Digital Commons Network^™

Numerical Modeling Of Carbon Dioxide Injection At A Pilot Sequestration Site, Benjamin David Bowes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the past several years, lessons learned from various sequestration sites have identified deep, unmineable coal seams as favorable and profitable reservoirs for commercial carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration and long-term CO2 storage. Long-term consequences, however, have not been completely identified and understood. In order to assess the aptitude of such deep unmineable coal seams for a possible commercial sequestration site, a reservoir modeling study was performed at an ongoing Pump Canyon, NM sequestration site located in the coalbed methane (CBM) fairway region of the well-established San Juan basin. The demonstration at the Pump Canyon pilot area is a part of …

Microfluidic Impedance-Metric Biosensor For Monitoring Carbon Nanotube-Induced Epithelial Permeability, Zhouchun Huang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) gain increasing interest in commercial and biomedical applications. Adverse health effects of engineered CNTs may result from either direct exposure during production, inadvertent exposure during use of by-products, and/or release of these materials into the environment. Recent studies have shown that CNTs can induce cytotoxicity, apoptosis, DNA damage, and tumor formation in animals, suggesting their potential toxicity in humans. To address the current needs in developing in vitro cell assays for assessment of the adverse health effects of CNTs in lung respiratory, we have developed a microfluidic impedance-metric biosensor for investigation of multi-walled CNTs …

Systematic Analysis Of Carbon Nanotubes Toxicity In Cellular Systems, Gabrielle Rogers-Nieman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the applied use for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) increases across engineering and biomedical sectors, a clear understanding of the deleterious effects surrounding CNT-induced toxicity, namely genotoxicity, is required. Currently, the exact genotoxic mechanisms that surround CNT-induced mitotic disruption that result in aneuploidy are not completely understood. Thus, there is a need for clear mechanical models to be formulated. Herein a comprehensive overview of the nanotube toxicity is provided insisting on the aspects related to CNTs genotoxicity.;In Chapter 1, I am providing a review of the current research in the CNT-s induced toxicity. I start by defining these members of the …

Effect Of Electron Beam Radiation On Microbial Inactivation, Radio-Resistance And Nutritional Quality Of Food, Adiam Tsegai Tesfai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A non-thermal food processing method, Electron beam radiation efficiently inactivates foodborne pathogens. However, foodborne pathogens may develop resistance in response to sublethal stresses. Thus it is important to study the response of food microorganisms to e-beam and understand the mechanism underlying their survival abilities. The overall objective of this study was to examine the inactivation of foodborne microorganisms by electron beam radiation at sublethal levels, understand the radio-resistance development to this processing method and also to determine the effects of e-beam on chemical changes of nutrients in infant formula.;Four independent studies are included in this dissertation, in the first study, …

Investigations In Molecular Recognition Element Selection And Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Properties, Ryan Martin Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The in vitro selection of Molecular Recognition Elements (MREs) is a powerful tool for identifying molecules useful in numerous applications. This is achieved using the iterative Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX) process. This technique utilizes a large library of 10 9-1015 different molecules which is enriched for those that bind to a target of interest. It also can be designed to enrich for molecules which do not bind to other, closely-related negative targets. We have developed a novel variation of this process called Decoy-SELEX. This enriches molecules that bind to the target of interest, but focuses on …

Parental Monitoring And Adolescent Information Management: Associations With Cyber Risks, Elizabeth A. Yale

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined associations among internet and cellular phone specific parental monitoring strategies (rules, solicitation and indirect strategies), adolescent internet/phone information management strategies (disclosure and secrecy), and youth experience with internet risks (cyberbullying/victimization and risky internet behaviors). The sample included 155 adolescents (12-18 years, Mage = 14.38) and their parents (141 mothers, 51 fathers). Youth reported how often they disclosed or kept secret their internet and phone activities and their experience with internet risks. Parents reported how often they engaged in internet/phone specific monitoring strategies. Adolescents' time spent utilizing cell phones, but not time spent on general internet use …

A Study Of Brian Bevelander's "Synthecisms No. 2" For Piano And Pre-Recorded Tape., Wei Tuck Chan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The mid-twentieth century marks an important time for electroacoustic music. The availability and commercialization of reel-to-reel magnetic tape changed the broadcast and recording landscape. Accessibility to magnetic tape gave composers easier means to edit pre-recorded sounds by employing various new compositional procedures. Interest in electroacoustic music in America grew after the introduction of works by Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Luening in 1952. After that, electroacoustic music studios began being established throughout the country. Works for live instruments plus pre-recorded sounds began appearing in the late 1950s. Many of the works written for piano and pre-recorded sounds showcase various performance settings, …

Chopped, Dropped & Rolled., Michael F. Loop

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis, in support of my exhibition, encompasses two of my passions; art and automobiles. In conjunction with my background in automotive restoration and backyard tinkering, I transform industrial materials, inherent to working on vehicles, (Bondo, automotive paint, hand-formed steel) into processes for art making. The pieces in this exhibition serve as an investigation into the process of making, while also paying homage to the canon of Modern and Postmodern art theories and practices, specifically Minimalism, Color Field painting, and Abstract Expressionism.

Characterization Of Fate And Biological Degradation Processes Attenuating Imx-101 Munition Constituents In The Environment, Thomas Richard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As trinitrotoluene (TNT) is replaced with insensitive munition formulations (i.e., IMX-101) that are safer to handle in military mortars, the potential release of IMX-101 munition constituents to the environment is likely to increase. IMX-101 is a composition of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-trizole-5-one (NTO), and 1-nitroguanidine (NQ). Currently there is little data on transport and fate of DNAN and NTO in the environment. Reported herein is an evaluation of various attenuation processes that explosives are commonly subject to in the environment, specifically: 1) rainfall driven dissolution of munition fragments, 2) adsorption of dissolved munitions onto soils, 3) biological degradation of munitions, and …

Coupling Numerical Simulation And Pattern Recognition To Model Production And Evaluate Carbon Dioxide Injection In Shale Gas Reservoir, Amirmasoud Kalantari-Dahaghi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Massive multi-cluster, multi-stage hydraulic fractures have significantly increased the complexity of the flow behavior in shale. This has translated into multiple challenges in the modeling of production from shale wells.

Most commonly used numerical techniques for modeling production from shale wells are Explicit Hydraulic Fracture (EHF) and Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV). Model setup for the EHF technique is long and laborious and its implementation is computationally expensive, such that it becomes impractical to model beyond a single pad. On the other hand, identifying the extent and conductivity of SRV is a challenging proposition. SRV technique is commonly used to simplify …

Forensic And Toxicological Applications Of Franz Diffusion Cells Assessed By Gas Chromatograhy Mass Spectrometry And Ion Mobility Spectrometry., Jordan Wade Moran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The first portion of this work evaluated the efficacy of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as a tool for determining remediation success at clandestine methamphetamine laboratory sites. Specifically, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQ), and matrix effects were investigated as relevant to typical remediation sites and situations. The recoveries of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine from a range of various surfaces likely to be found in a clandestine laboratory were examined. Portable IMS instruments with thermal desorption were found to be a reliable tool for evaluating the degree of remediation if sufficient procedural and instrumental controls are put into place. In …

Parents' Perceptions Of Children's Emotions: Relations With Meta-Emotion Philosophy And Adult Attachment., Jennifer N. Morey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate how parents’ perceptions of, feelings toward, and anticipated responses to children’s emotions related to parents’ meta-emotion philosophy (MEP) and attachment. Parents (mothers and fathers) completed an online research study where they viewed photographs of children (aged 10-14 years) displaying varying intensities of happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expressions. Parents labeled the emotion and identified the emotion’s intensity, their own emotion, and their anticipated responses. They also completed measures assessing their MEP and attachment. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The model for MEP predicting happiness did not fit well, but …

Survival, Injury, And Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Of Cronobacter Sakazakii And Escherichia Coli Resulting From Exposure To Low-Temperature Ground Water, Alisha L. Dailey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bacteria are constantly being exposed to changing conditions in the environment. Exposure to adverse conditions such as pH, temperature, and desiccation may cause stress to the bacteria, potentially resulting in loss of viability and growth. Cronobacter sakazakii and Escherichia coli were exposed to cold temperature (4°C) and room temperature (24°C) nutrient-limiting groundwater. As a function of time (0 to 15 days), samples were removed from the stress and analyzed. Response of stressed cells was evaluated by three approaches: (i) traditional viable cell counts (nonselective and selective media), (ii) substrate utilization patterns (BIOLOG GN microplates), and (iii) antibiotic resistance patterns (modified …

Novel Engineered Nanostructured Complex Oxide For High Temperature Thermoelectric Power Generation, Diego F. Palacio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thermoelectric power generators are a promising technology that can produce electrical power directly from waste heat emitted in energy production and consumption systems. The essential component of thermoelectric generators is the thermoelectric material which performs the energy conversion process. In order to make thermoelectric devices to be considered a significant contributor to US energy infrastructure, it is essential first to foster improvements in high performance thermoelectric materials. They must possess not only a high conversion efficiency, but also need be composed of nontoxic and abundantly available elemental materials having high chemical stability in air up to 800-1000 K. In comparison …

Effects Of Video Feedback On Students' Performance Of A Back Handspring, Kristi A. Kiefer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: Video technology has become a viable resource for teachers and coaches as a method of providing feedback to students and athletes. Studies support the use of this strategy when applied to teaching adolescents and adults with a proficient skill base. To date little research has identified the use of video technology as a method of feedback in the skill acquisition of children at a novice level. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of video feedback on the performance of a back handspring. Methods: A multiple-treatment reversal design within each participant with a counter balance was …

Modified Delphi Investigation Of Lesson Planning Concepts For Physical Education Teacher Education, Jack W. Sager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improving the methods of instructing future educators, through program evaluation and improvement, should be a goal of all teacher education programs. In physical education, the National Association for Sport & Physical Education created standards for initial preparation of physical education teachers. The six standards for preparation include Planning and Implementation, which include tenants pertaining to unit and lesson planning. Despite the significant importance of planning in the growth of preservice teachers as they complete a Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program, there is currently no consensus on what concepts to be included in lesson planning for physical education teacher education. …

Development Of A Software Tool To Estimate Airfoil Feature Variations, Prasheel Chaganti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this thesis is to design and develop a software tool that analyzes the incoming raw material inspection data obtained from a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and estimates feature variation created within the manufacturing process i.e. from the raw material stage to finished stage. This tool is used not only to disposition whether a lot is conforming or non-conforming, but also to provide the root installation operators an ideal N-angle, Leading Edge Angle (LEA) and Trailing Edge Angle (TEA) target that maximize the yield of the lot after further processing. The tool also helps reduce the number of …

Three Essays On Institutions, Financial Markets And Foreign Direct Investment, Tuan Viet Le

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is composed of three essays in financial economics and development economics. The underlying theme in three essays is about the impact of institution quality on financial markets and foreign direct investment (FDI). There are five chapters included in this dissertation. Chapter one is the introduction. Chapter two of my dissertation investigates the connection between freedom of the press and equity returns in emerging market firms. Freedom of the press is argued to affect systematic risk in financial markets and thus, has impact on returns of financial assets. The study reveals that there is significant connection between freedom of …

Quantification Of Mixing In Microchannels, Vijaymaran Manickam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microchannels are used for delivery of two-or more fluids for multiple purposes, such as drug delivery, where good mixing is desired in a very short time (or distance). For this purpose, many design options are being proposed in the literature. For example herringbone baffles at the bottom of a rectangular channel are commonly proposed to enhance mixing in a drug delivery device. To assess the effectiveness of such devices many experiments need to be performed thus increasing the design cycle time and the cost involved. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can and is being used to shorten this design cycle by …

Hiv/Aids Intervention In Ghana: A Constructivist Approach To Understanding Aids Policy, Nat Papa Kobina Markin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study is about how donor policy, NGO policy and public policy work together in Ghana's national strategic response to HIV and AIDS. The dissertation touches on two areas of public policy - development policy and health policy specifically relating to HIV/AIDS to determine congruity of the policy approaches of the three groups. Based on a survey done in Accra, Ghana in summer 2010 and on documentary sources of data collection, the study captures areas of agreement and disagreement of the three groups and discusses their effects on policy implementation. In broader terms, it analyzes assistance for HIV/AIDS in the …

Improvisation And Visual Thinking Strategies In Art Education, Jason Jaros

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the characteristic elements and possible educational benefits of spontaneity and improvisation in visual art education. The research draws from current practices and philosophies in music and drama education with the aim of developing collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creative and innovative thinking skills in students through the experience of making and appreciating art involving activities that encourage spontaneous decision making. Visual Thinking Strategies and the six continua for assessing thinking serve as the tools with which to investigate the effect of these activities on interpretive narratives of 40 fourth grade students in a public school setting.

A Novel Approach To Residence Time Distribution, Jackson W. Wolfe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An increased knowledge in the solids flow in multiphase flow systems can be applied in the design of industrial systems used for power generation, gasification, pneumatic transport of material, drying, and various other tasks. An instrument was constructed for the activation, injection, and measurement of phosphorescent tracer particles in a fluidized bed riser to determine the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) of solids flow within a fluidized bed riser. The instrument was implemented in a dual-stage transparent scale model fluidized bed riser. Testing of the instrument system validated the functionality of the instrument. It was proven to be capable of determining …

Study Of Chemical States, Composition And Adsorption Behavior Of Iron Coated Granular Activated Carbon (Fe-Gac) For Selenate Removal And Feasible Adsorbent Modifications, Ning Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the adsorptive removal of selenate using iron coated granular activated carbon (Fe-GAC) and further investigated its complexation mechanisms and coordination structures using spectroscopic techniques. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments with initial selenium concentration of 1 mg/L were conducted under three different ionic strengths to study selenate adsorption behavior. Selenate adsorption reached equilibrium within 48 hours with more than 85% of the equilibrium capacities being obtained within the first 6 hours. High removal efficiency (i.e., > 75%) was achieved for pH range 2 - 5. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model characterized selenate adsorption kinetics well (R2 = 0.999) and the rate …

Design And Evaluation Of A Marine Scrubber System, Louise S. Ayre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increasingly stringent oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions regulations for diesel marine engines are resulting in the development of newer engines with inherent NOX emissions reduction technologies. With typical useful service lives over 20 years, older diesel marine engines are producing disproportionate amounts of NOX emissions when compared with their newer counterparts. The development of retrofit exhaust aftertreatment technologies would therefore aid in reducing the total NOX emissions from these engines.;A marine scrubber system for the reduction of NOX emissions from diesel marine engines was designed, constructed, and evaluated. This work focused on gathering data for the design of a marine …

Comparison And Discrimination Of Aged And Laundered Fibers By Uv-Vis Microspectrophotometry And Colorimetry, Sushana S. Wiliams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fibers are commonly encountered trace evidence materials that are observed and analyzed in forensic science. The analysis of fibers currently relies upon chromatography, microscopy, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (1, 2). While most features of fibers are easily established, the determination and comparison of one important attribute, color, is complex(3, 4). Factors such as environmental conditions may play an important role when identifying, analyzing and comparing color between questions and known fiber samples.;While color can be evaluated subjectively, it can also be characterized instrumentally. This property may observe subtle or significant differences when fibers have been exposed to aging and laundering. …

The Association Of Social Anxiety And Parenting Factors With Adolescent Use Of Facebook, Brian Creasy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Computers and the Internet play a substantial role in how adolescents communicate with one another. Social networking websites, in particular, are a popular medium used by adolescents in which users can develop and maintain a large number of relationships from a single profile page. Facebook represents one of the most widely used social networking websites; however, little is known about the types of factors that are associated with the way in which adolescents use it. The present study examined the association of social anxiety and parenting with adolescent Facebook use. One hundred and sixty-two adolescents between the ages of 16 …

Color-Blind: The Effects Of A Reporter's Race On Framing, Gregory A. Cranmer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous literature has established the widespread use of frames that contrast athletes' physical (i.e., the "brawn" frame) and mental abilities (i.e., the "brain" frame) in mediated sports content, especially in verbal commentary. An athlete's race has been extensively studied as a key variable that determines which frames are implemented by media institutions, as Black athletes are framed in the brawn frame and White athletes are framed in the brain frame. The current study analyzed the presence, salience, and valence of brawn and brain frames of Heisman finalists in newspaper articles. This study extended previous research by examining (a) written content, …

Microfluidic Based Human Blood Plasma Separation, Ruizhi Zhong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microfluidic based biotechnologies have been widely applied for biological and biomedical research and applications because the physical scales of microfluidics are suitable for biological cells and provide the ability and flexibility to control spatiotemporal biochemical parameters. The current efforts for biosensor technologies are aiming to develop detection technologies directly from small volumes of the human fluids, such as blood, urea, and saliva, for accurate, fast, and affordable detection and analysis.;Human blood provides information and supports the functioning of human body, such as nourishing tissues, regulating organs activities and defending harmful material. Blood components are the prime interests for biosensor applications …

Predicting Emergency Dental Care Over A Decade: Investigating Dental Care-Related Fears In Symptomatic Treatment-Seeking Behavior, Cameron L. Randall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Avoidance of dental care, resulting from fear and anxiety, has major implications for oral and overall health. For instance, untreated oral disease may exacerbate cardiovascular disease and diabetes, among other systemic health concerns (Williams et al., 2008). In the USA, 5-10% of adults avoid necessary dental treatment because of dental care-related fear (Milgrom et al., 2009). The long-term goal of this project was to improve our understanding of psychosocial barriers to oral health care. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the relation between dental care-related fears, fear of pain, and dental beliefs in a rural, Appalachian population and to determine …

Development And Testing Of A High Resolution Pet Detector For Prostate Imaging, Evan P. Delfino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to the American Cancer Society one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Current methods for screening of prostate cancer including various PSA blood tests, as well as the digital rectal exam, are unreliability while current imaging modalities clinically employed (US, CT, MRI) are unable to localize intraprostatic cancer(s). Consequently, diagnosis via core needle biopsy is problematic and a game of chance at best. Therefore, in response to new radiopharmaceuticals applicable to both internal and external prostate cancer visualization and localization, novel prostate specific nuclear medical imagers are being developed.;The first prototype of a …