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Piano Wisdom From Two Great Masters: Heinrich Neuhaus And Walter Gieseking, Xiaohan Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the pedagogical insights and piano techniques of Heinrich Neuhaus (1888-1964) and Walter Gieseking (1895-1956), two iconic figures in 20th-century piano performance and education. Through a detailed analysis of their writings and teaching methods, the research highlights their shared focus on the foundational principles of piano technique, as well as their unique contributions to interpretation and musical expression.

Neuhaus’s The Art of Piano Playing provides an in-depth discussion on the importance of artistic imagery, posture, sound production, and emotional depth in performance. Gieseking, along with his former teacher Karl Leimer, emphasizes ear training, mental visualization, and technical precision …

Enhancing Robotic Exploration Through Semantically-Guided Sampling Strategies, Christopher Alexander Arend Tatsch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

From space and deep-sea exploration to disaster response and environmental monitoring, autonomous robots are essential for advancing science, improving safety, and addressing critical challenges. This dissertation introduces a novel open-source strategy for autonomous robotic exploration: the Semantically-Guided Exploration (SGE) framework. Designed for ground vehicles, SGE integrates semantic understanding into the autonomous exploration process, improving decision-making in complex environments. Specifically, the proposed sampling-based approach uses the information from the semantic segmentation of RGB images and depth images to guide the robot's selection of exploration goals. This method enables the robot to steer away from potential dangers such as large rocks and …

Analysis Of Pulsar Discoveries And Pulse Profile Variability: From Pulsar Candidates To Gravitational Wave Detector, William Carl Fiore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Last year, pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) reported evidence of a gravitational-wave (GW) background at nanohertz frequencies, opening a new window into the Universe. PTAs measure GW-induced variations in the timing of radio pulses from millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in our Galaxy. In order for PTA experiments to confidently detect and characterize the GW background, they must continue to regularly observe many MSPs and measure their pulse times of arrival as precisely as possible. This motivates efforts to find new MSPs with pulsar surveys, and to study pulsars whose unusual behavior may give rise to excess noise in PTA data sets, potentially …

Processing, Stability, And High-Temperature Properties Of Doped Lacro3-Based Refractory Ceramics And Composites For Harsh Environments Sensing Applications, Javier A. Mena

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In order to test and monitor the operational stability and conditions of various energy, transportation, and manufacturing systems and their components, accurate sensors capable of operating at temperatures over 1000 °C in various environments for long durations are required. In addition, many of these harsh environmental systems do not permit sensors to be directly inserted into the environment, so the sensors need to be embedded into the surrounding support or thermal protective materials. Some technological and industrial applications that require the use of harsh environment conditions sensing include nuclear and chemical reactors, jet engines, heavyduty gas turbines, rotating bearings in …

Coal As A Resource For Rare Earth Elements In West Virginia, Rachel Elizabeth Yesenchak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are essential for manufacturing technologies vital to economic and national security, the U.S. is heavily reliant on foreign imports of these critical metals. There is significant interest in identifying and developing unconventional REY resources including coal and coal-byproducts to help secure domestic supplies of these elements. Appalachian Basin coals and byproducts are particularly enriched in REY. Coal-producing states within the basin, including West Virginia, can utilize existing infrastructure and legacy coal mining wastes to transition into the production of REY. However, in order to develop these resources, it is critical to understand the …

A Balancing Act: Microrna Mediated Insect-Bacterial Homeostasis And The Tsetse Fly, Mason Hubbard Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microbial symbioses are ubiquitous across all kingdoms of life with broad and diverse impacts on the evolution of species. The sum of all microbes living in, on, or otherwise in close association with a host form the microbiota. In some cases, the development of a stable microbial association seems to have been necessary for the specialization of diet, as can be observed in numerous insect species, especially wood-eating, sap-feeding, and blood-feeding organisms. For the medically and economically tsetse fly (family Glossinidae), the mutualistic bacteria Wigglesworthia glossinidia is required for proper reproduction and supplementation of nutrients that the fly does not …

Geochemical Phase Associations Of Rare Earth Elements And Lithium In Black Shales Of The Usa: A Study In The Appalachian And Haynesville Basins, Shailee Bhattacharya

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical elements are an indispensable part of the clean energy transition. In the race for alternative energy technologies, lithium and rare earth elements have a proven record of being few of the most sought-after minerals. Limited availability of conventional mineral ores warrants a need to explore, understand and exploit unconventional sources of these elements. To that end, several studies have attempted to understand the rock and mineral assemblages of diverse geological systems. This doctoral thesis focuses on understanding the geochemistry of REE and Li in sedimentary environments, particularly black shale basins in the US. A suite of samples from natural …

Investigating Critical Mineral Recovery And Carbon Mineralization Potential In Coal Fly Ash, Syabilla Cardosh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coal fly ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, represents an innovative opportunity to address the rising demand for critical minerals and the need to reduce CO2 emissions due to its significant concentrations of calcium and magnesium. By providing insights and preliminary data, this study aims to contribute to the foundational understanding necessary for future development.

A multidisciplinary approach was employed to assess CFA’s potential, including detailed chemical and mineralogical characterization using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis revealed crystalline phases in the CFA samples. At the …

Foraging Economies: A Market Based Methodology For Robotic Swarm Foraging, John A. Little

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Swarm robotics involves coordinating large groups of autonomous agents to accomplish complex tasks through decentralized, adaptive behaviors, providing a robust and scalable approach suited to dynamic and unpredictable environments. While traditional swarm models frequently draw inspiration from biological systems such as ant colonies or bee foraging, other approaches use techniques from physics, control theory, and economics to achieve effective coordination. This study distinguishes itself by applying economic principles—specifically, market-driven mechanisms like auctions, utility functions based on opportunity cost, and supply-demand dynamics based on fluctuating resource values at a central base—to improve task allocation within a swarm foraging context. This approach …

A Portable, Digital Nucleic Acid Amplification Test For Use At The Point Of Care, Bethany J. Fike

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nucleic acid tests are key tools for the detection and diagnosis of many diseases. In many cases, the amplification of nucleic acids is required to reach a detectable level. Although nucleic acid tests have great success, there is a need to make nucleic acid amplification tests more accessible to a point-of-care (POC) setting for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of infectious diseases. Traditionally, these tests are performed through bulk Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and are monitored in real time with a change in fluorescence intensity. With these bulk testing methods, only a qualitative or semi-quantitative result is possible. For more exact …

It's Written All Over Your Face: A Cultural And Gender History Of The Face In The Middle Ages, 1170-1500, Lacey N. Bonar Hull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

At a time of vast social and cultural shifts, people living in western Europe from the late twelfth to the late fifteenth centuries developed and employed methods to “read” the faces of others. This practice promoted the interpretation of inner qualities from external appearances, often used to communicate adherence to or deviation from boundaries of gendered behaviors. My project explores medieval understandings concerning this particular feature of the human body, analyzing discourses concerning the face as a site of symbolism for inner character. While scholars have studied understandings of the self and the “Other” during this period, the role of …

Development And Application Of Functional Immune Assays To Understand Disease In Wild Smallmouth Bass Populations, Cheyenne R. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over recent decades, the scientific community has observed a disconcerting trend – a decline in the health and stability of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) populations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed with growing economic and ecological implications. Disease, declines, and death have been observed in multiple locations, particularly in the Susquehanna and Potomac drainages with the adults disproportionately affected in the Potomac River basin and young-of-year in the Susquehanna River basin. There has not been a single or consistent cause to the declines or mortality events. More likely, it is believed immunosuppression relating to a complex mixture of stressors has been …

Associations Between Diabetes-Specific Psychological Flexibility, Family Conflict, Parental Distress And Adherence In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Rebecca I. Laquaglia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that impacts the lives of millions of children and adolescents in the United States. Adherence to diabetes medical regimens is often challenging, particularly among adolescents. Based on previous research, diabetes-specific psychological flexibility, or the ability of an individual with T1D to psychologically adjust to, accept, and commit action to manage their diagnosis, may improve adherence in youth with T1D. Factors such as diabetes-specific family conflict (i.e., conflict within parent-child dyads that is specifically related to T1D management) and diabetes-specific parental distress (i.e., emotional distress experienced by a parent or caregiver as …

Immune Outcomes Affected By Selection For Parasite Resistance In Katahdin Sheep, Kelsey Lynne Bentley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Our understanding of the complex connection between selection for parasite resistance and the overall health outcomes in livestock is unclear. This study investigates the impact of post-weaning fecal egg count (PFEC) estimated breeding values (EBV) on health outcomes and immune responses in Katahdin sheep. Selection for PFEC, favoring Low-PFEC lambs, not only affects survivability to weaning but also suggests broader implications for immunity beyond parasite resistance. The effect of PFEC EBV on antibody production in response to vaccination against Clostridium perfringens type C&D and tetanus toxoid (CD&T) revealed a stepwise decrease in immunoglobin (IgG) from Low-PFEC to High-PFEC groups upon …

Self-Efficacy And Parental Miscarried Helping In Adherence And Transition Readiness Among Adolescents And Young Adults With Epilepsy, Kirby-Estar G. Laguerre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Given the complex regimen associated with epilepsy, ensuring that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) adhere to their medications, and are ready to transition from pediatric to adult care, is crucial to optimizing their health outcomes. Several social and ecological factors such as self-efficacy and parental miscarried helping can strengthen or weaken an adolescent’s medication adherence and readiness to shift from pediatric to adult care. Intending to contribute to informing and improving clinical care, this study sought to understand the relationships between self-efficacy, parental miscarried helping, medication adherence, and transition readiness. Methods: Using a cross-sectional observational design, 46 AYAs with …

Abuse Liability Of Electronic Cigarettes In Non-Smoking Electronic Cigarette Users, Andrea Renee Milstred

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) are devices designed to aerosolize nicotine and are increasing in popularity among both former cigarette smokers and naïve tobacco users. Extant research has shown the dependence potential of ECIGs, though there is not a consensus on the severity of nicotine dependence caused by ECIG use. As a result of becoming dependent on nicotine, individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms (i.e., irritable, craving, depressed mood) when abstaining from nicotine. The majority of previous research on ECIG use has included samples of ECIG users who are former or current smokers. The present study evaluated ECIG withdrawal suppression among a population …

Associations Among Psychosocial Factors, Health-Related Quality Of Life, And Adherence In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cecelia I. Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a prevalent disorder among youth in the United States. IBD is one of the leading causes of chronic pain in adolescence and symptoms can lead to reduced quality of life, social embarrassment, and lower self-esteem. Adherence to medical regimens for IBD is incredibly important to prevent morbidity, mortality, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, adolescents struggle generally with adherence and the regimen for IBD can be complicated and include aversive side effects. Psychological factors, such as depressive symptoms, are key factors associated with non-adherence. Nevertheless, gut-specific anxiety (GSA) is a psychological factor that …

Subjective Cognitive Decline: Examining The Contributions Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Social Determinants Of Health, Amber Victoria Rusch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Subjective cognitive decline is one’s awareness of their own consistent memory loss or confusion that interrupts their day-to-day activities (CDC, 2022; Roehr et al., 2017). Several risk factors for subjective cognitive decline, such as demographic social determinants of health (SDOH) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified through previous research (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016; Dening & Sandilyan, 2015); however, less is known about the interaction between demographic SDOH and ACEs on subjective cognitive decline. The current study sought to examine how demographic SDOH (i.e., age, sex, race, and education) (research question 1) and ACEs (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, and …

Implant Overdenture Abutment Loosening Under Hyperbaric Conditions, Zana Jamal Al-Saloum

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To investigate the effect of various hyperbaric air pressures on the loosening of LOCATOR® (ZEST Anchors, LLC, Escondido, CA USA) overdenture abutments.

The pressure conditions tested are meant to simulate scuba diving conditions in edentulous patients that are restored with implant-retained tissue-supported overdentures. Another sub-goal of this study is to determine whether or not there is a difference in LOCATOR® loosening when the sample is exposed to six cycles/dives as opposed to one cycle/dive.

Methods: 36 ZimVie Tapered Screw Vent Implants with a 3.5mm diameter implant platform, and a 2.5mm diameter (and 1.5mm deep) internal hexagon were …

An Exploration Of Misconceptions In Introductory Physics, Christopher Mattthew Wheatley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of student misconceptions about physics concepts has long been an important area of inquiry in physics education research (PER). The research discussed in this dissertation builds upon the developments in PER by exploring the prevalence of consistently held undergraduate student misconceptions in introductory calculus-based physics. This thesis explores the nature of student misconceptions, mistakes, and naive answering patterns in both introductory undergraduate Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism by applying a network analytic technique called module analysis to student responses to different concept inventories from institutions of various levels of incoming physics preparation. Each study applying these methods also demonstrates …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Development Toward Teaching Mathematics For Social Justice, Catherine Lynne Manley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While some might say that mathematics is neutral, free from political and social bias, social justice concerns can be found in the day-to-day actions of teachers in mathematics classrooms. Teaching mathematics for social justice requires teachers to gain knowledge of the world and systems of oppression as well as current efforts to both address systemic issues as well as the fight for those in power to maintain their cultural capital. Mathematics teachers also need to learn the pedagogical practices that support social justice in education and the specific ways in which mathematics content can be used as a tool to …

Visit North Carolina: Trail Accessibility, Hannah Caitlyn Guschel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper focuses on the perceived barriers to travel from marketing material for individuals with disabilities compared to those without disabilities and the direct impact on leisurely travel participation, particularly in outdoor spaces. Employing a cross-sectional study design encompassing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, this research investigates the experiences and transparency of trail accessibility in the state of North Carolina. Quantitative data were gathered through trail assessment accessibility checklists, while qualitative insights were obtained via in-depth interviews. The findings reveal an improved understanding of accessibility and the application of an accessibility checklist. Moreover, the study underscores the importance …

Modeling The Dynamics Of Radiation Belt Electrons And Ring Current Protons, Xingzhi Lyu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Earth’s inner magnetosphere is a highly dynamic region with various charged particle populations and current systems. The radiation belts, composed of relativistic electrons and protons, is an environment that can pose significant risks to both spacecraft and humans in space; while the fluctuations of ring current, an electric current flowing around the earth consisting of energetic electrons and ions, can lead to severe disruptions in ground-based electrical systems. In this dissertation, we first modeled the long-term evolution of ring current protons based on the measurements of Van Allen Probes. By implementing a 1D radial diffusion model with charge exchange loss, …

Anxiety And Depression In Older Adults Post Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Mickaela R. Reed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has investigated challenges that are created when one experiences a disaster within populations such as older adults and other vulnerable groups of people. However, there is little to no consideration given to how age in combination with trauma history are related to well-being after a disaster. Using two theories, socioemotional selectivity theory (SST, Carstensen, 2006) and the strength and vulnerability integration model (SAVI, Charles, 2010). I compared older adults post disaster vulnerabilty to depression and anxiety to that of younger adults with trauma history as a moderator. The 2,508 participants in the current study were from the Survey of …

Using Critical Place-Based Pedagogy To Build A Bridge Between College Students’ Home Literacies And Their Academic Literacies In A Composition Class In West Virginia, Michael Vozniak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the use of place-based pedagogy as a tool for teaching for transfer in a college composition class in West Virginia. Although existing composition scholarship indicates that themed classes (such as a place-based class) are unlikely to facilitate transfer among the students, this is mostly due to instructors of themed classes not explicitly teaching for transfer. The literature suggests that the most effective way to facilitate transfer is to encourage students to reflect on how what they learned in one situation is similar to and different from what they need to learn in another situation. The aim of …

Application Of Interpretable Machine Learning Methods To Study The Disease Characteristics And Healthcare Expenditures In Hodgkin’S Lymphoma, Zasim Azhar Dil Hasan Siddiqui

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a rare malignancy of lymphocytes that predominantly occurs in young adults aged 20-30 years or elderly individuals aged 65-75 years. Despite its low incidence, there were an estimated 223,512 HL survivors in the US in 2020. Hodgkin’s lymphoma shows a favorable prognosis among young adults, with a high cure rate of 85-90%; however, older adults experience poor prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 40-55% in patients over 60 years. HL survivors incur high total and out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditures, averaging $78,183 and $4,180 per patient in the first year after diagnosis, highlighting a considerable …

Contentment And Control: The Stonega Coke & Coal Company & Pioneering Welfare Capitalism In Southwest Virginia, Christopher Lloyd Tomlinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Founded in 1902, the Stonega Coke & Coal Company was the largest coal operator in Virginia throughout the twentieth century, becoming even larger through its merger with the Westmoreland Coal Company in 1964. Over the course of this long history, the company used a brand of welfare capitalism aimed at keeping miners and their families satisfied enough with their living and working conditions that the workers would develop a sense of loyalty to the company. Management at SC&C termed these practices “contentment sociology.” While many coal operators began shifting away from such practices during the New Deal, SC&C maintained and …

At The Table, Payton Olivia Brown

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts exhibition, At the Table. This document, as well as my artwork, investigates the profound impact that food has on one’s life by strengthening connections with others, upholding traditions, and cherishing memories. It also elaborates on the inspirations, research, and experimentation utilized in the process of creating the exhibition. Through an array of paintings, mixed media, and sculptural work, this exhibition is intended to depict my own personal experiences and memories in relation to food.

Although I am making autobiographical artwork, I am also trying to portray the …

Bridging Evolutionary And Bayesian Optimization For Enhanced Safety Verification In Control Systems, Joshua M. Yancosek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The rigorous safety verification of control systems in critical applications is essential, given their in creasing complexity and integration into everyday life. Simulation-based falsification approaches play a pivotal role in the safety verification of control systems, particularly within critical applications. These methods systematically explore the operational space of systems to identify configurations that result in violations of safety specifications. However, the effectiveness of traditional simulation based falsification is frequently limited by the high dimensionality of the search space and the sub stantial computational resources required for exhaustive exploration. This thesis presents Bayesian Evolutionary Approach for COuNterexample, or BEACON, a novel …

Effects Of Commission Errors On Behavior Intervention Plan Outcomes, Olivia Brianne Harvey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

When implemented well (with fidelity), behavior intervention plans (BIP) improve student outcomes. Teachers tend to implement BIPs with poor overall fidelity, but little is known about the specific errors occurring during BIP implementation or the subsequent impacts these errors have on student outcomes. One possibility is that teachers learn what strategies suppress challenging behavior and implement those strategies regardless of what is written in the formal BIP. These added intervention components, termed commission errors, have not yet been evaluated in the context of BIP implementation. The proposed studies will begin to address these gaps. During Study 1, we …