VTechWorks
VTechWorks provides global access to Virginia Tech scholarship, including journal articles, books, theses, dissertations, conference papers, slide presentations, technical reports, working papers, administrative documents, videos, images, and more by faculty, students, and staff. Faculty can deposit items to VTechWorks from Elements, including journal articles covered by the University open access policy. Email vtechworks@vt.edu for help.
Open Access Policy
Virginia Tech's open access policy enables researchers to deposit the accepted version of scholarly articles with no embargo.
Theses and Dissertations
Virginia Tech was first in the world to require ETDs in 1997, and continues to add scans of older theses and dissertations.
Open Textbooks
More than 50 freely available and openly licensed textbooks are among our most downloaded items.
Communities in VTechWorks
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Exploring Experiences of Applying to US-Based Medical Schools from a Neurodivergent Viewpoint: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study
Steele, Rebecca (Virginia Tech, 2026-04-06)
Despite the growing recognition of neurodiversity in higher education, neurodivergent (ND) individuals are significantly underrepresented in U.S. medical education (AAMC Medical School Graduation Questionnaire, 2021). This gap reflects not only the limitations of individual disclosure decisions but also how historically entrenched ableist admissions structures privilege neurotypical norms of communication, professionalism, and productivity. This study examined how ND medical school applicants and students experience admission as processes that function as gatekeeping and deny their different ways of being and knowing, resulting in a lack of recognition for their belonging in medicine. The research questions focused on how ND applicants and students experience medical school admissions in the U.S. and how these experiences inform future strategies to empower emerging scholars in medicine.
This study centered the lived experience of ND medical student applicants and students using an interpretive phenomenological approach (van Manen, 2016). I used semi-structured interviews to gain insights on how participants made meaning of neurodivergence during the admissions process, with attention to institutional norms, interpersonal interactions, and broader cultural expectations within medical education. Using inductive data analysis (Adams, 2015) of interview transcripts, findings revealed how barriers to access and belonging are primarily systemic rather than individual. Participants described key obstacles such as rigid evaluative metrics, implicit behavioral expectations of normativity, and institutional cultures that conflate professionalism with neurotypicality. These conditions often required applicants to manage, minimize, or conceal aspects of their neurodivergence to give the perception of themselves as legitimate applicants. At the same time, participants named how their ND is a source of clinical strength, as they think of themselves as individuals with enhanced empathy, pattern recognition, and novel problem-solving, challenging deficit-oriented assumptions, traits not easily recognized through admissions process.
This study reframes medical school admissions as a relational and boundary-crossing process, where difference is actively negotiated rather than passively assessed. By situating ND experiences within historical and structural contexts, findings highlight the limitations of accommodation-only approaches and underscore the need for institutional accountability in fostering inclusion. Future research should attend to the development of admissions frameworks that value cognitive diversity as a scholarly and clinical asset, training admissions committees to recognize non-normative excellence, and advancing research that positions ND scholars as leaders in shaping the future of medical education. Empowering the next generation of scholars requires moving beyond access toward systemic transformation that recognizes difference as a source of innovation and growth within medicine.
Characterization of Southern Apple Varieties for Cider Production
Vowell, Olivia (Virginia Tech, 2026-04-06)
Interest in regional ciders is growing in the Southern United States, with local apple cultivars playing a critical role in shaping the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of these styles of cider, yet limited research has systematically characterized Southern adapted apple varieties for cider production. This study evaluated the juice chemistry, cider chemistry, and sensory properties of single varietal ciders produced from fifteen apple cultivars grown in Virginia. Apples were harvested at commercial maturity, processed under standardized conditions, and fermented to dryness using a single yeast strain in a temperature-controlled environment. Juice samples were analyzed for key parameters relevant to cider production, including titratable acidity (TA), pH, yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), soluble solids, and total polyphenols. Finished ciders were analyzed for chemical composition and evaluated using descriptive sensory analysis by a trained panel. Significant cultivar dependent differences were observed across juice and cider chemistry. Polyphenol concentration exhibited the greatest variability among cultivars, with cider and crab apple cultivars generally showing higher phenolic content than dessert cultivars. Titratable acidity also varied significantly among cultivars and remained largely consistent from juice to cider, contributing to differences in perceived acidity and sharpness. Although alcohol concentrations differed among cultivars, alcohol related sensory attributes were not strongly discriminative. Multivariate analyses integrating chemical and sensory data indicated that polyphenols and organic acids were primary drivers of sensory differentiation, particularly for astringency, bitterness, sourness, and sharpness. Collectively, these results demonstrate that apple cultivar can be a driver of both chemical and sensory variation in cider. This work provides a framework for understanding how Southern adapted apple varieties influence cider quality and supports their potential use in producing regionally distinctive ciders.
WVEMS Protocols 2026: Protocols, Procedures, Policies & Medications
of the Western VA EMS Medical Direction Committee
Stanley, Eric K. (2026-01-15)
Regional EMS Protocols for the WVEMS Council
Faith and Justice: Church Leadership's Impact on Prison Reform
Akowuah, Yaw Asamoah; Adusei, Frank Y.; Kaufman, Eric K.; Crowder, Loy V. (Stephen F. Austin ScholarWorks, 2026-04-03)
This study examines the Church of Pentecost’s (CoP) pioneering prison reform initiative in Ghana as a faith-based response to systemic overcrowding and inadequate rehabilitation infrastructure. Through a qualitative case study design, the research analyzes in-depth interviews with church leaders and media staff, alongside institutional documents, to explore how religious leadership intersects with correctional policy. Findings reveal that CoP’s “Vision 2023” strategy positioned prison decongestion as a moral and national imperative, leading to the construction of five “Inmates Skills Acquisition and Reformation Centres.” These facilities integrate vocational training, spiritual care, and modern infrastructure, aligning with Rehabilitation Theory’s emphasis on humane, reintegration-focused corrections. The project exemplifies transformational leadership, characterized by visionary commitment and ethical mobilization of resources. However, it encountered significant public and internal resistance due to communication gaps and the novelty of faith-based prison construction. The study contributes to scholarship on non-state actors in justice reform, demonstrating that religious organizations can drive structural change when grounded in theological mandates like missio Dei and imago Dei, yet underscores the critical need for proactive stakeholder engagement to ensure legitimacy and impact.
Epidemiological and Clinical Features of Drowning Cases in a Coastal Region of Türkiye: A Retrospective Study
Koyuncuoğlu, Halil Emre; Karakoyun, Ömer Faruk; Golcuk, Yalcin; Cantaş Türkiş, Fulden; Lareau, Stephanie (Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey, 2026-03-29)
Aim: Drowning is a critical public health issue and a leading cause of unintentional injury and death worldwide, particularly in coastal regions. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological trends, clinical features, and outcomes of drowning cases in Muğla Province, Türkiye, to guide targeted public health interventions and improve emergency care. Material and Methods: A retrospective, single-center observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital’s emergency department from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2024. Data from 45 patients diagnosed with drowning (ICD-10 code T75.1) were analyzed, including demographic characteristics, prehospital interventions, clinical severity scores, and outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of 28-day mortality, with p<0.05 considered significant.
Results: The median age of patients was 55 years (range: 3–83), with males comprising 53% of cases. Most incidents occurred in the summer (71.1%) and in the sea (93.3%). Abnormal electrocardiograms and radiological findings were strongly associated with mortality (p<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). The Glasgow Coma Scale Score and Revised Trauma Score were the most accurate predictors of 28-day mortality, with an observed mortality rate of 15%. Comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, also correlated with adverse outcomes.
Conclusion: Drowning incidents remain a major challenge in coastal regions, necessitating enhanced prevention strategies, robust emergency resources, and validated scoring tools to improve patient outcomes. Future multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings and inform broader public health interventions.