The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating ways to improve lockage efficiency at the Marmet Locks on the Kanawha River, West Virginia. These improvements are needed to meet projected future river traffic demands. A physical effects prediction model has been developed to evaluate the changes on the river due to changes in future traffic patterns and tow configurations. The model has been verified based on the field measured data which cover a wide range of traffic conditions. The model consists of selected equations which simulate ambient velocities; wind waves; diverging waves; squat and backwater generated by the tows; and propeller jet velocities and its associated entrainment velocities. Based on the calculated velocities, concentrations of suspended sediment induced by the disturbance are estimated, at the time of disturbance and after suspended sediments have been allowed to settle. Field data on tow induced velocity changes in a back channel and a tributary are also analyzed. The effects of passing recreational boats has also been measured in the main channel. / Master of Science

Performance data for three rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) strains (Erwin, Shasta, and Duncan River Kamloops) were collected to guide fish culture operations at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery (NFH). The performance of the strains was evaluated in terms of survival, growth, disease resistance, reproductive performance (number of ripe and culled females, spawning time, number of egg takes, number of eggs per female, egg size, and percent eye up), feed conversion, and feed costs, and was compared with data from Ennis NFH, MT, and two Arizona Game and Fish Department hatcheries. Prespawning survival rates were higher for Erwin (90%) and Shasta (95%) strains than for the Kamloops strain (<75%). The Shasta strain exhibited the lowest feed conversion ratio (mean=1.89) and feed costs ($0.15 per stockable individual and $0.92 per spawning individual) than Erwin (1.96, $0.16, $1.56) and Kamloops (1.66, $0.18, N/A) strains. The Shasta strain exhibited larger egg size (mean=15,967/1) than the Erwin strain (mean=21,900/1). Reproductive performance for the Kamloops strain was not evaluated, as the strain was not sexually mature at the close of the study. Vulnerability of Erwin strain rainbow trout to cold water disease, Cytophaga psychrophila, bacterial kidney disease, Renibacterium salmoninarum, and four other bacteria was observed, while Shasta and Kamloops strains were less vulnerable to disease. Based on findings of this study and on programmatic considerations, the Shasta strain will be the only one to remain in full production at White Sulphur Springs NFH. / Master of Science

M.S.

Amphibians, because of their semi-permeable skin, sensitivity to changing microclimates, and important role in ecosystems, are often viewed as indicators of ecosystem health. They make excellent organisms for studies on the effects of silvicultural practices. My goal was to provide recommendations for forest management in the southern Appalachians so that harvesting operations are compatible with maintaining healthy populations of forest amphibians. I tested previously created habitat models that determined the most important habitat characteristics for salamanders. I counted salamanders in 240 10 x 10 m plots located in the MeadWestvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in north-central West Virginia. We also collected a variety of habitat data in these plots to predict salamander abundance with previously created models. These simple linear regression analyses of predicted versus observed values suggest for most models (7 out of 9) a weak relationship between predicted and observed values (R2 from 0.0033 to 0.2869, p from < 0.0001 to 0.7490). However, one of the models showed characteristics suggesting that it predicted new data as well or better than the original data, and therefore was the most accurate at predicting salamander abundance, and could be used for management purposes, although there was still much unexplained variation. This model included the variables woody stems (< 7.5 cm DBH), available rock, riparian status (i.e., within 15 m of a stream), percent overstory canopy cover, and available highly decomposed woody debris (decomposition classes 3 to 5). All of these relationships were positive except for woody stems, suggesting that in order to maintain healthy populations of salamanders, we should protect areas next to streams, with high amounts of rock, decomposed woody debris, overstory canopy cover, and few woody stems. I also examined the immediate effects of clearcuts on salamander movement and population estimates. I batch marked salamanders in plots at the edges of a clearcut, and in a control plot. Using the Schnabel estimator, I estimated population sizes in each plot. I then compared population estimates pre- and post-harvest on the interior (harvested) and exterior (unharvested) sides of the plots, taking into account the control plot. I also examined adult-juvenile ratios and movements from one side of the plot to the other. I found no significant changes (p > 0.05) following harvest in any of these measures, suggesting that salamanders do not move out of the harvested area post-harvest, at least over the short term (10 months of this study). This suggests that a longer period of time (> 1 year) is required to observe the population declines detected in most studies. / Master of Science

The Parsons Lineament (a major Appalachian Cross-strike Structural Discontinuity, CSD) extends from the Plateau of West Virginia into the Valley and Ridge Province in northern Rockingham County, Virginia. Regional and second—order folds change in strike from typical Central Appalachian trends (N30—35°E) to near due north within the CSD, regional anticlines plunge out, and major thrusts terminate within thisi zone. ln the Rockingham County portion of the Broadtop Synclinorium, the CSD is marked by an increase in intensity (ratio of surface area to volume) of systematic joints and second—order, sinistral strike-slip faults. Two sets of regional joints occur : J1, a pervasive east—west— trending, near vertical joint set, and J2 which varies with structural position. Peaks in J1 intensity coincide with known strike-slip faults and pronounced photolineaments. J2 is associated with closure on the Bergton anticline. Drilled depths to the Oréskany horizon, age relations and intensity of systematic joints suggest deformation associated with a northeast—facing lateral ramp is responsible for both the Parsons lineament and closure on the Bergton natural gas field. Within the North Mountain thrust sheet, the Parsons CSD consists of a linear zone of anomalously-trending, second-order folds and shears near the nose of the Linville anticline. Blind thrusts responsible for second-order folding are exposed in a quarry face and strain values (from pressure fringes adjacent to pyrite framboids in Martinsburg shales) suggest that the second-order folds adjacent to the Linville anticline are the result of movement on the Saumsville fault in the subsurface. Age relations of S1 and S2 cleavages and V2 calcite veins indicate an east-to-west order of thrusting for the Pulaski-Staunton and Saumsville faults. The linear disturbed zone results from displacement transfer at the termination of the Saumsville fault and, together with the structural anomalies in the Broadtop Synclinorium, constitutes the Valley and Ridge extension of the Parsons CSD. / Master of Science

Geologic mapping along the northeasternmost 25 miles of the St. Clair fault, which traverses the Central and Southern Appalachian juncture at about the middle of this segment, was accomplished to observe the changes in geologic style and structural trend that occur across the juncture in this northwesterly Valley and Ridge strike belt. The study area is an excellent smale scale area for observations on the nature of the juncture over the larger scale as it includes most of the features that characterize this juncture such as change of physiographic and structural trend and transition from thrust fault-dominated deformation to fold-dominated deformation. The juncture or recess is prominent in the study area as a sharp bend in Gap-Moss Mountains and is in fact one of the sharpest bends occurring at the junction. Southwest of this recess, the stratigraphic units on the northwest of the St. Clair fault are overturned and a broad syncline is formed on the northwest, known as the Hurricane Ridge. The axis of this fold closely parallels the strike of the St. Clair fault. As the junction is approached the Hurricane Ridge syncline changes axial strike to the north and passes northwest of the Browns Mountain anticlinorium which is plunging out into the junction. Just northeast of the recess the St. Clair fault bifurcates and its strike is slightly changed when the segments rejoin. Northeast of this point, the St. Clair fault loses stratigraphic displacement and instead of a single broad fold northwest of the fault and parallel to it, there are numerous small folds developed that strike 20-30° more northerly than the fault. The fault does not, however, truncate any of the folds. The St. Clair fault extends 13 miles into the Central Appalachians where it dies out down the plunge of an anticline at Morning Knob in Alleghany County, Virginia. A strong shear zone is evident in the core of the structure at Morning Knob but is lost as the competent Silurian units plunge under Devonian shales. Integrating this information with other recent work on the juncture it may be concluded that: 1. The change of topographic and structural trend across the Central and Southern Appalachian juncture does not require any significant difference in timing of deformation. 2. There is probably no significant difference in orientation of principal stress across the juncture but rather the change of trend and differences of geologic "style" reflect contrasts in thickness and facies within the sedimentary column and contrasts involving basement topography which indirectly influence cover structure. Thus the changes evident across the juncture are seen to be the result of differential physical response to the applied stress. / Master of Science

Master of Science

This study was conducted to identify personal and institutional barriers preventing community college students from completing their education goals, whether that was a degree program, diploma program, or credentialing program. It was also conducted to identify strategies that can be used to assist these students in overcoming these barriers. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of students at one West Virginia Community and Technical College who dropped out of their programs of study. The study sought to identify actions and events that contributed to students choosing to drop out and strategies that can be used to reduce their dropping out. Understanding the students' perspectives concerning their decisions to drop out will assist community college personnel to evaluate the on- and off-campus factors influencing these decisions. This qualitative study sought to directly ask students about their personal lives and also about the people and events on campus that influenced their decision to drop out of Thompson Community and Technical College (pseudonym). The study contains three major research questions: What personal factors contributed to students dropping out of one West Virginia Community and Technical College? What institutional factors contributed to students dropping out of one West Virginia Community and Technical College? What strategies can one West Virginia Community and Technical College implement to enhance student retention and decrease student dropout rates? The basic qualitative research design of conducting one-on-one qualitative interviews was used for this study. Criterion and purposeful sampling were utilized to identify participants. Semi-structured interviewing and document reviewing was utilized to gather data to discover rich information from the participants' lived experiences. Participants were suggested by current or former faculty or staff members at one of the West Virginia Community and Technical College campuses in the state of West Virginia. They were students who had already attended for at least one semester and who had subsequently dropped out of their programs of study. Fifteen participants were interviewed for the study. / Doctor of Education / This study tried to find out if there were specific personal reasons or specific college reasons why students did not finish school and graduate from their community college. It also tried to find out if students had suggestions for what might have kept them in college. Finding out this information could maybe help colleges figure out how to help students stay in school and graduate. Fifteen former students were interviewed face-to-face by the researcher for this study. Each person had finished at least one semester at a West Virginia Community and Technical College, but then had left before they graduated. Three of them left for only personal reasons. Twelve of them left because of what happened at the college. They shared many stories and gave many suggestions for improvement. They also shared good experiences.

All stories stem from two setups: a stranger came to town or someone went on a journey. For me, these stories are not an either/or situation but a both/and. I was born, along with my older brother, in my mother's hometown of Buckhannon, West Virginia. My childhood was spent in my father's homeland of Poland. My missionary parents moved back to America in 1996 when my grandmother, on my mother's side, died. As a stranger, I journeyed south to Florida with my family. I call Orlando home, after living here for a dozen years. My story is how I journeyed with my family as a boy from Poland to America and along the way felt tugged by both my parents' heritages. I considered my homeland strange, but took root as a man in the States. The unknown became familiar. When I entered college, half my life had been spent in Florida, in a balance with my childhood in Poland. Now the majority of my life has been spent here in Florida. Narrative poetry is a self-investment on the page. A collection of such poetry is as close to memoir. I tell my life story in these poems: I chronicle my change from a stranger to a local in this collection, highlighting my international experience, and explaining how home is three different places: Buckhannon, Warsaw, and Orlando.

This study investigated the views of academic personnel at, and of employers associated with, six community colleges in Virginia and West Virginia regarding the desired amount and character of general education in two-year occupational programs. Specifically, the desired amount of general education was measured as the proportion--expressed as a percentage--of the total credit hours in a program the participants would dedicate to general education, compared to amounts desired for other curriculum components. Response to the primary research question--desired character of general education--was recorded as the emphasis placed on each of several general education competences and measured as a percentage of the general education effort to be devoted to each. Results of the analysis showed that academic personnel and employers are in substantial agreement on the amount of general education desired in a two-year occupational program--about 20-22 semester hours--and on the nature of that component: both would emphasize strongly communication skills and critical thinking and, to a lesser degree, vocational adjustment ability, mathematics skills, human relations skills, and a knowledge of science and economics. Academic personnel and employers would each place less emphasis on ethical sensitivity, knowledge of health and fitness, and political awareness. They would emphasize least a knowledge of art and literature, a global perspective, and a knowledge of history. Employers representing manufacturing, retail sales and non-profit enterprises are in essential agreement on these points. Among academic personnel, occupational faculty, particularly in the engineering technologies, desire less general education and put more emphasis on mathematics and critical thinking skills than do general education faculty. The study finds sufficient consensus among the groups surveyed to suggest that community colleges should move boldly forward to improve their general education programs. / Ed. D.