Digital Commons Network^™

Nuanced Narratives: Reporting With Critical Race And Feminist Standpoint Theories, Emily Margaret Pelland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Google Expedition titled WWI Era Through the Eyes of the Chicago Defender explores African American experiences during the early years of the Great Migration (1910-1970). Conventional journalism relies on the false idea that journalists are meant to be, and can be, objective, outside observers. This report provides tools for journalists to create more nuanced, thorough storytelling endeavors. This report describes the theoretical framework and intent of the Virtual Reality (VR) project for students in grades 8 and above. It utilizes Feminist Standpoint Theory (FST) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) to cultivate a VR experience that acknowledges particular, overlooked aspects …

Mine Reclamation Using Biofuel Crops: Insights Into The Microbial Ecology Of The Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) Microbiome, Brianna L. Mayfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioenergy crop production has steadily increased due to growing political support for renewable energy, thus initiating a demand to find alternative agricultural land. An innovative option is the use of marginal soils, such as reclaimed mine lands, to produce bioenergy crops. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a promising bioenergy crop that can be grown on marginal lands due to its robust growth in various soil types and climates. However, little is known regarding plant-microbe interactions among switchgrass systems within reclaimed mine lands. A study conducted in 2008 grew switchgrass on high- and low- quality reclaimed mine sites (Hampshire and …

Quantifying The Announcement Effects In The U.S. Lumber Market, Zarina Mamadalievna Ismailova

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The impact of public reports on price fluctuations has been widely investigated in many commodity markets, but little attention has been paid to the lumber market. In this thesis, we examine the impact of two housing market reports, namely the New Residential Construction (Housing Starts) and the New Residential Sales reports, on the U.S. lumber futures market. Our results suggest that the housing starts report does indeed affect lumber market volatility, while the New Residential sales report exerts a minor impact on lumber price volatility. Price volatility is measured by changes future contract prices for lumber. We further find that …

2.8: Designing Visitor Experience For A Narrative-Oriented Exhibition, Kseniia Leshchenko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis proposes interactive visitor experience with social media and fake news references at 2.8 thesis exhibition at West Virginia University. 2.8 refers to the distance between the United States and Russia borders in the Bering Strait and suggests that switching a point of view helps conflicting groups find common ground. By designing a space in such a way that a visitor constantly faces an alternative point of view, which in this case represents my own, I investigate whether this experience contributes to the viewers’ outlook change. Another aim is to see whether adding interactive elements to a show improves …

Effect Of Metacarpal Gloves On Pinch And Grip Strength, Aaron Anthony Fonner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hand Injuries are common in industrial settings. In 2014 alone, there were 137,440 total cases of hand injuries in the United States that required days away from work. Hand injuries can be classified into six general categories: lacerations, fractures and dislocations, soft tissue injuries and amputations, infections, burns and high pressure injuries. Some of these injuries can be prevented with proper personal protective equipment. In recent times, metacarpal gloves are widely used to protect the workers against hand/metacarpal injuries in various industries including mining. The benefits of wearing metacarpal gloves for protection are unquestionable, but little is known about how …

A Pedagogical Guide To Kapustin’S Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40, Yanjing Gu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The etude is an important genre in piano literature and most piano teachers select etudes as teaching material for students to improve their technique and musical sensitivity. As etudes developed and evolved, they have served not only for technical study, but also as concert repertoire that beautifully represents composers’ personal styles. Since the initial appearance of the etude as a genre in the early 19^th century, composers from subsequent time periods have continued to write etudes.

While a number of scholarly works discuss etudes, relatively little attention has been devoted to etudes composed in the late 20th century, compared …

Determining The Role Of Nudt7 In The Regulation Of Cellular Coa Levels And Metabolism, Stephanie Anne Shumar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential cofactor required for hundreds of metabolic processes. Because it is such a critical cofactor, CoA levels are tightly regulated. In the fasted state and in diabetic mice, the concentration of CoA increases dramatically in the liver. This phenotype is associated with constitutively low CoA degradation, a process that is emerging as a potentially important mechanism for CoA regulation. Nudt7 and Nudt19 are two mammalian peroxisomal enzymes with CoA-degrading activity, which are highly expressed in the liver and kidney, respectively. Limited information is available on the biochemistry of Nudt7 and Nudt19; the structural basis for …

The Life And Work Of Alex Klein, Ramon Thiago Mendes De Oliveira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Alex Klein is one of the best-known figures of the American oboe school. He is the winner of multiple international competitions, including the first prize at the Geneva’s Concours International d’Execution Musicale. Appointed principal oboe at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1995, Klein is one of the most highly regarded musicians hired during the Barenboim era. His recording of Richard Strauss’ oboe concerto with the CSO was awarded Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with Orchestra) at the 44th Grammy Awards. In 2004, his tenure at CSO was interrupted due to the onset of Focal Dystonia; which affected multiple fingers in …

Empirical Studies Related To Open Questions Regarding Geomagnetic Storms, Bruce Patrick Tepke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Earth’s magnetosphere is subject to disturbances, as evidenced by variations of the geomagnetic field in space and on the ground. It is generally understood that most such disturbances are controlled by variations in the solar wind, with interplanetary magnetic field orientations directed southward opposite to Earth’s dipole magnetic axis being most conducive to energy transfers into the magnetosphere, thus resulting in more disturbed intervals. However, the exact functional form for solar wind driving of the magnetosphere has been widely studied, with proposed functional forms varying from the simple half-wave electric rectifier to expressions with a much more complicated dependence upon …

Determinants Of Control-Key Responding In An Operant Resurgence Procedure, Anthony C. Oliver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Control response in a resurgence procedure has been described as the “gold standard” in isolating resurgence from other extinction-induced phenomena. Although Control responding is not generally observed during the resurgence test phase of animal-resurgence procedures, it is common to see such responding in human-operant resurgence procedures. Thus, it is necessary to identify the conditions under which Control responding may be observed. Using pigeons and rats as subjects, the current series of experiments examined the determinants of Control-operandum responding in a resurgence procedure. Experiment 1 assessed whether behavior with a pre-experimental reinforcement history would resurge if the Target response was …

Effects Of Teacher Training In Trial-Based Functional Analysis Via Video Modeling, Mary Haspel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trial-based functional analysis (TBFA) is an efficient strategy for assessing challenging behavior in the classroom and a necessary step in developing effective functional assessment- based interventions (FABI). However, researchers have identified several barriers limiting the applicability of this practice in schools, including difficulty in (a) training teachers to mastery; (b) assessing whether teachers can implement this practice independently, with fidelity, in natural settings; and (c) determining whether teachers can use functional analysis (FA) to identify functions of problem behavior and develop effective interventions. This study will address these gaps in the literature by using a novel approach for training teachers …

The /H/ Phenomenon: Overgeneralised Or Confused? The Nigerian Yoruba-English Speakers As A Case Study, Oluwabukola Omolara Bamidele

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, I examined why the Yoruba speakers of the English language have difficulty in pronouncing word-initial glottal fricative in English. /h/ dropping and /h/ insertion is not expected as the Yoruba language supposedly have the glottal fricative in its sound inventory. I gave a brief introduction to Yoruba phonetics, a brief history about the contact between English and Yoruba language, and what other researchers have written about the /h/ dropping and insertion phenomenon.

The research question was why the Yoruba-English speakers delete and insert the glottal fricative at the word-initial position. I started by investigating the nature of …

Organizational Models In Athletic Training And The Effect On The Quality Of Care Delivered, Matthew Ferreira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context: Quality of care is an ethical priority to all healthcare professionals. Healthcare fields such as nursing and physical therapy have made changes in staff size and focus that have increased the quality of care provided to patients. The athletic training field has not made changes to the organizational structure. Thus, the quality of care delivered by athletic trainers is an understudied topic. Likewise, the organizational models have just recently been explored in the literature. Objective: Identify differences in the three models of organization (academic, athletic, and medical) related to quality of care delivered and coverage versus care. Design: This …

Elucidating Disease Dynamics In The Biocontrol Of Ailanthus Altissima While Confirming The Host Specificity Of The Vascular Wilt Pathogen Verticillium Nonalfalfae, Kristen L. Wickert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ailanthus altissima is a highly invasive exotic tree species entrenched throughout the United States. Since the discovery of a vascular wilt disease of Ailanthus in 2002, caused by the fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae, many studies are investigating its potential as a biocontrol focusing on efficacy, host specificity and disease transmission. This study addresses: the reproductive potential of Ailanthus; if V. dahliae alters Verticillium wilt progression; if hardiness zones influence the individual contributions of two Verticillium spp.; can a unique habitat affect biocontrol efficacy; and can the fungal proteome of V. nonalfalfae allow us to explain differences in host …

Characterization Of Nodule-Specific, Slac And Mate Membrane Transporters In Medicago Truncatula, Lina Yang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Legumes play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture because of their intrinsic ability to reduce atmospheric N₂ into NH₃ via symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). SNF is carried out in the symbiosome, a quasi-organelle containing endosymbiotic rhizobial bacteria in the cytoplasm of infected cells of the nodule. Therefore, the bacteria are surrounded by a symbiosome membrane (SM), which is derived from the plant plasma membrane during infection. SNF requires constant nutritional exchanges between symbionts, including reduced carbon (dicarboxylates) from the plant for reduced nitrogen (NH₄⁺) from the bacteroids. This exchange of nutrients and signals is fundamental …

How Does The Pronunciation Of Native Languages Affect Beginning Singers? A Research Focusing On Native Mandarin Chinese And American English Speaking Singers, Ruobing Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The classical style of singing is taught at music institutions around the world as a mainstream artform. The main languages of classical vocal repertoires are Italian, German, French and English, which means most classical singers need to sing in non-native languages. When people learn a new sound from a foreign language, they often search for reference points within their native language(s), which usually is the reason behind singers performing with incorrect accents or diction.

This research focuses on beginning singers whose native language is either Mandarin Chinese or American English. This research introduces the romanization system and basic pronunciation rule …

Distinguishing Beliefs About Social Inequality: Associations Among Dimensions Of Critical Consciousness, Lauren M. Alvis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical consciousness researchers posit that critical reflection, which refers to a critical awareness of structural inequalities between socially constructed groups and external political efficacy beliefs (i.e., perceptions of government responsiveness) are important precursors to effective political action (Diemer et al., 2016; Watts, Diemer, & Voight, 2011). However, little is known about emerging adults’ views of social inequality and political change regarding specific marginalized groups. There are different forms of social inequality and the extent to which individuals experience these inequities is partially determined by multiple sociodemographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, sex, sexual-orientation, and gender identity (Hurst et al., 2016). Identifying potential …

Breaking And Remaking The Mason-Dixon Line: Loyalty In Civil War America, 1850-1900, Charles R. Welsko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Between 1850 and 1900, Americans redefined their interpretation of national identity and loyalty. In the Mid-Atlantic borderland of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia this change is most evident. With the presence of a free state and slave states in close proximity, white and black Americans of the region experienced the tumult of the Civil War Era first hand. While the boundary between freedom and slavery served as an antebellum battleground over slavery, during the war, the whole region bore witness to divisions between the Union and Confederacy as well as to define what loyalty and nation meant. By exploring …

The Magic Flute: Modern Light On A Classic Opera, Justin E H Burns

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a classic opera, showcasing powerful visual moments and well-known songs. This particular production’s lighting design approach consisted of modern design ideas and aesthetics, while remaining true to the classic idea of 2 forces working against one another. Focusing on the major themes in The Magic Flute, the lighting design reinforces the feelings of fear, despair, hope and ultimately enlightenment. This paper describes the process and execution of how the lighting design achieved these goals.

Evaluating The Effects Of Exogenous Enzyme Supplementation On Broiler Growth, Victoria E. Ayres

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of exogenous enzymes in poultry diets. In Chapter 4, a study was conducted to determine the effects of a corn-expressed recombinant carbohydrase (AC1) on broiler performance and digesta viscosity in high non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) diets through 21 days of age. One day-old Hubbard × Cobb 500 chicks were assigned to 6 dietary treatments. Each treatment consisted of 12 replicate pens of 10 birds. The positive control diet (PC) was a corn and soybean meal formulation. The negative control diet (NC) included 10% wheat and 10% corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The …

Adolescent Residential Mobility: Behavioral Outcomes And The Moderating Role Of The Mother-Adolescent Relationship, Sloane B. Glover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prior research has noted unfavorable associations between residential mobility (RM) and youth outcomes. However, little work has considered the mother-adolescent relationship as a moderator of the suggested associations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the internalizing, externalizing, and delinquent behaviors of adolescents (M_age=15.6, SD=0.77) following a move in comparison to adolescents who did not move. Frequency of moves was considered and adolescents were identified as either stable (0 moves), low mobility (1-2 moves), or high mobility (>2 moves) within a 6 year period. Mother-adolescent closeness and parental monitoring were examined as potential …

The Effect Of Feed Manufacture Techniques On Pathogen Reduction And Feed Nutrient Value, Timothy Paul Boltz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experiments were conducted to evaluate how differing feed manufacture techniques, such as varying conditioning times and new equipment, can affect pathogen mitigation, feed manufacture metrics, amino acid digestibility, and enzyme recovery in feed. Feed hygienics are of increasing importance in providing safe feed to animals, and ultimately safe food for consumers. Salmonella has been identified as a major microbial hazard in animal feed that has been linked to animal and human illness. In chapter 2, the effects of standard pelleting and more thermally aggressive techniques were utilized to determine pathogen mitigation potential. Use of antibiotics has decreased in recent years …

Los Ritmos Latinoamericanos Como Estrategia De Resistencia En La Ópera La Ruta De Su Evasión (2017) De Abya Yala Y Carlos Castro, Pamela Zamora Quesada

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this Master’s thesis I examine the most recent Costa Rican opera The Path of Avoidance (2017), produced by the Cultural Association for Performing Arts Abya Yala, directed by Roxana Ávila and composed by Carlos Castro, based on the homonymous novel of Yolanda Oreamuno (1948).Through a semiotic analysis, I will discuss how the innovative manner of incorporating Latin American rhythms such as salsa, bolero, vals criollo, bossa nova and tango is a musical strategy which promotes a problematization of the gender dominant discourse and patriarchal context. Simultaneously, these rhythms offer a way of resistance on the direct or psychological violence …

Technology Use By Teachers Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Nichole K. Zirzow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This nationwide study explored the types and frequency of technology used by

teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing (d/hh) students to design and deliver instruction, as

well as the types and frequency of technology being used by teachers of d/hh students to

promote communication and collaboration. It also examined the extent of professional

development in the area of technology use with d/hh students, and the related challenges

experienced by these teachers. The following research questions guided this study.

Research question 1. What kinds of technology do teachers of d/hh students use

to design and deliver academic content-based learning activities? With what …

Three Essays On Urban Consumer Service Firms: Evidence From Yelp, Josh Matti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores questions related to consumer services using Yelp data from the Phoenix area. Chapter 1 explores competition. Competition is a key feature of the market process assumed to improve market outcomes. But how strong is the relationship between competition and positive consumer experiences, and how does the relationship vary across space? This chapter explores these questions by exploiting Yelp data from thousands of restaurants in the Phoenix area. After controlling for restaurant characteristics, census tract level demographics, census tract fixed effects, and sub-industry fixed effects, the results are consistent with spatial competition positively affecting consumer experiences. Chapter 2 …

An Assessment Of The Methods Used To Teach Content Skill Sets Required For The Introduction To Agriculture, Food, And Natural Resource Course, Lee I. Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous studies have shown that students learn best when theory is applied to hands-on experiences. Traditionally, vocational agriculture, which evolved into agricultural education, has incorporated hands-on learning. For example, students typically raise livestock and crops as part of supervised agricultural experiences; learn to use chain saws, tractors, hay rakes, balers and other equipment found on farms; and basic metal working skills. They also sample soil and water to test for mineral levels and types of pollution that might affect agricultural practices. The purpose of this study, which incorporates a survey of agricultural education teachers in West Virginia, is to determine …

A Machine-Aided Seismic Signal Analysis Workflow For Subsurface Faults And Facies Visualization And Interpretation, South Central Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma, Wade Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Seismic attribute analysis enhances the understanding of subsurface geology and has continually gained traction in the oil and gas industry since the 1970’s. Many seismic attributes are available for petroleum geoscientists. This research intends to provide insight to an analytical attribute workflow for rock property estimation in the Anadarko basin of Oklahoma that is prolific in oil and gas exploration, with a particular focus on seismic texture. 3-D volumes processed for seismic texture facies and structure enhance geophysical investigation and interpretation of amplitude data. This study will contribute valuable insight to reservoir studies and the potential for texture attribute well …

Bacterial Contamination Study Of Loose-Fitting Power Air Purifying Respirators (Papr) Compared To N-95 Ffr And Surgical Mask, In A Simulated Sterile Environment, Tyler J. Church

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) are commonly used in a health care setting, providing a higher level of protection than traditional surgical masks or N-95’s. However, little can be found in literature about their use in a sterile environment, such as an operating room. Thus, this study aims to compare bacterial contamination of three different models of PAPRs (3M^TM Versaflo^TM TR-600-ECK, 3M^TM Air-Mate^TM, and MAXAIR CAPR 710) to a N-95, surgical N-95 and surgical mask. The experiments were conducted in a small room with no ventilation, under two conditions, door open and door closed. Each …

Impact On The Pharyngeal Airway Space After Maxillomandibular Advancement Procedure For Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients, Ghaddy Alsaty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder, characterized by disrupted snoring and repetitive upper airway obstructions. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered the therapeutic mainstay for OSA patients. However, CPAP therapy has compliance limitations. An alternative treatment options is maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgical procedure. Genial tubercle advancement (GTA) is often performed concomitant with MMA for esthetic purposes. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides the ability to visualize the upper airway and perform three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of MMA procedure with or without GTA on oropharyngeal …

Liberation By Emigration: Italian Communists, The Cold War, And West-East Migration From Venezia Giulia, 1945-1949, Luke Gramith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the years after World War II, several thousand Italians from the Italo-Yugoslav borderlands emigrated eastward across the emerging Iron Curtain, hoping to start new and better lives in Communist Yugoslavia. This dissertation explores what these migrants hoped Communism would be and how the experiences of everyday life under the preceding Fascist dictatorship shaped these hopes. It suggests that these Italians envisioned Communist society as one purged of certain social categories—shopkeepers, foremen, and piecework clerks—who had become known as quintessential Fascists due to the way Fascism interwove itself with local power. Marxist doctrine played a relatively minor role in shaping …