Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Physical Activity Promotion And Implementation Within Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programs: A Mixed-Methods Design, Shannon P. Zimmerman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) exhibit lower physical activity levels compared to their non-disabled counterparts, with only 23% of U.S. adults with IDD engaging in the recommended 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) programs in the U.S. offer an opportunity to promote physical activity and address the critically low physical activity levels. Few IPSE programs have formalized physical activity courses, warranting an evaluation and development of the national curriculum in this area. This study expands on previous work by examining current physical activity promotion strategies at both the program and course levels. …

Reconceptualizing South Asia: Bangladeshi Literature And The Politics Of Representation, Qazi Arka Rahman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I explore Bangladeshi literature’s specificity and contributions in the context South Asia. This project expands the existing oeuvre of South Asian literary and postcolonial studies by bringing Bangladeshi literature into current debates on nation, nationality, and identity. I investigate the role of literary texts in developing a national ethos by doing analysis of twentieth to twenty-first-century Bangladeshi novels – in English and Bangla – to argue the necessity of developing a temporal understanding of South Asia rather than a spatial one. The dissertation demonstrates how Bangladeshi novels have contributed to and subverted the idea of “imagined community” following Bangladesh’s independence …

Measuring And Modeling Riparian Wetland Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity, Nutrient Concentrations And Shallow Groundwater Dynamics In An Appalachian Mixed Land Use Catchment, Bidisha Faruque Abesh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The paucity of research on accurate predictions of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), spatiotemporal analysis of nutrient concentrations relative to water source types (stream and shallow groundwater (SGW)), water flow directions, and land use in riparian wetlands of Appalachian mixed land use catchments underscored the need for this study. Additionally, the lack of SGW flow simulations and stream-SGW interactions using three-dimensional (3D) numerical models (i.e., MODFLOW) in these riparian wetlands further highlighted the research gap. Observed data including soil properties, Ksat, surface water (SW) and SGW levels, and nutrient concentrations, including nitrate (NO3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), ammonium (NH4-N), orthophosphate (PO43-P), total nitrogen …

Diet And Population Genomics Of River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) In West Virginia, Eden Grace Nitza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

North American river otters (Lontra canadensis), hereafter, otters, are apex predators in aquatic ecosystems across Appalachia, and thus have important impacts on their ecosystems such as food web regulation, nutrient cycling, and reducing the impacts of invasive species. Otters were extirpated from most of Appalachia, including all of West Virginia, by the mid-1900’s due to habitat destruction and overharvest. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) began an otter reintroduction program in 1984 which translocated approximately 250 otters into the state by 1997. This reintroduction program was largely considered successful, and a regulated harvest season was opened …

An Examination Of The Underlying Implications Of Environmental, Social, And Governance Measures On Firm Practices, Lewis James Hardway

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is comprised of three studies that seek to determine the impact environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies and initiatives have on different levels within the firm. The first study takes a page from business management research. It proposes a moderated mediation model of leader-member exchange and its effects on corporate entrepreneurship. Corporate entrepreneurship seeks to engage employees in bringing forward new ideas to enhance the firm’s position and aligns with the social aspects of ESG, especially those concerning employee stakeholder matters. This study finds that through psychological empowerment, high-quality relationships can bring forward increased engagement by individuals in …

Low Power Remote Sensing System For Ceramic Thermocouples, Syed Khaleduzzaman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ceramic thermocouple sensor is a promising alternative to traditional thermocouple due to their corrosion resistance and cost-effective manufacturing. Currently, no electronic Interface or Integrated Circuit solution is commercially available which can be used to interface these thermocouples at low-cost and low power for accurate temperature measurement. An electronic system is needed to use these ceramic sensors which consumes less amount of power for an extensive period of time with remote monitoring option.

This thesis proposes a low-power electronic remote sensing system that works for ceramic thermocouples. The system consists of three parts. They are battery-operated sensor node electronic circuit, …

Historical Evolution Of The Late 20th-Century Maritime Claims, The Concept Of The Nine-Dash Line, And The Dispute In The South China Sea, Kamil Nowak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study discusses the origins and development of the South China Sea dispute. It briefly analyzes the overlapping maritime claims, their justifications and legal aspects, and key clashes between the actors across the second half of the 20th century. It uses a historical perspective to assess the present-day conflict. The study discusses the impact of international agreements, national policies, claimants' domestic factors, and external influences connected to the geopolitical situation of the period to determine how they influenced the dispute. The analysis reveals that amidst more pressing global events, the South China Sea issue was frequently overlooked by the international …

Reimagining The Refugee Figure: Survival Migration And Its After-Affects, Gabriella Pishotti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the refugee crisis continues to worsen, so too will the field of refugee literature continue to expand into new directions to account for shifts in the refugee figure and developing concerns of survival migrant writers. Drawing from the foundational work of scholars such as Sianne Ngai and Sara Ahmed, I use affect theory as an intervention into these contemporary refugee texts to posit a rethinking of how we analyze refugee stories as narratives of crisis. I employ an affective approach to demonstrate how the emergency of forced migration can be narratively depicted in an embodied way that fosters connection …

From The Pews To The Ballot Box: How Religion Shapes Voting Behavior In Ghana., Maxwell Afriyie Nimako

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores how religion shapes voting behavior in emerging democracies, focusing on the case of Ghana. Using the Afrobarometer survey, the first stage of the analysis shows that Pentecostals are not statistically different from Roman Catholics in terms of voting for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidates in 2007-2008 and 2013-2014. However, in 2016-2017, Pentecostal voters seem to have behaved differently from Roman Catholic voters. The dissertation subsequently explores why this variation in voting patterns emerged. This dissertation argues that explicit religious appeals made by presidential candidates and explicit religious appeals made by Pentecostal leaders for presidential candidates …

Rural Student Postsecondary Decision-Making: Navigating Narratives Of The Purpose And Value Of Higher Education, Ashley Renee Leggett-Bradley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The narrative surrounding the purpose and place of higher education has shifted dramatically over the past few decades, despite the persistent perceptions of the necessity of an educated society. With these shifts and conflicting narratives comes the question of how students are influenced by these narratives as they make their postsecondary decisions. This study seeks to illuminate the unique way that rural students receive, understand, and are influenced by these potentially conflicting narratives through a qualitative multi-site case study. All three sites are located within the North Central Appalachian portion of the state of West Virginia, and encompass a range …

Success Beyond Access: Examining Institutional Barriers To Persistence And The Supports Needed By Nontraditional Students Participating In A Tuition-Free Community College Program, Amanda K. Roeher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research study examined the experiences of nontraditional community college students attending through a tuition-free grant. The intent of the study was to explore the student identified barriers to degree persistence and the student support services nontraditional students recognize as being beneficial towards their academic journey. This qualitative case study was guided by three research questions and utilized Bean and Metzner’s (1985) Nontraditional Student Attrition Model as a guide for study design and analysis. Data collection consisted of student interviews and institutional document collection. Data analysis explored themes related to nontraditional student motivations for attendance, persistence factors, and student support …

Fluid-Rock And Fluid-Steel Interaction In Geothermal Energy Development In The Appalachain Basin, Samuel H. Bowman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ever-increasing demand for clean energy requires creative solutions. In the United States, unconventional energy sources such as geothermal are conventionally limited to the western half of the country. The Appalachian Basin in the Eastern United States is one such possible creative solution, although the comparatively low temperature gradient presents a significant challenge to delivering economically feasible geothermal energy. An emerging technology is enhanced geothermal systems, these are engineered reservoirs where a working fluid (typically water) is cycled between the subsurface energy source and the energy collection facility at the surface. The liquid water interacts with the geothermal reservoir rock …

Reconstructing Δ14c Production Events Using Tree Rings: Does Tree Physiology Affect Estimates Of Atmospheric Δ14c?, Meagan Rory Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cosmic rays and solar energetic particles (SEP) bombard the Earth’s geomagnetic field, posing a threat to satellites, space stations, and human space exploration. These rays and particles also produce radiocarbon (¹⁴C) in Earth’s atmosphere, thus records of past ¹⁴C concentration in the atmosphere may be indicative of past cosmic and solar activity. Rapid increases in the concentration of atmospheric radiocarbon ¹⁴C, (Miyake events) first identified in tree rings, are thought to be a result of solar eruptive activity triggering the release of solar energetic particles, though the precise nature of past events remains unresolved. The first …

Evaluating The Role Of Glucocorticoids On The Host Response To Helicobacter Pylori Infection, Sara Druffner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection is the number one risk factor for gastric cancer development. Roughly 50% of the world’s population is infected with H. pylori, though only 1-3% of those infected will develop cancer. H. pylori drives chronic inflammation that creates the requisite environment for carcinogenesis, yet it remains unclear why some individuals develop cancer and others do not. Most mechanistic studies are done in mice, however H. pylori is not a natural mouse pathogen. Research is typically done either with mouse-adapted strains of …

The Experiences Of Women College Presidents While Leading Through An Institutional Crisis: The Perceived Successes And Failures Of Crisis Communication Strategies, Madison Marie Speck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This multi-site case study explored the uncommonly discussed yet organic intersection between the study of crisis communication and the study of crisis leadership and in turn, what it means in the context of a college presidency. This study has a unique focus on women presidents at small, private colleges and the ways in which they communicate with various stakeholders during a crisis environment. The research is guided by Boin’s Model of Crisis Leadership which guides and assesses crisis leadership performance; however this study introduces nuances to the framework that are suggested as a result of the findings; most of which …

A Critical Event Narrative Analysis Of African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs In The United States: Impacts Before, During, And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Damilola T. Fasinu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral research presents a qualitative critical event narrative study focused on African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs (AWIE) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to explore the unique challenges, coping mechanisms, and resilience strategies of AWIE by examining their experiences before, during, and after the pandemic. The research is driven by three guiding questions: (1) How do AWIE describe their experience before the pandemic? (2) During the pandemic? (3) After the pandemic? This inquiry provides a comprehensive narrative, capturing the challenges and successes experienced in the pre-pandemic environment, documenting the immediate impacts of the pandemic on …

Seeing Red: Hostile Attribution Bias, Aggression, And Antisocial Personality Disorder Traits, Kaley Potter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a destructive and severe mental illness that costs the U.S. trillions of dollars annually. Although ASPD is significantly correlated with acts of aggression, violence, and imprisonment, not all individuals with ASPD are aggressive. In samples without ASPD, increased aggression has been linked to an error in social information processing, which is referred to as hostile attribution bias (HAB).

The current study tested the extent to which HABs, or the tendency to attribute hostility to neutral or ambiguous stimuli, predicted aggression above and beyond ASPD traits in participants with a history of incarceration. Participants (N = …

Parental Socialization Of General And Domain-Specific Self-Control In Adolescents, Matty Johnston

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Adolescent self-control appears to be an important competency to develop. It has pervasive links with various outcomes (e.g., educational, financial, and interpersonal) both during adolescence and into adulthood (Allemand et al., 2019, Moffitt et al., 2011). Adolescents often report lower self-control compared to adults, although individual levels of self-control vary widely between adolescents (Allemand et al., 2019, Romer et al., 2010). Despite its importance, very little is known about how self-control develops. Thus, the current study aims to examine the relationship between parents’ self-control and that of their teen children. To further understand how adolescents' self-control may be socialized by …

Implementation Of The Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research And Education (Aaspire)-Based Guidelines To Improve Perioperative Care Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kayleigh Brink

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Implementation of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE)-based Guidelines to Improve Perioperative Care of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kayleigh Brink

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming more prevalent with an increasing need to identify and eliminate barriers to care. Healthcare Providers (HCP) have shown limited knowledge and confidence when managing patients with ASD. The inability to provide specialized care and recognize symptoms of pain or discomfort could result in behavioral difficulties.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to improve confidence among HCPs to identify ASD characteristics and to improve the use of …

Depicting The Donald: How Framing Of Donald Trump In Media Changed Throughout The Course Of His 2015-2016 United States Presidential Campaign, Jakob O. Janoski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined how framing of Donald Trump in online news images may have changed throughout the course of his 2015-2016 United States presidential campaign. Previous research suggests that Republican presidential candidates may get more coverage but not necessarily be framed as more favorable (Moriarty and Popovich, 1988). The content analysis comprised of 18 constructed weeks in which images from various outlets were analyzed in nine categories (e.g., “facial expression” and “posture”) and coded as either “more favorable,” “N/A” or “less favorable.” It was found that image favorability of Trump dipped from the Pre-Primary period to the Primary period then …

Self-Efficacy And Parental Miscarried Helping In Adherence And Transition Readiness Among Adolescents And Young Adults With Epilepsy, Kirby-Estar G. Laguerre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Given the complex regimen associated with epilepsy, ensuring that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) adhere to their medications, and are ready to transition from pediatric to adult care, is crucial to optimizing their health outcomes. Several social and ecological factors such as self-efficacy and parental miscarried helping can strengthen or weaken an adolescent’s medication adherence and readiness to shift from pediatric to adult care. Intending to contribute to informing and improving clinical care, this study sought to understand the relationships between self-efficacy, parental miscarried helping, medication adherence, and transition readiness. Methods: Using a cross-sectional observational design, 46 AYAs with …

Intervention To Reduce Tobacco Use Among Prostate Cancer Patient And Informal Caregiver Dyads, Trupti Dhumal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men. Continued tobacco use after prostate cancer diagnosis may affect a patient’s treatment outcomes, quality of life, and mortality. Despite the potential negative outcomes, 10-20% of prostate cancer patients continue to use tobacco after their cancer diagnosis. Considering risks associated with continued tobacco use, there is a lack of evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies to address tobacco cessation specifically in prostate cancer. Given the increasing prevalence of prostate cancer, the ongoing difficulty in tobacco cessation, and the limited evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions in the literature, it is important to prioritize reducing tobacco use in …

Exploring Early Childhood Educators’ Attitudes About Addiction And Their Association With Student-Teacher Relationships, Megan E. Mikesell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project aimed to address significant gaps in literature around addiction-related attitudes by identifying early childhood educators’ addiction-related attitudes and how these attitudes associate with their relationships with students who come from homes with addiction. A sample of 501 ECEs completed an online survey which included the Public Attitudes About Addiction Survey (PAAS; a 54-item measure used to identify a person’s beliefs about addiction across five models), the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS; a 15-item scale used to measure the level of closeness and conflict), and various demographic and community questions. Path analysis revealed that both moral and nature aligned attitudes …

Application Of Metagenomic And Molecular Microbiology Techniques To Elucidate Sources Of Fecal Pollution And Anthropogenic Antibiotic Resistance Genes To Surface Water: A Step Towards A “One Health” Approach To Watershed Management, Mehedi Hasan Tarek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, is a widely established regulatory and monitoring practice to detect surface water contamination associated with fecal pollution. However, the detection or quantification of fecal indicator bacteria alone does not accurately inform the sources of fecal pollution. The development of molecular and metagenomic methods that target the DNA of microorganisms has resulted in a host of new tools for monitoring fecal pollution and its sources, as well as for understanding emerging microbial threats, such as antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a critical “One Health” challenge presenting a high risk to …

The Expectations, Experiences And Satisfaction Of Students Within A Nutrition And Dietetics Program Regarding Faculty Academic Advising Using A Prescriptive Or Developmental Advising Lens, Nettie Puglisi Freshour

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research study examined student’s expectation, experiences and satisfaction with faculty academic advising using a prescriptive vs. developmental lens. The intent was to explore the student’s expectations of academic advising, determine if their experiences aligned with their expectation and if this led to satisfaction of their academic advising. This study utilized the Systems theory to determine how academic advising is performed by the program and if that experience for the student is how the systems (institution, college, department, and program) are promoting the form of advising. This study utilized a qualitative case study approach, guided by three research questions. Data …

The Creation Of An Adolescent Prediabetes Screening Protocol To Help With Early Prediabetes Identification, Brittany Parker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

The Creation of an Adolescent Prediabetes Screening Protocol to Help with Early Prediabetes Identification

Brittany Parker, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Problem: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) recommend screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in high-risk asymptomatic children and adolescents after puberty or at ten years of age, whichever occurs first. However, this recommendation has not been formally recognized by the state of West Virginia for integration into wellness child exam requirements, nor has it been made common practice in many primary care clinics to be flagged as …

Forage Grass Growth Habit And Allelopathy In Birdsfoot Trefoil Germination And Establishment, Nathan El Blake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (BFT) is a high quality, tanniniferous forage legume that has been shown to mitigate gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in sheep. Reliable establishment of birdsfoot trefoil in existing pastures is difficult due to BFT’s poor seedling vigor, susceptibility to crown and root rot, and, perhaps chiefly, competition from other pasture plants. Most existing pastures in the Northeastern United States are primarily composed of cool-season grasses, many of which can be highly competitive. A common form of interplant competition is allelopathy, which occurs when secondary metabolites produced by a plant inhibit a necessary growth process of …

Internalized Heterosexism, Shame Proneness, And Disclosure In Clinical Supervision Among Sexual Minority Supervisees, Christian Joseph Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sexual minority supervisees face unique struggles including prejudice, discrimination, and heterosexism, which may impact their psychological well-being and development within the supervisory experience through shame proneness and reduced disclosure. This study aims to explore the challenges facing sexual minority trainees and contribute to the empirical knowledge of multicultural supervision. Thus, this study proposes two mediation models for the hypothesized relationships among internalized heterosexism, shame-related withdrawal, shame-related negative self-evaluation, and disclosure in supervision. A total of 170 supervisees identifying as sexual minorities completed an online survey. The primary analysis included a three-step linear regression and confirmatory analysis for mediation. The results …

Conservative Anabaptists Descriptions Of Delay, Comfort In Connectedness, And Ease In Cultural Tension When Seeking And Responding To Healthcare, Matthew Donald Hottle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Conservative Anabaptists description of delay in health seeking behaviors, comfort in connectedness, and ease in cultural tension when seeking and responding to healthcare

Background: Conservative Anabaptists are a large ethnic religious population that continues to grow in the United States. This includes groups of Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites, and Brethren populations residing in rural areas. These groups are known to experience adverse health related outcomes such as community acquired infections, advanced cancer diagnosis, and undiagnosed chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, the concept transcending health values has been developed to better understand how conservative anabaptists describe …

Erickson Alumni Center Weddings: Consulting Report, Andrew Sealy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Erickson Alumni Center is an event center, conference space, and wedding venue in Morgantown, West Virginia, near West Virginia University’s Evansdale Campus. Home to the nonprofit WVU Alumni Association, the Erickson facility operates under the unit of WVU’s Strategic Initiatives as an accessible, upscale event venue and conference center. Facing the opportunity of an exceptionally profitable wedding season through early 2024, wedding venues like the Erickson must be prepared to activate intentional, research-driven strategies and implement a solicitous marketing and communication plan to attract, capture, and engage leads. Without any dedicated staff to create strategy, develop content, and maintain …