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Characteristics Of West Virginia Secondary Agricultural Educators, James C. Beatty
Characteristics Of West Virginia Secondary Agricultural Educators, James C. Beatty
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
All agricultural educators are expected to teach each student the three aspects of the agricultural education program, FFA, Supervised Agricultural Experience programs, and classroom and laboratory instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of an agricultural educator in the state of West Virginia. Agricultural educators rated reading, writing, and mathematics incorporation into the curriculum above average in the survey. They also felt that they encouraged professional and respectful relationships with their students almost all of the time. The amount of sarcasm used in the classroom, and bypassing school policy when the situation warranted it, returned varying …
Software Risk Assessment Based On Uml Models, Kalaivani Appukkutty
Software Risk Assessment Based On Uml Models, Kalaivani Appukkutty
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Risk is the possibility of suffering loss. Risks identified during the early stages of software development are easier and cheaper to handle by making changes to the software architecture. This thesis presents methodologies to assess software risk using Unified Modeling Language (UML) specifications of the software from the early design stages. We present methodologies to assess two types of software risk: Requirements-based risk and Performance-based risk. In assessing requirements-based risk, each requirement is mapped to a specific operational scenario in UML. The risk factor of a scenario in a failure mode is obtained by combining the probability of failure of …
Biometric Analysis And Aversive Conditioning Of Black Bears In Southern West Virginia, Harley Wayne Weaver
Biometric Analysis And Aversive Conditioning Of Black Bears In Southern West Virginia, Harley Wayne Weaver
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
During 2003, 11 male and 1 female black bear (Ursus americanus) were captured and fitted with radio collars. Individuals were randomly assigned to receive either treatment (n = 6) or control (n = 6). Upon release, treatment individuals received a conditional regimen comprised of rubber buckshot to the flank and a succession of shell crackers. Physical and auditory conditioning techniques we used did not appear to be an effective means of reducing repeat nuisance behavior.;West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) captured 179 (151 males, 28 females) nuisance and 156 (77 males, 79 females) non-nuisance individuals from 1996 to 2003.;We …
Structure And Dynamics Of Interfaces In The Epitaxial Growth And Erosion On (110) And (100) Crystal Surfaces, Artem Levandovsky
Structure And Dynamics Of Interfaces In The Epitaxial Growth And Erosion On (110) And (100) Crystal Surfaces, Artem Levandovsky
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
We present unified theory of the far-from-equilibrium interfacial phenomena occurring in the multilayer homoepitaxial growth and erosion on (110) and (100) crystal surfaces. Within a unified model, here we elucidate the multitude of novel states on (110) and (100) surfaces as well as the transitions between them. In particular, by analytic arguments and numerical simulations, we address experimentally observed transitions between two types of rippled states on (110) surfaces. We discuss several intermediary interface states intervening, via consecutive transitions, between the two rippled states. One of the intermediary interface states, the Rhomboidal Pyramid State, was theoretically anticipated by us and …
Modeling And Real-Time Feedback Control Of Mems Device, Limin Wang
Modeling And Real-Time Feedback Control Of Mems Device, Limin Wang
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Applying closed-loop control to a MEMS devices not only can handle the abnormal behaviors caused by manufactory imprecision or device failure, enabling MEMS devices to survive in critical conditions, but also can increase the application where MEMS devices are used to drive components under varying load conditions. This study mainly focuses on the effort of closed-loop control on the Lateral Comb Resonator (LCR) MEMS device. The success of closed-loop control has been achieved on lateral comb resonator with novel integrated through wafer optical monitoring technique.;Availability of a system model and feedback signals are mandatory conditions for the implementation of closed-loop …
Constraint-Based Facilities Planning, Tafazzul Ahmed Khan
Constraint-Based Facilities Planning, Tafazzul Ahmed Khan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In recent years a large variation of production volume for the mass-production products happens frequently due to the changes in technology and market. Those changes cause introduction of new products having shorter life cycles, thus enforcing modification and renewal of production facilities much earlier than their lifetime. A model was built to assess the impact of manufacturing parameters on the effectiveness of the layout and the material handling system. A relationship was developed between variations in production oriented parameters and its impact on the facility size and final cost of the product being manufactured exclusively in terms of machine time, …
Mathematical Writing In The Elementary Classroom, Dana D. Mccauley
Mathematical Writing In The Elementary Classroom, Dana D. Mccauley
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In this study, fourth and fifth grade students at River View Elementary participated in mathematics activities requiring written and oral dialogue. These dialogues were analyzed to determine how their mathematical understandings were reflected in their written and oral discussions. An examination of pre and post mathematical writing occurred to determine the effect the dialogue had on students' mathematical writing. Students were given a mathematics problem to solve. After reading the mathematics problem, each student wrote questions they had regarding the problem as well as a request for additional information that they felt was needed to solve the problem. Students exchanged …
Women And Social Services In Saudi Arabia, Khadija Nasseef
Women And Social Services In Saudi Arabia, Khadija Nasseef
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This master thesis talks about social services for women that provided by social welfare agencies in Saudi Arabia. This thesis is a descriptive study that uses the content analysis as a method to investigate social services agencies that provides special services for women. This thesis also had special interest in social services that improve women's lives in Saudi Arabia. The content analysis is made on documents and brochures of 4 main social services agencies that offer services for women. The content analysis was made in term of these agencies main aim and target, their main massage, their programs for women, …
Limiting Dns Covert Channels And Network Validated Dns, Rex D. Mccracken
Limiting Dns Covert Channels And Network Validated Dns, Rex D. Mccracken
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Despite the variety and number of network security devices and policies available, sensitive data, such as intellectual property and business data, can still be surreptitiously sent via the Internet to unscrupulous receivers. Furthermore, few security mechanisms address securing or limiting covert channels. This study defines a framework for determining a rule set to minimize covert channel capacity on the DNS protocol specifically. The information and techniques used in this study may be useful in aiding security professionals and developers with enforcing security policies on DNS and other Internet protocols.;This research resulted in the development of a rudimentary tool, referred to …
Hematotoxicity Of Heptachlor, Sarah Vanessa Meads Dodson
Hematotoxicity Of Heptachlor, Sarah Vanessa Meads Dodson
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Hematotoxicity has been documented in adults exposed to high levels of organochlorine pesticides. Our studies revealed that prenatal exposure to the organochlorine pesticide heptachlor resulted in alteration of lymphocyte development, while myeloid cell development was spared. To further investigate effects of heptachlor on lymphoid cells, we evaluated direct exposure of this compound on pro-B and pre-B cells. In these studies, the pro-B cell line C1.92 and the pre-B cell line 70Z/3 demonstrated concentration-dependent decreases in proliferation following heptachlor exposure. Pro-B cell viability decreased significantly; however, pre-B cell viability was not altered. Further investigation into mechanisms of diminished cell proliferation revealed …
Three Essays On The Profitability, Risk, And Viability Of Family Firms In A Developing Economy, Kamol Khaemasunun
Three Essays On The Profitability, Risk, And Viability Of Family Firms In A Developing Economy, Kamol Khaemasunun
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The objective of this dissertation is to examine the family firms in term of profit, risk and the probability of their survival in developing countries. The first chapter gives an introduction to this study. The second chapter provides an analysis of family businesses in regard to their performance, since there have been claims in the popular press that family-centered "crony capitalism" significantly contributed to the Asian financial crisis of 1997. Small, tightly focused firms can, however, be well managed by family hierarchies. As firms grow and diversify, family management is often displaced by diffuse ownership and independent managers. Between these …
Synchronization For Capacity -Approaching Coded Communication Systems, Jian Sun
Synchronization For Capacity -Approaching Coded Communication Systems, Jian Sun
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The dissertation concentrates on synchronization of capacity approaching error-correction codes that are deployed in noisy channels with very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The major topics are symbol timing synchronization and frame synchronization.;Capacity-approaching error-correction codes, like turbo codes and low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, are capable of reaching very low bit error rates and frame error rates in noisy channels by iterative decoding. To fully achieve the potential decoding capability of Turbo codes and LDPC codes, proper symbol timing synchronization, frame synchronization and channel state estimation are required. The dissertation proposes a joint estimator of symbol time delay and channel SNR for …
Development Of A Program To Gather And Process Data From Oil And Gas Fields, Joshua R. Cook
Development Of A Program To Gather And Process Data From Oil And Gas Fields, Joshua R. Cook
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In this thesis new software is developed to examine the needs and available options to gather information from oil and gas fields and to analyze data in an efficient manner. The program outlines potential setups as well as practical analysis techniques. The result is a program to store field data and capability to analyze input in different formats.;The developed system uses accounting, economics, engineering, and management concepts to process data. The program uses the relationships between field data gathered in a number of methods. The developed program provides a useful tool for the engineer to gather oil and gas field …
Factors Underlying Stalking And Harassing Behavior In A College Population, Jill Johansson-Love
Factors Underlying Stalking And Harassing Behavior In A College Population, Jill Johansson-Love
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
At the high end of unwanted pursuit behavior is stalking. This study, using questionnaires, investigated a sample of 48, college females, identified as potential stalkers. Factors examined included: demographic information, social desirability, psychological functioning, attachment, motive, rape myth acceptance, adversarial sexual beliefs, criminal thinking styles, and the actual unwanted pursuit behavior. Hypotheses regarding the criminal thinking styles of the individuals engaging in harassing and stalking behavior were supported at the .05 level. These findings indicate that harassers and stalkers exhibit criminal thinking patterns, such as sacrificing internal control to exert control over the external environment and justifying behavior by externalizing …
Stream Ecosystem Response To Mitigative Limestone Treatment In Acid-Impaired, Central Appalachian Streams, Sarah Elizabeth Mcclurg
Stream Ecosystem Response To Mitigative Limestone Treatment In Acid-Impaired, Central Appalachian Streams, Sarah Elizabeth Mcclurg
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
We quantified water chemistry, primary production, and benthic macroinvertebrate and fish community structure in 20 Central Appalachian streams: 4 acidic streams, 8 naturally circumneutral streams, and 8 historically acidic streams treated annually with limestone sand over varying lengths of time. The objective was to determine the extent of chemical and biological recovery and temporal trends in the recovery process of limestone treated streams compared to circumneutral reference conditions in Central Appalachia. Results indicate that the application of limestone sand to acidic streams is effective in fully and immediately recovering some of the chemical and biological characteristics of naturally functioning stream …
Examination Of Experimentally Engineered Larval Fish Habitat In The Marmet Pool, Kanawha River, West Virginia, Jonathan M. Niles
Examination Of Experimentally Engineered Larval Fish Habitat In The Marmet Pool, Kanawha River, West Virginia, Jonathan M. Niles
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In rivers, velocity shelters are thought to serve as limiting factors in the retention and recruitment of young fish. Such shelters are formed in backwaters and tributaries, however these areas are limited in the Marmet Pool of the Kanawha River, West Virginia. In response to this concern, several structures that are thought to serve as low velocity zones were placed within the Marmet Pool. This study was conducted to evaluate the experimental rock structures (Finger and Zipper Dikes) as potential mitigation for navigational impact and to determine which sampling gears are best to sample these shallow, structurally diverse areas. The …
Needed Communication Skills During Initial Employment As Perceived By Graduates Of The West Virginia University Davis College Of Agriculture, Forestry And Consumer Sciences, Jessica R. Rollins
Needed Communication Skills During Initial Employment As Perceived By Graduates Of The West Virginia University Davis College Of Agriculture, Forestry And Consumer Sciences, Jessica R. Rollins
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The purpose of the study was to determine communication skills used during initial employment by graduates of the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences who were enrolled in the agricultural and natural resources communications (AgEE 421) course. The population consisted of 70 2001--2002 graduates of West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences who were enrolled in agricultural and natural resources communications (AgEE 421) during their collegiate careers. A descriptive research design was used for the study. A major finding of the study was the beneficial effects of educational training in communications skills prior to …
Glaucomys Sabrinus Fuscus Habitat And Nest Box Use In West Virginia With Management Recommendations For Kumbrabow State Forest, Tamara M. Terry
Glaucomys Sabrinus Fuscus Habitat And Nest Box Use In West Virginia With Management Recommendations For Kumbrabow State Forest, Tamara M. Terry
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Nest site selection and habitat use of the endangered West Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) is poorly understood. Because access to suitable nesting sites and habitats could be limiting factors, it is important to investigate these ecological requirements to further conservation efforts of the species. My study was conducted on the Kumbrabow State Forest and the MeadWestvaco Wildlife and Ecological Research Forest in Randolph County, West Virginia. I examined characteristics of 31 nest sites (22 cavity; 8 leaf; 1 undetermined) from 4 radio-collared West Virginia northern flying squirrels during the summers of 2002--2003. The nest trees used were …
Forensic Analysis Of Digital Evidence From Palm Personal Digital Assistants, Christopher M. Mcnemar
Forensic Analysis Of Digital Evidence From Palm Personal Digital Assistants, Christopher M. Mcnemar
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Personal Digital Assistants are becoming more affordable and commonplace. They provide mobile data storage, computational, and network abilities. When handheld devices are involved in a crime, forensic examiners need tools to properly retrieve and analyze data present on the device. Unfortunately, forensic analysis of handheld devices is not adequately documented and supported.;This report gives an overview of Palm handheld development and current forensic software related to Personal Digital Assistants. Procedures for device seizure, storage, imaging, and analysis are documented. In addition, a tool was developed as part of this work to aid forensic examiners in recovering evidence from memory image …
Real-Time Video Compression Using Dvq And Suffix Trees, Pavan Kumar Vedantam
Real-Time Video Compression Using Dvq And Suffix Trees, Pavan Kumar Vedantam
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Video processing is a wide and varied subject area. Video compression is an important but difficult problem in video processing. Several methods and standards exist which address this problem with varying degrees of success depending on the performance measures adopted. The present research work focuses on the real-time aspect of video processing.;In particular we propose a real-time video compression algorithm based on the concept of differential vector quantization and the suffix tree. Differential vector quantization is a relatively new area that focuses on efficient compression of data. The present work integrates the compression provided by Differential vector Quantization and the …
Students' And Instructors' Attitudes Toward Using Biometric Technology As An *Identification Method In Online Courses, Wafi Albalawi
Students' And Instructors' Attitudes Toward Using Biometric Technology As An *Identification Method In Online Courses, Wafi Albalawi
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This study investigated the social and cultural issues related to the implementation of biometric technology at the College of Human Resources and Education at West Virginia University. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The researcher verbally interviewed five instructors and five graduate students. The quantitative research methods employed two surveys. The research population involved 30 instructors and 189 graduate students. The researcher utilized independent-sample t-tests to compare different groups. The results obtained from this research support the following: (1) there is a real privacy concern among instructors and students regarding the implementation of biometric technology, (2) religious …
Design And Flight Testing Actuator Failure Accommodation Controllers On Wvu Yf-22 Research Uavs, Yu Gu
Design And Flight Testing Actuator Failure Accommodation Controllers On Wvu Yf-22 Research Uavs, Yu Gu
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This dissertation describes the design, development, and flight testing of a Neural Network (NN) based Fault Tolerant Flight Control System (FTFCS) with the ability to accommodate for actuator failures. The goal of this research was to demonstrate the ability of a specific set of control laws to maintain aircraft handling qualities in the presence of failures in the actuator channels. In this study, two-failure scenarios have been investigated: aileron failure (locking of the right aileron at a trim position) and elevator failure (locking of the right elevator at a trim position). A fleet of WVU YF-22 research aircraft test-beds were …
K--12 Teachers' Technology Integration In Benedum Collaborative Professional Development Schools, Sabah Karayegen-Giraldo
K--12 Teachers' Technology Integration In Benedum Collaborative Professional Development Schools, Sabah Karayegen-Giraldo
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This study investigated how K--12 teachers and interns in West Virginia University's Professional Development Schools (PDS) are using technology as a tool to enhance their students' education. The study addressed the use of technology as a classroom tool for research, communication, productivity, and problem-solving as outlined by the National Technology Standards for students. Eleven research questions framed this study. Comparisons across grade levels (elementary, middle, and high schools) and subject areas (English, mathematics, science, and social studies) were included. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used as quantitative research methods. The study involved 327 teachers and 102 intern students in these …
Strategies For Sustainable Professional Development Programs To Promote Effective Pedagogical Use Of Instructional Technology In Teaching, Karla R. Assis Cezarino
Strategies For Sustainable Professional Development Programs To Promote Effective Pedagogical Use Of Instructional Technology In Teaching, Karla R. Assis Cezarino
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The purpose of this study was to determine a set of common strategies employed by sustainable instructional technology professional development programs that are found to successfully promote educators' high-level use of technology in their teaching practice. Two questions guided this study: (a) Research Question 1: What do successful instructional technology professional development programs recognize as indicators of high-level use of technology? and (b) Research Question 2: Which instructional technology professional development strategies successfully promote high-level use of instructional technology in participants' teaching practice?;An online questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions and open-ended questions was used as the means of data collection. …
Synthesis Of 1,1'-Binaphthyl Derivatives Via Benzannulated Enyne-Allenes, Joshua F. Bailey
Synthesis Of 1,1'-Binaphthyl Derivatives Via Benzannulated Enyne-Allenes, Joshua F. Bailey
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The generation of benzannulated enyne-allenes in situ via a prototropic isomerization promotes a cascade radical cyclization to the formation of 1,1 '-binaphthyl derivatives. The simplicity of the synthetic method and the mildness of the reaction conditions make this cascade cyclization process an intriguing alternative route to the generation of 1,1' -binaphthyl derivatives. The transformation from a precursor benzannulated enyne-allene to a novel binaphthyl system proceeds through a C2-C 6 cyclization reaction followed by a radical-radical coupling reaction and tautomerization to provide the formal Diels-Alder adduct.
Operant Conditioning In Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease, Adam P. Spira
Operant Conditioning In Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease, Adam P. Spira
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Behavioral interventions are commonly implemented to manage agitation in older adults with dementia. However, the extent to which operant conditioning can occur in this population is unclear. The present study used a button-pressing task to evaluate the sensitivity of the responding of individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease to changes in schedules of reinforcement. Results indicate that operant conditioning can occur in older adults with AD. Specifically, three participants with AD exhibited responding that was highly sensitive to a transition from a fixed interval schedule to an extinction schedule. One participant's responding was sensitive to a more subtle transition. Comparison data …
Super Resolution Of Fingerprints, Kaustubh R. Deshpande
Super Resolution Of Fingerprints, Kaustubh R. Deshpande
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The goal of any biometric recognition algorithm has been to target 100% recognition rate. Even a failure of 0.1% of the cases may be disastrous to the overall performance of the algorithm given the nature of the application. The performance of the recognition module is dependent directly on the quality of the images fed to this algorithm. It is no wonder thus that enhancing these images before they are fed into the recognition algorithm has gained importance in the recent years.;In this work, we develop a super-resolution method with a specific goal to improve the resolution of biometric images. This …
Influence Of A Three-Week Wildlife Education Curriculum On Knowledge And Attitudes Of South Carolina's Marlboro County High School Ninth And Tenth-Grade Biology Students, Diane M. Krishon
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of a three-week wildlife education curriculum on knowledge and attitudes of ninth and tenth-grade biology students in South Carolina. A three-week wildlife curriculum was incorporated into three high school biology classes in the same semester. The students were pre-tested and post-tested for knowledge and attitudes. The results indicate that the three-week curriculum had a positive influence on knowledge but did not influence wildlife attitudes. However, a substantial correlation occurred between the post-test attitude and knowledge scores, indicating that as students' knowledge increased, their attitudes towards wildlife and environmental education became …
Nutrient Remobilization During Development And Senescence Of Petunia X Hybrida Floral Organs, Karyn L. Smith
Nutrient Remobilization During Development And Senescence Of Petunia X Hybrida Floral Organs, Karyn L. Smith
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Fresh weight, dry weight, and macronutrient content of corollas, ovaries, and styles were measured during the development and senescence of several wild-type and transgenic Petunia x hybrida plants. Flowers of age-related senescence exhibited growth, maintenance, and senescence phases during development. Flowers terminated by pollination-induced senescence exhibited only growth and senescence phases. Fresh and dry weight of Mitchell, V26, and SAG12-IPT corollas followed patterns previously observed in climacteric flowers. SAG12-IPT, a cytokinin overproducing plant, exhibited a prolonged maintenance phase compared to V26. A temporary increase in fresh weight, dry weight, and macronutrients of Mitchell corollas occurred at the expected onset of …
Synchronization Of Spatiotemporal Patterns And Modeling Disease Spreading Using Excitable Media, Jianxia Cui
Synchronization Of Spatiotemporal Patterns And Modeling Disease Spreading Using Excitable Media, Jianxia Cui
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Studies of the photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction are reviewed and the essential features of excitable media are described. The synchronization of two distributed Belousov-Zhabotinsky systems is experimentally and theoretically investigated. Symmetric local coupling of the systems is made possible with the use of a video camera-projector scheme. The spatial disorder of the coupled systems, with random initial configurations of spirals, gradually decreases until a final state is attained, which corresponds to a synchronized state with a single spiral in each system. The experimental observations are compared with numerical simulations of two identical Oregonator models with symmetric local coupling, and a …