Life Sciences Commons^™

From Second Creek To New Pangea: A Multi-Scale Analysis Of Patterns And Trends In Aquatic Biodiversity, Jeffrey Robert Duncan

Doctoral Dissertations

The Earth’s freshwater ecosystems are undergoing a period of dramatic change. The simultaneous expansion and contraction of aquatic species’ ranges is leaving an indelible mark on the evolutionary histories of the world’s freshwater species. This dissertation represents a compilation of research efforts that quantify, explain, and propose policy recommendations concerning current trends in aquatic biodiversity. Part II provides an appraisal of the status of the world’s freshwater fishes that asks two primary questions—are all taxonomic groups equally susceptible to extinction, and can we identify a unifying suite of extinction risk factors? Although I concluded, that extinction risk is not randomly …

Pb1689-So You Want To Grow Grapes In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

Tennessee has a long history of grape production. Most recently, passage of the Farm Winery Act in 1978 stimuated an upsurge of interest in grape production. If you are considering growing grapes, the following information may be useful to you.

Pb1693 Sawing Logs For Quartersawn Lumber, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Hardwood lumber producers are constantly looking for ways to increase the value of their products. One way to increase lumber value is to saw logs using a method that will produce quartersawn lumber where growth rings appear parallel to one another on the wide face of the board. Quartersawn lumber is more valuable than lumber sawn using other methods and is very desirable for applications such as furniture and cabinet making. This publication describes quartersawn lumber, explains how it differs from lumber with other grain patterns and details several methods for producing quartersawn lumber on either a sawmill with a …

Setting Up The Books: A Forest Owner's Guide To Capital Accounts And Record-Keeping For Federal Income, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Financial Management

Forest owners have a number of federal income tax incentives available to them. Growing timber can 2 be an income-producing activity, with the trees being considered a capital asset. Income from sales or other disposition of capital assets is then taxed at capital gains rates, as opposed to ordinary income tax rates. Investments in timber can be recovered through depletion deductions and reforestation expenses, qualifying for a tax credit. These provisions and others in the tax code encourage timber production, which is generally considered to be good for both the ecology and the economy. This publication will assist you …

Insecticide Reduction Through Precision Foliar Banding With Various Spray Nozzles And Droplet Sizes, Christopher Wayne Smith

Masters Theses

The concept of precision foliar banding application was explored as a practical means of reducing insecticide use. Customfabricated 40-degree flat fan, standard hollow-cone, and twin-orifice nozzles applied over-the-row bands at 94 L ha-1, based on treated area in band, in field and controlled environment tests. Standard broadcast 80-degree hollow-cone and flat fan nozzles served as control treatments.

Field testing under 6 kmh-1 wind conditions produced WSP coverage, as determined by digital image analysis, of 38, 31, 30, 28, and 19 percent for banded 40-degree flat fan, broadcast 80-degree flat fan, banded twin orifice, broadcast twin orifice, and 3-nozzle banded hollow …

Comparative Anatomy Of The Lower Respiratory Tract Of The Gray Short-Tailed Opossum (Monodelphis Domestica) And North American Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana), Lee Anne Cope

Doctoral Dissertations

The present study describes the lower respiratory tract anatomy of the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) and North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana). The trachea of the gray short-tailed opossum consists of 25 c-shaped tracheal cartilages. The trachea of the North American opossum consists of 28 c-shaped cartilages. The right lung of both species is separated into cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes by interlobar fissures. The left lung consists of unseparated cranial and caudal lobes. The right and left pulmonary arteries of the gray short-tailed and North American opossums divide into pulmonary lobar arteries. The pulmonary lobar veins join to …

Determination Of 17Β-Estradiol And Estrone Concentrations In Runoff And Topsoil From Plots Receiving Dairy Manure, Angel Renea Peters Dyer

Masters Theses

Because of increasing concern about estrogenic compounds in animal wastes, the objective of this research was to measure 17β-estradiol and estrone concentrations in runoff and soil from plots fertilized with liquid dairy waste. Nine plots were established at The University of Tennessee Dairy Experiment Station located at Lewisburg, Tennessee, and dairy manure was applied to six of the nine plots in November, 2000. Three of the plots received manure at a rate sufficient to meet the nitrogen (N) requirement for winter wheat; three received manure at a rate sufficient to meet the phosphorus (P) requirement for winter wheat, and three …

Cost Comparisons Considering Herd Size, Transport Distance, And Nitrogen Versus Phosphorus Application Rates For Liquid Dairy Waste Transport And Application Systems, Adam Shane Daugherty

Masters Theses

A cost estimation model was developed that compares the economics associated with different animal waste transport and application systems used by confined animal operations. The model was constructed from data collected from individual farmers, equipment manufacturers, and gleaned from waste management system manuals. The model was developed to provide animal waste transport and application cost estimates for both liquid and dry waste management systems. The model was developed in Microsoft Excel. Using facility specific information, the model estimates the costs associated with various components of manure transport and application systems. Specifically, the model enables comparisons of capital costs, annual operating …

Sp592-Site Selection Factors For New Poultry Facilities, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Animals/Livestock

Proper siting of new poultry facilities is extremely important. Problems can result if facilities are built in unfavorable locations. The best time to handle potential problems is BEFORE they occur. Proper planning will help prevent environmental problems from occurring, and will save time, money and headaches in the long run.

Pb1215-Disease Control In The Home Vegetable Garden, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Control of vegetable pests (diseases, insects, weeds) involves a total production program that includes both chemical and non-chemical means of pest control. The establishment of a healthy, vigorous crop is central to a successful pest control program. Production practices such as maintaining proper soil pH and fertility are helpful in reducing potential losses from all types of pests.

This publication deals mainly with chemical and biological pest control, because these recommendations change more often than do cultural practices. Cultural practices of pest control are extremely important and are addressed throughout the publication.

Functional Analysis Of Drosophila Rad51 Protein In Dna Repair, Recombination, And Apoptosis, Siuk Yoo

Doctoral Dissertations

Among proteins involved in homologous recombination, Rad51 is an essential enzyme possessing DNA binding, ATPase, and strand transfer activities. The fu nctions of Rad51 in repair of double-strand breaks (DSB) and meiotic recombination have been extensively studied in yeast and mammals, but little is known about its roles in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. In this study, we examine the roles of Rad51dm protein in Drosophila melanogaster.

Like other Rad51 proteins, Rad51dm is involved in DNA repair and recombination. The function of Rad51dm in DNA repair was demonstrated by examining the sensitivity of transgenic animals to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) …

Analysis Of Events Governing The Meiotic Division In Mouse Spermatocytes, Shannon Stewart Eaker

Doctoral Dissertations

The meiotic division is essential for successful gametogenesis. However, many events occurring during male and female meiotic development remain poorly understood. While it is known that chromosomes must pair, recombine, and segregate to form gametes, critical questions remain. How and when do these events occur with respect to each other? What mechanisms monitor their developmental success? Insight into these questions is provided in this dissertation, using the mouse spermatocyte as a model. The purpose of this work is to aid in the overall understanding of mammalian meiosis.

After an introduction into mammalian meiosis in Part I, a temporal order of …

An Evaluation Of Character Counts!Sm Character Education Activities In Relationship To The Behavior Of Elementary School Children In Sullivan County Tennessee, Justin A. Wiebers

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between schools’ level of involvement in CHARACTER COUNTS! activities and the desired behaviors of elementary school students in Sullivan County, Tennessee. General perceptions of educators and administrators about the CHARACTER COUNTS! program were collected from 328 respondents from 27 public elementary schools, and a profile of school involvement in CHARACTER COUNTS! activities was developed for schools with the best student behavior.

While it cannot be stated that CHARACTER COUNTS! caused changes in behavior, this study revealed a substantial positive correlation (P=.64) between school involvement in CHARACTER COUNTS! activities and desired …

Anthropogenic Impacts On Riparian Forest Loss In East Tennessee: A Gis Analysis, Karen Burhenn

Masters Theses

Streamside, or riparian, areas are vital components of a healthy watershed system. Natural riparian areas perform multiple ecosystem functions including filtering sediments and pollutants from upland areas, stabilizing banks and floodplains, regulating stream temperatures, and providing habitat for many native and migratory species. In eastern Tennessee, natural riparian forests have declined by 40 to 60 percent (SAMAB 1996b). I examined the spatial distribution of humans and their land-cover changing activities in an effort to contribute to a better understanding of the loss of riparian forests in the eastern Tennessee region.

This research is centered in the Central Ridge and Valley …

Alcohol And Dietary Choices Among College Students, Melanie Moyers

Masters Theses

A descriptive survey was distributed to a cross-sectional sample of undergraduate students during the time period of April 1998 to May 1998 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The purpose of the research was to compare prevalence of binge drinking with the national average, and to explore and identify relationships between alcohol consumption and nutritional risks.

The student population had significantly lower prevalence of binge drinking (31.9%) than the national average (41%). However, binge drinking among women in the population was lower than the national studies (22%) while binge drinking among men was higher (53%). The members of fraternities …

Effects Of Management And Environmental Conditions On Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria Associated With Swine, Patricia Cullen

Masters Theses

Weaned pigs (n=58) were challenged with nalidixic resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and separated into eight treatments to determine the effects of various environmental and management conditions on the development of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic and commensal bacteria. Apramycin sulfate was administered in the feed (150g/ton) two days postchallenge for a period of 14 days with the exception of one control group. Treatments included: control without apramycin (control-1); control with apramycin (control-2); and apramycin plus either cold stress, heat stress, overcrowding, intermingling, poor sanitation, and intervention with oxytetracycline (100 ug / ton). Treatments were applied 5 days post initial antibiotic …

Pathogenesis Of Acid Injury In The Non-Glandular Region Of The Equine Stomach: Implications In Gastric Ulcer Disease, Jenifer Ann Nadeau

Doctoral Dissertations

Forty-three horses were necropsied to determine if volatile fatty acids (VFAs)produced from fermentation of carbohydrates (acetic, butyric, propionic, and valeric acids) cause cellular injury which leads to gastric ulceration when exposed to the nonglandular mucosa of the stomach at pH 1.5, 4 and 7. In part I of the study thirty horses were necropsied to determine if acetic, butyric, or propionic acid could cause cellular injury. In part 2 of the study thirteen horses were necropsied to determine if acetic, butyric, propionic or valeric acid could cause cellular injury. In both studies the stomach was removed within one hour of …

Number 42 (July 2001), Southern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

(July 2001) - Longitudinal succession of fishes in the Dan River in Virginia and North Carolina (Blue Ridge/Piedmont Provinces). By Fred C. Rohde, Rudolf G. Arndt and Scott M. Smith

Minutes, Business Meeting, 26th Annual Meeting, Southeastern Fishes Council Regional Southeastern Fishes Council Reports

Front Matter, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Minutes, Business Meeting, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Longitudinal Succession Of Fishes In The Dan River In Virginia And North Carolina (Blue Ridge/Piedmont Provinces), Fred C. Rohde, Rudolf G. Arndt, Scott M. Smith

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Regional Southeastern Fishes Council Reports, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

News And Notes, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Sp277-J-Black Rot Of Grape, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Black rot, caused by the fungus Guignardia bidwellii, is the most serious disease of grape in Tennessee. Precautions must be taken to protect grape plantings from this disease. The black rot fungus can attack many plant parts, including the leaves, shoots, flowers, tendrils and fruit. The most damaging aspects of black rot are rotting of the berries and loss of leaves.

Association Of Mesenchymal Cells And Immunoglobulins With Differentiating Epithelial Cells, Antonin Bukovsky, Michael R. Caudle, Jeffrey A. Keenan, Nirmala B. Upadhyaya, Stuart E. Van Meter, Jay Wimalsena, Robert F. Elder

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- General Biology

Background

Mesenchymal-epithelial interactions play an important role in the physiology and pathology of epithelial tissues. Mesenchymal cells either associate with epithelium basement membrane [pericytes and perivascular monocyte-derived cells (MDC)] or reside within epithelium (MDC and T cells). Although intraepithelial mesenchymal cells were suggested to contribute to the epithelium physiology, their association with particular steps in differentiation of epithelial cells, interactions among themselves, and their fate remain unclear. We studied epitopes of mesenchymal cells and their products (immunoglobulins) in stratified epithelium of uterine ectocervix, which is one of the prototypes of complete cellular differentiation from stem into the aged cells.

Results …

Pb443 Corn Production In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Corn is the most important grain crop in Tennessee. The total acreage of corn grown for grain and silage has been about 700,000 to 900,000 since 1970, with the silage acreage remaining about 140,000 acres each year since 1970. This is about one-fourth the total acreage of corn grown in Tennessee in 1930, but increased yields have tended to offset reduced acreage.

The average yield 55 years ago was about 20 to 25 bushels per acre, which was no better than the yields recorded 100 years ago. Tennessee farmers increased corn yields from 35 bushels per acre in 1955, to …

Markov Set-Chains As Models Of Plant Succession, Corey L. Samuels

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation I examine Markov set-chains as a new approach for modeling plant succession. Set-chains are an extension of Markov chains, due to Hartfiel (1991, 1998), that makes it possible to model succession when transition probabilities are uncertain or fluctuating. In Markov set-chains each transition probability is expressed as an interval containing the range of all possible values for that parameter. In turn, a set-chain predicts community composition as a range of possible frequencies for each species. First, I give an introduction to Markov set-chains and methods for iterating and finding their asymptotic behavior. I demonstrate the formulation and …

Markov Set-Chains As Models Of Plant Succession, Corey L. Samuels

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation I examine Markov set-chains as a new approach for modeling plant succession. Set-chains are an extension of Markov chains, due to Hartfiel (1991, 1998), that makes it possible to model succession when transition probabilities are uncertain or fluctuating. In Markov set-chains each transition probability is expressed as an interval containing the range of all possible values for that parameter. In turn, a setchain predicts community composition as a range of possible frequencies for each species. First, I give an introduction to Markov set-chains and methods for iterating and finding their asymptotic behavior. I demonstrate the formulation and …

Pb1608 Soybean Production In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The soybean plant belongs to the Leguminosae family. All plants in this family are known as legumes and many have the ability to supply their own nitrogen needs. The average composition of a soybean seed is 40 percent protein, 21 percent oil, 34 percent carbohydrates and 5 percent ash on a dry matter basis. Soybeans grown in Tennessee average about 20 percent oil and 40 percent protein. Soybeans are an important crop in Tennessee and rank in the top three for cash receipts for row crops each year. Soybean acres harvested for the last five years have ranged from 950,000 …

Pb1541-Planning And Building Fences On The Farm, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Animals/Livestock

Many innovations have occurred in the fencing industry in recent years, giving producers an array of options for fences to confine and protect livestock. Whether used as permanent, periphery boundaries, temporary pasture dividers or to encircle a house, fences need careful planning and construction for efficient usefulness, long life and low maintenance.

Several decisions must be made when installing fencing. First, what is the fence to be used for? For example, is it going to be a boundary fence or a cross-fence to divide a pasture? Is the fence for sheep, cattle, horses or something else? What type of fence …