Quantitative Assessment Of Knee Joint Stability Using Inertial Measurement Units In Patients With Acl Reconstruction Performing Single-Legged Hopping Tasks, Haley Hartman-Mongold

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine proximal tibial IMU accelerations between the involved limb and uninvolved limbs of individuals who have undergone ACL reconstruction performing the single-leg hop test battery and to correlate these results to deficits in quadriceps strength and distance hopped. Methods: Thirty-four subjects (19 male, 15 female; age = 20.5 ± 6.7 years; mass = 76.4 ± 15.8 kg; height = 1.74 ± .08 cm) who have undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction were recruited for this study. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess the knee extension peak torque on the involved and uninvolved limbs. …

A Vegan Diet Compared To A Mediterranean Diet On Plasma/Serum Cholesterol Concentrations In Hypercholesterolemic Adults, Karina Bharat Patel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hypercholesterolemia, or atherosclerotic cholesterol, is characterized as elevated concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C). According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), vegan diets have proven to be the most effective diets for improvement of heart disease risk factors. On the other hand, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the Mediterranean-style diet as a diet pattern for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and reduction of risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Therefore, the current literature review uses a systematic approach to examine the effects of a vegan diet compared …

Back To The Future Self: Parsing Age Effects In Future Self-Continuity Through Goal Orientation And Life Satisfaction, Laken A. Mooney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Future self-continuity, the psychological feeling of connectedness between the current and the future self, is a relatively novel concept that is associated with and has been used to predict a variety of outcomes. Though work investigating individual differences is comparatively rare, a robust demographic difference found in previous literature is the presence of an age effect, where older adults are more likely to feel a greater connection to their future self than younger adults. This finding has been replicated a number of times, but potential mechanisms behind this observed age-related increase have yet to be fully uncovered. Limited previous work …

Scenic Design For Jen Silverman’S Phoebe In Winter, Jess A. Ford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document is a narrative of the Scenic Design process for Jen Silverman’s Phoebe in Winter, designed by Jess Ford. The process includes a detailed summary and analysis of the script, the stages in the creation of the design, the final design, build, technical rehearsals, and the final product. This production was produced by West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance during the Fall 2024 semester, presented in the Gladys G. Davis Theater at the Canady Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV.

Chopin’S Innovation And Influence On The French Piano School: From His Predecessors To His Principal Students And Successors, Wenjun Xia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Chopin’s Innovation and Influence on the French Piano School: From his Predecessors to his Principal Students and Successors

Wenjun Xia

This research explores Frédéric Chopin's (1810–1849) innovations in piano technique, pedagogy, composition, and interpretation, as well as Chopin’s subsequent influence on the French piano school. Before Chopin’s arrival in Paris, the French piano school was primarily influenced by Louis Adam (1758–1848) and Friedrich Kalkbrenner (1785–1849), whose approaches dominated piano pedagogy at the Paris Conservatoire. Early French piano pedagogy centered on finger precision, virtuosity, and clarity, but expressivity was somewhat limited. Chopin initiated Romantic trends that emphasized emotion and natural physical …

Commissioning And Recording Project Of New Works For Saxophone Focused On Promoting Mexican Composers And Educating Future Commissioning Saxophonists, Andres Efrain Santana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document chronicles my process of commissioning and recording five new works by Mexican composers. To contextualize this experience, I provide a brief introduction of Mexican contemporary music history, an overview of second-hand accounts of the commissioning process, my personal experience of this process, and my assessment of the impact these works could have on the classical saxophone repertoire. As I have reflected on my own experience with historical and contemporary accounts of the commissioning process, it has become clear that personal connections between composers and performers and the patronage or funding linked to those relationships are just as important …

Development Of Fast And Comprehensive Approaches For Gunshot Residue Interpretation Using Ambient Ionization, Mass Spectrometry, And Microparticle Sampling Studies, Thomas Dimmey Ledergerber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The information derived from the forensic examination of gunshot residue (GSR) can be critical during the investigative and trial stages in the criminal justice system. However, the complexity of the GSR deposition, transfer, and persistence mechanisms calls for meticulous handling and identification processes. Novel advances in evidence interpretation and analysis via instrumental methods are current areas of growing interest that must be pushed along the chain from research to practice in a timely manner. Therefore, this research focuses on developing both rapid and comprehensive methods for detecting gunshot residue evidence and effectively communicating its significance to the investigators or trier …

Extending Effects Of The Good Behavior Game With Mixed Schedules, Amina Boukhris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Student disruptive behavior in the classroom can adversely affect both students and teachers. The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a well-established classroom management strategy used to reduce disruption. However, its use remains limited due to implementation barriers reported by teachers, such as effort associated with delivering feedback, and the limited generalization of the GBG effects to times when the game is not in place. The current study had two main objectives: (a) to evaluate whether a modified version of the GBG implemented on a mixed-schedule-like arrangement (MIX GBG) could reduce student disruption as effectively as the standard version (MULT GBG), …

Three Chapters In International Macroeconomics: Navigating Risk, Development, And Policy With Emphasis On Low-Income Economies, Samantha Alexandre Borkhoche

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores how structural vulnerabilities and external shocks interact with economic policy tools in shaping development outcome. Each chapter addresses a distinct dimension of risk—environmental, macroeconomic, and political—and evaluates mechanisms through which these challenges can be mitigated or amplified. The focus on low-income economies ensures their unique vulnerabilities are integrated into the research question, addressing critical gaps in economic literature.

Chapter 1 addresses how the Sub-Saharan African regions can balance sustainability and development. It uses a time-series methodology to estimate the impact of trade in “green goods” on environmental outcomes. It finds that increases in the trade of environmentally-friendly …

Implementation Of The Novel Nurse Intuition Patient Deterioration Scale To Assess For A Correlation Among Nurse Intuition And Patients Returning To The Intensive Care Unit, Janie L. Walsh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: Adult hospitalized medical and surgical patients at an academic medical center are being transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the step-down floor and having rapid response calls in less than 48 hours after the transfer. Nurse intuition is not a consideration in the decision to transfer a patient. Physiological variables such as Modified Early Warning Scores (MEWS) and vital signs are relied on heavily as indicators for escalation or de-escalation of care. There is evidence supporting the use of acknowledging nurse intuition to better predict a patient’s readiness for transitions of care.

Purpose: To evaluate the …

A Quality Improvement Project To Assess The Impact Of A Patient Acuity Tool On Nurse Satisfaction In Equitable Patient Assignments In Nurse Workload And Perceived Quality Care Provided, Claire Alexandra Rodgers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Traditional nursing staffing models used to create patient-care assignments do not account for patient acuity. As patient acuity increases, nurse workload increases. When patient-care assignments do not account for acuity, nurses are unable to provide quality care to patients. Utilizing a patient acuity tool (PAT) has been shown to improve nurse satisfaction and equity in assignments while also enhancing the ability for nurses to provide quality care.

Purpose: The project aims to assess the impact of a PAT to improve nurse satisfaction in equitable patient assignments based on nurse workload and perception of quality of care provided to patients …

Identifying Factors Associated With Time To Diagnosis For Symptomatic Intestinal Malrotation In Pediatric Patients, Katie E. Corcoran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Intestinal malrotation is a rare condition in which the intestines rotate improperly during embryonic development. Intestinal malrotation is typically diagnosed in pediatric patients with an upper gastrointestinal imaging (UGI) series. Longer time to diagnosis of intestinal malrotation increases the risk of mortality and severe morbidity. While the need for timely diagnosis is well-established in the literature, the correlates of time to diagnosis are largely unknown. The classic medical presentation for intestinal malrotation is an infant presenting with green bilious emesis. I hypothesize that time to diagnosis of intestinal malrotation will be longer in symptomatic pediatric patients when they present differently …

La2nio4+Δ-Based Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (Soecs) Electrodes Enhanced With Complex Perovskite Nanocatalyst Processed By Surfactant-Enabled Infiltration, Cole Samuel Klemstine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the world seeks to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons, the demand for sustainable hydrogen production methods has become increasingly critical. Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from various sources, including water, natural gas, and biomass. Replacing the burning of hydrocarbons with hydrogen could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate goals like those set by the US H2NEW program. The joint technologies of solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells present the ability to both produce and process clean hydrogen to meet these goals. Development into solid oxide fuel cells has been met with …

3d Printed Microfluidic Platforms For Elisa-Based Diagnostics: Advancing Toward Point Of Care, Brandi Marie Binkley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Protein biomarker detection is a critical analytical method for quantifying proteins in biological samples. It is relevant not only in medical diagnostics and research but also numerous other fields such as environmental monitoring, pharmacology, food safety, and biotechnology. Sensitive detection at picogram-per-milliliter (pg/mL) levels is essential for diagnosing diseases, monitoring progression, and tailoring treatments, especially for low-abundance biomarkers like troponin, interleukin 6, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), activin A, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Immunoassays, particularly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are the gold standard for protein biomarker detection due to their high specificity and sensitivity. The development of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic …

Exploring Relationships Among Higher Education Accreditation Outcomes, Credit Ratings, And Subsequent Institutional Responses: A Quantitative Study, Joshua Allen Hertlein

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the financial pressures facing colleges and universities, focusing on the impact of accreditation outcomes and bond credit ratings. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study posits that adverse accreditation outcomes and credit rating downgrades can be anticipated by observable, measurable attributes at higher education institutions. Additionally, it explores institutional responses following these adverse events.

Data was collected from IPEDS, FSA, DAPIP, BLS, and Moody’s Investors Service, covering the period from 2012 to 2022. Logistic regression models estimated the odds of negative accreditation outcomes and credit rating downgrades based on predictor variables such as enrollment levels, expenses, revenue, financial …

Improving Neuromuscular Blockade Surveillance In Anesthesia Care With Quantitative Train Of Four Monitoring, Carley S. Blair

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Problem Statement: Despite the availability of quantitative train of four (TOF) monitoring, anesthesia providers more frequently rely on tactile (qualitative) TOF monitoring, which is associated with underestimation of recovery from muscle relaxation. Inadequate recovery from muscle relaxants results in residual weakness and its associated complications in the postoperative period, including compromised respiratory function (Thilen et al., 2023).

Background: Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) drugs are required to facilitate endotracheal intubation and allow for surgical manipulation. When these drugs are used, train of four (TOF) stimulations are used to monitor and assess the depth and recovery from NMB. TwitchView monitors (quantitative monitoring) is …

An Initiative To Improve Sevoflurane Gas Flows Among Anesthesia Providers In An Academic Medical Center, Amy Dinicola

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

An Initiative to Improve Sevoflurane Gas Flows Among Anesthesia Providers in an

Academic Medical Center

Amy DiNicola

Background: While global warming has been introduced as the most significant public health threat of the 21st century, 10% of carbon emissions in the United States come from healthcare (Shoham et al., 2022). Sevoflurane is a volatile anesthetic gas that requires a carrier gas mixture of oxygen with air or nitrous oxide to reach a patient during anesthesia. The extra gas flow often exceeds physiologic needs, and the excess gets wasted into the atmosphere. Reducing the additional flow of carrier gas can …

Code Blue Narrator Documentation: An Evidence Based Quality Improvement Initiative, Stefanie A. Benvenuto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: The code documenter plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate, real-time documentation during Code Blue events, which is critical for patient care and compliance with established guidelines and protocols. However, nurses have reported discomfort with the Code Narrator tool in EPIC, which has hindered effective documentation during these high-pressure situations.

Purpose: The lack of comfort in using the Code Narrator tool has led to inconsistent and inaccurate documentation during Code Blue events, potentially impacting the effectiveness of the response and patient outcomes, such as the achievement of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Intervention: An educational competency …

Implementation Of An Evidenced Based Enteral Nutrition Protocol For Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Hannah R. Nuzum

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Implementation of an Evidenced Based Enteral Nutrition Protocol for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Hannah Nuzum

Background: Mechanically ventilated patients require supplemental nutrition as an important factor for their overall recovery. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is reported as high as 35% (Ikram et al., 2022).

Purpose: Lack of an enteral nutrition (EN) protocol has contributed to variability in initiation of EN for post-intubated mechanically ventilated patients.

Intervention: The project interventions are threefold: the development of an EN protocol, EN initiated within 24 to 28 hours for post-intubation patients, and staff understands that EN should be initiated within …

Do Dung Beetles Sink Or Swim: Exploring Dung Beetle Response To Precipitation, Lauren T. Cheshire

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Global climate change constitutes a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services of many taxa. The Mid-Atlantic region of the US is expecting to see an increase in extreme precipitation events and flooding. Dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) can tunnel below the soil surface allowing for water to dissipate into the soil rather than sit on the surface and add to flooding conditions. They also can decrease methane emission by burying dung and reduce outbreaks of pests that prefer the moist environment of dung. They contribute roughly $380 million in ecosystem services annually in the United States, yet their services may be …

What Does It All Mean? Differences In Self-Defining Memories Between Community And Adjudicated Youth, Hannah Elias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Identity development is driven in large part by self-defining memories, or memories though which we base our definition of who we are (Habermas & Bluck, 2000). In adolescence, cognitive skills are gained that allow us to make meaning, or learn lessons and gain insight, from self-defining memories (Bluck & Habermas, 2001; McLean & Thorne, 2003). To determine whether there are differences in their ability to make meaning from their self-defining memories, this study compares narratives of self-defining memories between community youth and adjudicated youth. Additionally, the ability to be specific in self-defining memory recollection may differ between these groups, which …

All-Terrain Vehicle Injuries Among Youth: A Multidimensional Analysis Of Injury Patterns In West Virginia And Safety Laws Across High-Fatality States, Sabrina Chyann Beal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) pose significant injury risks, particularly among youth. These powerful machines are widely used across recreational and rural settings. West Virginia consistently ranks among the top five states for ATV-related deaths and injuries. Safety equipment and requirements are often not followed nor enforced, causing children and adolescents to be the most vulnerable group because they tend to not wear safety equipment such as helmets, ride on roadways, carry passengers, and operate oversized ATVS. This study examined ATV injury patterns from the WVU Medicine Trauma Registry and ATV laws across the five states with the highest reported fatalities. This …

Role Of Interpretation Bias Related To Pain In A Dental Setting, Jeongwi An

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Studies of interpretation bias related to pain have consistently shown that patients with pain are more likely to interpret ambiguous stimuli as related to pain than healthy control participants. This phenomenon is associated with pain and related outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors, suggesting a potential target in pain management. This study aimed to examine whether the association between interpretation bias, pain, and emotional status can be replicated in a dental care population. The relation of interpretation bias to pain experience was tested in a naturalistic anxiety and pain-provoking setting (i.e., root canal treatment, RCT). A total of 82 …

Resilience In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The Relation Between Grit, Benefit-Finding, Diabetes Distress, Hba1c And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Hannah Hardiman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common pediatric chronic illness that requires complicated management by both the child and their caregiver. Research and clinical guidelines have highlighted adherence (as measured by HbA1c) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as important outcomes particularly in adolescents with T1D. Notably, diabetes distress has been identified as a risk factor contributing to poor adherence and HRQOL outcomes in this population. Given these considerations, understanding what resilience factors contribute to optimal outcomes is vitally important to inform future interventions. Grit and benefit-finding are two novel resilience factors that have yet to be fully evaluated …

Developing Consensus-Based Methods For The Examination And Interpretation Of Contemporary Vehicle, Architectural, And Portable Electronic Device Glasses By Micro-X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, Zachary Bailey Andrews

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glass is a trace material that is commonly encountered during investigations of violent crimes. When glass is recovered at crime scenes, it can be used to establish links between suspects, victims, and the scene itself. The most discriminatory form of analysis for glass evidence is elemental analysis, and micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (µXRF) is becoming an increasingly common technique used for this purpose. Recent advances in µXRF technology, such as the introduction of silicon drift detectors (SDD) and improved polycapillary optics are promising in enhancing the capabilities for the examination of glass evidence in forensic investigations. However, along with these advances …

Increasing Preparedness For Malignant Hyperthermia Crises: An Evidence Based Quality Improvement Project, Elise Jozwiak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: MH is a low frequency, but high risk potentially fatal genetic mutation if left untreated. A rural Pennsylvania Hospital was found to have an incidence rate of 12/4,033 MH related occurrences within the last 6 months. Delayed treatment of MH can result in increased mortality rates and poor patient outcomes.

Purpose: Given the rarity and high mortality rate without prompt treatment, implementation of a standardized cognitive aid to be kept on the Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) cart, coupled with operating room staff education on early recognition and treatment of malignant hyperthermia can assist in proper perioperative MH management steps for …

Nephrocheck Implementation And Its Impact On The Incidence Of Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Michael Maccourtney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

NephroCheck Implementation and its Impact on the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Michael C. MacCourtney

Problem Statement: Acute kidney injury occurs in up to 50% of patients after cardiac surgery (Meersche et al., 2017). This contributes to significant morbidity, mortality, and costs (Helgadottir et al., 2016). At the time of the project implementation, the standard of care involved measuring renal function utilizing serum creatinine (SCr) and urine output (UOP) without NephroCheck. These renal function labs do not represent a timely and accurate assessment of the patient’s current renal status because they do not …

Effects Of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation On Impulse Control Disorders In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease On Dopamine Replacement Therapy, Katherine Muksuris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and depression. The mainstay treatment for motor symptoms is dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). DRT takes the form of levodopa or dopamine receptor agonists (DAs) and can be associated with impulse control disorders (ICDs). Currently, the approach to mitigating these side effects is to decrease or stop DRT, which may cause motor symptoms to return, making the management of the disorder more difficult. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment for multiple disorders, including its approved use for smoking cessation. It has also shown …

“We Do Everything Together!”: Examining The Effect Of A Multitasking Chore On Narrative Engagement And Parasocial Relationships With Podcast Hosts, Hailey Morgan Scherer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examined the link between media multitasking behaviors and the subsequent enhancement of narrative engagement and parasocial relationships with podcast hosts. Research on parasocial relationships has long established that people can develop strong pseudo relationships through aural media, such as radio and podcasts (e.g., Horton & Wohl, 1956). This has often been attributed to the charismatic nature of hosts on audio programs (e.g., Schlütz and Hedder, 2022; Perks & Turner, 2019; Heiselberg & Have 2023), however, the ability of people to listen while they engage in other tasks (e.g., driving or doing chores) can also enhance parasocial bonds. One …

No Man’S A Stone: A Qualitative Approach To Characterizing Masculinity In Older Adulthood, Montgomery T. Owsiany

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Suicide rates are exceedingly high in U.S. older men (aged 65 years and older). In 2020, older men were about 6.5 times more likely to die by suicide than older women and 1.14 times more likely than men aged 18 to 64 years. Masculine norms (e.g., emotional suppression, self-reliance, anger, physical toughness risk-taking behaviors, alcohol misuse) are believed to influence the presentation of mental disorders, such as depression, which has led to the conceptualization of masculine depression. Research on masculinity often focuses on the experiences of younger men, ignoring how gender identities may change as one progresses through adulthood. Meanwhile, …