Digital Commons Network^™

Allopurinol Alters The Expression Of Cytokines And Mediators Of Immune Cells In The Systemic 2 Tissue By Decreasing Plasma Urate., Lundrim S. Marku

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Diminished levels of urate have been linked to oxidative stress in birds and mammals. Urate, a major antioxidant that lowers reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), is thought to ameliorate the effects. The relationship between reduced urate, the immune system and the pathogenesis of the intestine, the liver or the brain has not been well characterized in avians. Moreover, recent studies have proposed that an increased permeability in the intestine due to some insult can induce inflammation in peripheral organs such as the brain. Allopurinol, a relatively toxic purine analogue that serves as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, reduces urate levels which can …

On Demand Nanoscale Phase Manipulation Of Vanadium Dioxide By Scanning Probe Lithography, Dustin Schrecongost

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation focuses on nanoscale phase manipulations of Vanadium Dioxide. Nanoscale control of material properties is a current obstacle for the next generation of optoelectronic and photonic devices. Vanadium Dioxide is a strongly correlated material with an insulator-metal phase transition at approximately 345 K that generates dramatic electronic and optical property changes. However, the development of industry device application based on this phenomenon has been limited thus far due to the macroscopic scale and the volatile nature of the phase transition. In this work these limitations are assessed and circumvented.

A home-built, variable temperature, scanning near-field optical microscope was engineered …

The Effects Of Gentrification On Residents’ Sense Of Place And Group Cohesion: A Study Of Pittsburgh Neighborhoods, Bernard Digregorio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many researchers have studied gentrification. Much of the existing research on gentrification has focused on the extent of population displacement and changes in the community economic profile. Others have focused on the experiences of residents during and after gentrification. In this paper, I take the latter approach. Using data from the 2018 Pittsburgh Quality of Life survey, I examine the effects of gentrification on a range of community-related attitudes (e.g. sense of place and group cohesion). Specifically, I compared residents who reside in gentrifying or gentrified neighborhoods with those who live in neighborhoods that have not gentrified. My two main …

The Effect Of Resident Attitudes, Social Capital, And Stakeholder Engagement On Rural Tourism Development In West Virginia., Doug Arbogast

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While rural tourism has been a prominent topic of tourism research sine the 1970’s, more research is needed to further identify key factors for success and methodologies successful in achieving both theoretical and practical outcomes that can advance field of study. This study attempted to apply a mixed methods approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore factors for success by gathering data from a wide range of stakeholders attempting to triangulate results using a transdisciplinary approach. Multi-stakeholder engagement (key informants, local residents, and visitors) in the tourism development process is essential in identifying opportunities and challenges and appropriate …

Understanding Global Citizenship: Extension Employees’ Perceptions, Attitudes, And Opinions, Denis M. Scott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Extension services at land-grant universities typically deliver different aspects of global citizenship education for youth through a variety of activities and instructional methods. An examination of the literature reveals that although gaps in content areas and barriers to programming do exist, there are many types of experiences available in multiple settings for youth to learn about global citizenship. These activities vary in terms of content topics, duration, and delivery methods. The purpose of the study is to determine Extension employees’ perceptions about global citizenship education, their attitudes about what content students should learn, their opinions about how they learn about …

The Impact Of Using Selected Art Therapy Approaches On Students Diagnosed On The Autism Spectrum (As) Or With Behavioral Disabilities (Bd) In An Elementary School Art Classroom., Amie Dawn Perriello

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students with autism and behavior disorders frequently have a difficult time communicating with their teachers and peers. Art can serve as a vehicle for communication while supporting strengths and encouraging self-esteem. Yet few art teachers have the specialized training needed to work with students on the spectrum, and we are often times left to our own intuition and devices on how to deal with these students. These students deserve greater individualized education, yet this can present a unique challenge to any classroom art teacher who does not have the training to deal with students who come from these special populations. …

Queen Louise Of Prussia: Gender, Power, And Queenship During The Sattelzeit Era, Samantha Sproviero

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Louise of Meckelburg-Strelitz was born on March 10, 1776 and died just thirty-four years later. In her short time as the queen consort of Prussia, she would give birth to nine children, command her own dragoons, negotiate with Napoleon, and eventually become a complex and celebrated German historical figure. Immensely popular in life, her early death was considered a national tragedy, and commemorations of her life only solidified her role as a new type of Prussian queen. Using Louise as a case study, this work will examine how the role of queen changed, not only in Prussia, but also between …

The Working Public’S Perceptions Of Service Dogs: A Phenomenological Investigation Of Gatekeepers’ Experiences, Angela M. Dial

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to capture the essence of the working public’s experiences with, and perceptions of service dogs. The population for the study was the working public of Kentucky, who through their employment, have experienced first-hand the phenomenon. A phenomenological framework informed the research design. In-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted to obtain data. Interview transcriptions were analyzed according to suggestions from Moustakas (1994) and Hycner (1985) regarding phenomenological research. The results of this research study naturally formed into five themes. Findings showed prevalent misunderstandings, confusion and lack of knowledge regarding service dogs, including how to identify a …

Defining The Late Style Of Johannes Brahms: A Study Of The Late Songs, Natilan Casey-Ann Crutcher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Johannes Brahms has long been viewed as a central figure in the Classical tradition during a period when the standards of this tradition were being altered and abandoned. His resistance to innovation creates some difficulty when trying to pinpoint his "late style", and how he fits into the late style concept. While existing scholarship on Brahms's late style tends to focus on his chamber works, this document focuses on his late Lieder. This document proves a study of Brahms's literary considerations, a comparison of his early and late songs, and a comparison between Brahms and some of his contemporaries. In …

State Capacity And Terrorism In The Developing World, Coty J. Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

What are the most influential factors to the rise of terrorist groups in the developing world? From Nigeria to Indonesia, various groups have conducted devastating attacks, against fellow citizens and international visitors. Hendrix and Young (2014) find military capacity may encourage the use of terrorism while bureaucratic measures depress them. Further investigation into underlying catalysts for mobilization is required before we can explain the rise in activity of terrorist organizations in these regions. I expect as measures of military capacity increase that terrorism increases while increases in administrative capacity reduce terrorist activity. I also expect indirect factors such as repressive …

Soil Health Assessment In Reclaimed Mine Soils, Katie Danielle Stutler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia is one of the top coal-producing states in the nation, which has resulted in over 500,000 acres of highly disturbed, anthropogenic mine soils caused by surface mining. Mine soils are often rocky and contain low organic matter content, low plant-available nutrients, and toxic metals, which could result in poor soil health and low productivity. Soil health has been defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. It is assumed that with time since reclamation, mine soil properties and related functions may change, and soil health will improve …

Stories Of Deindustrialization: Exploring Narratives In Weirton, West Virginia, Ella Jennings

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since the 1960s, cities throughout the world have confronted the phenomenon of deindustrialization, wherein economies advance and transition into a post-industrial environment. This evolution leads to complications on political, social, and economic scales, as localities struggle to find a path to the future that can guarantee the job security and community identity once offered by industry. Weirton, West Virginia, is one such place. The city, once home to Weirton Steel Corporation, a powerhouse steelmaker that employed 13,000 people, fell victim to the fall of the United States’ steel industry, and now is a shadow of its former self. This project …

The Effect Of Bovine Galectin-1, A Conceptus Secretory Protein, On The Endometrial Transcriptome, Lindsay Faye Grose

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early embryonic loss in cattle is detrimental to reproduction thus, the profitability of both the beef and dairy industries. Therefore, an important aspect of study is to find techniques that beef or dairy producers could use to decrease early embryonic loss Galectin-1, the protein that was investigated in this research is important in modulating the maternal immune system in rodent and human early pregnancies by promoting fetomaternal immune tolerance. The role of galectin-1 within the reproductive tissues has not been thoroughly investigated in cattle. Galectin-1 is located in the caruncular and intercaruncular regions of the bovine endometrium, specifically the maternal …

A Study Of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology, Emily Minor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Though the duodenum is the primary site of iron absorption, the colon also contains iron transporters and participates in iron absorption. The purpose of this study was to characterize colonic iron absorption in control patients and those with ulcerative colitis (UC), a disease that frequently results in iron deficiency. Using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, we found that colonic expression of the apical iron importer, divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), is equal to duodenal expression. However, colonic expression of ferroportin 1 (FPN1), an iron exporter, is only about one-quarter that of the duodenum. Patients with active ulcerative colitis were found …

Prizes, Winning, And Identity: Narrative Vocal Music Of The Pulitzer Prize, 2008–2018, Julia K. Kuhlman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis considers the ways in which the Pulitzer Prize for Music shapes and is shaped by music of the moment. Since 1943, the Pulitzer Prize has marked 83 pieces as “distinguished” examples of American music. The financial rewarding of winning composers and the initiation of a reciprocal transfer of prestige and political capital, the Pulitzer’s expert juries and governing body has contributed to the preservation of a perpetually-shifting status quo. By chronicling the year-to-year shifts of administrative power dynamics in prize selections, the Pulitzer Prize has mirrored the changing American musical landscape.

Drawing on methods of reception history, archival …

Recording The Classical Tuba, Larry Dine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many musicians find it difficult to capture the sound of their instrument in a recording. Often times the trouble is getting a recording to sound natural, or true to life. This is no different for the classical tuba, especially due to the way its sound is produced. This paper focuses on some of the broad variables that go into realistically reproducing the tuba’s sound, which has received very little, if any, academic study.

Within this study, microphone selection and placement is considered, interpreted, and discussed via objective and subjective methods. More specifically, this includes direct and indirect microphone placements, as …

Examining The Intersection Of Gender And Age In Victim Blaming, Jerin Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Victim blaming refers to an attributional tendency in which some level of responsibility for a negative outcome is placed on victims (Maes, 1994). Many victims of crimes face stigmatization in the form of blame from friends, acquaintances, the criminal justice system, media, strangers, and even perpetrators of the crimes themselves (e.g., Cross, Parker, & Sansom, 2019; Gordon & Riger, 1991). Victim characteristics, type of crime, and observer characteristics all influence victim blaming tendencies. However, no studies to date have tested whether these factors in combination elicit differential reactions to victims of crimes. The present research tested how the intersection of …

Technology Use By Teachers Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Nichole K. Zirzow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This nationwide study explored the types and frequency of technology used by

teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing (d/hh) students to design and deliver instruction, as

well as the types and frequency of technology being used by teachers of d/hh students to

promote communication and collaboration. It also examined the extent of professional

development in the area of technology use with d/hh students, and the related challenges

experienced by these teachers. The following research questions guided this study.

Research question 1. What kinds of technology do teachers of d/hh students use

to design and deliver academic content-based learning activities? With what …

An Assessment Of The Methods Used To Teach Content Skill Sets Required For The Introduction To Agriculture, Food, And Natural Resource Course, Lee I. Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous studies have shown that students learn best when theory is applied to hands-on experiences. Traditionally, vocational agriculture, which evolved into agricultural education, has incorporated hands-on learning. For example, students typically raise livestock and crops as part of supervised agricultural experiences; learn to use chain saws, tractors, hay rakes, balers and other equipment found on farms; and basic metal working skills. They also sample soil and water to test for mineral levels and types of pollution that might affect agricultural practices. The purpose of this study, which incorporates a survey of agricultural education teachers in West Virginia, is to determine …

Political Trust In Kosovo: Exploring Cultural And Institutional Dynamics, Ermira Babamusta

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation I examine political trust perceptions across different political-legal institutions and actors in Kosovo. I evaluate the levels of political trust using cultural and institutional performance explanations to investigate the key factors that have an impact on political trust. The study explores national political trust and international political trust, considering many domains of political trust: government, political leaders, political parties, Kosovo Courts, Kosovo Police, NATO, United Nations, European Union, and the Kosovo Specialist Court. There is growing concern about lower levels of political trust across Europe, especially in post-communist countries. In this study, I make the case that …

Automatic Kinship Verification In Unconstrained Faces Using Deep Learning, Naman Kohli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Kinship verification has a number of applications such as organizing large collections of images and recognizing resemblances among humans. Identifying kinship relations has also garnered interest due to several potential applications in security and surveillance and organizing and tagging the enormous number of videos being uploaded on the Internet. This dissertation has a five-fold contribution where first, a study is conducted to gain insight into the kinship verification process used by humans. Besides this, two separate deep learning based methods are proposed to solve kinship verification in images and videos. Other contributions of this research include interlinking face verification with …

Computer-Assisted Instruction Compared To Traditional Instruction On Letter Recognition For Preschoolers With Special Needs, Jamie Nicole Harvey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The need to reach learners with disabilities in inclusive early childhood classrooms has grown with increasing legislative mandates. An essential area of focus is in early literacy and alphabet letter recognition. One such way to bridge the gap includes computer assisted instruction as an instructional method. A concurrent treatment single case design was used to compare the rate of letter acquisition in young children with disabilities (n=6) between computer assisted instruction program, Teach Town Basics™, and traditional teaching of concepts in early childhood inclusive classrooms. Participants received each treatment in random order and data were graphed daily on …

Optimizing The Production And Injection Wells Flow Rates In Geothermal Field Using Artificial Intelligence, Muhammet Salih Ariturk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In a geothermal field, power plants are designed for long-term electricity generation. Therefore, it is crucial to predict the future production and injection flow rates of the wells to determine the capacity of a power plant. In the designing of such power plants, calculations and estimations are based on the current future production, and injection flow rates and pressures in the geothermal field. Prediction of future production and injection flow rates also assist in building surface facilities with cost-efficient power plants. The most common problem in a power plant in geothermal fields is the inability to accurately estimate future expected …

Living Tangent, Cornelius Alexander Hugo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A living tangent is how I am known by many and how I have lived my life for some time. I think in tangents and my life and art seem to evolve through them. Everything I make is connected by multiple thoughts or tangent lines that run from something as simple as the color red, to the idea that I believe communism has invaded my family’s homeland. This then leads to the recollection of childhood games, taught to me by my family in Venezuela and the importance these games played in my psychological development and in my presence as an …

Richwood, West Virginia After The 2016 Flood: Place, Devastation, And Hope In An Appalachian Community, Christine Elizabeth Witt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

How does a community cope with a crisis that threatens its identity or even its existence? This is the question facing the town of Richwood, West Virginia, after a devastating flood that impacted much of the town in 2016. Some of the consequences of the 2016 flood were the loss of the high school building, followed by difficulties receiving the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money to rebuild the school, and a loss of additional FEMA money for other critical issues due to alleged corruption. How do community residents cope emotionally with devastation? How do they understand the causes of …

The Impact Of Post Translational Modification On The Aggregation Of The Ss-Amyloid Peptide In The Presence Or Absence Of Lipids, Albert Walton Pilkington Iv

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition afflicting 5.7 million Americans with no effective treatments. The pathology of AD is described by the formation of neurotoxic oligomers formed by the self-assembly of amyloid-β (Aβ). The affinity of oligomers for cellular membranes disrupts calcium homeostasis and is believed to be the underlying cause of neurotoxicity; however, due to the metastability of oligomers, it has been difficult to understand their role in membrane interactions and self-assembly. Here we utilize post translational modifications (PTM) to understand the role of specific amino acids on Aβ₄₀-membrane interactions and self-assembly. We employ ThT, AFM, …

The Progressive Miners Of America: Roots Of Dissent And Foundational Years, 1932-1940, Ian Stewart Cook

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis will examine the events around the formation of the Progressive Miners of America and the early years of their existence. The period covered will begin in the early 1900s and cover the coal industry broadly and the specific events that occurred in Illinois leading to the Progressives formation in 1932. Events occurring within the United Mine Workers that influenced Progressive members will also be discussed at length. From there, this thesis will examine the union’s reliance on a legal strategy to gain recognition from coal operators, its interactions with the various levels of government, and the violence that …

Homeland And Ethnic News Consumption Among Ghanaians In The Washington Metropolitan Area, Kwabena Boateng Bediako

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Among the many applications of the Internet is its use for news. Ghanaian immigrants, like others living away from their country of birth, use the Web to access news from home via ethnic media in their host country or homeland media or both. Employing online surveys and telephone interviews, this study explores the daily use of online media by Ghanaians resident in the Washington metropolitan area to obtain news about their native country. It assesses how factors like demography, length of stay abroad and devices used affect time spent daily on the Internet looking for news as well as the …

Evaluation Of Ultra Fine Cigarette Smoke Particles Penetration On 3m 6200 Half Mask Respirators With P-100 Filters, Selcuk Elhan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of half mask respirator with double P-100 filters by determining the penetration of cigarette smoke particles. In this study, faceseal leakage of a breathing manikin donned a 3M 6200 half mask elastomeric respirator with double P-100 filters was determined at various test conditions. A full factorial test conditions of 4 sealing conditions (Non-sealed, only nose sealed, nose and chin sealed, and fully sealed), 2 inspiratory breathing types (Constant, cyclic), 4 flowing rates (15, 30, 50, 85 L/min for cyclic; 15, 30, 50, 80 L/min for constant) were employed and each test condition …

Immunity-Based Framework For Autonomous Flight In Gps-Challenged Environment, Mohanad Al Nuaimi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this research, the artificial immune system (AIS) paradigm is used for the development of a conceptual framework for autonomous flight when vehicle position and velocity are not available from direct sources such as the global navigation satellite systems or external landmarks and systems. The AIS is expected to provide corrections of velocity and position estimations that are only based on the outputs of onboard inertial measurement units (IMU). The AIS comprises sets of artificial memory cells that simulate the function of memory T- and B-cells in the biological immune system of vertebrates. The innate immune system uses information about …