Digital Commons Network^™

Surface Characteristics Of Bacillus Spores, Darlene Danette Sabio

Theses and Dissertations

Rapid isolation and identification of spores from various environmental samples is necessitated because anthrax spores can be used as biological weapons. The hydrophobic nature of spores may allow for their rapid concentration and partial purification from contaminating materials. In this study, spores from four taxonomic groups of Bacillaceae were isolated, purified and characterized for hydrophobicity by hexadecane partitioning, surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, and steady-state fluorescence by spectroscopy. The morphology of spores was similar within taxonomic groups and dissimilar between groups. Spore hydrophobicity ranged from 0.3% to 65% and all spores had fluorescence emission peaks at 335 nm and …

Camden City Environmental Center Site Based Curriculum And Teacher Activity Guide, Wanda D. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this curriculum and teacher activity guide is to provide Camden City School District's Environmental Center Program with a curriculum for kindergarten through fourth grade students. The curriculum provides students with site-based lessons and activities that are aligned and correlated with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Science, and the Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines For Learning (K - 12). The Site-Based Curriculum and Teacher Activity Guide, upon approval by the Camden City School District Board of Education, will provide students with guided discovery experiences that introduce new ideas, dispel misconceptions and reinforce previous learning.

The scope …

Influence Of Aluminum Ion On The Anaerobic Treatment Of A Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater, Julio Alberto Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The influence of Al 3+ on the anaerobic treatment of a poultry slaughterhouse wastewater was studied in this work. The soluble COD (SCOD), volatile acid (VA) concentrations, and methane yield values were measured and compared for zero, 15, and 40 ppm Al 3+ runs. Methane yields of 55.4, 144.2, and 215.4 ml CH4/g. COD for zero, 15, and 40 ppm Al 3+ concentrations, respectively, were observed. Furthermore, SCOD and VAs were not detectable in the reactor that was seeded with 40 ppm Al 3+. It was concluded that inhibitory effects of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) on aceticlastic methanogens were …

Cancer Cluster Communications: Bridging The Gap Between Science And Public Perception, Loretta A. O'Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the increasing request for cancer cluster investigations and the challenges in communicating the complexities of the studies and results, the author conducted case studies of childhood cancer cluster investigations in Dover Township, New Jersey and Fallon, Nevada to review state government communication and responses from residents. The purpose was to assess the residents' understanding and acceptance of the communication and to recommend guidelines for similar investigations based on lessons learned by officials and on recommendations by health risk communication experts in the public and private sectors. The study included content analyses of newspaper articles, intercept surveys, mail …

The Effect Of Divalent Cations On The Prophenoloxidase Enzyme Cascade Activity In The Freshwater Crayfish Cambarus Latimanus, Hans Skailand Eikaas

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of divalent cations such as cadmium, calcium, copper, lead and magnesium upon the prophenoloxidase system (proPO) was studied in hemocytes of the crayfish Cambarus latimanus. It was demonstrated that cadmium, calcium, copper and lead increased proPO activity significantly, whereas magnesium had no statistically significant effect on the system. Also, the molecular weight of the proPO enzyme was estimated using SDS-PAGE and found to be approximately 76 kDa.

Sub-Lethal Effects Of Hypoxia/Hypercapnia On Callinectes Sapidus In The York River Estuary, Virginia, Sandra R. Hypes

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined effects of hypoxic environments on blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus in an estuarine environment. Hypoxic conditions were treated as a multiple stressor involving low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), increased carbon dioxide (hypercapnia), and low pH concurrently. The objectives were to: 1) identify hypoxiahypercapnia by monitoring D.O. and pH as an indicator of hypercapnia in shallow regions of the York River, 2) measure blue crab abundance, and 3) describe blue crab responses to hypoxiahypercapnia via field work at Taskinas Creek and lab measurements of respiration. Ambient D.O. and pH were positively correlated in the Taskinas Creek and York River sites …

A Raster-Based Gis Analysis Of The Cumulative Impacts Of Humans And Beaver On Wetland Area And Types In The Chickahominy River Watershed (Virginia, Usa) From 1953 To 1994, Alexandra Dunya Syphard

Theses and Dissertations

Despite increased recognition of wetland functions and values, wetland loss and degradation continues in the United States. Digital wetlands and uplands coverages were analyzed to compare the cumulative impacts of humans and beaver (Castor canadensis) on wetland types in the Chickahominy River watershed (Virginia, USA) from 1953 to 1994. A vector-based approach was used for data manipulation, and a raster-based approach was chosen to analyze geographic change over time. Study findings indicated that anthropogenic activities were responsible for both wetland loss and gain in the watershed, and beavers substantially influenced shifting between wetland types. Wetland area increased 4% over 41 …

Trophic Ecology Of Native And Introduced Catfishes In The Tidal James River, Virginia, Louis Fairfax Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

Species introductions have been linked to the decline of native taxa, and in many cases have resulted in the elimination of native species in both terrestrial and aquatic systems throughout the United States. In aquatic systems, a particular threat is the introduction of large piscivorous fish that may alter the native fish community structure. For example, introductions of large ictalurids such as blue catfish, (lctalurus furcatus), and flathead catfish, (Pylodictus olivaris), into coastal Virginia rivers, including the James River twenty years ago have resulted in the establishment of these large, predatory fishes.

This study described the trophic ecology of four …

Effects Of Choice Restriction On The Intrinsic Motivation To Produce Creative Products, Karen M. Suloff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether choice restriction decreased intrinsic motivation for a task resulting in a less creative product. The study focused on two kindergarten classes in a half day school setting. The students were to make collages. The students were either given choice or no choice of materials when making their collage. The morning class was given choice of materials. They were allowed to freely choose what they wanted from the boxes of materials. The afternoon class was given no choice of materials. They were given materials chosen by the experimenter. Two weeks later the …

A Comparison Of Objective And Subjective Approaches To Temporal Synoptic Clustering : A Case Study Of The Minneapolis-St. Paul Urban Heat Island, Carl V. Dabols

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Enhancement Of Coastal Dredge Disposal Sites To Create Habitat For Endangered, Threatened, And Protected Species, Mary Beth Simpson

Theses and Dissertations

As human activities and development along the shoreline continue to increase, more and more wildlife habitat is lost, leaving many species with a precarious prospect for survival. Biologists and environmentalists are continually exploring options which may prevent plants and animals from becoming extinct. Strategic placement of new sites is becoming increasingly valuable as a management tool.

the purpose of this study was to develop a plan for enhancement of a cluster of dredged material islands, in order to create suitable habitat for four endangered, threatened, and protected animal species.

Four dredged material islands were assessed for suitability. Surveys were conducted …

Enrichment Course In Environmental Education For Studying Coastal Wetlands Ecology Through The Visual Arts, Cynthia Lynn Hasbrouck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to develop an environmental education course to be offered to students in grades 4-6 at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The course was designed to teach coastal wetlands ecology through the visual arts to supplement and enrich the current environmental education program offered by the Institute. Although the course is designed specifically for use at the Institute, the activities can be adapted to a similar wetland site and used in part by a resourceful teacher to suit the needs of students of any age or level.

The course format consists of …

Written Guidance Document For Municipalities For Storm Water Permitting In Gloucester County, Krista Lee Fritz

Theses and Dissertations

To date, no such general permit has been issued to an individual municipality for stormwater dischargers. This thesis focused on the design of a stormwater characterization plan that was acceptable to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and provided the basis for municipal stormwater permitting by municipalities within Gloucester County.

The author produced a written guidance document that enabled individual municipalities located in Gloucester County to research data on and design on their own, using this step-by-step approach to stormwater permitting, a plan that is acceptable to NJDEP for a "General Municipal Stormwater" permit to control stormwater discharges within …

Walking Lightly On The Planet: A Curriculum Enrichment For The Pinelands Science Unit Of The Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program On Pinelands Ecology, Elaine Ruth Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project is designed to produce written curriculum materials in Pinelands ecology. The written curriculum materials produced are intended to be implemented as part of the Pinelands Science Unit of the Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program, also known as CHEER.

The written curriculum materials will include pre-trip, resident trip, and follow up assessment materials and activities that follow the given format for all Cherry Hill science units. The structure of such a program will allow, if desired, interdisciplinary coordination between science, math, English and ecology that correlate with the existing CHEER program. Through this experience it is expected …

Model Of Chlorocarbon (Cfc-12) Chemisorption On Solid Rocket Motor Alumina Exhaust Particles, Gary E. Lund

Theses and Dissertations

Solid Rocket (SRMs) that power Titan IV rockets and Space Shuttles, exhaust large quantities of potentially ozone damaging pollutants directly into the stratosphere, while in powered flight. In the past, studies on potential stratospheric impact of the exhaust products from aluminum/ammonium perchlorate based SRMs have focused on the effect of gaseous HCl from SRMs on the stratosphere. Until recently, the impact of heterogeneous chemistry on stratospheric ozone was believed to be relatively insignificant. This research investigates the potential heterogeneous process of CFC-12 dissociative chemisorption on alumina surfaces and the release of reactive halogen species known to destroy ozone. Through a …

Modified Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Inverse Gaussian Distribution With Two Unknown Parameter, Huseyin Gunes

Theses and Dissertations

Modified Kolmogorov- Smirnov (KS), Anderson-Darling (AD), Cramer-von Mises (CV), Kupier (V), and Watson (W) goodness-of-fit tests are generated for the inverse Gaussian distribution with unknown parameters. The inverse Gaussian parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood estimation. A Monte Carlo simulation of 50,000 repetitions is used to generate critical values for sample sizes of 5 through 50 with an increment of five, sample sizes of 60 through 100 with an increment of 10, and 24 different values of the inverse Gaussian shape parameter. A 50,000-repetition Monte Carlo power study is carried out using data with sample sizes of 5 through 100 …

The Role Of The Federal Government In The Civilian Conversion Of Military Installations: A Case Study Of Gentile Air Force Station, Jodie L. Eshbach, Calvin S. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

In 1988, the Department of Defense DOD began a massive series of military base closures. Communities affected by these closures must contend with regulations of numerous agencies which impact the closure process. Since 1961, DODs Office of Economic Adjustment OEA has assisted communities in their attempts to recover from effects of base closures. In the 1980s and 1990s, the governments level of involvement increased it added the Air Force Base Conversion Agency AFBCA and the Base Transition Office BTO to assist communities recovery efforts. Through a review of historical data, a case study of the conversion activities at Gentile Air …

Use Of Chlorine Dioxide To Remove Fish Pathogens From Garrison Diversion Water, Wayne C. Hustoft

Theses and Dissertations

This report considers the use of chlorine dioxide as an alternate disinfectant for the removal of biota from Garrison Diversion water. Laboratory testing has shown that chlorine may not be an acceptable disinfectant because it can produce carcinogens from side reactions with constituents found in natural surface waters.

This study used Lake Sakakawea water collected at the Snake Creek Pumping Station located on the eastern shore. Water samples were of direct filtration effluent from a laboratory scale filter column. samples were gathered at several different turbidity levels. The "DPD" method, as published in "Standard Methods for the Analysis of Water …

Design And Performance Evaluation Of A Gas Chromatograph Micromachined In A Single Crystal Silicon Substrate, Rocky R. Reston

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation designed and developed a miniature gas chromatograph (GC) using silicon micromachining techniques. The GC is composed of a miniature sample injector (10 µl sample loop); a 0.9 m long, rectangular-shaped (300 µm width and 10 micrometers height) capillary column coated with a 0.2 µm thick copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) stationary phase; and a dual-detector scheme incorporating a CuPc-coated chemiresistor and a 125 µm diameter thermal conductivity detector bead. Micromachining was employed to fabricate the sample injector interface, the GC column, and the dual-detector cavity. A novel processing technique was developed to sublime the CuPc stationary phase coating on the …

Physical Geography Concepts : Prelude To Understanding World Issues, Jill Rudnitski

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Fly Ash And Flue-Gas Desulfurization Wastes On Groundwater Quality In A Reclaimed Lignite Strip Mine Disposal Site, Frank W. Beaver

Theses and Dissertations

Coal conversion wastes were generated at a lignite-coal-fired, steam-electric power station near Center, North Dakota, and were buried in unsaturated and saturated settings within the nearby stripmine, typical of settings used by the industry. The study ran for 8 years beginning in 1978. Approximately 240 piezometers were used for collecting groundwater level and groundwater chemistry data in the saturated zone. Pressure-vacuum lysimeters were installed to sample the unsaturated zone. Interstitial water was extracted from Shelby tube and auger samples at otherwise uninstrumented points.

More than 15,000 water-level recordings allowed precise definition of groundwater flow and occurrence at the study site. …

The Incidence Of Obesity In Lds College Women: The Effect Of Selected Physical Socio-Environmental Variables On Total Percent Body Fat In Two Populations Of Lds Women, Carrie Tanner Summers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of selected physical socio-environmental variables on total percent body fat. The sample population consisted of single, LDS, white women attending Brigham Young University (BYU) and California State University at Fullerton (CSUF). Significant data as well as trends that appeared were included in this paper.

From the data collected, it was concluded that the sample populations at BYU and CSUF were the same. The incidence of obesity was determined only among individuals attending both universities. The entire sample population mean was 22.19 percent. This percentage did not meet the obesity criteria. …

The Effect Of Oil-And-Gas Well Drilling Fluids On Shallow Groundwater In Western North Dakota, Edward C. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

Upon completion of an oil-and-gas well in North Dakota the drilling fluid is buried in the reserve pit at the site. Reclamation of the drill site is expedited by digging a series of trenches which radiate out from the reserve pit, The majority of buried drilling fluid is ultimately contained within these 5-7 metre deep trenches. These fluids are commonly salt-based, i.e. they contain a con centration of 300,000±20,000 ppm NaCl. In addition, these drilling fluids also contain additives including toxic trace-metal compounds.

Four reclaimed oil~and-gas well sites were chosen for study in western North Dakota. The ages of these …

Gray Partridge Occurrence In Relation To Land Use In North Dakota, James P. Samson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Paleoenvironmental Analysis Of A Late Holocene Deposit : Stanton Site, West-Central North Dakota, David W. Fischer

Theses and Dissertations

The Stanton Site (W1/2NE1/4 sec. 16, T. 144 N., R. 85W.), eastern Mercer County, North Dakota, contains a late Holocene organic deposit in the cutbank of an ephemeral stream on the Missouri Plateau. Strati graphic units of the 104-cm section are, in ascending order: (l) gravel; (2) silty, organic, sandy clay; (3) organic silt; (4) silty, sandy, organic clay; (5) organic silt; (6) sandy, silt, organic clay; and (7) sand. A radiocarbon date of wood from the base of unit 2 indicates initiation of deposition at 325±_115 radiocarbon years B.P.

Abundant well-preserved fossils are present in the organic sediments of …

Reclamation Potential Of Sand And Gravel Pits In Dickey And Lamoure Counties, North Dakota, Gerald M. Rott

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Plant Communities Of Arches National Park, John Stevens Allan

Theses and Dissertations

Arches National Park, located in southeastern Utah, lies in a transition zone between the southwestern hot desert and the western cold desert, but it is floristically most similar to the hot desert. The major plant communities are as follows: Juniper-pinyon, blackbrush, grasslands and sand dune association. Other community types occur but occupy very limited areas. All of the communities studied have a high degree of uniqueness and merit recognition as separate entities. Blackbrush showed the greatest overall similarity to other communities and was most similar to the sand dune communities. The hanging gardens were the most distinctive and covered the …

Plant Dioecy, Ecology, Evolution And Sex Reversal, D. Carl Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

The distribution of dioecious species among forty-four plant communities of western United States was examined. The dioecious habit is most prevalent in harsh environments. In many communities, over 20 percent of the species and 40 percent of the individuals are dioecious. Dioecy is most common among woody species which are pollinated by wind. It is concluded that inbreeding depression alone is insufficient to account for all known facts concerning dioecy. Disruptive selection acting upon differential success of gametes produced on sites of differing quality appears to have played a major role in producing separate sexed individuals. Dioecious species reported to …

The Genus Haemolaelaps (Acarina: Laelapidae) In The Northwest Ethiopian Biogeographical Region, Calvin J. Sakamoto

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents the results of a taxonomic stury of mites of the genus Haemolaelaps collected from small mammals of 8 political subdivisions of the northwest portion of the Ethiopian Biogeographical Region. Specimens taken from 2,863 small mammals from a wide variety of habitats and localities were examined. The Haemolaelaps fauna includes 23 species, 10 of which are described as new: H. bellasoma, H. caurinus, H. chaetospinicus, H. crocidura, H. desmodilliscus, He. ebsi, H. malachela, H. parahirsti, H. sikapusi and H. taterakempi. Numerical taxonomic and multicariate analyses were used to assess variation and clustering. A key for identification of females …

Modeling Studies Of Small Mammal Trapping Phenology, And Plant Succession In The Kaiparowits Region, Kane County, Utah, James A. Raines

Theses and Dissertations

This study makes use of simple statistical models which may be manipulated for projection of changes in the Kaiparowits Region of Southern Utah. A method of determining habitat preferences of small rodents from capture-recapture trapping data is proposed. It is suggested that some aspects of animal behavior regarding trapping may also be explained. Timing of flowering of Oryzopsis hymenoides and Hilaria jamesii as related to enviromental conditions was investigated, and models of the requisite conditions proposed. It is suggested that similar models may be used to describe the timing of other phenological events. Succession on disturbed sites is considered to …