Digital Commons Network^™

Ersatz, George M. Horton Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My work attempts to develop the relationship between optical and formal painting traditions in modernism via the literal surface of the painting and the object or objects represented. They are arranged to create an effect of simultaneous emergence and dissolution. They represent the falsely temporal aspects of the perceived world, the concretization of which only exists in the mind of the viewer. This thesis statement will address issues of surface and illusionism in modern pictorial theory and the importance of perception verses objectification. In addition I will discuss the subject matter, composition, and techniques employed to create the works. I …

Characterization Of In-Use Emissions From On-Highway Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Mohan Krishnamurthy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Class-8 trucks with GVWR of 80,000 lbs were tested on different driving routes and in-use brake-specific emissions of NOx and CO2 data were collected using the West Virginia University's Mobile Emissions Measurement System (MEMS). An uncertainty analysis was performed on the MEMS and it was determined the maximum possible error in the measurement of brake-specific emissions of NOx was 8% and CO2 was 6%.;A modal analysis indicated that the cruise mode comprised 70% of the time that the vehicle spent in the Not-to-Exceed (NTE) zone while the acceleration and deceleration modes about 20% and 10% respectively.;In order to reduce the …

Evaluation Of Performance Graded Asphalt Binder Equipment And Testing Protocol, Michael E. Pumphrey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The testing and grading of asphalt cement has progressively changed to meet the demanding needs for quality hot mix asphalt pavements. From October 1987 through March 1993, the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) conducted a {dollar}50 million research effort to improve asphalt pavement technology. The research led to the development of the Superpave(TM) mix design system (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements) and the Performance Graded (PG) asphalt binder tests and specifications. The Performance Graded asphalt binder specifications were developed to address the shortcomings of the previous asphalt grading systems.;The objective of this research was to critically evaluate the SHRP performance graded …

Comparison Of Classification Methods For Perspiration-Based Liveness Algorithm, Sujan T. V. Parthasaradhi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the modern world there is a need for security. Biometric technologies provide a means for providing this security. Of the many different available biometric technologies, fingerprint recognition is the most popular. As with all security measures, biometric devices may be subject to attacks on the system. Fingerprint scanners may be susceptible to spoofing using artificial materials, or in the worst case, dismembered fingers. Liveness, i.e. to determine whether the introduced biometric is coming from a live source, has been suggested as a means to circumvent attacks that use spoof fingers. It has been shown that water based casting materials …

Effect Of Rate Of Sumping On Fragmentation Process In Laboratory Rotary Cutting Simulator, Muralidharan Venkataraman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was done to examine the fragmentation process and to improve sumping. Research has demonstrated that specific energy and specific respirable dust must be kept minimum to produce the optimum parameters of the rock/coal breakage process and to attain maximum sumping. There are three major elements affecting the efficiency of the cutting head namely: (1) Geometry and size of the cutting tool, (2) Geometry of the drum and lacing and arrangements of the tools on the drum and (3) Effect of rate of advance/dynamic impacts. The emphasis is made on the rate of advance utilizing a miniature rotary cutting …

Alkaline Durability Tests For E-Glass/Vinyl Ester-Reinforced Polymer With Nanoclay, Shu-Kai Yeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two kinds of GFRP (glass fiber reinforced plastics) composite materials were prepared and used in this study. One was E-glass/vinyl ester glass fiber reinforced polymer (plain GFRP) and the other was nano-GFRP prepared with the addition of 1 wt% of CloisiteRTM 10A nanoclay. These samples were aged in an alkaline solution (pH = 13.2) with 3560N (800-lbs), 2225N (500-lbs) and 885N (200-lbs) of sustained load, which were 50%, 31% and 12.5% of the tensile strength, respectively. Time to failure or tensile strength reduction was measured and used to determine durability of the samples in terms of Aging Index, which was …

Hybrid Neural Networks Models For A Membrane Reactor, Mohammed Al-Yemni

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial neural networks (ANN) have become an established discipline and have gained extensive interest within chemical engineering. In recent years, research effort has focused on the use of "hybrid artificial neural networks" (HANN) models that combine both the deterministic and the ANN elements. Several methods have been proposed for combining ANN with first principle relations. In this thesis, a new hybrid scheme, which is similar to that developed by Kasprow for a space-independent and time-dependent fed-batch microbial reactor, was developed for a space-dependent steady-state enzymatic reactor. This scheme combines ANN with mass balances and assumed rate expressions. It was shown …

Sport Psychology Strategies, Types Of Social Support, And Adherence To Injury Rehabilitation Among University Student -Athletes, Kenneth Tubilleja

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined differences between levels of adherence to athletic injury rehabilitation (SIRAS; Brewer, Van Raalte, Petitpas, Sklar, & Ditmar, 1995) among injured student-athletes on their use of sport psychology strategies (TOPS; Thomas, Murphy, & Hardy, 1999) and their perceived social support (SSS-C; Richman, Rosenfeld, & Hardy, 1993). Relationships between adherence to athletic injury rehabilitation and sport psychology strategies and perceived social support were also investigated. In addition, participants' use and training in sport psychology strategies was explored. The sample consisted of 35 student-athletes from 1 NCAA Division I and 3 Division II institutions who sustained athletic injuries that …

Impacts On Terrestrial And Streamside Herpetofauna By Mountaintop Removal Mining In Southern West Virginia, Jennifer Mravintz Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mountaintop removal mining, a mining technique used in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and nearby states, converts mature forests to grassland and shrub-pole habitats. I sampled terrestrial herpetofauna using drift fences with pitfalls and funnel traps from 2000--2002 to evaluate habitat use of unmined native habitat (intact forest), mined habitat (reclaimed grassland, reclaimed shrub-pole habitat, and fragmented forest), and early successional off-mine habitats that were created by other types of disturbance and were structurally similar to reclaimed grasslands and reclaimed shrubpole habitats. I searched transects in valley fill and reference streams from 2001--2002 to evaluate impacts of valley fill …

Model Predictive Control Design For Load Frequency Control Problem, Nedzad Atic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Load Frequency Control (LFC) is a mechanism by which power generation and power demand are balanced.;Model Predictive Control (MPC) has been widely accepted as a viable control strategy in the process industry. It is a model based control strategy where an optimization procedure is performed in every sampling interval over a prediction horizon, yielding an optimal control action. The optimization criterion, or objective function, is chosen in such a way as to satisfy the controlled system dynamics and constraints, penalize system output deviation from the desired trajectory, and minimize control efforts. Furthermore, a possibility to incorporate economic objectives into the …

Statements Development Group Website, Josh Hewitt

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The Statements development group is fast becoming one of the larger groups in Cards Technology thus making the decision to create a web presence a fairly easy one. Less than 5 years ago Statements was little more than two Project Leaders and three Analyst printing statements. Statements has now grown to more than 25 employees and looking to add more to that in the near future. This growth has added as much complexity to the system as it has added employees. The Statements group utilizes a network drive and an online content management system to store most of its documents. …

Dynamic Solutions For A Women's Basketball Web Site, Dawn R. Gaffney

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The Dynamic Solutions for a Women's Basketball Web Site project involved taking a previously static web site and making it data driven and dynamic. The previous web site had over a hundred or more unorganized pages linked together. The previous web site worked well for the viewer, but was filled with functional errors and redundant processes for the web master. The Dynamic Solutions project end design - eliminated the functional errors and gave the web master more management capabilities. The following pages trace the process of creating the project from start- project planning, to finish- project implementation.

Data Warehouse Design And Implementation For Fedex Growth & Ranking Reports, Ranjith Boggarapu

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this project is to design and implement a database for a data warehouse meeting the business user's need and requirements for generating a report. This report handles the project right from the requirements gathering, analyzing and developing a data model to support the report requirements. The project is implemented in tiered approach by summarizing the source tables by every tier and at the same time getting all the required data in to a consistent format. During this initial phase of rollout, the data model will support the Growth & Ranking requirements and is designed to be very …

The Effect Of A Non-Verbal Redirection On Out-Of-Seat Behavior In A Subject Diagnosed As Adhd And Mr, Amy Sharon Ellison-Marino

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This was a single subject study with the A-B-A-B across settings withdrawal design. This design was selected because the subject has comorbidity issues, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Mental Retardation (MR). This researcher implemented the A-B-A-B design and collected data during all four phases. The subject was a eight year old Hispanic female diagnosed as ADHD and mild MR. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity, lack of ability to focus attention, and hyperactivity. MR is characterized by below average intellectual functioning which significantly limits functioning in at least two skill areas.

Maximizing The Capability Of Wireless Sensor Networks, Cory Cress

Theses

Wireless micro-sensors introduce a new frontier in sensing devices and data acquisition capabilities. These sensors, capable of sensing, processing data, and short-range communication, can be spread over regions to form ad hoc wireless sensor networks (WSN) so as to deliver aggregate information from geographically diverse areas. This aggregate data gathering and processing induces a synergistic effect and enables a sensor network to complete sensing tasks that may never be feasible using a single, perhaps powerful, sensor. This new paradigm in sensing devices is not without many fundamental challenges, one being a constrained energy resource, which first need to be solved …

Preserving Conformance For Gcra Regulated Flows, Deryck Hong

Theses

Traffic policing/shaping has been employed at the edge of networks to ensure proper provisioning of network resources and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. As shown in this thesis, however, network flows that have been regulated at the network edge based on traffic descriptors, e.g., GCRA, may still become non-conforming in the network core, depending on the packet scheduling algorithm used. Two supplemental schemes to scheduling algorithms are proposed and analyzed in this thesis to ensure conformance for GCRA regulated flows. The first scheme is to add an additional traffic regulator to shape the traffic more aggressively than required constraints before …

Analyzing Rhetoric : A Frame Analysis Of The Pro-Life Movement In The United States., Juanita Raley Shever 1949-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to consider the significance of rhetoric used by pro-life social movement organizations to frame the experience of abortion and to label those women who have participated in that experience. The study explores how frames are devised and how these frames are applied so that reality is organized in such a manner as to appear aligned with the religious, moral, and/or philosophical position of the pro-life movement. The study uses pro-life web pages to obtain data; then, analyzes the data for emerging themes and content. The general tasks of framing such as agenda setting are …

A Comparative Analysis Of Mentoring As A Socializing Strategy Among Law Faculty., Ray Kennard Haynes 1963-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation used a comparative analysis approach to determine mentoring's ability to socialize law faculty. Specifically, it sought to examine the efficacy of formal and informal mentoring in socializing law faculty to their respective institutions. A Mentoring Questionnaire was developed to determine the occurrence of mentoring, the distinctions between the various forms of mentoring, and law faculty perceptions of the effectiveness of the various forms of mentoring received. The Organizational Socialization Questionnaire measured socialization along six dimensions of People, Performance Proficiency, Politics, Language, History and Organizational Goals and Values and was used to determine socialization differences among mentored and non-mentored …

Aerodynamic Force And Moment Balance Design, Fabrication, And Testing For Use In Low Reynolds Flow Applications, Corey Abe

Theses

The aerodynamic performance of airfoils operating at Reynolds numbers below 105 has been of interest due to its variety of applications in areas such as unmanned remotely piloted vehicles, small-scale machinery, and more recently, Micro Air Vehicles (MAV's). Design and testing of airfoils to meet these applications is challenging due to the lack of experimental data in low Reynolds flow, compared to airfoils tested at higher Reynolds numbers. Two mechanical balance devices are designed and evaluated to provide a quick and simple method to test small airfoil aerodynamic loads. Each device measures two degrees of freedom; a force balance measures …

Capillary Electrophoretic Separations Of Metal Ions, Elena Hofman

Masters Theses

Transition-metal (Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II)) ion separation was studied using 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid and 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands with surfactants (cationic and anionic) by capillary electrophoresis under a variety of conditions (like pH, ionic strength, voltage and ion, ligand and surfactant amounts) and has debuted a clear separation mechanism. With cationic surfactants, ligands compete with capillary surface silanols for the metal ions; with anionic surfactants, ligands, silanols and micelles compete.

An empirical parameter, K_e, (electrophoretic-mobilities based) rationalizing the separation was proposed, experimentally analyzed and supported; it provides a silanol group per cm² value of the capillary surface, an equilibrium …

Winter Habitat Use Of Fishes In The Ohio River, Benjamin Ernst Lenz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Winter is a critical period during which fishes may suffer increased mortality. To identify the habitats that fishes use in large rivers during winter conditions, we electrofished six habitat types in the Belleville Pool, Ohio River. We collected the greatest diversity and numbers of fishes in low-velocity tributary confluences when water temperatures were >4°C. When water temperatures were <4°C, certain species were collected in greater abundance in faster-velocity main channel and back channel habitats while other species continued to associate with lower flows in tributary mouths. Differing habitat use between species obscures broad generalizations about when and how fishes use overwintering refuges. In an additional habitat sampled, an embayment, 85% of all fishes collected were juveniles. Centrarchids, rarely collected in the mainstem portion of the river, were one of the dominant fishes collected in the embayment. Protecting large river embayments may prove important for managing recreational sunfish fisheries.

Enhancing Quality And Extending Shelf Life Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) By Vitamin E Supplementation And Post-Harvest Antimicrobial Intervention, Nalini Kamireddy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rainbow trout were fed a control (191 mg/kg) or the control diet supplemented with 5000 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg. Fish were sampled at 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 weeks of feeding; at each week fillets were evaluated at 0, 7, and 14 d. Supplementation increased fillet alpha-tocopherol content, and TBARS value were not affected. A feeding by storage time interaction was observed for fat content, psychrotrophic counts, cook yield, and shear force. For antimicrobial intervention, fillets were not treated or were dipped in water, 50 ppm ASC, and 1000 ppm ASC for 30 s. Fillets were stored at 1--2°C for …

Soil Characterization, Classification, And Biomass Accumulation In The Otter Creek Wilderness, Jamie Schnably

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluated soils of the Otter Creek Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest. Thirteen sites were sampled and analyzed according to landscape position: three terrace soils (T), four ridgetop soils (R), three sideslope soils with argillic horizons (SSA), and three sideslope soils with cambic horizons (SSC). At each site, one pedon was described and sampled, and biomass data were collected. Standard chemical and physical properties, clay mineralogy, extractable sulfate and sulfated adsorption capacity were analyzed. The SSA soils had the highest pH, the most diverse vegetation, and the highest base saturation. These soils had a low risk for acid …

Reducing Of Iron Corrosion In Water Pipelines By Hydrogen Addition, Feraih Sh. Alenazey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Water is provided to the citizenry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the desalination of seawater. The purified water is then transported through extensive pipelines to the cities where it is used. During the process of transport the water becomes polluted with soluble iron.;The corrosion of iron in the pipelines is the result of an oxidation reduction reaction. In that reaction hydrogen ion is reduced and the iron is oxidized. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the electrochemical potential of the hydrogen half-cell reaction can be reduce by dissolution of hydrogen gas in the water. If that value …

Gender Stereotypes In Children's Television Commercials And The Effects On Consumer Purchasing Behavior, Joanne G. Asztalos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research presents an exploratory investigation on the extent of gender stereotypes portrayed in children's television commercials and the effects on consumer purchasing behavior. The author conducted two studies including a content analysis of viewing 75 children's television commercials, 25 boy, 25 girl, 25 neutral, and documenting evidence of roles, traits, activities, products, speaking parts and settings. Qualitative focus groups were then conducted to correlate the documented gender stereotypes with purchasing behaviors among children between the ages of 6--12. Major findings for this research revealed that there are many gender stereotypes in children's television commercials including the issue that male …

Real-Time Measurement Of Oxides Of Nitrogen From Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Aparna Aravelli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

New emissions regulations and performance requirements imposed on modern diesel engines encourage the development of improved tools for emissions measurements. This study investigated one of the improved tools for NOx emissions measurement. Objectives of this thesis included measurement, comparison and prediction of NOx emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines using two different NOx analyzers. Steady state and transient tests were conducted on six heavy-duty diesel engines in the WVU Engine and Emissions Research Center (EERC). NOx emissions were measured using a conventional Rosemount NOx analyzer and a Cambustion fast response NOx analyzer. The Rosemount analyzer sampled dilute emissions whereas the fast …

Relationship Marketing Elements In Radio Station Websites, Mark L. Atkinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not radio station website designers effectively use relationship marketing to achieve the goals of the stations and their websites. The study is a comparison/content analysis of the websites of 150 radio stations, in three different formats, in the top 50 U.S. population centers. This study compared the results of a content analysis with the results of a 2000 Edison/Arbitron survey which asked respondents to rank 14 website features according to what those replying considered important. This study sought to determine whether the more popular features actually appeared on more websites …

Crack Detection Technique For Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks, Indumathi Chera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study describes the instrumentation and test results of a reinforced concrete bridge deck constructed on 3-span continuous steel girders. The instrumented bridge is located in Evansville, West Virginia at the intersection of US Route 50 East and WV 92 South. An instrumentation system is developed and implemented specifically to measure and monitor the growth of cracks along the wheel path. The system consists of 30 crack-meters embedded in concrete over the bottom layer of the reinforcement. The crack-meter readings are automatically collected every 20 minutes together with the readings from other sensors that were placed in concrete and on …

Adding Liveness Detection To The Hand Geometry Scanner, Musat C. Crihalmeanu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In today's dynamic society, the efficiency of the Biometric Systems has an increasing tendency to replace the classic but obsolete keys and passwords. Hand Geometry Readers are popular biometrics used for Access and Control applications. One of their weaknesses is vulnerability to spoofing using fake hands (latex, play-doh or dead-hands).;The objective of this thesis is to design a feature to be added to the Hand Geometry Scanner in order to detect vitality in the hand, reducing spoofing possibilities.;This thesis demonstrates how the Hand Reader was successfully spoofed and shows the implementation of the live detection feature through an inexpensive but …

Evaluation Of Concrete Median Barrier Delineation Under Poor Visibility Conditions, Kari A. French

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A nationwide survey, durability test, and visibility test were conducted for concrete median barrier delineation. PENNDOT was encountering with delineators becoming detached due to harsh conditions in the roadside areas, as well as visibility problems in spot locations prone to fog. From the results of the research it was recommended that in areas prone to poor visibility conditions, PENNDOT consider decreasing the longitudinal spacing and providing delineation lower on the barrier than shown in the standards. With respect to the durability, in instances where the "peel-n-stick" delineators are comparable in price to obtaining the delineator and adhesive separately, that special …