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46 | The Ramat Bet Shemesh Regional Project: The Gazetteer, Yehuda Dagan

IAA Reports—Monograph Series of the Israel Antiquities Authority

The Ramat Bet Shemesh Project was initiated by the IAA following plans to transform a large undeveloped area of the Judean Shephelah into a densely-built urban center. The aim of the project was to conduct a high-resolution regional study in the designated area, including archaeological and prehistoric, as well as ecological and environmental surveys, in order to record the ancient remains and the natural environment that were to be completely destroyed. This first volume presents all the sites surveyed during the project, as well as the results of 100 small-scale excavations and some preliminary interpretations by the excavators.

Demographic Analysis Of Recovery Act Supported Jobs In Massachusetts, Quarters 1 And 2, 2010, David Sparks, Paige Ransford, Carol Hardy-Fanta, Christian Weller, Meryl Thomson, Robert Turner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Massachusetts policy makers decided to go beyond existing ARRA federal reporting requirements and collect additional data in order to gauge the effectiveness of ARRA’s fiscal policy by counting the number of individuals who have received an ARRA-funded paycheck. In addition, policy makers wanted to look at some of the demographic characteristics of this population. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the data that the MA Recovery Office collected during the first and second quarters of 2010, with a particular focus on job creation and retention by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geographic location.

Highlights of the report include: …

Economic Writing On The Pressing Problems Of The Day: The Roles Of Moral Intuition And Methodological Confusion, Julie A. Nelson

Economics Faculty Publication Series

Economists are often called on to help address pressing problems of the day, yet many economists are uncomfortable about disclosing the values that they bring to this work. This essay explores how an inadequate understanding of the role of methodology, as related to ethics and human emotions of concern, underlies this reluctance and compromises the quality of economic advice. The tension between caring about the problems, on the one hand, and writing within the existing culture of the discipline, on the other, are illustrated with examples from U.S. policymaking, behavioral economics, and the economics of climate change and global poverty. …

Worker Cooperatives And Revolution: History And Possibilities In The United States, Christopher Wright

Graduate Masters Theses

Worker cooperatives have a long and tortured history, but recently they have been advancing globally on a more stable foundation than before. In this essay I provide a theoretical context for the current growth of cooperatives, drawing on Marxist theory to illuminate their potential. I also consider the sociology and economics of worker cooperatives, in addition to expounding and evaluating their history in the United States.

A case-study of a cooperative printing press in Jamaica Plain gives a more intimate portrayal of worker co-ops, and hopefully provides lessons for future cooperators. I interpret society as on the cusp of a …

Class, Class Mobility, And The Consumption Of Household Technology In Salem, Massachusetts, 1890-1914, Candace Stephens

Graduate Masters Theses

This study looks at the rise of household technologies available in Salem, Massachusetts from 1890-1914, and examines how these technologies, from importation to sale and consumption, defined class and class aspirations in the city and reflect transformations seen throughout the United States during the turn of the twentieth century. So that we can best understand how technology was used within individual homes, this research centers almost exclusively around four families whose businesses, and residences are dissected to better identify how their consumption of goods and technology created new opportunities, as well as problems, for household members and domestic servants employed …

The Effects Of Childbearing Patterns On The Timing Of Retirement, Hsiao-Yin Chung

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The effects of childbearing patterns on the timing of men's and women's retirement were examined. The data for this study come from the Health and Retirement Study, waves 1-7: 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004. A proportional hazard model (Cox regression) was chosen for this study. Two measures of retirement were considered: labor force exit and self-defined retirement. The results indicated that men with dependent children are more likely to postpone the timing of labor force exit and their self-definition as retired. At the same time, the study indicated that the presence (or absence) and timing of early …

A Brief History And Research Of The Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A, Michelle Wilbur

Physics

No abstract provided.

Exoplanet Transit Detection With Terrestrial Amateur Equipment: Using The Cal Poly Observatory, San Luis Obispo, Joshua Thompson

Physics

Using amateur level equipment and freeware analysis tools, the Cal Poly Observatory (CPO) wished to test whether or not it could actually observe the astronomical phenomena called exoplanetary transits. Using a variety of equipment and tests, the CPO was able to confirm it could clearly observe the transits of several well-known transiting planets, including HD189733b and HAT-P-6. With these tests and observations completed, future student researchers can continue Cal Poly’s transit search and contribute to the global pursuit for exoplanets.

Could Alice Find The Elusive Higgs?, Tyler Williams

Physics

The Higgs boson is the theoretical mechanism for creating the mass of particles.  Although it has never been seen, the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the most likely place for it to be created in the laboratory.  The ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) detector is focused on the study of heavy ion collisions at the LHC and was not designed to find the Higgs boson; however, there is a chance it could be detected there. Although the luminosity (collision rate) for PbPb collisions is much lower than that for pp collisions, PbPb collisions have a higher probability to …

Using High-Powered, Frequency-Narrowed Lasers For Rb/129xe And Cs/129xe Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping To Achieve Improved Production Of Highly Spin-Polarized Xenon For Use In Magnetic Resonance Applications, Nicholas Whiting

Dissertations

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been extensively used to investigate numerous systems of interest, ranging from collections of molecules to living organisms. However, NMR suffers from one key drawback: an inherent lack of detection sensitivity, as compared to other common forms of spectroscopy. This is due to the minute nuclear magnetic moments and low nuclear spin polarization levels at thermal equilibrium (~10-5 to 10-6), and thus necessitates the use of relatively large sample volumes. One way to overcome this low detection sensitivity is to introduce a species with highly non-equilibrium nuclear spin polarization, such as `hyperpolarized' xenon-129. Hyperpolarized xenon …

The Role Of Sulfur In Biomineralization: Argopecten Irradians And The Impact Of Ocean Acidification, Bryanna Joy Broadaway

Graduate Masters Theses

The burning of fossil fuels, and other natural processes, has led to an increase of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. The equilibration of atmospheric CO₂ with surface waters causes the ocean pH to decrease from the current value of 8.1. Evidence suggests that as the ocean becomes more alkaline, organisms such as the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians¸will become more stressed due to increased energy demands to maintain shell deposition and growth. This stress, as hypothesized here, may cause the deposition of S-bearing organic macromolecules to aid in mineralization as well as the potential for sulfate …

Offshore Wind Power Integration Into The South Carolina Power System, Mountaga Fane

All Theses

The steady state analysis of the impact of offshore wind on the South Carolina power transmission was conducted in three phases of incremental wind energy injection into the system using forecasted base power flow. The simulation of Phase I involved the generation capacity of 80 MW projected for 2014 in state water. The modeling Phases II and III, which will distribute the energy among neighboring utilities, involve a supplementary capacity of 1000 MW projected for 2020 and 2000 MW for 2030 in federal water. In addition to this steady state investigation, a contingency analysis was performed on the power system …

Conceptual Model Testing And Development For Neptunium And Radium Sorption To Srs Sediments, Todd Miller

All Theses

Models which can estimate environmental transport of contaminants are required to ensure minimal risk to the public. These models require accurate transport parameters in order to correctly predict how these contaminants will move in the subsurface. This work aimed to determine more accurately the distribution coefficients for neptunium, strontium, and radium for the Savannah River Site (SRS) Performance Assessment (PA). All neptunium sorption studies were performed at a pH value of 5.50 and an ionic strength of 0.01M as NaCl with neptunium concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 50 ppb. Two different sediments were examined, SRS Subsurface Clayey and SRS Subsurface …

Evaluation And Adjustment Of Usda Wasde Cotton Forecasts, David Tysinger

All Theses

The dynamic and volatile nature of agricultural markets causes individuals to rely on forecasts in their decision-making. WASDE cotton forecasts are shown to be especially volatile as cotton is one of the most trade dependent commodities in the world. Therefore, its evaluation requires us to look beyond U.S. WASDE categories and evaluate forecasts for China and the World.
This study will use data from monthly WASDE balance sheets for upland cotton for the U.S, China and World over 1985/1986 through 2008/2009 including unpublished price forecasts. The results of this study will provide information that can be used to improve the …

Determination Of Sorption Coefficients For Neptunium, Plutonium, Iodine, And Technetium In Engineered And Natural Systems Under Oxidizing And Reducing Conditions, Michael Lilley

All Theses

Plutonium, neptunium, technetium, and iodine present appreciable risks at nuclear waste disposal sites around the world due to their potential mobility. Sorption of each of these radionuclides is profoundly influenced by oxidation/ reduction reactions. Therefore, the mobility of each radionuclide may be greatly influenced by redox conditions of the natural or engineered system. The primary focus of this study was to determine distribution coefficients (K_d) for each radionuclide for engineered concrete and saltstone systems with varying amounts of reducing slag (a cement additive to create a reducing environment), and for iodide/iodate in natural sediments. Saltstones are a mixture …

The Geometric Field Of View And Speed Perception In A Driving Simulator, Richard Goodenough

All Theses

Particularly in the health and rehabilitation sector where cost and space are constraints, practitioners need smaller driving simulators. Because these small-footprint driving simulators have a limited projected field of view (PFOV) it is desirable to extend the virtual or geometric field of view (GFOV) beyond that natively afforded by the PFOV. Changing the PFOV/GFOV ratio has been shown to alter perceived speed. In order for driving simulation to produce realistic experiences, drivers‟ perception of speed should correspond with real world experiences. The purpose of the current research was to better understand the relationship between speed perception and the GFOV/PFOV ratio …

Fuor And Exor Variables: A Nir High-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey, Joseph Liskowsky

All Theses

To better understand the labyrinth of heating and cooling processes in YSOs (young stellar objects), we study systems where there exists a large variability in the heating of this gas due to accretion. This research project focuses on several classes of early young eruptable T-Tauri stars, namely the FUors, the EXors and the so-called FU Ori-like, which all have the property of large amplitude oscillations in accretion rate. Each of these categories may well represent specific stages in early low-mass stellar evolution. While these objects have specific spectroscopic and circumstellar diagnostics (as means of identification) our research suggests that there …

Influence Of Topography Of Endovascular Stent Material On Smooth Muscle Cell Response, Vipul Taneja

All Theses

Although implantation of endovascular stents for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery diseases has been one of the most rapidly used medical interventions, significant limitations in terms of a restenosis rate of 10-30% still persists. Neointimal hyperplasia characterized by a phenotypic shift of smooth muscle cells from contractile to synthetic type, has been deemed to be the predominant cause of restenosis. A number of stent surface parameters, including topography, have been attributed to play an important role in stent performance. Although endothelial cell and thrombotic response to surface roughness have been well evaluated, the effect of topography of the …

Bovine Colostrum, Mary Hayes

All Theses

Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals within a 24 to 72 hour period after parturition. Bovine colostrum is sold commercially as a nutraceutical product and its manufacturers purport numerous health benefits of the product for treating gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract disorders, viral and bacterial infections, and promoting tissue repair.
Four commercially available colostrum products, two whey, and one non-fat dry milk were obtained on separate days. These products were analyzed for fat, protein, ash, moisture and dry matter content. One colostrum product did not adhere to label claims in that it contained a mean of 19.1% fat whereas …

Vena Cava As An Alternative To Pericardium In Bioprosthetic Percutaneous Heart Valves, Amy Munnelly

All Theses

Valve disease is a specialized form of cardiovascular disease that specifically affects the heart valves. Heart valves serve the vital function of maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the chambers of the heart during the cardiac cycle; however, as valve disease progresses, this function can become severely compromised [1]. Currently, the only cure for valve disease is to replace the defective valve with an engineered substitute. Each year, over 300,000 heart valve replacement surgeries are performed worldwide [2], and this number is expected to continue growing as life expectancies increase [3].
In the United States, the most common form of valve …

Modeling Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants In South Carolina, Andrea Hicks

All Theses

Wastewater treatment is an essential part of life in the urbanized world. As global climate change becomes a more pressing issue, the greenhouse gas emissions created through wastewater treatment will become a more prominent concern. Tertiary treatment will likely be standard for wastewater treatment plants in the near future, and therefore must be included in a model of greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the geographic location of a WWTP will change the mix of power types (e.g., coal, nuclear, biomass) used to run the plant. Although GHG emissions from the waste sector are small compared to the emissions of the United …

Using Nestling Bald Eagles To Assess Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Environmental Contaminants, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, Henry Pittman

All Theses

Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are a avian species used to monitor environmental contaminants such as mercury (Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in North America. Populations of bald eagles nesting along the Great Lakes were very slow to recover after the ban of PCBs and OCs because these compounds were very persistent. Bald eagles at Voyageurs National Park (VNP) have been monitored since 1973 and provide an opportunity to assess temporal and spatial trends of persistent environmental contaminants. Nestling bald eagle feathers were analyzed for Hg concentrations for the past 12 years. Nestling bald …

A Synthetic Analysis Of Integrated Data Fusion: Combining Hydrologic And Geophysical Data Collected During A Tracer Test To Estimate Aquifer Flow And Transport Parameters, Dylan Fowler

All Theses

Integrated data fusion (IDF), also known as coupled inversion, is becoming a more widely used method for estimating hydrologic parameters from geophysical data. IDF is being used in this research as an approach to inversion that couples mathematical models of groundwater flow, solute transport, and electrical resistivity for the direct estimation of hydraulic conductivity, porosity, and dispersivity from transient resistivity data collected during a tracer test. In this work, synthetic field resistivity data are generated using only a single current electrode pair and many potential electrodes. This data is then used within the IDF framework to a) estimate hydraulic conductivity …

Complex Decision Support For Older Adults: Effects Of Information Visualization On Decision Performance, Margaux Price

All Theses

Older adults are faced with complex decision tasks that impose high working memory demands. A representative task is choosing a prescription drug plan from a multitude of options that must be evaluated along many factors. The combined effect of the quantity of complex information, and reduced working memory capacity puts older adults at a disadvantage. However, research with younger adults suggests that the working memory burden of decision tasks can be reduced using well-designed, graphical decision aids (i.e., environmental supports). The current study examined the use of environmental supports to support complex decision-making for older adults. Two experiments were conducted; …

Two-Year Growth And Mortality Of Sub-Canopy Baldcypress (Taxodium Distichum [L.] Rich.) In Artificial Canopy Gaps In A North Carolina Swamp, William Degravelles

All Theses

Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum, [L.] Rich.) -tupelo (Nyssa spp.) swamp forests are a major component of the total area of southeastern U.S. forested wetlands which provide valuable ecosystem services related to water quality, stormwater catchment, and wildlife habitat. Historically, baldcypress has also been an important source of wood products, and clearcutting the principal method of harvesting and regenerating the species. However, anthropogenic alterations to flows of many rivers and the associated flood patterns of alluvial wetlands have prevented the establishment of new baldcypress cohorts in many swamps. Regular, extended growing season flooding could prevent germination and/or establishment of baldcypress seedlings if …

Identifying Barriers To Address During The Delivery Of Sustainable Building Renovation Projects, Corey Cattano

All Theses

Architects, engineers, and contractors are continuously searching for tools and methods to reduce the unique risks associated with the delivery of construction projects. Since national policies to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption will require drastic improvements to the existing building stock, one specific area in need of such tools is the sustainable renovation of existing buildings. The purpose of this research is to identify the barriers to address during the delivery of sustainable renovation projects and offer solutions that overcome these barriers. For example, typical renovation projects do not coordinate energy retrofits with building system renovations, resulting in poor …

Evaluation Of Spotlight Surveys For Monitoring Mink Populations In Coastal South Carolina, Michael Waller

All Theses

Annual commercial fur harvest data suggests a decline in South Carolina's mink (Mustela vison) populations over the past century (Butfiloski and Baker 2005). In 1990, DNR began conducting assessments of South Carolina's coastal marshes, revealing mink populations to be scarce to absent in the northern coastal regions (Baker 1999). Since 1999, restoration efforts have re-established mink populations in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and additional areas in the northern coastal marshes of South Carolina. Because mink are a species of high conservation priority throughout the coastal zone of South Carolina, it is important to develop and implement a reliable …

Measuring Menu Performance By Plate Waste Analysis: An Evaluation Of An Acute Care Facility's Spoken Word Liberalized Menu, Megan Sargeant

All Theses

The Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown Hospital has recently changed their menus to offer meals in which the entrŽes are liberalized when possible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a newly introduced menu cycle in an acute-care facility foodservice system featuring a spoken word liberalized menu. Plate waste analysis was done by weighed measurements, using visual measurements when absolutes were observed (all or none). Performance of the menu was assessed with weighed plate waste analysis to determine weight of food consumed, energy consumed, and cost of food wasted. Meal consumption averaged 56% of the meal …

Effects Of Varying Field Conditions On Potential Painted Bunting Habitat In Coastal South Carolina, Kelly Campbell

All Theses

Daily point counts were conducted during the summer seasons of 2006, 2007 and 2008 in randomly selected agricultural plots at two field sites in coastal South Carolina to examine habitat use by painted buntings, indigo buntings, blue grosbeaks and brown-headed cowbirds. Plots were selected based on their original condition, such as planted, fallow or old field, in 2006. The two sites, James A. Webb Wildlife Management Area and Nemours Plantation, are areas managed in methods similar to those described in several Conservation Reserve Programs (CRPs), and CP33 - Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds - in particular. I propose the management …

Coming Down Out Of The Tree: Exploring Memory And Identity In H.D.'S End To Torment, Natalie Mahaffey

All Theses

This thesis focuses on the text End to Torment: A Memoir of Ezra Pound by H.D., as well as the small collection of poetry entitled 'Hilda's Book' by Ezra Pound, which appears in the back of the memoir. My exploration into these texts consists of the reliability of memory, the role memory plays on identity, and the significance of identity as defined by non-fiction, creative writing. For End to Torment, I focus specifically on H.D.'s approach to memory as defined by her work with Dr. Sigmund Freud, as well as the impact this approach has on the presentation of Pound's …