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Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Carbonate Waters In The Peters Mountain Region Of Monroe County, Wv, Emily A. Bausher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Water in Monroe County, WV is used extensively for public and private supply and requires quantification, chemical analysis, and assessment for contamination susceptibility. Over 250 springs were previously identified in the eastern side of Monroe County on or near Peters Mountain; 14 were continuously monitored in this study. Springs were grouped based on geologic and spatial distribution: interbedded clastic-rock springs on the mountain flanks, carbonate springs in the valley, and a thermal spring associated with the St. Clair thrust fault. Clastic and carbonate springs have calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate chemistries, neutral pHs and high alkalinities; the thermal spring has calcium-magnesium-sulfate-carbonate chemistry, low pH, …

Creating Space For Belonging Within The West Virginia Progressive Movement, Roger A. Jennette

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the 2016 Presidential election come and gone, political activism within the United States has garnered more attention as political actors on the Progressive Left oppose the actions of the new administration. The West Virginia progressive movement is used as a case study of the national push towards progressive politics. Using participant diaries and a series of longitudinal interviews, this thesis explores the creation of spaces belonging within an activist organization to foster sustained involvement. The analysis points to the importance of creating a sense of belonging and the desire to ‘strive for better’ in a state that is often …

Analysis Of The Gas Production From Marcellus Shale Horizontal Wells Using Decline Curves, Dalal Alsaadoun

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many challenges present themselves when production is being forecasted in ultra-low permeability unconventional reservoir systems. Some of the major challenges are the lack of understanding of the interaction among the fluid flow, the hydraulic fracturing, the reservoir characteristics in these complex systems, and the limited production history. Therefore, the production performance of the shale gas wells over the longer time periods has not been established. A familiar technique for predicting the future production rates, when the only available data are past production rates, is Decline Curve Analysis (DCA). Several DCA methods have been proposed for shale wells, but their application …

Study Of The Resonance Spectrums Of The Flute And The Effect Of Different Stable Vowels On Formant Tuning With Violin And Clarinet, Alyssa M. Schwartz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

"In the long history of scientific investigation of musical instruments, the flute has been given particular attention, primarily because of its apparent simplicity. Yet many of the physical factors that determine its behavior have not been well documented." This is especially true when it comes to modern understanding of the way in which changes in the shape of the oral cavity affect the resonance spectrum of the flute.;Creating different monophthongs, or stable-vowel positions, while playing the flute changes the spectral slope and strength of the overtones in the flute tone. This affects the ability of the flute to successfully blend …

Optimal Anteroposterior Position Of Maxillary Incisors In Caucasian Males Viewed From A Smiling Profile, Amer Shammaa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Anteroposterior (AP) position of the maxillary incisors affects the harmony of a facial profile. Different methods have been suggested to evaluate the maxillary incisor AP position, including cephalometric analysis and soft-tissue analysis. Andrews suggested using a lateral smiling profile to evaluate the AP position of the maxillary incisors. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimal AP position of maxillary incisors in Caucasian males using Glabella Vertical (GV), a coronal plane tangent to soft tissue Glabella, as a reference line. In addition, an attempt was made to determine if there are differences in judged facial …

A Method Of Teaching English Speaking Learners To Produce Mandarin-Chinese Tones, Hui Shi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Learning Mandarin Chinese tones is a big challenge for English speaking learners. The average tonal production accuracy is reported to be about 70 percent for intermediate-level learners and 40 percent for beginning-level Chinese learners. The Chinese tonal proficiency significantly influences the learners' communicative effectiveness, including listening and speaking, but research often overlooks tonal production. This study proposed and tested a novel method of teaching English-speaking learners to pronounce Mandarin Chinese tones. This teaching method includes a Chinese tones bookmark, and a 30--50 minutes in-class training module. The research undertook five cycles of Design-Based Research (DBR) implementations with 31 public school …

Flexible Polymer-Ceramic Composite Materials For High Sensitive Pressure Sensing Applications In Harsh Environments, Kavin Sivaneri Varadharajan Idhaiam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Robotics aligned with completing physical activities in the space environments will require a new suit of solid-state sensors that are versatile and robust, and will provide precise information about contact events with various space assets. One of the vital sensing mechanisms is the "feel-of-touch" or "tactile/haptic" feedback to the robotic system. Current robotics tactile/force sensor use mechanical switches for the feedback to determine whether the end-effector is in contact, which does not provide sufficient information regarding the local force and point-of-contact for the robotic end-effector. To tackle these challenges, the current work focusses on the development of flexible tactile sensor …

Analysis Of The Production Data From Marcellus Shale Wells, Amanda Parrish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The increasingly prevalent practice of unconventional technologies has called for the need for the critical analysis of production decline rates to meet economic targets. The high early time production returns and transient flow make matching a production curve to known methods of decline curve analysis problematic.

This research focuses on finding a technique that best fits a known production curve and then applying that technique to another well to check its accuracy. The goal is to find the earliest time of production data necessary to predict an accurate production curve over the lifespan of the well. This is essential to …

Social Media, Celebrity Endorsers And Effect On Purchasing Intentions Of Young Adults, Kaitlin M. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Through an online survey methodology, this study explored how the relationship between the three celebrity-based characteristics -- trustworthiness, attractiveness and expertise -- and Millennials' social media usage influences Millennials' purchasing intentions, or their likelihood to buy the product or brand being endorsed. Millennials were the focus of this study due to their involvement with social media, their pre-existing parasocial interactions with celebrities on social media and their increased likelihood of buying products endorsed by celebrities with the hope of being more like them.;The most significant finding revealed that the three celebrity-based characteristics -- expertise, trustworthiness and attractiveness -- are perceived …

Radial Growth Patterns In Trees Surviving Canopy Gap Disturbances, Ruth A. Stetler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Forest disturbance regimes in eastern North America have long been conceptualized as localized gap disturbances, but recent studies suggest that more widespread, infrequent disturbance events may also be important. However, uncertainties in tree-ring methods used to detect disturbance, and in the factors that drive growth release of trees, limit the conclusions that can be drawn from regional disturbance analyses. I designed a study to further elucidate forest disturbance dynamics in eastern North America by using two approaches: 1) a case study examining the sensitivity of the radial growth averaging method of detecting disturbance and the factors influencing detection of a …

The Impact Of Different Game Types And Sports On College Students' Physical Activity And Motivation In Basic Instruction Program Settings, Yang Song

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background/Purpose: Few researchers have investigated college students' physical activity levels and motivations within university Basic Instruction Programs (BIPs) when students engaged in different games (modified games, small-sided games, and full-sided games) from different sports categories (e.g., net/wall games and invasion games). Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate college students' Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) and motivations while playing different games in badminton and soccer classes. The study also examined how well motivation levels predict MVPA.;Methods/Analysis: Seventy-one college students (57 males and 14 females) from a rural Mid-Atlantic university participated in and finished the study. They came …

A Cbct Analysis Of Optimal Maxillary And Mandibular Incisor Inclination, Marina Gonchar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: One of the most challenging questions faced in the field of orthodontics is defining the envelope of tooth movement, and answering a fundamental question, where do teeth belong in relation to bone? Incisor position, both in the maxilla and mandible, are often compromised in order to accommodate an unfavorable skeletal pattern in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse dimensions during orthodontic therapy. Optimal incisor inclination has been a continuous debate in the field of orthodontics leaving the experts divided. The question still remains what are the clinical limits of orthodontic tooth movement, which will result in the most …

High School Coaches' Experiences With Openly Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Athletes, Meghan K. Halbrook

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite reports that there has been a positive trend in perception and treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in recent years (Griffin, 2012; Loftus, 2001), sport, in general, is still an uncertain, and sometimes even hostile, environment for LGB athletes (Anderson, 2005; Beylin, 2006; Waldron & Krane, 2005). These concerns may be even more prevalent at the high school level, with student-athletes putting a strong emphasis on attempting to develop an independent and positive social identity through group or team interactions (Grant et al., 2014; Taifel & Turner, 1986). To gain more information on coach understanding and perceptions …

Effect Of Chamber Pressure On The Quality Of Breech Face And Firing Pin Impressions, James A. Hamilton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Firearms evidence plays a vital role in shooting incident investigations. Included in this type of evidence is the comparison of fired cartridge casings. The evaluation of cartridge casings can inform investigators as to the number of firearms used in an incident. This evaluation includes the observation of breech face impressions imparted on the cartridge casing by the firearm. The comparison of these markings can assist investigators in the apprehension of perpetrators. However, the quality of these impressions may vary based on the pressures generated within a single system during firing leading to the appearance of multiple firearms being involved. Investigation …

The Relationship Between Oil Prices And Us Dollar Exchange Rates In Short And Long Scales, Mostafa Hashemi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to revisit the relationship between US dollar exchange rates and crude oil prices in the post-2000 era, when both oil prices and USD exchange rates experienced record-high volatility. Specifically, I aim to answer: (1) do oil prices drive US dollar exchange rates or vice versa, (2) are oil prices and US dollar exchange rates integrated in the long-run, and (3) are the conflicting results found in previous studies on the relationship between the two due to the use of different frequencies of data (e.g. daily, weekly, and monthly). To answer these questions, I applied …

Growing Shrub Willow (Salix Spp.) On Newly Reclaimed Minesoil In Northeastern West Virginia, Bartholomew Caterino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Shrub willow (Salix spp.) has been a focus of international efforts to develop renewable alternatives for fossil fuels and to sequester carbon from earth's atmosphere. One area of interest has been to plant and cultivate willow on reclaimed mine lands. West Virginia's coalfields provide significant land area for incorporating willow cultivation into reclamation. The objective of this study was to develop silvicultural treatments to overcome the most common properties of mine soils in Appalachia: high rock fragment content that often causes difficult planting, reduced nutrient availability, and low water-holding capacity. Cuttings of three shrub willow clones were planted with six …

Evaluating Instructive Feedback As A Maintenance Procedure During Discrete-Trial Instruction, Jessica M. Cheatham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Instructive feedback is a procedure that involves presenting secondary targets during a learning trial. The child is not required to respond to the secondary targets, and if the child does respond the therapist does not provide differential consequences. Instructive feedback has been shown to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of discrete-trial instruction for children with autism. We evaluated maintenance of previously learned skills when they were and were not presented as instructive feedback during teaching sessions. We used an adapted-alternating treatments design to compare three conditions, in which previously learned skills were presented as secondary targets five times per week, …

"Mingled In One Common Destruction": Gender And The Household Economy In Harpers Ferry, 1859-1865, Elizabeth Conant-Lambert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines gender relations and the household economy of Harpers Ferry, Virginia (later West Virginia) from 1859 to 1865. Chapter One looks at how the town was organized economically and symbolically around the federal armory and arsenal, which served as the foundation for the town. Chapter Two examines the destruction of the armory and the ways that economic upheaval led to a feminization of male townspeople, who were then subordinated to occupying militaries. In the border town of Harpers Ferry, occupation became an important aspect of gender relations. Chapter Three focuses on how local women used family networks to …

Researching History And Performance Practice Regarding Improvisation And Ornamentation In Mozart's Keyboard Works, With Special Attention To Cadenzas, Josiane Merlino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this paper is to examine the history and background of several keyboard works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756--1791) and to consider how that research influences interpretation and shapes performance practice, with special attention to the composition of stylistically appropriate and historically informed cadenzas.;First in the paper, I talk about some aspects of performance practice including tempo, pedaling, articulation, and differences between Mozart's piano and modern pianos. Next, I discuss the importance of theoretical analysis and researching biographical events in a composer's life to know historical context of a piece. Ultimately, opportunities that are not notated in the …

Continuing Education Dispositions Of Ncaa-Di Football Strength And Conditioning Coaches: A Qualitative Analysis, Joshua G. Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background/Purpose: To explore the continuing education dispositions of collegiate football strength and conditioning coaches in the NCAA-DI. Methods: Qualitative content analysis was used on data collected via online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to explore the learning habits and values toward career long learning of eight (n=8) active collegiate football strength and conditioning coaches certified with either the National Strength and Conditioning Association or College Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, and in full time employment as a college strength and conditioning coach for at least ten years. Results: Results identified themes associated with how coaches engage in continuing education throughout their …

Chronic Illness And Physicians' Referrals To Psychologists: A Pilot Study, Nicole O'Barto-Trainer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is an evidenced based healthcare management system that encompasses a multidimensional approach to healthcare for the treatment of patients with chronic conditions. A component of this model is collaborative care. The tenets of the biopsychosocial model are central to collaborative care and evidenced-based health care interventions. These interventions provide integrated, patient-centered healthcare delivered by a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Recent research has indicated that psychologists can play a vital role on such teams. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to subject the Biopsychosocial Endorsement Questionnaire (BEQ) to preliminary statistical analysis and to pilot its …

Space Use And Habitat Associations Of Long-Distance Migratory First-Year Golden Eagles (Aquila Chrysaetos) From Interior Alaska In A Changing Landscape, Mark D. Paulson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding a species space use and habitat associations is integral to comprehensive wildlife management. Habitat associations change spatially and temporally and those changes may be especially dramatic for animals that cover long distances throughout their annual cycle. While many studies of habitat associations and space use concentrate on breeding season behavior, studies of migratory connectivity demonstrate how condition of habitats on non-breeding ranges potentially affect key demographic parameters, such as survival, reproduction, and movement in other seasons. This is also important because wildlife habitats, especially land cover, are changing rapidly from both anthropogenic and natural forces in direct and indirect …

3d Finite Element Seepage And Slope Stability Modeling Of A Geomorphic Landform Reclamation, Iuri Lira Santos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Royal Scot coal refuse pile in Greenbrier County, WV is being studied in order to reduce the Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) produced by this site. Two approaches to solve this problem were proposed: 1) a hydraulic barrier cover reclamation with a surface vegetative layer and 2) a land cover slope reclamation with a vegetative growth layer placement at the surface.;This thesis evaluated seepage and slope stability of the two proposed designs with a finite element modeling software in a transient analysis under unsaturated soil mechanics. Results from the model analysis were evaluated and further utilized to compare and contrast …

Evaluation Of Ultrasonic Velocity Tests To Characterize Extraterrestrial Rock Masses, Thomas W. Edge Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis investigates the use of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests for extraterrestrial rock characterization by evaluating the effects of physical sample properties on the signal attenuation of ultrasonic waves. An initial review of standard laboratory UPV testing methods and expected space conditions isolated four key disparities between the two testing environments: (1) sample dimensions, (2) regolith cover, (3) sample surface roughness, and (4) utility of a gel couplant. Laboratory tests were then performed to assess the influence of these parameters in simulated space conditions, using concrete beams to simulate large sample sizes, and ground limestone to simulate regolith cover. …

Molecular Simulation Of Transport And Storage In Shale, Mohammad Kazemi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the past few years, the production of shale hydrocarbons has seen a renewed interest both in science and industry. Indeed, these fluids today constitute a significant energy and economic stake to compensate for the scarcity of so-called conventional resources. This is due to the fact that shale gases and oils represent enormous potential resources and are present all over the world. In shales, hydrocarbons are generally contained in microporous organic nanopores: kerogen. The kerogen is both the source rock of hydrocarbons and their reservoir. In shales, the extreme confinement of fluids in organic matter, high pressure-high temperature thermodynamic condition …

Spread Of False News Stories On Facebook: An Assessment Of Credibility Cues And Personality, Lacie Geary

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study used a 2 x 2 method to examine the effectiveness of credibility cues on Facebook and how the personality traits neuroticism and openness impact sharing behaviors across cues of different shapes and colors. Findings suggested the color red increased cue noticeability, however, overall a low number of participants noticed any of the four varying cues across conditions, indicating that the fast-paced scrolling nature of online mediums prevents users from noticing credibility cues. Future research should examine the differences in pace of scrolling and information intake across different generations. This information might be useful to media outlets to help …

Open-Access Crime Maps As Digital Rhetoric And Crime Reporting In Chicago: Using New Aesthetic Overlaps To Change Journalism And Citizen Interaction, Aaron Geiger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

When data mining meets the rhetoric of maps and crowdsourcing in the age of digital journalism, we can use the abundance of data to change, modify or reinforce particular reporting behaviors or journalism policies. We also live in an age of overlapping boundaries of technologies, algorithms and human interfaces---it is within these overlaps that we find anomalies, "glitches", and digital errata that can expose different perceptions of the same artifacts and algorithms. The overlapping of the heterogeneous network, as James Bridle calls it, is known as The New Aesthetic. It is not a movement, but "a series of artifacts ... …

The Effect Of A Leader's Emotional Intelligence On The Subordinate's Intention To Whistleblow, Xin Geng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two experiments in this dissertation examine the effect of a leader's emotional intelligence and its interaction with other constructs on the subordinate's intention to whistleblow. Results from the primary experiment indicate that when the leader is not involved in the observed accounting fraud, the subordinate is more likely to whistleblow to the leader if the leader has high emotional intelligence or high group prototypicality. The relationship between leader emotional intelligence and subordinate whistleblowing intention is stronger when the leader has high group prototypicality and is mediated by the subordinate's perceived leader-member exchange, trust in the leader, and job satisfaction. These …

Non-Equilibrium Green's Function Based Calculations Of Spin Voltage In Cobalt Based Spinel Oxides, Anveeksh Koneru

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tougher sanctions on fossil fuel emissions and greater energy demand around the globe is forcing us to rely more on renewable energy resources. Clean energy technologies like thermoelectric power generation provides one solution to ease our dependence on non-renewable energy resources. Thermoelectric materials have the capability of directly converting heat to electricity. However, the efficiency of thermoelectrics has been limited due to the inherent coupling of the electronic and thermal carriers. More recently, an avenue to decouple these interactions has been experimental demonstrated using temperature gradient induced spin currents. With this new discovery comes the need for new transport models …

On Factors That Influence User Interactions With Social Media Spam: Empirical Exploration Based On A Survey And Experiment, Thomas J. Kyanko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis explores various factors that influence whether or not users of social media platforms will interact with spam. The research is based on using survey and experimental approaches. The survey looked at several spam related behaviors: ability to identify spam, tendency to interact with spam, and tendency to report spam. In total 256 responses were analyzed, which were collected by an online survey system. Results of the survey show that education about spam did not correlate with changes in behavior, even when users reported that the education had an effect on them. Several other factors, commonly thought to be …