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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Effects Of Fear Of Dental Pain And Information Type On Fear And Pain Responding During Endodontic Treatment, John T. Sorrell Aug 2003

Effects Of Fear Of Dental Pain And Information Type On Fear And Pain Responding During Endodontic Treatment, John T. Sorrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fear of pain is an important factor within dental settings. Information is an effective method of enhancing predictability about aversive events during dental and medical procedures and can decrease fear and pain during treatment. Therefore, the effects of fear of dental pain and information type on fear and pain responding during endodontic treatment were examined. Experiment 1 included 268 undergraduate students to develop an informational videotape and a knowledge inventory designed to enhance predictability about root canal treatment and measure dental knowledge across 3 domains (oral hygiene, root canal procedure, and pain during root canal treatment). Results suggest that videotape …

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Eulerian Subgraphs And Hamiltonicity Of Claw -Free Graphs, Mingquan Zhan Aug 2003

Eulerian Subgraphs And Hamiltonicity Of Claw -Free Graphs, Mingquan Zhan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Let C(l, k) denote the class of 2-edge-connected graphs of order n such that a graph G ∈ C(l, k) if and only if for every edge cut S ⊆ E(G) with |S| ≤ 3, each component of G - S has order at least n-kl . We prove that If G ∈ C(6, 0), then G is supereulerian if and only if G cannot be contracted to K2,3, K 2,5 or K2,3(e), where e ∈ E(K2,3) and K2,3(e) stands for a graph obtained from K2,3 by replacing e by a path of length 2. Previous results by Catlin and …

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Fast Wavelet Collocation Methods For Second Kind Integral Equations On Polygons, Yi Wang Aug 2003

Fast Wavelet Collocation Methods For Second Kind Integral Equations On Polygons, Yi Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis we develop fast wavelet collocation methods for integral equations of the second kind with weakly singular kernels over polygons . For this purpose, we construct multiscale wavelet functions and collocation functionals having vanishing moments. Moreover, we propose several truncation strategies, which lead to fast algorithms, for the coefficient matrix of the corresponding discrete system. Critical issues for numerical implementation of such methods are considered, such as choices of practical truncation strategies, numerical integration of weakly singular integrals, error controls of numerical quadrature and numerical solutions of resulting compressed linear systems. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate proposed …

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Late Embryonic And Fetal Mortality In The Ewe, Alison Brown Dixon Aug 2003

Late Embryonic And Fetal Mortality In The Ewe, Alison Brown Dixon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Timing and factors associated with late embryonic and fetal loss in the ewe were examined with ultrasonography. In study one, pregnancy diagnosis and counts of embryos were conducted on days 25, 45, 65, and/or 85 of gestation and compared to lambs born at term. Preliminary results indicated that more potential offspring were lost during fetal development than during late embryonic development. Approximately 18% of ewes experienced late embryonic and fetal loss and 20% of embryos or fetuses were lost from day 25 to term. Losses of potential offspring were continuous throughout gestation and approximately 3% of embryos present on day …

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Evaluating Utilization Of Beta -Blockers As Secondary Prevention For Post Myocardial Infarction In A Medicaid Population, Ancilla W. Fernandes Aug 2003

Evaluating Utilization Of Beta -Blockers As Secondary Prevention For Post Myocardial Infarction In A Medicaid Population, Ancilla W. Fernandes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality and costs to the US healthcare system. Beta-blockers are known to reduce mortality and re-infarction rates when used for long-term prevention following an AMI. They are recommended by the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines in post-AMI patients. However, this therapy is both underused (error of omission in eligible patients) and misused (error of commission in ineligible patients). This study involved two phases. Phase one included evaluating utilization of beta-blockers in a Medicaid population and determining the effect of their utilization on patient outcomes such as mortality, morbidity, …

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Molecular Mechanisms Of G Protein-Receptor Coupling, Janna Eugenievna Slessareva May 2003

Molecular Mechanisms Of G Protein-Receptor Coupling, Janna Eugenievna Slessareva

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A big diversity in heterotrimeric G proteins and their cognate receptors raises many questions about the mechanisms that regulate the specificity of signaling along G protein-mediated pathways. The major goal of this project was to understand how the selectivity of G protein-receptor coupling is achieved at the level of the G protein-receptor interface. Additional goals of this project were to assess the generality of molecular mechanisms controlling G protein-receptor coupling selectivity and to investigate how agonist may regulate G protein-receptor interactions. Molecular determinants of G protein-receptor coupling were studied by reconstitution of exogenously supplied, purified G protein heterotrimers with receptors …

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Laboratory Investigation Of Electrostatic Ion Waves Modified By Parallel -Ion -Velocity Shear, Catalin Teodorescu May 2003

Laboratory Investigation Of Electrostatic Ion Waves Modified By Parallel -Ion -Velocity Shear, Catalin Teodorescu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this work is the experimental study of the effect of parallel-ion-velocity shear on the destabilization and propagation of electrostatic ion waves. Shear in the magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) ion drift velocity of a single-drifting Maxwellian ion velocity distribution is created in the cylindrical barium plasma column produced in a Q machine. Standard, emissive, and single-sided Langmuir probes are used to measure plasma parameters and their fluctuations. Direct, noninvasive, measurements of the ion velocity distribution (yielding ion drift velocity and ion temperature) are performed using the laser-induced fluorescence technique. The use of laser-induced fluorescence to determine the radial profile of …

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Economics Of Breast Cancer Preventive Strategies In A Medicaid Program, Rohit D. Borker May 2003

Economics Of Breast Cancer Preventive Strategies In A Medicaid Program, Rohit D. Borker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary objective of the study was to estimate the long-term benefits and costs of chemopreventive tamoxifen and mammography screening in women who are otherwise healthy but at high risk of developing breast cancer. Three hypothetical cohorts of high-risk women were initiated at age forty. The first cohort consumed chemopreventive tamoxifen and underwent routine mammography screening. The second cohort also consumed chemopreventive tamoxifen but underwent mammography screening at real-world rates. The third cohort (control cohort) did not consume chemopreventive tamoxifen and underwent mammography screening at real-world rates. The study also assessed the proportion of women in the West Virginia Medicaid …

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Changes In Immune Cell Populations And The Antibody Response To Streptococcus Pneumoniae After Exposure To A Mixture Of Herbicides, Patricia De La Rosa May 2003

Changes In Immune Cell Populations And The Antibody Response To Streptococcus Pneumoniae After Exposure To A Mixture Of Herbicides, Patricia De La Rosa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The environment that we live in is composed of many different chemicals, Because of this, all chemical exposures, whether environmental or industrial, are exposures to mixtures. These mixtures have the potential to affect the immune system in a manner that is qualitatively or quantitatively different from the response to the individual components of the mixture. My experiments examine the effects of in vivo exposure to a mixture of herbicides on immune cell populations and on the humoral immune response to immunization with heat killed, whole-cell, Streptococcus pneumoniae (HKSP). The herbicide propanil (3,4-dichloropropionanilide) is sold as a mixture with the herbicide …

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Study On Candle Filter Surface Regeneration Characteristics At Room Temperature, Venkatesh Vasudevan May 2003

Study On Candle Filter Surface Regeneration Characteristics At Room Temperature, Venkatesh Vasudevan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ceramic barrier filtration is a leading technology employed in hot gas filtration. The deposited ash on these filters is removed by a process known as surface regeneration. The objective of this research has been to utilize the room temperature testing facility (RTTF), to study the surface regeneration process at room temperature. The face velocity of the fluidized gas, the regeneration pressure of the back pulse and the time to build up ash on the surface of the candle filter were identified as the important parameters to be studied. Two types of ceramic candle filters were used in the study. The …

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Production And Cost Analysis Of Two Harvesting Systems In Central Appalachia, Charles Robert Long May 2003

Production And Cost Analysis Of Two Harvesting Systems In Central Appalachia, Charles Robert Long

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cost and productivity are major factors when considering which type of harvesting system to operate. Observations were conducted on manual and mechanized harvesting operations in central Appalachian hardwood forest sites in order to obtain time study data. Production and cost analysis were conducted on the harvesting system data in order to compare the two systems. Chainsaw felling productivity was 363.4 ft3/PMH (2180.4 bdft/PMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.08/ft3 ({dollar}0.013/bdft). Cable skidding productivity was 289.4 ft3/PMH (1736.4 bdft/PMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.28/ft 3 ({dollar}0.05/bdft). Manual harvesting system productivity was 181.7 ft 3/SMH (1090.2 bdft/SMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.36/ft3 ({dollar}0.06/bdft). …

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Trip Generation Characteristics Of Rural Clinics In West Virginia, Andrew Paul Morgan May 2003

Trip Generation Characteristics Of Rural Clinics In West Virginia, Andrew Paul Morgan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the decreasing number of hospitals in rural areas, more rural clinics are being established to meet the health care needs in rural areas. Rural clinics are small health care facilities that serve the primary care needs of rural areas. There are currently no published trip generation rates available for rural clinics. The only rates available are those presented for "clinics" in ITE's Trip Generation (1997). These rates are based on very small sample sizes and on facilities that do not adequately reflect the traffic characteristics of rural clinics.;Trip generation rates were developed for rural clinics in West Virginia. Traffic …

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Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of St. John's Wort Versus Fluoxetine For The Treatment Of Mild To Moderate Depression, Lee Ann Thayer May 2003

Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of St. John's Wort Versus Fluoxetine For The Treatment Of Mild To Moderate Depression, Lee Ann Thayer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of St. John's Wort compared to fluoxetine from a third party perspective for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Fluoxetine 20 mg daily was compared to St. John's Wort 300 mg thrice daily in a decision tree modeling depression management in the outpatient setting. Probabilities were obtained from a Medline search as well as input from an expert panel. Direct medical costs were obtained from medical offices in the Connecticut area with drug and herb cost based on 2002 published data. Several sensitivity analyses were performed. The cost-effectiveness ratio …

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Modeling Of Product Variability In Fluidized Bed Coating Equipment, Ku Zilati Ku Shaari May 2003

Modeling Of Product Variability In Fluidized Bed Coating Equipment, Ku Zilati Ku Shaari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Particle coating in fluidized bed equipment is common practice for improving the properties of solid products, particularly in the pharmaceutical, food and agricultural industries. In this thesis, the application of particle coating to pharmaceutical products utilizing the Wurster-column coating process is addressed. This technique is extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry for precision drug coating and modified release coating of tablets and pellets.;The simulation of particle movement in fluidized beds has been successfully developed using Monte Carlo simulation. Raw velocity and voidage data for each region of a semicircular fluidized bed, obtained by Subramanian (2001), are used in the simulation. …

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Inhalation Exposure System For Diesel Exhaust Particulates, Jay Michael Sherman May 2003

Inhalation Exposure System For Diesel Exhaust Particulates, Jay Michael Sherman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objectives of this research were twofold. First, a Hazelton 2000 Inhalation Chamber was modified to minimize the amount of diesel exhaust particulate (DEP) needed for animal inhalation exposures. Second, instrumentation was evaluated for aerosolizing DEP, monitoring the mass concentration and size distribution, and determining the uniformity of the aerosol.;The Jet-O-Mizer jet mill produced a single mode DEP mass median diameter (MMD) of 0.33 mum while maintaining a relatively steady mass concentration of 10 mg/m3. The uniformity of a carbon black aerosol was found to vary from 9.9 mg/m3 in the front part of the chamber, to 10.4 mg/m3 in …

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Implementation And Application Of Nde On Ceramic Candle Filters, Alejandro C. Kiriakidis May 2003

Implementation And Application Of Nde On Ceramic Candle Filters, Alejandro C. Kiriakidis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique has been developed to determine the deterioration and remaining life of full-size ceramic candle filters used at the Power System Development Facility (PSDF) in Alabama. Ceramic candle filters are hollow cylindrical structures made of porous ceramic materials used in advanced coal-fired power generation systems. They protect power plant's gas turbine components from damage due to erosion. In general, advanced coal-fired power systems operational conditions include extreme thermal/pressure environment and vibration-induced stresses over a great period of time. The knowledge of the dynamic behavior of ceramic candle filters is essential and can be used to measure …

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Application Of Statistical Methods For "Flow Unit" Identification And Characterization Of A Reservoir Using Well Log And Core Data, Reza Mustafa May 2003

Application Of Statistical Methods For "Flow Unit" Identification And Characterization Of A Reservoir Using Well Log And Core Data, Reza Mustafa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A flow unit is a stratigraphically continuous interval of similar reservoir process speed that maintains the geologic framework and characteristics of rock types. Permeability and porosity of the reservoir rock has always been considered as two of the most important parameters to identify flow unit for formation evaluation, reservoir description, and characterization. Beyond evaluating permeability and porosity, one can also use combinations of two or more rock properties to gain insight into the character of two through porous media. Porosity is commonly evaluated from the well log data, which are usually available from the most wells in the reservoir. But …

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Resurgence Of Inaccurately Instructed Behavior, Carolina Aguilera May 2003

Resurgence Of Inaccurately Instructed Behavior, Carolina Aguilera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current experiments examined the relation between resurgence and the sensitivity of instructed behavior to contingency changes. Although previous investigations have examined resurgence with directly reinforced responses, no studies had examined situations where the responses that recurred during extinction belonged to the class of rule-governed behavior and where the specific responses had not been reinforced directly within the experiment. To address this issue, the current experiments examined the effect of a history of instructing responding at different rates without directly reinforcing these specific rates. Both resurgence and sensitivity to environmental changes were measured to determine whether the instructed responses would …

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Regulation Of P-Glycoprotein And Abcp Transporters, Dhanashri Ramkrishna Kolwankar May 2003

Regulation Of P-Glycoprotein And Abcp Transporters, Dhanashri Ramkrishna Kolwankar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The placenta plays an important role in modulating xenobiotic passage from mother to fetus. Smoking is known to induce cytochrome P450 1Al (CYP1A1) expression in the placenta, however its effect on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and ABC transporter in placenta (ABCP) levels in placenta is not known. In-vitro studies in hepatocytes have reported induction of P-gp mRNA by some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To examine whether smoking can affect placental P-gp and ABCP, their expression and activity were determined in placentas from smokers and non-smokers. Uptake of [3H]-vinblastine and [3H]-mitoxantrone was used to measure P-gp and ABCP function, respectively and CYP1A1 activity (positive …

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Reinforcement And Punishment During Programmed Instruction, Stephen C. Scherer May 2003

Reinforcement And Punishment During Programmed Instruction, Stephen C. Scherer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recommendations for improving answer accuracy during programmed instruction have included the use of punishment to decrease the rate of students' responding and to prevent careless mistakes. The effects of punishment during programmed instruction, however, have not been clearly identified. There is evidence that punishment increases attention and decreases response rates during learning tasks, but other effects on student responding, including escape from the learning task, have not been systematically examined. The present study was designed to systematically examine the effects of punishment as well as extinction during programmed instruction. Four college students were recruited to earn money while working on …

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Correlation Of The Use Of Computers By Education Faculty With National Standards For Preservice Students, Robin T. Twery May 2003

Correlation Of The Use Of Computers By Education Faculty With National Standards For Preservice Students, Robin T. Twery

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research study was to provide information to faculty, administrators and state departments of education about the level of integration of computer technology into teacher education programs. The stated problem of this research was to determine the correlation of the use of computers by education faculty with national standards for preservice teachers. A review of the literature identified the continuing growth of computer use and a growing acceptance of national standards for computer literacy in K--12 and higher education settings. To determine the extent of computer use among education faculty, a three-part survey was developed. It including …

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Modular Track Panels For Improved Safety In The Mining Transportation Industry, Donald Sterling Tusing May 2003

Modular Track Panels For Improved Safety In The Mining Transportation Industry, Donald Sterling Tusing

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Locomotives and "mine cars" often derail (often two or three times daily) in coalmines causing fatal injuries, fires initiated from sparks during derailment, and costly downtimes. Modular track panels (resembling the ladder track systems used in Japan) were designed and tested for bending behavior and load sharing characteristics, between track modules and also between rails, to improve safety of miners during transportation. Prefabricated track modules made of prestressed concrete and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites were evaluated. Two modular prestressed concrete modules, each 15 ft long, were tested, as well as one set of prestressed concrete half-panels to test the …

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Finite Element Analysis Of Cell Subjected To Compressive Loading, Vidhyashankar Venkatesan May 2003

Finite Element Analysis Of Cell Subjected To Compressive Loading, Vidhyashankar Venkatesan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A 3D finite element model was built to study the mechanical response of the cell to load. The model included major structural components of a cell like cytoskeletal elements, cell membrane and the presence of internal fluid pressure. The cell was considered as a pressurized, fluid filled bag where inflation of the cell membrane is resisted by the cytoskeletal elements. The behavior of the cell model with microtubules prone to buckling and stabilized by actin filaments was also studied.;A point load was applied to a microtubule in a cell model with there buckling effect taken into consideration. The microtubule started …

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Pyxidis Echo Lacuna, Jessica Mai Weathersby May 2003

Pyxidis Echo Lacuna, Jessica Mai Weathersby

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The intention of the work that supports this thesis is to provide a space for the viewer to suspend the exterior world and move into a space where he or she finds a line of questioning and a cyclic experience that ultimately leads to self-reflection. The microcosm and macrocosm enlarged and reduced, respectively, to human scale, allow one to experience this phenomenon in conversational dialog. By conflating the limits of the universe, the participant becomes omniscient within this configuration of large printed works on paper. Texture, line and variant translucent color provides the viewer with a multi-sensory experience. Interaction of …

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Telecommunication Of Stabilizing Signals In Power Systems, Guillaume Julien Raux May 2003

Telecommunication Of Stabilizing Signals In Power Systems, Guillaume Julien Raux

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Deregulation of the power industry has occurred at a rapid pace, opening some promising competition between suppliers. The result of this competition should be to the benefit of customers.;Telecommunication plays a crucial role in integrating systems and ensuring smooth operation by way of exchanging data and information between various systems that are responsible for monitoring and control of the grid. For example, a Power System Stabilizer (PSS) controller could be placed at one of the generators and requires remote measurements. All the communication schemes within the network generate delays that are characterized in this project using OPNET Modeler. OPNET Modeler …

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Circulation Control For Download Wake Reduction On A Scaled V-22 Model, Chad Alan Riba May 2003

Circulation Control For Download Wake Reduction On A Scaled V-22 Model, Chad Alan Riba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia University has developed a circulation controlled model of the V-22 wing to reduce the size of the download in the wake region brought upon by the airflow from the proprotors. The techniques being used in this experiment are the implementation of blowing slots across the leading edge and trailing edge, activation of one or both of the blowing devices, and adjustment of slot velocity. The results of the study show a decrease in the download force through the incorporation of the Coanda Effect around the leading and trailing edges. The induction of this phenomenon will move the separation …

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Loss Count, Sonya Corin Russomanno May 2003

Loss Count, Sonya Corin Russomanno

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My prints encompass themes of loss of past experiences, poetics, repetition, and feeling. By remembering facts from past experiences, one can recall how a particular moment felt. My intention when producing a piece of work is to generalize themes of loss, time, and memory by using visual features of pattern, space, and repetition of forms to exemplify feelings in relation to loss, time, and memory. This thesis statement will first address themes of loss, time, memory, and the visual devices that are employed with one intention, that they exemplify features crucial in my work. In addition, I will address the …

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Modeling Of An Aluminum Reduction Cell For The Development Of A State Estimator, Philip Biedler May 2003

Modeling Of An Aluminum Reduction Cell For The Development Of A State Estimator, Philip Biedler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electrolytic cells are used to produce aluminum from alumina ore. These cells use a carbon anode, a cryolitic bath, and a carbon containment vessel, which also serves as the cathode. The process is not completely understood because of the limited number of measurements and its complexity.;A finite element model was developed that simulates the electrical, thermal, and chemical phenomena occurring within the cell. The model was verified by comparing its output to data presented in the literature, and by comparing its output to data gathered from operating reduction cells at Century Aluminum in Ravenswood, WV. The model was used to …

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Mesomechanics Of Fabric Reinforced Composites, Thomas Miles Damiani May 2003

Mesomechanics Of Fabric Reinforced Composites, Thomas Miles Damiani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fiber reinforced plastic composites are an attractive alternative to traditional materials because of, among other things, the ability to concurrently design the materials and ratios to fit a specific need. One method of fiber reinforcement is through the used of woven fabrics, which provide more balanced overall strengths and durability during fabrication. The weaving and interlacing of the fibers, however, adds a level of complexity when predicting material properties and strengths using micromechanical models. Traditional models have mostly been based on classical thin lamination theory, and this method is limited in its scope and applicability for woven fabric composites. This …

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Studies On The Effects Of Propanil On Macrophage Function And Signaling, Laura Lynn Frost May 2003

Studies On The Effects Of Propanil On Macrophage Function And Signaling, Laura Lynn Frost

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Propanil has been shown to induce numerous manifestations of impaired immune responses. This dissertation focuses on the effects of propanil on TNF-alpha production and NFB activation in murine and human macrophages in response to LPS stimulation. Initial studies demonstrated that propanil treatment of the murine peritoneal macrophage cell line, IC-21 resulted in decreased NF-kappaB activation and transcriptional activity as determined by Western blot and NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene transcription, respectively. Nuclear localization of NF-kappaB was also shown to be decreased by immunofluorescence. Additional studies to confirm these effects in the human cell line, THP-1 also showed decreased nuclear levels of NF-kappaB …

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