Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Feasibility Of Removal Of Hydrogen Sulfide From Gaseous Streams By Anaerobic Photosynthetic Bacteria, Pushkaraj Sardesai

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Model For Prediction Of Strength Of Ash Deposits, Dhananjay Sakrikar

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Boundary Element Method For Thermo-Poroelasticity With Applications In Rock Mechanics, Qiang Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Coupled thermal and poromechanical processes play an important role in many geomechanics problems, such as borehole stability analysis and studies of initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures. Thermal effects, as well as hydraulic effects, can greatly change the stresses and pore pressure fields around an underground opening. This is due to the fact that thermal loading induces a volumetric deformation because of thermal expansion/contraction of both the pore fluid and the rock solid. Volumetric expansion can result in significant pressurization of the pore fluid. In order to take into account the influence of temperature gradients on pore pressure and stresses, …

Hdl Implementation Of A Controller Area Network Node, Anthony Richard Marino

Theses and Dissertations

With increasing technology inside automobiles, especially law enforcement vehicles, there is a growing need for centralized wiring and device interconnection methods. Each new technology, such as GPS navigation units and in-vehicle video systems, includes a corresponding wiring harness that needs installation. The summation of all these hardwired technologies leads to large volumes of wire that negatively affect safety, power demands, and future design opportunities. A new trend among automotive manufacturers is to design and implement innovative networks that allow for shared communications between technologies.

This thesis presents the design, development, and implementation of an in-vehicle network that will centralize connections …

Wind Scatterometry With Improved Ambiguity Selection And Rain Modeling, David W. Draper

Theses and Dissertations

Although generally accurate, the quality of SeaWinds on QuikSCAT scatterometer ocean vector winds is compromised by certain natural phenomena and retrieval algorithm limitations. This dissertation addresses three main contributers to scatterometer estimate error: poor ambiguity selection, estimate uncertainty at low wind speeds, and rain corruption. A quality assurance (QA) analysis performed on SeaWinds data suggests that about 5% of SeaWinds data contain ambiguity selection errors and that scatterometer estimation error is correlated with low wind speeds and rain events.

Ambiguity selection errors are partly due to the "nudging" step (initialization from outside data). A sophisticated new non-nudging ambiguity selection approach …

Establishing A Quantitative Foundation For Exactly Constrained Design, Alisha M. Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

Exactly constrained (EC) design is a robust design method which can be used for mechanical assemblies. It entails using the minimum number of constraints to eliminate all desired motion.

While found by some engineers in industry to have many benefits (including robust assembly, no binding or play, ease of assembly, and the ability to tolerate the wear of parts), EC designs remain somewhat unrecognized by academia. One reason for this minimal exposure may be the lack of a quantitative foundation for such designs. This thesis describes the history and current background for EC designs, and it also begins to develop …

Selecting Appropriate Product Concepts For Manufacture In Developing Countries, Danielle Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

There is a noticeable lack of production of indigenously engineered and manufactured products in Less Developed Countries (LDC's). Few products developed in these LDC's could be viable in competitive markets or even sold as components and supplies to other manufacturers of competitive goods. Assumintg that these less developed countries do not innovate and manufacture because they cannot, the next logical question to ask is why can they not?

This thesis looks at the problems of manufacture and design in LDC's from the standpoint of Product Development. It begins by looking at development theories, namely top down and bottom up and …

An Accurate Vo2max Non-Exercise Regression Model For 18 To 65 Year Old Adults, Danielle I. Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a regression equation to predict VO2max based on non-exercise (N-EX) data. All participants (N = 100), aged 18-65 years old, successfully completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) to assess VO2max (mean ± SD; 39.96 mL∙kg-¹∙min&sup-1; ± 9.54 mL∙kg-¹∙min-¹). The N-EX data collected just before the maximal GXT included the participant's age, gender, body mass index (BMI), perceived functional ability (PFA) to walk, jog, or run given distances, and current physical activity (PA-R) level. Multiple linear regression generated the following N-EX prediction equation (R = .93, SEE = 3.45 mL∙kg-¹∙min-¹, %SEE = …

An Analytical Method To Determine The Mechanical Properties Of Linear Viscoelastic Solids, Rani W. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

A new methodology has been developed to model the viscoelastic behavior of solids using a general spectrum function. Not all materials can be modeled using simple Kelvin-Voigt (K-V) or Maxwell elements where the viscoelastic parameters are constants. There is a need for a general spectrum function that can be used to model the Lame' functions which constitute all properties of interest. Thus far, there is no method like the one presented in this study that can determine the moduli of viscoelastic materials. This study develops a methodology by which the time dependent properties of homogeneous and non-homogeneous materials may be …

Dehydration Of An Ethanol/Water Mixture Using Lignocellulosic Based Adsorbents, Tracy John Benson

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using cellulosic adsorbents to dehydrate 95 wt% ethanol/5 wt% water mixture. Hardwood sawdust, kenaf core, and bleached wood pulp were used as adsorbents in both liquid phase and gas phase experiments. All three adsorbents preferentially adsorbed water compared to ethanol. Bleached wood pulp exhibited the best performance of adsorbents examined. Data from the liquid ? phase experiments were fitted to the Chakravarti ? Dhar isotherm equation. From the vapor ? phase experiments, the average water loading of hardwood sawdust, kenaf core, and bleached wood pulp was 0.0037, 0.0076, and 0.0121 g H2O/g adsorbent, respectively. …

An Investigation Of The Standardized Multiple-Choice Departmental Calculus I Final Examination, Maria Elizabeth Bearden

Theses and Dissertations

At Mississippi State University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, a standardized multiple-choice departmental final examination (SMCDF) was administered at the end of the Calculus I mathematics course. This practice was abolished at the end of the spring 1997 semester. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in students¡¯ success in subsequent calculus courses as measured by a student¡¯s grade. If there was a difference, was it consistent along varying levels of students¡¯ ACT mathematics scores. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run on the data. The variables were the five student ACT Mathematics …

Analysis Of Weight-Related Advertisements And Nutrition Articles In Popular Women's Magazines, Jennifer Cardall Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether the weight-related messages and themes from food advertisements in women's magazines reinforce or contradict the messages communicated in nutrition-related articles focusing on weight control within the same magazines.

Design: Content analysis of 48 issues of weight-related content six popular women's magazines, 2001-2002. There were three magazines in each of two categories, "homemaking" and "health." All food and nutrition advertisements were analyzed (n=954), along with all nutrition articles (n=336). Advertisements and articles were identified as being either weight-related or non-weight-related. Type of food/product advertised, claims used to market the product, and …

Rotational Molding Of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Polymers And Blends, Mark Grant Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

The development of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resins for use in rotational molding would provide a medium performance material, thus opening doors to new markets for the rotational molding industry. Unfortunately, ABS resins have shown serious problems during the rotational molding process, namely discoloration, bridging, and poor impact strength. It is believed that these effects are due to degradation of the carbon-carbon double bond in the butadiene, through attack by either oxygen or heat. Previous efforts have shown some success in addressing these issues. However, additional improvements are necessary to make ABS resins commercially viable to rotational molders. This study, fourth in …

Delineation Of Mass Movement Prone Areas By Landsat 7 And Digitial Image Processing, Shiloh Marie Howland

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of whether Landsat 7 data could be used to delineate areas prone to mass movement, particularly debris flows and landslides, was examined using three techniques: change detection in NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), change detection in band 5, and the tasseled cap transformation. These techniques were applied to areas that had recently experienced mass movement: Layton, Davis County and Alpine, Spanish Fork Canyon and Santaquin, Utah County. No distinctive spectral characteristics were found with any of these techniques with two possible explanations: 1. That despite improved spatial resolution in Landat 7 over its predecessors and improved digital image …

Design And Development Of The Self-Efficacy For Musical Studies Scale, Kathryn Rae Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

Scale development in psychological studies is an area of intense growth (Clark & Watson, 1995). This report builds upon academic interest in the value of producing viable measurement tools. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate a self-efficacy measurement scale intended to determine individual music students' perceptions of capability. The areas of interest were four self-regulatory skill domains: strategy use, planning, monitoring, and evaluating in two music environments: independent practicing and performance.

This report describes the development and analysis of the Self-efficacy for Musical Studies (SEMS) scale. The report includes statistical analysis of the response data from formative …

Satellite Scatterometers: Calibration Using A Ground Station And Statistical Measurement Theory, Peter Kenneth Yoho

Theses and Dissertations

Satellite scatterometers have recently gained popularity due to their unique ability to measure global geophysical data on a daily basis. Increased interest in scatterometry mandates improved design and calibration of these instruments. This dissertation presents new techniques for scatterometer calibration and addresses issues related to the design of future instruments and applications. First, the use of a calibration ground station is considered. A new methodology is established for calibration of SeaWinds, NASA's current scatterometer, using a receive-only ground station. Principles of the methodology are implemented, new analysis techniques developed, and important results obtained for instrument timing, frequency, power, position, and …

The Considerations Of The Superintendent In The Development Of The School Budget During Times Of Fiscal Constraint: A Case Study, Jeffrey Witt

Theses and Dissertations

John Smith is the superintendent of Green Hill Public Schools. This case study follows John through the whole budget process from July 2011 to July 2012. An interpretative perspective was used to tell his story. Ten interviews were given from October 2011 to July 2012. Newspaper articles and the minutes from meetings were analyzed and used as discussion items in the interview questions. This study was an analysis of how he made his budget decisions in a time of fiscal constraint and the role values played in the budget decision making. The budget year started out normal with John doing …

Effect Of Heavy Metals On Bacteria, Elena Vratonjic

Theses and Dissertations

Heavy metals have become devastating environmental contaminants due to their widespread use in the manufacture of electronics, plastics, batteries and dyes. The discharge of heavy metals into the environment has caused concern about their effects on the ecosystem. Many metals are essential for growth in small amounts. However, at higher concentrations heavy metals are toxic because they bind to organic compounds. This accounts for their effects on some important parts of the cell structure, like their ability to denature protein molecules. The initial objective of this study was to find out the growth rate of E.coli and M.roseus in the …

Past, Present And Future Of Language Policy In Kazakhstan, Aliya S. Kuzhabekova

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an analysis of the historical preliminaries, current state and directions of further development of the language policy in the former Soviet and presently independent Republic of Kazakhstan. Such an analysis is of special interest for sociolinguistic theory. The uniqueness of the linguistic situation challenging contemporary Kazakhstani language policy-making consists in the fact that Kazakh, the native tongue of the ethnic majority and the de jure state language of the independent Republic of Kazakhstan, is too lexically underdeveloped to successfully compete in most of the communicative domains with Russian, the state language of Soviet Kazakhstan and the alternate …

A Systemic Investigation: Developing A Guide To North Dakota Legal Research For The Educator And Citizen, Rhonda R. Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

Educators and citizens in North Dakota often need to research North Dakota law. They need to research primary authority materials (e.g., the North Dakota Constitution, the North Dakota Supreme Court opinions, the North Dakota Century Code, the North Dakota Administrative Code). Educators and citizens also need to utilize secondary authority materials that help them locate, update, explain or interpret the law (e.g., digests, citators, law reviews or treatises). There is no guide for North Dakota legal research materials that serves to help the educator or citizen in these research efforts.

The following methodology was used to produce a guide for …

The Perpetuation Of The Fairy Tale Narrative In Popular Film: A Textual Analysis, Audra D. Van Hoff

Theses and Dissertations

Communication media have an enormous impact on our perceptions of the world; therefore, I believe it is crucial to examine these media as a cultural text in order to gain an understanding of how producers of the text create meaning through critical elements found in the text. More closely, it is important to understand how these texts can represent things, such as gender and culture. Specifically, this thesis explores the dominate themes of a fairy tale narrative in contemporary film. It deconstructs the character and plot structure of five films from different genres. It then goes on to look at …

Analysis Of Articles Published In Eight Selected Higher Education Journals On Selected Variables To Reveal Scholarly Development Of The Discipline, Kathy Brock Enger

Theses and Dissertations

The development of a discipline is reflected in its literature. Higher education is a fairly young discipline, as shown by the large amount of its literature beginning in the 1970s or later. Studying the literature of a discipline reveals various aspects of its development, and gives those engaged in its development an assessment of what is being done and who is doing it at a particular point in time. Using bibliometrics, or the literature as data, this dissertation examined articles in eight selected higher education scholarly journals in 1995 and 2000 to determine characteristics of the authors producing higher education …

The Relationship Between Personality And The Experience Of Solution-Focused Therapy And Cognitive Therapy, Shannon T. Woulfe

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the past 20 years, a growing emphasis on client competence building within the psychotherapy literature has led to the creation of specific therapeutic interventions, such as narrative therapy and solution-focused therapy. These interventions offer a distinct alternative to traditional deficit-based interventions, where clients are viewed as having a dysfunction that is causing specific symptoms. This study indirectly compared the experiences of a client undergoing a competence model of helping, solution-focused therapy, with the experiences of the same client undergoing a deficit model of helping, cognitive therapy. Information about how personality dimensions are related to the experience of both solution-focused …

Tests For Significance On Selected Variables In The Transition To Middle School Of Sixth Grade Teachers Having More Or Less Middle Level Training, Marilyn Iverson Delmore

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Transient Response Of A Thermosyphon, James Kirk Storey

Theses and Dissertations

Thermosyphon transient operation was numerically modeled. The numerical model presented in this work overcame the limitations of previous studies by including transient conduction in the vessel wall, shear stress between the rising vapor and the falling film in the thermosyphon, the influence of the mass in the liquid pool in the evaporator, and by using a more refined and accurate numerical grid. Unique to this model was the accounting for temporal changes in the effective length of the vapor space due to the expanding and contracting of non-condensable gases in the vapor space. The model assumed quasi-steady one-dimensional vapor flow, …

Thermodynamic Property Prediction For Solid Organic Compounds Based On Molecular Structure, Benjamin T. Goodman

Theses and Dissertations

A knowledge of thermophysical properties is necessary for the design of all process units. Reliable property prediction methods are essential because reliable experimental data are often not available due to concerns about measurement difficulty, cost, scarcity, safety, or environment. In particular, there is a lack of prediction methods for solid properties. Predicted property values can also be used to fill holes in property databases to understand more fully compound characteristics. This work is a comprehensive analysis of the prediction methods available for five commonly needed solid properties. Where satisfactory methods are available, recommendations are made; where methods are unsatisfactory in …

Predictors Of General Medical Use Among Individuals Seeking Therapy For Marital And Family Problems, Jacob D. Christenson

Theses and Dissertations

A number of studies have examined variables associated with medical use. However, most of the studies deal with samples that are not easily generalizable to other populations. In particular, no study is known to have looked at general medical use among people seeking services for marital and family problems. In this study, medical use of participants from the marriage and family therapy services at Brigham Young University Comprehensive Clinic was investigated to determine the best predictors of general medical use. Best subsets multiple linear regression showed that the best overall predictors of general medical use were anxiety and hostility.

A Closed-Form Dynamic Model Of The Compliant Constant-Force Mechanism Using The Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model, Cameron Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

A mathematical dynamic model is derived for the compliant constant-force mechanism, based on the pseudo-rigid-body model simplification of the device. The compliant constant-force mechanism is a slider mechanism incorporating large-deflection beams, which outputs near-constant-force across the range of its designed deflection. The equation of motion is successfully validated with empirical data from five separate mechanisms, comprising two configurations of compliant constant-force mechanism. The dynamic model is cast in generalized form to represent all possible configurations of compliant constant-force mechanism. Deriving the dynamic equation from the pseudo-rigid-body model is useful because every configuration is represented by the same model, so a …

Predicting Drag Polars For Micro Air Vehicles, Mark Elden Luke

Theses and Dissertations

Drag polars for three Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) were measured at Reynolds numbers of 70,000, 50,000, 30,000, and 10,000 and compared to predictions generated using the classical approach. The MAVs tested had different configurations and aspect ratios varying from 1.2 to 1.6 and ratios of wetted surface area to planform area from 2.6 to 3.9.

A force balance was used to measure the lift and drag on the MAVs at angles of attack ranging from -5 degrees (or -10 degrees) to 10 degrees. The force balance allowed the MAVs to rotate in the pitching axis. The MAV angle of attack …

Swift Electro-Optic Modulator, Geofrey Craig Harston

Theses and Dissertations

The Silicon Wafer Integrated Fiber Technology, SWIFT, is a novel platform for the development of photonic devices. SWIFT is comprised of an optical fiber, specifically a D-fiber in this work, embedded into a V-groove etched into a silicon wafer. This provides a method to secure the fiber and allows the use of standard semiconductor industry equipment and techniques in latter processing for device fabrication.

The SWIFT platform is used as the basis for the development of a polarimetric in-fiber electro-optic modulator. The modulator is based on the application of a nonlinear optical polymer, NLOP, film into the evanescent field of …