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Songbird Response To Forest Disturbance Due To Unconventional Shale Gas Development In The Marcellus-Utica Region: A Multi-Scale Analysis., Laura S. Farwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, I evaluated impacts of unconventional shale gas development, or the combined use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), on forest land cover and breeding songbirds in the Marcellus-Utica shale region. Since 2005, extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus-Utica shale has increased exponentially in the central Appalachians, an area of high conservation value for global biodiversity. Although there has been an increase in research on the effects of shale gas development in the region, the industry is still relatively new in the eastern U.S. and much is still unknown about biological and environmental impacts. In …

Behavior Of Stiff-Tailed Diving Ducks And West Indian Whistling Ducks In Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico, Nick S. Goodman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Masked ducks (Nomonyx dominicus), migratory northern ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis), non-migratory West Indian ruddy ducks (Oxyura j. jamaicensis Gmelin), and West Indian whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna arborea) are all duck taxa that have declining populations in Puerto Rico. Masked ducks are listed as endangered in Puerto Rico and are a species of concern in the Caribbean while West Indian whistling ducks are considered an "at-risk" species listed as vulnerable. All 4 taxa of duck have areas of their life history where information is lacking including behavioral information. I studied the 4 taxa of duck at Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge from …

Conquering The Fear: A Journey Of Triumph Through The Exploration Of Creating The Role Of Masha In Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, Cassandra Noel Hackbart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is a documentation of my process for undertaking the role of Masha in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, performed in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center. This document will serve to archive the application of my graduate training while performing a major role; as well as, record my personal growth in a single production. In a reflective tone, I expound on the pressures and fears that I encountered, and the techniques that informed my self-realizations throughout the production process. The production process is composed of the three major sections. The first section …

I Am The Walrus; A Character Study, Joseph Bussey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this thesis is to chronicle and reflect upon the steps and tools used in creating the role of Chebutykin in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. To effectively complete this task there are a few necessary benchmarks to cover including character analysis, the rehearsal process, and the performance of the role itself. Character analysis will be explored using Anne Bogart and Tina Landau's, The Viewpoints Book. The rehearsal process will discuss not only the way we rehearsed, but also the tools required to effectively personalize and prepare for performance. Finally, the result will reflect what the process provided the …

Ex-Vivo Model For Muscle Exposure To Tumor Cell Conditioned Media, Ikttesh K. Chahal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cancer-induced cachexia is a severe condition resulting in muscle wasting, muscle dysfunction, and an overall increased morbidity and mortality. The cachectic condition is often attributed to altered metabolism, aberrant activation of signaling pathways, and changes in the microenvironment of the skeletal muscle (SKM) through exposure to various host-derived and tumor-derived paracrine factors, delivered through the blood circulation. Previous data from our lab has shown that an increased signaling of Interleukin-15 (IL-15) results in enhanced oxidative capacity, promotion of a more oxidative phenotype and attenuation of muscle fatigue. This effect of IL-15 has yet to be characterized in a cancer-induced model …

Impact Of Next Generation Am-Pet Helmet And Support Structure On Subjects' Neck, Samantha Melroy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ambulatory Micro-dose Positron Emission Tomography (AM-PET) is a portable PET brain scanner that does not require patients to remain still but allows them to move as they regularly would over the course of the scan (i.e. clapping hands, walking in place, and other stationary movements). Traditional PET scanners require patients to remain still for an extended duration in a small confined cavity. This is problematic for those who have conditions such as Parkinson's and Autism; in many cases, they must be sedated before the test can be performed. West Virginia University's AM-PET Helmet allows for these regular human movements to …

Constructing A Sense Of Place On Top Of The World, Catherine E. Lovell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines written texts in summit logs by rock climbers at the peak of Baboquivari, located in southern Arizona. After scaling the mountain, rock climbers complete the ritual of documenting their success in a log located on the summit. Guided by the concepts of sense of place and ritual communication, this study investigated discourses articulated in summit logs in order to understand how rock climbers construct their sense of place for a contested landscape.;Baboquivari is the cosmological home of the Tohono O'odham and their creator I'itoi is believed to reside on the peak today. A good portion of Baboquivari …

Integrated Sensing Systems For On-Orbit Robotic Satellite Servicing Applications, Eric Loy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are a variety of stakeholders when it comes to space (the military, other governmental entities, private sector companies, consumers, the scientific community, etc.), and they would all prefer the operational lives of their satellites, observatories, space stations, and other assets to be maximized. Out of the large number of assets in space, only a few were designed with serviceability as a goal. The ability to service "non-cooperative" satellites is an ongoing project being investigated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Satellite Servicing Projects Division (SSPD), along with other industrial partners. This …

Involvement Of Two Novel Grf-Type Zinc Finger Nodulins During Rhizobial Symbiotic Establishment In Medicago Truncatula Nodules, Lucas Gontijo Silva Maia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In legumes, symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) occurs through a cooperative relationship established with rhizobial diazotrophic bacteria. This association triggers the de novo development of a highly specialized organ from root, called nodule. In this dissertation, we explore the molecular functional genetics of nodulation in the model legume Medicago truncatula in the scope of knowledge. Followed by a linearization of the current knowledge about the roles of Transcription Factors in legume nodule symbiosis. In an attempt of understanding the orchestration dynamics of nodulation and processes that generate SNF. Legumes evolved novel genes related with nodule development, symbiosis establishment and nitrogen fixation, …

Appalachian Bariatric Surgery Population Descriptive Analysis, Surgical Outcomes, And Food Accessibility, Makenzie Leanne Barr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction. Overweight and obesity, diabetes, mental health issues, and lack of access to healthcare resources are frequent burdens among the Appalachian region of the United States. With morbid obesity, conventional behavioral interventions tend to fail. Bariatric surgery has been deemed the most successful treatment for morbid obesity and is performed regularly worldwide, however, the Appalachian population with the highest proportions of obesity and related co-morbidities has been poorly studied.;Aims. This dissertation aims to (1) provide a systematic review of the literature surrounding obesity and food access among Appalachian residents, (2) address the void in research of characterizing Appalachian bariatric surgery …

Jurors' Perceptions Of Child Witnesses With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria A. Disciullo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of child witnesses with autism spectrum disorder on jurors' perceptions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five experimental conditions displaying scenarios varying the characteristics (autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and typically developing) of a 6-year-old female child who alleged sexual maltreatment. Participants were asked to provide a series of ratings regarding the child's credibility, "accuracy, suggestibility, and ability to testify based on facts" (Orcutt et al., 2001, p. 346; see also Thomas & Krackow, 2016), as well as defendant guilt (Tessier & Krackow, 2013). Overall, the data suggest …

An Analysis Of The Extinction-Induced Response Burst, Brian Katz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the extinction burst is a frequently reported generative effect of extinction, there are few experimental analyses of the phenomenon. The purpose of the present series of experiments was to examine the occurrence, time course, and repeatability of extinction bursts. Six experimentally naive pigeons were exposed to at least five cycles of 5-sessions block of baseline followed by 8-session blocks of extinction. Depending on the condition, baseline sessions were either a fixed-ratio (FR) or variable-ratio (VR) schedule, and transitions from the last baseline session in each cycle to the first extinction session were conducted either between or within sessions. Within …

Late Victorian Sexuality And Spiritualism: The Place Of The Paranormal In Queer Erotic Partnerships, Sharon E. Kelly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation argues that fin de siecle navigations of emerging categories of sexual identity were partially expressed in literary representations of supernatural connections, transformations, events, and practices. I build on Sexuality Studies and Queer Theory foundations by such scholars as Foucault, Halberstam, and Warner along with New Historicist scholarship about spiritualism in the nineteenth century to examine the connections between aberrant erotic desires and alternative forms of spirituality. Through readings of the anonymous Teleny (1893), Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Richard Marsh's The Beetle , and the poetry of Michael Field, I assert that queer sexual identities and acts, …

Generating Narrative In An Interactive Fiction Game, John L. Jacko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis explores a niche field of Computer Science called Interactive Fiction, a field that utilizes the conventions of a regular story to offer multiple variations on how the story plays out. Our goal is to explore the possibility of developing a game that can generate a story file during game play that not only reads like a short story but reflects the events that transpire during a given game play. During development, we have determined that keeping track of various "states", we can simulate a narrative based on actions that transpire in the game.;We developed the game using a …

What The Frost Killed, Allison Semele Blair

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

What the Frost Killed is the culmination of two years spent memorializing the dead plants and animals of my immediate surroundings. Primarily focusing on birds who die as a result of human activity, I seek to pay attention to and elevate the individual victims of a systemic problem. Inspired by Ancient Greek tragedy, I engage with the ethical dilemmas inherent in our collective actions to express the strange, beauty of these unsung deaths.;My thesis body of work draws on a decade of research exploring the intersection between political history and ancient tragic literature. As I studied these stories written in …

Mitoneet (Cisd1) Knockout Mice Show Signs Of Striatal Mitochondrial Dysfunction And A Parkinson's Disease Phenotype, Werner J. Geldenhuys, Stanley A. Benkovic, Li Lin, Heather M. Yonutas, Samuel D. Crish, Patrick G. Sullivan, Altaf S. Darvesh, Candice M. Brown, Jason R. Richardson

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to play a significant role in neurodegeneration observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD), yet the mechanisms underlying this pathology remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that loss of mitoNEET (CISD1), an iron–sulfur containing protein that regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics, results in mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of striatal dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase. Mitochondria isolated from mice lacking mitoNEET were dysfunctional as revealed by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced capacity to produce ATP. Gait analysis revealed a shortened stride length and decreased rotarod performance in knockout mice, consistent with the loss of striatal dopamine. Together, these data suggest that …

The Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitor Kml29 With Gabapentin Synergistically Produces Analgesia In Mice, Molly S. Crowe, Catheryn D. Wilson, Emma Leishman, Paul L. Prather, Heather B. Bradshaw, Matthew L. Banks, Steven G. Kinsey

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for nerve pain but may also cause dizziness, sedation and gait disturbances. Similarly, inhibition of the endogenous cannabinoid enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties but also induces sedation in mice at high doses. To limit these side effects, the present study investigated the analgesic effects of coadministering a MAGL inhibitor with gabapentin. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Mice subjected to the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain were administered the MAGL inhibitor KML29 (1–40 mg·kg1 , i.p.), gabapentin (1–50 mg·kg1 , i.p.) or both compounds. Mice were tested for mechanical and cold …

Jurisdiction Over Jihid: Islamic Law And The Duty To Fight, Adnan A. Zulfiqar

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Utah V. Strieff: Lemonade Stands And Dragnet Policing, Guy Padula

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ebolamania And Equal Protection Of Health Care Workers Under Rational Basis With Bite Review, Jennifer Jolly-Ryan

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rethinking The Americans With Disabilities Act’S Insurance Safe Harbor, Valarie K. Blake

Law Faculty Scholarship

Despite the importance of access to healthcare for the disabled, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made little inroads in reducing disability-based discrimination by health insurers in the United States. One reason is undoubtedly the ADA’s insurance safe harbor, which explicitly permits insurers to discriminate on the basis of disability in health insurance so long as the differential treatment is supported by actuarial data and is not just intended to disadvantage the disabled. While the safe harbor’s harms are somewhat limited by the advent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they are not entirely neutralized. This article argues that …

Gingival Perfusion And Tissue Biomarkers During Early Healing Of Postextraction Regenerative Procedures: A Prospective Case Series, Lamees Alssum, Timothy D. Eubank, Sashwati Roy, Barbaros S. Erdal, Vedat O. Yildiz, Dimitris N. Tatakis, Binnaz Leblebicioglu

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Background—Post-extraction alveolar bone loss, mostly affecting the buccal plate, occurs despite regenerative procedures. To better understand possible determinants, this prospective case series assessed gingival blood perfusion and tissue molecular responses in relation to postextraction regenerative outcomes. Methods—Adults scheduled to receive bone grafting in maxillary, non-molar, single tooth extraction site were recruited. Clinical documentation included probing pocket depth (PD), keratinized tissue width (KT), tissue biotype (TB), plaque (P) and bleeding. Wound closure was clinically evaluated. Gingival blood perfusion was measured by Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF). Wound fluid (WF) and gingival biopsies were analyzed for protein levels and gene expression, respectively, of …

Estrogens As Neuroprotectants: Estrogenic Actions In The Context Of Cognitive Aging And Brain Injury, E. B. Engler-Chiurazzi, C. M. Brown, J. M. Povroznik, J. W. Simpkins

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

There is ample empirical evidence to support the notion that the biological impacts of estrogen extend beyond the gonads to other bodily systems, including the brain and behavior. Converging preclinical findings have indicated a neuroprotective role for estrogen in a variety of experimental models of cognitive function and brain insult. However, the surprising null or even detrimental findings of several large clinical trials evaluating the ability of estrogen-containing hormone treatments to protect against age-related brain changes and insults, including cognitive aging and brain injury, led to hesitation by both clinicians and patients in the use of exogenous estrogenic treatments for …

Auditory Object Perception: A Neurobiological Model And Prospective Review, Julie A. Brefczynski-Lewis, James W. Lewis

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Interaction with the world is a multisensory experience, but most of what is known about the neural correlates of perception comes from studying vision. Auditory inputs enter cortex with its own set of unique qualities, and leads to use in oral communication, speech, music, and the understanding of emotional and intentional states of others, all of which are central to the human experience. To better understand how the auditory system develops, recovers after injury, and how it may have transitioned in its functions over the course of hominin evolution, advances are needed in models of how the human brain is …

Trends In Brain Cancer Mortality Among U.S. Gulf War Veterans: 21 Year Follow-Up., Shannon K. Barth, Erin K. Dursa, Robert M. Bossarte, Aaron I. Schneiderman

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Objective—Previous mortality studies of U.S. Gulf War veterans through 2000 and 2004 have shown an increased risk of brain cancer mortality among some deployed individuals. When veterans possibly exposed to environmental contaminants associated with demolition of the Khamisiyah Ammunition Storage Facility at Khamisiyah, Iraq, have been compared to contemporaneously deployed unexposed veterans, the results have suggested increased risk for mortality from brain cancer among the exposed. Brain cancer mortality risk in this cohort has not been updated since 2004. Methods—This study analyzes the risk for brain cancer mortality between 1991–2011 through two series of comparisons: U.S. Gulf War deployed and …

Nicola Lopez: Notes For Docents, Roger A. Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This article consists of notes prepared for docents at the West Virginia University Art Gallery in September, 2017. They discuss and analyze a collection of five prints by the artist Nicola Lopez in a series called Elements. The individual works are Earth, Air, Fire, Water and an unnamed fifth "satellite" work.

Safety And Tolerability Of Maraviroc-Containing Regimens To Prevent Hiv Infection In Women: A Phase 2 Randomized Trial, Roy M. Gulick, Timothy J. Wilkin, Ying Q. Chen, Raphael J. Landovitz, K. Rivet Amico, Alicia M. Young, Paul Richardson, Mark A. Marzinke, Craig W. Hendrix, Susan H. Eshleman, Ian Mcgowan, Leslie M. Cottle, Adriana Andrade, Cheryl Marcus, Karin L. Klingman, Wairimu Chege, Alex R. Rinehart, James F. Rooney, Philip Andrew, Robert A. Salata, Marc Siegel, Yukari C. Manabe, Ian Frank, Ken Ho, Jorge Santana, Joanne D. Stekler, Shobha Swaminathan, Marybeth Mccauley, Sally Hodder, Kenneth H. Mayer

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

BACKGROUND—Maraviroc (MVC) is a candidate drug for HIV PrEP. OBJECTIVE—To assess the safety/tolerability of MVC-containing PrEP in U.S. women at-risk for HIV over 48 weeks. DESIGN—Phase 2 randomized, controlled, double-blinded study of four PrEP regimens (#NCT01505114). SETTING—Twelve clinical research sites of the HIV Prevention Trials Network and AIDS Clinical Trials Group. PARTICIPANTS—HIV-uninfected women reporting condomless vaginal or anal intercourse with ≥1 HIV-infected or unknown-serostatus man within 90 days. INTERVENTIONS—MVC alone, MVC+emtricitabine (FTC), MVC+tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and TDF+FTC (control). MEASUREMENTS—At each visit, clinical and laboratory (including HIV) assessments were conducted. Primary outcomes were grade 3–4 adverse events and time to …

Co-Activation Of Stat3 And Yes-Associated Protein 1 (Yap1) Pathway In Egfr-Mutant Nsclc, Imane Chaib, Niki Karachaliou, Sara Pilotto, Jordi Codony Servat, Xueting Cai, Xuefei Li, Ana Drozdowskyj, Carles Condony Servat, Jie Yang, Chunping Hu, Andres Felipe Cardona, Guillermo Lopez Vivanco, Alain Vergnenegre, Jose Miguel Sanchez, Mariano Provencio, Noemi Reguart, Caicun Zhou, Peng Cao, Patrick C. Ma, Trever G. Bivona, Rafael Rosell

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Background: The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited by adaptive activation of cell survival signals. We hypothesized that both signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Src-YES-associated protein 1 (YAP1) signaling are dually activated during EGFR TKI treatment to limit therapeutic response.

Methods: We used MTT and clonogenic assays, immunoblotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the efficacy of EGFR TKI alone and in combination with STAT3 and Src inhibition in three EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines. The Chou-Talalay method was used for the …

Novel Rat Tail Discitis Model Using Bioluminescent Staphylococcus Aureus, Phillip A. Bostian, Jonathan M. Karnes, Shari Cui, Lisa J. Robinson, Scott D. Daffner, Michelle R. Witt, Sanford E. Emery

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Management of spondylodiscitis is a challenging clinical problem requiring medical and surgical treatment strategies. The purpose of this study was to establish a rat model of spondylodiscitis that utilizes bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus, thus permitting in-vivo surveillance of infection intensity. Inocula of the bioluminescent S. aureus strain XEN36 were created in concentrations of 102 CFU/0.1 mL, 104 CFU/0.1 mL, and 106 CFU/0.1 mL. Three groups of rats were injected with the bacteria in the most proximal intervertebral tail segment. The third most proximal tail segment was injected with saline as a control. Bioluminescence was measured at baseline, 3 days, and weekly …

Estimating Pasture Forage Mass From Pasture Height, Edward Barrow Rayburn

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

WVU-Extension fact sheet