Digital Commons Network^™

War On The Mind: Trauma And Coping Among Union Soldiers And Veterans, Kathleen Anneliese Logothetis Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

"War on the Mind: Trauma and Coping in the Union Army," is a work of social, cultural, and military history and examines experiences of mental trauma in the Union Army during the war and among veterans in the post-war period. Without our modern definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Civil War soldiers had a very different view of how they were mentally experiencing the war. By looking at soldier accounts and the records of insane asylums it is clear that soldiers did have experiences of trauma and insanity during or related to their wartime service. However, those same asylum records, as …

Engineered Inks For Environment-Friendly Additive Manufacturing Of Hierarchical Microstructures, Maria Alejandra Torres Arango

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Novel material synthesis and green engineering innovations in manufacturing are important enablers of new technologies. Here, a range of functional materials systems and their processing through additive manufacturing are investigated. The materials studied consist of Ag, ZnO and TiO2 based inks for additive manufacturing with potential application across multiple technological fields.;In particular, the synthesis of multi-functional emulsion inks, and their deposition through continuous-flow direct writing are investigated. Highlights of this work include the study of the curing/sintering conditions of such ink systems aiming for fundamental insights in their synthesis at low-temperatures (below 150°C), compatible with flexible polymeric substrates. Also, the …

Effect Of Micro-Osteoperforations On Orthodontic Tooth Movement With Clear Aligner Treatment., Dobin Choi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Micro-osteoperforation (MOP) is a relatively noninvasive procedure to expedite the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) by enahncing naturally occurring inflammatory response. This procedure is often combined with clear aligner treatment (CAT) in order to shorten the duration of aligner wear. However, the question yet remained whether the accuracy of OTM was maintained if the patients switched the aligners more frequently than recommended. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of MOPs on the accuracy of anterior OTM and to evaluate the differential effect of MOPs on gender, age, severity of the mal-alignment, and …

Special Issue "Health Care Law And The Rights Of Individuals With Disabilities", Elizabeth Pendo, Guest Editor

All Faculty Scholarship

People with disabilities are vulnerable. They carry high risk for poor health and health outcomes. As a group, they experience social disadvantages such as poverty, underemployment and unemployment, isolation, and discrimination at a higher rate than the general population. They also face multiple barriers to quality health care and report poorer health status than people without disabilities. This Special Issue will explore the key health disparities and barriers to health care experienced by people with disabilities, and explore the legal, ethical, and social issues they raise. It will investigate the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities and other antidiscrimination …

Editor, "Health Care Law And The Rights Of Individuals With Disabilities", Elizabeth Pendo

All Faculty Scholarship

People with disabilities are vulnerable. They carry high risk for poor health and health outcomes. As a group, they experience social disadvantages such as poverty, underemployment and unemployment, isolation, and discrimination at a higher rate than the general population. They also face multiple barriers to quality health care and report poorer health status than people without disabilities. This Special Issue will explore the key health disparities and barriers to health care experienced by people with disabilities, and explore the legal, ethical, and social issues they raise. It will investigate the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities and other antidiscrimination …

Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis Of 241,258 Adults Accounting For Smoking Behaviour Identifies Novel Loci For Obesity Traits, Anne E. Justice, Thomas W. Winkler, Mary F. Feitosa, Misa Graff, Virginia A. Fisher, Kristin Leonard, Kristin Young, Llilda Barata, Xuan Deng, John Blangero, Joanne E. Curran

School of Medicine Publications

Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an …

The Antihypertensive Mthfr Gene Polymorphism Rs17367504-G Is A Possible Novel Protective Locus For Preeclampsia, Liv Cecilie V. Thomsen, Nina S. Mccarthy, Phillip E. Melton, Gemma Cadby, Rigmor Austgulen

School of Medicine Publications

Objective:

Preeclampsia is a complex heterogeneous disease commonly defined by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria in pregnancy. Women experiencing preeclampsia have increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. Preeclampsia and CVD share risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms, including dysregulated inflammation and raised blood pressure. Despite commonalities, little is known about the contribution of shared genes (pleiotropy) to these diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic risk factors for hypertension or inflammation are pleiotropic by also being associated with preeclampsia.

Methods:

We genotyped 122 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in women with preeclampsia (n = 1006) and nonpreeclamptic controls …

The Intracranial Aneurysm Gene Thsd1 Connects Endosome Dynamics To Nascent Focal Adhesion Assembly, Yan-Ning Rui, Zhen Yu, Xiaoqian Fang, Miriam R. Menezes, Julien Balzeau, Airu Niu, John P. Hagan, Dong H. Kim

School of Medicine Publications

Background/aims: We recently discovered that harmful variants in THSD1 (Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 1) likely cause intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a subset of both familial and sporadic patients with supporting evidence from two vertebrate models. The current study seeks to elucidate how THSD1 and patient-identified variants function molecularly in focal adhesions.

Methods: Co-immunostaining and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to define THSD1 subcellular localization and interacting partners. Transient expression of patient-identified THSD1 protein variants and siRNA-mediated loss-of-function THSD1 were used to interrogate gene function in focal adhesion and cell attachment to collagen I in comparison to controls.

Results: THSD1 is …

The Utility Of Fine-Scale Remote Sensing Data For Modeling Habitat Characteristics And Breeding Bird Species Distributions In An Appalachian Mature Deciduous Forest., James Sheehan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, I tested the potential for remote sensing data with a high spatial resolution to model breeding forest bird species and their habitat at a fine spatial scale. The research took place on ridgetops in a large, relatively contiguous Appalachian mature deciduous forest in northwestern WV, USA. The remote sensing data sources were a leaf-on QuickBird satellite image (0.6-m panchromatic and 2.4-m multispectral) and a 3-m digital elevation model (DEM). For the first part of the study, I extracted spectral and textural measures from the satellite image and terrain information from the DEM. I then used these data …

Phosphorus Determination In Forage And Manure Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy To Support Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning, Yadav Sapkota

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Phosphorus (P) runoff from agricultural fields is a major cause of water quality degradation problems. A P mass balance across the farm could maintain profitability and sustainability of animal-based farms and minimize water quality problems. Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) require mineral composition, especially P, data on soil, forage, and manure samples for accurate planning. However, traditional wet chemical methods of P determination are costly, time-consuming, and generate hazardous waste. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) could overcome many of these disadvantages and allow rapid determination of P concentrations. Portable XRF (PXRF) units are Energy Dispersive (ED) systems with low power X-ray tubes …

Sibling Influences On Risky Behaviors From Adolescence To Young Adulthood: Vertical Socialization Or Bidirectional Effects?, Shawn D. Whiteman, Alexander C. Jensen Phd, Susan M. Mchale

Faculty Publications

This study built on research on sibling influences to assess potential bidirectional effects of older and younger siblings’ risky behaviors on one another’s risky behaviors; our longitudinal design allowed us to test these effects when siblings were at about the same chronological age, at different points in time.We also tested whether the strength and/or direction of effects of siblings’ risky behaviors changed from middle adolescence to young adulthood. Reports of risky behaviors (i.e., deviant behaviors and excessive alcohol use) were provided by firstborn and secondborn siblings from up to 201 families on five occasions spanning 10 years. In general, accounting …

Radial Growth Patterns In Trees Surviving Canopy Gap Disturbances, Ruth A. Stetler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Forest disturbance regimes in eastern North America have long been conceptualized as localized gap disturbances, but recent studies suggest that more widespread, infrequent disturbance events may also be important. However, uncertainties in tree-ring methods used to detect disturbance, and in the factors that drive growth release of trees, limit the conclusions that can be drawn from regional disturbance analyses. I designed a study to further elucidate forest disturbance dynamics in eastern North America by using two approaches: 1) a case study examining the sensitivity of the radial growth averaging method of detecting disturbance and the factors influencing detection of a …

Time Perspective, Health Behaviors, And Wellbeing In Adults, Jonathan J. K. Stoltman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An important component of health behavior engagement is time perspective. Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with a more expansive temporal perspective tend to engage in more positive and fewer negative health behaviors. Depression, the leading mood disorder, has diverse symptomatology and is associated with reduced positive future thinking. This study seeks to identify whether positive or negative health behaviors differentially effect the association between time perspective and depressive symptomatology. Participants (n = 106; Mage = 35.2, SD = 12.7, range 18-65; 71.7% female; 87.7% white) were drawn from a community sample recruited via digital message boards. The study took …

Coal Mine Remediation As A Tool To Improve Disparate Coal Mining Impacts In Appalachian Communities Utilizing A Community Health Assessment Conceptual Model, Sarah J. Surber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The coalfields region of central Appalachia bears the unfortunate hallmark characteristics of low socioeconomic status, poor health outcomes, and some of the lowest life expectancies in the United States, making some residents potentially part of vulnerable health populations. Vulnerability impacts the ability of individuals to respond or recover from stressors--- particularly environmental pollution---not as well as other individuals. Moreover, the economic outlook for the region is grim, given that the international coal mining industry has experienced serious recent downturns, and increased production from the natural gas sector has made coalfired power production domestically less competitive. As a result, many of …

Biopolitical Cyborgs In Post-1980 North American Critical Dystopias, Valerie Ann Surrett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stories of babies born from transplanted uteruses, fetuses created from three biological parents, a booming global surrogacy market, and embryonic gene selection have all made national headlines in the past two years. We live in an era of science fictional childbirths. Reproductive technologies that didn't exist a decade ago are now peddled to whomever can afford them, and science fiction has responded. Post-1980 speculative fiction confronts a potent convergence of various sociopolitical and reproductive trends, including the rise of neoliberal conservatism; the "test tube baby" boom; polarized reproductive rights debates; and Diamond v. Chakrabarty (1980), the Supreme Court decision granting …

Learning Is Not A Spectator Sport: Incorporating Active Learning Into High Risk Business Courses, Ashley Brooke Tasker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This quantitative study examined courses that have incorporated active learning, including peer mentoring, into courses with high rates of Ds, Fs, and withdrawals, to determine if these techniques increase student success, measured by overall course grades. The study also focused on analyzing factors, such as gender, socioeconomic status, and ACT composite scores to see if there were statistically significant differences among those and student success. The intent is to contribute and build on to the current active learning research which lacks in the quantitative, non-laboratory courses such as business. The results indicated that there is a significant difference in success …

Transitions Within Opioid Therapy And Their Impact On Morbidity, Healthcare Utilization, And Costs, James Douglas Thornton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the United States (US), chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is prevalent among adults with costs exceeding half a billion dollars annually and can be especially burdensome for working age adults due to lost productivity and negative impacts on quality of life.An estimated 43% of adults experience pain, and the majority of them are working age (22--64 years). Despite lack of robust evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of opioids relieving CNCP, and currently-available effective non-opioid treatments, many patients still receive opioid therapy. Opioids are associated with significant negative health consequences up to and including addiction to opioids which further increases …

Disruptions In Operant Behavior Of Pigeons In Transitions Across Rich And Lean Schedules Of Reinforcement With And Without Advance Notice Of The Lean Schedule, Forrest J. Toegel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

"Advance notice" refers to procedures in which a stimulus is provided to signal the end of an ongoing activity and the nature of the upcoming activity. Applied research has considered whether advance notice will reduce the problem behavior that sometimes occurs during transitions. Interpretation of this research is complicated by procedural variations in the type of transitions arranged, the consequences of transition-related problem behavior, the method of providing advance notice, and the measurement of the effects of advance notice. The present experiment investigated effects of advance notice using an animal model of transition-related problem behavior. Key-pecking was maintained on a …

Parental Socialization Of Child Gratitude And Links To Child Outcomes, Boglarka K. Vizy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research shows that the gratitude is associated with positive mental health in both adults and children. However, research on how gratitude is learned or socialized is limited. The goal of the proposed study was to examine parental socialization of gratitude and its relation to children's gratitude to predict children's positive affect, depressive symptoms, and social skills. A mediation model was tested to determine if children's gratitude explained the link between mother socialization and child outcomes. It was expected that these indirect paths would be stronger for older children. Participants were 95 mother-child dyads who completed a battery of questionnaires and …

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 …

Precise Point Positioning Inertial Navigation Integration For Kinematic Airborne Applications, Ryan Watson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

UAVs have the potential for autonomous airborne remote sensing applications that require rapid response to natural hazards (e.g. volcano eruptions, earthquakes). As these applications require very accurate positioning, tightly coupled Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) are an attractive method to perform real-time aircraft positioning. In particular, PPP can achieve a level of positioning accuracy that is similar to Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS, without the need of a relatively close GPS reference station. However, the PPP method is known to converge to accurate positioning estimate more slowly when compared to RTK, a drawback of …

Secrets And Lies: A Profile-Based Examination Of Youth And Parent Information Management Strategies And Adolescent Electronic Cigarette Use, Desiree N. Williford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: The use of electronic cigarettes is growing among adolescents residing in the United States, tripling in prevalence over the past few years. Yet, electronic cigarettes are relatively new and there is limited research on parent and youth behavior and information management strategies as they relate to adolescent use of electronic cigarettes. Objective: The current study had a primary goal of utilizing a profile-based analytic procedure (cluster analysis) to explore patterns among these variables and investigate relations to adolescent use of electronic cigarettes. Method: A total of 562 high school students between the ages of 13 and 18 years (M …

Exploring The Power Of County-Level Regional Classifications On Predicting Sex-Specific All-Cause Mortality In The United States, Julia Kay Wolf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sex-specific mortality rates have been found to differ across regions of the United States; however, these areas are typically the broad Census Bureau regions (i.e., Midwest, Northeast, South, and West) that do not consider sociological factors known to affect health. By testing the predictive capabilities of theoretically driven regional classifications distinguished at county-level, I explore whether there are more accurate ways of assessing mortality differences across the United States. Specifically, I use the US Census Bureau divisions and regional groupings produced by Joel Garreau (1981) and Colin Woodard (2011) to predict sex-specific, age-adjusted, all-cause mortality for 2008-2012 (centered on 2010). …

Three Essays In Real Estate Economics, Christopher Yencha

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation consists of three separate essays which examine the impact of home characteristics and state and local policy on home transaction prices. Chapter 1 investigates the role that pedestrian infrastructure and the walkability of the area surrounding a home has in influencing home transaction prices. Through the use of computer vision procedures to gather new data from images, Chapter 2 explores how practical and aesthetic attributes of the exterior of a home are reflected in a home's sale price. Chapter 3 estimates the impact that legalization of recreational marijuana and the subsequent establishment of marijuana dispensaries has had on …

Buying Thebes: Promoting A Cultural Commonwealth In Contemporary Anglophone Adaptations Of Greek Tragedy, Phillip Zapkin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project argues that theatrical adaptations of Greek tragedy exemplify the functioning of a cosmopolitan cultural commonwealth. Dramatists like Christine Evans, Colin Teevan, David Greig, Marina Carr, Femi Osofisan, Moira Buffini, and Yael Farber enact intercultural collaborations to reshape material from a cultural common and make that material meaningful for contemporary audiences. This collaborative ethos of drawing from shared source material undermines the logic of neoliberal late capitalism, which is premised on property ownership and individualist competition. "Buying Thebes" contributes to adaptation studies scholarship by theorizing a political economy of adaptation, combining both a formal reading of adaptation as an …

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 -- …

Early Feeding Experiences Of Families Whose Children Were Born With Cleft Lip Andor Palate: A Rural Perspective, Meghan Snyder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An initial problem frequently found in children born with cleft palate is difficulty feeding. This problem can be magnified in rural areas where healthcare resources are limited. A 29-item questionnaire was developed and administered to 24 families whose children were born with a cleft palate. Many parents experienced difficulties in both instruction and in feeding their children. It was necessary for them to seek information and assistance from different sources. As a result of the findings, an informational pamphlet was developed and distributed to various rural hospitals located in West Virginia, so that information and sources of instruction for feeding …

The Impact Of Different Game Types And Sports On College Students' Physical Activity And Motivation In Basic Instruction Program Settings, Yang Song

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background/Purpose: Few researchers have investigated college students' physical activity levels and motivations within university Basic Instruction Programs (BIPs) when students engaged in different games (modified games, small-sided games, and full-sided games) from different sports categories (e.g., net/wall games and invasion games). Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate college students' Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) and motivations while playing different games in badminton and soccer classes. The study also examined how well motivation levels predict MVPA.;Methods/Analysis: Seventy-one college students (57 males and 14 females) from a rural Mid-Atlantic university participated in and finished the study. They came …

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 …

A Cbct Analysis Of Optimal Maxillary And Mandibular Incisor Inclination, Marina Gonchar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: One of the most challenging questions faced in the field of orthodontics is defining the envelope of tooth movement, and answering a fundamental question, where do teeth belong in relation to bone? Incisor position, both in the maxilla and mandible, are often compromised in order to accommodate an unfavorable skeletal pattern in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse dimensions during orthodontic therapy. Optimal incisor inclination has been a continuous debate in the field of orthodontics leaving the experts divided. The question still remains what are the clinical limits of orthodontic tooth movement, which will result in the most …