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Synthesis Of Novel Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds Via Cascade Cyclizations Of Benzannulated Enyne-Allenes, Yanzhong Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Under mild conditions, a diindeno-fused 4H-cyclopenta[ def]phenanthrene was successfully synthesized through the thionyl chloride-induced cascade cyclizations of the corresponding enediynyl propargylic alcohol with the formation of four new rings in one operation. The diindeno-fused 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene has a 41-carbon framework represented on the surface of C60.;A variety of helicenes with one or two phenyl substituents at the most sterically hindered position were also successfully synthesized through a cascade sequence of reactions involving a Schmittel cyclization reaction of the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allenes followed by an intramolecular radical-radical coupling reaction to afford the formal Diels-Alder adducts. The helical structures were produced either by …

Performance Evaluation Of Frp Bridge Deck Under Shear Loads, Woraphot Prachasaree

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Shear behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite coupons, components, and systems is studied under torsional shear, in-plane shear, racking shear, out-of-plane shear, punching shear, and shear of web-flange junction. In addition, local deflection including web buckling of different FRP deck types has been evaluated and reported. FRP composites have been tested under a wide range of shear load conditions and their data has been compared with theoretical evaluations. Experimental data revealed that the shear modulus of FRP bridge decks ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 msi, shear stress ranged from 3 to 12 ksi, while the shear strain to …

Hostility, Forgiveness, And Cardiovascular Reactivity To Stress: Does Forgiveness Mediate Or Moderate The Relation Between Hostility And Cardiovascular Reactivity To Anger -Eliciting Laboratory Experiences?, Danielle H. Hernandez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous studies that have examined the physical health consequences of individual variables have focused on negative traits such as hostility, anger, and stress. These studies have demonstrated that such variables are often related to deleterious health outcomes as well as exaggerated cardiovascular reactions to stress. Fewer studies have examined the health benefits of positive variables like forgiveness. Forgiveness and hostility are thought to have an inverse relation, and it is not surprising that forgiveness has been associated with reduced cardiovascular reactivity to stress. Recognizing that hostility is related to elevated cardiovascular reactivity, and that forgiveness is associated with decreased cardiovascular …

The Effects Of Hypovirulent Cryphonectria Parasitica Inoculum, Developmental Stages Of Cankers, And Time Of Year Of Wounding On The Survival Of The American Chestnut., Steven R. Jakobi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The dissemination of European (Euro-7) and North American (GH2) hypovirulent (H) isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica to American chestnut saplings was investigated. Nine 0.01 ha plots were established in a clearcut. Each of 24 trees per plot received 4 punch- and 1 branch wounds in October, 1985; January, April, and July, 1986. Control plots received a virulent (V) strain of the fungus. H inocula were placed in three plots per treatment, respectively, at 2–4 month intervals. Cankers were sampled over a 2.5-year period. Isolate morphology, growth rate and sporulation were evaluated. Three hundred forty-three of the 3,456 punch wounds and 112 …

Paradise Negotiated: Early Modern Women Writing Utopia, 1640--1760, Lisa K. Brewer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Utopian writing by early modern women traditionally has been left out of the canon of utopian literature because it has been overlooked, undervalued, and often does not conform to the genre characteristics set forth by the example of Thomas More and other male writers of "classic utopias." The works recognized by scholars as fitting into this genre have all been written by men, and the few agreed upon works considered as "utopia proper" describe an imaginary, perfect, political state. However, because class and gender greatly influence the form and content of utopia, I argue for the expansion of the definition …

Integrating Visible, Near Infrared And Short Wave Infrared Hyperspectral And Multispectral Thermal Imagery For Geological Mapping At Cuprite, Nevada, Xianfeng Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Visible, near infrared (VNIR), and short wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral and thermal infrared (TIR) multispectral remote sensing have become potential tool for geological mapping. In this dissertation, a series of studies were carried out to investigate the potential impact of combining VNIR/SWIR hyperspectral and TIR multispectral data for surface geological mapping. First, a series of simulated data sets based on the characteristics of hyperspectral AVIRIS and multispectral TIR MASTER sensors was created from surface reflectance and emissivity library spectra. Five common used classification methods including minimum distance, maximum likelihood, spectral angle mapper (SAM), spectral feature fitting (SFF), and binary encoding …

"Upon The Shoulders Of Giants": Deconstructing The Lost State Of Franklin, 1784-2005., Kevin T. Barksdale

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In 1784, the residents of the upper east Tennessee Valley declared themselves independent from their parent state of North Carolina. The political and economic leadership of the newly formed state of Franklin utilized the ideology, symbolism, and rhetoric of the American Revolution to garner local, regional and national support for the movement. After the state's collapse in 1788, the state of Franklin continued to attract supporters and admirers, who considered the movement to be a noble extension of the revolution. Over the last two hundred years, historians, politicians, abolitionists, and business leaders have recast the legacy and meaning of the …

A Study Of Assessment Policies And Practices Of Directors In Pre-Kindergarten Programs In West Virginia., Janet Dozier

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As education for young children becomes more standards-based there has been a cry for more assessments. Developmentally appropriate assessment for young children has been defined by the twelve guidelines developed by the National Association for Young Children. The purpose of this study was done by surveying the 440 pre-kindergarten program directors in West Virginia regarding his/her perception of importance and implementation of those national assessment guidelines and followed by ten structured interviews of directors across the program descriptions. The study found the implementations of guidelines to be positively correlated to the director's perception of importance. Further it found that all …

Hall Effect And Photoconductivity Lifetime Studies Of Gallium Nitride, Indium Nitride, And Mercury Cadmium Telluride., Craig H. Swartz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A deep understanding of both carrier recombination and transport is necessary for semiconductor engineering, particularly in defining the ultimate limits of performance for a given device before spending the resources to perfect its fabrication. Hall effect measurements utilizing a variable magnetic field are necessary to discriminate between conduction in epitaxial layers and conduction originating at the surface or at an interfacial layer. For thick hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) grown GaN, variable field Hall measurements revealed the presence of small but significant lower mobility surface and interface electrons which would otherwise lead to errors in interpreting the electrical properties. In …

A Study In Nineteenth-Century American Costumes Based On Mary Todd Lincoln And Thomas "Tad" Lincoln., Sheila A. Wise

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An interest in nineteenth century history led to a desire to study the construction of American garments during this period. The historical figures, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln, her son were selected as the basis of a study of mid-Victorian costume pattern-making and construction.

The main goal in pursuing this project was to gain a better understanding of the historical zeitgeist of the period and the pattern making and construction of American women’s, and children’s nineteenth century garments. The objectives of the thesis were to: 1) study, organize and research what Americans wore in the mid-Victorian era; 2) …

The Effects Of Roads And Culverts On Stream And Stream-Side Salamander Communities In Eastern West Virginia., Ryan Lee Ward

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Roads and culverts have many effects on stream salamanders. We examined 120 culvert crossings in the Shavers Fork and Dry Fork watersheds in eastern West Virginia. Complete barriers to salamander passage occurred at 55.0% of the sites visited and partial barriers at 34.2%. Analyses showed that 20.6% of the total stream length in the Dry Fork watershed and 18.4% in the Shavers Fork watershed were isolated by barriers. We conducted salamander sampling at 16 streams and used Akaikeís Information Criterion to select the best a priori models explaining salamander diversity, richness, and abundance. Roads benefited disturbance tolerant species while negatively …

Juvenile Delinquency And The Acceptance Of Offence-Specific Neutralizations., Jared Wharram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between offense-specific neutralizations and delinquency. Analysis of data from the final wave of the Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program in the United States (1995-1999) reveals that youth are likely to accept neutralizations for behaviors they have committed. For example, when controlling for other variables theoretically linked to delinquency, neutralization of lying was found to be significantly associated with lying, while neutralization of stealing was found to be significantly associated with stealing and neutralization of violence was found to be significantly associated with violent behavior. The …

Community Factors And Educational Attainment In A North Appalachian Area., Olena L. Welling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Regression analysis suggests that district-to-district differences in high school completion rates are positively related to post-high school economic and educational opportunities. High school completion rates are negatively related to the costs of schools. Dropping out of high school is the students’ attempt to rationally respond to their environment and social circumstances. Thus, dropping out can be interpreted as a rational phenomenon. Students are calculating, often unself-consciously, the costs of staying in school versus the returns to education. Students are acting rational in responding to the constraints and opportunities of their social circumstances. District-level high school completion rates were regressed on …

The Impact Of Error Propagation On Software Reliability Analysis Of Component-Based Systems., Petar Popic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Component based development is gaining popularity in the software engineering community. The reliability of components affects the reliability of the system. Different models and theories have been developed to estimate system reliability given the information about system architecture and the quality of the components. Almost always in these models, one of the key attributes of component-based systems, the error propagation between the components, is overlooked or not taken into account in reliability calculation. This thesis extends previous work on the Bayesian approach to reliability estimation and assessment of component-based systems by introducing the Error Propagation Probability into the model. The …

Application Of Radio Imaging Method (Rim-Iv) In Detecting Geological Anomalies: Two Case Studies., Hua Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

RIM-IV technology is the most promising geophysical method to identify and locate geological anomalies in advance of mining. In order to make this technology successful, ground-truth works are needed to explore its potentials and limitations in application. Two cases in which the RIM-IV technology has been applied to detecting various geological anomalies have been presented in this research. In the first case, the RIM-IV survey was conducted in a section of the longwall panel where sandstone intrusions, seam thinning and severe seam undulations were expected. In the second case, the RIM-IV survey was performed in a section of the longwall …

Roles Of Cellular Flice-Inhibitory Protein (C-Flip) And Pi3k /Akt In Fas (Cd95)-Induced Nf-κb Activation And Apoptosis Through Death Effector Domains., Bin Lu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The cell survival protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) is a known regulator of apoptosis but its role in Fas-mediated cell death and its regulatory mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that stimulation of the Fas receptor by its ligand (FasL) induces rapid phosphorylation of Akt/PKB and a parallel increase in cell apoptosis in epidermal Cl41 cells. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt by overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of PI3K (Δp85) and Akt (Akt-T308A/S473A) protects the cells from apoptosis induced by FasL, indicating an unexpected pro-apoptotic role of PI3K/Akt in Fas signaling process. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies also show that FasL treatment …

Agenda Setting And Denial In The States. Nonprofit Hospital Tax Exemptions: A North Carolina Case Study., Linda Struyk Millsaps

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research has two objectives. First, it examines the nature of state-level agenda setting, comparing it to the prevailing federal level theories of agenda setting and agenda denial. Specifically it examines state tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina to determine if this policy arena follows acknowledged theories of agenda setting and denial, or if there is something unique about tax policy that creates a different agenda setting dynamic. Areas of focus included the status of nonprofit hospital property tax exemptions on the policy agenda and how the issue came to that position. Interviews with legislators, lobbyists, hospital and …

The Role Of Heat Shock Proteins In Skeletal Muscle Adaptation To Resistance Training In Young And Old Rats., Zsolt Murlasits

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heat shock proteins (HSP's) are expressed in response to various stressors, such as physical exercise, therefore this study investigated the role of these proteins in skeletal muscle remodeling in response to resistance training. First, we determined the time course of HSP response as a result of a single bout of damaging contractions characterized by non-recoverable force deficit. The next study investigated HSP expression in 3 month old and 30 month old rats in response to a 4.5-week, chronic resistance training program that was designed to elicit muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, we analyzed the gene expression of four hsp70 genes to determine …

Dynamics And Mechanism Studies Of Nonlinear Chemical Systems, Tabitha R. Chigwada-Razunguzwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation of selected thiocarbamides (tetra-methylthiourea, trimethylthiourea, phenylthiourea, and 2-aminoethanethiolsulfuric acid) by chlorite in aqueous acidic media are investigated using UV/Vis, NMR, Stopped-flow techniques, and qualitative analysis. The reactions were extremely complex, with reaction dynamics strongly influenced by the pH of the reaction medium and formation of stable intermediates (sulfonic acids). Results revealed that oxidations of substituted thioureas do not always proceed via a stepwise oxidation of the sulfur center. Instead, reactions occurred in two stages: S-oxygenation of the sulfur center to yield the sulfinic acid, which then reacts in the second phase predominantly through an …

Child Abuse And Crime: Testing In The "Cycle Of Violence" Theory, Melanie A. Cox

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study of Child Abuse and Neglect: Testing in the "Cycle of Violence" Theory, is a demonstration of Applied Social Research in partial fulfillment of a master's degree in Sociology. It examines the Cycle of Violence theory by looking at two groups of children: an abuse/neglect group and a control group. It tests the likelihood of the abuse/neglect group to commit a crime in adulthood i.e., property crime, person crime, or public morality; while controlling for race, sex and type of abuse. Also, the odds of gender and race of the children in the abuse/neglect group, becoming a criminal offender …

Development Of An Optimized Short-Span Steel Bridge Package, Lora B. Freeman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A recent study from the West Virginia Department of Transportation indicates that a number of existing bridges in West Virginia are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. As there are not sufficient funds to replace or rehabilitate all of the insufficient structures a means of economically replacing the inadequate structures in a time efficient manner is necessary. One method of conserving time and resources is by employing standardized bridge plans. Therefore, the focus of this effort is on the development of a optimized short-span steel bridge package.;This study focused on developing optimized plans for two roadway cross-sections for spans between 40 …

The Startup And Evolution Of The State Journal: A Statewide Newspaper Reports On Business, Phillip Daniel Page

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two Charleston, West Virginia, brothers, Robert C. and Henry E. Payne, III, and Charleston lawyer Fred F. Holroyd established The State Journal in October 1984 as a weekly newspaper to serve a statewide business readership. The newspaper evolved through difficult early years and eventually became profitable through the sales leadership of Lorenelle White, who would purchase the newspaper with her husband in 1997. She eventually would re-establish the newspaper’s weekly publishing cycle. The Whites would sell The State Journal in 2001 to a newly formed media business, West Virginia Media Holdings, which would increase in the newspaper’s editorial resources. Since …

The Efficient Dissemination Of Information In Highly Mobile Ad Hoc Networks., Michael Gorden Kirkpatrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the proliferation of wireless networked computing devices in recent years, the importance of communication between nodes in these networks has increased greatly. The mobility of these nodes complicates the problem because a given node's connections to the network are likely to change over time with the result that communication paths are established ad hoc. As the speed of the nodes increases or the computing power available to them is reduced, many standard techniques for predicting available message pathways no longer work. In these highly mobile ad hoc networks, the links between nodes can change between the time they are …

The Connection Between Leadership And Pedagogy., Gregory M. Kuhns

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this descriptive case study is to examine leadership and pedagogy in search of a connection between these two components. By examining the literature from a variety of authors, background information about leadership and pedagogy has been assembled to assist this researcher. A research-based Lickert scale, the Teachers' Perception of Leadership and Instructional Leadership (TPLIL), was designed by this researcher as an instrument to select the active participants for this study. The TPLIL was examined by a panel of educational experts for its clarity and representativeness. A list of twenty interview questions was used to gather information about …

Understanding The Coach -Athlete Dyad: The Impact Of Educational Interventions On Perceptions And Psychosocial Variables., Lindsey C. Blom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the understanding that coaches have a direct impact on the athletes with whom they work (Libman, 1998) and with the knowledge that this influence is complex (Weiss & Hayashi, 1996), it can be assumed that coaching education is of the utmost importance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the PASS IT Back program developed to help coaches address their specific players' perceptions and preferences for the coach-athlete relationship. Nine boys' high school soccer coaches and their respective teams were randomly placed in one of three categories: (1) control group, (2) feedback group receiving information about players' perceptions …

Forestry Transfer Students: A Case Study. West Virginia University Forest Resources Management Curriculum., James B. Harrold

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

College students are constantly transferring from one university, college or community college to another; or transferring within one university program to another. At West Virginia University, Division of Forestry, Forest Resources Management Curriculum, transfer students are enrolling at an increasing rate each year. This study is an attempt to determine the impact the transfer student has on the Forest Resources Management Curriculum at West Virginia University. The study addressed present and possible future impacts on the curriculum and present problems and suggested solutions associated with the transfer student. Student transfers in the Forest Resources Management Curriculum at West Virginia University …

The Effects Of Wrist Proprioception On Joint Stability For Forward Falls., Patricia L. Hatches

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inherent feedforward and feedback reactions to falls diminish with age and changes in daily acitivity making injuries more likely with falling. Research on the wrist and proprioceptive exercises for stability during falls is lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine if wrist proprioceptive training could enhance neuromuscular control aiding in wrist stability when falling. This was a 2 x 3 factorial design. Thirty healthy subjects free of upper extremity injuries were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The groups were tested on a Biodex Stability System over four levels as a pre and posttest. Between testing subjects …

The Hospitalized Adolescent: Fears, Stressors, And Coping Skills., Lora L. Garlitz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper presents the findings of an investigation to determine whether of not there is a difference in hospitalized adolescents and non-hospitalized adolescents. The participants were 60 adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18 years. Their fears, stressors, and coping skills were evaluated by using three instruments: a 35-item self-report test on coping; a 108-item self-report test on fears; and a 15-item self-report test on stress. The results revealed that on specific measures hospitalized adolescents exhibited a statistically significantly less degree of emotional upset during hospitalization than did the community sample. Implications of these results in determining procedures to …

The Instructional Control Of Problem Solving: Emergent Relations And Blending Of Repertoires., Harold E. Lobo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the effects of strategic and tactical instructions on emergent stimulus relations. Sixteen female college students completed a linear-series baseline training with three potential equivalence classes of five members each. After successfully completing baseline training, participants completed repeated blocks of testing with probes for all possible emerging relations. Six participants performed below 70% correct on these probes. Three of these participants received subsequent training with a strategic instruction, whereas the remaining three participants were trained with tactical instructions. Afterwards, these six participants resumed repeated testing. Performance of participants who received the strategic instruction improved significantly, with correct responding …

The Svetlana In Me: How I Embraced By Turkish Identity In Order To Play A Russian/Estonian For An American Audience., Setenay Yener

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are actors of all cultures and nationalities, and when exercising their craft in another culture; that task becomes a challenging experience. This thesis explores my personal journey as I exercised the acting craft in a culture that is not my own. Specifically, it examines my experience of creating the role of Svetlana, in West Virginia University’s production of Kolonists, a play that explores two cultures, both different than my own and my audience’s. The introduction section, outlines why I was driven to this study, and the discoveries I made, along with a play synopsis. The following sections examine the …