Digital Commons Network^™

Reservoir Characterization And Static Earth Modeling For Potential Co2 Storage In Upper Pennsylvanian Cyclothems Of Midcontinent, Usa, Valerie Lynn Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation details the estimation of CO₂ storage volume using reservoir characterization and the building of static earth models in two papers: 1) for Sleepy Hollow Field in Red Willow County, Nebraska and, 2) for Huffstutter Field, Phillips County, Kansas. These models are used to obtain estimates of CO₂ storage capacity in stacked carbonate intervals of the Pennsylvanian Lansing and Kansas City groups (LKC). The LKC constitutes a regional succession of interbedded carbonates and shales. Located over the Cambridge Arch of Nebraska, these interbedded units were evaluated for carbon storage potential. Understanding the occurrence of carbonate porosity among …

Frontal Brain Injury: Effects On Flexibility, Impulse Control, And Attention, Christopher Matthew O'Hearn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined as an impact to the head, penetration of the skull, or rapid deceleration of the skull, resulting in an alteration of brain function or neurological deficit. Cognitive deficits are common following TBI and often go unresolved due to a lack of effective treatments. These deficits often perseverate into the chronic post injury phase, so the development of rehabilitative strategies is imperative. Behavioral flexibility, impulse control, and attention are a few cognitive processes that are commonly affected by TBI. The current research compares these processes between rats with and without a severe frontal brain injury …

“I Don't Really Look Very Asian”: Transracially And Transnationally Adopted Asian Youth In Rural Appalachia, Sandra L. Rodeheaver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transracially adopted Asian children in rural Appalachia find themselves adopted into places where there is little or no racial and ethnic diversity. In this context, it may be difficult to transgress the model minority stereotype and systemic racism in schools and the community. There are particular issues and concerns related to racial identity for TRAAs that may make the task of becoming fully integrated members of the community challenging. Building on the literature on transracial and transnational adoption, this study aims to better understand the lives and perspectives of two transracially adopted Asian (TRAA) girls living in rural Appalachia and …

Occurrence, Mating Strategy, And Pathogenicity Of Members Of Nectriaceae In Central Appalachia, Cameron Michael Stauder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Members of the Nectriaceae occupy many ecological niches including dominant canker pathogens, such as Neonectria ditissima and N. faginata. These two pathogens contribute to the decline of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) forests across the Appalachian Mountains due to beech bark disease (BBD). Interestingly, N. ditissima represents a well-known canker pathogen many hardwood species, while N. faginata has not been observed outside of BBD. Additionally, N. faginata occurs at higher incidences than N. ditissima in BBD stands. Nectriaceae in Central Appalachia were surveyed as to further characterize the diversity and possibly identify a non-beech host of N. faginata. …

Tree Growth And Water Use Efficiency During The Twentieth Century: From Global Trends To Local Drivers, Justin Michael Mathias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The frequency and severity of extreme environmental conditions will continue to increase under global environmental change. How terrestrial plants respond to prolonged, and often novel environmental stressors, will have profound impacts on, and feedbacks with, the Earth climate system at local to continental scales. Central to these feedbacks are plant stomata, actively regulated pores on the leaves of plants that act as a control valve over the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the leaf during photosynthesis and water vapor (H₂O) out of the leaf during transpiration. Importantly, changes in stomatal aperture do not affect the …

Reducing Gaps In Knowledge About Electroconvulsive Therapy Among Mental Health Nurses, Janice L. Edmonson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This DNP study was conducted to identify knowledge gaps about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among mental health nurses and to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude of mental health nurses about the use of ECT at a psychiatric hospital. In this study, the researcher sought to build upon an existing knowledge base using principles of adult learning theory to enhance the therapeutic relationship of the nursing staff when caring for ECT patients. A sample of three-quarters (N = 119) of the mental health nursing staff employed by the psychiatric hospital consented to participate in …

Review Of: Jacques B. Doukhan, Daniel 11 Decoded: An Exegetical, Historical, And Theological Study, Roy E. Gane

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Improvement Of Tcad Augmented Machine Learning Using Autoencoder For Semiconductor Variation Identification And Inverse Design, Kashyap Mehta, Sophia Susan Raju, Ming Xiao, Boyan Wang, Yuhao Zhang, Hiu Yung Wong

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

A machine learning (ML) model by combing two autoencoders and one linear regression model is proposed to avoid overfitting and to improve the accuracy of Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD)-augmented ML for semiconductor structural variation identification and inverse design, without using domain expertise. TCAD-augmented ML utilizes TCAD simulations to generate sufficient data for ML model development when experimental data are inadequate. The ML model can then be used to identify semiconductor structural variation for given experimental electrical measurements. In this study, the variation of layer thicknesses in the p-i-n diode is used as a demonstration. An ML model is developed to …

Energy Filtering Effect At Source Contact On Ultra-Scaled Mosfets, Johan Saltin, Nguyen Cong Dao, Philip H.W. Leong, Hiu Yung Wong

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We postulate that in ultra-scaled Field Effect Transistors (FET), such as nanowires in sub-7nm technology, the source contact will act as an energy filter and increase the effective temperature of carriers arriving at the channel barrier. This is due to the absence of inelastic scattering in the short source-contact-to-channel region. As a result, the Sub-threshold Slope (SS) will increase substantially. In this paper, we verify this energy filtering effect through numerical calculations and Technology Computer-Aided-Design (TCAD) simulations calibrated to quantum solvers for electrostatics. It is found that SS degradation increases as the source metal workfunction increases. At 300K, in the …

Spatial Particulate Fields During Highwinds In The Imperial Valley, California, Frank R. Freedman, Paul English, Jeff Wagner, Yang Liu, Akula Venkatram, Daniel Q. Tong, Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan, Meytar Sorek-Hamer, Robert Chatfield, Ana Rivera, Patrick L. Kinney

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We examined windblown dust within the Imperial Valley (CA) during strong springtime west-southwesterly (WSW) wind events. Analysis of routine agency meteorological and ambient particulate matter (PM) measurements identified 165 high WSW wind events between March and June 2013 to 2019. The PM concentrations over these days are higher at northern valley monitoring sites, with daily PM mass concentration of particles less than 10 micrometers aerodynamic diameter (PM10) at these sites commonly greater than 100 μg/m3 and reaching around 400 μg/m3, and daily PM mass concentration of particles less than 2.5 micrometers aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) commonly greater than 20 μg/m3 and …

The Assembly History Of The Nearest S0 Galaxy Ngc 3115 From Its Kinematics Out To Six Half-Light Radii, Arianna Dolfi, Duncan A. Forbes, Warrick J. Couch, Anna Ferre-Mateu, Sabine Bellstedt, Kenji Bekki, Jonathan Diaz, Aaron J. Romanowsky, Jean P. Brodie

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Using new and archival data, we study the kinematic properties of the nearest field S0 galaxy, NGC 3115, out to ∼6.5 half-light radii (Re) from its stars (integrated starlight), globular clusters (GCs), and planetary nebulae (PNe). We find evidence of three kinematic regions with an inner transition at ∼0.2 Re from a dispersion-dominated bulge (Vrot/σ < 1) to a fast-rotating disc (Vrot/σ > 1), and then an additional transition from the disc to a slowly rotating spheroid at ∼ 2-2.5Re, as traced by the red GCs and PNe (and possibly by the blue GCs beyond ∼ 5Re). From comparison with simulations, we propose an assembly history in which …

Investigating The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality In Certified Athletic Trainers, Lucas William Lammert

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are often the first to respond to an athletic sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and are expected to administer the highest quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) possible. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between confidence and CPR quality in ATCs. Fifty ATCs completed confidence questionnaires before and after performing a prolonged CPR assessment on a medium-fidelity manikin. CPR data included measures of chest compression and ventilation quality. Data were analyzed to compare confidence levels pre- and post-CPR assessment, as well as to determine the relationship between CPR performance and self-efficacy. A small, negative …

Mud Frontiers, Virginia San Fratello, Ronald Rael

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Transnational Government Hacking, Jennifer Daskal

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Acute Fatigue On Reactive Strength Index In Modern Dancers, Jordan Tingman

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute fatigue on stretch shortening cycle (SSC) performance measured by the Reactive Strength Index (RSI) derived from a drop jump. Methods: Twelve professional modern dancers (8 female, 4 male) participated in this study. Two force plates were utilized to record the force-time data during drop jumps (DJ) before and after an acute, fatiguing protocol. Dancers performed a 5-10 minute self-selected warm up followed by 3-5 practice trials of DJs onto the force plates. Three trials were recorded from each dancer with 30-60 seconds (s) of rest between trials. …

Using Blockchain For Digital Card Game, Raymond A. Swannack

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

In recent years, the popularity of both online card games and blockchain technology have grown exponentially. While combining these two does not immediately seem like an obvious idea, they in fact complement each other nicely. Blockchain allows for players to actually own their cards, in a way that was unheard of in the digital format just a few years ago. It also gives them the freedom to use them in any way they like, just like in real life. In this thesis we will look into how viable this idea really is. We use the Ethereum virtual machine to simulate …

Oral Care During Pregnancy: An Educational Intervention, Holly Redwine

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Interprofessional collaboration can help prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to poor oral health. This study was conducted to see if an educational module provided by a dental hygienist (DH) could increase the knowledge and confidence of physician assistant (PA) students with preventive oral care for the pregnant patient.

Methods: A one group mixed-method approach was used in this research. Pregnancy and oral health knowledge were assessed using a 9-item pretest and posttest survey. Participants completed the pretest, were presented an educational module, and were asked to complete an immediate posttest. A second posttest was sent via e-mail to the …

Using Motivational Interviewing And Technology To Increase Confidence In Nutritional Counseling Among Dental Hygienists: A Thesis, Heather Anderson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Research shows definite connections between food choices and caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Dental hygienists have the unique opportunity to educate patients on how nutrition can improve oral health. Dental hygiene students are introduced to these concepts but struggle to gain confidence to share this knowledge with patients. This study looked at an educational module on motivational interviewing (MI) and an electronic assessment tool to build student confidence with nutritional counseling.

Methods: Students participated in an educational module to review MI and introduce the electronic nutritional risk assessment and counseling tool. Prior to the module, participants completed a …

Human Memory As A Sequence Of Recursive Algorithms, Hannah E. Cobb

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Owner Perceptions Of Cat-Human Communication, Kendal Cler

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This study focuses on cat to human communication with an emphasis on the way humans perceive cats' communicative signals. Compared to other animals, the domestication of cats has been a slow process and humans have begun to recognize the communicative signals from cats and vice versa. Based on the results of this survey research, humans have started to notice different forms of communication from cats, and are able to decipher their cat’s needs, most of the time. Owners of cats in this study appear to be projecting human values of communication onto their cats. Cats have begun to adjust their …

Organic Compound Farnesol Reduces Disease Severity And Onset In Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Lacey B. Sell

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The Tally Numbering System To Traditional Arithmetic Systems In Field Programmable Gate Arrays, Robert Paul Shredow

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This research explores the use of heterogeneous computing platforms for use in machine learning as well as different neural network architectures. These platforms and architectures can be used to accelerate the complex operations that are required for machine learning, more specifically neural networks. The use of different architectures, implementing different types of numbering and mathematics systems is explored in hopes of accelerating mathematical functions. The heterogeneous computing platform explored in this thesis is a Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), specifically a SoC/FPGA which is a ARM CPU and a FPGA in the same chip. FPGAs are unique because they are …

Untangling The Yemen Crisis, Paul Williams, Laura Graham, Jim Johnson, Michael P. Scharf, Milena Sterio

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

No abstract provided.

The Rohingya Genocide, Paul Williams, Todd F. Buchwald, Jenny Domino, Rebecca Hamilton, Michael P. Scharf, Meilena Sterio

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

No abstract provided.

The Bridwell Quarterly. Issues 8-9, Summer, Fall 2020, Michelle Ried

Bridwell Library Publications

No abstract provided.

Evolutionary Analyses Of Phylum Chaetognatha Based On Mitochondrial Cytochromeoxidase I Gene, Sam Peter, Manojkumar Bhaskaran Nair, Devika Pillai

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Chaetognaths (arrow worms) are an enigmatic group of transparent planktonic invertebrates and play an important role in the marine food web. Their morphological and developmental features have raised extensive debates since the discovery of the phylum in the 18th century. Uncertainty in the phylogenetic placement of certain chaetognath species still exists and is puzzling many scientists who have tried to clarify this task. Studies using a portion of both small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) and large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (LSU rRNA) genes when integrated with conventional taxonomy were contributed to resolve taxonomical issues in this group. Here …

Parental Knowledge And Other Factors Associated With Infants' Exposure To Screens, Shea Lammers

Human Development and Family Science

Excessive screen time in children is linked to reduced white matter integrity and developmental delays such as reduced vocabulary. Nevertheless, many parents allow their infants and toddlers to have access to screen devices. The current study examined mothers’ awareness of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, parenting information sources utilized, and motivational and contextual factors associated with screen time exposure in mothers who had a child under the age of two. Results indicated that over 60% of mothers were aware of the recommendations, usually citing educational benefits as their rationale for infant screen time use. Most mothers reported they receive …

Nanofiber Scaffolds As 3d Culture Platforms, Stephanie Bule

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Cell culture has become the basis for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell, tissue and organ function. Although major advancements in uncovering the underlying processes and mechanisms of normal and diseased cell biology have been made by using two-dimensional (2D) cell culture, there is a recent shift in moving towards three-dimensional (3D) culture platforms. The motivation is to better recapitulate the microenvironment of cells in vivo to obtain results that are more indicative to actual cellular processes. In this study, electrospun nano-fibrous scaffolds made of polycaprolactone were used as a 3D culture tool to investigate difference in cell behavior and …

Artificial Synthetic Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering Application Emphasizing The Role Of Biophysical Cues, Samerender Nagam Hanumantharao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The mechanotransduction of cells is the intrinsic ability of cells to convert the mechanical signals provided by the surrounding matrix and other cells into biochemical signals that affect several distinct processes such as tumorigenesis, wound healing, and organ formation. The use of biomaterials as an artificial scaffold for cell attachment, differentiation and proliferation provides a tool to modulate and understand the mechanotransduction pathways, develop better in vitro models and clinical remedies. The effect of topographical cues and stiffness was investigated in fibroblasts using polycaprolactone (PCL)- Polyaniline (PANI) based scaffolds that were fabricated using a self-assembly method and electrospinning. Through this …

Experimental Study Of The Temperature Profile Of A Gaussian Type Heat Distribution, Sunny Prashant Mare

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

In research aimed at studying the laser microwelding of thermoplastic materials, two theoretical heat flow models were studied by Dr. Grewell. In the surface temperature profile based on the Gaussian type distributed heat source model, two peak temperatures were predicted. The purpose of the current project was to develop a controlled test environment to study the surface temperature profile of a thermoplastic material using a Gaussian type heat source and to validate the prediction of the inflection point in the plastic sample. One of the key results of the initial experimentation was the lack of a Gaussian distribution of the …