Enhancing 5g Fixed Wireless Access In Rural Settings Via Machine Learning-Driven Resource Optimization, Maryam Amini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Providing broadband access to rural communities continues to be an important societal problem whose solution would help to break down the digital divide. While 5G wireless networks may be used for rural broadband, a key challenge is the placement of base stations, which is exacerbated by the use of high frequencies in the millimeter-wave band. Such technology requires an unobstructed line of sight, demanding meticulous planning of the number, height, and location of base stations for optimal coverage. Conventional methods, such as ray-tracing to simulate signal propagation across varied terrain, are computational costly and not feasible for vast coverage areas. …

Stormwater Responses To Climatic And Land Cover Changes In Lowly Urbanized Subcoastal Environments, Md Tanvirul Islam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stormwater runoff is widely considered a significant factor in coastal inundation and water quality degradation. The main objective of this thesis is to determine the potential impacts on stormwater runoff in lowly urbanized coastal/subcoastal environments under a changing climate and land use/cover. The East Fork San Jacinto River Basin (Area = 2577 of southern Texas, USA was considered a pilot area for this study. Given the sparse availability of high-resolution precipitation data in space and time, this research first evaluated four remotely sensed and/or reconstructed precipitation products (CMORPH-CDR, MERRA, PERSIANN-CDR, and PRISM) by comparing the data with the historical gauge …

Application Of High-Resolution Fiber Optic Data To Enhance Completion Design, Christian J. Pacheco

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

MS Dissertation Defense

By

Christian Pacheco

Title: Application of High-Resolution Fiber Optic Data to Enhance Completion Design Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM Place: 141 Engineering Science Building

Abstract

Well stimulation is a technique that has been used in the industry for decades, and with the ability to drill wells horizontally the practice has become more valuable and effective than ever before. Its use is consistently being optimized and completions design plays a crucial role in the recovery of hydrocarbons. Several different downhole tools and measurements have been used to optimize these …

Transparent And Conductive Gallium Oxide Electrode For Simultaneous Recording And Optogenetic Stimulation, Christopher Patrick Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neural electrode technology has been around for centuries since the times of Galvani. In early electrophysiology experiments metal wires were used to induce contractions in dissected animals. The metal wire electrode has since been a standard tool to both stimulate and record neural activity. In the past two decades, a new strategy for neural stimulation has been formulated based on the emergent field of optogenetics. Optogenetics refers to the use of light-sensitive proteins genetically imbedded in the membrane of a neuron to elicit neural activity. This technique offers more selectivity in the stimulation of neurons. Typical optogenetic neural electrodes, or …

Using Critical Place-Based Pedagogy To Build A Bridge Between College Students’ Home Literacies And Their Academic Literacies In A Composition Class In West Virginia, Michael Vozniak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the use of place-based pedagogy as a tool for teaching for transfer in a college composition class in West Virginia. Although existing composition scholarship indicates that themed classes (such as a place-based class) are unlikely to facilitate transfer among the students, this is mostly due to instructors of themed classes not explicitly teaching for transfer. The literature suggests that the most effective way to facilitate transfer is to encourage students to reflect on how what they learned in one situation is similar to and different from what they need to learn in another situation. The aim of …

Selective Recovery Of Various Critical Metals From Acid Mine Drainage Sludge, Gorkem Gecimli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Non-fuel minerals and commodities vital to the modern economy and national security are known as critical minerals. They are essential to modern high-tech industries, defense applications, clean technology, fuel cells, mobile phones, high-capacity batteries, permanent magnets, phosphors, and metal catalysts, among other things. Over fifty elements are deemed essential to varying degrees (European Commission, 2017; Department of Energy, 2020; Burton, 2022). Given their current position, a single supplier or small group of producers can easily dominate the mineral pricing as they supply the majority of these essential minerals. Due to the extended area of usage, ongoing population expansion, and increased …

Reformed-Based Approaches To The Teaching And Learning Of Science, Sahar Vali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative practice-based study explores the efficacy of reformed-based science teaching approaches in fostering meaningful student engagement within elementary science classrooms, framed within the science-as-practice paradigm. Utilizing three theoretical frameworks, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ambitious Science Teaching (AST), and the Teacher Noticing, this research investigates how these frameworks influence student engagement in scientific disciplinary practices. The study draws on data from an NSF-funded project on teacher noticing in fifth-grade classrooms in West Virginia. Through a practice-based research approach, the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical practices and student engagement in science and engineering practices as outlined by NGSS and …

Site Specific Probable Maximum Precipitation Implications For High Hazard Dams In West Virginia, Levi Jacob Cyphers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Estimates of probable maximum precipitation (PMP) are necessary for designing the maximum reservoir storage necessary to prevent dam overtopping. Recent investigations in Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania imply that reducing PMP rainfall estimates in West Virginia may be appropriate; however, additional studies in this data deficient region with changing climate is necessary before any reductions are contemplated. The objective of this study was to re-evaluate PMP for the Howard Creek Dam watershed in West Virginia. The 6-hr, 10 mi² PMP was evaluated for current (2019) and projected (2100) climates and compared to the design PMP. Then, the impact of the …

Machine Learning Maintenance Costs Prediction Model For Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuel And Diesel Vehicles, Esteban Fernandez Villar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (MHDVs) are essential to global logistics and transportation. Around 77% of these vehicles are diesel-powered due to its powertrain mechanical characteristics that make them reliable and energy efficient. However, the environmental implications of diesel combustion, particularly its direct contribution to air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, have increased the interest in alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). These alternatives include Natural Gas (NG), Propane, Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), each presenting unique benefits and challenges in terms of required fueling infrastructure, energy efficiency, environmental impact, and total cost of operation (TCO). Maintenance costs …

Global Experiences: How Locality And Space Shape Pedagogical Practices And Experiences Between Western Institutions And Ghanaian Musical Centers, Andrew Patrick Simonette

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pedagogical research on African music and dance practices have conventionally focused on ways in which styles and traditions are taught including, but not limited to, modes of transmission, curriculum structure, and cultural responsiveness. These investigations, and subsequent applications, have contributed towards a deeper understanding of pedagogical structures as related to cultural context and effective modes of teaching and learning African music. At the same time, the impact that space and locality play within African music and dance instruction, particularly as related to learning experiences have been largely overlooked. Locality and space involve several factors that range from elements attributed to …

Life Cycle Cost Model For Transit Bus Fleets, Connor Andrew Jack

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Life Cycle Cost Model for Transit Buses

Connor Jack

Transit agencies battle with reducing emissions while trying to be cost effective. In 2009, the Transit Cooperative Research Program Report (TCRP) 132 presented a life cycle cost model to aid in procurement evaluation [1]. The model is a life cycle cost analysis tool to estimate the overall costs of procurement and compare alternative technologies [2]. The model concentrates on pre-2007 conventional diesel, diesel hybrid with first generation diesel particulate filters, gasoline hybrid, and compressed natural gas transit buses.

The objectives of this work are to implement battery electric technology into …

Women In Extension Persevering In Leadership Roles, Lexis Danielle Trickett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the last several decades, the rates at which women have been pursuing higher levels of education have steadily increased. However, there is a discrepancy between the number of women graduating, and the amount entering the workforce, specifically in leadership roles. The purpose of this study was to share a current profile of women in the West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service by allowing them to describe their career journeys, supports and barriers they may or may not have faced, and mentoring experiences. By using a non-experimental quantitative methodology, a population of male and female Extension Agents and Specialists were surveyed …

The Names Of All Wild Things: Field Guides And Environmental Thinking, Frank Izaguirre Phd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The project first traces the earliest origins of natural history writing, surveying how natural history writing from antiquity presented and categorized the living world, and then how the rise of print culture and growing popularity of natural history writing would facilitate the rise of European empires. Values and conventions emerged that would later feed into the field guide, like the pairing of text and illustration to aid identification and the decontextualizing of plants and animals from their environments.

Near the end of the nineteenth century, the field guide genre emerged. Some wildly popular books, mostly written by women, emphasized the …

Characterization And Evaluation Of Various Biochar Types As Green Adsorbents For Rare Earth Element Recovery From Aqueous Solutions, Oluwaseun Victor Famobuwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are members of the lanthanide family (atomic number 57 – 71). They are significantly important to the global economy due to their applications in renewable energy, defense, and medical industries. REEs are primarily derived from bastnaesite and monazite but may also be present in xenotime, cerite, alanite, and many other types of mineralization in lesser amounts. Due to the increasing demand for REEs and their criticality in the supply chain, the need to explore secondary sources of REEs has gained tremendous importance.

Secondary sources of REEs include but are not limited to acid mine drainage (AMD), …

Milk Collection Problem: Integrating The Traveling Salesman And Set Covering Problem - A Case Study In West Virginia, Usa, Md Rabiul Hasan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Route determination for perishable products is complex due to its unique characteristics, such as limited shelf-life regulatory requirements, or possibility of getting damaged. This research investigates a novel problem of collecting raw milk from a rural network of dairy farms. The research problem is grounded in a real scenario of milk collection in West Virginia, USA. The milk in this scenario is produced by small farms incapable of realizing transportation economies of density out in mostly rural areas throughout the state. Maximum coverage area and milk processing overhead costs are used to identify suitable locations for intermediate milk collection centers …

Empowering Inclusive Mobility: Addressing Team Challenges And Advancing Solutions For Deaf Communities In Rural West Virginia Through Innovative Engineering And Collaborative Initiatives, Morgan Elaine Bartley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This report provides an overview of the strategic initiatives, challenges, and future considerations encountered by the West Virginia University (WVU) EcoCAR Team in their mission to enhance accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in rural West Virginia, with a specific focus on improving the Cadillac LYRIQ's features. The report delves into the stakeholder profile, encompassing demographic characteristics and mobility challenges unique to the target population, while also highlighting the team's SMART goals, key challenges faced, and forward-looking strategies to better the team.

The WVU EcoCAR Team's mission revolves around addressing mobility barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in rural …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Evaluation And Modeling Of Ergonomic Stressors Due To Mass Decedent Handling, Vaishakhi Suresh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Work-related injuries, illnesses, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) significantly impact the U.S. healthcare industry, leading to lost working days, high medical costs, and increased turnover rates among healthcare workers (HCWs). Increased physical and mental health risks due to the handling of deceased during COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues. While the ergonomic risks of patient handling are well-studied, limited research exists on the ergonomic risks of manual handling of the deceased. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the challenges associated with decedent handling so that effective safety interventions to reduce the risk of injury and mental distress …

A Podcasting Series On The Historical Event Of Hawk’S Nest Tunnel Disaster, Hannah G. Morgan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This professional project will look into the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel Disaster – a disaster that was birthed due to extreme capitalism and exploitation during the 1930s. This project will explore historical documents, books and interviews with those who are passionate about the event. With that research material, I will produce an educational narrative podcast with a cohesive storyline detailing the event, including a beginning, middle and end. The podcast series will be uploaded to Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This professional project can be replicated and used for other similar projects.

4d Epr Oximetry Imaging For 4d Bioprinting And Tissue Engineering, Sajad Sarvari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioprinting, akin to 3D printing, employs cell-laden hydrogels such as GelMA (Gelatine Methacrylate) and Alginate instead of plastic or resin to create biological structures. The printing process followed by subsequent tissue maturation is known as 4D bioprinting, where the fourth dimension is time. Ensuring adequate and consistent oxygen, O2, supply within 3D bioprint volume over the entire maturation period process is crucial, as even transient hypoxia can impact cellular behavior and phenotypes. However, printing of fully developed vasculature remains an unresolved technical challenge. Several approaches to chemically (peroxides) or biologically (photosynthesis) generate oxygen during bioprint maturation have been proposed. However, …

Enhancing Pipeline Simulations Through Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning: A Smart Proxy Modelling Approach, Afeez Shittu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Enhancing pipeline simulations is essential for improving operational efficiencies and effectively managing risks in the oil and gas industry. Traditional pipeline simulators, relying heavily on mathematical modeling assumptions, often face limitations due to their high energy and computational demands. This thesis addresses these challenges by introducing an innovative approach that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) through a smart proxy model, offering a more efficient, cost-effective, and flexible alternative to conventional full-physics models used in pipeline simulation software.

The primary aim of this research is to develop and implement a smart proxy model capable of accurately predicting …

Far-Field Passive Wireless Sensors Composed Of Electroceramic Materials For Harsh Environment Applications, Kevin M. Tennant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The demand for high temperature sensing technologies in industrial applications has been steadily increasing, driven by the need for precise monitoring and control in extreme environments. This thesis presents an investigation into the development and optimization of passive wireless sensors for high temperature sensing applications. The research focuses on overcoming the challenges associated with traditional sensing methods by leveraging passive wireless sensor technology, offering advantages such as reduced complexity, improved reliability, and enhanced flexibility.

A passive wireless high temperature sensor for far-field applications was developed for stable temperature sensing up to 1000 °C. The goal is to leverage the properties …

Evaluating The Impact Of Ergonomic Interventions On Reducing Knee Musculoskeletal Disorder Risks During Residential Roof Shingle Installation: A Phase-Level Analysis, Nazia Zerin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The prevalence of knee musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among roofers due to awkward kneeling postures during shingle installation is a well-recognized concern. While knee-saving interventions like knee savers (KSs) and knee pads (KPs) have shown the potential to reduce MSD risks, their effectiveness across different phases of shingle installation remains unknown. The objective of this study is to assess how interventions of KSs and KPs alleviate the risks of MSDs in the knees during various phases of shingle installation. These phases include (1) reaching for shingles, (2) placing shingles, (3) grabbing a nail gun, (4) moving to the first nailing position, …

Cleaning And Characterization Of Chemical Vapor Deposited Graphene For Nanoelectronic Device Development, Sakib Ishraq

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanoelectronic devices based on graphene are a promising technology that combines the sensitivity and specificity of ion and element recognition with the accuracy and precision of electronics. The detection principle is based on the interaction of the target molecules with the nanodevice surface, which generates a measurable electrical signal. In the current study, graphene and its derivatives, synthesis and fabrication of high quality, good uniformity, and low defects graphene have been investigated as they are critical for high-performance and highly sensitive devices. Among many synthesis methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), have been used that needs to be transferred from the …

The Impact Of Low-Skew On The Ultimate Capacity Of Press-Brake-Formed Tub Girders, Madison Lynn Morgan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The development of press-brake-formed tub girders (PBFTGs) has offered innovative solutions for short-span steel bridge applications and helps meet the demand for rapid infrastructure replacement solutions. The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) comprises bridge and buried soil structure industry leaders who aim to provide essential educational information to bridge and highway professionals on the design and construction of short-span steel bridge installations (SSSBA, 2020). The American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provides design standards, specifications, and guidance for the analysis and construction of PBFTGs. Currently, the AASHTO Load Resistance and Factor Design Bridge Design Specifications (AASHTO …

Application Of Predictive Control Strategies For Water-Gas Shift Membrane Reactors Using Data-Driven Models, Bernardo De Oliveira Vecchio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As demand for more efficient processes keeps rising and more restrictive environmental legislation requires higher levels of both yield and purity, the process industry has now, more than ever, been looking for new ways to achieve these goals. One approach has been the implementation of Process Intensification (PI). PI aims to combine multiple unit operations into a single one, promoting efficiency gains on multiple levels. This combination, however, leads to complex process dynamics, and controlling such processes, particularly when setup as multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems, presents a great challenge due to highly interactive complex process dynamics and the imposition of many …

Autonomous Object Search Planning In Large-Scale Environments, Matthew A. Collins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The advancement of autonomous search holds significant promise for applications ranging from emergency response to planetary exploration. This thesis investigates strategies to enhance autonomous search performance in large-scale environments. The main contribution of this work is its practical application in real-world scenarios, where efficient search methods are essential for managing vast amounts of data, particularly in large environments. Effective search planning requires navigating complexities such as limited prior information and managing large state spaces, necessitating advanced strategies to plan with this limited information. Additionally, balancing exploration and exploitation is crucial for optimizing the search process, as it ensures thorough coverage …

An Investigation Of The Performance Of A 140 Kw Solar Panel In West Virginia, Rumana Subnom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Solar panels are recognized as a viable technology for producing electricity from sunlight. The performance of a solar panel is influenced by factors such as solar irradiance, tilt angle, orientation, shading, panel age, degradation, and various environmental conditions including ambient air temperature, humidity, dust, soil, and snow.

In this research, a mobile solar panel testing system consisting of a mobile cart, a solar panel, and a portable power station was designed and fabricated to evaluate the performance of a solar panel. The battery is equipped with a thermal management system controlling its temperature and charging and discharging system. The current …

Changes In Psychiatric Diagnosis Associated With Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Predicting The Development Of New Psychiatric Illness In Covid Patients By Using Machine Learning Approach: A Study Using The Us National Covid Cohort Collaborative (N3c), Asif Rahman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The enduring impact of COVID-19 extends beyond acute illness, with potential long-term psychiatric consequences raising significant concern among healthcare professionals and researchers alike. Emerging evidence suggests a multifaceted relationship between COVID-19 and the development of different psychiatric illnesses like Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorders (SSPD), Depression, Bipolar disorder, Personality disorder, Trauma, and a range of other mental health conditions. Considering these emerging connections, our study endeavors to rigorously assess the associations between COVID-19 and various psychiatric illnesses while simultaneously employing machine learning techniques to predict the development of new psychiatric disorders in individuals affected by the virus. Leveraging the extensive …

A Domain Adaptation Approach For Morphology-Independent Cell Instance Segmentation, Voke Rotimi Brume

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, there has been an upward trend of utilizing deep learning to automate cell segmentation processes. As global storage capacities grow exponentially, so have microscopy data collections become larger and more frequent. To benefit from them, accurate and precise quantitative analysis tools like cell instance segmentation have become necessary. However, the highly variable nature of these data collections necessitates retraining segmentation models to maintain high accuracy on new data collections. This process is time-consuming and labor-intensive since a user must annotate much of the new data, usually under the supervision of a medical professional. The problem is further …

Real-Time Cyber-Power Testbed Enhancement And Synchrophasor Data Generation For Anomaly Detection Using Physics-Informed Machine Learning, Vasavi Sivaramakrishnan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Advanced sensing and automation are essential to managing the evolving electric power system with tight coupling of information and power system layer. However, this increasing number of cyber-physical devices brings vulnerabilities from cyber threats and extreme weather events can endanger the power system on a physical level as well. Advanced monitoring and control algorithms with human operators in the loop are needed to enable power system resiliency despite these increasing threats. These advanced algorithms require validation using a realistic test system that mimics real-world scenarios.

This work focuses on a) developing a realistic real-time cyber-power testbed with hardware-in-the-loop to generate …