Ph. D.

The doublet level at E_p = 504 kev excited in the reaction Al²⁷(p, γ)Si²⁸ was investigated using a technique of nuclear resonance fluorescence. A silicon absorber was placed in a collimated beam of gamma rays from the reaction. The direction of collimation with reference to the direction of the bombarding protons governs the exact energy of the ground state games available for absorption. The energy deficit which appears in emission and absorption is made up by the kinetic energy of the compound nucleus recoiling from the proton bombardment. Variation of the angle between the collimator and the proton beam allows the measurement of the transmission of the absorber as a function of energy. Though the energy variation is small absorption by excitation of the energy levels mentioned was covered in the range of angle chosen. For the above transmission experiment measurement of the ratio of the number of transmitted ground state gamma rays and of the number of decaying nuclei is necessary. This was accomplished in one counter. The entire spectrum from the reaction was observed at each angle. The number of ground state games was stripped from each such spectrum and the number of gammas decaying to excited states thus determined. Thus the number of ground state gammas was normalized to the number of lower energy gammas. The low cross section of the reaction, the collimation and absorption all lead to an extremely low counting rate even though a thick target with proton energy just above resonance was used. The V.P.I. Van de Graaff was used as a source of protons. Detection of gammas was by a 3 x 3 Na I crystal giving spectra on a 512 channel analyser. The analysis of the data was accomplished on an IBM 1620 computer. The resulting transmission versus energy data were fit to a straight line (i.e. no resonant absorption) and a more complicated assumption of some eight closely spaced levels. The straight line fit is considerably poorer but a result of no resonant absorption seems the more likely. / Ph. D.

Master of Science

A waste stabilization pond was investigated to determine if there was a health hazard due to contamination of the shore line. Soil samples were taken at various points along the bank and water samples were collected from the pond. Coliform and enterococci counts were made from the samples and were employed in conjunction with observations made of conditions at the sample points to determine if a health hazard existed at the shore line. Three stations were located along the leeward side of the pond. At each station samples were taken in adjacent soil, soil at the water line, water at the water line, water from the pond surface and water from one and one-half feet beneath the pond surface off shore. Using the geometric mean, coliform counts ranked as follows: 1717.7 water sample one and one-half feet below the surface and off shore, 583.9 soil sample at the water line, 79.0 soil on adjacent bank, 20.2 surface water sample off shore, and 11.5 water sample at water line. The high count one and one-half feet below the surface is presumably from the sewage being added to the pond. Low counts were associated with pH values near ten. High counts generally occurred at more neutral pH values of about eight. The counts at the water line are not high enough to indicate the presence of significant concentrations of fecal matter. Also, no fecal matter or other floating matter was observed at the shore line. The counts from the soil on the bank up from the shore line were what would be expected from a similar area excluding the waste stabilization pond. A comparison of the coliform and enterococci counts showed that the enterococci count is approximately one half the coliform count which is in agreement with other investigations (2) and indicates its usefulness as an indicator organism. / Master of Science

A laboratory study on the face fly reported herein was conducted at Blacksburg, Virginia, from July through September, 1962, to ascertain the biology of each stage of the life cycle, and to determine the relationship of certain environmental factors on the fly activity under laboratory conditions. Morphological descriptions of each life stage were made in order to distinguish this insect from other related muscoid flies. Temperature and humidity were found to be two essential environmental factors which influenced the development and activities of the face fly. Rate of development in each stage under different ranges of temperature was emphasized. Similarly, observations were also made to determine the characteristic behavior of both larvae and adults in response to these environmental factors. Little has been published on food habits of this insect; thus, emphasis was laid on a study of the effect of diet on sexual development and reproduction. Results obtained have shown that sugar and milk appeared to be two vital nutrients for the adult fly, and that bovine blood could increase sexual maturation and egg production. Considerable attention was also given to the relationship between illumination and sexual development and reproduction. It was found that increased illumination resulted in acceleration of sexual maturation and increased egg production. / Master of Science

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Le premier roman de Yann Martel, Self, offre le récit d'un personnage dont les chocs traumatiques rencontrés au cours de sa vie l'entraînent dans deux métamorphoses importantes, le faisant ainsi passer d'homme à femme, puis de femme à homme. Ces transformations ont notamment pour conséquence de l'entraîner dans un long apprentissage au cours duquel il tente de résoudre le conflit identitaire qui l'anime et qui met en opposition l'être d'une chose et la fonction qui la représente, reprenant en cela le concept d'être et de fonction de Heidegger. Le mémoire se donne pour objectif de retracer les différentes ramifications entourant cette quête identitaire du personnage, dont les principaux axes sont l'identité sexuée et l'identité d'écrivain. L'identité sexuelle du personnage sera analysée plus particulièrement dans une optique amoureuse. C'est effectivement à travers ses différentes relations qu'il en vient à compléter son apprentissage et à acquérir un nouveau savoir nécessaire à la poursuite de ses objectifs, notamment pour pouvoir assumer sa fonction d'écrivain. Les théories sur le genre de Judith Butler nous permettront d'appuyer notre réflexion sur la construction d'une identité genrée dans le texte. Le deuxième paradigme du conflit s'incarne dans l'identité d'écrivain que s'évertue à construire le personnage. Celle-ci sera mise en parallèle avec l'identité genrée, qui constituera tantôt favorable, tantôt défavorable à sa condition. L'analyse de la forme du texte, qui subit des métamorphoses au même titre que le personnage, nous permettra d'émettre une conclusion éclairée sur la résolution du conflit. L'expérimentation par le corps permet au personnage de mieux approfondir le conflit qui l'anime en cherchant à savoir lequel, de l'être ou de la fonction, domine dans l'identité du sujet. Plus précisément, entre la femme et l'écrivain, lequel a le dessus dans l'expression de son identité? L'issue de l'analyse révélera une mise en échec de l'écrivain, qui ne peut survivre au destin tragique qui guette la femme constamment rattrapée par son sexe. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Yann Martel, Self, métamorphose, apprentissage, identité, conflit identitaire, écrivain, gender.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis is a literary thematic analysis of Mark Behr's novels The Smell of Apples (1996) and Embrace (2000). Through these novels, Behr explores the nature of masculine identities and the ways in which they are developed through a process of adolescent males observing and interacting with their parents and the society in which they live. The development of the two protagonists is traced and white hegemonic attitudes to masculinity in South Africa are exposed. The novels are of importance as these hegemonic attitudes continue to exist within South Africa today. The focus of this analysis is on white adolescent masculinities and the ways in which Behr illustrates the effects of apartheid society on their development. The study makes an in-depth analysis of the plot and themes and the way in which these guide the reader into a critical awareness of socially constructed masculine identities. Each of the four themes - namely, sexuality, race, gender and land - is explored in this thesis and careful consideration is given to the techniques Behr uses in his writing. Of importance to this thesis are the interrelationships between character, themes and the context of the novels. While the novels are not regarded as a case study, this thesis repeatedly demonstrates the socio-political awareness that Behr uses in order to offer his reader insight into the significant realities that have faced adolescent males as they construct their identities. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.