Digital Commons Network^™

Andalusian Electoral Campaign 2022: Analysis Of The Relationships Between Interest, Media Use And Citizen Participation, Ana Castillo Díaz, Belén Moreno

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper analyzes the media coverage of the 2022 Andalusian election campaign and its connection to the interest expressed by citizens in the campaign, as well as their participation through voting and as transmitters of campaign-related content. To determine the existence of relationships between the variables considered, the chi-square hypothesis test is used. The strength of the associations is measured using Cramer’s V and the contingency coefficient. The results show an association between interest in the campaign and media coverage. Television is the preferred medium for staying informed, followed by digital press and radio. Debates and interviews are the most …

A New School: Alternative Learning Environments For The Future, Braden James John

Architecture Theses

The benefits of how educational architecture can leverage outdoor spaces and natural light to enhance learning, and promote sustainable learning is important to study for the future of the education system and how we can enhance our children’s future. Research will explore existing studies, analyze quality and subpar current projects, and explore additional sustainable factors that can help the educational environment. This research introduces a better understanding of how vital getting students in daylit and outdoor access environments is to shape the future of education and sustainable design.

The Intersection Of Nature And Knowledge: Red River Valley Science Center, Mason M. Groth

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the establishment of a Natural Science Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as a dynamic hub for informal learning and community engagement. Emphasizing biophilic design, the center integrates natural elements into its architecture and exhibits, creating a space that is not only educational but also health-promoting and psychologically beneficial. The project positions the center as a vital cultural and community hub, fostering a deeper connection between residents and the natural world. It explores how this integration can stimulate learning, enhance community bonding, and reinforce local cultural identity. The study further examines the broader impacts of the center, including …

Heat-Treated Soybean Meal In Beef Cattle Diets, Grady Gullickson

Animal Sciences

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate replacing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) with heat-treated soybean (TSBM) at increasing rates in forage-based diets on steer growth performance, nutrient flow, and digestibility. Experiment 1: 70 angus-based steers were utilized in a generalized randomized block design for an 85-d growing study at the NDSU Beef Cattle Research Complex. Experiment 2: five fistulated Jersey steers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were utilized in a 4 × 5 row column design for 56 d to measure nutrient flow and digestibility. Diets were formulated to replace DDGS, included in the diet at 16% …

The Impact Of Media On Price Paid For Thoroughbred Horses At Auction, Steven Anderson

Animal Sciences

It has been said a picture is worth a thousand words, but the economic value of that picture for livestock sales transactions has not been quantified. The objective of this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the presence of media (photos and/or video) on sale prices of Thoroughbreds. Online auction sale data from two U.S. Thoroughbred auction sites were used to compare 18,221 horses that sold and 4,215 horses that failed to meet the minimum desired bid. Sellers that provided media of their horses at auction received approximately $25,000 more for weanlings, $74,000 more for yearlings, and $89,500 more …

Incorporating Uas Traffic Management Into Wildland Firefighting Operations: Initial Findings Of Subject Matter Expert Interviews, Deborah L. Bakowski, Lynne Martin, Gil Dustin, Chris Mariano

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UASs) are being utilized throughout the disaster and emergency response domain, including in wildland firefighting operations. While UASs can offer safety benefits in comparison to crewed aircraft, such as removing the human pilot from the vehicle so that they are not exposed to the same risks and the ability to operate in low-visibility conditions, they are not without tradeoffs. For example, it can be challenging for UAS pilots (UASPs) to build situation awareness of the airspace in which their UAS is operating. In order to address some of the challenges associated with using UASs and provide greater …

Study Of Using Variational Quantum Linear Solver For Solving Poisson Equation, Nithin Reddy Govindugari, Hiu Yung Wong

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Quantum computing is promising in speeding up the system of linear equations (SLE) solving process. However, its performance is limited by noise. The variational quantum linear solver (VQLS) algorithm is expected to be more resilient to noise than gate-based quantum computing algorithms. This is because error correction is not available yet and VQLS is based on cost function minimization. In this paper, the gate insulator Poisson equation is solved using VQLS. The results are compared to technology computer-aided design (TCAD) results and gate-based quantum algorithm results. We show that, even without error-free qubits, the IBM-Q quantum computer hardware can solve …

The Role Of Paradata In Algorithmic Accountability, Ciaran B. Trace, James A. Hodges

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This chapter examines how the doings of the algorithm (instantiated through its operations, actions, and steps) and its accompanying algorithmic system are revealed and explored through an engagement with the paradata created as a part of this data-making effort. In doing so, the chapter explores how the concept of paradata helps us understand how information professionals and domain stakeholders conceptualize accountable algorithmic entities and how this influences how they emerge as documented and describable entities. Two complementary frameworks for capturing and preserving paradata for accountability purposes are examined in the process. The first is associated with diplomatic theory and archival …

Bibliography Of Family Law Publications Of The Pennsylvania Bar Institute (1971-2023), Joel Fishman

Law Faculty Publications

As practicing members of the bench and bar, readers of this article know of the publications of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) that began in 1968 to published Continuing Legal Education programs. The following is a listing of the family-law CLE publications from 1971 through 2023. The listing is partly drawn from a short-title printed list of PBI publications listed chronologically from 1968 to 1998 (1-2192) that the author obtained many years ago and now number over 11,000 publications. Not every title can be found in the law library catalogs and so some titles are listed according to the titles …

Redevelopment Of The Administration Block Of The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex For The New Bitzero Community, Hunter James Haider

Architecture Theses

The focus of this Thesis is to examine the proposal for the redevelopment of the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex administration block, by presenting an analysis of its transformation into a sustainable community development for the BitZero data mining center. Initially constructed as a missile defense installation during the Cold War, the site has since become obsolete, creating an opportunity for revitalization. The primary objective is to emphasize sustainable practices, integrating renewable energy sources and promoting green infrastructure while preserving the site's historical significance. Additionally, this study will explore potential challenges, including contamination remediation and infrastructure development, proposing practical solutions …

Enability: How Architecture Can Enable The Disabled, Piper Krenik

Architecture Theses

Enability is designing with empathy from the very beginning of a design. It incorporates design strategies for a variety of disabilities, as well as tackling the difficulties that are known to disproportionately affect those with disabilities, such as employment and access to childcare. It features a community center, located in Rochester, Minnesota, that incorporates a full restaurant and childcare center with the goal of providing both services as well as employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the area. By considering as many aspects as possible it is hoped that this community center can be an example of how architects …

Benefiting Youth And The Natural Environment: Integration Of Biophilic Design In A Youth Center, Abbigail Ann Miner

Architecture Theses

This thesis will entertain the idea of integrating biophilic design principles into a youth center. First there is a discussion of biophilic design, community centers, and youth centers with the intent to understand what they are and the benefits of each. Seven case studies are examined next to provide examples of how biophilic design has been applied to community centers, youth centers, and preschools. The design of a youth center that uses biophilic design principles to foster a relationship with children and nature is presented as a solution. The created youth center is titled Elk River Community Center. There is …

Illuminating Connections: A Theatrical Intervention In Urban Loneliness, Carter J. Huber

Architecture Theses

Amidst the hustle of urban life, an epidemic of loneliness grips our modern cities, casting shadows upon the once vibrant display of community. Before the 19th century, public spaces thrived as stages where every encounter was a theatrical exchange, a space to recognize oneself through the presence of others. However, the cityscape shifted with time, veiling the human connection behind privatization and specialization. This project intertwines theater and urban intervention to capture the fleeting moments of human connection. Each scene serves as a bridge between solitude and community, inviting audiences to rediscover the beauty of shared experiences. Through storytelling, we …

Building Blocks Towards New Education, Gaius Josiah D. Arroyo

Architecture Theses

The purpose of this research is to look at the effects digital technologies have had on education and explore ways educational facilities can react to these new technologies in the form of how we look at learning spaces. The goal with this thesis is not for it to be a guide but rather as a point of inspiration for educational facilities and designers. With the advancing development of digital technology, educational facilities are tasked with adapting to a society that has digital technology deeply ingrained in it. Educators and designers have a great opportunity to reevaluate our learning spaces and …

Cosmic Curiosities And Earthy Wonders: A Sensuous Reimagining Of The Denver Museum Of Nature And Science, Brady Kowalzek

Architecture Theses

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science envisions a transformation that acknowledges our connection to nature, aiming to deepen our understanding of this relationship. This transformation stems from the belief that humans are part of nature, not its conquerors. The museum has achieved LEED Platinum certification, highlighting its commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. However, critics argue it serves more as a testament to human achievements than as a sanctuary for nature, missing the chance to integrate with its surrounding environment. To address this, the proposed transformation emphasizes architectural design in harmony with nature, moving away from mere mechanical …

Living Library: How Stories Told Through Architecture Can Strengthen Communities And The People Within Them, Mariah Kate Zeien

Architecture Theses

Story has been passed down through generations, carrying with it the history and teachings of diverse groups of people. Storytelling has evolved to fit into an ever-changing society, trying to adapt and stay prevalent in it. With the ever-widening distance between strangers today, many stories and storytelling opportunities are being lost. Architecture is no longer being used as a tool to tell stories and provide places for stories to be told. The connections and spaces that once brought people from all walks of life together do not exist as they once did. The living library is an intervention, providing a …

Arachnid Sports + Entertainment Complex, Carson F. Wilkin

Architecture Theses

Las Vegas has become a sport energized metropolis. The city not only offers shows, restaurants, and gambling, but now also a successful professional sports market. At the cost of more infrastructure, Vegas has also lost some of its connection to its local community. The strip can be categorized as a tourist grabber, that has also become a money leech and ultimately reducing the interactions from locals across the Nevada area. The metro area has started creating and incorporating many sports teams that have brought community more together than anything in the downtown spaces. Sports offer love and passion that can …

Mental Health Impacts Of Covid-19 On U.S. Young Adults: A Thematic Analysis Of Depression, Anxiety, And Ptsd Experiences, Carol Meza, Viridiana Ortiz, Pedro Hernandez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

This study explores the yet-to-be-fully-realized effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly focusing on young adults between the ages of 18-39 years of age living in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a thematic content analysis, the study seeks to deepen our understanding of the impact of this novel virus on mental well-being, filling a gap in limited existing research. The theoretical framework in this study is the Disaster Response Cycle or the Disaster Response and Recovery Cycle, and it outlines the different phases that individuals and communities may experience during and after a disaster. The …

Developing A Community Engaged Covid-19 Education Campaign, L. Lynette Parker, Martha I. Arrieta Phd

Community Engagement Posters

Purpose: We sought to define, evaluate, and disseminate a set of essential COVID health literacy messages to help community members wisely navigate COVID-19 exposures, risks, and diagnoses as COVID-19 enters its endemic phase.

Design Methods: Key Informant interviews with medical professionals and Focus Groups (FG) with community members identified critical COVID-19 health education areas. Evidence-based initial messages were developed for each educational area. Another round of community member FGs evaluated the messages for relevance, value, and clarity. Community surveys are being deployed to gauge broad knowledge of the messages prior to implementation of a tailored dissemination campaign.

Results/Expected Results …

Developing Micropropagation Protocol For Euonymus Species And Evaluating Oryzalin Treatments For Polyploid Development, Maram Milad

Plant Sciences

Euonymus has invasive traits such as high seed production and good seed viability. Development of sterile, polyploid cultivars could prevent euonymus from invading native ecosystems. Oryzalin is a commonly used mutagen for chromosome doubling. The aims of this research were to develop a micropropagation protocol and to establish a protocol for inducing polyploids (tetraploids) for two euonymus species, E. bungeanus and E. turkestanicus. Micropropagation was successful. MS with 1 µM BA performed better for E. turkestanicus. MS with 1 or 2 µM BA outperformed the other treatments for propagation number for both species. IBA addition was successful, but root initiation …

Utilizing Low-Tech Portable Caterpillar Tunnels To Increase Productivity Of Warm-Season Vegetables And Small Fruits, Bijaya Ghimire

Plant Sciences

High tunnels and greenhouses effectively extend the growing season and protect crops from adverse environmental conditions. However, production in the less expensive and portable caterpillar tunnel has not been reported. The research aimed to evaluate the phenology, yield and quality of eight paste tomato, eight bell pepper, and two cold-hardy wine grapes grown in the caterpillar tunnel compared to the open field. In 2022, tomato and bell pepper cultivars were severely affected by tomato spotted wilt virus. Caterpillar tunnels extended the growing season and accelerated the key phenological stages of all three species. The tunnel increased the yield and quality …

Effects Of Synonymous And Nonsynonymous Cyp51 Mutations On Dmi Resistance In Cercospora Beticola, Isaac Courneya

Plant Pathology

Cercospora beticola is the most devastating foliar pathogen of sugar beet. This pathogen is primarily managed by the application of fungicides, including demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). Given the broad use of DMIs in managing Cercospora leaf spot, resistance has developed. Recently, five haplotypes of CbCyp51 have been correlated with DMI resistance. To improve our understanding of these haplotypes, this study has evaluated CbCyp51 expression across haplotypes with and without DMI exposure using RT-qPCR. Significant differences were found between haplotypes in control and difenoconazole groups, but the broader implications were unclear. This study also produced mutant C. beticola strains with replaced CbCyp51 …

The Experiences Of Women College Presidents While Leading Through An Institutional Crisis: The Perceived Successes And Failures Of Crisis Communication Strategies, Madison Marie Speck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This multi-site case study explored the uncommonly discussed yet organic intersection between the study of crisis communication and the study of crisis leadership and in turn, what it means in the context of a college presidency. This study has a unique focus on women presidents at small, private colleges and the ways in which they communicate with various stakeholders during a crisis environment. The research is guided by Boin’s Model of Crisis Leadership which guides and assesses crisis leadership performance; however this study introduces nuances to the framework that are suggested as a result of the findings; most of which …

An Assessment Of Barriers To Nurse Practitioners’ Utilizing Pharmacogenetic Testing For Depression, Sierra Entzel

Nursing

As a leading cause of disability worldwide, depression is considered a chronic disease. Medication management is the first-line treatment for moderate to severe major depressive disorder. Medications are selected based on provider experience and preference with a trial-and- error” approach. These medications may take several weeks to reach therapeutic dosing. If it is not tolerated or ineffective for treating the disease, then the medication regimen is changed, requiring a minimum of 4-6 weeks to determine efficacy. This trial-and-error approach to depression treatment can lead to patients living with persistently debilitating depressive symptoms for months, increased healthcare costs due to continued …

Emergency Provider Education For Management Of Patients With Suicidal Ideation In Rural Minnesota, Stephanie Slivnik

Nursing

This dissertation investigated the efficacy of an educational intervention aimed at enhancing the management of patients with suicidal ideation in a rural emergency department. Employing a quasi-experimental mixed-method design, the study involved an educational session, administration of online pre-, post-, and post three-month surveys, and an electronic health record review. The data was then compared to determine if provider confidence was impacted by education. The educational session, guided by the ICAR²E mnemonic developed by Wilson et al. (2020), encompassed components focused on identifying suicide risk, effective communication with patients, assessment for life-threatening conditions, risk assessment, strategies to reduce suicide risk, …

Parental Socialization Of General And Domain-Specific Self-Control In Adolescents, Matty Johnston

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Adolescent self-control appears to be an important competency to develop. It has pervasive links with various outcomes (e.g., educational, financial, and interpersonal) both during adolescence and into adulthood (Allemand et al., 2019, Moffitt et al., 2011). Adolescents often report lower self-control compared to adults, although individual levels of self-control vary widely between adolescents (Allemand et al., 2019, Romer et al., 2010). Despite its importance, very little is known about how self-control develops. Thus, the current study aims to examine the relationship between parents’ self-control and that of their teen children. To further understand how adolescents' self-control may be socialized by …

Dermoscopy Education To Improve Provider Confidence In Skin Cancer Identification, Hayli Ova

Nursing

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and is becoming more prevalent each year. Patients often consult their primary care provider (PCP) for initial evaluation of skin lesions, and PCPs typically use naked-eye examination (NEE) to evaluate the lesion. Using NEE alone can yield varying results of accuracy and differential diagnosis. PCPs can utilize a dermatoscope to aid their visual inspection of suspicious lesions. Dermoscopy, a non-invasive technique for examining skin lesions, has been recognized as an invaluable tool in the early detection of skin cancer. While traditionally used by dermatologists, the need for …

Empowering Inclusive Mobility: Addressing Team Challenges And Advancing Solutions For Deaf Communities In Rural West Virginia Through Innovative Engineering And Collaborative Initiatives, Morgan Elaine Bartley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This report provides an overview of the strategic initiatives, challenges, and future considerations encountered by the West Virginia University (WVU) EcoCAR Team in their mission to enhance accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in rural West Virginia, with a specific focus on improving the Cadillac LYRIQ's features. The report delves into the stakeholder profile, encompassing demographic characteristics and mobility challenges unique to the target population, while also highlighting the team's SMART goals, key challenges faced, and forward-looking strategies to better the team.

The WVU EcoCAR Team's mission revolves around addressing mobility barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in rural …

Life After Sport: A Program Development Plan For Student-Athletes, Loryn Shawn Frame

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

College athletics stakeholders have had growing concerns regarding student-athletes’ transition out of collegiate athletics. Research specific to student-athletes following college athletics has explored mental health, role identity, and occupational participation. This program development plan addresses occupational therapy’s role in assisting student-athletes transition out of collegiate athletics. The needs assessment conducted with West Virginia University athletic staff revealed two gaps in programming: athletic identity including leisure exploration, and a program to help student-athletes who want to enter health professional programs. Life After Sport comprises two programs, one to help student-athletes transition into a health professional program, titled Athletes in Medicine (AIM), …

The Line Between Man And Monster: A Theatrical Costume Design Of Caryl Churchill's The Skriker, Katrina Anne Lundquist

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Produced at West Virginia University, this is a record of the costume design process for The Skriker by Caryl Churchill. As a play about vicious folkloric faerie creatures in modern day England, there was a heavy emphasis on showcasing the difference between the human and fae characters. With such a fantastical script, there is a potential to take the design down any number of creative paths. Finding a way to cohesively costume the cast while not losing the intricacies of their individual stories became a personal priority. After coming to an agreement with the director and the rest of the …