Optimization Of The Cmc Algorithm, Christopher Joseph Moner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cartridge cases recovered from discharged firearms contain tool marks produced by the internal mechanisms of said firearm. Firearm and tool mark examiners com pare these marks to determine whether two cartridge cases originated from the same firearm. Traditional comparison methods have been criticized for their subjective nature and reliance on examiner interpretation rather than objective decision thresholds. The Congruent Matching Cells (CMC) algorithm was developed as a quantitative, objective method for tool mark comparison. CMC is a surface topography correlation algorithm that partitions a tool mark into small regions, or cells, and evaluates their similarity using the areal cross-correlation function …

Studying The Mechanism For Ricin-Induced Growth Suppression, Daniel Judge

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focuses on ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), a class of potent toxins that includes ricin, α-sarcin, and shiga toxin, which irreversibly damage large subunit rRNA. Although the catalytic activity of ricin toxin A chain (RTA) is well characterized, the precise mechanisms linking ribosome damage to altered cellular morphology remain poorly understood. In this study, we engineered a tetracycline-regulatable expression system to express RTA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We characterized the effects of RTA expression on yeast growth, viability, and reproductive potential. We demonstrated that our expression system produced rapid and robust RTA expression and ribosome depurination within less than one …

New Fossil Mygalomorph Spiders (?Idiopidae, Pycnothelidae) From The Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation Of Brazil, Elis Maria Gomes Santana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The infraorder Mygalomorphae represents one of the earliest-diverging lineages of spiders, but its fossil record remains sparse relative to the modern diversity of the group. This is a reflection of both ecological and preservational biases, such as the predominantly fossorial habits of many mygalomorphs and the strong bias of the spider fossil record toward amber deposits. Compression fossils from rock deposits are therefore especially important for documenting the evolutionary history of the group. Here, two new mygalomorph fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation, Araripe Basin (Brazil) are described. The first specimen is tentatively referred to ?Idiopidae based on male …

Intersectionality In Discrimination, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, And Suicide Ideation: Black Americans In Appalachian Contexts, Jailyn May Wilson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Racial discrimination is recognized as a race-based traumatic stressor that has been associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and suicide ideation (SI). However, there remains a paucity of research investigating the impact of racial and other forms of discrimination on understudied populations, including Black Americans residing in Appalachian regions. The current study used an online self-report survey to examine PTSS as a mediator in the association between perceived discrimination and SI and to examine the moderating effect of the number of identity factors with which one experienced discrimination (i.e., race, gender, region) on the relationship between perceived discrimination and PTSS. …

Geospatial Analysis Of Sinkhole Density And Characteristics In West Virginia, Marissa Shannon Loftus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Creation of a sinkhole map of West Virginia provides useful data to help identify areas susceptible to sinkhole related hazards, as well as allowing for detailed analysis of factors controlling karst development. Newly available, statewide LiDAR-derived digital elevation data have made mapping sinkholes over larger spatial extents feasible. For this study, sinkholes were mapped for all areas of West Virginia that are underlain by carbonate rocks; then the distribution and characteristics were evaluated overall and in four focus areas (Berkeley and Jefferson counties, Pendleton County, Greenbrier County, and Monroe County). These areas correspond to broader physiographic regions, with Berkeley, Jefferson, …

Exploring Youth Soccer Coach Recruitment Practices, Han-Earl Lim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative single-case study examined how a private-interest, nonprofit youth soccer club in the Midwestern United States recruits coaches, what coach qualities are prioritized in hiring, and how organizational and sociocultural conditions shape those practices. The study was guided by three research questions focused on (a) recruitment and early support processes, (b) hiring criteria and decision rationales, and (c) the organizational and sociocultural contexts influencing recruitment. Data were generated through five semi-structured interviews with four participants who were involved in recruitment practices (the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, and two full-time head coaches). Additional sources included an organizational mapping survey …

Leveraging Funds Of Knowledge And Funds Of Identity: Exploring Equitable Strategies For Diverse Classroom Settings, Evana Nusrat Dooty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores how elementary teachers in the U.S. perceive and incorporate students’ Funds of Knowledge (FoK) and Funds of Identity (FoI) to promote equity in diverse classroom settings. A review of literature highlights the significance of culturally responsive pedagogy, FoK & FoI frameworks, and equity-oriented teaching practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect participants’ perspectives on leveraging students’ home and community knowledge in instructional planning and classroom interactions. Lesson plans were collected from all participants to get idea about how they could utilize  FoK and FoI approach in their classroom instruction. The findings highlight the need for teacher preparation …

Borrowed But Mine: Time-Based Asymmetries In Psychological Ownership, Elizabeth Ann Brauer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

People often borrow everyday items, such as a friend’s jacket or pair of sunglasses, and after a period of use, may begin to feel as if the item is their own. Psychological ownership captures this felt sense of “mine,” even in the absence of legal ownership, and reflects the extent to which a target becomes incorporated into the self (Pierce et al., 2003). Despite decades of work on psychological ownership, little is known about how psychological ownership develops and changes within interpersonal lending and borrowing contexts. This dissertation examines how possession duration influences psychological ownership in interpersonal borrowing relationships and …

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding The Path Between Ai Adoption Intensity And Ai-Induced Job Insecurity, Joanna J. Frieske

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more embedded in organizational workflows and is reshaping work environments, changing how we work, make decisions, stay engaged, perform, and learn. While AI adoption is associated with a wide range of benefits, it also presents negative aspects that may affect employee experiences and influence the future of work. Drawing on extant literature and on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, and the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, this research proposes a model in which psychological safety mediates the relationship between AI adoption intensity and job insecurity, while procedural justice and AI self-efficacy act …

Divided Loyalties: Military Recruitment And Emancipation In Kentucky, Jacob Joseph Klinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores how Unionist Kentuckians leveraged their military recruitment to negotiate the scope of federal emancipation during the American Civil War. By 1863, the War Department’s need for troops superseded the racial sensitivities of inhabitants in loyal slave states like Kentucky by promising to free and enlist Black men if white recruits failed to fill the quota. Kentucky’s proslavery Unionists responded and white volunteerism surged by 23 percent, 10 percent more than the national average, to fill the quota and negate military emancipation. Kentucky leaders heralded the recruiting effort but struggled to sustain it alongside an uncredited militia which …

Assessing Flood Resilience In West Virginia Communities: Integrating Physical, Institutional, Socioeconomic, And Environmental Dimensions, Anahita Mahmoudi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Flooding is one of the most frequent and damaging natural hazards in the United States, with impacts expected to intensify under changing climate conditions. In regions such as West Virginia, complex terrain, development patterns along river corridors, and socioeconomic disparities contribute to elevated flood risk. Traditional approaches to flood risk assessment often focus on single dimensions of vulnerability or rely on binary floodplain maps, which do not fully capture the spatial variability and multidimensional nature of flood resilience.

This dissertation develops an integrated, community-scale framework for assessing flood resilience in West Virginia by combining physical, environmental, institutional, and socioeconomic dimensions …

Assessment Of Countermovement Jump In Athlete Status And Monitoring, Michael David Delong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Utilizing a CMJ to test athlete physical abilities and training program efficacy is popular, as it is simple, noninvasive, and has significant relations with sport qualities. However, assessments often use discrete outcome measures. This research explored strategy-based measures accounting for eccentric power and time and may explain athlete status more effectively. The research objectives are to analyze the use of the mean power rate of the CMJ to compare athletes' playing ability and its usefulness in monitoring during off-season training. Additionally, power-time curve analysis added location and timing of effects due to fatigue or fitness adaptation. Proper testing and monitoring …

Back To The Office Or Out The Door: The Impact Of Return-To-Office Mandates On Employee Well-Being And Turnover Intention, Charlotte Renee Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The widespread adoption of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered traditional workplace arrangements. As organizations increasingly implement RTO mandates, questions have emerged about how these changes affect employee well-being and turnover intentions. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources framework, this study examined the relationship between RTO mandates and two employee outcomes: employee well-being and turnover intention. The study also tested whether work engagement mediated these relationships and whether perceived organizational support and work stressors moderated the relationship between RTO mandates and work engagement.

A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 229 U.S. employees working …

International Students’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Institutional Diversity Initiatives And Self-Authorship Attainment: A Mixed Methods Study, Sandra Ayivor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Higher education institutions in the United States have responded to years of discrimination through several diversity initiatives. Although research has indicated the merits of such initiatives on student development, the outcomes are not uniform across all student populations. Moreover, student development discourses have often excluded the experiences of international students. Employing a convergent mixed methods approach, this study investigated the perceptions and experiences of international students at a flagship land-grant higher education institution in the Appalachian region of the United States regarding institutional diversity initiatives and their self-authorship based on some demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, age, marital status, religion, continent, …

Assessing The Feasibility Of The Virtual Reality Training Protocol For Sport, Jarad A. Lewellen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has supported the use of virtual reality (VR) in sport to train skills such as decision-making and anticipation, as well as aid in injury rehabilitation. Despite this, VR is not commonly used as a training tool in sport. Barriers to its adoption include a lack of understanding, low awareness, and risk of cybersickness. As such, there is a critical need to address these barriers and promote acceptance of VR in sport. The purpose of this single-arm, non-randomized, mixed-methods feasibility trial was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the Virtual Reality Training Protocol for Sport (VRTPS), which was designed …

Beyond The Byproduct: Exploring Approaches For The Sustainable Valorization Of Underutilized Food Streams, Ian Phillip Israelsen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Commercial food processing creates side-streams that are often underutilized yet hold significant potential for valorization into value-added products for consumer use. This study investigated and compared potential protein recovery and lipid removal potential from buckwheat (BW; Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), brewer’s spent grain (BSG), and coffee silverskin (CSS) using a one-step solvent defatting and a pH-shift protein extraction method. The extraction efficiency yields of extracted protein from CSS were significantly lower than all other samples (p < 0.05). The defatted BW had the highest extracted protein content of all samples (p < 0.05). The sizes of the proteins in the starting materials were observed using LDS-PAGE. These sizes were consistent with published values and were mostly unchanged by defatting or the pH-shift process. The presence of 13S globulins and 2S albumins was confirmed under reducing conditions. Protein extracted from all native samples had lower total free essential amino acids than the starting materials. Native CSS and extracted protein followed this trend, but in defatted CSS and respective extracted protein samples, the extracted proteins had higher free essential amino acid content than the starting materials, sometimes of twofold or greater (p < 0.05). After defatting, the percentage of lipids recovered compared to the original lipid content of the samples was measured. The crude fat content of native and hexane-defatted BW flour was higher than BW flour defatted with ethanol (p < 0.05). The lipid extraction efficiency of all samples ranged from 4.6 ± 1.26%–43.20 ± 14.21%. The mass of the native and defatted starting materials were recorded at each step of processing, with reasonable losses assessed. The major non-polar lipid classes in each starting material were separated using thin-layer chromatography. All samples also displayed the presence of polar lipids. When comparing starting materials, BW and BSG was the most effective for protein extraction, and BSG has the most promise for lipid removal and potential for upcycling. All the examined starting materials show promise for use in food supplementation, especially as native flours. These products are plentiful and considered underutilized or side-stream products.

Keep It Quiet: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Reduce Noise In The Operating Room During Anesthesia Induction, Ghislaine Fasseu Kameni

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Problem: Excessive noise during the critical phase of anesthesia induction in operating rooms (OR) can significantly impact anesthesia providers' ability to focus, potentially compromising patient safety and quality of care.

Objectives: This project aimed to reduce anesthesia providers' perception of distraction caused by noise during induction by implementing educational interventions and visual cues. The objectives included educating anesthesia and surgical staff on the impact of noise, introducing visual reminders to minimize distractions, and evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies through survey data collection.

Methods: A quality improvement initiative was conducted in the OR department of a nearby hospital. Certified registered …

Influence Of Different Rates Of Biochar And Deer Browsing On Pollinator Plant Productivity, Bipana Bhusal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass, has received wide attention for soil amendment to improve plant growth. However, its specific effects on pollinator friendly plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of four biochar application rates (0, 10, 20, 40 tons/acre) and deer exclusion (fenced vs. unfenced) on the productivity of three pollinator species; Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) in a utility right of way with a history of mining. A split-plot randomized design was used, and the results were analyzed using …

A New Electronic Handoff Tool To Facilitate Patient Transfer From The Or To Sicu: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Kaylan Jean Kerrigan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: Transfer of care is a vulnerable time for patients. Continuity of care depends on good communication from the transferring team to the receiving team. Communication failures contribute to frustration among medical staff and poor patient outcomes. Purpose: The purose of this project was to improve handoff communication and satisfaction between the anesthesia team in the operating room (OR) and the receiving surgical intensive care unit (SICU) nurses. Intervention: A new electronic handoff tool was developed for the Epic electronic health record (EHR) to provide SICU nurses with patient information (name, age, allergies), procedure and diagnosis, intubation status, reversal status, …

A Critical Narrative Inquiry Into The Experiences Of Latino Male Graduate International Students Attending A Pwi, Cesar Miguel Castellon Gort

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative study examines how Latino male international graduate students navigate identity, belonging, and exclusion within U.S. higher education. Although international enrollment has increased, the experiences of this student population remain largely invisible in research and institutional practice. Guided by Intersectionality and Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), this study investigates how intersecting dimensions of race, language, age, gender, and immigration status shape these students’ academic and social experiences. Using a critical narrative methodology, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and identity web exercises with four participants. Employing story chaining to link individual narratives, four central themes emerged: 1) Racialized and …

Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health, Kinsey Reed Close

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The sustainability of agricultural landscapes depends on understanding the complex interactions between plants, soil, and microbes. In Appalachia, a region shaped by complex terrain and long histories of human and ecological interaction, small family farms produce hay, livestock, and row crops. These agroecosystems, though often treated as “artificial” by many ecologists, have the potential to support both food production and biodiversity conservation if managed with an understanding of ecological complexity. This dissertation examines how plant and microbial diversity interact with soil and management to influence nutrient cycling, soil health, and long-term resilience in Appalachian agricultural systems. A literature review revealed …

"She's Such A Nice Girl": Exploring The Literacy And Identity Formation Practices Of Black Girls In White, Appalachian Communities, Tamicah Tierra Owens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the experiences and stories of two Black girls in predominantly White Appalachian communities, focusing on the language and literacy practices they employ to navigate and make sense of their Black feminine identities. It focuses on how literacy and language skills acquired from spending quality time with their mothers, engaging in various spaces with friends, and engaging in interest-driven traditional media and/or social media helped them to analyze their communities’ and the larger landscapes’ discourses around race and gender to create and modify their desired identities. This qualitative study employs narrative case study to center the lived experiences …

Understanding Implementation Of Engineering Practices In Primary Grades Through Practitioner Literature, Marcie L. Raol

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document analysis of elementary science education practitioner literature, namely Science Activities and Science and Children, between the years of 2009-2022 was completed to gain an understanding of the ways in which engineering practices have been implemented in primary grade classrooms over time. The Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) were released in 2013 and provided national standards that integrated engineering into the structure of science education. One justification for this inclusion was to help students solve major societal and environmental challenges of the future. The research divided the years into three time periods in order to provide a …

Community-Wide Impacts Assessment Of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix) In The Ohio River, Luka Marques

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Invasive species can cause measurable impacts on the properties of recipient ecosystems, with effects that often vary spatially and temporally. One of the most complex and pressing invasion cases in the United States involves invasive carp. Invasive carp have quickly expanded throughout the Mississippi River Basin, with ecological impacts that may vary across space and time. Silver Carp has the potential to provoke community-wide impacts on native fish abundances and food webs of native fish communities. My study area ranged from the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River to R.C. Byrd Lock and Dam. The Ohio River …

Investigating The Biology, Hypovirulence, And Pathogenicity Of Three Canker-Causing Phytopathogenic Fungi In The Cryphonectriaceae And Cytosporaceae On American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata) And Oaks (Quercus Spp.) In The Eastern U.S., Danielle N. Mikolajewski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and various oak species (Quercus spp.) are impacted by several economically important canker pathogens in the fungal order Diaporthales, namely Cryphonectria parasitica and Endothia gyrosa (Cryphonectriaceae). Cytospora canker caused by several closely related fungi in the fungal genera Cytospora and Valsa (Cytosporaceae) have also been implicated in causing canker diseases of Quercus and Castanea in Asia, Europe and North America. The impacts of C. parasitica on American chestnut have been exhaustively studied and it’s impacts on various oak hosts have also been broadly investigated and reported. Endothia gyrosa has …

Impacts Of Trout Stocking And Non-Native Trout Populations On Wild Brook Trout Salvelinus Fontinalis In West Virginia Streams, Xander A. Lamping

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding the extent that anglers targeting stocked trout end up harvesting wild Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis addition to studying how non-native trout species affect native Brook Trout populations is important for effective management and conservation in the central Appalachian Mountains. This thesis addresses these concerns in two parts. The first chapter used a combination of creel surveys and non-lethal morphometric methods to estimate wild Brook Trout harvest rates on four stocked streams during the West Virginia spring stocking season. A generalized linear model was developed to determine the origin (wild vs. hatchery) of Brook Trout harvested by anglers. This differentiation …

Evaluation Of Rare Earth Element Hydraulic Preconcentrate Material Strength Characteristics And Operation Manual Development For Triaxial Machine Testing, Nicholas C. Stalnaker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As part of ongoing efforts to establish a domestic Rare Earth Elements (REE) supply chain, Hydraulic Preconcentrate (HPC) generated at the Horseshoe Bend (HsB) treatment plant was produced and evaluated as a potential feedstock source. Following adjustment of the site’s clarifiers to the required pH set points, HPC was collected and pumped into 24 geobags. These geobags were passively dewatered to raise the total solids content. The evaluation included three geobag types: woven geotextile, composite (woven and non-woven), and geobags enhanced with Capillary Channel Fiber (CCF) (Bird, 2024). Hydraulic Preconcentrate (HPC) material is collected through efforts to contain and properly …

Development Of A Mixed Reality Robotics Testing Environment, Haneen Hanoon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Development of a Mixed Reality Robotics Testing Environment

Haneen Hanoon

This research presents the development of a Mixed Reality (MR) robotic framework that integrates real and virtual environments for experimental robotics, education, and visualization. The proposed system combines a motion-capture system, a simulator, and a projector to create a spatially aligned, interactive workspace where physical robots coexist with projected virtual objects. The framework enables real-robot motion to be tracked in real time and mirrored in the simulated environment, allowing projected obstacles, goals, and paths to be precisely aligned with the physical world.

A coordinate transformation and scaling process was implemented …

How Do The Commitments Required To Be An Agricultural Education Teacher Impact The Children Of Female Agricultural Education Teachers As Perceived By Their Children?, Danielle Nicole Grant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to explore how adult children of women agricultural education teachers articulate their experiences growing up with their mother working in the agricultural education field. This will be examined through the following research. The phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of five adult children of female agricultural education teachers in a single state. The research was conducted through recorded virtual interviews with a targeted list of pre-determined questions. Five themes emerged after utilizing Colaizzi’s phenomenological method of analysis: 1) Mother’s Commitment to Implementing the Three Circle Model, 2) The Need for Outside “Maternal” Role Assistance, …

Racial And Ethnic Threat And The Accessibility Of The Legal Recreational Cannabis Market In California, Kathryn L. Burnham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Racial and Ethnic Threat and the Accessibility of the Legal Recreational Cannabis Market in California

By Kathryn L. Burnham

Drug prohibition has a racialized history in the United States (US). Cannabis became synonymous with the perceived enhanced criminality of Black and Hispanic populations by the White public. Despite similar prevalence of cannabis use among people who are Black, White, and Hispanic, the vilification and stigmatization of Black and Hispanic cannabis users began in the early 1900s and continued for over a century. As individual states continue to legalize cannabis use and public opinion favors the federal legalization of cannabis, it …