On the Historical and Future Role of the Music Producer

The research completed in this thesis is designed to review the historical role of the music producer and track its evolution into the modern era. Focus on the history of the producer will include formal research from the time and a review of individuals who pioneered significant change in the industry. The thesis will then explore the role of the contemporary record producer and raise questions about the impact of modern technology and practice

A Petrophysical Evaluation of Factors That Control Cap Rock Seal Quality

Textural and mineralogical variations within 33 shale samples were analyzed to provide a model for predication of hydrocarbon top-seal efficiency. Variation in mineral abundances in the subsurface influences petrophysical properties and other characteristics of hydrocarbon sealing sequences and reservoirs. In geophysical well logs, various proxies, such as gamma ray emission and neutron absorption, are used to assess changes in mineral composition. This study directly compares X-ray diffraction measurements of mineral percentages and geophysical responses from Middle Miocene cored intervals in the Santa Cruz Well; Mississippi Canyon block 519, Gulf of Mexico with those derived from well logging. Distinct textural differences reveal characteristics that can be used to construct five unique microfacies. Microfacies Interpretation was based on SEM determination of clay/silt fraction ratio, sedimentary structures and XRD mineralogy content. Shale types examined can be divided into 5 microfacies: 1. Finely laminated clayshale; 2. Slightly silty clayshale; 3. Banded mudshale; 4. Slightly sandy mudstone; and 5. Moderately sandy and bedded siltstone. The respective shale microfacies 1 through 5 are a result of varied depositional environments and diagenetic processes produced in specific depositional frameworks and possess unique mineral contents. The depositional environment from each microfacies is as follows: Microfacies 1. Low Energy, Distal Hemipelagite; MF2: Distal turbidite; MF3: Proximal Hemi-Turbiditic (Banded); MF4: Poorly Sorted, High energy, Debrite; MF5: High Energy, Gravity Slump-Mass Transport Complex and Leveed Channel Complex. Accessory mineral constituents discretely identified in individual microfacies provide an indication to seal quality based on inherent subsurface quantities including pyrite, siderite, and carbonate material. Identification of successful sealing parameters (textural, mineralogical, petrophysical) is evident in well logs providing an indication to possible prediction of seal quality based on inferred and actual parallels to previous seal efficiency studies by Dawson and Almon (2002,2006) and Bjǿrlykke et al. (2004, 2008). A successful seal should have high clay-mineral mean abundances, low amounts of silt, high to moderate bulk density and gamma-ray measurements, expandable clays and illite, relative high abundances of pyrite, siderite and carbonate material. Alternatively, a less effective seal typically contains higher amounts of silt comparably, less mean abundance of clay, moderate to low bulk density and gamma ray readings. MF1 and MF2 exhibit the best sealing potential whereas MF4 and MF5 contain less effective textural characteristics of a high quality seal. Qualitative comparisons of summary statistics for distinctive parameters provide visual evidence of microfacies characteristics and variability. Quantitative discrimination of individual microfacies results from varying quantitative mineral contents revealed by multivariate statistics yields a perfect distinction between microfacies end member MF1 and MF5. A random forest classification separated microfacies perfectly and ranked variables according to influence on classification of the viable characteristics necessary to determine predictive properties of successful sealing microfacies from lab derived mineral constituents and geophysical well-log calculations

A quantitative study on student perception of campus climate for diversity at a predominantly white institution

This quantitative study was conducted during the spring 2015 semester at Rowan University—a Predominantly White Institution located in Glassboro, NJ that also consists of classes in Camden, NJ. The target population of this study was all main-campus, full-time undergraduate students at or above the age of 18 years who were enrolled in Rowan University for at least a full semester—during the Fall 2014 semester and returned in the Spring 2015 semester. The purpose of this research study was to close a knowledge gap for research surrounding undergraduate perception of campus climate for diversity at a Predominantly White Institution as represented by Rowan University. Data were gathered using a web-based quantitative study, assisted by hand-issued surveys to increase chances of study completion. The survey used was an adapted version of Mason’s (2011) study conducted at Southwest Minnesota State University. Key findings are positive outcomes of students’ perception towards campus climate diversity coinciding with foundational literature for needs to support campus climate diversity. Significance was found with student perceived personal responsibility for the campus climate diversity and overall satisfaction of campus diversity when compared to the participants’ ethnicity

Compositional analysis of laser welds in a Cu46.5Zr46.5A7 glass forming alloy

Laser additive manufacturing is a promising manufacturing method of bulk metallic glasses. Study and understanding of the heat affected zone and fusion zones are crucial in developing this manufacturing technique. A cast Cu46.5Zr46.5A7 sample was processed at laser powers and scan speeds varying from 75-370W and 100-900 mm/s respectively to determine the effects of processing parameters on weld composition for use in additive manufacturing. Copper content was found to generally decrease through the weld fusion zone, and increase through the heat affected zone. Zinc was unexpectedly present in analysis. Cracking occurred at significantly different linear energy densities and appeared to correlate more strongly with laser power at these parameters, supporting previous research that using energy density alone to predict additive manufacturing processes.Undergraduat

Frictional, Large-Deformation Poroelastic Flow: Theory and Experiments

Fluid flow through deformable, porous materials is seemingly ubiquitous in the natural world---spanning length scales from the cellular to the planetary---and offers a phenomenologically rich setting in which to study the generally nonlinear coupling between solid- and fluid-mechanics in multiphase materials. As much as we might like to study such flows in strict isolation from their environment, this thesis argues that properly accounting for forces that arise on the boundaries of such flows is essential to understanding the behavior of realistic soft porous media flows. Building on an experimental program initiated more than half a century ago, we demonstrate a novel empirical method for simultaneously measuring the pore pressure and medium deformation profiles alongside the volume flux in uniaxial porous media flow. We perform a suite of experiments studying the flow-compaction of a foam sample in a regime in which the friction between the sample and boundaries of the experimental cell cannot be ignored. By opposing the motion of the foam, the wall friction leads to a demonstrable hysteresis in all of the measured quantities, a path-dependence which is difficult to account for in conventional theoretical models of large-deformation poroelasticity. Our experimental measurements constrain the material constitutive relations of our foam sample and thus enable us to formulate a mathematically closed theory of its poroelastic dynamics. Informed by these closures, we develop a particle-based theoretical framework that accounts for both static and kinetic frictional effects, and we demonstrate that our model quantitatively captures the full friction-induced phenomenology evinced in our experiments

Human dental pulp stem cell culture model for studies on etiopathogenesis of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate anomaly

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) occurs approximately in 1 of 700 live births. It has a serious impact on a patient during the whole life. It was shown that it can be prevented by supplementation of folic acid. However, much more needs to be known about etiopathogenetic factors and molecular mechanisms leading to NSCLP in order to personalize its prevention. Basic science information on etiology and pathogenesis of NSCLP was obtained from animal experiments. Clinical studies and trials showed efficacy of prevention by folic acid supplementation. A cell culture model is needed for studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to development of NSCLP and underlying its prevention. Our goal is to compare behavior of HDPSC isolated from patients with or without NSCLP

Gingival Crevicular Flow (Volume) as a Biomarker of Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Tooth movement is caused by the application of force. In short, applied force strains structures present in the PDL space – cells, ligaments, blood vessels. Cells in the PDL are damaged by extension and by diminished oxygen supply due to compression of blood vessels. Compounds released from damaged or dead cells trigger an innate inflammatory response. One of the biomarkers of that response is increased formation of extracellular fluid (edema), specifically gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Our goal is to monitor changes of GCF flow during the orthodontic treatment with Invisalign

From the Desk of the Canadian Athletic Director: Perceptions of Core Competencies in Ontario University Athletics (OUA)

Intercollegiate athletics are a unique and integral part of North American institutions of higher education. Through competition and achievement, intercollegiate sport in both U SPORTS and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is valuable to their member institutions. As a result, investment of time, energy, financial, and human resources are necessary within athletic departments. Given the Athletic Director (AD) is positioned as one of these resources (human), the purpose of this study is to understand the core competencies needed of OUA athletic directors to best perform in their role within inter-university athletics in Canada. Competencies are classified as, “clusters of skills, knowledge, abilities and behaviours required for job success” (Bernthal, et al, 2004, p.13). To explore, the current study conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with Ontario University Athletic (OUA) Athletic Directors. Findings indicated there are four overarching management categories: Strategic Oversight Management, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, and Marketing Management while Athletic Directors perceived core competencies are discussed under these categories. As well, an OUA Athletic Director Competency Model is presented that clearly described the research findings. The perceptions of Athletic Directors are further discussed relating findings to previous literature while both practical and academic implications and directions for myriad of future research opportunities are outlined given the paucity of research

Scintillator-based ion beam profiler for diagnosing laser-accelerated ion beams

Next generation intense, short-pulse laser facilities require new high repetition rate diagnostics for the detection of ionizing radiation. We have designed a new scintillator-based ion beam profiler capable of measuring the ion beam transverse profile for a number of discrete energy ranges. The optical response and emission characteristics of four common plastic scintillators has been investigated for a range of proton energies and fluxes. The scintillator light output (for 1 MeV > Ep < 28 MeV) was found to have a non-linear scaling with proton energy but a linear response to incident flux. Initial measurements with a prototype diagnostic have been successful, although further calibration work is required to characterize the total system response and limitations under the high flux, short pulse duration conditions of a typical high intensity laser-plasma interaction