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A Gis Design For Honeybee Management Prototype And Assessment., Jesse Peter Bellavance

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this thesis project is to design and develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) operation for the primary purpose of managing apiary site information by the state honeybee inspector for West Virginia. Presently, information related to each apiary site is recorded through the use of registration forms, which are mailed and later stored in file cabinets. At this point the flow of information concerning the practice of beekeeping is stymied. Using these filed registration forms as a useful database of information is unwieldy, if not impossible. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a GIS system …

Bacterial Adherence To Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study., Lawrence Joseph Kalaskey Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Different orthodontic appliances possesses distinct surface characteristics that enhance bacterial colonization therefore, increasing the risk for caries. The objectives in this study were to evaluate three bracket types by first, to optimize two bacterial indicators strain concentrations and incubation times, and, second, to determine the differences in adherence to these brackets, in vitro. 54 metallic(M), polycarbonate(PC) and ceramic(C) brackets, respectively were used with Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) and Lactobacilli casei (ATCC 393) as the bacteria. The indicator strains were incubated for 48-72hrs at 37C /CO2 then colony forming units(CFU’s) per ml. were counted in triplicates and measured by JSM-6400 S.E.M. …

The Development Of A Benchtop Composting Reactor For Bioremediation Of Pesticides., Christopher Edward Prigge

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been an increased interest in composting because of the benefits provided to both farmer and industry. These benefits include reductions in pesticides, water pollutants such as nitrogen in water runoff, volume reductions of manure and other waste products, a reduction in harmful pathogens, and cost reductions associated with normal disposal methods. With local, state, and national regulations becoming stricter on how waste is disposed of, it is obvious that composting is the best and most cost effective alternative. Once the compost is completely cured it can be sold to cover expenses of equipment, and laborers. Often, if done …

Texpert: Expert System For Evaluating Product Design For Worker's Safety And Health., Vikram V. Venneti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Today, there is an increasing emphasis on the safety and health of a worker. Optimum resources are invested to ensure worker's safety. Most of the regulations, and other measures as suggested by NIOSH, OSHA and other leading safety organizations concentrate towards the steps that a worker needs to take to use a product safely. Instead, if the product itself is designed to be safe, and if the manufacturer of the product knows about the product's safety before usage, it would reduce a great deal of wastage of resources. This research is an attempt to implement the above ideology. The objective …

The Effect Of Argon Laser Irradiation On Etched And Pumiced Human Enamel: An In Vitro Study., John Robert Schouten

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decalcification around orthodontic appliances is an ongoing problem during orthodontic treatment. Argon laser irradiation has been shown to decrease the solubility of enamel. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of argon laser irradiation on the solubility of etched and pumiced enamel. Twelve human third molar teeth were sliced into six 1mm sections, one section from each tooth was randomly assigned to one of 6 groups: I. No treatment, II. Argon laser irradiation at 120 J/cm2, III. Pumiced enamel, IV Pumiced enamel and laser irradiation, V. Pumiced and etched enamel, VI. Pumiced and etched enamel plus laser …

Summer Transition Entry Program: A Program For High-Risk Freshmen In Higher Education., Jeffrey Clark Wertheimer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been a major concern for retention in higher education, and recently the college dropout rate for students before they reach their second year has reached a record high (Geraghty, 1996). To combat this trend, a university developed a Summer Transition Entry Program (STEP) for at-risk students. The program’s mission was to help bridge the gap for students who have the academic potential but not the academic credentials to be admitted. This study investigated the utility of the STEP program in regards to retention rate and psychosocial development of first-year at-risk students. Results indicated that participation in the STEP …

The Effects Of Verbal Aggression Involving Father/Son Dyad On Compliance-Gaining And Affect., Michael Charles Germano

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study examined the relationship between father and son when the father employed verbally aggressive strategies. Further, this study examined the level of affect that the son would have toward their father when such strategies were employed. Finally, this study was designed to examine the compliance level of sons toward their father when verbal aggression was present in their relationship. This study included 162 participants from a large Mid-Atlantic University. The results showed that fathers will gain less compliance from their college-aged sons using verbally aggressive messages. Furthermore, sons will not have a positive affect towards their father when verbal …

Compliance-Gaining In The Classroom: The Effects Of The Use Of Behavior Alteration Techniques And Power., Randall P. Gonyea

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the relationship between teachers’ use of behavior alteration techniques and power, and students’ compliance. Participants rated their teachers’ BATs (pro-social or anti-social) and power (coercive, reward, legitimate, referent, or expert), along with their degree of compliance to specific teacher requests. After dividing the teachers into two groups (pro-social BATs and expert or referent power, or all other combinations), an ANCOVA was run to test the relationship between the two groups and student compliance. Contrary to the hypothesis, the groups were not found to differ on their compliance. This finding was mainly due to the co-variates (teacher nonverbal …

Uneven Development Of Nature: An Historical Geography Of Ohiopyle State Park., Richard James Hoch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines the use of nature in the uneven development of Ohiopyle State Park, located sixty miles to the southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The production of this park resulted from a complex system of socio-spatial relationships that existed between Ohiopyle and Pittsburgh during the city's industrialization. The thesis has two objectives: (1) to demonstrate that the park is a space of produced nature, resulting from decades of human activity; and (2) to illustrate the various ways in which the production of this park is an extension of the production of the Pittsburgh industrial space. The thesis addresses these objectives …

Managing Disruptive Behavior In Elementary Classrooms: Relative Contribution Of Time-Out When Added To A Whole-Class Token Economy., Amy Diane Herschell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Teachers consistently report that student misbehavior and classroom management are among the most difficult and disturbing aspects of teaching (Clarizio, 1976; Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 1995). The current study was conducted to assess the behavior of four children in a regular education classroom to evaluate the effectiveness of three classroom behavior management approaches: (a) strategies already employed by the teacher, (b) the AD/HD Classroom Kit, (Kit) (McNeil, 1995) and (c) the Kit with a time out component. These three approaches were evaluated using an A-B-C-B sequence where each was employed for 17 days. Behaviors were assessed using behavioral observations …

An Analysis Of Science- And Technology-Related Health Assistance Provided To Lesser Developed Nations From 1985 To 1995., Robin C. Spitznogle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The problem of this research was to analyze science- and technology-related health assistance provided to Third World nations between 1985 and 1995 by four donor agencies: Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, USAID, and World Bank. The research examined health assistance in terms of (1) the number and value of projects by region, sub-region, and country; (2) the amount of assistance provided by individual donor agencies; (3) the types of projects initiated; and (4) the impact that these projects had on 8 health-related and 1 economic-related indicator in selected countries. A total of 610 health projects, valued at $1.6 billion, were identified. …

Microstructure And Electron Emission Characterization Of The Initial Stages Of Diamond Growth On Silicon(100)., Vikram Lilo Tolani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopes have been used to characterize the microstructure and electron emission properties of diamond films grown on Si(100). In particular, we have focussed on the evolution of these film characteristics as diamond and SiC nucleate on Si(100) at 800°C by reaction with C2H4 gas under 5x10-5torr pressure. Under these conditions, there is possibly a brief period of 2-D layer-by-layer growth, but there is a tendency for the film to rapidly convert to a 3-D growth mode marked by the persistence of small primary nuclei ~400-600Å wide and ~5-6 lattice steps high. The in-air electron emission …

The Effects Of Aluminum And Nitrogen On Mycorrhizal And Non-Mycorrhizal Tulip Poplar., Heidi Brauer Lux

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Elevated levels of acidic deposition are leading to higher concentrations of aluminum (Al) in the soil solutions of some forest ecosystems. For this thesis, I performed a suite of experiments to investigate the effects of four interconnected factors on the growth and nutrition of Liriodendron tulipifera L. (tulip poplar): 1. Al exposure in solution; 2. mycorrhizal presence and percent colonization; 3. N source ratio; and 4. N level. My studies of L. tulipifera demonstrate a sensitivity to Al at concentrations as low as 100 µM, ranking it among the most Al sensitive tree species ever studied. Selected Al tolerant species …

An Evaluation Of Avhrr Ndvi Data For Monitoring Western Spruce Budworm Defoliation., Zainal Abdul Majeed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is an evaluation of the possibility of using NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite imagery to map defoliation by the western spruce budworm in Washington and Oregon. The AVHRR data was obtained as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maximum value composites from the USGS. Additional data sets included ten years of defoliation data (1989-1998), an EPA ecoregion map, a USFS forest type group map, and a digital elevation model. A biogeographical analysis of the distribution of the defoliation and its potential habitat showed that defoliation was most extensive over the altitude ranges over which the habitat …

The Effect Of Diet Dilution With Lactose On The Performance Of Turkeys., Melvin Fungayi Simoyi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An experiment involving 96 turkeys was carried out in conventional battery cages. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of lactose on the productive performance of turkeys. Another objective was to establish the optimum level of inclusion in the diet. Birds were housed two per cage from day-old to six weeks old. Diets, containing 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8% lactose, and water were offered ad libitum throughout the trial. The highest average weight gain per cage (3.79Kg) was recorded in birds on the 4% lactose diet. There was significant difference (p < 0.01) in weight gain per cage between birds on the 4% and those on the 0% lactose diet (control). All birds on lactose diets were more feed efficient than those on the control diet. Diet did not affect fecal DM but caused high fecal DAPA content (p < 0.05) in 4% lactose birds.

The Role Of Dietary Intake And Exercise On Maternal Weight Gain In West Virginia., Tamara J. Gelsinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, weight gain during pregnancy has been a topic of intense debate. During the 19th century, the mother was to “diet” to produce smaller babies, thereby avoiding early induction of labor. Excessive weight gain was thought to complicate labor, increase the incidence of eclampsia and preclampsia, and decrease the likelihood of successful breast feeding, in addition to a number of other complications (Cogley, 1983). In response to such debate, the Committee on Nutritional Status during Pregnancy and Lactation was formed, and subcommittees were appointed to focus on specific aspects of the overall subject. Consequently, guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy …

A Study Of Paraffin Deposition And Removal Characteristics Of Jacksonburg-Stringtown Oil, West Virginia., Furqan Ul Haq

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to validate the critical model of wax deposition. Results are presented in the form of time evolution of axial distribution of temperature and layer thickness. It is shown that the simple laboratory model of cold spot test is capable of predicting the order of magnitude of deposition. Experimental results also detail the effectiveness of chemical additives, which acts as inhibitors to wax deposition. Dissipation by these organic solvents is studied for effectiveness at various additive to crude ratios and binary mixtures of additives at various mole fractions. The screening tests of chemical additives …

An Application Of The Delphi Method Of Forecasting To The Future Of Public Education In West Virginia, Carl H. Friebel Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the nature and types of events that will affect the future of public education in West Virginia. A three round modified Delphi design was used to identify the events, estimate when each might occur, and determine their level of impact and desirability.

In Round 1, surveys were mailed to forty-seven educational leaders representing various educational agencies and constituencies in West Virginia. In response to the first survey, panelists generated a total of one hundred thirty-four events which had at least a 50 percent probability of occurrence between the present and the year 2020. In Round 2, panelists …

Functional Analysis: An Application To Mother-Infant Interactions., Karen Lynn Weigle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mother-infant interactions were investigated to: (a) determine the feasibility of simultaneously conducting functional analyses on two individuals' behaviors in an unstructured setting; (b) compare functional analysis results across the Motivational Assessment Scale (MAS), Functional Assessment Interview Form (FAIF), and videotaped observational data analyzed using conditional probabilities (CP); and (c) compare parenting stress and social support, and infant developmental level with patterns of interaction. Twenty-one mother-infant dyads, nine with developmental delays (DD), having infants between 12 and 36 months of age participated. Five home visits were conducted. In the first, mothers completed a questionnaire and interview regarding their infants' challenging behavior. …

The Effects Of A Preschool Movement Program On Motor Skill Acquisition, Movement Concept Formation, And Movement Practice Behavior., Darren Luke Robert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the effects of participation in a parent-involved movement instruction program, on the skill acquisition, concept formation, and movement practice behavior of preschool children. The research questions asked “What is the effect”: (1) of a nine week instructional program that emphasizes motor skills and movement concepts for parents and their preschool children on motor skill acquisition and movement concept demonstration of preschool children? (2) that parents as teachers have on the motor skill acquisition and movement concept formation of preschool children? (3) of enrolling in a nine-week movement program more than once on the acquisition of motor skills …

A Study Of Teachers' Confidence Levels Toward Meeting The Computer Technology Instructional Objectives Of The West Virginia Dept. Of Education., Cathy Jo Rotunda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that would have an impact on training development for an established workforce facing reform initiatives. A two-part literature section includes an examination of existing research from educational theory, memory research, adult development theory, cognitive psychology, organizational, industrial, and personnel psychology, and instructional design models. The result is a set of guidelines for the training program developer who is concerned about implementation of reform strategies and resistance-to-change issues. The target workforce for this study was the West Virginia public school teacher. The reform initiative was the introduction of computer technology into the …

Assessment Of The Impact Of The West Virginia Medicaid's Prior Authorization Policy For Nsaids On Chronic Patients: Economic And Humanistic Outcomes., Aiman Ab Momani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The West Virginia Medicaid prior authorization (PA) policy requires patients to have tried and failed two different classes of generic NSAIDs for two weeks each before a branded NSAID is approved. However, the implementation of PA may lead to increase in utilization and cost of unrestricted medications and/or medical services and compromise patient care. Therefore, the goals of the study were: (1) to assess the net economic impact of PA for NSAIDs, and (2) to determine the impact of the policy on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study was conducted in two phases. In phase I, retrospective utilization …

The Implementation Of A Multicultural Strand In Selected Teacher Education Courses In A Monocultural Institution., Doris M. Nicholas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the population of the United States becomes more racially and ethnically diverse the public school systems will be challenged with teaching students who are also diverse. While our classrooms are becoming more multicultural, our teaching force in becoming increasingly more white, female, and middle class. These changing demographics present specific challenges to teacher education programs that must prepare pre-service teachers to provide an education that is multicultural for all students. The goal of this study was to identify if and how multicultural education was being integrated into the teacher education program at a predominately White land grant Research One …

Reforming Science Education In Saudi Arabia: A Conceptual Framework For The Design Of Coordinated And Thematic Science (Cats) Module For Grades 7-9., Ghanem S. Al-Ghanem

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was conducted to develop a conceptual framework for the design of science curricula in Saudi middle schools. The methodological procedures of this study also included the assessment of the proposed conceptual framework with science education experts in Saudi Arabia. The development phase consisted of three steps. The first step included the review of related literature. The scope of the literature review included a theoretical background about the various cultural forces which shaped the patterns of education in Saudi Arabia. It also provided an overview of the major emphases in recent reform efforts in science education in the United …

A Neural Network-Based Bottom-Up Approach For Building A Software Reuse Economic Model., Gary Dawson Boetticher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This work describes and presents a process for building a neural network-based reuse economic model. This study adopts a bottom-up perspective where granularity moves from the developer (software program) level to the enterprise level. The goal of the proposed process is to create a model which provides accurate and reliable results which can be applied to various forms of software reuse in various programming paradigms. The current state-of-practice for measuring effort and reuse effort is extended, leading to improvements in accuracy. Furthermore, in order to accomplish this goal, it becomes necessary to address different forms of reuse: black-box and white-box …

The Effect Of Position On Educators' Perception Of Ideal And Actual Inclusion., Tauna Malone Cole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The literature in the field of special education abounds with reports of inconsistencies in opinion among practitioners regarding what constitutes best practice in inclusive programs. Educators in West Virginia have been charged with the collaborative development of strategic plans for the inclusion of students with disabilities in their home schools. To date there have been no supplemental funds for implementation. Using a post facto or non-experimental design, this study was conducted to identify the perceptions among WV educators relative to what constitutes ideal inclusion and to what level it is perceived to be implemented in their home schools. Also considered, …

A Study Of The Relationship Of The Job Satisfaction Of Chief Academic Officers Of Institutions Of Higher Education And The Perceived Leadership Style Of The Institution's President., Barbara E. Crist

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the relationship between the self perceived job satisfaction of chief academic officers and the leadership style of the presidents of the institutions. The relationship between these two variables and the selected demographics of age, gender, and length of service in the current position of the president and the chief academic officer was examined. Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientations (Other) leadership survey instrument, the Mohrman-Cooke-Mohrman Job Satisfaction Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were sent to the 446 chief academic officers of Baccalaureate II institutions in the United States and the District of Columbia. Responses were received from 235 …

Safety By Design: An Expert Systems Approach., Magdy Akladios

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Industries may require the application of new technologies. In recent years, these technologies have undergone rapid development. Intensely scrutinized in terms of design, new technologies surprisingly receive little attention when assessing the hazards they might pose to worker health and safety. These technologies are usually designed by experts who know very little about safety and health issues. A user-friendly, easily accessible system that is devised to assist designers during the design phase by pointing out the different downfalls of their design with respect to safety and health issues and impacts, can dramatically improve safety, reduce costs, and most importantly, reduce …

The Identification Of Criteria And Indicators For The Sustainable Management Of Ecotourism In Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia: A Delphi Consensus., Zaaba Zainol Abidin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify sustainability criteria and indicators for evaluating sustainable ecotourism development in Taman Negara National Park (TNNP), Malaysia. This was an attempt to develop sustainability measurements for the evaluation of ecotourism from the theoretical concept of sustainable development. The Delphi method and public survey were used to solicit opinions from an interdisciplinary panel of Malaysian experts and public groups regarding suitable criteria and indicators of sustainability for TNNP. The objectives were to develop a methodology for identifying criteria and indicators, generating criteria and indicators most important for measuring sustainable ecotourism. development and initiating development …

A Comparison Of The Personalized System Of Instruction To Direct Instruction In The Training Of Direct-Care Residential Staff In The Use Of Social Attention And Planned Ignoring., Byron Michael-Carrick Doom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study compared the Personalized System of Instruction to Direct Instruction in the training of direct-care staff from community residential facilities. There were a total of 51 direct-care staff participating in the study. The experimental design was a pretest-posttest design. Experimental Group I received PSI training, Experimental Group II received Direct Instruction, and Experimental Group III was a control group. Participants in Experimental Groups I and II received the same training content, with only the method of instruction varied. Phase one of the study was the pre-training observation phase during which participants pre-training use of the content areas was evaluated. …