Digital Commons Network^™

Critical Communities Of Practice In Distance American Sign Language Interpreter Education, Danielle South

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

American Sign Language interpreter education must center the Deaf community in the learning environment. In a distance-education environment, the task of connecting students with the Deaf community is challenging due to time constraints and geographic separation. In order to facilitate meaningful, engaging, experiential online learning, I developed a critical community of practice (CCoP), similar to Lave & Wenger’s (1991) community of practice (CoP). I facilitate my research through one primary research question and three subquestions: (1) How does integration of the critical community of practice framework impact students’ learning in an online language-interpreting-based learning environment? (a) How does critical discourse …

Quantifying The Impact Of Load-Following On Gas-Fired Power Plants, Yifan Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Due to rapid penetration of renewables into the grid, natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants are being forced to cycle their loads more frequently and rapidly than for which they were designed. However, the impact of load-following operation on plant efficiency and equipment health are currently poorly understood. The objective of this work is to quantify the impact of load-following on the gas-fired plants by developing high-fidelity multi-scale dynamic models. There are four main tasks in this project. First, dynamic model of an NGCC power plant has been developed. The main components of the NGCC plants are the gas …

Design Of A Heat Exchanger For A Supercritical Co2 Turbine System, Kehinde Oluwatobi Adenuga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research aims at designing a shell and tube heat exchanger which will drive a turbine operated on supercritical CO₂. Hot gases from boiler (simulated using air) at 1500 K is introduced into the shell to heat up the supercritical CO₂ at 10 MPa flowing within tubes from 450 K to 1050 K. The design was done using selected shell and tube heat exchanger empirical equations at predefined boundary conditions. The effect of shell and tube diameter on other design parameters was examined. It was observed that the number of tubes, tube external and internal side surface …

Single And Multi-Photon Laser Induced Fluorescence For Electric Thruster And Fusion Applications, Thomas E. Steinberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Single and Multi-photon Laser Induced Fluorescence for Electric Thruster and Fusion Applications

Thomas Edward Steinberger

Laser-based diagnostics are increasingly sought after to investigate a variety of plasmas due to their non-perturbative capabilities. Specifically, laser induced fluorescence (LIF) provides a highly localized and precise spectroscopic technique to measure absolute density, temperature, and bulk flow. In this work, LIF and two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence (TALIF) are used to investigate electric propulsion and fusion-relevant plasmas, respectively. Ion velocity distribution functions (IVDF) of singly ionized atomic iodine (I II) are measured for the first time and lineshape characteristics are presented for the diagnosis …

Dynamic Modelling And Control Of Grid-Level Energy Storage Systems, Sai Pushpitha Vudata

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The focus of this work is on two energy storage technologies, namely pumped storage hydroelectricity (PHS) and secondary batteries. Under secondary battery technologies, two potential technologies for grid-scale storage, namely high-temperature sodium-sulfur (NaS) battery and vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), are investigated. PHS is a largescale (>100 MW) technology that stores and generates energy by transporting water between two reservoirs at different elevations. The goal is to develop a detailed dynamic model of PHS and then design the controllers to follow the desired load trajectory accurately with high efficiency. The NaS battery and VRFB are advanced secondary batteries which …

Experimental Investigations Of Contact Friction And Transport Properties Of Monolayer And Bilayer Graphene, Prakash Gajurel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Results obtained from experimental investigations of contact friction in monolayer and bilayers graphene and the related effects on their transport properties are presented here along with their discussion and interpretation. For this purpose, chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene samples on SiO₂/Si were prepared. The samples were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Summaries of the results are given below.

Defects-controlled friction in graphene is of technological importance but the underlying mechanism remains a subject of debate. The new results obtained from the analysis of lateral force microscopy images revealed that the contact …

Perceptions And Instructional Practices Used By West Virginian Secondary Agricultural Teachers In Meat Science Education, Kindra D. Carr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A focus on classroom integration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts has resulted in secondary teachers broadening the scope and delivery of STEM principles in their classes. Because agriculture classes allow students to convert abstract ideas into concrete ideas, they provide a useful setting to teach STEM concepts. Using secondary agricultural classes to teach science is effective and has contributed to higher standardized science test scores, as opposed to a science class alone. West Virginia is known for meat processing facilities and meat technology learning activities in its public schools. However, little is known about how the content …

Level Of Adoption Of West Virginia Agriculture Teachers' Usage Of Internet-Based Educational Technology In The Classroom, Travis Daniel Veach

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of adoption of West Virginia agricultural educators’ usage of internet-based educational technology for instruction. The population for this study included 103 educators during the 2020-2021 school year. The study yielded thirty-two responses from the population. Respondents indicated they use internet-based educational technology for their classroom instruction. Respondents indicated they use internet-based educational technology in a variety of different ways for instruction. Respondents adopted internet-based educational technology at varying degrees depending on the technology, some respondents being early adopters, and others later adopters.

Development Of Collision Resilient Drone For Flying In Cluttered Environment, Al Mahmud

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of multi-rotor aerial vehicles, also known as drones, has increased significantly in the last decade due to their ease of use and applicability to an extended range of functions. Therefore, the importance of making these vehicles safe, for both themselves and the people around them, has also increased. A clear solution to this problem is the development of algorithms that generate collision-free paths using different sensors. However, even with such onboard computation, avoiding a collision is not always possible. Thus, the use of a protective structure (cage) around the aerial vehicle is a solution to keep it safe …

Flow Field Measurement And Qualification Of The West Virginia University Environmental Wind Tunnel, Katherine Mary Reid

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In 2013 West Virginia University acquired an Environmental Wind Tunnel from Cornell University. Due to the state of the tunnel, elements of the tunnel were redesigned and rebuilt at the West Virginia University Hangar in Morgantown, West Virginia. The motivation of this research was to evaluate and qualify the flow field within the test section of this redesigned and reconstructed wind tunnel. The tunnel has many uses for the university, including outside research opportunities as well as educational purposes for students in the Aerospace Engineering Department. The methods employed for this effort included developing a grid of pitot tubes to …

Natural Gas Conversion To Value-Added Chemicals By Microwave Catalytic Processes, Brandon Robinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ethane is the second-largest component in natural gas and is typically separated out to minimize condensation in the pipelines. The technical difficulties and cost associated with the transportation and the storage of ethane have led companies to start burning natural gas to produce power or flaring which attributes to the global CO₂ emission problem. The conversion of ethane to higher-value liquid products is of increasing importance so that the natural gas can be safely utilized and cost-effectively transported. Existing commercial technologies used to convert ethane to liquid chemical products are typically based on the indirect syngas route, such as …

Multimodel Operability Framework For Design Of Modular And Intensified Energy Systems, Vitor Gazzaneo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation, a novel operability framework is introduced for the process design of modular and intensified energy systems that are challenged by complexity and highly constrained environments. Previously developed process operability approaches are reviewed and further developed in terms of theory, application, and software infrastructure. An optimization-based multilayer operability framework is introduced for process design of nonlinear energy systems. In the first layer of this framework, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP)-based iterative algorithm considers the minimization of footprint and achievement of process intensification targets. Then, in the second layer, an operability analysis is performed to incorporate key features of …

Ecology Of Freshwater Turtles And Other Wetland Wildlife In A North-Central West Virginia Watershed, Darien N. Lozon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The goal of wetland mitigation in the United States is to achieve a no-net-loss of wetlands; however, mitigated wetlands must be monitored to ensure wetland function is comparable to natural wetlands. In this study, relationships between land use practices and freshwater turtle abundance, wetland connectivity, and heavy metal bioaccumulation were investigated. In Chapter 1, a summary of pre-restoration species abundance and diversity is provided for anurans, birds, benthic macroinvertebrates, fishes, small mammals, plants, and turtles in riparian wetlands along Ruby Run, a tributary of Deckers Creek in north-central West Virginia, USA. These data provide a baseline for comparison after mitigation …

Identifying The Technical And Teacher Skills Needed By In-Service Teachers To Effectively Teach An Agricultural Mechanics Course In West Virginia, Coleton Todd Payne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Agricultural mechanics remains one of the largest content sections in school-based agriculture education (SBAE). Therefore, in-service and pre-service teachers need to be effective in teaching agricultural mechanics to their students (Burris et al., 2005; Hainline & Wells, 2019). A number of studies (McKim & Saucier, 2011; Saucier et al., 2014) have identified the importance of safety in agricultural mechanics laboratories, but not the content skills specifically needed to teach the courses. The only areas of content that most new in-service teachers possess are those of basic woodworking and basic metal working. This study bases its theoretical framework off of the …

The Role Of Structure Evolution For Prbaco2o6-Δ In Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics At Sofc Cathode, Nan Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mixed ion and electron conductive materials especially those with perovskite-related structures have been widely used as cathode and anode of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Double perovskite LnBaCo₂O_6-δ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Nd, Y) cathodes have been shown better performance than single perovskite Ln_0.5Ba_0.5CoO_3-δ in SOFC cathode studies. However, the effect of different double perovskite phases on oxygen transport properties has not been investigated. In this study, the electrochemical performance of different double perovskite materials PrBaCo₂O_6-δ (PBCO), NdBaCo₂O_6-δ (NBCO), YBaCo₂O_6-δ (YBCO), and single perovskite …

Real Vs Fake Faces: Deepfakes And Face Morphing, Jacob L. Dameron

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ability to determine the legitimacy of a person’s face in images and video can be important for many applications ranging from social media to border security. From a biometrics perspective, altering one’s appearance to look like a target identity is a direct method of attack against the security of facial recognition systems. Defending against such attacks requires the ability to recognize them as a separate identity from their target. Alternatively, a forensics perspective may view this as a forgery of digital media. Detecting such forgeries requires the ability to detect artifacts not commonly seen in genuine media. This work …

Increasing The Reliability Of Software Systems On Small Satellites Using Software-Based Simulation Of The Embedded System, Matthew D. Grubb

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The utility of Small Satellites (SmallSats) for technology demonstrations and scientific research has been proven over the past few decades by governments, universities, and private companies. While the research and technology demonstration objectives that can be provided by these SmallSats are becoming similar to larger spacecraft, their reliability still falls behind. This is in part due to the reduced cost of SmallSat missions in comparison to large spacecraft, which requires cheaper components, rapid development schedules, and accepted risk. In these missions, the importance of the flight software is often overlooked, and the software is rushed through development and not fully …

Floating-Gate Design And Linearization For Reconfigurable Analog Signal Processing, Steven Michael Andryzcik Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits have found a place in modern electronics design as a viable alternative to digital pre-processing. With metrics that boast high accuracy and low power consumption, analog pre-processing has opened the door to low-power state-monitoring systems when it is utilized in place of a power-hungry digital signal-processing stage. However, the complicated design process required by analog and mixed-signal systems has been a barrier to broader applications. The implementation of floating-gate transistors has begun to pave the way for a more reasonable approach to analog design. Floating-gate technology has widespread use in the digital domain. Analog and …

Touching Light: A Framework For The Facilitation Of Music-Making In Mixed Reality, Ian Thomas Riley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Drawing upon the historical development of analog and digital technologies alongside the proliferation of computer-assisted performance practices, this research seeks to develop a framework for integrating Mixed Reality applications to live musical performance, specifically through the creation of a Microsoft HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality application in order to facilitate a live performance of an original musical composition for percussion and real-time Mixed Reality environment. Mixed Reality enables a performer to interact with virtual (holograms, VSTs, etc.) and physical (vibraphone, tuned drums, microphones, etc.) objects simultaneously. Tandem to the development of the conceptual framework was the composition of an original score …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Produce Processors Operating In Non-Profit Commercial Kitchens In West Virginia, Megan Christine Govindan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die each year from foodborne illness. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) shifted the focus of the Food and Drug Administration from response, to prevention of foodborne illness. The FSMA identified seven rules related to food safety prevention measures, including inspection and compliance, response and enhanced partnerships to ensure food safety along the food system, and employee-training compliance measures. Increasing access to healthy, local foods has economic, public health, and environmental benefits. Farm to Institution policies are becoming more popular nationally, …

Dynamic Optimization Algorithms For Baseload Power Plant Cycling Under Variable Renewable Energy, Rebecca Hyen Hae Kim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The growing deployment of variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, such as wind and solar, is mainly due to the decline in the cost of renewable technologies and the increase of societal and cultural pressures. Solar and wind power generation are also known to have zero marginal costs and fuel emissions during dispatch. Thereby, the VRE from these sources should be prioritized when available. However, the rapid deployment of VRE has heightened concerns regarding the challenges in the integration between fossil-fueled and renewable energy systems. The high variability introduced by the VRE as well as the limited alignment between demand and …

Soil Response Of Helicopter Liming In The Monongahela National Forest, Jarrett Douglas Fowler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Soils in the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) are acidic due to sandstone parent material, acid deposition, uptake of base cations by vegetation, and release of organic acids by organic matter (OM) decomposition. Increases in soil acidity have caused declines in forest health and changed species composition and nutrient status. Liming can neutralize soil acidity, but no large-scale liming projects have been done on acid forest soils in the USA. In anticipation of acquiring funding for a proposed liming project in the MNF, in 2007 and 2009 10 sites were selected to sample and analyze soils before lime was applied. In …

Deep Learning Architectures For Heterogeneous Face Recognition, Seyed Mehdi Iranmanesh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Face recognition has been one of the most challenging areas of research in biometrics and computer vision. Many face recognition algorithms are designed to address illumination and pose problems for visible face images. In recent years, there has been significant amount of research in Heterogeneous Face Recognition (HFR). The large modality gap between faces captured in different spectrum as well as lack of training data makes heterogeneous face recognition (HFR) quite a challenging problem. In this work, we present different deep learning frameworks to address the problem of matching non-visible face photos against a gallery of visible faces.

Algorithms for …

Photochemical Motion Control Of Belousov-Zhabotinsky Droplets And Turbulence-Like Patterns In The Aluminum Hydroxide Precipitation System, Syed Jazli Syed Jamaluddin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) droplet that is immersed in an oil-phase can self-propel due to a surface tension gradient that exists on the droplet surface. The surface tension gradient is created as a result of the reactions that occur within and on the surface of the BZ droplet. By affecting the rates of these reactions, the BZ droplet direction can be controlled. In our experiments, we tune the reactions that occur within and on the BZ droplet surface by imposing a light intensity gradient on the droplet. We analyzed the BZ droplet motion and demonstrated that we can control the droplet …

An In-Depth Exploration Of Hospital-Based Physical And Occupational Therapists’ Needs, Perceptions And Participation In A Safe Patient Handling And Mobility Program, Kimeran W. Evans

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction - Patient mobility performed in the hospital setting places healthcare workers at high risk for WMSDs. The healthcare industry has responded through the creation of SPHM programs that are successful in reducing work-related injuries broadly. However, less is known about the distinct experiences of rehabilitation professionals. Therefore, an in depth exploration of the perceptions, participation, and needs pertaining to lift equipment usage among rehabilitation professionals was performed.

Methods – A qualitative case study approach explored this bounded system. Six focus groups were conducted with 25 members of the rehabilitation team and three interviews were conducted with key administrative personnel. …

In Vitro And In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation Of Emissions From The Fused Filament Fabrication Three-Dimensional Printing, Mariana T. Farcas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fused filament fabrication (FFF), a three-dimensional (3-D) printing process, is an emerging technology that has recently gained wide popularity among both consumers and manufacturers. As filament is heated to above its glass transition temperature in a 3-D printer, a portion may undergo thermal decompostion, which releases ultrafine particles (UFP) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with potential adverse respiratory health effects are released into the air. This study's central hypotheses is that emissions generated during 3-D printing are toxic and exposure to these emissions induces pulmonary and systemic adverse health effects. Considering that currently, limited understanding is available on the health …

Independent, Semi-Automated Classification Of Petrographic Features In Volcanic Rocks Using Fiji And Weka, Holly Danielle Pettus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Traditional methods of collecting quantitative petrographic data from thin sections (modal mineralogy, size distribution, shapes, etc.) are time- and labor-intensive, and rarely have sample sizes adequate to statistically describe complex rocks (i.e. volcanic rocks). Although manual counting and measurements are now routinely supplemented by digital image analysis, the majority of quantitative petrographic studies still go through a manual digitization stage where object classes are traced before further analyses. This is a major rate-limiting step that reproduces the same problems of small n-values resulting from significant effort. We have valuated the potential and limitations of using the Trainable Weka Segmentation (TWS) …

Design Of Bending Moment And Load Capacity Test For Frp Sheet Piles, Joshua Larry Wilt Mr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sheet piles consist of numerous interlocked segments that form temporary or permanent support walls and serve as the primary foundational component across a variety of civil infrastructural applications, such as below-grade parking structures or sea walls. The installation of sheet piles is particularly advantageous in coastal areas, as dewatering of the site is unnecessary. Steel is commonly used for sheet piles due to its strength and ease of manufacturing; however, in the presence of saltwater steel begins to rust. Contrary to steel and concrete, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sheet piles are resistant to chlorides and have considerably higher corrosion …

Dry Reforming Of Methane Using Microwave Irradiated Metal Oxide/Coal Char Catalysts, Anthony Carter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research focuses on the synthesis of both shaped and amorphous powder materials, the combination of these materials with dried Powder River Basin (PRB) coal char, and their reactionary properties with methane and carbon dioxide gasses with conventional and microwave (MW) heating. The first goal of this project was to synthesize shaped micro and nano sized particles with ideal dielectric properties for converting electromagnetic energy into heat and proven capabilities of activating methane. These particles were synthesized via solvothermal, hydrothermal, and co-preceptory treatments alone and onto the surface of dried PRB coal char. PRB is a sub-bituminous, low-ranking coal (LRC) …

Development Of Thermal Management Strategies Using Cylinder Deactivation For Low-Load Operation In Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks, Christian M. Hushion

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cylinder deactivation (CDA) has been used in gasoline engines, for decades, as a strategy for fuel consumption reduction. The idea of CDA in the heavy-duty diesel (HDD) engine sector has gained traction as a pathway to fuel efficient thermal management strategy. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) control has been a major focus over the last decade and maintaining conducive aftertreatment temperatures is a major design aspect. HDD original equipment manufacturers (OEM) have developed a variety of thermal management strategies which almost all revolve around large fuel penalties. The goal of all of these strategies is for thermal management of the diesel …