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Monotonic And Fatigue Behavior Of 2-D Woven Ceramic Matrix Composite At Room And Elevated Temperatures (Blackglas/Nextel 312), Musa Al-Hussein

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the monotonic tension and compression and the tension-tension and tension-compression fatigue loading of Blackglas/Nextel 312 woven CMC at room temperature and at 760 degrees centigrade. Young's Modulus and strain variation were evaluated. S-N curves were obtained for room and elevated temperatures. The ultimate tensile stress was lower at the elevated temperature and it was higher in the compression test. Failure-strain was higher at the elevated temperature in both tension and compression tests. There was no significant change in Young's Modulus at the elevated temperature. Also, there was no difference in the number of cycles to failure at …

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Other Characteristics: An Examination Of Managerial Perceptions Of Effective Contracting Officers, Todd S. Joyner, Brian V. Ucciardi

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the attributes contracting managers perceived to be most critical in effective contracting officers. Questionnaires were used to gather relevant data from managers in the operational, specialized, and systems contracting specialty areas. The resultant data was classified and weighted in accordance with the formula defined in the methodology. Additionally, some respondents provided comments via the follow-up interviews. The resultant data was analyzed qualitatively in order to determine the extent of concurrence in managerial perceptions. In addition, the researchers attempted to seek answers in three additional areas. First, they examined the degree to which critical attributes varied by specialty …

A Three-Dimensional 463l Pallet Packing Model And Algorithm, Wesley E. Manship Jr., Jennifer L. Tilley

Theses and Dissertations

As part of the Air Force Logistics Contingency Assessment Tool, Armstrong Laboratory determined the need for a software package to optimize the packing of 463L cargo pallets for deployments. In January 1998, TASC, Inc., to determine if optimizing the packing of 463L pallets was indeed possible, implemented a feasibility study. TASC, Inc. concluded that a linear program was infeasible due to time and size constraints. Therefore, this research focuses on the development of a nonlinear model. An extensive literature review is conducted to detail the pallet loading problem, define the current pallet process, establish necessary assumptions and constraints, and examine …

Military Members Responses To Sexually Harassing Behavior: Response Types And Efficacies, Michael W. Braucher

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses four sexual harassment response constructs and evaluates the efficacy of the responses. The constructs are built based on individual or joint/collaboratory responses and whether or not the harasser is confronted with his or her behavior(s) perceived as harassing by the victim. The constructs are applied to the 1995 Department of Defense survey of Harassment. Results include each response's effect on the harassing behavior, whether the behavior is ceased or not. A second result is the victim's perception of improvement or worsening of the situation based on the response type used. Tests for proportional differences were used to …

A Definition And Investigation Of Cooperative Acquisition Programs Using Multiple Case Studies, Robert T. Butz

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploratory study of the management of cooperative acquisition programs. The investigation focuses on defining the nature of a cooperative acquisition strategy, identifying potential problems associated with this approach, and evaluating the effectiveness of the current guidance and support structure for such programs. The desired outcome of this strategy is a common solution. The operational definition of cooperative acquisition builds on the Department of Defense definition of Joint Service Acquisition. A pilot study and literature review are used to develop a structured interview for three case studies. Analysis of these cases indicates that difficulty in resolving core …

Effects Of Shiftwork On Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Personnel, Craig A. Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of converting a large aircraft maintenance squadron from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. The squadron studied converted its 24- hour maintenance work force from three 8-hour work shifts to two 12-hour work shifts incrementally, with one section converting to 12-hour shifts in January, 1996, and the remaining section converting in July, 1996. Both sections remained on 12-hour shifts until September, 1997, when both sections converted back to a three shift 8-hour operation. Health and well being, on- and off-duty accident rates, day shift vs. night shift accident rates, and the effects of stress and fatigue …

The Effects Of Three Media Presentation Systems On Maintenance Task Performance, John W. Chastain

Theses and Dissertations

Wearable computers and Portable Maintenance Aids (PMAs) may soon be the normal way of doing aircraft maintenance in the Air Force. Currently, the Air Force uses the paper form of Technical Orders (TO's) while doing aircraft maintenance. The purpose of this thesis was to compare the effects of three different media presentations of the information used during aircraft maintenance. The three different presentations compared are the current paper form, a Head Mounted Display (HMD), and an auditory mode. An experiment was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference between the systems (in terms of task completion times and …

Analysis Of Usaf Medium And Heavylift Space Launch Mission Reliability Requirements, Arthur R. Dawkins

Theses and Dissertations

The launch services that the USAF procures to carry DOD payloads into orbit are characterized by high risks and high costs. If a launch vehicle experiences a catastrophic failure, the cost of the entire launch vehicle, the launch processing, and the payload are completely lost (often in excess of 1,5 billion dollars.) Despite this enormous risk for the payload customer, and indeed the launch provider, launch success rates around the world are not much above 90 percent. The current USAF medium and heavylift launch systems are often based on technology that is 20 years old and older. Furthermore, little historical …

Computer-Based Decision Support System Use In Contracting's Source Selection Process, Matthew L. Decker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the use of decision support system (DSS) technology within the U.S. Air Force's contracting source selection process. DSS technology has been shown to be an effective aid to complex decision processes such as source selection decisions and the possible effects of utilizing this technology are the focus of this study. Conclusions drawn from this thesis may guide the contracting community to readdress the possibility of implementing DSS technology within the source selection process. This study evaluated statistical data from a previous experiment to determine the effect of DSS use on time, confidence, and decision quality. This study …

Aspects Of Profession And The Military Perspective, Jody B. Dow

Theses and Dissertations

The term "Profession" does not have a consistently applied definition within society. In the military, the ambiguity of the definition places military members in a situation where understanding their professional responsibilities is difficult. This thesis examines the characteristics of traditional professions and draws parallels to the military. This study identifies critical characteristics of professional behavior that military members should be aware of in pursuing professionalism. Data were gathered from academic and popular literature for evaluation. Sufficient evidence exists in literature to identify the factors of special knowledge and service orientation of a profession as critical to professional status. The military, …

A Decision Theoretic Approach For Interface Agent Development, Scott M. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The complexity of current software applications is overwhelming users. The need exists for intelligent interface agents to address the problem of increasing taskload that is overwhelming the human user. Interface agents could help alleviate user taskload by extracting and analyzing relevant information, and providing information abstractions of that information, and providing timely, beneficial assistance to users. These agents could communicate with the user through the existing user interface and also adapt to user needs and behaviors. Central to providing assistance to a user is the issue of correctly determining the user's intent. This dissertation presents an effective, efficient, and extensible …

An Economic/Demographic Comparison Of Air Force And Other Service Families, John C. Glover

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to compare economic, attitudinal and demographic variables for families in all branches of service to see in which areas the Air Force is ranked/rated higher and lower than other services. Analysis is broken out by officers and enlisted personnel in all main branches of service (Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines). Two testing methods are employed to determine if there is a difference between the services: Tukey's multiple comparison procedure, and pair-wise comparisons of proportions for the different services. Results indicate that Air Force officers rate the Air Force higher for lower number of …

A Descriptive Study Of Information Operations And Information Warfare Awareness In The United States Air Force, Ryan D. Hollman

Theses and Dissertations

Information has always been important in military affairs, conflicts, and wars. Information warfare is an important new concept that is emphasized by the significance of computer and information technology. The United States Air Force has educated and trained individuals in information warfare since recognizing the importance of information warfare in 1995. The Air Force Information Warfare Center and the information warfare squadron were also created to address information warfare concerns. Information warfare is important to the entire Air Force. How familiar are Air Force people generally in information warfare? This thesis addresses awareness of information warfare and information operations concepts. …

The Commercialization Of Space Transportation: Exploring The Impact Of The National Space Transportation Policy, Thomas L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The 1994 National Space Transportation Policy designates the roles of the DoD, NASA and the Departments of Transportation and Commerce to identify and promote innovative types of arrangements between the U.S. government and the private sector in order to reduce the cost to access space. DoD, civil and commercial industry leaders agree that the price to access space is currently exorbitantly expensive. The solution to this expense, which the United States Government is relying upon, is the commercialization of space transportation technology. This research focuses on investigating the industry and policy commercialization trends which led to the 1994 NSTP, and …

Identity And Image: A Miss America Case Study, Melissa C. Connell

Theses and Dissertations

Through brochure copy and other communication channels, such as electronic media, organizations strive to effectively echo the company's beliefs, attitudes and values. Target audiences perceive the company in certain ways based on this media projection. Sometimes the image a company believes it has established is far different from the one the public sees.

As organizations aim to achieve this identity/image alliance, critics assert that the Miss America Organization has failed to meet the stated standards. In recent years, the Miss America Organization has received criticism from former contestants, politicians, feminist groups and some of its 80 million viewers for its …

Student Use Of Computers In The Media Center: Does It Support Educational Goals?, Janet B. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the ways students from study halls used computers in a media center at 22 student workstations. A shift toward use of computers and electronic resources for recreation and for research had been observed. A study was initiated to determine what students accomplish during these periods and if their use benefited learning.

The first research method employed was a direct observation of 1264 students visiting the media center during 64 different periods over a three-week time period. Students were observed and the kinds of applications used were counted. In a second method, ninety-seven students from across the school's …

Analysis Of Bell Hole Morphology And Distribution: A Tool For Evaluating Formational Processes, Toby Joseph Dogwiler

Theses and Dissertations

Bell holes are described as vertical, cylindrical, dissolutional cave ceiling voids. Quantitative analysis of bell holes in San Salvador, Bahamas; Isla de Mona, Puerto Rico; Kentucky; and New York permit bell hole morphology to be contrasted in various geological settings and speleogenetic regimes. Mean bell hole height is 36 cm with a width of 34 cm and cross-sectional area of776 cm 2. Bell holes have elliptical openings, conical to cylindrical profiles, strong vertical development, and sometimes are associated with bell pits. Bell hole width remains constant between the study localities, but height varies. Several processes have been proposed to explain …

Multiple Discourses In Early Mormon Religion, Jon M. Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

The development of early Mormon religion is best viewed in the context of multiple discourses, each of which contained various competing symbols. These discourses shaped the mind and world-view of early Latter-day Saints and determined in part their behavior. Prophetic symbols existed simultaneously with other, more American symbols; and while neither discourse excluded the other, a prophetic discourse gradually came to dominate. At the same time, however, the American discourse in Mormon religion remained intact and continued to influence the behavior and actions of early Mormons.

Since Joseph Smith's Time: Lexical Semantic Shifts In The Book Of Mormon, Renee Bangerter

Theses and Dissertations

In the years since Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon, the English language has changed; some common phraseologies and word meanings are dissimilar to today's. Often, in reading the Book of Mormon, we impose our current definitions onto terms that in 1830 had a different meaning. Our interpretation of these words, as well as the passages in which they are found, is skewed by our modern definitions. These words, when they occur in the Book of Mormon, demonstrate dialectal and obsolete senses. In the case of some words, the dialectal or obsolete sense is so far …

The Relationship Of Perceived Social Support, Health Status, And Quality Of Life In Female Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients, Seanne S. Tyson

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to explore the relationship among perceived social support, health status, and quality of life in a sample of female systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. A strong positive correlation was found between perceived social support and quality of life. Negative correlations were found between perceived health status and perceived social support, and perceived health status and quality of life. Last, a negative correlation was found between objective health status and quality of life. In multiple regression analyses, perceived social support explained a significant amount of variance in the quality of life variable in conjunction with both observed …

Meaning In Family Mealtime, Ardyth Gunnell Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

This project asks families what mealtime together means to them. The topic of family mealtime appears comparatively infrequently in academic literature, and any meaning that families associate with mealtime has seldom been studied directly. This particular research investigates meanings of the understudied mealtime event by interviewing three or four generations of family members from five different families. Attention is paid to emerging standards of rigor for qualitative research, namely applicability through the selection of families who have a history of practicing a family mealtime tradition, truth value in faithfully representing the interviewees perceptions, and auditability by including detail of the …

Global Positioning System (Gps) Receiver Design For Multipaths Mitigation, El-Sayed Abdel-Salam Gadallah

Theses and Dissertations

Multipath effects are a source of error degrading the accuracy of DGPS signal processing. The statistical models of multipath are determined by user location and, in addition are time varying. There is no unified statistical model for the multipath signal. Therefore the solution of the multipath problem using statistical models is difficult. This research introduces a new estimator that can detect the presence of multipath, can determine the unknown number of multipath components and can estimate multipath parameters in the GPS receiver (time delay and attenuation coefficients). Furthermore the multipath signal parameters are estimated at any instant of observation. The …

What Exactly Is Inclusion? A Handbook For Parents Of Young Children Without Disabilities, Dyann Stordahl

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of The Roles, Responsibilities, And Challenges Of Six Graduate Teaching Assistants In The Visual Arts, Karen Drummond Devers

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative study, six participants shared their experiences as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in the Visual Arts department of an upper- midwest university. Interviews, observations, and field notes during one semester, provided insights into how the participants described and understood their roles and < )sponsibilities as teachers. The university in this study offered no formal training and limited support to the graduate teaching assistants. As a result, participants had to depend on their own ingenuity and judgement to determine what and how to teach. The GTAs had full responsibility for crafting their course syllabi, creating and grading assignments, and resolving difficulties which arose in their classrooms. If they wanted feedback or suggestions, it was up to them to seek out responsive faculty members as mentors. The issues of student absenteeism and non-compliant behaviors were particularly difficult for the participants to resolve. The lack of preparation and support which was offered the GTAs contributed to their sense of isolation and precluded the formation of a teaching and learning community within the department.

Gender Differences In Primary Grade Level Students In Tests Of Visual And Auditory Memory, Kathleen P. Leland

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover if gender is a significant factor when determining the auditory and visual memory skills of primary grade level students. The study also sought to determine if boys or girls are more able to recall visual or auditory stimuli. Based on the literature related to the subject of gender and memory, differences between males and females vary depending on the tasks performed.

The subjects were taken from first, second and third grade students attending a suburban elementary school in New Jersey. Fifty-two boys and fifty-three girls were subjected to a story on an …

The Effects Of Literature Circles On The Reading Attitudes Of Fourth Grade Students, Kellyann Roche

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that literature circles had on the reading attitudes of fourth grade students. This study used a pretest-posttest control group design to look at the reading attitudes of fourth grade students before and after the implementation of literature circles. These literature circles were composed of heterogeneous ability groups which were used in addition to the regular reading program.

Both groups were given the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) prior to the induction of literature circles. The experimental group (n = 17) was engaged in literature circles for approximately ten weeks while …

A Study Of Gender And Subject Area On Student Test Score Prediction, Slade Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of student self assessment in this study was to give the instructor feedback – first hand knowledge of the level of understanding/comprehension the students have of the concepts in a given subject area. The purpose for test score predictions was to enable the classroom teacher to teach the areas of subject matter that were needed, not teach what has already been mastered as a skill.

Previous research has shown mixed results in the area of whether gender or subject area affects test score prediction. This provided support for the dual null hypotheses. There is not a significant relationship …

A Study Of Multi-Sensory Instruction On Fourth Grade Students' Reading Achievement, Kristine Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Research has supported that by accommodating teaching methods to complement student learning styles, academic achievement and attitudes improve. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multi-learning style based instruction, specifically perceptual preferences, on the reading achievement of fourth grade students. Forty-seven students in two intact classrooms from one elementary school participated in the pretest/posttest control group design. A pretest was given to both groups to ensure initial group equivalence. An experimental group then received multi-perceptual instruction for a period of two weeks while a control group was taught by traditional instruction. Following the instruction period, a …

Effect Of Hands-On Instruction On The Science Achievement Of Second Grade Students, Wendy Nardi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hands-on methods of science instruction on low-level second grade students from a low-income community. Hands-on instruction actively engages students in exploratory activities using cognitive, manipulative and operational skills. According to a nonequivalent control group design, the nonstratified sample of 39 students was pretested and presented with either hands-on science instruction or more traditional strategies. Following posttest administration, a t test for nonindependent samples indicated a significant difference between the pretest and the posttest scores of both groups. However, a t test for independent samples revealed no significant difference between …

Buber's I-Thou/I-It Construct And Gilligan's Connected/Separate Self Construct: A Theoretical Creative Inquiry, Nancie R. Ziemke

Theses and Dissertations

William Heard's application of Martin Buber's dialogical theory to the practice and theory of therapy bears a striking similarity to the relational theories developed by Carol Gilligan and the writers associated with the Stone Center. Yet these two theoretical constructs have never been critically and formally compared. This study proposes to help fill that gap by critically comparing and contrasting the dialogical and relational constructs.

Seven questions will be addressed. (a) What is Buber's I-Thou/I-It construct?; (b) What is Gilligan's Connected Self construct and the Stone Center's relational construct?; (c) How do Buber and Gilligan/Stone Center's relational constructs compare?; (d) …