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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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The Impacts Of Longwall Mining On Groundwater Systems -- A Case Of Cumberland Mine Panels B5 And B6, Xinzhi Du Aug 2010

The Impacts Of Longwall Mining On Groundwater Systems -- A Case Of Cumberland Mine Panels B5 And B6, Xinzhi Du

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The longwall mining method is a commonly used method of coal extraction that involves the complete removal of large, rectangular panels of coal. Since it causes subsidence through the overlying strata to the ground surface, the surface-and ground-water above the longwall panels may be affected and drained into the lower levels. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of longwall mining subsidence on surface- and ground-water systems by using a groundwater flow model: Ground Water Vista (GWV).;To setup the GWV model, the Globe Information System software (ArcMap) was used to determine the geometry and boundary conditions of …


Analysis Of Lidar Point Data And Derived Elevation Models For Mapping And Characterizing Bouldery Landforms, Aaron Edward Maxwell Aug 2010

Analysis Of Lidar Point Data And Derived Elevation Models For Mapping And Characterizing Bouldery Landforms, Aaron Edward Maxwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis assessed the viability of using LiDAR-derived elevation data in accurately mapping and characterizing bouldery geomorphic features in a study area in the Allegheny Mountains. This study showed that the ground returns classification process conducted by the Canaan Valley Institute (CVI) for their property using the TerraScan software generally removed 5 to 10 m scale local topographic variability and bouldery landforms in creating the CVI classified ground returns data. In open areas, last returns elevation and intensity data were successfully used in this study to map bouldery landforms in the study area. Identifying and describing boulders under a tree …


A Comparison Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy And Treatment As Usual With Families With A History Of Child Abuse And Neglect And Intimate Partner Violence, Kimberly P. Foley Aug 2010

A Comparison Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy And Treatment As Usual With Families With A History Of Child Abuse And Neglect And Intimate Partner Violence, Kimberly P. Foley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are serious public health issues that need to be addressed. In 2005, a reported 899,000 children throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were the victims of either abuse or neglect resulting in the death of 1,460 children under 18-years-of-age (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). In the United States each year, adult women are subjected to over 5 million IPV incidences and which result in the death of approximately 1,300 women (APA, 2005). A meta-analysis of 31 studies conducted by Appel and Holden …


Mountaineer Boys And Girls Club Public Relations Campaign Professional Project, Lisa K. Brown Aug 2010

Mountaineer Boys And Girls Club Public Relations Campaign Professional Project, Lisa K. Brown

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The task of sustaining a nonprofit organization in a small town can be challenging. These organizations rely on public relations to communicate with the public and maintain their funding. This professional project provides the Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club ("the Club") in Morgantown, West Virginia, with a public relations campaign. The campaign is designed to assist the Club with increasing donations, extending stewardship and increasing website visits from a relationship management perspective. The project also offers other nonprofit staff members with a guide to use when creating their own public relations plans.


Hypercholesterolemia And Microvascular Dysfunction: Altered Mechanisms And Interventional Strategies, Phoebe Stapleton Aug 2010

Hypercholesterolemia And Microvascular Dysfunction: Altered Mechanisms And Interventional Strategies, Phoebe Stapleton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cardiovascular disease has a number of risk factors and confounding variables associated with the development and progression of the condition. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the few independent risk factors of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) with causes stemming from a genetic predisposition and lifestyle management. The primary symptom of these diseases can be described as an endothelial cell dysfunction, which hypercholesterolemia can exacerbate, leading to a pro-inflammatory state of elevated oxidant stress and significant reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, a key mediator of endothelium-dependent dilation. This environment can culminate into an impairment of the vascular …


The Language And Body Language Of Political Communication: Investigating The Effects Of The Verbal Versus The Visual In Televised Gubernatorial Debates, Nicole Bernadette Fernandes Aug 2010

The Language And Body Language Of Political Communication: Investigating The Effects Of The Verbal Versus The Visual In Televised Gubernatorial Debates, Nicole Bernadette Fernandes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This experimental study investigated the effects of the verbal and visual elements of a series of United States televised gubernatorial debates than took place between the 2006--2009 election years. Guided by the Social Judgment Theory and the Heuristic-Systematic Model, a series of 16 debate clips were shown to participants to gauge their attitudes and voting intentions toward the candidates running for office. The hypotheses predicted a correlation between viewers' level of interest in the topics discussed and their attitudes (positive or negative) toward the candidates, as well as their intentions to vote for them. Findings indicated that regardless of the …


The Use Of Assessment For Institutional Sensemaking By Top Administrative Officials, Johnston Niven Hegeman Aug 2010

The Use Of Assessment For Institutional Sensemaking By Top Administrative Officials, Johnston Niven Hegeman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explored the relationship between the degree to which top administrators of four-year colleges and universities that have been effective in implementing and sustaining assessment view the use of assessment and seven components of institutional sensemaking at their institutions. The underlying premise is that outcomes assessment practices represent a transformational change in higher education, and institutional sensemaking has been identified as a central feature of institutional transformation efforts. Understanding how assessment results and institutional sensemaking are intertwined should be useful for professionals charged with designing or implementing assessment plans, because it may lead to new ways to connect assessment …


Real-Time Implementation Of A Sensor Validation Scheme For A Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine, Manoharan Thiagarajan Aug 2010

Real-Time Implementation Of A Sensor Validation Scheme For A Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine, Manoharan Thiagarajan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With ultra-low exhaust emissions standards, heavy-duty diesel engines (HDDEs) are dependent upon a myriad of sensors to optimize power output and exhaust emissions. Apart from acquiring and processing sensor signals, engine control modules should also have capabilities to report and compensate for sensors that have failed. The global objective of this research was to develop strategies to enable HDDEs to maintain nominal in-use performance during periods of sensor failures. Specifically, the work explored the creation of a sensor validation scheme to detect, isolate, and accommodate sensor failures in HDDEs. The scheme not only offers onboard diagnostic (OBD) capabilities, but also …


The Emphasis On Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs By High School Agricultural Education Teachers, John A. Workman Aug 2010

The Emphasis On Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs By High School Agricultural Education Teachers, John A. Workman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Every year thousands of high school FFA members around the nation earn degrees through their SAE programs. Supervised Agriculture Experience programs (SAEs) are used for students to take interest, mix with information and practices learned in the classroom and apply them in a real life scenario. The purpose of this study was to look at the emphasis and importance agricultural teachers are putting on SAEs in their programs. The study was limited to six states, approximately 1,500 teachers. The final set of usable surveys numbered 391 (26.1%). Educators were presented with an online survey, which was broken down into sections. …


Effect Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid On The Regulation Of Feed Intake And Body Fat In The Short Term, Valerie J. Shelton Aug 2010

Effect Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid On The Regulation Of Feed Intake And Body Fat In The Short Term, Valerie J. Shelton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known to decrease feed intake and body fat in mice. Our objectives were to determine the incorporation of CLA into tissues and the effect on serum hormones and arcuate neuropeptides during the first 7 d of CLA consumption. Mice (n=150; 9-wk-old) were fed 0 (ad libitum or pair-fed to CLA-fed mice) or 2% CLA (ad libitum) for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 d. A body fat index was calculated; liver, adipose tissue, and brain were analyzed for fatty acid profiles; and serum insulin, leptin, and PYY were measured. CLA and pair-fed mice ate less …


Effect Of Nutritional Deficiency On Ruffed Grouse Condition And Reproductive Success, Aaron B. Proctor Aug 2010

Effect Of Nutritional Deficiency On Ruffed Grouse Condition And Reproductive Success, Aaron B. Proctor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Maternal body fat condition (i.e., percent carcass fat) is often a focal point in determining reproductive success in female galliforms. Previous research has centered around habitat-related nutritional parameters affecting body condition and the influence on reproductive capacity. Past studies have shown that ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) maintain higher mean body fat levels throughout the Appalachians and variation in body condition exceeds that found in northern grouse. In the Appalachians, ruffed grouse with diets devoid of energy-rich hard mast have lower body fat condition. It has been hypothesized that females in poorer condition will have lower productivity in the Appalachians. We …


A Reconfigurable Distributed Multiagent System Optimized For Scalability, Summiya Moheuddin Aug 2010

A Reconfigurable Distributed Multiagent System Optimized For Scalability, Summiya Moheuddin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis proposes a novel solution for optimizing the size and communication overhead of a distributed multiagent system without compromising the performance. The proposed approach addresses the challenges of scalability especially when the multiagent system is large. A modified spectral clustering technique is used to partition a large network into logically related clusters. Agents are assigned to monitor dedicated clusters rather than monitor each device or node. The proposed scalable multiagent system is implemented using JADE (Java Agent Development Environment) for a large power system. The performance of the proposed topology-independent decentralized multiagent system and the scalable multiagent system is …


Optimized Trusted Information Sharing, Joseph M. D'Alessandro Aug 2010

Optimized Trusted Information Sharing, Joseph M. D'Alessandro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the digital world expands the building of trust and the retention of privacy in information sharing becomes paramount. A major impediment to information sharing is a lack of trust between the parties, based on security and privacy concerns, as well as information asymmetry. Several technological solutions have been proposed to solve this problem, including our's: a trusted enclave with a Continuous Compliance Assurance (CCA) mechanism. Of the work surrounding these proposed solutions, no attention has been directed toward studying the issues of performance surrounding processing of this nature. Studies have shown that ignoring the performance of a system can …


Recommendations For Biomechanics In The Physical Education Teacher Education Curriculum, Susan M. Ross Aug 2010

Recommendations For Biomechanics In The Physical Education Teacher Education Curriculum, Susan M. Ross

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the critical biomechanics competencies physical educators need to learn, and delineate learning environments and instructional methods for delivering core biomechanics competencies within the physical education teacher education curriculum. An initial list of theoretical and applied biomechanics competencies was constructed using the knowledge and skills recommended by the Guidelines and Standards for Undergraduate Biomechanics and three textbook sources. A two-round, modified Delphi procedure involved the repeated circulation of a survey to a small panel of content experts. The study sample included biomechanics specialists, physical education teacher educators, and K-12 physical education teachers. The …


The Ku Klux Klan's Portrayal Of African Americans In Mass Media Technology, Heather R. Sager Aug 2010

The Ku Klux Klan's Portrayal Of African Americans In Mass Media Technology, Heather R. Sager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The White supremacy group, the Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1866, after the end of the Civil War, in the small town of Pulaski, TN, by six ex-Confederate soldiers. Over the last 143 years the Klan has tried to take full advantage of the media in order to reach the largest audience possible to make its voice heard and spread its ideologies of hate towards African Americans and other minority groups. This study focuses on the similarities and differences in the Klan's portrayal of African Americans between two great technological advances used by the Klan---motion pictures from the twentieth …


Testing And Assessment Of Frp Strengthened Concrete T-Beam Bridges In Pennsylvania, Adam L. Justice Aug 2010

Testing And Assessment Of Frp Strengthened Concrete T-Beam Bridges In Pennsylvania, Adam L. Justice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is increasingly becoming of great concern that the transportation infrastructure is in poor condition and in need of rehabilitation. Reinforced concrete (RC) structures such as bridges are a prime example for displaying rehabilitation needs. Harsh environmental conditions and age, along with the use of deicing salts in the winter seasons, greatly increase deterioration rates. Addressing bridge conditions in an effective manner and ensuring the safety of the public is a challenge for engineers and owners.;The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - District 3 (PennDOT-D3) initiated a program to address the condition of their concrete T-Beam bridges. 128 concrete T-Beam bridges …


Correlation Between Flexural Strength And Denture Base Acrylic Thickness Overlaying Implant Stud Attachments, Khaled N. Alawadhi Aug 2010

Correlation Between Flexural Strength And Denture Base Acrylic Thickness Overlaying Implant Stud Attachments, Khaled N. Alawadhi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives. To investigate the effect of acrylic resin thickness and the stud attachment housings on the maximum breaking load, flexural strength and flexural modulus of denture base acrylic resins overlying implant overdenture attachments.;Methods. Fifty-two rectangular specimens were fabricated from high impact denture acrylic resin (Lucitone 199). Forty specimens contain 2.00 mm height Locator attachment titanium denture caps with black processing males, 12 specimens did not include the denture cap. All specimens were fabricated according to ANSI/ADA SPECIFICATION NO. 12-2002 for testing denture base resin with constant measurements of 64 mm in length, 10 mm in width, and variable testing thickness. …


Communicative Facework In Marital Dissolution And Post-Dissolution Processes, Brandi N. Frisby Aug 2010

Communicative Facework In Marital Dissolution And Post-Dissolution Processes, Brandi N. Frisby

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Divorce affects nearly 24,000 adults (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2008) and one million children yearly (Amato, 2000), often with negative consequences for those who are involved (Amato, 2000; Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001). Unlike previous research which focused on predictors of divorce, this dissertation (2 studies) focused on the communicative processes that occur when divorce is initiated and in turning points which comprise the interactions in post-divorce relationships. In study one, participants (N = 69) reported on the conversation where the decision to divorce was made, the face threats and facework which were communicated during that conversation, and the individual …


Linking Tourism Resources And Local Economic Development: A Spatial Analysis In West Virginia, David Dyre Aug 2010

Linking Tourism Resources And Local Economic Development: A Spatial Analysis In West Virginia, David Dyre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tourism has proven to be a major contributor to West Virginia's economy after much of the states agricultural, mining, and chemical manufacturing have ceased. This study created a database of cultural tourism resources (battlefields, historic sites, festivals, and museums) and tourism businesses (camping sites, lodging, and restaurants) and created a location map of each resource type, determined their spatial distribution across the state, categorized counties based on cultural tourism resources, tourism businesses and travel spending, and examined the relationship of the tourism resources and travel spending at the county level. Two large portions of the state were found to rank …


Peptide Based Molecular Recognition Elements For Binding 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene, Avram Siegel Aug 2010

Peptide Based Molecular Recognition Elements For Binding 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene, Avram Siegel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Three peptides labeled AS2, AS3 and AS6 were designed to evaluate the role of secondary structure in a peptide's ability to selectively bind 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene (TNT). The peptides were produced using recombinant DNA methods through E. coli expression. It was hypothesized that AS6 would form a random coil, AS2 would form an alpha-helix and AS3 would form a beta-sheet. The secondary structures of the peptides were determined using circular dichroism spectroscopy and the binding of the peptides to TNT was studied using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. After expression, the presence of the peptide in the final purified product was …


A Risk Management Approach To Pillar Extraction In The Central Appalachian Coalfields, Patrick R. Bucks Aug 2010

A Risk Management Approach To Pillar Extraction In The Central Appalachian Coalfields, Patrick R. Bucks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Central Appalachian coal reserves are a valuable natural resource in high demand, both domestically and internationally. The need for this resource necessitates recovery a high percentage of the coal reserves. The mining technique that is most often utilized to extract Central Appalachian coal at high recovery rates involves the development of entries and cross-cuts within the coal seam and the subsequent removal of the coal pillars that remain. The practice of extracting coal pillars is commonly referred to as pillaring or retreat mining.;The problem associated with pillar extraction is the additional safety risk posed to miners during pillar extraction. This …


Students' Perceptions Of Classroom Justice And Their Use Of Politeness Strategies, Charles K. Rudick Aug 2010

Students' Perceptions Of Classroom Justice And Their Use Of Politeness Strategies, Charles K. Rudick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate how students' use of politeness strategies differed based on their perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice when they engaged in a face threatening act (FTA) with their instructors. Participants included 76 undergraduate students enrolled in undergraduate communication courses at a large mid-Atlantic university during the summer. Results revealed that students engage in all types of politeness strategies when speaking with their instructor, with students reporting the bald-on-record strategy the most frequently. However, students' use of politeness strategies did not significantly differ based on their perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. …


The Great American Debate: A Constructionist Approach On The Media's Coverage Of Government Bailouts, Meghan Danielle Hvizdos May 2010

The Great American Debate: A Constructionist Approach On The Media's Coverage Of Government Bailouts, Meghan Danielle Hvizdos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, the term "bailout" has been used to define the rescuing of an organization in financial distress. A rescue implies that a bailout is voluntary. However, by all accounts, the bailouts in the past nine months have not been voluntary. Media outlets are using the words 'bailout' and 'rescue' interchangeably. Through claims-making and by using the words rescue and bailout interchangeably, the media has socially constructed the word rescue as synonymous with the word bailout and has implied that the bailouts were voluntary and necessary to avert economic disaster and have constructed a social problem. This paper will examine the …


History, Philosophy, And Sociology Of Sport Recommendations For Physical Education Teacher Education, Amanda A. Metcalf May 2010

History, Philosophy, And Sociology Of Sport Recommendations For Physical Education Teacher Education, Amanda A. Metcalf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the essential history, philosophy, and sociology of sport competencies to be used to inform the physical education teacher education undergraduate curriculum. A two-round modified Delphi procedure involved the repeated circulation of a questionnaire to a panel of content experts. The study sample included specialists in history of sport, philosophy of sport, and sociology of sport, experts in the field of physical education teacher education, and school-based physical education practitioners. The Delphi panel members rated each questionnaire item in terms of its theoretical importance and pedagogical relevance using a five-point Likert scale. The …


Treatment Effects Of The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device: A Cephalometric Investigation, Dean Heinrichs May 2010

Treatment Effects Of The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device: A Cephalometric Investigation, Dean Heinrichs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives. To evaluate the correction obtained from the Forsus Fatigue Resistant (FRD) device and orthodontic appliances compared to an untreated control group. Methods. Twenty four patients were treated with the Forsus FRD and fixed orthodontic appliances and were compared to twenty two untreated control patients who were matched in age, sex and craniofacial morphology. Lateral Cephalograms were taken before treatment (T1) and after Forsus FRD and removal of orthodontic appliances (T2). Results. Statistically significant differences were found for 12 of the 29 variables measured. Significant differences were found at Co-Gn minus Co-Apt., Wits, Is-OLp, Ii-OLp, overjet, Mi-OLp, Molar relationship, Overbite, …


Virtual Programs And Their Impact On Appalachian Ohio High Schools, Wendy Hanasky May 2010

Virtual Programs And Their Impact On Appalachian Ohio High Schools, Wendy Hanasky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Online learning has grown so much in recent years that researchers have struggled to keep up with its evolution. Practitioners are interested not only in how many schools are using online courses, but also how these courses are being delivered and how programs are being implemented.;The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the impact of virtual programs on Appalachian Ohio school districts including: which Appalachian Ohio High Schools are using virtual programs, what programs are being used, and why these programs are in place. Rural school districts have added hardships because they are usually limited in course offerings …


Language Learning In Three Early Childhood Programs In Austria, Germany And The United States, Sandra Schoder May 2010

Language Learning In Three Early Childhood Programs In Austria, Germany And The United States, Sandra Schoder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In 2002 the European Union declared multilingualism and life-long language learning to be two goals that it will pursue for its citizens. As a result, member states have introduced language learning at the elementary school level, and have shown an ever increasing interest in implementing second language programs designed specifically for children under the age of seven. This is a welcome change for European educators who are already working in early childhood language programs or who plan to establish new programs and have been looking for support for their endeavors. Yet despite recent progress, scholarly research into this arena remains …


West Virginia Principals' Knowledge And Application Of School Law, Nancy Ross Williams May 2010

West Virginia Principals' Knowledge And Application Of School Law, Nancy Ross Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Public school principals must be prepared to apply knowledge of school law in a variety of situations. An electronic survey examined West Virginia principals' knowledge and application of school law in five areas: separation of church-state, faculty issues, special education, student issues and tort liability. The study extended previous school law survey research of Brabrand (2003), Littleton, Hiram and Styron (2001), Power (2007) and Schlosser (2006), and utilized adapted or actual survey items from those studies with additional items constructed by the researcher. The purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship existed among West Virginia principals' ability …


A Proposed Method For Evaluation Of Morphological Changes In The Condyle And Glenoid Fossa By Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Michael R. Munn May 2010

A Proposed Method For Evaluation Of Morphological Changes In The Condyle And Glenoid Fossa By Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Michael R. Munn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The difficulty with three-dimensional analyses remains with the myriad of data that is possible to derive from a volume. The goal of this study is to report 3D changes in the temporomandibular joint in a reliable and quantifiable way. The approach included plotting specific referents on the mandibular condyle and tracking them in magnitude (mm) and direction (°) on a reference plane after superimposing the cone beams three-dimensionally on the inferior alveolar nerve canal and the lower contour of the third molar tooth germ. Two sets of measurements were compared for reliability and each measurement showed varied correlation. Linear measurements …


Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Proposal For An Evidence -Based Management Plan For An Electronic Patient Record System, Mary Elizabeth Durant May 2010

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Proposal For An Evidence -Based Management Plan For An Electronic Patient Record System, Mary Elizabeth Durant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The goal of this change project was to improve the diagnosis and management of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) through the use of an electronic patient record system. PCOS is one of the top ten missed or delayed diagnoses as well as an inconsistently or mismanaged women's health issue in primary care.;The chronic care model, known pathophysiology, and evidence-based research composed the framework used in developing the diagnosis and management plan for an electronic record system in a free health care clinic.;The project was evaluated based on the following four objectives: (1) To provide an educational session at a …