Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2015

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 53071 - 53100 of 53342

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Utilizing Early Cellular Changes To Explore Biological Responses To Individual Chemical And Mixture Exposures, Julie Anne Vrana Jan 2015

Utilizing Early Cellular Changes To Explore Biological Responses To Individual Chemical And Mixture Exposures, Julie Anne Vrana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Humans are continuously exposed to a vast number of chemicals, whether it be from the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the medications we take daily. Early cellular changes after exposure to chemical insult, both individual chemicals and mixtures (two or more chemicals) thereof, can offer a wealth of information about cellular adaptation (e.g., cell death or survival decision processes). From this understanding, better prediction models for chemical risk assessment, such as toxicity or carcinogenicity, can be elucidated. Further, these prediction models can greatly improve the large backlog of chemicals waiting to be evaluated for potential adverse effects. …


Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Citrus Essential Oils And Organic Acids Against Salmonella And Listeria Monocytogenes, Karina Walker Jan 2015

Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Citrus Essential Oils And Organic Acids Against Salmonella And Listeria Monocytogenes, Karina Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The development of natural antimicrobials for foods is of increasing interest as consumers' desire for more natural foods continues to rise. Organic acids and citrus essential oils (EOs) are natural, generally regarded as safe substances that are known to possess antimicrobial properties. In-vitro tests of natural antimicrobials against a range of bacteria are required in order to determine their feasibility for food applications. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of citrus essential oils and organic acids against Salmonella Baildon, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 14028) and three strains of Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115, ATCC 15313, …


Evaluating Work-Related Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Disorders In The Roofing Industry, Di Wang Jan 2015

Evaluating Work-Related Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Disorders In The Roofing Industry, Di Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Roofers have long suffered from low back disorders (LBDs), which is a primary non-fatal injury in construction. The harsh work environment exposes the roofers to a diversity of physical exposures which may cause severe LBD injuries. Until now, most of research on roofing safety has been mainly focused on fatal injury risks, such as falls from height, leaving much to be desired in the risk assessment of non-fatal, cumulative musculoskeletal disorders among this population. Existing ergonomics studies have identified several physical risk factors associated with LBDs in workplaces and developed predictive models for general LBD risk assessments. However, these models …


What Are Faculty Perceptions Of Using Emotional Intelligence In Pedagogy And Andragogy?, Eveldora R. Wheeler Jan 2015

What Are Faculty Perceptions Of Using Emotional Intelligence In Pedagogy And Andragogy?, Eveldora R. Wheeler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation study compared the key findings from the first piece of research (pilot study) by allowing further exploration and re-examination of faculties' Perceptions of Using Emotional Intelligence (PUEI) in STEM, Social Sciences, online, and face to face in Pedagogy and Andragogy. This study draws particular attention to the notable rise of emotional issues emerging in differing educational contexts (online and face to face) and the significance of faculty response to their PUEI. Emotional intelligence, a complexity often viewed skeptically is a recurring theme for this study and can greatly benefit higher educational institutions, professional learning environments, and businesses particularly. …


Attenuation Of Spatial Memory Impairment In A Tau Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease With Riluzole, Daniel S. Weitzner Jan 2015

Attenuation Of Spatial Memory Impairment In A Tau Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease With Riluzole, Daniel S. Weitzner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) often demonstrate hyperactivity in areas of the memory network, such as the hippocampus, prior to AD diagnosis. Evidence suggests that this hyperactivity might be a contributing factor to the development of AD. Tau, a protein responsible for binding and maintaining microtubules, has been implicated as a factor in hyperactivity, potentially through its alterations in glutamate signaling. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is essential for learning and memory. However, excess glutamate that accumulates in the synapse can lead to neuron loss and eventual behavioral impairments. Recently, our lab …


Facial Image Analysis For Body Mass Index, Makeup And Identity, Lingyun Wen Jan 2015

Facial Image Analysis For Body Mass Index, Makeup And Identity, Lingyun Wen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The principal aim of facial image analysis in computer vision is to extract valuable information(e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, and identity) by interpreting perceived electronic signals from face images. In this dissertation, we develop facial image analysis systems for body mass index (BMI) prediction, makeup detection, as well as facial identity with makeup changes and BMI variations.;BMI is a commonly used measure of body fatness. In the first part of this thesis, we study BMI related topics. At first, we develop a computational method to predict BMI information from face images automatically. We formulate the BMI prediction from facial features as …


Investigating College Evolution Instruction: Current Practices And How They Can Be Improved To Overcome Student Barriers To Acceptance, Nicholas Adam Wilbur Jan 2015

Investigating College Evolution Instruction: Current Practices And How They Can Be Improved To Overcome Student Barriers To Acceptance, Nicholas Adam Wilbur

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The United States is ranked very low in acceptance of evolution when compared to other countries of similar socioeconomic status. The resistance to evolution extends to high school students and teachers, where much research has been performed on the topic of evolution education and the context is well understood. The initial goal of my thesis research was to establish a context for evolution education at the post-secondary level, which was accomplished by performing a national survey of evolution instructors. Although there was great variation among high school teachers, college instructors were surprisingly consistent in their training, methodology and personal views. …


Factors Affecting Turnover As Perceived By County Agents Who Voluntarily Left The West Virginia University Extension Service, Michael B. Withrow Jan 2015

Factors Affecting Turnover As Perceived By County Agents Who Voluntarily Left The West Virginia University Extension Service, Michael B. Withrow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This descriptive survey study sought to identify factors that influenced West Virginia University County Extension Agents to voluntarily leave the organization. The population consisted of 31 individuals who had left the Extension Service from 2009-2014. A survey which was composed of four main question sets was mailed to the identified population.;Questions focused on the constructs of organizational factors, job related factors, personal factors, and demographics. Data were collected and analyzed to identify contributing factors in each of the constructs. The study found that a major factor that contributes to agents leaving Extension was having other priorities in the individuals' life. …


External Hyperlinking Practices In Print-Based And Online-Native News Sites, Sarah K. Wisniewski Jan 2015

External Hyperlinking Practices In Print-Based And Online-Native News Sites, Sarah K. Wisniewski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper describes the differences in the use of external hyperlinks between print-based and online-native news sites. External hyperlinks are links that direct the user to a page outside the original domain, such as the Huffington Post including a link to Wikipedia. A subcategorization of online-native sites into three distinct waves based on launch dates and corresponding to recent transitions in communications technology is proposed. A quantitative content analysis of hyperlinks embedded in the text of articles from print-based, second-wave, and third-wave news sites in 2005, 2010, and 2014 suggests that print-based and online-native news sites do use external hyperlinks …


Retentive Comparison Of Overdenture Attachment Systems On Straight And Divergent Dental Implants, Christopher Heath Wine Jan 2015

Retentive Comparison Of Overdenture Attachment Systems On Straight And Divergent Dental Implants, Christopher Heath Wine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To investigate the retentive capabilities of the LOCATOR (ZEST Anchors LLC, Escondido, CA USA) attachment and GPS (Implant Direct Sybron International, LLC, California, USA) dental implant attachment systems on parallel and divergent implants after cyclic wear.;Methods: An acrylic rod was cut into blocks representing 20 mandibular arches. Each block had either two LOCATOR or two GPS abutment analogs placed parallel or with 10 degrees of divergence. The associated housings were picked up in corresponding acrylic blocks with Ortho resin (Dentsply GAC, Islandia, NY USA). The black processing liners in each housing were replaced with a 1.5lb retentive liners. These …


Cancer Exosomes Are Unique And Complex Mechanisms That Suppress Effector T Lymphocyte Functions, Yueting Wu Jan 2015

Cancer Exosomes Are Unique And Complex Mechanisms That Suppress Effector T Lymphocyte Functions, Yueting Wu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is still unknown how tumor exosomes influence malignant cell survival and alter cell-to-cell communication to modulate the immune system by, in part, manipulating the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This study focuses on two critical parts regarding cancer exosomes. The first part is to tailor existing bionanotechnology methods to account for the nanoscale aspects of exosome biology. SEM, TEM, Bioanalyzer and flow cytometry were used to characterize exosome morphologies, identify specific protein biomarkers HER1 and HER2, as well as the quality of RNAs enclosed in exosomes. Competing methods related to exosome isolation, production, preservation, stability and analysis were evaluated. …


Mapping And Modeling Soil Organic Carbon In The Eastern Allegheny Plateau And Mountains Using Legacy Data, Katey M. Yoast Jan 2015

Mapping And Modeling Soil Organic Carbon In The Eastern Allegheny Plateau And Mountains Using Legacy Data, Katey M. Yoast

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The deeply dissected topography and diverse climate of the Eastern Allegheny Plateau and Mountains (Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 127) create challenges for dynamicpedoecological modeling needed for ecosystem management adaptation to a changing climate. The spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), one of the most dynamic soil properties, has been previously estimated and mapped using the State Soil Geographical Database (STATSGO2) and the more detailed Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) for MLRA 127, estimating mean SOC to a depth of 1 m to be 2.60 and 4.40 kg m-2, respectively. Previous studies have shown that these approximations underestimate true …


Decellularized Matrix And Cartilage Regeneration: A Focus On Developing A Matrix With Anti-Inflammation And Micromechanical Properties, Ying Zhang Jan 2015

Decellularized Matrix And Cartilage Regeneration: A Focus On Developing A Matrix With Anti-Inflammation And Micromechanical Properties, Ying Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is predicted to be the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020. Stem cell-based therapy is a promising biological approach for the treatment of cartilage defects. However, adult stem cells tend to become replicatively senescent when they are expanded on conventional plastic flasks. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) provides an expansion system to rejuvenate and maintain the chondrogenic phenotype of stem cells for cartilage repair. In addition, joints with cartilage defects normally have inflammation to some extent; several stimuli, such as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Interleukin-1 (IL-1), reportedly induce apoptosis of chondrocytes. The tolerance of …


Cellulose Based Materials As A Template For The Synthesis Of Copper Nanoparticles For Antimicrobial Applications, Tuhua Zhong Jan 2015

Cellulose Based Materials As A Template For The Synthesis Of Copper Nanoparticles For Antimicrobial Applications, Tuhua Zhong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Copper has been used as a broad-spectrum biocide for centuries, showing effective antimicrobial performance against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Among various forms of copper, copper nanoparticles is attracting particular attention because of its high surface area and crystal morphology that will enhance copper antimicrobial properties. However, the high tendency of copper particles to aggregate at a nanoscale remains as a drawback for the development of copper-based nanostructured products. In this research, cellulose-based materials were utilized as a template and stabilizer for copper nanoparticles, and the resulting hybrid material was used as bi-functional material in thermoplastic resins improving the final antimicrobial …


The Role Of Self-Efficacy And Social Support In Emerging Adults' Physical Activity, Nicole M. Silva Jan 2015

The Role Of Self-Efficacy And Social Support In Emerging Adults' Physical Activity, Nicole M. Silva

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Emerging adulthood is a time where emerging adults develop health behaviors that persist throughout the life span (Barnett et al., 2014). However, only 55.4% of emerging adults engage in the recommended amount of physical activity each week (U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, 2013). The current study examined two factors that are associated with physical activity, specifically self-efficacy and social support, in 403 (M age = 19.25, SD = 1.12) emerging adults. Linear regressions indicated that emerging adults who reported higher levels of general self-efficacy (beta = .13, p < .05), domain self-efficacy (beta = .33, p < .05), and support from the entire social network (beta = .50, p < .001) engaged in more physical activity. Support from the entire social network still accounted for a significant portion of the variance in physical activity when accounting for general or domain self-efficacy (beta for support = .48, p < .001 and .30, p < .05, respectively). The differential effects of source of support (i.e., family and friends) and type of support (i.e., esteem support, informational support, and companionship support) were also examined. Emerging adults who reported higher levels of support from family (beta = .22, p < .001) and friends (beta = .33, p < .001) engaged in more physical activity. Although emerging adults reported receiving more esteem support from family (M = 2.95, SD = 1.23) compared to friends (M = 2.74, SD = 1.15), esteem support from friends (beta = .33, p < .001) had a larger effect on physical activity than esteem support from family (beta = .21, p < .05).


Optimization Of Pulsed-Vacuum Osmotic Dehydration Of Blueberries, Alexandra Marie Smith Jan 2015

Optimization Of Pulsed-Vacuum Osmotic Dehydration Of Blueberries, Alexandra Marie Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fruit drying is energy intensive (thermal efficiency 25-50%). However, improved efficiency is possible if phase change during the process is minimized. To minimize phase change and simultaneously increase product yield and quality, osmotic dehydration and pulsed-vacuum osmotic dehydration can be applied to maximize water removal before final drying. The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of vacuum, osmotic solution temperature and concentration, and treatment duration on blueberry mass transfer. Frozen blueberries were exposed to 2 temperatures (25 or 50°C), 2 sugar solution concentrations (45 or 65°Brix), 2 vacuum treatments (no vacuum or 50 mbar), and 3 duration …


School Climate, Early Adolescent Development, And Identity: Associations With Adjustment Outcomes, Megan Lorraine Smith Jan 2015

School Climate, Early Adolescent Development, And Identity: Associations With Adjustment Outcomes, Megan Lorraine Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early adolescence is a time of risk and exploration for young people. In a period of development marked by increasing independence, young people are still learning the skills necessary for success in their adult lives. Positive development is impacted not only by individual characteristics, but also by the environments and social supports present. Adolescents spend a significant amount of time in schools, thus schools are an important context to study in regards to positive adolescent outcomes. Self Determination Theory (SDT, Deci & Ryan, 2000) posits that the degree to which an individual's basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness …


Uneven Development And Peri-Urbanization In South Africa: Exploring Landscape Change In Polokwane, South Africa, Jennifer L. Smith Jan 2015

Uneven Development And Peri-Urbanization In South Africa: Exploring Landscape Change In Polokwane, South Africa, Jennifer L. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Changes in local landscapes of South Africa are tied to changing social and economic structures of the post-apartheid era. Though there have been significant shifts in land and labor laws, as well as economic policies, between the apartheid era and current times, significant inequalities between communities remain a defining characteristic of the post-apartheid landscape. This research contends that through a combination of social processes occurring between the local, national, and global scales, local landscape is produced unevenly as a manifestation of the coproduction of space. Using a structuralist approach, the research examines local change through the theoretical lenses of uneven …


Clustering By Academic Major At Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus), Aaron Goodson Jan 2015

Clustering By Academic Major At Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus), Aaron Goodson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Follow-up studies of clustering by academic major, the dynamic of 25% or more of the student-athletes on a roster pursuing the same academic major, indicate that it still occurs in revenue-generating sports (Fountain & Finley 2009, 2011; Otto, 2012). Clustering challenges the notion that student-athletes have control over their collegiate academic experience and reveals that their educational pursuits may not align with their professional goals or provide a meaningful educational experience (Sharp & Sheilley, 2008). Research on clustering is absent in member institutions of different NCAA divisions, institutions with unique missions and history (such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities …


Family Distress, First-Generation College Status, And Financial Stress As Predictors Of Alcohol Use In College Students Seeking Mental Health Treatment, Narayan Jeremy Gold Jan 2015

Family Distress, First-Generation College Status, And Financial Stress As Predictors Of Alcohol Use In College Students Seeking Mental Health Treatment, Narayan Jeremy Gold

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increasing numbers of students have been presenting for mental health treatment on college campuses to address their alcohol use (Gallagher, 2010). The goal of the current study was to examine the relationship between presenting alcohol use, family distress, college generational status (first-generation to college or non-first-generation to college), and financial distress. By examining the predictive nature of these variables screening could be improved to help identify and help students who are more at risk of experiencing the negative impact of alcohol use. It was hypothesized that higher levels of family distress, more financial stress, and being a first-generation college student …


Self-Assessed Health In The Context Of Daily Life, Allyson S. Graf Jan 2015

Self-Assessed Health In The Context Of Daily Life, Allyson S. Graf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Little research has examined short-term change in self-assessed health (SAH), limiting what is known about the influence of daily life on these personal health evaluations. Investigating short-term change in SAH can add to our understanding of the ways in which SAH relates to future health outcomes. Therefore, the current study sought to examine change and stability in SAH across the day and across the week in an age-diverse community sample (n = 57, ranging in age from 25 - 71 years, 52.6% female). Age, gender, and neuroticism were hypothesized to systematically influence short-term fluctuation in SAH. Daily hassles and uplifts …


Validation Of An Experimentally Motivated Predictive Model For The Spontaneous Clustering Of Receptors On The Cell Membrane, Emine Guven Jan 2015

Validation Of An Experimentally Motivated Predictive Model For The Spontaneous Clustering Of Receptors On The Cell Membrane, Emine Guven

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Membrane receptors are specialized membrane-bound proteins that facilitate communication be- tween the intracellular and extracellular membrane. They control signal initiation in many im- portant cellular signaling pathways. Cell signaling (or signal transduction) provides the logical inputs individual cells need in order to perform their role in the context of the organism. Signal- ing molecules such as hormones, neurotransmitters or growth factors, are secreted by cells in the organism as a result of certain conditions; the cells receiving the signal change (or maintain) their state in response to the signaling input. The incoming information is processed and the response is formulated …


Gettysburg Historical Journal 2015 Jan 2015

Gettysburg Historical Journal 2015

The Gettysburg Historical Journal

No abstract provided.


Discovery Of A Novel Oocyte-Specific Krab-Containing Zinc Finger Protein Required For Early Embryogenesis In Cattle, Jacqelyn M. Hand Jan 2015

Discovery Of A Novel Oocyte-Specific Krab-Containing Zinc Finger Protein Required For Early Embryogenesis In Cattle, Jacqelyn M. Hand

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Much of the loss of potential offspring in cattle is concentrated in the early embryonic period. Maternal mRNAs that accumulate in the oocyte during oogenesis have important functional roles during the initial stages of embryonic development, before embryonic genome activation. It is well regarded that the oocyte plays an active role in regulation of key aspects of the reproductive process required for fertility. What is more, oocyte-specific transcription factors seem to be the controlling feature influencing germ cell success throughout oogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Of the remarkably diverse array of transcription factors encoded by mammalian genomes, about two-thirds …


A Feasibility Analysis For The Development Of A Facility Utilizing Olive Oil Mill Production Waste As A Carbon Substrate In Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production In Morocco, Catherine Hansen Jan 2015

A Feasibility Analysis For The Development Of A Facility Utilizing Olive Oil Mill Production Waste As A Carbon Substrate In Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production In Morocco, Catherine Hansen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents a market study and economic feasibility analysis on developing a facility utilizing olive oil production waste as a carbon substrate in polyhydroxyalkanoate production. Three underlying questions will be explored within this thesis: (1) Can olive oil mill effluents be utilized to produce an environmentally friendly polyhydroxyalkanoate bio-plastic?;, (2) Is there potential for the bio-plastic polyhydroxyalkanoate to enter Morocco's plastic market?;, (3) Is it likely that a bio-plastic facility utilizing olive oil mill production waste to create polyhydroxyalkanoate would have long term profitability? This research provides a pathway toward a new solution to a pervasive environmental concern facing …


The Assessment Of Instruments For Detecting Surface Water Spills And A Three-Dimensional Model Of The Elk River Spill, Aubrey E. Harris Jan 2015

The Assessment Of Instruments For Detecting Surface Water Spills And A Three-Dimensional Model Of The Elk River Spill, Aubrey E. Harris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Source water protection has been an increasing area of concern due to the risks associated with chemical storage and oil and gas operations. To better identify and mitigate risk, models and tools are needed to evaluate the dispersion of pollutants in possible spill scenarios. This information may be used to determine the placement of in-stream water quality monitoring instruments and to develop early-warning systems and emergency plans.;In this work, two approaches of applying chemical dispersion models are described: one to determine the necessary concentration to generate a signal from in-stream measurements; and second to demonstrate, in a numerical three-dimensional model, …


Essays On Low-Income Communities And Crime, Kaitlyn R. Harger Jan 2015

Essays On Low-Income Communities And Crime, Kaitlyn R. Harger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is a collection of essays examining issues related to low-income communities and criminal behavior. The first chapter of this dissertation provides an introduction to policies used to aid disadvantaged communities and marginalized populations. It also provides an outline of the research agenda of the dissertation as a whole. Chapter 2 examines the role of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) in attracting new businesses and employment to low-income communities. This federal tax credit program was designed to increase investment in eligible communities by offering private investors a federal-income tax credit in exchange for investment. The results suggest that …


The Social, Anti-Social Network: A Qualitative Study On Pro Social Benefits Of Online Multiplayer Gaming, Kent L. Hastings Jan 2015

The Social, Anti-Social Network: A Qualitative Study On Pro Social Benefits Of Online Multiplayer Gaming, Kent L. Hastings

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using the social capital and uses and gratifications perspectives, this study employs a qualitative, interview-based approach to studying the pro-social benefits of online multiplayer gaming.Through in-depth interviews, this study contributes to the literature of pro-social benefits of online multiplayer gaming by corroborating past research with evidence that online multiplayer gaming fosters the generation of social capital, both bridging and bonding, and cultural capital. Further, online gaming offers players a sense of community, provides them the tools to form and work together in coordinated teams, and allows them to feel a sense of mastery, excitement, and accomplishment with each in-game victory.


A Study Of Self Consolidating Concrete For Cast In Place Applications: Current Practices, Rapid Wcm Determination, And Stability Effects Of Pumping, Jared Hershberger Jan 2015

A Study Of Self Consolidating Concrete For Cast In Place Applications: Current Practices, Rapid Wcm Determination, And Stability Effects Of Pumping, Jared Hershberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) is a relatively new type of concrete mixture that does not require external compaction during placement. Compared to traditional vibrated concrete (TVC), SCC is much more fluid, which gives it the ability to flow and fill formwork without the need for any external compaction efforts. Although the increased cement content and chemical admixtures found in SCC typically results in a higher material cost, the potential for cost savings in reduced construction time and labor are significant. The potential of this relatively new type of concrete have yet to be realized due to a lack of regulation and …


Development Of An Erosion Control Seed Mixture That Includes Native Species, George A. Hilvers Jan 2015

Development Of An Erosion Control Seed Mixture That Includes Native Species, George A. Hilvers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The West Virginia Divisions of Highways (WVDOH) utilizes the establishment of grass cover as a temporary and permanent management practice to mediate the effects of erosion on highway construction sites. Current West Virginia regulations include five seed mixtures for permanent applications that include combinations of nine species. Six of these species are identified as invasive, and all nine species are considered introduced or both native and introduced. This research developed alternative seed mixtures that included low threat or native species. The alternative seed mixtures were then evaluated in a field test. The research also examined seedbed preparation techniques, the performance …