Associations Between Diabetes-Specific Psychological Flexibility, Family Conflict, Parental Distress And Adherence In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Rebecca I. Laquaglia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that impacts the lives of millions of children and adolescents in the United States. Adherence to diabetes medical regimens is often challenging, particularly among adolescents. Based on previous research, diabetes-specific psychological flexibility, or the ability of an individual with T1D to psychologically adjust to, accept, and commit action to manage their diagnosis, may improve adherence in youth with T1D. Factors such as diabetes-specific family conflict (i.e., conflict within parent-child dyads that is specifically related to T1D management) and diabetes-specific parental distress (i.e., emotional distress experienced by a parent or caregiver as …

Assessing The Impact Of Olive Oil And Flaxseed Oil Supplementation On Hypertension And Inflammation In Healthy And At-Risk Adults, Tara Bess Mcnabb

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Supplementation of olive oil and flaxseed oil and their impacts on hypertension and inflammation have been reported for healthy and hypertensive adults. However, a comprehensive systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the preventive benefit of plant oil supplementation in healthy adults and adults at risk of inflammation inducing hypertension is lacking.

Objective: to evaluate human clinical trials assessing the impact of olive oil and flaxseed oil capsules on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and select inflammatory markers in non-hypertensive and at-risk adults of hypertension.

Data sources: Four databases were searched in October 2023 …

Implementing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Collect Human Gait Data At Distance And Altitude For Identification And Re-Identification, Donn E. Bartram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gait patterns are a class of biometric information pertaining to the way a person moves and poses. Gait information is unique to each person and can be used to identify and reidentify people. Historically, this task has been achieved through the use of multiple ground-based imaging sensors. However, as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) advance, they present the opportunity to evolve the process of persons identification and re-identification. Collecting human gait data using UAVs at distances ranging from 20m to 500m and altitudes ranging from 0m to 120m is a challenging task. The current biometric data collection methods, primarily designed for …

Immune Outcomes Affected By Selection For Parasite Resistance In Katahdin Sheep, Kelsey Lynne Bentley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Our understanding of the complex connection between selection for parasite resistance and the overall health outcomes in livestock is unclear. This study investigates the impact of post-weaning fecal egg count (PFEC) estimated breeding values (EBV) on health outcomes and immune responses in Katahdin sheep. Selection for PFEC, favoring Low-PFEC lambs, not only affects survivability to weaning but also suggests broader implications for immunity beyond parasite resistance. The effect of PFEC EBV on antibody production in response to vaccination against Clostridium perfringens type C&D and tetanus toxoid (CD&T) revealed a stepwise decrease in immunoglobin (IgG) from Low-PFEC to High-PFEC groups upon …

Investigating Birds As Dispersal Vectors Of Litylenchus Crenatae Subsp. Mccannii (Anguinidae), The Nematode Associated With Beech Leaf Disease, Spencer Rock Parkinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Beech leaf disease (BLD) is an emerging forest pathogen primarily affecting American beech (Fagus grandifolia, Ehrh.) in North America and has been attributed to tree mortality of sapling sized trees within five to seven years of infection. Symptoms typically occur in regenerating American beech thickets sprouting from roots of trees killed by beech bark disease. Scientists first observed BLD in Ohio in 2012 and currently has spread to 15 states in the USA and one Canadian province. The nematode Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii (Lcm) is highly associated with BLD symptoms, interveinal chlorosis and defoliation of leaves, and is currently …

Usage Of Peer Mentoring Workbooks: Enhancing The Transition Of College Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Taylor Nicole Grout

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral capstone project assesses the impact and effectiveness of using peer mentoring workbooks as a tool to enhance the transition of college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A peer mentoring workbook was developed using theoretical frameworks to guide its design and identification of primary occupations, roles, and routines of college students. From here, four domains of college student life (dorm living, college social life, classroom management and participation, and community engagement and transportation) were developed to act as a framework for the workbook. Through the usage of Participatory Action Research, key stakeholders provided essential feedback that allowed for …

Limb Speed Perception Accuracy In Neurodegenerative Disease, Brandmeir Lynn Cheryl

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Movement is a fundamental human activity, enabling us to engage with our surroundings. Consequently, a well-operating neuromuscular system is essential for maintaining quality of life. Motion is not only integral for the basic function of daily living, but also plays a significant role in enhancing our physical, mental, and emotional health. The importance of this system becomes abundantly clear when it is compromised, such as with neurodegenerative disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), followed by Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases that profoundly affect millions of individuals worldwide (Lamptey et al., 2022). Characterized by distinct but sometimes overlapping …

Effectiveness Of Peer Support Groups For Mothers At Risk For Postpartum Depression, Natalie Paige Gates

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Motherhood requires a role transition, new maternal responsibilities, and changes in everyday life, which can impact the mother’s mental health, possibly leading to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can, in turn, create additional challenges for the mother in engaging in her daily routines and occupations. Therefore, a peer support group for mothers at risk for postpartum depression was developed in hopes of improving the mothers’ management of routines, ultimately improving maternal mental health. The effectiveness of the peer support group was measured through quantitative and qualitative online self-report surveys, where the mothers reported their current mental health status, self-efficacy, and occupational …

Bioenergy Cropping Systems Established On Marginal Lands: Effects Of Land Use, Energy Crop, And Fertility Amendments On Soil Health, Mica M. Keck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioenergy crops offer a promising strategy for renewable energy production, accompanied by carbon (C) storage benefits when managed sustainably. Utilizing marginal lands for energy feedstock production presents an opportunity for bioenergy generation and concurrent climate mitigation without competing with food crops. However, achieving optimal yields requires strategies to restore soil fertility, which require increased understanding of the interactive effects of prior land use, energy crop species, and fertility amendments available. This study, conducted as part of the Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Biomass (MASBio) Consortium, investigated the effects of biochar incorporation—a C-rich charcoal derived from biomass, intended for soil enhancement—on bioenergy cropping systems …

Contentment And Control: The Stonega Coke & Coal Company & Pioneering Welfare Capitalism In Southwest Virginia, Christopher Lloyd Tomlinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Founded in 1902, the Stonega Coke & Coal Company was the largest coal operator in Virginia throughout the twentieth century, becoming even larger through its merger with the Westmoreland Coal Company in 1964. Over the course of this long history, the company used a brand of welfare capitalism aimed at keeping miners and their families satisfied enough with their living and working conditions that the workers would develop a sense of loyalty to the company. Management at SC&C termed these practices “contentment sociology.” While many coal operators began shifting away from such practices during the New Deal, SC&C maintained and …

Three Essays In Urban, Health And Public Economics, Dinushka Paranavitana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation “Three Essays in Urban, Health and Public Economics” contains three chapters which explore urban, health and public economics. The first two chapters focus on examining the unexpected consequences of urban and health related policies, while the third chapter explores the nuanced relationships between health policies and religion. The first chapter examines the impact of NFL and NBA games, beyond the reach of stadium walls and arenas, extending to how it affects driver behavior after games. In this paper I analyze how game outcomes for professional level football and basketball games have an impact on affecting the rate of …

Tragedy Personified: Crafting The Role Of Carol In Alice Birch's Anatomy Of A Suicide, Josey Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the document is to chronicle the character creation of Carol in West Virginia University’s fall 2023 production of Alice Birch’s Anatomy of a Suicide. The following text will provide a detailed look at research on the playwright and my personal textual analysis in tandem with consultations with mental health professionals. It will also describe how those resources in collaboration with imaginative work via the techniques of Sanford Meisner, Fitzmaurice Voicework®, and intentional intimacy choreography were utilized in the rehearsal and performance process. In summation, it will also include post-production evaluations from loved ones and mentors as well …

Three Essays On Misinformation, Mistrust And Their Influence On Public Health Policy, Eli Kochersperger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the first chapter I identify the impact of fentanyl exposure misinformation- namely, the erroneous belief that momentary, passive contact with the potent opioid fentanyl can be seriously harmful- on first responder behavior during overdose events, and on overall opioid-related mortality. I examine changes in opioid-related mortality following one particularly well-covered episode involving an Ohio police officer in 2017, wherein the officer appeared to experience an acute opioid overdose after touching what was believed to be fentanyl. Employing a synthetic differences-in-differences identification strategy, I find areas with greater media exposure to this misinformation exhibit marked increases in opioid overdose deaths; …

Zoo Communication: A Study Of Stewardship With Animal Conservation In Zoos Across The United States, Abby Rachelle Lester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis investigates the communication strategies employed by zoo professionals to promote engagement and advanec animal conservation education. Through in-depth interviews with zoo experts, the stidy explores the intricate connections between communication practices and stewardship princliples within zoo facilities. Findings from this study contribute to the understanding of effective communication in the realm of animal conservation, with implications for both zoo practitioners and conservation educators. The study delves into the effective strategies for identifying and fostering relationships with environmental stewards, alongside encouraging their involvement in zoo-based animal conservation initiatives. The theoretical implications highlight gaps in existing models, emphasizing the need …

You Belong With Me: What Communication Professionals Can Learn From Swifties, Rachel Belle Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pop powerhouse Taylor Swift has managed to create a dedicated fanbase that has the power to disrupt national sporting leagues and boost the American economy. Her Swifties are an exemplar in the world of fandom. Taylor Swift’s online interactions with fans, especially in the early days of her career, are partially responsible for her success in creating and maintaining this fanbase. Using principles of social informational processing theory (SIPT), this research examines what aspects of Taylor Swift’s computer-mediated communication with fans have fostered such intense feelings of community in her fandom of Swifties. Using in-depth interviews to explore the relationships …

Advancing Opportunities For The Autistic Community At West Virginia University, Drew D. Altizer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder often have difficulties with social integration and sensory challenges on collegiate campuses. These difficulties are sometimes tied together as social integration spaces are not always sensory-friendly and can be overwhelming for the individual. Creating a sensory-friendly space within the potentially overstimulating environment can provide the student with a place to recharge and recover and still access the desired social events. This capstone project focused on the design and development of a sensory room in the West Virginia University Mountain Lair Student Union, working directly with the students in the West Virginia University Autism Support Program …

Ask The Duke, Why: How Fabrications Can Undermine Impact In Shakespeare’S Measure For Measure, Spencer D. Hansen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following document recounts the observations and consequences that result from my attempts at justifying the actions of Duke Vincentio in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. By following my experience through the duration of West Virginia University’s 2023 production of Measure for Measure, I examine the ramifications of justifying the Duke’s actions and the potentially harmful consequences such justifications could create with regard to the play’s reception. Additionally, this text outlines performance techniques, audience responses, rehearsal strategies, and progressive interpretations for one of Shakespeare’s most challenging characters in one of his most divisive plays.

Self-Care And Quality Of Life Of Remotely Monitored Appalachians With Heart Failure, Patrick Rexrode Murphy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Self-Care and Quality of Life of Remotely Monitored Appalachians with Heart Failure

Patrick R. Murphy

Background: About 6.2 million persons are living with heart failure in the United States and over 960,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. The cost to provide care to this population exceeds $30 billion per year. Rates of heart failure are higher in the Appalachian region where persons are more likely to experience poverty, lack resources, and be geographically isolated. Heart failure coupled with these unique challenges can negatively impact self-care and quality of life. Numerous interventions have been attempted to support this population, but …

The Impact Of Occupational Therapy In Lactation Services, Sarah Adrienne Mcaninch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many benefits to breastfeeding exist for both mothers and infants, yet exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low across the nation. These benefits include decreased chance of infections for infants, low infant mortality, and decreased chances of breast and ovarian cancers for mothers (Binns et al., 2016; CDC, 2023). Education strategies have recently become imperative for health organizations to help mothers sustain their ability to breastfeed within the recommended six-month timeframe. Current literature on education supports that women who receive education at some point in their lactation journey are more likely to reach the six-month period and have more confidence in their …

Eating Concerns And Self-Injury Among Collegiate Populations: A Comparison Of Sexual Orientation Groups, Matthew Kasopsky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the prevalence of eating concerns and nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors (NSSIB) in college students seeking services at college and university counseling centers (UCCs), focusing on whether sexual minority students experience these issues at higher rates than their heterosexual peers. Eating concerns and NSSIB are understudied among sexual minority individuals. Previous research has demonstrated that through prejudice, stigma, and social stress, sexual minority individuals may be at a higher risk of developing mental health concerns and conditions than their heterosexual counterparts. The present study used a cross-sectional design to examine data from a sample of collegiate clients nationwide. Data …

Finding “A Good Thing”: Embodying The Traumatic Sustainably, Erika Kuhn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Contemporary dramatic work such as the play Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch demands a significant toll on the actors embodying the characters. Western pedagogies that emphasize a need for the utmost authenticity must be merged with the modern practice of self-care and trauma informed boundaries. This document outlines the merging of traditional acting techniques of characterization with solutions for self preservation such as preparation, mental and physical upkeep, a personalized set of character de-rolement practices, and social rituals. Through an analysis of the text itself, its context, author, and the lens of one actor’s experience portraying the character …

Transparent And Conductive Gallium Oxide Electrode For Simultaneous Recording And Optogenetic Stimulation, Christopher Patrick Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neural electrode technology has been around for centuries since the times of Galvani. In early electrophysiology experiments metal wires were used to induce contractions in dissected animals. The metal wire electrode has since been a standard tool to both stimulate and record neural activity. In the past two decades, a new strategy for neural stimulation has been formulated based on the emergent field of optogenetics. Optogenetics refers to the use of light-sensitive proteins genetically imbedded in the membrane of a neuron to elicit neural activity. This technique offers more selectivity in the stimulation of neurons. Typical optogenetic neural electrodes, or …

Machine Learning And Rna Bioinformatics, Jason Rafe Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The applied science of bioinformatics encompasses computational analysis of molecular biology data. Advances in genomics and DNA sequencing technology have enabled computational analysis of ribonucleic acids (RNAs), which play diverse and critical roles in most cells. To assist the study of human RNA, we trained machine learning models on RNA nucleotide sequences, devoid of domain knowledge. We built models that distinguish long non-coding lncRNA from protein-coding mRNA, and models that predict the cytoplasmic vs. nuclear preferences of lncRNAs. In a review of published lncRNA subcellular localization classifiers, we show that the commonly used validation protocol generates optimistic performance measures, and …

The Mercury 2024

The Mercury

No abstract provided.

The Americans With Disabilities Act In The Borderlands, Theodore J. Szpakowski

The Gettysburg Historical Journal

During the twentieth century, the United States federal government claimed to be working in partnership with Indigenous governments. However, it neither sufficiently ensured that Indigenous people were protected to the same extent as settlers nor fully released Indigenous governments to create their own protections. The results of this dynamic can be seen through examining civil rights legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Although settler disability historians have tended to view the ADA as a unifying success, it did not legally or culturally account for disabled Indigenous people living on Indigenous land within the United States.

In Defense Of The “Peculiar Institution”: The Influence Of European Scientific Racism On The Confederacy, Guillem Colom

The Gettysburg Historical Journal

Through the antebellum period and American Civil War, American and European race theorists exchanged ideas through correspondence and scientific explorations asserting the truth of scientific racism. Scientific racist beliefs posited the natural superiority of white people and inferiority of Black people based on what these theorists claimed were innate biological characteristics, and these beliefs served as a critical linkage between Europe and the United States. Utilizing correspondence and journal entries, this paper shows that this exchange of scientific racist ideas significantly influenced the Confederacy’s political thought and policy positions, especially foreign relations, through the Civil War. Through the work of …

Statistical Abstract, Fiscal Year 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Statistical Abstract

This document is the annual statistical report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Correction

Annual Reports

This document is the annual report for the Tennessee Department of Correction during the fiscal year.

J Mich Dent Assoc January 2024

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

The January issue sets the foundation for Children’s Dental Health Month in February, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover commentary on Pediatric Dentistry
• A feature article on “Silver Diamine Fluoride as a Caries Management Option for the Young Child”.
• A feature on “Considerations Concerning Obesity-Related Education for Parents of Young Children”.
• Professional advice commentary on “Staying Focused on a Moving Target: Coping …

Pain Management For Post-Treatment Survivors Of Complex Cancers: A Qualitative Study Of Opioids And Cannabis, Beatriz Currier

All Publications

Aim: We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. Patients & methods: We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefits and perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Results & conclusion: Survivors (N = 25) experienced addiction fears, stigma and access challenges for both products. Opioids were often perceived as critical for severe pain. Cannabis reduced pain and anxiety for many survivors, suggesting that anxiety screening, as recommended in guidelines, would improve traditional pain assessment. …