▼ The effects of an oxygen ionized gas from simulated space exposure on the toughness and fatigue properties of several aerospace aluminum alloys and aluminum composites have been analyzed. The test matrix consisted of four aluminum systems: the 6000 and 1100 series and two 8090 aluminum-lithium alloys. The test specimens were prepared as Charpy V-notched impact and disk-shaped compact fracture toughness specimens. A small specimen size is used for the compact tension specimens to facilitate exposure in a Radio Frequency (RF) Plasma Prep II unit. Radio frequency plasma, sometimes referred to as the "electrodeless plasma", is used in disassociative ionization of molecular oxygen to simulate high fluence, relatively low energy, low earth orbit (LEO) space atomic oxygen. The plasma reacts with the aluminum alloy systems and forms a thin scale of alumina a few microns thick. Monolayer sensitive Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (VASE) is used to determine the growth characteristics and effect on optical constants, the reflective index, n and absorption coefficient, k. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was also employed to determine the effect of short exposure to the oxygen plasma environment. AFM indicates that sharp spikes of oxygen rich material are produced above the aluminum specimen surface resulting in stress concentrations with gradual roughing of the surface. After 10 years of simulated exposure, the increased roughness results in a 34% increase in the fatigue crack growth, da/dN, for the 6000 series; the crack growth rate of the aluminum-lithium material was increased about 28%. The results of instrumented Charpy V-notched impact specimens indicated that exposure reduced the energy for fracture initiation by 29%. Plane strain fracture toughness effects could not be established because the influence of oxygen was concentrated at the surface of the specimens. Advisors/Committee Members: Wallace, John F.

▼ The purpose was to find a relationship between eating behaviors of female adolescent ballet dancers and nutritional knowledge and attitudes of their parents. Four ballet schools agreed to participate. Female dancers ages 10 through 18 who took two ballet classes per week and the parent most responsible for meal preparations were selected as participants. One hundred and nine parent/dancer matched surveys were collected. Parental surveys tested nutritional attitudes and knowledge on components of a diet and daily allowances. Dancer surveys scored eating behaviors. Frequencies and correlations were computed to determine scores and found a general lack of parental knowledge. The only statistically significant finding in this study was the relationship between the dancer’s eating behaviors and their body mass index. In fact the parental knowledge and attitude scores were not found to be related to the dancer’s eating behaviors. Advisors/Committee Members: Wilson, Dr. Bradley.

Advisors/Committee Members: Mendez, Louis.

▼ The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the dynamics of the intellectual debate among Yugoslav communists over the ideology of Marxism during the decade 1965-75. This thesis argues that the Praxis School, a group of dissident, communist intellectuals that founded the journal Praxis in 1964, and the week-long student protest in the capital Belgrade (June 1968) are significant in twentieth-century Yugoslav history because both movements ascribed to humanist Marxism, which posed the first concerted, continuous ideological challenge to Tito’s postwar socialist vision. Resting at the crossroads of intellectual, cultural, and political history, this thesis presents three synchronous perspectives of the sociopolitical discourse surrounding the debate over Marxist ideology in Yugoslavia, 1964-1975. This study examines articles from Praxis, published and oral interviews with Praxis authors, the speeches of President Josip Broz Tito and the Party ideologue, Edvard Kardelj, and memoirs, songs, chants, and communiqués from the student protest to trace the ideological exchange during the decade 1964-75 among the Praxis School, the student protesters in Belgrade, and the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. The Praxis School’s humanist Marxist critique and the student protests in 1968 during this decade were evidence of a growing reflexive discourse in the civil sphere over the trajectory of socialism in Yugoslavia. This thesis posits that after the student protests in June 1968 the League of Communists of Yugoslavia made a concerted effort to exclude humanist Marxist discourse to reestablish its hegemonic control over communist ideology and the political trajectory of the state. Advisors/Committee Members: Steigmann-Gall, Richard.

▼ Two decades after Randall Arendt’s landmark work Rural by Design: Maintaining Small Town Character was first published, exurban New England continues to struggle with sprawl and loss of rural character. Recently, Ryan (2002), Ryan (2006), and Walker and Ryan (2008) have attempted to understand how resident perceptions of landscape features can help both preserve rural character and accommodate new development in nearby Massachusetts and Maine. Using the case study of Stafford, Connecticut, this study employs focus groups and interviews to assess the potential challenges of planning for rural character in exurban New England. Results suggest that planning for rural character continues to be difficult, especially in some working-class exurban communities with limited planning traditions. More importantly, this study emphasizes the need for further collaborative learning to address how rural character planning approaches may be implemented in those places that perhaps need them most. Advisors/Committee Members: Prytherch, David.

▼ The purpose of this investigation was to design and build a test rig to investigate the heat generated by a high speed sprag clutch assembly. The parameters used to design the test rig were to apply the cyclic torsion load at a level of 756 inch-pounds at 5000 rpm. The test rig was designed using a four square arrangement, which utilizes the circulation of power principle, a well known method commonly used in load testing power transmissions and has the advantage that only lost power must be supplied to the test rig. The sprag clutch test unit was placed between the high speed pinions of the circulating power loop. The test unit was designed to have replaceable inner and outer races, which contain the instrumentation to monitor the sprag clutch, to allow for cost effective replacement and versatility to test different sprag clutch designs. The oil supply system for the sprag clutch was developed to have the ability to lubricate the clutch from the inner race or through the sides of the sprag clutch and the oil flow rate could be changed by changing the size of the supplying orifice. The torque loading device was chosen to be a water cooled magnetic clutch, which is controlled either manually or through a computer. A DC electric motor, which will be used to supply the lost power to the four square loop, was chosen with a speed range of 0 to 2800 rpm, which allows testing at various speeds. The electric motor was coupled to the four square test loop by an increaser belt system, which will allow the high speed gear shafts to have a maximum speed of 5000 rpm. The data obtained from this investigation will be used to verify the results from a computer model and provide the ability to test present and future sprag clutch designs. Advisors/Committee Members: Kicher, Thomas P.

▼ The Nabucco and South Stream gas pipeline projects and the two coalitions promoting them are in a political competition. In this political rivarly, the media has been playing a crucial role. Media is the best way to secure influence over public opinion and this factor becomes extremely important in an era when public opinion plays an increasingly important role in international relations. In this paper, content analysis of two major newspapers, Russian Vedomosti and British The Financial Times, was done in order to analyze how the two coalitions are trying to manage media coverage. As a result, it has been identified that messaging, reporting about “major breakthroughs,” and leaks to the press were all used as tools to influence public opinion. Advisors/Committee Members: Sharafutdinova, Gulnaz.

▼ Tumor metastasis, the leading cause of cancer deaths, is a multistep process with a few key steps believed to be rate limiting. The final step of metastasis, the growth of tumor cells at distal sites, is one key step. Both experimental and clinical data suggest that dispersed tumor cells can remain dormant for many years before developing into malignant tumors. However, little is known about how the growth of such metastatic cells is regulated. This switch from dormancy to malignancy could be attributed to manipulation of tumor cell behavior by the adjoining stromal cells. In this study we have demonstrated an Ets2-specific mechanism in tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) involved in promoting aggressive metastatic growth. Elevated expression of Ets2, a member of the Ets family of transcription factors, has been correlated with breast cancer, putatively by its activity in the stroma. It is also an important effector molecule in the CSF-1 mediated pro-inflammatory pathway in macrophages. Additionally, Ets2 activates or represses transcription of target genes in a context dependent manner. Mouse modeling results described here demonstrate that Ets2 activity in TAMs creates a favorable angiogenic environment, in part, by repressing a set of genes that negatively regulate angiogenesis, resulting in metastatic growth. We also observe similar Ets2-dependent molecular changes in the immature myeloid precursors in bone marrow of tumor-bearing mice. Thus, this Ets2-mediated program is involved in ‘educating’ myeloid cells even before their physical association with tumor cells. The mouse Ets2-TAM signature could also distinguish between lymphocyte/leukocyte infiltration positive and negative human breast tumor samples. A subset of this profile was sufficient to retrospectively predict disease free survival among breast cancer patients. Interestingly, the Ets2-TAM signature stratified estrogen receptor negative patient samples into two distinct survival groups, in contrast to other existing mammary tumor gene signatures developed to predict patient survival. Our approach uncovered molecular mechanisms that regulate metastatic tumor growth and identified potential stromal biomarkers for human breast tumor metastasis. Advisors/Committee Members: Ostrowski, Michael.

▼ The purpose of this research was to formulate pharmaceutically relevant microemulsion systems using dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) as the surfactant. Visually clear microemulsions were identified by titrating mixtures of DOSS and oil with water. The maximum amount of water incorporated in surfactant/oil mixtures was plotted in a ternary phase diagram. Based on the information from phase diagrams DOSS/Ethyl oleate (EO) and DOSS/Crodamol PMP (PMP) mixtures were selected for further studies. Microemulsions were characterized using polarized light microscopy, electrical conductivity, rheology, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effects of pH and the addition of acyclovir on the microemulsion-forming compositions were investigated. Anticipating an ophthalmic or parenteral delivery method for the formulations, an aseptic filtration method for sterilization was developed using membrane filtration. This method was validated via filtration and direct inoculation by plating on blood agar and using E. coli as the positive control. The safety of the formulations on NIH 3T3 cells was studied using a neutral red assay and validated using a Bradford protein assay. Dissolution studies were performed on microemulsions containing methylene blue to evaluate the drug release profile from the microemulsion system. A colorimetric estimation method was used to determine the amount of dye released from the formulation over a 72-hour period. DOSS/EO and DOSS/PMP mixtures were able to emulsify a maximum of 13.7% and 29.7% RO water. No birefringence was observed in the microemulsion formulations. Low electrical conductivity values of approximately 0.05 μS/cm indicated the existence of water-in-oil microemulsions. The conductivity studies demonstrated a “percolation phenomenon” in the formulations when the concentration of water exceeded a threshold value. DOSS/EO microemulsions exhibited Newtonian flow and viscosities of approximately 9 CP. Particle sizes for these DOSS/EO/water and DOSS/PMP/water systems were less than 30 nm in size (mean volume weighted diameter) as determined by DLS. The pH of the buffer influenced the total quantity of buffer that could be incorporated into microemulsion systems. Formulations filtered aseptically were free of bacteria when gram-stained and visualized under a microscope. The filtration method of sterilization was validated by the absence of microbial growth on blood agar plates over a 14-day period. All DOSS/EO microemulsion formulations showed no toxicity to 3T3 cells, except for samples with concentration of 1:15 and Wo values of 10 and 15. Acyclovir showed little effect on microemulsion formulation as similar percentages of acyclovir solution were incorporated into the DOSS/EO and DOSS/PMP mixtures as RO water. In vitro dye release studies demonstrate controlled release of the model drug over a 72-hour time period. Stable microemulsion formulations were prepared using DOSS/EO and DOSS/PMP mixtures. Development and validation of an aseptic filtration method of sterilization shows potential for these formulations to be used as parenteral or ophthalmic preparations. Successful incorporation of an anti-viral drug into the formulations containing pharmaceutically relevant components also shows potential for various drug delivery applications. Advisors/Committee Members: Nesamony, Jerry.

▼ In the first chapter, I derive and estimate a system implied by a model of R&D-induced growth that relates R&D, patenting, technological change, and output growth. Regressing the rate of patenting on R&D intensity lags, technological change on rate of patenting and R&D intensity lags, and output growth on technological change lags, should give nonzero sums of the slope coefficients for this endogenous growth framework. A zero sum of slope coefficients for any of the three equations in the system would imply non-rejection of the null hypothesis that growth is not induced by R&D. Using US manufacturing industry data, I find evidence of positive long-run impact of the explanatory variables for all equations. The null hypothesis that growth is not induced by R&D is therefore rejected. Moreover, I find evidence of technological spillovers from aggregate research intensity to industry-level economic performance, as well as evidence for long lags between innovative activity and economic growth. Finally, the theoretically implied system estimation is more efficient and often provides quite different estimates than the estimation of single equations.In the second chapter, I use data for a group of OECD countries to estimate a somewhat modified version of the system of equations estimated in the first essay. This system interrelates R&D intensity, productivity growth, and output growth. I obtain results similar to those for the United States. The estimates are bigger for aggregate data compared to industry-level data.In the final chapter, I present a model with a sector whose R&D expenditures induce technological progress for the domestic economy. Productivity differences across countries are predicted to have a negative relation with cross-country price differences of manufacturing goods. An extension which considers a non-tradeables sector, implies instead a positive relation between cross-country productivity and price differences. Using absolute price data for six European countries, I find that countries with higher R&D stocks have a higher relative price of non-tradeables to tradeables. I also find that the high productivity countries have lower prices for traded goods. Thus, in contrast to the Balassa-Samuelson hypothesis, the overall price level might be lower in the more productive country since tradeables prices are not equalized. Advisors/Committee Members: Evans, Paul.

▼ Pathology studies indicate that cortical demyelination can be extensive in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and may contribute significantly to the disease process. Imaging of cortical lesions by MRI is hampered by their small size and low contrast. Ultrahigh field MRI with high spatial resolution and sequences maximizing cortical contrast were employed. SWI (Susceptibility Weighted Imaging) sequence was employed to capture the differences in magnetic susceptibility between tissues. WHAT (White Matter Attenuated) sequence was used to suppress signal from white matter while enhancing signal from the gray matter. Formalin-fixed brain tissue from MS patients was imaged with SWI and WHAT. The specimen was subsequently processed for immunohistochemical labeling. Histological sections were evaluated for number and size (measured as the smallest diameter) of cortical demyelinating lesions. Lesions were scored by two readers on high and low resolution of both sequences. A statistical model based on logistic regression was developed for estimation of cortical lesion detection rates. This model was derived from comparison of MRI data with histology of MS brain specimens. The results give the probability of detecting lesions based on lesion size, MR contrast and resolution. Advisors/Committee Members: CLYMER, BRADLEY.

▼ Advances in the diagnoses and treatment of pediatric voice disorders have evolved over the years, however little research has focused on the publics’ perceptions of individuals with a voice disorder. Establishing a better understanding of how the public perceives those with a voice disorder may provide increased insight into how the community’s views impact an individual with a voice disorder’s education, social and future outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to explore middle and high school teachers’ perceptions of personality traits and quality of life in female adolescents with varying degrees of voice disorders. A web-based survey using Quesitonpro.com was created to collect data. Four voice samples, which had been previously rated by two experienced speech-language pathologists using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice, were downloaded into the survey (normal, mild, moderate, severe). Thirty-two teachers answered 25 questions per voice related to personality traits (18 attributes) and quality of life (6 questions). Analyses of variance were used to compare means with post-hoc testing, using the Dunnett test, to determine significant differences between groups. Each survey (personality traits and quality of life) was analyzed separately. Data for each survey were analyzed in the following ways: normal voice compared to combined voice disordered groups, normal compared to individual voice disorder type, and across voice disordered severity type (mild, moderate, severe). The findings of the study indicate that personality traits and quality of life in adolescent females with moderate and severe voice disorders were rated more negatively by middle and high school teachers’ than those with a normal or mild voice disorder. Importantly, the more severe the voice disorder, the more negative ratings of personality traits and quality of life became. Findings suggest that adolescent female students with a moderate and severe voice disorder have a hidden handicap and are most at risk for academic, social, and vocational difficulties stemming from ones negative perceptions. Informing teachers, speech-language pathologists, patients, and families about the subtle biases and perceptions of teachers’ may improve education, social, and vocational outcomes. Furthermore, teaching self-advocacy may be necessary to help students with a voice disorder obtain an optimal educational experience. Advisors/Committee Members: Kelchner, Lisa.

▼ In this paper, we investigate extremal volumes of slices of the n-dimensional unit cube. If a cube is sliced by a central hyperplane, the maximal and minimal volumes of intersection are known, but the arguments are much more complex than one would expect to see for such a straightforward, geometrical query. Furthermore, if we dictate that the hyperplane must be a certain distance t from the center of the cube, then very little is known about the optimal volumes of intersection. This paper presents a brief history of this problem, and then gives a full solution for extremal one-dimensional slices and a partial solution for extremal hyperplane slices, when t is greater than ½√(n-1). Advisors/Committee Members: Zvavitch, Artem.

▼ The consequences of a first order QCD phase transition in the protoneutronstar remnant of core collapse supernova are presented with a special focus on the effects on neutrino transport. A secondary focus is the detection of these neutrinos in terrestrial detectors. Hybrid stars are constructed such that a coexistence region of QCD-confined and deconfined phases forms in the protoneutronstar interior with possibly a pure deconfined phase in the center. The resulting Coulomb lattice (1D,2D and 3D) in the coexistence region is shown to crystallize for temperatures relevant in supernova cores seconds after bounce. Droplet deformation modes freeze out in the same range. For the outermost ~1 km of the coexistence region, the stability of the 3D lattice to shear stresses falls below the critical range of mechanical energy densities provided by hydrodynamical flow. This can lead to a non-spherical relief structure which, together with the enhanced neutrino opacity of the coexistence lattice, can result in anisotropic neutrino transport and therefore neutron star kicks. A computer model for neutrino diffusion coupled with quasistatic evolution of a solid lattice phase and hydrodynamical treatment of the confined matter envelope was developed to address the kick model and other problems. The state of newly formed hybrid stars is determined using a self-consistent approach of integrating the stellar structure equations with the constraint of heat flow equilibrium, resulting in relatively cool energy spheres (T~1MeV) compared to T~10MeV in the interior. Typical cooling timescales of hybrid stars are then ~100 seconds. This is shown to result in a statistically significant signal in a Pb-neutron spallation detector. In exploratory calculations, observed kick speeds were reproduced and the presence of a sustainable convective flow pattern to maintain a crater in the coexistence region was verified. The Pb and Fe components of a proposed neutron spallation neutrino detector concept were optimized with respect to cost-efficiency. DAMOCLES, a transport code for neutrons, capture gamma rays and scintillation photons was developed for that purpose. The detection efficiency for liberated neutrons for the optimum configurations in both detectors is 38%. The available sensitivity to sparse neutrino signals is ~1/(second,kT) for expected radioactive background rates. Advisors/Committee Members: Boyd, Richard N.

▼ This dissertation concerns the field of values of the inverse of a matrix. Techniques of approximation of this set are considered for large, sparse matrices, and applications are discussed. A new method is presented that is similar in computational cost to previous methods, but may yield better approximations in practice. Also, a new technique for finding eigenvalue inclusion regions is presented, developed from the relationship between the field of values of the inverse and the eigenvalue extraction technique known as harmonic Rayleigh-Ritz. By intersecting these eigenvalue inclusion regions, a new characterization of the spectrum of a matrix is obtained. The technique for generating these regions can be generalized by replacing the field of values with other eigenvalue inclusion sets, and this is demonstrated using the Geršgorin region of a matrix. Advisors/Committee Members: Singer, David A.

▼ Complicated healing of articular fractures represents a clinical challenge and a financial burden on the health care system. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSC) hold promise for targeted osteogenic differentiation and can be augmented by delivery of genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). Osteogenic differentiation of BMDMSC was investigated using two BMP genes. Cultured BMDMSC were transduced with adenoviral vectors containing human BMP2 or BMP6 in either sustained in monolayer or suspended in alginate for 22 days. Adenovirus (Ad)-BMP-2 and Ad-BMP-6 transduction resulted in abundant BMP-2 and BMP-6 mRNA and ligand expression in monolayer culture and BMP-2 ligand expression in alginate. Ad-BMP-2 and Ad-BMP-6 transduced BMDMSC in monolayer had earlier alkaline phosphatase-positive staining and mineralization and were sustained for a longer duration than untransduced or Ad-ß-galactosidase-transduced cells. Gene expression studies at day 2 confirmed an inflammatory response to the gene delivery process. Up-regulation of genes consistent with response to BMP exposure and osteogenic differentiation occurred in BMP-transduced cells. These data support that transduction of BMDMSC with Ad-BMP-2 or Ad-BMP-6 can accelerate osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of stem cells. BMP-2-transduced stem cells suspended in alginate culture may be a practical carrier system to support bone formation in vivo. A distal femoral articular osteotomy model was created in the nude rat to study articular fracture healing. Osteotomies were treated with BMDMSC, wild-type (NoAd) or transduced with Ad-BMP-2. Cells were delivered in alginate (ALG) or injected in saline. Controls were empty ALG, saline injections, direct Ad-BMP-2 injection, and untreated osteotomies. Healing was compared using quantitative micro-computed tomography, fluorescent labeling, and histology. At day 14, osteotomy gap area in the Ad-BMP-2 ALG group was significantly greater than other groups (P < 0.0003). The group treated with Ad-BMP2-transduced cells injected in saline (Ad-BMP-2 cells) healed with less osteotomy gap area (P < 0.0001) and volume (P < 0.02) than untreated controls. In ALG groups, bone healing was impeded by development of a chondroid mass most pronounced in the Ad-BMP-2 ALG group. Injection of Ad-BMP2-transduced BMDMSC in saline accelerated bone healing and reconstituted the articular surface in this distal femoral osteotomy model of articular fracture healing. Advisors/Committee Members: Bertone, Alicia L.

▼ The sport of ice hockey is a unique blend of anaerobic power and aerobic capacity. These athletes perform short bouts (90 sec) of powerful skating, shooting, and body hits. While these are anaerobic bouts of exercise, the effect of repeated on-ice shifts results in a cumulative endurance exercise. The purpose of this study was to analyze the body's physiological responses, such as maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory threshold, of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level hockey players. Twenty-four male hockey players (n=14 forwards, n=8 defensemen, n=2 goalies; age=20.9 ± 1.18 yrs.) were measured for VO2max and ventilatory threshold (Tvent) on a treadmill, utilizing a progressive, graded exercise test protocol. The measures were collected using the Oxycon Mobile® gas analysis system. The subjects ran on the treadmill for 3-minute stages during which speed and grade increased, until exhaustion. VO2max was expressed in relative terms (ml/kg/min), and Tvent was recorded as a percent of VO2max (%VO2max). Heart rate (bpm) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also measured. VO2max for these subjects were significantly higher than the average for this demographic, 57.2 ± 5.04 ml/kg/min (range: 68.0-48.4 ml/kg/min). Tvent for these subjects was also significantly higher than average, untrained individuals, 80.7 ± 9.6% VO2max (range: 91.9%-54.0%). Also, VO2 at stage 4 (p=0.068, d=2.42) and Tvent (p=0.68, d=0.19) were not shown to be dependent on position. Advisors/Committee Members: Morgan, Amy L.

▼ Joining a growing body of research on social capital and civic engagement, this project examined the ways that localized newspapers can build better communities.Availability of news outlets in an area is typically positively related to citizens’ engagement within the community. It is unclear if community newspapers have similar impacts on engagement regardless of content, or if specific types of community newspaper content have different effects on civic engagement and social capital. This study examined engagement levels within demographically similar communities, differentiated by whether the community newspaper employed hyper-local reporting strategies. A mail survey, containing questions about newspaper readership, public expectations of the newspaper, community connectedness and civic engagement, was sent to residents of Hannibal, Missouri and Defiance, Ohio. Respondents from both communities displayed high levels of community knowledge and direct contact with those engaged in civic affairs (above 80% for all measures). Civic engagement levels were similar for residents of both towns, with slightly higher levels for those who were accustomed to hyper-local reporting. Respondents from both Hannibal and Defiance expected the community newspaper to serve a positive social role by helping to improve the community. Advisors/Committee Members: Martin, Hugh J.

▼ Arc welding machines are typically large, heavy devices that transform an alternating current (AC) input into a low-voltage, direct current (DC) output. Traditionally these high power devices have required steel and copper transformers that account for their bulky size and weight. While the cost of raw materials in electromagnetic components has been increasing the cost of high-power silicon devices has been decreasing. This disparity creates an opportunity for a cost-effective DC-DC switching welder in the consumer market. While DC-DC power electronics are not new to the welding industry, this study, under the commission of a welding equipment manufacturer, aims to develop and prototype a design specifically for an affordable and portable battery-powered welding machine. By eliminating the need for electromagnetic components for isolation and voltage regulation, and focusing on a DC-DC battery-powered device, a unique opportunity exists to create a high-feature product with a minimalist design. The design is implemented with a high-current voltage chopping circuit as well as an assortment of feedback, control, and safety circuitry necessary to complete the machine. By combining simulation, prototype validation and real-world cost limitations, this project outlines the development of a new product for the welding equipment market. Advisors/Committee Members: Kazimierczuk, Marian.

▼ The purpose of this descriptive field study was to investigate the meaning of loneliness from the adult, hospitalized, dying person's perspective. Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and review of records were the central techniques of data collection. Data were collected over a nine-month period, with the researcher in the role of a clinical nurse specialist at a large university medical center. The purposive sample consisted of 18 primary participants who were recognized as having limited life spans by virtue of their diagnosis of metastatic cancer or AIDS and a prognosis of approximately one year or less. The interpretation of loneliness meanings relied on data from these primary participants. Field notes comprised the data for analysis. A thematic and pattern analysis was performed. The data supported the existence of three meaning dimensions of loneliness: relational, existential, and emotional. These dimensions overlap and a common core of experiences, termed "poverty of self," was identified. The meaning dimensions are expressive of and based in two affiliative contexts, others and self. From the perspective of the adult, hospitalized, dying person, loneliness is an unpleasant feeling of separateness, aloneness, and/or emptiness in response to qualitative or quantitative deficits in relationships with others and a perceived inability to adequately express one's complete self with others. The data also revealed that a person may feel lonely in the presence of others or he/she may be alone and not feel lonely. The intensity of the feeling may be lessened by the knowledge that the separation from important persons or things is temporary. From the dying person' s perspective, although it is a frightening and distressing experience, there is potential for self-growth. A comparison of data from the lonely and not lonely suggested three associated conditions: (a) deficits in relationships that provide a sense of attachment and the opportunity for nurturance; (b) the absence of a spiritual belief system; and (c) a pattern of living-dying characterized by fear and uncertainty about illness and/or treatment outcomes. The majority of these dying persons expressed at least a minimal or temporary experience of loneliness. The potential usefulness of nursing interventions aimed at self-enrichment were suggested. Advisors/Committee Members: Wykle, May.

Advisors/Committee Members: Sciulli, Paul W.

▼ This four-chapter report describes the work I completed as a technical writer/trainer intern at The Normandy Group (TNG). It provides an overview of TNG; an overview of my role and the projects I worked on at TNG; a description of the user guide I created as my major writing project at TNG; and an analysis and application of the Problem Solving Model for Technical Communicators in regards to my major project and an exploration of the internship regarding the expectations I had before the internship began, the reality of the internship, and the hindsight gained from the internship. Advisors/Committee Members: Durack, Katherine.

Strength and hydraulic conductivity characteristics of roller compacted concrete Advisors/Committee Members: Hazen, Glenn.

▼ This research involved the modeling, control and state estimation of a Roll Simulator. The focus of this study was on the Roll Simulator's application in emulating rollovers for vehicles such as ROVs. The Roll Simulator was designed to study occupant kinematics during a vehicle rollover in a laboratory setting. Little research has been performed where the focus has been on the vehicle rolling over to 90 degrees and the interaction of the occupant with the road plane at this instance has been closely examined. The Roll Simulator allows for these types of analyses to occur. In this dissertation, a two (2) degree-of-freedom model, describing the dynamics of the Roll Simulator, is developed. Equations of motion, derived using Lagrange's energy methods, describe the dynamics of the sled-platform assembly. Additional sub-system modeling is also performed to capture the dynamics of a hydraulic system, electro-magnetic particle brake and electric roll motor. The validity of the full simulation is corroborated by comparisons with experimental data from the Roll Simulator. Control strategies for the Roll Simulator are also discussed. The strategies are derived utilizing simple physics of the system. This allows for desired trajectories to be met using feed-forward terms. Application of feedback is limited due to the configurations of the actuators and the short duration maneuever. A variety of linear observers are introduced to estimate states within the Roll Simulator. A Kalman Filter is developed to estimate sled speed. To tune the filter, the Kalman Filter is applied to a higher fidelity model which has four (4) degrees-of-freedom. To capture the non-linear behavior of the sled-platform assembly, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used. When applied to experimental data, the observed sled speed exhibits gross over-estimation of the true speed. This is due to a disturbance in the system. A disturbance observer is used to estimate rolling resistance between the sled and floor and account for any uncertainties in system parameters. When using the disturbance observer, the linear Kalman Filter is able to more accurately estimate sled speed. For low-load low-speed applications, the output of a Kalman Filter using an accelerometer and measured drum speed, closely agrees with sled speed, when appropriate gain scheduling is introduced. Lastly, a feedback linearization technique is investigated. This studies the versatility of the Roll Simulator when the limitations of its actuators are increased. Advisors/Committee Members: Guenther, Dennis.

▼ A current priority of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is to decrease stopping distances of commercial vehicles. It has been found that longer stopping distances during panic stops increase the chances of collision with other vehicles. By using ABS modulated air-disk brakes in conjunction with electronic actuation (Electronic Control Braking System, ECBS) on the prime mover (i.e. the tractor), the stopping distance can be decreased by as much as 30 %. However, due to fiscal reasons in the trucking industry and the nature of ECBS of adding a fourth line to the system, it has not been implemented on the trailer(s). Thus, there are compatibility issues between the tractor and trailer(s). Previous brake-in-turn studies have been done with single-trailer commercial vehicles. This study investigated the jackknife stability of double tractor-trailer combination vehicles in brake-in-turn maneuvers with varying loads and surface conditions, and brake configurations. TruckSimTM was used to model the vehicle dynamics of the vehicle and MATLAB®’s Simulink®, in parallel, ran NHTSA’s ABS model. A sanity check was performed on TruckSimTM’s doubles package with the aid of experimental data obtained by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) at the Transportation Research Center Inc (TRC). In the Brake-In-Turn studies the tractor utilized a 4s/4m ABS configuration with pneumatic drum, pneumatic disc or ECBS disc brakes. The trailers and dolly utilized a 2s/1m select-high or low ABS control algorithm with pneumatic drum brakes. Conditions with ABS ON for the entire vehicle (and select-high control algorithm on the trailers and dolly) found that instabilities were exhibited under a surface friction coefficient of 0.3. Lane excursions occurred in the dolly and 2nd trailer or a jackknife occurred between the 1st and 2nd trailer. It was demonstrated that these instabilities could be avoided while utilizing a select-low control algorithm on the trailers and dolly. Conditions with ABS OFF for the tractor and on for the rest of the vehicle (with a select-high control algorithm on the trailers and dolly) found instabilities under every condition with the exception of one. The instabilities exhibited were either a lane excursion or jackknife. The difference between a jackknife and lane excursion situation was realized when investigating the discrepancy in time between steer and drive wheel lock-up. The greater difference in lock-up between the steer and drive wheels on a high friction coefficient resulted in a jackknife situation. On a low or medium friction coefficient, the smaller time difference in wheel lock-up increased the jackknife stability, but a lane excursion still occurred. A greater number of jackknife situations occurred on a tractor equipped with pneumatic drum brakes for this same reasoning. The tradeoff between the vehicle equipped with disc and drum brakes was discussed. Simulation results (with ABS OFF on the tractor) showed that a tractor equipped with disc brakes (ECBS or Pneumatic) had greater jackknife stability. However, the vehicle left the intended path at an earlier moment in the maneuver than a tractor equipped with pneumatic drum brakes under the same simulated conditions. A comparison showed that the dolly was the least stable unit in the vehicle with the ABS ON conditions; whereas, with the ABS OFF, the tractor was the least stable unit. A current priority of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is to decrease stopping distances of commercial vehicles. It has been found that longer stopping distances during panic stops increase the chances of collision with other vehicles. By using ABS modulated air-disk brakes in conjunction with electronic actuation (Electronic Control Braking System, ECBS) on the prime mover (i.e. the tractor), the stopping distance can be decreased by as much as 30 %. However, due to fiscal reasons in the trucking industry and the nature of ECBS of adding a fourth line to the system, it has not been implemented on the trailer(s). Thus, there are compatibility issues between the tractor and trailer(s). Previous brake-in-turn studies have been done with single-trailer commercial vehicles. This study investigated the jackknife stability of double tractor-trailer combination vehicles in brake-in-turn maneuvers with varying loads and surface conditions, and brake configurations. TruckSimTM was used to model the vehicle dynamics of the vehicle and MATLAB®’s Simulink®, in parallel, ran NHTSA’s ABS model. A sanity check was performed on TruckSimTM’s doubles package with the aid of experimental data obtained by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) at the Transportation Research Center Inc (TRC). In the Brake-In-Turn studies the tractor utilized a 4s/4m ABS configuration with pneumatic drum, pneumatic disc or ECBS disc brakes. The trailers and dolly utilized a 2s/1m select-high or low ABS control algorithm with pneumatic drum brakes. Conditions with ABS ON for the entire vehicle (and select-high control algorithm on the trailers and dolly) found that instabilities were exhibited under a surface friction coefficient of 0.3. Lane excursions occurred in the dolly and 2nd trailer or a jackknife occurred between the 1st and 2nd trailer. It was demonstrated that these instabilities could be avoided while utilizing a select-low control algorithm on the trailers and dolly. Conditions with ABS OFF for the tractor and on for the rest of the vehicle (with a select-high control algorithm on the trailers and dolly) found instabilities under every condition with the exception of one. The instabilities exhibited were either a lane excursion or jackknife. The difference between a jackknife and lane excursion situation was realized when investigating the discrepancy in time between steer and drive wheel lock-up. The greater difference in lock-up between the steer and drive wheels on a high friction coefficient resulted in a jackknife situation. On a low or medium friction coefficient, the smaller time difference in wheel lock-up increased the jackknife stability, but a lane excursion still occurred. A greater number of jackknife situations occurred on a tractor equipped with pneumatic drum brakes for this same reasoning. The tradeoff between the vehicle equipped with disc and drum brakes was discussed. Simulation results (with ABS OFF on the tractor) showed that a tractor equipped with disc brakes (ECBS or Pneumatic) had greater jackknife stability. However, the vehicle left the intended path at an earlier moment in the maneuver than a tractor equipped with pneumatic drum brakes under the same simulated conditions. A comparison showed that the dolly was the least stable unit in the vehicle with the ABS ON conditions; whereas, with the ABS OFF, the tractor was the least stable unit. Advisors/Committee Members: Guenther, Dennis A.

▼ Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoids are slow growing malignancies of neuroendocrine phenotype that can behave aggressively. To date, there are no effective therapies for metastatic carcinoid cancer. Previous work by our lab and others has shown that carcinoids express variety of voltage-operated (VOCCs) and non-voltage-operated Ca2+ channels to allow Ca2+ to enter the cell. Although, the role of Ca2+ entry in these tumors is not well understood, previous work by our group and others has shown that mitochondria are important regulators of voltage-operated and non-voltage-operated Ca2+ entry. In addition, cancer cells typically exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction and poor anti-oxidant status. These observations and the central role that mitochondria play in metabolism, Ca2+ homeostasis and cell death pathways make mitochondria an appealing potential target for anti-cancer treatment in carcinoid tumors. We used an spectrum of human cancer cell lines and a variety of microfluorescence methods including wide-field, confocal, and total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy to assess Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial function in combination with pharmacological interventions to assay whether mitochondria are a potential target for anti-cancer therapy. To this end, we tested the effectiveness of an oxidant therapy approach in carcinoid cells. Advisors/Committee Members: Giovannucci, David.

▼ The Gory Sowie Block (GSB), of SW Poland’s Sudete Mountains, contains numerous ultra-high temperature granulites (UHT) and small relict ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites enveloped within amphibolite-facies gneisses and amphibolites. The GSB is bounded by ductile fault zones, bisected by the Sudetic Boundary fault and partially overlies ophiolitic sequences. The GSB experienced a polyphase metamorphic history spanning Caledonian and Variscan accretionary events (440 - 330 Ma) with peak metamorphic conditions of 1000°C and >20 kbar occurring ca. 400 Ma, indicated by U-Pb zircon ages on garnet peridotites and felsic granulites. This project involved 40 Ar/ 39 Ar hornblende and mica plateau ages from primarily GSB host gneisses. The results indicate that the western GSB experienced a diachronous cooling event with the northern region cooling from upper amphibolite-facies (sillimanite/kyanite zone) ca. 385 Ma and southern region from middle to lower amphibolite-facies (garnet/biotite zone) ca. 375 Ma with cooling rates ranging from 40 – 25°C m.y. -1 . U-Th total-Pb monazite geochronometric results obtained during this study reveal both amphibolite-facies metamorphism at 385 Ma, concordant with the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar cooling ages, and homophazation of the gneisses and late-fluid mobilization along tectonic boundaries associated with large scale metamorphism of the surrounding Sudetic terranes at ca. 360 Ma. Additionally, concordant 40 Ar/ 39 Ar hornblende and biotite plateau ages obtained along the far eastern margin indicate a regional heating event at 336.8 ± 0.8 Ma., most likely associated with Niemcza shearing. Advisors/Committee Members: Schneider, Dave.

▼ Children with chronic illnesses have a unique set of health and illness experiences. The purpose of this research was to investigate how children with juvenile diabetes (IDDM) explain, manage and cope with their illness. Three sets of interviews were administered to twenty-six children who were diagnosed as diabetic for at least six months. Theoretical perspectives were gathered in initial and follow-up interviews. Weekly interviews, gathered by telephone, investigated health maintenance activities and actual response patterns to illness episodes. Results indicate that although juvenile diabetes is a fully recognized entity in the realm of professional biomedicine, it is the popular sector of care which has the greater influence on diabetic illness beliefs, management behaviors, and coping strategies. The children's responses also indicate that they view their condition from two perspectives. The first is a disease orientation in which juvenile diabetes is seen as a complex, life-threatening, medical condition which is caused by a malfunctioning pancreas. This disease orientation is mediated by an illness orientation, which has management as the focal point. The diabetic management tasks of insulin injections, blood or urine checks and vigilance in diet and exercise are clearly delineated in the professional sector of care, b ut are carried out in the popular sector of care. By successfully participating in self-care, these children learn that they can become responsible for their health. Since several of the prescribed diabetic management tasks are recommended for all health-conscious individuals, the paradigm of care for these children becomes one of health maintenance as opposed to diabetic illness prevention. Advisors/Committee Members: Korbin, Jill E.

▼ In summer 2002, face-to-face interviews were carried across Lebanon with seventeen nursery managers. Production of woody plants from propagation to finished product does not commonly occur. Most frequently, woody taxa are imported from Italian and Spanish nurseries. Fertilizer studies were carried out on three species native to Lebanon that have ornamental attributes: Cercis siliquastrum, Acer syriacum and Malus trilobata. The fertilizer study aimed at determining the production potential of six sources of Cercis, two sources of Malus and one source of Acer, by exploring their growth, N, P, K nutrient uptake efficiency and partitioning under two fertilizer rates. Seedlings of all sources of Cercis grown under 25 had greater dry weight than those grown at 100 mg N per L. those of Malus under the low fertilizer rate were taller than those at the high fertilizer rate. Growth of Acer was not affected by fertilizer rates. Nutrient loading occurred in Cercis and Malus plants under the high fertilizer rate, although total plant N, P, and K content was not affected by fertilizer rate. Water use of container-grown plants and the impact of fertilization on water use were studied in these species. Water use estimates were made by saturating the containers early in the morning, allowing them to drain for one hour, weighing them and re-weighing approximately five hours later. Seedlings at the low fertilizer rate used more water per cm height than plants at the high fertilizer rate. In addition, there were differences in water use among and within seed sources of Cercis and Malus. One way to preserve these species is by propagation and reintroduction into appropriate habitats. Therefore, the relationship of nine species to soil and climatic conditions in eight sites along an altitudinal gradient was studied. Climatic data was collected and soil samples were taken and analyzed for soil texture, soil pH, EC, CaCO3, organic matter content and the following nutrients: Ca, Mn, Na, Fe, P, K, Cu, Mg, and Zn. Each ecosystem had a unique environment. Some species’ densities were affected by soil conditions while climatic conditions explained the densities of species. Advisors/Committee Members: Struve, Daniel.

Advisors/Committee Members: Bumcrot, Robert J.