Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Seismic Analysis Of Reefs In The Traverse Limestone Of Allegan County, Michigan, William Charles Henderson

Masters Theses

A seismic reflection study was performed across the Diamond Springs oil field in Allegan County, Michigan. The horizon of interest was the Middle Devonian Traverse Limestone located 1,700 feet in the subsurface. Within the Traverse Limestone are scattered patch reefs which characterize a targeted reservoir. The use of high-resolution, shallow seismic reflection techniques are useful for defining detailed subsurface porosity zones within the patch reef reservoirs.

Common source-offset profiling utilizing high-frequency sources and proper determination of field parameters are important in obtaining the desired optimum reflection. Also, the use of synthetic seismograms for modeling waveforms is essential for identifying the …

Micellar Catalyzed Hydrolysis Of Hydroxamic Acids By Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Mohammad Hashem Akhavan Tafti

Masters Theses

The work reported herein demonstrated that a perfluorocarboxylic acid does indeed behave as a reactive counterion surfactant exhibiting micellar catalysis, this conclusion was further verified by subsequent experimentation.

Rates of acidic hydrolysis of octano-, phenylaceto-, and 4-bromo phenylacetohydroxamic acid have been determined in aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid--a reactive counterion surfactant system. Typical micellar catalysis was observed for the hydrolysis of octanohydroxamic acid but not for the arylacetohydroxamic acids.

Further investigation into finding a more water soluble surfactant which has reactive counter ions is suggested in order to test the theoretical equation (based on the pseudo phase model) appropriate for this surfactant …

Geometry And Kinematics Of The Central Snowcrest Range: A Rocky Mountain Forehand Uplift In Southwestern Montana, Barry Christopher Mcbride

Masters Theses

The Snowcrest Range forms the southeastern limb of the Late Cretaceous Blacktail-Snowcrest uplift. The northeast-trending uplift is bounded by the northwest-dipping Snowcrast-Greenhom thrust system which consists of seven thrust zones which merge and flatten at depth along a regional detachment horizon within the Archean basement.

The structures forming the Snowcrest Range are concave westward with trends varying from N 55° E in the southern region to north-south in the northern region. Calcite twin lamellae and fracture orientations indicate that the principal shortening direction was oriented S 85° E during late Cretaceous time. This orientation requires that a significant component of …

Programmer And End User Communication In Computer System Development, Theresa J. Hart

Masters Theses

Many computer professionals agree that good communication between computer programmers or analysts and the people for whom a system is being created is essential for system success. This study researches possible reasons behind the communication problems that exist between programmers and end users and suggests ways to narrow the communication gap.

Many theories, including the theories of hemispheric brain dominance, thinking styles, and motivational factors may help explain the differences in communication styles between programmers and users. To further explore the communication problem, an exploratory survey was given to programmers and users to evaluate their perception of the communication that …

Recoil Corrected Continuum Shell Model Form Factor Calculations For 4He(E,E’)4He(0+), Jiang Yu

Masters Theses

Charge form factor calculations for the electroexcitation of the ⁴He, 0⁺ state have been performed within the context of the recoil corrected continuum shell model. A pure Os⁴ ground state structure is assumed and full internal coordinate recoil corrections are made. The result is compared with available data. It is demonstrated that the 0+ state may be described in a 1p -1h shell model context. Inclusion of nsOs^-1 ground state correlations is suggested for further research.

Structural Geometries, Fabrics, And Stratigraphic Relationships In The Cades Cove Region, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, Randy R. Walters

Masters Theses

The major structure in the Cades Cove area of the western Great Smoky Mountains is best explained as a polydeformed recumbent fold (nappe) within Precambrian Ocoee Series rocks of the Rabbit Creek thrust sheet. The Elkmont Sandstone, southeast of Cades Cove, is upright and gently southeast dipping and represents the hinterland limb of the thrust nappe. The Cades Sandstone, which is lithologically similar to the Elkmont, occurs northwest of the Coalen Ground thrust and is gently southeast dipping and overturned.

Petrographic investigation of thin sections from Cades and Elkmont units reveals very different textures. Cades samples commonly contain large, fractured …

Structural Geology And Finite Strain Analysis Of The Precambrian Thunderhead Sandstone Along The Greenbrier Fault And The Roundtop Klippe: Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, Jonathan C. Lewis

Masters Theses

The Precambrian Thunderhead Sandstone, along the Greenbrier Fault and the Roundtop Klippe, records strain from two distinct episodes of deformation. The first strains are generally related to the emplacement of the Greenbrier Fault. These strains are probably due to simple shear along the base of the fault, and appear similar to the strain fabrics within in the Cades Sandstone to the southwest. This strain fabric is characterized by principle strain axes which lie subparallel to the orientation of the Greenbrier Fault. These strains were later effected by strains related to the emplacement of the Sinks Fault, a high angle thrust …

The Relationship Of Pore Volume And Pore Size Distribution To The Development Of Gloss And Scattering Coefficient, John A. Cook

Masters Theses

This study describes in a quantitative manner the relationships between coating structure and optical properties. Gloss, scattering coefficient and void volume were measured after applying different blends of polystyrene spheres to mylar film. Each coating was modeled using large spherical particles of the same size ratios to measure pore size distribution. The coating structure followed well with theoretical packing characteristics of spheres. Optical properties were related to changes in coating structure. Scattering coefficient and gloss correlated better with pore size distribution than particle size. Gloss increased when total void volume was reduced, while the scattering coefficient decreased.

Single-Electron Capture And Loss Cross Sections Vs. Target Z For 1 Mev/U Oxygen Ions Incident On Gases, Scott Avery Boman

Masters Theses

Cross sections for 1 MeV/u oxygen projectile ions which have gained or lost an electron after passing through a gas target were measured as a function of target Z for several incident projectile charge states. The targets used were D_2, He, Ne, Ar and Kr, and the projectiles had charges of 5+, 6+, 7+ and 8+.

The electron capture measurements are generally in reasonable agreement with existing theoretical and empirical scaling rules. The electron loss cross sections differ appreciably from predictions of the PWBA, particularly for the heaviest targets studied. Empirical scaling relationships are derived for the present capture …

Electrical Resistivity As An Approach To Evaluating Brine Contamination Of Groundwater In The Walker Oil Field, Ottawa County, Michigan, Janet A. Koehler

Masters Theses

Surface electrical resistivity successfully defined brine contamination within a glacial drift aquifer in western Michigan. The study site is in a residential area of eastern Ottawa County, in the Walker Oil Field. A Schlumberger array with a maximum current electrode separation (AB/2) of 316 meters (1037 feet) was used. It was possible to detect geoelectric layers to about 30 meters (100 feet) below ground level, with the maximum current penetration of about 1/10 (AB/2). On occasion, thick surficial clay precluded detecting deeper geoelectric layers. Through use of the INVERS computer program, fifty vertical electrical soundings were interpreted and correlated with …

Fission-Track Geochronology And Geothermometry Of Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Epizonal Plutons, In And Adjacent To The Lombard Thrust Fault, Southwestern Montana, Jean Talanda

Masters Theses

Thrusting occurred in the central portion of the central Montana salient where the timing of movements is somewhat obscured by the multiple deformations from Archean time to the present. The relationship of this thrusting to the associated plutons has not been established in every case. Fission-track geochronology was employed in dating several plutons associated with the Lombard thrust fault, consequently, defining a time range in which movement along the thrust occured.

Seven plutons with known structural relationships to the Lombard thrust have ages which suggest that movement along the fault occurred 73.2 +/- 6.7 Ma. Fission-track length distributions suggest that …

An Investigation Of A Soil Gas Sampling Technique And Its Applicability For Detecting Gaseous Pce And Tca Over An Unconfined Granular Aquifer, Timothy J. Mayotte

Masters Theses

A soil gas sampling and analytical technique was investigated to evaluate its ability and versatility for detecting chlorinated hydrocarbons in unconfined aquifers. The technique was used successfully to delineate plumes of perchloroethene (PCE), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) contamination present in the vadose zone, and at the water table of an unconfined sand and gravel aquifer. Soil gas samples were obtained by concentrating PCE and TCA vapors diffusing from these sources onto a sorbent material. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. The data from the analysis of these samples were used to provide an initial estimate of the source areas, and …

A Study Of An Integral Equations For Computing Radial Distribution Functions, Noraini Ismail

Masters Theses

A two parameter integral equation, equation T is studied to compute radial distribution functions for a classical fluid whose single component particles interact pairwise according to a square-well potential function. A computer program originally written for a DEC 10 was modified to run on a DEC VAX. At the same time, modifications were made to take advantage of the faster VAX and to reduce the time an operator must spend to get a solution to the integral equation. Solutions were obtained for several densities, temperatures, and parameter values. Temperatures ranged from a high temperature gas to near critical temperatures. Accurate …

Synthesis And Study Of Novel Quinoxaline Di-N-Oxide And 3-Acyl-2-Methylquinoxaline Di-N-Oxides, Cyprian Okwara Ogbu

Masters Theses

This research project consists of two parts. The first involved the synthesis of a novel quininoxaline di-N-oxide via benzofuroxan. The second part was the use of this compound as a synthetic precursor.

It was assumed that 3,4-dimethylaniline would be successfully converted to 5,6-dimethybenzofurazan 1-oxide (5,6-dimethybenzofuroxan) through a sequence of reaction steps. Fortunately, this assumption was correct as the desired compound was produced. This compound was utilized in synthesizing the novel 3-acetyl-2,6,7-trimethylquinoxaline 1,4-dioxide. From the structure of this adduct, it is believed that it will take part in condensation reactions associated with methyl ketones without disrupting the quinoxaline di-N-oxide framework, and …

Synthesis And Reactions Of A-Diketones And Preparation Of Some New Benzimidazoles, Mohamad Reza Agharahimi

Masters Theses

This report will discuss the synthesis of 2,5-dl-(p-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dioxoadiponitrile and its reactions. This compound exists in the form of 4,4'- dichloropulvinic nitrile which is a precursor to 4,4'-dichk>rovulpinic acid. These compounds have been shown to have antiinflammatory activity in rats.

The benzimidazole and pyridazine derivatives of 4,4'-dichioropulvinic nitrile and the benzimidazole derivative of 4,4'-dichk>rovuipinic acid are another group of compounds that are also believed to have useful biological activities. The Pinner synthesis of imidates is used to make the intermediate to the benzimidazole derivative of 4,4'-dichloropulvinic nitrile.

This report will include the methodology of the reactions and …

A Synthetic Approach To Novel Heterocyclic Herbicides, Paul Antony Pathadan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research study was to prepare novel heterocyclic herbicides. The first phase of the project was to synthesize 1-(nitromethyl)-4-phthalazone.

In the second phase 1 - (nitromethyl)-4-phthalazone was treated with 1,3-propane-dithio-di-p-toluene sulfonate in presence of sodium hydride to get the target compound 4-(1'-nitro-l,3-dithiane)phthalazone.

It is believed that this compound might block the electron transport system of aerobic cells¹ . So further investigation of this compound may lead to novel herbicides.

Reconstruction Of A Real Object Using Stereo Vision, Ignatios E. Vakalis

Masters Theses

The problem of reconstructing a three dimensional object from its two dimensional image is the most critical problem which any powerful visual system must solve. The human visual system is known to solve this problem with impressive range and resolution. Computer solutions have fallen far short of human performance mainly because the solution process is poorly understood.

The reconstruction problem is solved using stereo vision. The distance of points on the object from the viewing device and the orientation of specific patches of the visual surface with respect to the viewing device are computed. Discontinuities in distance and orientation are …

The Significance Of Organic Complexing In The Mobility Of Iron In The Kl Landfill Leachate Plume, Kalamazoo, Michigan, James D. Rudder

Masters Theses

High iron concentrations in the leachate plume of the KL Landfill in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, persist in the presence of detectable hydrogen-sulfide. Under these conditions iron-sulfide minerals are highly oversaturated and should be precipitating. Calculations performed by the chemical equilibrium model WATEQF indicate over-saturation of selected iron-oxides, siderite, and iron-sulfides. Semilog plots of iron concentration versus time of exposure to air demonstrate retarded precipitation of ferric hydroxide, and analytical techniques of ion chromatography, Fourier transform IR spectrophotometry (FTIR), and UV-Visible spectrophotometry have yielded results which indicate that organic complexing of ferrous iron plays a significant role in the mobility of …

Thermal, Mechanical And Interfacial Characterization Of A Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Composite, Theodore J. Williams

Masters Theses

The effects of a glass fiber reinforcer on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) were evaluated. A silane coupling agent (M8550 Petrarch Systems, Inc.) was employed to promote adhesion between the materials. FTIR analysis, ESCA/Auger and SEM techniques were used to characterize the silane coating.

The mechanical properties, such as bending strength, improved with an increase in the volume percent of fiber. The addition of the M8550 silane directly into the monomer solution showed the most improvement, 23 percent increase, when compared to the uncoated glass fiber. The glass transition temperature as measured by DSC and the heat distortion temperature (HDT) …

Deduction Of A Functional Dependency From A Set Of Functional Dependencies, James M. Richardson

Masters Theses

"This paper describes an algorithm called the Deduction Tracing Algorithm (DTA) which utilizes basic properties of functional dependencies from database systems and a modification of a tree search algorithm from artificial intelligence. The algorithm takes a set of functional dependencies, F, along with a specific functional dependency L→R as input and produces a list of functional dependencies from F that can be used to deduce L→R. The resulting algorithm is easily automated to provide relational database users with a tool for organizing their queries"--Abstract, page iii.

A Parallel Implementation Of Stickel's Ac Unification Algorithm In A Message-Passing Environment, David John Kleikamp

Masters Theses

"Unification algorithms are an essential component of automated reasoning and term rewriting systems. Unification finds a set of substitutions or unifiers that, when applied to variables in two or more terms, make those terms identical or equivalent. Most systems use Robinson's unification algorithm or some variant of it. However, terms containing functions exhibiting properties such as associativity and commutativity may be made equivalent without appearing identical. Systems employing Robinson's unification algorithm must use some mechanism separate from the unification algorithm to reason with such functions. Often this is done by incorporating the properties into a rule base and generating equivalent …

Composite Graph Coloring Algorithms And Applications, Stephen Hong Seng Yek

Masters Theses

"A vertex-composite graph is a graph that can have unequal chromaticities on its vertices. Vertex-composite graph coloring or composite graph coloring involves coloring each vertex of a composite graph with consecutive colors according to the vertex's chromaticity with no two vertices adjacent to one another having the same color(s).

New heuristic algorithms including the use of the saturation degree method have been developed in this research. All eleven heuristic algorithms including Clementson and Elphick algorithms were then tested using random composite graphs with five different chromaticity distributions. The best algorithm which uses the least average colors from the experiment is …

Fractals With Arbitrary Segment Lengths, Daniel Michael Doerer

Masters Theses

"Work in the area of fractal geometry has generally focused on a specific facet of the discipline at the expense of other interesting features. This approach often generates more questions than answers for the general audience due to the lack of unification across all views. It appears that a common thread to relate all aspects of fractal characteristics is missing. This paper addresses this question and presents some new and fascinating results. For example, in-depth mathematical analysis often defers to the intriguing and attractive graphical displays produced by mapping the complex plane to the pixel field on a CRT. Both …

Characterization Of The Lipopolysaccharides From Rhizobium Phaseoli Symbiotic Mutants, Francisca Garcia

Masters Theses

The lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of the Rhizobium phaseoli CE3 and its mutants CE109, CE309 and the transconjugate Rhizobium leguminosarum LB2/109.11 were isolated and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. CE3 is the wild type strain which is nodulation-proficient (Nod⁺). Strain CE109 and CE309 have a transposon, Tn5, inserted into Region I and Region III of their respetive chromosomes. Mutants CE109 and CE309 are defective in nodule development (Ndv^-). Transconjugate R. leg. LB2/109.11 has the DNA of the R. leg. LB2 wild type and also Region I portion of the CE109 …

Coal Desulfurization Using Pyrite Conversion Through Dielectric Heating, Daniel C. Cleaveland

Masters Theses

The Illinois State Geological Survey is currently developing a three step coal desulfurization process which depends upon the in-situ generation of catalytic troilite (FeS) by reduction of the pyrite (FeS₂) present in the mineral fraction of coal. After catalyst generation, ethanol is added to the system and is dehydrogenated to acetaldehyde and hydrogen which removes organic sulfur as hydrogen sulfide. The research reported in this thesis shows that the process can be improved by the use of dielectric heating in place of thermal heating for catalyst generation and perhaps organic sulfur removal. It is found that pyrite reduction …

Intensity Blending Of Computer Image Generation-Based Displays, Elizabeth Scheppler Reidelberger

Masters Theses

"State-of-the-art combat simulators require a 360 degree field of view, allowing the pilot and radar intercept officer to have the same visibility in the simulator that they would experience in the aircraft. The sky/earth display must be computer - generated and displayed with a minimum of two channels to provide the most realistic display possible. The two channels of display come together in the dome, forming an equator, that must be as indiscernible to the aircrew as possible. To accomplish this, an algorithm has been developed for controlling the video output which makes the two separate channel displays appear as …

Computer Control Of A Pbx Washout Plant, Scott Cameron Sharp

Masters Theses

"A fully automated, computer controlled plant has been designed specifically for safe removal of plastic bonded explosives (PBX) from obsolete military munitions. This PBX washout plant consists of a two stage delivery system and robotically operated high pressure waterjet lance. The assigned task was to develop control packages for each component.

The first stage of the delivery system is a battery operated overhead trolley. Its control package consist of a dedicated computer, DC motor and custom positioning subprograms. The dedicated computer communicates through an infrared link to the operator's computer. This link was developed due to requirements of a hazardous …

Micro Database Management System Language, Karen Yingling Tam

Masters Theses

"There are two approaches to solve computational problems in a microcomputer environment:

1. Non-database approach: uses a high level programming language with non-database files as input and/or output files.
2. Database approach: uses the programming language embedded in the micro Data Base Management System(DBMS), with the database defined by the integrated database definition language as input and/or output files.

Adopting the appropriate approach in any single application may save cost and time. This paper compares the two different approaches while solving the same Control Section (CSECT) Interaction Hierarchy problem and suggests which to use when"--Abstract, page ii.