experimental units and were weaned at approximately 21 days of age, balanced by gender, genetics and weight, and allotted to pens in groups of three. Pens were randomly assigned to one of four treatments including: AB) 55 mg carbadox/kg, BM) 0.2% phosphorylated mannanoligosaccharide, RT) a rotation of the above two treatments, or CT) NRC based control treatment with no additives. Pigs were …

The Potential For Carbon Sequestration In Soils On Lignite Coal Minelands In East Texas, Cynthia Blake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global warming is becoming an ever-important topic in the world today. In 1998, it was estimated that 40.5 % of U.S. anthropogenic CO2 emissions was attributed to the combustion of fossil fuels during the generation of electricity (U.S. Department of Energy 2000a). In an attempt to mitigate emissions, electric utility companies have become interested in the potential of forests to sequester large amounts of carbon in their above- and below-ground biomass as well as in the soils. It has been estimated that if the world's deforested lands were reforested and properly managed, they could have the potential to sequester five …

Attitudes And Motivational Factors For Participation In The Becoming An Outdoors-Woman (Bow) Program, Katherine Crippens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women participating in Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program workshops were surveyed as to their attitudes, interests, and participation in outdoor recreation activities. The survey, administered to 265 women between October 2002 and June 2003, examined demographic characteristics, motivational factors for participation, similarities and differences between firsttime and returning participants, and their change in recreational behavior after the workshops. The study identified most BOW participants as urban, white, 45 - 50 years of age, highly educated and with a high household income. Most have maintained a long-term relationship, but have no children in the household. The participants had a wide range …

Study Of Trisodium Borate Formation And Its Reaction With Green Liquor In Partial Autocausticizing, Pasupathy Rajan Subbaiyan

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates a new development of autocausticizing the green liquor with trisodium borate. Sodium metaborate (NaBO₂) reacts with the sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) in the char bed at 850°C in the recovery furnace to form trisodium borate (Na₃BO₃) which in tum, when dissolved in water produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH) regenerating sodium metaborate (NaBO₂). The main objective of this research is to study the formation of trisodium borate from the reaction of sodium metaborate with sodium carbonate at different molar ratios of carbonate to borate and to determine the …

Structural And Kinetic Characterization Of Myoglobins From Eurythermal And Stenothermal Fish Species, Peter William Madden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teleost myoglobin (Mb) proteins from four fish species inhabiting different temperature environments were used to investigate the relationship between protein function and thermal stability. Mb was isolated from yellowfin tuna (homeothermal warm), mackerel (eurythermal warm), and the Antarctic teleost Notothenia coriiceps (stenothermal cold). Zebrafish (stenothermal tropical) myoglobin was expressed from cloned cDNA. N. coriiceps Mb cDNA has also been cloned, expressed at 20°C , and isolated from E. coli, but was not used in any of the functional and kinetic studies. These proteins differed in oxygen affinity, as measured by O₂ dissociation rates and P₅₀ values, and …

Specific Dynamic Action, Growth And Development In Larval Atlantic Cod, Gadus Morhua, Jessica A. Geubtner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The larval stage of marine fish is a period of rapid growth and development. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are approximately 4-5 rnm in length upon hatch and feed endogenously from their yolk sac for the first week. After this time, larval cod must successfully capture live prey to survive and to fuel high growth rates of greater than 10%d". Previous studies have found that during exogenous feeding and at growth rates greater than 8%d1 larvae experience what appears to be cost free growth, where mass specific metabolic rate does not decrease with increasing mass. Due to size and condition constraints …

Hazardous Beach-System Development In Maine And Some Outcomes Of The Sand Dune Rules, Julia M. Knisel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Damages to coastal property in southwestern Maine occur primarily as a result of storms, flooding, and erosion. Maine implemented the Sand Dune Rules in 1983 to protect sand dunes and mitigate coastal property damages. Prior to this study, no indicators of the outcome of these rules were identified or evaluated to determine the effectiveness of their implementation. Assessed building values (1987), National Flood Insurance Program claims and payments (1 978- l998), and sand dune permits (1 984- 1998) for development in Kennebunk and Saco, Maine were evaluated. A geographic information system was created to determine if (1) development on or …

Role Of Ionic Interactions In The Catalytic Mechanism Of R67 Dihydrofolate Reductase, Stephanie Nicole Hicks

Masters Theses

The goal of this research is to investigate the role of K32 and K33 in the catalytic mechanism of R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). K32 is located in the active site pore and is the only charged residue in the active site while K33 is located on the surface of R67 DHFR. Both of the ligands for R67 DHFR, NADPH and dihydrofolate (DHF), have negative charges capable of forming ionic interactions with symmetry related K32 residues. NMR, DELPHI, and docking studies predict that K32 is involved in ionic interactions with the 2’phosphate of NADPH. Docking studies also predict that K32 participates …

The Effect Of Whole Wild Blueberries On Endothelial Function Of The Sprague-Dawley Rat As Related To Cardiovascular Disease, Cynthia Ann Norton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly fed three different diets (n=8 per group), a control diet (AIN '93) (C), a blueberry diet (B) for 13 weeks and a reverse diet (R)(C for 13 weeks, switched to B for 8 weeks). Aortae were excised, rings were prepared, and two intact and two denuded rings were immersed in tissue baths containing physiological salt solution (PSS) at 37OC, aerated with 95% 0 2 and 5% CO2 (pH 7.4). Following equilibration and pre-conditioning under 1 Sgm preload, cumulative dose response curves were generated with six doses of the a-1 adrenergic receptor agonist L- Phenylephrine …

Response Cost In The Treatment Of Lunging In Dogs, Jennifer L. Sobie

Masters Theses

Contemporary professional applied animal behavior management employs a diagnostic and treatment approach for unwanted pet behavior that incorporates ethology-based causal factors. As in behavior therapy for humans, behavioral assessment includes descriptive functional analysis when possible to determine relevant contingency variables. But this information is then considered in the context of an appropriate motivational classification, such as social or prey-directed motivation or fear-motivated, and treatments are designed accordingly. A different view is that behavior can be treated effectively without a presumption of the motivation through analysis of the manifestation of the behavior itself. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of …

Dynein’S Binding Ability To Microtubules In Budding Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Gregory Lyle Waltz

Masters Theses

Cytoplasmic dynein is a minus-end directed microtubule motor that recently has been described as a member of the AAA⁺ ATPase family. Dyn1p contains four ATP-binding consensus sequences. To understand the role of each ATP-binding site we have begun to systematically mutate the consensus sequence at each ATP-binding site. Thirty-two mutant alleles have been constructed and integrated into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have examined each mutant for ability to grow in rich media, to produce binucleate cells at 12°C, ability to grow in the absence of CIN8, and ability of Dyn1p to bind microtubules. Attempts to localize …

Effect Of Partial Borate Autocausticizing On Causticizing Rate And Equilibrium, Murugavel Anbalagan

Masters Theses

Borate autocausticizing can replace - total autocausticizing, or supplement the kraft lime cycle- partial autocausticizing. Partial autocausticizing is undergoing trials in several mills and has been recently commercialized in one mill. One common observation in the on-going trials is that the causticizing efficiency increases. The primary objectives of this research are to study the effect of metaborate on the causticizing rate, equilibrium and rate controlling parameters such as the temperature, concentration and sulfidity. The aim is to define the conditions that resulted in the increase of the causticizing efficiency.

The major findings of the research are that when the causticizing …