Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Poa Annua L. Resistance To Mitotic Inhibiting Herbicides, Matthew A. Cutulle

Masters Theses

Four bioassays were conducted to evaluate an ecotype of Poa annua L. from Chattanooga for resistance to prodiamine, pendimethalin, and dithiopyr herbicides. MSmedia, filter-paper, and soil-based bioassays all evaluated root growth response in mature seed from the Chattanooga ecotype and a sensitive control. The hydroponics bioassay evaluated mature tiller response. All the bioassays were able to diagnose the Chattanooga population as resistant to prodiamine and pendimethalin. The soil-based bioassay was able to detect minimal resistance to dithiopyr. Additionally, the Chattanooga population exhibited variability of resistance to dinitroanalines.

The Utilization Of Microwave Irradiation In Organic Synthesis: Organotrifluoroborate And Alumina Chemistry, Arie A. Dadush

Masters Theses

The utilization of microwave irradiation in chemistry started in the 1950’s. Due to operational difficulties, organic chemists only began using microwaves in the mid- 1980’s, when better instruments were invented. This work describe the utilization of microwaves in two areas of organic chemistry: microwave enhanced reactions using organotrifluoroborates and microwave irradiation reactions catalyzed by highly acidic alumina.

In part one, a basic understanding of microwave irradiation is presented followed by the exploration of three major reactions. The first comprises the coupling of allyl acetate and cinnamyl acetate with various substituted potassium arylvinyltrifluoroborates to produce a variety of 1,4-dienes. The second …

Multichannel Time-Stamping-Based Correlator And Hardware Simulator For Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, Isaac P. Lescano Mendoza

Masters Theses

In fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, digital correlators acquire the autocorrelation function of detected photons to measure diffusional dynamics of biomolecules and small particles. Multi-channel data from different wavelengths or scattering angles provide increased information for resolving multiple species. Similarly, in single-molecule spectroscopy and in experiments on photon entanglement, there is a need to acquire time stamps of photons from multiple detectors. To enable such advances, a cost-effective Multichannel Time-Correlator (MTC) and a Multichannel Hardware Simulator (MHS) were developed, each based on a reconfigurable digital input/output card, recently available from National Instruments. The field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) cores of the …

A Low Power Integrated Circuit For Implantable Biosensor Incorporating An On-Chip Fsk Modulator, Taeho Oh

Masters Theses

Medical care has been significantly improved in recent years due to tremendous technological advancement in the field of CMOS technology. Among those improvements, integrated circuit design and sensing techniques have brought to the doctors more flexibility and accuracy of examinations of their patients. For example, a diabetic patient needs to visit a hospital on a regular basis for the examination and proper treatment. However, with the tremendous advancement in electronic technology, a patient can soon monitor his or her own blood glucose level at home or at office with an implantable sensor which can also trigger insulin pump attached to …

Effects Of Elevated Co2 On Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis Stolonifera L.) During The Ante Meridiem Photoperiod For Summer Heat Stress Tolerance, Rodney V. Tocco Jr.

Masters Theses

The demand for optimum putting conditions requires golf course superintendents to manage cool season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in the transition zone and upper south. Summer heat stress combined with low mowing heights and constant traffic are challenges that superintendents must face in order to successfully manage creeping bentgrass from early May to late September. A field experiment was conducted on a Crenshaw putting green under golf course conditions during the 2006 summer and twice during the 2007 summer in Knoxville, TN. 2006 enriched air treatments of ~692 ppm CO₂ and ~891 ppm CO₂ were compared …

Land Use-Transportation Interaction: Lessons Learned From An Experimental Model Using Cellular Automata And Artificial Neural Networks, Steve R. Ahrens

Masters Theses

Land use and transportation interact to produce large urban concentrations in most major cities that create tremendous sprawl, noise, congestion, and environmental concerns. The desire to better understand this relationship has led to the development of land use–transport (LUT) models as an extension of more general urban models. The difficulties encountered in developing such models are many as local actions sum to form global patterns of land use change, producing complex interrelationships. Cellular automata (CA) simplify LUT model structure, promise resolution improvement, and effectively handle the dynamics of emergent growth. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) can be used to quantify the …

An Analysis Of Transformational, Transactional And Laissez-Faire Leadership Styles Between Professional And Student Leaders In Collegiate Outdoor Programs, Bradley D. Beggs

Masters Theses

This thesis is a quantitative research project that investigates the leadership styles of collegiate outdoor program leaders. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge of the leadership style(s) of collegiate outdoor program leaders, particularly between student and professional leaders. A purposive sampling method was used to select outdoor programs as well as to solicit participation using an email listserv maintained by the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE). A total of n=113 leaders responded., resulting in 80 complete sets of data. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Short (MLQ5x) was used to determine leadership styles. A repeated measures ANOVA …

Ground Penetrating Radar Investigations On The Relationship Between Horizontal Sub-Wavelength ‘Thin-Layer’ Bedrock Fractures And Reflection Amplitudes, Kevin E. Burns

Masters Theses

Several theoretical equations that predict sub-wavelength ‘thin-layer’ reflection amplitudes are compared to the results of a series of controlled ground penetrating radar surveys using 1 GHz transducers over a physical model of a horizontal bedrock fracture. Two large plastic (UHMW-PE) blocks, separated by one or more stacked inserts (polyethylene; ~0.1 mm thick) for a total of 101 surveys, generate a modeled fracture with an aperture ranging from 0-300 mm. All existing theoretical reflection coefficient equations fail to predict observed reflection amplitude oscillations in the data when the fracture aperture is less than 1/48 of a wavelength. The only theoretical formulation …

Path Forward To Design And Implement An On-Going Engineering Management Handbook, Robert B. Kring

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to determine a path forward to design and implement an on-going Engineering Management Handbook. A review was performed to establish a definition of Engineering Management, the history of Engineering Management, how this history has impacted the Body of Knowledge in Engineering Management over the years, and the current state of the Engineering Management Handbook. Two surveys were performed to discover how users perceive the Handbook. It was found that there was a desire for a useful on-line EM Handbook. This research allows for decisions to be made in the future as the Handbook is …

Predicting And Analyzing Gentrification In Atlanta, Georgia, Jonathan M. Law

Masters Theses

First viewed as an aberration by some when it began to occur in inner cities, the process of gentrification is now common and even significant in U.S. cities, as it runs counter to the urban sprawl that plagues most of them. Gentrification can have far-reaching effects, as it usually involves rising property values and changes in ethnic make-up, and sometimes gives rise to concerns over displacement of original residents and affordable housing. In the context of a broad literature on gentrification which has failed to produce much agreement on its causes or how it works, this research attempts, utilizing census …

Comparing In Situ Submerged Jet Test Device And Laboratory Flume Methods To Estimate Erosional Properties Of Cohesive Soils For Bank Stability Models, Tara Liyana Mallison

Masters Theses

In order to accurately predict the stability of riverbanks, model input parameters must be reliable bank failure estimators. Currently, bank stability models require two input parameters to predict bank erosion: critical erosion shear stress and erodibility coefficient. The investigation’s purpose was to compare two erosion estimation methods and improve the bank stability models for cohesive soil commonly found on the banks.

To accomplish the objective, critical shear stresses and erodibility coefficients obtained using the in situ submerged jet test device (SJT) were measured against results from the closed-loop laboratory flume method for 12 cohesive bank sites. Additionally, SJT critical shear …

Temperature Characterization Of The Ultracapacitor Serial Resistance Using A Constant Voltage Source, Curtis W. Miller

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the temperature effects on an ultracapacitor’s equivalent series resistance using a constant voltage source. Previous research has focused on developing models using constant current source. However, as the ultracapacitor technology develops, allowing for the expansion of these devices into new power applications, it is important to understand how ultracapacitors will perform in various temperatures and charging and discharging methods. By predicting the ultracapacitor behavior, systems can be optimized for efficiency and minimize internal circuit losses.

For this thesis, Matlab was used to plot the experimental data and to provide best fit curves with their respective coefficients to …

The Back Road To Murfreesboro, Ashley Scott Moser

Masters Theses

This project was conceived as a multi-form, multi-media piece in which each work of fiction, poetry, or photography is fully intended to both stand on its own and contribute to an overall feeling for the entire collection. It is in the juxtaposition of these various works that the audience can gain a greater appreciation for the entire collection as well as for each individual piece contained within.

This collection explores the dissatisfaction and alienation of contemporary life, and depicts characters, objects, and settings that are all in some way disconnected or empty. The overall stance is negative, of frustrated desire, …

Development Of Gate-Controlled Dc Electrokinetic Micropumps, Prachya Mruetusatorn

Masters Theses

Lab-on-chip (LOC) devices have received considerable attention in research and development for automated, high-throughput biological and chemical analysis. While much progress has been accomplished; however, fluid flow control still needs improvement and reminds one of the significant challenges for the future practical LOC devices. This thesis explores the application of electroosmosis (EO) technique and field effect flow control (FEFC) technology for micropumps, an important microfluidic component of LOC systems.

In this work, electroosmosis method was employed to electro-kinetically move the working fluid under a longitudinal electric field, and the FEFC technique was also utilized to manipulate the Electroosmotic Flow (EOF) …

Effect Of Combined Loading And Low-Temperature On The Stiffness Of Gfrp Laminates, Curtis Patrick Nordin

Masters Theses

At the present time a large portion of America’s bridge infrastructure is aging, and in many cases approaching its design live. Therefore, there is a need for structurally sound, low-maintenance, and rapidly constructible alternatives for conventional materials. Due to this need there has been a renewed interest in structural glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) products. A large portion of the US is regularly subjected to freezing temperatures and therefore the numerous gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the low-temperature response of GFRP materials need to be addressed. Although strides have been made in researching the cold climate responses of …

Newspaper Coverage Of The South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement: A Framing Analysis, Yeonah Park

Masters Theses

This study compared how four English-language newspapers in the United States and South Korea covered the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). A content analysis using QDA Miner was conducted for 354 articles from the New York Time, the Washington Post, the Korea Herald, and the Korea Times to determine how each paper framed the topic. Overall the newspapers’ media framing aligned with their national concerns and interests.

The literature review supported the idea that identifying frames in natural language articles and investigating the relative highlighting of issues was important in analyzing news coverage. The two Korean …

Value Prior To Processing Of Oriented Strand Board Flakes Through Hot Water Extraction, Clinton T. Sattler

Masters Theses

Research has already shown that the extraction of a valuable hemicellulose-rich stream is a viable option for revenue generation in the pulp and paper industries. Applying the value prior to pulping concept to the composite panel industry is a natural extension. If a hemicellulose extraction is accomplished under the right conditions, a non-trivial amount of fine chemicals can be generated, while leaving the woody substrate structurally intact for production to traditional products, such as oriented strand board (OSB). According to literature, the removal of hemicellulose can increase the dimensional stability while decreasing the degradability of OSB panels. This research studied …

Leisure Remix: Hip Hop's Impact On Re-Framing Leisure, Jason L. Scott

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into how perceptions of being part of the hip-hop culture affect leisure and its constructs. Defining leisure and its constructs remains a perpetual task of leisure researchers (Berryman, 2000). The emergence of Hip-Hop culture as a major global phenomenon and lifestyle for youth has drawn the attention of scholars across disciplines (Dyson, 2005; Russell, 2005). Its trappings include unique clothing, music, leisure pursuits, language and attitudes toward “free time.” Despite the indelible impact Hip-Hop has made upon American and global society, the body of literature related to hip-hop and leisure …

Anticipation Timing As A Function Of Expertise And Effector-Specific Training, Greg Young

Masters Theses

Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Römer (1993) suggested that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is needed to attain expertise. Consequently, it would be expected that expert soccer players who possess a high level of proficiency in intercepting a ball with their feet would demonstrate superior anticipation timing performance with the feet compared to novices who lack training. On the other hand, Keele, Ivry, and Porkorny (1987), and Studenka and Zelaznik (2008) provided support for a centrally controlled process for timed movements. If true, it would be expected that experts’ anticipation timing performance would be superior to novices’ regardless of the effector used. …

The Benefits Of Integrating Math Content Into The Elementary Art Curriculum, Valerie C. Sigmon

Masters Theses

School accountability has become critical under the No Child Left Behind Act. As struggling schools strive to reach mandated proficiency levels, is it possible for an art teacher to contribute toward students‟ success by integrating math content into art lessons? This study attempts to show that without schedule changes, additional funding, or added training, an art teacher can support the efforts of classroom teachers as evidenced by increased scores on standardized math tests. The research used a Non-Equivalent Groups Design and examined pre-test and post-test scores for two groups of students. The population for this study is 3,800 elementary school …

Mechanical Property Testing Apparatus For Use In A Scanning Electron Microscope, Robert Brian Peters

Masters Theses

The purpose of this design project is to develop a mechanical testing device to work in conjunction with a scanning electron microscope [SEM]. The objective of this work was to be able to perform a mechanical property measuring test and observe the small scale physical behavior of the sample with the SEM as the test progresses. The design process is presented from concept development through to the completion of the prototype device. Test data was acquired and analyzed and the results are compared to standard values for the materials being tested. Recommendations for future improvements in the next generation of …

A Human Factors Comparison Of Airborne Mine Countermeasures Controls And Displays As Installed On The Cns/Atm Mh-53e Helicopter And The Legacy Mh-53e Helicopter, Jeffrey S. Farlin

Masters Theses

The United States Navy has begun an initiative to upgrade the existing MH-53E aircraft from an analogue gauge cockpit to a digital glass cockpit. In order to assess the capability of the digital cockpit to perform the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) mission as effectively as the analogue cockpit a human factors engineering analysis was conducted comparing the pros and cons for each cockpit. The primary focus of the paper was on the physical ergonomic characteristics of the AMCM cockpit. A limited analysis was also conducted evaluating some of the physical and mental workloads required for executing an AMCM mission. To …