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Pitting Corrosion And Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior Of Oil-Grade Alloy 718 In Sodium Chloride Solution, Ting Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Oil-grade nickel-base alloy 718 has been recently used in the oil and gas industry for downhole drilling components especially for the parts of the bottom hole assembly (BHA) due to its superior mechanical properties, good corrosion resistance, non-magnetic properties and ability to be heat treated to various strength levels. As the modern oil and gas industry explored into coastal and marine locations, deeper and deeper wells have been drilled with high pressure high temperature, making the demand for increased strength and good toughness super critical for alloys used in ultra-deep wells drilling. Moreover, the existence of high concentrations of chloride …

Reservoirs Modeling Of Gas Hydrate Deposits In North Slope Of Alaska And Gulf Of Mexico, Manohar Gaddipati

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In order to address the world's growing energy demand, the necessity to explore more and more unconventional sources of energy arises. Recently there has been increased interest in the potential of natural gas hydrates as an alternate energy resource. Methane hydrates are crystalline solids, very similar to ice, in which non-polar molecules are trapped inside the cages formed by water molecules. Methane hydrates could be potentially a vast source of energy. The production of natural gas from hydrates economically poses a big challenge to today's scientific world. Two sites for greatest potential for gas production from gas hydrates as identified …

Desired Leadership Styles In Classroom And Court: Comparing Ideal Coaching And Teaching Styles Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Elzbieta Klein

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to compare student-athletes' ideal coaching leadership styles and teaching leadership styles. Further, this study examined the relationship between student-athletes' level of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness and their ideal leadership styles. Student-athletes (N=67) were surveyed about their ideal coaching and teaching leadership styles and their communication traits. The averages of each leadership styles were compared to rank them from most ideal to least ideal. Student-athletes prefer the leadership styles of Paternalistic, Democratic, and Transformational for coaches and the leadership styles of Laissez-Faire and Transactional for teachers. Student-athletes' argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness were related to some …

Modeling Of Caprock Seal Failure Due To Fluid Injection, Hari Kiran Nambu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The past, present, and projected trends of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels in the atmosphere have raised serious concerns about global warming. Several efforts are being made to stabilize the current levels of CO2 emissions. Geologic sequestration of CO2 in deep saline aquifers is considered to be one of the potential options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. A tight, low-permeability caprock layer overlying the CO2-targeted reservoir limits the upward migration of CO2 and acts as a primary seal layer to trap CO 2. Large volumes of fluid or CO2 injected in the subsurface may over-pressurize the …

The Denaturalization Of Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra's El Igenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote De La Mancha In Children's Entertainment In The United States, Danielle Vincenza South

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Versions of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha for United States children have been adapted to fit the North American target market. This research aims to identify what changes have occurred and the impact the United States' cultural touch could have on the comprehension of the original text. In the analysis to follow, the four chosen works, two books and two cartoons, demonstrate American beliefs that appeal to the intended audience. One book, entitled Adventures of Don Quixote written by Argentina Palacios, conveys the concept of the American Dream to her readers. UB IWERKS's …

Microfluidic Gradient Device For Studying The Mesothelial Cells' Migration And Effects Of Carbon Nanotubes Chronic Exposure, Hanyuan Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cell migration is one of the crucial steps in many human physiological events and diseases, including cancers. Recent studies have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs), like asbestos, can induce accelerated cell growth and invasiveness that contribute to their mesothelioma pathogenicity. Malignant mesothelioma is a very aggressive tumor that develops from cells of the mesothelium, and is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. CNTs have similar structure and mode of exposure to asbestos. This has raised a particular concern regarding the potential carcinogenicity of CNTs, especially in the pleural spaces, which are key target tissues for asbestos-related diseases.;In this thesis, …

An Old Tool For A New Generation: Using The Star Power Simulation To Teach Social Inequality, Barbara Prince

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students today are unique. They are the first generation to be "growing up digital" and are distinctly different from their baby boomer parents. As a result, this net generation does not fit well within the passive nature of the standard format of classes. One technique, employed by a growing number of faculty within the field of teaching and learning, to facilitate experiential learning is the use of simulations. One example is the simulation Star Power, which simulates the use/abuse of power, stratification, and inequality. Simulations such as Star Power can be a vital tool for teaching core sociological concepts, including …

Influence Of Geochemical Processes On The Geomechanical Response Of The Overburden Due To Co2 Storage In Saline Aquifers, Sai Bharath Kumar Varre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Saline aquifers have been identified as desirable geologic formations, suitable for the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in large amounts. While the impermeable caprock layer(s) in the overburden provide(s) the primary trap for injected carbon dioxide, other trapping mechanisms, such as solubility, residual, ionic or mineral trapping, help contribute to CO2 storage. Geochemical reactions alter the petrophysical properties such as porosity in the target reservoir, and may have an influence on the reservoir storage capacity. When CO2 is injected for long periods of time, it changes the fluid pressures and the overburden geomechanical response. The geomechanical response associated with time-dependent …

Professional Development Programs: Making The Case For Investing In Support-Staff At A Private, Undergraduate Institution, Rebecca Lee Amundsen

Education

The purpose of this study was to determine whether support-staff at Concordia College feel valued by the institution and whether they perceive that workplace satisfaction will improve with the creation and implementation of a professional development program. A survey was conducted and responses were analyzed based on comparisons of the mean, frequency, and correlation, as well as an evaluation of written responses. There were no significant differences found between support-staff in academic departments and academic administrative offices in terms of level of satisfaction, feeling valued, or the perceived impact of a professional development program. Overall, support-staff perceived that a professional …

The Flipped Classroom: Shakespeare In The English Classroom, Anna Lynn Gross

Education

Bergmann and Sams’ twenty-first century flipped classroom method was reviewed in depth to determine its effectiveness in improving student achievement and enjoyment of studying Hamlet by William Shakespeare, a text that is difficult to both read and comprehend. The flipped method was implemented into one of two 12th grade general English classes in rural Minnesota. The first section of 12th grade general English read the play aloud using the traditional read-aloud method and completed an in-depth passage analysis chart for homework. The second section, the intervention group, used the flipped method and read the play on their own with accompanying …

Using Learning Modules For Instructor Neutrality In Ethical Quagmires: A Cross-Curricular Study In Academic Debate, Robert Lester Walsh

Education

The purpose of this disquisition is to add to the body of educational research through practitioner, quantitative, and qualitative inquiry on the topic of academic debate. In a three-tiered study, the author conducted research for this dissertation with the intent to examine argumentation and debate in higher education. The settings for this research were a comprehensive regional university and a research-intensive university. Debate was implemented to introduce topics of controversy with the intent to spur discourse on such topics. The author examined the use of academic debate in undergraduate and graduate education. The results are reported in three articles. The …

Cultural Identity, Vocational Development, And The Meaning Of Work Among Appalachian Coal Miners: A Qualitative Study, Susan Chamberlain

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study I explore what coal mining means to underground miners in Appalachia, and how these meanings interact with participants' cultural and vocational identities. Using narrative data from eight underground coal miners, the study investigates the connections between cultural values, career, and personality. These connections are singularly intertwined in Appalachia, where economic and social landscapes have been heavily influenced by coal mining for over a century. The resulting relationships have blurred the lines of identity among career, family, and community. This qualitative study is based on data from semi-structured interviews; participant language was analyzed using grounded theory to create …

Patch-Based Ensemble Learning Scheme For Heterogeneous Face Recognition, Cunjian Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The problem of Heterogeneous Face Recognition (HFR) involves comparing and matching face images that look significantly different primarily due to variations in their photometric composition. Examples include matching face images acquired in different spectral bands (e.g., visible versus thermal spectrum), or before and after the application of makeup. In this dissertation, we develop and evaluate a robust face recognition method to address this challenge.;The first part of the thesis deals with the topic of facial cosmetics. In this regard, we demonstrate the negative impact of facial cosmetics on existing face recognition as well as gender and age estimation systems. Next, …

Assessment Of West Virginia Public Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Regarding Of The Oral Implications Of Hpv Following An Educational Presentation, Renee Cooper-Frantz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, was firmly linked to a new subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC's) in late 2007. With growing rates of West Virginians affected by HPV-related oral cancers it becomes pertinent to verify that public healthcare professionals of all disciplines are aware of this causal relationship and educating their patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level, attitudes and behaviors of a convenience sample of West Virginia's public healthcare professionals regarding the oral implications of HPV before and after and educational presentation. A pre- …

Numerical Modeling Of Inertial Flows In Proppant-Reservoir Rock Interfaces, Abdulla Alkaabi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Predicting accurate pressure drops in the reservoirs is essential for estimating the ultimate hydrocarbons recoveries and production rates. In hydraulically fractured wells, inertial flows can cause excessive pressure drops, beyond the predicted values form the Darcy equation. Therefore, predicting these excessive pressure drops through defining non-Darcy factors is of particular significance.;Excessive pressure drops in inertial flows are caused by acceleration/deceleration of fluids, which usually occur when fluids are moving from constricted areas to larger pores and vice versa. In the interface between the propped fracture and the reservoir rock, the pores in the latter are in connection with the former …

Internationalization In Culturally Dissimilar Markets: Analysis Of Traditional And Modern Retailing Formats In Egypt, Serena Flagg

Apparel Design and Hospitality Management

Contrasting views on the influence of host country culture as a key determinant in foreign market selection and entry mode of U.S. retailers remains an area for discussion. This study identifies common trends in foreign retail environments to determine if culture is a significant factor in internationalization. Data were generated from observations of retail environments in Cairo, Egypt for three months. A Semantic Differential Scale and field notes were utilized to collect descriptions of traditional formats with informal retailing systems, and modern formats with formal retailing systems in Egypt compared to U.S. markets. Results show cultural differences inherent to traditional …

Retail Change: A Look At The Past, Present, And Future, Laura Mckee

Apparel Design and Hospitality Management

The retail industry has evolved over time and has had constant change. Retailers adjust to accommodate with the changes, and those that are able to change with the times are more likely to be successful. The history of retail has adjusted with each major development of technology, from trains, cars, internet, to tablet computers today. Consumer behavior has also adjusted to the changes in retail and technology. This paper looks at the early history of retail to where we are today. Retailers that want to remain relevant in the future must adapt with the changes in technology and consumer behavior. …

Biomass Production, Composition, And Ethanol Potential Of Switchgrass Grown On Reclaimed Surface Mines In West Virginia, Carol A. Brown

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Growing crops for biofuel production on agricultural land has caused a debate between whether we should grow corn grain on productive, agricultural lands to feed a growing human population or to fuel our vehicles. This has increased interest in growing cellulosic biofuel feedstocks on marginal lands. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a warm-season perennial grass, has been shown to be a viable bioenergy crop because it produces high yields on marginal lands under low water and nutrient conditions. West Virginia contains immense acreages of reclaimed surface mine lands and could offer enough area for the production of switchgrass as a feedstock …

Impact Of Planting Date, Cultivar, Phosphorus, Potassium, And Fungicide Seed Treatments On Winter Wheat Survival And Yield, Matthew Gary Taylor

Plant Sciences

Field experiments and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and fungicides on winter survival, and yield of winter-wheat in North Dakota. The study was conducted as a RCBD with a split-plot of planting date, and a factorial combination of cultivars and seed treatments. Of the factors included, cultivar was the most contributing factor for fall emergence, spring stand count, and yield. Planting date was confounded by insufficient autumn soil moisture, delaying emergence approximately 50% at Minot, Williston, and Hettinger. Phosphorus, K, and fungicide treatment effects were not consistent across locations, but fungicide, priming …

Propagation Of American Hophornbeam (Ostrya Virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch.), Juan Ramon Franco Coronado

Plant Sciences

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch) is an underutilized ornamental landscape tree with limited species improvement partially as a result of a lack of a clonal propagation protocol and its slower growth rate as compared to other commercially produced trees such as maple (Acer spp.) and ash (Fraxinus spp.). A recent decline in ash and the potential decline in maple have increased American Hophornbeam's importance. Currently, American Hophornbeam is seed propagated (sexual), with no clonal propagation (asexual) reported within the species. The objective of this research was to reduce the precise germination requirements of seed propagation as well as …

Radiation Hybrid Mapping Of Barley Chromosome 3h, Mona Mazaheri

Plant Sciences

Assembly of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genome requires high resolution maps for aligning contig-based physical maps along chromosomes. Genetic maps lack accurate information on the physical position of almost half of the barley genome located in recombination-poor regions. Radiation hybrid (RH) mapping is an alternative approach, which is based on radiation-induced chromosomal deletions. In this study, an RH population for barley chromosome 3H was developed. Genotyping 373 3H-RH lines with 113 markers resulted in an RH map with an average resolution of 2.22 Kb. Compared to an analogous genetic map, the 3H-RH map resolution was 9.53-X higher, reaching to …

Micropropagation Of The Relict Genus Cercidiphyllum (Cercidiphyllaceae), Craig Henry Carlson

Plant Sciences

Focusing on various aspects of micropropagation with respect to well represented genotypes within Cercidiphyllum, this study is an attempt to broaden the experimental knowledge of the genus. The Tertiary relict Cercidiphyllum (Cercidiphyllaceae) is endemic to Japan and China and consists of two deciduous tree species, common katsura, C. japonicum Sieb. & Zucc. and the hiro-ha-katsura, C. magnificum Nakai. To date, there exists no literature on the in vitro requirements of C. magnificum and limited information on C. japonicum. Prized as specimen trees, the importance of Cercidiphyllum extends beyond its ornamental merit and regarded a multifaceted genetic resource. Subsequent protocols and …

Design And Evaluation Of Polymeric Nanomaterials For In Vitro And In Vivo Imaging Applications, Anil V. Wagh

Pharmacy

One of the most versatile and safe material used in medicine is polymer-based nanomaterials. This dissertation describes the use of several formulations of polymeric nanomaterials for in vitro and in vivo optical imaging applications. In the first phase of this work, the particles assembled from diblock copolymers of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) and polyethylene glycol were used as a carrier for diagnostic agents. In chapter 2, the polymeric nanoparticles with a large Stokes shift of >100 nm were employed for in vivo imaging. The large Stokes shift was achieved through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) by encapsulating the donor (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindodicarbocyanine) and acceptor …

Molecular Characterization And Pathogenicity Of Sunflower Stem Pathogens, Febina Mathew

Plant Pathology

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production can be limited by several stem diseases. Among these, Phomopsis stem canker causes frequent yield reductions in Australia, Europe and North America. In the U.S., while Diaporthe helianthi was assumed to be the sole causal agent, Diaporthe gulyae was found to cause Phomopsis stem canker in Australia. In order to determine the causal agent in the U.S., 234 isolates were cultured from 275 infected sunflower stems collected from the Northern Great Plains. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region, elongation factor subunit 1-α, and actin gene sequences confirmed two species, D. helianthi and D. …

Association And Bioavailability Of 17Β-Estradiol With Soil And Manure Aqueous Dissolved And Colloidal Fractions, Katrin Bella Chambers

Soil Science

Steroidal estrogens in the environment exert toxicological effects at very low concentrations. Furthermore, dissolved and colloidal fractions of soil and manure play an important role in the environmental fate and transport of steroidal estrogens. One objective of this study was to quantify the association of the natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E2), with the dissolved fraction and colloidal fraction isolated from liquid swine manure (LSM), soil, and soil+LSM mixtures. The second objective of this study was to evaluate whether the E2 associated with the dissolved fraction/colloidal fraction, dissolved fraction and colloidal fraction of the various media could induce an estrogenic response. Estrogenicity …

Two Approaches To The Isotonic Change-Point Problem: Nonparametric And Minimax, Karl D'Silva

Statistics

A change in model parameters over time often characterizes major events. Situations in which this may arise include observing increasing temperatures, intense rainfall, and the valuation of a stock. The question is whether these observations are simply the result of natural variation, or rather are indicative of an underlying monotonic trend. This is known as the isotonic change-point problem. Two approaches to this problem are considered: Firstly, for correlated data with short-range dependence, we prove that a particular U-statistic based on a modified version of the Jonckheere-Terpstra test statistic is asymptotically equivalent to a more complex U-statistic discussed by Shen …

Treating Objects Like Women: The Impact Of Terror Management And Objectification On The Perception Of Women's Faces, Christina Roylance

Psychology

According to terror management theory, humans are threatened by the awareness of death and counter this threat by investing in cultural systems that make them feel like they are more than mortal animals. Based on this proposition, it has been argued that women's bodies pose a unique existential threat, as they remind humans of their similarity to other biological organisms. However, no research thus far has examined how death awareness impacts perceptual assessments of women. The current study examined the effect of heightened death-awareness on perceptions of women's faces, utilizing face-morphing techniques that create a range of artificial-to-real faces. Results …

Restoration Of Upland And Riparian Vegetation Communities In The Sheyenne River Valley, Austin Link

Range Science

Degraded rangelands and riparian woodlands in eastern North Dakota are increasing in frequency. Two studies were conducted to address reduced forage quantity and quality and reduced regeneration of riparian tree and shrub species. Research objectives were to (1) analyze multiple pre-seeding treatments to determine impacts on rangeland production of interseeded native species; and (2) determine if fencing, weed-barrier fabric, mowing, or herbicide treatments can increase survivability of riparian tree and shrub seedling plantings. Pre-seeding treatments with herbicide showed significantly higher production of native species than the control. High-fencing/mowing treatment and high-fencing/weed-barrier fabric/herbicide treatment in riparian tree and shrub plantings resulted …

The Impact Of Media On The Morality Of Young Adventist Church People In The Nairobi Central Church, Alex Ambuchi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Young people in urban areas are especially affected by the liberal trends of the media industry.The media advertises and broadcasts programs that promote immoral behaviors among young people. The Nairobi Central Seventh-day Adventist Church is located in the capital city of Kenya and the negative effects of the media have impacted the youth of this church.

Method

The strategy involved sensitizing Adventist youth concerning the negative impact of the media on morality. A theology of morality and purity was developed and a description of the context for the project conducted. I then used the logical framework and the Gantt …

A Biblical And Theological Strategy For Dealing With Spiritualism In The Zambian Context, Peter Chulu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Rusangu Secondary School has experienced many incidents in recent years where dorm students were harassed by evil spiritual forces, causing fear and uncertainty among the students.

Method

A systematic study of the Bible, commentaries, books, journals, and articles concerning spiritualism was undertaken. Once theological and historical data on spiritualism was identified, it was utilized for training, equipping, and empowering prayer band members on how to deal with demonic harassment at the school.

Results

The school and church experienced revitalization. Members learned how to utilize a prayer band ministry to pray for the students who were being harassed by evil …