Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Expression And Characterization Of Hyperthermophilic Aqujfex Pyrophilus Flagellin Protein In Mesophilic Bacterial Systems, Srivani V. Mukkamala

Masters Theses

The structural protein flagellin, FlaA derived from hyperthermophilic Aquifex pyrophilus, a rod shaped eubacterial species that grows near hydrothermal vents at an optimum growth temperature of 85 °C forms elongated thermostable flagella nanotubes. FlaA was successfully over-expressed for the first time using pET28c plasmid in E. coli BL21 cells at 37 °C. The protein was isolated from inclusion bodies that were solubilized by alkaline pH, refolded by dialysis and purified by chromatographic techniques. The FlaA was characterized by fluorescence, light scattering and circular dichroism. The FlaA was not in the correct folded form to form flagella as efforts to …

Photochemical Route To The Production Of Fullerene Allotropes, Olga Ovchinnikova

Masters Theses

A photochemical route to the formation of two C₆₀ molecules which are bridged by one and up to eighteen carbon atoms to form bucky-dumbbell shaped molecules, i.e., C₆₀ > C < C₆₀ to C₆₀ > C = C = C = C = C = C = C = C = C = C < C₆₀, etc. is described. Irradiation of C60 in solutions of chloroform and iodine (magenta color) with pulsed laser light from the frequency tripled (355 nm) Nd:YAG laser produced a dark crimson color. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) negative ion mass spectroscopy was used to …

Multiple Resolution Nonparametric Classifiers, David Laurence Beck

Masters Theses

Bayesian discriminant functions provide optimal classification decision boundaries in the sense of minimizing the average error rate. An operational assumption is that the probability density functions for the individual classes are either known a priori or can be estimated from the data through the use of estimating techniques. The use of Parzen- windows is a popular and theoretically sound choice for such estimation. However, while the minimal average error rate can be achieved when combining Bayes Rule with Parzen-window density estimation, the latter is computationally costly to the point where it may lead to unacceptable run-time performance. We present the …

Development Of Novel Synthetic Methods Utilizing Organometallic Reagents And Total Synthesis Of Eupomatilone 2, Chunlan Chen

Masters Theses

This dissertation summarizes the development of novel synthetic methods involving organometallic reagents and their application in the total synthesis of the natural product eupomatilone 2. These newly discovered reactions include the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of allyl acetates with organosiloxanes and the diastereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-a-methylene-y-lactones utilizing Baylis-Hillman adducts as precursors. Another important aspect of the research is the application of some of the methods in total synthesis of eupomatilone 2.

The new synthetic methodologies involving organometallic reagents developed in this dissertation are important transformations in modern organic synthesis. Mild reaction conditions, tolerance of various organic functional groups, and high …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Inosamines, Sing Raj Gurung

Masters Theses

This project is concerned with the preparation of scyllo-inosarnine hydrochloride 6, a biologically active compound, which bears six successive stereogenic centers. The synthesis of this compound would help elucidate the involvement of inosamines in biological nitrogen fixation. myo-Inositol served as the starting material to synthesize target compound 6. Regioselective protection and deprotection of myo-inositol provided azide 43 as key intermediate. In the final steps deprotection of five benzyl groups and reduction of azido group was achieved by catalytic hydrogenation. scyllo-Inosamine hydrochloride 6 was fully characterized by m.p., ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, EA and via …

Thermodynamics Of Metals Adsorption Onto Uranium Dioxide, Koi Ling Lim

Masters Theses

Wastes and pollution containing uranium are released to the environment through mining, ore processing, industrial manufacture of nuclear fuel and weapons materials, and the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. There are a wide variety of processes that can affect UO₂ stability. This research focuses on the surface reactivity of UO₂ in reducing aqueous solutions, with an emphasis on assessment of the pH-dependent surface charge, reactive surface area, and the adsorption of dissolved lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), lanthanum (La) onto UO₂ particles. A surface complexation model was used to explain the adsorption and titration phenomena of UO_{2 …}

Neutron Diffraction Study Of Heavy Water Intercalation In Superconducting Deuterated Sodium Cobaltate Na0.35Coo21.4d2O, Cinzia Metallo

Masters Theses

When Na-deficient Na_xCoO₂ is intercalated with water¹ or heavy water², it becomes a superconductor. The maximum critical temperature of 4.5 K is found for the composition Na_xCoO₂yD₂O (x= 0.3 and y=1.4). In spite of its low transition temperature, several similarities with high temperature superconducting cuprates have raised interest in this compound. Nevertheless, up to now, a clear understanding of the role of water has not been achieved.

Since superconductivity appears only when water is inserted in the parent compound, the goal of this research work was to understand …

Applications Of Mass Spectrometry To Synthetic Copolymers, Elizabeth Angela Stewart

Masters Theses

Over the last decade, application of mass spectrometry has grown immensely especially in polymer characterization. The focus of this thesis is to assess and extend the applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) in the analysis of synthetic copolymers.

Characterization of a non-ionic copolymer was attempted. The copolymer was styrene-co-maleic anhydride, which is in a class of copolymers that are used for commercial applications where low viscosity, high polarity and/or high reactivity are needed. MALDI-TOF MS was employed to obtain weight and number average molecular weight values (M_w and …

Variational And Partial Differential Equation Models For Color Image Denoising And Their Numerical Approximations Using Finite Element Methods, Miun Yoon

Masters Theses

Image processing has been a traditional engineering field, which has a broad range of applications in science, engineering and industry. Not long ago, statistical and ad hoc methods had been main tools for studying and analyzing image processing problems. In the past decade, a new approach based on variational and partial differential equation (PDE) methods has emerged as a more powerful approach. Compared with old approaches, variational and PDE methods have remarkable advantages in both theory and computation. It allows to directly handle and process visually important geometric features such as gradients, tangents and curvatures, and to model visually meaningful …

Origin And Tectonic Evolution Of The Southern Appalachian Neoacadin Crystalline Core: Evidence From The Geology Of The Gilreath 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, North Carolina, Crystal Gayle Wilson

Masters Theses

Detailed geologic mapping of the Gilreath 7.5-minute quadrangle recognizes the northernmost continuation of the Brindle Creek fault, a terrane boundary that separates Neoproterozic-Ordovician metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the western Tugaloo terrane (western Inner Piedmont) from Silurian-Devonian metasedimentary rocks and Devonian-Mississippian anatectic granitoids of the Cat Square terrane (eastern Inner Piedmont). The Brindle Creek fault is folded in the study area and exposes the Ordovician Brooks Crossroads Granite in a reentrant. Low high-field strength element concentrations and a flatter rare earth element patterns typical of western Inner Piedmont granitoids, support a footwall setting for the Brooks Crossroads Granite.

New geochemical …

Four-Dimensional Mvct Imaging And Spatial Translation Of Helical Tomotherapy Dose Distributions Using Sinogram Modification, Samuel Scott Outten

Masters Theses

Helical tomotherapy systems have the unique attribute of using sinograms as a machine input and a machine output. These sinograms have well understood properties that may allow for operational changes that simplify and/or improve radiation treatment.

In the first part of this work, the detector array output sinogram of an MVCT imaging study is used to produce images of an object at different locations along a pattern of motion and the multi-leaf collimator (MLC) control sinogram is used to translate dose distributions in space. A temporal re-binning algorithm was written that divided the MVCT sinogram projections into positional bins that …

Petrogenesis Of Apollo 15 Olivine-Normative And Quartz-Normative Mare Basalts, Darren W. Schnare

Masters Theses

New data are presented for four Apollo 15 low-Ti mare basalts, two from the olivine-normative suite (15106, and 15555) and two from the quartz-normative suite (15475, and 15499). Previous studies have examined the relationships between these groups on the basis of whole-rock chemistry, many with analyses that may have been of insufficient sample-size, or of limited range of elements analyzed. To determine a relationship between these basalts, these samples have been analyzed for their mineral major-element and trace-element compositions by electron-microprobe and laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry, respectively.

The trace-element compositions of the main silicate phases, olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase, are consistent …

Surface Studies Of Selective Hydrogen Desorption From Silicon, Jason Kenneth Smith

Masters Theses

This thesis examines quantum confined quasi-one-dimensional structures on silicon surfaces. An in situ prepared and hydrogenated Si(100)-(2x1) is investigated, on which a quasi-dimensional nanostructure is fabricated via scanning tunneling microscopy. Also, the feasibility of STM-based nanolithography on an ex situ hydrogenated Si(111)-(1x1) surface is explored. Using methods such as those discussed herein it is possible to create quasi one-dimensional semiconducting metallic nanowires as well as contact pads, useful for four point probe measurements at the nanoscale. Using a STM, dimer wide strips of hydrogen are removed from the passivated layer to reveal bare silicon surface bonds forming a nanowire approximately …

Nikolski's Approach To The Theorems Of Beurling And Nyman Regarding Zeros Of The Riemann Ζ-Function, Jared R. Bunn

Masters Theses

In this thesis we present the proof of a theorem by Nikolai Nikolski. This theorem leads to a more general theorem by Nikolski regarding zero free regions of the Riemann ζ-function. This theorem is an improvement on the theorems that Nyman and Beurling proved in the nineteen fifties. Nikolski’s approach uses, in addition to step function approximations introduced by Nyman, distance functions to give more flexibility, including possible numerical experiments. The introduction discusses the Riemann Hypothesis, which always surrounds any study of the Riemann ζ-function.

The background material discussed in this thesis gives all the necessary prerequi- sites …

Biomarker And Stable Isotope Characterization Of Coastal Pond Organic Matter, Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Melissa Margaret Hage

Masters Theses

Small coastal ponds containing photosynthetic microbial mat communities represent a potentially significant source of labile organic carbon within the McMurdoDryValleys, Antarctica. To distinguish coastal pond derived organic matter (CPDOM) from other sources of organic matter in the dry valleys, I investigated bulk organic carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles of benthic microbial mats located at two sites, HjorthHillCoastand GarwoodValley. The average δ¹³C values at Hjorth Hill Coast and Garwood Valley are -10.91 ‰ and -10.19 ‰, respectively. The average δ¹⁵N values are 3.73 ‰ and -1.25 ‰, respectively. Microbial mats from …

Geochemical Characterization Of Coastal Pond And Adjacent Soil Organic Matter From Two Distinct Field Areas Of The Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Meg E. Howard

Masters Theses

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica contains some of the few ice-free oases on the continent, and is one of the coldest, driest places on earth. Despite the harsh conditions, the MDV supports an abundance of biological communities within soil and aquatic systems. Bioavailable carbon is present in these systems in the form of ancient and modern sources. An additional source of bioavailable carbon that has largely been ignored may be represented by desiccated and disseminated microbial mats (coastal pond organic matter, or CP-OM) originating in ephemeral coastal meltwater ponds of the MDV. The goal of this study is to …

Structural And Dynamical Studies Of Superacids And Superacidic Solutions Using Neutron And High Energy X-Ray Scattering, Jamie John Molaison

Masters Theses

The diffusive motions of the Brønsted superacid, hydrogen fluoride, have been studied using quasielastic neutron scattering. Neutron and high energy X-ray diffraction measurements on the Lewis superacid, antimony pentafluoride, are presented along with the results of three applied data models. Finally, structural information was obtained for a 9:1 FSO₃H:NH₃ solution using neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution and nuclear magnetic resonance.

An Investigation Into A Microwave-Enhanced Solvent-Free Mannich Condensation Reaction, Kristy Lynn Homburger

Masters Theses

Microwave irradiation has gained in popularity in recent years since it has been found to accelerate various chemical reactions. Microwaves are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly than traditional methods for activating chemical reactions. An investigation into a microwave-enhanced, solventless Mannich condensation was performed. The efficiency of a standard household microwave was compared to that of an industrial microwave, with the industrial microwave proving to be more effective. The advantages of using microwave irradiation for a Mannich condensation include milder reaction conditions, the absence of solvent, less waste, and shorter reaction times. The reaction between terminal alkynes, secondary amines, …

Mechanisms For Increasing Respiratory Capacity Through Ontogeny In The Blastoid Genus Pentremites, Troy A. Dexter

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine how the hydrospires in blastoids (the respiratory channels through which blastoids respire) change in shape and capacity during ontogeny. As the volume of a blastoid increases ontogenetically, the respiratory capacity of the hydrospires must increase to match the additional respiratory requirements. Ontogenetically, volume increases at a cubic rate, therefore the surface area of the respiratory structures should increase at a similar rate. Using transverse cross sections of the theca through an ontogenetic series in two species of the blastoid Pentremites, the surface area and volume of the hydrospires was quantified. The data demonstrated …

Ultraviolet Image Analysis Of Spacecraft Exhaust Plumes, Karen L. Norton

Masters Theses

Data obtained during the April 26, 2000 MirEx experiment is used to infer the chemical mechanisms responsible for ultraviolet radiation observed to emanate from Russian spacecraft exhaust plumes in low Earth orbit. The principle objective of this experiment was to use the Mir Space Station instruments to study the plume collisional processes occurring in the rarified atmosphere of the far-field; at distances greater than one kilometer away from the spacecraft. This was accomplished by observing the automated Progress cargo ship as the auxiliary engines were being retrofired in a ram-burn configuration at 330 kilometers in altitude above Earth. The primary …

Effect Of Land Use On Total Suspended Solids And Turbidity In The Little River Watershed, Blount County, Tennessee, Heather Melanie Hart

Masters Theses

The Little River (LR) originates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), providing drinking water to thousands of residents inBlountCountyas it makes its way to theTennessee River. The upper reaches of the LR watershed have excellent water quality, qualifying it as a hydrologic benchmark river and outstanding national resource. A large outdoor recreation economy has grown dependent on the pristine land and water resources, including whitewater kayaking and rafting, cold and warm water fisheries, hiking, swimming and camping. However, in recent years there has been a documented overall decline in the biological diversity of the LR in the lower …

Free Radical Polymerization In Room Temperature Ionic Liquids, Xiao Ma

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Coarse Structures And Higson Compactification, Christian Stuart Hoffland

Masters Theses

FOLLOWING John Roe in his Lectures on Coarse Geometry, we begin by describing the large-scale structure of metric spaces by means of coarse maps between them, those being maps which preserve distances at large scales. Using these techniques, we demonstrate that the real numbers and the integers have the same large scale structure--or are coarsely equivalent--but that the real line is coarsely equivalent to neither the Euclidean plane nor the set of positive real numbers. Following a generalization of these concepts for general topological spaces with the introduction of an abstract coarse structure on the space, we show, among …

A Quantitative Study Of Scaling Properties Of Fracture Networks, Ankur Roy

Masters Theses

Fracture networks and their scaling properties are important from both an academic and practical perspective since they play a significant role in many areas ranging from crustal fluid flow to studies of earthquakes. Over the years, researchers have employed a wide variety of techniques to quantify the complexities of fractured media. These range from deterministic, process-based approaches employing the laws of physics, to ones involving the applications of geostatistics and more recently, fractal geometry. Fractals are irregular entities that show self-similarity over a wide range of scales and can be quantified by the fractal dimension, D. It is important …

Pyrogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons From Carboniferous, Triassic, And Modern Chars: Potential Relations To Paleoatmospheric Oxygen Content, Patrick Jerome Schuneman

Masters Theses

Atmospheric oxygen concentrations may have dramatically fluctuated throughout the Phanerozoic. Because oxygen is critical to fire, major oxygen fluctuations may have significantly affected biomass burning occurrences, suggesting that wildfires would have been more prevalent at times of elevated oxygen. Fossil charcoal abundances in the geologic record qualitatively reflect this relationship. Land plants evolved by the late Silurian, and the earliest true forests evolved by the mid-Devonian, while oxygen levels were still low. Fuel accumulations and oxygen content probably did not reach sufficient levels to sustain burning until the late-Devonian. There are only one or two isolated examples of fossil charcoal …

Advantages Of “Function Domain Sets” Confidence Intervals Over Hypotheses Comparison Tests Of One Mean Residual Life (Mrl) Function Dominating An Improved Baseline And Of Two Mrl Functions Comparisons With Applications In Modern Engineered Composite Wood Products: One Sample And Two Sample Cases. Also Exploring General Theory, Insights, And Applications Of Mrl Functions, Jonathan Cody Steele

Masters Theses

In this thesis, we analyze mean residual life (MRL) functions and unique “function domain sets” confidence intervals to identify important opportunities for improving quality of medium density fiberboard (MDF). We stress these tools have tremendous potential for many other forest products (e.g., various composites, natural woods), not just MDF.

These “function domain sets” confidence intervals can assess variation in quality where one MRL function dominates an industrial baseline. Assessments of the internal bond of MDF illuminate opportunities for helpful improvements, plus perform valid statistical comparisons of different types of MDF. For example, these MRL methods detect a new, higher-valued MDF …

Characterization Of Fracture Systems In Sublette County, Wyoming Using P-Wave And C-Wave 3d Seismic, Keith R. Johnson

Masters Theses

Birefringence of seismic shear waves has proven to be a useful tool for identifying fracture intensity and orientation in the subsurface. Naturally occurring fractures have been shown to contribute to the deliverability of natural gas production in some reservoir formations in Rocky Mountain sedimentary basins. A multicomponent 3D 3C seismic survey acquired on the southeastern end of Pinedale Anticline in Sublette County, Wyoming was mapped to characterize fault systems within the sedimentary section. The tectonic and depositional history in the study area was determined by literature search and by one-dimensional backstripping. Compressional and wrench fault systems were observed and mapped. …

Coordination Environment: A New Approach To The Sensing Of Lead (Ii) Itself, Kristina Marie Nespechal

Masters Theses

Lead(II) is a silent poison that has plagued society since 3800 B. C. The average intake of lead in the United States alone is 50 μg per day, which is approximately 100-1000 times greater than that of prehistoric lead levels. Regardless of the banning of lead in paints and gasoline, lead poisoning prevails as a major environmental health risk. Science has the ability to address the concern with this environmental contaminant. The future production of an economical and reliable test kit for lead(II) relies on the luminescence of the heavy metal itself.

The absorption and emission spectra for a series …

Sedimentology And Stratigraphy Of The Pennsylvanian Saginaw Aquifer, Central Lower Michigan, U.S.A., Niah B. H. Venable

Masters Theses

The Saginaw Aquifer is an important bedrock aquifer serving the needs of over 400,000 people in the Tri-County area of the Central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The aquifer is comprised of the Pennsylvanian Grand River and Saginaw Formations. This study focuses on expanding existing knowledge of the general sedimentologic and stratigraphic characteristics of these units using conventional geological methods including core analysis, local log to core correlation, local and regional log to log correlation, and biostratigraphy. Analysis of new core from the study area examines facies and depositional environments given cursory coverage in outcrop studies by past researchers.

Incised valley …

Field Studies Of Hydrophobic Filter Pack Performance In Free Product Monitoring And Recovery, Nathan J. Brandner

Masters Theses

Multiple field experiments were conducted to determine the performance of hydrophobic filter packs, compared to the hydrophilic industry standard filter pack in free product hydrocarbon recovery. Laboratory and field studies have been previously performed in support of enhancing free product hydrocarbon recovery with the use of hydrophobic filter pack designs. This study was an attempt to test the efficacy of using hydrophobic filter pack materials to enhance free product recovery.

Six recovery wells were installed at three field sites, each site utilizing a pair of recovery wells, one hydrophobic and one hydrophilic, to compare their performances. Fine-grained hydrophobic filter pack …