Digital Commons Network^™

Rapid Optical Variability In Radio-Quiet Quasars, Meenakshi Uppal

Theses

Results from imaging and spectral surveys at radio wavelengths indicate that radio quiet quasars (RQQs) may have accretion-fuelled Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH) as their so-called central engines, similar to those hypothesised for radio loud quasars (RLQs). Recent evidence suggests that some RQQs may also harbour weak jets. Rapid optical variability is a common property of most RLQs with compact radio cores, flat radio spectra, and extended linear features emanating from the core and is linked to the presence of a powerful relativistically boosted jet. We present the results of a 3 year monitoring campaign of sixteen RQQs displaying evidence …

High Frequency Ultrasonic Characterization Of Carrot Cell Texture, Christopher Vick

Theses

Ultrasound offers a versatile imaging modality. It has a long history of medical use, but system and signal processing limitations have limited its full range of capabilities. By examining other uses of ultrasound, such as materials testing, the effectiveness of medical ultrasound tissue identification could likely be improved. To a limited degree, low frequency ultrasound has been used examine the texture of carrots tissue. These studies focused on the velocity and attenuation of low frequency ultrasound through a carrot sample; these results yielded a degree of ambiguity when attempting to identify a carrot texture. In our research, we attempted to …

Surface Topography Of Cuneiform Tablets, Monica Barbu-Mcinnis

Theses

Ancient Cuneiform tablets consists of one of the oldest forms of writings in the world. These clay tablets act as a link between our time and a time thousands of years ago. The surface of these Cuneiform tablets consists of wedge shaped characters and cylinder seal impressions. These features present many challenges to photographers as well as epistolary scholars. Modern technology and state of the art equipment can ease these hindrances and unlock secrets of past civilizations. Using surface topography techniques previously applied to intaglio prints and lithic artifacts as well as implementation of modern digital image processing techniques, images …

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 …

An Analysis Of Folding Carton Stock For Frozen Fish Sticks, Benjamin L. White

Theses

Waxed solid bleached sulfate paperboard and polyethylene coated paperboard were compared for the purpose of containing frozen fish sticks. The main emphasis focused on the safety of the board in regards to the migration of particles from either the wax or the polyethylene. The results showed that the polyethylene coated "SBS" or the polyethylene coated solid unbleached sulfate are probably the best ways to package frozen fish sticks and fillets.

Evolution In The First Person, Elouise Oyzon

Theses

Discusses the production of the artist's computer animated piece which is based upon experiences during pregnancy.

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Counseling Programs Designed To Promote Positive Behavior Changes In Young Children, Gwendolyn Pruitt-Donnell

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of counseling programs designed to improve school and classroom behavior of young children. The study focused on an eight week session Behavior Management Program for 4 groups of students. Each group had 9 students which included 32 participants in all. The groups met once a week for 30 minutes. The participant's school and classroom behavior was monitored daily during treatment. Teachers were asked to rate the participants on behaviors using the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale - 39 before and after treatment. The results of the study supports that counseling programs …

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

Theses

Not available.

The Design And Implementation Of A Business Plan For An Internet Service Company, Gia K. Reynolds

Theses

The lntrnet today consists of many networks that can transfer data via many routes over a vast network. Change in the telecommunication industry and the attractiveness of the lnternet as a distribution channel have resulted in an expansion of service furnished by content providers. This dynamic growth of services impacts the prices and profits of service providers and the customers' net benefit.

This project will focus on the study of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry. Information was gathered for the purpose of constructing a business plan for G-net.

Research has indicated that an entrepreneur is one who manages, organizes …

Self-Managed Work Teams: How Implementation Plans Affect Success Or Failure, Julia E. Meeker

Theses

This applied learning project will deal with the implementation of empowerment in an organization and the importance of an implementation plan.

Research shows that resistance to change by management or front line employees can lead to the failure of the change. Resistance to change is a normal human reaction but can be minimized through effective change management.

Effective change management includes clear, understandable, complete communication at the appropriate time. The development of a change implementation plan can reduce the resistance to change by providing information that addresses employees concerns regarding the proposed change.

The purpose of this project is to …

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 …

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. …

Implementation And Performance Study Of Image Data Hiding/Watermarking Schemes, Arkadiusz Edward Komenda

Theses

Two data hiding / watermarking techniques for grayscale and color images are presented. One of them is DCT based, another uses DFT to embed data. Both methods were implemented in software utilizing C/C++. The complete listings of these programs are included. A comprehensive reliability analysis was performed on both schemes, subjecting watermarked images to JPEG, SPIRT and MPEG-2 compressions. In addition, the pictures were examined by exposing them to common signal processing operations such as image resizing, rotation, histogram equalization and stretching, random, uniform and Gaussian noise addition, brightness and contrast variations, gamma correction, image sharpening and softening, edge enhancement, …

Vital Communities Criteria For Urban Neighborhood Development, Peter Frederick Smith

Theses

It is the goal of this document to explore the issues and physical attributes related to the creation of vital communities. Research into North American and European precedents of planned community design, from the late 19th Century to the present, and the study of the qualities of vitality of two healthy neighborhoods; The Beaches in Toronto, Canada, and the Ironbound in Newark, New Jersey, have demonstrated that the model for neighborhood development is the main street.

Further research determined that Springfield Avenue, in the City of Newark, New Jersey, would provide the armature for the revitalization of an urban neighborhood, …

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.

Design And Code Generation Concepts For Statechart Diagrams Of The Uml V1.1 In Concurrent Environments, Pierre Metz

Theses

This thesis deals with code generation concepts for the statechart diagrams of the UML vl.l. It explores implementation approaches for mapping statechart diagrams to code. It also focuses on modelling rules for consistent design of dynamic object behaviour. Most of the given object-oriented (00) methods have statechart diagrams as their centre. It is proposed to use statechart diagrams to model the internal behaviour of objects and lifecycles, respectively. Generally, statechart diagrams are used in the area of analysis and design of reactive systems such as realtime- and embedded-systems. This thesis introduces different existing implementation patterns and shows how they can …

Own-Brands : An Investigation Into Their Development And Potential In The Irish Grocery Market, Mary Patricia O'Connor

Theses

The title of the thesis “Own-Brands - An investigation into their development and potential in the Irish Grocery Market” illustrates what the thesis hopes to explore.

The overall value of the own-brand market is approximately £350 million, which represents almost 17% of total grocery expenditure in the Irish market. The last few years have seen a resurgence of own-brand with major Irish owned grocery retailers shifting from primarily low cost no frills staple goods to a focus on quality marketable goods at value for money prices, to rival the brand leaders in their respective categories and to compete with the …

The Benefits Of Corporate Wellness Programs, Paul Lonigro

Theses

Cost containment of health care cost is an extremely significant issue to employers today. Many employers have used strategies such as cost shifting and managed care to control costs with limited success. Many are using wellness programs with the idea of promoting healthy lifestyles to decrease the risks and demand for health care services. Other benefits which employers look for are an increase in employee productivity and morale, and decreasing absenteeism and turnover. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how effective wellness programs have been at achieving these goals.

Some form of wellness program has widely been used …

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.

The Relationship Between External Locus Of Control And Test Anxiety In Late Adolescence, Diana L. Michaelson

Theses

This study examines the relationship between external locus of control and test anxiety in late adolescence. Locus of control was measured through the I,P,C scale based on Hanna Levenson's (1974) theory. Test anxiety was assessed through the use of the State Trait Anxiety Scale as developed by Speilberger ( 1970). The research focused on the state, or situational anxiety experienced as the result of the announcement of a pending test. The hypothesis stated that those exhibiting characteristics of external locus of control (powerful others and chance) will exhibit some form of test anxiety. The sample used for this research was …

Between Heaven And Hell: The Plight Of The Eastern Kentucky Coal Miner, Rebecca C. Norris

Theses

This thesis will focus on the dilemma of the present day coal miner in the eastern Kentucky mountains.

Historically, the coal mining profession has been one presenting extremely dangerous work conditions. From its roots in the 1880s, coal mining has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of miners, the majority of these deaths being caused by explosions. Working conditions were horrendous and there was no legislation in place to protect the miner. The life and living conditions of the miner were determined by coal operators who ran coal towns. These towns were the heart of the miners' lives. 'The …

A Study Of The Impact Of Peer Mediation On Attitudes And Behavior Of Sixth Grade Students, Melanie Penerman

Theses

Students encounter conflict situations daily in school settings. Some are able to ignore or walk away from the conflicts. Others are not equipped with the skills necessary to deal with conflicts. The search for proactive and creative responses to youth violence has propelled many educators to seek programs that will teach kids how to develop non-violent solutions to conflict

The purpose of this research study is to determine the changes in students' attitudes, skills and behaviors for managing conflict in the school setting as a result of the initiation of a peer mediation program. Participants for this study involved students …

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 …

Lying Tongues, Nicholas C. Smith

Theses

This culminating project is a memoir, which depicts my struggle with religion and spirituality. The piece is divided into eleven chapters. The chapters are arranged allowing the reader to focus on a chronological pattern of occurrences that affect me, the narrator of the story. The stories are first hand in most instances. Events before 1952 are embellished, but the characterizations are as true as elder family members could remember in their attempts to immortalize deceased family members.

A bit of humor is enjoyed in the story of my maternal grandparents lives during the 1930's, in Stamps, Arkansas. The story serves …

How To Use Marketing Strategy And Communication For Rekindling A New Life Of The Old Street, Chao-Wang Wang

Theses

History is the record of a community or culture in its past life. It symbolizes the continuation of our lives. Different areas nurtured different cultures and these cultures represent different peoples' ways of life and particular values. Not only does history provide evidence for us to trace and explore our ancestors' footprints, it also gives a blueprint for us to learn lessons and experiences so that we may be able to avoid quarrels and wars, and to create a peaceful world. Therefore history and culture has the functionality of carrying on the heritage to provide a way for the future …

The Impacts And Implementation Of Integrated Marketing Communications, Min-Fang Wu

Theses

In the current market place, there are two points that occupy the marketer's attention. One is the necessity of integration; the other is the importance of communications. Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is the crystallization of the two thoughts.

Because the entire market place is changing so rapidly, factors that result in a successful business are too complicated. Integration of all kinds of market resources is no longer a marketing theory which is discussed by academics. It has become a necessary solution to business.

On the other hand, the popular issue of communication does not simply reflect the deep relationship of …

Droffice(Sm) A Physician Support Service Company For The Physician And Physician's Family (The Reengineered Physician's Practice), William K. Sullivan

Theses

This thesis is the culminating project of years of study, experience, and research focused upon a business plan to create a company which would provide physician support services not only for the physician's office but also for the physician's family.

The sudden emergence in the 1990's of several for-profit, publicly traded physician practice management companies (PPMCs) and local management services organizations (MSOs) highlighted the plight of the present physician's office as a small business overrun by regulation, managed care encroachment, financial stresses, and technological advancements. As Wall Street and Main Street eventually learned, PPMCs and MSOs were not the solutions …

An Investigation Into The Ingredients Necessary For A Successful Implementation Of Sap, Benjamin T. Wilson

Theses

This thesis will focus on the impact of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications, mainly SAP, and the impact they have on business functions and efficiency.

Businesses have been able to take advantage of improvements in computer technology to make improvements to their every-day processes and procedures. One category of software applications they can use are ERP applications. ERP's provide many advantages for companies - faster access to more reliable data with which to make better decisions, and more efficient use of company resources. These advantages can only be achieved though, if the application is produced and used correctly, which …

The Relationship Between School Counselor's Perception Of A Supportive School Climate And Reported Level Of Job Satisfaction, Kimberly A. Nelson

Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between a school counselor's perception of a supportive school climate and reported level of job satisfaction. School climate was determined using the School Climate Scale, while job satisfaction was determined using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Participants in this study were randomly selected from a list of all counselors employed in a school counseling position as of January 1998, obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Analysis of the data was completed using the Pearson r to assess the correlation between school climate and job satisfaction.

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 …