Digital Commons Network^™

Multimorbidity, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use, And Healthcare Expenditures Among Older Patients With Late-Stage Melanoma, Pragya Rai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With decades of unchanged cancer care with no added survival benefit, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) changed the treatment landscape of late-stage melanoma in 2011. A key factor in determining the use of ICIs is the presence of pre-existing chronic conditions, which can influence the outcome. However, the prevalence of multimorbidity (defined as presence of two or more chronic conditions) among older patients with late-stage melanoma remains unknown. It also remains unknown if the presence of multimorbidity factors into the use of ICIs. Hospital-related factors associated with ICI use have been studied. Yet, patient-level factors, such as age, sex, marital status, …

Internalization Of Sociocultural Standards Of Beauty, Perception Of Career Barriers, Depression, And State Physical Appearance Anxiety Among College Women, Adrionia Molder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Women experience barriers that impede progress in a career and career goals, resulting in reduced career-related outcomes. Although gender discrimination has been identified as a contributing factor to the differential career development of men and women in the United States (U.S.), women’s career-related outcomes may be better explained by unaccounted for career barriers. Most notably, internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty, depression, and anxiety have been found to reduce women’s career-related outcomes. Therefore, the goal of this study was to explore career barriers that currently impact women’s career development in the U.S. Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown, …

Parametric Optimization Of Visible Wavelength Gold Lattice Geometries For Improved Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Casey A. Norville

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The exploitation of spectro-plasmonics will allow for innovations in optical instrumentation development and the realization of more efficient optical biodetection components. Biosensors have been shown to improve the overall quality of life through real-time detection of various antibody-antigen reactions, biomarkers, infectious diseases, pathogens, toxins, viruses, etc. has led to increased interest in the research and development of these devices. Further advancements in modern biosensor development will be realized through novel electrochemical, electromechanical, bioelectrical, and/or optical transduction methods aimed at reducing the size, cost, and limit of detection (LOD) of these sensor systems. One such method of optical transduction involves the …

Prescribing The Profession: Representations Of Medical Professionalization Debates In American Literary Forms, 1830-1940, Jeffrey Wayne Yeager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation traces the debates concerning the professionalization of medicine in America across the 19^th- and well into the 20^th-century and explores how the debates concerning professionalization in any given moment affected popular literary forms. Using Fredric Jameson’s The Political Unconscious as its theoretical framework, this dissertation’s chapters on the gothic, realism, naturalism, and satire trace each mode’s dominant hegemonic position on this issue while showcasing dissenting voices across this century-long discourse. This project’s methodology is centered in the New Historicism. Unlike other projects before it, this dissertation focuses primarily on the historical problem of state …

Ultrafast Optical Properties Of La0.7sr0.3mno3 Thin Films, Saeed Yousefi Sarraf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thin film solids often exhibit different physical properties in the ultra-thin regime. Enhancement of surface to bulk ratio results in the domination of surface/interface related phenomena such as surface recombination. Moreover, in the ultra-thin regime, quantum size and quantum confinement effects can alter the band gap of the system and constrain the strain wave propagation in the thin film. Ultrafast properties of solids can also be drastically altered in the ultra-thin regime due to the aforementioned phenomena. Experimentally, observation of these phenomena is challenging due to the insufficient material to absorb and interact with the electromagnetic wave. This dissertation addresses …

Tree Growth And Water Use Efficiency During The Twentieth Century: From Global Trends To Local Drivers, Justin Michael Mathias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The frequency and severity of extreme environmental conditions will continue to increase under global environmental change. How terrestrial plants respond to prolonged, and often novel environmental stressors, will have profound impacts on, and feedbacks with, the Earth climate system at local to continental scales. Central to these feedbacks are plant stomata, actively regulated pores on the leaves of plants that act as a control valve over the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the leaf during photosynthesis and water vapor (H₂O) out of the leaf during transpiration. Importantly, changes in stomatal aperture do not affect the …

Paper-Based Point-Of-Care Tools For Blood Testing, Xuefei Gao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early detection of malignant disease is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective medical intervention, which significantly increases survival rates and reduce financial burden on patients. Biomarkers are becoming increasingly important in detection of malignant diseases, because they can be employed for indicating diseases, predicting risks and monitoring the progression of diseases. In addition, biomarkers show up at early stages of diseases in human tissues and fluids (e.g., blood, urine and saliva), which shows great promise for early disease detection. In this dissertation, paper-based lateral flow strips (PLFSs) have been developed for the detection of disease biomarkers, including protein biomarkers and …

Impact Of Sire Selection And Breed On Parasite Resistance In Sheep, Andrew Ryan Weaver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Selection within and among breeds are strategies to mitigate the impact of parasitism given failing chemotherapeutics. While Texels have improved marketability compared to other parasite-resistant breeds, the mechanism by which Texels reduce fecal egg count (FEC) is unclear. The immune response to Haemonchus contortus (Hc) was compared in Texel, parasite-resistant St. Croix, and parasite-susceptible Suffolk sheep. Adult worms exposed to St. Croix- and Texel-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum in vitro had greater binding around the reproductive structures than Suffolk and worm egg release tended to be affected by breed (P = 0.09). Resistance in Texels …

Effects Of Appalachian Culture And Pregnancy Status On Pain-Related Fear, Cecelia Irene Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fear of pain during pregnancy is an understudied phenomenon with important implications for prenatal and postpartum functioning. The aim of the current study was to understand the role of pregnancy and culture on pain-related fear in Appalachia. Archival datasets, and a new sample of women recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, were sources of data. Participants completed the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-9 and responded to demographic questions in order to ascertain whether they were pregnant at the time of the study as well as the number and nature of prior pregnancies. In support of hypotheses, results indicated that pregnant women reported …

Evolutionary Genomics Of Dynamic Sex Chromosomes In The Salicaceae, Ran Zhou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Identifying the sex-determination region (SDR) and other genomic features of sex chromosomes are of great importance in the studies of the evolution of sex. However, the process of accurately identifying the size and location of the SDR is often difficult, even when a genomic sequence is available. This usually is hindered by large repetitive elements and a lack of recombination in the SDR. In this thesis, I assemble sex chromosomes with whole genomic sequencing data, identify SDRs and explore their genomic features in two sister species from the Salicaceae family. I also develop an interpretation of the lability of the …

Neuroimaging Of Real-World Audio-Visual Sensory Integration In High-Functioning Autism, Paula J. Webster

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sensory processing differences are a prevalent aspect of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may contribute to core deficits of ASD such as repetitive behaviors as well as comorbidities including anxiety disorders. The ability to integrate information among our senses is required to comprehend the world around us and is crucial for the development of language, motor skills, and social communication. Prior studies have shown that individuals with autism differ from individuals without autism when presented with simple, non-natural audio-visual stimuli such as basic shapes accompanied by pure tones. Because the human brain processes non-natural and natural stimuli differently, more recent …

The Effects Of Internal Physiology On Polyphenic Horn Development In The Dung Beetle Onthophagus Taurus, Naomi Garrett Williamson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An organism’s phenotype can be affected in development by alterations to gene expression based on environmental inputs. Nutrition is one such environmental input and the central regulator of development of large horn or small horn phenotypes in the dung beetle species, Onthophagus taurus. However, little is known about the nature of chemical compounds that are critical to this plastic horn development. To better understand these compounds, we are utilizing an untargeted metabolomic approach as well as a targeted gene approach. Through the metabolomic approach, it was uncovered that environmental conditions tend to have a greater impact on metabolomic composition …

Top-Down Model Development Using Data Generated From A Complex Numerical Reservoir Simulation With Water Injection, Yvon Andrea Martinez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerical simulation and data-driven modeling are two current approaches in engineering reservoir modeling. Numerical reservoir simulation attempts to match past production history by modifying reservoir properties of the model. After multiple computationally intensive trial and error efforts, accurate history matches are identified. These history matches are used by project management for production forecasting purposes. Data-driven reservoir modeling utilizes measured data and is, therefore, free of assumptions that are often included in numerical reservoir simulations. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms are technologies implemented in the development of a data-driven reservoir model with efforts to learn fluid flow through porous media …

Evaluating Inorganic Feed Phosphate Type And Further Potential Of Phytase Supplementation Using A Commercial Broiler Model, Angela Elsie Lamp

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Optimizing feed formulation of poultry diets may be achieved by proper utilization of nutrients and feed additives. This will provide a less expensive and nutrient efficient diet to the bird. An experiment was conducted to evaluate early broiler performance, tibia mineralization, and mineral digestibility of broilers fed diets that differed in inorganic feed phosphates (IFP) but that were formulated to be either similar in dietary non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) and calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P), total mineral content, or calculated prececal digestible phosphorus (CPDP). Dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monodicalcium phosphate (MDP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), and defluorinated phosphate were used in formulations with …

Shaping Urban Spaces To Fit Into Religious Boundaries Through Landscape, Niharika Alahari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In India, rivers are considered a sacred entity for Hindus and temples on the banks of rivers are a common sight in Indian architectural character. Devotees come to worship and perform small ceremonies on ghats, banks of the river, to the gods and ancestors. This is considered a part of an important ritual prior to entering the temple associated with the river. One such river in South India where this practice occurs, is the Krishna river in Vijayawada, an important pilgrimage center for devotees and the location for this study. Although this practice is a daily occurrence and one hundred …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of Probabilistic Genotyping Software On Complex Mixture Samples, Kristen Newland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Probabilistic genotyping systems use sophisticated algorithms to aid DNA analysts with complex mixture interpretation. These systems are used to generate a likelihood ration (LR) which is used to provide the analyst with the statistical weight of the match between an evidence profile and a known contributor. Complex mixtures occur from samples consisting of more than two contributors and samples that have experienced degradation or consist of low template quantity.

This study was performed to compare the performance of three mixture analysis software tools on the same set of samples to determine the capabilities of each software, false inclusions, and false …

Dendroclimatic Analysis And Site Index Modeling Of Central Appalachian Red Spruce, Eric L. Yetter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Red spruce (Picea rubens) was historically an important and dominant timber species in the central Appalachian mountain range. The tree species is now found in a small fraction of its original home range. Threatened and endangered organisms such as the Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi) rely on red spruce associated forests for survival. Recent concerns including air pollution and climate change may threaten the health of remaining red spruce populations.

I used dendrochronology data to conduct historic dendroclimatic analyses and construct future growth projections for red spruce throughout the central Appalachians. My research involves the use of tree core data …

Associations Between The Adult Adhd Self-Report Rating Scale And The Test Of Differential Inhibition And Attention, Andrew Benton Darling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ranks among the most common mental health disorders in adults (APA, 2013). ADHD assessment is complicated by heterogenous symptoms, gender and age differences in diagnosis, variability in symptom manifestation across the lifespan, and comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders and medical conditions (Asherson, 2016; Willcut, 2012; Williamson & Johnston, 2015). The stop-signal task (SST) identifies ADHD clinical groups in children and adults (Lifffijt et al., 2005), yet it remains unclear whether SST performance reflects general deficits in attention (Alderson et al., 2007) or a selective deficit in motor response inhibition (Aron & Poldrack, 2005). Studies of SST often …

Pulmonary Immune Responses To Respirable Elongate Mineral Particles Of Asbestiform And Non-Asbestiform Morphologies, Timur Khaliullin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inhalation exposure to asbestiform elongate mineral particles (EMPs) may cause pulmonary fibrosis, lung and pleural cancer. At the same time, epidemiological evidence for non-asbestiform EMP pathogenicity is scarce, with little if any risk of cancer, but consistent findings of pneumoconiosis and increased mortality. Globally, conditions caused by asbestos exposures contribute most to the occupational cancer burden and are responsible for the increasing mortality for occupational respiratory diseases. Immunological components of the fiber-induced lesions are extremely understudied, partly due to the lack of comparable test articles. In this study I utilized respirable preparations of asbestiform and non-asbestiform riebeckite and tremolite to …

Central Appalachian Understory Red Spruce (Picea Rubens Sarg.) Growth Rates And Allometric Relationships, Joseph M. Gray

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Red spruce (Picea rubens) was a prized timber species in West Virginia during the era of resource exploitation in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Consequently, Central Appalachian red spruce has faced large reductions in range and changes in stand composition. This region is relatively underrepresented in literature partially due to these constrictions. Investigating how stem growth occurs in young individuals can fill in some of our gaps in understanding the species and aid in restoration efforts. We sampled an array of high elevation sites on federal and state lands in West Virginia to analyze understory spruce growth …

Nitrogen Fertilization Decouples Roots And Microbes In Temperate Forests: Impacts On Soil Carbon And Nitrogen Cycling, Joseph E. Carrara

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since the start of the industrial revolution the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in enhanced nitrogen (N) inputs into temperate forests through atmospheric deposition. As N is the limiting nutrient for tree growth across most forests, these inputs have generally enhanced above-ground biomass accumulation. However, the impacts of added N on soil carbon storage (C) are less straightforward. While the mean N response across studies is an enhancement of soil C, these results are variable with some studies reporting net C losses. The classic paradigm posits that N enhances soil C through negative effects on fungal decomposers. However, some …

C-Jun Nh2-Terminal Kinase Signaling Controls Cellular Mechanisms Of Guided Cortical Interneuron Migration, Skye Eleanor Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The cerebral cortex is an intricately organized brain structure responsible for high-level functions including sensory perception, movement, memory, language, and cognition. During corticogenesis, cortical excitatory neurons and inhibitory interneurons migrate from their respective progenitor zones into the developing cerebral cortex, deposit in the correct cortical layer, and establish connections with their appropriate synaptic partners. The balance between excitation and inhibition is critical for cortical circuitry development and function. Aberrant migration of inhibitory interneurons can alter the formation of cortical circuitry and lead to several neurodevelopmental disorders including epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms responsible for inhibitory …

Obese Zucker Rats As A Reverse Translational Model Of Human Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Mackenzie Shelby Newman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart failure is a lifelong disability that for over half of those affected leads to mortality within five years after initial diagnosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most reliable independent predictors of heart failure. Pathological LVH is irreversible, but early diagnosis is often missed due to its asymptomatic nature. Obese Zucker rats (OZR), which develop obesity due to dysfunctional leptin signaling, naturally exhibit a LVH that mimics the obese human condition. Animal models are necessary because human donor tissue is scarce. The central hypothesis is that genes and proteins that are differentially expressed during development of LVH, …

An Examination Of The Impacts Of The Wvu Research Apprenticeship Program (Rap), Mostafa Hashemi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Finding solutions to the problem of high attrition rates among students has been widely discussed by policymakers. Many intervention programs have been introduced to address this issue. The current study uses the tripartite integration model of social influence (TIMSI), (Kelman 1958, 1961; Estrada et al., 2011) to investigate and evaluate the effects of the research apprenticeship program (RAP), an intervention program aimed at supporting student performance and persistence through research and mentorship implemented at West Virginia University. The mediation analysis revealed research identity as a significant mediator in the relationship between RAP status and STEM persistence. Furthermore, RAP participants were …

Structural Characterization Of Emerging Synthetic Drugs, Jay Tyler Davidson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The identification of well-characterized seized drugs is performed thousands of times a day in the United States; however, the expanding use of emerging synthetic drugs is creating a growing problem for both toxicological and seized drug analyses. Two of the most rapidly growing areas of emerging synthetic drugs are synthetic cathinones and fentanyl-related compounds (FRCs). In this work we demonstrate the combination of multi-stage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ), accurate mass measurements with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and isotopic labeling for the structural characterization of synthetic cathinones and fentanyl analogs. The deliverables of this research include the identification of conserved …

Root Coverage Predictability In The Treatment Of Gingival Recessions On Mandibular And Anterior Teeth, Michele Agusto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction. Mandibular anterior teeth are most frequently affected by gingival recessions. However, data regarding mucogingival treatment aimed at root coverage in this specific location is limited.

Aim. To systematically review the literature addressing the focused question: “What is the effectiveness, efficacy and efficiency of different surgical approaches on clinical and patient-related outcomes in the treatment of buccal gingival recessions on mandibular anterior teeth?”

Material methods. Electronic (Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) and hand literature searches were performed for studies including at least one arm involving the use of pedicle flaps and/or free soft tissue grafts in the …

Modulation Of Semiconductor Photoconversion With Surface Modification And Plasmon, Joeseph Martin Bright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Semiconductor devices are the basis of modern technology. Semiconductor-based photoconversion devices that convert light into electrical signals have shown potential for light energy harvesting and conversion, environmental remediation, and sensors for detection of light, chemicals, and biological substances. Despite this potential for use in many applications, semiconductor photoconversion devices need further improvement in the photoconversion performance. This photoconversion improvement may be manifested as increased photoconversion efficiencies for light harvesting devices for power generation such as photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells or improved photoconversion modulation to increase the sensitivity of semiconductor photoconversion-based sensors. In addition, alternative semiconductor materials to semiconductors that …

A Qualitative Case Study Research Investigation Of Youth Outcomes During An Appalachian Water-Quality Citizen Science Program, Jessica Kaplan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Citizen science has grown in the past decades to not only include everyday people in research, but also varying levels of engagement with diverse opportunities for participant learning and growth. However, few studies reflect the actual learning outcomes of educational citizen science specifically in youth. This single case study research study focuses on assessing learning and other outcomes of an environmental education, collaborative citizen science program with youth in Morgantown, West Virginia. In this study, a water quality monitoring citizen science program focused on Deckers Creek in Morgantown, WV was adapted for a high school afterschool club. Potential outcomes of …

Exploring Aspects Of Science Literacy Demonstrated By Early Undergraduate Stem Majors Through A Manuscript-Style Writing Assignment, Samantha Lynn Jusino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the past twenty years, scientific literacy amongst undergraduates has not improved despite their exposure to higher education science classes. Underlying mechanisms of science literacy development are poorly understood; however, exposure to authentic practices in science has been demonstrated as a means to fostering science literacy development. A unique approach to studying science literacy is through examining the three domains of the science literacy conceptual framework developed in this study, Science as Access, Science as Process, and Science as a Sociopolitical Factor and their components as they emerge through the process of writing a manuscript-style writing assignment. In …

Disquiet Depictions, Olivia L. Oddo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts exhibition - Disquiet Depictions. Presented within the exhibition was a collection of paintings, ranging from acrylic to mixed media. As someone living with both anxiety and panic disorder the symptoms that I have experienced, as well as the coping mechanisms that I have practiced, all influenced the paintings displayed within this exhibition. Imagery included self-portraiture across a variety of emotional expressions felt during moments of sporadic fear and happiness, vibrant geometric patterns serving therapeutic purposes, and subtle medication symbolism. Collectively, these paintings provide a visual journey into …