Turbidity is an important measurement of water quality, considering it describes water clarity and is an indirect indicator of light transmittance in the water column. Turbidity may impact fish that rely on vision to forage by affecting ability to search for prey. Largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) is a visual predator that may have lower foraging success resulting in reduced growth, reproduction, or survival under conditions of high turbidity. I conducted a field experiment in Wolf Lake, Mississippi to assess impacts of turbidity on diet and distribution and a laboratory experiment with manipulated turbidity levels (0 – 250 NTU) to assess foraging efficiency of LMB. There were no significant relationships between turbidity and diet or distribution in the field study. However, there were significant effects of turbidity on foraging efficiency in laboratory trials. These results indicate that assessing turbidity is important to manage LMB in systems susceptible to high turbidity levels.

The use of Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models for fisheries impact assessment has not been field validated for most fish species. This research sought to test several of the fundamental assumptions inherent in applications of Suitability Index (SI) curves with the Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) of the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service. Using draft SI's for rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), tests for positive correlations between standing stocks and measures of fish habitat were conducted in 1982-1983. Multiple regression modeling and analysis of fish production were used to further evaluate the efficacy of habitat assessments for rock bass based on HSI models. Highly significant positive correlations (p<.01, R²=.68) between Habitat Units (HU's) and biomass were observed in Back Creek for November 1982. However, significant positive correlations were not observed consistently for other months, models, or streams evaluated. Factors which apparently accounted for low correlations included seasonal fish movements, fish sampling biases, habitat homogeneity, and the omission of potentially important variables, stitch as depth and cover, from HSI models. Fish production was essentially the same in Little Walker and Back Creeks and averaged 1.04 gm⁻²yr⁻¹. The factors influencing correlations between fish abundance and habitat measurements prevented meaningful comparisons of rock bass production and the related physical habitat. Results from this study suggest that summer low flow periods may not always be most limiting to rock bass habitat in Virginia streams. Furthermore, seasonal movements of fish and sampling biases, if not considered, may seriously confound attempts to relate indices of carrying capacity and habitat model outputs. Incorporating the annual home range of the evaluation species into future study designs is recommended to expedite subsequent attempts to validate HSI models. / M.S.

The purpose of this project is to bring to light three concert works by Theodor Albin Findeisen (1881-1936), namely Nixenreigen, Elegie, and Romantische Suite, and prepare them for use by modern double bassists. Save for Findeisen's compositions, which are largely out of print and unknown, the Late Romantic Austro-German school of composition is not represented in the double bass concert repertory. To establish the historical significance of Findeisen's concert works for double bass, this document includes background information on the composer and his work. This research culminates in the creation of newly arranged, transposed, transcribed, and edited performance editions that are informed by Findeisen's methodology and by modern performance techniques. This document addresses editorial decisions in creating these new editions.

We give a brief overview of Bass-Serre theory and introduce a method of adding a limit point to graphs of groups. We explore a basic example of this method, and find that while the fundamental theorem of Bass-Serre theory no longer applies in this case we still recover a group action on a covering space of sorts with a subgroup isomorphic to the fundamental group of our new base space with added limit point. We also quantify how much larger the fundamental group of a graph of groups becomes after this construction, and discuss the effects of adding and identifying together such limit points in more general graphs of groups. We conclude with a theorem stating that the cokernel of the map on fundamental groups induced by collapsing an arc between two limit points contains a certain fundamental group of a double cone of graphs of groups, and we conjecture that this cokernel is isomorphic to this double cone group.

The advent and development of the electric bass as an instrument was examined in relation to its application to the genre of jazz and related styles. The evolving role of the bass in the early stages of the development of the jazz genre was considered. The work of pioneering acoustic bassists such as Jimmy Blanton emancipated the bass from its traditional, subordinate and supportive function. Bassists began to explore harmonically elaborate solos in a similar fashion to horn players. Electric bassists are able to expand on the harmonic aspects of the instrument partly due to the playability afforded by the electric bass as opposed to the acoustic bass. Leo Fender’s 1951 Precision bass was a significant development, though it was preceded by earlier attempts to create various electric amplified basses. Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke were key figures in the history of the electric bass, and were influenced by traditional jazz music. In turn, they influenced the development of jazz and related styles such as fusion. Modern electric bass virtuosos such as Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten have effectively incorporated traditional jazz influences into their compositions and performances. Jazz and related styles of music continue to evolve, influenced by pedagogical practices and electric bass instruction in academic settings.

This study addresses the discrepancy between the range of Beethoven's double bass parts and the instrument or instruments in use in Vienna in his day. Scholars and musicians have complained about Beethoven's apparent disregard for the instrument's capabilities since the middle of the nineteenth century. A systematic examination of Beethoven's orchestral writing for the double bass shows that this reputation is undeserved. In fact Beethoven paid close attention to the lower compass of the double bass throughout his orchestral writing: a clear boundary of F is observed up to op. 55, and thereafter E, though F still obtains in some late works. Beethoven's observance of the F boundary suggests that he was writing for the Viennese five-stringed violone, and not the modern form of the instrument, as has previously been assumed in scholarship. Other evidence pointing to the use of this instrument is presented. Some of Beethoven's bass parts between op. 55 and op. 125 do in fact descend to C (sounding C1); yet there is no evidence supporting the existence of a double bass instrument capable of C1 in Beethoven's day. Possible explanations for these violations of the compass of the double bass are discussed. These focus on the possibility of simple proofreading error, and on evidence for the unwritten practice of reinforcing the double bass with one or more contrabassoons. The contrabassoon in Beethoven's day had a lower compass of C1, and Vienna was an early center for its production and use. Analysis of the bulk of Beethoven's double bass parts for their range is given. Emphasis in this analysis is given to instances where Beethoven demonstrates a clear awareness of the compass of the instrument. Out-of-range pitches are compiled in table form.

The Northeastern region of Mexico has developed rapidly over the last few decades and reservoir construction has accompanied the growth of the region. As a result, recreational and sport fishing have become very popular. To regulate tournaments and to address growing exploitation concerns the Northeastern state of Nuevo Leon has begun to manage selected freshwater fisheries. Intensive management of warm water recreational species, however, does not have a long history in the region. This assessment was designed to evaluate the population structure and feeding habits of largemouth bass and channel catfish at a small rural fishery in Northeastern Mexico to get insight into mortality, growth, reproduction, and length related feeding patterns. Largemouth bass and channel catfish at La Juventud experience high mortality rates more than likely due to the selective removal of larger-older fish by angling. Extended spawning efforts at lower latitudes have also been implicated in accelerating the mortality of reproductively mature largemouth bass; however, studies regarding the onset, frequency, and duration of largemouth bass spawning in Northeastern Mexico are necessary to determine spawning seasonality and the adverse effects that extended reproduction efforts may have on growth potential. Largemouth bass grow fast during the first year of life and attain large sizes by age 1. Growth of young-of-year may benefit from an early onset of spawning and a long first-growing season, an abundant multi-species forage base of small fish, and frequent utilization of fish. Growth to age 3 and quality size (300 - 380-mm TL) is similar to that of populations from the Southeastern U.S.; however, the growth potential of individuals older than age 3 appeared limited by suitable sizes of prey. Channel catfish mean length-at-age values were similar to the mean of means for length-at-age-3 values of fish in Texas, and larger than the mean values from several regions in the Southern U.S.A. Largemouth bass at La Juventud may spawn early in the year (early spring or earlier than spring) and late in the year (fall). Spawning success; however, may be adversely affected by fluctuating water levels associated with an arid climate and undesirable interactions with other nest spawning species. Day-time gill net collections in 2006 and 2007 may have under sampled channel catfish. Gill net catches were low and variable; thus, interpretation of length, age, and weight data were constrained by small sample size.

Previous studies have indicated the level of total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) (methionine + cystine) is most limiting in practical diet formulations for hybrid striped bass (HSB), especially if animal feedstuffs are replaced with plant feedstuffs. Reduction of costly animal feedstuffs such as fish meal while maintaining adequate dietary levels of TSAA may enhance cost effectiveness of production. Therefore, this study, consisting of four separate feeding trials, investigated three different aspects of sulfur amino acid nutrition of HSB including: (1) the efficacy of crystalline methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) and liquid MHA (AlimetTM) relative to L-methionine in meeting the requirement for TSAA; (2) the cystine sparing value for methionine; and, (3) the influence of various sulfur amino acid supplements on ammonia excretion. During the feeding trials, juvenile HSB were fed various diets including a basal diet deficient in TSAA (0.33 or 0.51% of diet), and experimental diets supplemented on an equalsulfur basis with different levels of either L-methionine, AlimetTM or crystalline MHA. Diets containing TSAA at 1% of diet and different ratios of cystine to methionine (60:40, 55:45, 50:50, and 45:55) also were fed to re-evaluate sparing effects of cystine on methionine. During the ammonia excretion trial, HSB were fed diets containing either L-methionine,AlimetTM or crystalline MHA after which total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excretion was determined 4 h postprandial. In trial 1, AlimetTM was 73% as effective in promoting growth as L-methionine at the same concentration while MHA was 83% as effective. In trial 3, fish fed AlimetTM at 1.25% of diet displayed similar growth performance as those fed TSAA at 1.0% of diet while weight gain of fish fed AlimetTM at 1% was only 58% of that displayed by fish fed TSAA at 1.0%. No significant differences in weight gain, feed utilization or survival were observed among fish fed diets containing various ratios of cystine to methionine although the diet with 60:40 cystine to methionine supported the lowest responses. Inclusion of MHA or AlimetTM did not affect TAN excretion of HSB. These findings will aid in refining diet formulations for HSB to ensure adequate sulfur amino acid nutrition.

The diffusion of the Internet is the interest of many firms or individuals who see the Internet as an opportunity, a threat, or both. Huge amount of intellectual and real capital are invested on Internet. The more people understand the dynamics of Internet diffusion, the better they will manage the efforts put on it. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which the diffusion of the Internet-related innovation could be adequately described by the diffusion models and the effect of internal influence versus external influence described in the models. Two hypotheses of the Internet innovation diffusion are proposed. First, the number of potential adopters of the Internet innovation diffusion is dynamic, not constant. Second, in contrast to the traditional innovations, the diffusion of Internet innovation has stronger interpersonal communication influence than the promotional activity effect. Twelve Internet innovations are estimated in both the Bass model and the Dynamic model. The first hypothesis is fully supported, and the second hypothesis is partially supported. Based on the evidence, Internet innovations can be categorized into web-based versus non-web. The non-web Internet innovation of connection and communication like Internet, ADSL, and Skype has no significant difference of the ratio of the internal influence and the external influence effects to the traditional innovations. The segment-focused niche website, such as Amazon, eBay, and PayPal, has the strong internal influence effect. Understanding the various effects of Internet innovation diffusion can provide advantages in terms of enhancing functions and planning marketing strategies and tactics.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 85 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.