Digital Commons Network^™

A Theoretical And Experimental Study Of The Three-Ring Electrostatic Electron Lens, Thomas Anthony Sommer

Dissertations and Theses

A theoretical and experimental study of the three-ring electrostatic lens is presented. The lens consists of three isolated ring-shaped conductors, equally spaced along a common axis of symmetry. When appropriate potentials are applied to the conductors an electric field is produced near the axis which is capable of focusing a collimated beam of electrons. In the theoretical study the charge density method is used to find a closed-form solution for the field. This method approximates the field by replacing each ring with an infinitely thin hoop of uniform charge. The radial and axial equations of motion are then solved numerically, …

A Study Of Prospective Entrepreneurs' Perceptions Of Knowledge Required For Success : And Its Implications For Curriculum Development And Revision, Vickie Lynn Schray

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to provide information to secondary, post-secondary and vocational teachers on what instructional areas should be taught to prospective entrepreneurs involved in pre-venture training. In addition it was hoped that information gained from the study would add to the existing body of knowledge on entrepreneurship education and validate entrepreneurship education practices in Oregon.

Terrain Disturbances By Winter Roads In The Lower And Central Mackenzie River Valley, N.W.T., Canada, Christoph Gnieser

Dissertations and Theses

Winter roads, built from compacted snow and I or ice, are common throughout the circumpolar North. They are considered effective and economical means of providing seasonal access into permafrost terrain while minimizing the potential for environmental damage.

The purpose of this study is an appraisal of long-term environmental impacts of winter roads by comparative assessment of terrain morphology, microclimate, permafrost, soils, and vegetation, on winter road right-of-ways and in adjacent undisturbed control areas.

The Relationship Between Reading Comprehension And Self-Esteem In Low Level Reading Adults, Judy Rosen Heumann

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between reading comprehension and self-esteem in adults with no reading ability to adults reading at the fifth grade level. Reading comprehension was measured by the comprehension section of the Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills in half year increments after primer level, from lower first to upper third grade. Full year increments were indicated from fourth through ninth grade. Self-esteem was self-reported through use of the Counseling form of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. Data were collected during Fall term, 1989 (September through December) at Portland Community …

Performance Analysis Of A Distributed File System, Meenakshi Mukhopadhyay

Dissertations and Theses

An important design goal of a distributed file system, a component of many distributed systems, is to provide UNIX file access semantics, e.g., the result of any write system call is visible by all processes as soon as the call completes. In a distributed environment, these semantics are difficult to implement because processes on different machines do not share kernel cache and data structures. Strong data consistency guarantees may be provided only at the expense of performance.

This work investigates the time costs paid by AFS 3.0, which uses a callback mechanism to provide consistency guarantees, and those paid by …

The Object-Oriented Design Of A Hardware Description Language Analyser For The Diades Silicon Compiler System, Lian Yang

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is one of the first to introduce a systematic and general Source Language Analysis System (called SLA) for a high -level synthesis system.

Pragmatic Conversational Skills Of Children Identified As Emotionally Disturbed, Deidre Winder

Dissertations and Theses

Communication refers to the conveyance of intended messages so that the listeners' attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors are changed. Communication through a language system may be thought of as the integration of the three components of content (semantics), form (syntax), and use (language in context or pragmatics). The corning together of content, form, and use in signs, words, phrases, and discourse is the essence of language development. The synergism of content/form/use makes up language competence, or knowledge. When children speak and understand a message, they have a plan that is knowledge of language and they use that plan for the behavior …

Subsurface And Geochemical Stratigraphy Of Northwestern Oregon, Olga Berenice Lira

Dissertations and Theses

Lithological, geophysical, paleontological and geochemical methods were used in order to define the contact relationship between the Keasey and the Cowlitz formations in northwestern Oregon. Drill cuttings from six wells located in Columbia County were analyzed by the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) method. The concentrations of K, Th, Rb and Sc/Co ratio in the samples established four different groups: 1) High K, Rb, and TH, with low Sc/Co ratio typical of Cowlitz sediments. 2) Low K, Th and Rb and high Sc/Co ratio, more characteristics of the Keasey Formation. 3) Very low concentrations of Rb and high Sc, which …

Identification Of Entry-Level Clerical/Secretarial Skills And Competencies And Utilization Of Hardware And Software Applications In Clark County Businesses, Phyllis A. Maki

Dissertations and Theses

Business educators need to provide relevant career education and train students adequately for entry-level work and success in a dynamic and changing society. It is imperative, then, we identify those skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success not only in today's office but also in the office of the future.

To determine the competencies and skills required, a survey of businesses in the Clark County area was completed. The questionnaire was designed to assess current computer usage and technical and nontechnical skill requirements.

Dynamic Behavior Of Co₂ Lasers, Li Zhang

Dissertations and Theses

Spontaneous pulsations have been observed in the output of a CO₂ laser. The temporal waveforms, transverse mode patterns, and laser lines are simultaneously measured under various operation conditions. The experimental data show that these pulsations have a direct connection with the transverse modes. We interpret the oscillations as being caused by mode beating, and the frequency shift of the oscillation as resulting from mode pulling. The theoretical explanations for these effects are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Endless State-Of-Polarization Control For Coherent Optical Communication Systems Using Nematic Liquid Crystal, Scott H. Rumbaugh

Dissertations and Theses

One of the obstacles to coherent fiber-optic communications is the unpredictable polarization drift which necessitates the use of an active polarization controlling system to match the polarizations of the signal and local oscillator. The polarization match must be maintained during the reset of any of the finite range components to prevent loss of data. We present a novel and practical system which uses three liquid crystal devices for the polarization matching process. Also, the required reset control algorithm and its derivation are described in detail.

An Approach To Pattern Recognition Of Multifont Printed Alphabet Using Conceptual Graph Theory And Neural Networks, Ihab A. Harb

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes an approach for accomplishing a pattern recognition task using conceptual graph theory and neural networks (NNs). The set of patterns to be recognized are the capital letters of six different fonts of the English alphabet, plus two shifted and six rotated versions of each. The letters are represented to the neural network on a 16x16 input grid (256 "sensor lines"). A standard classification encoding for such patterns is to use a 26-bit vector (26 lines at the NN's output), one bit corresponding to each letter. Experiments with such an encoding yielded results with poor generalization capability. A …

Making Sense Of America: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Chinese Nationals' Interactions In The U.S., Donna Marie Ecelroy

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis systematically explores the interactive experiences of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. Specifically, the research asks: How do Chinese students and scholars (from the People's Republic of China) interpret their interactions in the U.S., and how do their interpretations change over their tenure in the U.S.?

Research on general issues of cultural experience and adjustment is reviewed. Further, meta-theoretical issues in the study of cultural experience and adaptation are addressed. These issues provide a background for both the phenomenological grounding of this study and the qualitative approach used for data collection and analysis.

Intercultural Adjustment Problems Of Costa Rican Students In The United States, Patricia Gonzalez

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the adjustment problems Costa Ricans face while living and studying in the United States. The main concern of this thesis is to identify the intercultural communication problems that arise fundamentally from differences in value systems.

Cultural Value Differences In Arguments Between Presidents Ronald Reagan And Oscar Arias, Juan Carlos Flores

Dissertations and Theses

Costa Rica embodies many of the characteristics which the United States would like to foster in Central America and elsewhere. In recent years, however, misunderstandings have often been present in the development of relations between both nations, and leaders. These differences have been particularly visible between Presidents Reagan and Arias when carrying out their foreign policies towards Central America.

Recent developments in warfare, social and political unrest and economic crises in the region added to the emergence of a Central American political leadership--independent of U.S. decision making-have increased international misunderstandings between both political speakers. These misunderstandings are shown by Reagan …

Every Man Crying Out: Elizabethan Anti-Catholic Pamphlets And The Birth Of English Anti-Papism, Carol Ellen Wheeler

Dissertations and Theses

To the Englishmen of the sixteenth century the structure of the universe seemed clear and logical. God had created and ordered it in such a way that everyone and everything had a specific, permanent place which carried with it appropriate duties and responsibilities. Primary among these requirements was obedience to one's betters, up the Chain of Being, to God. Unity demanded uniformity; obedience held the universe together. Within this context, the excommunication of Elizabeth Tudor in 1570 both redefined and intensified the strain between the crown and the various religious groups in the realm. Catholics had become traitors, or at …

Energy Cost Of Resistive Exercise, Jan A. Polychronis

Dissertations and Theses

The energy cost of performing 1 and 3 sets of strength-type (6-8 RM) and endurance-type (30-35 RM) bench press exercise was estimated by indirect calorimetry in 10 male college students.

The total net energy cost of performing 3 sets of endurance-type resistive exercise (20.57 ± 1.86 kcal) was significantly (p <.05) greater than strength-type resistive exercise (15.24 ± 1.51 kcal) (mean ± SEM). Results were similar when energy cost was expressed relative to lean body mass. However, when expressed relative to the amount of work performed (kcal•kgm^-1) the strength-type exercise (2.35 ± 0.19) resulted in a significantly (p <.05) greater expenditure of energy than did endurance-type exercise (1.64 ± 0.30). The energy cost relative to work performed was found to be significantly greater for 1 set of strength-type exercise than for any other condition (p <.05). The relationship between the energy cost of 1 set, multiplied by 3, and 3 sets was r=0.64 for endurance-type exercise and r=0.27 for strength-type exercise.

It was concluded that compared to strength-type resistive exercise, endurance-type resistive exercise requires a greater net energy expenditure. The results suggest that endurance-type exercise be performed by individuals who wish to expend the greatest amount of energy …

The Effect Of Media On The Listening Comprehension Scores Of Intermediate Esl Students, Marian Tyson

Dissertations and Theses

The use of videotapes has become widespread in ESL classes in recent years. The decline in cost of tapes and VCR equipment has assisted in the spread of this technology. These tapes are often used in listening comprehension classes and may replace or supplement the use of audiotapes. However, research has not established that the addition of the visual element, especially in the movie or TV type context of many videos, is an advantage to the language learner.

A total of seventy-six students participated in a listening comprehension recall exercise. Thirty-nine students viewed a videotape segment, and the remaining thirty-seven …

An Analysis Of Us/Soviet Arms Control: Adding A Subsystem Perspective, Peter Millard Olson

Dissertations and Theses

Analyses of US/Soviet arms control have usually focused on domestic variables to explain US/Soviet arms control behavior. Partly because the number of negotiating parties is only two, there is a propensity to focus on the bilateral relationship of the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective domestic political situations. Only superficial attention has usually been given to international systems variables that may well influence the domestic political situation and arms control policy.

This thesis broadens the explanatory scope of US/Soviet arms control by showing how the political environment of a trilateral relationship (a subsystem that includes the West …

Hourly Fluctuation Of Middle Ear Pressure As A Function Of Age In School-Age Children, Susan Hogue Henry

Dissertations and Theses

Tympanometry is a useful means of evaluating the status of the middle ear. For the pediatric population, tympanometry is particularly valuable for determining the presence of middle ear effusion. The test has been incorporated in many school hearing conservation programs because of its ease of administration, objectivity, and diagnostic value.

In a study by deJonge and Cummings (1985), the hourly fluctuation of middle ear pressure was reported in a group of kindergarten-age children. The variability of middle ear pressure for that group of children averaged 150 daPa. In the present study, a maturational effect of this hourly fluctuation was observed …

A Correlational Study Of Cognitive Style Measured By The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator And The Witkin Group Embedded Figure, Leith Wood Muessle

Dissertations and Theses

A review of the literature suggests a coincidence of personality characteristics among the cognitive styles defined by Field Dependence-Independence and the Myers-Briggs type preferences. This thesis proposed these independent measures of cognitive style tap common cognitive processes and hypothesized the Myers-Briggs dimensions of Extraversion-Introversion (EI), Sensing-Intuition (SN), and Judgement-Perception (JP) would correlate positively and Thinking-Feeling (TF) would correlate negatively with the dimension Field Dependence-Independence (FD-FI) as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). The relationships of gender, age, and intelligence to the prediction of field-dependence-independence were also tested.

A Comparative Study Of The Performance Of Various Image Analysis Methods For Dimensional Inspection With Vision Systems, Ralf Heinrich Koeppe

Dissertations and Theses

Dimensional inspection with Vision Systems requires a careful selection of image analysis methods in order to obtain accurate information about the geometry of the parts to be measured.

The purpose of this project is to study, implement and compare different image evaluation methods and to show their strengths and weaknesses with respect to dimensional inspection. Emphasis is made on the inspection of circular features. The criteria of comparison for these methods are discussed. Using synthetically generated images, various analysis methods are compared and conclusions for their use are drawn. Results of the comparison show that the selection of a method …

Blockmodeling Network Data From Six Small Towns: An Assessment Of Organizational Typologies, Peter J. Collier

Dissertations and Theses

A major question in the study of complex organizations is whether it is possible to develop a useful taxonomy which identifies the crucial aspects of organizations and classifies them in a significant manner. One group of typologies of complex organizations focuses on the relationship between the organization and its environment. The purpose of this thesis is to test the validity of three existing typologies of complex organizations, each of which focuses on one aspect of the relationship between organizations and their environment. The major innovation in this research is the use of block modeling, a form of network methodology, to …

John Humphrey Noyes, 1811-1840: A Social Biography, Susan Adams Dubay

Dissertations and Theses

John Humphrey Noyes was the founder of the Oneida Community, one of the most successful utopian ventures in nineteenth-century America. Early in his life, Noyes was a deep religious thinker, but he founded Oneida as an ideal society based on extending the family unit, and not as a church. Noyes's social theories eventually overwhelmed his former religious concentration.

The purpose of this thesis is to locate in Noyes's religiously-oriented youth the sources of his social interests. Few scholars have studied in depth the childhood and young manhood of John Humphrey Noyes, but that is where the roots of his social …

The Congress Of Berlin Of 1878: Its Origins And Consequences, Kenneth Allen Shafer

Dissertations and Theses

Historians have expressed a variety of opinions concerning the true significance of the Congress of Berlin. While the 1878 meeting did not have to deal with questions as comprehensive as those discussed in Vienna in 1814-1815 or at Paris in 1856, the Congress of Berlin had great impact in its own right. While the Berlin meeting made decisions in order to reorganize the Balkans after years of instability and war, it also created a split in relations between the German Empire and Imperial Russia which would eventually drive the two powers towards conflict in "The Great War" in 1914.

The Degree Of Assimilation Of The Second And Third Generation Of Japanese Americans In The Portland Area, Hisako Matsuo

Dissertations and Theses

Japanese Americans have been identified as one of the most successful minority groups in the United States of America because of their achievement of high socioeconomic status. This study focuses on the degree and process of assimilation of Japanese Americans in this country in order to reconsider multiple assimilation theories of minority groups. Three questions were raised: 1) the extent to which both the second and third generation of Japanese Americans are assimilated into American society; 2) how far the third generation is assimilated compared to the second generation; and 3) what the identity of the second and third generation …

Communication And Socialization Skills Of Three Year Olds With A History Of Language Delay, Pamela Susan Dahm

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare receptive language, expressive language, and socialization skills of preschool children who have a history of expressive language delay (ELD) with age mates who have a history of normal language development.

A Comparison Of The Maladaptive Behaviors Of Normal, Language Delayed, And Late Talking Toddlers, Denise Elaine James

Dissertations and Theses

People use language to communicate their needs and intentions, to express emotions, and to form relationships. It seems likely that a disruption in children's language development would have a negative impact on their social development. There is extensive research that shows that school age children with delayed language are "at risk" for increased maladaptive behaviors (Cantwell and Baker, 1977). Whether this is also true for children in the earliest stages of language development is not yet known.

The questions this study sought to answer were: 1) Is there a significant difference in the severity and frequency of maladaptive behaviors seen …

Enhanced Realism In The Development Of My Painting, Zifen Qian

Dissertations and Theses

It is a basic truth that the artist must have independent experience and personality in order to create art from life. Combining a traditional realistic style with some elements of abstract composition fits my personality. My paintings represent a pursuit of this idea that is the enhanced realism in the development of my painting.

Invariant Pattern Recognition Algorithm Using The Hough Transform, Duwang Li

Dissertations and Theses

A new algorithm is proposed which uses the Hough Transform to recognize two dimensional objects independent of their orientations, sizes and locations. The binary image of an object is represented by a set of straight lines. Features of the straight lines, namely the lengths and the angles of their normals, their lengths and the end point positions are extracted using the Hough Transform. A data structure for the extracted lines is constructed so that it is efficient to match the features of the lines of one object to those of another object, and determine if one object is a rotated …