Digital Commons Network^™

Plasmonic Nanostructures For Biosensor Applications, Akshitha Gadde

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improving the sensitivity of existing biosensors is an active research topic that cuts across several disciplines, including engineering and biology. Optical biosensors are the one of the most diverse class of biosensors which can be broadly categorized into two types based on the detection scheme: label-based and label-free detection. In label-based detection, the target bio-molecules are labeled with dyes or tags that fluoresce upon excitation, indicating the presence of target molecules. Label-based detection is highly-sensitive, capable of single molecule detection depending on the detector type used. One method of improving the sensitivity of label-based fluorescence detection is by enhancement of …

Modeling Phosphorus Environmental Thresholds On A Watershed Scale, Sara L. Jones

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Anthropogenic eutrophication of surface waterways is a major environmental concern as it leads to the decline of aquatic resources and degradation of water. Phosphorus is the most limiting nutrient in freshwater systems and, therefore, an important factor in the control of eutrophication. Identifying the natural P thresholds in soils using the relationship between soil P and potential P losses can help determine areas with a high risk of P loss to waterways via leaching. Twenty-three sites covering a range of land uses were sampled by the USDA-NRCS in the Potomac Watershed in the northeast United States. Four pedons described and …

Collecting Subjectsobjects: The Museum And Victorian Literature 1830-1914, Kayla Kreuger Mckinney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study argues that the museum wielded enough cultural capital to shape not only the content of literature (which picked up themes like collection, hoarding, display, and organization) but also the formal arrangement of such literature into catalogues, taxonomies, and the dense material-based descriptions for which the Victorian novel is often criticized. The museum, it is shown, is far more central to Victorian thought than has been recognized, and its presence in literature has been misread or overlooked in contemporary criticism. This study also provides a narrative of the Victorian preoccupation with the museual, especially as regards the natural history …

The Influence Of Accelerometer Cut Points On Determining The Percent Of Preschool-Age Children Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines, Anna Elizabeth Scott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reduced physical activity is thought to be a major contributor to energy imbalance and obesity in children and adolescents. A challenge for researchers is selecting a tool that will accurately measure physical activity, especially in young children. A current tool that is used is an accelerometer. This study had two objectives. The first examined if different sets of accelerometer cut points developed for preschool-age children would produce the same physical activity results when identical raw data were run through them. Through the use of accelerometer data the second objective aimed to determine the percent of children who met the physical …

Thermodynamics And Emission Modeling Of Liquefied Natural Gas (Lng) Tanks And Fueling Stations, Cesar Augusto Sandoval Leon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this work a thermodynamics and emissions model of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks and fueling stations was developed, allowing for the calculation of methane (CH4) emitted from tanks and the prediction of methane emissions in future scenarios. The detailed dynamic thermodynamic model determined the thermodynamic state (pressure, temperature, specific volume) and properties (enthalpy, internal energy, specific heat, etc.) of the liquid and vapor phase methane in the storage tank in order to determine the rate of LNG boil off and venting. The model employed differential forms of the energy balance and mass balance and thermodynamic property relations and data …

Influences On Parents’ Decision Making Prior To Youth Sport Program Enrollment, Karl E. Zang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Current literature has previously reported on the potential benefits of sport participation (Dhurup, 2012; Tomik, Olex-Zarychta, & Mynarski, 2012), which are also some of the main motivations parents enroll their children in youth sport programs (Kurnik, Kajtna, Bedenik, & Kovac, 2013). Parents have also been reported as being both gatekeepers (Schwab, Wells, & Arthur-Banning, 2010) and supporters (Holt, Tamminen, Black, Mandigo, & Fox, 2009) in regards to their child’s participation. This study surveyed 135 parents enrolled in participation youth sport programs in order to identify the influential factors on parents youth sport program selection. Assessed influential factors were compared to …

Igrow: Developing A Curriculum To Increase Gardening Skills, Culinary Competence, And Family Meal Time In Youth And Their Caregiver, Jade Alana White

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective: To develop a curriculum using evidence based programs to increase gardening skills, cooking competence, and family mealtime for youth (pre and early adolescent years) and their caregiver (dyad pair) using community-based participatory research.

Methods:

Using the Social Cognitive Theory, an inter-disciplinary team (N=3) including child development, nutrition and horticulture expertise: a curriculum was developed by integrating evidence-based curricula from iCook 4-H, Junior Masters Gardener curriculum Health and Nutrition from the Garden and Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Programs, with additional resources from USDA’s My Plate, and garden-based recipes. The community based participatory research approach and process was utilized …

Economic And Environmental Analyses Of Biomass Utilization For Bioenergy Products In The Northeastern United States., Weiguo Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A mixed-integer programming model was developed to optimize forest carbon sequestration considering carbon price, biomass price, harvest area restriction, and harvest method. The model was applied to examine the harvest scheduling strategies and carbon sequestration in a mixed central Appalachian hardwood forest. Sensitivity analyses were conducted over a range of carbon and biomass to timber price ratios, harvest area limitations and harvest methods. The results showed that the carbon sequestration rate of the central Appalachian hardwood forests could gradually increase as the carbon to timber price ratio changed from 0.0 to 1.0 with an average sequestration rate of 0.917 Mg·ha …

Facilitating Dialogue Through Design To Create Positive Social Change In Rural Communities, Lauren B. Schiefelbein

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Social Design is a progressive field that continues to gain momentum across the nation and the world. Its value and validity is especially noteworthy when design is used as a vehicle to create positive change in today's society. Many rural communities lack the necessary infrastructures or resources to remain relevant in a 21st century world, and face unique sets of barriers to progress and creative problem-solving.;Effective communication, for example, is one area that design thinking can efficiently address, often generating collaborative solutions. Facilitating dialogue in the rural community requires special attention and planning. A carefully-tailored strategy of design interaction while …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome In West Virginia: Trends, Risks, And Effectiveness Of In Utero Exposure Detection, Meagan E. Stabler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examined neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in West Virginia (WV). Specifically, three studies were conducted that investigated state and regional trends, risks related to NAS, and effectiveness of in utero exposure detection. The first study described regional incidence rates, trends of antenatal drug class-specific exposures, and NAS diagnoses in WV between 2007 and 2013. The findings indicated a 4-fold increase in WV statewide incidence rates of NAS during this time period, which was three times the national annual average. The second study identified the risk of NAS, risk of NAS requiring pharmacologic treatment, and odds of NAS controlling for …

Familial Caregiving And Timing Of Retirement: A Gendered Cohort Analysis, Rachel R. Stoiko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Retirement timing has been linked to a host of outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Well-known predictors of retirement timing include health, wealth, and cognitive capacity; a few studies have also linked gender and family caregiving to retirement timing. In the present study, data from the Health and Retirement Study were used to create profiles of pre-retirement family caregiving (operationalized as time and financial transfers to participants' aging parents and adult children). These profiles, as well as participant gender and cohort, were used to predict later retirement timing. All profiles retired, on average, earlier than their full eligibility for Social …

The Effect Of Tert-Butylhydroquinone, An Nrf2-Are Signaling Pathway Inducer, On Oxidative Stress-Related Neurodegeneration, Jiahong Sun

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Oxidative stress is actively involved in stroke pathogenesis; however, almost all the antioxidants that have been applied into the clinical trials fail to improve ischemic stroke outcomes. We note that most drug candidates have very limited diversity of antioxidative activities. tBHQ is a food additive, which is considered to be safe for human consumption. As both an antioxidant and an Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway inducer, tBHQ can directly eliminate ROS and activates the expression of all the antioxidative genes under Nrf2-ARE regulation. My dissertation investigated the potential clinical application of tBHQ for ischemic stroke treatment by using both in vitro glutamate-induced …

Testing The Relation Between Disgust And Approach-Avoidance Behavior, Ronald Thomas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Behavioral Immune System (BIS) is a set of psychological processes that evolved to protect individuals from harmful contaminants and pathogens in the environment (Miller & Maner, 2011; Schaller & Duncan, 2007; Tybur, Lieberman, Kurzban, & DeScioli, 2013). The primary mechanism through which the BIS functions is the emotion of disgust, which causes negative physical and affective reactions that encourage avoidance behavior and serve as a deterrent from approaching potentially harmful stimuli (Schaller & Duncan, 2007). Consequently, disgust is proposed to serve a disease-avoidance mechanism. However, relatively little research has empirically tested the link between disgust and general behavioral avoidance …

A Midsummer Light's Dream: The Journey Of Designing The Lighting For A Classic Tale, Tim Thistleton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document is a discussion of the process involved with creating and executing a lighting design for A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare. It will follow my journey as the designer from first read, through the evolution of the design, and finally opening night. This paper will show my process as a designer through examples of my research, paperwork, and stories of collaboration. It will conclude with an evaluation of my work.

Facial Planes As Landmarks For Diagnosis And Treatment Planning, Jennifer Tomblyn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Diagnosing and treatment planning in contemporary orthodontics is based on comparing elements of craniofacial morphology to selected reference planes. Ideally, a valid reference plane should have good intra-individual reproducibility, low inter-individual variability, and good reliability. The aim of this study was to determine 1.) the reliability and reproducibility of FALL and Glabella Vertical as reference planes 2.) if Glabella Vertical can be used as a frontal reference plane and 3.) if NHO is affected by varying chin positions. Methods: Part 1) 3 judges measured 4 variables (F, FC, G, and GC) on 23 subjects at T1 and …

The Impact Of Choice: Exercise Motivation And Physical Activity In College Students Enrolled In Fitness For Life, Julia Fera Tracy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Research suggests there is a decline in physical activity (PA) as individuals enter adulthood (Sallis, 2000). Physical activity behaviors that students develop during college years are said to have a long-term impact on adult habits (Keating, Guan, Pinero, & Bridges, 2005). Leslie, Sparling, and Owen (2001) suggest that college campuses are central settings with unseen opportunities to influence young adults' PA patterns. Higher education PA programs can be a mechanism to introduce adults to healthy lifestyles that include PA (Hardin, Andrew, Koo, & Bemiller, 2009).;Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of choice in a …

The Root Of Sustainability: Investigating The Relationship Between Medicinal Plant Conservation And Surface Mining In Appalachia, Jessica B. Turner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since European colonization, Appalachian culture has been based on resource extraction, such as coal mining, timbering, and Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) harvest. Surface mining degrades forest habitat for medicinal plants, especially the habitat for the internationally valuable medicinal herb, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), and the NTFP culture associated with this plant. The relationship between medicinal plant conservation and surface mining must be studied with a non- traditional, multi-faceted approach: culturally, economically, and ecologically. (1) Using community-based participatory surveys, I determined how ginseng harvesters and non- harvesters in West Virginia communities view the relationship between surface mining and ginseng harvest. …

The Relationship Between Kinesthetic Perceptions Of Elite Music Theater Singers And Acoustic Measures Of Voice Production Methods: A Pedagogic Analysis, Leigh Usilton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study relates acoustic changes that occur during female belt voice, mix voice, and legit voice to the self-reported physical sensations of elite music theater (MT) singers for the purposes of developing further pedagogic language to convey imagery and sensation to students of MT singing.;Six professional female MT singers comfortable producing belt, mix, and legit styles of singing sang a series of C major and E-flat major scales on the vowels /alpha/, /ae/, /epsilon/, and /[special character omitted]/, followed by three brief excerpts from the modern MT repertoire. Both prior to and following the sung exercises, subjects described the three …

Atlanticism In Visegrad: Understanding The Relationship Between Central Europe And The U.S. After 1989, Brian S. Valdivia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis seeks to explore the relationship of the countries of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia (together known as the Visegrad Group or Visegrad 4 [V4]) with the US after the fall of communism, and how this relationship helped them to transform their political and economic systems. This study will primarily focus on the years between 1989-2000, as this was the period during which US-V4 relations were at their peak. After the conclusion of the Clinton presidency, US foreign policy refocused its priorities as the US saw Central Europe as finally part of the Atlantic world and therefore …

Interactions Of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Colletotrichum Acutatum And Trap Crops In Organic Tomato Production, Robert James Voshell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Colletotrichum spp. (Ascomycota) cause anthracnose of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum). Halyomorpha halys, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive insect that injures tomato fruits with a piercing/sucking mouthpart.;To determine if H. halys feeding increases incidence of anthracnose on tomato fruit, five experiments were conducted. A 21-day transmission study was performed using detached fruits inside plastic containers in an incubator at 22°C. Tomato fruits receiving stink bugs with Colletotrichum inoculum had significantly higher anthracnose incidence than fruit receiving Colletotrichum inoculum only. A treatment using infested stink bugs (H. halys was placed in a petri dish of sporulating C. …

Utilizing Early Cellular Changes To Explore Biological Responses To Individual Chemical And Mixture Exposures, Julie Anne Vrana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Humans are continuously exposed to a vast number of chemicals, whether it be from the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the medications we take daily. Early cellular changes after exposure to chemical insult, both individual chemicals and mixtures (two or more chemicals) thereof, can offer a wealth of information about cellular adaptation (e.g., cell death or survival decision processes). From this understanding, better prediction models for chemical risk assessment, such as toxicity or carcinogenicity, can be elucidated. Further, these prediction models can greatly improve the large backlog of chemicals waiting to be evaluated for potential adverse effects. …

Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Citrus Essential Oils And Organic Acids Against Salmonella And Listeria Monocytogenes, Karina Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The development of natural antimicrobials for foods is of increasing interest as consumers' desire for more natural foods continues to rise. Organic acids and citrus essential oils (EOs) are natural, generally regarded as safe substances that are known to possess antimicrobial properties. In-vitro tests of natural antimicrobials against a range of bacteria are required in order to determine their feasibility for food applications. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of citrus essential oils and organic acids against Salmonella Baildon, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 14028) and three strains of Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115, ATCC 15313, …

Evaluating Work-Related Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Disorders In The Roofing Industry, Di Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Roofers have long suffered from low back disorders (LBDs), which is a primary non-fatal injury in construction. The harsh work environment exposes the roofers to a diversity of physical exposures which may cause severe LBD injuries. Until now, most of research on roofing safety has been mainly focused on fatal injury risks, such as falls from height, leaving much to be desired in the risk assessment of non-fatal, cumulative musculoskeletal disorders among this population. Existing ergonomics studies have identified several physical risk factors associated with LBDs in workplaces and developed predictive models for general LBD risk assessments. However, these models …

What Are Faculty Perceptions Of Using Emotional Intelligence In Pedagogy And Andragogy?, Eveldora R. Wheeler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation study compared the key findings from the first piece of research (pilot study) by allowing further exploration and re-examination of faculties' Perceptions of Using Emotional Intelligence (PUEI) in STEM, Social Sciences, online, and face to face in Pedagogy and Andragogy. This study draws particular attention to the notable rise of emotional issues emerging in differing educational contexts (online and face to face) and the significance of faculty response to their PUEI. Emotional intelligence, a complexity often viewed skeptically is a recurring theme for this study and can greatly benefit higher educational institutions, professional learning environments, and businesses particularly. …

Attenuation Of Spatial Memory Impairment In A Tau Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease With Riluzole, Daniel S. Weitzner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) often demonstrate hyperactivity in areas of the memory network, such as the hippocampus, prior to AD diagnosis. Evidence suggests that this hyperactivity might be a contributing factor to the development of AD. Tau, a protein responsible for binding and maintaining microtubules, has been implicated as a factor in hyperactivity, potentially through its alterations in glutamate signaling. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is essential for learning and memory. However, excess glutamate that accumulates in the synapse can lead to neuron loss and eventual behavioral impairments. Recently, our lab …

Facial Image Analysis For Body Mass Index, Makeup And Identity, Lingyun Wen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The principal aim of facial image analysis in computer vision is to extract valuable information(e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, and identity) by interpreting perceived electronic signals from face images. In this dissertation, we develop facial image analysis systems for body mass index (BMI) prediction, makeup detection, as well as facial identity with makeup changes and BMI variations.;BMI is a commonly used measure of body fatness. In the first part of this thesis, we study BMI related topics. At first, we develop a computational method to predict BMI information from face images automatically. We formulate the BMI prediction from facial features as …

Investigating College Evolution Instruction: Current Practices And How They Can Be Improved To Overcome Student Barriers To Acceptance, Nicholas Adam Wilbur

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The United States is ranked very low in acceptance of evolution when compared to other countries of similar socioeconomic status. The resistance to evolution extends to high school students and teachers, where much research has been performed on the topic of evolution education and the context is well understood. The initial goal of my thesis research was to establish a context for evolution education at the post-secondary level, which was accomplished by performing a national survey of evolution instructors. Although there was great variation among high school teachers, college instructors were surprisingly consistent in their training, methodology and personal views. …

Factors Affecting Turnover As Perceived By County Agents Who Voluntarily Left The West Virginia University Extension Service, Michael B. Withrow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This descriptive survey study sought to identify factors that influenced West Virginia University County Extension Agents to voluntarily leave the organization. The population consisted of 31 individuals who had left the Extension Service from 2009-2014. A survey which was composed of four main question sets was mailed to the identified population.;Questions focused on the constructs of organizational factors, job related factors, personal factors, and demographics. Data were collected and analyzed to identify contributing factors in each of the constructs. The study found that a major factor that contributes to agents leaving Extension was having other priorities in the individuals' life. …

External Hyperlinking Practices In Print-Based And Online-Native News Sites, Sarah K. Wisniewski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper describes the differences in the use of external hyperlinks between print-based and online-native news sites. External hyperlinks are links that direct the user to a page outside the original domain, such as the Huffington Post including a link to Wikipedia. A subcategorization of online-native sites into three distinct waves based on launch dates and corresponding to recent transitions in communications technology is proposed. A quantitative content analysis of hyperlinks embedded in the text of articles from print-based, second-wave, and third-wave news sites in 2005, 2010, and 2014 suggests that print-based and online-native news sites do use external hyperlinks …

Retentive Comparison Of Overdenture Attachment Systems On Straight And Divergent Dental Implants, Christopher Heath Wine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To investigate the retentive capabilities of the LOCATOR (ZEST Anchors LLC, Escondido, CA USA) attachment and GPS (Implant Direct Sybron International, LLC, California, USA) dental implant attachment systems on parallel and divergent implants after cyclic wear.;Methods: An acrylic rod was cut into blocks representing 20 mandibular arches. Each block had either two LOCATOR or two GPS abutment analogs placed parallel or with 10 degrees of divergence. The associated housings were picked up in corresponding acrylic blocks with Ortho resin (Dentsply GAC, Islandia, NY USA). The black processing liners in each housing were replaced with a 1.5lb retentive liners. These …