Digital Commons Network^™

Utilizing The Coughing Rat Model Of Pertussis To Improve Vaccine Efficacy, Jesse M. Hall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory disease caused by the highly contagious, Gram-negative pathogen Bordetella pertussis (Bp). Infection occurs through inhalation of aerosolized droplets containing Bp, which then colonizes ciliated epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. Here, Bp expresses toxins and virulence factors that lead to leukocyte recruitment, paroxysmal cough, and impairment of host innate responses. Currently, in developed countries, acellular pertussis vaccines (aP; DTaP; Tdap) are used to prevent Bp infection and whooping cough disease. However, we currently realize that the aP vaccine efficacy quickly wanes resulting in a reemergence of pertussis. Recent …

Analysis Of Millimeter-Wave Networks: Blockage, Antenna Directivity, Macrodiversity, And Interference, Enass Hriba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Due to its potential to support high data rates at low latency with reasonable interference isolation because of signal blockage at these frequencies, millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications has emerged as a promising solution for next-generation wireless networks. MmWave systems are characterized by the use of highly directional antennas and susceptibility to signal blockage by buildings and other obstructions, which significantly alter the propagation environment. The received power of each transmission depends on the direction the corresponding antennas point and whether the signal’s path is line-of-sight (LOS), non-LOS (i.e., partially blocked), or completely blocked. A key challenge in modeling blocking in mmWave …

Improving Microbial Safety Of Food Products By Thermal And Non-Thermal Technology And Evaluate The Knowledge Of Antibiotic Resistant Issue Among Local Produce Growers, Wentao Jiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microbial contamination of food products is one of the main transmission routes of disease in the world today, which is responsible for about two-thirds of all food-borne disease outbreaks although the hygiene process was improved recently. Improving microbial safety and implementing a good food management system are important elements to reduce microbial contamination and improve food safety and security. To improve microbial safety, I conducted inactivation studies on food pathogens and further explored antibiotic resistant risks. Initial research evaluated the efficacy of commercial antimicrobials distribution by comparing electrostatic sprayer with conventional sanitization process. The antibiotics applied by electrostatic spraying achieved …

Staying Power: Examining Resistance In West Virginia, Beth Nardella

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia has been plagued with high unemployment rates, high rates of addiction and poverty, and some of the worst health outcomes in the country. Outmigration has been the paradigm for many, but why do some people choose to stay? Numerous scholars have written about outmigration, but there is little information on why people stay. After decades of people leaving, many who remain have made a choice to stay. This choice can be seen as an act of resistance against the problematic discourses surrounding the Appalachian region and the economic disparities found within rural communities. West Virginians are often dependent …

Determining The Effects Of Imidacloprid On Non-Target Soil Organisms In Hemlock Stands, Braley Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is an invasive insect that is causing mortality of eastern hemlock trees, Tsuga canadensis, and Carolina hemlock trees, Tsuga caroliniana, across the eastern United States. To protect these ecologically important tree species, a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, is commonly used. Imidacloprid is an effective treatment and can remain effective against HWA for four to six years but long-term (≥ one year after application) non-target effects of imidacloprid on forest ecosystems are not well-studied. This study examined terrestrial non-target effects of imidacloprid in hemlock stands with different treatment histories to …

Janus Kinase 1 Drives Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Transcriptional Reprogramming In Astrocytes, Savannah Graham Sims

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neurological and neurodegenerative diseases are heterogenous and devastating diseases with limited therapeutic options and no cures. The broad, long-term goal of this project was to elucidate therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative conditions that attenuate damaging inflammation while leaving the beneficial immune response intact and avoiding broad immunosuppression. Inflammation and the accumulation of misfolded proteins are associated with a wide variety of neurological diseases. Here, we have examined how the accumulation of misfolded proteins shapes inflammatory signaling in the glial cell population astrocytes. Astrocytes are the most populous cell in the central nervous system (CNS) and provide physical and trophic support to …

Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Migration In Ground Subsurface, Hanadi Al-Hammad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Migration in Ground Subsurface

Hanadi Al-Hammad

Groundwater aquifers are vital source for water supplies. Such water supplies are under serious potential threats of pollution due to various contaminants. One of the categories of contaminants that pollute groundwater aquifers is non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). NAPLs are immiscible organic compounds. NAPLs comprise two categories based on comparison of its density with density of water. The NAPLs that have density less that density of water are known as light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) such as Diesel, Toluene, and mineral oil. NAPLs with density higher than the density of …

The Ethics Of Aerial Bombardment In International Conflicts: From Douhet To Drones, Rauan Zhaksybergen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, I demonstrate how the question of ethics in aerial bombardment has been evolving and transforming since its inception at the beginning of the twentieth century to contemporary targeted killings/assassinations by drones. I interact with early airpower theories from Douhet, Trenchard, Mitchell, and contemporary air tactics in order to establish a crucial sequence between these early theories and practices of aerial violence and modern ones conducted by armed drones. I show how the evolution of aerial bombardment challenged, influenced, and transformed essentials of conventional warfare, as well as dispersed boundaries between combatants and non-combatants. Contemporary legally uncontrolled targeted …

Fostering Music Performers In The 21st Century: A Contemporary Professional Perspective Toward A New Curricular Agenda For Graduate Study In Music, Andre Januario

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

What if the core curriculum for graduate students in music performance were designed to prepare students to succeed in the world of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

This dissertation offers a hypothetical answer: a structured and systematic academic curricular framework for music graduate students of performance of concert music (especially those in terminal degrees, such as doctoral students), along with music instructors, professional music performers, school administrators, and college professors, seeking to prepare such students for achieving and maintaining a music career more in keeping with the current work environment, especially those skills demanded by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the …

Design Of Bending Moment And Load Capacity Test For Frp Sheet Piles, Joshua Larry Wilt Mr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sheet piles consist of numerous interlocked segments that form temporary or permanent support walls and serve as the primary foundational component across a variety of civil infrastructural applications, such as below-grade parking structures or sea walls. The installation of sheet piles is particularly advantageous in coastal areas, as dewatering of the site is unnecessary. Steel is commonly used for sheet piles due to its strength and ease of manufacturing; however, in the presence of saltwater steel begins to rust. Contrary to steel and concrete, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sheet piles are resistant to chlorides and have considerably higher corrosion …

Aerosol Sampling Strategy: Effect Of Particle Transfer To Sampler Covers And Estimation Of Conversion Factors Between The United States And German Methods For Quartz Sampling, Godwin Akpevwe Erekaife

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

AEROSOL SAMPLING STRATEGY: Effect of Particle Transfer to Sampler Covers and Estimation of Conversion Factors between the United States and German Methods for Quartz sampling

GODWIN A. EREKAIFE

In many countries, communities of experts, including industrial hygienists, have developed unique sampling strategies to determine workers’ exposure to aerosolized particles (e.g., metals, wood dust etc.). However, using different sampling and analytical methods for the same chemical often results in different exposure levels for a similar exposure group (SEG). The exposure discrepancies among different countries that are caused by using different measurement strategies are not always systematically defined. Therefore, this study …

Dynamic Data-Driven Smart Proxy Modeling For Numerical Reservoir Simulation, Maher Jasim Alabboodi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A successful Geologic Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Storage (GCS) operation requires the ability to make quick and reliable subsurface modeling decisions; such decisions must be made based on an accurate and realistic modeling of the reservoir. Numerical reservoir simulation is the most common tool used for predicting fluid flow behavior and analyzing uncertainties in the subsurface reservoirs.

In general, a numerical reservoir simulation model has tens of millions of grid blocks and requires intensive computations to be performed at each time-step of the simulation, therefore, they are computationally expensive and time-consuming. As a result, studies (such as uncertainty analysis …

Understanding Visitor Use At Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Melissa Maria Hurtado Alvarez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Effective management and monitoring of visitor recreational use is fundamental in marine protected areas. It is common to hear that tourism and outdoor recreation are often qualified as double-edged activities, making valuable socioeconomic contributions but also causing degradation of the environment. The convergence of social and natural resource research and practices can help managers to create better policies that will maximize human benefits from, and minimize human pressures on, ocean and coastal environments. For this study online surveys were sent via Qualtrics to email addresses obtained from the state of Florida during the summer of 2020. The first paper assessed …

Polarized Policymaking: The Effect Of Ideological Division On Legislative Outcomes In The United States Congress, Aaron Tyler Mentzer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the effect of political polarization on legislative productivity and policymaking in the United States Congress. As the ideological distance between Republicans and Democrats increases, both parties face pressure to obstruct the legislative process in order to defeat their opponent’s policy proposals. This leads to legislative gridlock and alters the means by which Congress can perform its legislative duties. This theory is not a new one, but this dissertation expands on existing literature in several ways. In Chapter 2 I ask: does polarization limit the types of policy that Congress is able to pass, and is Congress restricted …

Judicial Independence In Pakistan: A Case Study Of Lawyers’ Movement, 2007-2009, Shabbir Ahmad Khan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focuses on a social movement, the Lawyers’ Moment 2007-2009 of Pakistan, a transitioning democracy, which brought vast changes in its judicial system, especially in terms of its judicial independence. There are three main research questions in this study: 1) the status of judicial independence before the Lawyers’ Movement; 2) was judicial independence a major goal in the Lawyers’ Movement? and 3) did the Lawyers’ Movement alter the status of judicial independence? The research methodology used to explore the answers to these questions also has three main sources: 1) the literature which explains some areas of scholarship in social …

Improving Characterization Of Small Molecules Using Enhanced Molecular Reaction And Ionization Techniques, Sandra N. Majuta

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Metabolomics is an emerging “omics” field, which is comprised of the study of small molecule metabolites in biological systems. It can be argued that the abundances of metabolites within biological samples, such as tissue and plasma, are indicative of various physiological states. Thus, metabolomics analysis has the potential in the clinical scientific field to be an effective tool for early disease diagnosis as well as for proposing and monitoring new treatments for diseases. However, full characterization of the metabolome complement is often hampered by the wide diversity of metabolites, which also exhibit an extremely large concentration range in biological samples. …

A Systematic Method For Measuring Gentrification Using Building Permits Data: A Washington D.C Case Study, Andey Fomil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gentrification can significantly alter the socioeconomic, demographic, and commercial aspects of a city. It is a complex process that transforms the characteristics of entire neighborhoods, modifying not only the observable physical aspects, but also the community structure. Traditional quantitative gentrification measurement approaches assess the process through analysis of Census demographic indicators coupled with field visit analysis of the physical built environment. This study proposes a new gentrification measuring approach that combines traditional Census indicators with a new indicator in the form of City Building Permits. Two GIS spatial analysis techniques are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of the …

Gendered Use Of Language In Facebook Status Updates Among Jordanian And American Youths: A Sociopragmatic Study, Ashraf Wenas Al Sad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study examines the types of speech acts of Facebook status updates that are posted by Jordanian and American youth. The participants were from Yarmouk University which is located in northern Jordan and from West Virginia University which is located in the US. The data was elicited from 50 American males, 50 American females, 50 Jordanian males, and 50 Jordanian females. Searle’s taxonomy was used to do the content analysis of the data. Searle’s taxonomy and additional speech acts were found: directive, expressive, assertive, God’s invocation, humor, and quotation. The findings of the study indicate that the religious and cultural …

Design Of A Heat Exchanger For A Supercritical Co2 Turbine System, Kehinde Oluwatobi Adenuga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research aims at designing a shell and tube heat exchanger which will drive a turbine operated on supercritical CO₂. Hot gases from boiler (simulated using air) at 1500 K is introduced into the shell to heat up the supercritical CO₂ at 10 MPa flowing within tubes from 450 K to 1050 K. The design was done using selected shell and tube heat exchanger empirical equations at predefined boundary conditions. The effect of shell and tube diameter on other design parameters was examined. It was observed that the number of tubes, tube external and internal side surface …

Addressing A Blind Spot: Altruistic Fear And Religious Bias Motivated Victimization, Emily N. Hawkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fear of victimization is different than actual victimization but has real consequences for individuals’ behaviors and attitudes. Research on fear of victimization in the United States has typically emphasized individuals’ own fears of experiencing violent, sexual, and property crimes. Yet, some studies suggest that fear of crime for other people whose safety one values – significant others, friends, and children – or altruistic fear is more common and often more intense than one’s personal fear of victimization. While some literature exists on the prevalence of altruistic fear in American households, little is known about altruistic fears specifically rooted in the …

Correctional Officer Opinions About Offenders With Mental Illness: The Relationships Among Opinions, Burnout, Emotional Intelligence, And Mental Health Training, Courtney Hull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rates of mental illness among incarcerated individuals in the United States are high and have been well documented. Correctional officers are on the front line of identifying symptoms and alerting mental health professionals to problems as they arise. Correctional officers often lack an understating of mental illness, feel ill-equipped to manage mental health crises, and experience high levels of job-related stress. The objective of this study was to better understand the relationship between correctional officers’ emotional intelligence and opinions about mental illness, and to identify if burnout moderated the relationship between the variables. Additionally, the study sought to understand the …

The Three Piano Sonatas By José De Almeida Penalva, Heron Alvim Moreira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research project discusses the three piano sonatas by José de Almeida Penalva (1924-2002), a priest and composer from the southern region of Brazil, who lived most of his life in the city of Curitiba, in Paraná state.

Along with overall information about the composer’s life and general output, the reader will find brief discussions of Penalva’s keyboard works, along with comprehensive formal analyses of his three piano sonatas.

Sonata no. 1 (1970, chronologically the second to be written) appears in one large movement that reveals two distinct sections. Its language is atonal and its first section displays sonata-allegro form. …

Putting Policy In Its Place: Policy Enactment And Engagement Through A Multiscalar Policy-Shed Framework, Barbara L. Maclennan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this research is to examine the spatial components integral to policy formation, implementation, and evaluation. The research uses solid waste as a case study to explore a multiscalar GIS policy-shed framework. To this end, the goal of this dissertation is to examine the spatial nature of public policy. The research applies spatial concepts and multiscalar methodological applications embedded within GIS and geovisualization to explore the complex spaces surrounding public policy implementation and evaluation.

But They Purloined My Coat: Walking Through The Actor’S Process Of Entering Into The Role Of Tom Collins In Jonathan Larson’S Rent, Cameron Amir Khoshgam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To explore an actor’s process is to explore the foundation of all acting methods. The purpose of this document is to do just that. From character creation to final performance of the role of Tom Collins in West Virginia University’s spring 2021 production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent, this document will share a detailed look at research into the historical framework of the musical, the playwright, and character inspiration in the pursuit of crafting a well-rounded understanding of the show. Additionally, it will provide an account of textual analysis, an in-depth look at the rehearsal process, and various acting techniques …

Sustainability Assessment Of Direct Energy Deposition (Ded) Based Hybrid Manufacturing Using Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Method, Faujia Islam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As sustainability has emerged as a highlight for almost every field over the last few decades, the manufacturing field is no exception. Generally, additive manufacturing performs better than traditional manufacturing in terms of sustainability because of its lean energy- and material usage. Previous studies have compared the sustainability performance between traditional and additive manufacturing, but hybrid manufacturing was not focused upon much. In this paper, the life cycle assessment method is used to analyze and compare the energy consumption and environmental impact of direct energy deposition (DED) based hybrid manufacturing and traditional manufacturing “CNC milling” process for a turbine blade. …

Learning And Workers In Transition (Wit), Jeffrey Burgazzoli Jr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study utilized autoethnography to generate new understandings about learning and workplace transitions. I journaled the first 90 days in a new job, writing about the notable learning events that occurred and collecting work artifacts to create a rich storyboard of the transition scene. Qualitative analysis of the storyboard revealed four broader dimensions of learning that must be considered: 1) knowledge growth and development, 2) cognition, 3) situational context, and 4) emotion. The results of the study illuminated key inflection points that happened during the transition process, conceptualized how my learning changed over time, and showed how I processed and …

Behind The Lens: How Women Photojournalists’ Experiences Are Impacted By Gendered Double Standards And Emotion Management On The Sidelines Of The National Football League, Caylie M. Silveira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Women photojournalists working on the sidelines for the National Football League (NFL) are scarce, despite many advancements made by women in sports media. In the workplace, women face double standards and are expected to manage their emotions differently than their male colleagues. This study aimed to analyze the expectations of women by looking at the different stereotypes and biases that they face as well as the gendered wage gaps. Feminist standpoint theory assisted in the qualitative research approach of this study because it states that women are the only ones that can speak about their experiences since they are the …

Enacting Sustainability In Footwear Product Development, Mary Samantha Hale

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The apparel and footwear industry's negative environmental impacts have companies facing scrutiny as consumer environmental consciousness increases (Brewer, 2019). Apparel and footwear companies are scrambling to develop sustainable initiatives with more consumers demanding they be held accountable for their actions. The industry has focused on recycling, raw materials sourcing, and reducing production waste during product development for more sustainable outcomes. This qualitative case study explores how sustainability as an abstract corporate initiative affects footwear companies and product development processes. The best way to explore how companies engage and execute sustainable practices in their product development process is by examining it …

Evaluating Social Media As A Medium Of Private Communication Through Steganographic Images, Kendall Weldon Coles

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Social media is a vastly used communication tool with billions of users worldwide. These social networks provide users the ability to share their ideas and thoughts through the messages, videos, and images that they post. The images that are shared can possibly be embedded with private messages through the use of a steganographic tool. The messages are embedded in a fashion that doesn’t change the visual appearance of an image. This allows for these types of images to hide in plain sight, which creates the possibility of someone communicating privately in a public social media setting. This project proved how …

Mau Mau’S Moral War: The Sacralization Of Kenya’S Anticolonial Struggle, 1952–1956, Henry Muoki Mbunga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is a study of the ethical and religious history of the Mau Mau War in Kenya, 1952–1956. It breaks with a historiographical tradition that reduces Mau Mau’s ritual activities to stage props and backdrops on the historical stage. The project investigates two central questions: (1) why did Mau Mau members invent a variety of rituals during the anticolonial struggle in Kenya? and (2) how did the ethical and religious convictions of Mau Mau members shape their military campaign? Using rare archival sources and the oral histories and published memoirs of Mau Mau War veterans, this study argues that …