Digital Commons Network^™

Community-Based Evaluation Of The Air Toxic Provisions Of Title Iii Of The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments : Risks, Costs And Benefits, Keith C. Silverman

Dissertations

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer, serious health effects, or adverse environmental effects. People exposed to HAPs at sufficient concentrations and durations may have an increased risk of getting cancer or experiencing other health effects. The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAAA) directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to use technology-based air pollution control measures to significantly reduce emissions of HAPs from major sources of air pollution, followed by a risk-based assessment to address any remaining or residual health risks.

This study retrospectively assessed the public health risk …

Modeling Projection Neuron And Neuromodulatory Effects On A Rhythmic Neuronal Network, Nicholas Kintos

Dissertations

Projection neurons shape the activity of many neural networks. In particular, neuromodulatory substances, which are often released by projection neurons, alter the cellular and/or synaptic properties within a target network. However, neural networks in turn influence projection neuron input via synaptic feedback. This dissertation uses mathematical and biophysically-realistic modeling to investigate these issues in the gastric mill (chewing) motor network of the crab, Cancer borealis. The projection neuron MCN1 elicits a gastric mill rhythm in which the LG neuron and INTl burst in anti-phase due to their reciprocal inhibition. However, bath application of the neuromodulator PK elicits a similar gastric …

Enhancement Of Fluidization And Filtration Using Nanoparticle Agglomerates And Aerogels, Jose A. Quevedo

Dissertations

Previous works have classified the fluidization behavior of nanoparticles as Agglomerate Particulate Fluidization (APF) and Agglomerate Bubbling Fluidization (ABE). These fluidization behaviors are quite different in regard to the fluidized bed expansion, the presence of bubbles and the smoothness of the bed surface, with APF nanopowders showing a much more homogeneous fluidization and a much better dispersion than ABE nanopowders which are generally very difficult to fluidize and show vigorous bubbling. In the present work, the fluidization of APF as well as ABF nanopowders is studied in depth, both conventionally, and in the presence of extemal assistance; several related topics …

Investigation Of Formation And Applications Of High-Speed Liquid Projectiles, Oleg Petrenko

Dissertations

The work comprises experimental and numerical studies of generation and application of high-speed liquid projectiles. Numerical models were created for a projectile formation by two kinds of launchers, water extruder and water cannon. In the water extruder the kinetic energy of a fast moving piston is transferred to the water load and extrudes the load at a high speed. By contrast in the water cannon the water load itself accumulates the kinetic energy from the expanding combustion gasses. Then, in the course of water motion through the converging nozzle the energy is redistributed between head and tail of the projectile. …

Doppler Spread Estimation In Mobile Fading Channels, Hong Zhang

Dissertations

The Doppler spread, or equivalently, the mobile speed, is a measure of the spectral dispersion of a mobile fading channel. Accurate estimation of the mobile speed is important in wireless mobile applications which require such as knowledge of the rate of channel variations. In this dissertation, first the performance of classical crossing- and covariance-based speed estimators is studied. Next, the problem of mobile speed estimation using diversity combining is investigated. Then, a nonparametric estimation technique is proposed that is robust to different channel variations. Finally, cyclostationarity-based speed estimators which can be applied either blindly or with the aid of pilot …

Reactive Modification And Crystallization Behavior Of Foamed Poly(Butylene Terephthalate), Byeong Joon Jeong

Dissertations

The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of preparing low density foams based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) through modification of its molecular structure and rheological characteristics by reactive extrusion. The scientific and/or engineering interpretation of the experimental data was based on fundamentals of extrusion, crystallization mechanisms, as well as information on reactivity and tendency toward degradation of PBT.

As a preliminary study, the extrusion foaming behavior of a commercial linear semi-crystalline PBT with a chemical blowing agent (CBA) was investigated. Foam characteristics were functions of extrusion operational variables, such as die set temperature and screw speed. Gas …

Small And Large-Scale Magnetic Fields Involved With Solar Flares, Chang Liu

Dissertations

Solar flares are generally identified as an important source of disturbances that affect space weather, while many aspects of the basic flare process are still not well understood. The purpose of the present work has been to investigate the small and large-scale magnetic structures and their evolution associated with flares in the context of magnetic reconnection, based on which the goal of this dissertation is to further the understanding of the various properties of flares and related phenomena, including their origin, precursors, and evolution of morphology in solar atmosphere.

The research presented in this dissertation relied upon multiwavelength observations of …

Flow Characteristics And Phase Interactions Of Evaporating Sprays In Gas-Solid Suspensions, Muhammad Mushahid Rafique Qureshi

Dissertations

Evaporating spray jets have a wide range of applications in many industrial processes such as fluidized catalytic cracking of crude oil in petroleum refinery, coal gasification, fluidized coking to make synthetic crude oil, and condensed mode gas polymerization. The rapid evaporation of spray jets significantly affects the gas-solids mixing, solids concentration, gas/solids temperature and gas/solids velocity acceleration. The complex interactions mechanism of phase change, three phase interaction, heat and mass transfer of gas, solids and evaporating droplets dominate the process efficiency and product quality. In such three-phase flows, the phase transport characteristics are influenced by both droplet-gas interaction and droplet-solid …

Isolating Student, School, And Community Effects On School Weapon Carrying, Adam Michael Watkins

Dissertations

Much prior research has alluded to the importance of community conditions in shaping levels of violence in around and schools. It is interesting to find, therefore, that few studies have systematically examined the effects of broader contextual characteristics (e.g., economic disadvantage) on levels of student misbehavior in schools. This research filled a part of this void in the school violence literature by using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to identify whether social conditions in schools¿ attendance areas were statistically related to levels of student weapon carrying across a national sample of 55 high schools. Multilevel models …

Information Architecture For Irish Grocery Retailers Using Business Intelligence Tools, Patrick Doran

Dissertations

Business Intelligence (BI) systems have a pivotal role to play in assisting retail management in the Irish grocery retail sector. The emergence of super chain stores and the increasing competition within this sector only increases their need for an effective and reliable Business Intelligence (BI) system. However, despite this growing need Business Intelligence (BI) systems as they are currently deployed and used are not supplying the various levels of management with the necessary information they require to make effective retail management decisions. The information and reports received from Business Intelligence (BI) systems lack structure, are missing important pieces of information …

A Framework For The Introduction Of Organisational Learning Using Web 2.0 Applications, Joseph M. Reynolds

Dissertations

We are now becoming more and more dependent on web technologies in our personal lives for our communication, information and entertainment needs. But what about using these skills and technologies for our business lives, could they transform the business world in the same way they have transformed our personal world? The purpose of this research was to investigate whether the latest web applications could be successfully implemented into an organisation who wished to transform itself into a modern and flexible organisation. This research was primarily focused on introducing organisational learning into the business through the use of new technology and …

Characterization Of A Cold Flow Non-Axisymmetric Supersonic Ejector, David M. Lineberry

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Organizational Orientations Of K-12 School Leaders In The Columbia Union Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Rose Tooley Gamblin

Dissertations

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study was to examine the organizational orientations--structure ,human resource, political, and symbolic --of the K-12 school leaders in the Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and the relationship, if any, to their personal variables of age, gender, experience, and their professional variables of grade levels served, educational attainment, enrollment, support, feelings of success, and job satisfaction.

Method

A self-administered Organizational Orientations survey instrument, based on the multiple orientation framework of Bolman and Deal, was used to gather information about the school leaders. The population surveyed provided 56 usable responses, which were analyzed …

Reasons Seventh-Day Adventist Parents Gave For Not Sending Their Children To Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary And Secondary Schools, Irma C. Laborde

Dissertations

Problem. The Seventh-day Adventist elementary and secondary schools in the USA show a continuous enrollment decline. This study’s goal is to explore the reasons SDA parents give for why they do not send their children to SDA schools.

Method.

The participants were limited to the church members of the Lake Union Conference. Qualitative methodology was used in this study. Three groups of participants were selected using criterion sampling—non-home-schooling parents, home- schooling parents, and administrators. Data collection occurred through in-depth interviews, focus groups, and a one-question survey. The interviews were audiotaped. The tapes were transcribed verbatim, coded, and grouped into themes. …

Hospitality Versus Patronage: An Investigation Of Social Dynamics In The Third Epistle Of John, Igor Lorencin

Dissertations

Problem. This investigation focuses on social dynamics in the third epistle of John. In the context of 3 John hospitality and patronage seem to be opposed as two non-compatible models of behavior. In what sense they are different and what makes them non compatible in a church setting is the main focus of this research.

Method. A social approach is utilized in this investigation for the purpose of understanding the social system, values, and circumstances that shaped the events of 3 John. I first collect evidence to explain the ancient customs of hospitality and patronage in order to create a …

Open Software To Innovation: The Critical Success Factors Of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (Mmorpg) In China And Ireland., Wei Chen

Dissertations

This project investigates the factors leading to the success of China’s Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) market and gives an analysis of how Open source has contributed to these success factors. It then will look at how the use of open source is mirrored in Ireland’s market for example, the software sector to see if the same factors are apparent or there are indicators of these. Knowledge Management plays a very important role for fasten the innovation of Open source software development in China.

Three Dimensional Numerical Modeling Of A Diagonal Magnetohydrodynamic Accelerator, Matthew William Turner

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Demonstrating Experiential Learning At The Graduate Level Using Portfolio Development And Reflection, David Winslow Rausch

Dissertations

Problem. Various guidelines for assessment have been developed in an effort to promote academic quality and integrity for educational programs that recognize experiential learning. The purpose of this present study was to determine the extent to which experiential learning and assessment, through portfolio development, help adult students in a graduate-degree program demonstrate graduate-level learning and competency.

Method. This qualitative single-case study used the assessment processes and outcomes elements of the Jackson and Maclsaac process model to analyze the use of reflective practice and the use of portfolios in a graduate education program. Data were triangulated using individual interviews and the …

Empathy And Cognitive Flexibility As Correlates Of Forgiveness, Rebecca Bennett Katovsich

Dissertations

Problem. For the past three decades, there has been a growing body of literature related to the topic of forgiveness. The idea that empathy, consisting of both emotional and cognitive aspects, plays an integral role in the process of forgiveness is widely supported in the literature, although there is limited empirical evidence for this claim. Beyond interest in examining the relationship between forgiveness and empathy, this research also aimed to explore the role of cognitive flexibility in the forgivenessprocess, considering both the intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions of cognitive flexibility.

Method. The Enright Forgiveness Inventory, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the NEO …

Wherry Revisited: An Empirical Examination Of The Nonperformance Factors That Influence Variation In A Performance Rating, Raymond B. Roll Edd

Dissertations

In a perfect performance rating system, both the recall and rating of an individual's behavior would precisely mirror the performance of that ratee. However, the reality of performance rating systems is that often times the rater's recall and subsequent rating fails to reflect the true performance of the individual. The difference between actual and perceived performance has been attributed in the literature to conscious or unconscious rater bias. In 1952, Wherry developed a rating theory based on a series of mathematical equations that precisely defined the relationship between the performance of the ratee and the recall of that observation. Key …

An Evaluation Of Performance As It Relates To Leadership Training In The United States Coast Guard, Chad Arron Long

Dissertations

Problem. Training programs that focus on leadership and management are becoming more prevalent in society with little regard to the training’s impact. This study’s purpose was to determine if there was a relationship between leadership training and performance in the United States Coast Guard.

Method. The sequential mixed-method study examined the impact o f a 33-day resident training course on the graduate’s performance. The measurement o f performance was obtained quantitatively through annual performance evaluations and qualitatively through interviews. The performance evaluations were collected from 40 graduates of the Coast Guard C hief Petty Officer Academy and analyzed using a …

Teacher Success, Assessment, And Evaluation Practices In Service-Learning Composition Courses, Faith-Ann Abiola Mcgarrell

Dissertations

Problem. Over the last 15 years, service-learning in first-year composition has emerged as a critical area of study. Service-learning in composition places students in writing environments within the community, encourages reading and writing about social issues, and provides the opportunity for students to participate in community projects. A significant problem with this approach is the alignment between outcomes of the discipline and those of service. Practitioners feel that a clear understanding of compatibility between the two areas of study would result in better practice and further buy-in by those who do not teach from a service-learning perspective.

Method. In service-learning …

The Use Of Play Therapy With Adult Survivors Of Childhood Abuse, Mary J. Roehrig

Dissertations

Problem. A growing trend among therapists is the use of play therapy interventions with adult clients to facilitate resolution of early childhood trauma and to promote emotional and spiritual growth. The purpose of this study was to explore the use and effectiveness of play therapy techniques with adult survivors of childhood abuse.

Method. In an exploratory approach, therapists were invited to participate in an online survey. Of the participating therapists, 21 agreed to a subsequent in-depth interview. The Theme Analysis for Word-Rich Data was used to identify themes from the interviews.

Results. Play therapy with adult survivors of childhood abuse …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of The Jbte Teaching-Practice Benchmarks : A Descriptive Exploration Of Two Teachers' Colleges In Jamaica, Hyacinth Paulina Rose

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of and perceptions of the Joint Board of Teacher Education benchmarks for teaching practice, or student teaching. Data were gathered concerning how the benchmarks were implemented and the perceptions of multiple stakeholders regarding the adequacy of their implementation. Additionally, stakeholders were asked about the possible need for including some benchmarks from the USA in order to create an ideal teaching-practice program in Jamaica.

Method. This study used a multiple descriptive case study design. Two teacher training institutions in Jamaica were purposively selected. From each of these institutions a focus …

Understanding The Relationship Between The Emotional Competence Inventory - University Edition And The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator In The Admission Of College Students To An Orthopaedics-Based Honors Program, Carrie A. Yocum

Dissertations

Problem

The Orthopaedic Scholar Institute (OSI) Team realized its need for a more objective selection and admission process that, as much as possible, quantified the characteristics desired in OSI students rather than relying solely on referral perception, intuition, and an interview, but it did not have a clear method or approach to do so. Administering standardized inventories that highlighted these desired characteristics and aided in the selection and admission process seemed to be an objective approach to obtain more quantifiable data. The problem for my study was, therefore, whether the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) alone could measure a student’s …

A Comparison Of The Adult Bible Study Guide Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church And A Prototype Guide Designed To Promote Spiritual Growth, Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti

Dissertations

Problem. Despite the Adult Bible Study Guide's potential for promoting Christian spirituality among Seventh-day Adventist Church members, no studies have investigated its impact on the spirituality of its users. Beginning as a way to disseminate the unique biblical doctrines of thefledgling Church, the Guide remains largely expository and apologetic in nature, often neglecting the use of methods and spiritual disciplines which promote spirituality.

Method. Based on the same topic as the regular Guide for second quarter, 2005, an Adult Bible Study Guide using Kolb's learning cycle and learning styles was developed to promote Christian spiritual growth. The effect both Guides …

The Effectiveness Of Rating Scales And Semi-Structured Interview In Diagnosing Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Carolyn Mae Cofrancesco

Dissertations

Problem and purpose. There are few standardized tools for diagnosing ADHD in adults. The purpose of this study was to compare a standardized rating scale (CAARS) used by different observers, with a comprehensive diagnostic interview (CAADID) with respect to their ability to diagnose subtypes of ADHD.

Method. Subjects for this study came from baseline data of 98 patients (18 to 60 years ofage) participating in a drug trial for adult ADHD. The CAADID interview results in a yes-no decision as to whether the patient meets DSM-IV criteria for the subtypes ADHD. A t -test was used to compare the CAADID-diagnosed …

An Exploration Of The Interest In And Challenges Of Fostering Undergraduate Leadership-Development At Andrews University, Frances Mae Faehner

Dissertations

Problem. Among the wide spectrum of definitions regarding the meaning of leadership there are also themes regarding a critical need for leadership-development, and the belief that leadership can be learned and should be available to all. Therefore, it can be said that higher education has both a responsibility and an opportunity to purposefully develop this a new generation of leaders. This study explored the potential of Andrews University to foster a culture of leadership-development that will transform students who will work in collaborative spheres of influence around the globe.

Methodology. I used an exploratory, mixed-methods design. Data from an electronic …

The Iron Age I Structure On Mount Ebal: Excavation And Interpretation, Ralph K. Hawkins

Dissertations

Problem. The Iron Age I site on Mt. Ebal, discovered in 1980 by Adam Zertal and excavated between 1982 and 1989, has remained largely unknown by both the scholarly community and the public. No scholarly congress or colloquium has ever been held regarding the Mt. Ebal excavations. The Mt. Ebal excavations, however, may have important implications for reconstructing Israelite origins. This present study investigates the Mt. Ebal excavationand its results.

Method. My study uses the comparative method and is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 serves as in introduction, giving an overview of the investigation to be carried out in …

The Curriculum, Instruction, And Assessment Of Dispositions In Preservice Teacher Education, Andrea Marie Baldwin

Dissertations

Problem. In 2000, NCATE included dispositions in its professional standards as a requirement for teacher education units seeking (re)accreditation with its organization. The problem of this investigation was to examine how program directors, faculty, and preservice teacher candidates in three selected preservice teacher education programs in Indiana and Michigan were responding to this NCATE mandate.

Purpose. The purpose was to explore the ways in which and to what extent dispositionswere included in the curriculum, taught, and assessed in programs, both religiously affiliated and public.

Methodology. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect and analyze data. Three levels of participants were …