Digital Commons Network^™

L-Shell Resonant Electron Transfer And Excitation In Cu18-19+ + H2 Collisions, Jeffrey A. Wroblewski

Masters Theses

Measurements of L-shell resonant electron transfer and excitation (RTE) were conducted for 45-72 MeV Cu^18-19+ (Na-like and Ne-like, respectively) ions colliding with H₂ using the Western Michigan University EN tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. The RTE process involves an electron-electron interaction between the projectile and the target where electron capture occurs simultaneously with projectile excitation. In previous measurements involving RTE with subsequent L x-ray relaxation for Nb^q+ (q=28-31) ions, the magnitudes of the RTE cross sections were found to be nearly a factor of two smaller than theory. In the analogous electron-ion process of dielectronic recombination, measurements …

A Depositional Analysis Of The Wymer Site, Berrien County, Michigan And Its Relationship To Post-Glacial Lake Levels In The Lake Michigan Basin, Kevin A. Kincare

Masters Theses

The Wymer site is an archeological site on the St. Joseph River floodplain 1.5 miles north of Berrien Springs, Michigan. Early and Middle Archaic cultural phases were found at the site. These sites are unusual in that their occurrence corresponds to low lake levels associated with Lake Chippewa and were assumed to occupy the now submerged shoreline areas.

A site evaluation was undertaken to examine the types of sediments and depositional structures. Trenches, grainsize analysis, ¹⁴C samples and valley topography were used to determine that the site was a point bar situated on a terrace above the modern floodplain. …

Factors Affecting The Educational Attainment Of African-American Males: An Observational Analysis, Chauncey Williams

Masters Theses

African-American males participation in higher education has declined due to low academic achievement. The research suggests that this low achievement is caused by racism, academic preparation, self-esteem, teacher expectation, and goals. Although I agree with most of the research, I have concluded that along with teacher's expectations, four other factors greatly impact academic achievement. These other four factors are (1) school demographics, (2) curriculum, (3) parental involvement, and (4) peer pressure. These factors were observed through casual conversations with African-American male high school students in a large midwestern area. The observational analysis suggests that improvement in these areas will help …

The Effect Of Chromium Compounds On The Mutagenic Rate Of Benzo[A]Pyrenediolepoxide In Human Fibroblasts, Yordanos Tesfai

Masters Theses

Cancer researchers are interested in identifying the environmental causes and synergistic influences of different chemical carcinogens in order to decrease the risk of cancer. There are numerous studies which have investigated the effect of individual carcinogens but relatively few in which a well defined mixture of chemicals have been used. The present study was performed to examine the effect of chromium compounds on benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (BPDE) induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity in human fibroblasts. Cytotoxicity was measured by the ability to fonn colonies while selection of 6-thioguanine resistant mutants were used to study mutagenesis in human fibroblasts.

Our results indicate that …

On Interpreting Strong Supervenience, Zachary J. Ernst

Masters Theses

Jaegwon Kim's definition of strong supervenience has found application in such areas as the mind-body problem, aesthetics, morality, and the relationship between physics and the special sciences. The main reason for the popularity of supervenience is that it purportedly has a long laundry list of virtues. For instance, it has been claimed that supervenience accounts are non-reductive, capable of empirical verification, simple with respect to ontology, and explanatorily powerful.

In this paper, I examine Kim's definition of strong supervenience, arguing that a fundamental ambiguity in the definition makes it impossible for strong supervenience to possess all of these virtues simultaneously. …

A Strategy For Distributed Relational Database Design, Ismail Omar Hababeh

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a strategy for the fragmentation and allocation of data in a distributed relational database. The strategy introduces a way to fragment and allocate data to accomplish the benefits of allocating each fragment independently for each site. Some fragments may be allocated to multiple sites in order to achieve some constraints such as availability, consistency, and integrity. The strategy is appropriate for different types of computers at various sites connected to a network, with different costs of retrieval, update, and communication.

To increase the system 1/0 performance, sites having similar communication costs are grouped into clusters to which …

Side Chain Effect On Micellarly Catalyzed Hydrolysis Of Hydroxamic Acids In Perfluorooctanoic Acid Environment, A.C. Menik Fernando

Masters Theses

The side chain effect on micellar catalysis of hydroxamic acids with perfluorooctanoic acid as the reactive counterion surfactant in aqueous acetonitrile solution has been demonstrated in this thesis.

The rate constant-surfactant concentration profiles were used to estimate the critical micelle concentration and the second order rate constant for hydrolysis in the aqueous bulk phase.

The pseudo-phase ion exchange model satisfactorily explains the surfactant effect. The second order rate constants in the aqueous bulk phase show a direct relationship with steric substituent constants. The major influence of the change in micellar catalysis is the location in the micelle where the substrate …

Game Theory And The Application To Mainland China-Taiwan Relations From 1949-1995, Po-Tung Chang

Masters Theses

This study is dedicated to evaluating the capacity of game-theoretical models in analyzing and explaining international crises like mainland China-Taiwan relations. To highlight and reflect the nature of these complicated long-run relations, the author formulates a dynamic game model based on the combination of three well-known models, Deadlock, Prisoner's Dilemma, and Chicken instead of occupying one dominant model.

The mainland China-Taiwan relations (1949-1995) are divided into three individual phases in accordance with the configuration of game models: (1) the military confrontation phase (1949-78); (2) the peaceful competition phase (1978-86); and (3) the premature cooperation phase (1987-95). By generating and suggesting …

Rapid Method For Determination Of Iodine Numbers Of Vegetable Oils, Ondrej Hendl

Masters Theses

There is a great deal of interest by the public about the total unsaturation of fats and oils used in commercial products as an indication of nutritional value. Dealers in fats and oils are extremely interested in characterizing these products. The unsaturation is a guide to the expected stability of food additives, such as edible oils and foods in which they are used. Unsaturation is typically evaluated as an iodine number (IN), calculated for these additives based on their consumption of iodine through addition across the carbon-carbon double bonds. The classical titration method can typically take 45 minutes.

The investigation …

Applications Of Artificial Neural Networks In Interactive Simulation, Payman Jula

Masters Theses

Although there have been many improvements in simulation technology over the past few years, it still suffers from many limitations. Simulation methods are usually time consuming and hence not suitable for the interactive decision making processes.

In this project, applications of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to simulate manufacturing systems have been studied. The backpropagation Multiple Layer Perceptrons (MLPs) have been applied to simulate manufacturing systems. Some guidelines for developing appropriate ANNs have been presented. The results of ANN approach have been compared to those of conventional simulation methods.

The Flora And Ecology Of Seidman Park, Kent County, Michigan, Pamela J. Laureto

Masters Theses

A floristic study of Seidman Park, Kent County, Michigan was performed. The study identified 521 vascular plants belonging to 96 families and 284 genera. The plant communities of Seidman Park were delimited by identification of dominant species and observation of the physical environment. It was believed that communities existed within the upland forest that could not be identified by observation alone. The use of Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS) ordination techniques identified three communities within the upland forest. These were a xeric community, a dry-mesic community and a nutrient-rich community. Three sub-communities of the dry-mesic community were also identified.

Spatial And Temporal Variability In The Distribution Of Nitrate In An Agriculturally-Impacted Aquifer, Cass County, Michigan, Caroline Lovetere

Masters Theses

Ground-water sampling in a shallow unconfined aquifer within a predominantly agricultural area in southwestern Michigan indicated spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of nitrate. The unconfined aquifer, which is about 40 feet thick, consists of glacially-deposited sand and gravel with interbedded clay lenses and is separated from a lower semi-confined aquifer by a 3-to 26-feet-thick till layer.

The site of the study was a 47-acre agricultural field, characterized by corn and alfalfa hay production, to which hog manure and commercial fertilizers were frequently applied. The shallow water table and relatively permeable glacial sands in the vadose zone combined to …

Reactions Of Chlorine And Some Of Its Oxygen Derivatives With Phenol, Lizhuo Zhang

Masters Theses

Chlorine is widely used in industry. It is also the most commonly used disinfectant in water treatment plants. Since the amount of chlorine used is increasing each year, environmental and health concerns arise due to its reactivity with various of organic compounds. Many chlorinated organic compounds are toxic and as a result other non-chlorinating compounds, such as chlorine dioxide, might be potential substitutes in the future, especially in water treatment plants.

Previous studies have indicated that chlorinated organic compounds are not formed when chlorine dioxide is used as a disinfectant. Furthermore no reaction occurs between chlorite and phenol in the …

Differences In The Self-Talk Of Students With Language Impairments When Completing Math Computation And Story Problems, Jennifer Shepard Crouse

Masters Theses

This study was designed to analyze the differences in the self-talk of students with language impairments when compared with students with normal language. Nine fifth grade students with language impairments and nine fifth grade students with normal language, identified by their teachers as average-achieving, participated in this study. Participants were instructed to use a think-aloud technique while completing sets of computational and math story problems. Resulting samples of self-talk were transcribed and coded.

Results indicated several significant differences in the self-talk of students with language impairments when compared with their normal language peers. In regard to quantitative aspects of self-talk, …

The Effects Of The Kalamazoo Station No. 4 On The Nearby Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Robert J. Buechler

Masters Theses

This was a 15 month study that studied the effects of Kalamazoos' Municipal Pumping Station No. 4 on the Kleinstuck Nature Preserve. The preserve is about a quarter of a mile in the up gradient direction of Station No. 4. This study demonstrates that there is a direct correlation between the pumping and the water levels at the preserve. Pumping records show that there is no correlation between precipitation and the water levels at the preserve.

There are other factors which exaggerate this effect. It has been found that the drain field at the Y.M.C.A. parking lot, the breaching of …

A Hplc Method To Assay Mycotoxins - Fumonisin, Ochratoxin And Zearalenone, Nalini Sadagopan

Masters Theses

A HPLC method to quantitate the mycotoxins Fumonisin B1 (FB1), Ochratoxin A(OA), and Zearalenone (ZON) was developed and validated. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi like Fusarium, Asperigillus and Penicillium that contaminate crops. They have a wide array of chemical structures which facilitate their analytical detection.

The analytical method consists of reverse phase chromatography and fluorescence detection. Sample cleanup was performed using SAX and C18 cartridges prior to analysis on the HPLC.

The method developed for FB1 is unique in that it is more sensitive, accurate, and reproducible than the existing methods. Automation is one of the salient features that …

An Investigation On Nonenzymatic Autoxidation Of Phenolic Compounds In Natural Waters, Lei Jiang

Masters Theses

The nonenzymatic autoxidation of the phenolic compounds chlorogenic acid in aqueous solution was studied. The study demonstrated that the oxidation rate of chlorogenic acid was strongly dependent on pH. The higher the pH, the faster the rate of oxidation. The involvement of phenolate ions and radicals in oxidation reactions are two possible reasons for the pH dependency. The presence of a trace amounts of reducible transition metal ions, such as copper(II), dramatically increases the oxidation rate of chlorogenic acid. Light also increases the oxidation rate of chlorogenic acid. However, the photochemical reaction was a much slower process.

The TLC and …

Is The Universe Expanding?: An Historical And Philosophical Perspective For Cosmologists Starting Anew, David A. Vlosak

Masters Theses

This study addresses the problem of how scientists ought to go about resolving the current crisis in big bang cosmology. Although this problem can be addressed by scientists themselves at the level of their own practice, this study addresses it at the meta-level by using the resources offered by philosophy of science.

There are two ways to resolve the current crisis. Either cosmologists can continue working on big bang theory or they can start anew. For those who choose to start anew, this study argues it would be a mistake for them to assume any new cosmological theory would have …

Using An Evolutionary Strategy To Solve Frequency Allocation Problems, Min Chen

Masters Theses

Frequency allocation problem (F AP) is to assign radio frequencies to a number of stations subject to a number of constraints, so that the minimum interference is suffered. FAP is NP-complete. In order to solve FAPs, there are interference constraints to be satisfied. There are two constraints of FAP which were the focus of this study: (1) co-channel interference, (2) adjacent channel interference.

Evolutionary Strategies (ESs) are very efficient optimization algorithms based upon the principles of adaptive selection found in nature. In this study, a (μ,A)ES algorithm was implemented to solve instances of FAP.

This thesis has demonstrated that …

An Evaluation Of Methods To Determine The Thickness Of Free Product In A Shallow Water Table Aquifer, Ross B. Wagner

Masters Theses

Estimates of the volume of recoverable free phase petroleum product in soils are frequently based on poorly understood empirical methods. These methods, in the form of field tests and/or equations, require simplifying assumptions and apparent product thickness to calculate the thickness or specific volume of free phase product. The purpose of this study was to compare the available methods against each other to cross validate them.

The field methods evaluated at a well with an apparent product thickness of 1.69 feet were: Yaniga's bailer test, split-spoon soil sampling, a test pit excavation and a new tool developed for direct measurement …

A Study Of The Chemical And Physical Interactions Between A Wetland And A Shallow Aquifer In Cass County, Michigan, Lisa Marie Anderson

Masters Theses

A study of the ground-water chemistry and flow direction adjacent to a wetland was performed in a major hog producing area. Nested piezometers, consisting of wells 7 to 18 feet deep, were installed around the wetland to determine the vertical distribution of hydraulic head and water-quality parameters. Piezometer elevations were surveyed to determine precise ground-water elevations to delineate the ground-water flow regime around the wetland. Water samples were taken at three different times to analyze water quality and seasonal variations. Analytical parameters included major ions, redox sensitive parameters (DO, nitrate-N, ammonia, iron, and sulfate), and total organic carbon.

Water level …

A Study Of Kanban Based Production System In Cellular Manufacturing Environment, Sanjay Bhargava

Masters Theses

The study of effects of production data variabilities on Kanban based cellular manufacturing system is vital before its design and implementation because it would give better understanding of their uncertain behavior.

In this research, a detailed analysis of a Kanban system, with subcell scenario, under dynamic operating conditions is performed. The Control variables considered were number of Kanbans, processing time variability, demand variability and machine breakdown. The performance parameters considered were profit, production lead time, machine utilization and material processing lead time.

Approximately 200 simulation runs were made with 3 replications each by varying one control variable at a time. …

Study Of Periodic Gust Loads On Airfoils, Tatsuya Nakajima

Masters Theses

The wings on aircraft can experience unsteady loads due to atmospheric disturbances; e.g., wind, the wakes of other aircraft, structural vibrations, or some combination of these sources. In some cases flow unsteadiness can be beneficial by augmenting the lift and reducing the drag; under different circumstances temporal variations in the flow can induce stall or cause structural failure.

In this study, the response of isolated (and tandem) NACA 0012 airfoil(s) to time-periodic unsteadiness have been investigated. The sources of unsteadiness include a time-varying free stream flow angle, a time varying free stream velocity magnitude, and an oscillating airfoil.

The predicted …

Assessment And Development Of A Plan For Handling Allegations Of Sexual Harassment, James I. Smith

Masters Theses

Sexual harassment exists not only in the workplace but also in the nation's schools. School districts and administrators have a legal responsibility and liability to deal with allegations of sexual harassment.

The purpose of this study was to develop a step-by-step grievance procedure to resolve complaints of student-student and student-employee sexual harassment in which students are the alleged victims for Centralia High School District 200 in Centralia, Illinois. To obtain data for the development of this plan, a survey was taken of the student population at Centralia High School to determine student perceptions of the following:

1. Have they been …

Availability Of Technology In Rural And Small Town Central Illinois K-12 Public School Districts, Robert H. Ehlke

Masters Theses

In the current technological information based society there is a critical need to integrate technology with education. Although many technologies have been available for over 20 years, public educational institutions have been slow to acquire and use the technological advances in the classroom for instructional purposes. In order to help the state and the communities of Illinois develop technology plans to meet the technology needs of K-12 public school districts in rural and small town Illinois, there was a need to investigate the availability of existing technologies. This study was conducted to determine the present condition of K-12 public school …

Cumberland Helpers In Partnerships: A Program Of Intervention At Cumberland Elementary And Junior High School, Gayle A. Shepherd

Masters Theses

Low- or non-achievement by students has historically been a problem for teachers and administrators, as well as for parents and students. Same grade retention has been proven by many researchers to be non-productive and in many cases, punitive. The Cumberland Helpers in Partnerships (CHIPs) program was begun at Cumberland Elementary and Junior High School as an interventive measure to combat this problem of low achievement. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who were considered academically at risk at the end of the first semester of the 1995-1996 school year (N=78) were asked to voluntarily attend tutoring sessions to help improve …

The Motivation Experienced By Adolescents In A Tech Prep Curriculum, Catherine Mccormack

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the motivation of students in a tech prep program in relation to that of students in a standard secondary school curriculum. The motivation of students in each program was investigated before and after a year of school. Participants were 70 high school students who attended a school which provided both tech prep and standard curriculums. Central High School of Champaign Illinois was the school from which the participants were found. The method used to collect the data from participants was through questionnaires. The questionnaires used were the motivation for schooling scale of …

Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Freshman Chemistry Laboratories, Elizabeth Ann Maschewske

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to facilitate the implementation of inquiry-based chemistry curriculum devised by the College University Resource Institute (CURI) into the freshman chemistry labs at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) with the aim of retaining and enthusing chemistry students in general and women and minorities in particular. Pertinent educational research is reviewed and practical strategies are recommended for the process of curriculum implementation. A pilot laboratory section is taught incorporating as many of the recommendations as possible. Pilot labs study the process of implementation and look at student perceptions and academic achievement. An action plan is developed …

Plastic Fiber Rolling For Concrete Reinforcement, Jeffery S. Thomas

Masters Theses

"Fiber reinforced concrete is gaining in acceptance and usage as its strength and toughness benefits are realized. Polypropylene fibers are currently the most commonly used fibers. However, the cost of virgin plastics limits the percent content that can be economically added to concrete. One would first believe that recycled plastics could offer a viable alternative to virgin-plastic fibers, but at present time extra selection and cleaning steps required to reprocess the recycled plastic into fibers makes it more expensive than virgin-plastic fibers. A fiber rolling process conceived and developed at the University of Missouri-Rolla has the potential of making recycled …

Segmental Motion Of Surface-Bound Swollen Poly(Methyl Acrylate)-D, Minghua Liang

Masters Theses

"Poly (methyl acrylate)-d_a (PMA-d_a) was prepared and adsorbed on silica then swollen with toluene and carbon tetrachloride. Comparisons of deuterium NMR spin-lattice relaxation time, T₁, and spin-spin relaxation time, T₂, for the adsorbed polymer at different temperatures were made to obtain information about the backbone motion of the surface-bound polymer. The results suggest that the local fast motions may be similar to those in the corresponding solution, but the longer-range molecular motions were more restricted than those in solution. The log-normal distribution yielded mean correlation times which were 4-10 times slower for the …