Digital Commons Network^™

Broadband In The Mountain State: Connectivity Linked To Local Options, Denali S. Hendrick

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Empty Chair: A Standard For The Sufficiency Notices Of Nonparty Fault, Mckenna Meadows

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

In The Eye Of The Storm: West Virginia's Uniquely Clear Opportunity To Revise Its Education Funding Formula During Covid-19, Lauren Trumble

West Virginia Law Review

Public school advocates in West Virginia have long voiced sharp criticism over the state's funding of education-and justifiably so. Although more than one in four West Virginia children live in poverty, the state's school funding formula does not account for the increased costs associated with educating low-socioeconomic status ("SES") students. As a result, low-SES students are not receiving a constitutionally adequate and equitable education, by the state's own standards.

Now, in the wake of COVID-19, with mounting costs and challenges, allegations of "inadequacy" and "inequity" abound. Ifpast is prologue, districts that serve high concentrations of low-SES students will be the …

Warrant Nullification, L. Joe Dunman

West Virginia Law Review

Police officers execute thousands of search warrants in the United States every year, often looking for drugs in people's homes. Many search warrants are executed by militarized "dynamic entry" teams who violently conduct raids late at night with little or no warning, guns drawn. These raids have killed and injured hundreds of people nationwide-not just suspects but also officers and bystanders. Protests erupt in response, the community divides, and trust in institutions crumbles.

Legislative and executive policy can reduce the violence of search warrant executions, but could there also be a judicial option? This Article explores one such option: nullification. …

Reported Experiences With Plea Bargaining: A Theoretical Analysis Of The Legal Standard, Krystia Reed, Allison Franz, Vincent Calderon, Alisha Meschkow, Valerie F. Reyna

West Virginia Law Review

Although the majority of criminal cases in the United States are settled with plea bargains, very little empirical evidence exists to explain how defendants make life-altering plea bargain decisions. This Article first discusses the psychologicalfactors involved in plea bargaining decisions. Next, this Article empirically examines the factors involved in plea decisions of real-life defendants within the legal and psychological contexts. Finally, this Article highlights the psychological issues that need to be further examined in pleabargaining literature.

When Is A Debt "Obtained By" Fraud?: Reconsideration Of The Fraud Nondischargeability Exception Under Section 523(A)(2) Of The Bankruptcy Code, Theresa J. Pulley Radwan

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Project Foresight Annual Report, 2020-2021, Paul J. Speaker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Project FORESIGHT is a business-guided self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories across the globe. The participating laboratories represent local, regional, state, and national agencies. Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. Laboratories participating in Project FORESIGHT have developed standardized definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks, and functions. Laboratory managers can then assess resource allocations, efficiencies, and value of services—the mission of Project FORESIGHT is to measure, preserve what works, and change what does not.

The benchmark data for the 2020-2021 performance period includes laboratory submissions for a variety of fiscal …

Wvu Extension Crop Fertilization Recommendations, Edward Barrow Rayburn, Tom Basden

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

WVU-Extension fact sheet

Utilizing Pharmacology To Target Transcription Factors Involved With Cancer Onset And Development, Tristan D. Sanders

Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review

Transcription factors (TFs) are a vital part of every living organism on earth, as they allow for the correct genes to be expressed while much of the genome is never used. They can fall victim to mutations or manipulations that lead to the deregulation of many genes within a cell. If specific genes are over/under-expressed, a cell may become cancerous and begin replicating into a tumor. It has been demonstrated that common TFs associated with cancer can be targeted using small molecule drugs, and a popular target of these drugs is the DNA binding site on the TF along with …

The Queen Bee, Cody Mccoy

Calliope

No abstract provided.

Synthesis, Characterization, And In Vivo Cytokinome Profile Of Il-12-Loaded Plga Nanospheres, Ryan A. Lacinski, Justin E. Markel, Jabeen Noore, Hillary G. Pratt, Brock A. Lindsey

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

We report the successful encapsulation and elution of recombinant murine IL-12 (rmIL-12) from poly(lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanospheres (IL-12-NS) synthesized using the double emulsion/solvent evaporation (DESE) technique with microsphere depletion through ultracentrifugation. Images obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showcased a characteristic spherical shape with a mean particle diameter of and zeta potential of . These values suggest minimal flocculation when in solution, which was reflected in an in vivo biodistribution study that reported no observed morbidity/mortality. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) was determined to be with average particle concentration obtained per batch of particles/mL. Disparate zeta (ζ) potentials obtained from …

Data-Driven Learning How Oncogenic Gene Expression Locally Alters Heterocellular Networks, David Klinke Ii, Audry Fernandez, Wentao Deng, Atefeh Razazan, Habibolla Latifizadeh, Anika C. Pirkey

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Developing drugs increasingly relies on mechanistic modeling and simulation. Models that capture causal relations among genetic drivers of oncogenesis, functional plasticity, and host immunity complement wet experiments. Unfortunately, formulating such mechanistic cell-level models currently relies on hand curation, which can bias how data is interpreted or the priority of drug targets. In modeling molecular-level networks, rules and algorithms are employed to limit a priori biases in formulating mechanistic models. Here we combine digital cytometry with Bayesian network inference to generate causal models of cell-level networks linking an increase in gene expression associated with oncogenesis with alterations in stromal and immune …

Algebra, Wvu Mathematics Department

M.S. Advanced and Ph.D. Entrance Exams

No abstract provided.

Autonomous Design Of New Chemical Reactions Using A Variational Autoencoder, Terence Musho, Robert Tempke

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Artificial intelligence based chemistry models are a promising method of exploring chemical reaction design spaces. However, training datasets based on experimental synthesis are typically reported only for the optimal synthesis reactions. This leads to an inherited bias in the model predictions. Therefore, robust datasets that span the entirety of the solution space are necessary to remove inherited bias and permit complete training of the space. In this study, an artificial intelligence model based on a Variational AutoEncoder (VAE) has been developed and investigated to synthetically generate continuous datasets. The approach involves sampling the latent space to generate new chemical reactions. …

Revisiting The Dual Pathway Hypothesis Of Chorismate Production In Plants, Joseph H. Lynch

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The shikimate pathway, the seven enzymatic steps that synthesize chorismate from phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose 4-phosphate, produces the last common precursor of the three aromatic amino acids. It is firmly established that all seven enzymes are present in plastids, and it is generally accepted that this organelle is likely the sole location for production of chorismate in plants. However, recently a growing body of evidence has provided support for a previous proposal that at least portions of the pathway are duplicated in the cytosol, referred to as the Dual Pathway Hypothesis. Here I revisit this obscure hypothesis by reviewing the findings …

Finding Oer, Faythe Thurman, Jessica Dai

Exploring Open Education 2022

No abstract provided.

Simplifying External Load Data In Ncaa Division-I Men's Basketball Competitions: A Principal Component Analysis, Jason D. Stone, Justin J. Merrigan, Jad Ramadan, Robert Shaun Brown, Gerald T. Cheng, William Guy Hornsby, Holden Smith, Scott M. Galster, Joshua A. Hagen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The primary purpose was to simplify external load data obtained during Division-I (DI) basketball competitions via principal component analysis (PCA). A secondary purpose was to determine if the PCA results were sensitive to load demands of different positional groups (POS). Data comprised 229 observations obtained from 10 men's basketball athletes participating in NCAA DI competitions. Each athlete donned an inertial measurement unit that was affixed to the same location on their shorts prior to competition. The PCA revealed two factors that possessed eigenvalues >1.0 and explained 81.42% of the total variance. The first factor comprised total decelerations (totDEC, 0.94), average …

Land-Surface Parameters For Spatial Predictive Mapping And Modeling, Aaron E. Maxwell, Charles Shobe

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Land-surface parameters derived from digital land surface models (DLSMs) (for example, slope, surface curvature, topographic position, topographic roughness, aspect, heat load index, and topographic moisture index) can serve as key predictor variables in a wide variety of mapping and modeling tasks relating to geomorphic processes, landform delineation, ecological and habitat characterization, and geohazard, soil, wetland, and general thematic mapping and modeling. However, selecting features from the large number of potential derivatives that may be predictive for a specific feature or process can be complicated, and existing literature may offer contradictory or incomplete guidance. The availability of multiple data sources and …

An Inquiry Into Gradable Zero-Waste Apparel Design, Melanie Carrico, Sheri Dragoo, Ellen Mckinney, Casey Stannard, Colleen Moretz, Ashley Rougeaux-Burnes

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

he implementation of standardized grading production practices within the mass market has been challenging for scholars experimenting with zero-waste apparel design. The purpose of this research was to test the efficacy of the Carrico Zero-waste Banded Grading (CZWBG) technique, which utilizes bands inserted in strategic locations as a method of grading zero-waste patterns across various consumer categories. An additional purpose was to evaluate the ways in which this grading approach affected the aesthetic outcomes of garments across a size run, and to determine whether this method affected the overall design process of the designers involved. Through experimental research design, six …

Leading From The Inside Out: A Meta-Analysis Of How, When, And Why Self-Leadership Affects Individual Outcomes, Kevin Knotts, Jeffery D. Houghton, Craig L. Pearce, Huaizhong Chen, Greg L. Stewart, Charles C. Manz

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Whereas the predominance of leadership research has focused upon top-down influence processes, we examine the process of leading from the inside out, i.e., self-leadership. Based on a meta-analysis of 57 effect sizes and 16,493 observations, the overall results suggest that self-leadership is positively and strongly related to individual outcomes (ρ = .38). Results also help to clarify when self-leadership is most effective relative to outcome type, showing a stronger relationship between self-leadership and creativity/innovation than between self-leadership and task performance. We further explore the incremental value of cognitive self-leadership strategies over and above basic behavior-focused self-leadership. Our findings suggest that …

Mindfulness In The Sport Academy Classroom: Exploring Benefits And Barriers Of A Low-Dose Intervention, Andrew Augustus, Sam Zizzi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a low-dose mindfulness program with student–athletes (SA) at a
sport academy in the USA. First, SAs were introduced to mindfulness in their health class with conceptual lessons and guided
meditations from the Headspace ‘Guide to Meditation’ series. Following each episode, SAs reflected on their experience
via guided prompts led by their teacher. The second phase shifted towards applying mindfulness within their sport through
app-based guided meditations and sport-based reflections led by teachers in their mental skills classes. Student–athlete
perceptions of these experiences were captured through the reflection exercises and a post-program evaluation …

Narrative Inquiry Of Early Career Teachers’ Experiences Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kinsey Ann Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study utilized narrative inquiry to learn the stories of early career teachers of students with disabilities as they navigated teaching during a global pandemic. Five early career teachers participated in a series of three semi-structured virtual interviews. Interviews were transcribed then analyzed using a six-phase approach to thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Nine themes were identified: Teaching, Communication, Parents, Special Education, Workload, Resources, Training and professional development, job satisfaction, and teacher preparation. Themes were organized and presented to answer the research questions of the study. The findings contribute to understanding pandemic-related challenges faced by early career teachers of …

Medicaid In The Orthodontic Community: Provider Trends And Perceptions, Miranda L. Fabrega

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Medicaid is a federal and state insurance program aimed at helping economically disadvantaged individuals and families with gaining access to health care. Lack of provider participation in the Medicaid program leaves many Medicaid-eligible individuals with the inability to obtain certain medical services, such as orthodontic care. The objective of this study was to use an electronic survey to better understand the beliefs and behaviors of orthodontists in regard to participation in the Medicaid program, and to determine if differences exist between Medicaid providers and non-Medicaid providers. Experimental Design and Methods: Survey: Requests to participate in an electronic …

Cbct Use In Orthodontic Residency Programs In Usa, Su Min Han

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans in dentistry have been up and coming forms of x-ray technology that allows cross-sectional images to form a comprehensive 3-dimensional representation of the mouth. While the typical use for CBCT imaging is reported to be for implant dentistry, there are many contexts in which it is indicated in orthodontics. There are various schools of thought regarding when CBCT is indicated for specific diagnosis of problems or general use in the collection of initial, progress and post-treatment orthodontic records. There are programs that follow the Radiology guidelines for taking CBCT scans10 and …

Critical Perspectives On Produce Prescription Programs & Us Federal Nutrition Policy, Alanna K. Higgins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Produce prescription programs, interventions operating at the intersection of food access and public health, are steadily increasing in number across the United States since 2010. I leverage key informant interviews, participant observations, and event ethnographies to form a four-year institutional ethnography of the implementation of produce prescriptions within West Virginia alongside a legal-policy archaeology methodology to understand how produce prescriptions have been institutionalized and funded within the US Farm Bill. While much of produce prescription program growth is attributed to an expansion of federal funding starting in 2014, this dissertation demonstrates that these programs and the federal legislation which has …

Sleep And Cardiovascular Reactivity To An Acute Virtual Stressor, Alaina Grace Tiani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inappropriate response and magnitude of cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to stress is a proposed mechanism through which environmental stressors are linked with poor cardiovascular health outcomes (Chida & Steptoe, 2010; Krantz & Manuck, 1984). Studies of reactivity to various laboratory tasks commonly control for factors known to influence CVR such as smoking, medication use, caffeine intake, and BMI; however, few have considered the influence of sleep on CVR. In order to determine whether sleep characteristics need to be assessed and considered in studies of CVR, this study aimed to examine the association between indices of sleep quality and the magnitude and …

Ion Velocity Distribution Functions In Cutting-Edge Plasmas, Mitchell Cameron Paul

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cutting-edge plasma experiments continue to push the frontiers of plasma science. Two such groups of experiments, helicon sources and laboratory magnetic reconnection, are the focus of this thesis. The relatively high plasma density achieved for modest input powers makes helicon source plasmas ideal testbeds for fusion-relevant phenomena without the complexities associated with fusion devices. Examples include plasma-material interaction (PMI) studies, divertor region studies, and boundary physics studies. As advancements in helicon source design and technology make operation at higher power for longer times possible, understanding of the plasma dynamics, particularly ion dynamics, is vital.

Laboratory experiments are essential to advancing …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Alcohol Use Trajectories In College Students, Rebekah Lynn Damitz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heavy alcohol use during college can result in numerous negative outcomes (e.g., accidents, worse academics, risky sexual behaviors, etc.). Understanding the risk-factors associated with elevated alcohol use in college are needed so prevention and/or interventions can be implemented to inhibit such dangerous behavior. Adverse childhood experiences have been identified as one key factor in the initiation and escalation of alcohol use, but there is limited research on samples that are in emerging adulthood. Specifically, the transition to college is a time when many students escalate drinking and can form the basis for longer term drinking patterns. It is not yet …

Evaluation Of A Comprehensive Diabetes Mellitus Protocol At A Rural, Federally Qualified Health Center In Southern West Virginia, Hannah D. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects nearly 34 million Americans. In rural Appalachia, the population is affected disproportionately at a rate of 14% compared to the national average of 10%. Diabetes is a lifelong, chronic condition managed best by a multidisciplinary team-based approach to achieve optimal disease control. Best practices in the care of diabetes support the use of evidenced based care protocols and leveraging technology to decrease the burden of disease. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type, making it the focal population for evaluation.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to …

Current Practices Used To Increase The Success Rate Of The Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block In Mandibular Molars With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis, Nishtha Chauhan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Pain control during endodontic access is important to ensure patient comfort. Achieving adequate anesthesia in an acutely inflamed mandibular molar poses a treatment challenge as the reported failure rate is 30- 83%. A number of pre-medications, anesthetic techniques and adjuncts have been researched to determine their effect on the anesthetic success of the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). The purpose of this research was to describe the current clinical practices used by the members of the American Association of Endodontists in pain control of inflamed mandibular molars.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study design was used. The study …