Digital Commons Network^™

Economic And Humanistic Impact Of Medication Nonadherence In Patients With Asthma And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Ashish V. Joshi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly impact morbidity and mortality. In spite of the well-known benefits of prophylactic medication use, especially in asthma, the rate of medication nonadherence is more than 50%. In Phase I, this study examined the relationship between refill-based medication nonadherence and healthcare utilization/costs in patients with asthma, COPD, and those with both asthma and COPD from the West Virginia (WV) Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) program. In Phase II, the study measured the relationship between refill-based and self-reported medication nonadherence, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and losses in workplace productivity, all of which were …

The Addiction Severity Index As A Predictor Of Outcome For Inpatients With A Dual-Diagnosis., Larry Spencer Glenn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Addiction Severity Index is the most widely used intake instrument for substance abuse treatment. The National Comorbidity Study (Kessler et al. 1994) indicated that 13.7% of the United States population suffers from a concurrent substance use and mental health disorder within a lifetime. This study explored the utility of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and demographic factors as predictors of treatment as rated by staff at discharge. The records of 146 individuals with substance use and mental health diagnoses admitted to a freestanding residential treatment center in Northwestern Pennsylvania were examined to access the predictive properties of the ASI …

Personalizing Leadership: Institutional And Individual Factors Affecting The Leadership Styles And Policy Choices Of Wisconsin Police Chiefs., Dale P. Kapla

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines variables that influence the leadership styles of Wisconsin police chiefs and how those variables affect organizational decision-making, type and extent of community policing policies, and choice of in-service training. Principal-agent theory is used to model these influences, providing further application of agency theory to local bureaucracies. Traditional principal-agent models posit that government agencies and their top-level executives are affected by external and internal factors; however, there is little known about individual factors affecting leadership style and policy decisions. This study includes individual factors as a dynamic affecting leadership style, decision-making, and policy choices of local police chiefs. …

A Study Of The Effect Of An Integrated Continuum Of Intensive Crisis Intervention Services (Icicis), Including Assertive Community Treatment (Act), On Civil Commitments In North Central West Virginia., Robert D. Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The mental health service delivery system in West Virginia is ineffective at resolving psychiatric emergencies, as evidenced by a high civil commitment rate, leading to an annual {dollar}4 million non-budgeted expense to the state. West Virginia's two State hospitals are regularly at capacity, causing civil committed patients to be diverted to community psychiatric units, often at the state's expense. At one of the state's 13 Comprehensive Community Mental Health Centers (CCMHC), United Summit Center, two evidence based treatment modalities, ICICIS and ACT, are examined for their effectiveness at lowering the civil commitment rate per 100,000 and civil commitment hospitalization days. …

Manure From Grazing Cattle: Effects On Soil Microbial Communities And Soil Quality In Northern West Virginia Pastures., Yovita Sutanto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Upland pastures in West Virginia receive low-input management. The effect of manure addition to upland pasture soils was measured with a variety of biological indicators such as soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), hot water extractable carbon (HWC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) and soil CO2 efflux. The effect of manure was found to be short-lived and most profound in soil surface Microbial diversity of pasture soil was examined using community level physiological profiles (CLPP) and molecular characterization of 16S ribosomal RNA genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Culture-independent and culture-dependent methods for molecular characterization of …

The Effect Of Argon Laser Irradiation On Reducing Enamel Decalcification During Orthodontic Treatment: An In Vitro And In Vivo Study., Thomas S. Shipley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The in vitro portion of this study utilized 35 extracted human third molars. The third molars were sectioned into buccal and lingual halves. The enamel surfaces were pumiced, etched using self etching primer, and divided into five groups with various levels of exposure to argon laser irradiation (40, 80, 120, or 240 J/cm2 ) or no laser exposure (control group). In the first experiment, teeth were exposed to a demineralization solution (pH=4.46) for 48 hours and in the second experiment, teeth were exposed to the demineralization solution for 72 hours. Lesion depth, lesion area, and lesion fluorescence were measured using …

Social Anxiety In College Students: The Interaction Of Parental Control And Proximity., Jennifer A. Chrystan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between parental control and parental proximity as they influence social anxiety in young adults. Previous research has consistently demonstrated the positive relationship between parental control and social anxiety. However, studies that have examined the desirability of continued parental attachment (proximity) have resulted in a contradictory body of literature. It was hypothesized that two interaction terms, mother protection by mother proximity and father protection by father proximity, would significantly predict participants’ self-reported level of social anxiety after controlling for mother and father parenting variables. Specifically, it was hypothesized that among …

A Regional Scale Steady-State Groundwater Flow Model Of A Steeply-Dipping Karst Aquifer, Shenandoah Valley Of West Virginia-Virginia., Jason S. Early

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A regional equivalent porous medium (EPM) model was developed using available hydrogeologic data for the steeply-dipping karst aquifer of the Northern Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia and Virginia. The model employed uniform recharge and variable hydraulic conductivity (K) distributed at the formation level based on published field-test estimates. Three independent procedures were used for calibration, with the most acceptable approach using calibration to heads at wells and specified fluxes for springs. Although this procedure produced a reasonable regional head distribution and acceptable calibration statistics (mean error = 0.58 m, mean absolute error = 8.61 m), the use of specified fluxes …

A Comparison Of Forest Soils Exhibiting Various Degrees Of Nitrogen Availability: Do Tree Species Matter And Which Nutrients Are Limiting In Nitrogen Rich Environments?, Stephen E. Gress

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Regions downwind of industrial and agricultural pollution receive high amounts of nitrogen (N) deposition. Some forested regions now exhibit symptoms on N saturation, which is N availability in excess of biotic demand. This phenomena and the evidence that trees alter soil in ways that may influence N saturation is the basis of my research. My thesis consists of three parts: (1) Testing the association between tree species and soil properties: Can larger-scale patterns be found under individual trees?; (2) Phosphomonesterase activity in violets (Viola rotundifolia) found in watersheds exhibiting varying levels of nitrogen availability: What lies beyond nitrogen saturation?; and …

Crisis Management: The Effective Use Of Image Restoration Strategies When An Organization/Individual Is Faced With A Crisis., Anthony Lewis Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper examines strategies and ethics in the field of public relations for establishing a reputation with key stakeholders of an organization. This paper also explores how a properly maintained reputation helps when a crisis erupts and what strategies are used when dealing with a crisis. The second half of this paper is a qualitative content analysis. The pilot study examines an entire year of New York newspaper coverage of The American Red Cross and controversies concerning funds they collected after the events that took place on September 11, 2001. The greater research examines evening television news coverage dealing with …

Empathic Adolescents: Associations With Religiosity And Spirituality., Bethanie Renee Morris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluated religiosity, spirituality, and empathy to provide further clarification on their relations. As shown in the research, religiosity, spirituality, and empathy are generally related to favorable effects in adolescents when examined alone. Therefore, it is important to recognize how these constructs interact together. Four hundred twenty-eight adolescents completed self-report questionnaires that assessed levels of religiosity, spirituality, and empathy. Participants’ religiosity and spirituality were assessed using a scale devised by the researchers and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980, 1995) was used to measure empathy. Adolescents who reported greater levels of involvement in religious services had greater levels …

Effect Of Enamel Bleaching On Bond Strength Of Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vivo And In Vitro Study., Joseph M. Mullins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To 1) determine if enamel bleaching affects the in vivo survival rate and in vitro bond strength of orthodontic bracket adhesive; 2) determine the mode of bracket failure in vivo and in vitro 3) determine if an in vitro anti-oxidant such as sodium ascorbate can reverse the compromised bonding. Methods: I. The in vitro study utilized one hundred and five (105) extracted human premolars from a jar. The teeth were randomly divided into seven groups: 1 control group; 4 groups that were exposed to varying amounts of 2 bleaching agents for varying time periods; 2 groups were also exposed …

An Exploration Of Mentoring In Athletic Training Clinical Education: Establishing A Preliminary Model Based On The Grounded Theory., Michelle Lynn Panseri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context: The concept of mentoring is not generally discussed within athletic training literature, although the importance is recognized by educators. Most definitions of mentoring are very ambiguous and lack specific conclusions. In addition it is not known if mentoring occurs and when and how it occurs within the clinical education setting in athletic training. Objective: To understand the prevalence of mentoring within the clinical education setting, as well as approved clinical instructors (ACI) preparedness to become mentors to athletic training students (ATS). Setting: West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia Design: This is a prospective descriptive study, which is based in …

Hostility, Forgiveness, And Cardiovascular Reactivity To Stress: Does Forgiveness Mediate Or Moderate The Relation Between Hostility And Cardiovascular Reactivity To Anger -Eliciting Laboratory Experiences?, Danielle H. Hernandez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous studies that have examined the physical health consequences of individual variables have focused on negative traits such as hostility, anger, and stress. These studies have demonstrated that such variables are often related to deleterious health outcomes as well as exaggerated cardiovascular reactions to stress. Fewer studies have examined the health benefits of positive variables like forgiveness. Forgiveness and hostility are thought to have an inverse relation, and it is not surprising that forgiveness has been associated with reduced cardiovascular reactivity to stress. Recognizing that hostility is related to elevated cardiovascular reactivity, and that forgiveness is associated with decreased cardiovascular …

A Study In Nineteenth-Century American Costumes Based On Mary Todd Lincoln And Thomas "Tad" Lincoln., Sheila A. Wise

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An interest in nineteenth century history led to a desire to study the construction of American garments during this period. The historical figures, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln, her son were selected as the basis of a study of mid-Victorian costume pattern-making and construction.

The main goal in pursuing this project was to gain a better understanding of the historical zeitgeist of the period and the pattern making and construction of American women’s, and children’s nineteenth century garments. The objectives of the thesis were to: 1) study, organize and research what Americans wore in the mid-Victorian era; 2) …

The Role Of Heat Shock Proteins In Skeletal Muscle Adaptation To Resistance Training In Young And Old Rats., Zsolt Murlasits

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heat shock proteins (HSP's) are expressed in response to various stressors, such as physical exercise, therefore this study investigated the role of these proteins in skeletal muscle remodeling in response to resistance training. First, we determined the time course of HSP response as a result of a single bout of damaging contractions characterized by non-recoverable force deficit. The next study investigated HSP expression in 3 month old and 30 month old rats in response to a 4.5-week, chronic resistance training program that was designed to elicit muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, we analyzed the gene expression of four hsp70 genes to determine …

Child Abuse And Crime: Testing In The "Cycle Of Violence" Theory, Melanie A. Cox

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study of Child Abuse and Neglect: Testing in the "Cycle of Violence" Theory, is a demonstration of Applied Social Research in partial fulfillment of a master's degree in Sociology. It examines the Cycle of Violence theory by looking at two groups of children: an abuse/neglect group and a control group. It tests the likelihood of the abuse/neglect group to commit a crime in adulthood i.e., property crime, person crime, or public morality; while controlling for race, sex and type of abuse. Also, the odds of gender and race of the children in the abuse/neglect group, becoming a criminal offender …

The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying 6-Hydroxydopamine And Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity, Gang Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ethanol and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a Parkinson's disease (PD) mimetic, are two toxins to the cerebellum. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their neurotoxicities. The work in chapter 2 of this thesis focused on 6-OHDA-induced neurodegeneration. Previous studies indicate that impaired function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), commonly referred to as ER stress, is an important factor in the neuropathology of a wide variety of neurological disorders. This study demonstrated that 6-OHDA evoked ER-stress and led to apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuronal cell line and cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Furthermore, GSK3beta played a crucial role in mediating 6-OHDA's neurotoxicity. …

The Effects Of Postindustrial Employment Configurations On Father-Child Involvement In Urban Fragile Families, Michael G. Cina

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research shows that many inner city fathers work a variety of jobs to make a living for themselves and their families. While some fathers work in traditional jobs that are regulated and taxed, others generate income "off-the-books" or through illegal work called "hustles." This thesis uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to assess the impact of hours worked in regular jobs, off-the-books ventures, and illicit hustles on fathers' involvement with their eighteen-month old child. The regression results show that fathers who spend increasing hours hustling tend to be less involved with their children than fathers who …

Osteotropic Cytokines Mediate Human Osteoblast-Like Cell Eicosanoid Production, Anurag Grover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We have examined the effects of the cytokines tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF), transforming growth factorbeta (TGFbeta) and the effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen on prostaglandin and 15-HETE biosynthesis by normal adult human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. In the present studies, conditioned media harvested from hOB cell cultures were assayed by eicosanoid specific EIAs to determine quantitatively the effects of cytokines on PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, PGF2alpha, PGD2, thromboxane (TXB2) and on 15-HETE biosynthesis. EIA analysis indicated that PGE2 was the predominant PG metabolite released by unstimulated hOB cells and its synthesis was increased more than other PGs in cells treated with (TGFbeta) and …

Assessing The Cost-Effectiveness Of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors And Prescribing Practices Of Rheumatologists In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Khalid M. Kamal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Three new tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab, have been approved for use in patients with active RA. The goals of the study were two fold: (1) to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the three TNF inhibitors in patients with RA that inadequately respond to MTX alone and (2) to assess the current prescribing patterns, laboratory monitoring practices, and perceived barriers of rheumatologists in prescribing these agents in patients with RA. Phase I involved the development of a Markov simulation model to estimate the health effects and costs associated with five treatment strategies in patients with RA …

Suicide And Socioeconomic Context In The Appalachian Region, Joel A. Halverson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Significant economic changes have occurred over the past thirty years that have altered the geoeconomic landscape of the United States. Although a considerable literature examines economic impacts that have resulted from these changes, there has been less work devoted to understanding the extraeconomic affects of economic change. Many places in the U.S. have experienced large-scale employment and industry losses over the past thirty years. At the same time some places have experienced rapid industrial and employment growth. Together these events represent the continued process of geographic uneven development and provide the context for examining potential affects that economic conditions and …

Heat Shock Protein 70 As An Indicator Of Toxic Heavy Metal Exposure And Oxidative Stress In The Serum Of Asymptomatic Shipyard Welders, Sung Gu Han

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression has been reported to be a sensitive biomarker of cell stress. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and manganese (Mn) are widely used and exposure to these metals is associated with the development of pulmonary disease. Our data showed that exposure to these metals resulted in a significant increase in cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a human bronchial cell line, BEAS-2B. However, increased Hsp70 expression was observed only in cells exposed to As, Cd, and Hg. To correlate changes associated with Hsp70 overexpression, …

Analysis Of Aging Effects And Effectiveness Of Dewatering Treatment Methods On Acid Mine Drainage Sludge, Phanindra Kumar V. Kunderu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is produced when sulfide minerals in overburden are subjected to oxygen and water, and generally contains low pH, high acidity and high dissolved metal concentrations. Typically, active treatment of AMD involves the addition of a neutralizing reagent to raise the pH and precipitate the metals as their respective insoluble metal hydroxides. As a by-product of the active treatment of AMD, a large amount of sludge is generated. A site, established in Monongalia County, WV for the active treatment of AMD using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, generated sludge consisting mainly of water with a total solids concentration …

Analysis Of Physiological Partners Of Protein Kinase Ck2 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Umesh C. Karandikar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

CK2 is a highly conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of catalytic (alpha) and regulatory (beta) subunits. The enzyme targets proteins that are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, cell cycle progression, and development. However, very little information is available on either the regulation of this enzyme or its role during development. These two aspects of CK2 have been addressed using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. The first study (chapter 2) addresses the isolation and characterization of SSL, an ortholog of CK2beta. Using combinatorial approaches, we find that SSL associates …

Graph Algorithms For The Haplotyping Problem, Yunkai Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evidence from investigations of genetic differences among human beings shows that genetic diseases are often the results of genetic mutations. The most common form of these mutations is single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). A complete map of all SNPs in the human genome will be extremely valuable for studying the relationships between specific haplotypes and specific genetic diseases. Some recent discoveries show that the DNA sequence of human beings can be partitioned into long blocks where genetic recombination has been rare. Then, inferring both haplotypes from chromosome sequences is a biologically meaningful research topic, which has compounded mathematical and computational problems.;We …

Amending Subsoil With Composted Poultry Litter: Effects On Soil Physical And Chemical Properties, Turfgrass Establishment And Weed Pressure, Mili Mandal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experiments were established in fall 2003 at West Virginia University to evaluate the effects of incorporation of composted poultry litter (CPL) on subsoil physical and chemical properties, Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa Pratensis L.) establishment, root depth, and weed pressure. Twenty cm of topsoil was removed and CPL was incorporated to a depth of 12.7 cm at 10%, 20%, and 40% v/v prior to seeding or sodding. Composted plots were compared to N-fertilized (454 Kg ha-1) and control plots. Positive linear increases in total water content (thetaT), organic matter, pH, and CEC were observed following compost incorporation with a decrease in …

Three Essays On Immigration And Outsourcing, Arsen V. Melkumian

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation includes essays on legal and illegal immigrations and outsourcing. Chapter 1 introduces the paths that economics has blazed into in the areas of legal and illegal immigration and outsourcing. The first essay, in Chapter 2, presents a Cournot duopoly model of a domestic unionized firm and a foreign firm, where the domestic firm has an option to shift all of its production abroad. An increase in the bargaining power of an employment oriented union will increase domestic output and utility of the union.;The second essay, in Chapter 3, examines illegal immigration in the U.S. from Mexico using annual …

Data Mining Framework, Hemambika Payyappillil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this document is building a framework for working with clinical data. Vast amounts of clinical records, stored in health repositories, contain information that can be used to improve the quality of health care. However, the information generated from these records depends vastly on the manner, in which the data is arranged. A number of factors need to be considered, before information can be extracted from the patient records. This document deals with the preparation of a framework for the data, before it can be mined.;One of the issues to deal with is information about the patient contained …

Using Gis And Landowner Survey To Determine If The Forest Stewardship Program Is Effective At Generating Involvement In Forest Health Issues In West Virginia, David Page Mccann

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A risk rating map created from 22 shapefiles of pest and disease activity data was used to produce maps of individual properties distributed to half of survey subjects along with a postcard questionnaire. In total, 933 landowners were surveyed; 21% responded. The affects of three factors---the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP), region, and a map---on landowner interest were investigated using ANOVA and logistic regression. The affects of covariables risk rating and acreage were evaluated using ANCOVA. Logistic regression identified preferred delivery methods and pests and diseases relevant to landowners. FSP participation significantly affected interest level, the selection of gypsy moth, and …