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Analytical And Computational Studies Of Gaseous And Dusty Combustion: From The Impacts Of Local Flame Speed Variations To A Global Predictive Mining Fire Scenario, Sinan Demir

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Accidental fires and explosions in gaseous environments with dust impurities constitute a tremendous hazard for dwelling and office buildings as well as for industries dealing with explosive materials such as flammable gasses and combustible dust. Among these industries, coal mining traditionally exhibits one of the highest occupational fatality and injury rates, often due to methane/air/coal-dust catastrophes claiming many lives every year world wide. There is therefore a critical need to reduce the risk of such accidents, or at least to mitigate their disastrous consequences. For this sake, the analytical and computational studies of the present Dissertation reveal the mechanism of …

Synchronization Of Coupled Chemical Oscillators And Collective Behavior Of Self-Propelled Particles, Desmond Tutu Soti Yengi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Social Media, Celebrity Endorsers And Effect On Purchasing Intentions Of Young Adults, Kaitlin M. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Through an online survey methodology, this study explored how the relationship between the three celebrity-based characteristics -- trustworthiness, attractiveness and expertise -- and Millennials' social media usage influences Millennials' purchasing intentions, or their likelihood to buy the product or brand being endorsed. Millennials were the focus of this study due to their involvement with social media, their pre-existing parasocial interactions with celebrities on social media and their increased likelihood of buying products endorsed by celebrities with the hope of being more like them.;The most significant finding revealed that the three celebrity-based characteristics -- expertise, trustworthiness and attractiveness -- are perceived …

Investigating Social Perceptions Associated With Water Quality In Morgantown, West Virginia, Jonas G. Leveque

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation investigates public perceptions of water quality in Morgantown, West Virginia. In recent years, water has become an increasingly critical issue in terms of quantity worldwide, and also in terms of quality. In developed countries such as the United States, water quality is often taken for granted by the general public. Nonetheless, recent water crises in Flint, Michigan and Charleston, West Virginia, are examples showing there are environmental risks associated with human activities. This dissertation explores the context of West Virginia, with coal mining that is decreasing and non-conventional oil and gas drilling that is increasing in the Appalachia …

Forecasting Automobile Demand Via Artificial Neural Networks & Neuro-Fuzzy Systems, Armin Niaki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this research is to obtain an accurate forecasting model for the demand for automobiles in Iran's domestic market. The model is constructed using production data for vehicles manufactured from 2006 to 2016, by Iranian car makers. The increasing demand for transportation and automobiles in Iran necessitated an accurate forecasting model for car manufacturing companies in Iran so that future demand is met. Demand is deduced as a function of the historical data. The monthly gold, rubber, and iron ore prices along with the monthly commodity metals price index and the Stock index of Iran are Artificial neural …

Modeling Of Wind Phenomena And Analysis Of Their Effects On Uav Trajectory Tracking Performance, Jessica Cristine Da Costa Siqueira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has increased greatly over the years and is predicted to increase even more in the future. Thus, it is essential that these vehicles are able to fly safely with adequate performance under normal and abnormal conditions. In this research effort, the objective was to create a wind model to analyze the effects of atmospheric phenomena on trajectory tracking control of UAVs. A simplified model was developed and implemented within the WVU UAV simulation environment in order to simulate atmospheric phenomena, such as, constant wind with turbulence, wind gust and wind shear. Graphical …

Identity Gaps And Perceived Racial Prejudice In The Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship, Matthew J. Thomas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to examine potential relationships between both blatant and subtle racial prejudice, identity gaps (as conceptualized by the communication theory of identity) and relationship satisfaction in the grandparent-emerging adult grandchild relationship. This study also addresses the discrepancy between grandchild perceptions of grandparent levels of blatant and subtle prejudice compared to the grandchild’s selfreport of blatant and subtle prejudice. Results of the current study (N = 460) confirm previous research that indicates both the personal-enacted and personal-relational identity gaps have a negative relationship with relationship satisfaction. Additionally, this study suggests that grandchildren perceive their grandparents’ racial …

Hydraulics And Well Control Complications In Unconventional Shale Laterals, Tawfik A Elshehabi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Painting The Horizon: A Look At Art, Community, And Identity In Appalachia, James Gooch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Removal Notice – Gooch, James Painting the Horizon: A Look at Art, Community, and Identity in Appalachia:

https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.7181 ; https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7181

Removed to protect the privacy of project participants.

Painting the Horizon: A Look at Art, Community, and Identity in Appalachia highlights the lives and careers of five native West Virginian artists from around the state. Focusing on the many ways art has enriched their personal lives, this professional multimedia project also seeks to demonstrate how these individuals—as mentors and teachers—are using art to generate positive change, a stronger sense of community, and revolutionize the cities and towns they call home. …

Deep Extragalactic Neutral Hydrogen Surveys With The Green Bank Telescope, Nickolas M Pingel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Selected Topics In Image Super-Resolution: Guided Image And Learning Representation, Wentian Zhou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Obtaining high-resolution images is a fundamental challenge for many vision related tasks. It is highly desirable to develop effective and efficient super-resolution algorithms to enhance the spatial resolution of acquired images. However, estimating high-resolution images is an ill-posed problem where a large set of possible solutions exist. To make this inverse problem more tractable, it is often necessary to constrain the targeted high-resolution image with a priori information (i.e., in model-based approaches) or to assume the availability of additional training data (i.e., in learning-based approaches). In this dissertation, we propose to (i) use simultaneous-sparse-coding and machine learning techniques to incorporate …

Using A Multi-Omic Approach To Investigate A Diet Intervention In Young Adults At Risk Of Disease, Oluremi Ariel Famodu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Poor dietary behaviors are widely recognized in the role of development and course of a variety of illnesses, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. Young adults have increased risk due to poor dietary behaviors, especially as they transition into a college setting. The evidence demonstrates an urgency for developing treatment and prevention through dietary intervention approaches in this population. In addition to improper diet, investigators have connected abnormal gut microbiome (i.e. the collection of genes from our intestinal microbiota) to inflammation and obesity, therefore momentum has gained in treating the altered gut microbiome with dietary …

Examining Strain Propagation In The Lateral And Codominant Branch Attachment Using Digital Image Correlation, Robert T. Eckenrode Iv

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Static load testing of branches is a well-established method for examining attachment strength of trees. Information gathered from these experiments is used to better understand how branches fail, and predict how they are attached to their parent stem. Digital image correlation (DIC) is used to directly measure strain on the surface of materials during static load testing. By examining how strain moves through the branch attachment, a better understanding of how trees carry loads can also be attained. In these experiments, strain propagation in the branch connection zone of lateral and codominant stems was measured utilizing digital image correlation. In …

The Transformation Of Occupations: A Case Study Of Professionalism In Cocktail Bartending, Jacqueline Fowler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One focus in the sociology of work and occupations literature concerns the phenomena by which occupations transform into skilled professions. This study focuses on a craft cocktail bar and the attending cocktail bartenders as a case study of occupational professionalization. Cocktail bartenders are uniquely suited for this type of inquiry, as many aspects of their occupation carry the markers of professionalism, such as mastery of a skill, a deep understanding of their field, and their potential to be cultural intermediaries.;This study utilizes observation and interviews to elucidate how bartenders define themselves, their work, and their occupation as a whole. By …

Predictions Of Participant Satisfaction And Loyalty At The West Virginia University Outdoor Education Center, Connor R. James

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The overall purpose of this study is to develop a sense of understanding into the general visitors of the West Virginia University Outdoor Education Center (WVU OEC). The WVU OEC is a portion of the university outdoor program Adventure West Virginia. This site has a zip line canopy tour, multiple high rope challenge course elements and a variety of ground based teambuilding elements. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Tear Down The Wall: Long-Form Analytical Techniques And The Music Of Pink Floyd, Christopher Everett Jones

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document examines the harmonic and melodic content of four albums by English Progressive Rock band Pink Floyd: Meddle (1971), The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), and The Wall (1979). Each of these albums presents a coherent discourse that is typical of the art music tradition. The ways in which formal cohesion is achieved includes harmonic arguments, motivic development, and textual and poetic narrative.

Student-Athletes' Experiences With Racial Microaggressions In Sport: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis, Sae-Mi Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite growing research on racial microaggressions as a subtle but prevalent form of racial discrimination, research on microaggressions in sport and their effects on the psychosocial wellbeing of athletes is scarce. Moreover, some researchers question the legitimacy of microaggressions due to their subtle nature and the inconsistency among individuals in how microaggressions are experienced (Lilienfeld, 2017). The purpose of this study was to examine U.S. collegiate student-athletes-of-colors' experiences with racial microaggressions in sport through a new theoretical lens, Foucauldian poststructuralist theory. I theorized microaggressions as an example of the daily panoptic gaze that leads to self-surveillance and the production of …

A Study Of Nikolai Kapustin's Sonata No. 12, Op. 102: A Contemporary Jazz Sonata In Two Movements, Mark Peters

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nikolai Girshevich Kapustin emerged as a musical figure during the latter part of the 20th century. Kapustin's virtuosic piano ability (trained in the traditional Russian school of technique) and fascination for American jazz music equally contributed to his unique compositional style. Despite an early interest in jazz, he continued his traditional studies as a concert pianist. In the face of resistance from the Russian government, jazz continued to gain traction throughout the middle of the twentieth century.;Inspired by the styles and harmonic colors that defined jazz, Kapustin decided to merge his knowledge of Classical piano with his admiration for this …

Modeling, Simulation And Decentralized Control Of Islanded Microgrids, Farideh Doost Mohammadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Modeling, Simulation and Decentralized Control of Islanded Microgrids by Farideh Doost Mohammadi This thesis develops a comprehensive modular state-space model of microgrids containing inverter-based Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). The model is validated and then used for small signal stability enhancement and voltage and frequency control. State space models of various microgrid elements are first derived, which allow for the inclusion of any possible elements such as current controlled inverters that are missing in the literature. Then a complete state space model is obtained to complement the models that are available in the literature and whose objectives are system analysis only …

Dual-Layered Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms (D-Moga): A Robust Solution For Modern Engine Development And Calibrations, Pragalath Thiruvengadam Padmavathy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heavy-duty (HD) diesel engines are the primary propulsion systems used within the freight transportation sector and are subjected to stringent emissions regulations. The primary objective of this study is to develop a robust calibration technique for HD engine optimization in order to meet current and future regulated emissions standards during certification cycles and off-cycle vocation activities. Recently, California - Air Resources Board (C-ARB) has also shown interests in controlling off-cycle emissions from vehicles operating in California by funding projects such as the Ultra-Low NOx study by Sharp et. al [1]. Moreover, there is a major push for the complex real-world …

Characterization Of Insulin Sensitivity And The Plasma Lipidome In Periparturient Dairy Cows, Sina Saed Samii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

During the transition from gestation to lactation, dairy cows experience negative energy balance due to an increased demand for energy to support milk production coupled with inadequate energy intake. Energy deficit during the peripartum is associated with the development of insulin resistance which contributes to adipose tissue lipolysis. In turn, elevated free fatty acids (FFA) in circulation increase triacylglycerol (TAG) deposition in liver. This metabolic impairment is known to cause postpartum metabolic diseases including fatty liver and ketosis. Consequently, postpartum metabolic disease can lead to reduced milk production in early lactation, impaired reproductive performance, and increased culling rates. Moreover, cows …

A Study Of The Fast Radio Burst Population, Akshaya Rane

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are a new class of astrophysical phenomena discovered a decade ago that are characterized by extremely bright millisecond duration radio bursts originating in external galaxies. We have processed archival pulsar survey data obtained with the 64-m Parkes radio telescope in Australia. We used the single-pulse search method to search for pulsars, rotating radio transients (RRATs), and FRBs. RRATs are Galactic pulsars that emit sporadic pulses. We detected 20 known pulsars and one RRAT in this analysis but we did not find any FRBs. We combined this null result with the previous searches carried out with Parkes …

War On The Mind: Trauma And Coping Among Union Soldiers And Veterans, Kathleen Anneliese Logothetis Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

"War on the Mind: Trauma and Coping in the Union Army," is a work of social, cultural, and military history and examines experiences of mental trauma in the Union Army during the war and among veterans in the post-war period. Without our modern definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Civil War soldiers had a very different view of how they were mentally experiencing the war. By looking at soldier accounts and the records of insane asylums it is clear that soldiers did have experiences of trauma and insanity during or related to their wartime service. However, those same asylum records, as …

Engineered Inks For Environment-Friendly Additive Manufacturing Of Hierarchical Microstructures, Maria Alejandra Torres Arango

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Novel material synthesis and green engineering innovations in manufacturing are important enablers of new technologies. Here, a range of functional materials systems and their processing through additive manufacturing are investigated. The materials studied consist of Ag, ZnO and TiO2 based inks for additive manufacturing with potential application across multiple technological fields.;In particular, the synthesis of multi-functional emulsion inks, and their deposition through continuous-flow direct writing are investigated. Highlights of this work include the study of the curing/sintering conditions of such ink systems aiming for fundamental insights in their synthesis at low-temperatures (below 150°C), compatible with flexible polymeric substrates. Also, the …

The American Hunting Story And The Formation Of Environmental Literature., Jericho Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation addresses the almost complete absence of American hunting stories in the subfield of environmental literature within American literature. Since environmental literature’s inception in the early 1990s with The Norton Book of Nature Writing (1990) and American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau (2008), environmental literary scholars have failed to take into account the roles of hunters in advancing conservationist measures to protect and preserve wildlife and lands throughout America from the early nineteenth century through the present day. This project seeks to build a bridge between environmental literary scholars and environmentalists far removed from hunting traditions and those whose …

"Our Own Flesh And Blood?": Delaware Indians And Moravians In The Eighteenth-Century Ohio Country., Jennifer L. Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Between 1740 and 1790, Moravians and Delaware Indians fostered a spiritual and political alliance even as they endured a series of internal divisions and external threats. Although the relationship withstood the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution splintered both groups and estranged them from their neighbors. When the Revolution ushered in a radical new democracy that undermined the authority of eastern leaders, the Moravians proved powerless to control white settlers who enforced their own vision of justice against Native peoples. The Moravian-Delaware partnership unraveled as the dramatic upheaval of the American Revolution fundamentally reshaped the political landscape and rendered the …

Effect Of Micro-Osteoperforations On Orthodontic Tooth Movement With Clear Aligner Treatment., Dobin Choi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Micro-osteoperforation (MOP) is a relatively noninvasive procedure to expedite the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) by enahncing naturally occurring inflammatory response. This procedure is often combined with clear aligner treatment (CAT) in order to shorten the duration of aligner wear. However, the question yet remained whether the accuracy of OTM was maintained if the patients switched the aligners more frequently than recommended. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of MOPs on the accuracy of anterior OTM and to evaluate the differential effect of MOPs on gender, age, severity of the mal-alignment, and …

Higher Education Marketing Through Digital Community: Understanding The Motivations Of Joining And Participating In University-Sponsored Communities And The Effect On Yield., Evan C. Moore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As enrollment goals and student informational resources increase, universities are scrambling to be more competitive in the marketplace and implement more effective enrollment strategies. Digital closed online communities are one new method universities are using to reach students. Using an online survey, the authors investigated the motivations behind why students join these communities and how they participate in them. In addition, the research also tested how variables correlated to and predicted a student’s behavioral intention to yield, or enroll at, the university. Findings expand Situational Theory of Problem Solving literature and establish connections between certain attributes and enrolling at the …

Flute Vibrato During The 78-Rpm Era: An Exploration Of Representative Recordings Of Claude Debussy's Syrinx, 1928-1953., Angela Reynolds

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using selected 78-rpm era recordings of Claude Debussy’s Syrinx, this research will explore the development of flute vibrato in early twentieth century recordings (ca. 1928-1953). The recordings that will be used in this case study include those of prominent flutists Marcel Moyse (recordings from 1928 and 1950), Martin Ruderman (1947 – 1948), Jean Pierre-Rampal (1949), and William Kincaid (1950 and 1953). The range of recordings include those of studio quality as well as live performances on Library of Congress Music Division Concerts, each selected from Susan Nelson’s The Flute on Record: The 78 Rpm Era: A Discography and further narrowed …

The Utility Of Fine-Scale Remote Sensing Data For Modeling Habitat Characteristics And Breeding Bird Species Distributions In An Appalachian Mature Deciduous Forest., James Sheehan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, I tested the potential for remote sensing data with a high spatial resolution to model breeding forest bird species and their habitat at a fine spatial scale. The research took place on ridgetops in a large, relatively contiguous Appalachian mature deciduous forest in northwestern WV, USA. The remote sensing data sources were a leaf-on QuickBird satellite image (0.6-m panchromatic and 2.4-m multispectral) and a 3-m digital elevation model (DEM). For the first part of the study, I extracted spectral and textural measures from the satellite image and terrain information from the DEM. I then used these data …