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Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Forensic Soil Analysis: Characterization Of The Sand Fraction, John Baize
Forensic Soil Analysis: Characterization Of The Sand Fraction, John Baize
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive analytical method for the characterization of soil by examining particle size, elemental composition, and percent organic matter in soil, and to determine its forensic applicability. In this study, five soils of varying geological locations were examined including two samples from Kentucky; two samples from Pennsylvania; and one from Washington D C A Gilson sonic sieve shaker was used to separate fractions of soil to determine particle size, and a JEOL scanning electron microscope with a Kevex EDS detector was used to determine elemental composition. These techniques coupled with percent total …
An Examination Of The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Newton's Method For Nonlinear Optimization, Renita Demalade
An Examination Of The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Newton's Method For Nonlinear Optimization, Renita Demalade
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
This thesis begins with the history of operations research and introduces two of its major branches, linear and nonlinear optimization. While other methods are mentioned, the focus is on analytical methods used to solve nonlinear optimization problems. We briefly look at some of the most effective constrained methods for nonlinear optimization and then show how unconstrained methods often play a role in developing effective constrained optimization algorithms. In particular we examine Newton and steepest descent methods, focusing primarily on Newton/quasi-Newton methods. Because Newton's method is primarily viewed as a root-finding method, we start with the basic root-finding algorithm for single …
A Study Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Combustion In An Afbc System, Laura Dicken
A Study Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Combustion In An Afbc System, Laura Dicken
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The purpose of this study was to develop the on-line method of analysis which leads to the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) system. The study of PAHs is important because they may be produced upon the combustion of coal. The US EPA prioritizes PAHs as major pollutants due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Standards of PAHs were analyzed by injection into the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). These standards were then analyzed using the on-line method. Two coals were burned in the AFBC system and effluent samples were collected. These …
Development Of An Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (Afbc), William Orndorff
Development Of An Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (Afbc), William Orndorff
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The relatively recent interest in the U.S. in the development of atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) has been preceded by two main factors. First of these is the ever present problem of acid rain and growing public support for cleaner burning fossil fuels. Second is the increasing demand on public landfills and subsequent need for burning of municipal solid waste. From these factors and their corresponding influences, Western Kentucky University has the impetus and has received the financial assistance necessary to build and develop a laboratory scale AFBC system. A brief history of the events leading to this development, as …
Studies On Resolution Of Enantiomeric Dialkylaryl Sulfonium Ions With Nmr Shift Reagents, Ea-Ji-Ru Son
Studies On Resolution Of Enantiomeric Dialkylaryl Sulfonium Ions With Nmr Shift Reagents, Ea-Ji-Ru Son
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Praseodymium(III) NMR shift reagent, which is an upfield shift reagent, is focused on for assessment of enantiomeric excess and resolution of methyl sulfonium ions. A series of alkylmethylphenylsulfonium ions were analyzed, where alkyl is ethyl (I), butyl(H), octyl (III), and benzyl(IY). The praseodymium agent gives base-lined resolution of the ortho hydrogens resonance for I and IH. All spectra are strongly temperature-dependent. I is shifted more than ED, consistent with a steric effect. Assignments for I were made by gradually increasing the concentration of the shift reagent and by analyzing R-enriched I. Racemization of R-enriched isomer of I by pyramidal inversion …
Ta Da! - The Text Adventure Design Assistant A Visual Tool For The Development Of Adventure Games, Sean Molley
Ta Da! - The Text Adventure Design Assistant A Visual Tool For The Development Of Adventure Games, Sean Molley
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
In this paper, I survey past and present tools available to text adventure game authors, and then describe a new product: the Text Adventure Design Assistant (TA DA!), a visual programming system for creating text adventure games. My system consists of two parts: an abstract framework which defines an archetypical game, and a user interface which allows for the construction of games in a visual manner by manipulating the elements of the abstract game to produce a concrete design. The two most popular contemporary programming languages for creating text adventure games, TADS and Inform, are compared and contrasted, and my …
Fundamental Investigations Of Mechanistic Pathways Of Selected Organic Reactive Intermediates, Carl Whittle
Fundamental Investigations Of Mechanistic Pathways Of Selected Organic Reactive Intermediates, Carl Whittle
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Part 1 of this thesis deals with the role that it -electron density plays in the formation of it -complexes in electrophilic aromatic substitution. Using commercial and synthetic compounds of varying it-electron density, the fact that % -complexes actually exist in these species was determined by a mass spectral investigation that was designed to monitor alkyl side-chain isomerizaitons. Also, the amount of it-complex was determined for each compound by measuring the amount of alkyl carbenium ion loss in each compound's mass spectrum. Found within the systems was an internal trend showing that the greater the amount of 7t-electron density in …
Mathematical Modeling Of Convective Heat Transfer In Mammoth Cave, Jonathan Jernigan
Mathematical Modeling Of Convective Heat Transfer In Mammoth Cave, Jonathan Jernigan
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Around two centuries ago, changes were made to the entrances of Mammoth Cave and its passages. Today the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave is enlarged and the passage just beyond the entrance known as Houchins' Narrows has been cleared of rubble and filled with sediments. These enlargements have resulted in an increase in airflow throughout the Historic Section of the cave causing environmental conditions such as air temperature and airflow to fluctuate. These fluctuations have negatively impacted inhabitants and contents of the cave system. To restore natural conditions within the cave, Science and Resource Management personnel at Mammoth Cave National …
A Study Of The Volatile Matter Of Coal As A Function Of The Heating Rate, Enrique Santos
A Study Of The Volatile Matter Of Coal As A Function Of The Heating Rate, Enrique Santos
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
A study of volatile matter yields as a function of the heating rate was conducted. A suite of 21 coal and coke samples varying in rank from anthracitic to lignitic and heating rates from 10°C/min to about 450°C/min were used in the study. Heating rates up to 60°C per minute, which are typically used in ASTM Test Method 5142 (instrumental Proximate Analysis), were achieved in a macro thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) system. Heating rates of 50-200°C/min were obtained in a micro TGA system. All measurements were made in a nitrogen atmosphere. The results of the study illustrate the dependance of the …
Development Of Methods For The Determination Of Major And Minor Elements And Hydrocarbon Residues In Solid Combustion Products, Xiaoliu Chi
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Methods for the determination of inorganic constituents in coal fly ash by glow discharge spectrometry (GDS) and for the extraction of the organic compounds from coal and ash by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) at temperatures below 150°C are reviewed. The inorganic elements studied included Al, Ca, C, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S, Si and Ti. The organic compounds were measured by weight loss of the sample. The goal of this research was to find easier and faster ways to measure the concentration of inorganic elements in coal ash and to measure extractability of the coal itself, to make coal …
The Effects Of Hydrilla Infestation On Selected Wintering Waterfowl: Santee Copper Lake System, South Carolina, William Davis
The Effects Of Hydrilla Infestation On Selected Wintering Waterfowl: Santee Copper Lake System, South Carolina, William Davis
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Hydrilla is an exotic aquatic weed that was introduced into Florida in the 1950's. Since that time it has spread rapidly from lake to lake throughout the southeast and beyond. The Santee Cooper lake system in eastern South Carolina was infested with the weed in the early 1980's. Since that time lake managers have sought ways to eliminate the aquatic plant and have succeeded to a great extent through the use of sterile grass carp as a biological control agent. This paper, however, contains evidence to support the view that hydrilla is actually a beneficial habitat for many species on …
Evaluation Of Continuous Flow Constructed Wetlands Treating Swine Waste, Stephanie Rivard
Evaluation Of Continuous Flow Constructed Wetlands Treating Swine Waste, Stephanie Rivard
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The ability for wetlands to purify contaminated water is not a new concept. Natural wetlands have been cleansing water within our environment for ages. After studying the process of natural wetlands the same concept was applied to municipal waste. It is the success of constructed wetlands treating municipal waste that created the new idea for the application of a wetland system to treat wastewater from livestock facilities. Through proper design and management, constructed wetlands may be useful for reducing the nutrient concentration of waste (Rieck el al., 1996). Taking into consideration the higher nutrient loads of livestock waste, the same …
A Study Of Combustion Profiles Of Co-Fired Coal/Biomass/Limestone Samples In A Fluidized Bed Combustor, Beverly Campbell
A Study Of Combustion Profiles Of Co-Fired Coal/Biomass/Limestone Samples In A Fluidized Bed Combustor, Beverly Campbell
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Concerns over declining landfill space and a renewed interest in waste-toenergy technologies have increased the possibilities of co-firing different types of fuels in atmospheric fluidized bed combustion systems. The laboratory sized atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) at Western Kentucky University was designed to serve as a highly flexible research and development facility to gain operating experience, evaluate combustion performance, and estimate the effect of flue gas emissions on the atmosphere. The operating conditions for the AFBC system are similar to those used at the TVA 160-MW AFBC Pilot Plant located near Paducah, Kentucky. AFBC systems are ideal for co-firing because …
Mass Balance Of Major, Minor And Trace Elements During Afbc Combustion Of Fuels, Qianwen Cao
Mass Balance Of Major, Minor And Trace Elements During Afbc Combustion Of Fuels, Qianwen Cao
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The proposed ASTM procedures for the determination of 13 major and minor., and 11 trace elements, in solid coal and coke combustion residues by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were checked for routine use. In this study, the ICP analysis values and XRF analysis values of major and minor elements in two kinds of coal and two kinds of limestone were compared. It was shown that over 95% closure of the mass balances of the 24 major, minor, and trace elements was obtained with the proposed ASTM procedure. Also, it was demonstrated that trace elements may be lost through …