Digital Commons Network^™

Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase (Mcra) Gene Abundance Correlates With Activity Measurements Of Methanogenic H2/Co2-Enriched Anaerobic Biomass, Rachel Morris, Anne Schauer-Gimenez, Ujwal H. Bhattad, Colleen Kearney, Craig Struble, Daniel Zitomer, James Maki

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Biologically produced methane (CH₄) from anaerobic digesters is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, but digester failure can be a serious problem. Monitoring the microbial community within the digester could provide valuable information about process stability because this technology is dependent upon the metabolic processes of microorganisms. A healthy methanogenic community is critical for digester function and CH₄ production. Methanogens can be surveyed and monitored using genes and transcripts of mcrA, which encodes the α subunit of methyl coenzyme M reductase – the enzyme that catalyses the final step in methanogenesis. Using clone libraries and quantitative …

Lateral-Mode Vibration Of Microcantilever-Based Sensors In Viscous Fluids Using Timoshenko Beam Theory, Joshua Schultz, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse, Isabelle Dufour, Nicholas J. Nigro, Luke A. Beardslee, Oliver Brand

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

To more accurately model microcantilever resonant behavior in liquids and to improve lateral-mode sensor performance, a new model is developed to incorporate viscous fluid effects and Timoshenko beam effects (shear deformation, rotatory inertia). The model is motivated by studies showing that the most promising geometries for lateral-mode sensing are those for which Timoshenko effects are most pronounced. Analytical solutions for beam response due to harmonic tip force and electrothermal loadings are expressed in terms of total and bending displacements, which correspond to laser and piezoresistive readouts, respectively. The influence of shear deformation, rotatory inertia, fluid properties, and actuation/detection schemes on …

Informationist Supplement: A Collaboration To Improve Collaboration, Julie Arendt, Martha Roseberry

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Four librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University teamed up with faculty in mathematics and biomedical engineering to receive an NIH informationist administrative supplement. The supplement supports a research team developing a mathematical model of ventilator-induced lung inflammation. Our goals are to develop workflow strategies to enhance team communication, provide information and data management services, assist with dissemination of the research results, and assess the impact of the grant. We are currently examining the team’s workflow to find data management and communication gaps and are evaluating tools for group annotation and sharing of articles and references.

Bay Area Student Involvement In The Environmental And Food Justice Movements: A Narrative Of Motivations, Experiences, And Community Impact, Laura E. Solof

Doctoral Dissertations

Many California public school students lack exposure to any formal, academic curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and activism. This may result in a population of adults who believe they know more about the environment than they actually do, lack the skills to compete in an expanding green job market, lack creativity and the ability to problem-solve, suffer from obesity, depression, anxiety, and attention disorders, and unknowingly contribute to the ever-increasing problems of air and water pollution, land and habitat destruction, and other environmental injustices. Community organizations and university programs are filling this much-needed gap in student environmental education, as they …

The Effects Of Explicit Listening Strategy Instruction On The Listening Comprehension Of English As Second Language (Esl) Community College Students, Yi Guan

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods study explored the effects of explicit listening strategy instruction on the beginning-level ESL learner's listening comprehension at a community college in Northern California. Most previous studies measured the effectiveness of listening strategy instruction by comparing students' test scores, but little research explored the students' listening strategy development and their perceptions of the strategy instruction. Furthermore, no prior research exists on the effects of listening strategy instruction among community college students.

The researcher employed the concurrent triangulation approach, collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously. Data sources included interviews, a listening test, background surveys, and classroom …

The Effects Of The Read 180 Program On Oral Reading Fluency, Linguistic Comprehension, And Reading Comprehension With Secondary Special Education Students, David Lyon Teja

Doctoral Dissertations

There is great concern about secondary special education students reading achievement in decoding, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. The READ 180 Program is an evidence and scientific based reading program that includes direct instruction, computer aided instruction, and reading materials that are high interest and implement the common core. The purpose of this study was to see the differences in oral reading fluency, linguistic comprehension, and reading comprehension in a pretest posttest model over a fourteen-week testing period. Ten ninth grade secondary students who were reading below the 25th percentile were instructed with the READ 180 Program with fidelity (90 …

Four Preservice Teachers' Use Of Mathematical Knowledge During Lesson Planning And Instruction In The Field Experience, Margaret Swearingen

Doctoral Dissertations

The field experience of a teacher education program offers the opportunity for authentic practice in lesson planning and instruction for preservice teachers prior to their transition into their teaching career. However, preservice teachers often struggle applying their developing knowledge and skills because of the multifaceted nature of the field experience context. This complexity is particularly true in mathematics instruction since it includes simultaneously understanding mathematical concepts and mathematical procedure standards during instruction.

This study used mini-case studies to examine how four preservice teachers used their developing mathematical knowledge learned in the teacher education program while lesson planning and teaching within …

Ready To Write: Exploring The Student Perspective On The Transition To College, Julie Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations

Written communication is a cornerstone of college and career success, yet many students arrive at college underprepared for the writing demands of the academic discourse community. The potential reasons for the perceived gap in writing ability point to the ongoing challenges of education in the United States. As the population pursuing college degrees becomes more diverse, expectations differ between high school and college, equity in education issues persist and standardization focuses on academic skills, overlooking the potential role that nonacademic or "soft" skills play in student success. When decisions are made to address these concerns, the student perspective is frequently …

An Investigation Of Special Education Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of A Systematic 7-Step Virtual Worlds Teacher Training Workshop For Increasing Social Skills, Natalie Christina Nussli

Doctoral Dissertations

This study describes how a systematic 7-Step Virtual Worlds Teacher Training Workshop promoting inquiry, experiential learning, and sociocultural theory guided the enculturation of 18 special education teachers into three-dimensional virtual worlds. The main purpose was to enable these teachers to make informed decisions about the usability of virtual worlds for students with social skills challenges, such as students with autism. Mixed-methods data analysis and triangulation were based on the analysis of seven instruments. Six of the seven steps of the intervention received high ratings indicating its viability for teachers' professional development opportunities

Rehearsal And Enactment For Teaching In Urban School Settings: A Qualitative Study Investigating The Connections Between A Math Methods Course And Fieldwork, Rajeev Virmani

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I studied teacher education reform efforts aimed at improving the preparation of preservice teachers through the use of rehearsals in a math methods class. As many experts in the field of teacher education call for curricula in which preservice teachers learn from and in practice, I investigated a type of pedagogy called rehearsals within a practice-based teacher education setting that may afford preservice teachers with the initial preparation needed to become effective teachers.

In this qualitative study, I examined how three preservice teachers and math methods instructors rehearse the high leverage practice of leading a whole-class discussion. …

Biology I Lab, Todd Schraw

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Biology Ii Lab, Todd Schraw

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

General Genetics Lab, Steelman Library, Todd Schraw Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Bio-Inspired Surface Engineering For Hydrophobicity, Hua Guo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Highly evolved, efficient and sophisticated biological systems can be used as models for scientific innovations. This research explored specific surface structures on plant leaves with respect to their hydrophobicity in the context of the often arid Australian climate. The relationships between leaf surface structures and their hydrophobicity could inform the making of artificial surfaces with specially designed hydrophobicity.

Moderate hydrophobicity and strong surface adhesion were discovered on many study plant leaves. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that their surface morphologies could be categorized into four groups while their water-repellent mechanisms were considered at an individual species level. Specifically, physical models …

Local Covariance Estimation Using Costationarity, Alessandro Cardinali

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

On Quaternion Based Parametrization Of Orientation In Computer Vision And Robotics, G. Terzakis, P. Culverhouse, G. Bugmann, S. Sharma, R. Sutton

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Dropout Prevention Strategies In A Rural Ninth Grade Academy, Shawn A. Davidson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The dropout rate among Georgia high school students is a critical issue within the United States’ educational system. As a result, large numbers of programs have been created to reduce the dropout rate. This study examined the stakeholders’ perceptions of dropout prevention strategies in a rural ninth grade academy to examine effective dropout prevention programs implemented at the school. Participants in the study included administrators, teachers, and students who dropped out of the academy between 2009 and 2012. Interviews were conducted to gather information from the participants. In addition, school and district documents related to prevention programs at the academy …

Identification Of Specific Learning Disabilities: Georgia School Psychologists' Perceptions, Marie T. Underwood

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

An on-line survey was conducted to investigate the assessment practices and perceptions of 366 practicing school psychologist in the state of Georgia concerning various operational components, and the use of RTI when determining SLD eligibility. Results were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression to determine if psychologists’ perceptions could be predicted based on various explanatory variables. Results revealed that a little over half of the respondents preferred assessment of cognitive processing deficits evidenced through patterns of strengths and weaknesses for establishing SLD classification; while well over two-thirds continue to also value analysis of cognitive ability (IQ) scores. Psychologists’ assessment practices were …

Special Education Teachers' Experiences And Perceptions Of The Georgia Alternate Assessment, Veronica V. Harris

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of Georgia Teachers with administering the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA) to elementary students with significant cognitive disabilities and determine how those experiences informed their perception of the Georgia Alternate Assessment. The GAA was designed to assess students with significant cognitive disabilities on grade level standards. The goal of including students with significant cognitive disabilities in standardized testing and statewide accountability systems is to positively impact the curriculum and instruction, and the teaching and learning process for these students. Georgia's special education teachers experience the GAA from within and are …

Infrastructure, Scott S. Foxx

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The paintings in this series depict sensations and forms drawn from a collaged, painted surface, referencing examples of painting from the Early Renaissance and the pure Formalism of the mid 20^th century. Collage materials lend both conceptual and physical directions to the compositions, in that it is symbolic of the multi layered experience of modern people in a technological society. Imitating painting’s gestural, linear energy in an illusory manner, the paper and paint layers invert expected hierarchies of space. I am analyzing the condition of the painter, the ideas of painting as an activity and product, with myself at …

Application Of Artificial Neural Networks To Weighted Interval Kalman Filtering, Amit Motwani, Sanjay K. Sharma, Robert Sutton, Phil Culverhouse

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

A Novel Real-Time Non-Linear Wavelet-Based Model Predictive Controller For A Coupled Tank System, Kayode Owa, Sanjay Sharma, Robert Sutton

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This article presents the design, simulation and real-time implementation of a constrained non-linear model predictive controller for a coupled tank system. A novel wavelet-based function neural network model and a genetic algorithm online non-linear real-time optimisation approach were used in the non-linear model predictive controller strategy. A coupled tank system, which resembles operations in many chemical processes, is complex and has inherent non-linearity, and hence, controlling such system is a challenging task. Particularly important is low-level control where often instability and oscillatory responses are observed. This article designs a wavelet neural network with high predicting precision and time–frequency localisation characteristics …

Megaripple Dynamics On A Dissipative Sandy Beach, Jon Miles, Antony Thorpe, Paul Russell, Gerd Masselink

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Bedform Dynamics In A Rip Current, Antony Thorpe, Jon Miles, Gerd Masselink, Paul Russell

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Polymorphic Data Modeling, Steven R. Benson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

There are currently no data modeling standards for modeling NoSQL document store databases. This work proposes a standard to fill the void. The proposed standard is based on our new data modeling pattern named The Polymorphic Table Pattern. The pattern embraces the “schemaless” nature of document store NoSQL while allowing the data modeler to use his or her existing skillsets. The concepts of our proposed modeling have been demonstrated against MongoDB.

Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Charts For Monitoring The Process Generalized Variance, Anna Khamitova

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The exponentially weighted moving average chart based on the sample generalized variance is studied under the independent multivariate normal model for the vector of quality measurements. The performance of the chart is based on an analysis of the chart's initial and steady-state run length distributions. The three methods that are commonly used to determinate run length distribution, simulation, the integral equation method, and the Markov chain approximation are discussed. The integral equation and Markov chain approaches are analytical methods that require a nu- merical method for determining the probability density and cumulative distribution functions describing the distribution of the sample …

Generalized Weibull And Inverse Weibull Distributions With Applications, Valeriia Sherina

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, new classes of Weibull and inverse Weibull distributions including the generalized new modified Weibull (GNMW), gamma-generalized inverse Weibull (GGIW), the weighted proportional inverse Weibull (WPIW) and inverse new modified Weibull (INMW) distributions are introduced. The GNMW contains several sub-models including the new modified Weibull (NMW), generalized modified Weibull (GMW), modified Weibull (MW), Weibull (W) and exponential (E) distributions, just to mention a few. The class of WPIW distributions contains several models such as: length-biased, hazard and reverse hazard proportional inverse Weibull, proportional inverse Weibull, inverse Weibull, inverse exponential, inverse Rayleigh, and Frechet distributions as special cases. Included …

Generalized Classes Of Distributions With Applications To Income And Lifetime Data, Shujiao Huang

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, new classes of distributions namely: exponentiated Kumaraswamy-Dagum (EKD), Log-exponentiated Kumaraswamy-Dagum (Log-EKD), McDonald Log-logistic (McLLog) and Gamma-Dagum (GD) distributions are presented. A thorough and comprehensive investigation of these classes of distributions is conducted. Mathematical properties of these classes of distributions including series expansion, hazard and reverse hazard functions, moments, generating functions, mean and median deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, distribution of order statistics, moments of order statistics and entropies are presented. Estimation of parameters of these distributions via maximum likelihood technique, Fisher information and asymptotic confidence intervals are given. Maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the exponentiated …

Computational And Experimental Study On Vertical Axis Wind Turbine In Search For An Efficient Design, Mohammad M. Bashar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Wind alone can fulfill most of the energy requirement of the world by its efficient conversion in to energy. Though Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) is more popular but needs high wind speed to generate energy. On the other hand Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) needs low wind speed and can be installed anywhere which are some of the reasons for this research. The main objective of this research is to improve the design and performance of VAWT to make it more attractive, efficient, durable and sustainable. For a VAWT the blades perform the main role to extract energy from …

Vacuum Refractive Indices And Helicity Flip In Strong-Field Qed, Victor Dinu, Tom Heinzl, Anton Ilderton, Mattias Marklund, Greger Torgrimsson

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.