This thesis describes interfacing electronics designed to couple the Magnafile 8502 disk storage unit to the Raytheon PB 440 computer. The computer can use the disk for both data storage and recovery. However, data must be exchanged in blocks of 1024 words (one complete track on the disk). The interfacing was designed incorporating diode-to-transistor logic (DTL) integrated circuits. The PB 440 computer has sufficient speed and capability to effectively use the disk storage unit at an operating speed of 3450 rpm (1725 rpm is also available). The bit transfer rate is approximately 2.1 megahertz. The 32,768 word disk capacity (expandable to 131,072 words) extends the capability of the PB 440 to include commonly used general programming languages. / Master of Science

Three study areas and five techniques were used in this study of movements and activities of dogs and influence of dogs on deer. Radiotracking with telemetry equipment was ineffective due to infrequent and unpredictable movement of dogs. The percentage of licensed dogs estimated from surveys of rural inhabitants was suggested to be inversely related to the number of residents under a dog warden's responsibility. Activity indices determined from sand plot track counts for dogs were insignificantly different for three study areas and for the three seasons. Dogs appeared to be most active in the morning between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Activity and movement data from this study were compared with questionnaire responses from game wardens and biologist and other data. Six dogs were trapped at Big Levels during the fall. Two were instrumented but tracking was ineffective. Approximately 70 percent of the dogs trapped and seen during this study were hounds. Data concerning the age and condition of deer killed by dogs in Virginia were scarce. Freerunning dogs may present less of a problem in eastern Virginia than in western Virginia due to physiography of the region. Dogs are probably a serious mortality factor in deer stocking programs or in areas of low deer numbers. Enforcing dog laws seems to be the most effective way to control free-running logs. Trapping, poisoning, and shooting are desirable techniques only when enforcement methods fail. Deer mortality of dogs is probably neither large nor significant in influencing deer population dynamics statewide. / Master of Science

Economic guidelines for regenerating loblolly pine were developed for Virginia forest landowners. The general procedure used was the structured personal interview. The basic economic guidelines are expected regeneration costs calculated using the actual total regeneration cost and an associated probability of achieving an acceptable stand of loblolly pine. Average expected costs are calculated for the most frequently used regeneration technique-opportunity combinations in Virginia. Results indicate the use of expert opinion is an acceptable procedure for developing economic guidelines. The guidelines appear to be useful in determining which regeneration method to use, as well as aids in determining the future financial yield necessary to justify the initial expected regeneration cost and in computing rate of return on the regeneration investment. / Master of Science

Throughout his completed novels, Nathaniel Hawthorne employs a unique set of character relationships which fall into two divisions: either parasitic or symbiotic in nature. The parasitic relationship occurs between two characters, each having a clearly defined role of host or parasite. This particular bond is distinguished by the parasite who leeches from and often destroys the host. The symbiotic pairing exists between two characters when a reciprocal exchange of services occurs so that both characters profit and depend upon each other for a meaningful existence. These two relationships differ significantly in motivation and effect. Parasitism concerns the parasite's possession of a special power over the host and the exercise of that power with a cold, obsessive intent to fulfill a particular, selfish need. Symbiosis presupposes a relationship between two characters who willingly render reciprocal services to each other. These characters' basic motivation represents a need to relate fully to themselves and other characters. Thus, the parasitic bond is detrimental to both characters, while the symbiotic contact offers some benefit to the symbiants. Nathaniel Hawthorne employs these two character relationships in order to give his characters significant dimensions in their personalities. Once these characters bond together, their potentiality as actual individuals increases. Through these relationships they can fully relate to humanity by attaining self-realization and an undenying love for the universal human community. / Master of Arts

Batch studies to determine the effects of pH on aerobic digestion of waste activated sludge were performed using a detention time of at least 20 days. Total and volatile solids reductions were not affected over a pH range from 3.5 to 9.5. Somewhat greater solids reductions were realized when pH was held constant rather than allowed to vary as occurs with normal aerobic digestion. High reductions in mixed liquor BOD were consistent among digesters over the pH range investigated, however, sludge digested 23 days at pH 9.5 developed a putrescible odor when aeration was discontinued for 24 hours. Cellular carbohydrate and cellular protein accumulated during digestion, but no distinct relation to pH 1 evel was obvious although cellular carbohydrate showed a slightly greater accumulation with lower pH. Striking improvement in the settleability, drainability and filterability of sludge digested at pH 3.5 occurred. This effect was attributed to the development of an - overwhelming protozoan population which caused observed improvement in the flocculation characteristics of the sludge. / Master of Science

This thesis derives a Probability distribution function which expresses the expected length of discontinuous fiber segments in a uniaxially aligned fiber reinforced composite. The strength of elemental volumes of fiber, used in this derivation are inferred from 1ength versus strength tests.on individual fibers. The fibers are assumed to have statistically distributed flaws that allow characterization of fiber strength by a Weibull type equation. The probability distribution function is then used to compute the average fiber stress at composite failure. This allows calculation of composite strength by the well known law of mixtures. Composite strength determined by this method show good correlation with published experimental values for glass fiber composites. / Master of Science

A continuous flow, helically coiled tube, indirect heat exchanger was used to heat treat whole milk from 65.6 C to 148.9 C in 5.5 degree increments. Each total heat treatment consisted of 7 seconds. Samples of milk were taken at each heat treatment temperature. The serum was separated by rennin coagulation of the caseins and the heat denatured serum proteins. A fluorometric method of analysis for total sulfhydryl content of milk serum was developed that was rapid and sensitive to changes in parts per billion. Quantitative changes in total sulfhydryl at the different ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatments were related to serum protein denaturation, and were used as an index to heat treatments. Electrophoretic patterns of UHT treated milk showed that β-lactoglobulin was the most heat sensitive serum protein, and these patterns were used as an index to heat treatments. Alpha-lactalbumin was not denatured by the applied UHT treatments. The immunoglobulins were partly denatured, but a progressive increase in denaturation was not shown with increasing temperatures. Comparisons of these results with earlier work showed that less milk serum protein was denatured by UHT treatments than by corresponding temperatures with 30 minute holding times. / Master of Science

Blood samples were collected from 80 wild deer in four areas of the southeastern United States, and from 50 captive deer on three levels of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. Blood lipids were fractionated by thin layer chromatography; serum proteins were separated by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips; and proportional concentrations of lipid and protein fractions were determined by densitometry. Significant differences between seasons were found for fatty acids, lecithins, and alpha globulin in the wild deer. No tests for seasonal differences were made for captive deer. Three regression equations were developed to describe the data. The following equations were obtained by computer using the BMD-O2R packaged program. y = 35.3 - 7.0X₁ - 12.6X₂ + 1.5X₃ + 3.6X₄ + 0.3X₅ - 0.4X₆ where: y = body weight in kg. of wild deer X₁ = condition index¹ (a dummy variable) X₂ = condition index² (a dummy variable) X₃ = age in years X₄ = season¹ (a dummy variable) X₅ = polar lipids (percentage of total lipids) X₆ = cholesterol (percentage of total lipids) The multiple R² for the equation above was 0.57 y = -987.1 + 210.4X₁ - 1549X₂ where: y = mean weekly food intake by captive deer for a 2 month period prior to blood collection. (grams dry matter intake) X₁ = body weight in kg. of captive deer X₂ = season¹ (a dummy variable) The multiple R² for the second regression was 0.81. y = 50.8 - 7.3X₁ where: y = mean weekly digestible protein intake in grams by captive deer over a 2 month period prior to blood collection. X₁ = season¹ (a dummy variable) / Master of Science

Tests were run on samples of ferric sulfate sludge collected from the sedimentation basins of a water treatment plant during basin cleaning operations. The purpose of the testing was to determine if cationic, anionic and nonionic polyelectrolytes could successfully condition the sludge to improve its dewaterability. In addition the parameters which affected the conditioning mechanism. were investigated. Tests that were run during the investigation included specific resistance, COD, total and volatile solids, zeta potential and pH. Polyelectrolyte conditioned and unconditioned sludge samples were applied to bench scale sand beds to determine the effect of conditioning on the dewatering rate of the sludge. Results indicated that all types of polyelectrolytes used reduced the specific resistance of the sludge. However, specific resistance was only a qualitative measure of the effect of polyelectrolytes on gravity dewatering of the sludge. Anionic and nonionic polyelectrolytes exhibited chemical bridging as the mechanism of conditioning while cationic polyelectrolytes conditioned by both chemical bridging and charge neutralization. Both pH and sludge solids content were found to affect the conditioning process. The sand bed studies indicated that sludge conditioned with anionic polyelectrolytes produced a more porous floc structure that dewatered to a cake that was easily removed from the bed. Cost data for polyelectrolytes indicated that conditioning of the sludge by this method was very economical. / Master of Science

Virginia's deer kill data, 1947 to 1967, were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analysis was used as the deer kill, in general, is still increasing in the counties of Virginia. The data concerning proximity, access, human population, farm size, farmland uses, and the types and acreages of forest stands were studied in 10 western Virginia counties. Correlation analysis was used for this data. The significant variables were identified but were not included in the multiple linear regression analysis because yearly estimates were not available. Estimates of deer density made by personnel of the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries are very reliable and are significantly correlated with deer kill. Variables concerning weather during the hunting season, hunting season regulations and characteristic components of the deer kill in previous hunting seasons were utilized in multiple linear regression analyses of the data from the counties of Virginia. Predictions of deer kill for groups of counties (i.e. management units) are more reliable than predictions for individual counties. It was found that predictions of hunting pressure are not as reliable as predictions of deer kill. Tile shifting of hunters in response to reports of favorable hunting is likely responsible. Analysis of the indices of hunting pressure also revealed that hunting pressure changes with different season types in western Virginia. / Master of Science