This study explored the convergence between attributional egotism and felt injustice, and the consequences of these two constructs on subsequent reward allocations. Drawing from the work of Crosby (1984), Heider (1958), and Snyder, Stephan and Rosenfield (1978), it was contended that individuals who felt that they are victims of injustice use causal inferences similar to those characteristically employed for ego defense. This hypothesis was evaluated in an experimental paradigm which induced feelings of injustice and attributional egotism. Undergraduate participants (N=153) were provided with one of three descriptions of an experimental task. They were told that the task was used to assess the cognitive abilities of high school sophomores (a low prestige referent), college juniors (a high prestige referent), or merely that it was a standardized achievement test (control). Following this expectancy manipulation, subjects were given implicit success or failure feedback by being given an easy or difficult 30-minute task. When the 30-minutes had elapsed, subjects were asked to imagine that they were to provide feedback in the form of rewards to hypothetical students who had completed the same test the subject had just taken. Following the reward allocation exercise, subjects provided causal accounts for their performance and responded to a number of measures designed to assess their perceptions of the test and self-affect. Analyses revealed that the manipulations were successful, but that the attributional egotism and deprivation induction were of modest magnitude. Allocation policies across the six different conditions varied, in some cases supporting predictions, in others not. These findings support the contention that attributional defensiveness and deprivation are similar, but surprisingly show that enhancement biases and relative gratification can operate simultaneously. Discussion centered on the explanation of these findings and the implications for future research in this area. / Master of Science

Six males of similar body composition and aerobic physical fitness were tested to determine their perceptual responses to exercise and the relation of these perceptions to core temperature (Tᵣₑ) under three conditions of thermoregulatory stress. The experimental protocol consisted of 120 min of upright stationary cycling at 50% VO₂ max under conditions of neutral (24°C, 50% RH/hydration (NH), hot (35°C, 50% RH/hydration (HH), and hot (35°, 50% RH/hypohydration (HP). Perceptual responses were determined by Borg's 10-point category ratio scale ( 1980) and by a multi-dimensional symptom scale which contained six symptoms commonly thirst; associated with heat stress: irritability; headache; and weakness; fatigue; dizziness. Core temperature responses and perceptions were obtained throughout exercise in each condition. An analysis of variance was utilized to determine if significant differences existed between Tᵣₑ responses, symptom scale responses and RPE responses in each condition. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences between Tᵣₑ responses in the three conditions. Statistically significant (P < 0. 05) differences were also found for the symptom scale responses of thirst and weakness. Regression analysis within each condition was utilized to evaluate the relationship of Tᵣₑ and RPE responses and of Tᵣₑ and the combined scores of weakness, fatigue and thirst. The regression analysis revealed an R² or . 997 for prediction of Tᵣₑ using RPE data in the HP trial; the R² for Tᵣₑ prediction from the symptom scale responses in HP was 0.992. The R² values for prediction of Tᵣₑ in the NH and HH conditions were .953 and .983, respectively. The R² obtained in the HH and NH conditions were lower than those R² obtained in the HP trials for both the RPE and symptom scale predictors. These data suggest that RPE is a meaningful predictor of Tᵣₑ increases i.e., given a particular RPE, the model gives a meaningful estimate of Tᵣₑ within the range of core temperatures that were observed. / Master of Science

A cross-flow turbine was tested to determine the magnitude of the fluid forces on the blades. The tangential and radial forces and the torque were measured on a test blade. Because the runner was made of plexiglas, the flow and the effects of the incidence angle at various speeds were observed. The pattern of blade loading over a revolution was measured over a range of heads from 1.0 to 2.6 m. The maximum forces were found to occur just before the blade leaves the nozzle exit. The experimental forces agree reasonably well with the results of a control volume analysis. Two figures are provided, by which the designer may determine the tangential and radial forces for any geometrically similar machine. / Master of Science

The electrical-producing windmill industry boomed during 1983. It was estimated that"unit sales during 1983 would be twice those of the prior 10 years combined." Most of the activity has been in the development of windfarms in the western states and Hawaii. The boom is largely due to (1) tax breaks given to alternative energy producers and (2) the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978. PURPA requires public utilities to purchase electricity from small producers. In many instances, the investors main interest was the tax break and as a result the development was of inferior quality.⁴⁰ Electrical-producing windmills are delicate machines in that lightweight components are used to move large forces. Domestically, there are about 50 manufacturers of electrical-producing windmills. Most of these manufacturers have just entered the field. As such, they have not had time to perfect their machines. And as a result, 50% downtimes are not uncommon and failures are frequent.⁴⁰ In the mid-70's, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) embarked on a large scale program for the research and development of windmills. In 1982 the program was drastically cut by the Reagan administration. While the program was in full swing, significant steps were made in 129 130 developing safe, reliable wind energy systems. Wind energy systems could probably supply up to ten percent of the nation's annual electrical demands, but one to two percent is a more reasonable goal. For this to happen the government must not cut its existing financial incentives, existing windfarms must prove to be economical, private manufacturers must develop high quality wind energy systems, and windfarms must be developed at sites throughout the country. / Master of Engineering

Rooted stool-bed layers of Malling Merton (MM) 111 apple trees were container-grown in a greenhouse and trained to a single shoot. When shoot length averaged 73 cm, the following treatments were applied: a) check, untreated (CK); b) tipped (shoot apex removed) and top 1/2 of shoot disbudded (T-DB); c) top 1/2 of shoot disbudded and defoliated (UT-DB-DF); d) tipped, and top 1/2 of shoot disbudded and defoliated (T-DB-DF); e) pruned at mid-shoot (P); or f) pruned at mid-shoot and disbudded (P-DB). Treatments UT-DB-DF, T-DB-DF, P, and P-DB delayed the eventual decline in net photosynthesis (Pn) and total chlorophyll content exhibited by the check. The delay in the decline of Pn and total chlorophyll content was maintained for the longest period in the UT-DB-DF, T-DB-DF, and P-DB treatments. Maintenance of Pn and chlorophyll levels following pruning or defoliation appears to result from an increased root : shoot ratio at treatment rather than an increased demand for photosynthates by subsequent growth. Treatment responses of Pn and total chlorophyll content were similar so that Pn per unit chlorophyll showed no treatment differences. Removal of leaves by either pruning or defoliation reduced total dry weight of the tree whereas tipping had no effect. Final dry weights of the basal stem, roots, and shank were reduced by pruning or defoliation. Lateral shoot growth induced by pruning caused an initial decrease in the shank diameter and root and shank dry weights of potted apple trees. / Master of Science

A novel concept (called “heat tray”) is proposed for heat recovery from hot gases and for heat management in exothermic catalytic reactions, which involves a supernatant gas (S-gas) flowing over a shallow fluidized bed of solids. This thesis presents the results of bench-scale and pilot-scale experimental studies that quantify heat transfer between the S-gas and the shallow fluidized bed. A fractional-factorial design of experiments was performed on two heat-tray systems using three different results showed that fine fluid cracking catalyst (FCC) particles out-performed larger alumina spheres as a fluidized solid. Heat transfer coefficients between the supernatant gas and the shallow fluidized bed approached 440 W/m²-K using FCC. Various S-gas inlet nozzle configurations were studied, with a nozzle height equal to one-half of the static bed height (0.051 m) giving the best results. The study showed that short heat-tray lengths (<0.8 m) are desirable and that S-gas redistributors are needed to compartmentalize the unit. An economic analysis showed that the proposed heat tray would be economically feasible for adaption as a boiler feedwater preheater in a small steam-generation facility, using boiler combustion gases as the S-gas. The payback time for the system would be as short as 1.9 years when used continuously. The heat transfer results from a S-gas to a flowing shallow fluidized bed represent the only data reported thus far, and have led to a better understanding of the new shallow fluidized-bed system for heat-exchange applications. / Master of Science

An investigation to determine the low-speed lateral-directional characteristics of a generic 74-degree delta wing-body configuration employing the latest generation, gothic planform vortex flaps has been conducted. In addition, the theoretical estimates from VORSTAB were compared against experimental data to aid in documenting this new method. VORSTAB is an extension of the Quasi-Vortex-Lattice Method of Lan which empirically accounts for vortex breakdown effects in the calculation of longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics. The experimental results indicated that leading-edge deflections of 30 and 40 degrees significantly reduce the magnitude of the wing effective dihedral relative to the baseline for a specified angle of attack or lift coefficient. For angles of attack greater than 15 degrees, these flap deflections reduce the configuration directional stability despite improved vertical tail effectiveness. Asymmetric leading edge deflections are shown to be inferior to conventional ailerons in generating rolling moments. Asymmetric leading-edge deflections are effective in producing side force at moderate to high angles of attack. VORSTAB lateral-directional calculations provide ballpark estimates at low to moderate angles of attack. The theory does not account for vortex flow induced, vertical tail effects at high angles of attack and should not be used for this angle of attack region. The empirical formulae for predicting vortex burst effects are not reliable in their present form. Although the basic trends are correct, the magnitude of the predicted vortex burst effect is typically over-estimated. / Master of Science

This research was conducted over the period of three quarters at Virginia Tech. The goal was to develop an instrument that was both valid and reliable for the purpose of exempting qualified, experienced students from the basic apparel construction course and allow them to begin with the advanced course. Resulting classes would be more homogeneous and, therefore, could be more effectively taught. Data on test questions was available from prior administrations of a clothing construction knowledge test. Test items that pertained to current course content and with acceptable difficulty and discrimination indexes were retained for use. The test was developed in three phases. The resulting test would be adaptable for use by other institutions because of the methodology used to develop it. The course behavioral objectives were first examined and assigned a percentage corresponding to the amount of class time devoted to each objective. Individual learning concepts were then analyzed and listed under the objective they each pertained to. Once this categorization was accomplished, the learning concepts were each ranked according to importance and complexity within their respective objectives. This ranking was then used to decide how many test items should pertain to each concept. The exemption test developed through this procedure encompassed all course objectives and assured a representative sample of the course content. The final test was determined to be both valid and reliable. Its adoption as an exemption test was recommended with minor revision. / Master of Science

Ed. D.

No description available.