Digital Commons Network^™

The Response Of Naturally Regenerating Hardwood Seedlings To Post-Harvest Weed Control And Fertilization, Kevin Andrew Tomlinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Current models to predict post-harvest success rely upon pre-harvest regeneration assessments, which rarely occur. Furthermore, these models lack management recommendations to improve regeneration success of naturally regenerating desired hardwood species following overstory removal. Factorial combinations of weeding and fertilization were randomly assigned to individual naturally regenerating black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), chestnut oak (Quercus montana Willd.), white oak (Quercus alba L.), and red oak (Q. rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., and Q. coccinea Muenchh.) seedlings in the spring of 2015, three growing seasons post-harvest. Factorial ANOVA models with size at treatment application as a covariate were developed and showed species-specific …

Simulation Of Venturi Tube Design For Column Flotation Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Wan Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Froth flotation is one of the most important methods in mineral processing. Previous studies have found that using cavitation bubbles reduces both energy consumption and operating costs. Hydrodynamic cavitation is the most economical method used for creating tiny bubbles for flotation. In this study, the efficiency of cavitation bubble generating devices and their geometry design is analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).;To optimize the geometric design of the venturi tube, a response surface method was conducted for evaluating the effect of six important parameters affecting the efficiency of the venturi tube. Critical velocities of cavitation of different designs were compared. …

Characterization And Shelf-Life Of Soluble Protein Powder Derived From Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix), Derek Warren

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Better management of current resources is one method to feed an ever growing population. Currently, sarcoplasmic proteins, water soluble proteins making up 25--30% of total protein in fish, are disposed of through municipal water treatment in surimi waste wash water. There is potential for the development of a simple method to reclaim and repurpose soluble protein from surimi wash water. The objective of this research was to 1) determine if processing temperature impacted protein recovery, 2) characterize the soluble protein powder, and 3) compare shelf stability to that of a similar protein powder (80% whey protein concentrate WPC). Separation temperature …

A Strain Theory Of Prosocial Behavior, Mallory Slusser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Agnew's General Strain Theory proposes that strain leads to negative emotions, which in turn lead to crime and delinquency. However, there has been a lack of research on what happens when the negative emotions that result from externally experienced strains lead to responses other than crime. The psychology literature on "feeling bad, doing good" indicates that internally experienced negative emotions can lead to helping behaviors. The purpose of this research is to examine if externally generated negative emotions can also lead to helping or prosocial behaviors. Particular attention is given to the type of negative emotion that is experienced -- …

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Is Transmissible Among Cells Of The Central Nervous System, Neil T. Sprenkle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improper protein folding and trafficking are common pathological events observed in various cell types in neurodegenerative diseases. If the protein quality control mechanisms of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fail to re-establish proteostasis, misfolded proteins accumulate within the lumen of the ER and perturb normal cellular processes. While low-level stimulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is considered a beneficial physiological response to transient protein misfolding stress, or ER stress, sustained UPR activation resulting from prolonged ER stress can promote neurotoxicity. The cell-autonomous mechanisms of the UPR have been extensively characterized in the context of neuropathology. Nevertheless, there still remain unanswered …

Effects Of Systematic Sleep Fragmentation On Tolerance And Threshold In A Pressure Pain Task: Associations With Sustained Attention, Margeaux Marissa Gray

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: Pain is amplified following partial sleep deprivation. Pain has not been evaluated after sleep interruption, when total sleep time is preserved. Sleep interruption, also called sleep fragmentation, is ecologically relevant because it is caused by common sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea [OSA], Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome [UARS] and Periodic Limb Movements Disorder [PLMD]. The Sleep Continuity Hypothesis posits that the restorative effects of sleep are related to sleep quality in addition to quantity. With this study, my goal was to evaluate whether sleep fragmentation affected pain threshold and/or tolerance by systematically fragmenting the sleep of otherwise healthy …

Robust Specularity Removal From Hand-Held Videos, Priyaankadevi Guggilapu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Specular reflection exists when one tries to record a photo or video through a transparent glass medium or opaque surfaces such as plastics, ceramics, polyester and human skin, which can be well described as the superposition of a transmitted layer and a reflection layer. These specular reflections often confound the algorithms developed for image analysis, computer vision and pattern recognition. To obtain a pure diffuse reflection component, specularity (highlights) needs to be removed. To handle this problem, a novel and robust algorithm is formulated. The contributions of this work are three-fold.;First, the smoothness of the video along with the temporal …

Characterization Of The Immune Response To Lipopolysaccharide In Early Pregnant Ewes As A Model To Study Bacterial Infection Induced Embryonic Loss, Jessalyn Marie Hadfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An immunological balance has to be established during pregnancy that protects the mother yet tolerates the semi-allogenic fetus. To understand the innate immune response during bacterial infections that may cause early embryonic loss, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated sheep model was used. Two objectives of this study were to examine if omega-3 PUFAs in the form of supplementary whole flaxseed could reduce the inflammatory response to an LPS challenge and to examine if there is a differential immune response to LPS in Suffolk and Dorset ewes. A total of 3 experiments were conducted; two investigating the effect of supplement and one …

Brook And Brown Trout Movement In A Restored Appalachian Watershed, Benjamin Joseph Harris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding the localized ecological impacts of large-scale environmental (i.e., land use and climate) change is of critical importance not only to scientists tasked with natural resource management, but also individuals and communities across the world. In the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis serve as a key indicator species for the integrity of stream habitats. Brook Trout populations have largely declined throughout their native range, with impending climate change and thermal habitat exclusion potentially reducing Brook Trout habitat by more than 50%. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand interactions between Brook Trout and the …

Geographic Biases In Human Lyme Disease Surveillance And Utility Of Companion Animal Sentinel Programs: Exploratory Spatial Analysis, Brian Hendricks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Mapping and exploratory spatial data analyses are ideal tools for characterizing spread and occurrence of human Lyme disease infection. Unfortunately, many mapped displays utilizing Lyme disease surveillance data are prone to bias due to a lack of consideration for geographical confounders. The objectives of our study were to 1) characterize the geographic effects that boundary and travel related biases have on visualization of human Lyme disease occurrence and 2) apply these findings to develop a more precise methodology for evaluating efficacy of animal sentinel surveillance programs in predicting incidence of human Lyme disease infection.;Methods: County-level human Lyme …

Recreation In The Brazilian Amazon - Understanding Visitor Profile And Perceptions Of Crowding, Lidiane Castro Gregory

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this thesis was to define the visitor profile of the Brazilian Amazon Basin using data from two different locations: The Tapajos National Forest and Anavilhanas National Park. This study also investigated possible issues regarding crowding. Overall data as well as segmented data were used in the analysis.;The methodology consisted of on-site interviews with survey days spread across weekdays and weekends. A total of 2534 usable surveys were collected from October 2015 to May 2015. All the analysis was conducted on SPSS. Frequencies, valid percentages, and means were used to describe the sample. For comparative analyzes between the …

Design And Development Of A Novel Nanoparticle Aerosol Generation System For Research Applications, Justin R. Chambers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanoparticles have become of great interest within the scientific community for their use in diverse applications. With this rapidly evolving field, new nano-sized compounds are being developed and used for a variety of reasons. Nanoparticle aerosol technology, aerosolization and dispersion of nano-compounds, has many novel applications and can be used to support current research efforts. This may include anything from drug delivery techniques to industrial processes. To aid these processes, new methods of aerosol generation and dispersion are needed to meet these future needs. This research and development is being conducted to expand upon a novel nanoparticle aerosol generator as …

A Multi-Agent Design For Smart Distribution Automation System With Distributed Energy Resources And Microgrids, Sridhar Chouhan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The proliferation of Smart Grid technologies such as distributed energy resources (DER) and microgrids has resulted in new opportunities and challenges to existing Distribution Automation (DA) solutions. A novel hybrid Multi-Agent System (MAS) Fault Location, Isolation, and Restoration (FLIR) solution is proposed for electric distribution systems with different types of distributed generation (DG) resources and microgrids. The main goal of the MAS is to locate and isolate the fault and then to automatically reenergize fault-free portions of the network to restore power to as many customers as possible while maintaining system constraints like voltage and thermal capacity limits.;Determination of the …

The Paganini Variations: A Study Of Selected Works By Liszt, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Lutoslawski, And Muczynski, Youna Choi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caprice in A minor, Op. 1, No. 24 for solo violin by Niccolo Paganini has been a great inspiration for many composers. This study investigates five compositions that are based on the Paganini theme: Liszt, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Lutos?awski, and Muczynski. Although these five composers utilized the same melodic material as their compositional source, their works are stylistically much different, from a typical nineteenth century idiom used by Liszt to the jazz-inspired harmony used by Muczynski.;Each chapter includes a general background and analytical aspects of the individual work, and is followed by performance guidelines. The performance guidelines not only deal with …

The Effects Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid And Berberine Supplementation On Markers Of Allopurinol Activated Oxidative Stress In Broiler Chickens, Vincent Dartigue

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Selection for rapid growth in poultry can be linked to an exaggerated state of oxidative stress (reactive oxidative species, ROS). Reactive oxidative species are kept in balance by endogenous and exogenous antioxidants. Two compounds, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and berberine (BRB) a purified compound from plant root extract have been suggested to ameliorate antioxidant activity. A ten week study examined the effect of CLA and berberine supplementation on markers of oxidative stress in poultry. Broiler chickens (n=60) were equally divided into six groups; a control, a CLA group where half of the regular oil used in a standard was substituted …

Novel Treatment Strategies For Brain Metastases Of Breast Cancer, Afroz Shareef Mohammad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

About 20-40% of advanced breast cancer patients will develop symptomatic brain metastases. Once the patients diagnosed with metastatic brain tumors, there is 80% mortality rate within one year. The presence of blood-brain barrier makes it difficult for drugs to reach the site of action in brain-related ailments. To overcome we came up with two strategies: First, we encapsulated the chemotherapy in a liposome and thereby significantly improving the plasma pharmacokinetics of chemotherapy. We also observed that tumor drug exposure significantly improved by liposomal formulation. This improvement in plasma drug pharmacokinetics and tumor drug accumulation after administration of the liposomal formulation …

Evaluation Of Small Tree And Shrub Plantings On Reclaimed Surface Mines In West Virginia, Alexis Monteleone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hundreds of acres of mined land are reclaimed annually in West Virginia (WV) and are planted with hardwood tree species. Forestry and wildlife post-mining land uses require the planting of specific tree species designated by the individual mine permit and planting plan, which generally includes planting of commercially-valuable hardwood species. Establishment and growth of fruit- and nut-producing small tree and native shrub species has not been studied for reforestation plantings on surface mines. Though these species are not generally planted as part of forestry reclamation, they are commonly found in forest ecosystems of WV and are often an important component, …

Examining Diabetes, Depression And Suicide In Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Kimberly Morton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rates of suicide in the United States are highest in middle-aged and older adults compared to younger age groups. These rates are alarming and point to the need for suicide prevention research in middle-aged and older adult populations. Depression is the most well-established independent risk factor for death by suicide. Some health conditions are also associated with risk of suicide above and beyond depression. Diabetes is often co-morbid with depression (clinical and subclinical depression). However, research examining diabetes and risk of suicide is less clear. In the current study, the first aim was to examine diabetes, vision impairment and depressive …

Using A Species Distribution Model And Site-Specific Microclimatic Variables To Model Presence Of Spodic Soil Properties And Relative Occurrence Rate Of Picea Rubens (Red Spruce) To Inform Red Spruce Management, Adrienne Nottingham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Red spruce restoration efforts in the central Appalachians are of interest to land managers because of the reduced current extent and the numerous ecosystem services provided by red spruce forests. These land managers require information regarding the best places to focus restoration efforts. Studies attempting to locate optimal locations for red spruce restoration have been conducted to in the central Appalachians, most of which utilize modeling. In particular, podzolization, a soil formation pathway present under conifer vegetation in the central Appalachians has been used to help select areas for red spruce restoration. The effectiveness of using recent podzolization (as evidenced …

Beyond Oraldigital: Ghanaian Electronic Literature As A Paradigm For African Digital Textuality, Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation speaks to a massive dearth of research in African electronic literature (African e-lit), a discipline that boasts a growing number of works but little scholarship. With African literature incorporating digital technology into its creative process, and with electronic literary criticism focusing on areas outside its predominantly western cannon, African e-lit positions itself as an important area of scholarly endeavor. After considering the implications of placing African e-lit as the direction in which both African literature and electronic literature take, this dissertation looks at three different genres of African e-lit in the context of oral literature. There are analyses …

Solitude, Jared C. Richardson

The Mercury

No abstract provided.

The Night Bird, Samantha A. Siomko

The Mercury

No abstract provided.

Space Use And Habitat Associations Of Long-Distance Migratory First-Year Golden Eagles (Aquila Chrysaetos) From Interior Alaska In A Changing Landscape, Mark D. Paulson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding a species space use and habitat associations is integral to comprehensive wildlife management. Habitat associations change spatially and temporally and those changes may be especially dramatic for animals that cover long distances throughout their annual cycle. While many studies of habitat associations and space use concentrate on breeding season behavior, studies of migratory connectivity demonstrate how condition of habitats on non-breeding ranges potentially affect key demographic parameters, such as survival, reproduction, and movement in other seasons. This is also important because wildlife habitats, especially land cover, are changing rapidly from both anthropogenic and natural forces in direct and indirect …

The Effectiveness Of Video Education On Pre-Operative Parental Knowledge And Anxiety, Terri Marcischak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pre-operative anxiety is a common and anticipated response to patients expecting to undergo anesthesia in preparation for surgery. Pre-operative parental anxiety can lead to increased anxiety in children, which is associated with physiologic alterations in the child. Pre-operative video education is an inexpensive method to increase knowledge and decrease pre-operative parental anxiety related to the perioperative process. The first goal of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-operative video in increasing knowledge of the perioperative experience in parents of children anticipating surgery by viewing a pre-operative video. Parental knowledge was measured before and after viewing the pre-operative …

Proteomic And Metabolomic Analyses Of Biological Systems With Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry And Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry, Megan M. Maurer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Proteomic and metabolomic analyses provide information about altered metabolic processes in plants and animals. This information can be used to assess the impact of toxicant exposure or diseases on biological systems. In this dissertation, development of an ion mobility spectrometry - mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) strategy has been evaluated in addition to utilizing traditional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques for metabolite and protein analysis. Traditional LC-MS/MS techniques have been applied to the study of: 1) the molecular mechanisms responsible for altered microvasculature function as a result of pulmonary TiO2 exposure in rats; and 2) the effectiveness of intracerebroventricular (ICV) …

Multiethnic Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis Of Ectopic Fat Depots Identifies Loci Associated With Adipocyte Development And Differentiation, Audrey Y. Chu, Xuan Deng, Virginia A. Fisher, Alexander Drong, Yang Zhang, Mary F. Feitosa, Ching-Ti Liu, Olivia Weeks, Audrey C. Choh, Qing Duan, Thomas D. Dyer

School of Medicine Publications

Variation in body fat distribution contributes to the metabolic sequelae of obesity. The genetic determinants of body fat distribution are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to gain new insights into the underlying genetics of body fat distribution by conducting sample-size weighted fixed-effects genome-wide association meta-analyses in up to 9,594 women and 8,738 men for six ectopic fat traits in European, African, Hispanic, and Chinese ancestry populations, with and without sex stratification. In total, 7 new loci were identified in association with ectopic fat traits (ATXN1, UBE2E2, EBF1, RREB1, GSDMB, GRAMD3 and ENSA; PATXN1 and UBE2E2 …

Effects Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid And Metformin On Insulin Sensitivity In Obese Children: Randomized Clinical Trial, Nayely Garibay-Nieto, Gloria Queipo-García, Flor Alvarez, Mayra Bustos, Erendira Villanueva, Fernando Ramírez, Mireya León, Estibalitz Laresgoiti-Servitje, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, Ravi Duggirala

School of Medicine Publications

Context: Insulin resistance precedes metabolic syndrome abnormalities and may promote cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in children with obesity. Results of lifestyle modification programs have been discouraging, and the use of adjuvant strategies has been necessary.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on insulin sensitivity, measured via euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique and insulin pathway expression molecules in muscle biopsies of children with obesity.

Design: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Setting: Children with obesity were randomly assigned to receive metformin, CLA, or placebo.

Results: Intervention had a …

Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy For Trauma And Meaning Making Among Ethnically Diverse Individuals In The United States, Kawika Allen, P. Scott Richards, T. Lea

Faculty Publications

Esmeralda, a 42-year-old Latina woman from Mexico, had moved to the United States with hopes of a bright new future. Despite not knowing much English, she had worked hard, found and married her husband, and had several beautiful children. She missed her family in Mexico, but loved living in the United States. At least, she had liked it up until the day her 5-year-old son was hit and killed by a truck only a few feet from where she stood. The accident had changed everything. In an instant, Esmeralda went from being a caring and involved mother to barely being …

Role Of Perivascular Adipose Tissue In Vascular Pathology And The Therapeutic Effect Of Exercise, Evan Ray Devallance

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aortic compliance is important for dampening pulsatile flow and delivery of continuous flow to the periphery. Aortic compliance is regulated by extracellular matrix composition and endothelial derived nitric oxide. Disruption of aortic endothelium or extracellular matrix can lead to the development of aortic stiffness an independent risk factor of cardiac events and mortality. Over the past decade perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounding the vasculature has come to light as an important regulator of artery function. The main focus of this dissertation is to evaluate the role PVAT surrounding the aorta in mediating endothelial relaxation in health and disease. Specifically, metabolic …

Effects Of Differential Drl Exposure On Interval Timing: Information Vs. Inhibition, Matthew L. Eckard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent investigations focusing on interventions to improve self-controlled choice have centered upon timing processes. However, speculation still remains regarding the mechanism of these interventions. To investigate how these interventions have their effects, timing in mice was assessed using an 18-s peak procedure (18-s FI trials; 54-s peak trials). During an intervention phase, mice in three treatment groups experienced differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedules of reinforcement. A control group received continued exposure to the peak procedure. After 36 DRL sessions, timing was reassessed in the peak procedure. In contrast to previous reports, the DRL intervention resulted in less precise …