Digital Commons Network^™

Disease Incidence Of Demersal Finfishes From The Southern And Western Branches Of The Elizabeth River, Virginia, Randal D. Owen

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Fishes from the industrialized environs of the Elizabeth River, Virginia were surveyed for external evidence of disease during June through October 1984. A highly significant (p < 0.001) incidence of disease was found in demersal fishes collected by otter trawl from a site in the industrially contaminated Southern Branch compared to a less contaminated Western Branch site. Cataracts, fin erosion and dermal lesions were the most commonly occurring anomalies in the Southern Branch finfish.

Static, solid-phase toxicity tests employing sediment collected from the Southern Branch site resulted in an immediate toxic stress in the spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, which resulted in 100% mortality within 24 hours, compared with no mortalities in control systems. Spot exposed to control, i.e., pollution free, and diluted Southern Branch sediments innoculated with the pathogenic bacterial species, Vibrio anguillarium, developed significant (p ≤ 0.020) cases of fin erosion at a mean total bacterial community density …

Organic Matter Budgets And Models For Four Plant Communities In The Great Dismal Swamp, J. Patrick Megonigal

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Budgets and models of organic matter dynamics were developed for one mesic and three seasonally flooded plant communities in the Dismal Swamp. Components included aboveground parts, belowground parts, litter and soil organic matter (SOM).

Net primary- production was significantly greater on them flooded sites. Comparisons show that the Dismal Swamp is highly productive despite relatively low nutrient inputs.

Budget calculations showed that over 65% of the total input to SOM comes from roots. Leaves contributed about 70% of the aboveground inputs.

The model predicted that species composition, aboveground biomass and turnover rates on the cedar site will become quite similar …

Dynamic Analysis Of An Earth-Orbiting Satellite Deploying Hinged Appendages, Kevin Fielding Oakes

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The planar liberational dynamics of an arbitrary spacecraft with deployable hinged appendages is presented here both analytically and numerically. The system model consists of a central rigid satellite moving about the earth in a circular orbit at a uniform orbital rate. Attached to the satellite are two unfolding rigid booms with specified mass and length. Tip masses are included at the ends of each boom and deployment is driven by torsional springs at both frictionless hinge points. The equations of motion are developed for both a single- and double-appendage model through the use of Lagrange's equations. The formulation accounts for …

Magnesium, Copper And Zinc Concentrations In Blood From Children With Diabetes Mellitus, Linda Lowers Jenkins

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Trace element levels in blood from diabetic children were investigated and compared to control children. Plasma, erythrocyte, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells were analyzed for magnesium, copper, and zinc content. Leukocyte separation was performed by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque, followed by washing steps to remove platelet contamination and hypotonic lysis to remove red cell contamination. Polarized Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for trace metal analysis.

Decreased plasma magnesium levels were observed in the diabetic children. This finding is well documented and probably due to increased urinary magnesium loss from glycosuria. Lymphocyte magnesium levels in the diabetic children were also …

The Remarkable John Bigelow, Jr.: An Examination Of Professionalism In The United States Army, 1877-91, Howard K. Hansen Jr.

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis describes the military career of John Bigelow, Jr. , with emphasis on the professional development of United States Army officers. It questions the role Bigelow played in the formation of army professionalism, a sense of corporate responsibility to exercise military expertise correctly. A focus on Bigelow to delineate professionalism in the army provides a fresh perspective of a pivotal period in American military history in the aftermath of the Civil War and before the United States started to build a colonial empire. Bigelow articulated a comprehensive concept of total^ar as he perceived its development in the United States. …

Deterministic Linear Predictors For Bit Rate Improvement, Dhanvant H. Goradia

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis addresses the application of deterministic linear predictor s for telemetry based systems. Deterministic linear predictors are considered as a viable alternative to block transform coding in order to achieve bit rate reduction. A method of calculating the predictor coefficients of a deterministic linear predictor is presented. The system model is developed parametrically with respect to the bandwidth, polynomial order, signal class and predictor length. Two classes of signals, deterministic and random are analyzed and bounds on the performance of the deterministic linear predictor are established. A family of six pole Butterworth filters are used as presample filters in …

Lineament Analysis In The Richmond Triassic Basin Area Virginia: A Kinematic Model, Richard D. Lutz

OES Theses and Dissertations

A lineament study from various sources (color-infrared U-2 photos, rectified drainage maps, and aeromagnetic maps) was conducted to develop a conceptual kinematic model for the Richmond Triassic basin area in Virginia. The lineaments were digitized and subjected to a computerized correlation package that compared the statistically significant peaks within 8 km² grid cells. Spatially filtered significant 10° contoured trends exhibited a high correlation with mapped structures, outcrop patterns, diabase dikes, and aeromagnetic alignments, suggesting that they represent the surface expressions of the boundaries of subsurface structural domains. Structurally important lineament zones include NE-trending lineaments which segment the basin, NNW-trending …

Relationship Of Stream Drainage And Airphoto-Derived Lineaments To Basement Structures In The North Central Virginia Coastal Plain, William F. Mullen

OES Theses and Dissertations

A lineament study was conducted in the north central coastal plain of Virginia using five different data sources; color infrared photo images, rectified stream segments, bouguer gravity anomaly maps, aeromagnetic anomaly maps, and residual magnetic anomaly maps to determine the potential of aerial photographic analysis in the delineation of basement structural features beneath the sedimentary cover of the Virginia Coastal Plain.

Statistical analysis of 1602 airphoto lineaments and 2337 rectified stream segments produced 15 airphoto lineaments and 18 rectified stream segment lineaments in the north central Coastal Plain Province of Virginia. Azimuthal coincidence of these 33 lineaments determined that there …

Storm Surge Predictions At Sewell's Point With Local Wind, Pressure, And Previous Surge As Surge Predictors In Chesapeake Bay, Joy Elaine Moses

OES Theses and Dissertations

The statistical model used to predict storm surge. which is defined as the difference between observed water level and predicted astronomical tide. at Sewell's Point. Virginia. for the last ten years relies on forecast surface air pressures interpolated over a large portion of the Atlantic Ocean. A variation on this method is developed which adds previous station surge and local wind and pressure terms with time leads up to 18 hours to the Pore prediction for surge. and develops surge prediction equations for three substations eight to 65 miles (13 to 105 km) from Sewell's Point. The Sewell's Point surge …

On The Existence Of Periodic And Eventually Periodic Solutions Of A Fluid Dynamic Forced Harmonic Oscillator, Charlie H. Cooke

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

For certain flow regimes, the nonlinear differential equation Y¨=F(Y)−G, Y≥0, G>0 and constant, models qualitatively the behaviour of a forced, fluid dynamic, harmonic oscillator which has been a popular department store attraction. The device consists of a ball oscillating suspended in the vertical jet from a household fan. From the postulated form of the model, we determine sets of attraction and exploit symmetry properties of the system to show that all solutions are either initially periodic, with the ball never striking the fan, or else eventually approach a periodic limit cycle, after a sufficient number of bounces away from …

Deep Flow Variability In Central Drake Passage, John M. Klinck, Eileen E. Hofmann

CCPO Publications

A rotary empirical orthogonal function analysis of the currents measured in central Drake Passage during DRAKE 79 shows that the deep (2500 m) flow has the same spatial and temporal structure as the flow at 500 m, suggesting that current variability in this region penetrates to the bottom. However, comparison of the time amplitude of the corresponding modes indicates that the variability of the 2500 m flow resulting from north to south shifts in the location of the Polar Front lags that at 500 m by one to three days. This implies that the Polar Front slopes to the east …

A Study Of The Word Processing Field In The Tidewater Area, Patricia G. Powell

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To study word processing, one must gain information on these specific areas: 1. To determine what jobs would be available in the word processing field in the Tidewater region in the next five years; 2. To determine the entry skill levels that would be required by employers in the word processing field; 3. to suggest curricular changes needed in Tidewater area word processing training programs.

A Study To Determine Apparel And Accessories Retailer's Views On Desirable Qualities And Skills For Entry-Level Employees, Susan May

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following questions will clearly be identified and answered by this study: 1. What qualities and skills would fashion retailers like entry-level employees to possess? 2. Are these skills different for department and specialty stores?

Attitudes Of Special Education Students Towards Vocational Education Classes At Western Branch High School, Chesapeake, Virginia, Cynthia R. B. Sessoms

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine special education students' attitudes towards vocational education classes. The following questions have provided guidance to the investigator in designing this study: 1) Is the decision to enroll in vocational education classes primarily made by the student(s)? 2) Are there external influences that affect special education students decisions to enroll in vocational classes from: a. peer pressures b. parental advice c. school guidance counselor d. special education teacher; 3) Has the student planned to enroll in a vocational education course in the future?

Late Prehistoric And Protohistoric Large Mammal Zoogeography Of Virginia, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Evidence derived from18late prehistoric (middle and late Woodland Period) archeological sites, from several early historical accounts, and from the current understanding of the distribution of Virginia mammals indicates that the large mammal fauna of the Commonwealth has not changed substantially within the past 4,000 yrs. Some species (e.g., bison, elk, timber wolf, and mountain lion) have been extirpated since the settlement of Virginia by Europeans; some previously extirpated species (e.g., porcupine, coyote, and beaver) have been naturally or artificially reintroduced during the historical period, and others (e.g., woodchuck and red fox) probably have expanded their distributions as a result of …

The Physics Of The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Worth D. Nowlin, John M. Klinck

CCPO Publications

A region of transition of surface water characteristics from subantarctic to Antarctic and an associated eastward flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) have long been recognized to exist as a band around Antarctica. In this review we summarize the most important observational and theoretical findings of the past decade regarding the ACC, identify gaps in our knowledge, and recommend studies to address these. The nature of the meridional zonation of the ACC is only now being revealed. The ACC seems to exist as multiple narrow jets imbedded in, or associated with, density fronts (the Subantarctic and Polar fronts) which appear to …

Nonadiabatic Theory Of Fine-Structure Branching Cross Sections For Na-He, Na-Ne, And Na-Ar Optical Collisions, Linda L. Vahala, P. S. Julienne, Mark D. Havey

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The nonadiabatic close-coupled theory of atomic collisions in a radiation field is generalized to include electron spin and is used to consider the weak-field Na–rare-gas (RG) optical collision Na(²S_1/2)+RG+nhν μNa(²P_j)+RG+(n-1)hν. The effects of detuning and incident energy on the branching into the atomic Na 3p²P_3/2 and 3p²P_1/2 states are examined. The cross sections σ(j) are found to have a strong asymmetry between red and blue detuning as well as a complex threshold and resonance structure dependence on energy. A partial cross-section analysis …

Wind-Driven Upwelling In The Vicinity Of Cape Finisterre, Spain, Charles R. Mcclain, Shenn-Yu Chao, Larry P. Atkinson, Jack O. Blanton, Frederico De Castillejo

CCPO Publications

Observations and numerical simulations of upwelling along the Galician coast of Spain during April 1982 are presented. In situ measurements include shipboard determinations of hydrographic and biological parameters from a grid of stations covering the continental shelf from Cape Finisterre to Ria de Vigo, sea level data from Vigo and La Coruña, and wind stress estimates derived from the ship winds and from surface pressure charts. Sea surface temperature information and pigment concentration information have been obtained from a sequence of satellite images from the NOAA 7 advanced very high resolution radiometer and the Nimbus 7 coastal zone color scanner, …

Factors Regulating Settlement And Microhabitat Use By Spiny Lobsters Panulirus Argus, William F. Herrnkind, Mark J. Butler Iv

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Clumps of highly-branched red algae Laurencia spp. serve as important settling habitat for postlarval spiny lobsters Panulirus argus and as residence for early benthic-stage juveniles. Given choice between the 2 most abundant macrophytes in Florida Bay, Laurencia spp. and the seagrass Thalassia testudinum, postlarval and juvenile lobsters chose Laurencia spp. Postlarvae apparently use intricate algal architecture as a cue for settlement, whereas juveniles use both architecture and food abundance in selecting habitat. In tethering experiments, predation on juvenile lobsters was very high on open sand, much reduced in algal clumps and seagrass, and lowest in dense algal meadows. Predation …

Sediment Processing And Selective Feeding By Pectinaria Koreni (Polychaeta: Pectinariidae), Fred C. Dobbs, Teresa A. Scholly

OES Faculty Publications

Pectinaria (Lagis) koreni (Malmgren) is an abundant, deposit-feeding, infaunal inhabitant of shallow-water marine environments in northern Europe. Laboratory experiments were performed to quantify the polychaete's sediment processing in 2 distinct sediments, 1 fine-grained and high in combustibles, the other coarse-grained and low in combustibles. Gut passage time and time to pseudodefecation were predictable only in coarse-grained sediment. In both sediments, reworking rate increased with worm size and over time, although temporal patterns differed in the 2 sediments. The ratio of pseudodefecated sediment to defecated sediment did not differ significantly over time in either sediment, but the ratio was greater in …

On The Linear Relation Between Mb And Ms For Discrimination Between Explosions And Earthquakes, Ali A. Nowroozi

OES Faculty Publications

Summary. The statistical capability of the m_b :M_s, discriminant for the discrimination of earthquake and explosion populations is examined by application of discriminant functions to a group of 83 explosions and 72 earthquakes in Eurasia. Equations are derived for the probability that an event is an earthquake or an explosion. The positive sign of DIS in the decision index equation,

DIS, = 34.3383 - 11.9569 mb_i, + 7.1 161 M_si,

indicates that the event i is an earthquake. Its negative sign indicates that event i is an explosion. The probability of …

In Situ Growth And Chemical Composition Of The Giant Kelp, Macrocystis Pyrifera: Response To Temporal Changes In Ambient Nutrient Availability, Richard C. Zimmerman, James N. Kremer

OES Faculty Publications

Temporal variations in growth of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera were examined in relation to ambient nutrient availability and chemical composition of mature blades, the primary site of nutrient and carbohydrate storage in M. pyrifera. The effect of nutrient availability on growth was well approximated by a Monod rectangular hyperbola, with growth saturating at ambient nitrate concentra- tions between 1 and 2 FM. M. pyrlfera was unable to generate nutrient reserves that would last beyond 30 d. Nitrogen reserves were stored as free amino acids, and generally constituted about 10 % of total tissue nitrogen. Total nitrogen content was …

Estimation In Truncated Exponential Family Of Distributions, Laxman M. Hegde

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Estimating the parameters of a truncated distribution is a well known problem in statistical inference. The non-existence of the maximum likelihood estimator (m.l.e.) with positive probability in certain truncated distributions is not well known. To mention a few results in the literature:

(i) Deemer and Votaw 1955 show that the maximum likelihood estimator does not exist in a truncated negative exponential distribution on 0,T , T > 0 known, whenever the sample mean x (GREATERTHEQ) T/2.

(ii) Broeder 1955 shows that the maximum likelihood estimator of the scale parameter of a truncated gamma distribution, with the shape parameter being known, becomes …

The Effect Of Mobility On The Academic Performance Of Grade Six Students In An Urban School, Arnold Hugo Lindblad Jr.

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mobility on the standardized achievement test scores of grade six students in an urban school. The study sought to (1) identify the degree of mobility experienced by grade six students in the Chesapeake Public Schools; (2) identify the degree of mobility within the Chesapeake Public Schools; (3) determine the socio-economic, gender, and ethnic characteristics of the extra-city mobile, intra-city mobile, and non-mobile grade six students; (4) determine if there were differences in the standardized achievement test scores of extra-city mobile, intra-city mobile, and non-mobile grade six students; and (5) …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Developmental Reading And Writing Courses At Old Dominion University, Jimi Thomas-Muskovac

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study sought to (1) identify the number and demographic characteristics of students served by the remedial programs, (2) determine academic achievement and persistence of these students, (3) assess the performance of developmental reading and writing students in regular college English and regular college history classes, (4) identify components and characteristics used in the developmental programs which are associated with the success rate of developmental students and (5) assess the effectiveness of developmental education programs based on the evaluation of the number of students completing degree programs. The academic years under consideration are 1980 through 1985.

The study employed two …

Tidal Circulation In Chesapeake Bay, Carl W. Fisher

OES Theses and Dissertations

This study is a comprehensive examination of the tidal circulation of Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries. Tide and current data, which were observed in Chesapeake Bay by the National Ocean Service during the period from 1972 to 1983, are analyzed and used to construct charts that describe the tide and tidal current. Frictionally damped analytic models are used to: explain the tidal hydrodynamics of the observed tides, determine the location of the quasinodes and antinodes of the M₂ and K₁ tidal waves, explain the relationship of the tides and tidal currents, and determine if the tide in …

Absorption Cross-Sections Of Sodium Diatomic Molecules, Zeng-Shevan Fong

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The absorption cross sections of sodium dimers were studied using a heat pipe over operating in the non-heat-pipe mode. Three wavelength regions were observed. They are in the red, the green-blue, and the near ultraviolet regions. The absorption cross section depends on the wavelength of the incident light. Representative peak values for the v"=0 progression in the red and green-blue regions are 2.59 A sup 2 (average value) and 11.77 A sup 2 (T_ave=624 K). The value for the C greater than X transitions is several tenths A sup 2. The cross sections were measured from absorption spectra …

Design Of Multivariable Feedback Control Systems Via Spectral Assignment, Mohsen Marefat

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

During the past 15 year s significant advances have been made towards developing viable synthesis- techniques for multivariable feedback control systems. The entire aggregate of this theoretical work has been reviewed and consolidated. Diverse notations have been standardized into a single system. A two-step design philosophy for spectral assignment has been developed which first meets stability and time response requirements by assigning eigenvalues and eigenvector s and then provides for attainment of secondary objectives without significant deviation from the initial assignment. Finally, a computer-aided design package has been created to streamline the process of mathematical calculation and to allow users …

Eigenvalue And Eigenvector Design Sensitivity Analysis For Nonlinear Beam Vibrations, Jian-Zhong Yuan

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A beam with immovable ends under large amplitude oscillations is axially subjected to an amplitude-dependent stretching force which is induced by the geometrical nonlinearity. The design sensitivity analysis for such a beam is investigated in this study.

Two variational formulations based on different approximations of nonlinear stretching force are studied firstly. The analytical equations of design sensitivity analysis for these nonlinear eigenproblems are then derived. Finally, a computational scheme using finite element method is developed to calculate the design sensitivity derivatives of the eigenvalue and eigenvector numerically. Numerical examples associated with the nonlinear eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis, as well as …

High Performance Switching Circuits For Vlsi, Ali Reza Feizi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Interconnection topology and device performance are of major concern in the design of LSI/VLSI systems, Pass networks are very suitable in this regard because of low power consumption, high density, and simple interconnection topology. A special type of pass networks called Binary Tree Structured (BTS) pass networks uses almost minimum number of transistors for the design of switching circuits. An algorithmic procedure is developed here for BTS pass networks which is very efficient in terms of both execution time and memory space. Based on these networks, the necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for the design of multiple-output pass networks. …