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On The Role Of Task Preference And Work Removal For Identifying Escape Functions, Brian Patrick Long

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

On the Role of Task Preference and Work Removal for Identifying Escape Functions

Brian P. Long

Students within the public school system may exhibit severe challenging behavior to escape from academic demands. Procedures to identify the reinforcers that maintain challenging behavior, such as functional analysis, may improve the probability of treatment success. Functional analysis involves manipulating contingencies to determine if positive (e.g., attention following challenging behavior) or negative (e.g., escape from aversive events such as task demands) reinforcers may maintain challenging behavior (Iwata et al., 1982). The absence of evocative tasks could produce inaccurate results when testing for effects …

Laboratory Experimentation And Numerical Modeling To Enhance Drainage In Geotextile Tubes, Jonah G. Tyson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Laboratory Experimentation and Numerical Modeling to Enhance Drainage in Geotextile Tubes

Jonah G. Tyson

Geotextile fabrics are commonly used in the dewatering and filtration of high-water content geomaterials. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) sludge is a geomaterial and has increasing production volumes in West Virginia. The WVDEP has large sludge storage sites for dewatering and long-term disposal. Currently the AMD is treated then transferred by pumping the material into geobags for long-term disposal in tubular shape geotextile bags that dewater the sludge. The current design of the geobags limit the pathways for the water to filter out due to the …

Botanical Folktales, Jameson Frances Mulac

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Botanical Folktales, shown in the Laura Mesaros Gallery at West Virginia University (displayed March 20-23, 2023). It documents the research, motivations, and processes presented in the artwork displayed throughout the gallery. Through prints and artist’s books this body of work represents my pursuit to connect, understand and share gratitude for native plants of Appalachia. Plants are my muse to reconnect and learn about the living environment. Not only do plants hold stories and signify different meanings in every culture, but also nourish our bodies and bring …

Effects Of Aripiprazole Alone And In Combination With D-Amphetamine On Probability Discounting In Sprague-Dawley Rats, Paige Currie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pharmaceuticals are helpful tools in aiding individuals with psychiatric diagnoses. Sometimes, the drug’s side effects can be more severe than the initial problem. Maladaptive behaviors, like pathological gambling, overeating, and substance abuse, are important to consider during the prescription of different pharmaceuticals, particularly those used to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with these diagnoses are often prescribed: stimulants, like d-amphetamine (d-AMP; for symptoms associated with ADHD), and antipsychotics, like aripiprazole (ARI; for symptoms associated with ASD). These drugs in combination could influence maladaptive behavior, including risky choice (probability discounting). The present study …

Understanding Being A Special Education Teacher In The Era Of Covid-19: Teacher Perceptions Two Years In, Amanda N. Walkup

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The COVID-19 pandemic not only caused a disruption to the education of children, but has contributed to the ever-growing teacher shortage in the United States. In an effort to better understand the effects of the pandemic on special education teachers, this study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to explore the lived experiences of special education teachers in one southeastern state. Lived experiences of these teachers during the pandemic focused on “Frustrations Beyond Their Control,” “Unorganized Processes and Procedures,” and “Building Relationships.” Overall, participants were found to either languish in the ramifications of the pandemic on their schools and students, or …

Spin Recovery Analysis On A Simulation Model Of The Nasa F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (Harv) Using Thrust Vectoring, Brock M. Dolly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the early years of aviation, spins were poorly understood and frequently fatal. With just over a century of research and experiments dedicated to spins, today’s aviation world has a very firm grasp on spin aerodynamics. Most fighter aircraft have airframes and control surfaces specifically designed to ensure the ability of departure from the possible spin modes the aircraft can enter. An alternative and/or additional approach is given by thrust vectoring. Implementing thrust vectoring into spin recovery can potentially save an aircraft and/or the life of the pilot in situation where control-surface-only spin recovery is not able to recover the …

The Effect Of Face Interpretation Training On Social Anxiety Symptoms, Grace L. Wheeler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to cognitive models of social anxiety disorder (SAD), individuals place excessive importance on gauging others’ reactions (e.g., facial expressions) to their social performance. Facial interpretation bias modification (FIBM) was developed to shift interpretations of ambiguous faces. The current study uses FIBM to test whether face interpretation is causally related to SAD symptoms in an unselected adult sample. Participants (N=139) were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions (positive, negative, accurate) in a single-session, online study. Pre- and post- intervention measures of face interpretation and SAD were completed. In line with hypotheses, individuals in the positive condition interpreted faces more positively …

Effects Of Development On Hpa Function Following Pubertal Stress, Brittany D. Elliott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For women, two of the greatest risk factors for affective disorders are adversity experienced during puberty and later becoming pregnant. We have created a translationally relevant mouse model where we address these complex risk factors. Previously, we discovered that pregnant mice (dams) that experienced chronic variable stress (CVS) during puberty display a blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response when exposed to an acute stressor. Interestingly, this alteration only first becomes apparent during pregnancy, which is a sensitive period for these effects due to normative neuroendocrine changes. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction revealed altered gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus …

Evaluation Of Renewal During Differential Reinforcement With Asymmetrical Choices And A Context Fading Mitigation Technique, Kacey R. Finch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Successful clinical behavior analytic treatment often results in decreases in challenging behavior and increases in appropriate behavior. These reductions in challenging behavior are often achieved by implementing differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA; Petscher et al., 2009). One variation of DRA to decrease challenging behavior is differential reinforcement with asymmetrical choices, which are two or more concurrently available response options associated with differential outcomes (Fisher & Mazur, 1997; Kestner et al., 2023). However, responding that was previously reduced sometimes reemerges. Specifically, renewal is the reemergence of a previously reduced response following a context change. The first two experiments evaluated renewal …

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 Truth-Default, Diagnostic Utility, And The Value Of Contextual Knowledge In Deceptive Interactions, Heath A. Howard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation describes and reports an experimental study examining the predictions of truth-default theory (TDT). TDT is an expansive, modular theory of deception detection which explains the processes by which people abandon the truth-default state and navigate judgments of message veracity in conversations. The first goal of this study was to test TDT’s seventh proposition, which explains how communicators abandon the truth-default state through trigger events (i.e., actions which prompt communicators to be uncertain about the accuracy of the message) such as decreased sender believability and message coherence. The second goal of this study was to test the predictions of …

Epistemological Insecurity In The Anthropocene, Dustin Purvis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation analyzes how increased mainstream awareness of climate change and other complex environmental phenomena transforms some of the basic tools we use to understand the world, including notions of agency, evidence, and causality. More specifically, this project highlights numerous contemporary literary and cultural narratives that formally and thematically depict impromptu systems of action and comprehension developed by humans confronting the unique forms of information overload that result from damaged and rapidly changing environments. Following critics like Ulrich Beck, Rob Nixon, and Stacy Alaimo, I suggest our current era of ecological instability and destructive environmental practices dictate what I refer …

The Effect Of Pubertal Stress On Prefrontal Cortex Related Behavior In Adult And Adolescent Mice, Bryan Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an area of associated with cognitive flexibility, decision making, and value processing. The most common neuropsychiatric disorders globally, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders, have been associated with dysfunction in the PFC. One of the environmental factors that may lead to increased risk for developing these disorders is exposure to stressful or traumatic situations during key developmental periods, such as adolescence. Human studies found that individuals who were faced with early adverse events but had some form of social interaction or support during that time, had a lower risk …

Dispositional Optimism And Autonomic Reactivity During Passive-Coping And Active-Coping Stress Tasks, Emma R. Pino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Optimism is a positive psychological factor that has been associated with improved mental and physical health outcomes. To better understand the mechanism through which optimism results in improved health, researchers have examined whether autonomic reactivity to stress moderates this relation. While many studies have examined the relation between optimism and autonomic reactivity to stress, findings are mixed. Although some studies have found optimism to be associated with reductions in heart rate and blood pressure responses to acute stress presentations, many studies exploring this relation have found optimism to be associated with greater blood pressure responses to stress. However, most of …

Evaluating A Virtual Reality Simulation-Based Tool In Undergraduate Nursing Students For Impact On Accuracy, Clinical Judgment, Fear, And Self-Confidence When Donning, Doffing, And Disposing Of Personal Protective Equipment, Stacy Lynn Russell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: PPE training is essential to prevent transmission of infections or autoinoculation of infections among healthcare providers and patients. Student nurses play a vital role in infection control practices to protect themselves and patients from transmittable infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an innovative teaching and learning strategy known as virtual reality simulation in teaching proper PPE use in comparison to more traditional learning.

Research Questions: This study aimed to answer three research questions: (1) What is the acceptability among faculty of using a head mounted VRS to train undergraduate nursing students in the proper …

The Enigmatic Nature Of Toxic Masculinity: Utilizing Quasi-Photovoice Methodology To Make Distinctions Between Hegemonic And Toxic Masculinity, Taylor Elizabeth Remsburg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Studies of masculinity are fraught by inconsistent and unclear definitions. A comparison of literature which uses either hegemonic or toxic masculinity as a framework reveals that toxic masculinity can be virtually indistinguishable from hegemonic masculinity. I posit that toxic masculinity is and should be distinct from hegemonic masculinity. Failure to distinguish toxic masculinity from hegemonic masculinity makes toxicity difficult, if not impossible, to operationalize. I designed a vignette survey to clarify the conceptualization and operationalization of toxic masculinity. My vignette survey, which asks participants to respond to prompts regarding both toxic masculinity and masculinity, uses quasi-photovoice methodology to allow participants …

A Comparison Of Endodontic Root-End Filling Techniques: A Micro-Computed Tomography Analysis, Leslie P. Wolford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction:

Researchers have compared the differences between hand compaction of root-end filling bioceramics with compaction of these materials by hand followed by ultrasonic activation (hand/ultrasonic compaction). Additionally, most of these researchers did not utilize Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) analysis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate total porosity volume of three different bioceramics when compacted by hand alone versus hand/ultrasonic compaction using Micro-CT Analysis.

Materials and methods:

Seventy-two human maxillary central incisors were selected for the study. All were subjected to orthograde endodontic treatment followed by root tip resection 3-mm from the apex at a 90° to the long axis …

Investigating The Role Of Nudt7-Mediated Peroxisomal Coa Degradation In The Regulation Of Hepatic Coa Levels And Lipid Metabolism, Schuyler Dan Adams Vickers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coenzyme A (CoA) is a crucial cofactor required to support many essential metabolic processes, including fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, the TCA cycle, and bile acid synthesis. In order to support the proper functioning of these pathways, CoA levels within the cell must be properly regulated. The regulation of CoA levels is achieved through a balance between CoA synthesis and CoA degradation. While the regulation of CoA synthesis has been extensively characterized, the degradation of CoA has received less attention. As such, the contribution of CoA degradation to the regulation of metabolism is poorly understood. NUDT7 is a CoA-specific Nudix …

Combustion Characteristics Of Methane, Ethane, Propane, And Butane Blends Under Conditions Relevant Of A Dual-Fuel Diesel And Natural Gas Engine, Christopher Joseph Ulishney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As natural gas production infrastructure is already in place in most of the world and will continue expanding for the foreseeable future, natural gas is an alternative to traditional liquid petroleum fuels in heavy-duty engines. Dedicated natural gas or dual-fuel diesel-natural gas heavy-duty engines are alternatives to diesel-only power generation equipment. One challenge is the large variation in the natural gas composition available for such applications, which is known to significantly affect engine’s combustion characteristics and the emissions composition. As the literature on dual-fuel combustion under low load engine operating conditions that use more realistic natural gas mixtures (i.e., mixtures …

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 …

Us Buyers’ Behavior Towards Social Sustainable Certificates, Mehnaz Fatima Monamy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Growing awareness of the fashion industry's environmental footprint in terms of water and chemical use, carbon emissions, textile waste, energy usage, and water pollution has focused international attention on sustainability issues in apparel industries. To showcase their commitment to sustainability, many fashion companies turn to certifications and accreditations from third-party organizations. These certifications and accreditations not only help improve a company's performance and marketability but also give them an advantage over their competitors. US textile buyers are also becoming more selective in their purchasing decisions, looking for high-quality products that are produced in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. This …

A Comparison Of Fish Health Indices Applied To Freshwater Species Of The Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Josiah B. Jensen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fish kills, increased disease prevalence, and endocrine disruption have been observed in multiple freshwater fish populations of the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW). Some of these health issues occur in conjunction with declining abundance. A combination of multiple stressors is believed to be weakening sensitive fish species in non-tidal regions of the CBW. Fish health indices such as Deformity, Erosion, Lesion, and Tumor counts (DELTs), and the Health Assessment Index (HAI) are simple tools designed to evaluate the general health of fish populations. Both indices could be widely applied in the watershed because they require limited training and equipment. However, their …

Fife And Drum As A Secondary Ensemble Within The Public Schools, Travis Lee Nestor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acknowledging the framework of music education within the American public school system, this research will develop a process for creating and integrating the traditional fife and drum ensemble into the public school schedule as a secondary performance ensemble, specifically as applied to the public school system within the state of West Virginia. The research will provide a template that educators can follow that will aid them in designing the course; building student interest and participation; then finally to creating an official course that students can register to take within the school schedule.

Ultimately, this research looks to provide a process …

Modeling And Simulation Of A Process That Converts Ethane To Ethylene And Ethylene To Low Density Polyethylene, Ernest Bosire Mokaya

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ethylene is a critical feedstock and a major building block in the petrochemical industry that is used in synthesizing important products like polyethylene, ethanol, ethylene oxide, ethylene dichloride and ethylbenzene. With increasing demand of plastics, production of ethylene and subsequently polyethylene has increased globally. This thesis conducts the modeling and simulation of an integrated process that utilizes ethane as the primary feedstock to produce ethylene and the subsequent polymerization of ethylene to low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The process combines two different processes into one integrated process: (1) conversion of ethane to ethylene and (2) conversion of ethylene to LDPE. First, a …

An Analysis Of Urban Land Use Land Cover (Lulc) Changes In Lilongwe City, Central Malawi (2002–2022), Zola Manyungwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city, has grown nearly tenfold in the last 40 years with a 4-5% annual population growth rate, and the city’s population is projected to double over the next decade. Rural to urban migration and natural increase are the driving factors of the city’s urban expansion. Characterised by the urbanisation of poverty, Lilongwe is experiencing uncontrolled and unplanned urban expansion that has led to the growth of informal settlements. Urbanisation leads to land use land cover (LULC) changes that negatively impact the quality of life and the environment. Lilongwe faces many challenges, including high levels of poverty, inequality, …

Development Of A Mass Transfer Correction Factor In A Thermodynamic Model To Explain The Weathering Patterns Of Ignitable Liquids On Household Substrates At Elevated Temperatures, Max T. Denn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To determine whether a questioned fire is the result of arson or not, forensic chemists will often attempt to extract and identify any ignitable liquid residues present in the fire debris. Forensic chemists use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify ignitable liquids based on similarities between chromatograms of fire debris extracts and those of reference ignitable liquids that have been evaporated (weathered) to different extents. Casework samples often appear to be relatively unweathered (e.g., 40-60%) and conventional wisdom is that the apparent lack of weathering is the result of entrapment; a process by which liquid residues are absorbed into the …

Accelerating Manufacturing Decisions Using Bayesian Optimization: An Optimization And Prediction Perspective, Taofeeq Olajire

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Manufacturing is a promising technique for producing complex and custom-made parts with a high degree of precision. It can also provide us with desired materials and products with specified properties. To achieve that, it is crucial to find out the optimum point of process parameters that have a significant impact on the properties and quality of the final product. Unfortunately, optimizing these parameters can be challenging due to the complex and nonlinear nature of the underlying process, which becomes more complicated when there are conflicting objectives, sometimes with multiple goals. Furthermore, experiments are usually costly, time-consuming, and require expensive materials, …

Computerized Trajectory Analysis For Firearms Examiners, Baillie E. Poulton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trajectory determination is a very important part of understanding and reconstructing a shooting scene. Conditions for the scene vary for each crime committed, but the evidence left at the scene required to make a reconstruction remains similar. The job of the examiner is to collect the evidence left at the scene and use that evidence to establish what may have happened during the commission of the crime. There is also important information that an examiner may not be privy to, e.g., the firearm and cartridge used. In this case, the evidence that is present, and other gathered information can …

An Empirical Analysis Of Approximation Algorithms For The Unweighted Tree Augmentation Problem, Jacob Thomas Restanio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, we perform an experimental study of approximation algorithms for the tree augmentation problem (TAP). TAP is a fundamental problem in network design. The goal of TAP is to add the minimum number of edges from a given edge set to a tree so that it becomes 2-edge connected. Formally, given a tree T = (V, E), where V denotes the set of vertices and E denotes the set of edges in the tree, and a set of edges (or links) L ⊆ V × V disjoint from E, the objective is to find a set of edges …

Design And Validation Of An Aerodynamic System For A Formula Sae® Vehicle Using Vehicle Dynamic Simulation And Experimentation, Evan S. Cole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation for the aerodynamic system for a Formula SAE® vehicle. The Society of Automotive Engineers ® (SAE) hosts a collegiate competition annually called Formula SAE® where students design, fabricate, and test a small “formula style” vehicle. The vehicle performs in relatively slow maneuvers, around different courses and tests to evaluate the vehicle’s overall performance. Over the years, collegiate teams have put significant research into the design and manufacturing of the aerodynamics of these vehicles. In order to justify this undertaking for future teams at West Virginia University’s Formula SAE® program, a comprehensive …