Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

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 …

Deposition, Diagenesis, And Porosity Development Of The Middle Devonian, Lucas Formation In The West Branch Oil Field, Ogemaw County, Michigan, Scott Gregory Park

Masters Theses

The Lucas Formation in the West Branch Oil Field contains over 1000 feet of carbonates and evaporites deposited in restricted marine environments. Deposition ranged from a tidal flat environment (Richfield Member) to subaqueous basin central type deposition (Iutzi and Horner Members).

Early diagenesis of the Lucas Formation carbonates included dolomitization and related porosity development in certain depositional facies where physiochemical conditions were favorable. Significant porosity and permeability reduction occurred during burial resulting from anhydrite, celestite, and halite cementation. Calcite pseudopar and microspar (a neomorphic product) also reduced porosity.

Hydrocarbon production from the Lucas Formation in the West Branch Field is …

Hypernuclear Photoproduction Via (Γ,K*), Kimberly Ann Hodgkinson

Masters Theses

The nuclear (γ,K^*) reaction is studied using plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) and a distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA), which includes full Coulomb and optical distortions. The model and calculations for each model are presented. For ¹²C(γ K^*)¹²B, the two approximation methods are compared at 2 energies: 1.47 Gev/c and 1.84GeV/c. ²⁰⁸Pb(γ, K^*)²⁰⁸ i s a lso examined. Distortion effects are found to greatly alter the magnitude of the cross sections, but the shape of the angular distributions remains. the same. Conclusions suggest further study.

Investigation Of The Synthesis And Polymerization Behavior Of Vinyl Benzoate, Selim Mehmet Erhan

Dissertations

The goal of this study is to present a method that gives higher conversions and molecular weights for the polymerization of vinyl benzoate than obtained in previous investigations.

Polyvinyl benzoate has benzene rings attached to the backbone chain, therefore is hard and rigid. This is a characteristic which has a large application area. However previous studies in polymerizing vinyl benzoate with bulk and solution polymerizations reported low yields and troublesome crosslinking, which has limited its application. Emulsion polymerization method has the advantage of giving high polymerization rates together with high molecular weights, and therefore was chosen as the method for …

Effect Of Polymerization Conversion On The Experimental Determination Of Monomer Reactivity Ratios In Copolymerization, Sevim Zeynep Erhan

Dissertations

In this study the comparison of the methods used to calculate monomer reactivity ratios from experimental copolymer composition data is targeted.

For this purpose, nine samples of each of nine different concentrations of styrene-methyl methacrylate monomer mixtures were prepared. These mixtures were then polymerized for different times ranging from one to nine hours and the percent conversion to copolymer was determined.

The compositions of these copolymers were determined by their refractive index increments measured in two different solvents. Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy was also studied as a possible method to find copolymer compositions. Though this method has been used previously, UV …

A Study Of Ion Implanted Silicon Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy With Ion Channeling, Thomas J. Pollock

Masters Theses

Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy with channeling is the only nondestructive method for analyzing crystals which have been ion implanted. An RBS with channeling procedure has been established at the Accelerator Lab of Western Michigan University. It utilizes a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator for an incident helium beam, a goniometer for crystal alignment, and a computer for experimental control and data aquisition. State of the art measurements can be made with accuracies comparable to other labs. Specifically, ion implanted silicon was studied wherein crystal damage due to implanting was found to vary directly with implanting energy and fluence and was also …

A Graphic Implementation Of Blocks World As An Example Of Artificial Intelligence, Shigenori Ochiai

Masters Theses

The objective of this study is to implement blocks world as a classic example of artificial intelligence both visually and realistically.

The visual representation is implemented by using a graphic system in a microcomputer. Real world constraints are implemented as rules concerning centers of gravity.

These goals are significant in realizing principles of artificial intelligence. Visual data help a human being to quickly understand the state of a system. Also, bringing a situation closer to the real world is a step toward to the final goal of artificial intelligence.

Shape Recognition By Curvature Changing Points And Fourier Transform, Jianzhong Li

Masters Theses

Computer vision is a relatively new and fast-growing field. Shape representation and recognition is a very important but difficult branch in this field.

One method of using curvature changing points and Fourier transform to recognize the shape is described in this thesis. Also an important feature in computer vision, multiscaling, is achieved by this method.

Theoretical Thermodynamic Properties Of Low Temperature Fluids, Zul Azhar Zahid Jamal

Masters Theses

The thermodynamic functions for low temperature fluids are computed using parametric integral equations and perturbation theory. Parametric integral equation N is applied to a low temperature Lennard-Jones gas. It is found that there is no significant improvement over the better known parametric integral equation C. The two parameter integral equation T is applied to a low temperature square-well potential and is found to be unsatisfactory at reduced temperatures of T*= 1.4 and 1.6, but quite accurate at T* = 2.2. The equation T results for T* = 2.2 are used as the reference system in perturbation theory computations. Tables of …

Effects Of A Magnetic Field On The Thermodynamics Of Dilute Classical Spin Chains, Guoqing Hu

Masters Theses

The thermodynamics of a diluted chain of ferromagnetic classical spin in the presence of an external magnetic field is determined in the limit of the continuum model. The magnetization, susceptibility, specific heat are determined for both the isotropic Heisenberg and the classical XY models as functions of temperature, magnetic field and magnetic concentration. Scaling law for the behavior of the thermodynamic quantities in field, temperature, and magnetic concentration are obtained.

The calculations will be based on the continuum model of classical spin which was solved for the infinite chain system by McGurn and Scalapino.

A Seismic Reflection Survey Over The Wayne-25 Oil Field In Cass County, Michigan, Paul D. Horton

Masters Theses

The "optimum window" seismic reflection method was used in an endeavor to further define an oil producing structure in the Traverse Limestone. This method entails using a source-geophone offset which allows desired reflections to arrive in an undisturbed time zone.

Several sources in the study area produced seismic pulses with relatively high dominant frequency components ranging from 80 to 120 hertz. However, only small charges of dynamite produced sufficient energy to penetrate the glacial drift in the study area.

Preliminarily identified reflection arrivals from the targeted horizon were consistently masked in seismic profiling records by high amplitude, low velocity seismic …

An Application Of Stochastic Learning Automata To Queueing Disciplines, Tearesa Lynn Wegscheid

Masters Theses

There has been extensive research in the area of Stochastic Learning in both Psychology and Computer Science. This thesis examines the literature of Stochastic Learning automata with respect to operation control. It traces the development of an optimal reinforcement scheme, and examines the applications of Stochastic Learning automata in routing. The paper simulates M/M/3 and M/M/5 queueing systems similar to the system described by Glorioso and Osorio. The simulation implements L_r-p, L_i-p, and L_r-i learning models and compares their performance to Teller Window and Jockeying. A blocking factor is developed to provide more information for …

A Trace Element Geochemical Analysis Of The Lake Ellen Kimberlite, Crystal Falls, Michigan, U.S.A., Michelle Ellen Fults

Masters Theses

The Lake Ellen kimberlite located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan represents a possible bedrock source for the diamonds found in the glacial deposits around the Great Lakes. The purpose of this research was to undertake a geochemical analysis in order to better understand the evolution of the kimberlite body and to elucidate on the garnet xenolith paragenesis.

Both instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and scanning electron microscope analysis (SEM) were utilized in this research. The INAA revealed that with respect to other types of upper mantle rocks, the Lake Ellen kimberlite is enriched in both the light rare earth …

The Western Michigan University Programming Contest Proctor System, Joel Marshall Fletcher

Masters Theses

A software package for administering programming contests has been developed for DECsystem-10 timesharing computers. This package provides a neutral editing environment for contestants, a method for submitting problems for execution, and an automatic judging facility for evaluating contestants' solutions and tabulating scores. The proctor system has been used in numerous competitions, including a regional contest sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery.

Kinetics Of The Metal-Exchange Reaction Between N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)Iminodiacetatonickel(N) And Copper(Ii), Kassahun W. Beyene

Masters Theses

The reaction between N-(2-pyridylmethyl)iminodiacetatonickel(II) and copper(II) was studied spectrophotometrically between pH 2.30 and 3.30 over a 10-fold variation in copper concentration at an ionic strength of 1.25M, and a temperature of 25.0+0.1^oC. The reaction is first order in both NiPyIDA and copper(II). Terms involving proton attack and a copper dependent dissociation of the nickel complex were resolved from the data. Evidence is given for a stepwise unwrapping mechanism PyIDA from the nickel complex, followed by copper attack to give a dinuclear intermediate. A general mechanism is presented which is consistent with the kinetic data.

Comparisons to analogous nickel-aliphatic …

Feasibility Of The Proposed Garden Lane Recharge Basin In Portage, Michigan, Sandra K. Barnick

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effectiveness of proposed artificial recharge basins at the Garden Lane Well Field in Portage, Michigan. The area is underlain by 7 feet of muck, 27 feet of sand and gravel, and a 10 foot semiconfining till over a semiconfined aquifer.

The vertical permeability of the semiconfining layer, and the hydraulic head difference between the upper unconfined aquifer and the lower semiconfined aquifer were determined. This was accomplished by conducting a constant-rate pump test. Test data were interpreted by three methods: (1) drawdown vs. time (both logarithmic and semilogarithmic), (2) recovery …

Thermodynamics Of The Diluted Spin Heisenberg Chain With Single Ion Anisotropy, Salmah Ahmed

Masters Theses

The thermodynamics of the one-dimensional diluted Heisenberg magnet of classical spins in the presence of single ion anisotropy is calculated. The magnetization, susceptibility, energy and specific heat are determined as functions of the magnetic concentration and single ion anisotropy for both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings. Spin-spin correlation functions and the elastic scattering are also calculated for various values of anisotropy and spin concentration for the ferromagnetic system.

Geology Newsletter- 1987, Department Of Geology

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

Vol.1, No. 12

• Dear Alumni and Friends
• Groundwater Research Center
• Core Research Laboratory
• W. David Kuenzi Scholarship Fund
• Geology Development and Scholarship Fund
• Faculty Briefs
• 1987 Speakers Program
• Geology/Earth Science Club
• Awards & Scholarships
• Graduate Students
• Alumni Lines

Nitrate Pollution Of Ground Water In Glacial Sediments Underlying A Fertigated Site In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Michael Wireman

Masters Theses

In the central part of Schoolcraft Township high yield corn crops are successfully grown on soils developed on permeable outwash deposits. The high yields are made possible with the utilization of modern irrigation techniques and regular application of nitrogen fertilizer.

Excess nitrogen which moves past the root zone is easily converted to nitrate and leached to the shallow ground water. Water quality data from 103 ground-water samples in the vicinity of a 160-acre corn field in Section 11 clearly indicate that nitrate concentrations in the ground water beneath the field and beneath the area immediately downgradient from the field are …

A Study Of Automated Reasoning In A Brain Tumor Diagnosis Expert System, Aung Zaw Maung

Masters Theses

The objective of this study is to survey various theorem-proving methods and to evaluate how these methods can be applied as inference engines in a brain tumor diagnosis expert system.

Various applications of automated reasoning based on the resolution principle are discussed. Knowledge representations and inference mechanisms used in expert systems are also surveyed.

An actual application of this method for a medical diagnosis problem is implemented and explained, and the limitations of this approach and possible future enhancements are discussed.

Possible Role Of Petroliferous Materials In Sulfide Precipitation At The Frank R. Millikan Mine, Southeast Missouri, Clark Alan Niewendorp

Masters Theses

The Millikan Mine's ore body contains ubiquitous amounts of petroliferous materials occurring as blebs, coal-like pods and veinlets, and seeps coating mine stope walls. Emplacement of hydrocarbons into the ore occurred before the final episode of mineralization ceased, based on growth of dendritic galena in some coal-like bitumen and other paragenetic relationships. Growth of dendritic galena in a hydrocarbon substance suggests that hydrocarbons provided sulfur for galena mineralization by either abiogenetic reduction of sulfate or thermochemical evolution of organic sulfur. Texturally, it also suggests that the presence of hydrocarbons may have been responsible for some zones of rapid precipitate mineralization. …

A Thermodynamic Study Of The Zeolite Stilbite, David Adams Howell

Masters Theses

Stilbite is a calcium-rich zeolite found in low-grade metamorphic and hydrothermally altered environments. In this study, measurements of the enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K, heat capacity from 5 to 350 K, and enthalpy increments horn 350 to 500 K were performed on a specimen of stilbite characterized by electron microprobe analysis. The actual formula of the stilbite is: Ca_1.019Na_0.136K_0.006Al_2.180Si_6.820O₁₆ . 7.33H₂O. Evaluation of the thermodynamic properties for stilbite at T = 298.15 K produced the following values: Δ_rH^Om(T)= -11034.6+6.6 kJ . mol …

The Evolution Of Text Formatting Languages, Dirk Herr-Hoyman

Masters Theses

Text, as seen in books and magazines, can take on three forms: string, graphic (two-dimensional), and image (digitized pictures). Text formatting processes text into a representation suitable for printing. Since a printer is really a computer, this representation is machine code for the printer. ASCII is one such code.

Six historically significant text formatting languages are surveyed: Runoff, Troff, TeX, Bravo, Scribe, and Postscript. The emphasis is on the text types available and the code generated. The main evolutionary forces are the changes in printers. Comparisons are made with programming languages.

Each of the six languages has ASCII as its …

Robust Rank Analysis For Multivariate Linear Models, James Buddy Davis

Dissertations

Three robust rank procedures are considered to test the multivariate linear hypothesis HBK = 0. In the least squares setting, the Lawley-Hotelling trace criterion provides a UMP when the covariance structure is known. Our work reflects the theoretical structure of the Lawley-Hotelling test with robust rank analogues.

The Lawley-Hotelling test has an asymptotic chi-square distribution when the covariance structure is estimated. The trace criterion can be written in three algebraically equivalent forms: a quadratic test based on full model estimates, a quadratic test based on reduced model residuals and a test based on the drop in the least squares dispersion …