Digital Commons Network^™

Careers For Women In Design, Nitza Nater Arvelo

Theses

Careers for Women in Design is an interactive application created in order to help, guide and support women in their search for professional goals towards a career in design or related field. Although this project was especially designed for women, men also can benefit from it.

Drug Use And Pregnancy, Kimberly Klapmust

Theses

Human development is a remarkably complex process whereby the union of two small cells can after a period of time give rise to a new human being, complete with vital organs, bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and much more. Considering the intricacy of the developmental process, it is indeed miraculous that most babies are born healthy. Some children, however, are born with abnormalities. Environmental agents, such as drugs, are responsible for some of these abnormalities. Unfortunately, social and therapeutic drugs are widely used among pregnant women. Many commonly used drugs are known to disrupt the normal developmental process and cause …

Parents' Predictions Of Children's Responses On The Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, Sheila J. Murphy

Theses

The Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale was administered to 50 fifth-grade students (30 boys and 20 girls) attending a suburban, middle class public school. Their parents (45 mothers, 3 fathers, 1 mother/father combined, 1 unidentified) responded to the same self-concept measure "as they believed their child would respond." Mean scores for parents were higher than mean scores for students in six of the seven scales, suggesting a tendency for parents to overestimate the self-attitudes of their children. However, two-tailed! tests for paired observations showed significant mean differences for only two scales. Pearson product-moment correlations revealed significant positive relationships between students' scores …

Removal Of Trace Contaminants From Wastewater Effluents Using Local Adsorbents, Kasim Ghulam Haider Ghulam

Theses

Wastewater reclamation must ensure removal of residual pollutants to a high degree so as to make the water acceptable for the designated reuse. There has been a growing interest worldwide to employ cost-effective treatment methods for polishing secondary treatment wastewater effluents. Carbon adsorption has proved to be an effective method for effluent polishing but treatment costs are relatively high.

AI-Ain wastewater treatment plant at Zakher has a design capacity of 54,000 m³/day and incorporates preliminary treatment, followed by extended aeration and dual-media filtration for effluent polishing before water reuse in irrigation. The chemical quality of the treated effluent …

An Examination Of The Self-Perceptions Of The Physical Environment And Psychological Health Of Latina Women Living In The St. Columbia Neighborhood Of Newark, New Jersey, Veronica Maria Maya

Theses

A correlation between perceptions of environmental quality and psychological health has been established in a sample of Latina women. Three psychological scales exist to measure psychological constructs such as learned helplessness, hopelessness, and selfesteem. These three scales have been used in conjunction with an environmental survey designed to capture the perceptions of the sample to their physical environment.

The mean of scores for each psychological construct in the Latina sample were compared to the mean of scores for these constructs in independent samples of oncology, hemodialysis, and spinal cord injured patients being treated for depression. This comparison yields the following …

Study Of Reactive Media For Chromium Removal From Groundwater By Permeable Barriers, Hemant S. Desai

Theses

The purpose of the study was to select reduction media for application in permeable barriers for removing chromate ions from groundwater emanating from chromium refining sites in New Jersey. The high pH condition of groundwater in such sites is expected to pose limitations on the use of metallic iron (Fe⁰) as the sole reductive medium.

Reasonable reduction kinetics was achieved using iron at pH < 9.2. Several pH lowering media were investigated and were found to have either very slow or very fast dissolution kinetics, which rendered them impractical for use in passive permeable barriers. Two other media, namely: pyrite and siderite minerals have shown promising results, but fell short of achieving the required performance. Detailed investigation of interfacial processes in a batch reactor have shown that the addition of a small amount of a neutral salt can significantly improve chromate reduction kinetics, even at high pH conditions around 10.9.

The formation of passivating layers, which can slowdown the reaction significantly, was found to be important at high pH conditions. It is recommended that an injection system be used with the reactive barrier to …

Multi-Lifecycle Assessment Design Tools And Software Development, Ji Jin

Theses

This thesis introduces the concept of Multi-lifecycles and a Multi-lifecycle assessment (MLCA) methodology for evaluating the energy consumption and environmental emissions of a product. MLCA quantifies materials, energy, and environmental burdens associated with end-of-life options, as well as obtains the value of returning parts and materials back to use, through demanufacturing, reengineering and remanufacturing.

A Multi-lifecycle Assessment software is developed as a tool to implement MLCA methodologies. By this software, one can practice a full life-cycle analysis on a product, or compare the environmental impacts of different products. Detailed designs on MLCA software including the databases, user interfaces, and algorithm …

Coagulation And Disinfection By-Products Formation Potential Of Dissolved Organic Matter Fractions, Neeraj S. Pipada

Theses

Both the proposed United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Disinfectants- Disinfection By-Products and Enhanced Surface Water Treatment rules have provisions for minimizing the formation of undesirable precursors of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water Natural Organic Matter (NOM) contains many of the precursors to the DBPs formed following disinfection of drinking water. DAX-8 resin procedures were used to isolate and fractionate NOM into six dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions; Hydrophobic acid (FA), base (FB), neutral (FN), and hydrophilic acid (PA), base (PB) and neutral (PN). Aluminum sulfate (alum) jar coagulation tests were performed to determine the optimum coagulation ranges of …

Assessing The Impact Of Design For Environment Guidelines : A Case Study Of Office Telephones, Hussam Fawzi Al-Okush

Theses

This research addresses a fundamental question: How much of the improvement in a product's environmental performance is directly attributable to the Design for Environment (DFE) tools and guidelines, and how much results simply from other design objectives or enabling technologies? The research examines four generations of a business telephone over the last thirty years, including the current generation, which has been designed using DEE guidelines. A lifecycle assessment (LCA) and demanufacturing analysis were performed on each of the first three generations to determine various technology and non-DEE trends. This information was used to forecast the progression to a 1997 non-DEE …

History Of Oxygenated Gasoline Use In New Jersey 1992-1998, Jean Niebuhr Borne

Theses

New Jersey has been required to use oxygenated gasoline from November 1 to March 30 since 1992 in order to reduce carbon monoxide from vehicles. This requirement was part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. For the past six winters, New Jersey has utilized gasoline with methyl butyl tertiary ether, MTBE, as the oxygenate. In New Jersey, and in many states across the country, health complaints were reported after oxygenated fuel started flowing from gas pumps.

Oxybusters is a grassroots organization dedicated to the removal of oxygenated gasoline off the market. The group has pressured Governor Whitman to …

Analysis And Modeling Of Ultrasound To Decontaminate Heavy Metals In Dredged Sediments, Ruvini Perera

Theses

Sediments contaminated with heavy metals due to past disposal practices threatens the environment and requires remediation. This research is an attempt to develop a technology to decontaminate heavy metals in the dredged sediments with an integrated set of processes using ultrasound. Acoustic cavitation caused by ultrasound energy can be used to remove chromium from the sediments. Two coupled processes were used to treat both coarse (Process#1) and fine (Process#2) fractions of the sediments. Full factorial experimental designs were carried out to evaluate the treatment technique and to statistically model and optimize the processes. The model for Process#1 had four contributing …

Development Of A Context-Specific Search Engine, An Executive Information System, And A Novel Www Ready External Cost Model, Amit V. Revankar

Theses

NJPIES is associated with Information Ecology and Sustainability, a holistic approach to environmental data collection, compilation, integration and provision that puts people, not technology, at the center of the environmental information world.

The first main goal of this project was to develop an algorithm and associated computer-based tool that could perform a lifecycle cost analysis for a model system. The application developed solved the primary problem associated with the lifecycle cost analysis of a product: it accounted for all costs (e.g., environmental costs such as ecological costs and health costs associated with emissions) of the activity. A lifecycle cost analysis …

Catalyctic Reduction Of Nitric Oxide By Copper Catalyzed Granular Activated Carbon In The Presence Of Oxygen, Shan Xiao

Theses

The catalytic reduction of nitric oxides by solid carbonaceous material consisting primarily of granular activated carbon or (GAC) was studied in a fix bed catalytic reactor in order to develop the technology for removing NO and soot simultaneously from diesel engine exhaust. The catalytic activity and conversion of NO as a function of reaction temperature was evaluated as a function of space velocity. The results show that at lean condition and high gaseous hourly space velocity, vis., 50,000 ~ 80,000, Cu-ZSM-5 does not perform as well with CO and GAC as it does with gaseous hydrocarbons(HC). Plain GAC has low …

A Signal Conditioning Approach For The Extraction Of The Oscillatory Petential From The Electroretinogram, Peter Haines Derr

Theses

The oscillatory potential (OP), a signal component of the electroretinogram (ERG), was investigated to determine correlation of the OP and pathological conditions of the inner retina. Large transients characterize the ERG. Such transients stimulate a filter's natural response. Since these responses can co-occur with the OP, a distorted OP will be extracted. A proposed signal windowing and padding technique for conditioning the ERG signal has been implemented for the extraction of a ntnimally distorted OP.

Windowing is used to capture only the OP period. The windowed ERG signal is then signal conditioned to generate initial values for the filter's state …

Equine Osteoarthritis: A Comparison Of Type 1 And Type 2 Conditions, Wendy Chadbourne

Theses

In what originally began as research to answer my own questions about osteoarthritis, I learned as much as I could from reading anatomy, veterinary, and physiology books. I had to look in many places to find all the answers I wanted. The books that provided the best visual information lacked text to explain the images, and the books that provided the best text definitions usually provided simplified illustrations or very confusing clinical photographs. While trying to unite the best images with the best text explaining what was going on, an idea was formed. I decided to combine clear images with …

Increasing Awareness Of Recycling Programs For Elementary Aged Children Through Interactive Multimedia, Ik-Dong Yu

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to create an effective interactive multimedia training method for elementary aged children, on recycling awareness. The age group chosen for this project is children 8 to 11. This report will focus on the goals and objectives of the project, the areas being researched and the procedure, along with the outcome of the project. In children's psychology, understanding of different stages of intellectual development of a child is critical. According to Piaget, "concrete operational thought is made up of operations-mental actions that allow children to do mentally what they had done physically before. Concrete operations …

Matthew Carter: Reflects On Type Design, Phyllis Hoffman

Theses

This project is an oral history about the type designer Matthew Carter. Through questions Matthew Carter's thoughts and ideas on type design have been explored. The resultant dialogue was recorded as an oral history of Matthew Carter. There are video and audio tapes along with the written project. The purpose of this research is to determine how Matthew Carter approaches designing letterforms as technology changes. A discussion follows in which Carter's core philosophy of letterform design is defined; his ideals and perception of type design, and any significant trends anticipated in the future of letterform design. The theoretical basis for …

The Impact Of Graphic Design On The Target Audience: Designing An Effective Social Marketing Campaign, Cynthia Childs

Theses

The goal of this thesis is to determine how to best design visual communications within the context of a social marketing campaign in order to most effectively reach the target audience. This study uses the promotion of breast feeding as content for a social marketing campaign.

A Program Review Of Lindenwood University's Professional And School Counseling Master Programs, Voann J. Wade

Theses

As the 21 st century approaches, there is increasing interest in the accountability of higher education. Accreditation provides one vehicle for accountability. Lindenwood University is in the process of evaluating the Professional and School Counseling Programs for Accreditation (CACREP). Part of Lindenwood University's evaluation effort is reflected in alumni input. This study reflects the responses of 112 surveyed alumni of the 1995-1998 Professional and School Counseling Programs.

Sex-Role In Heterosexual And Gay Males, David L. Slinkard

Theses

Sex-role traits of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny were analyzed to study the differences between heterosexual and homosexual males. The Bern Sex-Role Inventory was used to assess each group's sex-role traits. Demographic information was gathered to determine if the homogeneity of the two groups differed on age, ethnicity, education and sexual orientation. Sex-role traits were compared within the groups using independent samples two-tailed t test. The two groups were similar in distribution except for a difference on femininity. There was no significant difference between the groups on masculinity. Homosexual males were significantly different on femininity. Chi-square results for androgyny, masculinity, femininity …

The Goddess Sells: The Impact Of Archetypes In Visual Communications, Martha M. Torres Donovan

Theses

Graphic design is the process of connecting with an audience by creating visual communication that appeals to a audience's intellect and aesthetic sensibility. the use of archetypes as a form of connection is a familiar process. This thesis explores the use of the goddess archetype in visual communications, specifically in advertising.

On The Edge Of Being, Jessica Burko

Theses

My MFA Thesis work, on the edge of being, explores the shaping of adult personality and externally, its nature dictated that I approach the theorem from a personal direction, focusing the investigation on my own behavioral patterns. Many characteristics of my personality can be attributed to the absence of my mother throughout my life, both emotionally and physically. For the past four years I have been exploring various components of my life, and relating feelings of anger, sadness, and loss through my artwork. The investigation of themes generated through an examination of my own life experiences, has led to reflection …

Cross-Cultural Visual Communication, Chia-Wen Tsao

Theses

Explores how visual elements, such as ancient symbols and characters, have been used in visual communication across both Chinese and Western cultures. Analyzes existing cross-cultural packaging design examples. Compares packaging from a USA-based food company with a Taiwan-based food company in order to explore whether or not the design decisions communicate with ethnic audiences who are not familiar with these food products.

Dance As Medicine, Eileen D'Esterno

Theses

The purpose of this thesis project has been to express in a sculptural dimension the joy and healing qualities of movement. Movement is our primal language. The very first thing we do upon leaving the womb is to move, to reach for our mother. Movement allows us to express our feelings regardless of the ability to make sound. Infants and toddlers explore the three dimensional world as they reach out to touch, to feel, to experience textures and shapes. They gain confidence as physical beings through ever increasing skills and mobility of the body.

Management Of Emissions At Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company, Abdul Aziz R Al Nuaimi

Theses

Gas industries in the United Arab Emirates are vastly growing in order to mainly cope with the increasing demand for energy productions as well as for the wise utilization of gas associate with the crude oil. Environmental problems coupled with gas employment necessitates the development of a management techniques that can lead to better control of emissions from gas processing companies since some of these emissions are unavoidable for safety reasons.

This study suggests a framework to be used to control emissions from Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (ADGAS) in Das Island, which represents a typical major gas processing company …

Parental Attachment And Schizophrenia: Is There A Relationship?, Madonna Marie Terbock

Theses

Although current research has studied the relationship between parental attachment and mental disorders, the results have been inconclusive. This study attempted to further previous research and focus on the relationship between parental attachment and schizophrenia in specific. The subjects consisted of two groups, adults that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and adults that are mentally healthy. Subjects from both groups completed Parker's Parental Bonding Instrument (1979). The two groups' scores were compared in an attempt to establish a relationship between parental attachment and schizophrenia. The schizophrenic group reported significantly less care than the normal group. There was no significant difference …

Women Experiencing Depression [Within] The Three Denominations Of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative And Reform, Amy Kopman

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate women experiencing depression in the three denominations of Judaism : Orthodox, Conservative and Reform . Participants were divided into thee groups consisting of Orthodox (n=20) , Conservative (n=32) , and Reform (n=28). The volunteer participants completed a demographic sheet and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-I I) , answering 21 different questions measuring the severity of depression. A chi-square determined there is no significant relationship between the different scores of the various denominations of the Jewish women. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Fluorescence Spectroscopy For The Characterization Of Humic And Fulvic Acids And Their Disinfection By-Products Formation Potential, Ishvinder H. Kochar

Theses

Natural Organic Matter (NOM) plays a major role in the formation of undesirable organic by-products following disinfection/oxidation of drinking water. It is suspected that most precursors to disinfection by-products (DBPs) are humic although non-humic substances have not been studied and are suspected of also contributing to DBPs. NOM reacts with many of the disinfectants used to treat drinking water, such as chlorine, chioramine, and ozone, to form a variety of DBPs. Many of these DBPs have adverse health effects in humans (i.e. carcinogenic or mutagenic effects). The primary DBPs of concern include the trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and haloacetonitrile …

Rhetorical Analysis Of Sunoco, Inc. Chairman And Chief Executive Officer Address To The World Fuels Conference : Requirements For Economic And Environmental Competitiveness In The 21st Century, Arleny C. Barrios

Theses

The present thesis examines the rhetorical dimensions of the speech presented by Sunoco, inc. Chairman and Executive Officer before the World Fuels Conference held in Washington DC, October 23, 1997. The focus of the thesis is to examine the effectiveness of the speech. Principles of rhetoric were explained and applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the speech as a means of persuasion. The rhetorical analysis of the speech illustrates how language can be used as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation from individuals.

A Comparative Study Of Sequence Analysis Tools In Computational Biology, Wei-Jen Chuang

Theses

A biomolecular object, such as a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a ribonucleic acid (RNA) or a protein molecule, is made up of a long chain of subunits. A protein is represented as a sequence made from 20 different amino acids, each represented as a letter. There are a vast number of ways in which similar structural domains can be generated in proteins by different amino acid sequences. By contrast, the structure of DNA, made up of only four different nucleotide building blocks that occur in two pairs, is relatively simple, regular, and predictable.

Biomolecular sequence alignment/string search is the most important …