Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2007. / Title from title page screen, viewed on April 8, 2008. Dissertation Committee: Beverly S. Rich, Sherry L. Meier (co-chairs), M. A. (Ken) Clements, Anthony W. Lorsbach. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-222) and abstract. Also available in print.

The eastern hemlock [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] is one of the native dominant forest components of northeastern US. At present, these valuable stands face an alarming decline, in part due to the Fiorinia externa, elongate hemlock scale (EHS), (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae). The armored shield of F. externa provides an excellent defense against insecticides, natural enemies and adverse conditions. Chemical and classical biocontrol methods have been unable to stop the spread of this pest. Recently, the occurrence of an epizootic within the F. externa population in the Mianus River Gorge Preserve in Bedford, NY revealed a promising opportunity for control of this scale. Entomopathogenic fungi represent a valuable, although under-utilized, group of organisms with unique capabilities for self-sustaining pest management. Given the significant impact of this epizootic on F. externa, we have conducted extensive research on the biology, genetics and biological control potential of this epizootic. We molecularly identified a complex of entomopathogenic, phytopathogenic, and endophytic fungi associated with the epizootic in 36 localities within the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey. One fungus, Colletotrichum sp., was the most commonly isolated organism in populations of F. externa within areas of the epizootic. The host range of this Colletotrichum species comprised both insects and plants, although diverse life cycles occured in the different hosts. Endophytic growth was observed in 28 species of plants comprising 18 families (52% of the sampling), whereas in F. externa biotrophic and necotrophic growth was detected. Colletotrichum is a widely known phytopathogenic genus and reports of entomopathogenic activity are extremely rare. In order to understand the biological processes involved in the host-pathogen interactions we quantified the pathogenicity and virulence of this Colletotrichum sp. to four insect families and six plants families as well as the occurrence of sexual recombination in this Colletotrichum sp., both in vitro and in planta. We observed that this Colletotrichum sp. displays a propensy to induce rapid disease and mortality in F. externa hosts. Phylogenetic analysis comprising six of the most commonly studied nuclear genes in molecular phylogenetics (D1/D2 domain of the 28 rDNA gene, ITS region, β-Tubulin 2, GPDH gene, GS gene and HMG box at the MAT1-2 mating-type gene) and RAPDs showed this fungus is closely related to phytopathogenic strains of Colletotrichum acutatum and that it may represent a single population lineage of this species (i.e., Colletotrichum acutatum forma specialis fiorinia). Though a large body of information exists regarding the phytopathogenic genus Colletotrichum, ours is only the second reported entomopathogenic strain. It is not clear whether the colonization of an insect by this fungus is truly rare or a common but undetected event. Sexual recombination, observed in planta and in vitro, could be the means by which new genetic variants are generated leading to new biotypes with a selective advantage to colonize new hosts, which in this case is a novel host in a different kingdom.

The problem of this study is to determine a sound plan of using community resources as instructional aids in the school. The purpose of the study is threefold: first, to discover criteria of soundness relative to the use of community resources; second, to discover local resources which could be utilized; and third, to determine how the resources could be used as instructional aids according to criteria.

The problem of the study was to analyze the first-grade reading program of the elementary school of Ferris, Texas, in relation to the recognized plans for progress in first-grade reading.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Department of English Language and Literature, December 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 274-283). Also available on the Internet.

This thesis argues that Ella Ferris Pell's 1890 painting, Salome, provides a unique interpretation of the ideals of the New Woman, specifically in terms of reclaiming female power through Salome's confidence in her sexuality. By examining the cultural context in which Pell exhibited her painting, as well as her background as an artist, I hope bring to the light the significant ways in which Pell's Salome participates in the construction of the New Woman in late nineteenth-century culture. Since Pell was an American woman who trained and exhibited in both the United States and France, this paper explores the significance of the New Woman in both countries. Through the examination of these ideas, we can better appreciate the way in which Pell approached her painting and why it was not well received in Paris—despite its popular subject matter, technical execution, and relevance to the popular topic of the women's movement. Drawing upon the rich visual culture of this era, I offer a comparative study of how both images of women and actual women embraced sexuality and femininity as a means of exerting influence over men, and by so doing, carved out a sphere of influence in a male-dominated society.

No description available.

Performance of static analysis of the London Eye structure is the subject of this diploma thesis. First chapters of the thesis analyses overview of realized structures of the Ferris wheel. The main part of the thesis analyses the London Eye structure itself. Specifically are described response analyses, sensitivity analyses, analyses of ultimate limit state and serviceability, stress analyses, analyses of fatigue stress and lifetime analyses. The thesis describes among static analysis also a design of dynamic vibration absorbers. The results of each analysis are evaluated in the final chapters.