Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 3121 - 3150 of 4597

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Exploring High-Quality Student Affairs Learning Outcomes Assessment Practices At Three American Research Universities, Adam S. Green Dec 2006

Exploring High-Quality Student Affairs Learning Outcomes Assessment Practices At Three American Research Universities, Adam S. Green

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was conducted because limited research has occurred in the area of co-curricular student learning outcomes assessment, which has resulted in confusion within the student affairs profession on how to develop and implement assessment plans. The purpose of this study was to examine high quality assessment practices of student affairs divisions at three different research institutions in order to advance the value, usefulness, and understanding of learning outcomes assessment within the student affairs profession, so more student affairs divisions may begin assessing the co-curricular. Those student affairs divisions selected for this study represented assessment models with significant experience in …

Go to article

Perspectives Of 12th Grade Students, Their Families, And School Officials Related To Affordability And Accessibility Of The West Virginia Promise Scholarship Program At Logan High School, Craig S. Mcclellan Dec 2006

Perspectives Of 12th Grade Students, Their Families, And School Officials Related To Affordability And Accessibility Of The West Virginia Promise Scholarship Program At Logan High School, Craig S. Mcclellan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With only 14% of West Virginia's population over 25 years old possessing a bachelor's degree, the lack of a skilled workforce often thwarted state legislators' attempts to attract new industry to the state's struggling economy. To address workforce qualification concerns, state educational stakeholders implemented a merit-based scholarship program with average requirements in 2002. The West Virginia PROMISE (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-state Student Excellence) Scholarship Program goals include encouraging high school students to work harder, and to entice more graduates to attempt post-secondary work at in-state institutions.;This qualitative study was designed to discover the perceptions of five high school …

Go to article

A Hairy Predicament: The Problem With Long Hair In The 1960s And 1970s, Andrew Robert Herrick Dec 2006

A Hairy Predicament: The Problem With Long Hair In The 1960s And 1970s, Andrew Robert Herrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

By the mid-1970s long hair worn by much of the American youth evoked little comment and indeed was considered fashionable. But during much of the previous two decades male hair length was a contentious issue that divided the generations. The struggle over hair in many ways epitomized the sixties generation's challenge to authority and their claim to individual rights. During the era, the meaning of long hair changed dramatically from what it was during the fifties. It began as a symbol of youth culture rebellion linked to music. By the latter part of the sixties, however, it became associated with …

Go to article

Sexual Objectification, Self-Objectification, Self-Efficacy, And Female Identity Development: A Preliminary Study, Kathleen Reilly Coffers Dec 2006

Sexual Objectification, Self-Objectification, Self-Efficacy, And Female Identity Development: A Preliminary Study, Kathleen Reilly Coffers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sexual and self-objectification, self-efficacy and identity status were investigated using data collected from undergraduate and graduate classes from West Virginia University. Subjects were 267 females, ages 18--23. The four variables were measured as follows: (a) Cultural Sexual Objectification Questionnaire, (b) Self-Objectification Questionnaire, (c) Self-Efficacy Scale and (d) Extended Version of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status. Cronbach's Alphas were performed on all measures with good to adequate reliabilities (.69 through .89), with the exception of the identity diffusion subscale which resulted in marginal reliability (.57). Chi-square analyses performed for sexual and self-objectification in each of the four identity statuses …

Go to article

Effectiveness Of "Counseling As A Related Service" In Hawaii's Public Schools As Measured By The Behavior Assessment System For Children, Second Edition (Basc-2), Gregory A. Lobb Dec 2006

Effectiveness Of "Counseling As A Related Service" In Hawaii's Public Schools As Measured By The Behavior Assessment System For Children, Second Edition (Basc-2), Gregory A. Lobb

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the effectiveness of "counseling as a related service" in Hawaii's public schools by examining the improvement on a teacher rating scale and also examining counseling minutes received by these same students. This study utilized 346 students receiving Level 4 and Level 5 services who were first refereed for "counseling as a related service" during the first quarter of 2055. Improvement is measured using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) (Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004). Findings revealed that counseling interventions indicated statistically significant change in T Scores on the BASC-2 from Pre assessment to Post assessment. …

Go to article

Application Of A Statistical Zonation Technique To Granny Creek Field In West Virginia, Venkata Kristamsetty Dec 2006

Application Of A Statistical Zonation Technique To Granny Creek Field In West Virginia, Venkata Kristamsetty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The significance of dividing the sedimentary intervals into flow units reflects groups of rocks that has similar geologic, physical properties and depositional environment that affect fluid flow. Variations in rock properties result from depositional, diagenetic and post-depositional changes. A flow unit is a volume of a reservoir rock that is continuous laterally and vertically and has similar averages of those rock properties that affect fluid flow.;In this study, a statistical zonation technique developed by Testerman to identify and describe naturally occurring zones in a reservoir is applied to Granny Creek field in West Virginia. This technique is particularly useful in …

Go to article

Cooperative Diversity Using Mimo Systems, Ramachandran Rajagopalan Dec 2006

Cooperative Diversity Using Mimo Systems, Ramachandran Rajagopalan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Multipath fading is one of the primary factors for degrading the performance in a wireless network. Information theoretic and past research suggest the use various diversity techniques to combat fading in wireless networks. Antenna diversity, a form of diversity technique, when incorporated in a wireless transceiver increases the system capacity and is one of the effective methods to combat fading in wireless systems. Also, recent research by Laneman et.al., Sendonaris et.al. suggests that cooperation among users in a wireless networks is an effective approach for a better signal reception in multipath fading environments. The diversity gains obtained by cooperation among …

Go to article

Efficient Simulation Of Communication Systems On A Desktop Grid, Raja Sekhar Katuri Dec 2006

Efficient Simulation Of Communication Systems On A Desktop Grid, Raja Sekhar Katuri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Simulation is an important part of the design cycle of modern communication systems. As communication systems grow more sophisticated, the computational burden of these simulations can become excessive. The need to rapidly bring systems to market generally precludes the use of a single computer, and drives a demand for parallel computation. While this demand could be satisfied by the development of dedicated infrastructure, a more efficient option is to harness the unused computational cycles of underutilized desktop computers located throughout the organization.;In this thesis, a new paradigm for parallelizing communication simulations is proposed and developed. A desktop grid is created …

Go to article

Evaluation Of A Tube Feeding Decision Aid For Substitute Decision Makers, Emily H. Bower Dec 2006

Evaluation Of A Tube Feeding Decision Aid For Substitute Decision Makers, Emily H. Bower

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Substitute decision makers may be in a position to make "preference-sensitive" decisions for their patient, including whether to approve tube feeding. The present study evaluated the only known tube feeding decision aid for substitute decision makers (Mitchell, Tetroe, & O'Conner, 2001). Sixty adults completed a pre-questionnaire, read an active control brochure (control group) or decision aid (experimental group), and completed a post-questionnaire. Both groups demonstrated increased knowledge and decisional conflict at post-test, although the experimental group had higher scores in both. Participants who were either in favor or against tube feeding at pre-test rarely changed their decision at post-test. Control …

Go to article

The Relationship Between Technical Support And Pedagogical Guidance Provided To Faculty And Student Satisfaction In Online Courses, Philip R. Ice Dec 2006

The Relationship Between Technical Support And Pedagogical Guidance Provided To Faculty And Student Satisfaction In Online Courses, Philip R. Ice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the relationship between levels of technical support and pedagogical guidance provided to faculty and student satisfaction in online courses. Online learning is a rapidly evolving area of education, yet compared to traditional face-to-face learning very little is known about pedagogical techniques and best practices. This study explores the relationships between two factors that have been demonstrated to influence faculty satisfaction, technical support and pedagogical guidance (the predictor variables), and student satisfaction (the criterion variable) in online courses. The study uses quantitative methods to determine if varying levels of predictor variable input are related to changes in the …

Go to article

The Effect Of Student Self -Described Learning Styles Within Two Models Of Teaching In An Introductory Data Mining Course, Matthew A. North Dec 2006

The Effect Of Student Self -Described Learning Styles Within Two Models Of Teaching In An Introductory Data Mining Course, Matthew A. North

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the roles of learning styles and teaching methodologies within a data mining educational program designed for non-Computer Science undergraduate college students. The experimental design is framed by a discussion of the history and development of data mining and education, as well as a vision for its future.;Data mining is a relatively new discipline which has grown out of the fields of database management and data warehousing, statistics, logic, and decision sciences. Over the course of its approximately 15 year history, data mining has emerged from its genesis within the academic and commercial research and development arenas to …

Go to article

Multiple Message Broadcasting And Gossiping In The Dynamically Orientable Graphs, Gayane R. Goltukhchyan Dec 2006

Multiple Message Broadcasting And Gossiping In The Dynamically Orientable Graphs, Gayane R. Goltukhchyan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research investigates the problems of gossiping and multiple message broadcasting in dynamically orientable graphs of different network topologies. These are new problems never attempted before. Dynamically orientable graphs and six different network topologies are considered: paths, cycles, stars, binary trees, complete trees and two-dimensional grids. Information dissemination in graphs that are dynamically orientable requires that number of messages sent in each direction along an edge be balanced and therefore necessitates a different approach in gossiping and multiple message broadcasting.;The obvious upper bound for gossiping and multiple message broadcasting in dynamically orientable graphs is twice the best known time for …

Go to article

Model-Based Risk Assessment, Walid M. Abdelmoez Dec 2006

Model-Based Risk Assessment, Walid M. Abdelmoez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this research effort, we focus on model-based risk assessment. Risk assessment is essential in any plan intended to manage software development or maintenance process. Subjective techniques are human intensive and error-prone. Risk assessment should be based on architectural attributes that we can quantitatively measure using architectural level metrics. Software architectures are emerging as an important concept in the study and practice of software engineering nowadays, due to their emphasis on large-scale composition of software product, and to their support for emerging software engineering paradigms, such as product line engineering, component based software engineering, and software evolution.;In this dissertation, we …

Go to article

A Methodology For Software Performance Modeling And Its Application To A Border Inspection System, Paola Bracchi Dec 2006

A Methodology For Software Performance Modeling And Its Application To A Border Inspection System, Paola Bracchi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is essential that software systems meet their performance objectives. Many factors affect software performance and it is fundamental to identify those factors and the magnitude of their effects early in the software lifecycle to avoid costly and extensive changes to software design, implementation, or requirements. In the last decade the development of techniques and methodologies to carry out performance analysis in the early stages of the software lifecycle has gained a lot of attention within the research community. Different approaches to evaluate software performance have been developed. Each of them is characterized by a certain software specification and performance …

Go to article

Faith, Power, And Conflict: Miner Preachers And The United Mine Workers Of America In The Harlan County Mine Wars, 1931--1939, Carletta A. Bush Dec 2006

Faith, Power, And Conflict: Miner Preachers And The United Mine Workers Of America In The Harlan County Mine Wars, 1931--1939, Carletta A. Bush

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early accounts of the Harlan County mine wars place the inability of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to establish a permanent foothold in the county, first at the feet of the Harlan County Coal Operators Association (HCCOA) and secondly at the worn work boots of miners who, when work was plentiful, saw little or no need for a union. The power of the HCCOA is not in question. Its members used their immense wealth and influence to build a million dollar war chest to fight the union and to maintain their iron-clad grip upon the county's political, judicial, …

Go to article

Child Distress During Immunization: The Influence Of Child And Parent Individual Difference Variables, Melissa Demore Dec 2006

Child Distress During Immunization: The Influence Of Child And Parent Individual Difference Variables, Melissa Demore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Routine childhood immunization injections result child distress, which may have lasting negative effects on children, parents, and staff, and impact adherence to schedules of immunization. Aims of the current study were to (a) examine the role of child and parent individual difference variables in relation to child immunization distress, and (b) determine whether child distress predicts future immunization schedule adherence.;Parents of 50 children (aged 12--18 months) attending a visit to a pediatric medical clinic for purposes of immunization completed measures of child temperament, parent psychopathology, immunization beliefs, and prior medical distress of the child. Child distress during the immunization injection …

Go to article

Identifying *Assessment Practices In Undergraduate Accounting Programs, Anna L. Lusher Dec 2006

Identifying *Assessment Practices In Undergraduate Accounting Programs, Anna L. Lusher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The researcher conducted a survey of 786 baccalaureate accounting programs in the United States to determine the content and structure of their assessment plans. The study focused on five essential workplace skills: critical thinking, information literacy, oral communication, problem solving, and written communication. It examined the accounting programs and related assessment plans to determine whether the identified skills were integrated into the curriculum and were identified as learning outcomes in the assessment process. The study evaluated how faculty assess students' skills and how assessment results are used to make changes in programs and to improve student learning. The research also …

Go to article

Recognition Capacity Of Biometric-Based Systems, Francesco P. Nicolo Dec 2006

Recognition Capacity Of Biometric-Based Systems, Francesco P. Nicolo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Performance of biometrics-based recognition systems depends on various factors: database quality, image preprocessing, encoding techniques, etc. Given a biometric database and a selected encoding method, the capability of a recognition system is limited by the relationship between the number of classes that the recognition system can encode and the length of encoded data describing the template at a specific level of distortion. In this work, we evaluate constrained recognition capacity of biometric systems under the constraint of two global encoding techniques: Principal Component Analysis and Independent Component Analysis. The developed methodology is applied to predict capacity of different recognition channels …

Go to article

Alumina Waveguide Characterization And Sparrow Biosensor Modeling, Pavan Kumar Samudrala Dec 2006

Alumina Waveguide Characterization And Sparrow Biosensor Modeling, Pavan Kumar Samudrala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sensors based on evanescent wave techniques have the potential to detect minute change in refractive index arising from surface modifications. The biosensor device architecture evaluated in this work is the SPARROW (Stacked Planar Affinity Regulated Resonant Optical Waveguide) structure. This architecture can operate as a biosensor through the change in the coupled optical power resulted from antigen bonding to the bio-layer. Its stacked film arrangement with no lateral patterning offers a potentially less complex structure for fabrication. This thesis describes the process developed to optically characterize the alumina waveguides of the SPARROW device and investigates waveguide film quality as a …

Go to article

Quantifying Effects Of Vehicle Weight And Terrain On Emissions, Fuel Economy, And Engine Behavior, Corey M. Strimer Dec 2006

Quantifying Effects Of Vehicle Weight And Terrain On Emissions, Fuel Economy, And Engine Behavior, Corey M. Strimer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

On-board emissions measurement for heavy-duty vehicles has garnered greater significance because 2007 marks the beginning of gaseous emissions monitoring for in-use vehicles in the United States [1]. Emissions compliance must be shown in a "not to exceed" (NTE) zone that emphasizes engine operation at higher power. An over-the-road 1996 Peterbilt tractor was instrumented with the West Virginia University Mobile Emissions Measurement System (MEMS) to determine how often the truck entered the NTE, and the emissions from the vehicle, as it was driven over varying terrain at multiple test weights. Distance-specific NOX emissions increase by approximately X/2% for an X% increase …

Go to article

Design, Development And Qualification Of Compact Mobile Emissions Measurement System (Cmems) For Real-Time On-Board Emissions Measurement, Aseem Tiwari Dec 2006

Design, Development And Qualification Of Compact Mobile Emissions Measurement System (Cmems) For Real-Time On-Board Emissions Measurement, Aseem Tiwari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to design, develop and qualify the Compact Mobile Emissions Measurement System (CMEMS) for real-time on-board measurement of exhaust emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles. This study was aimed at developing a system more compact and lighter with respect to the existing Mobile Emissions Measurement System (MEMS), so that the entire system could be mounted on the tail pipe of the test vehicle in order to reduce installation time, power requirements and manpower requirements. This was achieved by judicious selection of commercially available compact solid-state gas analyzers, and development of a sampling system which was significantly …

Go to article

Coordinated Traffic Signal Systems For Municipalities, Scott K. Nale Aug 2006

Coordinated Traffic Signal Systems For Municipalities, Scott K. Nale

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many municipalities have a need for a document which examines installation and operations methods used in coordinated traffic signal systems. Included within this document are the results of surveys of various municipalities which range in population from thirty three thousand persons to in excess of five hundred thousand persons. Along with the state of practice information, some conclusions and recommendations are defined so that municipalities may begin to implement coordinated traffic signal systems within their jurisdiction. This document will be of interest to those persons who manage, operate, and maintain traffic signal systems; in addition, engineers and municipal officials tasked …

Go to article

Machine Vision Applications In Uavs For Autonomous Aerial Refueling And Runway Detection, Larry W. Rowe Ii Aug 2006

Machine Vision Applications In Uavs For Autonomous Aerial Refueling And Runway Detection, Larry W. Rowe Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research focuses on the application of Machine Vision (MV) techniques and algorithms to the problems of Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) and Runway Detection. In particular, real laboratory based hardware was used in a simulated environment to emulate real-life conditions for AAR. It was shown that the K-Means Clustering Algorithm solution to the Marker Detection problem could be executed at a frame rate of 30 Hz and it averaged a tracking error of less than one pixel while utilizing only 0.16% of the image. It was also shown that the solution to the Runway Detection problem could be executed at …

Go to article

A New Reduced Order Model For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Suryanarayana Raju Pakalapati Aug 2006

A New Reduced Order Model For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Suryanarayana Raju Pakalapati

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fuel cells are one of the promising eco-friendly and efficient electricity generators for future energy infrastructure. Rigorous research has been underway for over a decade to develop fuel cell technology as a viable alternative to the conventional energy sources. Numerical modeling has played a prominent role in such research endeavors. Detailed multi-dimensional models reveal important information regarding the performance of a fuel cell but they are computationally intensive. Relatively simple zero- and one-dimensional models on the other hand average out the details that could be critical. The topic of this dissertation is a new strategy for modeling fuel cells which …

Go to article

Understanding The Psychosocial Development Of Neighborhoods: Implications For Situational Policing, Jeri Kirby Aug 2006

Understanding The Psychosocial Development Of Neighborhoods: Implications For Situational Policing, Jeri Kirby

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Community policing strategies are aimed at reducing crime and getting neighbors more involved. These goals of achieving safe neighborhoods seem just outside of the police department's reach. The police have been unable to achieve sustained satisfaction with the residents while also deterring crime and disorder. Research has suggested that collective efficacy within neighborhoods has a strong relation to the level of crime and disorder (Sampson, 1999). Assuming that neighborhoods have unique properties/characteristics, other researchers explored the idea that neighborhoods behave like groups and develop through identifiable stages (Nolan, 2004). Using qualitative methods inside the Pittsburgh Police Department and in four …

Go to article

Web-Based Forensic Information Management System, Parmjit Singh Aug 2006

Web-Based Forensic Information Management System, Parmjit Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The focus of this work was on the design and implementation of a web based forensic information management system for the West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory (WVSPFL). The software tool enables law enforcement agents to submit crime information to the Forensic Laboratory via a secure Internet connection. The tool also enables each of the nine units of WVSPFL to process the information electronically. Online electronic forms were created to mirror the existing paper based forms, making the transition easier. The existing processes were standardized and streamlined, there by minimizing information inconsistency. The crime information once gathered is automatically uploaded …

Go to article

Development Of Microfluidic Devices For Proteomics, Trust T. Razunguzwa Aug 2006

Development Of Microfluidic Devices For Proteomics, Trust T. Razunguzwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We have developed functional components for a comprehensive microfluidic system for proteomic analyses. This dissertation presents development of an electroomsotic pump for delivery of fluids to other microfluidic channels, a hydrodynamic flow restrictor for combining electrokinetic and hydrodynamic flow on a microfluidic chip-ESI-MS interface, and surface coatings to prevent analyte adsorption to microfluidic channels. A microfluidic chip ESI-MS interface with a novel voltage switching component is also developed for the separation of negative analytes at high pH, with positive ion mode ESI-MS detection of the analyte, converted to positive ions via a make-up solution induced pH change.

Go to article

Geographic Interpretation: The Role Of Spatial Knowledge In The Interpretation Of Natural Resources, Heidi Leigh Bailey Aug 2006

Geographic Interpretation: The Role Of Spatial Knowledge In The Interpretation Of Natural Resources, Heidi Leigh Bailey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A surge of interest in geographic information has stemmed from the recent proliferation of Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, and web-based tools such as Google Earth. This growing interest in geographic information has many implications for natural resource interpretation. Visitor centers and interpretive centers have long been sources of geographic information---providing maps and exhibits depicting a site or region. Such displays come in all shapes and sizes and in a variety of media, including maps, models, projections, animations and dioramas. Yet missing from the field of interpretation is research on the effectiveness of these tools in conveying geographic information …

Go to article

Media Representation And Portrayal Of African-American Athletes, Justin Zackal Aug 2006

Media Representation And Portrayal Of African-American Athletes, Justin Zackal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The racial composition of athletes competing at major colleges and in professional sports in America is disproportioned to the general population and journalists that cover their sports. With African-Americans accounting for such a large contingent of athletes, how their race is perceived by society is often predicated on the coverage they receive. The purpose of this study is to look at the importance of media coverage of African-American athletes, and to show if White media scrutinize African-American athletes more than they do White athletes. The misrepresentation of African-American athletes in the press box could mean an unequal playing field in …

Go to article

Establishing A Historic Benchmark For Rimrock Pine Communities At New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, Richard Stockton Maxwell Aug 2006

Establishing A Historic Benchmark For Rimrock Pine Communities At New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, Richard Stockton Maxwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The structure and composition of a rimrock pine community was studied in the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. A forest survey found that the overstory was dominated by Pinus virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, and Quercus spp. The importance of Pinus virginiana decreased rapidly with increasing distance from the cliff edge and was replaced by hardwood competitors. Regeneration of Pinus virginiana (∼4,200 stems/ha) was deemed inadequate to sustain a pine forest except on the harshest sites near the cliff edge. A 108-year (1897-2005) fire chronology was constructed from 51 fire scars recorded by 23 pines along …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last