Digital Commons Network^™

Processing, Stability And High-Temperature Properties Of Transition Metal Silicide-Refractory Oxide Composites For Electrical Applications, Gunes Alp Yakaboylu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Many common electrical materials used in the current sensing applications suffer from structural and functional issues related to high operating temperatures (750°-1600°C), alternating reducing/oxidizing atmospheres, high pressures and corrosive environments. Therefore, there is a need for development of new materials, which are capable to operate under high-temperature and harsh-environments to provide real-time, accurate sensing during industrial processes such as coal gasification and power generation. In this study, electroconductive ceramic composites were fabricated by incorporating the 20-90 vol% of transition metal silicides (MoSi2, WSi2, NbSi2, TaSi 2, CrSi2) within refractory oxides (Al2O 3, ZrO2, Cr2O3), followed by sintering at 1370°-1600°C in …

Algorithmic Issues In Some Disjoint Clustering Problems In Combinatorial Circuits, Zola Nailah Donovan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

As the modern integrated circuit continues to grow in complexity, the design of very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits involves massive teams employing state-of-the-art computer-aided design (CAD) tools. An old, yet significant CAD problem for VLSI circuits is physical design automation. In this problem, one needs to compute the best physical layout of millions to billions of circuit components on a tiny silicon surface. The process of mapping an electronic design to a chip involves several physical design stages, one of which is clustering. Even for combinatorial circuits, there exist several models for the clustering problem. In particular, we consider the …

Collaborative Robotic Path Planning For Industrial Spraying Operations On Complex Geometries, Steven Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Implementation of automated robotic solutions for complex tasks currently faces a few major hurdles. For instance, lack of effective sensing and task variability – especially in high-mix/low-volume processes – creates too much uncertainty to reliably hard-code a robotic work cell. Current collaborative frameworks generally focus on integrating the sensing required for a physically collaborative implementation. While this paradigm has proven effective for mitigating uncertainty by mixing human cognitive function and fine motor skills with robotic strength and repeatability, there are many instances where physical interaction is impractical but human reasoning and task knowledge is still needed. The proposed framework consists …

Transposable Element Diversity, Divergence, And Contribution To Genome Evolution In Plants, Dhanushya Ramachandran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

No abstract provided.

Escuela De Padres Para El Ciclo Dos De La Educación Básica En Doce Instituciones Educativas Oficiales De Las Localidades De Usme Y Bosa De Bogotá D.C, Rocío Farfán Rincón, Claudia Marcela Nieto Cubillos, Diana Marcela Pérez Martínez

Maestría en Docencia

No abstract provided.

Influencia De La Comunicación Familiar En La Transmisión De Estereotipos Sexistas De Machismo Y Sumisión En El Colegio Atenas De La Localidad San Cristóbal De Bogotá, Vilma Susana García Correal, Marianne Judith Jiménez Marín, Claudia Milena Vargas Suárez

Maestría en Docencia

Con esta tesis se indagó acerca de la comunicación intrafamiliar y su influencia en la transmisión de estereotipos sexistas -machismo y sumisión- y los patrones de comunicación presentes – aplacador y acusador- en las familias de tipo nuclear de estudiantes de ciclo tres del colegio Atenas I.E.D. Esta investigación se amparó en el paradigma participativo debido a la intervención de los investigados que aportan sus opiniones. Se utilizó el tipo cualitativo que permitió identificar cómo se manifiesta en la comunicación intrafamiliar el trato diferencial de los padres y madres a los hijos e hijas y la transmisión de estereotipos sexistas …

Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of The Teacher Excellence And Support System (Tess) In Arkansas, Allison Louise Byford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in Arkansas teachers’ and building-level administrators’ perceptions regarding the purpose of the Arkansas TESS teacher evaluation system, whether TESS authentically assesses teacher effectiveness, how teacher evaluation data are used, and how the TESS process supports learner-centered professional development. Additionally, the relationship of teacher and administrator demographics on their perceptions of TESS was explored. The results of this study highlight the differences in perceptions in all areas questioned along with misalignment in perceptions among teachers. Overall, the study points toward the need for clear communication and the cultivation of relationships among building …

Turismo Bienestar Con Identidad, Wendy Jurany Rojas Tristancho

Arquitectura

Este proyecto tiene como objetivo, diseñar una propuesta arquitectónica de una planta turística, como producto final un hotel - spa, que contenga diferentes servicios enfocados a la medicina tradicional para el disfrute de los beneficios en salud y bienestar, tomando elementos provenientes del mismo territorio, manteniendo su identidad cultural e histórica, y de esta forma aportar a la economía en el municipio de Tocaima. El proyecto surge de la necesidad de equipamientos hoteleros donde se ofrezcan diferentes alternativas de recreación, disfrute o goce para el turista, ya que debido a las diferentes dinámicas de las ciudades, que generan estrés, agotamiento, …

Centro Educativo Wayuu, Juan Sebastián Patarroyo Moreno

Arquitectura

No abstract provided.

Memoria Y Comunidad: Territorio Para La Reparación, Monterrey, Casanare, Lizet Bonilla Grajales

Arquitectura

No abstract provided.

Hypnotic White Silk Skylights, Anthony Borruso

Graduate Thesis Collection

A poetic examination of the self as well as cycles of trauma and recovery. This manuscript explores poetry's ability to transform one's experiences by re-engaging with them in the realm of the imagination.

The Story Of The Berlin Tunnel: What The Operations Narrative Teaches Us About Covert Conflict In An Ongoing Cold War, Jonathan Collier

Graduate Thesis Collection

Operation Gold (1953-56) was a collaborative covert operation between the American CIA and British SIS. The two major objectives: firstly, rebalance the state of affairs in covert activity, which the KGB had been dominating heading into the 1950s. Secondly, gain more detailed, valuable information on the state of Soviet forces throughout Europe and gain prior warning of possible information. The technological nature of the operation marks it as the beginning of a move away from traditional espionage. Understanding the narrative of Operation Gold establishes a firm foundation on which to address the development of covert activity into the modern day. …

Girl-Junk, Sugar-Funk, Natalie Tombasco

Graduate Thesis Collection

A poetic look into the life of a girl which centers around food, alcoholism, mommy issues, sexuality, identity and mortality.

Computing Eigenmodes Of Elliptic Operators On Manifolds Using Radial Basis Functions, Vladimir Delengov

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In this work, a numerical approach based on meshless methods is proposed to obtain eigenmodes of Laplace-Beltrami operator on manifolds, and its performance is compared against existing alternative methods. Radial Basis Function (RBF)-based methods allow one to obtain interpolation and differentiation matrices easily by using scattered data points. We derive expressions for such matrices for the Laplace-Beltrami operator via so-called Reilly’s formulas and use them to solve the respective eigenvalue problem. Numerical studies of proposed methods are performed in order to demonstrate convergence on simple examples of one-dimensional curves and two-dimensional surfaces.

Narrative Technique In The Works Of The Pearl Poet, Karl Agger

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In the fourteenth century, the so-called Pearl Poet created such masterpieces as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl. Though his surviving body of work comprises only four poems, these are enough to have him considered among the greatest medieval English writers. Much scholarship has focused on the poems’ sources, style, symbolism, and thematic content, but comparatively little has approached these works as narratives. The Pearl Poet was a masterful storyteller who employed a consistent yet flexible set of narrative techniques. Borrowing the theories developed by Wayne C. Booth in The Rhetoric of Fiction, I present an analysis of …

Finding The Words: The Impact Of Voca On Language Acquisition, Sarah Aldrich

Open Access Master's Theses

The current study researches the impact of voice output communication aids (VOCA) on the language acquisition of toddlers and school-aged children with developmental disabilities. There are a wide variety of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices available to nonverbal individuals, making the decision of parents, teachers, and speech pathologists of which to use and implement a substantial task, one that needs the guidance of research based evidence. SPSS software was used to conduct a series of analyses with secondary data from Nancy Brady’s study Language Development of Non-verbal Children Age 3 Years through 7 Years, 2007 to 2012, looking specifically …

Best Practices For Sepsis Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Kevin Mark Smith Jr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Sepsis is a complication caused by the overwhelming and life-threatening response of the body to an infection. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Sepsis is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals. Mortality from sepsis increases 8% for every hour that treatment is delayed. Each year, 258,000 people die from sepsis in the U.S. As many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with rapid diagnosis and treatment (Sepsis Alliance, 2016). This project seeks to improve the ability of the transfer unit to screen patients, improve early …

Integrating Microscale Enzyme And Lectin Reactions Using Nanogel Assisted Capillary Electrophoresis, Srikanth Gattu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Protein glycosylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications which plays an important role in determining the structure, stability, and function of proteins. Changes in glycosylation patterns are a hallmark of cancer and other diseases. Characterizing glycosylation is difficult because these structures vary in their linkage and monomer sequence, which gives rise to vast microheterogenity that could affect the function of the molecule. A novel method using capillary gel electrophoresis by integrating microscale enzymes and lectin reactions in the capillary was developed to verify glycan structure by analyzing monosaccharides. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) improves upon conventional methods of glycan structure …

Design And Evaluation Of Novel Attitude Estimation System Using Mems Sensors For Indoor Uas, Joshua Bruce Milam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Most small unmanned aerial systems in use today, employ extended Kalman filter sensor fusion algorithms in order to provide accurate estimations of attitude or orientation. These complex algorithms use measurements from GPS receivers and magnetometer sensors that can be rendered useless in GPS denied environments or areas of significant magnetic interference, such as inside buildings or other structures. The complexity of these algorithms makes them inaccessible for some researchers and hobbyists who wish to code their own attitude estimation algorithms. This complexity is also computationally expensive and requires processors that are powerful enough to operate the algorithms along with any …

Applications Of Cellular Components In Engineered Environments, Xiao Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Manipulation of cellular components in synthetic environment has attracted interest for applications ranging from sensors to nanelectronics and from catalysis to biomedical devices. In such applications, biological-based processes such as specific recognition and self-assembly direct the formation of hierarchical structures, all at minimum energetic costs, with high efficiency and reliability.

Among such cellular machines, microtubules and kinesins have attracted special interest. Inside the cells, microtubules are giving structural integrity while serving as regular and uniform tracks for transport of vesicles or organelles. Kinesin uses a microtubule track in vivo to progress to specific locations with processive and coordinated steps, all …

Investigation Of Combustion Characteristics Of A Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Retrofitted To Natural Gas Spark Ignition Operation, Jinlong Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The conversion of existing diesel engines to natural-gas spark ignition operation by adding a gas injector in the intake manifold for fuel delivery and replacing the diesel fuel injector with a spark plug to initiate and control the combustion process can reduce U.S. dependence on petroleum imports and curtail engine-out emissions. As the conventional diesel combustion chamber (i.e., flat head and bowl-in-piston) creates high turbulence, the engine can operate leaner, which would increase its efficiency and reduce emissions. However, natural gas combustion in such retrofitted engines presents differences compared to that in conventional spark ignited engines. Subsequently, the main goal …

The Effect Of Asymmetry On Pregnancy-Related Pain In The Postpartum Period, Krista G. Meder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Nearly 50% of women experience back pain and other lower extremity pain during pregnancy, with many reporting lasting pain postpartum. Pregnant women experience changes to their pelvis and lower extremities that do not always return to pre-pregnancy baseline. Not much is known of the lingering effects of pregnancy related asymmetry and its relationship to pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess asymmetries of the pelvis and lower extremities to determine whether malalignment is related to areas of pain at the low back, hip, thigh, knee, leg, and foot/ankle. Methods: Seventeen postpartum women and seven nulliparous controls were …

The Determination Of The Concrete Tensile Creep At Early Age Using The Ring Test, Tadamon Mohammed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In this study, the modified double power law (MDPL) model is used to determine the tensile creep of concrete at an early age based on the ASTM C1581 restrained shrinkage ring test. Three concrete mixes using Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) were tested. The three concrete mixes were cast, and each underwent the ring tests up to cracking. Mechanical properties of concrete at the age of 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days were tested to find the compressive strength, tensile strength and Young’s Modulus of concrete. The strength tests results were obtained from both 4x8 inch and 6x12 inch cylinders. …

Remotely Sensed Hydroclimatic Variability For Water Security In An Agricultural Basin, Ashish Kondal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The Indus Basin has supported agricultural practices since the Harappan civilization (3000-1500 BC). Abundance of water has always supported agriculture in the region and built the Indus Basin as one of the major agriculture based economies of the world. The obvious dependency of agriculture on weather and the vagaries of climate emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive hydro-climate study of the region. The role of climate change in the Indus Basin has always been a contentious issue. Groundwater depletion is evident in the region, and its steady and alarmingly declining rate has brought concerns for the future of agriculture in …

Effects Of Delay And Signals On Choice Between Delayed Food Alone And Immediate Food With Delayed Shock, Forrest James Toegel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Much of the research in the area of self-control has examined choice between small immediate reinforcers and large delayed reinforcers, but many problems result from situations in which a single choice produces consequences of conflicting valence: Those in which the immediate outcome is reinforcing and the delayed outcome is aversive. Recent research has evaluated how preference for a large reinforcer which is followed by a delayed shock changes as a function of the delay to shock and how the intensity and duration of delayed shock affects the value of a large reinforcer. The present set of experiments investigated how the …

The Impact Of Comorbidities On Diabetes And Hypertension Co-Management And Healthcare Expenditures, Rashmi Goyat

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are among the most prevalent chronic conditions that often co-exist. Their co-existence increases the risk for comorbidities due to their impact on other organs such as blood vessels (leading to vasoconstriction/hypertension); brain (resulting in increased caloric intake); pancreas (decreased in beta-cell mass and glucose sensing); bone (possibly decreasing bone mass and strength). Occurrence of comorbidities can complicate the already complex care of diabetes and hypertension. It increases the risk of poor patient outcomes such as preventable hospitalization, adverse drug events and mortality. However, different comorbidities can affect the co-management differently. We identified the types …

Growing Up Between Two Worlds: A Portrait Of Second-Generation American A Multimedia Project, Dalia Ahmed Elsaid

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This professional project is a multimedia project focusing on stories of three second-generation Americans in West Virginia. The project is disseminated using a website. It includes content curated by the project author (photos, videos, written stories, data visualization) and information selected by the participants themselves. The content will add to the information available on different cultural communities in West Virginia in general, and on second-generation Americans in particular. It is hoped the project, through its portrayals of these individuals and their immigrant families, will help to dispel and counter some of the stereotypical depictions of immigrants. With this goal in …

Growth Media Alternatives For Mine Refuse Cap And Cover Systems, Sitraka Jean D'Annie Rabemanjakasoa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In 1999, Royal Scot Minerals based in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA went bankrupt and abandoned a 47-acre coal refuse pile, which currently presents environmental and economic issues. The primary objective of this problem report is to identify an effective approach to create a growth layer that establishes a sustainable vegetation on this pile. Using available data in the relevant literature, this report evaluates topsoil substitutes using three materials: papermill sludge, sewage sludge and lumber mill waste application for coal refuse piles. Like papermill sludge, sewage sludge reduces erosion/sedimentation by improving the soil water holding capacity and decreases the surface …

100 Days In Appalachia: Publication Building Toolkit, Kassandra Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This is an analysis of the multimedia news outlet 100 Days in Appalachia. It is an attempt to examine the publication in order to further understand the purpose, the successes and the contributions it has made to journalism. 100 Days in Appalachia is delivering groundbreaking journalism from the heart of the region Appalachia, to help change perceptions about a part of the country that is widely misunderstood. This analysis will use 100 Days in Appalachia as a guideline to develop a journalists' toolkit for other communities throughout the United States to create a publication. It will also use information and …

Gas County: A Case Study On How West Virginia's Recent Gas Boom Is Transforming A County, Egill Karlsson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

A case study on horizontal hydraulic fracturing through the eyes of Doddridge County, WV; how it's affected the residents and various stakeholders in different ways, from economy to health and environment.