Carboxylic amides will add oxidatively via N-H activation to the complex [(COD)Ir(PMe3h]CI (where COD 1,5-cyclooctadiene) in organic solvents at 80°C to form stable iridium hydrides with the hydride arranged cis to nitrogen and trans to chloride. Acetamide will add to form the complex mer-(MeC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI which is isolable as a sticky yellow solid and soluble in all common solvents. The reaction with benzamide in toluene at 80°C produces the complex mer( PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI which is stabilized by a hydrogen bonding interaction with one equivalent of excess benzamide. All attempts to isolate the organometallic failed as the organometallic degraded quickly in the absence of amide. FTIR experiments indicated a significant hydrogen bonding interaction between the benzamide and mer(PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3Cl. NMR scale reactions with acrylamide and benzanalide showed that oxidative N-H addition could occur despite the presence of an unsaturate or an N-substituent. The attempts to form the thioamide analogues of the acetamide and benzamide complexes failed to produce stable iridium hydrides. Thioacetamide will add to [(COD)Ir(PMe3)3]CI in chloroform or methylene chloride; however~ any hydrido species which formed subsequently reacted with the solvent to produce fac( MeC(S)HN)Ir(PMe3)3Ch. All attempts at adding thiobenzamide to [(COD)Ir(PMe3)3)CI produced an uncharacterizable mixture of products. The reactivity ofmer-(PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI was probed with regard to its potential for catalytic amination. Reaction with TIPF6 in methylene chloride showed evidence for the formation of the bidentate amide mer-[(PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3]CI where the amide is chelated through the nitrogen and the oxygen; however, the species was not stable and could not be isolated. Refluxing mer-(PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI in water produces a rearrangement to form another isomer of mer( PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI in which the hydride is trans to nitrogen and cis to chloride. Reactions with unsaturates in benzene, chloroform, and water at elevated temperatures produced evidence for the formation of insertion products. The reaction of mer( PhC(O)HN)IrH(PMe3)3CI with t-butyl acetylene in water shows evidence for the formation of an amidated elimination product, though it was not shown to be catalytic. / Master of Science

none / Master of Architecture

Experiments were performed on a number of bovine dentin specimens with the intent of understanding the effects of dentin quality and preparation on dentinal adhesion. Dentin quality was evaluated by measuring its wetting characteristics and hardness properties. The effects of chemical treatment, thermal dehydration and rehydration on dentin quality were examined. The contribution of enamel to adhesion was evaluated by comparing the adhesion of dentin samples that had the enamel ground off prior to bonding with dentin samples that retained the enamel wall. Sulfuric acid and tannic acid etching of dentin were performed for both ground and unground teeth. Unground dentin specimens were also exposed to thermal aging at 65° C. The torsional bond strength of the dental tissues under these modified processing conditions was evaluated using a commercial glass-ionomer cement. The same procedure has been repeated on unground and ground teeth by changing several different cement mixing ratio. The chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the cement mixing ratios were evaluated separately to provide a better understanding of adhesion. Acid etching treatment was found to improve dentin wetting characteristics and roughened the dentin surface leading to improve dental adhesion. Thermal treatment renders the dentin surface more hydrophobic and subsequently reduces adhesion. Weaker strengths were measured for untreated and ground teeth. This is related to lower mechanical interlocking and lower chemical adhesion when the smear layer covers the dentin. Mixed failure modes were detected during dentin debonding while cohesive failure within the cement were observed during enamel debonding indicating that enamel bonded better to the cement than dentin did. Improper cement mixing decreased the bond strength of enamel and dentin. / Master of Science

This thesis has been an exploration of a nostalgically inspired architectural idea. The resulting struggle was to bring rational clarity to the concepts associated with nostalgia in an effort to intelligently transform its essence into an expression of architecture relevant to the spirit of this culture and time. / Master of Architecture

This study sought to examine differences in the levels of self concept between freshman students at Virginia Tech based on their Appalachian group membership and gender. The research question was: What are the differences in the levels of self-concept as measured by the Self-Perception Profile for College Students (SPPCS) (Neeman & Harter, 1986 among freshman students at Virginia Tech based on their Appalachian group membership and gender? The SPPCS was administered to 386 students divided equally between Appalachian and non-Appalachian students. Overall, there was a 64.3% return rate with 1 09( 47.6%) female responses and 120(52.3%) male responses. The sample also consisted of 113(49.3%) Appalachian responses and 119(50.7%) non-Appalachian responses. The researcher computed two-way ANOVAs on the 13 subscales. There were no significant differences between Appalachian and non-Appalachian students. However, there were significant differences found between the men and women with the women scoring higher on the scales relating to relationships and the mens scoring higher on the scales relating to athletic competence and physical attractiveness. Overall, the students reported moderate to high levels of self-concept / Master of Arts

The purpose of this study was to determine which garments worn by a female stimulus attorney would most often convey impressions of the attorney's credibility to jurors in Montgomery County, Virginia. The study involved a comparative analysis of various colors/color combinations, silhouettes, and interior design lines of courtroom apparel to determine which garments and components thereof most often convey impressions of the attorney's credibility to the jury. Eleven garments were evaluated to determine which garment most often conveyed positive impressions of the stimulus attorney's credibility. The garment components were evaluated in order to determine which was the strongest predictor of jurors' evaluations of a female attorney's credibility based on clothing. Jurors' gender, age, and income level were also evaluated to determine characteristics that made a difference in judgments of credibility. Jurors viewed pictures of the same stimulus attorney in 11 different garment combinations and subsequently evaluated them on a semantic differential to measure credibility based on the measure employed by Bassett (1979). Each garment was classified in terms of the three garment components: color/color combinations, silhouette, and interior design lines. Each component was classified as traditional, moderately traditional, or non-traditional. Statistical analyses revealed that jurors considered a garment traditional in color and silhouette, and moderately traditional in interior design lines the most credible. In addition, the color of the garment was found to be the most influential garment component on credibility evaluations. Age was the only demographic of differentiation in jurors' evaluations of attorney's credibility via clothing. / Master of Science

This research studied the effects on performance of differing types of authority within decision-making groups. Assigned leader groups were representative of authority of position (Barnard, 1968). Emergent leader groups were representative of authority of leadership (Barnard). Authority type was not found to have a significant effect on leadership, group, or organizational performance of decision-making groups. Interrelationships of the multiple dependent performance variables were studied. It was found that Sink and Tuttle's (1989) performance criteria and Campbell's (1990) leadership tasks could be simplified for the short-term, small group decision-making process. Ranking of and rewards for teams were found to affect the way groups evaluated their own performance. This research successfully studied the elusive concepts of authority and leadership in an applied setting, and should generate further research in the area of authority-performance interaction. / Master of Science

This research primarily deals with developing a new forecasting methodology that takes "induced traffic" into account, calibrates a relational model - attributing the growth in traffic in a particular market to factors such as decrease in relative fare and increase in relative frequency and finally applies a combination of the above two modules to obtain total forecasts for various market scenarios. Ridership is a key determinant of financial feasibility for starting any new service irrespective of other system characteristics. Consequently, demand forecasting models play a vital role in any transportation planning process. The present research derives its motivation from previous efforts, wherein, noticeable deviations have been observed between actual and predicted ridership values. One of the primary reasons that is identified for these deviations is "induced traffic." The overall goal of this project has been to develop a new approach for studying the effect of change in relative fare and relative frequency on variation in total ridership forecasts for High Speed Rail (HSR) in various market scenarios, by drawing from the experience of another common carrier having similar characteristics. First, we study the "Southwest Airline Experience," which has been identified to be very close in character to HSR. For this carrier, the suggested methodology is used to derive the predicted traffic volumes and deviations from actual volumes are obtained. A data set of 33 city-pairs is built upon the quantification of the "extra traffic," which is a combination of "traffic diverted from rail plus auto plus bus" and "induced traffic." Data trends and analysis are presented next. A relational model is built between the dependent variable i.e., "ratio of extra to total traffic" and the independent variables i.e., "relative fare" and "relative frequency." Results of model formation and validation are incorporated. The R-square value for the model has indicated a fairly good explanatory relationship. Also, the validation conducted on five test cases showed very encouraging results. Final analysis of effect of marginal change in total traffic due to marginal changes in relative fare and relative frequency for three city-pairs are also presented. It was seen that either decreasing the relative fare marginally or even increasing the relative frequency marginally tended to increase the total traffic substantially. / Master of Science

The most beautiful buildings are the ones that have been built through time, and the most beautiful memories are from childhood. I use my own collection of memories, the things I have read and the places I have seen from childhood, and then try to make them accessible to others through architecture. I am driven by memories. The memories of massive walls, narrow streets, alleys and the shadows which seemed to be erected to make their presence to the sun. Though the shadow was strangely mysterious, it seemed to be the refuge for the man walking in the heat of the summer. The wall had created a shadow, a monster that contrasted well with the blazing light. I call it mysterious because the shadow at times was the most comforting element along the alley. / Master of Architecture

There is an identified need for spirituality to be taught in mental health therapy programs. Spirituality is about the connectedness we feel and the relationships we establish with self, others, and the universe. This study examined the relationship of spiritual well being, loneliness, and relationship satisfaction to life contentment. Each of the eighty-one respondents enrolled at VPI completed the "Spiritual Well being Scale" and "Abbreviated Loneliness Scale" (Paloutzian & Ellison, ] 982), "Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale" (Schumm, 1983), and the "Hudson Generalized Contentment Scale" (Hudson, 1982). Using these measures as well as the demographic variables age, income, and children a path model was developed. Correlation and regression analysis determined that age, income, children, spiritual well being, loneliness and relationship satisfaction were significant predictors of life contentment. / Master of Science