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There is a striking contrast in the assessments by Western critics of the two variants of Leonid Leonov's novel, Vor (The Thief): whereas the original version (1927) is frequently acclaimed as the finest and most artistically honest of all his literary endeavours, Leonov's revision of the work (1959) is generally viewed as evidence of his final capitulation to the dictates of socialist realist doctrine. The present study was initiated as an attempt to elucidate certain obscure thematic and symbolic elements perceived during a concentrated examination of the first novel only. Gradually, however, as the significance of thesi elements became increasingly more evident, attention was shifted to the revision to determine whether or not they had survived the destructive influences of indoctrination and time. If they had been preserved, and the difficulties arrising from the obscurity of their presentation could be overcome, then Leonov's tarnished reputation in the West was decidedly undeserved. Surprisingly, those elements most crucial to the elusive message of the original have not merely survived, but have often been clarified and elaborated as well. The key to their understanding lies in the recognition of a level of narration "higher" than that of the everyday reality of socially and politically oriented circumstances and events. For, in addition to his concern with topical issues, Leonov reveals a profound interest in the great metaphysical conflicts that are eternally re-enacted within the confines of the human soul. The vehicle for his depiction of these conflicts is a network of symbolism, primarily Biblical in origin, which has as its basis the epic myth of "Paradise Lost." The exegesis of this symbolic framework has been divided into five chapters: I) Introduction, II) Paradise Lost, III) Paradise Regained, IV) Paradise Rejected, or the Theory of Progress, and V) Conclusions. Chapter I sets the stage for the analysis by placing the tragic "riddle" of human existence (the conflict of Good versus Evil) in the context of the "march of the generations," or history. Chapter II shows how the metaphysical rebellion (or "fall") of Dmitry Vekshin (Leonov1s "universal Adam") is reflected in the symbolic nucleus of the novel, the "blighted birch," and outlines the implications of this parallel for the fates of Vekshin and of Russia. As the tragedy of the fallen Adam led to the promise of the risen Christ, so the spiritual death signified by Vekshin 1s own "fall" leads to the potentiality of his "rebirth." Chapter III locates Leonov's discussion of this possibility in a polyphonic schematization of characters and events that is highly reminiscent of Dostoevsky, Chapter IV focuses on Vekshin's rejection of salvation and on the revised novel's greatly elaborated "theory of human progress," in which Leonov describes the conflict between "happiness" and "hope," between consideration for individual human beings and the abstract idea of a "greater human good." Dmitry Vekshin's. rejection of "Paradise" ultimately signifies the author's own lack of faith in the Communist ideal. In conclusion, Chapter V discusses specific indications of Leonov's awareness of the subversive nature of his ideas, and of the dangers to which he is consequently exposed. It is a highly ironic measure of his success that Leonov's survival in Soviet society should have won him such acclaim in the Soviet Union and such condemnation in the free world. In any case, his achievements as an artist have been attained at immense personal cost, and it is time they were recognized for their true value. / Arts, Faculty of / Central Eastern Northern European Studies, Department of / Graduate

Master of Science

Investigation in discrete event simulation modeling methodology has persisted for over thirty years. Fundamental is the recognition that the overriding objectives for simulation must involve decision support. Rapidly advancing technology is today exerting major influences on the course of simulation in many areas, e.g. distributed interactive simulation and parallel discrete event simulation, and evidence suggests that the role of decision support is being subjugated to accommodate new technologies and system-level constraints. Two questions are addressed by this research: (1) can the existing theories of modeling methodology contribute to these new types of simulation, and (2) how, if at all, should directions of modeling methodological research be redefined to support the needs of advancing technology. Requirements for a next-generation modeling framework (NGMF) are proposed, and a model development abstraction is defined to support the framework. The abstraction identifies three levels of model representation: (1) modeler-generated specifications, (2) transformed specifications, and (3) implementations. This hierarchy may be envisaged as consisting of either a set of narrow-spectrum languages, or a single wide-spectrum language. Existing formal approaches to discrete event simulation modeling are surveyed and evaluated with respect to the NGMF requirements. All are found deficient in one or more areas. The Conical Methodology (CM), in conjunction with the Condition Specification (CS), is identified as a possible NGMF candidate. Initial assessment of the CS relative to the model development abstraction indicates that the CS is most suited for the middle level of the hierarchy of representations — specifically functioning as a form for analysis. The CS is extended to provide wide-spectrum support throughout the entire hierarchy via revisions of its supportive facilities for both model representation and model execution. Evaluation of the pertinent model representation concepts is accomplished through a complete development of four models. The collection of primitives for the CS is extended to support CM facilities for set definition. A higher-level form for the report specification is defined, and the concept of an augmented specification is outlined whereby the object specification and transition specification may be automatically transformed to include the objects, attributes and actions necessary to provide statistics gathering. An experiment specification is also proposed to capture details, e.g. the condition for the start of steady state, necessary to produce an experimental model. In order to provide support for model implementation, the semantic rules for the CS are refined. Based on a model of computation provided by the action cluster incidence graph (ACIG), an implementation structure referred to as a direct execution of action clusters (DEAC) simulation is defined. A DEAC simulation is simply an execution of an augmented CS transition specification. Two algorithms for DEAC simulations are presented. Support for parallelizing model execution is also investigated. Parallel discrete event simulation (PDES) is presented as a case study. PDES research is evaluated from the modeling methodological perspective espoused by this effort, and differences are noted in two areas: (1) the enunciation of the relationship between simulation and decision support, and the guidance provided by the life cycle in this context, and (2) the focus of the development effort. Recommendations are made for PDES research to be reconciled with the “mainstream” of DES. The capability of incorporating parallel execution within the CM/CS approach is investigated. A new characterization of inherent parallelism is given, based on the time and state relationships identified in prior research. Two types of inherent parallelism are described: (1) inherent event parallelism, which relates to the independence of attribute value changes that occur during a given instant, and (2) inherent activity parallelism, which relates to the independence of attribute value changes that occur over all instants of a given model execution. An analogy between an ACIG and a Petri net is described, and a synchronous model of parallel execution is developed based on this analogy. Revised definitions for the concepts time ambiguity and state ambiguity in a CS are developed, and a necessary condition for state ambiguity is formulated. A critical path algorithm for parallel direct execution of action clusters (PDEAC) simulations is constructed. The algorithm is an augmentation of the standard DEAC algorithm and computes the synchronous critical path for a given model representation. Finally, a PDEAC algorithm is described. / Ph. D.

Many organizations, both public and private are implementing total quality management processes and procedures to ensure customer satisfaction, promote effective leadership, and enhance productivity. The sudden emphasis on customer satisfaction is observable governmentwide as federal agencies respond to the President’s Executive Order to create a government that works better and costs less. Finding ways to improve customer satisfaction is now a high priority of these service-oriented organizations. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence graduate satisfaction with a management development training program. In order to fulfill this purpose, data were collected from a respondent population of the United States Department of the Interior graduates of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program. Two surveys were used in this study to identify the factors and determine the level of importance of the factors. Based on the objectives of the research, in addition to demographic data, survey one contained open-ended questions designed to assess the graduates’ perceptual fields relative to their expectations, strengths and weaknesses of the management development training program. Twenty-eight items were identified from the qualitative data obtained from survey one and using a Likert-type scale, graduates were asked to rate the level of importance of each item in survey two. Graduate responses to survey two were subjected to standard statistical procedures. Results of these procedures led to the following conclusions: 1) Graduate satisfaction is influenced by professional advancement, personal growth and career development opportunities, program instruction, and program administration and management; 2) Graduates of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program are overwhelmingly satisfied with the training they received in the program; 3) Expectations of the Department of the Interior graduates are met; and 4) Further research is needed to determine the relationship between trainee satisfaction/dissatisfaction and expectations as well as the relationship between satisfaction and certain demographic and biographical characteristics. / Ed. D.

The understanding of place is the primary basis for meaningful architecture. A possible methodology for making architecture begins with a sincere consideration of the complex forces at play on the site. The architect studies the situation and develops a concept as the seed of an architectural thought process. This conceptual thinking is the primary basis for a series of decisions in an unfolding process of invention. A concept grown out of an experience of place proposes a sensitive resolution for the site rather than an architecture of geometric contrivance forced upon it. This project began in walking the neighborhoods of Berlin and experiencing them as an "auslander" (foreigner). Its premise suggests that meaningful architecture requires a process of discovery anchored by a sincere desire to know the site in some quintessential way. Moving through the neighborhoods of Berlin and responding to the spaces provided the basis for an architectural concept. The intent of this thesis project was to define a process rooted in the experience of the site. The project began with a photographic study of the neighborhood. A series of models followed focusing on developing a position toward the site, materiality, and program. Three-dimensional computer modeling provided an opportunity to study spatial relationships. Finally, the project was committed to planning. What follows is a documentation of the process. / Master of Architecture

The high-rise structure has been the ultimate urban solution to high density growth and the need to expand upward. lis image not only represents the character of a particular city or business, but also a period of time in architecture. Throughout history, there have been a variety of reasons for vertical expansion, thus resulting in an image which defines the particular aspirations during that period of time and place. This thesis attempts to explore the image of the skyscraper through vertical transitions. Architectural transitions may be viewed as the result of combining different conditions which thrive to co-exist. The horizontal layering of floor planes, combined with the support of various vertical structural elements, allow for an extension beyond the external reality - thus resulting in the articulation of internal, hierarchical experiences. The transition addressed here is generated by two opposite human environments which co-exist within one frame work. This investigation strives to combine the scale of the work environment with that of the [?]ng environment in the vertical dimension. The solution fo this irregularity is ultimately explored through a transitional layer of connective elements. "Buildings perform their highest function in relation to human life within and the natural efflorescence without; and to develop and maintain the harmony for a true chord between them, making of the building in this sense a sure foil for life." Frank Lloyd Wright / Master of Architecture

Polyrotaxanes, a new class of polymer architectures, so called molecular composites, are comprised of macrocycles threaded by linear backbones with no covalent bond between them. By using poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), one of the most promising conductive polymers, as the linear backbone and different sizes of crown ethers (42C14, 60C20) as macrocycles, molecular composites of the conducting polymer were generated To compare with the PPV rotaxanes, PPV was synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR, UV-vis, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and TGA. The molecular weight of this polymer was measured by low angle laser light scattering. The poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) rotaxanes were isolated by dialysis and solid-liquid extraction. They were also characterized by TGA, IR, UV-vis, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and solid state ¹³C NMR from which the mass contents of the crown ethers were calculated. The conductivities of the PPV rotaxanes were measured by the four-probe method. The conductivities of PPV42C14 rotaxane and PPV60C20 rotaxane were found to be 1.06x10⁻⁵ S/cm and 2.0x10⁻⁹ S/cm, respectively, after doping with concentrated sulfuric acid. The photoluminescence spectra of PPV rotaxanes showed different chemical shift and intensity from that of the PPV. / Master of Science

The objective of this thesis is to develop an understanding and performance evaluation of plastic packages for surface mount devices. Of particular interest in this work are packages for use in the gigahertz range. In order to accurately model these packages, time and frequency domain measurements of two different packaged structures are performed. Equivalent electrical circuit models for the structures are then derived and compared with measured results to determine quality of fit and validity of these models. With this modeling technique, various package parasitics affecting the circuit performance can be evaluated and compensated for in the electrical equivalent models. / Master of Science

The thesis is presented in two parts. In Part I a nitrogen gas gun impact system developed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is described. Evaluation methods for impact damage resistance and impact damage tolerance as developed by K. T. Teh are presented as a basis for comparative analysis of new materials. Experimental results are presented for six different laminated fiber reinforced composite material systems under investigation at Virginia Tech. A drop weight tower was used to perform impact tests with testing conditions equivalent to those of the tests with the gas gun. Experimental results from the drop weight test procedure are presented and compared to those of the gas gun. The applicability of the parameters developed by K.T. Teh using the gas gun to other types of impact methods is discussed. In Part II Kevlar® aramid fiber composites, which are used as high velocity impact protection, are described. Motivation for the study of their mechanical behavior is presented, as well as the approach taken. Results showing the inverse proportionality of mechanical performance to ballistic performance are discussed. / Master of Science