Digital Commons Network^™

Response Of Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium Stoloniferum Muhl Ex. A. Eaton) To Herbaceous Competition And Transplanting In Monongahela National Forest, Ruben E. Sabella

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Running buffalo clover (RBC) is a rare perennial plant that grows throughout the American Midwest and the Appalachian Mountains. It requires disturbed forests to establish and proliferate. It has been suggested that, in the past, these conditions were created by buffalo; now logging operations maintain RBC populations. However, forest managers have been looking for ways to create suitable habitat for RBC that do not involve harvesting practices. This could help create new populations in areas that cannot be logged. Once established, competing vegetation might influence RBC abundance and flowering. This study seeks to quantify this influence by measuring the vegetation …

Environmental Controls Of Greenhouse Fluxes In Freshwater Wetlands Across The Globe, Samira Jahan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Freshwater wetlands can contribute significantly to the global carbon budget as a net source or sink of the major greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes such as carbon dioxide (FCO₂) and methane (FCH₄). The amount of GHG fluxes in the freshwater wetlands is highly variable and depends on a range of environmental drivers. These wetlands are commonly hypothesized to be net sinks (i.e., burial) of FCO₂ and net sources (emission) of FCH₄ at the monthly to annual scales. Understanding the environmental controls on the wetland GHG fluxes is essential for an accurate estimation of the global …

Essays On Ceo Background And Corporate Performance, Busra Agcayazi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is composed of three distinct chapters, all of which revolve around the core subject of how CEO background attributes impact a company’s investment decisions and the resulting corporate outcomes. The first chapter entitled, “CEO International Background and Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions” investigates whether having a CEO with an international background affects U.S. firms’ cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. By defining international background as having either non-U.S. nationality, overseas education, or foreign work experience, this chapter provides robust evidence that when a CEO possesses these characteristics, the firm is more likely to acquire international targets, and these deals …

Strengthening Of Damaged Structural Members With External Frp, Krishna Tulasi Gadde

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are excellent alternatives to traditional materials for civil infrastructure. Several researchers have worked on the application of FRP composites for construction, repair, and rehabilitation of structures. This research aims at evaluating the use of carbon, glass, basalt, and hybrid FRPs with epoxy and polyurethane resin systems for rehabilitation of damaged structural components. Following evaluations were carried out in this research: (i) tension testing of FRP coupons, (ii) compression testing of concrete cylinders with and without damaged sections/FRP reinforcements, (iii) flexural testing of external-FRP reinforced RC beams with and without damages, (iv) pull-off tests on FRP …

Techno-Economic Analysis And Optimization Of Hydrogen And Mechanical Energy Storage Systems, Pavitra Senthamilselvan Sengalani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The increasing significance of renewable energy sources is thrusting the load cycling of fossil-fueled power plants (FFPP), designed to operate under nominal-load conditions. Integration of energy storage systems (ESS) with the FFPPs such as hydrogen energy storage (HES) and mechanical energy storage facility such as compressed air energy storage (CAES) shows the potential to minimize the levelized cost of electricity during high demand scenarios and also minimize the negative impacts of off-design FFPP operation. The deployment of energy storage facilities at the FFPP level have considerable potential advantages as they can be exploited within the existing equipment items and facilities …

Negative Forces In Consumption: Their Unpleasant But Undeniable Influence On Consumers, Yumei Mu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An unfortunate reality of consumer behavior is that it has a negative side: Consumers can experience negative emotions (Harrison-Walker, 2019); firm-consumer relationships can grow sour (Do, 2019); and so on. Already quite prevalent, negative forces in consumption have only increased lately because of the COVID-19 pandemic (Gaydos, 2020). Given the pervasiveness of negative forces in consumer behavior, it is very important for consumer psychologists to study them. To that end, the three essays in this dissertation explore wide-ranging facets of negative forces in consumer behavior and, collectively, greatly augment the field’s understanding of the behaviors, processes, and outcomes comprising the …

Not A Do-Or-Die Affair: Freelance Journalists In Nigeria And Ethical Dilemmas, Tolulope O. Olasoji

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores the ethical dilemmas Nigerian freelance journalists face and their implications for their work. It will use in-depth interviews with select freelance journalists. Several studies have established that ethical concerns are rife in—and indeed the bane of—journalism in Nigeria. However, these pieces of research reflect the reality across conventional newsrooms, where, ideally, there is some organizational structure and support. No scholarly attention has been given to freelance journalists, otherwise known as entrepreneurial journalists, due to their autonomous nature, to understand the ethical dilemmas they may be entangled in primarily. This study seeks to address this gap in research. …

A Program Evaluation Of The West Virginia University Health Science Center Interprofessional Education First-Year Curriculum, Kathryn Lynn Smalley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: The Interprofessional Education (IPE) First-Year Program was started at the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center in 2013 with the goal of providing participants introductory knowledge of the IPE Core Competencies as defined by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC). This program transfers 16 different disciplines out of their isolated educational silos and allows them to learn about, for, and with one another. Participants are introduced to foundational knowledge through several didactic sessions over the course of an academic year. Although the program has been increasingly incorporated by many health sciences disciplines since its inception, it has never officially …

Burkholderia Collagen-Like Protein 8, Bucl8, Is An Outer-Membrane Component Of A Novel Efflux Pump And Immunogenic Vaccine Candidate, Megan Elizabeth Grund

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Burkholderia spp. are Gram‐negative intrinsically resistant bacteria that are responsible for environmental and nosocomial infections of clinical and biodefense concern. Our laboratory previously identified in silico Burkholderia collagen-like protein 8 (Bucl8) in the BSL-3 pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei (Figure 1). The protein sequence of Bucl8 contains tandem outer-membrane efflux protein domains (OEP) typical of efflux systems and a unique collagen-like domain (CL) consisting of a repeating sequence of Glycine-Alanine-Serine (GAS). Because efflux pumps are often a mechanism of pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance, we investigated Bucl8 further. Here, we determined that the locus of bucl8 contains genes …

Evaluating The Degradation Relationship Between Latent Print Impressions And Touch Dna Under Varying Environmental Conditions, Katrina M. Rupert B.S.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Latent prints have been processed as a source of touch DNA evidence in the hopes of attaining partial or even full DNA profiles. However, the relationship between the latent quality and the DNA quality has not yet been fully explored, resulting in gaps in understanding how the two are connected. A common source of touch DNA is from latent print evidence, which is typically processed and photographed at a scene, and subsequently processed for DNA in the laboratory. However, there is skepticism in the forensic community around touch DNA as laboratory procedures are often manipulated beyond standard operating procedures to …

Development Of A Model Sustainability Management Plan For The City Of Morgantown, West Virginia, Caitlyn Elizabeth Lewis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This report has been prepared to demonstrate the research for a model planning document with a focus on sustainability in Morgantown, WV. It discusses the role of three categories in the context of sustainability and proposes a design solution for selected areas of concern throughout the City of Morgantown in order to demonstrate opportunities for a sustainable approach toward resolution for city officials.

The City of Morgantown, West Virginia, is a college town along the Monongahela River with a backstory of industrialism that is echoed by many other places in Appalachia. However, distinctively, in Morgantown 25,000 college students populate the …

Stability Properties Of A System Of Receptors In The Presence Of Attractive Domains, Basim Mohammed Al-Maliki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I use mathematical modeling to understand aspects of molecular processes in living cells. Specifically, we look at the first few steps in cell signaling. Signal initiation requires that receptors located on the cell membrane bind together to form dimers. Microscopic imaging of receptors on the cell membrane revealed that receptors tend to accumulate in small areas (clusters). Studies also show that the membrane has a complex landscape consisting of domains and barriers of various origin.

Here we study the way receptor dimerization is influenced by domains on the cell membrane. Our underlying hypothesis is that the physical and chemical properties …

Analysis Of The Root Causes Of Fatal Injuries In The United States Surface Mines Between 2008 And 2021., Maria Fernanda Quintero

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mining has long been recognized as a hazardous industry worldwide. An annual average rate of 10.3 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers was recorded in the United States between 2008 and 2021 (MSHA, 2022). This rate can be compared with the average of the industries with the highest average rates of fatal injuries—agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; transportation and warehousing; and construction—which had average rates of 23.5, 13.1, and 9.9 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers, respectively, during the same period in the Unites States (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).

The scope of this research is related to the fatal injuries …

Enabling Technologies For Chemical Synthesis: I. Selective Microwave Heating; Ii. Synthesis And Regioselective Cyclotrimerizations Of Tethered 1,6-Diynes, Amir Tavakoli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reaction discoveries, method developments, and technology advancements lie at the heart of synthetic organic chemistry. These innovations are essential for creating and manipulating complex molecules, which are the building blocks of many important chemical compounds, including pharmaceuticals, materials, and agrochemicals. Here, we first describe new methods to prepare neopentylene-tethered (NPT) 1,6-diynes which are valuable substrates for reaction discovery and target-oriented synthesis, especially in benzannulation strategies toward illudalane natural products. NPT 1,6-diynes have been employed as coupling partners in cyclotrimerization reactions for the synthesis of highly substituted benzene rings which present a persistent challenge in chemical synthesis and are underrepresented scaffolds …

Living Your Best Life: The Mindful Pursuit Of Student-Athlete Thriving, Andrew Augustus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thriving, or the concurrent experience of healthy well-being and high-level performance, may serve as a valuable construct when studying the optimal student-athlete experience and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to positively impact well-being and performance. The purpose of the present study began to examine the impact of an MBI for improving student-athlete experiences of thriving via a quasi-experimental longitudinal design. NCAA Division II student-athletes (n = 55) from three sports were randomly assigned to either a control or a 7-session MBI. While comprehensive measures of thriving did not yield significant change for those in the MBI relative to …

Evaluating Electrification Of Fossil Fuel-Fired Boilers For Decarbonization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Nahian Ismail Chowdhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decarbonizing fossil fuel usage is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. CO2, which comprises the major portion of greenhouse gas, is emitted from burning fossil fuels. One of the significant sources of fossil fuel user is industrial process heating, and most of the heating in industrial processes is achieved through boilers. Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonizing these boilers, as it enables renewable energy sources to generate electricity, which can then be used to power the electric boilers. The electrification of boilers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase energy efficiency. However, it requires …

Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment Optimization Using Machine Learning, Abdullah Johar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Friction reducers are chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing to reduce friction between fracturing fluid and the wellbore walls, helping to overcome tubular drag at high flow rates. High viscosity friction reducers are increasingly used due to operational and economic benefits, but their optimal concentration for each stage of fracturing is not well studied. As a result, oil and gas companies often use more friction reducers than necessary to ensure designed injection rates are achieved and to avoid screening out, resulting in excess use of FR and economic losses. The primary goal of this Thesis is to fully comprehend and quantify …

Strengthening The Interpretation Of Glass And Paint Evidence Through The Study Of Random Frequency Of Occurrence And Analytical Information, Lauryn C. Alexander

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glass and paint particles are frequently discovered at crime scenes as valuable trace evidence. Often, these fragments are transferred from a crime scene to a victim or person-of-interest, and can subsequently be evaluated, analyzed, and classified according to their physical and optical measurements, and chemical properties, each of which can provide important information to the analyst to assist in the determining if a recovered particle is distinguishable or indistinguishable from a known source. Moreover, these minute materials can provide information about how the events took place, leading to the reconstruction of crime scenes and the identification of valuable clues for …

Enantioselective Dearomatization Facilitated By Non-Covalent Interactions Of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts And Pyridinium Salts, Jack A. Patterson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dihydropyridines are a practical organic scaffold commonly used for their pharmaceutical properties. Nucleophilic dearomatization of pyridines has proven to be a useful method in obtaining dihydropyridines. By using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysts, dihydropyridines can be synthesized with high regioselectivity of the 1,4 regioisomer over the 1,2- regioisomer but often with low enantioselectivity. By incorporating non-covalent interaction contact points, we hypothesize that enantioselectivity can be enhanced. By synthesizing numerous NHCs, each proposed to exhibit a different type of non-covalent interaction (i.e., hydrogen bonding or ion pairing), an understanding of the secondary interactions within this reaction system can be studied and …

Businesses Supposedly Held The Key To The Ada, But They Dropped The Ball: Can Marketing Be The Shot In The Arm America Needs To Bring The Spirit Of The Ada Back To Life?, Elizabeth T. Gratz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research investigates the historical and current focus of the field of marketing on the disability community and considers whether marketers can positively impact attitudes toward the group through their firm media content. My first essay uses the Rocky Road to Policy Pavers model to discuss the importance of this large and underserved consumer group, and highlights several opportunities for the marketing community to reduce existing barriers to disabled consumers in the marketplace. One way that marketers can reduce stigma and improve attitudes toward the disability community is by strategically portraying individuals with disabilities in their firm media content. My …

The Immediate Effects Of The Nunee Patellar Support On Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Nick Linn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common form of anterior knee pain caused by general overuse, muscular weakness or strength imbalances, and poor movement coordination leading to abnormal alignment or mal-tracking of the patella. Recent guidelines do not recommend the use of a knee orthosis due to a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. A new patellar support (NuNee, K-Neesio LLC.) which uses distraction force to relieve pressure placed on the patella, has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of the NuNee patellar support on perceived pain, biomechanics, and function in individuals with …

Identification Of Rockmass Deformation And Lithological Changes In Underground Mines By Using Slam-Based Lidar Technology, Francisco Eduardo Gil Hurtado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In mining, hazards causing rib and roof fall accidents generally develop with time. The development of a hazard depends on factors like geology, excavation geometry, overburden stress, and mining-induced stresses. Hazard mapping in an underground mine is essential for roof and rib stability assessment. However, often it is neither practical nor economical to inspect and map vast areas of mine workings with limited personnel. New technologies, recently, have been adopted in the mining industry that can solve this problem. Advances in LiDAR technology and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms have led to the development of portable and mobile laser …

Elucidation Of The Role Of Agouti-Signaling Protein Throughout Folliculogenesis And Early Embryonic Development In Cattle, Heather L. Chaney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The oocyte expresses certain genes during folliculogenesis to regulate the acquisition of oocyte competence. Oocyte competence, which refers to the presence of imperative molecular factors in the oocyte that are critical for high oocyte quality, is directly related to the ability of the oocyte to result in a successful pregnancy following fertilization. Over the past few decades, the development and optimization of assisted reproductive technologies, particularly in vitrofertilization, have enabled the beef and dairy industries to advance cattle genetics and productivity. However, only approximately 40% of bovine embryos will develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro. In addition, bovine embryos …

Exploring The Usage Of Acid Mine Drainage Sludge As A Soil Amendment For Reclaimed Mine Lands, Brady Watters

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a form of water pollution generated when water and oxygen come into contact with sulfide minerals, forming metal ions, sulfuric acid, and sulphates in solution. AMD is characterized by its toxic metals content and low pH, both of which are an environmental concern. The treatment of AMD separates the contaminants into a high-water content sludge. This sludge is a pure waste product under current evaluation for alternative uses as well as improvements to storage and treatment processes. This thesis focused on analyzing the potential for AMD sludge to be used in recently reclaimed lands as …

A Neo-Aristotelian Criticism Of Trump’S “Save America Speech” Utilizing The Five Canons Of Rhetoric, Jade Ruggieri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Riddled with fake news, the 2020 election is a unique moment in history where fake news, stemming from former President Donald Trump, led to a public demonstration that quickly devolved into a violent and controversial event. Through the lens of a Neo-Aristotelian rhetorical criticism, the five canons of rhetoric will analyze Trump’s “Save America” speech he held hours prior to the rally providing insights into how the power of words can precipitate people to incite action. Through a verbatim examination of the first and last 10 minutes of the speech, with the middle portion summarized, Trump’s speech provides insights to …

Gender Inclusivity In Italian: Can Gender Neutrality Be Reached In A Gendered Language? Difficulties, Proposals And Public Perception Of The Phenomenon, Gaia Prunotto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Italian is a gendered language in which reference to grammatical gender has been constant and inevitable. As language reflects and shapes society, grammatical gender reinforces binary views of social gender and the invizibilization of non-binary identities. Movements for social justice have inspired gender-fair linguistic innovations, such as the feminization of job titles and gender-neutral markers, to promote gender equity and challenge hierarchies of power and dominance in society. This research aimed to explore gender-neutral forms in the Italian grammatical system and public perceptions of these innovations through two studies with two groups of participants.

The first group of participants (n=27) …

Survival Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Organic Honeycrisp And Fuji Apples During Storage At 5, 12 And 22.5◦C, Connor S. Freed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study aimed to evaluate and model the survival of Listeria monocytogenes on organic HoneyCrisp (HC) and Fuji (FJ) apples during storage at various temperatures. Fresh organic HC and FJ apples (without wax coating) obtained from a local wholesale market were inoculated with a 2-strain mix of L. monocytogenes followed by storage at 5.0 (22.9% RH), 12.0 (37.0% RH), and 22.5oC (50.4% RH) for 60, 35, 7 days, respectively, and periodically (day-0 to 60) analyzing microbial populations. Surviving L. monocytogenes were spread-plated on Modified-Oxford agar after 10 or 100-fold serial dilution. Data were analyzed using the mixed-model procedure of SAS …

Mechanisms Of Pulmonary Inflammation And Lung Function Decline After Ultrafine Carbon Black And Ozone Inhalation Co-Exposure, Nairrita Majumder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Air pollution is a mixture of particulate matter, gaseous substances, and other contaminant, yet most of the studies have addressed single exposure outcomes. The effect of environmental toxicants in lung adverse outcomes can be evaluated by studying the co-exposure scenario. The impact of co-exposures is not well addressed in susceptible populations like patients suffering from acute lung injury, asthma, and fibrosis. Without such knowledge it would be difficult to establish a safe exposure limit for mitigating environmental burden in patients and public. The main goal of this study was to understand the effect of ultrafine particle and ozone co-exposure in …

Condition And Modeling Assessment Of Geomorphic Landform Design On Coal Refuse Impoundments, Titus C. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coal refuse impoundments are the primary storage facility used in the mining industry for the placement and dewatering of fine coal refuse. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) promulgate prescriptive impoundment closure and requirements for the long-term breach and reclamation of the facilities. Typical impoundment reclamation designs consist of backfilling the impoundment with coarse coal refuse and placing soil cap with a minimum 2% slope to the perimeter drainage ditch. Geomorphic landform design (GLD) promotes long term stability of a regraded structure through simulating local topography. By balancing the hydraulic response of the site, runoff and erosion can …

A Guide To Chinese Art Songs From 1970 To 2010, Tingyu Yan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study aims to provide a repertoire guide of Chinese art songs for the pedagogy and research of musicians. The world is becoming more open to accepting and embracing different social and cultural elements, and diverse musical styles and repertoire are now being showcased internationally. There are more opportunities for musicians who wish to perform their homeland's music in public concerts around the world, and repertoires from different languages (e.g., Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and Czech) are more widely seen. However, there is still a lack of repertoires in other languages not very common internationally, and one of them is the …