Forest Sciences Commons^™

Characterization Of Biochelators, Membrane Redox Systems, And Quinone Reductases From Wood Degrading Basidiomycetes, Weihong Qi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biodegradation of wood by brown rot fungi is dependent upon a non-enzymatic system involving Fenton chemistry. Iron biochelators with molecular weights lower than 1kD are important components in this process. Phenolate biochelators drive a hydroxyl radical generating Fenton reaction by reducing ferric iron. Biochelators may be mineralized or alternately, in some cases oxidized biochelators may be regenerated via a quinone redox cycle. Electron donors for this postulated regeneration have not been identified. Extracellular cellobiose dehydrogenase has also been found to drive the Fenton reaction by generating ferrous iron and hydrogen peroxide. This research compared the production of biochelators and the …

Lateral Migration Of A Solid Particle In Shear Flow, Wutthapong Jiraporncharoen

Masters Theses

Lateral migration of solid particles in shear flow is observed in various industrial applications. Suspensions in a blade coater, a device used to apply coating pigment to a base paper to improve paper properties, is an example. Particle hydrodynamics will affect the quality of coated paper and runnability of the coater especially when the speed of the coating machine is very high or the pigment concentration is increased.

Many factors will affect the particle migration. The wall repulsion or lubrication effect forces the particle away from a wall to the channel center. The inertial effects are increased by increasing the …

Enzymatic Deinking Of Flexographic Water-Based Inks, Somporn Chaiarrekij

Masters Theses

Introduction

In recent times, environmental concerns have led to the development of water-based flexographic and rotogravure inks. One of the major concerns for water-based inks is their deinkability. Wash deinking of flexographic water-based ink is much more effective than flotation deinking; however, it has two major disadvantages. It consumes large amounts of water and gives a lower yield than flotation due to the loss of fines and fillers in the effluent (1).

Evaluating Shade Bias In Insect Trap Catch And Assessing The Short- And Long-Term Impacts Of Herbicide Application In Regenerating Clearcuts On Flowering Plant Communities, Kathryn M. Georgitis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regenerating clearcuts are commonly sprayed with a broad-spectrum herbicide, Glyphosate, to suppress regenerating hardwoods that outcompete the more desirable softwood species. Although the direct effects of herbicide application are minimal, the resulting changes in vegetation have raised concern over its indirect effects on wildlife. On the other hand, clearcuts are high in plant diversity, which may provide beneficial resources for Hymenoptera in the clearcut area and the adjacent forest stands. To assess the short- and long-term impacts of herbicide application on insect communities, comparisons between stands of various ages and treatments are necessary. Insect traps provide one efficient method for …

Monitoring Dioxin Levels In Maine Rivers With Semipermeable Membrane Devices, Heather A. Shoven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) currently monitors river dioxin levels through the sampling and destructive analysis of fish. Recent state law mandates that by December 31, 2002, the dioxin concentrations in fish downstream of a bleached Kraft pulp and paper mill are not to exceed the concentrations in fish upstream of the mill (38 M.R.S.A. §420-A). The objective of this thesis project was to develop an alternate method for determining Kraft mill compliance to this Dioxin law. This new method that uses semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) circumvents many of the concerns generated by the upstream-downstream fish test. An …

Public Conservation Land And Economic Growth In The Northern Forest Region, David Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental issues frequently revolve around a perceived tradeoff between the economy and the environment. In the Northern Forest region, one of the most important environmental policy issues of recent years has been the ownership of vast stretches of undeveloped forestland. Specifically, the possibility of increasing public conservation ownership on these lands has emerged. Opponents of conservation lands often argue that employment will decline significantly when land is diverted from commodity-oriented uses such as forest products production. Proponents of conservation lands frequently cite the amenity benefits of conservation lands and the potential to diversify and stimulate the economy by designating more …

Genetic Diversity And Camptothecin Variation In Camptotheca Decaisne, Yuiie Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Camptotheca Decaisne is the major source of the promising anti-cancer alkaloids camptothecins. The main objectives of this study are (1) to reveal the genetic diversity of Camptotheca and to identify taxa with RAPD markers; (2) to determine the camptothecin (CPT) variations within and among different populations and taxa, with tissues, season, and age; and (3) to determine the effects of environmental stress on the camptothecin production in Camptotheca. RAPD markers provide a powerful tool for the identification of some populations (particularly cultivars) and the detection of genetic variation within Camptotheca. Three primers (OPA02, OPA03, and OPA04), generating 44 polymorphic bands …

Influence Of Starch Molecular Weight And Sodium Alginate On Silicone Holdout For Release Papers, Peter Suchy

Masters Theses

This research was focused on determining the influence of applying one type of potato starch of various molecular weights on silicone holdout. Also, combinations of potato starch with a rheology modifier, sodium alginate, of low, medium, and high molecular weight were studied. The base paper employed was a commercially available paper generally used to manufacture release papers.

Sizing with low molecular weight potato starch is more effective for silicone holdout than sizing with high molecular weight potato starch. This study showed that the paper sized with low molecular weight potato starch has a smoother surface, lower permeability, and a smaller …

Assessing Silicone Holdout For Release Papers, Rudolf Haraga

Masters Theses

Silicone coating is widely used on papers that require low surface tension. Such papers are called release papers and are used in label, food, and packaging applications. Before silicone coating is applied, the base paper undergoes sizing procedures to smooth the surface and to cover voids present in the surface of the paper substrate. After the base paper is properly sized, it is silicone coated. This makes the surface of the base paper have a low surface energy. Therefore, when a second adhesive paper is applied to the base paper, the second adhesive paper can be easily recovered from the …

Hot Melt Inks For Rotogravure-Formulation, Print Ability And Rheology, James Atkinson

Masters Theses

A new generation of phase change, or hot melt ink will be formulated. This ink was solid at ambient temperature and liquid at the moment of printing. Inks will be formulated on the basis of polyethylene and Ethyl Vinylacetate chemistry. Inks were printed using a Meyer rod for screening printability study. Selection of the best formulations will be done on the basis of reflective density, specular gloss, mottle, and rub resistance. Screened inks having best properties were printed on the Moser laboratory sheetfed proofing press. More detailed printability analysis was done after Moser printing, including dot structure analysis, tone gradation, …

Ecology Of Treeline Whitebark Pine (Pinus Albicaulis) Populations In Central Idaho: Successional Status, Recruitment, And Mortality, And A Spring Temperature Reconstruction From Whitebark Pine Tree Rings, Dana Lee Perkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research investigated the successional status of treeline whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) populations on 14 stands in central Idaho and used empirical statistical models to determine the principal factors affecting recruitment and mortality. The longest lived whitebark pines from four additional high-elevation sites were used to develop a tree-ring chronology to reconstruct over 1,000 years of average April-May temperature.

The assessment of stand structures using size-frequency distributions generally provides evidence that treeline whitebark pine populations are currently self-sustaining in areas of low to nonexistent incidence of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). However the presence of …

Patterns Of Avian Productivity Indices At Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (1995–1999), Tina Louise Gallegos

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

I examined demographic parameters at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, 1995–1999 utilizing Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship protocol. The Olive Sparrow was the species most frequently captured. The capture rate of adult and young birds remained fairly steady over the years and no significant linear trends were observed. Productivity was highest in 1997, which influenced the number of adults captured in 1998, and was significantly related to annual rainfall. Mean total capture rates were higher at the Highland station than the Resaca station. Demographic comparisons between mist nets and point counts were variable, suggesting that both sampling techniques have their …

Comparison Of Rodent Communities Of Native Brushland, Replanted, And Secondary Succession Sites In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Mitchell Allen Sternberg

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

I compared small mammal communities between mature brushlands, replanted brushlands, and secondary succession sites from November 1998 to December 1999 to evaluate revegetation efforts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I determined rodent community characteristics of the three habitat types. The mature brushland and replanted habitats had similar species diversities and both were significantly higher than the secondary succession habitat. Species diversity was highest at the replanted edge grid during Winter. The current replanting method provides a more diverse rodent community than does natural succession from fallow fields. Wildlife monitoring should be extended to other taxonomic guilds so …

Economic Impact Of Snowmobiling In Utah, Ikuko Fujisaki

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to estimate statewide and local economic impact resulting from snowmobiling activities in Utah to gain a better understanding of preferences and opinions of Utah snowmobilers. The results will provide valuable information for snowmobiling management.

The survey instrument was designed to describe trip behavior, snowmobiling-related trip and annual expenditures, level of satisfaction with Utah snowmobiling opportunities, and demographics. A telephone survey was conducted with randomly selected households with registered snowmobiles during the period from April to June 2000. A 54.5% response rate yielded 373 usable completed questionnaires for data analysis.

For economic impact analysis, an …

Reducing Decomposition Time In Landfills By An Aerobic Process, Cameron Clark

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

This experiment was performed to determine if sludge produced by the paper industry could be composted faster by promoting the aerobic degradation process. To perform this experiment, I chose a sludge produced by a virgin pulp mill. Once I collected sludge, it was dewatered to a moisture content of sixty-five percent or less. As soon as the sludge was dewatered, I set up four separate composting systems, three of which were run under aerobic conditions and one that was run under anaerobic conditions. The anaerobic conditions only had sludge and plastic for its bulking agent. In the aerobic systems there …

The Effect Of Hot Storage On High Yield Pulp, Jeffrey D. Hampton

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

In order to comply with new environmental regulations, the Menasha Corporation's Paperboard Division installed a 150 ton capacity blow tank and non-condensable gas collection system at the Otsego, MI mill. Concerns over the potential changes in pulp quality resulting from the hot storage time created a need for this study.

The objectives of the study were to determine the effects of hot storage under alkaline conditions on the refinability, fiber characteristics, and brightness of a semichemical mixed hardwood pulp. An experiment was designed to duplicate in the laboratory the internal conditions of the blow tank. Pulp was then stored at …

Analysis Of Crepe Blade Vibration, Mark J. Peterson

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The goal of this project was to take the first step in analyzing this vibration. This meant setting up measuring equipment and analyzing basic blade vibrations.

In this experiment, a laboratory coater (Dow coater at Western Michigan University) was used instead of a tissue machine because it was readily available and easy to control and modify. An accelerometer was used to measure the vibration of a blade on the coater. A computer using Labview was used for data acquisition. Trials at various speeds were run with a piece of tape on the coater roll to cause and distinguish vibration at …

Implications Of Longterm Diameter-Limit Harvesting: Effects On Radial Growth Of Red Spruce (Picea Rubens) And Genetic Diversity Of White Pine (Pinus Strobus), Kerry Ann Sokol

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For over 3 centuries, diameter-limit harvesting has been a predominant logging method in the northeastern United States. Silvicultural theory asserts that such intensively selective harvesting can lead to genetic degradation. A decrease in softwood productivity has recently been reported in Maine - has a long history of dysgenic selection degraded the genetic resources of Maine softwoods, contributing to a decrease in growth and productivity? This study examines two aspects of potential implications of diameter-limit harvesting: effects on residual phenotypes of red spruce and impacts on genetic diversity of white pine. Radial growth of residual red spruce trees in stands experiencing …

Assessing Forest Damage And Tree Response To Ice Storm Injury In Thinned And Unthinned Hardwood Stands In Maine, Julie Lee Swisher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In January 1998, a severe ice storm struck the northeastern United States, causing severe injury to forested areas. Forest damage from ice storms is a result of glaze formation on twigs and branches. Ice storms are recognized as severe disturbances due to their highly destructive nature as a result of ice glaze. Researchers and landowners have been concerned that thinned stands are more susceptible to ice injury than their unthinned counterparts. Thinned stands have fewer trees per area and thus less inter-tree support. In addition, the effects of wind maybe greater in thinned stands. The objectives of this study were …

Financial Returns To Northeast Forestland, Julie Rodenberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the past two decades, investors have become increasingly interested in forestland investment. During this time, land has been bought and sold at an increasing pace in the Northeast. Many of the buyers and sellers are interested in timberland exclusively as an investment. This study was divided into two sections. Part one used statewide stumpage data for 17 species-product combinations fiom 1960- 1 999 to explore the impact of property taxes, federal income tax and favorable capital gains treatment on real, after-tax rates of return to forest land in Maine. Property taxes, income taxes, and favorable capital gains taxes were …

The Chemical Mechanism Of A Brown-Rot Decay Mimtic System And Its Application In Paper Recycling Processes, Yuhui Qian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work is aimed at improving our current knowledge of the non-enzymatic inecl~anisins involved in brown-rot decay, as well as the exploration of potential applications of a brown-rot mimetic model system in paper recycling processes. The study was divided into two parts. The first part focussed on the chemical mechanisms involved in chelation and reduction of iron by a low molecular weight chelator (isolated from the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllz~m tmbeum) and its model compound 2,3- dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA). Chelation as well as free radical generation mediated by this system were studied by ESR measurement. The results indicate that the effects …

Visitor Behaviors And Resource Impacts At Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Rex Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The summit of Cadillac Mountain, located in Maine's Acadia National Park, can be reached via three hiking trails and a scenic auto road. This site attracts over an estimated two million visitors per year. Most of this visitation is concentrated from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The sensitive sub-alpine nature of the site, coupled with high visitation rates, has created a scenario where significant vegetation and soil damage occurs. Additionally, Acadia National Park has experienced chronic problems at this site stemming from visitors altering, destroying, or constructing cairns (pyramid shaped piles of rocks built by trail crews to mark trails …