Digital Commons Network^™

Individual And Collective Properties Of Tunable Photochemical Belousov-Zhabotinsky Micro-Reactors, Kudakwashe Benedict Shumba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cell-like model chemical systems are powerful tools that can be used to explore the role of intercellular coupling on population level behaviors in communities of biological cells. Firstly, we present a new method for fabricating such micro-reactors using the photosensitive Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction system employed in silica microparticles. These BZ micro-reactors have a tunable response to photochemical coupling, varying from a fully excitatory response to a fully inhibitory response. Their response can be tuned through variations in either the reactive mixture or, on an individual micro-reactor level, by changes in the synthesis temperature used during the fabrication of the silica …

Authoritarian Control Over Election Administration, Nazar Boyko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Street-level election bureaucracy (SLEB) remains one of the least studied aspects of authoritarian elections. Our current understanding of micro-level election administration in autocracies is fragmented and unsystematic. In this dissertation, I develop and test a theory of authoritarian SLEB that comprehensively addresses key elements of election administration: the incentivization and mobilization of election commissioners, the establishment of control over election commissions, the monitoring of their performance, and the post-election reshaping of their personnel composition. Drawing on rational choice theory, I propose a framework in which autocrats are seen as outcome-maximizers who strategically design SLEB to achieve their electoral goals. The …

Global China In Pakistan: Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Symbolic Domination, Social Media Geopolitics, And Security Corridors, Davide Giacomo Zoppolato

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the discursive and material dimensions of China’s global rise through a case study of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Pakistan. As China becomes a leading provider of development finance, its infrastructure-led approach is reshaping geographies across the Global South. Focusing on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)—the BRI’s flagship project—I examine how Chinese and Pakistani actors co-produce development through discourses, infrastructures, and security regimes. Structured around three articles, the dissertation analyzes: (1) the official diplomatic discourses of Chinese state institutions and their reception by Pakistani media outlets; (2) the curated geopolitical discourses of Chinese social media …

Introduction Of Polar Functional Groups To Pyridinedipyrrolide Zirconium Photosensitizers Through Post-Synthetic Modifications, Marisa Nicole Tordella

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photosensitizers are vital components to applications such as photoredox catalysis, photodynamic therapy, and various avenues of solar energy production. The abilities of transition metal photosensitizers containing precious metals have been well studied over the years. However, because of the growing scarcity of these metals, there has been a shift in finding more earth abundant alternatives. To help fill this gap in the literature, the Milsmann group has developed and studied the photophysical properties of Zr(IV) complexes with various ligand systems. Due to the electron deficient metal center, these complexes exhibit ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), unlike the metal-to-ligand charge transfer commonly …

Investigating The Physiological, Metabolomic, And Transcriptomic Changes In Response To Telomerase Deletion In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Taizina Momtareen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Telomerase is an enzyme found in rapidly dividing cells that maintains chromosome ends and prevents the loss of genetic information during cell division. When telomerase is inactive, cells gradually lose their telomeres and eventually stop dividing. In yeast, a rare subset of cells can bypass this growth arrest by switching to a recombination-based mechanism to maintain telomeres. Therefore, yeast provides a powerful system to study this adaptation, as telomerase-deficient strains can generate 'survivors' that mimic the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway observed in some human tumors. In this work, my goal was to examine how a telomerase-null (TLC1 …

Characterization Of A Descending Neuron That Modulates Flight Performance And Provides Input Onto A Flight-Related Predictive Motor Circuit, Andisheh Balouchi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Descending neurons (DNs) play a critical role in sensorimotor integration by relaying motor information to the ventral nerve cord (VNC). Within the VNC, local interneurons, other DNs, and ascending neurons (ANs) make circuits with sensory and motor neurons to modify flies’ behavior. One important AN pair in Drosophila Melanogaster is mesothoracic ascending histaminergic neurons (MsAHNs), which are known to convey predictive wing motor signals to the brain. DNg32 is the primary upstream synaptic partner of MsAHNs, integrating DNg32 input with other inputs to generate predictive motor signals. The goals of this study were to 1) map the synaptic connectivity of …

Exploration Of Coping And Mental Health In West Virginia Farmers, Jodi Meadows Richmond

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Compared nationally, West Virginia currently ranks lowest for life expectancy, highest for drug related deaths and 35^th for access to adequate health (WV DHHR Organization Assessment & Strategic Plan, 2022). The state also ranks first in the nation for depression with one in four adults experiencing some form of depressive condition each year (CDC, 2020). The rurality of the state may limit social interaction and availability of medical treatment facilities (Brew et al., 2016).

The situation is even more dire for those in farming-related occupations. Farmers often struggle with management stress, utilizing appropriate coping strategies, and accessing mental health …

Not Far Enough: The West Virginia Human Rights Commission And The Civil Rights Movement, David Solomon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis investigates the West Virginia Human Rights Commission and its action surrounding the Civil Rights Movement. The Commission represented the liberal ideals that led white moderates to be potent allies of the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the years following its inception, the Commission investigated and documented many instances of Jim Crow that were crushing Black communities in West Virginia. However, the limits of its liberal approach prevented it from creating solutions that would address the power structures that supported discrimination in West Virginia. By the late 1960s, Black frustrations with the lack of meaningful change boiled over into riots …

Mineralogical And Geochemical Assessment Of Rare Earth Element And Other Critical Mineral Occurrences In Coal-Derived Materials For Resource Recovery Potential, Sai Hemanth Kancha

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals (CMs) are indispensable to modern clean energy, electronics, and defense sectors due to their unique physical and chemical properties. The increasing global demand for these elements—combined with concerns about supply chain disruptions and the environmental impact of conventional mining—has heightened the urgency to identify alternative, sustainable sources. Among various secondary resources, coal-derived wastes such as coal refuse, fly ash, bottom ash, and coal acid mine drainage sludge have emerged as promising feedstocks for REE and CM recovery within the United States.

In this study, a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical assessment was performed …

Simulation Of Annpet For Neural Network Training And System Performance Benchmarking, Pete Martone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are often used to provide insight into complex physical phenomenon. They can generate realistic results without the necessity to construct costly and complex apparatus. The ultimate value of these simulations depend on how accurately the physics can be modeled and if a sufficient volume can be produced to account for statistical variance. In medical imaging device development, MC simulations of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners have typically been used to model the performance of new systems. The imaging group in the Department of Radiology have developed a unique detector design for a pre- clinical PET scanner …

Communicated Narrative Sensemaking In The Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship, Madison Clara Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Storytelling is a primary form of communication between grandparents and grandchildren that has been shown to strengthen relational bonds and enhance grandchildren’s well-being. However, the specific narrative features and interactional processes involved in grandparent-grandchild storytelling remain underexplored, particularly regarding how they influence well-being and perceptions of generational differences. Guided by Communicated Narrative Sensemaking (CNSM) theory, this study examined the content (story framing) and process (interactional sensemaking behaviors) of grandparent-grandchild storytelling episodes as reported by young adult grandchildren (N = 110). Participants completed an online survey in which they recounted a storytelling episode with a grandparent and reported on individual well-being …

Parental Behavioral Control Across Domains In Indian And Indian American Families, Avneet Batra

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prior research literature has often found parental behavioral control to have mixed associations with varied adolescent outcomes (Bean et al., 2006; Finkenauer et al., 2005). However, a relatively lesser explored topic of research focusses on the domain specificity of this kind of control and its association with internalizing and externalizing behaviors in sample of Indian and Indian American parents (Arim et al., 2010). The current study adds to the limited literature by emphasizing the five domains of control (e.g., moral, conventional, prudential, personal and overlapping) based on the social cognitive domain theory and explores their association with adolescent adjustment outcomes …

Asset Mapping: A Tool Used To Identify Community Resources, Gentry Shrewsbury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Physical activity is vital for health and quality of life; however, for individuals with disabilities, there are numerous barriers to participation. In rural and low-socioeconomic regions, barriers such as lack of awareness, limited restrooms, and lack of public transportation create challenges when attempting to be physically active. Using the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework, this study examined physical activity resources within Mercer County, West Virginia, and evaluated their accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Methods: A qualitative research design was implemented using three data collection strategies: (1) a google search to identify existing physical activity opportunities followed by a windshield …

Monitoring West Virginia Wastewater For Norovirus: A Test Case For Tracking Foodborne Illness Outbreaks In Rural Communities Using Wastewater, Haley M. Phillippi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Foodborne illnesses are a global public health challenge. Foodborne illnesses, like norovirus, often have a large disease and societal burden. Norovirus is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus, with 10 identified genogroups (GI-GX). Genogroups GI and GII are responsible for nearly all human cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. In the United States, HuNoV is not notifiable case-by-case. Instead, outbreaks are reported to national surveillance systems when two or more cases are epidemiologically linked. Most norovirus outbreaks occur during Winter to early Spring, however, certain individuals may still shed and transmit the virus without being detected or reported. Wastewater monitoring is a …

Nuclear Reactions: Making Sense Of The Accident At Three Mile Island, Jordan Emily Bennett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines the causes and consequences of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island in March of 1979. First detailing the event, this thesis then examines activist narratives following the accident, with a particular focus on women’s “motherist” activism in the community outside the plant, before turning to questions of memory and the creation of a public memory of survivorship in the community surrounding the plant. In considering these questions, this thesis seeks to shed light on the differences between official and communal narratives of the accident in an effort to understand the impacts that the partial meltdown at …

State Determinants Of Medicaid Fraud Convictions: Insights From Panel Regression Analysis, Kevin Patrick Krantz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Medicaid is the largest public health insurance program in the United States, providing critical coverage to over 78 million low-income individuals, children, and people with disabilities. While Medicaid fraud has received extensive public and political attention, empirical research examining enforcement outcomes across states remains limited. This study analyzes state-level Medicaid fraud metrics from 2010 to 2022 to evaluate how structural and policy changes, particularly rising managed care enrollment and the implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act and the 2016 Managed Care Final Rule, have shaped enforcement outcomes. Using random-effects generalized least squares (GLS) and fixed-effects panel regression on a …

Application Of Machine Learning And Natural Language Processing To Understand The Partisan Mobilization Of Ethnic Minorities, Ani Tepnadze

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores how competing interests across secondary dimensions of identity shape marginalized groups' capacity to institutionalize their grievances, particularly ethnic minorities. More specifically, I explore two mechanisms, intragroup cohesiveness and distinctiveness, as a driving force of grievance mobilization. This research is interdisciplinary, drawing on theories from political sociology, political communications, and computational social science. I examine the question of ethnic group particization in two stages. In the first stage, I developed an original machine learning pipeline to process large text corpora and identify the indicators of the strength of collective ethnic grievances in online group discussions. In the second …

An Edna Assessment Of The Diamond Darter (Crystallaria Cincotta) In Its Current And Historic Distribution Range, Cameron Moore Layne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can serve as a useful monitoring tool for cryptic and imperiled freshwater stream fishes. eDNA can fill knowledge gaps regarding species’ distribution, site abundance, and habitat usage. The last known stronghold of the Diamond Darter (Crystallaria cincotta) in the Elk River of West Virginia provides an excellent test case to examine the utility of this non-invasive method of surveying rare species. Diamond Darters are one of the most newly recognized freshwater fishes in North America and are among the most imperiled U.S. fishes, having been federally listed as endangered in 2013. The cryptic behavior and limitations of …

Neural Network-Based Image Compression, Atefeh Khoshkhahtinat

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The rapid advancement of information technology and the exponential growth of digital communication have significantly increased the demand for efficient data compression techniques that reduce storage requirements, minimize bandwidth consumption, and accelerate data transmission—without substantially compromising data quality. This dissertation addresses these challenges by investigating and developing advanced learned image compression (LIC) methods, with a particular focus on lossy compression for both natural images and scientific imagery obtained from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission. Traditional image compression standards—such as JPEG, JPEG2000, BPG, and HEVC—rely on manually engineered transforms and heuristic rules, which often lack the adaptability required to accommodate …

Soccer Sheikhs: Qatar, Football, And The Quest For Self-Confidence And Global Prominence, Ali Ahsan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines Qatar’s strategic use of football as a mechanism for securing ontological security within the international system. Moving beyond standard International Relations explanations of state behavior, the study draws on ontological security theory which emphasizes the need of states to sustain a coherent sense of self through routines, narratives, and recognition. By framing football as such a practice, the dissertation advances the study of sport as a growing area of interest in the political sciences. Through a qualitative methodology employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis of expert interviews, the research analyzes Qatar’s football policies, including hosting the 2022 FIFA World …

Feasibility Testing Of A Web-Based Phq-9 Test For Student Depression, Israel Oluwagbenga Odugboye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Feasibility Testing of a Web-Based PHQ-9 Test for Student Depression

Israel Odugboye

Student depression stands as a critical public health issue because it affects numerous young adults who experience academic decline, disability, absenteeism, productivity reduction, and suicidal thoughts. The general population shows a 10% to 15% lifetime risk of developing depression which leads to a twentyfold elevation in suicide risk for depressed individuals [3]. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) serves as a popular tool for detecting depressive symptoms and determining severity levels among students from different cultural backgrounds. The assessment contains 27 possible scores which follow DSM depressive symptom criteria …

Sleep, Endocannabinoid Signaling, And Cortical Processing In Mouse Models Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bryan Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, neuronal plasticity, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience sleep disturbances, which are positively correlated with symptom severity. However, on the surface, sleep architecture is remarkably normal under baseline conditions in many rodent models of ASD. The goals if this dissertation were to investigate whether regulation of sleep, biochemical signaling during sleep, and downstream consequences of sleep on behavior are altered in two mouse models of ASD. In Aim 1, we tested the hypothesis that sleep phenotypes emerge in ASD models under conditions of high sleep pressure. We …

Investigating The Psychological Determinants Of Rural Volunteer Firefighters’ Health, Occupational Performance, And Resilience, Candice Jaye Brown

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Volunteer firefighters (VFFs) are essential to rural emergency response, and their ability to perform effectively depends on their mental and physical readiness. Given the high prevalence of mental and physical health challenges among VFFs, there is a critical need for research to better understand how these factors interact to develop targeted interventions that can systematically improve VFF functioning. This study addressed gaps in the literature by examining the intersections and mechanisms shaping rural VFFs’ coping functions, physical health, occupational performance, resilience, and social support. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed, beginning with a quantitative survey of 180 West …

Bridging The Gap Between Structural And Cellular Biology: Insight Into The Organization Of Glycolytic Enzymes In Cells, Heather Hansen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Glycolytic enzymes are spatially organized in the cytoplasm, and are shown to localize with cellular structures such as the plasma membrane, F-actin, mitochondria, or associate independently within the cytosol. The assembly of these enzymes is hypothesized to regulate pathway flux to meet the energetic needs of the cell. However, it is unclear whether all of these assemblies have the same mechanism of formation or function in the cell. We investigated the role of glycolytic enzyme assemblies in cells, using the glycolytic “gatekeeper” enzyme phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1). PFK1 is extensively regulated by multiple mechanisms, including over 20 allosteric ligands, post translational modifications, …

The Effects Of Operatic Voice Type On Singer Identity, Adelaide J. Mcdonald

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Within Western art music, voices are typically classified using the Fach system, which is based upon vocal characteristics and separates singers into the categories of soprano, mezzo soprano, contralto, counter tenor, tenor, bass, and baritone. Over time, these categories have become embedded with social and cultural meaning within the operatic world, leading to the development of stereotypes and expectations surrounding singers, as well as social categories and identities, referred to in this study as “sociocultural vocal categories” and “sociocultural vocal identity,” respectively. Currently, there are limited explorations of the sociocultural vocal categories and their associated stereotypes, with research on singer …

Recovery Of Iron And Aluminum From Acid Mine Drainage For Beneficial Uses, Katelyn Renee Pepe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread issue across the globe, in which some of the most critical cases are created by the mining industry. Researchers have investigated ways to derive benefits from AMD, such as precipitating rare earth elements (REEs) to generate potential revenue from AMD treatment and supplement market demand. However, the bulk of precipitated sludge is composed of iron and aluminum, which also have market value but are discarded in current practice.

Using the Omega site in West Virginia (WV) as a representative AMD source, the objectives of this study are (1) to determine a replicable precipitation …

Survival And Spatial Ecology Of North American River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) In West Virginia, Laurel Marie Glover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Wildlife reintroductions function to regain wildlife populations in areas where they have been extirpated or greatly diminished. One such species that has been reintroduced to several states is the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis). The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) conducted a river otter reintroduction effort between 1984-1997, releasing 245 individuals into the state. The reintroduction was deemed a success with the WVDNR opening a regulated trapping season for river otters in 2011, allowing trappers to take one river otter per season. As the population has reestablished in West Virginia, several management challenges have arisen …

Imitation Learning In Robotic Manipulation Using Diffusion Models, Marlon Domingues De Oliveira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This work deals with the problem of teaching robots by demonstration, also known by imitation learning. The main objective of this area of research is to enable the autonomous execution of complex robotic tasks using neural networks trained on expert-generated data, thus allowing the transfer of human knowledge to machines. To this end, this thesis describes an experimental setup especially designed for the study of imitation learning in robotic manipulation tasks and the adaptation and evaluation of a previously published technique to this setup. The experimental setup developed in this work is based on the Franka Emika Research 3 manipulator, …

Evolving Secure Authentication From 5g To 6g: Advancing Privacy And Resilience In Next-Generation Networks, Isabella Deanne Lutz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks introduced groundbreaking improvements in connectivity, latency, and reliability. As 5G continues to expand across commercial and de- fense sectors, ensuring the privacy and integrity of its authentication mechanisms remains paramount. The foundation of 5G security lies in the Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) protocol, which enhances user identity protection and establishes mutual authenti- cation between the user equipment (UE) and the network. Despite these advances, several weaknesses persist, including replay-based desynchronization, linkability, and correlation at- tacks under realistic adversary models. This thesis provides a unified analysis of these vulnerabilities and introduces a lightweight …

Characterizing Nursery Habitat For Juvenile Invasive Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Spp.) On The Ohio River, Rebecca Hiller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since their introduction to US waters, Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Bighead Carp (H. nobilis) have rapidly spread throughout the Mississippi River basin and its major tributaries, but their invasion has stalled within the Ohio River. Recent research has suggested this slowed spread could be due to a lack of suitable nursery habitat in the Ohio River, affecting recruitment of invasive carp. This study aims to characterize the habitats juvenile carp are utilizing by investigating three main lines of inquiry: that juvenile carp habitat use is limited by (1) the flow regime of the Ohio River …