Digital Commons Network^™

Cloning And Characterization Of Three Alleles Of The Mouse Furloss (Frl) Gene, Heather Marie Dech

Masters Theses

Single-gene mutations in the mouse serve as useful models for understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Three dominant autosomal mutations affecting skin, hair and eye development in the mouse were recovered in mutagenesis experiments at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Previous work demonstrated that these mutations constitute an allelic series at the mouse Furloss (Frl) locus, and they were given the symbols Frl^a, Frlb and Frlc. The heterozygous phenotypes of all three mutants are similar; the mice appear normal at birth but gradually lose their hair until the hair follicles and sebaceous …

Seasonal Forage Availability And Diet Of Reintroduced Elk In The Cumberland Mountains, Tennessee, Jason Lee Lupardus

Masters Theses

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reintroduced elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) into the Cumberland Mountains, Tennessee over a 3-year period beginning in December 2000. We radio-collared 160 elk and monitored them by aerial telemetry from February 2001 to June 2003. Locations (n = 1450) were used in a geographic information system (GIS) to develop a core herd home range (789-ha sampling area) to assess elk seasonal forage use and availability. We monitored diet and resource availability from November 2003 to October 2004 by vegetation sampling and microhistological analysis of feces. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea; 35.1%) dominated …

Effect Of Chitosan And Water Soluble Chitosan Coatings On Quality Of Small Fruits, Jason Ki-Myung Noh

Masters Theses

Edible coating has been applied on the surface of fresh produce to extend shelf-life by suppressing respiration, transpiration, and microbial growth. The coatings, thus, can help decrease moisture and weight loss, and may offer a protective barrier against bacterial contamination and spoilage. Recent studies have indicated chitosan as an effective coating that extends shelf-life and improves a storability of fruits. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of natural biodegradable chitosan coatings in extending shelf-life and quality of fresh small fruits, such as blueberries and grapes. Fruits were dipped for 30 seconds in 1% chitosan in 1% …

Effect Of Long Term Resistance Training On A Senior Population With Trained Peer Leadership, Richard John Burke Iii

Masters Theses

Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the physical effects of a two-year peer-led resistance training and aerobic program in a group of community dwelling older adults.

Methods: Nine community-dwelling older adults (Age = 81.2 ± 7.1 yrs; Males = 1, Females = 8) were trained for six weeks, monitored and corrected for one year, and then completed two years of peer-led weight training three days/week. Pre and post training physical function assessments included 6-minute walk distance (endurance, functional mobility and gait speed), 8 foot timed up-and-go (balance and agility), back scratch (shoulder flexibility), sit-and-reach (flexibility), number of …

Human Equivalent Dose Modeling For Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation In C57bl/6j Mice, Laura Louise Jones

Masters Theses

The rodent model is often used to study the impact of dietary n-3 fatty acids on a variety of biological endpoints, and the results of these studies have been used to explain anticipated effects of n-3 fatty acid intake in humans. However, supplemental levels of n-3 fatty acids that are commonly used in rodent studies do not represent reasonable human intake, by comparison. Currently there is no standard method for the addition of n-3 fatty acids to rodent diets. We tested a mathematical model for dosing supplemental levels of α-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to rodent diets on …

Tennessee Hay Supply And Demand Response To Prices And Other Factors, Jon Edwin Travis

Masters Theses

The hay industry in Tennessee closely resembles a perfectly competitive market. There are no substantial barriers to market entry and farmers can freely exit if they so choose. A large number of firms and consumers (livestock producers and equine operators) exist. Hay is a fairly homogeneous product; although hay varieties are not identical, in many livestock production situations they are close substitutes. Producers are price takers in the market.

Currently, more information is needed regarding Tennessee hay supply and price response. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the factors that influence Tennessee hay acreage and yield, 2) …

Paper Substrates For Electronic Printing, Laura K. Wood

Masters Theses

Printed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels utilize conductive inks to provide the means for wireless flow of electronic signals. An RFID label is an identification label with an integrated circuit and antenna that transmits data via radio waves to a reader, which sends the data to a computer for processing. RFID labels allow manufacturers and retailers to accurately track their inventory more efficiently than previously possible with bar codes. However, etched metal RFID labels are too expensive for widespread implementation. The key to reducing the cost of RFID technology is replacing etched metal tags with tags printed with conducting ink. …

Reverse Genetics With Tilling In Phytophthora Sojae, Melinda Beth Tierney

Masters Theses

The reverse genetic method TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes) is being applied to the plant pathogen Phytophthora sojae. The objective is to recover gene-specific mutants carrying allelic series and/or knockout induced mutations.

A library of 3000 mutant individuals was generated using the chemical mutagens ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) or ethylnitrosourea (ENU). Gene-specific induced mutations are detected by screening a mirror library of genomic DNA. PCR is used to amplify and fluorescently label 1kb portions of specific genes from the mutant library and the PCR products are then heated and cooled slowly to form hetero- and homoduplexes.

The PCR fragments …

The Bovine Coronavirus 2'-O-Methyltransferase Binds Cis-Acting Stem-Loop Iv In The 5-Prime Untranslated Region Of The Viral Genome, Tara Beth Tucker

Masters Theses

The positive-stranded coronavirus genome, at 32 kilobases in length, is the largest known viral RNA genome, and internal cis-signaling elements directing its replication have been described only within the last ten years. The bovine coronavirus genome encodes 26 proteins in the region between the 5’-terminal 210-nt untranslated region and the 3’-terminal 298-nt untranslated region. Here, genes for 5 of the 26 proteins were cloned into bacterial expression plasmids for the long-term goals of characterizing enzymatic and RNA binding properties. These genes encode enzymes postulated to interact directly with the cis-acting RNA elements and carry out RNA synthesis, namely, the …

Potential Of Beauveria Bassiana 11-98 As A Biological Control Agent Against Tomato Pests; And Detection Of The Mycotoxic Metabolite Beauvericin In Tomato Plants Using Hplc, Wesley Aaron Powell

Masters Theses

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin is an entomopathogenic fungus with an extensive insect host range. The isolate Beauveria bassiana 11-98 also endophytically colonizes tomato and cotton plants. In our research, B. bassiana 11-98 was evaluated for its potential to control insect pests of tomato in laboratory assays. Potato aphids, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) exposed to different formulations of B. bassiana 11-98 coniidia in direct contact and contact-while-feeding assays using target concentrations of 1 x 10⁴, 10⁵, 10⁶ and 10⁷ conidia/ml. After exposure for 10 days, aphid mortality did not exceed 40% and rate of reproduction was …

Temporal Relationships Between Plasma Cortisol, Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin (Cbg), And The Free Cortisol Index (Fci) In Pigs, Rebecca Jackson Adcock

Masters Theses

The free fraction of cortisol in circulation is that which is biologically available to cells. In swine, more than 60% of cortisol is bound to its carrier glycoprotein, porcine corticosteroid-binding globulin (pCBG). The Free Cortisol Index (FCI), which is the ratio of total cortisol to CBG concentrations, has been shown in humans to correlate well with free cortisol. In experiment one, the relationship between plasma free cortisol and the free cortisol index (FCI) was evaluated in 8-wk old pigs over a 24 h period and in response to the administration of saline (n = 4) and ACTH (n = 4). …

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Small, Man-Made Impoundments On Stream Macroinvertebrate Communities And Water Quality In Eastern Tennessee, Larry Eugene Everett Jr.

Masters Theses

Semi-quantitative benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from riffles above and below four small impoundments in eastern Tennessee. Watershed and habitat surveys and a variety of field measurements were performed for each sample site and each sampling event when appropriate. Samples were collected quarterly (seasonally) during a one-year period. The goal of the study was twofold: (1) to determine whether or not differences in stream macroinvertebrate communities above and below impoundments existed and if so, (2) to attempt to evaluate the possible effects of the impoundments on the downstream benthic community and water quality.

One-hundred and fifty-four distinct macroinvertebrate taxa in …

The Subcellular Targeting And In Vivo Metal Binding Characteristics Of Agnt84 Using Transgenic Tobacco And By-2 Suspension Cell Cultures, Brook Kay Nelson

Masters Theses

AgNt84 is a nodulin protein expressed in Alnus glutinosa, an actinorhizal tree that participates with the actinomycete Frankia in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Expression of AgNt84 mRNA is exclusively found within Zone 2 of the nodules, which is the zone that contains cells in the process of being infected by Frankia. A truncated form of the protein was found to bind Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ in vitro. AgNt84 was predicted to be targeted extracellularly based on the presence of an N-terminal signal sequence. The purpose …

Validation Of Quantitative Trait Loci Conditioning Seed Phytate And Protein Concentration In Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merrill], Andrew M. Scaboo

Masters Theses

The concentration of phytate, a mixed cation salt of phytic acid (myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate), is an important consideration when analyzing grain for livestock feed rations. A discovery that SSR marker Satt237 and Satt561 are associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for phytate content in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] has been made recently. The objectives of this study were to 1) confirm those QTL in independent segregating soybean populations, 2) compare the effectiveness of marker assisted selection (MAS) or dual MAS and phenotypic selection for seed phytate and protein concentration in soybean, and 3) assess the agronomic …

Brassica Mulches And Meal Control Fungal Wheat Pathogens In Vitro And Take-All Disease In Soil, Thomas Samuel Breeden

Masters Theses

Soilborne pathogens have an economic impact on crops throughout the world. Many survive saprophytically and therefore are difficult to control. Soil fumigation and seed treatments are sometimes effective. However, they are economically impractical for many crops. Crop rotation/alternative crops are often a practical, economical, and successful means of controlling soilborne pathogens. Recent studies have revealed that Brassica spp. Inhibit a wide array of plant pathogens. Decomposing species of Brassica release glucosinolates, which are converted to isothiocyanates (ITC) by the enzyme myrosinase. The ITC compounds inhibit microorganisms. The present study had three objectives. The first was to evaluate the effect of …

Competing For Legitimacy: The Development And Evolution Of Forest Certification In Finland, Keith Wellington Mars

Masters Theses

Forest certification in Finland has developed and evolved in favor of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) and not the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The Finnish Forest Certification System (FFCS as endorsed by PEFC) certification of forests in Finland has been achieved at an unprecedented rate and scale. This event, both in process and outcome, was highly contentious and politicized. Finland represents a microcosm of the current issues in forest certification and is ripe for study. However, few attempts have been made to explain why and how forest certification develops and evolves. This thesis sheds light …

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’S Children’S Gardening Program: A Survey Of Alumni, Emily Kathleen Smith

Masters Theses

Among public gardens, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) hosts the oldest children’s gardening program in the United States. Founded in 1914, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Children’s Gardening Program (BBG CGP) has succeeded in involving a steady flow of children year after year, creating an environment where children have the opportunity to interact with nature. Approximately 35,000 children have participated in the BBG CGP since its inception in 1914. A mail survey was conducted of alumni of the BBG CGP in the spring of 2005 to identify how the program has affected their adult lives. A random sample of 700 participants was …

Low-Dose Radiation Effects On Variation In Gene Expression, With Potential Application To Network Construction, Adam Tebbe

Masters Theses

The molecular responses to radiation exposure have been an avidly pursued research topic for many years now. Most of this effort has been focused on large doses of radiation, such as those experienced during a nuclear explosion or cancer treatment. Of equal importance though, are the effects of low doses of radiation, which have received much less attention. This study attempts to analyze the effects of low-dose radiation exposure on different inbred mice strains, each of which represents a unique genetic constitution. The genetic background was found to have a dramatic effect on the variability of gene expression of the …

A Sanitation Assessment Of Food Contact Surfaces In Child Care Centers Using Microbiological Analysis And Rapid Sanitation Assays, Catherine Moore Cosby

Masters Theses

Food contact surfaces are a major concern for food service facilities in controlling the spread of foodborne pathogens. Food service areas within these facilities are considered critical to health, and therefore the microbiological quality of these surfaces within child care center food service areas must be surveyed and assessed. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to gather information as to the environmental microbiological quality of food service surfaces and a non-food contact surface in child care centers, and (2) to evaluate several rapid sanitation assays for determining the sanitation quality of food contact surfaces and to determine if …

Project Green Reach At Brooklyn Botanic Garden: A Case Study Of The Summer Program, Susan Conlon

Masters Theses

This study examined Project Green Reach (PGR), one program of the Children’s Education Program at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG). Located in Brooklyn, NY, BBG is a public garden that has served as a model program for garden-based youth education since 1914. PGR utilizes both the indoor classroom and outdoor laboratory to engage K-8 students and teachers at Brooklyn’s Title I schools in informal learning about science. Every year, PGR instructors select a small group of students into the summer program where they work in teams on garden and science projects at BBG. A case study was conducted to document PGR’s …

Relationship Of School Breakfast Environment And Participation To Child Dietary Intake And Body Weight In Five Rural Appalachian Schools, Andrea Leigh Graves

Masters Theses

Objective The purposes of this study were two-fold: 1) to assess the school breakfast environment at four rural Appalachian schools for the contribution of foods to calories, fat, and fiber; and 2) to assess the dietary intake of students in these schools in relation to where breakfast was consumed (home, school, or both places) and by student weight status.

Setting Four rural Appalachian schools with fourth and fifth grade students in East Tennessee.

Subjects 255 fourth grade children completed a 24-hour dietary recall with a trained NDS-R interviewer and were weighed and measured by the Coordinated School Health Program.

Design …

Third Year Effects Of Shelterwood Cutting, Wildlife Thinning, And Prescribed Burning On Oak Regeneration, Understory Vegetation Development, And Acorn Production In Tennessee, Daniel Stuart Gordon

Masters Theses

In 2000, a study was implemented at Chuck Swan State Forest and Wildlife Management Area to compare the effectiveness of prescribed burning, shelterwood cutting, wildlife thinning, and wildlife thinning with prescribed fire for improving wildlife habitat and enhancing oak regeneration. Treatments were implemented in four similar mixed hardwood stands with a northwest aspect.

In 2003, a follow-up study was conducted to:

1) document third-year effects of prescribed fire alone, wildlife thinning, wildlife thinning with prescribed fire, and shelterwood cutting on the density and size of oak regeneration and woody competitors,

2) quantify effects of prescribed fire alone, wildlife thinning, wildlife …

Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry Of Streams Draining The Southwestern Appalachians Of Tennessee, Gregory Scott Babbit

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the bankfull recurrence interval for streams draining the Southwestern Appalachians Level III Ecoregion 68 of Tennessee, develop bankfull discharge and hydraulic geometry relationships for streams within the ecoregion and compare those relationships to the Ridge and Valley of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland (Keaton et al., 2005) and the Piedmont and Blue Ridge of North Carolina (Harman et al., 1999; Harman et al., 2000). For this investigation, a repeatable, systematic process was developed to locate bankfull stage within the Southwestern Appalachians during the spring and summer of 2005. The intent was to …

Old-Field Community Response To Multiple Interacting Factors Of Global Change, Elizabeth Cayenne Engel

Masters Theses

Communities are structured by many factors including abiotic factors such as resource availability, and biotic interactions. Climatic and atmospheric change will affect the composition of plant communities through multiple interacting biotic and abiotic factors. Literature on the effects of single factors on plant communities is abundant yet there have been few experiments examining the effects of multiple abiotic factors associated with climate change. Moreover, plant communities are not controlled solely by environmental conditions, but by biotic interactions such as competition and facilitation. In this thesis, I used a field experiment to examine the effects of elevated [CO₂], warming, …

Habitat-Specific Diet Of The Mottled Sculpin And Its Impact On Benthic Invertebrate Community Structure, Brendan M. Earl

Masters Theses

The relationships between predators and their prey are important and influential components in the structure of ecological communities. These interactions not only impact the species involved, but can also have a wide range of direct and indirect effects that resonate throughout the community. In Michigan trout streams, one of the main predators of benthic invertebrates is the mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi) whose diet and selective predation may influence benthic invertebrate community structure. Using gastric lavage, the stomach contents of sculpins from both erosional and depositional habitats were collected and analyzed to determine the main prey types, prey preference, …

Mussel Habitat Mapping In The Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area (Biso), Adam John Fiscor

Masters Theses

A new method to map freshwater mussel habitats was developed and tested in theBigSouthForkNationalRiverand Recreation Area (BISO). The procedure involved using an Underwater Video Mapping System (UVMS) to record river substrate information in conjunction with Global Positioning System (GPS) to create

geo-referenced video footage. Simultaneously, the river surface features were

video-recorded using a similar geo-referenced video mapping system. Images from both videos were evaluated and used to produce habitat classifications in a Geographic Information System (GIS) format. The focus of the project was on mapping attributes in the river that are significant to freshwater mussel habitats. These attributes characterize river …

The Influence Of Landing Technique Versus Technique And Strength Training On Valgus Knee Deformity In Females, Kirsten R. Holmes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of landing technique training versus landing technique and plyometric/strength training program on knee valgus during landing in females. Subjects participated in a 6-week training program. A 2 X 3 repeated measures ANOVA with two within subjects’ factors Test and Group was used to test for differences in the knee valgus angle in the landing condition and the five jump condition. A 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA with two within subjects’ factors, was used to test for difference in knee extension strength and knee flexion strength. Pre-test knee-valgus 4.76 ± …

Use Of Borate In Semi-Chemical Pulping, Promodh K. Veguru

Masters Theses

The original Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical (NSSC) pulping process used sodium sulfite as the principle cooking chemical and had the disadvantage of sulfur emission problems. Considerable research was conducted to investigate the use of other chemicals including sodium hydroxide, but was not completely satisfactory. Several mills adapted a sodium carbonate based process but experienced slower pulping and reduced physical properties. The objective of this research is to study the use of borate as a pulping chemical in sodium carbonate semi-chemical pulping. The experimental plan included digester cooks; controls with pure sodium carbonate, and the other with partially borate autocausticized sodium carbonate. …

Ruminal Responses In Cattle Grazing Tall Fescue Pastures Differing In Endophyte Level, Alison Marie Corrigan

Masters Theses

Three 1.2-ha tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, Schreb.) pastures at the Blount Livestock Unit of the Knoxville Experiment Station containing 1) Kentucky-31 endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) infected tall fescue (KY-31/E+), 2) Jesup endophyte-free tall fescue (Jesup/E-), or 3) Jesup infected with a non-ergot alkaloid producing endophyte tall fescue (Jesup/MaxQ^TM) were grazed. The objectives of this experiment were: 1) to validate endophyte status of the experimental pasture through determining ergovaline levels of masticate samples and animal response using serum prolactin concentrations, weight gain, and rectal temperatures, 2) to compare weight and composition of rumen contents of cannulated …

Significance Of Cell Surface Charge On Microbial Susceptibility To Chitosan, Laquita Mai Michael

Masters Theses

A study was conducted to determine the importance of cellular surface charge on susceptibility of yeasts to the natural biopolymer chitosan. The test organisms utilized were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida krusei, and Zygosaccharomyces bailii. Surface charge was determined at various culture ages and under selected environmental conditions. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a protein standard to ensure an accurate method to measure microbial surface charge. Yeasts cells were grown to the early stationary phase, washed and suspended in potassium chloride with absorbance value (A_600nm) of 0.1 to 0.2, and charge was measured using a …