As the volume of genetic sequence data increases due to improved sequencing techniques and increased interest, the computational tools available to analyze the data are becoming inadequate. This thesis seeks to improve a few of the computational methods available to access and analyze data in the genetic sequence databases. The...
Basic biological information is stored in strings of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) or amino acids
(proteins). Teasing out the meaning of these strings is a central problem of modern biology. Matching and
aligning strings brings out their shared characteristics. Although string matching is well-understood in the
edit-distance model, biological strings...
Methane is a product of biogeochemical processes which respond to changes in climate. The history of atmospheric methane is recorded by ice cores providing insight into past changes in these biogeochemical processes. This dissertation is comprised of three studies which focus on centennial- and millenial-scale variability of methane from ice...
The use of a three-pipe distribution system is known to impair
the operating costs of an air conditioning system. Additional costs
are encountered because heating water and cooling water are mixed
in a common return pipe after use by the various air conditioning
units. This investigation covers the design and...
A method is developed for calculating the reactivity
worth of the heavy water coolant of the Plutonium
Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR). The coolant reactivity
worth is determined by calculating the effective multiplication
constant of the reactor core with and without
the coolant in given process tubes. The calculational
method includes...
The aflatoxins, carcinogenic and toxic mold metabolites
of Aspergillus flavus, were isolated and determined
in cottonseed meal and other feedstuffs. This new
quantitative method uses an acetone soxhlet extraction to
remove the toxins from the defatted meal. The residual
triglycerides, phospholipids and pigments were removed
from the acetone by filtration...
Full-depth velocity and density profiles taken along the 3000-m isobath characterize the semidiurnal
internal tide and bottom-intensified turbulence along the Hawaiian Ridge. Observations reveal baroclinic
energy fluxes of 21 ± 5 kW m⁻¹ radiating from French Frigate Shoals, 17 ± 2.5 kW m⁻¹ from Kauai
Channel west of Oahu, and...
Eighty-one microbial species isolated from seafoods and other marine sources were examined to determine the extent of interactions among these species. Spot-plates, cross-plates, and concurrent growth experiments at 7, 15, 20, and 30 C indicated that Lactobacillus species were capable of inhibiting other microorganisms. Lactobacillus species isolated from oysters and...