The JavaFlow, a Java DataFlow Machine is a machine design concept implementing a Java Virtual Machine aimed at addressing technology roadmap issues along with the ability to effectively utilize and manage very large numbers of processing cores. Specific design challenges addressed include: design complexity through a common set of repeatable structures; low power by featuring unused circuits and ability to power off sections of the chip; clock propagation and wire limits by using locality to bring data to processing elements and a Globally Asynchronous Locally Synchronous (GALS) design; and reliability by allowing portions of the design to be bypassed in case of failures. A Data Flow Architecture is used with multiple heterogeneous networks to connect processing elements capable of executing a single Java ByteCode instruction. Whole methods are cached in this DataFlow fabric, and the networks plus distributed intelligence are used for their management and execution. A mesh network is used for the DataFlow transfers; two ordered networks are used for management and control flow mapping; and multiple high speed rings are used to access the storage subsystem and a controlling General Purpose Processor (GPP). Analysis of benchmarks demonstrates the potential for this design concept. The design process was initiated by analyzing SPEC JVM benchmarks which identified a small number methods contributing to a significant percentage of the overall ByteCode operations. Additional analysis established static instruction mixes to prioritize the types of processing elements used in the DataFlow Fabric. The overall objective of the machine is to provide multi-threading performance for Java Methods deployed to this DataFlow fabric. With advances in technology it is envisioned that from 1,000 to 10,000 cores/instructions could be deployed and managed using this structure. This size of DataFlow fabric would allow all the key methods from the SPEC benchmarks to be resident. A baseline configuration is defined with a compressed dataflow structure and then compared to multiple configurations of instruction assignments and clock relationships. Using a series of methods from the SPEC benchmark running independently, IPC (Instructions per Cycle) performance of the sparsely populated heterogeneous structure is 40% of the baseline. The average ratio of instructions to required nodes is 3.5. Innovative solutions to the loading and management of Java methods along with the translation from control flow to DataFlow structure are demonstrated. / text

A review of the literature reveals two significant gaps in existing psychological research into eating disorders. First, despite a clear association between dysfunctional family environment and eating psychopathology, little is known about factors that might mediate between the two. Second, cognitive-behavioural treatment is unexpectedly ineffective in anorexia nervosa or in some cases of bulimia nervosa. To fill these gaps, the present research investigated the role of core beliefs in the aetiology and treatment of eating disorders. Given their early origin, core beliefs may plausibly mediate between family environment and eating disorders. In addition, unhealthy core beliefs might explain the resistance to cognitive-behavioural treatment in some instances. The thesis first considers the relationship between unhealthy core beliefs and eating psychopathology in anorexic and bulimic women. This is followed by an examination of core beliefs as an outcome predictor in cognitive-behavioural treatment for eating disorders. Finally, the role of core beliefs as a mediator between dysfunctional family environment and eating disorders is investigated. The results demonstrate high levels of unhealthy core beliefs in both anorexic and bulimic women. These core beliefs also predict the level of symptom reduction following cognitive-behavioural treatment, but only in the bulimic women. While core beliefs play a perfect mediating role in the family interaction-eating disorders link in bulimia nervosa, this relationship is less clear-cut in anorexia nervosa.

Understanding pore network structure of a porous medium and fluid flow in the pore network has been an interest to researchers for decades. This study focuses on the characterization and simulation of the pore networks in petroleum reservoir rocks using conventional characterization techniques. A Representative Elemental Volume (REV) model is developed which simulates the pore network as a series of non-interconnected capillary tubes of varying sizes. The model implements mercury porosimetry (MP) results and capillary pressure principles to calculate the size of each bundle of capillary tubes based on a pore throat size distribution produced by the MP experiment. It also implements electrical properties of the rocks to estimate the average length of the capillary tubes. To verify the validity of the simulated network, permeability is calculated for the simulated network using Poiseuille’s flow principles for capillary tubes. Preliminary work showed that the model is capable of simulating the pore network reasonably well because permeability estimations for the simulated network matched measurements. In this study, MP and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests as well as centrifuge and permeability tests are performed on a suite of 11 sandstone and carbonate rock samples. Because electrical tests were not available, average length of flow paths is calculated with an alternative method that uses porosity to calculate tortuosity. Permeability estimations of the simulated network are compared with measurements. Estimations are also compared to other predictions using methods that implement MP and NMR data to simulate the pore network and the results show that the developed REV model out performs all the other techniques. / October 2015

Semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistors (NWFET) have been recognized as a possible alternative to silicon-based CMOS technology as traditional scaling limits are neared. The core-shell nanowire structure, in particular, also allows for the enhancement of carrier mobility through radial band engineering. In this thesis, we have evaluated the possibility of electron confinement in strained Si-Si1-xGex core-shell nanowire heterostructures. Cylindrical strain distribution was calculated analytically for structures of various dimensions and shell compositions. The strain-induced conduction band edge shift of each region was found using k•p theory coupled with a coordinate system shift to account for strain. A positive conduction band offset of up to 200 meV was found for a Si-Si0.2Ge0.8 structure. We have also designed and characterized a modulation doping scheme for p-type, Ge-SiGe core-shell NWFETs. Finite element simulations of hole density versus radial position were done for different combinations of dopant position and concentration. Three modulation doped nanowire samples, each with a different boron doping density in the shell, were grown using a combined vapor-liquid-solid and chemical vapor deposition process. Low temperature current-voltage measurements of bottom- and top-gate samples indicate that hole mobility is limited by the proximity of charged impurities. / text

Southwest University, a pseudonym for a Tier One 4-year public institution in the Southwest United States, introduced major curricular reforms in 2005. The most prominent of these reforms was a course required of all first-year students with the goal of transforming them from high-school students to college students. Research for this dissertation asked a group of first-year students about their experience in all of their courses but focused on the perceptions of this new first-year course. Currently, universities are devoting a great deal of resources and energy to curricular reform, but students are not often asked how they experience those curricular changes. First-year students discussed the role this course played in their first-year college experience. In order to assess student perceptions and reactions to the course, first-year students were interviewed twice. Additional qualitative data in the form of surveys and journals were also analyzed with an inductive analytic approach to provide supportive evidence for the themes that emerged in the interviews. The findings suggest that student perceptions of the course were positive and that the course had helped them achieve their first-year goals. However, the findings also suggest that additional research or a cost-benefit analysis of the program needs to be conducted to determine if the high cost of the program is worth the outcomes it is achieving. / text

This qualitative case study was conducted to learn about the experiences of one language-minority student learning French in a core French class in Eastern Ontario. In-class observations and interviews with the language-minority learner (LML), his guardian, his teachers and principal were conducted over a six-week period. The data collected helped to create a thick description of the LML’s experiences. The results of the study show that the institution, family and friends all play a role in the LML’s experiences in learning French. It was found that the use and availability of resources, possible curriculum modifications, and effective teaching and learning strategies for language-minority students are important factors affecting the experiences of the LML. This study shows that peers have a strong influence on the experiences of the LML in learning French in the core French context. Finally, the Canadian School Stay program came under scrutiny and information was gleaned from the regional coordinator. Suggestions are made for improved content delivery and further research. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2007-08-24 13:27:50.613

Based on previous testing and analysis, it is believed that North American concrete design codes yield conservative shear designs for precast/prestressed hollow-core slabs in the 203 to 305 mm depth range. The objective of this research program is to calibrate the Canadian code shear equations to precast/prestressed hollow-core slabs, through testing a series of full-scale slabs to failure in shear. A total of twelve hollow-core slabs from one slab producer, using two types of extruders were tested in shear. Test variables include the bearing length and the prestressing level. Results are presented in terms of experimental to predicted capacity using the Canadian and American concrete design codes, the failure mode, crack profiles, and the critical section location for shear. It was concluded that the Canadian code shear equations are inappropriate for use with hollow-core slabs with low prestressing levels in the 203 to 305 mm depth range.

The best type of information about the Earth's interior is seismic. Seismic wave velocity depends on the value of the bulk modulus of the rock. The geophysicist Sir Harold Jeffreys derived a relation between temperature and bulk modulus for solids. From this, and the well known variation of velocity with bulk modulus for solids, we derived the variation of velocity for solids with temperature. We compared this relation to general data on rocks in order to test Jeffreys' predictions in our applications. Next, using the above relation as well as the well known relation between temperature and radius for an adiabatic Earth, we found the variation of bulk modulus with radius. This relation was then compared to actual values of the bulk modulus of the Earth in each major region.The variation of bulk modulus with radius should have been a close fit to the derived equation. This closeness of the fit would then be a measure of how close a region was too adiabatic conditions.The results of this study seem to indicate that the inner core and the outer core of the Earth seem to be near adiabatic conditions. / Department of Physics and Astronomy

Syftet med detta arbete är att ta fram den ultimata träkärnan utefter uppspaltade önskemål på egenskaper i ett par allmountainskidor med nordiska träslag. Studien är deskriptiv och kvantitativ då den syftar till att mäta förändringsgraden under påverkan på träslagen. För att få in data till mina frågeställningar har tester genomförts som genererar datainsamling. En förundersökning gjordes med intervjuer för att få fram ett mer specificerat underlag för att konstruera vilken metod jag skulle ha i det slutgiltiga arbetet. Resultatet av studien visade att träslaget bok hade de bästa egenskaperna vad gäller böjhållfasthet. Ask hade de bästa egenskaperna när det kom till testerna på vridstyvhet. Det negativa med dessa träslag är att de är för tunga. Det lättaste träslaget av de som var med i testerna var poppel. Därför har jag valt att i den slutgiltiga träkärnan kombinera träslag. Två olika förslag har tagits fram. Den ena med en kombination av bok och poppel, den andra med ask och poppel. Den första ger en förhållandevis lätt skida med bra böjhållfasthet. Den andra en lätt skida med bra vridstyvhet. Dessa två träkärnor kommer användas i byggandet av mina skidor och testas på berget. / The purpose of this work is to produce the most optimal wood core with the desired requirements in an all-mountain ski using Scandinavian wood. The study is descriptive and quantitative as it aims to measure the rate of change under the influence of wood species. In order to collect data for my research questions, tests have been carried out which generate data collection. A preliminary investigation was done with interviews to obtain a more detailed basis for constructing the method I would use in the final work. The results of the study showed that the wood type beech had the best results in terms of flexural strength. Ash had the best results when it came to tests on torsional rigidity. The down side of these woods is that they are too heavy. The lightest wood species of those involved in the tests was poplar. Therefore, I have chosen to combine species in the final wood core. Two different suggestions have been developed. One with a combination of beech and poplar, the other one with ash and poplar. The first provides a relatively light ski with good flexural strength. The second produced a light ski with good torsional rigidity. These two wood cores will be used in the construction of my skis and tested on the mountain.

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between core self evaluations and job insecurity of employees (N = 298) at a government organisation. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Constructs were measured by means of the Core Self-evaluations Scale (CSES), the Job Insecurity Survey Inventory (JISI), and a biographical questionnaire. Results indicated that a practically significant negative relationship exists between self evaluations and job insecurity. It further found that a self evaluation holds some predictive value with regard to job insecurity. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.