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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Essays On The Effects Of State And Local Public Policy: Gasoline Taxes, Clean Indoor Air Regulations, And Gross Receipts Taxes., Randall A. Childs Jan 2008

Essays On The Effects Of State And Local Public Policy: Gasoline Taxes, Clean Indoor Air Regulations, And Gross Receipts Taxes., Randall A. Childs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is a collection of essays examining the secondary effects of state and local public policies. The first chapter provides an introduction and outlines the research agenda for the dissertation. Chapter 2 analyzes the effects of the gasoline unit and ad valorem excise taxes on consumption of gasoline by grade. The results show that, while the unit excise tax can cause consumers to substitute toward higher quality (higher octane) gasoline, the opposite effect can also occur as prices rise and the income effect outweighs the substitution effect. Chapter 3 examines the effects of clean indoor air regulations on employment …

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Pharmacists And Tobacco Cessation Counseling: Attitudes And Beliefs, Impact Of Cessation Training On Practice, And Feasibility Of Training And Implementation Into The Pharmacy Practice Setting., Jarrett W. Coffindaffer Jan 2008

Pharmacists And Tobacco Cessation Counseling: Attitudes And Beliefs, Impact Of Cessation Training On Practice, And Feasibility Of Training And Implementation Into The Pharmacy Practice Setting., Jarrett W. Coffindaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States (U.S.), contributing to nearly 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than {dollar}75 billion in direct medical costs. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of pharmacists in high tobacco use and low tobacco use states toward tobacco cessation counseling, as well as the barriers and motivators associated with tobacco cessation counseling in the pharmacy practice setting and (2) to determine the feasibility of implementing a tobacco cessation program in the pharmacy practice …

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Muted Group Theory And U.S. Politics: Examining Third Parties And Their Supporters., Meredith A. Mitchell Jan 2008

Muted Group Theory And U.S. Politics: Examining Third Parties And Their Supporters., Meredith A. Mitchell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With many more young adult voters identifying themselves as independent voters or members of a third party, it is hard to believe third party candidates have not found more significant or lasting success in the U.S. politics. To investigate this phenomenon, Muted Group Theory is presented as one explanation and evidence was sought to determine if third party supporters are a muted group in U.S. politics. Participants included young adult voters from a large Mid-Atlantic university who responded to several statements about third parties and identified their political affiliation. Differences were expected to exist among the different political groups, yet …

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The Felt Needs Of Adult Learners In Today's College Environment: The Growing Significance Of Non-Traditional Students., Antoinette Hando Jan 2008

The Felt Needs Of Adult Learners In Today's College Environment: The Growing Significance Of Non-Traditional Students., Antoinette Hando

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A survey was used to identify the felt needs of non-traditional students. The first section identified non-traditional students and their overall demographics. In the needs analysis three major factors were found: flexibility of program requirements, time flexibility and the ability to understand the needs of non-traditional students were identified. These correlated with the literature review done on non-traditional learners. The last section dealt with their feelings concerning technology. It also was found to be comparable to the literature review, which talked about demographics, felt needs, and use of technology. Findings indicated that these nontraditional students felt that new technology was …

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The Construction Of Operation Iraqi Freedom As A Social Problem., Amanda Ellaina Martin Jan 2008

The Construction Of Operation Iraqi Freedom As A Social Problem., Amanda Ellaina Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study looks at the construction of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a social problem by the New York Times and USA Today between July 2002 and June 2007. Articles were coded as political, military, social, economic, or “other.” Key word searches were conducted to further explore these categories. Antiwar articles were also counted. Primary and secondary themes throughout the period of analysis were then developed. Interestingly, the findings indicate that there were two constructions of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first construction, which we called the Antiterrorism Mission, focused on the necessity of military intervention due to the terrorist threat. The …

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Development Of Fabrication Processes For Silicon And Gallium Nitride Photonic Crystal Structures., Satish Yeldandi Jan 2008

Development Of Fabrication Processes For Silicon And Gallium Nitride Photonic Crystal Structures., Satish Yeldandi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photonic crystals are being extensively investigated due to their capability of controlling the properties of light by confining photons in one, two and three dimensions. The sensitivity of optical properties of photonic crystals to the changes in refractive index at one or more lattice sites makes them potential building blocks of high-sensitivity biosensors. Fabrication of photonic crystals, including crucial steps such as lithography and plasma etching, is very challenging due to the nanoscale features. ICP-RIE is one of the preferred etching techniques because of its good control over the aspect ratio, high etch rates, low surface damage and many other …

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Computerized Approaches To Enhance Understanding Of Organic Reaction Mechanisms: Can Reaction Mechanisms And Cplex Prelaboratory Methodology., Abdulrahman G. Al-Shammari Jan 2008

Computerized Approaches To Enhance Understanding Of Organic Reaction Mechanisms: Can Reaction Mechanisms And Cplex Prelaboratory Methodology., Abdulrahman G. Al-Shammari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two approaches to enhance the understanding of organic reaction mechanisms are described. First, a new method for teaching organic reaction mechanisms that can be used in a Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) environment is proposed and tested (Chapter 1). The method concentrates upon the important intermediate structures, which are assumed to be on the reaction coordinate, and which can be evaluated and graded by currently available computer techniques. At the same time, the “curved arrows” that show the electron flow in a reaction mechanism are neglected, since they cannot be evaluated and graded with currently available computer techniques. By allowing student practice …

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Exchange Of The Feminine: Representations Of Multiple Marginality In Contemporary West Virginia Fiction., David E. Wilson Jan 2008

Exchange Of The Feminine: Representations Of Multiple Marginality In Contemporary West Virginia Fiction., David E. Wilson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study engages the short stories and novels of three contemporary fiction writers: acclaimed native West Virginians Denise Giardina and Breece D’J Pancake, and Laura Albert, a New York City native who, for a time, published under the pseudonym JT LeRoy. Using West Virginia as their settings, these authors have created Mountain State characters whose stratified marginality in heteronormative Appalachian society stems from their failure to meet traditional expectations of gender and sexuality. Those multiply marginal characters in West Virginia fiction who best establish a general accord do so through benign public personae, ancillary labor occupations and supportive kinship roles. …

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"Divided Into Double Parts" Race, Gender, And The Double In Books 1-3 Of Spenser’S The Faerie Queene, Rachel N. Holmberg Jan 2008

"Divided Into Double Parts" Race, Gender, And The Double In Books 1-3 Of Spenser’S The Faerie Queene, Rachel N. Holmberg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the first canto of Book 1 of Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Archimago divides Redcrosse and Una "into double parts," creating the impression that they are not just divided from each other, but divided from themselves. While this is the first time the phrase "divided into double parts" is mentioned, the theme of division and doubling has already appeared in the text. Indeed, this kind of thematic echo, or doubling, is characteristic of Spenser's work. My dissertation argues that only when we are seeing double, do we recognize the unity in The Faerie Queene . The concept of decomposition allows …

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Integrating Community, Education, And Global Sustainability: The Vash Recycling Model., Tracy A. Vash Jan 2008

Integrating Community, Education, And Global Sustainability: The Vash Recycling Model., Tracy A. Vash

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Action research engages researchers and communities in iterative, reflective inquiry to address issues and solve problems with the support of data analysis. The study was structured by and analyzed using the prototype Vash Recycling Model (VRM). For three years, January 2005 through December 2007, this study engaged textiles, apparel, and merchandising students at West Virginia University in collaboration with The Mission, a homeless shelter in Clarksburg, in a joint recycling project. The VRM, found to be an effective guide in textiles and apparel recycling, assisted environmental sustainability, and in 2007 eliminated 679,271 pounds of waste from the landfill while generating …

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An In Vivo Examination Of The Pulmonary Toxicity Of Ultrafine And Fine Carbon Black And Titanium Dioxide: Defining The Role Of Particle Surface Area., Tina Marie Sager Jan 2008

An In Vivo Examination Of The Pulmonary Toxicity Of Ultrafine And Fine Carbon Black And Titanium Dioxide: Defining The Role Of Particle Surface Area., Tina Marie Sager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis examining the in vivo effects of ultrafine and fine particles on certain parameters of pulmonary damage and inflammation in the rat model. To do this each treatment group received a dosage based on mass particles. This dosage was then expressed as surface area of the particles (instead of mass) to determine if surface area rather than mass is the more appropriate metric of dose for pulmonary toxicity studies. To assess inflammation, BAL was conducted harvested and PMNs were counted as an indicator of pulmonary inflammation. LDH activity was also measured …

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Does Student Passivity Exist? The Impact Of The Student And Instructor On Involvement In And Outside Of The College Classroom., Robert J. Sidelinger Jan 2008

Does Student Passivity Exist? The Impact Of The Student And Instructor On Involvement In And Outside Of The College Classroom., Robert J. Sidelinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The classroom is the center of students' formal educational experience. It is often the one place students have an opportunity to interact with faculty. This dissertation explored the issue of student involvement both inside and outside of the college classroom. First, this study qualitatively examined in-class involvement from the students' perspective. Based on students' descriptions of their perceptions of their involvement/noninvolvement, and their perceptions of other students' involvement/noninvolvement, six themes (e.g., Active Involvement) emerged for in-class involvement and eight themes (e.g., Student Passivity) for in-class noninvolvement. Second, this study quantitatively examined factors (i.e., student characteristics, perceived instructor communication strategies, and …

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Accessibility Of Wvu Websites For Individuals With Vision Impairments, Sarah Jacobin Dec 2007

Accessibility Of Wvu Websites For Individuals With Vision Impairments, Sarah Jacobin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recently, several major corporations have been sued because their websites are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. For a website to be accessible, people with disabilities should be able to navigate and interact with the site. Individuals who are blind or have vision impairments have difficulty accessing websites because they commonly use assistive technology to interpret content. This study is the first comprehensive study assessing the accessibility of WVU websites for individuals with disabilities, specifically individuals with visual impairments and comparing those results to those of two comparable universities in other areas of the country. Compliance with specifications of website accessibility …

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Application Of The Emotional Intelligence Construct To College Student Binge Drinking, Jeffrey P. Dulko Dec 2007

Application Of The Emotional Intelligence Construct To College Student Binge Drinking, Jeffrey P. Dulko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although extensive research has been conducted in the area of college binge drinking, relatively little has been done to study differences among alcohol-related consequences. Some initial studies have shown that binge drinking and its consequences are associated with several emotional and interpersonal factors, but there has been no comprehensive examination of these relationships. The theory of emotional intelligence (EI) has been developed recently to study emotional and interpersonal factors as an integrated construct. Research of the relationship between alcohol and EI could provide a valuable base for which to design alcohol prevention programs that target improving emotional and interpersonal deficits …

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Synthetic Seed Production For Germplasm Storage Of Hydrastis Canadensis L. (Goldenseal), Satyaprakash R. Settipalli Dec 2007

Synthetic Seed Production For Germplasm Storage Of Hydrastis Canadensis L. (Goldenseal), Satyaprakash R. Settipalli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) is an important medicinal plant, native to Canada and Eastern United States, used as an antibiotic, anticonvulsant and in treatments for inflammations and dyspepsia. Over collection of wild population and native habitat destruction has lead the species to be listed as an endangered species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix II. This brought a revived interest in conservation of germplasm.;Calcium alginate solid and hollow bead encapsulation protocols were evaluated. Shoot and callus propagules were encapsulated in calcium alginate solid bead (supplemented with stage II nutrient media) …

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Experimental Studies Of Electromagnetic Signals To Enhance Radio Imaging Method (Rim), William D. Monaghan Dec 2007

Experimental Studies Of Electromagnetic Signals To Enhance Radio Imaging Method (Rim), William D. Monaghan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Safety and production of coal mining operations could be greatly affected by geologic anomalies such as faults, sandstone intrusions, dykes, fracture zones, sudden thinning and severe undulation of the coal seam. Since most of these geologic anomalies in coal seams effect the attenuation rate of electromagnetic signal that passes through them, the radio imaging method (RIM), using a signal in the kilohertz range, is capable of locating the zones of geologic anomalies in underground coal mines with the help of tomographic reconstruction programs. RIM technology is a promising geophysical tool for exploring the geologic anomalies ahead of modern longwall faces, …

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Design And Real-Time Control Of Shipboard Power System Testbed, Pradeep Pant Dec 2007

Design And Real-Time Control Of Shipboard Power System Testbed, Pradeep Pant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this thesis is to design and test a small scale testbed for the all-electric shipboard power distribution system. Shipboard power system is increasingly becoming more reconfigurable, and multi-agent systems are developed to automate routine operation and emergency reconfiguration. Underlying algorithms of these systems have been verified using software simulation tools. However, these simulators run in soft realtime by using simple mathematical models to represent the physical system. These models do not incorporate every aspect of the physical system. A testbed provides a cost effective physical environment to verify these algorithms and control techniques in the real world. …

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Dot Matrices, Kelly Suzanne Sipes Dec 2007

Dot Matrices, Kelly Suzanne Sipes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My thesis work is the production and mapping of painterly space using particular methods of formal abstraction, in contrast with common pattern. I construct these paintings in several layers, embellishing gestural atmospheres with idiosyncratic shapes and patterns in alternating rhythms. My focus is on the development of improvisational processes, creating a less ceremonious context for the measure of abstract painting as an idea, a visual language, and as an autonomous object. My technique of mapping is established to consider a territory for a reformed autonomous identity that is in opposition to the pluralist excesses of the postmodern. This paper will …

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Application Of A Reflective Optical Probe To Measure Solids Fractions In A Circulating Fluidized Bed, Steven M. Seachman Dec 2007

Application Of A Reflective Optical Probe To Measure Solids Fractions In A Circulating Fluidized Bed, Steven M. Seachman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A novel method of extracting localized solids volume fractions from reflective multi-fiber optical probes was developed. The fiber optic probes were originally designed by Vector Scientific, Inc. to measure local solids velocities. The probe measures reflected light from a particle medium which is converted into a voltage. Development of this new method yields two valuable solid flow parameters from a single probe system. The method involves a formulated model with empirical calibrations and three physical bases. The three physical bases are the Conservation Law, Beer-Lambert's Law, and the reflected light intensity from the particle medium. A novel bed depth calibration …

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Validation Of A New Technique Of Production Data Analysis For Single And Multi-Layer Formations Under Controlled Environment, Domingo A. Mata Aug 2007

Validation Of A New Technique Of Production Data Analysis For Single And Multi-Layer Formations Under Controlled Environment, Domingo A. Mata

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Intelligent Production Data Analysis - IPDA, is a new methodology for Reservoir Characterization based only on monthly production rate data. This technique combines conventional methods of production data analysis (decline curve analysis, type curve matching and history matching) with intelligent systems. The study targets the validation of this methodology under a controlled environment, attempting three main objectives: Identifying Sweet Spots, Forecasting Reserves and recognizing under-performer wells.;The study investigates the behavior of five different reservoirs, modeled using a commercial simulator. The structure, parameters and heterogeneity of each configuration was inspired by existing formations. Records of production rate data were generated from …

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Alterations In Progesterone Catabolic Enzymes By Insulin, Caleb Owens Lemley Aug 2007

Alterations In Progesterone Catabolic Enzymes By Insulin, Caleb Owens Lemley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current experiments were conducted to determine if insulin could alter the progesterone catabolic enzymes, cytochrome P450 2C and 3A in vitro, utilizing a mouse hepatocyte cell-line, or in vivo, utilizing the ovariectomized ewe as a model. The objectives of the in vitro work were to determine if a four hour challenge with insulin, glucagon or a combination of both insulin and glucagon would lead to a reduction in the relative abundance of CYP2C39 or CYP3A13 mRNA, as well as a decrease in the enzymatic activities of CYP3A and CYP2C subfamilies. A dose dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in CYP2C and CYP3A activity was observed in hepatocytes challenged with increasing concentrations of insulin, while a challenge with glucagon had no effect on cytochrome P450 2C or 3A activity. Cytochrome P450 2C activity was decreased (P < 0.05) during exposure of cells to 1.0 nM insulin and 0.1 nM glucagon as well as 0.1 nM insulin and 1.0 nM glucagon. Cells cultured with 1.0 nM insulin and 0.1 nM glucagon showed a trend ( P < 0.10) for a decrease in CYP3A activity. The relative abundance of CYP2C39 and CYP3A13 mRNA showed no response to insulin, glucagon or a combination of insulin and glucagon exposure. These data support a model in which the known insulin-induced decrease in progesterone catabolism is a result of a reduction in CYP2C and CYP3A activity. The objectives of the in vivo experiment, utilizing ovariectomized ewes, were to determine if supplementing feed with either sodium acetate or sodium propionate altered insulin secretion, hepatic activity of cytochrome P450 2C and 3A, and/or progesterone clearance. Sixteen ovariectomized ewes were fed 3 kg/d for 10 d, a diet consisting of 50% corn silage, 38% triticale haylage, 12% soy bean meal, and 200 mL of 3.5 M sodium acetate (energy control n = 8) or 2.0 M sodium propionate (gluconeogenic substrate; n = 8). Insulin concentrations were determined directly before feeding and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min. Progesterone clearance from peripheral circulation was measured by giving a 5 mg injection of progesterone into the left jugular vein and collecting blood via the right jugular vein at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min afterwards. Liver biopsies were taken one hour after feeding and used for determination of cytochrome P450 2C and 3A activities. Insulin concentrations in ewes supplemented with sodium propionate were elevated (P < 0.05) at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after feeding compared to the sodium acetate group. Cytochrome P450 2C and 3A activity were decreased (P ≤ 0.05) 1 h after feeding in the sodium propionate treatment relative to sodium acetate treatment. Clearance of progesterone from the peripheral circulation, one hour after feeding, was similar between treatment groups, as well as the average fractional rate constant of progesterone clearance (k). Elucidating a mechanism to decrease progesterone catabolism, thereby increasing concentrations of progesterone, seems a logical approach to ameliorate high rates of embryonic loss without compromising dry matter intake.

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Biolayer Modeling And Optimization For The Sparrow Biosensor, Ke Feng Aug 2007

Biolayer Modeling And Optimization For The Sparrow Biosensor, Ke Feng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Biosensor direct detection of molecular binding events is of significant interest in applications from molecular screening for cancer drug design to bioagent detection for homeland security and defense. The Stacked Planar Affinity Regulated Resonant Optical Waveguide (SPARROW) structure based on coupled waveguides was recently developed to achieve increased sensitivity within a fieldable biosensor device configuration. Under ideal operating conditions, modification of the effective propagation constant of the structure's sensing waveguide through selective attachment of specific targets to probes on the waveguide surface results in a change in the coupling characteristics of the guide over a specifically designed interaction length with …

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Frequency Of Aeromonas Spp. Detection In Rainbow Trout And Recirculation Aquaculture Systems And The Storage Stability Of Fillets, Tabetha Marie Littler Aug 2007

Frequency Of Aeromonas Spp. Detection In Rainbow Trout And Recirculation Aquaculture Systems And The Storage Stability Of Fillets, Tabetha Marie Littler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recirculating aquaculture systems enable increased fish production per volume of water. Unfortunately, recirculation systems also provide conditions for bacterial growth. Aeromonas, a genus of bacteria ubiquitous in the environment, contains fish pathogens, human pathogens, and/or spoilage organisms. Of the salmonid species, rainbow trout are the most susceptible to Motile Aeromonad Septicemia (MAS), the fish disease caused by Aeromonas spp. In humans, illnesses such as gastroenteritis, septicemia, and wound infections are caused by ingestion or exposure to Aeromonas spp. The objective of this study was to survey Aeromonas spp. present in the production system, on the fish, and on the butterfly …

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Increased Resistance Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 To Electron Beam Following Repetitive Irradiation At Sub-Lethal Doses And An Analysis Of Genes Of Escherichia Coli Resistance, Leah Levanduski Aug 2007

Increased Resistance Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 To Electron Beam Following Repetitive Irradiation At Sub-Lethal Doses And An Analysis Of Genes Of Escherichia Coli Resistance, Leah Levanduski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One way that food processors in the United States control food-borne pathogens in a non-thermal manner is with the application of electron beam (e-beam) radiation. Increased resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to various stressors such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, and antibiotics has been demonstrated; therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if the D10-value for E. coli O157:H7 ( E. coli) in ground beef increases due to repetitive exposure to e-beam at sub-lethal levels. Ground beef samples were inoculated with an ATCC strain of E. coli and incubated to approximately 109 CFU/g followed by e-beam processing. Survivors …

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Integrating Participatory Gis And Political Ecology To Study Flood Vulnerability In The Limpopo Province Of South Africa, Nthaduleni S. Nethengwe Aug 2007

Integrating Participatory Gis And Political Ecology To Study Flood Vulnerability In The Limpopo Province Of South Africa, Nthaduleni S. Nethengwe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation research examines differential flood vulnerability in the Thulamela municipality of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study employs a triangulation of methods within a Participatory GIS methodology. Political ecology is the conceptual framework. The main premise of this research is that household flood vulnerability is socially constructed in that it is mediated by locally contingent political, socio-economic and environmental factors. As a result, conventional solutions that focus mainly on the physical event are ineffective and costly because they ignore local knowledge about flood hazards and flood coping mechanisms that have been disrupted or destroyed. The study integrates …

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Molecular And Functional Characterization Of Bacterial Communities In Organic Farm And Pasture Soils, Sherie L. Edenborn Aug 2007

Molecular And Functional Characterization Of Bacterial Communities In Organic Farm And Pasture Soils, Sherie L. Edenborn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Culture-dependent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (CD DGGE) fingerprinting of the 16S rRNA gene was developed to characterize mixed soil bacterial communities recovered on agar plates. CD DGGE analyses resulted in clear banding patterns of sufficient complexity (16--32 major bands) and reproducibility to investigate differences in bacterial communities in silt loam soils. Replicate CD DGGE profiles from plates inoculated with less-dilute samples (10 -3) had a higher band count and were more similar (72--77%) than profiles from more-dilute samples (51--61%). When CD DGGE fingerprints were compared to profiles constructed from 16S rRNA genes obtained from culture-independent clone libraries (CB DGGE profiles) …

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Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of The Social Studies Teacher Training Program At Tabouk Teachers' College In Saudi Arabia, Awad Hamad Alhwiti Aug 2007

Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of The Social Studies Teacher Training Program At Tabouk Teachers' College In Saudi Arabia, Awad Hamad Alhwiti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the study was to examine and evaluate the effectiveness of the social studies teacher training program in Tabouk Teachers' College in Saudi Arabia. This research addressed six questions concerning teacher perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the teacher preparation programs in Tabouk Teachers' College. These questions examined teacher perceptions of the effectiveness of preparation they received for teaching in schools in Saudi Arabia. This study included teachers who completed student teaching and who graduated with a major in social studies. The 40-item instrument used to gather data included demographics, internship, instructor effectiveness, curriculum, teaching skills, classroom management, and …

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Performance Of Compact Mobile Emissions Monitoring System For Real-Time On-Board Emissions Measurement, Chandima S. Jayasinghe Aug 2007

Performance Of Compact Mobile Emissions Monitoring System For Real-Time On-Board Emissions Measurement, Chandima S. Jayasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Compact Mobile Emissions Monitoring System (CMEMS) in an engine dynamometer test cell equipped with laboratory grade analyzers, and under real-world testing conditions. The CMEMS was evaluated in the test cell with the engine operating under transient (FTP) and steady state conditions and results were compared with laboratory data.;In response to the Consent Decrees, which were entered into by some of the heavy duty engine manufactures and the United States, several in-use portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) have been developed, and some of them are commercially available. However, most …

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Carbon Promoted Water Electrolysis To Produce Hydrogen At Room Temperature, Sukanya Ranganathan Aug 2007

Carbon Promoted Water Electrolysis To Produce Hydrogen At Room Temperature, Sukanya Ranganathan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of the work was to conduct water electrolysis at room temperature with reduced energy costs for hydrogen production. The electrochemical gasification of carbons consumes only 9.6 kcal/mol H2O compared to 56.7 kcal/molH 2O for conventional water electrolysis. In this work, carbon-assisted hydrogen production and the reaction energetics/kinetics at applied potentials |E0| between 0.1 and 1.8 V are studied. The carbon promoted water electrolysis could be performed at applied potentials as low as |E0|=0.21 V as opposed to conventional water electrolysis which requires |E0|>1.25 V. The study reveals that the H2 produced per W h is higher at …

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Error Resilient Image Transmission Using T-Codes And Edge-Embedding, Premchander Reddy Aug 2007

Error Resilient Image Transmission Using T-Codes And Edge-Embedding, Premchander Reddy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Current image communication applications involve image transmission over noisy channels, where the image gets damaged. The loss of synchronization at the decoder due to these errors increases the damage in the reconstructed image. Our main goal in this research is to develop an algorithm that has the capability to detect errors, achieve synchronization and conceal errors.;In this thesis we studied the performance of T-codes in comparison with Huffman codes. We develop an algorithm for the selection of best T-code set. We have shown that T-codes exhibit better synchronization properties when compared to Huffman Codes. In this work we developed an …

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