Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University Dept. of Family Life Education. / Electronic thesis. Also available in print ed.

A revision of the author's thesis, Australian National University. / With a new introduction by John Hirst. Includes bibliography (p. 262-275) and index.

The oxidation characteristics of iron droplets and a range of binary iron alloy droplets have been investigated at 1600°C. The droplets were generated by a novel technique of melting the iron or iron-alloy, in the form of wire, in a levitation coil. The droplets were held for several minutes in hydrogen prior to releasing them into a mass transfer column separated from the levitation chamber by a thin plastic film. The oxidised droplets were quenched. The oxidising or reducing characteristics of various quenching media were investigated and silicone oil was selected as the quenchant. Pure iron and a range of iron-manganese, iron-chromium and iron-silicon alloys were investigated. Whereas the iron-manganese system showed increasing oxygen pick-up with increasing manganese content, the iron-chromium and iron-silicon systems showed an inversion in oxidation behaviour after an initial increase in oxidation rate. The oxidation characteristics of these systems have been related to the surface morphology of the droplets as revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and to SIMS analysis of the thin surface oxide films, and mechanisms are proposed for each system. A mathematical model has been developed which simulates the mass transfer of oxygen by forced convection to an accelerating molten iron droplet. The model generates an almost linear oxidation rate for iron, for the period of flight of the droplet and is in good agreement with the experimental work when the model is compensated for circulation within the droplet. The model predicts that temperature has a minimal effect on oxidation rate whereas droplet size is of major importance. Both of these effects were confirmed by the experimental studies. The roles of the alloying elements in relation to the characteristics of oxide films reduced in hydrogen at 1150°C have also been considered. Reduction mechanisms are postulated to account for the morphology of the reduced droplets and the final oxygen levels in the droplets.

Class of 2013 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine what characteristics are most often associated with patients who are readmitted to a hospital for care within a 30-day time period for one of the five applicable conditions listed in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, including heart failure, pneumonia, myocardial infarct, vascular procedures, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients who had a 30-day inpatient hospital readmission to a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Tucson, Arizona during the period from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012. Patient demographics and other characteristics thought to influence readmission were collected, including sex, age, race, type of insurance, number of applicable diagnoses at first admission, and number of medications prescribed at first discharge. “Applicable diagnoses” included: congestive heart failure (CHF); pneumonia (PN); myocardial infarct (MI); vascular procedures (VP); and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Main Results: Of the 1,102 patients included in this study, only 5% were readmitted for one of the five applicable conditions. The largest proportion of patients who were readmitted for the same diagnosis were in the 21 to 40 year old category, whereas the largest proportion of patients who were readmitted for different diagnoses were in the greater than 40 year-old category. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that none of the independent variables predicted 30-day readmissions with the exception of Asian race (p=0.008, n=8) and other race (p=0.012, n=57). In addition, the only significant predictor of 30-day readmission was the diagnosis at initial admission (p<0.05). Conclusion: In our sample, only 5% of patients readmitted at 30-days were readmitted for an applicable condition. This means the majority of readmissions include diagnoses that are not currently affected by the changes to Medicare reimbursement, though other diagnoses are likely to be added to the list in the coming years. Our study provides evidence that specific patient demographic characteristics are not closely linked to 30-day readmissions. Therefore, it may be necessary to turn the focus away from targeting specific patient populations and towards improving efforts in the areas of discharge planning and quality of care for all patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine which, if either, of the two types of projection discussed above, disowning and assimilative, is operative when an individual is asked to rate an acquaintance on a number of personality traits.

The subject of this master’s thesis is „Frequency method for investigation discreet regulation systems“. It’s primary conversant of constructing frequency characteristics for discreet systems. The works has a two parts. The firs part indicates provides theoretical information and the basic relations needed to clarify construction of frequency characteristics continuous and discrete systems too. The second part includes main job description given by the headman of this thesis. It’s consisting of constructing catalogue of the frequency discrete characteristics for discrete systems and creation program for calculation and construction of this systems.

Polyimide is one of the most heat resistant polymers with high electric breakdown strength, good mechanical properties, and chemical resistance. Polyimide is used in severe environmental condition. Polyimide is commonly applied as electrical insulation in a fine gauge of invertered motor windings and in high voltage coils of encapsulated fly-back transformers. The wire insulation may be exposed to multi-stresses like ac, dc high voltages, temperatures etc. In this thesis, magnet wire insulation properties under multiple stresses are studied under ac, dc voltages and high temperatures. Accelerated degradation test is used to do study of Life -time characteristics of Magnetic wire MW 16-C, which has polyimide insulation. The results of accelerated aging test are evaluated with statistical tools Weibull and ALTA. The result shows that the time to failure can be represented by the inverse power law and the Arrhenius equation with respect to test voltage and temperature respectively.

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The position of public school superintendent is one that is filled with many challenges and opportunities. A more in depth awareness of the leadership characteristics of public school superintendents enhance the understanding of this very complex role in today’s society. The purpose of this study was to identify leadership characteristics of school superintendents in today’s complex education environment as perceived by school superintendents and school board chairpersons in Virginia. Additionally, this study gathered and evaluated perspectives from practicing superintendents and their board chairpersons to determine similarities and differences between the perceptions of these two groups. The population selected for this study was comprised of all 132 K-12 public school superintendents in the Commonwealth of Virginia during the 2008-2009 school year. Additionally, all 132 Virginia school board chairpersons were invited to participate in the survey. A total of 101 responses were received from the survey population of Virginia school superintendents. This represents an overall survey return rate of 76.52%. A total of 70 responses were received from the survey population of Virginia school board chairpersons, representing a return rate of 53.03%. The respondents were asked to read 17 statements regarding the activities and characteristics related to the job of superintendent and answer from 1 to 4, strongly disagree to strongly agree. In addition, respondents were asked to rank in order of importance ten superintendent leadership characteristics, with the value of 1 corresponding to the most important characteristic. The perceived ratings were then rank-ordered based upon the composite mean of the ratings of each individual leadership characteristics. Superintendents and school board chairpersons agreed that personal and professional integrity, honesty, and fairness are the most essential leadership characteristics for the public school superintendent. Superintendents and school board chairpersons also agreed that effective communication with board members, division and school staffs, parents, students, and the community is essential in superintendent leadership. Both superintendents and school board chairpersons perceived visionary leader as the most important leadership characteristic, relative to all the characteristics rated. Superintendents indicated that instructional leader was the second most important characteristic, while school board chairpersons perceived this characteristic as the third most important. Superintendents rated effective school board relations as the third most important characteristic, while school board chairpersons ranked this as their fourth most important characteristic. Statistically significant differences in the perceptions of superintendents and school board chairpersons were observed for the following characteristics: professional development experience, politically astute, and team builder. Superintendents perceived professional development experience to be significantly less important than did school board chairpersons. The superintendents perceived politically astute to be significantly more important characteristic than the school board chairpersons. Finally, school board chairpersons considered the characteristic of team builder to be significantly more important than superintendents. / Ph. D.