Digital Commons Network^™

Impacts Of Oil And Gas Wastes On Landfill Leachate, Sewage Treatment Plants, And The Environment, Lauren Badertscher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Between January 2011 and March 2021 oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania produced

305,637,795 barrels of liquid waste and 6,992,957 tons of solid waste with the majority from

Marcellus Shale unconventional wells. This waste is not considered hazardous and over 89% of

the solid waste generated by unconventional and conventional oil and gas extraction has been

disposed of in landfills over the past decade. This study examined trends in the quantity of waste

produced and methods of disposal. Landfills accepting this waste were identified and their

general method of leachate treatment, using onsite facilities or offsite at wastewater treatment

plants, …

Identification Of Fluoxetine-Sert Interactions And Apo-Sert Studies Via Crosslinking Mass Spectrometry, Elizabeth Castellano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a member of the neurotransmitter sodium symporter family of transporters. SERT controls the magnitude and duration of serotonergic neurotransmission by facilitating the reuptake of serotonin back into the pre-synaptic neuron and is thus a target for antidepressants. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, are commonly prescribed to treat depression. SSRIs act by blocking reuptake and prolonging serotonin signaling. However, significant problems regarding selectivity and mechanisms of action of these drugs remain unresolved. The structures of SERT and related transporters have been determined and serve as useful structural models. However, they are typically mutated …

Making Space And Place For African American Women At Predominately White Institutions, Nubia Hewitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study utilized a critical race studies approach to explore the lived experiences of African American women undergraduate students at a predominantly White institution. The purpose of this study is to investigate challenges experienced by African American women at these institutions, and the support they require in order to develop a sense of belonging at these institutions.

Five African American women undergraduate students from Incline University (pseudonym) were selected to participate in this research study using criterion sampling (Patton, 2002). Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through an interruptive phenomenological approach (Creswell, 1998; Merriam & Associates, 2002; …

A Phenomenology Of Challenging Psychedelic Experiences: From Relational Trauma To Relational Healing, Leland Guthrie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Psychedelic medicine is a re-emerging therapeutic paradigm with potentially significant clinical applications. This study contributes to an understanding of the aspects of challenging psychedelic experiences that may contribute to therapeutic outcomes. Interview and written data from five participants about their challenging Ayahuasca experiences was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results of this analysis revealed a phenomenological structure of challenging psychedelic experiences consisting of a change process that moved the participants from a sense of disconnection to a sense of connection with themselves, others, nature and the cosmos. Findings from the study suggest that challenging psychedelic experiences may be …

Development Of A Microfluidic Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assay For Real-Timeviscosity Measurements Of Blood, Shay Kent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blood coagulation disorders are malfunctions in the body’s ability to control blood clotting. It can result in either insufficient clotting causing an increased risk of bleeding or excessive clotting obstructing blood flow. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of coagulopathies is an important, unmet need in the clinical setting. Rapidly identifying the source of bleeding, either acquired or inherited, is critical to reduce the risk of major blood loss and deliver personalized hemostatic therapies. Viscoelastic hemostatic assays, or VHAs, deliver an effective solution to the diagnosis of coagulopathies by evaluating global hemostatic function using whole blood rather than plasma. VHAs are …

The Role Of Mek1/2 And Mek5 In Melatonin-Mediated Actions On Osteoblasts And Osteoclasts Differentiation, Bone Formation, Bone Microarchitecture, And Bone Biomechanics, Fahima Akter Munmun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Melatonin, the main endogenous hormone to entrain the circadian system, is not limited to its role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle; rather, it affects a wide variety of systems involving antioxidant, anti-inflammation, blood pressure regulation, seasonal reproduction, ovarian physiology, and immune function. Driven by the diversity of its action, melatonin for a long time has also been studied in the field of bone and mineral research both clinically and pre-clinically. Exogenous administration of melatonin in clinical trials in perimenopausal women (MOPS; NCT01152580); or postmenopausal women with osteopenia (MelaOST; NCT01690000 and MOTS; NCT01870115) confirmed improvement of bone mineral density (BMD) (MelaOST; …

Different Strokes: A Critical Race Discourse Analysis Of The Experiences Of Four Black Women Rowing For A Predominantly White Institution (Pwi), Carol Schoenecker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collegiate athletics has the remarkable ability to serve as a catalyst for positive and widespread social change and identity formation. For Black women, the formation of identity comes with the added intersections of race and gender in addition to sport. Collegiate rowing is one of the most heavily scholarshipped sports coming out of the passing of Title IX legislation in 1972 and requires no previous rowing experience for participation (Garran, 2012). Despite the opportunity for rowing to serve as an access point for innumerable young athletes to obtain financial and social support through a pathway to higher education, there remains …

Towards A "Universal Chemical Biology Toolbox" For Tackling Human Diseases, Christopher Swank

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A lack of new drug targets and drug mechanisms, coupled with drug-pipeline attrition, represent significant problems in oncology drug discovery. Towards addressing this challenge, “fully-functionalized small-molecule probes” (FFSMPs) have been established, which are compounds that can be immediately used as “bait” to capture their protein targets under the same assay conditions used for oncology-based phenotypic screening. Specifically, each FFSMP library member contains one or more structural-diversity elements to promote interactions of the probe with different protein targets in living cells, an electrophile or photoreactive functional group for covalent attachment of the probe to interacting proteins via affinity or photoaffinity labeling, …

Developing A Teacher Professional Development Activity With Social Learning Theory To Address Educators’ Attitudes, Knowledge, And Skills In Working With Lgbtqia+ Youth, Jacob Wadsworth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well documented that children who identify as a sexual minority or as gender-non-conforming are at an increased likelihood to experience adverse events and risk factors that can make it difficult to function in the community, home, and school environments. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth report high levels of bullying and victimization with little or no effective intervention from teachers in schools. Research shows that not only are teachers ill-prepared to effectively intervene, but also they engage in homophobic behavior that contribute to a negative school climate. Previous literature shows that there is …

Interdependence With Our Most Forgetful Elders: Alzheimer's In The Anthropocene, Christine Heller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses autoethnography and critical psychological and philosophical theories to explore what people with Alzheimer’s disease teach us about being, forgetting, and dying in the Anthropocene. The author collected personal memory data from her lived experience of being with her mother while she had Alzheimer’s disease, and organized these memories into a series of vignettes. Each vignette was analyzed with critical psychological and philosophical theories to illuminate intersubjective themes of denial, things, ancestors, place, dying, and time. These themes connected the personal to the epochal and articulated the wisdom that our most forgetful elders can share in the Anthropocene, …

Investigation Of Ongoing Unconventional Gas Extraction And Underground Gas Storage In Pennsylvania: Regulations And Water Quality, Cassandra Ziegler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The extraction of unconventional shale gas and its underground gas storage have the potential to impact surface and groundwater water quality. In New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, 54 unconventional gas wells were drilled between 2013 and 2019. Groundwater samples from 33 water wells and surface water from Brush Creek (18 samples) were collected and analyzed for anions, cations, and light hydrocarbons. Results showed that at least 8 wells had indicators of brine contamination, and the surface waters of mine drainage. The Steckman Ridge natural gas storage field in Clearville, Bedford County, PA has 13 active storage wells. Samples were …

Using Predator Vocalizations To Deter Raccoon Predation On Nests Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin), Colleen Elizabeth Naeger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Hydrodynamic Characteristics Of The Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus Oxyrinchus) For Two Caudal Fin Morphologies, Matthew C. Rodriguez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Habitat Use Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin) In North Inlet, Winyah Bay, Georgetown, South Carolina, Danielle Elizabeth Capella

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Prescribed Burning On Soil Water Infiltration Rates And Other Select Soil Physical And Chemical Properties In East Texas, Cassady Pennington Dunson, Brian P. Oswald, Kenneth Farrish, Tyson Hart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on whether prescribed burning affects soil physical and chemical properties, especially water infiltration, in Western Gulf Coast forests. Soil water infiltration rates were measured 1) pre-burn (before the fire), 2) post-burn (one month after the fire), and 3) at vegetation green-up (three months after the fire). Soil samples were also collected to determine the effects of prescribed burning on soil pH, bulk density, particle density, pore space, soil strength, O-horizon weight and depth (organic matter), water stable aggregates, and soil fertility. This project was conducted on two different burn intervals. The National Forests and Grasslands of Texas …

An Analysis Of Loblolly Pine And Shortleaf Pine Hybridization Using Chromatography And Geographic Information Systems: A Case Study In East Texas, Gary White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

East Texas forests contain three native pine species known to hybridize when site conditions are suitable. Due to increased gene flow from hybridization, quantifying hybridization spatially is a growing concern as southeastern United States pine forests are increasingly influenced by improved pine genetics and warmer, drier conditions from climate change. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and spatial interpolation using Inverse Distance Weighted were conducted using terpenes extracted from needles of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), and putative hybrid individuals sampled in Atlanta State Park, Tyler State Park, and Mission Tejas State Park ( …

Is Being Respectable Enough?: A Critical Investigation Of Code-Switching And The Lived Experiences Of Black Leaders Who Work At Nonprofits In Bridgertown, Ramona Crawford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current literature on Black nonprofit leaders is scarce, causing little to be known about the experiences that they have encountered when navigating their roles and responsibilities. Even less literature is available on these Black leaders and their usage of code-switching strategies when attempting to navigate those same nonprofits. Based on themes uncovered during the literature review this study employs an in-depth narrative inquiry qualitative methodology. While using theories such as critical race theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 200; Ladson-Billings,1998), the politics of respectability (Higginbotham, 1993) and the theory of capital (Bourdieu, 1985; 1996) the researcher examines the leadership experiences of …

Trends In Hysterectomy In Hospital And Ambulatory Settings In Kentucky 2017-2020., Felicia A. Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hysterectomy is the most common treatment for benign uterine conditions in the United States. Data suggest that one in nine women will have the procedure in their lifetime (1). Previous studies indicate that abdominal hysterectomy rates for non-malignancies are declining as alternative methods are increasing for decades; however, those trends do not apply for all women in the country (2-5). In this cross-sectional study, hysterectomy procedures completed between 2017-2020 are described in Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services data. Multivariable logistic regression is used to assess the odds of abdominal hysterectomy for benign indications in Kentucky. Conclusion: Rates of …

Approaching Trans Debates As Fascistic Sites Of Engagement., Sarah Jump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For the past decade, trans rights issues have been a legal topic of discussion and are still discussed publicly in 2021. This thesis researched how arguments surrounding anti-trans issues were successful in the United States. The arguments surrounding these issues are important to study to see how they pass within society and if traditional rules of argumentation are changing. This thesis proposes that traditional dialectical argument is no longer occurring and has taken a post-dialectical turn. The purpose of this thesis is to describe the kinds of arguments used in these issues and build the case that they are evidence …

A Social Learning Approach To The Examination Of The Temporal Directionality Between Parenting Behavior And Early Adolescents' Affect., Shelby M. Burton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study contributes to current literature by being the first to longitudinally examine the relation between early adolescents’ negative and positive affect and specific parenting behaviors. The five parenting behaviors examined in the current study are rooted within the social learning theory constructs of effective discipline (i.e., corporal punishment, inconsistent discipline), positive involvement (i.e., parental involvement), monitoring (i.e., poor monitoring and supervision), and social skills encouragement (i.e., positive parenting). Two research questions were addressed: (1) how are parenting behaviors at baseline associated with early adolescent-reported NA and PA at a later timepoint, and (2) how are early adolescents’ NA and …

"When The Voices Of Children Are Heard": Evaluating The Biological Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Children In Postmedieval London., Ashley R. Ezzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the most vulnerable members of society, children (and their treatment) may reveal important sociocultural and socioeconomic praxes throughout human history. During the Postmedieval period, children, especially low socioeconomic status (SES) individuals, participated in the workforce. By examining the demographic distributions and paleopathological profiles of juvenile skeletal remains from high SES (St. Bride’s Crypt and Chelsea Old Church) and low SES (St. Bride’s Lower and Crossbones) Postmedieval (1700-1850 CE) London cemeteries, we can better understand how SES impacted the biological health and mortality of children. While results indicated higher mortality risk associated with low SES circumstances, most differences in pathological …

Development Of 3d-Bioprinted Scaffolds For Oral Probiotic Application., Jhanvi Patel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis adheres to and invades gingival epithelial cells, resulting in decreased cell viability. Previous studies have indicated that probiotics are effective against dental pathogens; however, few approaches provide sustained-delivery of active agents in the oral cavity. Hypothesis: Probiotics will limit P. gingivalis effects on Telomerase Immortalized Gingival Keratinocyte (TIGK) cells and 3D-printed scaffolds will prolong probiotic release. Methods: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium bifidum were assessed with adhesion and antibiotic protection assays to limit P. gingivalis effects on TIGKs. Scaffolds were printed with a select probiotic and evaluated for release kinetics. Results: Free L.a., …

Synthesis Of Flagellin 22 As A Probe For Plant Signaling And Molecular Trafficking Towards Improved Crops, Edward Offei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plant signaling involves the transport of information within and between plant cells from receptors to effectors. Plants are affected by biotic and abiotic stress conditions like insect attack and extreme temperatures, respectively, which cause disease, the induction of senescence and the reduction of crop yield. To improve plant traits for feed, fiber, and energy applications, it is critical to understand the short- and long-range signaling mechanisms plants use to control growth, biomass composition, senescence and responses to environmental stresses. It is known that many plant signaling molecules have profound effects on plants, through mechanisms that remain largely obscure. A key …

The Influence Of Incubation Conditions On Oxygen Consumption During The Development Of Pantherophis Guttatus, Celeste Gallardo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The flexible shell of some oviparous reptiles has led to differences in nutrient mobilization and water relations when compared to their rigid-shelled counterparts. Flexible-shelled eggs gain more water during development, and because of the shell structure, yolk calcium content is higher than that of eggshells. When water availability is altered for reptiles with flexible-shelled eggs, differences in both energy and nutrient utilization are observed. This study was designed to determine the baseline metabolic rate during development for the snake, Pantherophis guttatus under normal conditions, and to observe how changes in eggshell calcium and water availability impact embryonic oxygen consumption. Eggshell …

Student Chronic Absenteeism And Perceptions Of School Climate, Misty Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences in student chronic absenteeism between schools with high positive scores for perceptions of central components school climate and schools with low positive scores for perceptions of central components of school climate. This study assessed the difference in student chronic absenteeism among elementary schools rated high positive or low positive as well as among high schools rated high positive or low positive for perceptions of school engagement, school safety, and school environment. A series of chi square analyses were used to analyze data to determine if there …

Peaking For Maximal Strength: Muscular Adaptations And Performance Outcomes, Spencer K. Travis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to 1) determine what tapering and peaking practices appear to be most effective via systematic review, 2) to identify the tapering and peaking practices used by North American powerlifters, 3) to experimentally compare muscular adaptations and performance changes following two different training cessation periods, and 4) to experimentally compare the two most common taper models following a training program aimed at peaking maximal strength. Based on the scientific literature, a step and exponential taper appeared to be the most effective tapering models used when volume-load is reduced by half over 2±1 week. Interestingly, North …

Investigations Of Elastin Recoil On Molecular And Macroscopic Levels., Nour Mohammad Jamhawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elastin is one of the most hydrophobic proteins, and it is extremely flexible when hydrated. The driving force for recoil is the decrease in entropy of the protein and/or the hydrating solvent. This dissertation is a study of both mechanisms. Following an introduction (Chapter 1), Chapters 2 and 3 investigate the recoil mechanism on the molecular level in the hydrating solvent and in the protein, respectively. Chapter 4 examines macroscopic properties of recoil by thermomechanics. Conclusions are discussed in Chapter 5. Using double quantum NMR, the deuterated water ordering at the elastin surface was studied quantitatively as a function of …

Investigating The Effects Of Perfluorooctanoic Sulfonate (Pfos) And Ethanol On Fatty Liver Disease Using A Modified Niaaa Model., Tyler Charles Gripshover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a family of man-made, surfactant-like compounds that are a major environmental contaminant. A multitude of studies have indicated that PFAS are able to induce fatty liver disease and modulate lipid metabolism. However, the distinct mechanism of PFAS influence on the liver and metabolism disruption remains to be elucidated. On the other hand, it is well documented that alcohol consumption has various adverse health impacts including fatty liver disease and subsequent progression to more adverse liver states. To date, there are no published studies on whether PFAS and alcohol can jointly exacerbate fatty liver progression or interact …

Decreased Kidney Mitochondrial Content And Pgc-1Α Following Repeated Low-Dose Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury., Andrew Joseph Orwick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is highly effective and one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of a number of different solid organ tumors. Unfortunately, the dose-limiting nephrotoxicity occurs in up to 30% of patients, which requires alterations to treatment regimens that are often less effective. The kidney’s function is to provide fluid homeostasis, and this is an energy-intensive process. Proper renal function is dependent on functional mitochondria. PGC-1α regulates mitochondrial number, respiratory capacity, and mitochondrial proteins in proximal tubule cells. We delivered low-dose cisplatin to mice via intraperitoneal injections once a week for 4 weeks. The mice were then …

Oligodendrocyte Responses After Spinal Cord Injury., George Zach Wei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies demonstrate that neuroprotection strategies targeting the proteostasis network and components of its effector signaling pathways improve cell survival and motor recovery outcomes in several models of neuronal injury and degeneration. However, the individual contributions of these signaling pathways to the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI), white matter damage, and motor recovery have not yet been determined. Here, I explored the role of the HIF prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins (PHD/EGLN), effectors that can modulate stress responses activated by the proteostasis network, on motor function recovery after SCI. Furthermore, I identified previously unknown candidate mechanisms in an unbiased manner …