Digital Commons Network^™

Glass Transition Behavior Of Thin Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Films On Silica, Moses T. Kabomo

Masters Theses

"Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) was used to study the glass transition behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) adsorbed onto silica substrates from toluene. Untreated fumed amorphous silica and silica treated with hexamethyldisilazane were used for the adsorption to probe the effect of polymer- substrate interactions. To test the effect of molecular weight on the T_g of adsorbed polymers, low polydispersity PMMA samples of varying molecular weights were used. The results revealed a broadening of the glass transition towards high temperatures. The observed increase in the glass transition breadth varied with adsorbed amount and the type of silica used for …

Stratigraphy And Diagenesis Of The Paleoproterozoic Bushy Park Zinc-Lead Deposit, South Africa, William Daniel Baugaard

Masters Theses

“The Bushy Park zinc-lead deposit is located in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The sulfides are hosted by karst-related breccias that were formed in carbonate shelf deposits of the Neoarchean (2.55 Ga) Campbellrand Subgroup. These rocks are dolomitized completely and silicified partially but have not undergone major metamorphism and thus display remarkable preservation of depositional fabrics. The stratigraphic interval includes the Papkuil and Klippan Formations (> 210 m), a sequence of cyclic microbial laminates interbedded with domed and columnar stromatolites. The Klippan is distinguished from other formations b intense silicification and brecciation. These strata are overlain by the Kogelbeen …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Commercially Available Feedback Training Program In Increasing The Classroom Attending Skills Of Students With Attention Deficit Disorder, Janice M. Digiovanni

Masters Theses

The incidence of attention deficit disorder among elementary aged children has increased dramatically along with reliance on psychostimulant medication. Many parents and professionals seek alternative or supplemental treatments. Neurofeedback training is an alternative intervention that has been researched over the past twenty years with many positive results. The advent of commercially available systems makes neurofeedback training a more realistic and cost-effective option. Such systems must be shown to be effective and practical within a school setting.

This multiple baseline single system experimental study of three male subjects with ADD/HD confirmed that the Play Attention feedback training program by Unique Logic, …

A Geostatistical Screening Strategy For Assessing Contaminated Sediment, Yasuyo K. Makido

Masters Theses

Many environmental problems involve the collection and interpretation of spatial data. Screening methods attempt to develop efficient test procedures to determine the presence and absence of contaminants in samples. Screening methods can reduce monitoring costs and effectively identify contamination problems. Adaptive sampling has the flexibility to adjust for follow-up sampling based on the observed patterns in the population. Geostatistical method is employed for the adaptive sampling scheme. Geostatistics are statistical methodologies that use spatial coordinates to help formulate models used in estimation and prediction.

This study seeks to map Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations in sediment in Lake Allegan and Morrow …

Characterization Of Organo-Tin And Organo-Mercury Compounds With Electrospray Mass Spectrometry, Kan Zhu

Masters Theses

Metal-containing compounds are often found as pollutants in the environment. Obtaining speciation information about these compounds is important to understanding toxieity and bioaccumulation. Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (ESMS) is a technique that has the potential to provide rapid and direct speciation information of solution phase metal compounds. The ionization behavior of chemical species is related to their electron affinities. The higher the electron affinity, the easier it will be reduced during the ionization process. Additionally, solvent with different polarity and surface tension will also affect the ionization and reduction products. Organo-tin compounds with more alkyl groups will be ionized more efficiently, …

Pan, Ppn And Mpan Measurements And The Quantitative Relationship Of Pan And Mpan In Biogenic Hydrocarbon Conditions, Chen Wangchun

Masters Theses

Simultaneous measurements of PAN, PPN and MPAN were made during the SOS 1999 Nashville campaign at Dickson site. The PANs data at this site were rich and complex. PAN and MP AN showed obvious diurnal change but PPN did not during this period. PAN and ozone have a clear positive relationship. Due to the special location of the site, winds from different directions bring anthropogenic hydrocarbons (AHCs) or biogenic hydrocarbons (BHCs) to the site. The data showed that the influence of AHCs and BHCs on PANs compounds varied on different days. Average values of PAN/PPN and PAN/MPAN from MLR may …

The Effects Of Reform Mathematics Curriculum On Student Achievement, Mark Roger Brown

Masters Theses

Middle school mathematics instruction is in need of reform. In response to this call for reform, school districts across the country are adopting curriculum based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards.

This thesis studies the impact of the use of a reform curriculum on student achievement. The study looks at two districts in Western Michigan, one of which uses a reform curriculum and one that uses a traditional curriculum. The study compares the results of the districts on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program mathematics assessment to determine if students using the reformed curriculum materials scored significantly higher …

Alkyl Nitrates In Dickson During The Sos 1999 Field Campaign, Mei Ma

Masters Theses

Measurements of alkyl nitrates were performed during the Southern Oxidants Study (SOS) 1999 Summer Field Campaign in Dickson, TN from June 10 to July 15, 1999. The developed GC-ECD method was tested and used successfully. Nine alkyl nitrates were measured and six alkyl nitrates were quantified. The measured alkyl nitrates expect methyl nitrate showed higher mixing ratios under northeasterly and southeasterly wind, which brought anthropogenic sources to the measurement site, and lower mixing ratios when wind came from northwest and southwest, which brought NOx and clean air, respectively. The contribution of the measured alkyl nitrates to the total oxidized nitrogen …

Development Of An Integrated Sensor For The Measurement Of The Acoustic Local Volume Displacement Of Vibrating Beams, Randall Rozema

Masters Theses

Currently, the methods used for sensing the volume displacement of a vibrating structure entail the use of a polyvinylidene fluoride sensor that spans the entire length of the structure. However, this work shows that the surface behavior related to volume displacement can be measured through the use of a polyvinylidene fluoride sensor that spans only the area of interest. In this application it was shown that two-point sensors are required in addition to the distributed, polyvinylidene fluoride sensor to achieve an accurate measurement. As a result, a set of four beams with different end conditions were constructed so that the …

Development Of An Arc View™ Extension To Measure Local Fractal Dimension, Christopher Page Caird

Masters Theses

Texture is defined as the visible cue suggesting the smoothness or coarseness associated with image tone or color (Emerson, 1999). Fractal dimension (D) offers insight towards understanding texture in the spatial as well as spectral context of an image (Mandelbrot, 1982). Fractal dimension is best understood as a range of values between two and three that are used to quantitatively describe a surface. (D) values near 2.0 represent a uniform area containing similar pixel values. In contrast, (D) values near 3.0 represent a domain that is spectrally complex. This complexity stems from light and dark pixels in close proximity to …

A Qualitative Investigation Of The Polymerization Process In The Ihss Humic Substances Extraction Procedure Using Model Phenolic Compounds, Roger J. Germay

Masters Theses

Achard (1786) extracted peat with alkali and reported obtaining dark compounds now called humic substances. These are complex, high molecular weight, polyphenolic compounds naturally occurring in soil, in fresh-water and in marine environments. They are biodegradation products of plant materials.

The International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) adapted Achard's method to separate humic substances into three fractions: (1) humic acids (HA), soluble only at high pH; (2) fulvic acids (FA), water-soluble at any pH; and (3) humin, insoluble at any pH. The IHSS method involves contact of soil with 0.1N.NaOH solution, followed by acidification with HCl.

In this study, 0.01 N. …

A Study On The Learning Styles Of Limited English Proficiency Students, Linda J. Clay

Masters Theses

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students are not attaining academic success in public schools. Enrollment of Hspanic students is increasing, but at the same time assessment of their work shows little achievement. A crucial issue in the education of language minority students is how they learn. This thesis examines their learning style preferences through data gathered from student and teacher surveys and then correlates it to existing research. The conclusion drawn is that Hispanic LEP students are not being taught in their preferred learning styles and that the primary manner of verbal/linguistic instruction used in schools is a deterrent to successful …

In Situ Biosurfactant Production At Carson City Park, Michigan, Andrew J. Hudak

Masters Theses

Crude oil refining operations conducted by the Crystal Refining Company in Carson City, Michigan have led to the contamination of the soil and groundwater at Carson City Park with petroleum hydrocarbons. In situ biosurfactant production, occurring as a result of the biodegradation activities of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms, was investigated.

Background hydrogeological and biogeochemical data were collected from the groundwater from thirteen monitoring wells at Carson City Park. Further analysis included the identification of biosurfactant producing microorganisms and biosurfactants present in the soil and groundwater.

Results showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was producing both monorhamnolipids and dirhamnolipids (glycolipid biosurfactants) in the contaminated …

Surface Modification Of Diamond And Determination Of Kinetics And Mechanism Of Modification Reactions, Humera Farooq

Masters Theses

A series of photochemically modified diamond surfaces were prepared. Surface functional groups added included, chlorine, bromine, methoxy, amine, methylamine, dimethylarnine and trimethylammonium chloride. Photochemically chlorinated and brominated diamond surfaces were used as synthetic intermediates. The modified diamond surfaces were characterized by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFT) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).

The study was mainly focused on understanding the kinetic processes and reaction mechanism of modified surfaces. The observed rate constants for surface hydrogen loss and HCl (g) evolution were found to be identical. Similar rate constants were observed for amine substitution and consumption of ammonia.

The study of action …

Assessing Silicone Holdout For Release Papers, Rudolf Haraga

Masters Theses

Silicone coating is widely used on papers that require low surface tension. Such papers are called release papers and are used in label, food, and packaging applications. Before silicone coating is applied, the base paper undergoes sizing procedures to smooth the surface and to cover voids present in the surface of the paper substrate. After the base paper is properly sized, it is silicone coated. This makes the surface of the base paper have a low surface energy. Therefore, when a second adhesive paper is applied to the base paper, the second adhesive paper can be easily recovered from the …

The Geochemistry Of A Leaf Composting Leachate Plume, Asylum Lake, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Eric G. Steeves

Masters Theses

Since the implementation of legislation that bans yard waste from landfills, there has been a need to characterize the impact that large scale composting has on groundwater quality. Allen (1993) and Weaver (1995) have attempted to characterize a leaf composting leachate plume located at the WMU-Asylum Lake Well Field #2 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Allen was not able to base any conclusions on geochemical results and Weaver delineated the plume using fewer monitoring wells than are now available.

The data from twenty-one monitoring wells indicates that local groundwater is being impacted by the large-scale composting operation. The plume is characterized by …

Apoptosis Following Peripheral Sensory Deafferentation In The Olfactory Blub Of Adult Zebrafish, Danio Rerio, Akiko M. Vankirk

Masters Theses

Removal of the olfactory organ in the adult zebrafish results in a significant decrease in volume of the ipsilateral olfactory bulb. Our lab has been investigating the potential role of apoptosis in this phenomenon. My hypothesis is that cells in the adult olfactory bulb normally undergo minimal apoptosis and that apoptosis will increase when sensory stimulation is removed. The TUNEL method allowed detection of cells undergoing DNA-fragmentation, which indicates an apoptotic response. Double-label immunohistochemistry was used to mark which apoptotic cells are neurons by using antibody to Hu, a neuron specific protein. Triple-labeling with bis-benzirnide confirmed the apoptotic nature of …

The Biomechical Analysis Of The Kinetics And Kinematics For Three Figure Skating Jumps, Laura Blazok

Masters Theses

The problem of this investigation was to describe the kinetics and kinematics of three figure skating jumps: axel, double toe loop, and double loop. Specifically, the researcher investigated impact force, kinetic energy, and selected kinematic variables of female skaters during the landing phase of the three figure skating jumps. Kinetic energy and impact force were calculated during three phases of landing: Initial, Mid, and Final. Each of these phases represented a third of the time spent in landing each of the jumps. The kinematic variables measured during the landing phase of the jumps were vertical velocity, horizontal velocity, shoulder rotation, …

An Investigation Of Friedel-Crafts Alkylation Reactions In Super- And Subcritical Carbon Dioxide And Under Solventless Reaction Conditions, Kan Nie

Masters Theses

This study investigates the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of triphenylmethanol with methoxybenzene (anisole) in supercritical and subcritical carbon dioxide, and under solventless reaction conditions. The reaction was initiated using trifluoroacetic acid to produce triphenylmethylcarbocation as the reaction intermediate. Isolated product yields of the Friedel-Crafts product, p-methoxytetraphenylmethane, are reported. The possibility of using the above reaction as an alternative synthesis in an undergraduate organic laboratory to teach some of the tenets of green chemistry is also presented. Additionally, we have investigated the use of benzhydrol, 9-hydroxyxanthene and 9-phenylxanthen-9- ol as potential carbocation sources for supercritical carbon dioxide synthesis and we report those …

Computational Studies Of Constant Bond Dissociation Enthalpy Ratios And Novel Structures For [H3, B, C, F]+, Le Li

Masters Theses

This thesis describes two separate computational chemistry projects. The first project is a study of constant bond dissociation enthalpy ratios, and the second project is a study of the rearrangement and fragmentation processes on the singlet potential energy surface of the [H₃, B, C, F]⁺ system.

G2 and G2(MP2) enthalpies have been calculated for isoelectronic AB₂ systems with singlet-linear, singlet-nonlinear, triplet-linear, and triplet-nonlinear electronic states and geometries, and for isoelectronic AB systems with singlet and triplet electronic states. For these systems, A = B^-, Al^-, Ga^-, C, Si, Ge, N …

Pentacarbonyl Derivatives Of Polydentate Phosphines, Yi Zang

Masters Theses

Four phosphines (Ph₂P)₂C=CHPPh₂, (p-tol)₂PCH₂P(p-tol)₂, (o-tol)₂PCH₂P(o-tol)₂, Ph₂PCH₂P(p-tol)₂ and their pentacarbonyltungsten complexes have been prepared and studied as part of a continuous investigation of polydentate phosphines that are coordinated as monodentate ligands. The ligand, (Ph₂P)₂C=CHPPh₂, was prepared by base-catalyzed addition of Ph₂PH to Ph₂PC=CPPh₂. Reaction of this ligand with (OC)₅WNH₂Ph led to formation …

The Surveillance Of T-Lymphocytes In The Human Blood Stream, Ivan Temesvari

Masters Theses

T-Lymphocytes (T-cells), one of the many different lymphocytes, are the precursors of disease detection. Their primary purpose is to maintain a healthy immune system. They use the blood vasculature (blood stream) and lymphatic system to circulate throughout the body. Study of a T-cells journey throughout the human blood stream is useful to understand how they can detect disease, such as cancer, in an efficient and effective manner. T-cells are to be thought of as the good cells in our body searching to destroy the bad cells (cancer/infectious cells). The thymus lies in the anterior mediastinum, which is directly behind the …

Computational Studies Of Regularities In Bond Dissociation Enthalpies And Interactions Of Acetylthiocholine With Solvent Molecules, Wencui Zheng

Masters Theses

This thesis reports the results of two different research projects. One project is an evaluation of the feasibility of applying constant bond dissociation enthalpy ratios to neutral molecules for which one atom is from group 13 or group 17 and the other atom is from group 16. The other project attempts to validate the proposal that the aromatic residues lining the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gorge will induce entry of acetylthiocholine (ATCh) into the gorge in a manner similar to that of the neural transmitter acetylcholine.

A total of thirty AB₂ and AB molecules have been examined, where A = B, …

Pirsig's Phaedrus: The Journey Of The Shaman, Joseph E. Levora

Masters Theses

Robert Pirsig, in both his novels Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila, explores the conflict one man has with the beliefs and values of the culture he is living in. This conflict leads him to mental collapse and eventually a kind of rebirth into a new outlook and way of viewing the cultural values and beliefs of the society he is living in. In this thesis, I propose that Phaedrus, the central character of both of Pirsig's novels, can be compared to a shaman. I am not suggesting that Pirsig deliberately intended the reader to view …

The Reactivity Of Boron And Aluminum Compounds With Silica Gel Surfaces, Jeannine M. Christensen

Masters Theses

The unmodified silica gel surface contains isolated silanols, vicinal silanols, and siloxane species. Silica gels can be thermally and/or chemically treated to obtain a desired surface. Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) was used to chemically modify the silica gel to obtain a surface that contains vicinal silanol groups and siloxane species. The silica gel was thermally treated at 600°C to create a surface that contains isolated silanols and siloxane species. Four types of silica gels (unmodified, 600°C, HMDS and 600°C/HMDS) were reacted with three boron compounds. The boron compounds used were boron trichloride (BCl₃), triethyl borane (B(CH₂CH₃) …

Linkage Isomers Of Tungsten Carbonyl Complexes Of Ph₂Pch₂Pphch₂Pph₂, Chaminda P. Gamage

Masters Theses

The linkage isomers (CO)₅W[η¹-PPh₂CH₂PPhCH₂PPh₂], 1, and (CO)₅ W[η¹-PPh(CH₂PPh₂)₂], 2, have been synthesized from the reaction of (OC)₅W(NH₂Ph) and Ph₂PCH₂PPhCH₂PPh₂. In addition, linkage isomers (CO)₅W[μ-PPh₂CH₂PPhCH₂PPh₂]-W(CO)₅, 3, and (CO)₅W{μ-PPh₂CH₂PPh[W(CO)₅] CH₂PPh₂}, 4, have been prepared. Attempts to obtain (OC)₅WPPh₂CH …

A Dynamic Programming-Based Approach To Microarray Image Comparison And Registration, Sunil Bosco Rodrigues

Masters Theses

"Microarray technology is increasingly used as a means of high throughput analysis of human, non-human and plant genomes. Manual methods of array production have inherent imperfections and variations of the quality of output data derived from these arrays. A dynamic programming-based approach is presented to validate the quality of such data prior to insertion into evolving databases in order to assign reliably, genetic aberrations to bio-medical functions. Dynamic programming is used for comparing normal and tumor microarray image pairs and a cost function is developed which gives a value representing the difference between the images. Quality of the image pairs …

Effects Of Gender And Position Of Test Stimuli On Undergraduates ' Spatial Task Performance, James Brenton Curley

Masters Theses

This study predicted that sex differences in performance can occur where the sense of touch serves as vision, and that the position of the test array may significantly affect performance. Sixty-four college undergraduates (32 males and 32 females), with ages ranging from 18-27 (M = 20.06, SD = 1.82) were recruited from the psychology subject pool of Eastern Illinois University for participation. Apparatus consisted of templates with raised line drawings of tilted jars containing water drawn on them. The subjects were blindfolded and instructed to interpret four jar drawings at a time. The task consisted of identifying the jar with …

A Ring-Closing Strategy For The Synthesis Of Β,Γ-Unsaturated Δ-Lactones, Erbing Hua

Masters Theses

Spiro β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactones and fused β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactones are integral to a large number of naturally occurring compounds exhibiting a diverse range of biological activity. A new synthetic route to β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactones, consisting of a three-step sequence, has been investigated for the synthesis of these kinds of pharmacological intermediates. Ring closure of a β-hydroxy acid by dehydration, providing a 4-vinyl substituted β-lactone, and its ring expansion/rearrangement are the two key steps in this protocol. The results have proved that this new method is efficient and quite expeditious. One spiro and four fused β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactones were synthesized through this protocol albeit in …

The Synthesis Of 2-Indenylphenols: Potential Ligands For Transition Metals, Yoon Jae Kim

Masters Theses

The syntheses of 2-(2-indenyl)-phenol and 2-(1-indenyl)-phenol via a three-step sequence have been developed. In the first steps of the sequence, a Grignard reagent formed from 2-iodoanisole or 2-bromoanisole reacted with 1-indanone or 2-indanone in yields that ranged from 11.3% to 67.2%. The second step consisted of acid-catalyzed dehydration of the alcohol formed in step 1 to make a 2-inenyl anisole; yields in the second step were 45.2% to nearly quantitative. Finally, demethylation of the 2-indenyl anisole was achieved with AlBr₃ in ethanethiol in yields ranging from 52.9% to 0 %. Each product was characterized by ¹H and ^{13 …}