Digital Commons Network^™

Location And Routing Of The Defense Courier Service Aerial Network, Steven F. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

This study extends work done by the Military Airlift Command's Analysis Group on reducing the operating costs of the Defense Courier Service aerial network. The study's primary focus is to minimize those costs by varying the number and location of servicing depots, and the routes flown from those depots. The theoretical algorithm used in the methodology is an expansion of Laporte's (1986) formulation of the multiple depot multiple travelling salesmen facility-location problem. Multiple servicing frequency is addressed by clustering co-located demands with Kulkarni's (1985) subtour breaking constraint. Vehicle range is considered by redressing a shortfall of the subtour breaking constraint, …

The Development Of An Officer Training School Board Score Prediction Method Using A Multi-Board Approach, Sandra C. Niemi

Theses and Dissertations

One phase in the Officer Training School (OTS) selection process is meeting a selection board. Recruiting Services (HQ ATC/RS) currently uses a regression model (based on data from one board) to evenly distribute 'quality' among the different panels in the selection boards. HQ ATC/RS wanted a method of predicting board scores based on data from multiple boards. This study used the results from eighteen boards and 9215 applicants to develop and validate a multi-board regression model for each of five application categories. Comparisons between the two models showed mixed results. In two categories, non- rated operations and technical, the single-board …

Locating Direction Finders In A Generalized Search And Rescue Network, Jean M. Steppe

Theses and Dissertations

A multiobjective linear programming approach is applied to the problem of locating receiving stations and HFDF receivers in a search and rescue network in order to maximize the expected number of distress signals that are geolocated. The multiobjective formulation is made up of two contrasting objectives: one maximizes the expected accurate lines of bearing, and one minimizes the excess coverage in the network. The individual objectives are weighted and combined into a composite objective function. The resulting problem is expressed as a two-stage network flow problem and is solved using SAS LP with a limited number of binary variables. The …

A Solution Methodology For The Variable-Level Scheduling Problem, Dennis R. Benson

Theses and Dissertations

This study looked at a specific scheduling problem for a Department of Defense agency. A heuristic algorithms was developed to solve a general variable-level scheduling problem and was applied to this specific problem. This heuristic used linear programming and integer programming to find the minimum number of weekly billable hours for five alternative schedules. The best alternative schedule was further developed into a spreadsheet designed, squad level, master schedule. The result of this study was a proposed schedule that would save the United States government 8.2% of their security costs for this one part of the governmental agency. These savings …

An Interactive Life Cycle Cost Forecasting Tool, John A. Gibson Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Enhancements were applied to an existing tool designed to estimate life cycle costs. These enhancements provide greater ease of data manipulation, additional options in developing models, and the ability to make modifications to suit the needs of the user. Life cycle costs can be generated quickly and easily. Analysis proved the amount of work done by the computer could be reduced with no loss of information. Additionally, the paths available to the user are shown graphically through flow charts--aiding in the learning process. The efforts of the user can now be directed towards developing models instead of spending those efforts …

Investigation Of A Zero-One Integer Programming Approach To Automating The Scheduling Process At The Usaf Test Pilot School, Lisa M. Hassel

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated models that could be used to determine a feasible schedule for the Test Pilot School (TPS) training program and form the basis for an automated scheduling system. The TPS problem is formulated as a 0-1 integer linear program and is solved using preprocessing techniques and the Branch-and-Bound algorithm. The method produced feasible solutions for small problems that equate to portions of the TPS schedule but cannot efficiently solve large problems like the full TPS problem. More investigation should be conducted to alter the method developed in the study so it could be used for large problems. A …

An Assessment Of The Accuracy Of Semi-Empirical Quantum Chemistry Calculations Of The Mechanical Properties Of Polymers, James R. Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations

The ultimate mechanical properties of polymers, assuming perfect morphology, will be limited by the mechanical properties of a single, ideal polymer chain. Previous calculations of polymer chain moduli using semi- empirical (SE) quantum chemistry methods have resulted in modulus values much higher than experimentally measured. This study investigated the error in the calculated inherent to the method of calculation by comparing SE results for C-C bond potentials in two well characterized polymers, polyethylene and polydiacetylene. It was found that the SE calculation systematically overpredicted bond stiffness in these polymers by approximately 25% to 30%. This is the upper limit on …

An Environmentally Controlled Chamber For The Study Of Radon Detection, William R. Wharton Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

A system was developed to dynamically control and monitor the environment and radon concentration within a glovebox chamber for the study of radon. The system is designed around a personal computer workstation which automates the entire system. The radon concentration is determined by monitoring the count rate from radon and its progeny which are continuously circulated from the radon chamber through a Lucas Cell detection system. This information is then used as a base for controlling a radon injection system. When the concentration within the glovebox drops, the system injects a precisely-measured volume of high activity radon gas into the …

Development Of A Personal Computer Based Approach To Aircraft Parameter Identification, Mark S. Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and tests a personal computer based approach to the aircraft parameter identification problem. The approach was tested analytically at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. These tests were conducted using simplified short period approximation and second-order transfer function models of longitudinal aircraft response. Initial evaluations were accomplished using simulated, noise free data. The longitudinal aircraft model was modified prior to flight test, for both convenience and necessity. This more complex model was evaluated during a flight test program at the USAFTPS, Edwards AFB, California. A T-38A aircraft was used as a tool to demonstrate …

The Self-Shielding Of Fallout Gamma Rays By Terrain Roughness, Mark S. Herte

Theses and Dissertations

The study presents a first order calculation of the self-shielding of nuclear weapon fission fragment gamma rays by surface roughness (microscopic terrain irregularities). To simulate fallout particles, polymer microspheres were deposited on slides containing samples of soil, concrete and asphalt roofing shingles. Scanning electron microscopy was used to photographically map the surfaces. The thickness of surface irregularities at various angles was measured by converting the photographs to digital images. Measurements showed a dependence upon the surface type, but not upon particle size. Average values of the measurements were modelled using a homogeneous buried source. With this geometry, dose rates were …

Autonomic Nervous System Activity And The Perception Of Arousal In Dietary Restrainers And Nonrestrainers., Donald Wayne Preussler

Theses and Dissertations

The reasons why some people eat more than others, have more body fat, or develop some type of eating disorder have been related to the concepts of hunger/satiety, appetite, and their underlying mechanisms. Research has focused on both physiological and cognitive factors related to the regulation of eating behavior. The role of the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nuclei with putative connections to the autonomic nervous system has been extensively studied. Further, the construct of dietary restraint argues that cognitive factors play a role in the regulation of eating behavior. Few studies have examined the possible role of the hypothalamically mediated …

The Optimal Location Of Geodss Sensors In Canada, Pierre J. Forgues

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studies the maximal coverage p-median and the set covering facility location problems as applied to the GEODSS location problem. The classical single-objective mathematical formulations of the p-median and set covering problems are converted into network-flow formulations and various solution methods are developed using a scaled-down version of the GEODSS problem. The next step is the introduction of a second criterion function into the problem. This second function consists of minimizing the sum of the variance in coverage at the selected locations. Research reveals the deficiencies of MOLP (multiobjective linear programming) techniques in generating the efficient frontier of an …

Trait Inferences Toward The Dsm-Iii-R Construct Of Self-Defeating Personality Disorder., Eugene Ray Bonynge

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the recently introduced (DSM-III-R) Self-defeating Personality Disorder (SDPD) at the construct level. The trait structure of the construct and possible gender biases were analyzed. For purposes of construct investigation, a model addressing certain processes of human judgment was used. This model consisted of a trait inferencing method and three parameters: (1) consensual accuracy, (2) threshold, and (3) salience. A rating instrument consisting of selected items from scales of the Basic Personality Inventory (BPI) was used. Targets representative of normal, self-defeating, dependent, and dysthymia constructs were presented to 121 male …

The Effect Of The Rivalry Between Jesse Knight And Thomas Nicholls Taylor On Architecture In Provo, Utah: 1896-1915, Stephen A. Hales

Theses and Dissertations

The development of the downtown business district of Provo, Utah has closely followed the orderly growth envisioned by its founders. However, one early change in the city's layout had a profound effect on the direction of Provo's development. In 1852, Brigham Young moved the site of the Provo tabernacle from its original location in the designated public square to a location on the fringes of the earliest city boundaries. The result of this action was a sometimes heated controversy among residents regarding the city's true public center. As commercial development reached a peak between 1896 and 1915, the controversy erupted …

Geriatic Nurse Practitioner's Health Promotive Behaviors: A Test Of Theory Of Reasoned Action, Sandra L. Venegoni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to develop an instrument to test the theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) in a new behavioral domain the health promotive behaviors of geriatric nurse practitioners (GNPs). The two behavioral categories included in the study were health assessment and health teaching, each with its individual index of actions.

A questionnaire was developed to examine the beliefs of a sample of 200 certified geriatric nurse practitioners and to test the relationships of the theoretical model. Names of the subjects were randomly selected from the American Nurses' Association 1989 list of certified GNPs. Ninety-four …

Mechanisms Of Regulation Of The Human C-Myb Proto-Oncogene During Myelomonocytic Differentiation, Lawrence H. Boise

Theses and Dissertations

Control of hematopoiesis is a complex set of events that is currently being dissected at the molecular level. To determine factors that may be crucial for commitment to terminal differentiation of myelomonocytic cells, a mutant of the HL-60 cell line was characterized at the cellular and molecular level. This clone, termed DMSOr, was shown to differentiate in a similar fashion as parental HL-60 in response to 1.3% DMSO at the morphologic and functional level. The anti-proliferative aspects of differentiation were also present in DMSOr as evidenced by decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation and an increased percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase …

Job Satisfaction Of Nurse Anesthesia Faculty: A Preliminary Study, James Patrick Embrey

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how satisfied nurse anesthesia faculty are with their jobs. In addition, this study identified factors that influenced a nurse anesthesia faculty member's job satisfaction level.

A total of 304 nurse anesthesia educators from across the United States participated in this questionnaire survey study. A researcher developed personal data form (PDF) collected demographic information. The 1967 version of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) provided job satisfaction measurements.

There was a statistically significant correlation between the general satisfaction scores measured by the PDF and MSQ. Analysis of demographic data provided a CRNA educator profIle. Job satisfaction data indicated that …

Spatial And Temporal Mechanisms Of Spinal Nociceptive Coding, Robert C. Coghill

Theses and Dissertations

In order to better characterize spatial and temporal mechanisms of nociceptive processing in the central nervous system (CNS), the responses of rat spinal cord neuron populations to prolonged painful stimuli were examined. Metabolic mapping studies revealed that prolonged nociceptive thermal stimuli produced extensive activation in the deep dorsal horn, but minimal activation in the superficial dorsal horn. Electrophysiological investigations of neurons within these regions revealed that the responses of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons, the predominate nociceptive neuron in the deep dorsal horn, did not habituate substantially to prolonged nociceptive stimuli. In contrast, the responses of nociceptive specific neurons, the …

Radical Division : A Symbolic Perspective, Mark E. Huglen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Tubulin And Microtubules On Activity Of Several Glycolytic Enzymes : Kinetic Evidence For Interactions, Tim J. Keith

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Identification Of The Factors That Contribute To Pregnant Teenagers Continuing Their High School Education Or Dropping Out, Rosemary Jaros

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Two-Phase Flow Simulator For A Geothermal Well, Ka Leung Lok

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Case Management With The Chronically Mentally Ill, Cecilia Marcy

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The 3 R'S In Early Childhood Special Education : Repetition, Rhyme, And Revisiting, Brenda Jo Nistler

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The In Vivo Effects Of Ehrlich Ascites Tumors On The Hepatic Glucose-6-Phosphatase System, Richard W. Lucius

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Detailed Gravity Study Over A Known Devonian Carbonate Buildup: The Shell Golden Reef, Northwestern North Dakota, Stephen M. Braun

Theses and Dissertations

A detailed gravity study was conducted over the Shell Golden reef in the northwestern North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin. The Shell Golden reef has been previously interpreted to be reefal facies within the Winnipegosis Formation (Devonian) located at a depth of about 2400 meters. Based only on information from wireline logs and core from two boreholes, the Shell Golden well #34X-34 has been previously interpreted as a pinnacle reef with 70 meters of relief and undetermined diameter. The basin regime of the Elk Point shelf created an environment that allowed the growth and development of the Shell Golden …

Erosion Of Fractured Banks, Lake Sakakawea, Western North Dakota, Mark C. Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Shoreline erosion at Lake Sakakawea has exceeded originally predicted rates. This thesis is a continuation of a project, begun in 1983, to study erosion rates, causes, and prediction; the purpose has been to describe variations in fracture patterns in shoreline banks and assess their affects on erosion rates.

During the first phase of this project (1983-1986), average bank recession was rapid (l.Sm/yr) and factors related to wave action, including fetch, bank orientation, and beach composition, were most important. Since 1986, low lake levels have persisted and wave action has not been a factor; however banks continue to recede, but at …

Fracture-Enhanced Porosity And Permeability Trends In The Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, Western North Dakota, Wayne B. Freisatz

Theses and Dissertations

Fractures play a critical role in oil production from the Bakken Formation (Devonian and Mississippian) in the North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin. The Bakken Formation in the study area is known for its low matrix porosity and permeability, high organic content, thermal maturity, and relative lateral homogeneity. Core analysis has shown the effective porosity and permeability development within the Bakken Formation to be primarily related to fracturing.

In theory, lineaments mapped on the surface reflect the geometry of basement blocks and the zones of fracturing propagated upward from them. Fracturing in the Williston Basin is thought to have …

A Comparison Of Relationships Between Older Adults And Their Close Friends And Adult Children., Brett Eric Schur

Theses and Dissertations

The support which older widowed women receive from their adult children and their friends has been the subject of wide ranging support. The support needs of this group include companionship, emotional support, and assistance with the practical aspects of daily living such as household chores and transportation for shopping and medical appointments. More recently, the life satisfaction of older adults has measured as a method for understanding the impact of relationships between older adults and their adult children and friends. The consistent finding has been that relationships with adult children have no impact on life satisfaction, while relationships with friends …

Hearing Screening Procedures In The Public Schools Of North Dakota, Carol A. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.