As enrollment of minority students and recruitment of minority faculty in higher education increase, opportunities for students to interact with racially and ethnically different faculty will become more frequent and pronounced. Also, there may be expectations that these interactions will produce greater educational gains and sensitivity to racial issues. A quantitative research methodology was employed to measure the nature of the student-faculty interactions across race and to explore factors that influence undergraduate students’ GPA and multicultural perceptions in order to identify ways in which student-faculty interactions might better serve the students. Mainly, this study focused on the quantity, quality, and socialization of interactions between White and Asian students and faculty members. The instrument used for data collection was a combination of five national online surveys that were designed to assess college students’ perceptions and experiences of their student-faculty interactions and data were gathered with White and Asian faculty and students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Data collection consisted of surveying students and faculty members via email. The researcher found that only the quality of student-faculty interactions, which belongs to the quality of interactions, had a positive impact on students’ GPA (.06) and their multicultural perceptions (.18). A better understanding of factors influencing students’ GPA and multicultural perceptions would be beneficial for both teachers and undergraduate students at VCU.

An increasing number of people interact not only with computers, but through computers. Interaction between people through computers to complete work tasks is termed Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). The scope of activities supported by CSCW systems is described, and CSCW systems which support communication, meetings and writing are discussed. More specifically, the potential for improved computer support of the writing task is investigated. It is concluded that models of the writing task and writers are not yet sufficiently accurate to be embedded in normative computer programs or systems; individual writers and writing tasks are extremely varied. Leading on from the studies of both existing systems and writing theories, requirements for generic CSCW systems, single author support systems and multiple author support systems are presented. The design of CSCW systems which support asynchronous collaborative authoring of structured documents is investigated in this thesis. A novel approach to design and implementation of such systems is described and discussed. This thesis then describes MILO, a system that does not feature embedded models of writers or the writing task. In fact, MILO attempts to minimize constraints on the activities of collaborating authors and on the structure of documents. Hence with MILO, roles of participants are determined by social processes, and the presentational structure of documents is imposed at the end of the writing process. It is argued that this approach results in a workable, practical and useful design, substantiating the view that 'minimally-constrained' CSCW systems, of which MILO is an example, will be successful. It is shown that MILO successfully meets the stated requirements, and that it compares favourably with existing collaborative writing systems along several dimensions. The limitations of work presented in the thesis are discussed, leading to suggestions for future work which will remedy deficiencies and extend the work which has been undertaken. The nature of this thesis's contribution to CSCW in general, computer supported collaborative writing, and Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is discussed.

This thesis is concerned with ion-ion and ion-polymer interactions over a wide concentration range in polymer electrolytes with a view to shedding new light on the mechanism of ion migration. Additionally, the electrochemical stability window of these electrolytes on platinum and vitreous carbon electrodes has been thoroughly investigated. The final part of this thesis is concerned with determining the feasibility of polymer electrolytes as electrolytes in a new type of energy storage device, a double layer capacitor which incorporates activated carbon cloth electrodes. Conductivities and viscosities of solutions of Li, Na and K thiocyanates in low-molecular-weight, non-crystallizable liquid copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) have been measured. The curves of molar conductance versus sqrt c show well-defined maxima and minima. The conductivity is independent of copolymer molecular-weight but is enhanced by raising the EO content of the copolymer. The results are interpreted in terms of a model for ion migration in which ion association and redissociation effects play an important role. It is proposed that the characteristic properties of liquid polymer electrolytes can only be satisfactorily explained if the current is largely anionic. The electrochemical stability window of these electrolytes on platinum is dominated by the presence of a water reduction peak starting at approximately -1.0V which limits the overall stability to approximately 2V. The onset of water reduction is displaced to more negative potentials (-3.0V), thus increasing the stability window, on vitreous carbon electrodes. The value of the double layer capacitance on vitreous carbon electrodes (15-30muF cm-2) agrees well with published data. The double layer capacitance of activated carbon cloth electrodes is lower than anticipated. The importance of faradaic charging and discharging currents to the successful operation of double layer capacitors is indicated but no problems relating to the specific use of polymer electrolytes in such devices were found.

The interaction between thin films of polymethyi methacrylate and polyethylene terephthalate is reported. Studies of bulk PET/PMMA blends reveal that a direct ester exchange reaction occurs between the two polymers, and this information is used in the investigation of thin film interfaces between PET and PMMA. Discrete wavelength ellipsometry has been used to study the thermal decomposition of thin films of PMMA , and the crystallisation of thin films of PET. It is found that, below ~ 74.5 nm (6 x R(_g), the rate of degradation of PMMA (M(_N) ~ 44,000), increases with decreasing film thickness. For films < 100 nm , the rate of crystallisation of PET (M(_N) ~ 23,000), is found to decrease with decreasing film thickness. Using data obtained from neutron reflectometry, the equilibrium interfacial width between PET and dPMMA is measured. At an annealing temperature of 493K, the interface is broadened by crystalline roughness in the PET phase, and the maximum interfacial width is found to be ~7.7tmi. At 573K, despite extensive degradation of dPMMA, an equilibrium interfacial width of ~5nm is achieved. Capillary wave broadening and the effects of asymmetry are considered. A detailed analysis of Interfacial Marker Movements, reveals that there is an asymmetric broadening of the gold markers towards the PMMA side of the interface, indicative of a grafting reaction between PET and PMMA or a crosslinking reaction within the residual PMMA layer. The degradation of PET films, treated with acrylic based coating formulations has been studied by GPC, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and weight loss techniques. The rate of chain scission at 563K is seen to be dependant on the the concentration of tri methoxy methyl melamine (TMMM), the coating crosslinking agent.

by Li To-sing. / Bibliography: leaves 113-116 / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1986

by Chan Yuk-ping. / Parallel title in Chinese characters. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 103-105. / List of Figures --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.vii / Abstract --- p.viii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Overview --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Hadron-hadron Scattering --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Introduction --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Geometrical Picture --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Inelastic Scattering --- p.11 / Chapter A. --- Charged Multiplicity Distribution in Full Phase Space --- p.11 / Chapter B. --- Multiplicity Distribution in Limited Rapidity Windows --- p.22 / Chapter C. --- Correlation --- p.22 / Chapter D. --- The Partition Temperature Model --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2 --- Hadron-Nucleus Scattering --- p.29 / Chapter 3. --- Charged Particle Multiplicity Distribution in Limited Rapidity Windows in Hadron-Nucleus Scattering --- p.37 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2 --- Formalism --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Fluctuation Around n(b) --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Fluctuation in Spatial Distribution --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Partition-Temperature Model --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Negative Charged Particles --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3 --- Discussion --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.60 / Chapter 4. --- Geometric Model for Multiplicity Distribution in Nucleus-Nucleus Scattering --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2 --- Simple Model --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Opacity --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Average Multiplicity n(bi) --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Intrinsic Distribution --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3 --- Analytic Form for ψ(Z) --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4 --- Intrinsic Distribution --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Model 1 --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Model 2 --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Model 3 --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Second Moment --- p.94 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.95 / Chapter 4.6 --- Conclusion --- p.98 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.100 / References --- p.103

Ngai Wah Kai = 中微子混合角[theta]₁₃測量的最優化與本底研究 / 魏華佳. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-87). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Ngai Wah Kai = Zhong wei zi hun he jiao [theta]₁₃ ce liang de zui you hua yu ben di yan jiu / Wei Huajia. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Puzzle with Beta Decay Spectrum --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Detection of a Free Neutrino --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Properties of Neutrinos --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Neutrino Mass --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Dirac and Majorana Neutrinos --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Neutrino Oscillation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Background to Underground Neutrino Experiments --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Outline of the Thesis --- p.12 / Chapter 2 --- The Last Mixing Angle and Daya Bay --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1 --- Current Status of Neutrino Oscillation --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2 --- Measurement of θ13 with Reactors --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3 --- "Daya Bay, the Site and the Detector" --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Overview --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Detector --- p.22 / Chapter 3 --- Detector Baseline Optimization --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- Antineutrino Spectrum and Flux from Reactors --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Antineutrino Production --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Antineutrino Spectrum from Reactors --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- Interaction Rate Analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- Spectral Analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effect of Three-Neutrino Mixing --- p.33 / Chapter 4 --- Energy Resolution of the Proposed Antineutrino Detector --- p.37 / Chapter 4.1 --- Physical Processes inside the Detector --- p.38 / Chapter 4.2 --- Simulation Algorithm --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3 --- Comparison of Different Detector Geometries and Configurations --- p.43 / Chapter 5 --- Aberdeen Tunnel Laboratory - A Satellite Lab of Daya Bay --- p.53 / Chapter 5.1 --- Geological Properties --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2 --- Research Plan and Methodology --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Detector Configuration --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Front-End Electronics --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Trigger System --- p.60 / Chapter 6 --- Cosmic Ray Muons and Induced Neutron Underground --- p.63 / Chapter 6.1 --- Background to Reactor Antineutrino Experiments --- p.63 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Origins of the Fast Neutrons --- p.64 / Chapter 6.2 --- Muon Flux and Energy Spectrum Underground --- p.65 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Muons at the Earth Surface --- p.66 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Propagating Muons through Rock --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Flat Surface Case --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Aberdeen Mountain Case --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2.5 --- Pyramid Case --- p.72 / Chapter 6.2.6 --- Daya Bay Case --- p.73 / Chapter 6.3 --- Predicting Neutron Production from Cosmic Ray Muons --- p.76 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Neutron Yield --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Neutron Energy Spectrum --- p.79 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Neutron Angular Distribution --- p.80 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Neutron Multiplicity --- p.81 / Bibliography --- p.83 / Chapter A --- Three-neutrino mixing formula --- p.88 / Chapter B --- Sea Level Muon Generator --- p.90 / Chapter B.1 --- Acceptance-rejection Method --- p.90 / Chapter B.2 --- Finding the Comparison Functions --- p.91 / Chapter B.3 --- Checking the Generator --- p.92 / Chapter C --- Circuit Diagrams of the Discrimination Board for Plastic Scintillators --- p.96

We have formed the basis for a synthetic gene regulatory network in S. cerevisiae to assess the relative contribution of proteins and protein interactions to the function of transcriptional regulatory complexes. This gene network contains two synthetic transcriptional regulator (TR) fusion proteins that control transcriptional activation and repression of a reporter expressed by a synthetic promoter. This system can be modulated and quantified specifically by our manipulations since the transcriptional regulators (TRs) are only active when drug induced. In this thesis, I characterized and optimized my gene network to enable accurate measurements of transcriptional regulation. I demonstrated that my synthetic repressor interacts with a selected native transcriptional regulatory complex. Future mutation experiments can be performed to investigate the relative importance that the selected protein interaction plays on transcriptional regulation. New synthetic repressor fusion proteins can be created to study the relative importance of protein interactions between other TRs, making this tool versatile. This tool will allow us to quantify interactions and gain a deeper understanding of the complicated mechanisms controlling transcriptional regulation.

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