The gram-negative bacterial pathogen Brucella abortus is a zoonotic pathogen causing brucellosis in a variety of animal species including humans. The loss of the O-side chain in the lipopolysaccharide of the outer membrane decreases Brucella virulence. To understand the genetics of O-side chain biosynthesis and its relationship to virulence, studies were initiated to characterize specific O-side chain mutants. B. abortus rough mutant strain RA2 was derived by transposon (Tn5) mutagenesis of smooth B. abortus 2308. The chromosomal region of strain RA2 with the Tn5 and flanking chromosomal region was cloned into the sequencing vector pGEM-3Z to create a suicide plasmid pNW-2. The plasmid pNW-2, or a derivative of it (pNW-3), in which Tn5 was replaced with a Kank gene, were electroporated into wild type smooth B. abortus 2308 in order to assess the phenotypic conversion from smooth to rough. The electroporation parameters such as cell growth stage, pulse field strength and pulse length were optimized. It was determined that using late log phase cells (approximately 70-77 Klett units), 10 ms and 13 KV/cm were the best conditions for achieving transformation by pNW-2 or pNW3. Kanamycin resistant and ampicillin sensitive Brucella were screened for double reciprocal crossovers between the suicide plasmids (pNW-2 and pNW-3) and Brucella chromosomal DNA. The recombinants were checked for their O-side chain by crystal violet uptake and immunoblotting with monoclonal antibody specific for the O-side chain. The locations of Tn5 and the flanking region in the genome of these recombinants were characterized by Southern blot using either a Tn5 probe or a flanking region probe. An analysis of KanR colonies showed that none of the recombinants were rough. The B. abortus DNA in pNW-2 was sequenced and compared with other genes. No Significant homology was found between the Brucella DNA in pNW-2 and gene sequences in the gene bank. Analysis of the recombinants suggests no linkage between the Tn5 element in strain RA2 and the rough phenotype. / Master of Science

Exogenous PGF_2α, (see Appendix I for definitions of abbreviations) is luteolytic in midluteal (1.e., d 9 of a 17 d estrous cycle) sheep. However, the pharmacokinetic responses to PGF_2α-induced luteolysis are not known. This study (Exp. 1 and 2) was conducted to determine several pharmacokinetic responses to two dosing regimens of Lutalyse® (PGF_2α). Experiment 1 was a 2 x 2 factorial design, with Lutalyse and H/Ox as main effects. Lutalyse (15 mg) was injected i.m., and blood samples were collected, relative to the time of injection, from the vena cava at points cranial and caudal to the uteroovarian vein. Progesterone and PGF_2α, were measured in blood plasma. The PGF_2α concentrations were greater in H/Ox and sham H/Ox ewes treated-with Lutalyse® than in control ewes. Peak concentrations of PGF_2α were greatest in sham H/Ox Lutalyse-treated ewes, indicating that the uterus and(or) ovaries secrete PGF_2α, in response to exogenous PGF_2α. In Lutalyse-treated ewes, progesterone concentrations decreased by 50% within 8 h after treatment. The design of Exp. 2 was also a 2 x 2 factorial, with Lutalyse (2 x 5mg at 3 h intervals) and H/Ox as main effects. Prostaglandin F_2α and PGFM were measured in blood plasma collected, relative to the time of injections, from the vena cava at points cranial and caudal to the uteroovarian vein. The PGF_2α concentrations were greater in sham H/Ox ewes treated-with Lutalyse than in control ewes. Peak concentrations of PGF_2α were greater in sham H/Ox than in ewes in all other treatment groups, indicating again that the uterus and(or) ovaries secrete PGF_2α in response to exogenous PGF_2α In general, PGFM concentrations increased in a pattern similar to that of PGF_2α after Lutalyse injection; although there was a short delay of approximately 2 min. Caudal vena caval PGF, concentrations in H/Ox Lutalyse-treated ewes were greater than that after saline injection, which indicates that metabolism may depend on the presence or absence of the uterus and(or) ovaries. In Exp. 1, caudal PGF, concentrations were greater in H/Ox ewes injected with 15 mg of Lutalyse than in ewes in all other treatments . However, in response to 5 mg Lutalyse, caudal PGF_2α concentrations were greater in sham H/Ox ewes than in all other treatment groups. This indicates that the larger dose in H/Ox ewes supersedes the capacity of the lung and kidney to dispose of PGF_2α, and PGF_2α is more tightly regulated in intact ewes. The lungs and kidney are capable of metabolizing the smaller dose of Lutalyse but not the resulting PGF_2α production in intact ewes. A short validation experiment was conducted to determine the effects of sampling location on progesterone, PGF_2α and PGFM concentrations. Sampling location did not affect the mean concentration of progesterone or PGFM. However, location affected the mean PGF_2α concentration. The concentration of PGF_2α, was greater (P < .05) in saphenous vein and caudal vena caval blood plasma than in jugular plasma. In summary, the uterus and(or) ovaries produce and regulate PGF_2α concentration in response to Lutalyse. It is speculated that a threshold PGF_2α concentration or duration of the PGF_2α peak concentration exists because these PGF_2α, responses differed in intact Lutalyse-treated and saline-treated ewes in both experiments. The mean cranial PGF_2α concentration, peak concentration, duration of the peak, increase in PGF_2α and AUC were greater in response to 15 mg of Lutalyse, although the two smaller doses have been shown to be more efficacious in inducing luteolysis. The second dose of PGF_2α may act by mimicking pulses of PGF_2α and initiate the luteolytic cascade two times. / Master of Science

A sensing method that can monitor metallic structures continuously would eventually produce safer metallic structures as well as a more efficient and economic way to monitor corrosion. A secondary focus of this research is the implementation of a fiber optic sensor to measure refractive indices of unknown solutions. The surface plasmon sensor, interrogated with white light resulted in attenuations of light at different wavelengths when solutions of different refractive indices were introduced. This sensor has been shown to respond to the three configurations of polished single mode and multimode, as well as the unpolished multimode sensors. The sensitivity calculated was comparable with the sensitivity of the Kretschmann arrangement The transmissive aluminum-clad fiber sensor was shown to be effective in providing a response to the process of corrosion. Varying lengths of aluminum-clad fiber was spliced to acrylate multimode fiber and different wavelengths of sources were used to test the sensor in a bath of NaOH. The results were similar and reproducible. A tapered sensor configuration was attempted and proved to be very useful. / Master of Science

This paper presents the results of testing to determine the appropriateness of the seismic load duration factor and to investigate the possible effect of previous load history from cyclic loading on connection reserve capacity and ductility. The single shear nail and bolt connection types tested represent common connection geometries used in wood construction in the United States. The results of two methods of fully reversing cyclic loading of connections are presented. The first method was a load-controlled test with the applied cyclic loads acting at specified percentages above current nominal design values. The sets of specimens were then ramped to failure and the results were compared to a monotonic control set of specimens to determine if any reduction in connection capacity or ductility had occurred as a result of the cyclic loading. From the load-controlled cyclic testing, it was found that previous cyclic loading at load levels as high as twice current nominal design loads did not adversely affect connection capacity. The second cyclic loading method was a displacement-controlled test that involved successive phases at increasing displacement levels. Each phase consisted of a peak displacement, followed by a series of three decay cycles, then by a series of three cycles at the original peak displacement, the third of which is used to determine the stabilized system. The process is repeated at increasing incremental levels of displacement. The phased displacement stabilized load-displacement curve was fit to an equivalent energy elastic-plastic system for determination of connection parameters. Results from the two cyclic test methods, and from monotonic testing, indicate that the current load duration factor for wind and seismic loading is justified. / Master of Science / incomplete_metadata

The objective of this study was to evaluate various multi-stage circuit arrangements that may be used to improve the column flotation of micronized coal. Laboratory flotation tests were performed with two different samples of Pittsburgh No. 8 seam coal. The first coal, Coal A, was ground to two different particle sizes and subjected to both column and conventional flotation. These tests were performed to obtain an initial understanding of the operational behavior of the column process and to compare the results with those of conventional flotation. The second coal, Coal B, was used in the actual testing of three different column circuit arrangements. The experimental test results were compared to simulated results obtained using a rate-based flotation model constructed in the present work. Several hypothetical flotation circuits were also examined using the simulation model and experimental flotation rate data. The circuit test results showed that each of the different circuit configurations possessed specific advantages in terms of throughput capacity, combustible recovery, ash rejection and sulfur rejection. However, the overall performance curves for each circuit were all found to fall on or just below the maximum separation curve predicted using the release analysis technique. Also, the simulated results in almost all cases predicted better results than what was actually obtained. This discrepancy was attributed to the inability of the rate-based model to adequately describe restrictions associated with the carrying capacity of the column froth. / Master of Science

Not available until OCRd / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to discriminate between adolescent contraceptive users and nonusers on the basis of five variables; sexual self-concept, family life education, father communication, mother communication, and years of fathers' education. Included in the sample were 116 college freshmen men and women. The results revealed four out of the five variables were able to predict group membership. Adolescent contraceptive users had scores indicating higher sexual self-concepts and more open communication with their fathers, while noncontraceptive users had more months of family life education and had more open communication with their mothers. / Master of Science

This thesis explores the possibility of using mechanical control in the design of a complex end effector. A design methodology is developed and demonstrated. The main goal of this methodology is to maximize reversible steps to direct the design. By attempting to obtain as much mechanical control as possible, several mechanisms are developed which could be used in applications where control of multiple operations by one motor is desired. Along with the demonstration of the design methodology with an end effector design, the application of this methodology to cigarette packaging machines is discussed. / Master of Science

This thesis describes the implementation of a system that can generate two types of image pyramids: the Gaussian pyramid and the Laplacian pyramid. These have been developed using the SPLASH II attached processor, which is a reconfigurable platform based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA). The design was first modeled in VHDL, and was then simulated and synthesized to a gate list using a SPLASH II simulator and the Synopsys synthesis tool. The gate list was then mapped onto Xilinx XC4010 FPGA architectures. Three complete designs have been developed to generate pyramids on SPLASH II: two for generating the Gaussian pyramid, and one for generating the Laplacian pyramid. One of the designs produces a complete image pyramid within one image frame time of 33 ms. The other two designs produce complete pyramids within two frame times. All three designs can be used as pipeline stages within a larger image processing system. / Master of Science

Single-mode optical fiber has been widely used not only in long-haul, high speed digital communication systems but also in sensing applications because of its inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference, low transmission loss, wide bandwidth, small size, and light weight. Birefringence is an important parameter of the optical fiber, determining bandwidth in fiber optic telecommunications, and resolution in fiber optic sensors. This thesis describes and demonstrates permanent photo-induced rotation of the principal axes of birefringence in Ge-doped circular-core low-birefringence single-mode optical fiber. Light from a linearly polarized Ar⁺ laser at a wavelength of 488 nm was launched into the fiber along one of the principal axes of the initial birefringence in the fiber. Rotation of the principal axes was observed after several hours of exposure. This observation helps one to understand the mechanism of the photo-induced effects in Ge-doped optical fiber, and to discover possible ways to control the birefringence in the fiber by means of photo exposure. / Master of Science