Fictive kinship is a relationship characterized by use of kin terms in addressing persons who are not genealogical relatives. The objective of this study was to clarify the discrepancy between a theoretical perspective of fictive kinship as a form of substitutive kinship in a complex, urban society, and research which indicated that fictive kinship may be characteristic of a more stable society. The sample selected for research consisted of 115 wives randomly selected from a population comprising the faculty employed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. When generalized to an upper-middle-class, white, Protestant population, then was no substantiation for either the theoretical perspective of substitutive kinship in a complex, urban milieu, or the previous findings which suggested that fictive kin relationships were characteristic of a more stable environment. However, respondents from small families of orientation used fictive kin terms significantly more than other respondents. Intergenerational patterns of usage were also apparent. Descriptive data indicated the terms were most often used during childhood and were generally initiated by parents for their personal friends. The relationship involved appears to be one between two non-users, while a third party is encouraged to use the fictive terminology as validation of that relationship. Interpretation of the data gives rise to the suggestion that fictive kinship may be a misnomer, because the terms seem indicative of primary group associations rather than kin ties. / M.S.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of the positions and the molecular weight of surfactant hydrophilic functional groups on the rate of gas absorption. A quiescent unsteady-state absorption apparatus was used with carbon dioxide and water as the absorption system. Three surfactants with hydroxyl groups were selected for study, namely, n-octanol, 4-octanol and lauryl diglycol amide. Preliminary absorption tests were made using pure deionized water to determine the diffusion coefficient for the system. A value of 1.93 ± 0.05 x 10⁻⁵ square centimeters per second was obtained. The absorption tests were repeated with the three surfactant solutions at different concentrations. Then the interfacial resistance for each solution was calculated. The results of the surfactants were compared with each other and were also compared with the results of lauryl diethanol amide previous investigated. The octanol with hydroxyl group at a branched position was found to cause a higher interfacial resistance than those with hydroxyl groups at the end of the hydrophobic chain. It was also concluded that increasing the molecular weight of the hydrophilic group decreased the interfacial resistance. / Master of Science

Throughout the recorded pages of sociological literature it has generally been contended that older people are more conservative than younger people. The major focal point of this thesis is an application of this generalization to a specified, temporal situation via an empirical investigation of the relationship between age and conservative opinions on contemporary issues. In this manner an empirical demonstration of the theoretical relationship between age and conservatism was accomplished. Additionally, an analysis of the relative importance of age as an independent variable related to conservative opinions was achieved. Interviews were administered to a random sample of wives of Virginia Polytechnic Institute faculty members. Data consisted of scores on a Likert-type scale of conservative opinions centering on issues relative to race, law enforcement, and patriotism. With respect to the instrument employed and the sample surveyed, five general findings were noted. First, older persons expressed more conservative opinions than did younger persons, but not to a great extent. Second, there is a positive correlation between age and conservative opinions, but the degree of correlation is not high. Third, the relationship between age and conservative opinions is quantitative, not qualitative. In other words, a polarization of opinions on the basis of age does not exist. Fourth, education is much more important than age as an independent variable related to conservative opinions, although the direction is one of negative correlation. Finally, age is more important than the region or community size of one's childhood as an independent variable related to conservative opinions. / Master of Science

Benzo-a-pyrene, a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, was injected into the aeration tank of an activated sludge pilot plant in an investigation to determine the ability of activated sludge to effectively treat this compound. The method employed to segregate Benzo-a-pyrene from other organics was a modified Soxhlet technique followed by gas chromatographic analysis. The amount of Benzo-a-pyrene detected in the effluent, supernatant, sludge filtrate and sludge cake was tabulated to determine the mechanism of removal. The experimental results indicated that adsorption appeared to be.the primary mechanism of removal. The concentration of Benzo-a-pyrene in the effluent collected from the pilot plant was below the level of detection by gas chromatography. On the basis of the experimental evidence activated . sludge provides satisfactory treatment for wastes containing low concentrations (i.e. 0.5 mg/l) of Benzo-a-pyrene, a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. / Master of Science

With the advent of polyester fibers, disperse dyes, with complex chemical carriers and surfactants have been introduced. These dispersing agents inhibited chemical treatment and passed through biological facilities untreated. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to ascertain whether chemical treatment with polyelectrolytes could achieve an economical treatment. The study consisted of the evaluation of flocculation performance (turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and color reductions) for treatments with alum alone and alum with polyelectrolytes. A univariant search technique was used to optimize the flocculation performance with respect to the three parameters, pH, alum concentration, and polyelectrolyte concentration. The results of the alum treatment revealed that the chemical oxygen demand reduction was inadequate, although turbidity and color reductions were sufficient, to permit disposal of the effluent to the stream. When cationic polyelectrolytes were used with alum the results were greatly improved compared to alum. Reductions of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and color greater than 80 per cent were attained with two cationic polyelectrolytes. The flocculation performance with anionic polyelectrolytes was inferior to treatment with alum and alum with cationic polyelectrolytes. The floc was faster settling for all polyelectrolyte treatments. The volume of sludge in alum treatment was two to 2.5 times greater than for treatment with polyelectrolytes. Considering the present value determinations, aerated lagoons were the least expensive investment and would be the obvious means of treatment. However, if restrictions such as color reduction were imposed, chemical treatment with polyelectrolytes may be justified. / Master of Science

There are certain disadvantages to using round bars for plane strain fracture toughness testing. Specifically these are: (1) a large amount of material is required, for specimen fabrication, (2) a testing machine of great capacity is needed to fail such specimens, (3) there is considerable difficulty and expense involved in precracking the specimens. In attempt to Obtain a specimen free of these disadvantages, a hollow circumferentially notched round configuration has been suggested for plane strain fracture toughness testing. The effect of notch root radius and axial hole diameter were experimentally determined for hollow notched round aluminum bars of half inch outside diameter. From the results of the fracture toughness tests of these half inch specimens, it was concluded that a specimen of larger diameter was necessary in order to produce valid K_IC results. The equation used to calculate K_IC for hollow round bars was used to determine optimum dimensions for hollow round specimens. Several 7075-T651 aluminum. specimens of the analytically determined dimensions ' were failed and the corresponding apparent K_IC calculated. The resulting apparent K_IC values fell within an acceptable range of the true K_IC. It may be concluded that optimum dimensions may be analytically determined for hollow round plane strain fracture toughness specimens which will yield a reasonably accurate apparent K_IC. / Master of Science

The subjunctive mood in the poems of Emily Dickinson was from the outset a source of confusion to editors and readers. The first editors thought that these forms, in particular the third person singular verbs which omit the s inflection, were incorrect usages. These editors often ''corrected" them by adding the missing inflection. Later, more scholarly critics recognized and labelled them as forms of the subjunctive mood. Since 1955 Thomas Johnson and some other contemporary critics have suggested that they are not true subjunctives but forms of a "universal present indicative." It is now known that the chief influences on Emily Dickinson's poetic style were from Elizabethan literature, written in a language rich in subjunctives and the other archaisms which characterize her poetry. There is little or no correspondence in the appearance of subjunctive forms in the letters and in the poems. The subjunctives were almost entirely poetic devices. The subjunctive forms in poems appear in many different syntactic and semantic contexts. Therefore, one explanation of these forms is not satisfactory, although the Johnson interpretation may apply to a few poems. In 1863 Emily Dickinson used them in an average of one in every three poems, a frequency twice as high as the average. Furthermore, that frequency built up to the year 1863 and gradually declined thereafter. She apparently chose the subjunctives deliberately and they became a characteristic of her finest work. / Master of Arts

The purpose of this study is to consider two different types of estimators for reliability using the extreme value distribution as the life-testing model. First the unbiased minimum variance estimator is derived. Then the Bayes' estimators for the uniform, exponential, and inverted gamma prior distributions are obtained, and these results are extended to a whole class of exponential failure models. Each of the Bayes' estimators is compared with the unbiased minimum variance estimator in a Monte Carlo simulation where it is shown that the Bayes' estimator has smaller squared error loss in each case. The problem of obtaining estimators with respect to an exponential type loss function is also considered. The difficulties in such an approach are demonstrated. / Master of Science

Chaucer's Prioress has been an enigma to scholars who have tried to understand her. The fundamental point of contention about the Prioress centers upon the question: "Is Chaucer presenting her as a satiric figure supposedly dedicated to the Church but worldly in her pursuits, or is Chaucer presenting her as a sincere member of the clergy, typical of those who fulfilled the requirements laid down by the Church?” A study of selected critical statements brings one to no resolution of the question. The statement of one orthodox critic, Sister M. Madeleva, who measured the Prioress against the Benedictine Rule, does riot end the search since this critic chooses to discuss only points on which she can score the Prioress saintly, thereby ignoring vital details in Chaucer's portrait. One must look at historical studies of the English medieval nunnery to see Madame Eglentyne in her milieu. The exhaustive study, Medieval English Nunneries by Power, supported by historical evidence, indicates medieval prioresses generally were strong and pious though worldly. Power feels there is no reason to believe Chaucer's Prioress departed from that norm. One returns to Chaucer's poetic method to search for further evidence on those areas slighted by Sister Madeleva. A study based on W. C. Curry's work reveals the Prioress as more noble than ignoble, atypical of the norm, but the balance of conviction is on the side of Power's contention that the Prioress is typical of prioresses of her day. / Master of Arts

The purpose of this investigation was to develop an apparatus to measure the thermal conductivity of polymer melts, and to use the apparatus to measure the thermal conductivity of selected melts as a function of melt temperature. The steady-state, coaxial cylinder method with guard heaters was used and the annular gap was 0.075 inch. The polymer was melted in a cylindrical melt chamber, then metered to the thermal conductivity measuring apparatus. Cartridge heaters provided heat input and temperature measurements were made with calibrated, differential, iron-constantan thermocouples. The thermal conductivity of polyethylene, polystyrene and nylon melts tested increased with increased temperature. The thermal conductivity of the polypropylene sample was temperature independent. Complexity of molecular structure lowered melt thermal conductivity. Radiation losses were accounted for and convection was determined to be absent. The results were shown to be within a 3 percent experimental measurement error. Meaningful confidence limits cannot be calculated because of the limited number of data points. / Master of Science