Deconvolution of gas chromatographic data

The use of deconvolution methods on gas chromatographic data to obtain an accurate determination of the relative amounts of each material present by mathematically separating the merged peaks is discussed. Data were obtained on a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. Chromatograms of five xylenes with differing degrees of separation were generated by varying the column temperature at selected rates. The merged peaks were then successfully separated by deconvolution. The concept of function continuation in the frequency domain was introduced in striving to reach the theoretical limit of accuracy, but proved to be only partially successful

Set-up and demonstration of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM)

Described are the design, construction and test results of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM). The electron source is a commercial electron gun capable of providing several microamperes of electron beam. These electrons, after acceleration through a selected potential difference of 100-300 volts, are sent through two 30 degree second-order focussing parallel plate electrostatic analyzers. The first analyzer acts as a monochromator located in the field-free space. It is capable of providing energy resolution of better than 10 to the -3 power. The second analyzer, located in the test field region, acts as the detector for electrons deflected by the test field. The entire magnetometer system is expected to have a resolution of 1 part in 1000 or better

A low energy electron magnetometer

The concept of a highly sensitive magnetometer based on the deflection of low energy electron beams in magnetic fields is analyzed. Because of its extremely low mass and consequently high e/m ratio, a low energy electron is easily deflected in a magnetic field, thus providing a basis for very low field measurement. Calculations for a specific instrument design indicate that a low energy electron magnetometer (LEEM) can measure magnetic fields as low as 1000 nT. The anticipated performance of LEEM is compared with that of the existing high resolution magnetometers in selected applications. The fast response time of LEEM makes it especially attractive as a potential instrument for magnetic signature analysis in large engineering systems

The Failure of Louisiana Campaign Finance Law: A Case Study of BRNext and the 2004 Mayoral Election

This thesis is a case study in how weak campaign finance laws and government oversight can undermine democracy in a local election. It does so by demonstrating how Louisiana campaign finance law enabled one wealthy businessman to play a major role in a mayoral election under the auspices of an issue-based political action committee. Through the examination of the Louisiana PAC BRNext, its financial activities, and its relationships, this study suggests that BRNext and its founder Lane Grigsby were able to violate the spirit of the law in each of these areas. BRNext was able to take advantage of the loophole-ridden and vague Louisiana campaign finance law, opening the electoral process up to the possibility for corruption. After discussing how this mayoral election illustrates the failure of Louisiana\u27s legal frameworks to achieve core goals of campaign finance law, this study makes suggestions for adapting policy by taking into account new political actors and new routes for spending

Black Empowerment and Mobilization: A Comparison of Urban and Small City Trends

This research to follow compares voting trends between blacks in urban cities and smaller, non-urban cities. The research aims to replicate the findings based on studies of large cities that blacks tend to have higher or lower turnout rates when there is a black public office holder. Election results were taken from mayoral elections in Alexandria, LA and Monroe, LA. Previous research indicates that blacks have a high rate of turnout in urban areas when there is a black elected official. However, does this effect hold true in non-urban, small cities? Blacks in smaller, non-urban cities, this study finds, do not mobilize at the same rate as this in urban areas. This directly contradicts popular theory on black voting. This study is significant because it contributes to our knowledge of those who have been left out of the discussion of black voting—blacks outside of urban cities—and suggests further research is needed to understand the difference between urban blacks and their smaller city counterparts

Exploring Factors That Influence GED Students To Complete And Matriculate To Career And Technical Education Certificate Programs In Community Colleges

In the current labor market, individuals without a high school diploma or equivalent credentials are more likely to be un-employed, unemployable, or in a low-wage earning position, working two or more part-time jobs to make ends meet. Their outlook on life, and their future, is often bleak. Yet, by obtaining their GED credential, and enrolling in short-term career and technical certificate programs offered at many local community colleges, they are able to gain the skills, experience and confidence needed to open doors to new employment opportunities and a brighter future. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence students with GED credentials to complete and matriculate to career and technical education certificate programs in community colleges. This qualitative case study examined the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of influences from the perspective of GED students in career and technical education programs in three Midwestern state community colleges. Additionally, the research looked into the education programs attributes that supported their program success, as recognized by the college’s program administrators and faculty members at each college. Through a multi-method approach data was collected from ten students, four program administrators, and four faculty members. Through the application of cross-case analysis, the data was examined both within and across each college. The findings were filtered through the conceptual framework of Lent, Hackett, and Brown’s Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), Tinto’s Theory on Retention, and Astin’s Theory of Involvement. The findings indicate that students with GED credentials, returning to certificate programs at community colleges are usually older adults who have faced challenges in finding and/or maintaining gainful employment. They are looking for career and technical educations (CTE) programs that are relatively short-term, offer classes that incorporate contextualized content with skill training, and provide an opportunity for on-the-job or apprenticeship training. Additionally, these students needed a program that provides not only the usually academic support, but can also provide the extra support so many older, first-time college students need to navigate through the institutions practices and policies. The findings also indicate that successful CTE programs involves stakeholders in all areas of education, government, and businesses with an interest in education, labor, and training. Through a collaborative effort, agreeing on effective methods and shared responsibilities, these programs use a systemic approach at the state, regional, and local level to align workforce, education and social services into a strategy that benefits everyone involved

Understanding the dependence of radiative feedbacks and clouds on the spatial structure of ocean heat uptake

Ocean heat uptake and radiative forcing are important for understanding transient climate change. Differences in efficacy of ocean heat uptake (suppression of surface warming per unit energy flux into the deep oceans relative to CO2 forcing) account for a substantial fraction of the spread in transient warming between models. Rose et al. (2014) studied the dependence of efficacy on the spatial pattern of ocean heat uptake in an ensemble of aquaplanet simulations with prescribed ocean heat uptake, and found large differences in model responses to high versus low latitude uptake. This study accurately quantifies these model responses through the use of radiative ker- nels, the approximate partial radiative perturbation (APRP) method and a detailed surface energy budget analysis. We find large and robust differences in both clear-sky longwave feedbacks and shortwave cloud feedbacks, with high latitude uptake exciting substantially more positive feedback (higher efficacy) than low latitude uptake. These robust clear-sky longwave feedbacks are particularly associated with lapse rate feed- backs, suggesting a strong dependence of vertical temperature structure on the ocean heat uptake pattern. Robustness across several independent GCMs in subtropical low cloud feedback (positive under high latitude uptake, strongly negative under tropical uptake) is particularly significant. Therefore, in diagnosing large-scale circulation, boundary layer moisture and lower-tropospheric inversion strength, we find a strong relationship between tropospheric temperature stratification and low cloud changes in response to different ocean heat uptake patterns. Our results provide important implications for understanding how inter-model differences in heat uptake patterns may be driving differences in global cloud feedback under global warming

Details in Testimony: How Hedge Words Influence People’s Perceptions of Victim Testimony Credibility

The purpose of this study was to examine whether hedge words and the age of a memory can influence the way participants (mock jurors) perceive an alleged sexual assault victim’s credibility. Prior research has demonstrated many issues that can affect the accuracy of memory for childhood events such as childhood amnesia, fragmented and distorted memories, false memories and source monitoring errors and the way in which jurors’ decisions can be swayed based on verbal cues to confidence. Here, we further investigated whether jurors\u27 decisions are sensitive to the age of the memory—an event that happened in the recent or distant past—and the use of hedge words, that is, how confident adults appear in their memory. To determine juror perceptions of trial testimony credibility, in Study 1 participants read a mock direct examination transcript and answered questions regarding the claimant’s credibility and the defendant’s guilt. In Study 2 participants read a mock direct examination transcript followed by a cross-examination transcript. They then answered questions regarding the claimant’s credibility and the defendant’s guilt. Results from Study 1 showed participants found the testimony more believable when the memory was distant (15 years prior) as opposed to recent (4 years prior). Results from Study 2 demonstrated that participants found the testimony less credible and believable when there was a presence of hedge words. Indeed, participants were less likely to find the defendant guilty and gave a lower trauma severity rating when there was a presence of hedge words. We suggest that the cross-examination made participants more sensitive to the presence of hedge words, yielding a sense of uncertainty that led the participants to believe the testimony was not credible

Educating staff to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Primary Care Setting

AbstractThe practice problem for this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project deals with the lack of education regarding colorectal cancer that is not being routinely screened by nursing staff within the primary care clinic setting. It is important that nursing staff is knowledgeable of current screenings for current health issues within their community in order to decrease prevalence and utilize preventive measures that can improve population health outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to conduct a staff education project to increase nursing knowledge about routine colorectal screenings. The model used for evaluation of this staff education project is Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model. There was an eight item pretest/posttest administered to eight members of the nursing staff. The mean score of the pretest was 40/100, mean score for posttest was 95/100 on the eight item assessment, the increase of 54 points was significant. The utilization of a paired t-test to analyze the data showed a significant increase in knowledge between administration of the pretest and posttest (p= 0.00). In addition, Cohen’s d effect was 0.7 that illustrates a significant increase. Implementing a staff education project increased knowledge and improved routine practices of the nursing staff on colorectal screenings within a primary care setting. By increasing nursing knowledge through staff education about colorectal cancer screenings, this project can help identify patients at risk and ultimately improve health care outcomes within the community. Furthermore, all staff involved agreed that the intervention was helpful and they supported use of this educational intervention. The staff education project created an atmosphere in nursing practice that can impact health care disparities among at-risk populations to promote a positive social change. Nurses play a crucial role in implementing current guidelines in clinical practice that changes the social environment in a positive way that promotes the nursing profession. Educating Staff to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screeningby Angela Kenyata Rayborn MS, Walden University, 2017 BS, Stillman College, 1999 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University November 202