Analysis Of The Public Acceptance Of Cryptocurrency In The Central African Republic, Bruno Gbado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the public acceptance of cryptocurrency in the Central African Republic (CAR), applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. The study adopts a research model and survey instrument derived from a previous published research paper. Data were collected through paper-based surveys from 357 respondents, mostly students and faculty members at the University of Bangui in the CAR. The responses were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with Smart PLS software. The results reveal that increased awareness of cryptocurrency significantly boosts its acceptance, with factors such as perceived ease of use and perceived …

Photocarrier Dynamics In Dielectric And Metal-Dielectric Nanocatalysts In Ambient And Operando Conditions, Sunil Gyawali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photocatalysis, a promising method for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, relies on sunlight to generate excited charge carriers in catalysts with sufficient lifetimes and mobilities to drive photoreactions. Thin-film semiconductors are essential for reducing charge recombination and enhancing mobility but suffer from a low surface-to-volume ratio problems, resulting in a reduced absorption coefficient and limiting solar-energy-conversion efficiency. Nanostructures address these limitations by enhancing light absorption and surface reactivity. However, efficient photocatalysis also requires that the semiconductor’s band edges align with the redox potential of the desired photoreaction, limiting light absorption to just some of the whole solar spectrum. In hybrid and composite …

A Spatial Analysis Of Carbon Sequestration On Reclaimed Mine Lands, Jacob Morris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluates the carbon sequestration potential of C₄ grasses, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), on mine-impacted lands in West Virginia. This work addresses the urgent need for scalable, nature-based solutions to reclaim degraded lands and meet global climate mitigation targets. Conducted on a 160-hectare (ha) reclaimed mine land (RML) near Alton, the research assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) and root zone biomass organic carbon (BOC) accumulation over a single growing season. By integrating study site field sampling data, laboratory analysis, and statewide and regional geospatial modeling, the study aimed to determine the feasibility of repurposing mine …

An Epidemiological Study Of Finger, Hand, And Wrist Injuries In The Department Of Air Force And Us Workers, Melody Kay Gwilliam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

An Epidemiological Study of Finger, Hand, and Wrist Injuries in the Department of Air Force and US workers

Melody Gwilliam

Background and Objectives: Fingers, hands, and wrists (FHW) are the leading injured body parts in work-related injuries in the United States (U.S.) and in the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF). There has been limited research on risk factors for FHW injuries. Workers across all industries are at risk for these injuries. The objectives of these studies are to 1) describe and compare FHW injuries among enlisted, officer, and civilian U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) …

Effects Of Pubertal Stress On Later Pup-Directed Behavior In Pregnant And Non-Pregnant Adult Female Mice, Marissa Marylin Nicodemus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Beginning in adolescence and throughout adulthood, women are at an increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders compared to men. Several risk factors for these disorders have been identified, but it is not clear how they interact. One such factor is pregnancy. The normative changes to the brain and behavior that occur during and after pregnancy are associated with an increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has also been associated with an increased risk of mood disorders, and compared to men, women appear to be particularly vulnerable to the lasting effects of stress …

Exploration Of Occupational Therapy's Consultative Role For Social Emotional Development In The Rural Childcare Setting, Katherine M. Conley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Little research has been conducted investigating the consultative role of occupational therapy (OT) in childcare, especially their role in supporting the social and emotional development of children aged 1 – 5 years. This project takes place in a rural childcare setting where a needs assessment found gaps in classroom routines' functionality, the accessibility of center-wide age-appropriate resources, and the use of social and emotional supports in the classroom. The occupational therapy doctoral student utilized the coaching model, evidence-based research, and the foundations of occupational therapy with the intention to improve teachers’ confidence in implementing social and emotional content in the …

Clear Speech Intervention In Parkinson’S Disease: A Single Case Design Examining Acoustic And Aerodynamic Outcomes Following A Structured Protocol, Zachariah Jordan Backus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Clear Speech Intervention in Parkinson’s Disease: A Single Case Design Examining Acoustic and Aerodynamic Outcomes Following a Structured Protocol

Zachariah Backus

Purpose:

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neuro-progressive movement disorder that impacts all movement of the body, including speech production. Ninety percent of individuals living with PD will experience hypokinetic dysarthria, a motor speech disorder, during the progression of their disease. Clear speech instruction is a treatment strategy used to increase motor speech outcomes in those with PD. Studies have shown positive changes in articulation, prosody, voice, and listener perception measures in those with PD after clear speech instruction …

Reliability Of Diagnosis Using The Andrews Six Elements Treatment Philosophy, Jenna M. Schneider

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Inter/Intra Reliability of Diagnosis using the Andrews Six Elements Treatment Philosophy

Jenna M. Schneider, D.D.S., Khaled Alsharif, B.D.S, M.S., Peter Ngan, D.M.D., Guoqiang Guan, D.D.S., Ph.D., Will A. Andrews, D.D.S.

Background and Objectives: In order to diagnose and treatment plan orthodontic cases, orthodontists employ many different treatment philosophies and disciplines, and practice with their own understanding and adaptation of such philosophies. Andrews-trained orthodontics incorporate the defined six elements: the dental arch and its supporting tissues/structures, anteroposterior jaw relations and positions, buccal-lingual jaw relations and positions, jaw heights, chin prominence, and the occlusion [ideal characteristics described in the Six …

Psychophysiological Tools & Techniques To Predict Perceptual Motor Task Outcomes, Bobby Gerald Rawls Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The process of perceiving environmental information, analyzing it, formulating a plan of action, and carrying out said plan is vital to our day to day lives. This loop occurs for every motor task we perform, from actions as simple as elbow flexion to as complex as performing surgery. As such, it is imperative to understand what physiological, psychological, and neurocognitive factors most dictate success or failure in the motor performance loop.

Prior research has shown that measures from each of these facets have strong relationships with motor performance outcomes, though these findings tended to rely on artificially produced stress in …

An Investigation Into How The Prostate And Androgens Mediate Greater Levels Of Uric Acid In Males Compared To Females, Rachel D. King

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Chronic elevated circulating uric acid (UA) levels (hyperuricemia) are associated with gout as well as cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal dysfunction. Men have greater mean circulating UA levels than women and are more likely to exhibit hyperuricemia. This may be partly driven by the hormonal regulation of renal UA transporters; however, a direct link between hormones and UA production has not been established. Production of UA is catalyzed by xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR / XDH), which is ubiquitously expressed but has the greatest specific activity in the liver. Interestingly, an extensive gout genome-wide association study (GWAS) recently revealed a robust genetic …

Development Of Sexual Health Curriculum For West Virginia University’S Occupational Therapy Program, Abigail Jeske

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of well-being and quality of life and impacts everyone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation, and is relevant throughout an individual’s lifespan. Occupational therapists have a valuable role in addressing sex concepts with patients; however, a lack of education and comfort level have been identified as barriers to practitioners addressing the concepts in clinical practice. This Doctoral Capstone Experience aims to answer how the topic of sexual health can be integrated into a lifespan curriculum in formal occupational therapy education. A sexual health curriculum was created and integrated into seven different classes that …

Supporting The Social Emotional Needs Of Preschoolers, Giorgi Morrone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Social-emotional competence is a prerequisite to school performance and participation in daily tasks. Children in West Virginia face social and emotional barriers including the effects of the opioid epidemic leading to children placed in foster care, born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and being exposed to toxic stress in the home environment. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted children's social-emotional functioning due to isolation periods. Social-emotional programming can improve children's well-being, school performance, relationships, and outcomes later in life. Occupational therapy practitioners can use data-driven decision-making and relationship-centered practice to develop group-based, health-promotion social-emotional programming in the preschool setting. The purpose …

Efficient And Test-Time Adaptive Visual Object Tracking In The Wild, Ram J. Zaveri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tracking a single object, given the location at the first frame, has been an ongoing challenge in the vision community for decades. Most recent approaches provide reasonably good performance, especially when benchmarked on in-distribution (ID) datasets, i.e., on the testing portion of the same datasets used for training. However, they incur high computational costs and hardware constraints, making their deployment in the wild for mobile, autonomous, and IoT applications still challenging. Efficient visual trackers address the efficiency aspect of such bottlenecks; however, they tend to overfit to their training distributions and lack generalization abilities, resulting in them performing well on …

Improving Postpartum Outcomes Through Therapeutic Individual And Group Occupational Therapy Sessions In Hospitalized Antepartum Patients, Melissa C. Learish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Extended hospitalization in the postpartum period is occasionally medically indicated due to a variety of diagnoses, but can pose challenges to the psychosocial well-being of pregnant women, such as social isolation, anxiety, alteration of normal life routines, and less preparation for postpartum life. In acute care settings, however, maternal management tends to focus on physical stabilization rather than holistic maternal care, including opportunities for emotional support, occupational engagement, and postpartum planning. This doctoral capstone project was designed to assess the effect of individualized and group-based occupational therapy interventions for antepartum women who have been hospitalized for extended periods of time, …

Inactivation Kinetics Of Escherichia Coli And Listeria Monocytogenes In Edible Insects, Precious Aduloju

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Edible insects are emerging as sustainable and nutritious alternatives to conventional protein sources. However, concerns about food safety, particularly the presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes, remain a barrier to consumer acceptance and industrial use. This study evaluated the effectiveness of thermal processing in inactivating E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and their non-pathogenic surrogates (E. coli JM109 and Listeria innocua) in both fresh and dehydrated forms of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) and Acheta domesticus (cricket). It also evaluated the influence of insect species, moisture content, and temperature on microbial inactivation. A microbial challenge …

The Economics Of Substance Use: Treatment, Intervention, And Regulation, Christine Bretschneider-Fries

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Substance use in the United States has remained an area of concern with rates of overdose deaths increasing steadily over the years. Historically, the United States has relied on abstinence based treatment options for individuals with substance use disorder. Economists have long been interested in the affects of various supply and demand side policy interventions to help reduce the instance of substance use disorder, especially following the prescription opioid crisis of the 1990s and early 2000s. Supply side policies are most commonly enacted as a way to reduce the supply of illicit substances that enter the market. However, these supply …

Improving Hospital Discharge Readiness Among Caregivers Of Children With Complex Medical Needs, Megan M. Bruce

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Advancements in medicine and technologies have led to an increase in the population of children living with complex and chronic health conditions. Children with medical complexities (CMCs) and their caregivers frequently have challenges navigating home life after transitioning from hospital to home-based care. A 14-week doctoral capstone project was conducted at Dayton Children’s Hospital to improve caregiver readiness for hospital discharge. Project participants included caregivers of CMCs (n = 6) admitted to the hospital and pediatric acute care occupational therapists (n = 4). The Pediatric Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale – Long Form (Peds-RHDS) was used as a pre-and post-intervention …

Three Essays On Sustainability Economics, Hélène Flore Nguemgaing

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As global economies face increasing resource dependencies and supply chain challenges, it becomes essential to understand the vulnerabilities that threaten economic stability. This dissertation investigates three empirical issues in agribusiness and critical minerals using econometric models to estimate the following: 1) the impact of supply chain disruptions on stock market returns during COVID-19; 2) the extraction of rare earth elements from acid mine drainage treatment by investigating the impacts of ownership and legislation in West Virginia and Pennsylvania; 3) China-to�FOBb (Free-on-Board) price transmission in rare earth elements markets: a copula-based dynamic tail dependence analysis.

The first essay evaluates how events …

Machine Learning And Uass For Managing Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus Umbellata) On Reclaimed Surface Mines, Sean Michael Keane

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research introduces an innovative approach for managing autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) on reclaimed surface mines through the integration of machine learning algorithms and unmanned aerial systems. The proliferation of autumn olive presents significant ecological challenges on disturbed landscapes, necessitating more efficient detection and control methods. This study evaluated Random Forest classification and deep learning approaches using the U-Net architecture for identifying autumn olive across four phenological stages using high-resolution imagery. The RGB U-Net model achieved F1-scores of 0.927, 0.912, and 0.871 for autumn olive detection during peak, late, and senescence stages respectively, outperforming both multispectral and vegetation …

Feasibility Of A Motor Skill Intervention For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Candace Brink

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract Feasibility of a Motor Skill Intervention for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Candace Brink Adults with intellectual disabilities experience significantly lower levels of physical activity and a higher prevalence of obesity-related health conditions compared to neurotypical adults. Furthermore, motor competency has been identified as a barrier to physical activity participation amongst this population. Purpose: The purpose of this feasibility study was to evaluate the viability of implementing an adapted version of an evidence-based physical activity program originally developed for senior citizens, Silver Sneakers. This adapted program, Kicking Off Purple Sneakers, was designed to enhance motor competency and promote engagement in …

A Multi-Case Study Exploring Ncaa Division I Athletic Departments’ Mental Health Culture Through Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Kimberly Ann Granados Tolentino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to guide athletic departments into providing sufficient mental health support to student-athletes, psychological well-being continues to be a primary area of concern for collegiate athletes. Student-athletes are as likely as the regular college population to experience mental health issues, but less likely to seek services (Watson, 2005). Researchers have continued to examine the perceived barriers preventing student-athletes from utilization of mental health services which include a lack of knowledge, limited access, and perceived negative stigma (e.g., Harris & Maher, 2023; Yoon & Petrie, 2023). Organizational culture–loosely defined as a group’s accumulated shared learning in which …

Comparison Of Compositional Characteristics Of Protein Extracted From Spent Hemp Seed Cakes By One-Step Defatting With Organic Solvents Followed By Isoelectric Solubilization Precipitation Using Strong And Weak Acids, Miah Nicole Gathman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hemp seed cakes (HSC) are the byproduct of pressing hemp seeds for oil and are a significant agricultural waste product, with hundreds of tons produced annually. These nutrient-rich cakes have potential for sustainable applications in animal feed and food products. However, they could offer even greater value to the food industry through further extraction of the lipids and separation of the proteins they contain. Protein is a key nutritional component and companies are seeking cost-effective, time-efficient processes to concentrate protein from underutilized resources like HSC. Hexane (HEX) is a common solvent used in one-step defatting processes but may cause issue …

Evaluating The Adaptation Of Taro (Colocasia Esculenta) To West Virginia Climatic Conditions, Kayode Joseph Ajayi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Climate change impacts agriculture and food security across the globe, therefore higher temperatures could increase in the length of the growing period and new crops would take advantages of. Research was conducted in Morgantown, WV in 2022 and 2023 to understand the growth pattern of Taro in West Virginia, and to analyzing the chemical composition of the Taro plant. The experiment was a completely randomized design in direct planting-low tunnel technology (2 replications, and 10- plants/plot), and two fertilization treatments (fertilized and non-fertilized). Spacing was 1 m within and between rows. Data were subjected to ANOVA using SAS. Dependent variables …

The Characterization Of Il-27 Production And Its Impact On T Cell Antigen-Specificity And Diversity In A Neonatal Bcg Vaccination Model, Ashley M. Divens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and it has plagued humans for most of recorded history. Despite strong efforts to prevent and treat TB, it remains the leading cause of death due to a pathogen and is most prevalent in certain regions of Asia and Africa. Currently, the only approved vaccine to prevent TB is the live-attenuated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Most countries have a universal BCG vaccination policy, but the vaccine ultimately fails to be protective. The BCG vaccine is most effective in children and protects against disseminated TB, but protection wanes 10-15 years after vaccination causing …

Providing Health Providers Best Practice Strategies When Working With The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Population: A Continuing Education, Noah L. Epperson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Healthcare training has improved over the years. However, many healthcare providers are having a difficult time understanding the culture and the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community. Continuing Education (CE) programs can be designed to improve cultural awareness to help close the gap by educating healthcare providers on the community’s culture, effective communication strategies, use of assistive technology, American Sign Language (ASL), and accommodations such as interpreters.

Purpose: The project aimed to develop a CE program that helped healthcare providers learn effective communication strategies, assistive devices, and accommodations for the Deaf and HOH community. Additionally, …

Five-Year Analysis Of Kiko Buck Growth Rate, Carcass Muscling And Parasite Resistance In A Feedlot Setting, Garrett Thomas Vaughan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Five-year analysis of Kiko buck growth rate, carcass muscling and parasite resistance in a feedlot environment

Garrett T. Vaughan

From 2018 to 2023, Kiko bucks born from January 1^st to March 15^th were performance tested at West Virginia University to evaluate growth rate, ultrasound carcass characteristics and parasite resistance under an artificial infection. Kiko bucks were submitted by producers from 17 different states and over 5 performance tests, 830 Kiko bucks were evaluated. Bucks were group housed and fed ad libitum with a 16% CP pellet containing soyhulls, serving as the dietary fiber component. Upon arrival, bucks were …

Biomechanics Of Teeth Alignment Using Clear Aligners With Various Attachment Shapes And Orientations, Egon Mamboleo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Clear aligners have emerged as the most popular and preferred method of treatment for patients with orthodontic malocclusions. This is greatly due to the comfort and aesthetically appealing factors when compared to fixed appliances . Clear aligners are either thermoformed or 3D direct-printed plastics that apply biomechanical forces to the surface of teeth to trigger tooth movement and bone remodeling process. Common Class I malocclusions with mild or moderate crowding can be treated with clear aligners alone. However, treatment of Class II and Class III malocclusions that require extraction of permanent teeth or correction of severe rotations, and teeth extrusions …

A Vegan Diet Compared To A Mediterranean Diet On Plasma/Serum Cholesterol Concentrations In Hypercholesterolemic Adults, Karina Bharat Patel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hypercholesterolemia, or atherosclerotic cholesterol, is characterized as elevated concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C). According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), vegan diets have proven to be the most effective diets for improvement of heart disease risk factors. On the other hand, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the Mediterranean-style diet as a diet pattern for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and reduction of risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Therefore, the current literature review uses a systematic approach to examine the effects of a vegan diet compared …

Consumer Experiences In The Secondhand Market: Finances, Frugality, Fashion, & Fun, Melissa Chasko Turner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Secondhand apparel refers to clothing and accessories that have been previously owned, handed down, donated, or resold to others. They are a sustainable product because they are reused instead of being discarded into landfills. Consumer experience refers to the emotional and psychological responses individuals have during their interactions with products and services across all touchpoints. In the secondhand apparel market, consumer experience plays a significant role in product purchasing, and the unique aspects of retail entertainment serve as key motivators. Consumer-perceived risk refers to the uncertainty of adverse outcomes associated with purchasing a product. Purchasing secondhand apparel poses similar yet …

The Effect Of Computer Monitoring On Employees’ Productivity In Telecommuting Arrangements, Yea Hee Ko, In Gyun Baek

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

When employees work from home, organizations have traditionally placed a stronger reliance on output-based controls because of the inability to physically observe its employees. Because of recent advances in technology, however, many organizations now use input-based controls. One such input-based control is computer monitoring, which records the number of hours spent working and leaves out any time in which an employee does not perform work activities. On the one hand, computer monitoring may provide productivity-enhancing benefits by reducing the likelihood of employees experiencing self-control problems, such as procrastination. On the other hand, computer monitoring may motivate reduced effort by decreasing …