Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding And Evaluating Stereotypes Towards Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptom Subtypes, Gabriella T. Ponzini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Public stigma has detrimental impacts on those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet, stereotypes associated with OCD are poorly understood. Given the heterogeneity of OCD symptom presentations, a conceptualization of stereotypes associated with symptom subtypes is warranted to inform stigma reduction efforts.

In Study 1 (N = 60), participants read one of five vignettes on OCD subtypes (Symmetry/Just Right, Contamination, Sexual, Harm/Aggression, or Scrupulous) prior to responding to Internet-delivered open-ended questions. Study 1 methods followed the qualitative description framework, such that data were derived from participant responses and findings were presented using participant language. Prior to final coding and …

Nature Based Interventions For Human Health And Wellbeing, Samantha I. Moyers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. Nature exposure is beneficial to human health and wellbeing, but the evidence base for nature-based interventions (NBI) is still developing. Heterogeneous naming conventions, study designs, and intervention contexts create difficulty in accessing and assessing the evidence for such programming. While NBI have been utilized in a wide array of human populations, no interventions have been reported among clinical health professions students. Aims. The objectives of this dissertation project were to review the existing body of NBI literature exploring health and wellbeing outcomes, and to conduct a feasibility trial of forest bathing, a type of NBI, among clinical students. Specifically, …

The Development Of A New Pertussis Booster Formulation Via The Implementation Of New Adjuvants And Utilization Of Alternate Routes Of Administration, Megan Ashley Dejong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory disease caused by airborne transmission of the Gram-negative bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. Prior to the development of the first pertussis vaccines (whole cell (wP) vaccines), the incidence of pertussis was in the hundreds of thousands of cases per year, which led to the death of many children, as the infection is most severe in younger populations. Thankfully, the wP formulation resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of annual pertussis cases, nearly eradicating the disease. However, as wP contained the whole B. pertussis bacterium (and its lipooligosaccharide (LOS)), reactogenicity issues became apparent, leading …

Cancer Promoting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps In The Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Microenvironment, Abby Ivey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very aggressive disease with an overall survival rate at 12%. This poor outcome at diagnosis is in part due to the lack of effective treatment options. The aggressive disease and unique tumor microenvironment generated during disease initiation and progression has contributed to the lack of effective therapeutic options. Chemotherapy options have not improved overall survival substantially, the effectiveness of radiation therapy remains controversial, and immunotherapies provide little to no benefit when added to current standards of care. Thus, there is a critical need for new therapeutics that can either target PDAC alone or be added …

First Year Teacher In Appalachia: Place, Identity, Tensions, Michael Renee Lane

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study centers on one first-year Social Studies teacher who is beginning her teaching career in a rural middle school in central Appalachia. Grounded in sociocultural theory, this qualitative study focuses understanding how the focal teacher discursively constructs her teaching identity including how she makes use of sociocultural resources, social practices, and the discourses she draws from as she describes her experiences. Data is drawn from a five-month interpretive qualitative case study that included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and the focal teacher’s personal journals. Data analysis indicated that place is crucial in shaping teachers’ beliefs and practices—including their conceptions of …

A Machine Learning Approach For Early Diagnosis Of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Among Heart Failure Patients, Tanjim Ahmed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a rare, progressive, and fatal disease. Prevalence of ATTR-CM ranges from 4 to 17 per 100000 cases where the mean survival time is less than 4 years. It has a history of being underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. The diagnosis delay has a weighted mean of 6.1 years for wild-type ATTR-CM. Low awareness, the necessity of invasive procedures, and lack of treatment are the key reasons for delayed diagnosis. But, with the introduction of non-invasive tests like nuclear scintigraphy with ^99mTC-PYP and the disease modifying drug Tafamidis, the diagnosis delay signifies a missed opportunity to increase …

Relationships Between Watershed Factors And Community Size Spectra Of The Fish And Macroinvertebrate Communities Of Mid-Appalachian Streams, Jarrett Hunter Landreth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Freshwater lotic communities are complex, dynamic, and quick to respond to changes to their environment. However, some of the specific mechanisms driving those changes are yet to be fully understood. Here, I will use the community size spectrum (CSS) approach to assess how the CSS slope, elevation, and food chain length of the fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages as well as the combined CSS of 15 mid-sized (2nd-4th order) streams in north-central West Virginia respond across gradients of watershed factors (drainage area, mean drainage slope, mean drainage elevation, drainage % forest, and stream specific conductance). Field sampling was carried out in …

Rehabilitation Of The River’S Role In Historic Urban Landscape Of Shushtar, Iran, Parvaneh Sabbagh-Ziarani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historical cities are the most complete and, indeed, the most tangible incarnation of culture. They show the relationships of different generations of inhabitants with their life context. The strata of their urban topography speak about various phases of evolution and transformation as well as growth or decline. The city of Shushtar (Khuzestan, Iran) is a perfect example of a historic city formed based on sustainable and close interactions between man and nature. Its historical hydraulic system was registered in Unesco world heritage sites in 2009. This system - combining numerous elements in a practical and harmonious entity - shows ingenuity …

State Estimation, Covariance Estimation, And Economic Optimization Of Semi-Batch Bioprocesses, Ronald Hunter Alexander

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the most critical aspects of any chemical process engineer is the ability to gather, analyze, and trust incoming process data as it is often required in control and process monitoring applications. In real processes, online data can be unreliable due to factors such as poor tuning, calibration drift, or mechanical drift. Outside of these sources of noise, it may not be economically viable to directly measure all process states of interest (e.g., component concentrations). While process models can help validate incoming process data, models are often subject to plant-model mismatches, unmodeled disturbances, or lack enough detail to track …

Methane Emissions Produced By Pneumatic Devices And Produced Water Tanks On Natural Gas Wellsites, Benjamin William Thornton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Methane Emissions Produced by Pneumatic Devices and Produced Water Tanks on Natural Gas Wellsites

Benjamin W. Thornton

In recent years, more scrutiny has been placed on the release of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) by the oil and gas industry in North America as climate concerns increase. In the coming years, stricter regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the release of GHGs will further direct attention to GHG emissions quantification, modeling, and overall reduction. Active natural gas wellsites employ production equipment that routinely emits methane during normal operation. Production equipment often includes, but is not limited to, gas …

Development Of A Framework To Support Community-Scale Nutrient Recovery For Local Crop Fertilization And Production, Scott A. Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nutrient and resource recovery (NRR) has become increasingly crucial as regions face deteriorating sanitation infrastructures, limited support, and growing environmental challenges. Implementing region-specific NRR technologies and systems could provide effective circular economy insights into addressing these challenges. Because of the multidisciplinary challenges associated with the design and implementation of NRR strategies, various government and local decision-makers need to collaborate effectively in the decision-making process. Structured decision-making (SDM) methodologies are practical when determining the most appropriate NRR strategy for nutrient-rich waste streams. However, applications of computational SDM limited because of the vast amounts of data that are needed to analyze the …

Internal Surface Nanostructure And Chemistry Modification On Porous Cathode Of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell To Mitigate Cr Contamination From Interconnect, Liang Liang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Solid Oxide Fuel cells (SOFCs) could convert the chemical energy from a variety of fuels into electricity. It has become a competitive power source due to its advantages, such as high efficiency and flexibility in fuel options. It can be operated under a wide range of operating temperatures, which makes them easy to be applied and developed into applications. To further increase the lifetime and reduce the cost of SOFC systems to make them more competitive and affordable for commercialization, the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode needs to be improved. One significant technical opportunity is to …

Producing Hardwood Cross - Laminated Timber (Hclt) Mats From Low Grade Red Oak Lumber, Jonathan R. Norris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) has significantly grown in North America, but hardwood species have not yet been deemed a viable material to manufacture CLT panels, whereas, softwood species continue to serve as the only approved material for CLT in structural applications according to ANSI/APA PRG-320. In order to introduce hardwoods into the CLT market, we must develop non-structural CLT products that utilize low grade lumber from hardwood species. This allows hardwood manufacturers to enter the CLT market without certification, while also displaying the strength and beauty of the hardwood resources found within this region.

Of the hardwood species …

Development Of Inconel 718f And Inconel 718e Powders For Parts Manufacturing Utilizing Binder Jet Three-Dimensional Printing And Compressed Pellet Methods, Duncan Eric Manor Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Alloy Inconel 718 is a Ni based superalloy used for high temperature applications including turbine blades, turbocharger rotors and nuclear reactors. Inconel 718 is a popular commercial atomized powder that has limitations in performance for use in additive manufacturing applications due to poor part quality and efficiency of current fabrication methods. Developing new compositions and additive manufacturing (AM) methodologies of IN718 is critical to improve the quality and the efficiency of IN718 parts manufacturing. Developing new additive manufacturing methodology that produces higher quality parts made of IN718 as compared to current methods has the potential to greatly impact industry, academia, …

Artificial Light At Night Disrupts Pain Behavior And Cerebrovascular Structure In Mice, Jacob Raymond Bumgarner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial Light at Night Disrupts Pain Behavior and Cerebrovascular Structure in Mice

Jacob R. Bumgarner

Circadian rhythms are intrinsic biological processes that fluctuate in function with a period of approximately 24 hours. These rhythms are precisely synchronized to the 24- hour day of the Earth by external rhythmic signaling cues. Solar light-dark cycles are the most potent environmental signaling cue for terrestrial organisms to align internal rhythms with the external day. Proper alignment and synchrony of internal circadian rhythms with external environmental rhythms are essential for health and optimal biological function.

The modern human environment on Earth is no longer …

Investigation Of Oxidation And Corrosion Resistance Of Ni-Based Alloys And Stainless Steels Under Co2 Environments At Elevated Temperatures, Spencer Roy Fultineer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

High mechanical strength integrity, high robustness towards oxidation, and high resistance to carburization under CO2 environments at elevated temperatures are usually required for metallic systems that are employed for power generation. INCONEL 625 is a nickel-based superalloy that started development in the 1950s. This material was designed with the distinct purpose of use in high-temperature and high-pressure systems. While various materials possess the physical properties to handle these conditions, the creation of IN625 addresses the need for a material to withstand the highly corrosive properties of these kinds of environments. In order to evaluate the oxidation and corrosion resistance of …

A Case Study Analysis Of The Experiences And Perceived Learning Outcomes Of Former Non-Music Majors In Applied Horn Lessons, Jordan Bennett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Non-major music students are an integral part of university music departments, as they both bolster the department’s enrollment numbers and bring diverse perspectives to the ensembles, lessons, and classes in which they participate. Although most non-majors focus their time on ensembles, a few choose to include lessons as part of their experience. Whether motivated by external factors like scholarship money or internal factors like a desire to improve on an instrument, these non-majors are a unique part of any applied studio. However, the phenomenon of non-majors in applied lessons is understudied. Literature tends to focus on non-major enrollment in ensembles …

Assessment Of Regional Bike And Pedestrian Equity In Transportation Plans, Drew Reiter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While community involvement is legally required as a crucial part of the planning process, historically the traditional state-centric approaches to transportation planning have led to the underrepresentation of transportation-disadvantaged individuals in the process and, thus, to automobile-oriented regions. Planning practices for small urban and rural areas especially, which often lack funding and other resources, have generally overlooked accessible pedestrian, bicycling, and multimodal infrastructure and facilities, resulting in underdeveloped and poorly connected networks. I conducted a social equity evaluation of the regional planning, investment prioritization, and programming processes for pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure using the case study of Monongalia County, West …

Meiotic Recombination In Zea Mays And Its Contribution To Genetic Diversity, Jasmine Elizabeth Freeman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Meiotic recombination plays a vital role in shaping genome evolution by introducing genetic diversity necessary for natural selection. Recombination rates exhibit extensive variation within and between species, occurring in specific regions known as hotspots and coldspots along individual chromosomes. Maize, with its well-characterized genome, provides an excellent model for studying the nonrandom pattern of meiotic recombination. While retrotransposon activity contributes to significant intergenic variation in maize inbred lines, the genic space remains conserved in terms of gene order and sequence. To investigate recombination activity in the Bz1/Sh1 region, the maize haplotypes W22 and B73, which share genetic backgrounds but differ …

The Creation Of An Adolescent Prediabetes Screening Protocol To Help With Early Prediabetes Identification, Brittany Parker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

The Creation of an Adolescent Prediabetes Screening Protocol to Help with Early Prediabetes Identification

Brittany Parker, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Problem: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) recommend screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in high-risk asymptomatic children and adolescents after puberty or at ten years of age, whichever occurs first. However, this recommendation has not been formally recognized by the state of West Virginia for integration into wellness child exam requirements, nor has it been made common practice in many primary care clinics to be flagged as …

Spatial Distribution And Insect Associations Of Frangula Alnus In The Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania: Implications For Management, Jennifer S. Greenleaf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) is an invasive European shrub that threatens to displace native vegetation in roadsides and disturbed forests in North America due to its lack of natural enemies, long leaf-out periods, and its ability to survive in a multitude of soil conditions. While well understood in its native range, information regarding F. alnus in North America is lacking. Currently, the management of this invasive shrub relies on an understanding of where it can be found and thus where treatments should be applied. This research investigated the spatial distribution patterns of F. alnus and profiled …

Combustion Characteristics Of Methane, Ethane, Propane, And Butane Blends Under Conditions Relevant Of A Dual-Fuel Diesel And Natural Gas Engine, Christopher Joseph Ulishney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As natural gas production infrastructure is already in place in most of the world and will continue expanding for the foreseeable future, natural gas is an alternative to traditional liquid petroleum fuels in heavy-duty engines. Dedicated natural gas or dual-fuel diesel-natural gas heavy-duty engines are alternatives to diesel-only power generation equipment. One challenge is the large variation in the natural gas composition available for such applications, which is known to significantly affect engine’s combustion characteristics and the emissions composition. As the literature on dual-fuel combustion under low load engine operating conditions that use more realistic natural gas mixtures (i.e., mixtures …

“Long Have I Wished To See The King:” Indigenous Transatlantic Diplomacy In The 18th Century North American Southeast, Riley Christian Bowers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis situates three examples of transatlantic diplomacy practiced by Cherokee and Yamacraw diplomats in the eighteenth century within their Indigenous contexts. Utilizing treaty negotiations, transcripts from diplomatic summits, official correspondence, published journals, and newspapers, this study aims to situate these delegations within an Indigenous and transatlantic sociopolitical context. The aim of this work is to address questions regarding the objectives of the people involved, and to trace the outcomes of their policies. The answers to these questions explain one of many southeastern Indigenous political strategies of the eighteenth century, one that highlights the imperial center as a crucial setting …

A Selective Guide To Solo Bass Trombone Repertoire From 1961 To Present, Andrew Amadeus Ortega

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For nearly 60 years composers have written for bass trombone as a solo instrument and continue to create works that showcase its virtuosity and musical capabilities. Before 1961, bass trombonists would often play tuba solos, transcriptions, and musical arrangements from other instruments. This document includes works that were composed specifically for bass trombone from as early as 1961 to 2021. Each piece is categorized and presented with an evaluation in addition to a level of performance preferable for collegiate students to professional performers. Commentary has also been included discussing challenging areas as well as providing information necessary to perform the …

Role Of Cytochrome P450-Epoxygenases And Adenosine A2a Receptor In The Modulation Of Vascular Response, Stephanie Onyeka Agba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and endothelial dysfunction is a major precursor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Arachidonic acids in the vascular endothelial membrane are metabolized by the cytochrome P450-epoxygenases (CYP-2Js and 2Cs) to produce epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EETs). These anti-inflammatory metabolites or oxylipins have been shown to be cardio-protective against ischemic/reperfusion injury and mediate vasodilation through hyperpolarization of smooth muscle cells. However, the enzyme called soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), mainly hydrolyzes EETs to its inactive form (DHETs) and an increase in sEH upregulates Angiotensin-II type1-receptor and facilitates endothelial dysfunction.

we previously showed vascular …

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Disease Severity Among Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rowida Mohamed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Predicting the survival of patients with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains challenging due to the remarkable heterogeneity of the disease prognosis. Therefore, developing reliable prognostic tools is of utmost importance in IPF management. Nomograms currently represent the most accurate and discriminatory tools for predicting outcomes, with superior performance compared to the commonly used integer score approach. Therefore, developing a valid local nomogram to predict mortality among patients with IPF is warranted. Additionally, IPF is characterized by a high symptom burden significantly impacting Health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Accurately measuring HRQoL in IPF is crucial as it guides treatment decisions …

Exploration Of Metal-Carbonyl Complexes For Decarbonylation Reactions, Rebekah C. Krupa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, transition metal-mediated decarbonylation reactions have emerged as an alternative to conventional cross-coupling methods due to the advantages associated with the use of carbonyl-containing functionalities as coupling electrophiles instead of organohalides found in traditional cross-coupling reactions. This, coupled with the ubiquity of carbonyl-containing compounds in pharmaceuticals and non-biodegradable chemicals, has led to the interest in developing efficient systems for transition metal-catalyzed decarbonylation. However, these reactions are commonly limited to stoichiometric amounts of metal reagents due to the strong metal-carbonyl bond formed during transition metal-mediated decarbonylation. With the goal of gaining a better mechanistic understanding of CO dissociation in …

Us Buyers’ Behavior Towards Social Sustainable Certificates, Mehnaz Fatima Monamy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Growing awareness of the fashion industry's environmental footprint in terms of water and chemical use, carbon emissions, textile waste, energy usage, and water pollution has focused international attention on sustainability issues in apparel industries. To showcase their commitment to sustainability, many fashion companies turn to certifications and accreditations from third-party organizations. These certifications and accreditations not only help improve a company's performance and marketability but also give them an advantage over their competitors. US textile buyers are also becoming more selective in their purchasing decisions, looking for high-quality products that are produced in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. This …

Advancing Medical Technology For Motor Impairment Rehabilitation: Tools, Protocols, And Devices, Matthew Yough

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Excellent motor control skills are necessary to live a high-quality life. Activities such as walking, getting dressed, and feeding yourself may seem mundane, but injuries to the neuromuscular system can render these tasks difficult or even impossible to accomplish without assistance. Statistics indicate that well over 100 million people are affected by diseases or injuries, such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injury, and amputation, that negatively impact their motor abilities. This wide array of injuries presents a challenge to the medical field as optimal treatment paradigms are often difficult to implement due …

Vaping With Nicotine During Pregnancy Affects Aortic Structure And Function In Rat Offspring, Sydney Alexis Nassabeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electronic cigarette (E-cig) use during pregnancy has grown in popularity due to the marketing of these devices as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. However, nicotine is a constituent in cigarettes that is cause for concern and is also present in a majority of E-cig devices. Little has been reported regarding the implications of E-cig use with nicotine during pregnancy on offspring health outcomes. This study tested the hypothesis that in-utero exposure to nicotine-containing E-cig aerosol would result in a wattage-dependent increase in vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffening that would persist throughout the lifespan of the offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats …