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Characterisation And Optimisation Of Gypsum Crystallization, Catherine H. Shannon

Theses

Gypsum is produced as a by-product during the citric acid production process at ADM Ringaskiddy. The particle size and filterability of the gypsum has a critical bearing on the overall citric acid production rate. Prior to August 1996, research in the area of gypsum crystal optimisation at ADM had concentrated on the application of vortex mixing to perform the gypsum formation reaction. While the gypsum crystals produced with vortex mixing were found to be desirably clear of microcrystalline gypsum, the crystals were considerably smaller and more difficult to filter and wash. This research project sought to retain the advantages conferred …

Optimisation Studies In A Batch Pharmaceutical Company, Sarah Fitzgerald

Theses

This thesis outlines a collaborative project between industry and academia based on a short term research contract.

In the past in Eli Lilly, process optimisation in a multi-purpose, modular building had been mainly confined to equipment commissioning and new product development. It was necessary to embark upon an exercise to develop an optimisation programme m order to meet the increased requirements and demands of the building. Increased market demands, through the introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and the demand for cycle time reduction through the expiry of existing patents, made the need for optimisation inevitable.

The purpose of this thesis …

The Atomic Force Microscope In The Elucidation Of Leukocyte Abnormality, Derbrenn O'Connor

Theses

The aim of this project was to investigate the novel use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) as a technique in the elucidation of leukocyte abnormality. To this end, comparative AFM imaging and elasticity studies were performed on normal and myeloid leukaemic leukocytes.

Initially, an evaluation of techniques for the isolation of specific leukocyte (e.g. lymphocytes, granulocytes, etc.) populations from whole blood or leukocyte concentrates, was carried out. It was found that a silanised glass surface failed to select and immobilise a leukocyte population. However, centrifugation of whole blood in an Isopaque-ficoll gradient solution yielded a viable mixed leukocyte population …

Computer Based Methodologies For On-Line Scanning Force Microscopic Detection Of Immunological Binding Events, Patrick Joseph O'Mahony

Theses

The overall aim of this work was to develop computer based methodologies for the on-line scanning force microscopic detection of immunological binding events. To achieve this aim it was necessary to develop a rapid, high-resolution data acquisition system to digitise scanning force microscope (SFM) data on-line and then to develop an effective method for extracting the scanner induced background curvature from this data to reveal the nanoscale height binding events. Four techniques were investigated in terms of operational speed and performance accuracy; namely, polynomial interpolation; least squares approximation; real-time recursive least squares approximation; and wavelet approximation.

It was found that …

Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors Technology For Protection Of Machined Metal Parts During Storage And Distribution, Alexander Sobkin

Theses

The significant dollar losses that can occur when metallic products are damaged or lost, due to rust and corrosion, force many manufacturers to concentrate efforts on corrosion control and prevention during packaging, shipping and storage. Many people often simply accept corrosion as an inevitable problem. Actually, something can and should be done to prolong the life of many metals exposed to corrosive environments. Many of the standard methods to control corrosion, paint, grease and wax, for example, are messy, time consuming and expensive. These methods also pose a potential threat to the environment unless properly treated and disposed. An alternative …

A Comparison Of Self-Esteem In Stepfather And Nuclear Family Children, Nancy Briggs Collins

Theses

Not available.

The Rural Older Adult Population And Transportation Services, Penny L. Isenmann

Theses

OAT . incorporated provide transportation service throughout the state of Missouri. OATS initially began serving the rural population of older adults. OATS now provides transportation for non-emergency Medicaid patients. Head Start, and other organizations.

Demographics, mobility, gender differences, normal age related changes. cognitive and physical impairments and disabilities are discussed in relation with driving and mobility needs Transportation affects all aspects of the older adult's life.

The White House Conference on Aging and the OIder Americans Act were influential in legislation which began funding transportation services tor older adults. Federal. state and local governments. and private agencies are responsible for …

Career Maturity: A Comparative Study Of Adults With Attention-Deficit Disorder And Adults Without Attention-Deficit Disorder, Christine L. Mason

Theses

A comparative study was conducted to explore the differences in career maturity in adults with a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and adults without a diagnosis of AD/HD. Thirty adults with AD/HD and thirty-three adults without AD/HD completed a personal data questionnaire and My Vocational Situation (MVS). The control group also completed a twelve question screening instrument for AD/HD. The data was statistically analyzed using independent sample t-test for equality of means.

Concerns Of Gifted High School Students Related To Their Giftedness, Donna P. Spiegel

Theses

Adolescence is a time of change and uncertainty. Adolescents strive for belonging and acceptance while concurrently seeking a unique identity. Research on gifted adolescents demonstrates that as a group, they exhibit good psychosocial adjustment. Other research contends that being both gifted and adolescent may make some, vulnerable to certain difficulties. This study uses an author- designed survey to examine the concerns of 63 gifted high school students from four school districts in suburban St. Louis. Survey items reflect concerns expressed in the literature and are clustered into areas of concern: existential concerns, internal conflicts, school/academics, expectations of others, perfection/fear of …

The Relationship Between Personality Type And Career Pathway Choices Among Ninth And Tenth Grade Students, Margaret Mcilroy Goodin

Theses

Two hundred three ninth and tenth grade students from a small, rural. public high school were tested using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator {MBTI) Form G. Students were divided into six groups on the basis of their previously chosen career pathway. as prescribed by the Missouri Model Guidance Program. using the Career Pathways Interest Inventory (CPIJ). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a significant relationship between personality type and career pathway choice among adolescent students. The two variables were compared using a chi-square statistical analysis. Results indicated that a significant relationship between personality type and career …

Differences In Self-Perceived Family Health Between Eating Disordered And Non-Eating Disordered Individuals, Karen M. Wright

Theses

In this study, the constructs of autonomy and intimacy which were key concepts in the separation-individuation process were studied in relation to eating disorder symptomology. Eating disordered individuals receiving counseling were compared to a non-clinical sample of graduate and undergraduate students. The hypothesis tested was that eating disordered women will perceive their family as significantly less healthy as compared to non-eating disordered women. This was determined by the overall score of perceived family health as measured by the Family of Origin Scale. At-test for independent samples indicated a significant difference. The researcher also hypothesized that non-eating disordered women would report …

The Relationship Between Working Status Of Mothers And Parental-Child Attachment, Sherri Denise Brown

Theses

The factors which influence the development of attachment between mothers and children were examined in this study. The researcher specifically looked at the differences in attachment with regard to the mother's work status during infancy. Thirty-five adolescent subjects completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment test (lPPA). The subjects were categorized into four groups based on what their mothers' work status was during their infancy. The information regarding work status was obtained through a demographic sheet completed by the parents of the subjects.

The test completed by the subjects consisted of twenty-five statements regarding a relationship with their mother. …

Knowledge And Attitudes Among Graduate Counseling Students At A Private Midwestern University Toward Transracial Adoptions, Rebecca Hamer

Theses

The purpose of this study was to survey the knowledge and attitudes among Graduate counseling students toward transracial adoption, at a private university in the midwest. This study used a questionnaire designed to gather information on racial issues, parental roles, risk to a successful adoption and the graduate's education and training. The study identifies information on whether students will be prepared to deal with families who seek counseling as the number of transracial placements increase.

Aggression And School Performance Among Seventh-Grade Students Enrolled In A Midwestern Suburban Middle School: A Social-Cognitive Behavioral Perspective, Gayle G. Anderson

Theses

Aggressive tendencies constitute a consistent behavioral pattern that spans early childhood through preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood. Researchers have linked high levels of preadolescent aggression with adolescent adjustment problems in school, the home, and community. This study explored the relationship between aggression levels and school performance among a sample of seventh-grade students. Thirty subjects were randomly selected from a seventh-grade class (n=230) located in a midwestern suburban middle school. Behavior and academic performance was associated with aggression levels as measured by the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist (MCBC) among this sample. Academic performance, as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) was negatively …

Position And Power: Birth Order And Its Relationship To Personality Type, Lesa M. Chastain

Theses

This study investigates the relationship between birth order and other factors with psychological personality traits. Students from seven public and private elementary schools, in a mid-western state, participated in this study. Those included in this study had to meet the following requirements: students could come from families that had up to four consecutive children, none of which were more than three years apart in sibling age. There were sixty-five elementary students who participated. Participants completed a blind questionnaire and were then given the children's version of the MBTI called the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children. The questionnaire revealed their birth …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Adolescent Self-Esteem With Parental And Peer Attachment, Julie A. Cervenka

Theses

This study examined adolescent attachment to parents and peers and its relation to their self-esteem. Attachment to parents and peers was operationalized with the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPP A) by Greensberg and Armsden ( 1987) and self-esteem was operationalized by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). A convenient, volunteer sample was used from a high school in a suburban area of St. Charles County, Missouri. The 127 adolescents ranged in age from 15 to 19 with an average age of 16 years. The sample included 120 Caucasians (94.4%), 5 African Americans (4%), 1 Hispanic (.8%), and 1 Asian …

Issues Of Spirituality And Gender Differences, Michael J. Brawn

Theses

This study focuses on issues of spirituality and gender differences. The often interchanged terms of religion and spirituality are described, and the antagonism of science towards religion which has fostered a dearth of literature is reviewed. Implications for counseling are offered, and observations regarding gender differences are provided. The hypothesis that men and women do not differ on measures of spirituality is examined using the spiritual Well-Being Scale (Ellison & Paloutzian, 1983). Study participants were 45 males and 79 females from a church congregation of moderate Protestants. Results suggest that on measures of spiritual well-being, and on indices of religious …

The Knowledge Of Dementia Among Nursing Staff Working In Special Care Units, Julia M. Gray

Theses

Dementia is a growing concern among the elder population. Special Care Units in long-term settings are becoming common placements for elders with dementia. The nursing staff within Special Care Units ideally have additional training in dementia. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the knowledge of dementia among nursing staff working in Special Care Units.

A Factual Review Of How Nursing Homes Are Accommodating The Elderly With Mental Illness, Martha L. Straughter

Theses

Thanks to improved drugs, diet and medical treatment, America's population is living longer than ever. While this is certainly a good occurrence, there are problems arising from it. Experts are seeing that many of these elderly people have a variety of mental illnesses. These illnesses have either been with the individual since youth, are the result of a deteriorating mind. State hospitals and other mental health facilities are unable to provide continuous, long-term care for the large number of elderly affected with these unfortunate illnesses.

This thesis will address this complex, ever-growing, issue in three parts by identifying and defining …

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem. Locus Of Control, And Gender Among College Athletes, Rhonda J. Kane

Theses

Studies have shown that female athletes can have lower self-esteem than male athletes as they deal with the challenges and issues that arise as they progress through adolescence and become young adults. Researchers have implicated the gender socialization process which places the role of the female athlete in direct conflict with traditional female roles. This casual-comparative study examined differences in self-esteem and locus of control between female athletes and male athletes. Forty-three females and thirty-two males completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Levenson Locus of Control, I, P & C Scales. The results suggest the self-esteem of female college …

Modeling And Simulating Chemical Weapon Dispersal Patterns In Dirsig, Peter Arnold

Theses

Fieldable thermal infrared hyperspectral imaging spectrometers have made it possible to design and construct new instruments for better detection of battlefield hazards such as chemical weapon clouds. The availability of spectroscopic measurements of these clouds can be used not only for the detection and identification of specific chemical agents but also to potentially quantify the lethality of the cloud. The simulation of chemical weapon dispersal patterns in a synthetic imaging environment offers significant benefits to sensor designers. Such an environment allows designers to easily develop trade spaces to test detection and quantification algorithms without the need for expensive and dangerous …

Perceived Empathy In Self-Help Books, Jerome M. Spector

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether written self-help materials conveyed empathy and whether reader's perceptions of empathy could be measured. Subjects (N = 65) were asked to rate 6 passages from 3 books on 2 questions derived from Rogers' (1961) restatement rule, and make a hypothetical choice among the authors as therapists. Using paired sample t tests, it was found that the mean differences in the ratings in 9 out of 12 cases were significant. One choice of therapist outcome out of the 2 was significant, x2 (2, N = 55) = 37.673, p < 0.001. It was concluded that the results supported theories that empathy, as a pluralistic concept, was inherent in written materials, and could be measured.

Loss Detection In The Dairy Industry., Michael Quealy

Theses

In any waste management program, the primary objective must be minimizing product loss without having an affect on product quality. Good waste management is recognized as good manufacturing practice and optimizes the processes to gain the highest possible yield from the available raw materials. A good waste management program must involve the daily monitoring of effluent from the plant for volume and strength. This data needs to be analyzed sufficiently to obtain clear pictures of what problems are present and where they are originating. If this is achieved then the task of reducing the product loss is made much easier. …

Conjugated Bilirubin Measurement Re-Examined: A New 'Approach'., Aidan Kelleher

Theses

Conjugated bilirubin is an important but difficult metabolite to measure accurately, elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin in the serum are indicative of obstructive jaundice and therefore can be used to discriminate this disorder from other forms of unconjugated hyper bilirubinaemia.

Extraction And Characterisation Of Essential Oils From Waste Eucalyptus Foliage, Hugh O'Reilly

Theses

Extraction procedures such as steam distillation, solvent and soxhlet extraction have been investigated to determine the most effective method of extracting essential oil from the foliage of a number of species of Eucalyptus cultivated in Co. Kerry. Steam distillation has been found to be the most effective method of extraction. The steam distillation extraction method has been thoroughly studied in order to determine the factors affecting yield and composition of the distillate. Alteration of the distillation time has been found to produce oil high in 1,8-cineole content, a requirement of medicinal quality oil. The choice of individual distillation still used …

Depression, Well-Being, And St. John's Wort, Katherine M. Randolph

Theses

The following paper examines the relationship of depression, wellbeing, and St. John's wort. ln formation and studies are reviewed concerning depression, well-being. antidepressants, and Sl. John's wort. A survey was given to thirty people varying in age and gender. The survey compared people taking St. John's wort to those not taki11g it and their sense of well-bei11g. A favorable relationship was found with a person's sense of well-being, between individuals taking St. John's wort and those not taking it.

A Study Of Key Factors Affecting The Degree Of Job Satisfaction Of Tour Guide In Bangkok, Thailand, Thareethip Laowirojanakul

Theses

This study is aimed to find out the degrees of job satisfaction of tour guides in Bangkok, Thailand and key factors affecting their job satisfaction, and to compare the job satisfaction with sociological factors in term of gender, age, education, and work experience. The procedure of this study used questionnaires as an instrument and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) as an analysis. The survey was conducted in June 1999, administrated to tour guides, currently working in Bangkok, Thailand and finally analyzed by SPSS. According to the results of this study, tour guides are very satisfied in their …

Vitamin Effect On The Aerobic Biodegradation Of Phenanthrene, Antracene, Fluoranthene, And Pyrene In A Contaminated Soil From An Industrial Site, Ilkay Cam

Theses

Bioremediation of organic wastes is often a cost-effective technology for the in situ treatment of contaminated soils. In this study, the possibility of increasing the rate and extent of biodegradation for phenathrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene in an industrial PAH contaminated soil via vitamin mixture supplementation was explored.

Soil contained with PAHs was obtainecl from the Bayway refinery site formerly owned by Exxon (Linden, NJ). Experiments were conducted in which the contaminated soil was amended with a mixtures of four vitamins (niacin, biotin, folic acid, and panthothenic acid). Peat moss, a common soil amendment, was also added in some experiments. …

The Human Race, Alex Gurevich

Theses

To tell a story and to tell it well is a paramount function in human society. Whether the desired outcome is to engage, educate, or entertain the viewer the goal is the same. Through story we endeavor to learn something more about ourselves and hopefully show others something new within themselves. As the old adage goes, "Give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach that man how to fish you feed him for a lifetime." One could simply give that hungry man a pole, a line, a hook, and a worm and give him directions on …

Mechanical Properties Of Polystyrene And Polypropylene Based Materials After Exposure To Hydrogen Peroxide, John Torres

Theses

This study addresses a specific problem faced by a company in the food industry, although all food companies face similar issues. In an effort to reduce costs, the pursuit to down-gauge packaging materials is constant. In the case of this study, the primary package of a dairy product is being considered for reduction from the current 57 mil thickness to 52 mils. In the past, as the material was down-gauged from 62 mils, a loss in material strength and an increase in damage were observed. Initial research into the issue by line personnel found that the increase in damage was …