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Modulation Of Coronary Reactive Hyperemia Through Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: Role Of Oxylipins And Ppargamma, Ahmad Mahmoud Hanif
Modulation Of Coronary Reactive Hyperemia Through Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: Role Of Oxylipins And Ppargamma, Ahmad Mahmoud Hanif
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in increasingly more countries. Function and structural damage to the heart are likely consequences of ischemic insults and may even lead to death. The body's physiological response to ischemia is by increasing nourishment or perfusion to the deprived organ in an attempt to decrease the potential ischemia-induced damage and achieve faster recovery. This reaction to ischemia is termed reactive hyperemia (RH), and in the heart, it is coronary reactive hyperemia (CRH). Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are oxylipins derived from arachidonic acid (AA) and possess distinct cardiovascular benefits, …
Sensitivity Analysis Of A Relative Navigation Solution For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In A Gnss-Denied Environment, Jeremy Hardy
Sensitivity Analysis Of A Relative Navigation Solution For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In A Gnss-Denied Environment, Jeremy Hardy
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Cooperative navigation between two or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an important enabling technology for problems such as military reconnaissance, disaster response, and search and rescue. In many of these situations Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Global Positioning System (GPS), may be unreliable or unavailable due to structural impedance or malicious signal jamming. Therefore, the task of maintaining a reliable relative navigation solution without the use of GNSS is an important need for the aforementioned missions.;To meet this need, this thesis focuses on the relative navigation between two UAVs that are operating in a GNSS-denied environment. In …
Development Of Engine Activity Cycles For The Prime-Movers Of Unconventional Well Completion, Robert S. Heltzel
Development Of Engine Activity Cycles For The Prime-Movers Of Unconventional Well Completion, Robert S. Heltzel
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The US natural gas extraction industry has grown by 25% over the past decade. This has encouraged the well completion industry to utilize produced natural gas to meet power demands previously obtained with diesel fuel. The major "prime-movers" of diesel fuel consumption are over-the-road (OTR) trucks, high horsepower drilling, and high horsepower hydraulic fracturing engines. The US Department of Energy (DOE) recently granted West Virginia University (WVU) funding, under agreement DE-FE0013689, to "Assess Fugitive Methane Emissions Impact Using Natural Gas Engines in Unconventional Resource Development." As part of the funding, WVU was tasked with creating engine activity cycles representative of …
Somewhat Familiar, Brett Herron
Somewhat Familiar, Brett Herron
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
My MFA written thesis addresses work completed and shown in a thesis exhibition at West Virginia University as well as significant influences to my studio process. While my focus is printmaking, the work presented in the exhibition consists of several sculptural and photographic pieces. This thesis, along with the supporting exhibition, will address my investigations into extending Minimalism's anonymity and relational aesthetics while adhering to my own predetermined artistic parameters. The work is concerned with observed form and composition along with the transformation of mundane and knowable materials into uncertain sculptures that highlight their physical properties. I emphasize the material …
Conditioning Thermal Stability And Dose Effects Of Commercially Available Phytase Preparations On Performance And Tibia Mineralization Of Young Broiler Chickens, Victoria B. Homan
Conditioning Thermal Stability And Dose Effects Of Commercially Available Phytase Preparations On Performance And Tibia Mineralization Of Young Broiler Chickens, Victoria B. Homan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Phytases have become a vital part of broiler diets due to their ability to decrease feed cost and potential environmental pollution caused by the use of excessive phosphorus. The objective of the first study was to compare the effects of various inclusions of a Transgenic Phytase Corn (TPC) to a Granulated Bacteria Phytase (GBP) on 21-d broiler performance and tibia mineralization. Treatments varied in non-phytate phosphorus (Negative control (NC) = 0.2, positive control (PC) = 0.4, 0.3, and 0.35), phytase product (TPC or GBP), and phytase dose (500-3000 FTU/kg). A 2x2 factorial analysis was performed with the main effects phytase …
The Effects Of Controlled Environmental And Physical Factors On The Physiological Responses Of The Handfinger System, John Kaiser
The Effects Of Controlled Environmental And Physical Factors On The Physiological Responses Of The Handfinger System, John Kaiser
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Hand injuries account for a leading cause of occupational injuries requiring treatment from United States' hospital emergency departments. These occupational injuries generate a substantial burden on employers in terms of both cost and productivity. Occupational safety gloves are an effective preventive measure of these hand and finger injuries. However, these occupational safety gloves can result in unintended injuries due to factors such as extreme conditions of temperature, relative humidity, and physical demand. The purpose of this study is to collect data on the physiological responses of the hand-finger system and their relationship with these identified factors. The physiological responses measured …
Characterization Of Nox Emissions From Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles During Off-Cycle Operation, Ranjith Reddy Kalluri
Characterization Of Nox Emissions From Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles During Off-Cycle Operation, Ranjith Reddy Kalluri
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Persisting air quality problems in the US have triggered several policy responses that are targeted at lowering the emissions of light-duty vehicles. In addition, the promulgation of Clean Air Act of 1963 and other stringent emissions regulations in the recent times (USEPA Tier 2 Bin 5) to improve the quality of ambient air, mandated the OEMs to develop advanced engine combustion strategies and after-treatment pathways to minimize NOx, PM emissions and attain these ultra-low regulatory targets. Significant difference in emissions rates between certification cycles and real world operation has been observed.;The objective of this study is to conduct in-use emissions …
Evaluating The Performance Of A Large-Scale Facial Image Dataset Using Agglomerated Match Score Statistics, Mounica Kamireddy
Evaluating The Performance Of A Large-Scale Facial Image Dataset Using Agglomerated Match Score Statistics, Mounica Kamireddy
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Biometrics systems are experiencing wide-spread usage in identification and access control applications. To estimate the performance of any biometric systems, their characteristics need to be analyzed to make concrete conclusions for real time usage. Performance testing of hardware or software components of either custom or state-of-the-art commercial biometric systems is typically carried out on large datasets. Several public and private datasets are used in current biometric research. West Virginia University has completed several large scale multimodal biometric data collection with an aim to create research datasets that can be used by disciplines concerning secured biometric applications. However, the demographic and …
Large Deflection Analysis Of Composite Beams, Sai Manohari Kancharla
Large Deflection Analysis Of Composite Beams, Sai Manohari Kancharla
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
A beam made of composite material undergoing large deflections is analyzed based on a higher-order shear deformation theory. Composite materials offer several advantages over conventional materials in the form of improved strength to weight ratio, high impact strength, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. The Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is valid only for small deflections and may be too restrictive in a number of applications. The formulation of the large deflection analysis of composite beams is carried out using the principle of virtual work. The spatial discretization is done using an h-p version finite element method. The nonlinear large deflection equations are …
Critical Analysis Of Longwall Ventilation Systems And Removal Of Methane, Robert B. Krog
Critical Analysis Of Longwall Ventilation Systems And Removal Of Methane, Robert B. Krog
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Bleeder systems are an important component for ventilation and the control of methane. The bleeder system of a coal mine contains a mixing zone for methane-laden air from the mined-out portions of the seam to mix with fresh air and the methane concentrations in the bleeders can often be elevated. Bleeders also provides a pathway for coalbed methane-laden ventilation air to quickly flow out of the mine through low resistance airways of a mine, such as supported gateroads, along the un-compacted outer perimeter of the gob, etc. Substantial quantities of coalbed methane are typically removed from underground workings. Although it …
An Analysis Of Student Approaches To Solving Optimization Problems In First Semester Calculus, Renee Larue
An Analysis Of Student Approaches To Solving Optimization Problems In First Semester Calculus, Renee Larue
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how students think about and understand optimization problems in first semester calculus. To solve an optimization problem, one must identify the quantity to be maximized or minimized and then construct an optimizing function modeling the scenario described in the problem, particularly paying attention to how the desired quantity varies under the given constraint. Once this optimizing function has been constructed, the problem solver uses calculus and algebra skills to analytically find the absolute maximum or minimum of the function in the realistic domain of the problem. These problems are notoriously difficult for …
Determining The Number Of Test Fires Needed To Represent The Variability Present Within A Firearm, Eric Law
Determining The Number Of Test Fires Needed To Represent The Variability Present Within A Firearm, Eric Law
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Many studies have been performed in recent years in the field of firearm examination with the goal of providing an objective method for comparisons of fired cartridge cases. To date there has been no research to support the number of test fires needed to represent the variability present within a firearm. When a suspect firearm is submitted to a firearm examiner, test fires are performed to collect fired cartridge cases for comparison purposes. Typically, two to four test fires are performed for every firearm. The recovered cartridge cases are compared to each other to determine which characteristics from the firearm …
Adjustment Of Bracket Position Away From The Andrew's Plane To Achieve A Flat Occlusal Plane, Jason M. Lawrence
Adjustment Of Bracket Position Away From The Andrew's Plane To Achieve A Flat Occlusal Plane, Jason M. Lawrence
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Background: "The Six Keys to Normal (Optimal) Occlusion" published by Andrews in 1972 identified six common features characteristic of an optimal occlusion. Among these characteristics are flat maxillary and mandibular occlusal planes. Andrews further developed the Straight-Wire Appliance(TM) to facilitate attaining an optimal occlusion in an efficient manner with few if any arch wire bends. In addition to the Six Keys, Andrews proposed that attaining a flat occlusal plane with a straight arch wire is predicated on siting the bracket slots on the FA Points of the tooth crowns (Andrews Plane). Observation of the maxillary and mandibular Andrews plane will …
Attrition In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Brittany K. Liebsack
Attrition In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Brittany K. Liebsack
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Attrition is a significant problem in child psychotherapy (De Haan, Boon, De Jong, Hoeve, & Vermeiren, 2013) and has serious implications. These include limited effectiveness of interventions for mental and behavioral health problems and decreases in staff productivity, access to services, and the number of people an agency can serve (Barrett et al., 2008). Predictors of attrition include those at the client, family, therapist, and treatment levels. The current study investigated the pattern of and variables associated with attrition in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based parent training program for families with young children (ages 2.5- to 7-years-old) with disruptive …
Two Photon Absorption Laser Induced Fluorescence For Fusion Class Plasmas, Drew B. Elliott
Two Photon Absorption Laser Induced Fluorescence For Fusion Class Plasmas, Drew B. Elliott
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Neutral hydrogen particles play an important role in many fusion systems. The edge region of fusion plasmas is strongly influenced by these neutral particles and is of growing importance because of the challenges of plasma material interaction. A two photon absorption laser induced fluorescence diagnostic at West Virginia University has been constructed to measure the local density and velocity distribution of these neutral particles. The diagnostic measures the ground state of hydrogen isotopes by way of two photon absorption from the 1s to 3d state and subsequent single photon emission to the 2 p state. These measurements are absolutely calibrated …
Pretreating Underutilized Woody Biomass For Value-Added Biofuels And Bioproducts, Amy K. Falcon
Pretreating Underutilized Woody Biomass For Value-Added Biofuels And Bioproducts, Amy K. Falcon
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Biomass pretreatment is a key techno-economic factor affecting the yield and economics of bioenergy or bioproduct production. The cost of pretreatment significantly increases if the sugars cannot be efficiently recovered once they are removed from the complex wood structure. Separation of the liquid extract from the solid particulates is important, especially in cellulose and hemicellulose recovery. A urea pretreatment of woody biomass was studied in this paper due to the ability of urea to decompose into ammonia molecules and carbon dioxide. Glucose separation from woody biomass was analyzed as an indication of pretreatment efficiency using three separation techniques: Whatman 113 …
Early Political Discord In Kenya: European Settlers' Political Struggles In The East Africa Protectorate, 1902-1912, Makhete Fall
Early Political Discord In Kenya: European Settlers' Political Struggles In The East Africa Protectorate, 1902-1912, Makhete Fall
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This study of European settlers' political struggles encompasses a ten-year period (1902-12) during which the foundations of Kenya's modern politics were established. The dissertation follows political contestation originating from the East Africa Protectorate's small European settler community during the administrations of four commissioners/governors. The politics of this period involved varied individuals and organizations that sought to move the colonial state in the direction of policies European politicians advocated in such critical areas as land and labor, the administration of justice, and in the system of government that applied to them and other residents of the protectorate. The settler politicians pushed …
Distributed Detection And Estimation In Wireless Sensor Networks, Mohammad Fanaei
Distributed Detection And Estimation In Wireless Sensor Networks, Mohammad Fanaei
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are typically formed by a large number of densely deployed, spatially distributed sensors with limited sensing, computing, and communication capabilities that cooperate with each other to achieve a common goal. In this dissertation, we investigate the problem of distributed detection, classification, estimation, and localization in WSNs. In this context, the sensors observe the conditions of their surrounding environment, locally process their noisy observations, and send the processed data to a central entity, known as the fusion center (FC), through parallel communication channels corrupted by fading and additive noise. The FC will then combine the received information …
Compressing Genome Resequencing Data, Aliya Farheen
Compressing Genome Resequencing Data, Aliya Farheen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Recent improvements in high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have led to an exponential increase in the number, size and diversity of available complete genome sequences. This poses major problems in storage, transmission and analysis of such genomic sequence data. Thus, a substantial effort has been made to develop effective data compression techniques to reduce the storage requirements, improve the transmission speed, and analyze the compressed sequences for possible information about genomic structure or determine relationships between genomes from multiple organisms.;In this thesis, we study the problem of lossless compression of genome resequencing data using a reference-based approach. The thesis …
Nutritional Consequences Of Various Ingredients In Broilers, Turkeys, And Swine, Kolby L. Foltz
Nutritional Consequences Of Various Ingredients In Broilers, Turkeys, And Swine, Kolby L. Foltz
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Experiments were conducted to evaluate various ingredients' effects on broiler, turkey, and porcine performance, as well as feed mill efficacy. In chapter 2, the effects of zinc (Zn) supplement source and corn particle size on broiler performance, breast yield, and tibia ash were assessed from d 1-40. Zinc treatments included a basal diet (no added Zn), 80 mg/kg Zn sulfate, and three diets with 40 mg/kg Zn sulfate + 40 mg/kg of varying Zn amino acid chelates, and corn particle size was either 550 mum or 1,050 mum. Broilers fed diets containing 550 ?m corn had higher feed intake (FI) …
Assessing The Match Performance Of Non-Ideal Operational Facial Images Using 3d Image Data., Rupindrani Aila
Assessing The Match Performance Of Non-Ideal Operational Facial Images Using 3d Image Data., Rupindrani Aila
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Biometric attributes are unique characteristics specific to an individual, which can be used in automated identification schemes. There have been considerable advancements in the field of face recognition recently, but challenges still exist. One of these challenges is pose-variation, specifically, roll, pitch, and yaw variations away from a frontal image. The goal of this problem report is to assess the improvement of facial recognition performance obtainable by commercial pose-correction software. This was done using pose-corrected images obtained in two ways: 1) non-frontal images generated and corrected using 3D facial scans (pseudo-pose-correction) and 2) the same non-frontal images corrected using FaceVACs …
Perceptions Of Urban Forestry Employers, Andrew Benjamin
Perceptions Of Urban Forestry Employers, Andrew Benjamin
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Urban forestry is still a relatively new area of science and is still trying to establish itself as a legitimate scientific field and profession. Often urban forestry and arboriculture are conflated, and urban forestry has yet to achieve much of what arboriculture has in terms of recognition its and establishment. Landscape architects, traditional foresters, environmental scientists, horticulturalists all may find themselves in positions that can be classified in the urban forestry profession, which shows this lack of a standard definition for what is an urban forester. While there are many significant, potential benefits to a properly managed urban forest resource …
Signaling Changes In Reinforcer Ratios Facilitates Adaptive Forgetting In Pigeons, Daniel Bell-Garrison
Signaling Changes In Reinforcer Ratios Facilitates Adaptive Forgetting In Pigeons, Daniel Bell-Garrison
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Forgetting is often characterized as maladaptive, but if a cue no longer signals the consequences of a response, then forgetting the previously learned stimulus-response discrimination is adaptive. Pigeons pecked for food in concurrent schedules of reinforcement. The relative frequency of food delivery on each key changed pseudorandomly across sessions with an overnight break in the middle of each session. New sessions began immediately after the last food delivery in the previous session. When the change from one session to the next was not signaled, responses remained under the control of the previous session's ratio of reinforcement. When the session change …
Three Essays Analyzing The Pricing Of A Community Supported Agriculture System, Dwayne Bauknight
Three Essays Analyzing The Pricing Of A Community Supported Agriculture System, Dwayne Bauknight
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The current landscape of small farms is approaching a major shift as more and more small farms are poised to come onto open marketplace around urban areas. A different farming business model called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been utilized as new way for farmers to potentially earn above average revenue. However, small farmers still feel dissatisfied with their overall farm income, but when implementing the CSA business model the producers do feel that the CSA enhances their overall income satisfaction. Three essays were developed to examine this predicament. The first essay examined possible economic pricing models that a CSA …
Media Framing Of News Coverage Of Same-Sex Marriage Surrounding The U.S. Supreme Court Legalization Decision, Chelsea B. Betts
Media Framing Of News Coverage Of Same-Sex Marriage Surrounding The U.S. Supreme Court Legalization Decision, Chelsea B. Betts
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The purpose of this research is to explore which frames, dominant frames, and tones are used in news coverage of same-sex marriage before and after the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize these marriages. In addition, public opinion surrounding the decision and agenda-setting effects were also examined. This study used a content analysis and secondary survey data from the Pew Research Center to explore these factors. A content analysis of print newspaper articles and broadcast transcripts from four print sources and six broadcast outlets was used to gather the 286-article sample. Findings suggest that the tone of the article is …
In-Line, Real-Time Particulate Matter Sensors For Obd And Exhaust After-Treatment System Control Applications, Marc Cyrill Besch
In-Line, Real-Time Particulate Matter Sensors For Obd And Exhaust After-Treatment System Control Applications, Marc Cyrill Besch
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The ability to quantify particle mass and number concentrations in the exhaust stream of combustion engines during in-use operation is of critical importance for continuously monitoring and diagnosing the particulate matter removal efficiency of modern exhaust gas after-treatment systems. Extensive literature survey suggested a sensor operating on the diffusion-charging principle being optimally suited for particle measurements due to their proportional response towards particle surface area. This study was designed to determine and assess the possibility of quantifying particle emissions during on-road measurements using a prototype diffusion-charging type sensor. Such a sensor would not only allow for continuous monitoring capabilities of …
Survival, Movement And Growth Of Juvenile Chinook ( Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Salmon Over-Wintering In Twitter Creek, South-Central, Alaska, James Keith Boersma
Survival, Movement And Growth Of Juvenile Chinook ( Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Salmon Over-Wintering In Twitter Creek, South-Central, Alaska, James Keith Boersma
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
I investigated aspects of winter ecology of juvenile stream-type Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Twitter Creek, a small tributary of the Anchor River, South-Central Alaska. A multistate modeling approach utilizing passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology to consider both live recaptures of individuals during discrete sampling occasions, and continuous data collected by monitoring movements of PIT-tagged fish was used to characterize both movement and survival. Juveniles emigrated from the stream throughout the winter peaking in the late fall and spring. Survival rates were eight times higher for juvenile Chinook that maintained stream fidelity during the entire winter period. The probability of …
A Study Of The Energy Consumption Of A Battery Cooling System By Different Cooling Strategies, Justin A. Brumley
A Study Of The Energy Consumption Of A Battery Cooling System By Different Cooling Strategies, Justin A. Brumley
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The High Voltage (HV) batteries that are used today in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), and Electric Vehicles (EV) utilize cooling systems to keep the battery packs within optimal operating temperature ranges. Manufacturers spend a generous amount of money to design these cooling systems to keep the batteries within these safe operating temperature requirements during harsh conditions, such as extreme cold and heat. Desert conditions can reach an average ambient temperature of 40°C. The temperature of the batteries can affect their performance, reliability, and the health of each cell. The Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery systems …
Eye Tracking To Evaluate Proficiency Of Crime Scene Investigators With Varying Levels Of Expertise: The Ability To Recognize Evidence And Understand Its Significance, Renuka Devi Watalingam
Eye Tracking To Evaluate Proficiency Of Crime Scene Investigators With Varying Levels Of Expertise: The Ability To Recognize Evidence And Understand Its Significance, Renuka Devi Watalingam
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Crime scene analysts are the core of criminal investigations; decisions made at the scene greatly affect the speed of analysis and quality of conclusions that directly impact the successful resolution of a case. If an examiner does not recognize the pertinence of an item on scene, it cannot be used to support his or her theory regarding the crime. Conversely, unselective evidence collection will include irrelevant material, thus increasing a forensic laboratory's backlog and sending the investigation into an unproductive and costly direction. Therefore, it is critical that analysts recognize and properly evaluate forensic evidence that can support or disprove …
Utilization Risk Assessment And Thermal Conductivity Testing For The Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis For The Appalachian Basin, Kelydra Welcker
Utilization Risk Assessment And Thermal Conductivity Testing For The Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis For The Appalachian Basin, Kelydra Welcker
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In order to alleviate the large carbon footprint of fossil fuel technology, renewable energy has begun to gain momentum with consumers and industries alike. Geothermal energy has the benefit of providing a reliable energy source with only 5% of the carbon dioxide emissions of fossil fuels, as well as provide a means of carbon sequestration. The application for this energy source is highly dependent on several factors, including reservoir characteristics, temperature, and regional demand. High temperature systems (>150 °C) are best suited for electricity production, while low and medium temperature reservoirs (<90 °C and 90-150 °C, respectively) may be better suited for direct use applications, such as manufacturing purposes or district heating and cooling for commercial and residential areas.;Enhanced, or engineered, geothermal systems (EGS) may provide a means to take advantage of geothermal reservoirs with lower available temperatures. To determine the efficacy of EGS technology in eastern United States, a play fairway analysis was performed on the Appalachian basin. Risk factors examined include thermal resource quality, natural reservoir quality, induced seismicity, and utilization opportunities, which is a focus of this work. Levelized cost of heat, or LCOH, was used to provide a comparison of factors, such as combination of capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and performance and fuel costs. To determine LCOH, commercial, residential, and infrastructure data were collected from the US Census and fed into GEOPHIRES, a program that uses surface piping, heat exchange equipment (residential and/or commercial), operations, upfront capital cost, and maintenance costs over the lifetime of a 30-year project. The impact of industrial demand on LCOH, such as process heating and cooling and HVAC, for dairy, wood drying, and paper mills were also examined.;Heat flow estimates are equally important in the selection of potential geothermal sites. Estimation of the temperature-at-depth uses heat flow, which is dependent on factors including geothermal gradient and thermal conductivities. Thermal conductivity is a function of depth and position, and for some models is calculated as a weighted average based on thicknesses of lithographic layers. Obtaining actual thermal conductivities can be challenging, and often require the use of databases to predict the geographic variation. For this project, thermal conductivities from Marion County well #244 rock cuttings were found using a portable electronic divided bar (PEDB) system and were compared to COSUNA estimates to assess the current model method.