Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Sputter Deposition Parameters On Stress In Tantalum Films With Applications To Chemical Mechanical Planarization Of Copper, Jeffrey L. Perry

Theses

Attempts to introduce a CMP process for copper damascene features at Rochester Institute of Technology were stymied by adhesion failures of the Ta/Cu film stack. This work was undertaken to investigate the effect of stress in the films on adhesion and to develop a viable CMP process for Cu damascene technology. In depth studies of stress as a function of sputter deposition conditions revealed that stress in Ta layers could vary from -1700 MPa compression to +800 MPa tensile for deposition pressures over a range of 2-20 mTorr for films having a nominal thickness of 0.25 μm. For a fixed …

The Wrong Way To Equality: Privileging Consent In The Trafficking Of Women For Sexual Exploitation, Beverly Balos

Articles

Chamoli lived near the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal. When she was 16, she met a young man and fell in love with him. He promised to marry her but insisted that she come away with him to India. So one day she ran away with the boyfriend and crossed the border to India on foot. From there she and her boyfriend took a train to the Indian city of Poona. Once they had reached Poona, Chamoli was taken to a house where there was an older Nepali lady and many young girls. The lady gave her boyfriend some …

The Limits Of Business Limited Liability: Entity Veil Piercing And Successor Liability Doctrines, John Matheson

Articles

The quest for limited liability in business enterprises and transactions has been a driving force in the development of business organization law for centuries. The historical development of corporations and limited partnerships evidences this primary goal. The recent development of the modern forms of limited liability partnerships and limited liability companies proves that this quest continues unabated. In addition, parties to significant business transfer transactions have long sought by construct and contract to apportion and limit their respective legal responsibilities and liabilities.Counterbalancing this inexorable trend toward limited liability has been the penchant of common law jurisprudence to define its limits. …

Assessment Of Organic And Inorganic Pollutants In The Offshore Sediments, Dubai, Uae., Haifa Darwish Ahmad Al Darwish

Theses

The investigated area covers the maximum fragments of Dubai offshore in the Arabian Gulf. The sediment samples were collected from fifteen stations starting by Al-Mamzar mouth and ending by Ras Ghantoot in order to assess the organic and inorganic pollutants affecting the coastal region in Dubai.

The textural class was determined through grain-size analysis and the mineral composition was identified by X-Ray diffraction. The organic pollutants were characterized through the determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and individual polychlorinated biphenyls. On the other hand the …

Faith-Based Organizing And Partnerships In A Pittsburgh Neighborhood: A Look At East Liberty, Damon Bethea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh has a fascinating blend of African American churches and racially integrated churches -- all within this African American neighborhood in Pittsburgh's East End. In this research project, I will explore how several East Liberty churches are working with other churches (or faith-based organizations [FBOs]) and organizations within the East Liberty neighborhood to provide various social services to those within this predominantly African American community. The research questions for this project are: 1) How does the racial composition of the church community affect their relationship with the residents of East Liberty whom they serve? 2) …

Does Excessive Absence From Class Lead To Lower Levels Of Academic Achievement, Janet L. Faison

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

Based on this problem, the following hypothesis has been proposed: 1. Students who have higher records of absenteeism (absent four times or more during a given semester) will have lower academic achievement levels (GPA) while attending community college.

Does Participation In The Academic Continuance Experience For Success Program Increase Academic Achievement And Persistence Of Students Readmitted From Suspension, Norlisa Mayes

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in an intervention program improved academic achievement and retention of at-risk college students at Old Dominion University.

Coalescence Remnant Of Spinning Binary Black Holes, J Baker, M. Campanelli, C. O. Lousto, R. Takahashi

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We compute the gravitational radiation generated in the evolution of a family of close binary black hole configurations, using a combination of numerical and perturbative approximation methods. We evolve the binaries with spins s aligned or counteraligned with the orbital angular momentum from near the innermost stable circular orbit down to the final single rotating black hole. For the moderately spinning holes studied here the remnant Kerr black holes formed at the end of an inspiral process have rotation parameters a/M≈0.72+0.32(s/mH), suggesting it is difficult (though not excluded) to end up with near maximally rotating holes from such scenarios.

Generation Of The Transient Electrical And Spontaneous Magnetic Fields By Solid State Combustion, Karen S. Martirosyan, J. R. Claycomb, J. H. Miller Jr., D. Luss

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Experiments revealed that transient electric field intensities up to 2.5 V/cm were generated during the initial period of combustion synthesis of the ferromagnetic products before the maximum temperature was reached. This occurred when the iron particles were partially oxidized and the reaction product was mainly magnetite sFe3O4d. The electromagnetic field caused spontaneous magnetization of the product in the postcombustion zone. Magnetic field values up to 4 µT formed after the sample temperature fell below the Curie temperature and the initial reactants were completely converted to the ferromagnetic phase PbFe12O19. Increasing the volume of the samples increases the absolute residual magnetic …

Setting Upper Limits On The Strength Of Periodic Gravitational Waves From Psr J1939+2134 Using The First Science Data From The Geo 600 And Ligo Detectors, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, Mario C. Diaz, Wm. R. Johnston, Joseph D. Romano, Cristina V. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Data collected by the GEO 600 and LIGO interferometric gravitational wave detectors during their first observational science run were searched for continuous gravitational waves from the pulsar J1939+2134 at twice its rotation frequency. Two independent analysis methods were used and are demonstrated in this paper: a frequency domain method and a time domain method. Both achieve consistent null results, placing new upper limits on the strength of the pulsar’s gravitational wave emission. A model emission mechanism is used to interpret the limits as a constraint on the pulsar’s equatorial ellipticity.

First Upper Limits From Ligo On Gravitational Wave Bursts, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, Mario C. Diaz, Wm. R. Johnston, Joseph D. Romano, Cristina V. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report on a search for gravitational wave bursts using data from the first science run of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors. Our search focuses on bursts with durations ranging from 4 to 100 ms, and with significant power in the LIGO sensitivity band of 150 to 3000 Hz. We bound the rate for such detected bursts at less than 1.6 events per day at a 90% confidence level. This result is interpreted in terms of the detection efficiency for ad hoc waveforms (Gaussians and sine Gaussians) as a function of their root-sum-square strain hrss; typical sensitivities …

Analysis Of Ligo Data For Gravitational Waves From Binary Neutron Stars, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, Wm. R. Johnston, Joseph D. Romano, V. Schmidt

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report on a search for gravitational waves from coalescing compact binary systems in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. The analysis uses data taken by two of the three LIGO interferometers during the first LIGO science run and illustrates a method of setting upper limits on inspiral event rates using interferometer data. The analysis pipeline is described with particular attention to data selection and coincidence between the two interferometers. We establish an observational upper limit of R

Analysis Of First Ligo Science Data For Stochastic Gravitational Waves, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, Mario C. Diaz, Wm. R. Johnston, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present the analysis of between 50 and 100 h of coincident interferometric strain data used to search for and establish an upper limit on a stochastic background of gravitational radiation. These data come from the first LIGO science run, during which all three LIGO interferometers were operated over a 2-week period spanning August and September of 2002. The method of cross correlating the outputs of two interferometers is used for analysis. We describe in detail practical signal processing issues that arise when working with real data, and we establish an observational upper limit on a f−3 power spectrum of …

New Methods For Exafs Analysis In Structural Genomics, Grant Bunker, Nicholas Dimakis, Gocha Kelashvili

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Data analysis is one of the remaining bottlenecks in high-throughput EXAFS for structural genomics. Here some recent developments in methodology are described that offer the potential for rapid and automated XAS analysis of metalloproteins.

Residents' Attitudes And Perceptions Toward National Parks And Ecotourism Development In Ghana: The Case Of Dome Community In The Digya National Park, Paul Owusu Boi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The mode of park establishment generally conflicts with the use of natural resources as traditionally demanded by resident communities. These conflicts become compounded as a result of the process of land acquisition. Consequently, the process leads to formation of varied attitudes and perceptions that residents have towards national parks. The impacts of this attitude formation spread to any developments in the parks. There are many studies on attitudes of park residents toward tourism development in parks, however, only a few have examined attitudes and perceptions in the pre-development stage of tourism. This research uses a case study approach to examine …

An Evaluative Framework For Assessing Information Management In Watershed Management: The Case Of The Grand River Conservation Authority (Ontario), Robert Scott Brown

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Watershed management has been rapidly evolving over the last 50 years. The current focus has been adaptive and ecosystem-based approaches to watershed management, redefining roles, responsibilities, and relationships of watershed organizations. While entire management models need to be heavily scrutinized, the practices and policies surrounding information are fundamentally important. Information forms the understanding and knowledge for watershed decision-making. Watershed organizations need to be critical of the policies and practices affecting their collection, storage, processing, analysis, monitoring, and reporting of data and information. Among the Conservation Authorities, the GRCA has developed a proficiency at information management, doing it as well as …

Forest Fires, Woodland Caribou And Land Use Policies In Northwestern Ontario (Rangifer Tarandus), Brian Frederick Kutas

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are a threatened species in Ontario's boreal forest. Caribou require habitat that supports appropriate forage, including large areas of lichen rich forests. This research examines two dynamics that influence woodland caribou habitat in northwestern Ontario. These dynamics are forest fires and land use policies. The effects of forest fires are assessed quantitatively at both the ecosite and landscape scales within Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. Land use policy and management activities are evaluated using a case study and a policy analysis of protected area and forest management approaches to woodland caribou conservation in this region. Forest …

Impacts At The Coast: Climate Change Influences On Lake Huron's Water Levels At Oliphant (Ontario), Kevin Tupman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Since 1998, climate change induced low water levels in the Great Lakes have caused environmental and socioeconomic impacts along most of the Great Lakes' shorelines. According to recent climate change research involving different water level scenarios, climate change over the next century may continue to cause water levels in the Great Lakes to decline. Such impacts may include wider shorelines, drying of coastal wetlands, and navigation hazards that may result in increased dredging activities. These impacts will have a strong influence on new shoreline management policies and planning. To better understand potential future impacts, a specific methodology was developed to …

Circulation Mapping Of The North Atlantic Ocean During The 1990'S And From 1974 To 1984 As Determined From The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (Woce) Eulerian Current Meter Moorings, Roger Palmini

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Study of the ocean presents many challenges due to its vast size and the difficulty in representing such a system with the availability of few data measurements. The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) is the largest oceanographic experiment ever conducted. Data collection has been completed and we are now in the analysis, interpretation, modeling and synthesis phases (AIMS). An analysis and interpretation of the North Atlantic Ocean was conducted using a subset of the WOCE data. In the pre-WOCE period between Apr-11-74 and Sep-03-84 a total of 272 records were obtained having a spatial range of 23.2˚- 60.2˚N and …

A Media Literacy Intervention: Using Self-Objectification As A Tool For Identifying Changes In Well-Being And Internalization, Becky L. Choma

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

According to objectification theory, females are socialised to internalize a third person perspective of their own physical appearance (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), which in turn serves to decrease well-being (Sands & Wardle, 2003). In our culture, one of the biggest culprits for portraying a negative perspective of women's bodies is media (Thompson & Heinberg, 1999). In an effort to combat the harmful effects of media, researchers have suggested that being able to critically evaluate (i.e., media literacy) such messages may be helpful (Tiggeman, Gardiner, & Slater, 2000). Past research has failed to measure trait self-objectification (TSO: high, low) and its …

Story Telling: A Narrative Based Evaluation Of Supported Housing For Consumers At Waterloo Regional Homes For Mental Health, Inc., Sarah L. Peddle

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A qualitative, narrative approach was used to evaluate a supported housing program for formerly homeless people with serious mental health problems. The housing organization hosting the research is currently providing supported-living, single-occupancy apartments funded under the Phase II Mental Health Homelessness Initiative by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The study was designed to gather the stories of those who have been recently homeless or at risk for homelessness, have a serious mental illness, and have been housed within the past year in this housing, as well as to provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of supported housing …

Spectrum Visualization And Measurement Of Power Parameters Of Microwave Wide-Band Noise, Marina Koledintseva, Alexander A. Kitaytsev, V. A. Konkin, V. Radchenko

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A method for an adequate visualization of a microwave intense noise spectrum envelope in a wide frequency range (several octaves), measurement of its power parameters, and detection of a narrow-band signal with unknown frequency and power against the noise background is presented. This method is based on an application of a nonheterodyne principle of microwave frequency (and power) conversion using a gyromagnetic converter, which operates in two regimes in turn: the resonance detection and the cross-multiplication. A block scheme and an operation of a two-channel measuring device combining the mentioned functions are discussed.

With And Without Boundaries: Christian Homemaking Amidst Postmodern Homelessness, Brian J. Walsh, Steven C. Bouma-Prediger

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Chromatography Of Natural, Treated And Waste Waters Edited By T. R. Crompton, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

T. R. Crompton has accomplished a significant task, summarizing the literature (up to 1998) for the determination of organic and inorganic compounds in a variety of water substrates (surface/natural water, treated water, and waste water). Overall, the book is relatively easy to read; the manuscript produced by the author contains clear tables, figures, and font. The first chapter presents a brief overview of the techniques presented in the book. The author assumes that the reader has a general understanding of chromatography and the basic components of a chromatographic system. The remainder of the book is organized into chapters by chromatographic …

Prevalence Of Neurotoxic Clostridium Botulinum Type C In The Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus) In The Salton Sea, P. P. Nol, T. E. Rocke, K. Gross, T. M. Yuill

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) have been implicated as the source of type C toxin in avian botulism outbreaks in pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) at the Salton Sea in southern California (USA). We collected sick, dead, and healthy fish from various sites throughout the Sea during the summers of 1999 through 2001 and tested them for the presence of Clostridium botulinum type C cells by polymerase chain reaction targeting the C1 neurotoxin gene. Four of 96 (4%), 57 of 664 (9%), and five of 355 (1%) tilapia tested were positive for C. botulinum type C …

Safety Of Brucella Abortus Strain Rb51 In Black Bears, Steven C. Olsen, Jack Rhyan, T. Gidlewski, Jesse Goff, W. C. Stoffregen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In two studies conducted from October 1999 to March 2000 and December 2000 to April 2001, adult black bears (Ursus americanus) were orally inoculated with 1.4–3.1X10¹⁰ colony-forming units (CFU) of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51, n=12) or 2 ml of 0.15 M NaCl solution (saline, n=11). We did not detect a difference (P>0.05) in antibody titers to SRB51 in serum obtained before vaccination, at 8 wk after vaccination, or at necropsy at 21 or 23 wk after vaccination between SRB51-vaccinated and nonvaccinated bears. The SRB51 vaccine strain was recovered from tissues obtained at …

Economic Development And Convergence Revisited: The Role Of Agricultural Modernization, Richard Grabowski, Sharmistha Self

Economics Discussion Papers

In earlier debates on economic development, the agricultural sector’s role was somewhat controversial. While dualistic models highlighted the importance of agriculture the mainstream literature placed a greater emphasis on the creation of a modern industrial sector. Soon agriculture disappeared from the mainstream development literature to re-emerge recently with a variety of multiple-sector growth models emphasizing the key role of agriculture. This paper is an empirical cross-country analysis of agriculture’s role in economic development. The focus is the importance of agricultural modernization as a precondition for convergence in postwar growth rates as well as an indicator for overall growth and wellbeing.

Choice Of Utility Functions For Adaptive Critic Designs, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper first presents a general overview of Adaptive Critic Designs (ACDs) and their existing control applications. It describes the importance of the right choice of utility functions for the development of critic networks and their convergence to the cost-to-go function J. A closer look into the step by step derivation of a utility function for the design of an ACD nonlinear optimal neurocontroller to replace/augment the conventional controllers, the automatic voltage regulator and governor, in a power system consisting of a generator connected to the power grid is described and some results are presented.

Unmanned Vehicle Navigation Using Swarm Intelligence, Sheetal Doctor, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Unmanned vehicles are used to explore physical areas where humans are unable to go due to different constraints. There have been various algorithms that have been used to perform this task. This paper explores swarm intelligence for searching a given problem space for a particular target(s). The work in this paper has two parts. In the first part, a set of randomized unmanned vehicles are deployed to locate a single target. In the second part, the randomized unmanned vehicles are deployed to locate various targets and are then converged at one of targets of a particular interest. Each of the …

Via Coupling Within Power-Return Plane Structures Considering The Radiation Loss, J. Chen, Todd H. Hubing, Weimin Shi, R. L. Chen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An accurate analytical model to predict via coupling within rectangular power-return plane structures is developed. Loss mechanisms, including radiation loss, dielectric loss, and conductor loss, are considered. The radiation loss is incorporated into a complex propagating wavenumber as an artificial loss mechanism. The quality factors associated with the three loss mechanisms are calculated and compared. The effects of radiation loss on input impedances and reflection coefficients are investigated for both high-dielectric-loss and low-dielectric-loss PCBs. Measurements are performed to validate the effectiveness of the model.