Browsing by Author "Davis, William B."
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Item Algal uptake of selected organic compounds(1970) Allison, Richard Charles; Davis, William B.; Foster, B. G.; Hann, Roy W.; Hiler, Edward A.; Krise, George M.The increased industrial waste discharge into receiving waters dictates a need for further exploration into the effects of this discharge on the aquatic environment. Very little information is available concerning the effect of waste discharge on the algae. Twelve pure cultures of algae including Chlamydomonas chlamydogama, Scenechococcus cedrorum, Oocystis polymorphia, Tetradesmus sp., Chlorella sorokiniana, Anacystis nidulans, Chlorella nocturna, Chiorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Selenastrum sp., an isolate obtained from an industrial waste reactor, and an isolate from a reservoir at Oklahoma City, were used in the experimental study. ...Item The comparative effectiveness of two selected methods of progressive resistance exercises designed to improve knee joint stability(1962) Sparks, Charley Wade; Davis, William B.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective rehabilitative apparatus and exercises for subjects who had undergone knee surgery and for those subjects who had sustained knee injury but had no surgery. [Procedure] The investigation used 60 male undergraduate students enrolled in the Required Physical Education Program at Texas A&M University as subjects for the experiment. The subjects were divided into two groups: (1) Those who had knee injury and had corrective surgery and (2) Those who had sustained knee injury but who had not had surgery. Each of these groups was divided into three sub-groups. These groups were: (1) Elgin Exercise Group, (2) Single Boot Group, and (3) Control Group. The Elgin Exercise Group and Single Boot Groups did three sets of ten repetitions each of the prescribed exercises. The Control Group did not engage in any type of rehabilitative exercise program. Leg strength measurements were taken at the beginning of the experiment and at the end of the 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th, and post test at the end of the 15th week. Leg strength measurements were taken at the following angles or degrees: knees at 90, 125, 135, and 175 degrees extension and knees at 20 degrees flexion. Leg strength was obtained by using the Bender Multi Angle Testing Unit, Number 850. ...Item The development of a hyperbaric reactor for the biological oxidation of a colloid(1972) Zoellner, David Richard; Davis, William B.; Ray, Sammy M.In order to investigate limitations in a mechanism for biological oxidation of colloids, an experimental scheme was derived. The system employs the use of (1) cell disruption by high frequency sound to facilitate hydrolysis through increased enzyme activity and (2) oxygen enrichment using a hyperbaric reactor to support the anticipated oxygen demand of increased biological solids. The study objectives are concerned with (1) comparison of hydrolysis rates in a disrupted and undisrupted system, (2) comparison of hydrolysis product removal rates in a pressurized and unpressurized system, (3) optimum process operation for starch degradation. Assayed are the rate processes of oxygen uptake, solids growth, hydrolysis, and substrate uptake. A hyperbaric reactor of 3.38 liter capacity was constructed from plexiglass tubing. Included were provisions for a flow control valve, pressure gauge, sample port, oxygen probe and internal air spargers. Compressed air was fed to the reactor through copper tubing and controlled by a flow meter. Operating pressures were typically 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4.8 atm. ...Item Distribution and Variation of Pocket Gophers (Genus Geomys) in the Southwestern United States.(Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1940) Davis, William B.Item The effect of salinity on the removal of some aliphatic ketones(1970) Mahmoud, Tariq A.; Davis, William B.; Clark, William J.; Hiler, Edward A.; Jones, M. D.; reynolds, Tom D.Basic and definitive information pertaining to the effect of salinity on the microbial behavior is essential to determine the fate of organic pollutants discharged in to the estuaries, and to determine design and operation parameters of plants subjected to salinity variation. Twenty-five batch tests were run to determine the long and short term effect of salinity variation on the microbial behavior of cultures established in various salinity levels and tested under different salinity conditions. Aliphatic ketones namely, acetone, 2-butanone and 2-pentanone were used as a carbon source in this study because of their appearance in many industrial wastes. Mixing and aeration was accomplished by using the Incubator shaker. Samples were withdrawn periodically and analyzed for the concentration of organisms, concentration of each of the original substrates, total organic carbon, oxygen uptake rate and pH. A hydrogen flame gas-liquid chromatograph, total organic carbon analyzer, and Gilson oxygraph were the primary analytical tools used for this study. Data from batch tests were analyzed and the following conclusions were formulated. 1. The decrease in the substrate removal rates was proportional to magnitude of the salinity shock. 2. The oxygen requirement per unit ketone removed increased for a culture acclimated to a certain salinity and shocked with lower salinities. 3. The biomass increase per unit ketone removed was higher for cultures established and tested at low salinities. 4. The effect of long term salinity studies clearly indicated that cultures established in fresh water and low salinities have a higher u n it rate of removal than the cultures established at greater salinities . 5. The removal of 2-butanone and 2-pentanone occurred first in all test series. The acetone removal started when the concentration of the other two ketones reached low levels 5 mg/1)..Item Effects of slope roughness on regular and irregular wave run-up on composite slopes(1970) Machemehl, Jerry Lee; Davis, William B.; Herbich, John B.; Hiler, Edward A.; Reid, Robert O.; Schiller, R. E.Item An exploration into the possibility of using proteins and amino acids from waste sludge of activated sludge treatment plants(1970) DeShaw, James Richard; Davis, William B.; Brown, Sidney O.; Krise, George M.; Reynolds, Tom D.; Runkles, Jack R.The objectives of the study were to determine the quantity of protein and the amino acid composition of the biomass that accumulates in an activated sludge treatment plant. As a means of comparison, three industrial waste sludge samples were selected. The industries that supplied waste sludge include a petro-chemical plant, pulp and paper mill, and a food processing plant. Samples were also obtained from the reaeration tank of an activated sludge treatment plant treating a combination domestic and industrial waste. The accumulation of solids in the final clarifier of a conventional (trickling filter) domestic treatment plant was the source of one sample. Laboratory scale reactors with heterogeneous cultures established on sugar and starch substrates, provided several samples for the study. The preparation of the biomass samples varied somewhat from sample to sample, but in general, they were centrifuged, sterilized, and forced air dried (or in a desiccator) . The dry biomass samples were analyzed for total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ash, volatile material, and lipid content. The samples were also analyzed for amino acids using the Beckman 120C Amino Acid Analyzer. From these data, the chemical scores of the samples were determined. The preliminary analysis of the petro-chemical waste sludge indicated that the material contained refractory material and substances that produced offensive odors. The nitrogen content of the solids indicated that the maximum protein possible in the sample was less than 20 per cent. This solid sample was not analyzed for its amino acid composition because of the condition of the material and the possibility of contaminating the ion exchange columns on the amino acid analyzer. The solids sample obtained from the pulp and paper mill's activated sludge treatment plant was not analyzed for its amino acid composition since the fiber content was estimated at 90 - 95 per cent and the nitrogen content was very low (1.40 per cent). This sample did not appear to possess characteristics that would make it desirable as a feed supplement for animals.Item Field Notebook and Specimen Catalog, Numbers 1101-1707 [2468] (1935-1936)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.; Davis, William B.Item Field Notes and Specimen Catalog, Numbers 1-54 (1933)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.Item Field Notes and Specimen Catalog, Numbers 56-877 (1933-1934)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.Item Field Notes, Idaho, Borell & Orr (1930-1932)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.Item Field Notes, Middle America (1956-1968)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.Item A gas chromatographic investigation of secondary alcohol and ketone utilization by aerobic microorganisms(1969) Langley, William Douglas; Davis, William B.; Whealy, Roger D.; Giam, C. S.; Irvine, Robert L.; Taber, Willard A.Low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols and ketones represent a major class of synthetic chemicals and find extensive use as commercial solvents. Their occasional appearance in certain types of industrial waste effluents is thus to be expected. Laboratory measurements of the response of these compounds to microbial treatment processes have generally employed indirect and non-specific analytical techniques. In this work, using a direct injection gas-liquid chromatographic technique for the analysis of complex mixtures of representative members of these chemical classes, response characteristics to a microbial culture of mixed population have been observed. An aerobic batch culture of heterogeneous population was grown on a proprietary nutrient, then selectively adapted to a mixture of 2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, and cyclohexanol in an inorganic salts medium. The adapted culture was capable of complete removal or transformation of the ketones corresponding to the secondary alcohols as well as the alcohols themselves. ...Item Identification and measurement of the major chemical forms of mercury in urban atmospheresRawlings, Gary Don; Carter, Dilford C.; Davis, William B.; Hopkins, Sewell H.; Smith, James D.; Sperry, John J.Mercury exist in urban atmospheres in several chemical forms. To date very little research has been done to identify the chemical forms and concentrations of this very toxic element in the atmosphere. A gold screen-tube furnace collection system was designed to collect various mercury compounds from atmospheric samples. The concentrations of the following mercury compounds were obtained by varying the sampling flow rate and positioning of the gold screens in the collection system: 1) elemental mercury vapor; 2) collective value for the light-weight organomercurials such as dimethyl and diethyl mercury; 3) collective value for the other unidentified mercury compounds; and 4) total atmospheric mercury. Specific organic mercury compounds were collected in diethyl ether solutions and analyzed with a tandom gas chromatographic-mercury specific flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. As little as 0.01 parts per billion by volume of dimethyl mercury in the solution could be detected by this technique.Item An investigation of the effects of sulfuric acid on the physical and chemical properties of portland cement mortar(1969) Meyer, Alvin Harold; Davis, William B.; Ledbetter, William B.; Ham, Joe S.; Hirsch, Teddy. J.; Kozik, Thomas J.This research was initiated to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Determine what effects selected constituents of portland cement mortar have on the resistance of mortar to sulfuric acid attack. 2. Determine if selected surface treatments would react chemically with the cement and increase the resistance of a mortar to sulfuric acid attack. Four parameters were investigated; portland cement type, water/cement ratio, sulfuric acid concentration, and chemical surface treatment. Three inch diameter by six inch long cylindrical specimens were prepared and subjected to sulfuric acid in varying concentrations. Changes in weight and sonic moduli (E and G) were recorded at each change of acid solution. Though the laboratory tests did not produce the desired result of providing a solution for the problem of sulfuric acid attack on portland cement mortar, the experience in the laboratory did lead to the following conclusions: 1. Magnesium silicofluoride, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, and sodium alginate did not benefit the resistance of portland cement mortar to sulfuric acid attack. 2. Even weak sulfuric acid solutions caused deterioration of both treated and untreated mortars. 3. Varying the constituents of mortar produced from either Type I or Type II cement did not prevent failure due to sulfuric acid attack. 4. Sulfuric acid attack on portland cement mortar was a surface phenomenon and did not affect the structural integrity of the interior of the mortar specimens.Item Organic and inorganic carbon cycles in a pond ecosystem(1973) Champ, Michael Augustus; Clark, William J.; Cox, Elenor; Davis, William B.; Inglis, Jack M.; Sweet, Merrill H.Components of the carbon system were followed with bi-monthly sampling for one year (July, 1970, to July, 1971). Measurements included dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate (no measureable carbonate occurred). Total carbon, total organic carbon and total inorganic carbon were determined from the basic data. Total pond budgets for all components of the carbon system were calculated and compared. Pond treatment with an algicide (May, 1971) and a fertilizer (June, 1971) was monitored through diurnal and every four day sampling from May 14, to July 29, 1971. ...Item A predictive ability construct for engineering technology students in application-oriented courses(1968) Kirklin, Bernard Charles; Hann, Roy W.; Davis, William B.; Drew, Dan; Smerdon, Ernest T.Emerging from the Second World War was a strata of post-secondary education known as technical institute education. Programs of this type were designed to be primarily application-oriented in utilizing the principles of science and engineering. Graduates of these programs are considered to be located, occupational wise, between the craftsman and the engineer due to their work performance and educational attainments. In order to determine the potential abilities of prospective students, i.e., primarily high school graduates, it was the purpose of this study to develop a more effective predictor of successful performance for prospective students in engineering technology programs. Such a predictor could serve as a viable criterion for admission to these programs. The ability construct developed in this study included three domains. These were the cognitive, psychomotor, and the affective. Scores were obtained by use of recognized standardized tests in these areas. The General Aptitude Test (GATB) used by the United States Employment service was selected to obtain scores in both the cognitive and psychomotor domains. This battery of tests is made up of seven tests in the cognitive area and five tests in the psychomotor area. Data were collected from two groups of male students enrolled at the University of Houston in Materials and Processes I for the fall of 1973 and the summer of 1974. ...Item Production of oil from fractured reservoirs by water displacement(1968) Kleppe, Jon; Smerdon, Ernest T.; Davis, William B.; Hiler, Edward A.; Hocking, R. R.; Kunze, Otto R.; Moore, Bill C.A study has been made of the flow behavior of fractured oil reservoirs produced by water displacement. A two-dimensional numerical model capable of simulating flow of water and oil in the matrix bocks as well as in the fractures has been developed. The validity of the model has been checked against data from a laboratory experiment involving a matrix-fracture system. Good agreement was observed between the laboratory and simulation results. By means of numerical simulation the effects of production rate and fracture flow capacity on the production history and ultimate oil recovery of a fractured system have been evaluated. Results are presented for a single matrix block system where the block is surrounded by horizontal and vertical fractures. Production rates ranging from 0.05 to 5 times the gravity reference rate of the matrix, and fracture flow capacities ranging from 0.1 to 10 times the flow capacity of the matrix are included in the investigation. At production rates much lower than the gravity reference rate, the system behaves essentially as a non-fractured reservoir. Is it also observed that for fracture flow capacities of the order of one-tenth of the matrix flow capacity, the effect of the fractures is negligible. ...Item Relationship between primary productivity (C¹⁴ method) and phytoplankton in a mesotrophic lake(1969) Wood, Carl Eugene; Baldauf, Richard J.; Inglis, Jack M.; Clark, William J.; Darroch, J. G.; Davis, William B.The relationships between primary productivity and phytoplankton numbers and volume were studied in a small mesotrophic lake near College Station, Texas, between April 1966 to February 1967. Each of four seasonal experiments was a Latin square with combinations of 20, 10, and 0 pounds of nitrogen and phosphate per surface acre replicated three times. Potassium was constant at 5 pounds per acre, and two cells of the design (0:10:5 and 10:0:5, NPK) were empty. Treatments thus numbered seven, including the control (0:0:5). Three blanks (0:0:0) permitted the evaluation of potassium. Experiments were run in 24 four-foot-diameter, open-bottom polyethylene tubes transecting the lake from top to bottom. Primary productivity of phytoplankters was estimated by the C-14 technique; numbers were determined with a counting chamber. ...Item Specimen Catalog, Numbers 2800-6091 (1937-1960)(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2012-04-09) Davis, William B.