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2008

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Three Essays On Success Factors For Information Systems, Roger Holland Blake Jan 2008

Three Essays On Success Factors For Information Systems, Roger Holland Blake

Open Access Dissertations

The first essay in this dissertation proposes a new information systems design theory. IS design theories are prescriptive, specifying testable hypotheses of what artifacts and processes lead to systems that are more successful. The new design theory proposed was derived from the analysis of a case study in which information systems were developed and used to support the strategic decisions of a manufacturer of confectionary products seeking to expand in the U.S. market. These decisions were unstructured and the decision-making process an emergent knowledge process (EKP) as defined by researchers. The new design theory is in the form a set …

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Numerical And Theoretical Investigations Of North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water With Implications To Pacific Climate Variability, Xujing Jia Davis Jan 2008

Numerical And Theoretical Investigations Of North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water With Implications To Pacific Climate Variability, Xujing Jia Davis

Open Access Dissertations

An investigation using a combined numerical modeling and theoretical approach is followed to better resolve the role of Subtropical Mode Water (STMW) in the exchange of information between the atmosphere and the ocean linked to climate variability in the North Pacific Ocean. In this, a High resolution MIT General Circulation Model (MITgcm) simulation is analyzed to study the formation, isolation, dispersal of STMW and identify correlations between STMW variations and established climatic signals in the Pacific basin. During a 171-month time period (from January 1992 to March 2006), the seasonal variability is the dominant temporal variation observed. From climatological model …

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School Psychologists' Readiness To Implement Response To Intervention Practices, Christina Kilgallen Jan 2008

School Psychologists' Readiness To Implement Response To Intervention Practices, Christina Kilgallen

Open Access Dissertations

This study uses a theoretical framework, the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), to explore school psychologists' readiness to implement Response to Intervention. Measures related to school psychologists' decision making process about implementing RTI were developed based on the TTM. The measures included Stage of Change (readiness to implement RTI), Decisional Balance (pros and cons of implementing RTI), and Situational Self-Efficacy (Confidence to implement RTI). A previously developed Reading Research Knowledge scale was also included. Information was gathered about training and practice as well. Two hundred fifty-six school psychologists completed the survey. Results indicated that school psychologists implementing RTI were more confident about …

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Silane-Based Copolymers As Chromatographic Stationary Phases, Deidre Lynn Blackwell Jan 2008

Silane-Based Copolymers As Chromatographic Stationary Phases, Deidre Lynn Blackwell

Open Access Dissertations

In this work, a group of thermally stable polar-embedded polymer based stationary phases are presented. The silane-based copolymer is synthesized by radical polymerization to incorporate polar groups, through phenylmaleimides, and alkoxysilane groups. By way of the alkoxysilane groups, the copolymer can be attached on to silica particles or converted to polymer-silica composite particles using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a sol-gel precursor. Through characterizations in this work, they proved to be stable in high temperatures (400°C) as well as effective in high water mobile phases. Phenyl moieties of the material provide increased and sometimes excessive retention of analytes with pi-systems occurred in …

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Interpersonal And Psychosexual Factors Predicting Hiv-Related Risky Sex Behaviors In Heterosexually Active Women And Men, Asako C. Matsuura Jan 2008

Interpersonal And Psychosexual Factors Predicting Hiv-Related Risky Sex Behaviors In Heterosexually Active Women And Men, Asako C. Matsuura

Open Access Dissertations

This study focused on psychosexual and interpersonal constructs and their relationship with partner risk and unprotected intercourse, based on the multifaceted model of HIV risk (MMOHR). The model was examined for 625 men and women (ages 18-24); the model was then compared across gender. The MMOHR-based model was strongly supported. Having a higher sense of self-efficacy in using condoms, and a higher sense of assertiveness in practicing prevention both predicted decreased unprotected vaginal intercourse. Contrastingly, those better able to refuse unwanted sexual advances were more likely to report unprotected vaginal intercourse. Condom use assertiveness significantly predicted condom self-efficacy and condom …

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An Efficient Fourier Transform Based Method For Computing Backscattering From Arbitrarily Shaped Born Objects, Edward H. Pees Jan 2008

An Efficient Fourier Transform Based Method For Computing Backscattering From Arbitrarily Shaped Born Objects, Edward H. Pees

Open Access Dissertations

The present study investigates a novel method for computing scalar wave fields back-scattered by arbitrarily shaped, three-dimensional objects satisfying the criteria for the first Born approximation. Specifically, it is concentrated on the scattering of acoustic pressure waves within a fluid medium by objects characterized in terms their density and compressibility contrasts relative to the background medium. The method is developed based on the angular spectrum of plane waves theory of diffraction and leads to a formulation that lends itself to high speed Fourier transform-based techniques for numerically computing the back-scattered field as a function of distance from the object.

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An Integration Of Statistical Approaches To Help Understand Coalition Effectiveness, Nathan Stein Jan 2008

An Integration Of Statistical Approaches To Help Understand Coalition Effectiveness, Nathan Stein

Open Access Dissertations

Although community coalitions have significant promise for reducing substance and alcohol abuse, research on community coalitions has provided mixed results. Whereas some progress has been made towards understanding the dimensions that underlie the effectiveness of coalitions, the research contains several limitations. These limitations include a lack of consensus on measurement tools, limited systematic empirical studies (Kegler, Steckler, McLeroy, & Malek, 1998), and limited research on actual outcomes. The proposed study seeks to address these limitations. There are two levels of participants in this study. The first level of participants consists of eighth-grade students (N=5,045) in Rhode Island. They provided information …

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Templated Synthesis For Highly Ordered Metal/Support Nanocomposite Materials With Catalytic Applications, Jayashri Sarkar Jan 2008

Templated Synthesis For Highly Ordered Metal/Support Nanocomposite Materials With Catalytic Applications, Jayashri Sarkar

Open Access Dissertations

Template synthesis is a powerful method of synthesizing materials with tunable properties. Tailorability of the templates makes it a viable method for high performance material synthesis. Surfactant, polymers and semiconductors have been used as templating tools for a long time. In the present work, we demonstrate the ability to synthesize hexagonally organized porous titania, zirconia and zirconia/titania mixed oxide supports and their respective nanocomposites of Pt from their alkoxide precursors using a highly viscous mixed surfactant template, separating nanoscopic bicontinuous channels of water and isooctane. Oil soluble precursor that eventually forms the support, precipitates at the oil-water interface mimicking the …

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Microstructure Studies In Synthetic And Bio-Colloids, Imaging And Applications, Ashish Kumar Jha Jan 2008

Microstructure Studies In Synthetic And Bio-Colloids, Imaging And Applications, Ashish Kumar Jha

Open Access Dissertations

The mean size of CTAB/HDBS mixed surfactant vesicles confined into the three-dimensional voids generated by the random close packing (RCP) of polystyrene beads, shows a systematic decrease as the characteristic confinement length scale is reduced. The RCP of polystyrene beads of radius Rb = 1.5μm, 0.25μm and 0.1μm, creates voids of characteristic dimensions R ∼ 0.22 Rb = 3300Ã…, 550Ã… and 220Ã… respectively. These void length scales are comparable to or less than the radii of vesicles formed in the system under conditions of no confinement. A simple thermodynamic model was developed accounting for the balance between increased enthalpy when …

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Power Fade In Lithium Ion Batteries: Effect Of Advanced Electrolyte, Ang Xiao Jan 2008

Power Fade In Lithium Ion Batteries: Effect Of Advanced Electrolyte, Ang Xiao

Open Access Dissertations

Commercial lithium-ion batteries have excellent performance at room temperature for a few years (3-5). However, the calendar life and thermal stability (>50°C) need to be improved for many applications, including electric vehicles (EV). Power fade of lithium ion batteries results from electrolyte decomposition and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) deterioration on the surface of electrode materials. The purpose of investigation of advanced electrolyte, including the incorporation of a small amount of additives and novel lithium salts in the electrolyte, is to improve the thermal stability of both electrolyte and SEI on the electrodes. A detailed investigation of the effect of …

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Study On The Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Nucleosides/Nucleotides And Proteins With Sugars: An In Vitro Investigation Of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (Ages) Formation, Yuyuan Li Jan 2008

Study On The Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Nucleosides/Nucleotides And Proteins With Sugars: An In Vitro Investigation Of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (Ages) Formation, Yuyuan Li

Open Access Dissertations

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are a complex and heterogeneous group 1 of compounds formed by the nonenzymatic reactions of the carbonyl groups of reducing sugars with the free amino groups of biomolecules. Nonenzymatic reactions can occur in vitro and in vivo and affect the structure, function and conformation of many biomolecules, and AGEs has been suggested to associate with the pathogenesis of various disease such as diabetes and Alzheimer disease. The increased number of reports on the nonenzymatic glycation of proteins and nucleic acids has generated great interest in the methods for characterization of AGEs. The lack of universally applicable …

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Explosive Signatures: Pre & Post Blast, Evan Thomas Bernier Jan 2008

Explosive Signatures: Pre & Post Blast, Evan Thomas Bernier

Open Access Dissertations

Manuscripts 1 and 2 of this dissertation both involve the pre-blast detection of trace explosive material. The first manuscript explores the analysis of human hair as an indicator of exposure to explosives. Field analysis of hair for trace explosives is quick and non-invasive, and could prove to be a powerful linkage to physical evidence in the form of bulk explosive material. Individuals tested were involved in studies which required handling or close proximity to bulk high explosives such as TNT, PETN, and RDX. The second manuscript reports the results of research in the design and application of canine training aids …

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Multicultural Awareness In College Freshmen: An Examination Of Measures And Interventions, Clarissa M. Uttley Jan 2008

Multicultural Awareness In College Freshmen: An Examination Of Measures And Interventions, Clarissa M. Uttley

Open Access Dissertations

An increasing number of higher education institutions are paying conscious attention to enhancing students' experiences with diversity. The University of Rhode Island (URI) has implemented activities to address the growing needs of a diverse population. Students at URI are required to complete at least two courses designed as having a diversity emphasis as part of their undergraduate curriculum. Additionally, the Multicultural Center on the Kingston campus of URI conducts numerous diversity awareness and education programs throughout the year, including Diversity Week. The Munroe Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire (MASQUE) was created in 2004 by Dr. Arnold Munroe to address the need …

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Fabrication, Characterization And Application Of The Novel Bionanomaterials, Lan Yao Jan 2008

Fabrication, Characterization And Application Of The Novel Bionanomaterials, Lan Yao

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on developing methods to synthesize novel bionanomaterials, studying their properties and exploring their potential applications. Fabricating semiconducting nanowires is a significant challenge in making nanoscale electronic devices. We propose to use self-assembling biomolecules as templates for the fabrication of nanowires. Here we demonstrate that quantum dots (QDs) could be conjugated to actin filaments, forming long semiconductor filaments. We constructed an optical system and developed the interactive software for fluorescence anisotropy imaging of single QDs and QD-nanowires. The fluorescence anisotropy studies revealed that QD transition dipoles are likely circular (elliptical) dipoles. The fluorescence anisotropy of a single QD …

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Involuntary Switching Behavior In Restricted Decision Environments: Consumer Responses To Stockouts, Timucin Ozcan Jan 2008

Involuntary Switching Behavior In Restricted Decision Environments: Consumer Responses To Stockouts, Timucin Ozcan

Open Access Dissertations

Studies indicate that at least 8% of supermarket items in the US are out-of-stock at any point in time, resulting in annual lost sales of over seven billion dollars. Given the salience of stock-outs, this dissertation examines how consumers make choices when their most preferred alternative is unavailable. This dissertation proposes that when consumers experience a stock-out and make a substitution decision, they would tend to choose the alternatives that are superior on hedonic dimensions. The theoretical arguments for this proposition derive from the literatures on affective-cognitive model of consumer decision making, mood as a repair mechanism, and justification effects. …

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The Opportunity To Learn: Identification And Measurement Of School Conditions That Contextualize Student Achievement, Amy L. Burns Jan 2008

The Opportunity To Learn: Identification And Measurement Of School Conditions That Contextualize Student Achievement, Amy L. Burns

Open Access Dissertations

Current educational accountability systems, which are based primarily on school-aggregate and student subgroup results of annual achievement testing, fail to address two fundamental and interrelated issues at the school level: the identification of opportunity-to-learn (OTL) conditions that impact how students perform and the measurement of these conditions for longitudinal school improvement. Three factors which emerge from review of literature as influential OTL conditions are instructional quality, parent involvement, and school climate. A reliable method for determining the existing levels of these OTL factors in schools is sought as a means of gauging school progress over time that does not depend …

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An Investigation Of Communication Patterns And Strategies Between International Teaching Assistants And Undergraduate Students In University-Level Science Labs, Barbara Elas Gourlay Jan 2008

An Investigation Of Communication Patterns And Strategies Between International Teaching Assistants And Undergraduate Students In University-Level Science Labs, Barbara Elas Gourlay

Open Access Dissertations

This research project investigates communication between international teaching assistants and their undergraduate students in university-level chemistry labs. During the fall semester, introductory-level chemistry lab sections of three experienced non-native speaking teaching assistants and their undergraduate students were observed. Digital audio and video recordings documented fifteen hours of lab communication, focusing on the activities and interactions in the first hour of the chemistry laboratory sessions. In follow-up one-on-one semi-structured interviews, the participants (undergraduates, teaching assistants, and faculty member) reviewed interactions and responded to a 10-item, 7-point Likert-scaled interview. Interactions were classified into success categories based on participants' opinions. Quantitative and qualitative …

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Hegemonic Struggles In One High School Classroom: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of High School Students' Democratic Dialogue, John A. Walsh Iii Jan 2008

Hegemonic Struggles In One High School Classroom: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of High School Students' Democratic Dialogue, John A. Walsh Iii

Open Access Dissertations

This qualitative study of educating for democracy used teacher-research and Critical Discourse Analysis to identify, describe, and explain how students' discourse sustained and resisted ideology and hegemony. The research was conducted in a course which I designed and taught that was intended to educate for critical democracy. The participants were high school seniors in a relatively privileged community who chose to enroll in the elective course. Data collection included audio taped and transcribed classroom conversations, copies of student work, student journals, a teacher's journal, field notes, as well as formal and informal interviews with students. Four major understandings were constructed …

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A Concurrent Validation Of The Violence Sensitivity Scale, Jonathan Corey Jan 2008

A Concurrent Validation Of The Violence Sensitivity Scale, Jonathan Corey

Open Access Dissertations

A correlational concurrent validity study of the Violence Sensitivity Scale (VSS) was conducted in which respondents (N=169) also completed the Nonviolence Test (NVT), the Attitudes Toward Violence Scale (ATVS) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD). The VSS was significantly positively correlated with the NVT and MCSD, and significantly negatively correlated with a transformed ATVS distribution. Principal Factors Analysis limited to four, factors assigned 23 of 38 VSS behaviors to the same factors as in a previous study. Multiple regression tests found the NVT and MCSD to be significant predictors of VSS and VSS subscale scores. Demographic variables were examined …

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Optimization Of Aggregate Gradation For High-Performing Hot Mix Asphalt, Kyungwon Park Jan 2008

Optimization Of Aggregate Gradation For High-Performing Hot Mix Asphalt, Kyungwon Park

Open Access Dissertations

The present study utilized various existing gradation blending methods and/or gradation master ranges including Bailey method, Class I-1 master range, and Superpave control points. Bailey method provides a systemic approach to determine aggregate structure considering its aggregate packing properties. After evaluating procedure of Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), Superpave Mix Design, and Bailey method, a systemic procedure has been developed to optimize the mineral aggregate gradation for high-performing asphalt mixtures utilizing multiple regression analyses and non-linear programming analyses based on the performance test results on Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Consequently, a method has been developed to find the mineral …

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A Study Of Formaldehyde Sources In Air, Haiwei Shen Jan 2008

A Study Of Formaldehyde Sources In Air, Haiwei Shen

Open Access Dissertations

Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a central component of photooxidation chemistry. The atmospheric sources of CH2O involve a complex mixture of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study explores the geographical and altitudinal variations of CH2O production from its precursors over the Eastern U.S. and assesses the contributions from biogenic and anthropogenic VOC emissions to atmospheric CH2O. Measurements of airborne CH2O and hydrocarbons over North America and model results were used to evaluate CH2O production from its precursors. Source attribution results from a photochemical box model indicate 95% of the CH2O arose in various proportions from a mixture of methane, …

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Applications Of Linear And Cyclic Peptides As Enzyme Inhibitors And Molecular Transporters, Guofeng Ye Jan 2008

Applications Of Linear And Cyclic Peptides As Enzyme Inhibitors And Molecular Transporters, Guofeng Ye

Open Access Dissertations

The diversity of amino acids in peptides allows the design of different linear or cyclized compounds. Peptides can be designed to act as inhibitors, probes, or molecular transporters of other molecules. The objective of this dissertation research was to exploit the diversity of peptide structures and focused on developing linear and cyclic peptides as c-Src inhibitors and using the information derived from c-Src crystal structure to design novel peptide-based molecular transporters. A series of peptide analogues of Ac-CIYKYY were designed and synthesized to improve the inhibitory potency against active Src Linear peptide Ac-CIYKF(4-NO 2)Y (IC50 = 0.53 μM) and a …

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Forest Management In The Presence Of Harvest Restrictions Around Vernal Pools: A Metaheuristic Approach, Gabriela Dobrot Jan 2008

Forest Management In The Presence Of Harvest Restrictions Around Vernal Pools: A Metaheuristic Approach, Gabriela Dobrot

Open Access Dissertations

The primary objective of this research is to model the economic opportunity costs of alternative harvest restrictions aimed at conserving and sustaining ecological functions of vernal pools. The simulations performed incorporate a series of economic and ecological factors in order to determine: alternative configurations of canopy cover around the ponds which could produce similar adoption costs, in both a non-spatial and a spatially defined forest structure, optimal harvest schedules when a mix of tree species is being introduced on the studied landscape, as well as the sensitivity of this schedule to different stumpage prices. Methodologically, the results in this study …

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Statistically Interacting Quantum Gases In D Dimensions, Geoffrey G. Potter Jan 2008

Statistically Interacting Quantum Gases In D Dimensions, Geoffrey G. Potter

Open Access Dissertations

Chapter 1. Exact and explicit results are derived for the thermodynamic properties (isochores, isotherms, isobars, response functions, speed of sound) of a quantum gas in dimensions [special characters omitted] ≥ 1 and with fractional exclusion statistics 0 ≤ g ≤ 1 connecting bosons (g = 0) and fermions (g = 1). In [special characters omitted] = 1 the results are equivalent to those of the Calogero-Sutherland model, a gas with long-range two-body interaction. Emphasis is given to the crossover between boson-like and fermion-like features, caused by aspects of the statistical interaction that mimic long-range attraction and short-range repulsion. A phase …

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Consumer Ubiquity Or Anytime Anywhere Consumption: Scale Development And Validation, Syagnik Banerjee Jan 2008

Consumer Ubiquity Or Anytime Anywhere Consumption: Scale Development And Validation, Syagnik Banerjee

Open Access Dissertations

The research objective of this dissertation is to develop and validate a scale measure of consumer ubiquity that indicates the individuals' propensity to shop online "anytime, anywhere" given a wireless, internet-based ubiquitous marketplace. Through a focus group, two surveys and a set of experiments we generate items, construct and validate a ten-item three-dimension scale and apply it for segmentation and targeting with different mobile advertising strategies. The scale demonstrates sufficient validity as a predictor of proactive mobile shopping behavior, but its applications in terms of segmentation and targeting for mobile advertising are more complex. Though the more ubiquitous consumers show …

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How Do You Stop The Boogeyman? An Evaluation Of A Sexual Assault Prevention Program, Hilary Brooke Jones Jan 2008

How Do You Stop The Boogeyman? An Evaluation Of A Sexual Assault Prevention Program, Hilary Brooke Jones

Open Access Dissertations

Sexual assault is a widespread phenomenon, and most girls are taught from a young age that it is something they should fear. This fear restricts their freedom, and if their fear is realized, there are significant physical, psychological, and societal effects. Because of this, it is in the best interest of all members of society to try to prevent sexual assault. While much previous sexual assault prevention work has focused on self-defense and risk-reduction strategies for women, recent work in prevention programs has focused on changing gender stereotypes, rape myths, and social norms around sexual violence with the hope of …

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Grammatical Errors: Perceptions And Responses Of Students, First-Year Composition Instructors, And Business Communication Instructors, Michelle Niestepski Jan 2008

Grammatical Errors: Perceptions And Responses Of Students, First-Year Composition Instructors, And Business Communication Instructors, Michelle Niestepski

Open Access Dissertations

While most college writing instructors would agree that grammatical errors should not be students' main concern when writing and revising there is little consensus as to how much focus should be placed on grammatical errors and how best to teach students to avoid such errors. This study looks at how and with what frequency first-year writing instructors and business writing instructors indicate errors on student papers and how students view grammatical errors. Instructors at four colleges and universities were given anonymous surveys to fill out. Part one listed ten of the errors found by Chris Anson and Robert Schwegler to …

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Experimental And Computational Study Of The Detection And Stability Of Polymorphs Using Pxrd, Dsc And Solubility, David F. Wells Jan 2008

Experimental And Computational Study Of The Detection And Stability Of Polymorphs Using Pxrd, Dsc And Solubility, David F. Wells

Open Access Dissertations

Reliable detection of polymorphs and mixed phase crystal systems is an important area of investigation in the development of pharmaceutical (small molecule) ingredients. This work deals specifically with small molecular entities as distinguishable from large or macromolecules, which also are used as active pharmaceutical ingredients. The first manuscript describes a digital band-pass filter for removal of white noise in Powder X-ray Diffraction. The filter reduces the noise by 21% for a real PXRD diffractogram and 40% for a synthetic PXRD diffractogram while maintaining the integrity of diffraction intensities and diffraction angle positions. The solid phase form of an active pharmaceutical …

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Evaluation Of A Novel Autonomous Detector For Microbial Water Quality Monitoring, Heather L. Saffert Jan 2008

Evaluation Of A Novel Autonomous Detector For Microbial Water Quality Monitoring, Heather L. Saffert

Open Access Dissertations

Rapid testing methods are needed for monitoring waters for fecal contamination to identify associated health hazards. Today, standard methods quantify the amount of indicator bacteria, E. coli and enterococci, using culture-based techniques that require incubation periods from 18 to 48 hours. For recreational waters, this time lag delays the closure of waters when a potential health hazard exists and prolongs closures after contamination has dissipated. A remotely deployable, autonomous sampler capable of rapid automated data analysis and reporting of fecal contamination would provide a more effective warning system for both managers and the public. An in situ instrument may also …

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Short Title: Teacher-Student Epistemological Interplay, Donald Bruce Bierman Jan 2008

Short Title: Teacher-Student Epistemological Interplay, Donald Bruce Bierman

Open Access Dissertations

The severe consequences of not achieving Annual Yearly Progress standards established by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 have resulted in schools developing programs designed to address the academic needs of students at risk for failing the assessment. Focusing on one reading class comprised of two teachers and 15 tenth grade students enrolled in such a program, I inquire into the impact students and teachers have upon one another's epistemological understandings, particularly regarding their beliefs about the source of knowledge. Employing grounded theory methodology informed by microethnographic discourse analysis, the author analyzes transcripts of classroom conversations, interviews with …

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