Digital Commons Network^™

Extension Of A Bayesian Method For Viral Genome Re-Sequencing To Multi-Dimensional Parameters, Sarah Fleischer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) refers to all sequencing methods post Sanger Sequencing. Sequencing By Synthesis is the most well-known method, however it’s inaccessible price is difficult for some. Thus, a different method also exists, re-sequencing– which relies on a reference genome to check the validity of each base call. The standard for determining the validity of a base call is a one parameter quality score. But, previously a two-parameter Bayesian method was successfully used for re-sequencing the viral genome. However, a quality parameter was previously not used in the construction of the cumulative density function for the likelihood. This paper …

A Shock To The System: Analyzing Ethnocentric Populist Support Before And After Crises, Kyu Chul Shin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using the question of what is driving the support for populists in the mid-late 2010s in Western Europe and the United States as the starting point, this dissertation attempts to answer a number of different questions related to populists: Were the reasons behind support for populists in countries that saw an increase in support for populisms similar to those that saw a decrease in support? Are the reasons for supporting right-wing populists different from more general ethnocentric populists? Are the reasons that Americans supported Donald Trump similar or different from the reasons behind support for Western European populists? Following migration-related …

Novel Modes Of Synchronization And Extreme Events In Coupled Chemical Oscillators, David Allen Mersing

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We experimentally and computationally investigate dynamical behaviors in coupled chemical oscillators. These networks of chemical oscillators are created using catalytic Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ loaded cation exchange beads submerged in catalyst-free Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) solutions. Various network structures are created by utilizing the photosensitive nature of the Ru(bpy) ₃²⁺ catalyst. The response of the oscillators due to light stimuli can be characterized by constructing a phase response curve (PRC). The PRC quantifies the excitatory and inhibitory responses of BZ oscillators due to applied light perturbations as a function of the oscillators' phase. Different initial concentrations of reactants in the BZ reaction …

Air-Assisted Communications Using Line-Of-Sight Links, Shaikha A. Alkandari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the use of air-assisted communications involv-
ing the use of airborne platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In air-assisted
networks, the UAVs can act like base stations in a traditional cellular network as long as an
appropriate backhaul is available. Alternatively, the UAVs could serve as relays, for instance,
connecting two ground-based users who are within range of the UAV. UAVs have the benefit
of being deployed and reconfigured rapidly and on demand.
Meanwhile, there has been a trend towards the use of higher and higher frequencies,
including those in millimeter-wave …

Network Slicing In 5g: Admission, Scheduling, And Security, Raneem Jassim Alghawi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the past few decades, there was an increase in the number of devices that have wireless capabilities such as phones, televisions, and home appliances. With the high demand for wireless networking, the fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks was designed to support the different services of new applications. In addition, one of the technical issues that 5G would evolve is the increase in traffic and the need to satisfy the user’s experience. With the evolution of wireless networking and 5G, Network Slicing has been introduced to accommodate the diverse requirements of the applications. Thus, network slicing is the concept …

Low- And High-Wattage Vaping During Pregnancy Influence Aortic Structure And Function In Rat Offspring, James Ian Frazier

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are being marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, yet the health consequences of e-cig usage (also called vaping) are still being investigated. E-cigs are easily customized for user preferences. For example, the choice of flavors, nicotine concentration, and/or the temperature (i.e., wattage) used to heat the e-liquid can be selected in many devices. Emerging evidence suggests that vaping during pregnancy impairs cerebral vascular function in rodent offspring. In this study, we sought to investigate the potential effects of changes to e-cig device wattage (i.e., 5W vs. 30W) with maternal vaping during pregnancy on vascular …

Combinatorial Approaches For Effective Design, Synthesis, And Optimization Of Enzyme-Based Conjugates, Jordan Scott Chapman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The specificity and efficiency with which enzymes catalyze selective chemical reactions far exceeds the performance of traditional heterogeneous catalysts that are predominant in industrial applications such as conversion of commodity chemicals to value-added products, fuel cells, and petroleum refinement. Moreover, biocatalysts exhibit exceptionally high product turnover at ambient conditions with little health and environmental burden. These advantageous qualities have led to the prolific use of enzyme catalysis in pharmaceutical, detergents, and food preservation industries wherein their use has greatly reduced waste generation, Unfortunately, the full slate of benefits that enzymes can impart to a broader range of chemical processes is …

Playing-Related Medical Injuries And Health Conditions In Collegiate Saxophonists: A Survey Of Saxophonists In North American Universities, Michael Anne Tolan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

When compared to other areas of musical performance, medical research on the performing arts is limited when it comes to studies on woodwind players, particularly saxophonists. The gap in research may be attributed to the circumstances surrounding selection processes and identifying subjects for study. For example, saxophonists are not salaried professionals in orchestras, which are commonly pooled for medical research. Establishing contact with saxophonists to conduct studies can prove difficult due to the wide range of genres that utilize the saxophone. Some issues may also be attributed to research methodology. To find the onset of injuries, researchers in previous studies …

Analysis Of Emissions Profiles Of Hydraulic Fracturing Engine Technologies, Nicholas Joseph Wells

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the past twenty years natural gas production in the United States has significantly increased. This is largely due to technological advancements in unconventional methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. With these new and improved technologies, the United States has been able to increase its natural gas dry production per year by 14.5 trillion cubic feet per year from 2001-2021, a 74.1% increase. Horizontal drilling allows the wellbore to have more contact with the source rock, thus allowing more hydrocarbons to be extracted. Hydraulic fracturing allows oil and gas companies to have access to low permeable source rock, previously …

Investigating The Marketing Language Among Online Retailers Of Violin Strings To Determine The Implied Aesthetic, Kira Kay Browning

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The aim of this research is to determine if language in the advertising of violin strings is acting as an exclusionary tool in favor of a Western art music “sound” produced by “classical” violinists. It posits that the marketing of strings to violinists is a topic laden with unacknowledged biases and values of musicians within Western art music. The aesthetic values attached to playing Western art music for the violin in the United States are passed on through pedagogic practice and acculturation of language. Product descriptions for strings in the United States employ language which adheres to these cultural values …

Pathfinding Fast Radio Bursts Localizations Using Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Pranav Rohit Sanghavi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration, bright radio transients of extragalactic origin. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope’s CHIME/FRB instrument and other radio telescopes across the globe have detected hundreds of FRBs. Their origins are a mystery. Precise localization within the host is critical to distinguish between progenitor models. This can be achieved through Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). Until now, VLBI localizations have only been carried out in targeted follow-up observations of some repeating sources which comprise a small fraction of the FRBs.

For this work, an interferometric array of 6m dishes was constructed at the Green …

Three Essays In Healthcare Economics And Policy Analysis, Tuyen Pham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation research consists of three essays on healthcare economics and policy analysis. Chapter 1 investigates and explains the failure of a proposition on limiting dialysis clinic profits in California in 2018. The proposition would have required dialysis clinics to issue refunds to patients or their payers for revenue that exceeds 115% of the direct cost of treatment. In this chapter, a conceptual framework of how voters weigh costs and benefits is developed and two different empirical approaches, simple OLS and Double Post LASSO, are employed to identify key determinants of the voting outcome. The empirical results suggest that counties …

Three Essays In Public Economics, Joylynn Michelle Pruitt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation presents three chapters related to each other in their application to public economics. In the study of how utility-maximizing or goal-seeking units achieve economic outcomes, this dissertation presents results for a diverse range of agents including prosecutors and liberal arts colleges. Co-authored with Dr. Bryan McCannon of West Virginia University, the first chapter examines an interesting feature of prosecutor elections, where the pool of potential challengers to an incumbent comes primarily from subordinates within the office. We develop a signaling model that analyzes whether entry into the political race by a subordinate provides voters with useful information. In …

Psychosocial Influences On And Behavioral Characteristics Of Young Adult Food Addiction, Rachel A. Wattick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction. Research on food addiction has increased in recent years, but there are few studies focusing on college-attending young adults, who may be at risk of developing food addiction due to the stress of the college environment. Additionally, causes and characteristics of food addiction are under-explored.

Aim. This dissertation aims to 1) determine the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other early life influences on the development of food addiction in college-attending young adults and 2) determine the psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of young adults with food addiction.

Methods. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used for aims 1 …

Development Of Methane Emissions Model To Assess Fuel Recovery Potential At Gas Well Sites Using On Site Compression, Nicholas G. Lindenfeldar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The US natural gas production and consumption has increased 85.5% since 2005 primarily due to the unconventional production methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas used as a fuel has a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint than coal and petroleum due to lower Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted. However, the “greener” benefit to natural gas may be consumed by leaks in production and transmission systems. Methane (CH₄), the primary hydrocarbon in natural gas, has an estimated Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28-36 over 100 years, meaning it can absorb 28-36 more energy than …

Short-Term International Sport For Development And Peace Programs: A Retrospective Analysis And Critique Informed By Stakeholders’ Perspectives In A Two-Year Follow-Up, Adam Hansell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) programs are a popular approach to promoting positive development throughout the world, spanning health, education, peace, and social issues. However, scholars have identified critical shortcomings of SDP work, including the potential to reinforce neoliberalist tendencies and values imposition from the Global North to the Global South. Deporte y Cambio Social was a short-term SDP program established through partnership between American and Mexican constituent groups with aims to empower girls and women through soccer. Through six semi-structured, two-year retrospective interviews, the purpose of the present study was to explore cross-cultural understandings of power and intercultural …

A Domain Adaptation Approach For Segmenting Cell Instances In Microscopy Data, Matthew R. Keaton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Automated cellular instance segmentation is a process that has been utilized for accelerating biological research since before the deep learning era, and recent advancements have produced higher quality results with less effort from the biologist. Most current endeavors focus on completely cutting the researcher out of the picture by generating highly generalized models. However, these models invariably fail when faced with novel data and effectively opt to miss out on the full capabilities of deep learning in pursuit of this goal. In our work, we demonstrate how, with even a minimal amount of annotated data, dominant approaches in this space …

Advanced Process Modeling And Optimization Of Amine-Based Carbon Capture Process, Paul Jide Terhemba Akula

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the rise of carbondioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere to more than 400 parts per million (ppm), research efforts have been focused on achieving net-zero carbon emission technologies. Post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) is a key strategy in reducing CO2 emissions. Amine-based CO2 capture is the baseline technology for retrofitting existing power stations. However, the integration of amine-based PCC technology with power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions incurs a high energy penalty, decreasing a powerplant’s efficiency by about 23 percentage points. Understanding the capture plant dynamics plays an important role in its technical and economic performance. Rigorous models are …

Incidence Of Cancer, Depression, And Economic Burden Of Prescription Nsaids Among Older Adults With Osteoarthritis: Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches, Nazneen Fatima Mohammed Umer Shaikh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Understanding the role of chronic inflammation among older adults is critical because of its implications on chronic inflammatory conditions as well as its interaction with anti-inflammatory medications. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous multi-faceted joint disease with multi-tissue involvement of varying severity, and increasing evidence demonstrates a key role of chronic inflammation in its pathogenesis. Approximately 30 million adults in the United States have OA, and it is reported that a large proportion (43%) of them are older than 65 years. OA is typically treated using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for minimizing pain and reducing inflammation. NSAIDs have consistently shown clinically …

Healing Gardens For Assisted Living Facility At Cortland Acres, Thomas, Wv, Pooja Keshav Pawar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The affection humans feel for nature is called biophilia. Connecting with nature helps in healing. The connection with nature can be established by incorporating biophilic elements like air, water, plants, and views of nature into the design. (Kellert,2018). According to Kaplan’s Attention Restoration theory, exposure to nature improves focus and the ability to concentrate. (Kaplan,1989)

Connecting with nature provides to be helpful in health care facilities for frail elderly, people with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias, Hospice care facilities, Mental and Behavioral Health Facilities, and Assisted living facilities. (Marcus,2013)

The aim of this project is to create comfortable, safe, and accessible …

Evaluating The Validity And Reliability Of Textile And Paper Fracture Characteristics In Forensic Comparative Analysis, Zachary Bailey Andrews

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In a comparative forensic analysis, an examiner can report that a physical fit exists between two torn or separated items when they realign in a manner unlikely to be replicated. Due to the common belief that it is unlikely that two unrelated fractured objects would match with distinctive characteristics, a physical fit represents the highest degree of association between two items. Nonetheless, despite the probative value that this evidence could have to a trier of fact, few studies have demonstrated such assumptions' scientific validity and reliability. Moreover, there is a lack of consensus-based standard protocols for physical fit comparisons, making …

Using Landsat-Based Phenology Metrics, Terrain Variables, And Machine Learning For Mapping And Probabilistic Prediction Of Forest Community Types In West Virginia, Faith M. Hartley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigates the mapping of forest community types for the entire state of West Virginia, USA using Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) Phenology Metrics analysis ready data (ARD) derived from the Landsat time series and digital terrain variables derived from a digital terrain model (DTM). Both classifications and probabilistic predictions were made using random forest (RF) machine learning (ML) and training data derived from ground plots provided by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program (WVNHP). The primary goal of this study is to explore the use of globally consistent ARD data for operational forest type mapping over a …

Analysis Of Short-Term Efficacy Of Gasless Single-Port Laparoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy Through Vulva Incision For Vulvar Cancer, Jin Ding, Piaopiao Teng, Xiaoming Guan, Yonghong Luo, Huafeng Ding, Suhua Shi, Xiufen Zhou, Guantai Ni

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and short-term efficacy of gasless single-port laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy through vulva incision (VEIL-V).

METHODS: The data of 9 patients diagnosed as vulvar squamous cell carcinoma who underwent single-port laparoscopic inguinal lymph node dissection through vulvectomy incision were retrospectively analyzed. And 13 patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal lymph node dissection through lower abdominal subcutaneous approach as the control group (VEIL-H). The operation time, blood loss, numbers of unilateral lymph nodes, hospitalization time, and complications between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS: The operation time of VEIL-V was 56.11 ± 5.94 min, which were shorter than that …

A Combinatorial 5-Htr Expression Pattern Within The Ventral Projection Neurons Of The D. Melanogaster Olfactory Circuit., Mohd Freezely Ezzani Bin Mazri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neuromodulation allows neurons within a circuit to respond to stimuli from the environment according to the correct ecological value, context, and internal state of the animal. Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator that can generate different outcomes based on its target’s serotonin receptor (5-HTR) expression by affecting secondary messenger cascades. Within the Drosophila olfactory system, ventral projections neurons (vPN) express all five insect 5-HTR that project into two olfactory processing regions, the antennal lobe (AL) and the lateral horn (LH). The significance of this 5-HTR expression is unknown. In this study, I theorized the patterns of 5-HTR expression of vPNs. I …

Face Recognition With Attention Mechanisms, Qiangchang Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Face recognition has been widely used in people’s daily lives due to its contactless process and high accuracy. Existing works can be divided into two categories: global and local approaches. The mainstream global approaches usually extract features on whole faces. However, global faces tend to suffer from dramatic appearance changes under the scenarios of large pose variations, heavy occlusions, and so on. On the other hand, since some local patches may remain similar, they can play an important role in such scenarios. Existing local approaches mainly rely on cropping local patches around facial landmarks and then extracting corresponding local representations. …

An Examination Of Career Orientation Courses And College Students' Career Decision Self-Efficacy, Logan R. Mayhew

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Career development is an ongoing concern for college administrators as the modern knowledge era generates new and fluctuating jobs. College students are more anxious than in previous decades about starting their careers and making vocational decisions. Building career decision self-efficacy in students results in greater feelings of confidence and increases demonstration of career-related behaviors. Students in three online career courses at West Virginia University were assessed for gains in career decision self-efficacy in comparison with a control group after participation in the courses and compared on the basis of gender. Results of a mixed ANOVA indicated a significant increase in …

What Is The Perceived Self-Efficacy Of Defined Job Competencies For West Virginia University Extension Faculty?, Lacey Dawn Seckman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The central mission of the Extension Service is to diffuse knowledge and resources developed by teaching and research experts at land grant universities to clientele within local communities (Cummings, et al., 2015; Hall & Broyles, 2016; Seevers & Graham, 2012). Making sure faculty are prepared to carry out their roles in all aspects to serve their clientele is key to quality Extension programs. Extension faculty can come from various backgrounds, interests, and expertise, all of which are influencers of self-efficacy. Having defined competencies for employees in Extension can help express what to expect in this job day-to-day. McClelland (1973) described …

A Practice Improvement Project Incorporating Tobacco Cessation Education Into A Doctor Of Nursing Practice Program, Jillian Doan

Nursing

Tobacco use is a global epidemic and is one of the largest public health threats the world has faced killing over eight million people annually. Smoking-related illnesses cost the United States $300 billion annually. Unfortunately, only 31% of those attempting to quit smoking in 2015 used evidenced-base cessation treatments. When behavioral and pharmacotherapy are combined, cessation rates increase by 82%. With tobacco use being the leading cause of U.S. preventable death and with 70% of tobacco users visiting a primary care facility annually, it is essential that providers appropriately and accurately address tobacco use and cessation. This practice improvement project …

Student Research Symposium Schedule 2022, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Student Research Symposium 2022 (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Implementing Nih Behavior Change Consortium Treatment Fidelity Recommendations In A Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial Of An Active Music Engagement Intervention For Young Children With Cancer And Parents., Jessica A. Maclean, Kristin Stegenga, Amanda K. Henley, Sheri L. Robb

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Treatment fidelity is the use of methodological strategies to monitor and enhance reliability and validity of behavioral intervention trials. Despite availability of guidelines and checklists, treatment fidelity remains underreported, hindering evaluation, interpretation, and cross-study comparisons. Treatment fidelity is particularly important for music interventions given the inherent complexity of musical stimuli and flexibility required for tailored delivery. The purpose of this paper is to define and describe treatment fidelity strategies for our trial of a music-based play intervention for young children with cancer and parents grounded in the NIH Behavior Change Consortium Treatment Fidelity Recommendations. We report strategies for all 5 …