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An Examination Of The Role Of Cognitive Readiness And Self-Efficacy In Parenting Stress And Coping., Ellen Winifred Leen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cognitive readiness and self-efficacy are similar in that they can be thought of as components of the secondary appraisal process of stress and coping, and each construct includes parental knowledge. We examined self-efficacy and cognitive readiness as they relate to processes of stress and coping, expecting that overlap between the constructs would be accounted for by the role of knowledge. Sixty mothers of toddlers completed questionnaire packets. Our data revealed that, while distinct, cognitive readiness and maternal self-efficacy relate in similar manners to problem-focused coping, and that relation was mediated by stress. This finding suggests that cognitive readiness and self-efficacy …

An Analysis Of Service Sector Growth Effects On Income Inequality A Comparison Model Of Metropolitan And Non-Metropolitan Areas Of The Appalachia., Cheryl Lynne Peskar-Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is very difficult to find regional economic restructuring studies that examine economic well-being by analyzing the effects of service sector growth on income inequality. This study is a regional economic restructuring analysis. Through the use of county level data of 399 Appalachian Counties this study produced a comparison model of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. The main goal of my thesis was to evaluate the growing economic differences in income potentials that have resulted in new spatial inequalities in the United States. By regressing income inequality (GINI INDEX) against service sector growth this study was able to support earlier studies …

Transfer Function Model For An Oxy-Fuel-Fired Batch Tank., James Robert Rhodes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Oxy-fuel combustion is an alternative method for melting glass that has recently become increasingly attractive as one way for the glass industry to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impacts. Research, however, is still needed to better appreciate the advantages that oxy-fuel combustion offers to the users of the batch tanks. Efforts have been underway by the WVU Projects with Industry Program to identify the parameters that govern the combustion and control behavior of an oxy-fuel fired batch tank. The two primary goals of this thesis are to develop a transfer function model for the oxy-fuel fired batch …

A Computational Study Of Mixing In A Liquid Jet Impinging On An Immiscible Liquid Layer., Sherif Mohamed Kandil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Droplet formation is a phenomenon that has great significance in multiphase flows, and it takes place in many natural and man-made applications. The application of interest in this study is the turbulent mixing of Diesel fuel and seawater during the refueling process of naval ships outfitted with compensated fuel ballast tanks (CFBT). Several phenomena take place in fuel tanks that cause turbulent mixing and thus droplet formation. These phenomena include, among other phenomena, a stratified shear flow of two immiscible fluids of different densities, and a densely buoyant vertical jet flow of a higher density fluid impinging on a quiescent …

A Life Cycle Cost Estimation Model For Frp Bridge Decks., Pratik Roychoudhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research developed a prototype life cycle cost-estimating model for FRP bridge decks called “bridgeMATE”. The model considers the agency costs, user costs and the third party costs to establish the life cycle cost of an FRP bridge deck. The model features two condition indices for maintenance and for repair that can estimate the condition of the bridge deck in any given year. Based on the limiting values set on the indices, a decision for maintenance and repair is made when the index value for a year exceeds the limiting value. These limiting values can be entered by the user …

A Comparison Of The Instructional Effectiveness Of Intensive And Semester-Length Courses., Marc C. Seamon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A broad research literature base on the instructional effectiveness of intensive-format courses often finds the intensive courses equal or superior to semester-length versions, but many of the studies from which those conclusions are drawn were theoretically or methodologically flawed. This examination of student characteristics and instructional effectiveness in one matched pair of educational psychology classes found that students in the intensive version of the course performed significantly better than students in the semester-length course on posttests of content and questions tapping higher-order learning. Despite indications of better learning in the intensive-course group, the two groups of students did not differ …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Different Wavelengths Of Argon Laser Irradiation On The Solubility Of Human Enamel: An In Vitro Study., Bradley Fulton Kendzior

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decalcification around orthodontic appliances is an ongoing problem during orthodontic treatment. Argon laser irradiation has been shown to decrease the solubility of enamel. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine the length of time necessary to create lesions of adequate depth, an intact surface zone, and a distinct body of the lesion zone; 2) determine if different wavelengths of argon laser irradiation (457-501nm or 457 514nm) of non-pumiced and non-etched enamel provided different levels of resistance to demineralization; 3) determine if different wavelengths of argon laser irradiation (457 501nm or 457-514nm) of pumiced and etched enamel provided different …

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modeling Of Total Hip Arthroplasty: Creep Under Dynamic Load., Ganesh Thyagarajan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Theclinical success of the polished tapered stem in particular has widely been demon strated. However, the mechanical environment of this stem is not understood. The overall goal of this research was to understand the influence of bone cement creep on the me chanical environment of a polished tapered stem using a physiological three-dimensional finite element model. Specifically, the objectives were to: (1) Investigate the influence of three different commercially available cements on stem subsidence and cement mantle stresses. Both short (24 hours) and long (16 years) term simulations were conducted; (2) Consider the effect of cyclic loading (using a creep …

Enjoying A Bad Life: Short Fiction Drawn From Disorder., Kate Green Van Sant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My own cultural background is somewhat confused, and I inherited from my late father many strange and suspicious stories that can never be corroborated. This allowance for ambiguity also reminded me of my fondness for the labyrinths and forking paths of Borges, and I realized that this duality was probably closely related to my travels between cultural frontiers and my frequent passages between mania and depression. The narrator struggles for independence and emotional stability with humor, attempting to pull order, both creative and practical, from her disorder. Her success is to be judged not as much in her accomplishments as …

Student Preceptions Of Teacher Violations Of Expected Verbal And Nonverbal Immediate Behaviors., Amy M. Denson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined student expectations of teacher behavior and how violations of those expectations are evaluated by students. The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not students hold certain expectations about their teachers and if so, which types of behaviors were expected or not expected of classroom teachers. Students were asked to complete the Immediacy Expectation Scale (IES) to determine if teachers were expected to use immediate behaviors and also to determine if teachers were expected to not misbehave. Students were further asked to read four scenarios that manipulated teachers as high or low in immediacy and …

Object-Oriented Expert System Design: Texpert., Maryam Farmani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Object-Orientation is a powerful approach to managing complexity, which has received widespread attention in the past few years. Object-Oriented Design is based on a small number of basic concepts: object, classes, operations and relationships. Some important relationships are inheritance, message passing, and encapsulation. Different methods and notations have been proposed within this paradigm, and a Unified Modeling Language has been developed based on several of these methods. Most rule-based expert systems are not flexible enough to handle problems that mix logical deductions, rule-based inferences, and procedure execution, but mixed problems are common in modern society. Management decisions, for example, are …

The Effects Of Personality Traits On General Disclosiveness., Aaron Douglas Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential relationship between an individual’s temperament and her/his general disclosiveness. This study utilized Eysenck’s model of temperament and the Five Factor model of personality to predict an individual’s level of general disclosiveness and the sub-components of disclosiveness. The results indicated that both models were relatively equal predictors of general disclosiveness. Both models were moderately strong predictors of the valence and honesty dimensions of an individual’s disclosiveness. A moderately strong negative correlation between neuroticism and the valence dimension of disclosiveness was established. Finally, psychoticism and three factors (openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) of …

The Quantitative Nutrient Assessment Of 5Th Grade Children At Risk For Cardiovascular Disease In Rural West Virginia., Colleen A. Kelley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The diet quality of children in today’s society has been a growing concern to health officials. The incidence of childhood obesity is on the rise and with this comes the increased risk of future disease. West Virginia is known to have the highest rate of obesity in the United States, the third highest rate of self-reported hypertension followed by a mortality rate for cardiovascular disease that is 21% higher then the national average, and the fifth highest rate for smoking (Barnette, et al., 1998). Over two-thirds of West Virginia is considered to be a rural area (Barnette et al., 1998) …

Exploring Out-Of-Class Communication: The Development And Testing Of A Measure., Jennifer Lee-Ann Knapp

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine out-of-class communication (OCC) between students and instructors. More specifically, the study was concerned with student immediacy, instructor immediacy, student affect for the course and affect for the instructor, and student motives for communicating with their instructors outside of the classroom. Participants were students enrolled in undergraduate communication classes at two institutions, Canisius College and West Virginia University. 218 participants completed surveys regarding the instructor they talked to the most outside of the classroom (e.g. during office hours, on campus, or around town). Results of the study show that OCC is positively and …

Mechanotransduction In Bone: Passive And Load-Induced Fluid Transport In Rat Femora., Bixia Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The capacity of bone tissue to alter its mass and structure in response to mechanical demands has long been recognized but the mechanisms involved remained poorly understood. Load-induced interstitial fluid flow has been postulated to provide a mechanism for transduction of the mechanical signals to the cellular level to activate bone adaptation. This research is to investigate experimentally the effects of mechanical loading on fluid flow in bone by introducing stain/tracer. Rat femurs were used to test the passive diffusion and mechanical transport properties of the stain in bone. It was found that fluorescein is compatible with an animal model …

Shake, Rattle And Roll: Hazard Modeling In Indonesia Using Gis., Jacqueline K. Snyder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The islands of Indonesia are unique in that they are prone to more combined natural disasters caused by volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunami than most other countries. Indonesia is also one of the most densely populated areas in the world. As a result, Indonesia is highly vulnerable to large-scale natural disasters. The political structure, island setting and economic status of the country have prevented the creation and implementation of a comprehensive vulnerability hazard model. Such a model would be an invaluable tool in reducing both economic loss and human casualties arising from natural hazards because it would identify vulnerable areas and …

The Relation Of Anxiety Sensitivity And Coping Strategy To Carbon Dioxide-Induced Anxious And Fearful Responding., Adam Peter Spira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined hypotheses regarding the relations among anxiety sensitivity (AS), coping strategy, and anxious responding to a 10-minute inhalation of 10% CO2-enriched air. Elevated scores on several subscales of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index - Revised (ASI-R) predicted CO2-induced panic symptoms. In addition, avoidant coping strategies were predictive of CO2-induced anxious and fearful responding. A composite of subscales from the COPE Inventory predicted aspects of challenge-induced anxiety that were not predicted by the ASI. Although results support contemporary models of panic disorder, our findings also indicate that AS may not be as important to the development and maintenance of …

"Playing To The Cameras": The Presence Of An Entertainment Perspective In Political Panel Programming And The Implications Of Making Politics Palatable And Appealing., Marcus Edward Snyder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The proliferation of political television talk shows as a modern media form appears to have had a profound influence on the dimensions and depth of public discourse. While the majority of these public affairs programs position themselves as forums for the serious discussion of consequential events and ideas, many media critics have suggested that these programs have diminished the quality of the national political dialogue by presenting and interpreting information according to television’s penchant for drama and amusement. Although public affairs programs have been the target of much criticism, their has been little academic exploration of the ways which these …

Fashion In The Classroom And Perceptions Of Attraction And Credibility., Ellen Louise Kapalko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an instructor’s fashionableness has an impact on his or her students and perceptions of attraction, credibility, and affect. Participants were 113 students enrolled in introductory communication courses at West Virginia University. A pre-test was given to 14 graduate students who rated the photographs as being fashionable or unfashionable. 51 participants rated the fashionable photograph and 63 rated the unfashionable photograph for attraction, credibility, and affect. Results of this study showed that there were no differences in students’ perceptions of attraction, credibility, and affect between the fashionable and unfashionable instructor

A Prototype Automatic Dental Identification System (Adis)., Diaa Eldin Mohamed Nassar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this work we apply combined digital image processing and artificial neural network techniques in developing a prototype of an automatic dental identification system (ADIS) to be employed for postmortem forensic identification. The prototype ADIS follows a pyramidal image-matching architecture used in developing an analogous fingerprint comparison system. Owing to the differences in image natures, we used new techniques and modified some mathematical models. We introduce an adaptive technique for dental radiograph enhancement and an adaptive strategic searching technique for neural network training. The training and testing results we obtained are promising.

Trisomy 8 Mosaicism: Cell Cycle Kinetics And Distribution Of Trisomy 8 And Normal Cells In Embryonic And Extra-Embryonic Tissues., Bonnie J. Pettit

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Amniocentesis identified a fetus with trisomy 8 in one third of metaphase cells while remaining cells were normal. The purpose of this project was to determine the level of trisomy 8 mosaicism within embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues and cell cycle division rates for the two cell lines. Tissue samples collected at birth included cord blood, cord tissue, peripheral blood, and placental tissues. The level of trisomy 8 and normal cells was determined in G-banded metaphases and fluorescence in situ hybridization of interphase cells. Trisomy 8 metaphase and interphase cell investigations identified a significant decrease of trisomy 8 cells undergoing mitosis. …

An Intelligent System's Approach To Reservoir Characterization In Cotton Valley., Mofazzal Hossan Bhuiyan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reservoir characterization in the Cotton Valley formation has always been a challenge for the Engineers, Geologist and Geophysists because of its heterogeneity as well as for the fact that well logs and reservoir characteristics are non-correlatable from well to well. This study introduces a new technique to characterize the cotton valley reservoir. Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging logs (MRI) provide information about reservoir characteristics such as effective porosity, fluid saturation and rock permeability more accurately than conventional wireline logs. The fuzzy C- mean analysis tool is utilized to group well logs together based on similarity criteria of the reservoir formation and …

The Effect Of Environmental Illumination On Traffic Sign Conspicuity And Retroreflectivity., Allen F. Bildstein Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Due to the high number of nighttime crashes and fatalities, Congress has mandated that a minimum standard be established for traffic sign retroreflectivity. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has sponsored numerous studies to determine minimum in-service retroreflectivity guidelines for traffic sign visibility and legibility. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the adequacy of the recommended minimum in-service retroreflectivity guidelines in situations of varying visual complexity and environmental illumination. Subjects completed a target search and recognition operation on a set of eleven traffic signs presented at four different background complexities and three different luminance levels, including the recommended minimum in-service …

The Relationship Of Mental Skills To Performance On A Tennis Accuracy Task Under Fatigued And Non-Fatigued Conditions., Mark Christopher Booras

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether athletes with higher mental skills perform tennis accuracy skills better than athletes with lower mental skills under two conditions. Division 1 tennis players (N = 11 men, N = 10 women) were divided into high and low mental skills groups by a median split on the ACSI-28. They were taken through two exercise conditions, fresh and fatigue, on two separate days and given a tennis accuracy task at the end of each condition. A repeated measure ANOVA determined there was no significant interaction between mental skill level and task condition scores. …

The Economical Use Of High-Performance Steel In Slab-On-Steel Stringer Bridge Design., Beth F. Clingenpeel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the early 90’s a collaborative effort between the American Iron & Steel Institute, the US Navy, and the Federal Highway Administration began the development of high performance steel (HPS). HPS70W is the product of this effort and is currently being employed in bridge design. The benefits of this steel are higher fracture toughness, improved welding characteristics, and enhanced weathering characteristics. However, HPS70W has an increased material relative to traditional bridge steels. Because of the increased cost, there is a need to investigate the economical use of HPS70W in design. A few studies have been performed to explore this issue …

Japan's Ise Shrine And Selected Norwegian Stave Churches: An Examination Of The Definition Of Vernacular Architecture., H. Gary Gillespie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Japan’s Ise Shrine (300-600 C.E.) and Norway’s stave churches (1100-1250 C.E.) are examples of vernacular architecture. Analyses of their functions, building materials, construction techniques, structural forms, and the impact of local philosophical, mythological, and folk influences upon their forms and decorations show that the Ise Shrine and selected Norwegian stave churches reflect cultural values and idea systems common to both cultures. By definition, vernacular architecture implies a regional, provincial character wherein architectural style is perpetuated by native traditions as opposed to cross-cultural influences or universal expression. Yet, as this study demonstrates, all vernacular architecture is not so idiosyncratic and provincial, …

Exploring The Linkage Of Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia) And Geographic Information Systems (Gis): A Case Study Of The West Run Expressway (Wre), Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia., Sewelo S. Keleagetse

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that seeks to identify potential environmental impacts resulting from development projects and to use this information to minimize those impacts on the social and ecological systems. EIA has been in existence for over three decades and has evolved from a single legislative mandate to a broad methodology. Since the introduction of EIA in the National Environmental Policy Act legislation in 1969, many techniques have been developed to help identify and assess the environmental impacts arising from human activity. Due to the complex nature of both social and natural systems, questions have been raised …

A Comparison Of White-Tailed Deer Population Estimation Methods In West Virginia., Christopher A. Langdon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I compared 5 methods of estimating white-tailed deer density, evaluated the area a baited automated camera surveys, and examined the effects of baiting on deer movement at the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in Randolph County, West Virginia during 2000 and 2001. A concurrent study provided a marked deer population (267 radiocollared and 2118 total marked deer) and deer telemetry data.

I compared deer density estimates derived from pellet group counts, spotlight distance sampling, spotlight mark-resighting, automated camera surveys, and automated camera mark-resighting among summer, fall, winter, and spring. A pellet group count was not performed in the winter …

Mechanisms Of Lung Injury Caused By Residual Oil Fly Ash: Role Of Metal-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species., Anthony Brent Lewis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inhalation of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) has been shown to increase pulmonary morbidity in exposed workers. We examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ROFA-Induced lung injury. ROFA (ROFA-Total) was suspended in saline, incubated, centrifuged, and separated into soluble (ROFA-Soluble) and insoluble (ROFA-Insoluble) fractions. The generation of ROS from ROFA samples was measured by electron spin resonance (ESR). Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with saline, ROFATotal, ROFA-Soluble, and ROFA-Insoluble (1 mg/ 100 g body wt). Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage cells were harvested at 4, 24, and 72 hours after instillation. Chemiluminescence, lipid peroxidation, and biochemical parameters …

The Effects Of Same-Sex And Other-Sex Contexts On Masculinity, Femininity, And Goals., Jennifer Pickard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main purpose of the study was to address whether or not state measures of gender role orientation and goals for interactions change according to aspects of the social situation. The sample consisted of 40 males and 40 females (M = 19.5 years, SD = 2.10). The study utilized a within-subject design; each participant worked on a collaborative task with both a male and female partner. Participants’ state masculinity and femininity and goals for mutual participation, control, and task performance were assessed when working with a same-sex and other-sex partner. Participants reported more femininity when working with an other-sex partner …