Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Online Security With Image-Based Captchas, Brian M. Powell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Given the data loss, productivity, and financial risks posed by security breaches, there is a great need to protect online systems from automated attacks. Completely Automated Public Turing Tests to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, known as CAPTCHAs, are commonly used as one layer in providing online security. These tests are intended to be easily solvable by legitimate human users while being challenging for automated attackers to successfully complete. Traditionally, CAPTCHAs have asked users to perform tasks based on text recognition or categorization of discrete images to prove whether or not they are legitimate human users. Over time, the efficacy …

The Semantics Of Spanish Compounding: An Analysis Of Nn Compounds In The Parallel Architecture, Luis Miguel Toquero Perez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Noun-Noun compounds (NN) are a concatenation of two nouns that function as a single unit both morphosyntactically and semantically. One of the main challenges that a study of NN compounding faces is their semantics, and more precisely, identifying the implied semantic relations that hold between the two elements. One of the most recent frameworks that has been proposed to account for the semantic relations between the modifier and head in NN compounds is Jackendoff's (2009, 2016) basic functions model within the Parallel Architecture framework. In this model, a semantic relation between the head and modifier is established by using an …

Constitutional Rhetoric: The Genre Performances Of The Written Constitution In Transnational, Transcultural Contexts, Bhushan Aryal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Biomimetic And Advanced Control Structure Design With Real Time Optimization, Temitayo Bankole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

A Corrollary Discharge Circuit Modulates Olfactory Function During Flight In Manduca Sexta, Phillip David Chapman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Genetic Tools To Assist In White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Management In West Virginia, Darren M. Wood

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although nearly extinct historically, the current population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in West Virginia serves as a plentiful resource, however; currently there are two uncertainties to the socio-economic benefits of white-tailed deer in West Virginia: poaching and chronic wasting disease (CWD). While infection with the disease invariably results in a 100% fatality rate, previous studies have indicated that nucleotide polymorphisms in the 285th and 286th position of the prion precursor gene (PRNP) have been associated with the delay of clinical disease symptoms. To determine the association with CWD positive individuals in a CWDaffected population in West Virginia and determine …

Songbird Response To Forest Disturbance Due To Unconventional Shale Gas Development In The Marcellus-Utica Region: A Multi-Scale Analysis., Laura S. Farwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, I evaluated impacts of unconventional shale gas development, or the combined use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), on forest land cover and breeding songbirds in the Marcellus-Utica shale region. Since 2005, extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus-Utica shale has increased exponentially in the central Appalachians, an area of high conservation value for global biodiversity. Although there has been an increase in research on the effects of shale gas development in the region, the industry is still relatively new in the eastern U.S. and much is still unknown about biological and environmental impacts. In …

A Guide To Understanding And Addressing Vacant Property In The City Of St. Louis, Dana M. Malkus

All Faculty Scholarship

The City of St. Louis has a serious vacant property challenge. Since the population peak in 1950, the City has experienced a 63% decline in population and now has one of the highest rates of vacancy in the nation.¹ The City has approximately 25,000 vacant properties.² Approximately 12,000 of these are owned by the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) or other public agencies,³ which means that approximately 13,000 are privately owned. Most of those vacant properties
are concentrated in the north and southeast portions of the City.⁴ For a city of its size, the City has "an …

Behavior Of Stiff-Tailed Diving Ducks And West Indian Whistling Ducks In Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico, Nick S. Goodman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Masked ducks (Nomonyx dominicus), migratory northern ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis), non-migratory West Indian ruddy ducks (Oxyura j. jamaicensis Gmelin), and West Indian whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna arborea) are all duck taxa that have declining populations in Puerto Rico. Masked ducks are listed as endangered in Puerto Rico and are a species of concern in the Caribbean while West Indian whistling ducks are considered an "at-risk" species listed as vulnerable. All 4 taxa of duck have areas of their life history where information is lacking including behavioral information. I studied the 4 taxa of duck at Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge from …

Conquering The Fear: A Journey Of Triumph Through The Exploration Of Creating The Role Of Masha In Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, Cassandra Noel Hackbart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is a documentation of my process for undertaking the role of Masha in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, performed in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center. This document will serve to archive the application of my graduate training while performing a major role; as well as, record my personal growth in a single production. In a reflective tone, I expound on the pressures and fears that I encountered, and the techniques that informed my self-realizations throughout the production process. The production process is composed of the three major sections. The first section …

I Am The Walrus; A Character Study, Joseph Bussey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this thesis is to chronicle and reflect upon the steps and tools used in creating the role of Chebutykin in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. To effectively complete this task there are a few necessary benchmarks to cover including character analysis, the rehearsal process, and the performance of the role itself. Character analysis will be explored using Anne Bogart and Tina Landau's, The Viewpoints Book. The rehearsal process will discuss not only the way we rehearsed, but also the tools required to effectively personalize and prepare for performance. Finally, the result will reflect what the process provided the …

Ex-Vivo Model For Muscle Exposure To Tumor Cell Conditioned Media, Ikttesh K. Chahal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cancer-induced cachexia is a severe condition resulting in muscle wasting, muscle dysfunction, and an overall increased morbidity and mortality. The cachectic condition is often attributed to altered metabolism, aberrant activation of signaling pathways, and changes in the microenvironment of the skeletal muscle (SKM) through exposure to various host-derived and tumor-derived paracrine factors, delivered through the blood circulation. Previous data from our lab has shown that an increased signaling of Interleukin-15 (IL-15) results in enhanced oxidative capacity, promotion of a more oxidative phenotype and attenuation of muscle fatigue. This effect of IL-15 has yet to be characterized in a cancer-induced model …

Impact Of Next Generation Am-Pet Helmet And Support Structure On Subjects' Neck, Samantha Melroy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ambulatory Micro-dose Positron Emission Tomography (AM-PET) is a portable PET brain scanner that does not require patients to remain still but allows them to move as they regularly would over the course of the scan (i.e. clapping hands, walking in place, and other stationary movements). Traditional PET scanners require patients to remain still for an extended duration in a small confined cavity. This is problematic for those who have conditions such as Parkinson's and Autism; in many cases, they must be sedated before the test can be performed. West Virginia University's AM-PET Helmet allows for these regular human movements to …

Constructing A Sense Of Place On Top Of The World, Catherine E. Lovell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines written texts in summit logs by rock climbers at the peak of Baboquivari, located in southern Arizona. After scaling the mountain, rock climbers complete the ritual of documenting their success in a log located on the summit. Guided by the concepts of sense of place and ritual communication, this study investigated discourses articulated in summit logs in order to understand how rock climbers construct their sense of place for a contested landscape.;Baboquivari is the cosmological home of the Tohono O'odham and their creator I'itoi is believed to reside on the peak today. A good portion of Baboquivari …

Integrated Sensing Systems For On-Orbit Robotic Satellite Servicing Applications, Eric Loy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are a variety of stakeholders when it comes to space (the military, other governmental entities, private sector companies, consumers, the scientific community, etc.), and they would all prefer the operational lives of their satellites, observatories, space stations, and other assets to be maximized. Out of the large number of assets in space, only a few were designed with serviceability as a goal. The ability to service "non-cooperative" satellites is an ongoing project being investigated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Satellite Servicing Projects Division (SSPD), along with other industrial partners. This …

Involvement Of Two Novel Grf-Type Zinc Finger Nodulins During Rhizobial Symbiotic Establishment In Medicago Truncatula Nodules, Lucas Gontijo Silva Maia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In legumes, symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) occurs through a cooperative relationship established with rhizobial diazotrophic bacteria. This association triggers the de novo development of a highly specialized organ from root, called nodule. In this dissertation, we explore the molecular functional genetics of nodulation in the model legume Medicago truncatula in the scope of knowledge. Followed by a linearization of the current knowledge about the roles of Transcription Factors in legume nodule symbiosis. In an attempt of understanding the orchestration dynamics of nodulation and processes that generate SNF. Legumes evolved novel genes related with nodule development, symbiosis establishment and nitrogen fixation, …

Religious Discrimination Scale: Development And Initial Psychometric Evalutation, Kawika Allen, Kenneth T. Fuller, P. Scott Richards, Mason Ming, Han Na Suh

Faculty Publications

This study presents the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Religious Discrimination Scale (RDS). This 11-item instrument identified three dimensions based on perceived discrimination experiences of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS): Perceived Prejudice, Closet Symptoms, and Negative Labels. The psychometric evaluations of the RDS indicated a strong and clear factor structure as well as good internal consistency reliability. The test of measurement and structural invariance across gender also suggested that the RDS scale is equally appropriate to be used with both men and women. Implications for practice and research as well as future …

Appalachian Bariatric Surgery Population Descriptive Analysis, Surgical Outcomes, And Food Accessibility, Makenzie Leanne Barr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction. Overweight and obesity, diabetes, mental health issues, and lack of access to healthcare resources are frequent burdens among the Appalachian region of the United States. With morbid obesity, conventional behavioral interventions tend to fail. Bariatric surgery has been deemed the most successful treatment for morbid obesity and is performed regularly worldwide, however, the Appalachian population with the highest proportions of obesity and related co-morbidities has been poorly studied.;Aims. This dissertation aims to (1) provide a systematic review of the literature surrounding obesity and food access among Appalachian residents, (2) address the void in research of characterizing Appalachian bariatric surgery …

Jurors' Perceptions Of Child Witnesses With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria A. Disciullo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of child witnesses with autism spectrum disorder on jurors' perceptions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five experimental conditions displaying scenarios varying the characteristics (autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and typically developing) of a 6-year-old female child who alleged sexual maltreatment. Participants were asked to provide a series of ratings regarding the child's credibility, "accuracy, suggestibility, and ability to testify based on facts" (Orcutt et al., 2001, p. 346; see also Thomas & Krackow, 2016), as well as defendant guilt (Tessier & Krackow, 2013). Overall, the data suggest …

An Analysis Of The Extinction-Induced Response Burst, Brian Katz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the extinction burst is a frequently reported generative effect of extinction, there are few experimental analyses of the phenomenon. The purpose of the present series of experiments was to examine the occurrence, time course, and repeatability of extinction bursts. Six experimentally naive pigeons were exposed to at least five cycles of 5-sessions block of baseline followed by 8-session blocks of extinction. Depending on the condition, baseline sessions were either a fixed-ratio (FR) or variable-ratio (VR) schedule, and transitions from the last baseline session in each cycle to the first extinction session were conducted either between or within sessions. Within …

Late Victorian Sexuality And Spiritualism: The Place Of The Paranormal In Queer Erotic Partnerships, Sharon E. Kelly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation argues that fin de siecle navigations of emerging categories of sexual identity were partially expressed in literary representations of supernatural connections, transformations, events, and practices. I build on Sexuality Studies and Queer Theory foundations by such scholars as Foucault, Halberstam, and Warner along with New Historicist scholarship about spiritualism in the nineteenth century to examine the connections between aberrant erotic desires and alternative forms of spirituality. Through readings of the anonymous Teleny (1893), Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Richard Marsh's The Beetle , and the poetry of Michael Field, I assert that queer sexual identities and acts, …

Generating Narrative In An Interactive Fiction Game, John L. Jacko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis explores a niche field of Computer Science called Interactive Fiction, a field that utilizes the conventions of a regular story to offer multiple variations on how the story plays out. Our goal is to explore the possibility of developing a game that can generate a story file during game play that not only reads like a short story but reflects the events that transpire during a given game play. During development, we have determined that keeping track of various "states", we can simulate a narrative based on actions that transpire in the game.;We developed the game using a …

What The Frost Killed, Allison Semele Blair

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

What the Frost Killed is the culmination of two years spent memorializing the dead plants and animals of my immediate surroundings. Primarily focusing on birds who die as a result of human activity, I seek to pay attention to and elevate the individual victims of a systemic problem. Inspired by Ancient Greek tragedy, I engage with the ethical dilemmas inherent in our collective actions to express the strange, beauty of these unsung deaths.;My thesis body of work draws on a decade of research exploring the intersection between political history and ancient tragic literature. As I studied these stories written in …

Anthropocentrism As Cognitive Dissonance In Animal Research?, Ellen Furlong, Zachary Silver, Jack Furlong

Animal Sentience

Harmon-Jones et al. (2017) make a thought-provoking suggestion in their commentary on Zentall (2016): Overlooked biases among researchers on animal cognition might lead them to discount the traces of higher-order cognition in animals they study. We find the suggestion both philosophically important and worth further reflection for animal scientists. Harmon-Jones et al. point to two “cognitive dissonance” biases involving the clash between the common human resistance to viewing ourselves as animals/meat-eaters and how these biases might lead to discounting possible advanced cognitive performances in the animals studied. We show how these biases might appear in cognitive research generally and argue …

Sentient Plants? Nervous Minds?, Arthur S. Reber

Animal Sentience

The commentaries by Calvo (2018) and Mallatt & Feinberg (2017) on my 2016 target branch out from a common conceptual node like forks in a road. Calvo criticizes me for not acknowledging that plants too are likely to be sentient and claims I have fallen into the kind of category error of which I accuse others ─ a zoocentric bias that fails to grant consciousness to flora. Mallatt & Feinberg maintain that I've gone too far in granting sentience to any species that lacks a nervous system. Calvo makes some good points but there are other issues concerning plant sentience …

Anatomy Of Online Hate: Developing A Taxonomy And Machine Learning Models For Identifying And Classifying Hate In Online News Media, Joni Salminen, Hind Almerekhi, Milica Milenkovic, Soon-Gyu Jung, Haewoon Kwak, Haewoon Kwak, Bernard J. Jansen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Online social media platforms generally attempt to mitigate hateful expressions, as these comments can be detrimental to the health of the community. However, automatically identifying hateful comments can be challenging. We manually label 5,143 hateful expressions posted to YouTube and Facebook videos among a dataset of 137,098 comments from an online news media. We then create a granular taxonomy of different types and targets of online hate and train machine learning models to automatically detect and classify the hateful comments in the full dataset. Our contribution is twofold: 1) creating a granular taxonomy for hateful online comments that includes both …

Selection And Implementation Of Skill Acquisition Programs By Special Education Teachers And Staff For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tiffany Kodak, Tom Cariveau, Brittany A. Leblanc

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The present investigation examined special education teachers’ selection and use of teaching strategies for receptive identification training with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their classrooms. Teachers first responded to a survey in which they provided examples of receptive identification tasks taught in their classrooms, rated the efficacy of teaching strategies, described how they determined whether skills were mastered, listed any assessments they conducted to identify relevant prerequisite skills prior to receptive identification training, described how they selected teaching strategies for use in their classrooms, and listed their years of experience as a teacher and working with children with …

Computational Modeling Of Transcatheter Aortic Valves, Mostafa Abbasi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established therapy alternative to surgical valve replacement in high-risk and intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Currently, although TAVR is an alternative and less-invasive treatment for high-risk and intermediate-risk patients, surgical aortic valves replacement (SAVR) was still considered as the gold standard for low-risk patients. TAVR could potentially be applied to lower-risk younger patients if the indications can be safely expanded to the patients and transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) long-term durability can match with that of surgical bioprostheses. In contrast to surgical aortic valves (SAVs), there have been limited clinical data on the …

Antitrust And Inequality: The Problem Of Super-Firms, Shi-Ling Hsu

Scholarly Publications

Increasing concern about economic inequality has coincided with an unsettling ascendancy of some large, technologically integrated “super-firms,” which have grabbed large market shares in multiple markets, and cast doubt upon the future viability of a wide range of businesses, many of which have been important local and regional employers. It is thus unsurprising that these two trends have knocked together in public discourse, and that antitrust law been proposed as one way of helping to remedy economic inequality. This essay notes that antitrust law is generally a poor fit for reducing economic inequality, but one aspect is worthy of note: …

A Multicenter Examination And Strategic Revisions Of The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Joseph F. Mcguire, John Piacentini, Eric A. Storch, Tanya K. Murphy, Emily J. Ricketts, Douglas W. Woods, John T. Walkup, Alan L. Peterson, Sabine Wilhelm, Adam B. Lewin, James T. Mccracken, James F. Leckman, Lawrence Scahill

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective To examine the internal consistency and distribution of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores to inform modification of the measure.

Methods This cross-sectional study included 617 participants with a tic disorder (516 children and 101 adults), who completed an age-appropriate diagnostic interview and the YGTSS to evaluate tic symptom severity. The distributions of scores on YGTSS dimensions were evaluated for normality and skewness. For dimensions that were skewed across motor and phonic tics, a modified Delphi consensus process was used to revise selected anchor points.

Results Children and adults had similar clinical characteristics, including tic symptom severity. …