Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Clutter Height Distribution On Adaptive Clutter Erasure Performance, Kelce Steven Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

A new real beam interferometric processing technique, called Adaptive Clutter Erasure (ACE), is investigated for applicability to ground clutter suppression in airborne radar systems. By analysis and simulation, the viability of the ACE concept as a next generation clutter suppression technique is demonstrated to achieve performance enhancements commensurate with currently implemented techniques. Research results indicate the ACE concept provides a reliably consistent 10dB Signal-to-Clutter Ratio (SCR) advantage over the APG-63, an operational radar system used for baseline comparison. ACE system concept development and performance predictions are conducted in conformity with the physical and operational design parameters of the APG-63, namely …

Singularity Avoidance Strategies For Satellite Mounted Manipulators Using Attitude Control, Nathan A. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

Control concepts for satellite mounted manipulators (SMM) are examined. The primary focus is on base actuated concepts, which eliminate singularity problems associated with free floating SMMs. A new form of the equations of motion for an n-link SMM is developed using a quasi coordinate form of Lagrange's Equation. Alternative free floating SMM designs are presented which eliminate dynamic singularities, but still experience difficulties due to the unactuated base. A new generic SMM controller is developed as a framework for various control concepts with and without base actuation. Momentum constrained Jacobians are shown to produce better SMM tracking than fixed base …

A Performance Analysis Of The Iridium Low Earth Orbit Satellite System, Carl E. Fossa Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a performance evaluation of the IRIDIUM Low Earth Orbit Satellite system. It examines the system's ability to meet real time communications constraints with a degraded satellite constellation. The analysis is conducted via computer simulation. The simulation is run at low, medium, and high loading levels with both uniform and non-uniform traffic distributions. An algorithmic approach is used to select critical satellites to remove from the constellation. Each combination of loading level and traffic distribution is analyzed with zero, three, five and seven non-operational satellites. The measured outputs are end-to-end packet delay and packet rejection rate. In addition …

Security Assistance To South Korea: Assessment Of Political, Military, And Economic Issues From 1947 To 1989, Myung R. Bae

Theses and Dissertations

South Korea is one of the most important allies of the United States. Because of its location in East Asia between China, Japan, and Russia, South Korea is a strategically important partner of the United States. Since the Korean War, the United States and South Korea have tried to maintain the regional stability, and South Korea has played a significant role for the East Asian power balance between those countries. The relationship between the United States and South Korea changed through time from the Korean War to the rebuilding phase of South Korea's economy, and finally a progression towards a …

Development And Packaging Of Microsystems Using Foundry Services, Jeffrey T. Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are a new and rapidly growing field of research. Several advances to the MEMS state of the art were achieved through design and characterization of novel devices. Empirical and theoretical model of polysilicon thermal actuators were developed to understand their behavior. The most extensive investigation of the Multi-User MEMS Processes (MUMPs) polysilicon resistivity was also performed. The first published value for the thermal coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of the MUMPs Poly 1 layer was determined as 1.25 x 10^-3/K. The sheet resistance of the MUMPs polysilicon layers was found to be dependent on linewidth due …

A Study Of Educator Health, Motivation, And Satisfaction At Middle Township High School, Karen Buesing

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to increase the effectiveness of communication between administration and faculty within a secondary educational organization. Forty-three educators within a total population of 73 participated in the study and completed a survey instrument that examined teacher health, motivation, and satisfaction. The survey yielded quantitative and qualitative data within the areas of demographics, orientation to teaching, areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, commitment to life goals, and health. Quantitative data was computer-generated, and narrative responses were categorized within general areas related to the teaching profession. All data was presented and discussed within the structure of specific framing …

The Practice Of Inclusion At The Upper Deerfield Township School District, Russell Clark Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of inclusion upon classified and special needs students in regards to social and academic accomplishment. Eight eighth grade special education pupils were placed in a regular education science classroom along with fifteen non-classified. All pupils in the inclusive group received instruction for forty-five minutes each day. Lessons, tailored to each pupil's needs, were cooperatively planned and implemented by both a regular and special education teacher.

Before and after the study, the special education pupils and their parents completed surveys which recorded their feelings regarding the concept of inclusion. Students also …

An Internship Study Of Character Education In A Middle School Setting, Laureen J. Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

This internship experience focused on the study of the effectiveness of a formal approach to character education in a small New Jersey middle school. This effort projected student outcomes to include observable student demonstration of positive character traits. The character traits emphasized consist of respect, reliability, responsibility, and resourcefulness. Hence, the name of the project is the "Four R's."

The entire student body of 254 in grades five through eight participated in this study. The integration of one of the four R's into the current curriculum of each quarter served as the means by which the character traits were presented …

A Study Of The Feasibility Of Block Scheduling At Buena Regional High School, Bruce R. Arcurio

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study has been to determine the feasibility of implementing some form of block scheduling at Buena Regional High School. Due to the small scope of the project, the entire population of professionals who would be responsible for the implementation of a block schedule was used. The data collection instruments utilized were a questionnaire and various forms of interviews. Data analysis consisted of calculating percentages for quantitative questions on the questionnaire and an analysis of trends for the qualitative questions and interviews. The research indicates that it is unlikely that a block schedule can be created that …

Parents As Partners In Progress: A Study Of Parent Involvement In An Urban Elementary School, Janine P. Riggins

Theses and Dissertations

The research project focused on parent involvement in the context of the urban school setting. The target population included one parent or guardian for each BSI student in grades 1-3 during the 1997-98 school year. Subjects completed a pre-survey during the first semester of the 1997-98 school year using a 6 item interest inventory. Responses to individual items were summarized using percentages. This data served as the basis for the development of the internship activities. A post-survey was administered during the second half of the 1997-98 school year using a similar inventory. Post-survey data was summarized and compared to patterns …

The Study Of Methods Used By Public Relations Firms To Assist In Attracting And Maintaining Clients, Donna M. Field

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the methods that public relations firms use to do public relations for themselves to attract new clients and to maintain existing clients. The author researched and analyzed whether public relations firms do public relations for their respective firms, the methods used, as well as the reasons why or why not.

A survey was sent to 60 public relations firms belonging to Pinnacle Worldwide, Inc., an international corporation of independent public relations firms with offices in major cities throughout the United States and the world. Forty-seven responses were received.

The results of the …

New Algorithms For Moving-Bank Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation, Juan R. Vasquez

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research is to provide methods for generating precise parameter estimates in the face of potentially significant parameter variations such as system component failures. The standard Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) algorithm uses a bank of Kalman filters, each based on a different model of the system. A new moving-bank MMAE algorithm is developed based on exploitation of the density data available from the MMAE. The methods used to exploit this information include various measures of the density data and a decision-making logic used to move, expand, and contract the MMAE bank of filters. Parameter discretization within …

What Employees Want To Know During Times Of Organizational Change, Stacy Smith Napolitano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what issues or topics are most important to employees during times of organizational change. It is important for managers to effectively communicate these issues, especially in today's changing business world.

The author conducted this research by surveying employees at organizations going through major change. The respondents were selected randomly from employee lists at each organization. The sample size was 315. The data was collected through inter-office mail at each location and sent to the author, who tabulated it using the Microsoft Access computer program. The results were tabulated by overall results, gender, …

Gender Differences In The Influence Of Family History Of Alcoholism On Cognitive Functioning In College Students., Pamela Marie Samson

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse has been the focus of a great deal of research over the past several decades. More recently, a substantial number of studies have begun to look at a population thought to be at risk for alcohol abuse, the children of alcoholics. Individuals at risk for the development of alcoholism often display the same cognitive deficits as alcoholics and it has been suggested that these deficits may be a factor in the development of alcoholism. The present study examined cognitive functioning in male and female adult children of male alcoholics (FH+) and controls (FH$-$) on measures of spatial processing …

The Construct Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Total Quality Management In Higher Education., Kee Kong Tan

Theses and Dissertations

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a continuous process to improve the quality, bureaucracy, and productivity of an organization. TQM in higher education started in the early 1980s and has received attention in improving quality of education. There is a need to construct an instrument to measure TQM in higher education because the instrument would provide an assessment and implementation framework for any institution that wishes to implement or evaluate the quality of its education. Although the process of construction of an instrument is common in many measurement studies, studies regarding the construct validation of an instrument to measure TQM in …

Educators' Knowledge And Attitude Regarding Nj's Core Curriculum Content Standards, Amy H. Crossley

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the knowledge of teachers regarding NJ's Core Curriculum Content Standards and their attitudes towards those standards. A survey was distributed and collected from 35 participants. Items on the survey were factored into three categories. These categories described how well-informed educators were regarding NJ's CCCS, their feelings towards the standards and how well-prepared they as educators felt they were. Results reveal that educators have "some" knowledge regarding NJ's CCCS, however, that knowledge-base must be broadened. Results also showed that the majority of educators have either a "positive" attitude or an "indifferent" attitude towards implementing NJ's CCCS and that …

Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome And The Adult Graduate Student, Patricia Haas Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of SS/Irlen Syndrome in adult graduate students. SS/Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual dysfunction that causes 14 to 16 percent of the general population physical discomfort such as headache, eye strain and blurry vision and academic difficulties such as poor background accommodations and print resolution resulting in inefficient reading (Irlen, 1997).

The 16 subjects were adult graduate students in a university program. Data collection was achieved through the utilization of questionnaires. The first questionnaire, the Irlen Observation Form, surveyed the subjects for characteristics of SS/Irlen Syndrome. The second questionnaire, Parts A …

Establishment Of Public Relations Programs In New Jersey Public Schools, Liberty Delgado Harshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine effectiveness of public relations methods through use in a centralized, decentralized or coordinated plan. Survey research of public schools in New Jersey studied the following areas:

1. Superintendent training in public relations
2. Establishment of policies
3. Type of programs - centralized, decentralized, or coordinated - and reasons why used
4. Methods of communication used
5. Success of public relations program
6. Feedback methods used to evaluate effectiveness of programs
7. If no PR program existed, reasons why and intentions for implementation of future programs.

The survey was mailed to the superintendents of 594 operating public school districts in …

A Context Analysis Of Same-Company Advertisements In Gay And Lesbian Publications Compared With Mainstream Publications, Sharon Ann Follmer Miken

Theses and Dissertations

In a content analysis, this study reviewed and analyzed advertising placed by national corporations in lesbian and gay magazines. The presumption was that the homosexual population is a viable niche that is being targeted by corporations with a segmented marketing approach. The purpose was to determine if these companies changed the content of these ads in any way to address the needs of the gay consumer.

The two most prominent national magazines that serve the lesbian and gay population in the United States are The Advocate and Out. From these two magazines was drawn a universe of national corporations that …

A Content Analysis Of New Jersey Law Firms' World Wide Web Site Home Pages, Karen Kaufman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of New Jersey law firm home pages on their World Wide Web sites in order to compare and contrast selected variables.

Previous studies and information on legal Web site presence on the World Wide Web was researched.

Fifteen Web sites were studied to compile an initial list of variables. The variables were adjusted based on research of the law firms and browsers' opinions. Twenty-nine variables were selected.

Major Web sites researched were the National Law Journal, the Indiana University School of Law, and the American Bar Association. None led to …

Parental Involvement And Its Impact On Student Performance In The Primary Grades, Charlene G. Bundy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if parental involvement increased the school performance of students in the primary grades. Research shows that parents who are supportive, monitor their child's activities, help their child, and participate with their child's school positively impact their child's school performance. The independent variable was parental involvement and the dependent variable was school performance. The sample consisted of 20 students in first, second, and third grade. A parent questionnaire was completed by parents who also provided their child's school grades in math and reading. The questionnaire asked parents to rate the frequency that they …

How Are Hospitals Disseminating Their Patient Confidentiality Policies To Their Employees?, Sally Sapega

Theses and Dissertations

Depending on a patient's illness, as many as 100 health professionals and administrative personnel may have access to the hospital record, all with a legitimate reason. Many people are understandably concerned about confidentiality because of the range of information in medical records that is often necessary to ensure an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment -- including very personal information about a person's physical, mental, and sometimes even emotional well-being. This thesis examined how 20 Delaware Valley hospitals communicate their patient confidentiality policies to their employees. The survey specifically asked the channels through which their confidentiality policies are communicated (i.e. training …

A Study Of The Correlation Between Internal Communication Programs And Employee Morale, Gary L. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the relationship between internal communication programs and employee morale. Fifty-three communication professionals were contacted to determine:

• whether their company had an internal communication policy
• whether supervisory staff were trained to communicate effectively
• whether supervisory staff were held accountable for communicating with their subordinates
• the perceived benefits to internal communication programs.

Telephone interviews and mailed surveys yielded the following major conclusions:

• Ninety-five percent of the respondents felt there is a direct correlation between internal communication and employee morale.
• Five percent of the respondents felt there is an indirect correlation between internal communication and employee morale.
• Seventy-seven percent of …

The Effects Of Musical Training On Academic Achievement, John Schiavo

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to look at the cognitive development of students who have formal musical training and compare them to students who lack any musical ability. The purpose of the study was to lend support to the positive effect that musical training has on space relations and mathematical abilities.

The sample consisted of twenty students enrolled in an undergraduate psychology course at a major university and twenty students enrolled in a high level music class at the same institution. Most of the subjects came from middle class backgrounds and live in New Jersey. The Differential Aptitude Test, form C, …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring, An Action List, And Graphing On On-Task Behavior, Paula Chamberlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if self-monitoring, graphing of on-task behavior time, and the use of a predetermined written action list with self-evaluation of adherence to that action list would increase on-task behavior time during independent study time. The hypothesis was that students in the supplemental instruction program would decrease their incidences of off-task behavior by bringing a predetermined written action list with them to class, self-evaluating adherence to their action list, self-monitoring and graphing their on-task behavior time.

The fifteen students who participated in this study are students who attend Delsea Regional High School, located in …

An Opinionnaire Of Secondary School Mathematics Instructors Regarding Block Scheduling, Elaine M. Groman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of block scheduling on mathematics instruction at the secondary level in New Jersey public schools.

Surveys were sent to ten high schools identified as using block scheduling in New Jersey. Mathematics teachers and supervisors were asked to evaluate block scheduling and rate the impact it has on a scale from great effect to little effect in the areas of curriculum coverage, amount of time spent reviewing previously covered material, coverage of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards and sequence of mathematics courses a student takes. AP Calculus instructors were asked …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Educational Resources On The World Wide Web, Nicole A. Fedeli

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide educators with a sampling of the educational resources that are available on the world wide web. It was also designed to determine the different categories of web sites available. The study was conducted by using the Yahoo! search engine. A search was entered for areas such as Social Studies and Special Education. The resulting web sites were then navigated to determine their relevancy to the study. Relevant web sites were placed into the following categories: Information sites and Lesson Plan sites. The sub-categories of Information sites are: For the Classroom, Special Education, …

Strategies To Improve H.S.P.T. Scores In The Ninth Grade Mathematics Curriculum, Monifa I. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to integrate strategies in the ninth grade Mathematics curriculum with a goal of improving High School Proficiency Test scores. This study was designed to meet the needs for the students serviced at Pleasantville High School. Over the past five years Pleasantville High School students have demonstrated erratic behavior on the state mandated HSPT11. Eleventh grade first time test takers have yet to meet the 85% acceptable passing rate for this population. The school district must provide an educational environment where all can learn and find success. This includes preparing students for responsible citizenship, higher …

Empathy And Self-Acceptance: Necessary Qualities Of A Peer Helper, William T. Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a preliminary study of the qualities of people who chose to be peer helpers. A review of the literature on helping theories led to the conclusion that empathy and self-acceptance were necessary elements of a helper. This study hoped to lend support to this theory. The hypothesis stated that students electing to take a peer helping training course would have different levels of empathy and self-acceptance than those in a cooking class. These qualities were measured using a psychological inventory, and the scores of 115 adolescent subjects (n=115) were compared. There was no significant difference between students …

A Comparison Of The Home And School Behaviors Of Pre-School Age Autistic And Pdd Children, Debra L. Ribatsky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinds of behaviors that were displayed in school and at home by autistic and PDD children of pre-school age. A group of twenty children were selected for this study. The children's parents and teachers answered questionnaires regarding different types of behavior exhibited by the children at different times. T-tests were conducted to compare the total amount of autistic type behaviors shown in the home environment versus in the school setting. The sub-tests of the questionnaire were also analyzed using t-tests. A significant difference was found between the overall amount of typical …