Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Pigmentation And Wavefront Coding™ Acquisition In Iris Recognition, Kelly N. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The iris is a popular biometric that has been demonstrated to have high matching accuracy and permanence under ideal conditions. However, there are several limiting factors that have yet to be comprehensively addressed. One major consideration in iris recognition systems is the restrictions imposed by the optical parameters on the depth of field. This thesis examines issues related to the depth of field and evaluates a solution proposed by CDM Optics ®. The solution explored involves the utilization of a Wavefront Coded ™ element. By employing a simulation of a Wavefront Coded ™ element, developed by Wake Forest University this …

International Public Relations At Top 50 Global Brands: A Converged Or Diverged Approach?, Pitchpatu Waiyachote

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was motivated by limited information about an approach that the top 50 global brand companies apply to their public relations strategies in areas considered to be smaller developing markets in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia. Along with World Wide Web technology and a concept of globalization, the Internet brings information to targeted publics faster than ever before. Therefore, a purpose of this study was to examine which approach, convergence or divergence, the top 50 global brand companies commonly took to communicate with their target audiences in these two countries through their local web sites. An answer to …

Ngos As Agents Of Historical Change: A Comparative Study Of Violence Against Women In Argentina And Brazil., Nicolette M. Wilhide

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the issue of violence against women in Latin America as it is addressed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the region. A comparison was done with NGOs that work with violence against women in Argentina and Brazil from the 1990’s to the present day to establish if the efforts of these groups have had a positive impact given recent statistical increases. Historical background was given on the nature and severity of violence against women in these two nations. International and national conferences as well as domestic changes in legislation were examined in comparison to the historical trajectory of …

The Byzantine Perspective Of The First Crusade: A Reexamination Of Alleged Treachery And Betrayal., Laura M. Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Scholars have generally ignored the Crusades from the Byzantine perspective with the majority of scholarship focusing on the Western, and more recently, Arabic viewpoints. Western sources from the period such as the Gesta Francorum and the account of Fulcher of Chartres typically portray Alexius I, the Byzantine emperor during the First Crusade, as anti-Western. It is this study’s position that Alexius’s actions derived from a need to protect his people and empire rather than a desire to see the crusaders’ mission fail. By studying the Byzantine perspective, we gain a fuller understanding of the First Crusade and the Crusades as …

Evaluation Of "I Am Moving, I Am Learning" Trainings - A Measure Of Change In Obesity Awareness, Obesity Prevention, And Movement Knowledge., Brandon S. Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines participants’ change in knowledge before and after attending a childhood obesity training event. A pre-post assessment scale was used to measure and compare knowledge scores among participants of both two and three-day events. The questionnaire included seven subscales of content delivered during the training sessions. These included: training goals and movement guidelines, general obesity knowledge, general movement knowledge, assessing and evaluating children’s motor skills, and three subscales specifically on the movement workshops in the training. This study consisted of 78 personnel working for the Office of Head Start or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) enrolled in one …

Stress Perceptions In Occupational Therapy Students: Traditional Versus Distance Education., Amanda Kessler Rogers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increased stress is a common problem in students enrolled in medical and allied health college programs. The negative effects of stress can result in physical and psychological illnesses, in addition to negatively impacting a student’s academic performance. The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the stress level of the occupational therapy students, (2) determine the social provisions (social support) experienced by the students, and (3) determine the relationship between stress levels and various predictors, such as marital status and grade level. The sample of convenience (n= 69) included 54 traditional and 15 distance education occupational therapy students enrolled …

Development Of Collaborative Order Processing And Inventory Tracking Software., Gaurav Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Order processing and inventory tracking are key operational business processes. Enterprise Resource Planning systems organize these cross-functional processes within a company and eliminate interfaces between functional areas such as materials management and finance. However, they are not designed to manage processes across different departments of an organization and interfaces with external partners. There is still significant inefficiency in collaborative order processing and inventory tracking with customers, suppliers and service providers. Examples include repeated manual entries of order processing or status information. Although solutions for collaborative order processing and inventory tracking exist, these are proprietary and costly in nature. Software vendors …

A Hybrid Approach To Expert And Model Based Effort Estimation., Daniel Ryan Baker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is important to have a good cost estimate in order to budget a new project. Unfortunately, software effort estimation methods are often inaccurate. Molokken and Jorgensen report that 60-80% of the time a software project will overrun its estimate by an average of 30% [98]. Furthermore, most estimates do not describe the uncertainty of the estimate [52,54,118]. In addition, each source of uncertainty, as described by Kitchenham and Linkman [68], has yet to be represented. In this thesis, the design principles of an effort estimation tool called 2CEE are discussed. This tool is currently being deployed at NASA’s Jet …

A Reexamination Of Species Boundaries Between Allium Burdickii And Allium Tricoccum (Liliaceae)., Rachel A. Bell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Allium burdickii and A. tricoccum, known commonly as ramps or wild leeks, are two phenetically similar taxa with similar distributions. They have been synonymized, treated as varieties o f A. tricoccum, and recognized as distinct species. B ecause^. burdickii is reported rare and therefore tracked by conservation agencies in Appalachia, its taxonomic status is o f interest. This research examined fertility and morphological relationships between the two putative species. Self-compatibility was studied by evaluating agamospermy, passive autogamy, active autogamy and geitonogamy treatments within each taxon. Interfertility was studied by comparing cross-pollination o f “species” to crosses within each “species.” Thirteen …

Bismuth Surfactant Effects For Gaasn And Beryllium Doping Of Gaasn Grown By Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Ting Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bi was investigated as a possible surfactant for growth of GaAs1-xNx layers on (100) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using an RF plasma nitrogen source. Bi extends the useable growth conditions producing smoother surfaces to a significantly higher N content than without Bi. The conductivity of Be-doped GaAsN decreased significantly with increasing N concentration. Temperature dependent Hall measurement suggests possible compensation and increased activation energy. SIMS and Raman measurements indicate that the N composition increased by introducing Be, and for low [N], Bi. The addition of Bi during growth of Be-doped GaAsN only produced semi-insulating layers.

GaAs1-xNx layers and …

Feasibility Of Using Wearable Devices For Collecting Pedestrian Travel Data, Rohit Ajmera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Information on the travel characteristics of pedestrians is needed in the planning and design of pedestrian facilities. Desired information includes route selected, travel speed, trip origin and destination, and delay. Conventional methods of acquiring pedestrian travel data such as trip diaries suffer from a number of limitations.;Pedometers are simple wearable devices that are receiving considerable attention in the health promotion and physical activity fields. In recent years, there have been significant developments in global positioning system (GPS) technology. User-friendly devices are now available for under {dollar}100. At the same time, more expensive wearable GPS data loggers are available in the …

Saudi English As A Foreign Language Learners' Attitudes Toward Computer -Assisted Language Learning, Mishal H. Al Shammari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners' attitudes toward Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Saudi Arabia. Five research questions were developed: (1) What are the Saudi EFL learners' general attitudes toward CALL at the IPA? (2) What are Saudi EFL learners' attitudes toward the CALL software used at the IPA? (3) What are the differences between IPA Saudi EFL learners' attitudes toward CALL based on their years of English learning? (4) What are the differences between IPA Saudi EFL learners' attitudes toward CALL based on their current computer knowledge? …

Age And Sex Differences In Everyday Problem-Solving Goals And Strategies For Work And Caregiving Vignettes, Jennifer A. Flinn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study examined how age and sex of participants, gender stereotype roles for the protagonist, and domain of the problem influenced the generation of problem-solving goals and strategies. One hundred and seventeen participants, 136 younger adults (M= 19 .22, SD = 1.30:58 M, 78 F) and 81 older adults (M= 73.17, SD = 7.76:38 M, 43 F) were given two hypothetical vignettes, one in the work domain, and one in the caregiving domain. Responses were coded for other-focused goals and interpersonally-oriented strategies. A 2 (age) x 2 (sex) x 2 (form type) x 2 (domain) MANOVA indicated two significant …

Predicting Physicians' Intention To Measure Body Mass Index And Assessing Their Identification And Evaluation Practices In Overweight Children And Adolescents, Rahul Khanna

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One health challenge receiving a lot of attention today is childhood obesity. Numerous public and professional organizations recommend that physicians periodically measure BMI in children and adolescents. In addition, guidelines recommend medical evaluation of overweight children and adolescents. However, studies have shown an inconsistent use of body mass index (BMI). This study uses the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify factors that explain physicians' intention to measure BMI in children and adolescents. Salient beliefs associated with intention were compared between intenders and nonintenders. The study also determines how physicians identify and evaluate …

Evaluation Of A Guided Decision Aid For Treatment Selection In Follicular Non -Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Angela J. Lowery

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decision aids for treatment selection have improved the decision-making process by increasing patient knowledge, decreasing decisional conflict (or uncertainty), increasing strength of preference for an option, and increasing decision satisfaction. Decision aids provide information and assist patients in making informed medical decisions. Guided decision aids help patients weigh pros and cons of options. This study involved the creation and evaluation of a guided decision aid for patients with follicular lymphoma, a disease with multiple complex treatment options. The aid was evaluated in a non-patient sample (30 males and 30 females, aged 40 to 79). Participants received either the guided decision …

Simultaneous Evaluation Of Multiple Pems Using An Engine Dynamometer Emissions Test Cell, Thomas G. Mcconnell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) are taking center stage as in-use testing programs are getting underway. EPA-mandated manufacturer-run in-use testing programs require a PEMS, and currently there is one commercially available and widely used, the SEMTECH-D built by Sensors, Inc. The SEMTECH-D was first unveiled in 2002, and numerous software and hardware upgrades have given way to the SEMTECHDS. The manufacturer claims this system is fully compatible with all new Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) including part 1065 subpart J (which addresses field testing and PEMS). Yet, while West Virginia University (WVU) was using the SEMTECH-D during the summer of …

Fabrication And Functional Analysis Of Sparrow Biosensor, Praneetha Poloju

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Biosensors are powerful tools aimed at providing selective identification of toxic chemical compounds in industrial products, chemical substances, environmental samples or biological systems (e.g., bacteria, virus, or tissue components) for biomedical diagnosis. A new generation of biosensors are being developed, which combine the sensitivity and at the low cost of microelectronics.;The Nano/Micro Devices group at Microelectronics Systems Research Center (MSRC) has been researching stacked waveguide optical sensors useful for detecting and quantifying events in biological molecular chemistry, for example, binding events. This thesis describes the results of our initial research of (SPARROW) based technology. This study contains the design and …

Promoting The Production Of Non-Timber Forest Products, Adam C. Riley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) have long been collected for food, medicine, income, and pleasure, traditionally in rural areas. NTFPs include edible products (mushrooms, nuts, berries, etc), specialty wood products (hand carvings, walking canes, etc.), floral and decorative products (moss, vines, etc.), and medicinal products (ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, etc.) and reported sales contribute over {dollar}30 million each year to the West Virginia economy.;West Virginia landowners possess some of the most biologically diverse forest in the United States. Many plants and other products can be derived from these forests for social and economic value. In order to educate, arouse curiosity, and …

Multiagent Approach For Power System Reconfiguration, Pinak Tulpule

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this thesis is to develop an agent based reconfiguration algorithm for power system application with termination detection and to provide communication architecture for these agents. The underlying maximum flow algorithm based on graph theory has proven the concept of autonomous distributed reconfiguration using multiagent systems. The new rule-based algorithm takes into account the requirement of bidirectional power flows, and special power routing for DC devices. Even though the algorithm is self-stabilizing and agents become idle after finite time, implementation of the solution within the actual power system requires that all agents be in an idle state. The …

Teaching Intermediate-Level Technical And Musical Skills Through The Study And Performance Of Selected Piano Duos, Yunn Bing Christine Tan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study and performance of ensemble repertoire can provide benefits at all levels of music study. Playing piano duos (two people at two pianos) is enjoyable for young students and can help maintain their interest in playing the piano. Furthermore, skills acquired in duo-piano playing, such as communication, coordination, and balance can not only be transferred to solo and/or duet performance, but can also develop a foundation for performing other types of chamber music, thus preparing young students to accompany other instrumentalists or vocalists or even a choir in the near future.;This study provides a pedagogical guide that presents suggestions …

Investigating Comprehensive Assessment Plans In Undergraduate Communication Studies Programs, Andrea Celeste Weber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Outcome assessments of academic programs have become increasingly critical in recent years. A continuous process formed to "monitor and improve student learning," true assessment serves to focus institutions of higher education on student learning (Allen, 2004, p. 5). It is vital to understand and explore current assessment practices in departments of communication studies to ensure and enhance the quality and future of education in the field. This study represents an initial attempt at establishing a baseline of assessment practices utilized within departments of communication studies. The results exhibit the extent to which assessment is being used for continuous improvement of …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Older And Younger Adults' Strategies For Solving Interpersonal And Individual Everyday Problems, Joseph P. Mcfall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Individual difference characteristics (i.e., age, gender, self-efficacy beliefs, exposure to problems) and contextual characteristics (i.e., problem domain) of the everyday problem-solving process were considered in an examination of individuals' strategy effectiveness. Although prior research has examined problem-solving strategy effectiveness according to independent judges or experts (Allaire & Marsiske, 2002; Blanchard-Fields, Mienaltowski, & Baldi, 2007; Cornelius & Caspi, 1987; Galambos, MacDonald, Naphtali, Cohen, & de Frias, 2005; Marsiske & Willis, 1995), methodological weaknesses in determining the effectiveness of the strategies may have invalidated the findings. A group of seven highly reliable expert raters were recruited to provide effectiveness ratings of strategies …

Watercress (Nasturtium Officinale) Production Utilizing Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Flow-Through Aquaculture Effluent, Erika Nichole Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dissolved nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) present in flow-through aquaculture effluent can pose the risk of eutrophication to receiving streams when discharged from flow-through systems. One potential solution to prevent nutrient loading is the establishment of an integrated system that cultures green plants in the effluent. The objectives of this research were to determine watercress' (Nasturtium officinale) growth and nutrient contents in both a hydroponic controlled environment and a flow-through aquaponic production system utilizing brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) aquaculture effluent; and to evaluate various treatments to determine the best cultural conditions for watercress in the aquaponic system for optimization as …

The Emotional Intelligence Of Chief Development Officers In Public Higher Education Institutions Of The Mid Atlantic Region And Organizational Climate Perceptions Of Their Development Teams., Rosemary M. Thomas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant relationship exists between the emotional intelligence of chief development officers and the organizational climate in the development organizations they lead. Additionally, demographic data was collected and tested as well to determine if such factors as: gender, age, years of experience, and length of tenure were significantly related to the organizational climate scores. Chief development officers (CDOs) from AASCU member comprehensive public colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region were invited to participate and their development staff members were included by virtue of the CDO responding. The Bar-On Emotional Quotient …

Mapping Of Hydrogeology Of Underground Mines In The Upper Freeport Coal Seam, Northern Appalachian Basin, West Virginia-Pennsylvania-Maryland., Jane E. Thies

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The mining hydrogeology of the Upper Freeport underground coal mining district, northern WV and western MD, was compiled onto a number of 1:24,000 scale quadrangles. Available underground mine maps were georeferenced and outlines of mine workings digitized using GIS techniques. Geologic information (coal outcrop location and structure contour elevations) was compiled using geostatistical methods. The mine maps were used in conjunction with projected mine discharges to delineate pool locations and flooding patterns. The relatively small number of flooded mines was mapped under the assumption that discharge location and elevation controlled the extent of the flooded mine area. These mapping and …

Factors Regulating Arteriolar Tone During Microvascular Growth, Julie Balch Samora

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Growth of the arteriolar network is accompanied by progressive changes in pressure and flow, and in the metabolic environment to which the arterioles are exposed. This dissertation was carried out to investigate the extent to which mechanisms involved in local blood flow regulation may also change during this growth. We isolated gracilis muscle arterioles from weanling (age 25-26 days) and juvenile (44-66 days) rats, and studied the responsiveness of these vessels to both myogenic and endothelium-dependent stimuli. Overall arteriolar responses to the endothelium-dependent agonists acetylcholine (ACh), A23187, VEGF and simvastatin were not different between age groups. Responses of juvenile arterioles …

Evaluating The Effects Of Elbows And Duct Size On The Accuracy Of Hand-Held Pitot Traverse Flow Measurements, Christopher Daniel Shon Paul Judy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study determined the deviations between Pitot traverses performed by traditional hand-held methods and a traverse device designed to hold the Pitot tube perfectly in position, effectively eliminating errors due to yaw, pitch, and insertion point deviations. The hand-held measurements were performed twice by nine different test subjects, while each position was measured with the traverse device five times. Two ten-point traverse measurements were taken at various distances downstream and upstream from a 90° elbow. Two different-sized ducts were used in the study, a 3.875-inch and a 6.875-inch. Airflows determined from these measurements were compared to the presumed "gold-standard" values …

Attitudes Of The Thai Press Toward Accepting Federal Money To Report On Hiv/Aids, Pattaraporn Niyamosoth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focuses on the HIV/AIDS story in Thailand, specifically the attitudes of the Thai press toward accepting federal money to report on HIV/AIDS, and explores the differences between government media roles and independent media roles regarding this issue. Using Siebert's four theories of the press, Thai journalists' ideas regarding the current state of Thai media also were secured. A snowball sample was used. Six government media journalists, six independent media journalists, and six Ministry of Public Health of Thailand officials were studied via in-depth interviews. Most of the journalists did not believe that accepting federal money to report on …

Essays On The Effects Of The Voter Initiative In U.S. States, Gregory M. Randolph

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is a collection of papers that examines the effects of the voter initiative in U.S. states. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the voter initiative process and outlines the research agenda for this dissertation. Chapter 2 explores the history of the voter initiative in U.S. states and examines the differences in the voter initiative process between states in the U.S. Additionally, this chapter provides a general survey of the literature regarding the effects of the voter initiative on political and economic outcomes. Chapter 3 examines the interest group orientation of total state spending in U.S. states. A …

Highlighting Hope: An Exploration Of The Experiences Of West Virginia University Mcnair Scholars., Angela Marie Derk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focuses on individual development and transformation of West Virginia University (WVU) McNair scholars as they exist in numerous realities. These scholars are first-generation/low-income students and/or minority students that wish to obtain their terminal degree. McNair scholars begin as undergraduate students ensconced within the educational community of the McNair Scholars Program (MSP) at WVU then independently enter graduate school programs throughout the nation. The WVU McNair scholars Program is one of over 170 national McNair programs within American higher education. This research, a phenomenological ethnography, provides a glimpse into the lives of the many students served via the MSP …