Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Casimir Effect In Quantum Physics, Matthew James Urfer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Numerical Approximations Of Differential Equations And Applications In Maple, Joyce Zimmerman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Nanomaterial Composites For The Detection Of Nerve Gas Analogs, Yogesh Datar

Masters Theses

The basis of the research work described here is the use of nanocomposite materials built by bottom-up approach for the selective detection of nerve gas analogs. Nanocomposites materials constructed by using nanoparticle-monomer-receptor (NMR) concept have been utilized to detect nerve gas analogs DCP and DMMP. Synthetic approach used in the construction of nanosensors involved use of robust platforms such as silica nanoparticles and fluorescent quantum dots. Highly conjugated receptor molecules were synthesized by using stilbeneoid compounds. A complete opto-nanosensor was developed by anchoring highly conjugated receptor molecules onto the silica nanoparticles as well as onto the quantum dots. The opto-nanosensors …

Characterization Of The Temperature Dependence Of Optical Components In A Cryo-Vacuum Chamber Used For Space Sensor Testing, Jesse M. Labello

Masters Theses

The space sensor cryo-vacuum chambers at Arnold Air Force Base are world class sensor characterization and calibration facilities. The chambers provide a simulated deep space background and accurate infrared projections. Several large optical systems are used within the chambers to accomplish this. Calibration of the chambers requires the use of a database of the measured optical properties of these components to simulate the output. However, as the information in the database is room temperature information and the chambers run near 20K, some discrepancies exist between the actual output and the model output. The purpose of this work is to translate …

Impact Of The Equation Of State In Core-Collapse Supernovae, Mark Lewis Baird

Masters Theses

One of the key ingredients to the core collapse supernova mechanism is the physics of matter at or near nuclear density. Included in simulations as part of the Equation of State (EoS), nuclear repulsion experienced at high densities is responsible for the bounce shock, which initially causes the outer envelope of the supernova to expand, as well as determining the structure of the newly formed proto-neutron star. Recent years have seen renewed interest in this fundamental piece of supernova physics, resulting in several promising candidate EoS parameterizations. We will present the impact of several of their variations in the nuclear …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Ruthenium Bipyridyl Complexes For Detecting Nerve Gas Agents And Explosives, Arambe Gedara Aruna Weerasinghe

Masters Theses

Five novel 2,2 '-bis bi pyridine Ru(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H-COSY, elemental analysis, fast atom bombardment or electrospray mass spectra and electronic absorption spectroscopy. Binding of Ru (11) complexes with nerve gas analogos such as diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) and hydrolyzed product (HCl) has been investigated by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and lifetime studies. Compound 1 showed a quenching in ³MLCT emission after an initial increase in intensity upon the addition of DCP with a bathochromic shift of 25 nm. Compound 2 exhibit a …

Design Of Multi-Electron Transfer Catalysts For The Reduction Of Trichloroethylene, Christopher Gerard Eman Ciptadjaya

Masters Theses

For decades, organohalide (RX) compounds have been heavily used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and in agriculture as pesticides. Improper disposal of organohalides has resulted in their presence in the environment as pollutants, and they have therefore presented serious environmental and toxicological concerns. These organohalides have been associated with various health and environmental problems. Therefore, effective methods for their remediation are required. We have developed a multi-electron transfer (MET) catalyst consisting of flavin mononucleotide anchored to nanocrystalline mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films, and examined its reactivity toward the organohalide pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE). Various environmental factors were …

Nanosensors For The Detection Of Nerve Agents And Explosives, Deepak Kumar Thimmaraju

Masters Theses

The central hypothesis of this research was development of a novel nanosensor for the detection of nerve agents and explosives. The nanosensor assembly comprises a bottom up approach with nanoparticle (N), monomer (M), nanomolecule (N) and a receptor (R) as moieties of a NMNR assembly. My research was focused on evaluating receptors for their efficiency towards the target analytes such as nerve agents and explosives. Pi electron rich receptor 2-Phenyl-2-Propanol and its fluorinated analog 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-Phenyl-2-Propanol were investigated for their ability to detect nerve agents such as DCP, its analogs DMMP and HCl along with the explosives mono, di, and trinitrotoluene. …

The Effect Of A Skyrme Interaction On Nucleon Induced Reactions, Yingfa Zhang

Masters Theses

The main goal of this Master thesis is the theoretical study of the interaction between a nucleon and a nucleus. This is a fundamental method to study the structure and dynamics of nuclear systems. This thesis concentrates on the study of nucleon scattering on light nuclei, ⁶Li, ⁷Li and ¹⁴N, with the effective interaction M3Y and its modification by adding a Skyrme force. This is the first time the Skyrme interaction has been employed in scattering calculations. From a comparison of the measured differential cross section σ (θ) and the analyzing power Ay (θ) for ⁶Li …

Fundamental Investigation Of Vesicle Bilayer Membrane Dynamics, Wilson Okumu

Masters Theses

We studied the bilayer of vesicles from dimyristolyphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), using nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) probes, attached to the head (NBD-PE) and the tail (NBD-PC) of phospholipid derivatives. We characterized the bilayer as it underwent reversible transition from the gel to the fluid through a phase transition range. The main phase transition was characterized by steady state and timeresolved fluorescence anisotropy, fluorescence intensity decrement and kinetics of dithionite reduction. We also studied DMPC with dihydrocholesterol. Differences between the surface and interior regions of the bilayer region were obtained. The activation barrier was enthalpic in the gel, entropic in the fluid phase and anomalous …

Estimating Sea Level Due To Crustal Stretching In The Margin Of The Indian Ocean, Kisa Mwakanyamale

Masters Theses

Continental crust extension is a precursor to the formation of a new ocean. The overall crustal extension causes change in the volume of global oceans hence change in sea level. The break-up of Gondwana that began during Late Triassic to Early Jurassic time caused continental crustal extension prior to forming the Indian Ocean. Extension started 184 Ma with rifting between SE Africa, Madagascar and Antarctica. This was followed by rifting between Greater India, Australia and Antarctica beginning about 160 Ma. The most recent episode of extension occurred 34 Ma involving separation between Arabia and Horn of Africa. Gridded data sets …

Design Construction And Use Of A Thermomechanical Detwinning Apparatus: Detwinning Of Orthorhombic Nb2bacu2o3, Chad J. Bircher

Masters Theses

In this thesis I will describe a device designed and built for thermo- mechanically detwinning crystals. Twinning is a process in which a crys- talline structrure with two different axes of nearly equal length alternate directions throughout the material, effectively generating a single bulk material with two or more distinct internal crystals. This structure defect can lead to many other effects in the crystal, and it is useful to elimi- nate twinning in many materials in order to determine which properties are fundamental properties of the crystal, and which properties are ar- tifacts of the structural imperfections. The apparatus described …

Impact Of Crop Rotations And Winter Cover Crops On Vegetative Cover, Aboveground Biomass, And Soil Organic Matter Under No-Till In Western Tennessee, Nicholas Phillip Ryan

Masters Theses

We investigated, under long-term no-till in western Tennessee, the effects of rotating the low-input crops cotton and soybeans with the high-input crop corn, compared to continuous monocultures of cotton and soybeans, and of using the winter cover crops (WCCs) winter wheat and hairy vetch, compared to winter fallow, on key indicators of soil health concerning vegetative cover and labile SOM. The line-transect method was used to measure percent vegetative cover. Dry weight of surface crop residue and aboveground living plant biomass (WCCs and winter weeds) was obtained. The living plant biomass was analyzed for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) by …

Effects Of Environmental Stress On Growth, Yield, And Flavonolignan Content In Milk Thistle Silybum Marianum L. Gaertn, Amy Renae Belitz

Masters Theses

Four experiments were performed in a greenhouse or growth chamber to study the quantity and quality of flavonolignans in response to environmental stress in milk thistle (Silybum marianum L., Gaertn.). A preliminary experiment was conducted in spring 2004 to study effects of leaf harvests on growth, development, and flavonolignan content in milk thistle seeds. Taxifolin, a component of silymarin and precursor to flavonolignans, was significantly reduced due to leaf harvest treatments.

The weedy nature (sporadic germination) of Silybum made germinating enough plants for experimentation problematic. Initial germination studies to determine imbibition and pre-chilling requirements were inconclusive due to heavy …

Reduction Of Human Factors-Related Accidents During The Flight Test Of Homebuilt Aircraft Through The Application Of Professional Flight Test Practices, Justin Samuel Garr

Masters Theses

Homebuilt aircraft have a high accident rate during the flight test period, particularly during their first and second flights. For the 2002-2004 period, over 1.0% of homebuilt aircraft were involved in an accident on their first flight, and 3.3% were involved in accidents in the first 40 hours of operation. Untrained, low time in aircraft type amateur flight test participants, unorthodox flight test procedures, and lack of clear guidance as to who should and how to conduct safe and effective flight test lead to unsafe conditions and the accident statistics support this hypothesis. In the accidents analyzed, lack of experience …

Major And Trace-Element Chemistry Of Minerals In Lithologies A And B In Martian Meteorite Eeta79001: Petrogenesis Revisited, Michael Joseph Mellin

Masters Theses

EETA79001 is a unique shergottite composed of two mafic lithologies (termed LithA and LithB) that are separated by an igneous contact. Both lithologies have basaltic compositions; however, LithA contains megacrysts of olivine, orthopyroxenes, and chromite whereas LithB does not; also, LithA is finer-grained than LithB. Currently, the literature is in disagreement regarding the formation of this unique meteorite, especially regarding LithA. Different formational theories (e.g. fractional crystallization, magma mixing, assimilation, and impact melting) have their own constraints (chemical, thermal, or petrographic). This study uses petrographic observations combined with major- and trace- element compositions within minerals to investigate the petrogenesis of …

Bacterial Source Tracking In An Eastern Tennessee Stream Using Bacteroides Host Associated Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays, Ryan Michael Ragsdale

Masters Theses

A bacterial source tracking study using Bacteroides host associated real-time PCR assays was performed to determine the sources of fecal contamination in Pond Creek (HUC 06010201013). Pond Creek, located in the Ridge and Valley physiographic region in Eastern Tennessee, is a 303(d) listed stream that fails to meet water quality standards for pathogens. Water samples and discharge were measured monthly at eight locations from November 2005 to November 2006. Grab samples were analyzed for several chemical parameters and for microbial fecal indicator organisms, namely Bacteroides spp., Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus. The objectives of the study were to quantify total, …

Stream Restoration Assessment Of Abrams Creek In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Management Implications And Comparison Of Empirical And Analytical Physical Assessment Approaches, Daniel L. Carter

Masters Theses

Natural resource managers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park requested the assistance of the University of Tennessee Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to assess Abrams Creek for potential stream restoration needs. A presumed, unstable study reach and a stable reference reach were identified on Abrams Creek in Cades Cove. Chemical, biological and physical assessments were completed on Abrams Creek in order to evaluate ecological health and channel stability of the stream. Water quality and ecological (fish and habitat surveys) data acquired by National Park Service, Tennessee Valley Authority and the University of Tennessee were assessed. The physical assessment …

Tectonics Of The Northeastern Inner Piedmont, Northwestern Nc, From Detailed Geologic Mapping, Geochronologic, Geochemical, And Petrologic Studies With Structural Analyses Of Ductile Fault Zones, Matthew Patrick Gatewood

Masters Theses

New field and laboratory data collected for the northeastern Inner Piedmont (IP) reveal the structure and composition of a portion of the southern Appalachian crystalline core, delimited the timing of orogenesis, and provide new insight into the nature of deep crustal processes during orogenesis. Previously recognized lithologies are continuous throughout the study area and comprise two distinct crystalline thrust sheets: the Marion and Brindle Creek thrust sheets, or eastern Tugaloo and western Cat Square terranes, respectively. Western IP Precambrian- Cambrian(?) metasedimentary lithologies and Ordovician metaigneous lithologies make up the Marion thrust sheet northwest of a Neoacadian suture, the Brindle Creek …

Application Of The Green’S Function For Solutions Of Third Order Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems, Shannon Mathis Morrison

Masters Theses

Green’s functions are used to prove a collection of existence and uniqueness theorems for third order nonlinear boundary value problems. Several examples of Green’s functions for both second and third order boundary value problems are given. Various applications of the existence theorems are presented in detail.

Reliability Analysis Of Oriented Strand Board’S Strength With A Simulation Study Of The Median Censored Method For Estimating Of Lower Percentile Strength, Yang Wang

Masters Theses

Oriented Strand Board (OSB), an engineered wood product, has gained increased market acceptance as a construction material. Because of its growing market, the product’s manufacturing and performance have become the focus of much research. Internal Bond (IB) and Parallel and Perpendicular Elasticity Indices (EI), are important strength metrics of OSB and are analyzed in this thesis using statistical reliability methods. The data for this thesis consists of 529 destructive tests of OSB panels. They were tested from July 2005 to January 2006. These OSB panels came from a modern OSB manufacture in the Southeastern United States with the wood furnish …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Doped Core/Shell Quantum Dots, Elizabeth J. Sodt

Masters Theses

The central theme of the research performed is the systematic modification of the optical properties of quantum dots by the formation of a shell of another quantum dot of a different band gap energy. Core/shell quantum dots such as CdS:Mn/CdS, CdS:Mn/ZnS, and ZnS:Mn/CdS with various concentrations of dopant Mn²⁺ in the core and shell concentrations have been synthesized under mild conditions in the aqueous phase using stoichiometric amounts of the surfactant stabilizer dodecyl sulfate. These quantum dots exhibit UV-vis, emission, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral behavior that is dependent on the concentration of the shell and the dopant …

Characterizing Episodic Stream Acidity During Stormflow In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Edwin Bradley Deyton

Masters Theses

Episodic stream acidification occurs as storm events temporarily reduce acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and pH. Stream acidification is suspected to have damaging effects on the health of aquatic ecosystems and biota. The objectives of this research are to 1) characterize stream baseflow and stormflow chemistries in three watersheds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM), 2) understand potential mechanisms responsible for episodic acidification, and 3) understand the relationship between storm event magnitude, antecedent soil moisture condition, and the stream’s pH response. Three remote, forested, high-elevation streams (Middle Prong, Ramsey Prong, and Eagle Rocks Prong) were selected in the Middle …

Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds As Receptors In Nanosensors For Nerve Gas Agent Analogs, Swapna Katram

Masters Theses

The research is focused on developing nanosensors consisting of different components that are chemically linked, namely, nanoparticle, fluorescent monomer, and receptor (NMR sensors) and nanoparticle, monomer, nanomolecule, and receptor (NMNR sensors) for the sensitive and selective detection of nerve gas agents. These sensors detect the target toxins by fluorescence change which is amplified by signal transduction. Model nerve gas toxins (DCP) and (DMMP) and HCl were employed as analytes, and the nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, 5-aminoindazole and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) as receptors in the NMR and NNMR nanosensors. The monomers were (E)-4-(4- formylstyryl) benzoic acid (NMR sensor) and 2-mercaptosuccinic acid (NNMR sensor). …

Transformations Of Differential Equations And Applications, Despina Andrea Stavri

Masters Theses

The Sturm-Liouville problems introduced by Jacques Charles Francois Sturm and Joseph Liouville in the 19^thcentury are very important in applied mathematics. Singular Sturm-Liouville problems and two physical problems are discussed. The two physical problems are solved using two methods: Exact and asymptotic solutions. Also, the Sturm-Liouville problem's are classified using the Weyl-Kodaira Theorem. A general transformation of a third order differential equation is introduced. Oscillation and non-oscillation theorems on an infinite interval for a third order differential equation are stated. New versions of these theorems are introduced for the special cases and examples are given to illustrate them. …

An Applied Statistical Reliability Analysis Of The Modulus Of Elasticity And The Modulus Of Rupture For Wood-Plastic Composites, Diane Goodman Perhac

Masters Theses

Wood-plastic composites (WPC) are materials comprised of wood fiber within a thermoplastic matrix and are a growing and important source of alternative wood products in the forest products industry. WPC is gaining market share in the building industry because of durability/maintenance advantages of WPC over traditional wood products and because of the removal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressuretreated wood from the market. The reliability methods outlined in this thesis can be used to improve the quality of WPC and lower manufacturing costs by reducing raw material inputs and minimizing WPC waste. Statistical methods are described for analyzing both tensile …

Testing Heterolocalism: An Assessment Of Latino Settlement Patterns In The Southeastern United States, Kristian Dennis

Masters Theses

Previous theories of immigrant integration indicate that spatial propinquity is a necessary ingredient for a cohesive ethnic community. Wilbur Zelinsky’s heterolocalism theory suggests this is no longer the case in today’s world where technology has drastically reduced the friction of distance in human interaction. This thesis uses a mixture of quantitative and qualitative techniques to test heterolocalism’s applicability to emergent Latino communities in the Southeastern United States. The results of this research generally support Zelinsky’s theory that a growing number of ethnic communities are socially but not spatially cohesive.

Examining Regression Analysis Beyond The Mean Of The Distribution Using Quantile Regression: A Case Study Of Modeling The Internal Bond Of Medium Density Fiberboard Using Multiple Linear Regression And Quantile Regression With An Example Of Reliability Methods Using R Software, Leslie Brooke Shaffer

Masters Theses

The thesis examines the causality of the central tendency of the Internal Bond (IB) of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) with predictor variables from the MDF manufacturing process. Multiple linear regression (MLR) models are developed using a best model criterion for all possible subsets of IB for four MDF thickness products reported in inches, e.g., 0.750”, 0.625”, 0.6875”, and 0.500”. Quantile Regression (QR) models of the median IB are also developed.

The adjusted coefficient of determination (R² _a) of the MLR models range from 72% with 53 degrees of freedom to 81% with 42 degrees of freedom, respectively. The …

Factors Influencing Persistence Of Fecal Bacteroides In Stream Water, Alyssa K. Bell

Masters Theses

Fecal contamination leads to increased risk of exposure to enteric pathogens in aquatic environments used for drinking water, recreation, and commercial shellfishing. Current indicators of fecal contamination recommended by the EPA such as E. coli and enterococcus can fall short of meeting ideal indicator criteria by having widely-varying persistence in the environment, reproducing in the environment, occurring in the gut in low and variable concentrations, and requiring time-consuming assays. Furthermore, both these indicators lack the degree of host specificity needed for use in identifying sources of fecal contamination, which is an important tool for identifying and reducing fecal inputs to …

Laboratory Precipitation And Geochemical Investigation Of Unstable Caco3 Polymorphs: Implications For The Origin Of Precambrian “Molar-Tooth” Microspar, Emily Elizabeth Goodman

Masters Theses

Molar-tooth (MT) microspar is a volumetrically significant, globally distributed carbonate fabric that occurs almost exclusively in Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic shallow marine successions. It occurs as uniform, equant crystals, averaging 9 –15 μm in diameter (Figure 1), that characteristically fill MT structures—interconnected networks of spheroidal, spindle, and ribbon-shaped voids that formed within unlithified sediment in shallow, subtidal environments. Cathodoluminescence (CL) analysis of MT microspar reveals two chemically distinct phases: a dully luminescent spheroidal core enclosed by a luminescent, polygonal rim. Crystal size distribution analysis of MT microspar indicates spontaneous nucleation, rapid growth and varying degrees of recrystallization by Ostwald ripening, …