Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing The Pore Structure Of The Marcellus Shale, Liaosha Song

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Determination Of The Consensus Target Sequences Recognized By Znfo, A Novel Oocyte-Specific Zinc Finger Transcription Factor In Cattle, Mingxiang Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A Re-Established Walleye Population Within A Hydropower Reservoir Recovering From Acidification, Dustin M Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Hydrogeology And Water Management In The Arkwright Underground Coal Mine, Pittsburgh Seam, Northern West Virginia, Bryant D. Mountjoy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Arkwright #1 is a closed underground mine in the Pittsburgh coal seam near Morgantown, West Virginia USA. Arkwright shares perimeter boundaries/barriers with three other closed Pittsburgh seam mines (Osage #3, Jordan #93, Federal #1) and is partially overlain by flooded Sewickley seam mines, 25 m above it. This mine is significant primarily because it manages and treats water diverted from nearly 20 other closed mines over a 600 square kilometer area. This study examines water levels, pump records, and mine maps to describe the hydrogeology of Arkwright Mine. After closure in 1995, Arkwright and the adjacent northern Osage mines began …

Protein And Lipid Characterization Of Acheta Domesticus, Bombyx Mori, And Locusta Migratoria Dry Flours, Emily N. Brogan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cricket (Acheta domesticus), silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori), and locust (Locusta migratoria) dry flours were obtained to examine the biochemical properties and composition of the flours. This study aimed to characterize the protein and lipid components of three insect species utilizing proximate composition analyses, amino acid composition analysis, protein solubility, SDS-PAGE, fatty acid composition analysis, and thin layer chromatography to determine lipid classes, and lipid extraction efficiency. Kjeldahl determined the cricket, locust, and silkworm flours contained 72.0%, 53.1%, and 71.2% protein, respectively. All proximate composition analyses were significantly (p< 0.05) different between species. Amino acid composition analysis revealed that the flours contained 3.6-3.9% and 0.90-1.5% of lysine and methionine, respectively. Many countries have cereal grains and legumes as a staple in their diet that contain these limiting amino acids. Essential amino acids were 22% of total amino acids. Protein solubility revealed that the three species studied were most soluble in alkaline environments with highest protein solubility occurring at pH 13 at 66% solubility in silkworm. Lowest solubility occurred in more acidic conditions between pH 4-5. SDS-PAGE revealed five major protein fractions with estimated molecular weights of 27 (cuticle proteins), 41 (arginine kinase), which has been identified as an allergen in shrimp, 42 (actin), 71 (hemocyanin), and 220 myosin) kDa. Soxhlet extraction determined cricket, silkworm, and locust flours contained 15.4%, 33.3%, and 11.4% lipid, respectively. The only omega-3 fatty acid found in the flours was α-linolenic acid. Silkworm flour contained the most α-linolenic acid at 33.3% of total fatty acids, followed by locust (13.7%), and cricket (0.6%). TLC resolved lipids for typical lipid classes. The four major lipid classes noted were triacylglycerol, free fatty acid, cholesterol, and phospholipid. Lipid extraction efficiency found that the organic solvents chloroform and methanol had the highest lipid extraction yield in both cricket (69.3%) and locust (93.0%). Methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) extracted lipids most efficiently in the silkworm. Proteins and lipids found in insects need to be isolated to further or commercial use.

Blockchain For Trustful Collaborations Between Immigrants, Citizens And Governments, Chun-Wei Chiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Immigrants usually are pro-social towards their hometowns and try to improve them. However, the lack of trust in their government can drive immigrants to work individually. As a result, their pro-social activities are usually limited in impact and scope. Although blockchain technology have the potential to solve the trust issue, people are not familiar with the technology and they have no idea why it is trustworthy. Previous research showed that the adopting user interface properly can increase people's trust in technology. This paper studies the interface factors that ease collaborations between immigrants and their home governments. We specifically focus on …

Reducing Spatial Stochastic Models Of Membrane Receptors To Approximately Equivalent Chemical Reaction Networks Through Coarse Graining, Christopher Short

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Computational models are necessary for understanding how biological functionality emerges from a complex network of molecular interactions such as in cell signaling. Due to the complexity of biological systems, the normal scientific method of hypothesizing then testing predictions is becoming increasingly difficult. The large number of processes limits the level of modeling detail; signaling models typically adopt a non-spatial representation where each molecular process is characterized by a few parameters.;However, modern microscopic imaging of receptors on cell membranes reveals an intricate structure of microdomains. Receptors, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and others, …

Training Supervisors To Provide Feedback Using Video Modeling, Natalie Jones Shuler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Supervisors commonly use feedback to teach staff members to accurately implement behavioral interventions. However, few studies have evaluated methods to teach supervisors to provide effective feedback. In the current study, we used a multiple-baseline design to evaluate the use of video modeling to train four supervisors to provide performance feedback to therapists working with children with autism. We assessed the supervisors' accuracy with implementing eight feedback component skills (e.g., behavior-specific praise, describing incorrect performance, demonstrating correct performance) during simulated role-plays before and after the video-modeling intervention. Following the intervention, we assessed the extent to which the supervisors' skills generalized when …

Analysis Of Dimensionless Scaling Relationships For Rotating Free Flight Bodies, Shawn A. Smearcheck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Though more obscure than traditional flight analysis, the tendency for a rigid body to flutter or tumble in flight during unstable conditions has been analyzed through physical experiments since the 1960s. In more recent years, similar conditions have been subjected to numerical simulation to further understand the effects of dimensionless properties on unstable body motion. It is important to understand dimensionless scaling relationships to compare properties of a body to that of a scaled model or for adjusting data when manufacturing limitations exist. For example, if the geometry of a scaled object could easily be manufactured, within tolerance, but material …

Dissensual Women: Modernist Women Writers, The Senses, And Technology, Allyson Demaagd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My project, Dissensual Women: Modernist Women Writers, the Senses, and Technology, analyzes depictions of the senses and technology in modernist women's writing. I argue that modernist women writers challenge traditional sensory hierarchies that value the so-called masculine senses of sight and sound and denigrate the so-called feminine senses of smell, taste, and touch. H.D., Mina Loy, Virginia Woolf, and Elizabeth Bowen revalue the feminine senses, challenge sensory elitism, and advocate for an inclusive sensorium, one that features the perceptions and experiences of women, queer women, the lower classes, the nonhuman, and the differently abled. They wage their dissent through experimentation …

Existence Of Global Solutions For Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamics With Finite Larmor Radius Corrections, Fariha Elsrrawi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We discuss the existence of global solutions to the MHD equations where the effects of finite Larmor radius corrections are taken into account. Unlike the usual MHD, the pressure is a tensor and it depends on not only the density but also the magnetic field. We show the existence of global solutions by the energy methods. Our techniques of proof are based on the existence of local solution by Semigroups theory and a priori estimates.

Effect Of Natural Gas Fuel Composition On Gaseous And Particle Numbermass Emissions From A Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine Used In Unconventional Well Development Operations, Sashank Jammalamadaka

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Natural gas (NG) reserves have been discovered in abundance with the aid of various technological advancements in the field of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Prime movers of unconventional well development were previously identified to be over-the-road (OTR) trucks, drilling engines, and hydraulic stimulation engines. The increased NG reserves have driven the industry to shift from using diesel fueled engines to natural gas engines. This allows the industries to take advantage of the produced natural gas to be directly used as energy source to fuel the prime movers involved with unconventional well development.;The primary objective of this study is to …

Audit Quality: Detection Of Material Misstatement, Megan Jones

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is comprised of three studies that examine characteristics that have the potential to influence auditors' ability to detect material misstatement and therefore, audit quality.;The first study examines the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspection process, and its relation to audit quality. This archival study concentrates on the group of companies that hire audit firms after Part II inspection reports containing quality control criticisms are made public. Results suggest that companies that switch to auditors with Part II reports have lower audit quality than companies that switch to auditors without Part II reports. Further, companies that switch to …

Detecting The Onset Of The Bulk Crystal Plasticity Transition In Face Centered Cubic Metals Using Nanoindentation, Ryder Bolin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present thesis showcases the investigation of nanoindentation at ultra-low depths (<500nm), for the study of the origin and initiation of crystal plasticity in a number of Face Centered Cubic (FCC) metals: Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), and Aluminum (Al) in single crystalline or polycrystalline form. Nanoindentation was carried out using a Berkovich tip, and indentations were carried out in the nano-regime of polycrystalline FCC metals and single crystalline Cu and Al. Two custom-built four-point bending apparatuses were used to apply in-plane tension on all samples during indentation. Samples were indented using both displacement and load controls, in order to both carefully estimate the hardness and plasticity noise as a function of depth and applied in-plane tension. The noisy character of crystal plasticity manifests itself through nanoindentation pop-in events, which are abrupt and stochastic plastic displacements during the initial stage of plasticity. I discuss and demonstrate indentation size effects induced and/or promoted by the in-plane stress in FCC materials. The hardness analysis shows a statistically inverse dependence on in-plane stress for small depth indentation and I discuss the consistency of the effects in both the hardness and pop-in events among the various FCC crystals studied. Finally, I discuss a novel approach to detect the onset of pop-in noise in a realistic sample without special treatment and demonstrate its consistency for Cu single crystalline samples.

Identifying The Esthetically Optimal Ap Position Of Maxillary Incisors In Caucasian Females, Mackenzie Boyles-Horan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: The majority of orthodontists routinely evaluate the amount of maxillary incisor display from a frontal perspective, however they do not regularly evaluate a patient's smiling profile with the teeth visible when diagnosing and treatment planning. This study uses the facial plane Glabella Vertical, a vertical line tangent to the subject's soft glabella, to classify the maxilla's AP position. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a difference in perceived attractiveness between smiling and repose facial profiles and to identify if there is an esthetically optimal AP position of the maxillary incisors in Caucasian …

Focus On The Child: Preventing The Intergenerational Transmission Of Eating Disorders And Dieting Behavior, Elizabeth Claydon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

PURPOSE: There is a paucity of research exploring individuals' recall of parental dieting behavior, engagement in "fat talk", or criticism of weight or eating behavior in childhood. This dearth of literature exists in both community samples and in clinical populations of eating disorder patients. There is also limited information on women with a history of eating disorders and their pregnancy experience or anticipation of their pregnancy experience. This dissertation focuses on the aforementioned areas in order to develop the research literature further to understand whether parental feedback (such as parental comments or parental dieting) is associated with health outcomes such …

Automotive Crisis: Volkswagen's Emissions Scandal & Response Strategies., Kelsey Plute

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of crisis communication strategies (i.e. Coomb’s Situational Crisis Communication Theory and Bradford & Garrett’s Communicative Response Model) by examining Volkswagen’s key messages in U.S. commercial ad campaigns, individual vehicle commercials, and print ads before, during and after the emissions scandal. The content analysis also identified these specific crisis response strategies in the company’s 2015 through 2018 annual reports, press releases and letters to the company shareholders.

Beef Cattle Effluent Treatment In A Denitrifying Bioreactor., Bethani Chambers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Excess nutrient runoff, nitrates and phosphates, has led to the development of algal blooms and hypoxic zones worldwide. Based on a report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation nearly half of all nutrient sources originate from agricultural production with a quarter of this resulting from improper management of manures. This project focuses on a novel adaption of a denitrifying bioreactor, which has demonstrated removals of agricultural nutrients, which may have implications on the treatment of manure nutrients. These subsurface bioreactors work by providing a substrate, usually wood based, to act as a carbon source to support denitrifying bacteria which in turn …

Communicated Sex Roles And Gender Identity Gaps., Janelle Vickers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) and the Bem Sex Role Index (BSRI), this study addresses the potential impact of societally-created, gendered expectations on the satisfaction of emerging adults. Two hundred twenty-nine undergraduates at a large mid-Atlantic university participated in the study by completing an online survey assessing gender, identity, and a relationship with a close other of their choosing. Results replicate previous research using CTI, which suggests that identity gaps relating to gender are dissatisfying. Specifically, gaps at the personal-enacted, personal-relational, and the newly-created personal-personal levels were negatively related to participant satisfaction, and personal-relational gaps were negatively correlated with …

Comparison Of Emissions Measurement Between A Sensor-Based Compact Emissions Meter And A Standard Pems, Jordan Matthew Leatherman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The emissions produced by diesel engines are detrimental to human health, and the environment. To reduce these harmful emissions, engine manufacturers have used exhaust after treatment systems. The main objective of these after-treatment systems is to reduce exhaust emissions with minimal impact on an engines performance. The increase in emission regulations resulted in the need for a portable device to measure emissions. Portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) are used to ensure engines comply with regulations in the real world. Although these systems are portable and can be installed on a vehicle they are bulky, expensive and time consuming to install. …

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

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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

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

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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

Characteristics Of Activated Carbons Produced From Herbaceous Biomass Feedstock, Oluwatosin Jerry Oginni

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Energy security and environmental protection are at the forefront of research due to the forecasted depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the growing concern of its adverse environmental impacts. The use of renewable sources for energy applications has centered on the use of biomass feedstocks and this include from herbaceous, woody, agricultural waste, forest residues and municipal wastes. The thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis) of these biomass feedstocks has potential to produce liquid fuel, a solid residue (biochar) and non-condensable gas. The biochar is primarily composed of renewable porous carbon and other inorganic compounds. The biochar is used for soil amendment, adsorption …

Differentiating Human Populations Based On K-Mer Classification Of Hand Bacteria, Thrisha Doppala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bacterial communities found in and on the human body are not only used in studying human health conditions but are also effective in differentiating individuals due to their distinct profiles. Human palm regions harbor relatively more diverse bacterial communities and are indicative of population groups, life styles, geographic locations, age groups and health conditions. Sequences extracted from hypervariable region V3 of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene of hand bacterial samples from 9 different population groups were classified into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) with GreenGenes reference taxonomy using RDP (Ribosomal Database Project) classifier. Frequencies of identified OTUs were used to study …

Detection Of Buried Non-Metallic (Plastic And Frp Composite) Pipes Using Gpr And Irt, Jonas Kavi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research investigated alternative strategies for making buried non-metallic pipes (CFRP, GFRP, and PVC) easily locatable using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Pipe diameters up to 12" and buried with up to 4 ft. of soil cover were investigated. The findings of this study will help address the detection problem of non-metallic pipelines and speed the adoption of composite pipes by the petroleum and natural gas industry. The research also investigated the possibility of locating buried pipes transporting hot fluids using Infrared Thermography (IRT).

Results from the study have shown that, using carbon fabric and aluminum tape overlay on non‑metallic pipes …

Habitat Suitability Of Restored Wetlands And An Investigation Of Sampling Bias For Freshwater Turtles In West Virginia, Alissa L. Gulette

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Loss and drainage of wetlands in the United States has been remediated in part by wetland restoration on agricultural lands through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Freshwater turtles are important components of wetland ecosystems, where they contribute to nutrient cycling, storage, and transfer between terrestrial and aquatic systems, and function as apex predators. In 2016 and 2017, we investigated use of wetlands restored through the ACEP program in West Virginia by two common freshwater turtle species, snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and obtained comparative data from reference wetlands. …

Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Surface Water Quality In Relation To Marcellus Shale Gas Development In The Northern Panhandle Of West Virginia, Rachel Yesenchak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pre-existing water chemistry data available from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection were used to examine temporal changes in surface water quality related to the onset of Marcellus Shale gas drilling activity in the state of West Virginia. Drilling is concentrated in the northwestern portion of the state. Watersheds were delineated for twelve discrete stream sampling locations in the Upper Ohio-Wheeling HUC-8 sub-basin, where shale gas drilling is prevalent. Kruskal-Wallis tests were deployed to compare pre- and post-drilling concentrations of conductivity, chloride, and total suspended solids for each location. Increased concentrations of these parameters are associated with surface water …

Using Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning To Develop Synthetic Well Logs, Marwan Mohammed Alnuaimi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been an increase in the need for energy in the recent past. Oil and gas stand as the source of energy that are widely used. The oil and gas reservoirs are targeted for the purposes of field development. The conventional methods of reservoir characteristics require computing techniques that are unique and complex, some of which are labor and time intensive. Mohaghegh argues that all efforts must be tried and made possible to apply Petroleum Data analytics in production and management of reservoir so as to earn a maximum return (Mohaghegh, Shale Analytics, 2017). Different methodologies have been applied …

Impact Of Next Generation Am-Pet Helmet And Support Structure On Subjects' Neck, Samantha Melroy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ambulatory Micro-dose Positron Emission Tomography (AM-PET) is a portable PET brain scanner that does not require patients to remain still but allows them to move as they regularly would over the course of the scan (i.e. clapping hands, walking in place, and other stationary movements). Traditional PET scanners require patients to remain still for an extended duration in a small confined cavity. This is problematic for those who have conditions such as Parkinson's and Autism; in many cases, they must be sedated before the test can be performed. West Virginia University's AM-PET Helmet allows for these regular human movements to …

Creating The Need To Serve: How West Virginia Spontaneous Disaster Relief Volunteers' Motivations And Experiences Influence Their Willingness For Continued Volunteerism*, Erin Hudnall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Spontaneous volunteerism, or emergent volunteer behavior, is characterized by an individual's actions of impulsively offering volunteer services immediately following the occurrence of a natural disaster or community tragedy, such as a flood or terrorist attack. This type of volunteerism differs from traditional volunteer activities that are usually preplanned and not related to a recent tragedy. It is unclear what types of motivations spur individuals to volunteer after a disaster, whether spontaneous volunteers' experiences lead to willingness for continued volunteerism in the future, and whether motivations and experiences differ significantly by context. To study this phenomenon, spontaneous volunteers who offered help …