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2016

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Pigeons And Humans Time Miscued Intervals, Shrinidhi Subramaniam Jan 2016

Pigeons And Humans Time Miscued Intervals, Shrinidhi Subramaniam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cues signaling time to reinforcer availability can be highly informative, somewhat informative, or uninformative of the specific time to reinforcement. The purpose of this series of studies was to characterize the functional relation between miscues and pigeon and human response patterns in a peak-interval (PI) procedure. In Experiment 1, pigeons pecked keys to earn food in a cued and miscued PI procedure. Each session consisted of fixed-interval (FI) 2-s and 4-s schedules of food and occasional, 12-s PI trials during which pecks had no programmed consequences. The correlation between visual cues (red or green key light colors) and the schedule …


Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Preference Of Aquatic Versus Terrestrial Prey In Appalachian Headwater Streams, Erin E. Thayer Jan 2016

Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Preference Of Aquatic Versus Terrestrial Prey In Appalachian Headwater Streams, Erin E. Thayer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis aims to investigate the foraging behavior of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), specially focusing on prey preference. Brook Trout are mainly restricted to head-water streams in Appalachia, which is a portion of their native range. These environments generally have low autochthonous materials. Therefore, resident aquatic organisms rely heavily on terrestrial inputs, i.e. leaf litter and terrestrial invertebrates (TI's), to subsidize individual energy requirements at critical times of the year. There is mixed evidence demonstrating stream dwelling trout show either a feeding preference towards aquatic invertebrates (AI's) or towards TI's. Chapter one is an in depth literature review of headwater …


Gender-Specific Motivators And Barriers To Adopting Healthful Diets And Losing Weight Among Middle-Aged West Virginians, Stephanie K. Thompson Jan 2016

Gender-Specific Motivators And Barriers To Adopting Healthful Diets And Losing Weight Among Middle-Aged West Virginians, Stephanie K. Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gender-specific motivators and barriers to adopting healthful diets and losing weight among middle-aged West Virginians Stephanie K. Thompson Background: About 70% of West Virginia adults are overweight and obese. Diet is a modifiable determinant of weight-related conditions. Innovative interventions are needed to help overcome the barriers to prevent and delay chronic conditions. In order to implement an intervention that is needed, learning the motivators and barriers to healthful eating and weight loss is the first step.;Objective: To learn what helps or hinders healthful eating and weight loss among middle-aged adults in West Virginia.;Methods: Gender-specific focus groups were conducted among 45 …


Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Imidacloprid And The Arthropod Fauna Associated With Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis (L.) Carr, Richard M. Turcotte Jan 2016

Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Imidacloprid And The Arthropod Fauna Associated With Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis (L.) Carr, Richard M. Turcotte

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr (Pinales: Pinaceae), is an important component of both the urban and forest landscape of the eastern United States. Eastern hemlock has been heavily impacted by the introduction of the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Annand) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Two goals of this research were (1) to determine the effect of treatment timing (spring versus fall) and application method (tree injection versus soil injection) on the spatial and temporal distribution of imidacloprid the primary insecticide used to treat A. tsugae and (2) to assess the impact of application method and timing of imidacloprid treatments on the …


Hydrogeochemical Characterization Of Rural Drinking Water In The Gauley River Basin, Monongahela National Forest, Arati A. Umarvadia Jan 2016

Hydrogeochemical Characterization Of Rural Drinking Water In The Gauley River Basin, Monongahela National Forest, Arati A. Umarvadia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the Appalachian Plateau region, the heterogeneous coal geology and fractured bedrock aquifers has led to complexity in understanding groundwater resources in West Virginia. Groundwater is a major resource in the Monongahela National Forest where private residences, public works, and national forest operations all rely heavily on this resource. In recent years, Marcellus shale gas has been explored in a small region of the Gauley River Basin, within the boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest. Hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater was carried out in this region with the objective of establishing a baseline of groundwater chemistry prior to potential Marcellus development. …


Bacillus Firmus For The Biological Control Of Meloidogyne Hapla And Xiphinema Americanum, Lisa M. Valencia Jan 2016

Bacillus Firmus For The Biological Control Of Meloidogyne Hapla And Xiphinema Americanum, Lisa M. Valencia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Root-knot nematode (RKN) and dagger nematode (DN) are serious pests of agricultural crops, including peach trees of West Virginia. RKN is a sedentary endoparasite that feeds and reproduces within the roots of host plants, causing gall formation, loss of vigor, and plant death. DN is an ectoparasite that has the potential to vector devastating plant viruses. Many control options recommended for annual crops are not appropriate for orchards and the use of chemical nematicides is limited. The endospore-forming bacterium, Bacillus firmus (BF), is marketed as a bionematicide, though its mode of action and efficacy in controlling certain nematodes indigenous to …


Measuring And Changing Preschool Children's Stuttering Attitudes, Mary E. Weidner Jan 2016

Measuring And Changing Preschool Children's Stuttering Attitudes, Mary E. Weidner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Negative or uninformed stuttering attitudes proliferate among the general public, and burgeoning research has shown that such attitudes might emerge as early as the preschool years. Despite decades of research on the topic, much remains unknown about the origin of stuttering attitudes and the factors that bear on their development. Moreover, conclusive recommendations to improve attitudes toward stuttering have yet to be advanced.;Purpose: This study sought (a) to objectively measure stuttering attitudes among preschool children, (b) to examine predictive factors that might account for those attitudes, and (c) to determine the effect of a new educational program on improving …


Migratory Genomics Of Lake Sturgeon, Justine Whitaker Jan 2016

Migratory Genomics Of Lake Sturgeon, Justine Whitaker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lake sturgeon are large, freshwater fish and the only species of sturgeon native to the Great Lakes. Their historic range extends from the Hudson Bay, down through the Great Lakes and into the Mississippi River basin. In the early 1900's, sturgeon became a valuable fishery and were soon overfished for both meat and caviar. This, in combination with damming, pollution, and habitat degradation, caused a drastic decline in their population. Some populations were extirpated, while others have been reduced to 1% of their historic population size (Auer, 1996). The St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS) hosts one of the largest lake …


Biology, Ecology And Efficacy Of Lecanicillium Muscarium As A Potential Fungal Biocontrol Of The Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges Tsugae) On Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis), Kristen L. Wickert Jan 2016

Biology, Ecology And Efficacy Of Lecanicillium Muscarium As A Potential Fungal Biocontrol Of The Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges Tsugae) On Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis), Kristen L. Wickert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an exotic insect pest of eastern hemlock. The entomopathogen Lecanicillium muscarium, including the commercially available strain MycotalRTM, is a potential candidate for fungal biocontrol. There are many factors to consider when using a fungal biocontrol such as ecology and genetic variation of candidate strains and interactions with other fungi and life stages of the target insect pest. Efforts of this study focused on: 1) sampling for reservoirs for L. muscarium and other Lecanicillium spp., 2) elucidating interactions between Lecanicillium and other fungi present in hemlock tissues and 3) characterizing genetic diversity of Lecanicillium and subsequent …


Complex Regulation Of Protein Trafficking And Photoreceptor Cell Development By Small Gtpases, Zachary C. Wright Jan 2016

Complex Regulation Of Protein Trafficking And Photoreceptor Cell Development By Small Gtpases, Zachary C. Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons optimized for the capture of light and the signal transduction to downstream cells that provides vision. Proper photoreceptor cell function depends heavily on efficient regulation of protein-protein interactions both during development and in the adult retina. Despite years of research on photoreceptor development and protein trafficking, the components vital to these processes are poorly understood. Interestingly, there are a number of small GTPases, which act as molecular switches, that are believed to play a role in regulating such interactions throughout the process of ciliogenesis, OS formation and protein trafficking. However, research into the role of …


Effects Of Rumen-Protected Methionine, Choline And Betaine On Dairy Cattle Health And Performance, Yu Zang Jan 2016

Effects Of Rumen-Protected Methionine, Choline And Betaine On Dairy Cattle Health And Performance, Yu Zang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dairy cows experience extensive lipid mobilization in adipose tissue during the transition from gestation to lactation. A high amount of circulating non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) results in fatty liver that is associated with reduced milk production (Duffield et al., 2009), metabolic diseases (Hammon et al., 2006), and decreased reproductive performance (Walsh et al., 2007). The function of VLDL is to export TAG from liver. Previous work suggested that micronutrients supplemented may elevated VLDL export. Choline has been shown to increase milk production and milk fat yield (Erdman et al., 1991) and decrease triacylglycerol (TAG) in the liver (Pomfret et al., …


Design And Development Of An Online Course For Careers In The Equine Industry, Crystal Elizabeth Smith Jan 2016

Design And Development Of An Online Course For Careers In The Equine Industry, Crystal Elizabeth Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The equine industry provides 640,000 jobs annually in the United States. Spending by suppliers and employees generates additional jobs for a total employment impact of 1.4 million full time equivalent (FTE) jobs. There are horses in every state, and over 4.6 million people are involved in the equine industry as owners, service providers, employers and volunteers. Overall, the horse industry directly contributes over {dollar}39 billion dollars annually to the US economy (American Horse Council, 2005). Students commonly recognize hands-on careers related to owning, training, and breeding horses, or veterinary medicine. However, fewer realize the diverse opportunities as service providers. Students …


Quality Indicators Of Egg Sticks With Added Omega-3 Fatty Acids And Lutein Under Different Packaging And Temperature Storage, Elizabeth Smith Jan 2016

Quality Indicators Of Egg Sticks With Added Omega-3 Fatty Acids And Lutein Under Different Packaging And Temperature Storage, Elizabeth Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Omega-3 enhanced egg sticks were developed by replacing egg yolk with ?-3 rich salmon, algae, and flax oils. The eggs were fully cooked before analysis. Quality indicators for storage stability were measured throughout a 28-day period under different packaging and storage temperatures. Half of the egg sticks were vacuum packed, while the other half were aerobically covered with household plastic wrap. Further, eggs in both packaging groups were equally split into storage temperatures of 4°C and 10°C, to mimic refrigeration and temperature abuse, respectively. Quality indicators were measured each week in all groups. Quality indicators included texture (TPA, Kramer shear), …


Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Jakob Goldner Jan 2016

Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Jakob Goldner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An obstacle to efficient management of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is the lack of knowledge of its seasonal movements at the landscape level. H. halys is highly mobile and utilizes various commodities throughout the growing season and winter, making it difficult to manage. We hypothesized that H. halys displayed an annual spatial pattern at the farm scale and as they moved into overwintering habitats. To test for a spatial pattern at the farm scale, we conducted a two-year spatial study on three organic farms in West Virginia and New Jersey. A total of 92-127 sample …


Development Of A Cobinamide-Based Optical Sensor For Hydrogen Cyanide And Hydrogen Sulfide, Lee Ann Greenawald Jan 2016

Development Of A Cobinamide-Based Optical Sensor For Hydrogen Cyanide And Hydrogen Sulfide, Lee Ann Greenawald

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In an occupational or military environment, a personal air-purifying respirator must be provided when breathing-air is contaminated by harmful dust, fumes, gases, aerosols, or vapors. Too often, a respirator user does not have enough information to know when to change his/her cartridge/canister and thus is potentially exposed to toxic gases. Currently, there is no definitive way to determine when respirators' carbon beds have begun to fail. When an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) is incorporated into the carbon bed, it informs one, in real-time, when imminent breakthrough is occurring and to replace the cartridge/canister. ESLIs are a more reliable and safer way …


Gettysburg Historical Journal 2016 Jan 2016

Gettysburg Historical Journal 2016

The Gettysburg Historical Journal

No abstract provided.


Spatial Redistribution Of Organic Phosphorus In Hay And Grass Pastures Of Eastern West Virginia Following Longterm Animal Manure Applications, Michael B. Harman Jan 2016

Spatial Redistribution Of Organic Phosphorus In Hay And Grass Pastures Of Eastern West Virginia Following Longterm Animal Manure Applications, Michael B. Harman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was conceived to investigate the fate of organic P (Po) in typical hay and grass pasture of eastern West Virginia. It is not uncommon in this region of West Virginia for hay and grass pastures to receive annual applications of animal manure, often on a nitrogen basis. As P management has evolved, many farms in the region have begun to use management tools such as a P index to continue use of animal manure as N fertilizer. However, many hay and grass pastures in the region already have a high degree of P saturation. There are reasonable expectations …


Attachment, Coping Style, And Perceived Stress In University Students, Erin L. Higgenbotham Jan 2016

Attachment, Coping Style, And Perceived Stress In University Students, Erin L. Higgenbotham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Attachment theory suggests that previous experiences direct one's interpretations of potentially stressful events and one's reaction to these events. As university students interact with a novel environment and face new demands, they may experience elevated levels of stress. Dependent on what resources they feel are available to them, they might feel confident in addressing these challenges, or they may believe they cannot meet the demands of the college environment. This perception of ability or inability can affect personal and academic success. Using attachment theory as a foundation, this study investigated the relationships among students' attachment dynamics, coping styles, and perceived …


Conditioning Thermal Stability And Dose Effects Of Commercially Available Phytase Preparations On Performance And Tibia Mineralization Of Young Broiler Chickens, Victoria B. Homan Jan 2016

Conditioning Thermal Stability And Dose Effects Of Commercially Available Phytase Preparations On Performance And Tibia Mineralization Of Young Broiler Chickens, Victoria B. Homan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Phytases have become a vital part of broiler diets due to their ability to decrease feed cost and potential environmental pollution caused by the use of excessive phosphorus. The objective of the first study was to compare the effects of various inclusions of a Transgenic Phytase Corn (TPC) to a Granulated Bacteria Phytase (GBP) on 21-d broiler performance and tibia mineralization. Treatments varied in non-phytate phosphorus (Negative control (NC) = 0.2, positive control (PC) = 0.4, 0.3, and 0.35), phytase product (TPC or GBP), and phytase dose (500-3000 FTU/kg). A 2x2 factorial analysis was performed with the main effects phytase …


The Influence Of Slanted Ground Surfaces On Trunk Biomechanics And Stability During Trunk Bending, Boyi Hu Jan 2016

The Influence Of Slanted Ground Surfaces On Trunk Biomechanics And Stability During Trunk Bending, Boyi Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous studies have shown that working on uneven ground surfaces is linked to alternations of the lumbar active and passive tissue load sharing mechanism and reductions in spinal stability, which is highly associated with the risk of low back pain. The purpose of the current research was to investigate the changes of the lumbar flexion relaxation phenomenon and lumbar segmental stability while working on slanted ground surfaces. In experiment one, fourteen male participants performed sagittal plane, trunk flexion-extension tasks on three laterally slanted ground surfaces (flat ground, 15° and 30°) while their lumbar muscle activities and trunk kinematic performances were …


Direct Inhibition Of Histamine Receptors In The Antennal Lobe Of Manduca Sexta: Putative Evidence For An Olfactory Corollary Discharge Circuit, Rex Burkland Jan 2016

Direct Inhibition Of Histamine Receptors In The Antennal Lobe Of Manduca Sexta: Putative Evidence For An Olfactory Corollary Discharge Circuit, Rex Burkland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Animals that plume track have developed navigational strategies that optimize the ability to track an odor to its source. This movement is an active part of the olfactory experience. For vertebrates, sniffing is also an active part of the olfactory experience that controls the speed and regularity of odor interactions with the olfactory receptors. This sniffing is coincident with locomotion throughout the environment and head movement back and forth across an odor plume. Similarly, moths actively beat their wings as they encounter odor plumes. In Manduca sexta, this wing beating influences speed and regularity of olfactory input in such a …


The Feasibility Of A Home Telenutrition Intervention For Weight Reduction In Men In West Virginia, Michelle Campion Jan 2016

The Feasibility Of A Home Telenutrition Intervention For Weight Reduction In Men In West Virginia, Michelle Campion

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: West Virginia (WV) has one of the highest national rates of obesity, especially among middle-aged men, and one of the lowest Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) ratios per capita. Providing nutrition advice via teleconferencing may allow obese WV middle-aged men to overcome access barriers that are preventing them from overcoming obesity. However, before large-scale interventions can be effectively conducted, the feasibility must be assessed.;Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a home telenutrition weight-loss program using videoconferencing among obese men in WV. Feasibility is assessed through technical difficulties tracked throughout the intervention and through a …


The Effect Of Lower Extremity Asymmetries On Low Back And Lower Extremity Pain With Pregnancy, Erica Casto Jan 2016

The Effect Of Lower Extremity Asymmetries On Low Back And Lower Extremity Pain With Pregnancy, Erica Casto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Approximately 50% of pregnant women experience low back and lower extremity pain during pregnancy, many of which continue to experience pain post-partum. It is known that many women experience changes in foot size, arch height and lower extremity alignment. However, the mechanism by which these changes are related to pain is relatively unknown, specifically in regard to asymmetric changes in alignment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess alignment during pregnancy in order to determine if asymmetries occurring in women during pregnancy are related to low back, hip, knee, and foot pain. Methods: Ten women in their third …


The Opinions And Attitudes Of Police Officers To Proposed Changes To Law Enforcement, Jason C. Contessa Jan 2016

The Opinions And Attitudes Of Police Officers To Proposed Changes To Law Enforcement, Jason C. Contessa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The field of policing has recently come under the public scrutiny due to the events surrounding the deaths of several citizens at the hands of police officers. Although not the first time policing has been criticized, the issues have caused the country to become increasingly divided on whether or not American police forces are in need of reform. There has been an overwhelming amount of complaints against law enforcement and suggestions to improve policies. As political and public figures have taken sides and police administration has made statements regarding the issues, the voices of those that would be most affected …


Comparative Analysis Of Uninhibited And Constrained Avian Wing Aerodynamics, Jordan A. Cox Jan 2016

Comparative Analysis Of Uninhibited And Constrained Avian Wing Aerodynamics, Jordan A. Cox

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The flight of birds has intrigued and motivated man for many years. Bird flight served as the primary inspiration of flying machines developed by Leonardo Da Vinci, Otto Lilienthal, and even the Wright brothers. Avian flight has once again drawn the attention of the scientific community as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are not only becoming more popular, but smaller. Birds are once again influencing the designs of aircraft. Small UAVs operating within flight conditions and low Reynolds numbers common to birds are not yet capable of the high levels of control and agility that birds display with ease. Many researchers …


Development Of Inducible Anti-Influenza Therapies, Cynthia Marie Mcmillen Jan 2016

Development Of Inducible Anti-Influenza Therapies, Cynthia Marie Mcmillen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Influenza viruses continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality each year despite the development of vaccines and antiviral therapies targeting these viruses. The inherent ability of influenza viruses to accumulate mutations over time has led to the emergence of strains resistant to antiviral therapies. Furthermore, genetic reassortment creates antigenically diverse viruses, making it difficult to develop vaccines that yield broad protection. The objective of the following research studies is to develop two alternative approaches to current methods of antiviral therapeutics.;Six new siRNAs targeting influenza protein expression by RNA interference (RNAi) were characterized. Three siRNAs (M747, M776, M832) knocked down the …


The Role Of Mirnas In Niche Regulation Of All Phenotype, Blake Stephen Moses Jan 2016

The Role Of Mirnas In Niche Regulation Of All Phenotype, Blake Stephen Moses

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While modern acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment regimens have dramatically improved the survival of ALL patients, disease relapse still occurs in approximately 20% of cases. ALL relapse is, in part, due to the inability of traditional chemotherapeutic agents to efficiently target quiescent, non-dividing tumor cells. The number of viable remaining leukemia cells in patients after initial treatment, termed minimal residual disease (MRD), is directly correlated with likelihood of disease relapse. This reflects the proliferative potential of these refractory cells, consistent with the ability of their healthy hematopoietic progenitor pro- and pre-B cell counterparts. Developing novel therapies to combat refractory disease …


Characteristics Of Bubble Behavior In Microgravity Conditions, Thilanka Munasinghe Jan 2016

Characteristics Of Bubble Behavior In Microgravity Conditions, Thilanka Munasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main objective of this thesis is to study the characteristics of bubbles in pool boiling under microgravity conditions with and without the influence of a magnetic field. In order to create microgravity conditions, the parabolic path of an aircraft was used for a period of 20-30 seconds, during which time the experiment was conducted. Two cylindrical tanks were used for the boiling process in the experiment. One tank had a permanent magnet attached at the bottom, and the other one was kept as the control. MnCl2 was dissolved in distilled water to make a paramagnetic liquid, and which used …


Cardiac And Mitochondrial Impacts Of Acute Pulmonary Xenobiotic Exposure, Cody Edward Nichols Jan 2016

Cardiac And Mitochondrial Impacts Of Acute Pulmonary Xenobiotic Exposure, Cody Edward Nichols

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With every breath, we breathe in foreign materials, xenobiotic particles. These particles can interact with our tissues and influence the systems within. Airborne xenobiotic particles classically refer to ambient particulate matter (PM), but with technological advancement and the flourishing of nanotechnology, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have become entwined in the definition. Because the term xenobiotic particles encompasses particles with a broad range of size, shapes and chemical composition, definition of the properties that induce toxicity can be difficult, yet crucial to understand and predicting which of these characteristics is capable of inducing toxicity. This concept is crucial as nanotechnology moves forward …


Under The Deck, Brendan M. Raleigh Jan 2016

Under The Deck, Brendan M. Raleigh

The Mercury

No abstract provided.