Digital Commons Network^™

A Step-By-Step Hhl Algorithm Walkthrough To Enhance Understanding Of Critical Quantum Computing Concepts, Anika Zaman, Hector Jose Morrell, Hiu Yung Wong

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

After learning basic quantum computing concepts, it is desirable to reinforce the learning using an important and relatively complex algorithm through which students can observe and appreciate how qubits evolve and interact with each other. Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) quantum algorithm, which can solve linear system problems with exponential speed-up over the classical method and is the basis of many important quantum computing algorithms, is used to serve this purpose. The HHL algorithm is explained analytically followed by a 4-qubit numerical example in bra-ket notation. Matlab code corresponding to the numerical example is available for students to gain a deeper understanding of …

Collagen V Promotes Fibroblast Contractility, And Adhesion Formation, And Stability, Shaina P. Royer-Weeden

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, classical type, (cEDS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder causing excessive elasticity and fragility of the connective tissue and problems with wound healing. Most cases of cEDS are caused by haploinsufficiency for collagen V. Collagen V regulates collagen fibril diameter. In cEDS fibroblast migration is impaired and integrin expression is altered.

The effects of collagen V on collagen gel ultrastructure and how it alters its mechanical properties were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and rheology respectively. Fibroblast contractility and adhesion dynamics were investigated to better understand the role of fibroblast disfunction in wound healing in cEDS. To …

Proposed Intensity And Proximity To Failure Recommendations For Improving Resistance Training Strength, Joseph David Koenecke

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Resistance training, widely used in sports and recreation since the 1970s, can be used to achieve goals like muscular hypertrophy, strength, or endurance. Core principles to see noticeable adaptations include progressive overload, achieved by increasing sets, repetitions, frequency, weight, or training near muscle failure. However, high-intensity training may lead to chronic fatigue, which may negate the benefits. Research explores strategies like microdosing and high proximity to failure training to counter this. While high proximity to failure training may offer similar results to low proximity to failure training, microdosing may help coaches reduce fatigue, thus aiding athlete progress. Coaches must tailor …

Focused On Pedagogy: Qr Grading Rubrics For Written Arguments, Ruby Daniels, Kathryn Appenzeller Knowles, Emily Naasz, Amanda Lindner

Marketing Faculty Publications (Archived)

Institutional assessments of quantitative literacy/reasoning (QL/QR) have been extensively tested and reported in the literature. While appropriate for measuring student learning at the programmatic or institutional level, such instruments were not designed for classroom grading. After modifying a widely accepted institutional rubric designed to assess QR in written arguments, the current mixed method study tested the reliability of two QR analytic grading rubrics for written arguments and explored students’ reactions to the grading tools. Undergraduate students enrolled in a business course (N = 59) participated. A total of 415 QR artifacts from 40 students were assessed; an additional 19 …

Token Based Authentication And Authorization With Zero-Knowledge Proofs For Enhancing Web Api Security And Privacy, Michael Lodder

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

This design science study showcases an innovative artifact that utilizes Zero-Knowledge Proofs for API Authentication and Authorization. A comprehensive examination of existing literature and technology is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this alternative approach. The study reveals that existing APIs are using slower techniques that don’t scale, can’t take advantage of newer hardware, and have been unable to adequately address current security issues. In contrast, the novel technique presented in this study performs better, is more resilient in privacy sensitive and security settings, and is easy to implement and deploy. Additionally, this study identifies potential avenues for further research …

Association Of Hearing Loss And Tinnitus Symptoms With Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Long-Term Oropharyngeal Cancer Survivors, Puja Aggarwal, Marc-Elie Nader, Paul W Gidley, Raj Pratihar, Shirin Jivani, Adam S Garden, Frank E Mott, Ryan P Goepfert, Christopher Wallace Ogboe, Camille Charles, Clifton D Fuller, Stephen Y Lai, G Brandon Gunn, Erich M Sturgis, Ehab Y Hanna, Katherine A Hutcheson, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association of hearing loss and tinnitus with overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

METHODS: This study included OPC survivors treated between 2000 and 2013 and surveyed from September 2015 to July 2016. Hearing loss and tinnitus were measured by asking survivors to rate their "difficulty with hearing loss and/or ringing in the ears" from 0 (not present) to 10 (as bad as you can imagine). Hearing loss and tinnitus scores were categorized as follows: 0 for none, 1-4 for mild, and 5-10 for moderate to severe. The primary outcome …

Neurocognitive Correlates Of Cerebellar Volumetric Alterations In Youth With Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders And Bipolar Offspring, Kirti Saxena, Alessio Simonetti, Christopher D Verrico, Delfina Janiri, Marco Di Nicola, Antonello Catinari, Sherin Kurian, Johanna Saxena, Benson Mwangi, Jair C Soares

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence points towards the involvement of the cerebellum in the processing of emotions and pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, cerebellar and related cognitive alterations in youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) and those at high risk to develop the disorder, such as bipolar offspring (BD-OFF) are not clearly defined.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cerebellar gray and white matter volumes, cognition, and their relationship in youth with PBD and BD-OFF.

METHODS: Thirty youth (7 to 17 years, inclusive) with PBD, 30 BD-OFF and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Study participants underwent a computer-based cognitive battery assessing affective processing, executive …

Development Of A Clinical Prediction Model For Diabetes In Chronic Pancreatitis: The Predict3c Study, Christie Jeon, Phil A Hart, Liang Li, Yunlong Yang, Eleanor Chang, Melena D Bellin, William E Fisher, Evan L Fogel, Christopher E Forsmark, Walter G Park, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Jose Serrano, David C Whitcomb, Dana K Andersen, Darwin L Conwell, Dhiraj Yadav, Mark O Goodarzi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Diabetes that arises from chronic pancreatitis (CP) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Methods to predict which patients with CP are at greatest risk for diabetes are urgently needed. We aimed to examine independent risk factors for diabetes in a large cohort of patients with CP.

Research design and methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 645 individuals with CP enrolled in the PROCEED study, of whom 276 had diabetes. We conducted univariable and multivariable regression analyses of potential risk factors for diabetes. Model performance was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis, and accuracy was …

In Defense Of Artificial Intelligence, Darrin Dutcher

Honors

AI usage in our society is more prevalent today compared to years ago. Our evolution in computing has created problems that never existed before because of a fundamental lack of security-minded development. Security was always a second thought and never a priority. With the prevalence of AI making security a bigger priority, the question arises if AIs such as ChatGPT, Github Co-pilot, Alpha Go, and Bing AI use the best security practices when implemented. The creation of modern technologies such as phones, the Internet, and computers have all seen horrendous security concerns addressed later on in development. With how technology …

Testing Quantum Computers For Functioning Quantum Hardware, Matthew Lenarz

Honors

If a business was selling quantum computing as a service (QCaaS), how would an end user of the quantum computer know if it was truly quantum? Answering this question involves looking into what differentiates a quantum computer from a classical computer and then understanding how an end user can make a conclusion on what they are operating from. Testing quantum computers from the inside is only valuable for primitive quantum computers, since quantum computers with high numbers of qubits become virtually impossible to accurately simulate with classical computer mechanics. Assuming that visual appearance and exterior hardware do not play a …

Natural Language Processing In Lakhota, Jackson Ruedebusch

Honors

With the original intent to develop a translation tool between Lakota, an indigenous language spoken primarily in the upper great plains, and English, my project was ultimately unsuccessful due to a number of challenges. Hopefully however the lessons learned from this attempt will be valuable to future research and development of language technology for the Lakhota language.

Mining Health Informatics Job Advertisements: Insights For Higher Education Programs And Job Seekers, Ahmed El Noshokaty, Mohammad A. Al-Ramahi, Omar El-Gayar, Abdullah Wahbeh, Tareq Nasralah

Computer Information Systems Faculty Publications (Archived)

This paper used web scraping and data mining to analyze 831 health informatics job advertisements on indeed.com. Results showed that 87% of jobs explicitly required a college degree in a related field, 41% of jobs preferred a graduate degree, while 29% preferred or required professional certification. The analysis showed that preferred skills were analytics problem solving, communication skills, oral communication, interpersonal skills, project management, statistics, and critical thinking. The analysis also showed that college degrees, certifications, and the above-mentioned skill set are in high demand for working in the field of health informatics, especially in states with large populations and …

Empowering Victims Of Grand Corruption: An Emerging Trend, Naomi Roht-Arriaza

Faculty Scholarship

Who is the victim of systemic corruption? The traditional answer in law is everyone and no one, or public administration itself. When state funds are misused or go missing, at the most the State is the victim. Therefore, only the State has standing to sue for, or receive restitution of, the stolen assets. But that long-held consensus is changing. Activists and lawyers have begun to argue that under systematic corruption it’s not just states, but individuals and communities as well as society as a whole that suffer losses and need to be both represented and repaired. Courts are beginning to …

Perceptions Of Organizational Politics And Interpersonal Relationships In Black Women's Organizations And Sororities, Mitzi S. Willis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although much research has addressed the relationships between leaders and followers, none has focused on these relationships between Black women—specifically, in the context of Black women’s social service organizations and sororities—and the impact the leader’s chosen style of leadership has on the followers’ use of voice. Self silencing is a prominent response to the power dynamic in many leader–follower relationships. The purpose of this study was to describe the interactions between leaders and followers in Black women’s social service organizations and sororities and identify the influence leadership style has on follower engagement. This study extends the application of silencing the …

Evaluation Of Nanoclay Additives For Improving Resistance To Moisture Damage In Hot Mix Asphalt (Hma), Amro El Badawy, Ashraf Rahim

Mineta Transportation Institute

Transportation has an enormous impact on the U.S. economy and on the lives of all Americans. Many modes of transportation rely on pavement, but pavement conditions deteriorate over time because of the combined effects of traffic and climate. Exposure to moisture often causes premature failure of asphalt pavements as it reduces the stiffness of the asphalt and enables stripping of the asphalt from the aggregate. This research evaluates the effectiveness of clay nanomaterials (i.e., nanoclays) in improving the resistance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) to moisture damage and compares the enhancement results to anti-stripping additives commonly used in pavement construction. …

Social Enterprise Governance Post-Sox, Alina Ball

Faculty Scholarship

Social enterprises-nonprofit and for-profit businesses that use market-based strate­ gies to achieve social change for marginalized populations-demonstrate a new para­ digm for doing business in the United States. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("SOX"), which transformed financial reporting and heightened internal controls for public com­ panies, has, perhaps unintentionally, also had an outsized influence on the development of social enterprise governance. The primary impact of SOX is found in the state-level auditing and reporting reforms imposed on large nonprofits. Moreover, "benefit re­ ports," the lynchpin of social enterprise state legislation, also mirror the SOX emphasis on transparency through third-party assessment. …

Learning Representations For Novelty And Anomaly Detection, Ranya Almohsen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The problem of novelty or anomaly detection refers to the ability to automatically

identify data samples that differ from a notion of normality. Techniques

that address this problem are necessary in many applications, like in medical

diagnosis, autonomous driving, fraud detection, or cyber-attack detection, just to

mention a few. The problem is inherently challenging because of the openness of

the space of distributions that characterize novelty or outlier data points. This is

often matched with the inability to adequately represent such distributions due

to the lack of representative data.

In this dissertation we address the challenge above by making several …

Source Credibility And Trust Of Media Information Based On Gender Of Reporter, Madison R. Urse

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An experiment was used for this study to explore if the gender of a reporter impacts perceived source credibility and thus trust in information. Previous research has shown how gender biases can affect how topics are covered, reported on, perceived and marketed in the journalistic world. Modern media and newsrooms are meant to mirror reality as they convey information to the public, yet women continue to be gatekept out of reporting on certain types of news. Further, changes in the mode of delivery of news are also impacting the journalism landscape. Thus, this study employed a digital stimulus to explore …

Physics Infused Lstm Network For Track Association Based On Marine Vessel Automatic Identification System Data, Tasmiah Haque

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In marine surveillance, a crucial task is distinguishing between normal and abnormal vessel movements to timely identify potential threats. Subsequently, the vessels need to be monitored and tracked until necessary action can be taken. To achieve this, a track association problem is formulated where multiple vessels' unlabeled geographic and motion parameters are associated with their true labels. These parameters are typically obtained from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) database, which enables real-time tracking of marine vessels equipped with AIS. The parameters are time-stamped and collected over a long period, and therefore, modeling the inherent temporal patterns in the data is …

Optimizing Sample Collection And Data Interpretation For Effective Wastewater-Based Epidemiology In Combined Sewer Systems, Christopher Allen Anderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

COVID-19 has spurred growth in the science surrounding wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) pertaining to the detection of severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in waste streams as an early warning signal for public health. However, the highly variable wastewater environment has made it difficult to standardize an approach for sampling and analysis, especially in locations using combined sewer infrastructure. This study addresses knowledge gaps of WBE via three specific aims: (1) to compare diurnal fluctuations of SARS-CoV-2 and the human fecal indicator, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent samples collected during dry versus wet weather conditions; …

You've Got A Friend: Social Factors And Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Erika A. Fenstermacher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Depression in late life has been associated with disability, lower quality of life, increased mortality, and increased risk of suicide (Fiske et al., 2009; Rodda et al., 2011). Research suggests that functional disability, which is often brought about by a medical condition, may precede depressive symptoms and may be a major factor for older adults developing depression (Ormel et al., 2002). Social support can be beneficial for both emotional and physical health (Fiori & Jager, 2021). Numerous studies found evidence that social networks, perceived and subjective social support, and satisfaction with support received moderated the relation between health problems and …

Weigh-In-Motion Data-Driven Pavement Performance Prediction Models, Mohhammad Afsar Sujon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The effective functioning of pavements as a critical component of the transportation system necessitates the implementation of ongoing maintenance programs to safeguard this significant and valuable infrastructure and guarantee its optimal performance. The maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (MRR) program of the pavement structure is dependent on a multidimensional decision-making process, which considers the existing pavement structural condition and the anticipated future performance. Pavement Performance Prediction Models (PPPMs) have become indispensable tools for the efficient implementation of the MRR program and the minimization of associated costs by providing precise predictions of distress and roughness based on inventory and monitoring data concerning …

The Truth-Default, Diagnostic Utility, And The Value Of Contextual Knowledge In Deceptive Interactions, Heath A. Howard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation describes and reports an experimental study examining the predictions of truth-default theory (TDT). TDT is an expansive, modular theory of deception detection which explains the processes by which people abandon the truth-default state and navigate judgments of message veracity in conversations. The first goal of this study was to test TDT’s seventh proposition, which explains how communicators abandon the truth-default state through trigger events (i.e., actions which prompt communicators to be uncertain about the accuracy of the message) such as decreased sender believability and message coherence. The second goal of this study was to test the predictions of …

Nutritional Management Of The Infant With Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 2-5 And On Dialysis., Vanessa Shaw, Caroline Anderson, An Desloovere, Larry A. Greenbaum, Dieter Haffner, Christina L. Nelms, Fabio Paglialonga, Nonnie Polderman, Leila Qizalbash, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Stella Stabouli, Jetta Tuokkola, Johan Vande Walle, Bradley A. Warady, Rukshana Shroff

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The nutritional management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is of prime importance in meeting the challenge of maintaining normal growth and development in this population. The objective of this review is to integrate the Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce clinical practice recommendations for children with CKD stages 2-5 and on dialysis, as they relate to the infant from full term birth up to 1 year of age, for healthcare professionals, including dietitians, physicians, and nurses. It addresses nutritional assessment, energy and protein requirements, delivery of the nutritional prescription, and necessary dietary modifications in the case of abnormal serum levels …

A Comparison Of Endodontic Root-End Filling Techniques: A Micro-Computed Tomography Analysis, Leslie P. Wolford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction:

Researchers have compared the differences between hand compaction of root-end filling bioceramics with compaction of these materials by hand followed by ultrasonic activation (hand/ultrasonic compaction). Additionally, most of these researchers did not utilize Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) analysis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate total porosity volume of three different bioceramics when compacted by hand alone versus hand/ultrasonic compaction using Micro-CT Analysis.

Materials and methods:

Seventy-two human maxillary central incisors were selected for the study. All were subjected to orthograde endodontic treatment followed by root tip resection 3-mm from the apex at a 90° to the long axis …

Investigating The Change In Pavement Cracking Data Due To Automated Data Collection Methods, Faisal Quibria Chowdhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Data collection on pavement surface cracks is crucial for the state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to make informed decisions on maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) activities. The collected cracking data is translated into a pavement performance indicator to assess the condition of pavement sections and identify MR&R needs based on predetermined threshold values set by the state DOTs. State DOTs have transitioned from manual to automated data collection as automation offers many advantages over manual data collection, such as improved data collection rates, efficiency, cost reduction, and safety. As the state DOTs have integrated automated data into the pavement performance …

A Longitudinal Study Of Factors That Affect User Interactions With Social Media And Email Spam, Wojciech M. Mazurek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Given the rapid growth of social media and the increasing prevalence of spam, it is crucial to understand users’ interactions with unsolicited content to develop effective countermeasures against spam. This thesis focuses on exploring the factors that influence users’ decisions to interact with spam on social media and email. It builds upon prior work, which serves as a foundation for further research and conducting a longitudinal analysis. Our results are based on the analysis of 221 responses collected through an online survey. The survey not only gathered demographic information such as age, gender, and race but also collected data on …

An Empirical Analysis Of Approximation Algorithms For The Unweighted Tree Augmentation Problem, Jacob Thomas Restanio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, we perform an experimental study of approximation algorithms for the tree augmentation problem (TAP). TAP is a fundamental problem in network design. The goal of TAP is to add the minimum number of edges from a given edge set to a tree so that it becomes 2-edge connected. Formally, given a tree T = (V, E), where V denotes the set of vertices and E denotes the set of edges in the tree, and a set of edges (or links) L ⊆ V × V disjoint from E, the objective is to find a set of edges …

Design And Validation Of An Aerodynamic System For A Formula Sae® Vehicle Using Vehicle Dynamic Simulation And Experimentation, Evan S. Cole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation for the aerodynamic system for a Formula SAE® vehicle. The Society of Automotive Engineers ® (SAE) hosts a collegiate competition annually called Formula SAE® where students design, fabricate, and test a small “formula style” vehicle. The vehicle performs in relatively slow maneuvers, around different courses and tests to evaluate the vehicle’s overall performance. Over the years, collegiate teams have put significant research into the design and manufacturing of the aerodynamics of these vehicles. In order to justify this undertaking for future teams at West Virginia University’s Formula SAE® program, a comprehensive …

Diversification Of Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthesis In Natural And Engineered Fungi, Kyle Austin Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ergot alkaloids are a complex family of tryptophan-derived mycotoxins produced by a diverse range of fungi that occupy a wide variety of ecological niches including soil saprotrophs, plant endophytes, pathogens of plants or insects, and opportunistic pathogens of humans and other mammals. Ergot alkaloids are a similarly diverse family of chemicals that elicit a variety of pharmacological activities in animals due to their resemblance to neurotransmitters and high binding affinity for neurological receptors, including those that bind adrenaline, dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. These structural similarities allow us to create medicines aimed at treating a range of neurological diseases and disorders …