Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Digital Spaces In Caring For Children With Feeding Tubes: Home, Family, And Community Reconsidered, Sara Gilbert Loftus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

This dissertation draws from feminist geographic research to critically examine the landscapes of care traversed by family caregivers of children with feeding tubes and complex medical and long-term care needs. Drawing from theories and methodologies from feminist disability and digital geographies, in combination with feminist science technology studies (STS), I explore the impact of neoliberal policy changes on daily caregiving tasks and how families, in response to these policy changes, (re)create digital spaces and relationships to satisfy their unmet needs. This research examines the growing and shifting roles of digital spaces in the everyday lives of marginalized and/or vulnerable …

Analysis Of The Psychological And Production Effects Of The Use Of Gamification For Manufacturing Assembly, Makenzie Dolly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation, the applications of gamification for manufacturing with a focus on effects to workers and productivity were studied. Gamification is a relatively new research area, with the term being officially defined in 2010. Since then, several fields (education, health, and marketing) have benefitted from its application. Despite exhibiting strong potential, the application of gamification had remained rather unexplored in the manufacturing domain. To explore this further, by employing a comprehensive literature review, four research gaps were identified: the need for i) the use and acceptance of Deterding’s definition of gamification, ii) a clearer definition for various game element …

Drivers Of Change In Mindfulness- And Acceptance-Based Interventions With Athletes: Investigating The Influence Of Dosage, Readiness, And Attitudes, Thomas O. Minkler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mindfulness- and Acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) are being used with increasing frequency with sport participants. Research suggests that such interventions may promote sport performance and impact performance-relevant factors, although the current quality and quantity of research is low. Specifically, questions about intervention engagement (i.e., dosage), potentially impacted by stage of change and attitudes toward sport psychology, need clarification. The present study utilized a multi-method, quasi-experimental longitudinal design with female- and male- identified NCAA collegiate athletes to investigate the effects of an MABI. Specifically, one NCAA Division II team (n = 16) and three NCAA Division III teams (n = …

Antibacterial Effect Of Various Irrigants Against Enterococcus Faecalis, Morgan N. Kesecker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction:

One of the goals of endodontic therapy is to debride infected pulps of teeth and return the tooth to a state of health in preparation of restorative care and return to function. Chemically cleansing of the canal system augments mechanical debridement by flushing out debris, dissolving tissue, and disinfecting the root canal system. The purpose of this research is to compare the efficacy of five irrigants: 0.008% HOCl acid (Endocyn®), 0.03% HOCl (Vashe®), 6% and 8.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and Ozone against a typical bacterial species found in infected pulps, Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis).

Methods:

After 24 hours …

Impacts Of Temperature And Salt Concentrations For Thermal Inactivation Of Salmonella In Moisture Enhanced Reconstructed Chicken Patties, Alik D. Browning

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the thermal kinetic parameters of Salmonella in moisture-enhanced, reconstructed ground chicken patties as affected by temperatures and salt concentrations. Salmonella is responsible for 35% of the foodborne illnesses associated with poultry products (Batz et al., 2011). Nonintact reconstructed chicken meat is mixed with brine solutions containing various salt and polyphosphate concentrations to increase water-holding capacity, decrease cooking losses, improve sensory tasting scores, and maintain the good quality of completed chicken products (Gill et al., 2004). Increasing salt concentrations within meats can increase the thermal inactivation of pathogens. In this study, Salmonella Typhimurium …

A Machine Learning Approach For Early Diagnosis Of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Among Heart Failure Patients, Tanjim Ahmed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a rare, progressive, and fatal disease. Prevalence of ATTR-CM ranges from 4 to 17 per 100000 cases where the mean survival time is less than 4 years. It has a history of being underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. The diagnosis delay has a weighted mean of 6.1 years for wild-type ATTR-CM. Low awareness, the necessity of invasive procedures, and lack of treatment are the key reasons for delayed diagnosis. But, with the introduction of non-invasive tests like nuclear scintigraphy with ^99mTC-PYP and the disease modifying drug Tafamidis, the diagnosis delay signifies a missed opportunity to increase …

Losing My Religion: Contextualizing Continental Catholic Seminaries In The Elizabethan Reformation, 1558-1603, Cole Volman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the impact and influence of a portion of the early modern Jesuit seminary network within the narrative of the Counter Reformation. Following the rise of Elizabeth I, a significant number of Catholic recusants fled England to take up residence in a series of schools spread across Europe with the intention of completing their education and later contributing to the efforts to preserve Catholicism in their homeland. This dissertation argues that these schools played a significant role in the course of the “English Mission,” contributing to its conception, escalation, and eventual collapse in the late sixteenth century. Despite …

The Eruption Of Disruption: The Manifestation Of Disrupting Whiteness In Secondary Social Studies In Appalachia, Elizabeth Disalvo Osborne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This phenomenological dissertation explores the lived experiences of secondary social studies educators situated in the Appalachian region. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a philosophical and methodological approach to gather insights into this phenomenon. Interviews were conducted with three educators to capture their experiences from their childhoods, to their teaching careers, and into their current personal lives. These experiences were analyzed using a Whole-Part-Whole process to understand how they came to disrupt whiteness, the ways they did so, and their understanding of the impact disrupting whiteness for creating learning environments, developing curriculum and making instructional decisions. The findings revealed how these …

Health Behaviors As Mediators Of Caregiver Physical Health, Michaela Clark

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Informal caregivers provide the bulk of care to older adults in the United States (Ali et al., 2021). Informal caregivers include family, friends, and neighbors, many of whom do not have any formal training for this role. There are costs associated with taking on a caregiving responsibility, such as scheduling appointments, helping with medications, household tasks, and even financial support (Rha et al., 2015). Many of these informal caregivers lack the coping skills necessary to manage the challenges associated with caregiving (Xu et al., 2021). Many also take on this role despite the personal costs on one’s own health, time, …

Testing The Theory Of Resilience And Relational Load In The Context Of Empty Nesters, Lauren E. Fellers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In examining the marital communication of recent empty nesters, the aim of this study was to test the theory of resilience and relational load (TRRL) (Afifi et al., 2016). The postparental period that follows directly after children leave their parents’ places of residence may present unique challenges for married individuals to navigate together. The TRRL offers a potential explanation as to why some married couples demonstrate resilience and flourish through a stressful season while others do not. To test the TRRL in this context, 113 married persons who became empty nesters within the previous 18 months filled out an online …

Intersectional Microaggressions And Disordered Eating In Asian American Women, Spring Szoka

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Disordered eating in college-age women is well-documented. Less is known about minoritized populations and disordered eating for college-age women, especially Asian American women. As Asian Americans are often subjected to the “model minority” myth, less research has been dedicated to understanding disordered eating for this population. Small, everyday slights motivated by the model minority myth and other racial stereotypes are known as microaggressions. Asian American women hold an intersectional identity that places them at risk for experiencing microaggressions from their identity as both a woman and as an Asian American. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between …

Investigations Into Indole Formation: Base-Mediated Formation Of N-Hydroxy- And N-Alkoxyindoles, Ancillary Ligand Development For Watanabe-Cenini-Söderberg Cyclization, And Total Synthesis Of Racemosin B, Blaine Thomas Mcclay

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A novel, base-mediated cyclization was developed to form N-hydroxy- and N-alkoxyindoles from 2-(2-nitrophenyl)butenoates. Potassium tert-butoxide or sodium tert-pentoxide, with or without the in-situ addition of an electrophile, formed a multitude of N-hydroxy- and N-alkoxyindoles. The formation of these butanoate precursors was improved via a Barluenga coupling reaction. Novel 4,5,6,7-tetramethoxy-1,10-phenanthroline was utilized as an ancillary ligand within the Watanabe-Cenini-Söderberg reductive cyclization reaction conditions. These new reaction conditions produced high yields for sterically hindered 2-nitrostyrenes and the first synthesis of dilemmaone A using this reductive cyclization. Racemosin B was synthesized in a three-step process utilizing a …

Not A Do-Or-Die Affair: Freelance Journalists In Nigeria And Ethical Dilemmas, Tolulope O. Olasoji

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores the ethical dilemmas Nigerian freelance journalists face and their implications for their work. It will use in-depth interviews with select freelance journalists. Several studies have established that ethical concerns are rife in—and indeed the bane of—journalism in Nigeria. However, these pieces of research reflect the reality across conventional newsrooms, where, ideally, there is some organizational structure and support. No scholarly attention has been given to freelance journalists, otherwise known as entrepreneurial journalists, due to their autonomous nature, to understand the ethical dilemmas they may be entangled in primarily. This study seeks to address this gap in research. …

Development Of A Model Sustainability Management Plan For The City Of Morgantown, West Virginia, Caitlyn Elizabeth Lewis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This report has been prepared to demonstrate the research for a model planning document with a focus on sustainability in Morgantown, WV. It discusses the role of three categories in the context of sustainability and proposes a design solution for selected areas of concern throughout the City of Morgantown in order to demonstrate opportunities for a sustainable approach toward resolution for city officials.

The City of Morgantown, West Virginia, is a college town along the Monongahela River with a backstory of industrialism that is echoed by many other places in Appalachia. However, distinctively, in Morgantown 25,000 college students populate the …

Il-27 Negatively Impacts Immunity Developed Following Bcg Administration, Shelby D. Bradford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), a predominantly respiratory pathogen responsible for over ten million infections and one million deaths last year. Despite it being a primary objective of the World Health Organization (WHO) for several decades to irradicate TB, progress toward this objective has fallen short of the 2020 target to end TB by 2035. Meeting this goal will require advancements in diagnostic tools, education, healthcare access, and treatments and preventatives. Regarding prevention, the primary tool for this strategy is through vaccination. Currently, the only licensed vaccine for protection against TB is the century old …

Multimodal Neuron Classification Based On Morphology And Electrophysiology, Aqib Ahmad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Categorizing neurons into different types to understand neural circuits and ultimately brain function is a major challenge in neuroscience. While electrical properties are critical in defining a neuron, its morphology is equally important. Advancements in single-cell analysis methods have allowed neuroscientists to simultaneously capture multiple data modalities from a neuron. We propose a method to classify neurons using both morphological structure and electrophysiology. Current approaches are based on a limited analysis of morphological features. We propose to use a new graph neural network to learn representations that more comprehensively account for the complexity of the shape of neuronal structures. In …

Optimizing Sample Collection And Data Interpretation For Effective Wastewater-Based Epidemiology In Combined Sewer Systems, Christopher Allen Anderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

COVID-19 has spurred growth in the science surrounding wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) pertaining to the detection of severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in waste streams as an early warning signal for public health. However, the highly variable wastewater environment has made it difficult to standardize an approach for sampling and analysis, especially in locations using combined sewer infrastructure. This study addresses knowledge gaps of WBE via three specific aims: (1) to compare diurnal fluctuations of SARS-CoV-2 and the human fecal indicator, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent samples collected during dry versus wet weather conditions; …

Nobody’S Perfect! The Effect Of Manipulating Perfectionism On Social Anxiety Symptoms, Anishka Jean

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Social anxiety is a common experience that ranges from mild, temporary distress to excessive, persistent, and impairing fear. The current study tested whether perfectionism is causally related to social anxiety symptoms and post-event processing using a contract-based manipulation to shift perfectionism. Participants (N = 67) completed measures of social anxiety and perfectionism prior to delivering a speech. Next, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 contract conditions: High Personal Standards (High PS), High Personal Standards with Evaluative Concerns (High PS+EC), and Low Personal Standards (Low PS). The following day, participants completed the measures of social anxiety and perfectionism again, …

The Everyday Work-Lives Of Public Librarians In A Diverse Us City, Mariam Jalalifard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is situated within the context of the author's personal experience as a librarian of color and educator, exploring the dissonance between the perceived value of their role and their own understanding of its worth. The study aims to bring to light the processes that shape the experiences of female librarians, particularly those who are women of color. The research is informed by Institutional Ethnography (IE) and Narrative Analysis, which focus on the everyday lived experiences of people as the research problematic, and progress through layers to uncover how external power structures influence daily life. Five active female and …

Social Determinants Of Health And Functional Disability At Mid- And Late-Life, Carly Pullen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The number and proportion of older adults living in the U.S. and globally are increasing. Not only are more adults living longer (Rania et al., 2021), there is evidence that people are

entering late life with more functional disability than in previous generations (He & Larsen,

2014). Social determinants of health include demographic and environmental influences than can impact a range of health outcomes beyond more direct risk factors (Duran and Perez-Stable, 2019). Using data from 243,693 community-dwelling adults who completed the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, we tested the associations among social determinants of health (i.e., age, …

Material Characterization Of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (Tpu) And Thermoplastic Elastomers (Tpe) For Development Of 3d-Printed Surrogate Organs For Medical Training, Anastasia Elizabeth Lucci

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cadaveric specimens are a necessary, albeit limited, resource for training medical students on basic surgical skills. The availability of surrogate 3D-printed organs would readily allow access to resources that could reduce or potentially eliminate the need for cadaveric specimens or, at a minimum, provide students the opportunity to practice with 3D-printed surrogates before transitioning to those specimens. This research focuses on determining which thermoplastic material most closely mimics mechanical properties such as hardness and stiffness of human organs and allows 3D printing surrogate organs to be used as safe, educational tools. Relatively “soft” materials such as thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and …

Factors Influencing High School Physical Education Teachers' Content Selection, Olivia J. Gillispie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is limited research that has examined the factors that influence the selection of content for high school physical education. Addressing this gap in the literature is important, as those decisions influence student attitudes and engagement in physical education. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, this study aimed to explore what factors influence high school physical education teachers’ decision-making processes when selecting content to include in their curriculum (phase one). Second, this study investigated the facilitators and barriers to selecting and teaching the content areas suggested in the SHAPE America (2013) High School Grade-Level Outcomes (phase two).

This …

Development Of Machine Learning Based Approach To Predict Fuel Consumption And Maintenance Cost Of Heavy-Duty Vehicles Using Diesel And Alternative Fuels, Sasanka Katreddi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the major contributors of human-made greenhouse gases (GHG) namely carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (NOX) in the transportation sector and heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) contributing to about 27% of the overall fraction. In addition to the rapid increase in global temperature, airborne pollutants from diesel vehicles also present a risk to human health. Even a small improvement that could potentially drive energy savings to the century-old mature diesel technology could yield a significant impact on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing focus on reducing emissions and operating costs, there is a need for efficient and …

Extension Of The Ergot Alkaloid Gene Cluster, Samantha Joy Fabian

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Specialized metabolites produced by fungi impact human health. A large portion of the pharmaceuticals currently on the market are derived from metabolites biosynthesized by microbes. Ergot alkaloids are a class of fungal metabolites that are important in the interactions of environmental fungi with insects and mammals and also are used in the production of pharmaceuticals. In animals, ergot alkaloids can act as partial agonists or antagonists at receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), dopamine, and noradrenaline as ergot alkaloids have chemical structures similar to those neurotransmitters. Therefore, they affect insects and mammals that consume them and can be used to produce drugs …

Energy Digital Twins In Smart Manufacturing Systems, Anna Billey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, an Energy Digital Twin for smart manufacturing systems was developed and evaluated. In particular, the study focused on bidirectional parameter communication between the physical and the virtual part with the aim of optimizing the energy used in the manufacturing process. Rising costs and the environmental impacts related to energy consumption have grown in importance worldwide. There are elevated concerns in sectors like manufacturing, leading to an urgent quest to reduce energy consumption. A recent advancement in Industry 4.0 technology, the Digital Twin, represents a promising smart technology and tool that researchers are investigating to help reduce energy …

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Analysis With Physical Sub-Models, Samuel Abimbola Ogunfuye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ever-increasing explosions occurring globally at a rapid rate and in diverse situations have re-established the fact that novel, faster, and more accurate approaches must be developed to analyze and possibly curb these explosions and avert their future occurrences. Experimental endeavors and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations as compared to engineering models generally require enormous time, and resources, as well as a high-level of expertise and technicalities. This might, however, delay prompt analysis and the ability to draw conclusions, thereby causing setbacks in recommending safety measures for different situations and conditions. Therefore, robust models which are accurate and fast to give …

Interpretation Of The Tandem Mass Spectrum Of The Novel Psychoactive Substance 5f-App-Pinaca, Px-2, Christopher S. Poulos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Designer drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are continuously entering the black market and causing serious health problems among users. NPSs present an especially difficult challenge to forensic chemists and toxicologists because they are not well characterized and often involve families of structurally related analogs. In crime laboratories, mass spectrometry is commonly used as a part of an analytical scheme to characterize and identify unknown analytes. Towards this end, tandem mass spectra of questioned analytes are often compared to reference spectra of standards that are either collected contemporaneously with the analyte or collected previously and stored in a database. However, …

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Disease Severity Among Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rowida Mohamed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Predicting the survival of patients with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains challenging due to the remarkable heterogeneity of the disease prognosis. Therefore, developing reliable prognostic tools is of utmost importance in IPF management. Nomograms currently represent the most accurate and discriminatory tools for predicting outcomes, with superior performance compared to the commonly used integer score approach. Therefore, developing a valid local nomogram to predict mortality among patients with IPF is warranted. Additionally, IPF is characterized by a high symptom burden significantly impacting Health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Accurately measuring HRQoL in IPF is crucial as it guides treatment decisions …

Rumen And Urine Amine/Phenol-Metabolome Of Beef Steers With Divergent Residual Feed Intake, Taylor S. Sidney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cattle production is one of the most important agricultural industries in the United States. Despite its overall production efficiency, the industry is facing considerable adversities to its long-term sustainability due to population growth, decreased land availability, and the increase in global warming. Since feed efficiency imposes an immense influence on the cost of production for animals and is a major cost determinant for profitability, the improvement of feed utilization through the understanding of animal-to-animal variation in feed efficiency is pertinent to increase farm productivity and profitability. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency and is defined as …

The Mental Health Outcomes Of First-Generation Collegiate Clients Compared To Their Non-First-Generation Peers, Cassandra Rose Homick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous research studies have investigated the mental health concerns and needs of college students. However, there is a need for additional research to understand the unique presenting mental health concerns of first-generation college students at university counseling centers in the US. The current study was a non-experimental exploratory research study that utilized secondary data analysis to examine and compare the sociodemographic profiles, mental health needs, and presenting problems of first-generation students compared to their non-first-generation peers at university counseling centers (UCCs) in the US. In Part One of the study, comparisons were drawn between first-generation and non-first-generation collegiate clients on …