Digital Commons Network^™

Long Exposure: Environmental Racism And Activism In Institute, West Virginia, Allyssa Sobey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

On December 2, 1984 a lethal cloud of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) - a key chemical ingredient used to manufacture agricultural pesticides- leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India. The release covered approximately nine miles and consisted of 40 tons of MIC, causing an estimated 2500 immediate fatalities and more than 10,000 deaths within a week of the event. While the Bhopal disaster captured global headlines and sparked transnational anti-toxics and environmental justice movements, the largest production and storage facility for MIC in the world was located in the Institute Industrial Park- just a few miles west of Charleston, …

Monitoring The Integrity Of Co2 Storage Sites Using Smart Field Technology, Seyed Alireza Haghighat

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Capability of underground carbon dioxide storage to confine and sustain injected CO2 for a very long time is the main concern for geologic CO2 sequestration. If a leakage from a geological sink occurs, it is crucial to find the approximate amount and location of the leak in order to implement proper remediation activity.;An overwhelming majority of research and development for storage site monitoring has been concentrated on atmospheric, surface or near surface monitoring of the sequestered CO2. This study is different it aims to monitor the integrity of CO2 storage at the reservoir level. This work proposes developing in-situ CO2 …

Socio-Demographic And Behavioral Factors Associated With Hiv Testing And Hiv Seropositivity Among Women And Children In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Population-Based Multilevel Analysis, Zelalem T. Haile

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of mortality that disproportionately affects women and children. In this sub-region, 57% of those living with HIV are women and is home for 90% of children under the age of 15 that are living with HIV. This study examined socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with HIV testing and HIV seropositivity among women and children using nationally representative data.;Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study design using data from Demographic and Health Survey and AIDS Indicator Survey, conducted between the years 2006 and 2012 from 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. …

Relation Of Distress Tolerance And Dental Care-Related Fear And Anxiety, Sarah E. Hayes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Distress tolerance can be defined as the degree to which one is able to cope with and endure negative emotional states. This study examined possible differences in levels of distress tolerance between adults with dental phobia and age-, sex-, and income-matched adults without dental phobia. Using 42 volunteers who responded to advertisements (n = 21, dental phobia group; n = 21, healthy comparison group), this investigation utilized self-report measures of distress tolerance, fear of pain, anxiety sensitivity, dental care-related fear and anxiety,, and depression. All participants were assessed with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV); for the dental phobia group, …

Cultural Identity, Vocational Development, And The Meaning Of Work Among Appalachian Coal Miners: A Qualitative Study, Susan Chamberlain

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study I explore what coal mining means to underground miners in Appalachia, and how these meanings interact with participants' cultural and vocational identities. Using narrative data from eight underground coal miners, the study investigates the connections between cultural values, career, and personality. These connections are singularly intertwined in Appalachia, where economic and social landscapes have been heavily influenced by coal mining for over a century. The resulting relationships have blurred the lines of identity among career, family, and community. This qualitative study is based on data from semi-structured interviews; participant language was analyzed using grounded theory to create …

Assessment Of West Virginia Public Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Regarding Of The Oral Implications Of Hpv Following An Educational Presentation, Renee Cooper-Frantz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, was firmly linked to a new subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC's) in late 2007. With growing rates of West Virginians affected by HPV-related oral cancers it becomes pertinent to verify that public healthcare professionals of all disciplines are aware of this causal relationship and educating their patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level, attitudes and behaviors of a convenience sample of West Virginia's public healthcare professionals regarding the oral implications of HPV before and after and educational presentation. A pre- …

Age And Gender Differences In Decision-Making Style Profiles, Rebecca K. Delaney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current study examined Scott and Bruce's (1995) five decision-making styles (i.e. rational, intuitive, spontaneous, dependent, and avoidant) to assess potential combinations of styles using cluster analysis. The sample comprised 1,075 members from RAND's American Life Panel (56.2% female, 18-93 years, Mage = 53.49). Data was collected from a larger survey that members completed on a monthly basis. Findings yielded a three-cluster model which included: affective/experiential, dependent, and independent/self-controlled decision-making style profiles. These profiles were significantly differentiated by age and gender. Older age and being female was associated with being more likely to be in the independent/self-controlled decision-making style profile …

Peripheral Challenge With A Viral Mimic Elicits Seizure Hypersusceptibility, Lindsay Tanis Michalovicz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Seizure syndromes are common neuropathologies associated with epilepsy, metabolic disturbances, stroke, traumatic brain injury, heat stroke, fatigue, drug overdose and several other conditions. Peripheral inflammatory conditions have emerged as important comorbid factors in seizures. We found that peripherally restricted acute phase response (APR) elicited by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a viral mimic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), renders the brain hyperexcitable as seen from profoundly exacerbated kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. This hypersusceptibility was protracted for up to 72 h. Neither blood plasma transfer from PIC challenged mice nor injection of two highly expressed blood cytokines, IL-6 and IFNbeta, were able to recapitulate …

"A Debt Of Honor": Elite Women's Rituals Of Cultural Authority In The Confederate Capital, Ashley Whitehead Luskey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation analyzes the carefully crafted cultural rituals and social interactions of elite women in Richmond, Virginia in order to understand how those women sought to reaffirm their contested claims to ladyship and impose "proper" social and moral order over an increasingly disordered Confederate capital during the Civil War. As the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond stood for four years as the heart and heartbeat of the Confederate nation and thus as a conspicuous model for southern society. Throughout those four years, Richmond found itself continuously barraged by an influx of soldiers, refugees, prostitutes, scam artists, impoverished soldiers' wives, and …

Older Couples With And Without Cardiovascular Disease: Testing Associations Between And Among Affective Communication, Marital Satisfaction, Physical And Mental Health, Josh Novak, James M. Harper, Jonathan G. Sandberg

Faculty Publications

The American Heart Association (Go et al., 2013) estimated that about 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease (CVD). For those 65 years of age or older, the total cost of heart related services in 2009 was $121.2 billion (Go et al., 2013). Many people live with the chronic conditions of cardiovascular disease (Petersen et al., 2005). Researchers have identified the genetic, medical, and lifestyle habits of those with CVD, yet there is a dearth of literature focusing on the relational/social aspects of cardiovascular disease and how such factors are associated with the risk, presentation, and maintenance of cardiovascular …

A Behavioral View On Firm Response To Ratings: How Positive Recognition Leads To Reductions In Charitable Contributions, Ben William Lewis

Faculty Publications

While many rating systems incentivize firms to improve their performance, I investigate how positive recognition from external stakeholders can lead to reductions in performance, rather than improvements. Drawing upon behavioral and performance feedback theory, I argue that positive ratings can lead firms to decrease their subsequent performance by reducing uncertainty regarding standards of acceptable or appropriate conduct. Assuming that firms will seek to avoid uncertainty, I propose that such ratings can lead high-performing firms to redefine their aspirations and thus reduce their subsequent performance. I test this main hypothesis, as well as several moderating effects, by examining how firms responded …

Statistical Abstract, Fiscal Year 2014, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Statistical Abstract

This document is the annual statistical report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

Furman University Libraries Annual Report. 2013-2014, Janis Bandelin

Libraries Institutional Records

The Annual Report of the Furman University Libraries provides statistics, accomplishments, and updates related to the Libraries for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Investigation Of Chemical And Physical Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes And Their Effects On Cell Biomechanics, Chenbo Dong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used for a variety of applications from nanocircuits, to hydrogen storage devices, and from designing optical fibers to forming conductive plastics. Recently, their functionalization with biomolecules led to exciting biological and biomedical applications in drug delivery or bioimaging. However, because of CNTs interactions with biological systems and their ability to translocate and persist into the circulatory and lymphatic systems and biological tissues, concerns about CNTs intrinsic toxicity have risen. It is thus necessary to develop and implement sensitive analysis technologies that allow investigation of CNTs toxicity upon uptake into a biological system.;This thesis provides a comprehensive …

Ventilation Airflow Around A Continuous Miner And Its Effect On Methane Concentrations At The Face, Heather N. Dougherty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Attaining an accurate understanding of airflow distribution at the continuous miner face is instrumental in maintaining a safe mining environment. Currently, continuous miner face air readings can be taken in the last open crosscut and at the curtain mouth. By measuring airflow in a pre-determined area it is accepted that an adequate quantity of that air sweeps the face of harmful dust and gasses. Unfortunately, due to the location inaccessibility, precise face velocity readings can only be determined in a laboratory setting or through computer-simulated programs verified by laboratory models. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office …

The Relation Of Stress And Coping To Psychosocial Outcomes In Pediatric Burn Survivors, Paul T. Enlow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stress and coping are important predictor of psychosocial functioning in both healthy and chronically ill populations. However, no studies have investigated the relation of stressors and coping to psychosocial functioning in pediatric burn survivors. Stress consists of major life events (e.g. death of a family member) and daily hassles (e.g. receiving a speeding ticket). Results from previous studies found that stress was related to positive and negative psychosocial functioning. Coping, on the other hand, is a response that aims to combat the stressor and promote positive adjustment. Past studies have shown that the impact of stress may be moderated by …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Role Of Residential Real Estate Investment In The Economic Development Of The Northeast Region Of The United States, Praveena Rajam Jayaraman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Residential real estate investment has been recognized as an agent of economic development since the 1970s because residential real estate investment is a major economic activity with large multiplier effects. Residential real estate improvement is also linked to many external social and economic benefits. Previous studies have examined the role of residential real estate in economic development through approaches such as the effects of employment and income, household saving, labor productivity, health productivity and growth from real estate investment, as well as home ownership effects. However, recent discussions about the relationships between residential real estate investment and economic development include …

Emotion Socialization Via Mother-Child Conversations About Past Emotional Events, Kristina M. Kania

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined how mothers (N = 24) socialized emotions in their 7- to 10-year-old children during conversations about past positive and negative events. Mothers completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) to rate the extent to which they experienced negative and positive affect. Conversations were coded for content, themes, mothers' and children's narrative strategies, life lessons, and statements that foster self-esteem. These patterns are discussed across mothers and children. Mothers and their children were collaborative in their discussions of past emotional events. That is, they tended to emphasize similar narrative processes during their conversations, …

Health-Promoting Behaviors And Well Being Among Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Valerie K. Blake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of adherence to nutrition guidelines and engaging in regular physical activity on the physical and psychological dimensions of well-being in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. All available sociodemographic indicators were also analyzed in order to investigate potential interactions. A structural equation model was constructed utilizing data from 348 middle-aged and older adults who completed the Health Behavior and Knowledge Survey. Results indicated the model was a good fit to the data, accounting for 40.4% of the variance in physical well-being and 26.3% of variance in psychological well-being. …

Stray Gas Occurrences In Groundwater In Randolph County, West Virginia, Usa, Lindsey J. Bowman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stray gas in groundwater is a rising health and safety concern and previous research has documented the enhancement of deep fluid migration to shallow aquifers by shale gas activity. However, stray gas can be generated or migrate naturally into shallow aquifers and more research is needed to establish baseline conditions prior to energy development in a region. A previous survey of groundwater in central West Virginia revealed that some high stray gas concentrations in groundwater wells could possibly be related to coal mining or oil and gas development (Mulder 2012). However, a few wells in Randolph County had high levels …

Application Of A Spatially Explicit, Agent-Based Land Use Conversion Model To Assess Water Quality Outcomes Under Buffer Policies, Nazia N. Arbab

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Land use changes within watersheds have spatially explicit dynamics and involve decision making by individuals. The role of the spatial dimension of human behavior and its impact on land use change has been analyzed using agent-based modelling approaches. Agent-based land use change has received a significant theoretical attention; however, these models lack empirical implementation and testing due to the lack of spatial modelling tools and data that can capture human land use dynamics.;This research presents a methodology for projecting land use conversions through the implementation of a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model in the Opequon Creek watershed of Berkeley County, …

Understanding The Mechanism Of Hard Metal (Wc-Co) Toxicity: In Vitro Studies And In Vivo Exploration, Andrea Lynn Armstead

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hard metals, such as tungsten carbide cobalt (WC-Co), are frequently used for a number of industrial applications such as surface coatings for heavy machinery and tools. In particular, WC-Co coatings are prevalent in mining and drilling applications where extensive, repetitive use of these tools causes wear over time. In enclosed environments, WC-Co wear particles become airborne and present an occupational inhalation hazard. It is known that inhalation of WC-Co "dusts", composed of nano- and micro-sized WC-Co particles, contributes to the development of hard metal lung disease and increased risk for lung cancer; however, the relationship between acute WC-Co toxicity and …

Self-Reliance Beyond Neoliberalism: Rethinking Autonomy At The Edges Of Empire, Karen Hébert, Diana Mincyte

Publications and Research

Across scholarly and popular accounts, self-reliance is often interpreted as either the embodiment of individual entrepreneurialism, as celebrated by neoliberal designs, or the basis for communitarian localism, increasingly imagined as central to environmental and social sustainability. In both cases, self-reliance is framed as an antidote to the failures of larger state institutions or market economies. This paper offers a different framework for understanding self-reliance by linking insights drawn from agrarian studies to current debates on alternative economies. Through an examination of the social worlds of semisubsistence producers in peripheral zones in the Global North, we show how everyday forms of …

The Impact Of Cultural Competence Training On Rural Human Service Professionals, Tamikia Lott, Inglish Morgan-Gardner, Hope Comer, Narketta M. Sparkman Phd

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Cultural competence among human service professionals is imperative given the rapidly changing American demographics. Current inadequacy in the delivery of culturally responsive social services is due to insufficient cultural competence training for human service professionals. This research study investigated the extent to which constructivist based cultural competence training influenced rural human service professionals’ perceived level of cultural competence. In three regions of Tennessee, rural human service professionals (n = 44) completed an electronic survey which included the adapted California Brief Multicultural Scale (CBMCS). Using a correlational descriptive design by surveying participants, the researcher discovered rural human service professionals perceive themselves …

Compassion Fatigue In Human Service Practitioners, Rebekah F. Cole, Laurie Craigen, Rebecca G. Cowan

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Increasing rates of compassion fatigue among human service practitioners (HSPs) have wide ranging consequences for the practitioner, the client, and the field of human services. In addition to high turnover rates or the HSP's early departure from the field, compassion fatigue can also cause serious harm to the client as well as the client/helper relationship. This manuscript will address the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, the risk and protective factors associated with the development or prevention of compassion fatigue, and the importance of selfcare for HSPs.

Numerical Simulation Of “An American Haboob”, A. Vukovic, M. Vujadinovic, G. Pejanovic, J. Andric, M. J. Kumjian, V. Djurdjevic, M. Dacic, Anup K. Prasad, Hesham El-Askary, B. C. Paris, S. Petkovic, W. Sprigg, S. Nickovic

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

A dust storm of fearful proportions hit Phoenix in the early evening hours of 5 July 2011. This storm, an American haboob, was predicted hours in advance because numerical, land–atmosphere modeling, computing power and remote sensing of dust events have improved greatly over the past decade. High-resolution numerical models are required for accurate simulation of the small scales of the haboob process, with high velocity surface winds produced by strong convection and severe downbursts. Dust productive areas in this region consist mainly of agricultural fields, with soil surfaces disturbed by plowing and tracks of land in the high Sonoran Desert …

Effects Of Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide On Voltage-Dependent Sodium And Calcium Channels In Rat Ventricular Myocytes, Lina T. Al Kury, Oleg I. Voitychuk, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Faisal T. Thayyullathil, Petro Doroshenkp, Ali M. Ramez, Yaroslav M. Shuba, Sehamuddin Galadari, Frank Christopher Howarth, Murat Oz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The endocannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide; AEA) exerts negative inotropic and antiarrhythmic effects in ventricular myocytes.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Whole-cell patch-clamp technique and radioligand-binding methods were used to analyse the effects of anandamide in rat ventricular myocytes.

KEY RESULTS: In the presence of 1-10 μM AEA, suppression of both Na(+) and L-type Ca(2+) channels was observed. Inhibition of Na(+) channels was voltage and Pertussis toxin (PTX) - independent. Radioligand-binding studies indicated that specific binding of [(3) H] batrachotoxin (BTX) to ventricular muscle membranes was also inhibited significantly by 10 μM metAEA, a non-metabolized AEA analogue, with …

Effects Of Crop Residue Burning On Aerosol Properties, Plume Characteristics, And Long-Range Transport Over Northern India, D. G. Kaskaoutis, S. Kumar, D. Sharma, Ramesh P. Singh, S. K. Kharol, M. Sharma, A. K. Singh, Atinderpal Singh, D. Singh

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Aerosol emissions from biomass burning are of specific interest over the globe due to their strong radiative impacts and climate implications. The present study examines the impact of paddy crop residue burning over northern India during the postmonsoon (October-November) season of 2012 on modification of aerosol properties, as well as the long-range transport of smoke plumes, altitude characteristics, and affected areas via the synergy of ground-based measurements and satellite observations. During this period, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images show a thick smoke/hazy aerosol layer below 2-2.5 km in the atmosphere covering nearly the whole Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). The air …

Structure-Functional Prediction And Analysis Of Cancer Mutation Effects In Protein Kinases, Anshuman Dixit, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

A central goal of cancer research is to discover and characterize the functional effects of mutated genes that contribute to tumorigenesis. In this study, we provide a detailed structural classification and analysis of functional dynamics for members of protein kinase families that are known to harbor cancer mutations. We also present a systematic computational analysis that combines sequence and structure-based prediction models to characterize the effect of cancer mutations in protein kinases. We focus on the differential effects of activating point mutations that increase protein kinase activity and kinase-inactivating mutations that decrease activity. Mapping of cancer mutations onto the conformational …

Effects Of Retirement And Lifetime Earnings Profile On Health Investment, Hernán Bejarano, Hillard Kaplan, Stephen Rassenti

ESI Working Papers

We report the results of experiments where in each period of her lifetime the subject must choose how to allocate real earned income between health investment and life enjoyment in each period of a nine-period life in order to maximize aggregate life enjoyment. The key dynamic optimization challenge of the experiment to subjects derives from the fact that investments in health affect future income, but detract from current consumption. Our experimental results show that subjects were successful at reproducing the qualitative predictions of the theoretical model, investing more in health in the absence of retirement and with increasing income profiles. …