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Prevalence Of Cortical Bone Fenestration And Sinus Membrane Thickening In Association With Endodontic Infection. A Review Of Cbct Scans., David Desta

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prevalence of Cortical Bone Fenestration and Sinus Membrane Thickening in Association with Endodontic Infection. A review of CBCT scans.

Introduction

Although a systemic disease due to the spread of endodontic infection is very rare or non-existing, the dissemination of endodontic infection into intimately associated anatomical structures such as alveolar bone and maxillary sinus are known (1-4). In this study we examined and reported the prevalence of maxillary sinus involvement and cortical bone fenestration during an endodontic infection. The study also evaluated and presented association between factors such as (type of teeth, systemic diseases, patient’s age, and gender) and radiographic presentation …

Implementation Of Stress Management And Resiliency Training To Address Nursing Burnout In A Neuroscience Critical Care Unit, Jessica May Marie Hughes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the United States, over one-third of nurses experience symptoms of burnout (Reith, 2018). If left unchecked, poor stress management and resiliency skills can contribute to nursing burnout, leading to costly employee turnover. Stress management and resiliency training (SMART) provides the tools necessary to develop resiliency, improve stress management and decrease burnout (Resilient Option, 2020). Nursing staff under the age of 36, who work in a Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) demonstrate lower resiliency scores and a higher risk of burnout. This project aimed to evaluate: (a) the effects of a SMART program on the wellbeing of nursing staff in …

Implementation Of An Amiodarone Infusion Nurse Practice Guideline To Reduce The Incidence Of Phlebitis: A Quality Improvement Project, Kristen N. Cottrill

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Patients have an increased risk of developing phlebitis when amiodarone is delivered through a peripheral intravenous catheter. In a 32-bed cardiac surgery step-down unit, patients experienced phlebitis at a rate of 28.57% despite following manufacturer recommendations. Individual interventions targeted at amiodarone-related phlebitis have presented mixed results, however, when an amiodarone infusion practice guideline was established, the rate and severity of phlebitis consistently decreased across studies. Purpose: This project aimed to implement an evidence-based amiodarone infusion guideline to reduce phlebitis development or severity in cardiac-surgery step-down patients without a central venous catheter who received a peripheral intravenous infusion of amiodarone. …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Collaborative Care Clinical Pathway For The Treatment Of Adolescent Depression And Anxiety In Rural Pediatric Primary Care, Kayla R. Watson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evaluating the Feasibility of a Collaborative Care Clinical Pathway for the Treatment of Adolescent Depression and Anxiety in Rural Pediatric Primary Care

Kayla Watson

Background: Due to a national shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (CAP), Primary Care Providers (PCP) are often required to manage patients with mental health disorders despite a lack of focused training and lower self-efficacy or confidence in the management of these disorders. Referral to CAPs for management following the diagnosis of adolescent depression and anxiety is a common practice. The integration of mental health services within the primary care setting can overcome many of these …

Size Effect And Anisotropy On The Strength Of Shale Under Compressive Stress Conditions, Yun Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The underground coal mines in the Appalachian region report the highest rate of roof falls in the United States. The immediate roof of these mines is mostly composed of shale. The in-situ strength of shale is necessary for designing roof support to prevent roof falls. Estimating the in-situ strength of shale requires the knowledge of both size effect and anisotropy. This research used literature review, theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, and laboratory experiment to systematically investigate the size effect and anisotropy of shale strength under compressive strength conditions.

Literature review involved a comprehensive summary of previous research on the size effect …

Vacant To Vibrant: Transforming Vacant Lots In North Philadelphia, Olivia Anne Sinclair

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The City of Philadelphia has addressed the need to utilize vacant lots in the city’s comprehensive planning document, Philadelphia2035 (PCPC, 2010). The document encourages designers to use sustainable practices to reincorporate these abandoned lots back into the fabric of the city. Through partnerships with local organizations in Philadelphia, guidelines and suggestions were created to guide Philadelphians while they revive abandoned lot spaces. In the neighborhood of Nicetown-Tioga, Philadelphia, there is a large amount of vacant lots leaving the area blighted and without resilience. This study accepts Philadelphia’s invitation to use design strategies to be applied to vacant lots within the …

Do Different Learning Environments Influence Graduate Students’ Professional Communication?, Lacey M. Beam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of two educational environments (jigsaw learning activity and standardized patient encounters) on speech-language pathology students’ professional communication when assessing and treating a voice disorder case study. Jigsaw activities are cooperative learning experiences that provide students opportunities to learn from one another. Studies have shown that students have improvements in learning new material, self-confidence, and communication skills (Wong & Driscoll, 2008; Asif et al., 2021). A standardized patient encounter provides a real-life clinical experience for students. There has been a mixed response to students improving their communication skills through …

Detection Of Fecal Bacteria In Watersheds Impacted By Acid Mine Drainage, Claire Addison Mcdonald

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Escherichia coli, a fecal coliform, is an essential component of water quality monitoring, entering waterways through sewage deposits, agricultural land and livestock, and wildlife. Various fast and user-friendly methods for quantifying E. coli make it the principal indicator bacteria for fecal contamination. The most common methods for E. coli quantification are culture-based and involve cultivating samples onto nutrient agar and counting the visible colonies. However, E. coli can enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state in stressful environments. Bacteria in a VBNC state are still alive but reduce key metabolic activities that typically encourage growth and division, allowing them …

Knowledge And Training In Language Sample Analysis Of Us Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Allegra Cornaglia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play an integral role in identification and treatment of developmental language disorders (DLD). Best practices include the use of language sample analysis (LSA) as part of a comprehensive evaluation. However, LSA requires a specific set of foundational morphological and syntactic knowledge. Previous studies have shown a knowledge gap for both SLPs and SLP graduate students for other areas of morphosyntax and phonology. This study examined the language analysis skills of current SLP graduate students on a test of Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) analysis and Clausal Density (CD) and whether there were possible factors associated with …

Jurors' Perceptions Of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Patterns, Hannah Elias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The process of child disclosure of sexual abuse can be complex. Children often disclose abuse consistently across settings (continuous disclosure), though there is research to support that children may deny abuse or recant their allegations despite the abuse having truly occurred (London et al., 2008; Bradley & Wood, 1996; Malloy, Lyon, & Quas, 2007). In this study, data was collected from voluntary MTurk users (N = 688). Mock jurors responded to a survey assessing perceptions of child credibility, defendant guilt, and child susceptibility to external influence in response to each CSA disclosure pattern (continuous disclosure, denial, recantation). Additionally, expert …

Care To Walk In My Shoes? Repairing Trust After Violations Of Benevolence, Luke Aaron Langlinais

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines how perceived perspective taking relates to trust repair, specifically in the context of a benevolence-based violation. I draw on perspective taking theory, attribution theory, and the integrative model of organizational trust to explore a model of interpersonal trust repair. The extant literature on trust repair primarily focuses on violations of ability and integrity, leaving the third dimension of trustworthiness, benevolence, largely unexplored. Yet, research suggests as many as 96% of workplace employees have been victims of benevolence-based offenses, such as disrespect, condescension, or degradation. The present research expands the theoretical bounds of the extant trust repair literature …

Needs Assessment Of Diabetes Self-Management Education And Support Within West Virginia From Provider Viewpoints, Kasey M. Yost

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects millions of Americans. It can have significant, lasting effects on an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing, especially when it goes unmanaged or untreated. Diabetes has been a growing problem in West Virginia (WV), which has the highest adult rate of diabetes at 15.7% in the US. Furthermore, WV has the highest mortality rate associated with diabetes at 36.2%. An effective method of management is through diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). DSMES is a critical component of care for all individuals with diabetes. It is defined as the ongoing process of facilitating …

Global Engagement Model For Land-Grant Universities, A Grounded Theory., Lorena Ivonne Ballester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to examine how land-grant universities engage with the public in the era of globalization; to explain the institutionalization of engagement processes accounting for the global context; and, to integrate this analysis into a Global Engagement Model for Land-Grant Universities (GEM) implementing a grounded theory research methodology.

GEM’s foundation is both theoretical and empirical. Applying the intensity sampling method, the universities selected for the empirical base were: The University of California, Davis, Michigan State University, and The Pennsylvania State University. Rather than an exact representation of individual universities’ engagement models, the model is the researcher’s …

Implementation Of Standardized Handoff Reporting To Improve Communication Among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists And Postanesthesia Care Unit Nurses In The Postanesthesia Care Unit, Lauryn G. Macfawn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Standardization of handoff reporting has been proven to increase the quality of information being transferred and improve patient safety. Poor quality handoff between providers increases morbidity and mortality, hospital length of stay, healthcare costs, as well as decreases patient satisfaction The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement (QI) project was to implement the situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) handoff reporting tool in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) at a hospital in Western Maryland. There was no standardized handoff process in place between certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and PACU registered nurses (RNs) at the facility. The participants …

Raising Awareness Of Second Victim Phenomenon And Supportingyou: A Quality And Safety Initiative, Megan Renee Bryant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Current literature has established a need for practice change in management of healthcare-related critical incidents. Peer-support programs have been cited as the most impactful resource healthcare professionals request following a critical incident (Daniels & McCorkle, 2016). SupportingYOU, a peer-support program, is in the process of expansion at a large academic children’s hospital in northern West Virginia in anticipation for the opening of a new facility. The specific aim of this project was to raise awareness of second victim phenomenon (SVP), SupportingYOU, and perception of awareness of resiliency. Interventions included multi-formatted educational sessions on SVP and SupportingYOU via PowerPoints, brochures, flyers, …

Implementation Of A Nonverbal Scrub Cap Identification System To Improve Communication And Perception Of Patient Safety Among Unfamiliar, De-Identified Staff Members In The Operating Room., Keri Ann Roskowinski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Operating room (OR), professionals deliver patient care with brief introductions, and roles were not always identified, and although team members wear identification (ID) badges, they were usually covered by sterile gowns and other routine personal protective equipment (PPE). Purpose: The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if a simple intervention to apply the individual’s name and role to a scrub cap could improve identification, OR team communication, and consequently, patient safety. The participants in this project consisted of nurses, physicians, anesthesia providers, scrub technicians, students, medical sales representatives, and those that identified as …

Age As A Moderator Of Health Outcomes And Trust In Physicians And The Healthcare System, Emma Katz M.S.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trust is an integral part of the healthcare experience. Patient trust is associated with treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, patients engaging in follow-up care, shared decision-making, and positive health-related outcomes (e.g., Gupta et al., 2014; Mohseni & Lindstrom, 2007; Musa et al., 2009; Tam, 2012; Thom, et al., 2004; Trachtenberg et al., 2005). There are several levels of trust discussed in the literature, including interpersonal trust and institutional trust. The current study examined two levels of trust: interpersonal trust in the form of trust in the physician and institutional trust in the form of trust in the healthcare system. The study …

Traditional And Modern Breeding Strategies Towards Developing Resilient Crops: Two Case Studies In Tomato, Estefania Tavares Flores

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Crop designing for resilience traits to produce satisfactorily under adverse conditions and scenarios is a priority for the future of global food security. In this thesis, two different approaches addressing major stress factors for tomato cropping are presented. We first aimed to domesticate tomato de novo as a high-salinity resistant crop using the wild relative, S. cheesmaniae via gene editing. We conducted single-gene and multiplex knock-out strategies using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to create loss-of-function alleles for the domestication-related genes BIF, CycB, J2, EJ2, MULTI, SP, SP5G, and FW11.3 in order to create a novel, halophyte tomato harboring an inherent high-salinity …

Optimizing A Pediatric Dka Protocol In A Tertiary Care Hospital System In Northern West Virginia, Jennifer L. Burky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when the body compensates for insufficient insulin, producing dangerously high levels of ketones. Without proper treatment, DKA can be fatal. For that reason, staff in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a tertiary care hospital in northern West Virginia expressed concerns about the complexity of and lack of adherence to a poorly referenced and dated DKA treatment protocol.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to assess the feasibility and sustainability of optimizing the DKA protocol in the PICU. The primary objective was to implement an updated, …

Prioritization Framework For Advanced Systems Of Urban Roads In The Context Of Smart Cities, Jinwoong Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The concept of a smart city has emerged as a solution to resolve various urban challenges by applying advanced systems for the functions of the city (e.g., environment, economy, infrastructure, governance, and people). Urban infrastructure with the use of modern technologies, such as Information Communication Technology and the Internet of Things, plays an essential role in enhancing the capability of the city to resolve the challenges. Particularly, urban roads supported by advanced systems with modern technologies serve as a principal bedrock to establish a smart city. Witnessing the benefits from intelligent urban roads has promoted city stakeholders to make investment …

Effects Of Different Liquid Smoke Treatments On Osmotic Dehydration Of Apple Cubes, Rohit Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Refined Liquid Smoke (RLS) (1%) was incorporated during osmotic dehydration of apple cubes (10 mm each side) to observe its effect on solid gain, water loss, yield, water activity, product quality, and consumer preference. Three different treatments, POD (pure osmotic dehydration, no RLS), LSISS (RLS inside sugar solution) and PTLS (pre-treatment with RLS), were compared in this study. Osmotic dehydration was carried out using 42 °Brix sugar solution, and the fruit to solution ratio was kept at 1:4. The osmotically dehydrated apples were evaluated for soluble solid content (SSC), water loss, and solid gained. After osmotic dehydration, apple cubes were …

Biocompatible And Multifunctional Trityl Spin Probes For Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Teresa D. Gluth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary objective of my thesis was to develop and utilize a biocompatible multifunctional trityl spin probe for concurrent measurement of pO₂, pH_e, and [P_i] in vivo by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (Chapter 2). My first goal was to synthesize the proposed probe we are terming HOPE71. Secondly, HOPE71 was characterized by X-band and L-band EPR spectroscopy. Next, the biocompatibility of HOPE71 was assessed through an albumin binding test, cytotoxicity assays, and in vivo intravenous tolerance. Then, the use of HOPE71 to measure the target parameters was demonstrated in a breast cancer …

Comparing Depression And Anxiety Among Athletes And Nonathletes In A College Counseling Center Population., Alexandria Kinder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focused on self-reported rates of anxiety and depression when first presenting to a college counseling center at a state university in the mid-Atlantic region. The self-reported measures are the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-62 (CCAPS-62) and Standardized Data Set (SDS), data forms that are supported through the electronic medical record system, Titanium. The data compared clinical populations of non-student-athletes and student-athletes to understand how the additional athlete identity may contribute to mental health. This study employed a between-subjects, quantitative-descriptive, cross-sectional, design to define and describe the nature of the relationships between one continuous dependent (anxiety or depression) …

The Relationship Amongst Faith, Perceived Discrimination, Sexuality Acceptance, And Psychological Well-Being In Black Sexual Minority Individuals, Sandra Fanning

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study explored the relationship amongst faith, internalized homophobia, outness, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being in Black sexual minorities (BSM). BSM participants (N = 211) completed an online survey assessing these variables. The result of this study indicate that faith is not related to internalized homophobia, outness, perceived discrimination, or psychological well-being in BSM individuals. However, internalized homophobia, outness, and perceived discrimination all independently predict psychological well-being. Explicitly, greater reports of internalized homophobia, outness, and perceived discrimination predicted worse psychological well-being in participants. However, the effects of internalized homophobia and outness were no longer present when accounting for …

Is Care In The Air?: A Crisis Ethics Case Study Of American Airlines’ Communication During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lily V. Hicks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research proposes a qualitative case study of American Airlines’ communication during the first month of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Data from the airline’s press releases along with its tweets and a sample of organizational responses to those tweets are offered for proposed analysis using the lenses of Situational Crisis Communication Theory, the Applied Model of Care Considerations, and the body of crisis literature on audience coping and emotions during crises. This in-depth look at a unique communication phenomenon will be a fundamental step in examining how airline communication exhibits ethics or lack thereof and is related to people’s emotions …

A Short Film That Addresses Substance Use Disorders In Rural Communities And Strategies In Prevention And Treatment Of Addiction, Sarah R. Poteracki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research paper and accompanying video (link to the short film is here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1etDnUmEvkOds8J0EKnq1gnFO79-GggjY) offer insight into the current state of research collaboration surrounding substance use disorders in West Virginia. This professional project explores the importance of collaboration both in a research and clinical setting and in the social realm. The film was shown at the 2nd annual meeting for the Appalachian Node of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network on February 25, 2021. I interviewed 14 researchers and experts from a diverse range of disciplines who shared insights and strategies in the prevention and treatment of …

The Appalachian Medical Student Experience: A Case Study, Jason Scott Hedrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Appalachian region is a rural swath of mountainous terrain home to a historically distinct culture. The region’s population suffers from a multitude of health issues and disparities. Notably, the region also experiences a major healthcare provider shortage despite the fact that states, like West Virginia, produce per capita, a high volume of physicians. Appalachia, and particularly West Virginia, also suffers from a number of educational disparities, which culminates into low numbers of college graduates within the population. There is a plethora of research that has explored the first-generation college student, students from rural and Appalachian backgrounds, first-generation and rural …

Nuclear Aurora-A Kinase-Induced Hypoxia Signaling Drives Dissemination And Metastasis In Breast Cancer., Kristina Marinak Whately

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Metastatic breast cancer causes the vast majority of cancer-associated deaths, especially in triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). TNBC is still poorly understood and has no effective treatment. Here we reveal that presence of Aurora-A Kinase (AURKA) in the nucleus and metastatic dissemination are molecularly connected through HIF1 (Hypoxia induced factor-1) signaling. The nuclear AURKA in the complex with constitutively expressed HIF-1β subunit activates transcription of “hypoxia induced genes” under normoxic conditions (the phenomenon called pseudohypoxia) without upregulation of oxygen-sensitive HIF-1α subunit. We uncover that AURKA preferentially binds to and phosphorylates HIF-1β, and co-localizes with HIF complex on DNA. The mass …

The Impacts Of An Entrepreneurial Course On Secondary Students' Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy And Entrepreneurial Intentions, Toi E. Hershman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is considerable agreement that promoting entrepreneurship stimulates economic development and job creation, which helps maintain a country’s economic competitiveness. Entrepreneurship education is a key to increasing the likelihood of potential entrepreneurs. While substantial research has documented strategies for enhancing students' entrepreneurial mindset and building entrepreneurial skills in higher education, entrepreneurship is rarely incorporated into or studied in secondary education. This mixed-method study examined the impact of an online ten-lesson entrepreneurship course on secondary students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intentions. Students took a pre-survey that measured their entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intentions before the course and a post-survey upon completing the …

The Media's Framing Of Incarceration In West Virginia, Patrick John Orsagos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following is a professional project that examines the way in which the mass incarceration of West Virginians has been framed by the news media. The research presented explains the scope of the problem of mass incarceration, followed by an explanation of research conducted on framing. The literature review explores what other media scholars have published about framing and argues which frame is most dominant in crime reporting by state media. Following this is a methodology for production of a podcast series that utilizes a thematic frame and the practice of solutions journalism to promote dialogue around the systemic issues …