Digital Commons Network^™

Tensile Strength And Bonding Characteristics Of Self-Compacting Concrete, Cristian Druta

LSU Master's Theses

Self-compacting concrete, also referred to as self-consolidating concrete, is able to flow and consolidate under its own weight and is deaerated almost completely while flowing in the formwork. It is cohesive enough to fill the spaces of almost any size and shape without segregation or bleeding. This makes SCC particularly useful wherever placing is difficult, such as in heavily-reinforced concrete members or in complicated workforms. The objectives of this research were to compare the Splitting Tensile Strength and Compressive Strength values of self-compacting and normal concrete specimens and to examine the bonding between the coarse aggregate and the cement paste …

Use Of Dea To Evaluate Non-Linear And Imprecise Information In Construction Contractor Performance, Gerald H. Williams, Timothy R. Anderson

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper explores the use of Data Envelopment Analysis as a tool to evaluate the efficiency of building construction projects in Oregon where the inputs, including, "reported information" available prior to pricing and contractor selection is imprecise or at least, cannot be entirely or accurately captured by exogenous measures. This work builds on prior work in the field that evaluated missing, imprecise or non-existent information in DEA models and has broad application to the service sector of the economy where information is the prime input in the system.

Beavers, Firs, Salmon, And Falling Water: Pacific Northwest Regionalism And The Environment, William L. Lang

History Faculty Publications and Presentations

Discusses the importance of salmon in defining environmental understanding in the Pacific Northwest. Dam construction, population influx, economic development, and politics have dramatically changed the geography of Oregon Country since 1850. The technological alterations and population growth redefined the sense of place. However, salmon has remained the most important icon of the Pacific Northwest, both for Native Americans and for nonnatives have who worked to save the salmon from extinction. Salmon have become a "living metaphor" for the region, and their fate reflects an understanding of historical context and the role of people in their relationship to the environment in …

Our Real Challenge: Managing Ourselves Instead Of Nature, David Johns

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

As cultural animals we create meaning and order. Stories are the primary means our species uses to do this. Stories that rise to the level of myth exert powerful effects on behavior. The dominant myths that explain our relationship to the natural word have two serious failings: our self-importance and a superficial and simplified image of who we are. These stories obscure more than they enlighten, thereby preventing us from addressing the causes of the current extinction crisis. Conservationists can and must fashion new stories that take account of our disproportionate impact on the Earth and its origins in our …

Portland State Magazine, Portland State University. Office Of University Communications

Portland State Magazine

PSU’s alumni magazine, published 2-3 times a year. In this issue: Distinct history, politics, and social customs—not Western-style democracy—dominate this region; the comic twists and turns of one man discovering his niche; little is known of the black servant William Clark brought on his historic exploration of America; a biology professor shares the thrill of a new species discovery; and more.

A Natural Analogue For Long-Term Passivity, Raymond E. Monson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been engaged in a viability study for a potential underground geological repository in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The repository is being designed for disposal of high level nuclear waste. A reference design for the repository has focused on the use of natural and manmade barriers to assure that radionucleide release will not be significant though an extended time period on the order of 10,000 years. The reference design utilizes manmade metallic components that are expected to last for this time period. The specified metallic materials depend on a phenomenon known as metallic passivity to …

Performance Verification Of Personal Aerosol Sampling Devices, Steven T. Luecke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

International standards establish criteria for size-selective aerosol sampling for industrial hygiene. Commercially available aerosol samplers are designed to conform to these criteria. This study uses semi-monodispersed aerosols generated in a vertically aligned test chamber to compare the performance of three commercially available respirable dust samplers, one of which can simultaneously sample for thoracic and inhalable dust fractions. Comparison methods are used to calculate a theoretical fractional value based on the appropriate sampling conventions of the total dust concentration and size distribution of test materials. Performance of actual samplers can be conducted by comparing observed results to the theoretical value. Results …

Headway Deviation Effects On Bus Passenger Loads: Analysis Of Tri-Met’S Archived Avl-Apc Data, James G. Strathman, Thomas J. Kimpel, Steve Callas

Center for Urban Studies Publications and Reports

In this paper we empirically analyze the relationship between transit service headway deviations and passenger loads, using archived data from Tri-Met’s automatic vehicle location and automatic passenger counter systems. The analysis employs two-stage least squares estimation to account for the simultaneous relationship between headway deviations and loads. Controlling for the effects of passenger activity on delay, the results indicate that the observed incidence of excess passenger loads is systematically attributable to deviations from scheduled headways. In turn, analysis of the causes of headway deviations served to identify possible operations control actions that would improve service regularity and, consequently, reduce incidences …

Investigating The Urban Heat Island Effect With A Collaborative Inquiry Project, Linda Acha George, William G. Becker

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modification of the earth's surface through urbanization can have a dramatic impact on local climate. A phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is a measure of the near-surface air temperature contrast between urbanized and adjoining rural areas, can be evaluated with readily available instruments. Students in an undergraduate general education science course study this phenomenon in the Portland, Oregon area through a collaborative research project. This inquiry project includes background content and literature review, preliminary studies, development of research questions, experimental design and implementation, data analysis and report writing. This project successfully enables students to collaboratively …

Finite-Time Singularity Versus Global Regularity For Hyper-Viscous Hamilton-Jacobi-Like Equations, Hamid Bellout, Said Benachour, Edriss S. Titi

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

The global regularity for the two- and three-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations is one of the major open questions in nonlinear analysis. Inspired by this question, we introduce in this paper and family of hyper-viscous Hamilton-Jacobi-like equations parametrized by the exponent in the nonlinear term, p, where in the case of the usual Hamilton-Jacobi nonlinearity, p = 2. Under certain conditions on the exponent p we prove the short-time existence of weak and strong solutions to this family of equations. We also show the uniqueness of strong solutions. Moreover, we prove the blow-up in finite time of certain solutions to this family …

A Novel Hydrogen And Oxygen Generation System, Zhiyong Peng

LSU Master's Theses

This study examined the three phases of the sorption-enhanced SMR process for H2 production: production of low-CO hydrogen using the standard Ni-based reforming catalyst and high purity CaO sorbent precursor, evaluation of combined reforming catalyst-sorbent samples supplied by TDA, and an Aspen simulation study of the process for simultaneous production of H2 and O2. The production of low-CO (<20ppmv) hydrogen was studied using the single-step sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming process. The effects of temperature, volumetric feed rate, and feed gas composition on the purity of H2 and the content of CO were investigated. The feasibility of producing 95+% H2 with CO content of less than 20ppmv was experimentally proven in a test at 480¡ãC and 5 atm using a commercial Ni-based catalyst and the calcium-based CO2 sorbent. The feed gas contained 20% CH4 and 80% H2O, while the product gas contained 97.8% H2 and 17 ppmv CO. With this low CO concentration, the product can be used in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell without further purification. The catalyst-sorbent samples from TDA Research Inc. were extensively studied and evaluated with respect to their performance in the steam-reforming reaction using both the fixed-bed reactor system and TGA. The activity of the catalyst samples having different compositions was examined and compared at different temperatures and space velocities using a feed gas containing 11.1% CH4 with a steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio of 3.0. The sorption activity and durability was also examined in the TGA system. The overall hydrogen and oxygen co-production process was studied and evaluated using the Aspen Plus simulator. Material and energy balance calculations showed that this system can produce 99+% purity hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously with efficient energy integration. This process is balanced on power consumption and generation, so no external power is required.

Traffic Engineering In Multiprotocol Label Switching Networks, Chung-Yu Wei

LSU Master's Theses

The goal of Traffic Engineering is to optimize the resource utilization and increase the network performance. Constraint-based routing has been proposed as an networks effective approach to implement traffic engineering in Multiprotocol Label Switching. In this thesis, we review several algorithms on constraint-based routing from the literature and point out their advantages and disadvantages. We then propose several algorithms to overcome some of the shortcomings of these approaches. Our algorithms are specifically suitable for large densely connected networks supporting both Quality of Service traffic and the Best Effort traffic. In large networks the size of the MPLS label space in …

Computational Model For Heat Transfer In The Human Eye Using The Finite Element Method, Umit Cicekli

LSU Master's Theses

In this work a finite element model for the human eye presented. Thermal analysis was done in order to capture the temperature variation in the human eye. The model was created using advance finite element program ABAQUS. In the model each of the eye's component (cornea, sclera, lens, iris, aqueous and vitreous humor) has own material property. Specific boundary conditions were used for the model. The model incorporates the interaction between eyes components. The Comparisons were done with the available experimental results. The results show that there is a temperature variation in the human eye components with the increasing the …

C.C. Pat Fleming: Houston, Texas, Landscape Architect, Paige Allred Phillips

LSU Master's Theses

C. C. Pat Fleming practiced landscape architecture in Houston and the surrounding South from the 1920s through the 1990s. He came to be considered one of Houston’s preeminent landscape architects, and his role in the profession cannot be overlooked. This thesis traces the evolution of Fleming’s design style over the course of his career, analyzing a selected cross section of his works against three design movements that occurred during his lifetime: the Beaux-Arts tradition, the Colonial Revival movement, and the Modernist movement. For investigating the work of Pat Fleming, the method of historical research is used. A historical context study …

Popular Culture And Sport Memorabilia, Ray B. Browne

Visions in Leisure and Business

No abstract provided.

Dale Earnhardt: Merchandizing Of A Nascar Icon, Kathleen Munger, David L. Groves

Visions in Leisure and Business

Dale Earnhardt's death provided an opportunity to examine the merchandiser phenomena in the sport of NASCAR racing. When Dale Earnhardt died, buyers and sellers were exchanging memorabilia at an unprecedented rate. The price of his memorabilia escalated significantly after his death. The purpose of this study was to examine the price fluctuation of selected memorabilia over a one year period. Results indicated that prices fluctuated dramatically, especially by type of merchandise and where the merchandise was sold. The prices stabilized and shifted dramatically based upon significant events.

In-Situ Characterization Of Subgrade Using Falling Weight Deflectometer, Manil Bajracharya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Proving Discrimination After Croson And Adarand: "If It Walks Like A Duck", Derek M. Alphran

University of San Francisco Law Review

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Croson, "state and local governments have scaled back or eliminated altogether affirmative action programs that had been adopted precisely to overcome discriminatory barriers" to minority participation. 7 Although many jurisdictions re-enancted minority business enterprise ("MBE")" programs after conducting post-Croson disparity studies of discrimination within their jurisdictions, there has been a tidal wave of litigation regarding the issue of government-sponsored MBE programs.

Cambodia Millenium Development Goals, Report 2003, Kingdom Of Cambodia

Global CWD Repository

The 2003 MDGs Progress Report is divided into three major sections. Section I introduces the development context in Cambodia. Section II presents (i) CMDG indicators and targets; (ii) the current situation, past and future trends as well as gaps between targets and trends; (iii) major current policies and programs contributing to CMDGs; (iv) key challenges for meeting CMDG targets; and (v) a framework for meeting the key challenges and reaching CMDG targets. Section III outlines the way forward for CMDGs progress monitoring and evaluation. The main report is complemented by a set of annexes including a glossary of technical terms …

A Comparison Of The Perceived Importance Of Information Systems Development Strategies By Developers From The United States And Korea, Chung S. Kim, Dane K. Peterson

College of Business

This study examined the perceptions of Information Systems (IS) developers from the U.S. and Korea with regards to the strategies that are considered crucial for IS success. The results of a principal component analysis revealed that the IS development strategies could be classified into four categories: (1) Organizational Integration, (2) Team Member Characteristics, (3) Project Leader Traits, and (4) Project Development Management. ANOVA results indicated that developers from both countries viewed Organizational Integration as the most important component and Project Development Management as the least important component. However, while IS developers in the U.S. viewed Team Member Characteristics as the …

Corporate Services, Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Florida, Inc.

Florida Blue Archives Printed Materials

2003 corporate services brochure, printed to provide a brief description of each area of the Corporate Service Group. Includes February 17, 2003 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida at a Glance.

Insights- February 2003, Erika Malek

Insights

No abstract provided.

Photodegradation And Photostabilization Of Weathered Wood Flour Filled Polyethylene Composites, Nicole M. Stark

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) have gained popularity as building materials because of their usefulness in replacing solid wood in a variety of applications. These composites are promoted as being low-maintenance, high-durability products. However, it has been shown that WPCs exposed to weathering may experience a color change and/or loss in mechanical properties. An important requirement for building materials used in outdoor applications is the retention of their aesthetic qualities and mechanical properties during service life. Therefore, it is critical to understand the photodegradation mechanisms of WPCs exposed to UV radiation and to develop approaches to stabilize these composites (both unstabilized …

Selected Chemoautotrophic Processes In Wastewater Treatment: Low Temperature Nitrification Inhibition By An Azo Dye And Biofiltration For Odor Control Of Hydrogen Sulfide, Ronald W. Martin Jr.

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Biochemical processes by chemoautotrophs such as nitrifiers and sulfide and iron oxidizers are used extensively in wastewater treatment. The research described in this dissertation involved the study of two selected biological processes utilized in wastewater treatment mediated by chemoautotrophic bacteria: nitrification (biological removal of ammonia and nitrogen) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal from odorous air using biofiltration.

A municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) receiving industrial dyeing discharge containing the azo dye, acid black 1 (AB1) failed to meet discharge limits, especially during the winter. Dyeing discharge mixed with domestic sewage was fed to sequencing batch reactors at 22oC and 7oC. …

Middle Mississippi River Levee Flood Performance : Assessing The Occurrence Of Piping Through Empirical Modeling / By Jon D. Wilson, Jon D. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Nexus Between Housing And The Macro Economy : Hong Kong As A Case Study, Lok Sang Ho, Wai Chung, Gary Wong

Centre for Public Policy Studies : CPPS Working Paper Series

This paper presents the theory and the evidence showing the close relationship between the performance of the macroeconomy and housing. Focusing on the Hong Kong experience, it is found that exports and the interest rate were two key variables that can explain the movement of housing prices over a long period. A structural break is identified in the first quarter of 1998. Using the cointegration framework, the paper highlights the importance of housing to both the economic health of the domestic sector and the fiscal health of the economy.

Collecting Celebrity: The Meanings And Process Of Collecting Sports Memorabilia, Nancy E. Spencer, Jacquelyn Cuneen, Raymond Schneider

Visions in Leisure and Business

The sports memorabilia marketplace has experienced exponential growth since the advent of Internet auction sites such as eBay. While collectors were once constrained by local encounters with personal collectors, the Internet now facilitates buying and selling on an international scale. This study explores the phenomenon of collecting sports memorabilia as it has been transformed historically as well as more recently. Scholarly literature suggests that fascination with the famous may have begun in ancient Greece, although contemporary studies of celebrity examine a broader scope of subjects in addition to an odd array of items collected.

This study specifically addresses the following: …

One Hundred Years From Today, Gregory C G Moore

Business Papers and Journal Articles

William James Ashley (1860-1927) was one of the leading historical economists of his generation and, along with Archdeacon William Cunningham and William Albert Hewins, he was instrumental in harnessing historicist principles to support the corporatist-cum-protectionist movement that grew to prominence in the late-Victorian and Edwardian periods. Ashley's influence on the formation of policy within this movement reached its peak with the publication in 1903 of The Tariff Problem, which was issued shortly after the mercurial Joseph Chamberlain launched his political campaign to reintroduce a tariff structure in Great Britain.

Let The Market Do Its Job: Advocating An Integrated Laissez-Faire Approach To Online Profiling Regulation, Svetlana Milina

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Teachers' And Students' Perceptions Of Seventh- And Eighth-Grade Science Education In A Selected Seventh-Day Adventist Union Conference, Marcel Andre Sargeant

Dissertations

Problem. Science education has long been a great concern in the United States, where less than one-third of the students perform at or above the proficient level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the science program in a selected Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist school system. Specifically, this study investigated the perceptions of teachers and students regarding the extent to which the science program meets the criteria of the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st century and to what extent these criteria are related to academic performance as indicated by …