Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying The Impacts Of Genetically Engineered Crops And Deep Soil C Cycling On The Sustainability Of Bioenergy Crop Production, Zoe Pagliaro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioenergy can help mitigate climate change by providing a carbon-neutral fuel source. However, multiple challenges exist to achieving carbon neutrality including converting lignocellulosic materials to fuel and enhancing soil C sequestration during the growth of the feedstocks. To address these challenges, there have been recent efforts to genetically modify feedstocks to produce more energy dense oils that increase fuel conversion efficiency and to cultivate deep-rooted perennial feedstocks that can enhance soil C storage. However, the C consequences and efficacy of these solutions remain largely uncertain.

To examine the C consequences of enhancing oil content of bioenergy feedstocks, I examined the …

How Do Higher Education Teaching And Learning Centers Contribute To An Institutional Culture Of Assessment?, Tracey Jean Beckley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Teaching and learning centers in higher education are often charged with providing faculty development programming in support of overarching institutional goals related to effective teaching and assessment of student learning. Using the theoretical frameworks of Maki and Weiner as a launch pad, this exploratory case study examines how two teaching and learning centers have provided services, implemented programming, and strategically affected cultural change among faculty and other stakeholders in support of an institutional culture of assessment. The study revealed four thematic strands to consider when developing practical ways for teaching and learning centers to contribute to a culture-building endeavor in …

Narrative Inquiry Of Early Career Teachers’ Experiences Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kinsey Ann Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study utilized narrative inquiry to learn the stories of early career teachers of students with disabilities as they navigated teaching during a global pandemic. Five early career teachers participated in a series of three semi-structured virtual interviews. Interviews were transcribed then analyzed using a six-phase approach to thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Nine themes were identified: Teaching, Communication, Parents, Special Education, Workload, Resources, Training and professional development, job satisfaction, and teacher preparation. Themes were organized and presented to answer the research questions of the study. The findings contribute to understanding pandemic-related challenges faced by early career teachers of …

Similitude, Scaling, And Prediction Of Stream Dissolved Oxygen Across The Contiguous U.S., Aron Gebreslase

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a general indicator of stream water quality and ecosystem health. However, the concentration of in-stream DO is controlled by various climatic, land use/cover, hydrologic, biochemical, and ecological drivers. Observational data for stream DO are often unavailable at the desired temporal and spatial scales. Accurate and reliable prediction of stream DO concentration based on a small set of environmental drivers is important to guide the water managers and policymakers to achieve and maintain healthy streams. This dissertation focused on identifying the dominant controls of stream DO and understanding the mechanisms and environmental regimes by employing machine learning, …

Appalachian Adolescents In An Out-Of-School-Time Program: Examining The Role Of Social Support From Family And Friends For Coping Skills And Intellectual Risk-Taking Outcomes, Summer Kuhn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research on young adults has emphasized the importance of social support for generating positive physical, mental, and academic outcomes. This study aims to understand the impact of social support from family and friends on coping skills and intellectual risk-taking among high school seniors participating in an Out-of-School-Time (OST) program in Appalachia. Data from the program’s annual evaluation (2014-2018) was analyzed to measure associations between perceived social support from family and friends and students’ coping skills and intellectual risk-taking. Moreover, potential differences in these associations across genders were considered. Analyses found a significant association between family-based social support and coping skills, …

Sleep And Cardiovascular Reactivity To An Acute Virtual Stressor, Alaina Grace Tiani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inappropriate response and magnitude of cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to stress is a proposed mechanism through which environmental stressors are linked with poor cardiovascular health outcomes (Chida & Steptoe, 2010; Krantz & Manuck, 1984). Studies of reactivity to various laboratory tasks commonly control for factors known to influence CVR such as smoking, medication use, caffeine intake, and BMI; however, few have considered the influence of sleep on CVR. In order to determine whether sleep characteristics need to be assessed and considered in studies of CVR, this study aimed to examine the association between indices of sleep quality and the magnitude and …

Vaping During Pregnancy: Effects On Vascular And Behavioral Outcomes In Offspring, Eiman A. Aboaziza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electronic cigarette (e-cig) use is increasing due to aggressive marketing, tempting flavors, and seemingly higher acceptability in the community (lesser perceived social stigma) despite unproven claims of safety. In an alarming trend, pregnant women smokers have turned to novel “modified risk” products, such as e-cigs, in response to heavy marketing of e-cigs as safer alternatives to cigarettes and a tool to help quit smoking. This is despite proven detrimental effects of nicotine on a growing fetus, and scarcity of information regarding toxicity of e-liquid (with and without nicotine) on child development. Moreover, rampant e-cig use among youth (nearly 4 million …

Mechanical Response Of Vartm Infused Frp Composites, Andrew Kenney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mechanical Response of VARTM based FRP composites

Andrew Kenney

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently created two new design specification for rail tank cars. These new types of classification, DOT-117 and DOT-117R, are designed with additional safety precautions to prevent hazardous chemicals from leaking out in case of a derailment. Features such as a thicker outer steel wall, head shield, and top and bottom valve protections provide additional protection compared to the current DOT-113 tank cars at the cost of additional weight. The WVU-CFC proposes a multifunctional, composite jacket that could be used in place of current tank …

Evaluating Potential Soil Amendments And Geomorphic Methods For Mine Land Reclamation, Amanda Rodrigues Silva

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The United States has approximately 22% of the world’s coal reserves. Since 1961, the electric power sector has been the major user of coal in the U.S., accounting for 91.9% of the coal consumed in the country in 2021. Sixty-two percent of total U.S. coal production in 2021 was sourced from surface mining, and Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Montana were responsible for 74% of this total production.

Coal-mining activities expose sulfide minerals in rocks that, when in contact with oxidizing conditions, produce sulfate-rich drainage known as acid mine drainage (AMD). AMD treatment typically involves chemical treatments to raise …

The Relationship Between Oral Health And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Hemodialysis Patients In Rural West Virginia, Kimberly A. Wallace

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Approximately 786,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, 71% of whom are undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment. There is a bidirectional relationship between chronic kidney disease and periodontal disease. Among HD patients, poor oral health is prominent and can negatively impact general health and health-related quality of life. Appalachian residents experience extreme health and poverty inequities and limited access to healthcare and dental providers.

Method: The study was designed based on the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. 120 participants from 6 outpatient HD centers were enrolled. Data were collected using a 34-item questionnaire including oral health …

Mechanistic Insight Into Chronic Stress-Induced Cerebrovascular Dysfunction, Emily Nicole Burrage

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite decades of research psychological stress remains a prevalent problem in society, often diminishing quality of life and increasing the risk of developing dementia. The brain plays a central role in the response to stress and as it is unable to store energy substrates, the brain relies heavily on dynamically regulated blood flow. Therefore, it is important that there is a tight coupling between neural activity and cerebral blood flow to meet metabolic demands and maintain critical brain function. It has been established that chronic psychological stress has detrimental effects on cerebrovascular function, potentially through increased superoxide anion production through …

Prevalence Of Cortical Bone Fenestration And Sinus Membrane Thickening In Association With Endodontic Infection. A Review Of Cbct Scans., David Desta

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prevalence of Cortical Bone Fenestration and Sinus Membrane Thickening in Association with Endodontic Infection. A review of CBCT scans.

Introduction

Although a systemic disease due to the spread of endodontic infection is very rare or non-existing, the dissemination of endodontic infection into intimately associated anatomical structures such as alveolar bone and maxillary sinus are known (1-4). In this study we examined and reported the prevalence of maxillary sinus involvement and cortical bone fenestration during an endodontic infection. The study also evaluated and presented association between factors such as (type of teeth, systemic diseases, patient’s age, and gender) and radiographic presentation …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Collaborative Care Clinical Pathway For The Treatment Of Adolescent Depression And Anxiety In Rural Pediatric Primary Care, Kayla R. Watson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evaluating the Feasibility of a Collaborative Care Clinical Pathway for the Treatment of Adolescent Depression and Anxiety in Rural Pediatric Primary Care

Kayla Watson

Background: Due to a national shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (CAP), Primary Care Providers (PCP) are often required to manage patients with mental health disorders despite a lack of focused training and lower self-efficacy or confidence in the management of these disorders. Referral to CAPs for management following the diagnosis of adolescent depression and anxiety is a common practice. The integration of mental health services within the primary care setting can overcome many of these …

Implementation Of Standardized Handoff Reporting To Improve Communication Among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists And Postanesthesia Care Unit Nurses In The Postanesthesia Care Unit, Lauryn G. Macfawn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Standardization of handoff reporting has been proven to increase the quality of information being transferred and improve patient safety. Poor quality handoff between providers increases morbidity and mortality, hospital length of stay, healthcare costs, as well as decreases patient satisfaction The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement (QI) project was to implement the situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) handoff reporting tool in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) at a hospital in Western Maryland. There was no standardized handoff process in place between certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and PACU registered nurses (RNs) at the facility. The participants …

Implementation Of A Training Program To Improve The Crna Precepting Experience At An Academic Medical Center, Megan Jean Gillespie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Formal preceptorship training has been shown to improve the comfort and confidence with precepting across many disciplines. Currently, there is no training program in place for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) preceptors at a large academic medical center in West Virginia. The overarching goal of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a formal preceptorship training for the CRNAs at the facility of interest. The training, or intervention, was the Preceptor Essentials Parts I and II on NetLearning. This project followed the pre-intervention-post-survey design. The participants were self-selected CRNAs. The survey results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U …

A Multi-Method Evaluation Of Parent And Child Factors Associated With Child Abuse Potential, Lindsay R. Druskin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Child abuse is a pervasive, global problem impacting millions of children (Stoltenborgh et al., 2015). Researchers have largely relied on the use of parent-report questionnaires to examine a variety of risk factors for child abuse (see Azar, 2002; Stith et al., 2009), leaving a gap in the research regarding the link between observed parent and child behaviors and child abuse potential. Utilizing a sample of families clinically referred for child behavioral problems, the proposed study pursued a multi-method approach to explore relations between parent factors (parent attachment, emotion regulation, harsh behaviors, and stress), child factors (child disruptive behaviors), and the …

Genetic Underpinnings Of Novel Trait Development In A Euwallacea-Fusarium Mutualism, Elaina J. Spahr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evolutionary Developmental Biology seeks to answer fundamental questions about the mechanisms underlying the evolution and innovation towards increasing structural complexity within the body plan. The ambrosia symbiosis, a polyphyletic group of xylem-feeding beetles, provides a wealth of diversity in novel pouch-like structures called mycangia. This diversity could serve as a rich model for understanding how mutualisms may prompt structural innovation and diversification in a host organism. The ambrosia symbiosis has become a fast-growing research subject in entomology and forest pathology but has yet to experience the same attention under the lens of evolutionary developmental genetics.

Development of mycangia was examined …

Narrative Transportation In Documentary Film: How Immersion Into The Documentary Film Hillbilly Affects Viewers' Attitudes, Alayna G. Fuller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For decades, film has relied on stereotypical misconceptions to depict Appalachian people on screen. Research has demonstrated that visual narratives and the experience of narrative transportation has the power to change individuals’ perceptions about information conveyed implicitly or explicitly within a story. Presently, no empirical research has examined how viewer attitudes form based on their level of immersion into an Appalachian documentary film. To fill this gap, this study offers a quantitative approach to examine if the documentary Hillbilly narratively transports the viewer into the world of Appalachia and shifts audience perceptions of the stereotypical Appalachian persona or “hillbilly.” The …

Age As A Moderator Of Health Outcomes And Trust In Physicians And The Healthcare System, Emma Katz M.S.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trust is an integral part of the healthcare experience. Patient trust is associated with treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, patients engaging in follow-up care, shared decision-making, and positive health-related outcomes (e.g., Gupta et al., 2014; Mohseni & Lindstrom, 2007; Musa et al., 2009; Tam, 2012; Thom, et al., 2004; Trachtenberg et al., 2005). There are several levels of trust discussed in the literature, including interpersonal trust and institutional trust. The current study examined two levels of trust: interpersonal trust in the form of trust in the physician and institutional trust in the form of trust in the healthcare system. The study …

Mechanisms Of Nourishment, Raymond Lloyd Brown Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written thesis is a description and analysis of the ceramic work of Ray Brown. Included in this thesis is an explanation and defense of my work in my exhibition Mechanisms of Nourishment. It also unpacks the conceptual, technical, and formal aspects of the work.

The research explored in this written thesis discusses the relationship between the aesthetic and utilitarian components of pottery. From an analytical, iterative approach to form, I strive to isolate proportions that evoke a sense of volume and repetition. My references to Mid Century Modern and Streamlining Era design guide my efforts into dynamic mechanisms of …

Identifying Factors That Increase Sustainability Of Swpbis In Us Middle Schools, Heather L. Hoffert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

School-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS) is a multi-tiered framework with decades of documented success in reducing problem behavior, increasing academic achievement, and promoting positive school climates. Approximately 20% of schools nationwide (n=26,000) implement SWPBIS (Kittleman et al., 2020). However, many schools that adopt SWPBIS abandon the program after only a few years of implementation. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate factors that promote sustainability of SWPBIS. By identifying factors that increase schools’ likelihood to sustain practices, we can target our implementation efforts both effectively and efficiently thereby improving student outcomes. The Benchmarks of Quality (BoQ) is used annually …

Development Of An Expert Algorithm For Substance Identification (Easi) To Discriminate Between Spectrally Similar Fentanyl Analogs In Mass Spectrometry, Alexandra Adeoye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fentanyl is an opioid that is about 100 times more potent than morphine, and its analogs are just as potent, and some like carfentanil are even more so potent. In recent years, fentanyl and its analogs have been responsible for over 50% of overdose-related deaths. In response, the DEA has placed all fentanyl analogs as Schedule I compounds because of their non-medicinal use and high potential for abuse and physical dependence. However, fentanyl analogs have high structural and mass spectral similarities due to the extremely conservative nature of the core fentanyl structure, which makes the differentiation and identification of fentanyl …

Black Walnut Plantations In West Virginia: Maximizing Financial Returns Through Decision Modeling And Cash Flow Analysis, Erin Duffy Shaw

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify the management strategies that lead to maximum financial returns from a black walnut plantation. To evaluate a selection of plantation establishment scenarios, thinning treatments, and product objectives, an Excel-based black walnut financial model was updated and revised. Key updates to the model included incorporating three cash flows for 1) the collection and wholesale of black walnut sap, 2) producing black walnut syrup, and 3) leasing black walnut trees for tapping. Additionally, outputs from the Forest Vegetation Simulator were integrated into the model’s growth and yield projections as a means of more accurately …

Assessment Of The Geographic Distribution And Tools To Assist With Conservation Of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys Guttata) In West Virginia, Joel Leal Mota

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Turtles are one of the most globally threatened vertebrate groups, largely due to habitat loss, commercial exploitation, climate change, disease, and invasive species. In the United States, the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is among over 50 amphibian and reptile species recently petitioned to be listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service subsequently determined the spotted turtle to be a candidate species for listing. Historically, spotted turtles were known to occur at a few locations in the eastern panhandle region of West Virginia. However, previous attempts to determine the distributional extent …

From Evaluating The Performance Of Approximations In Density Functional Theory To A Machine Learning Design, Pedram Tavazohi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Density-functional theory (DFT) has gained popularity because of its ability to predict the properties of a large group of materials a priori. Even though DFT is exact, there are inaccuracies introduced into the theory due to the approximations in the exchange-correlation (XC) functionals. Over the 50 years of its existence, scientists have tried to improve the design of the XC functionals. The errors introduced by these functionals are not consistent across all types of solid-state materials. In this project, a high throughput framework was utilized to compare the theoretical DFT predictions with the experimental results available in the Inorganic Crystal …

Summer Habitat Use, Home Range, And Effect Of Catch And Release Mortality On The Trophy Potential Of Muskellunge, (Esox Masquinongy, Mitchill, 1824), In A Southern Reservoir Population, Peter Isaac Jenkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research on Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy, Mitchill, 1824) catch-and-release mortality has been historically focused on the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ontario. In the southern portion of their range, which we consider to be the portion of the species distribution south of the Mason-Dixon Line (~40°N), Muskellunge, may experience significantly warmer temperatures than those in previous studies and anglers have expressed concern about summer catch-and-release mortality. As part of a broader study to quantify catch-and-release summer mortality in the southern range of Muskellunge, we utilized radio telemetry and active tracking to verify individual movement and survival of Muskellunge in Stonewall …

Global Engagement Model For Land-Grant Universities, A Grounded Theory., Lorena Ivonne Ballester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to examine how land-grant universities engage with the public in the era of globalization; to explain the institutionalization of engagement processes accounting for the global context; and, to integrate this analysis into a Global Engagement Model for Land-Grant Universities (GEM) implementing a grounded theory research methodology.

GEM’s foundation is both theoretical and empirical. Applying the intensity sampling method, the universities selected for the empirical base were: The University of California, Davis, Michigan State University, and The Pennsylvania State University. Rather than an exact representation of individual universities’ engagement models, the model is the researcher’s …

The Most Common Vocal Fault In The Baritone Voice, Matthew Derek Cyphert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research project is to create an approachable guide to avoiding the most common vocal fault found in the baritone singing voice. The specific fault being discussed has been coined the “baritone swallow.” This document will explore the history of the baritone singing voice along with information regarding vocal fach identification, an in-depth study of this common vocal fault frequently experienced by baritone singers, and a fault-specific guide to identifying and addressing the “baritone swallow.”

Eco-Material Rifts In South Asian Anglophone Fiction, Muhammad Manzur Alam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I examine how South Asian Anglophone fiction represents the evolution and derangement of postcolonial ecologies, especially how unrelenting colonial and capitalist interventions affect the symbiotic relationship between subaltern people and nonhuman entities. The conceptual methodology develops from Karl Marx’s theory of “metabolic rift,” which illustrates how capitalist exportation of crops causes loss of important soil nutrients because the nutrients are consumed in distant locations and not returned to the original soil. My concept of “eco-material rifts” extends Marx’s idea to contend that the “rifts” have grown into more complicated and difficult to remediate modes of material rifts today. I scrutinize …

Controlling The Thermal And Electrical Properties Of Camno3-Δ Based Perovskite Ceramics, Sergio Andres Paredes Navia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Most of the energy lost during the conversion process comes in the form of waste heat. The world's energy consumption loses over 60% of its energy after conversion. In order to increase the efficiency of the conversion process, it is essential to harness waste heat and reutilize this energy resource. Heat recovery technology as thermoelectric (TE) technology is one of the growing alternatives to harvest excessive amounts of energy lost as waste heat for a more efficient, safe, and sustainable future. Due to the Seebeck effect, TE materials have the potential to convert waste heat directly into electricity, improving efficiency …