Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Alternatives To Chemical Aircraft Paint Stripping, George P. Joyce Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force must periodically strip and paint its aircraft to prevent the damaging effects of corrosion. The paint removal process typically involves the use of toxic chemicals such as methylene chloride which are soon to be banned as a result of impending environmental regulations and increased costs associated with handling and disposing of such material. The Air Force must choose an alternative to methylene chloride chemical stripping which complies with environmental regulations and reduces costs. This thesis compares the life cycle costs and environmental impacts of two alternatives to chemical aircraft stripping. Plastic Media Blasting (PMB) and Modified Medium …

Investigation Of Sorption Mass Transfer Models Using Synthetic Soils, Karla K. Mika

Theses and Dissertations

Grain-scale sorption mass transfer is an important process that must be considered when predicting clean-up time and choosing remediation techniques for subsurface hazardous waste contamination. Rate-limited sorption is responsible for the rebound effect, where remediated groundwater is recontaminated by desorption. Sorbed contaminants are not available for microbial degradation, and the desorption rate may govern the effectiveness of natural attenuation by biodegradation. Grain-scale sorption nonequilibrium is generally attributed to diffusive transport, either in SOM or in mineral micropores. Typically used sorption mass transfer models either fail to reproduce long-term slow desorption (first-order models), or are based on diffusion in assumed (often …

Surfactant Enhanced Microbial Degradation Of Jp-8 Contaminated Soil, John D. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort used an automated respirometer to evaluate the enhancement of JP-8 fuel biodegradation, from surfactant addition. Two nonionic surfactants, Novell 1412-7 and Alfonic 810-4.5 were chosen for addition to contaminated JP-8, microcosms at three levels of treatment. The three levels of treatment included sub-CMC, CMC, and supra-CMC concentrations for each surfactant. The Novell II, nonionic surfactant, exhibited inhibitory characteristics, and was eliminated from the study. The focus of the study was to determine if JP-8 was actually degraded, and if enhancement of JP-8 biodegradation would be achieved from surfactant addition. The respirometer was found to be repeatable within …

Performance Analysis Of Preemption Algorithms In An Idnx Circuit Switch Communications Network, Eric C. Gumbs

Theses and Dissertations

Access to communication networks is increasing rapidly. The increase access to these networks results in delays and at times loss of data. At times of peak traffic or when trunks or nodes are down, very important customers' communications requirements are not met. One way to combat this problem is to prioritize the network and provide different levels of grade of service (GOS) for each priority. Call preemption provides an effective method of obtaining different levels of GOS. This research seeks to design the best circuit switch communications network preemption model for the DoD by analyzing previously developed preemption algorithms. Four …

Evaluation Of Design Tools For Rapid Prototyping Of Parallel Signal Processing Algorithms, James C. Savage

Theses and Dissertations

Digital signal processing (DSP) has become a popular method for handling not only signal processing, but communications, and control system applications. A DSP application of interest to the Air Force is high speed avionics processing. The real time computing requirements of avionics processing exceed the capabilities of current single chip DSP processors, and parallelization of multiple DSP processors is a solution to handle such requirements. Designing and implementing a parallel DSP algorithm has been a lengthy process often requiring different design tools and extensive programming experience. Through the use of integrated software development tools, rapid prototyping becomes possible by simulating …

Censorship Of Textbooks And Supplemental Books In North Dakota Secondary Schools From 1989-1994, Jeffrey L. Lofthus

Theses and Dissertations

Censorship of school books and other materials has long been an issue in the United States. North Dakota has not been exempt from censorship, and the public schools in Drake, Minot, and Napoleon all experienced censorship battles.

This study examined the extent of censorship in North Dakota public high schools and determined what policies are used to handle challenges to textbooks and supplemental reading materials. A model policy for reconsideration of educational materials is recommended.

This study focuses on academic freedom, challenges to textbooks, library books, and other materials, humanistic education, the new age movement, reconsideration policies, secular humanism, and …

Status Passage Of The Science Fiction Fan: Becoming A Member Of The Science Fiction Fan Subculture, B. Diane Miller

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1930's a middle class subculture developed around the popular culture genre literature known as science fiction. This subculture calls itself "Fandom" (Sanders, 1994; Bloch, 1962). I have chosen to investigate the status passage of the science fiction fan (Glaser and Strauss, 1971); or to phrase this as a question: What is the process of becoming a member of the subculture of science fiction fandom? Throughout this monograph, I refer to the members of the science fiction fan subculture as SF Fandom to distinguish them from other “fandoms” that have grown and branched off from the original group.

In …

Rural-Urban Student Differences On The Strong Interest Inventory For A Career Counseling Center Sample, Susan L. Pauly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of' his study was to explore whether differences existed between rural and urban students’ responses on the Strong Interest Inventory (SII). The subjects for this study were 665 students who had taken the SII as part of career counseling services received at the University of North Dakota. The subjects were classified as either rural or urban based on the population of their hometown. The rural and urban groups’ scores were compared on the SII General Occupational Theme (RIASEC), Academic Comfort and Introversion/Extroversion scales, the Iachan index of congruence between RIASEC scores and college major, measures of indifference in …

Development Of Site Characterization Simulator Specifications, Jeffrey L. Heiderscheidt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a tool for evaluating data quality when characterizing a potentially contaminated groundwater aquifer, and to provide a basis for developing a simulator to allow environmental managers and engineers to practice and learn about the site characterization process. Specifically, this study characterized the uncertainty, estimation block size, and cost for the various methods of determining the value of each geological, hydrological, and contaminant parameter necessary to characterize a site. Research entailed identifying site characterization objectives and identifying parameters necessary to obtain those objectives. Methods of estimating each parameter were identified, then research was …

Electromagnetic Scattering From Semi-Infinite Planar Arrays, Peter J. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

A hybrid method of moments (MM) based numerical model for the electromagnetic scattering from large finite by infinite planar slot arrays is developed. The method incorporates the novel concept of a physical basis function (PBF) to dramatically reduce the number of required unknowns. The model can represent a finite number of slot columns with slots oriented along the infinite axis, surrounded by an arbitrary number of coplanar dielectric slabs. Each slot column can be loaded with a complex impedance, allowing one to tailor the edge currents to provide a desired echo width pattern. The surface equivalence theorem is used to …

Development Of A Standard Set Of Indicators And Metrics For Artificial Intelligence (Ai) And Expert System (Es) Software Development Efforts, Derek F. Cossey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify a standard set of indicators and metrics that can be used by program managers to improve their abilities to direct development efforts involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Expert Systems (ES). This research addresses two objectives. The first objective is to identify an appropriate set of software indicators and metrics to be used by government program offices for the management of development efforts involving software systems for AI and ES. The second objective is to demonstrate how the resources of the National Software Data and Information Repository (NSDIR) can be used in order …

The Development And Evaluation Of The Knife Finite Element, Brett W. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development and evaluation of the knife finite element which is a degenerate case of a hexahedral element. The knife connectivity is an artifact of automatic all-hexahedral mesh generators. Currently, knives are propagated to the surface of the mesh for removal. However since this disturbs the surface mesh, other alternatives are needed. This thesis investigates the option of leaving the knife connectivity in the mesh and treating it as a valid finite element. The shape functions and stiffness matrix for the knife element are derived and evaluated using theoretical and practical evaluations. It is concluded that the …

Employee And Employer Perceptions Of The Workplace-Personal Life Interface In The Midwest, Debra Dose Gebeke

Theses and Dissertations

Most research regarding the workplace and personal life balance has been conducted from the employer (macro level approach) or employee (micro level approach) perspective in a large business context. More recently a call for research using a contextual effects model which examines the interface between the workplace and personal life has been issued. There is also limited research in smaller businesses (fewer than 500 employees), such as those more prevalent in the Midwest. This gap in the research is addressed in the present study.

A sample of 17 businesses from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska reflecting the smaller …

Modeling Coupled Transient Transport Of Mass, Momentum And Energy In Wellbore/Reservoir Systems, Xiaowei Wang

Theses and Dissertations

The total reserve of a hydrocarbon bearing formation and its ability to economically produce the fluids determine a reservoir’s development potential. Oil companies in the United States and abroad spend millions of dollars a year in well testing to estimate parameters related to these factors. A large fraction of these tests are surface “buildup” tests in which a producing well in the reservoir is “shut-in” either at the wellhead or at the bottom, or “drawdown” tests in which a well initially closed, is suddenly opened at the wellhead. The transient response of the pressure to these changes at the well …

The Experiences Of Four Hispanic Kindergartners In An Upper Midwest Schools, Deanne E. Borgeson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the kindergarten experiences of four Hispanic children, with and without previously diagnosed disabilities, in a predominantly Mainstream American public school in the Upper Midwest. The children's initial school experiences as well as their later adjustments to the Euro-American school were studied from the first day of the school year to the end of the first quarter of school (nine weeks later).

Qualitative research methods were used in the study including participant observation, parent and teacher interviews, and a review of each child's medical and educational record. Data were analyzed for themes …

Effect Of Catalase Overexpression On Adriamycin Cardiotoxicity In Transgenic Mice, Yan Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Adriamycin is an important anticancer agent. However, the clinical use of Adriamycin is limited by its undesirable side effects, especially cardiotoxicity. One of the most likely mechanisms of Adriamycin toxicity is the production of reactive oxygen free radicals. Catalase is a major enzyme involved in detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H202) in mammalian cells. It has been shown that catalase activity per g tissue of the heart is very low in comparison to other tissues, being only about 2% that of liver in the mouse. This less proficient ability to dispose of reactive oxygen species may be responsible for the high …

Therapeutic Aspects Of Music And Its Effect Upon A Child With Selective Mutism., Sally Anne Seidl

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic aspects of music and its effect upon a child with selective mutism. Selectively mute children are able to speak, but for a variety of reasons, refuse to do so. Music was viewed as a potentially non-threatening intervention appropriate for a child with a diagnosis of selective mutism. A qualitative case study design was chosen for the purpose of this study.One eight year old female child with selective mutism was selected as the subject for this study. Music interventions were conducted on school grounds and sessions utilized various musical activities. A …

Guidelines For College And University Publications Directors On Building Effective Partnerships With Printers And Graphic Designers, Susan L. Enzman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to compose guidelines to help facilitate communication and understanding between graphic designers and printers as they work together to service higher education publication offices.

A review of previous research pertinent to this study was conducted. Original research was undertaken in the form of a mail survey distributed to 100 publication directors/managers at four year colleges and universities throughout the country.

The survey was used to determine how various publications offices operate and to elicit suggestions publication directors/managers have for working effectively with graphic designers and printers.

The core of this project was the …

Determination Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Environmental Matrices Using Solid Phase Microextraction And Infrared Spectroscopy., Daniel Lee Heglund

Theses and Dissertations

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water and soil via infrared (IR) spectroscopy is difficult because the water and soil components absorb the majority of the infrared radiation. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) selectively extracts the analytes from the water and soil and allows detection in the same solid phase with no water or soil interference. Current optical methodology in SPME utilizes ultraviolet/visible, or near-infrared spectroscopy as a detection means and yields little molecular information and poor detection limits respectively. The subject of this Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) dissertation will include the development and application of SPME to Fourier …

A Study Of Television Violence And Its Effects On Elementary School Children's Social Interactions, Shari Lonker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the amount of antisocial and aggressive television shows a child views and the occurrence of negative social interactions in which that child is involved while under school supervision. One hundred 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders in a southern New Jersey school district were given television viewing questionnaires to take home and fill out with their parents. Upon completion, the questionnaires were scored according to the child's habit of watching specific television shows targeted with violent content. Each student's teacher then rated the frequency of the child's antisocial or aggressive …

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem And Romanticism Among Parenting And Nonparenting Adolescents, Francine D. Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

This study's purpose was to assess the difference between romanticism and self-esteem among parenting (n=13) and nonparenting adolescents (n=18). One subject did not specify status. Parenting adolescents where those who were or had been pregnant. Nonparenting adolescents were those who had never been pregnant. Of the thirty-two subjects, 29 were African American and three were Hispanic. All were a part of a social support group. The subjects ranged in age between 13 and 19. The Dean Romanticism Survey and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory combined were administered. An independent t-test was performed on the variables. The results indicated that parenting adolescents did …

An Investigation Of The Characteristics Of Regenerative Heat Exchangers, Timothy J. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the current research was to investigate the effects of reducing screen thickness on the volume and compactness factor of stacked, wire-screen regenerators. An improved transient step-change method was devised which integrated experimental data with a numerical model of the flow to determine the heat transfer coefficient and friction factor. The improvements to the approach are: (1) the measured inlet temperature trace is used, (2) the heat transfer coefficient is based on a parameter called the sponge effect delay time, and (3) the important effect of the tube surrounding the matrix is included in the numerical model. The …

Design Of Gradient Index Optical Thin Films, Jeffrey J. Druessel

Theses and Dissertations

Gradient index thin films provide greater flexibility for the design of optical coatings than the more conventional 'layer' films. In addition, gradient index films have higher damage thresholds and better adhesion properties. This dissertation presents an enhancement to the existing inverse Fourier transform gradient index design method, and develops a new optimal design method for gradient index films using a generalized Fourier series approach. The inverse Fourier transform method is modified to include use of the phase of the index profile as a variable in rugate filter design. Use of an optimal phase function in Fourier-based filter designs reduces the …

Runaways In Young Adult Fiction – A Survey And Annotated Bibliography, Anna E. Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to compare causes and consequences for runaways in real life with those in young adult fiction, in order to ascertain whether any similarity exists between the two. The thesis also provides an annotated bibliography of young adult books about runaways.

Research was carried out to obtain information about what real runaways must face, and various guides to young adult literature were consulted in order to evaluate fictional runaway lifestyles.

With few exceptions, real lives of runaway children bear very little resemblance to those of their fictional counterparts. In fiction, happy endings (or at least …

Reading Interests Of Fifth And Sixth Grade Boys, Judith E. Sheridan

Theses and Dissertations

Fifth and sixth grade boys were studied to determine their reading interests for the purpose of developing a bibliography of books that the boys had read and enjoyed to use for collection development for the school library. One class of fifth grade students and one class of sixth grade students were surveyed to determine their reading attitudes, habits, and interests. Reading logs were kept during a three month period recording books that the students read during that time and enjoyed. Both boys and girls participated in the data collection portion of the study.

Major findings reinforced the author's perceptions that …

Cd-Rom Technology: How It Is Utilized In K-12 School Library Media Centers, Amy Jo Hufana

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate how CD-ROM technology is utilized in school library media centers in Cape May County, New Jersey and in other locations throughout the United States. A survey has been conducted to supply information about many aspects of CD-ROM use, including the types of hardware and software used, the extent of use of different types of programs, the responsibilities of library media specialists in utilizing and managing CD-ROM resources, and the amount of use by teachers, students, and others. Library media specialists from Cape May County and other locations in New Jersey have responded …

Is Access Synonymous With Use?: Evaluation Of Access And Use Of Technology In Salem County High Schools, Romine B. Rosenberger

Theses and Dissertations

The high schools of Salem County were studied for their use of technology in general and the Internet specifically. Literature regarding the effective use of technology in education nationwide was researched. It was found that even though Salem County has access to much technology, it is underutilized, due primarily to lack of thorough professional development. Particular attention was given to Internet technology because of grants received by the county for the express purpose of establishing a local node for use by the schools in the county. A preliminary review of the literature indicated that the scope of the study needed …

Modern Storytelling: The Power Of Myth Revisited, Laura J. Kaighn

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis paper examines the art of storytelling in its modern form. Its purpose is to evaluate the continued use and worth of fairy tale literature within a modern, industrialized society. Through the use of fairy tale literature and interviews with local storytellers it attempts to redefine storytelling as an essential art form and educational medium.

Storytelling not only perpetuates our cultural norms and values, but also our sense of humanity as well. Storytelling fulfills a deep need for us to define ourselves through our stories, the shells of our societal seeds. The art is experiencing a renaissance, and a …

Recommendations For A Policy Regarding Online Searching At The Cape May County Library, Linda L. Melroy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to ascertain and compare the methods used by other New Jersey public libraries in order to best serve their patrons' needs in a technological society. The libraries of today, including Cape May County Public Library, are facing the challenge of providing online services to an ever more sophisticated clientele. At the same time, the funds for these services may be difficult to obtain.

A questionnaire was sent to fifteen New Jersey public libraries, twelve of whom responded. Questions involving the type of online searching being done at their institution were raised. Also questioned were …

The Interdisciplinary Approach To Learning: Theory, Design, And Implementation, Kathleen E. Ratz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to examine a synergistic form of learning known as the integrated curriculum. An interdisciplinary approach to teaching, the integrated curriculum seeks to explore the connections and interrelations that exist between academic subject areas in order to create educational experiences that reflects what We know about the learning process.

Discussed in the thesis are the theoretical and philosophical background of this form of experiential learning, historical attempts at implementation, current thinking on design and implementation, and finally practical applications. Conclusions are drawn from all of the above sources and a list of essential criteria for …