Digital Commons Network^™

Late-Stage Deformation And Exhumation Of A High-Pressure Metamorphic Belt In An Active Arc-Continent Collision, Taiwan, Michael Chojnacki

Master's Theses

Structural analyses and fluid inclusion microthermometry were conducted within the blueschist facies, Yuli Belt in the Taiwan arc-continent collision in order to better understand the kinematics and pressure and temperature conditions associated with rapid exhumation (~10 km/myr) of high-pressure rocks. The most recent ductile deformation, observed as a penetrative fabric, S3, and relatively late, steeply dipping, mineral-filled, mode-I fractures, was characterized by vertical shortening, top-to-the southwest shear, and northeast-southwest extension. The late-stage veins record entrapment conditions ranging from 200°C to 450°C. To generalize, this structural and metamorphic history is interpreted to reflect the later stages of exhumation of the Yuli …

Exploring Parallel Algorithmic Choices For Graph Analytics, Akif Rehman

Master's Theses

Sequential graph algorithms are implemented through ordered execution of tasks to achieve high work efficiency. Exposing parallelism in these ordered workloads tends to be an elusive problem. Strict-ordered parallel implementations find nodes that don't have read-write dependencies and hence can be executed in parallel. They have the work efficiency of their sequential counter-parts due to strict ordering constraints. Larger amount of parallelism can be achieved at the expense of redundant work. Relax-ordered implementations remove the global order and only impose the local order. They go through multiple iterations and have the property of monotonically increasing or decreasing output values allowing …

Keeping Track Of Change: Developmental Insights Into The Ability To Represent Objects In Episodic Terms, Emily Yearling

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Allies In Training: The Construction & Management Of Cis Allyship At State University, Davida J. Schiffer

Master's Theses

Many universities provide LGBT Ally Training Programs, but who are the allies who attend them? My research examines how participants conceptualize cis allyship and how they enact it in their professional and personal lives. In describing the gendered and racialized role of cis allyship, I situate my analysis in theories of doing gender & performativity (West & Zimmerman 1987; Johnson 2013) and the scholarship around white allies in academic diversity narratives (Bonilla-Silva 2006; Collins & Bilge 2016). Focusing on an Ally Training program at State University, I conducted an ethnography of 4 Ally Trainings and performed 21 interviews with 12 …

Atrial Fibrillation Detection From Smartwatch Based Photoplethysmography Signals, Syed Khairul Bashar

Master's Theses

Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) from a wrist watch photoplethysmography (PPG) signal is important because the wrist watch form factor enables long term continuous monitoring of arrhythmia in an easy and non-invasive manner. We have developed a novel method not only to detect AF from a smart wrist watch PPG signal, but also to determine whether the recorded PPG signal is corrupted by motion artifacts or not. In order to detect the motion and noise artifacts from PPG signal, we have used both the accelerometer signal and variable frequency complex demodulation based time-frequency analysis of the PPG signal. After the …

Exploring The Gendered Nature Of Leadership Development For Female Student-Athletes At The United States Naval Academy, Jennifer Gobin

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Intramuscular Injection Of Plant Derived Antimicrobials: A Potenial Use Against M.Bovis In Cattle, Elizabeth Johnson

Master's Theses

Plant derived antimicrobials (PDAs) such as trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and carvacrol, possess strong antibacterial properties yet are generally regarded as safe. In the current crisis of antibiotic resistance, the use of PDAs as alternatives to prevent and control bacterial infections in livestock has gained momentum. The inhibitory effects of PDAs on common bacteria such as C.difficile, Listeria, Salmonella have been widely studied. PDAs have also been found effective in wall-less bacteria such as Mycoplasma, for which common antibiotics are not effective and vaccines are not always effective. In animal husbandry, PDAs can be potentially added in feed to metaphalactively prevent …

Best Practices For Renovating Golf Course Fairways To More Sustainable Bentgrasses In The Northeastern United States, Zoe Esponda

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Characterization And Membrane Stability Study For The Switchable Polarity Solvent N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine As A Draw Solute In Forward Osmosis, Kevin K. Reimund

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Sooting Propensities Of Face Gasolines In Counterflow Diffusion Flames, Peter Vannorsdall

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The National Collegiate Athletic Association Response To The Federal Investigation Into Men’S College Basketball, Max Klein

Master's Theses

On September 27, 2017, the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) arrested ten individuals connected to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s basketball for charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering. In response to the public release of this investigation, the NCAA formed the Commission on College Basketball (CCB) to address “fairness and opportunity for college athletes, coupled with the enforcement capability to hold accountable those who undermine the standards of our community” (Emmert, 2017). Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to analyze the NCAA’s response to the FBI investigation into men’s college basketball. The creation of the …

Evaluation Of Drought-Resistant Plants For Beneficial Insect Attraction, Benjamin Gluck

Master's Theses

Beneficial insects, such as natural enemies and pollinators, provide billions of dollars of ecological services to agricultural operations. However, as the climate changes, Connecticut is projected to have longer periods of drought. This could negatively impact the availability of flowering plants, and the beneficial insects who rely on their floral resources.

This research focuses on the diversity of insect visitors to five species of drought-resistant plants at the Plant Science Research and Educational facility. Over the two-year study the visitation frequency of pollinators and beneficial insects on the plants was observed, insect samples were collected for further identification. Agastache foeniculum …

Changes In The Cognitive Dynamics Of Problem-Solving, Shireena Mcgee

Master's Theses

How do humans develop the ability to approach and solve diverse, attentionally-demanding problems? Current work on problem-solving focuses on well-defined problems in which explicit task constraints directly inform the planning and execution of behaviors. However, in situations that might be more informative for naturalistic learning and problem-solving, what is necessary to solve problems when task constraints, and thus planning abilities, are not as easily accessible? Executive functions such as selective attention and working memory seem fundamental to these types of activities, yet there is not a clear account of how exactly the coordination of these cognitive processes contribute dynamically to …

Advancements In Novel Material Rfid-Based Crack Sensing And Bridge Weigh In Motion, Benjamin Bruciati

Master's Theses

The current infrastructure in the United States is continually deteriorating. Smart structures in civil engineering are becoming increasingly popular due to the performance enhancing systems they contain. Many of these systems are related to sensing and monitoring the structure. Structural health monitoring (SHM) has state of the art technological advances in both these fields. This thesis contributes to the advancements in the SHM field, particularly crack detection and Bridge Weigh-In-Motion (BWIM). The crack detection research uses existing radio frequency identification (RFID) crack detection technology and applies it to a novel material, Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC). This system uses backscatter power …

Stem Cell Based Delivery System In A Non-Regenerative Nail Injury Model, Aundrya Montgomery

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Toddler Autism Symptom Inventory (Tasi): Use In Diagnostic Evaluations Of Toddlers, Kirsty Coulter

Master's Theses

Although symptoms of autism are present early in life and early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes, there is a lack of validated parent interviews for children under the age of three. We developed the Toddler Autism Symptom Inventory (TASI), an interview form designed to assess the presence and absence of skills and symptoms in children aged 12-36 months. Reliability of symptoms and diagnosis, and validity of algorithms designed in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th Edition (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria were established. Reliability and validity of four …

Does Place Matter? Food Insecurity, Perceptions Of Neighborhood Walkability, And Acculturation As Predictors Of Treatment Outcome In An Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Study, Nana Yaa Marfo

Master's Theses

BACKGROUND: Though cross-sectional studies have established a relationship between environmental factors and weight status, few have looked at how these environmental factors influence response to obesity intervention in adults or children. This study explored the impact food insecurity, neighborhood walkability, and acculturation may have had on the outcomes of an obesity prevention study for low-income, Black and Latinx preschool-aged children.

METHODS: Prior to the start of the primary care-based intervention program (Cloutier et al., 2015), caregivers (n=203) completed measures assessing their household’s food insecurity, their perceptions of their neighborhoods’ walkability, and for Latinx participants, levels of acculturation. Baseline responses were …

First-Time Juvenile Arrestees' Odd Symptoms: The Role Of Parent-School Interaction And Race, Ari Romano-Verthelyi

Master's Theses

Objective.Disruptive behaviors are bidirectionally associated with low-quality parent-school interactions (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 1995). However, Non-White children are more likely to be identified by teachers as behaviorally disruptive (Epstein et al., 2005), more likely to have low-quality parent-school interactions (Serpell & Mashburn, 2012), and more likely to be engaged in the justice system (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2013).Considering that non-White parents may interact with schools and teachers differently than White parents (Mariñez-Lona & Quintana, 2009), it is unclear to what extent race might influence the predictive relationship between aspects of parent-school interactions and disruptive behavior problems. Thus, this study will examine …

The Impact Of Relationships On Youth Developmental Outcomes In A Sport-Based Setting, Khalil Griffith

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Study And Analysis Of A Gearless Mechanical Transmission, Arun Lee Malla

Master's Theses

We used a comprehensive geometric and kinematic analysis of the Gearless Mechanical Transmission (GMT) to produce a rigorous analytical model of the system. Given initial design parameters, this model enables accurate computation of the mating geometries and key system attributes over time. Component position, component velocity, and the contact points between components were the primary attributes computed and analyzed by the developed model. The model can also be used to represent transmissions of desired ratios and sizes by altering the design parameters. Therefore, the model enables the theoretical evaluation of any desired GMT system, providing a strong foundation for further …

A Feasible And Tailored Nutrition Education Intervention For Middle-Schoolers: Coordination With School Nutrition Program And Preliminary Outcomes., Heidi Karner

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Local Squid Measurements In Extremely Overdoped La2-Xsrxcuo4 Thin Films, Chloe Herrera

Master's Theses

The overdoped regime of superconductivity in copper oxides may provide insight into the higher superconducting transition temperature and unique bordering phases. Using scanning Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) microscopy, developments of superconductivity are spatially resolved in overdoped La2-xSrxCuO4 thin films. To further understand the local characteristics of the superconductor, SQUID measurements provide the London penetration depth, comparatively similar to global results.

Floral Preformation In The Warming Boreal Forest: The Effects Of Temperature On The Development Of Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, Eileen Schaub

Master's Theses

The boreal forest is experiencing climate change at twice the rate of other regions. Although changes in flowering phenology are a known consequence of warming temperatures, much is unknown about the effects of temperature anomalies on floral development. Boreal angiosperms preform flowers a year or more in advance and are consequently subject to varied environmental conditions across that time. My thesis examines the effects of temperature on floral development in order to understand how boreal taxa will respond to climate change.

Collection of Vaccinium vitis-idaeafrom natural populations in Fairbanks, Alaska was carried out over the growing seasons of 2017 …

Identification Of Factors That Influence The Cell Density Dependent Growth Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Archana Palakkal Meethil

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Liquid Crystalline Brush-Like Imidazolium Co-Polymer Membranes For Energy Conversion, Edirimuni Iyomali Abeysekera

Master's Theses

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) research is primarily focused to develop suitable AEMs with high ion conductivity for high pH and high-temperature environments used in water electrolysis and fuel cells. To address these issue research has been done on improving the ion exchange head group to obtain high ion conductivity and designing a rational polymer architecture to improve chemical and mechanical stability.

Most widely used ionic head groups are based on quaternary ammonium ions due to its high ion conductivity. However quaternary ammonium ion containing membranes degrades with time resulting in low ion exchange capacity (IEC) and low alkaline stability due …

Community Attitudes Toward Complementary, Alternative And Integrative Medicine In North Hartford, Connecticut, Andria Matthews

Master's Theses

Background: This study explores the attitudes of residents of North Hartford, CT toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine. Methods: Twenty-five semi-structured, 10-15 minute in-person interviews were conducted at five sites over a two-week period in March 2019. Results: Few respondents were familiar with the term “Integrative Medicine.” Familiarity with modalities such as massage was higher (92%). Massage therapy was most often tried in the past (56%). Meditation and relaxation and yoga were the most frequently requested offerings. Cost, transportation, time of day and day of week, all emerged as potential barriers to participation. Pain-related complaints were prevalent amongst respondents. Conclusions: …

The Effects Of Creative And Cognitive Exercises On Body Balance, Gina Digiacomo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Appraisal And Coping Profiles In Response To Workplace Incivility Experiences, Courtney Pfeifer

Master's Theses

At least seventy percent of employees report experiencing an incivility incident in recent years (Cortina, 2008), and incivility has been linked to negative outcomes, such as stress and turnover (Beattie & Griffin, 2014). The current study applies Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress to examine predictors of incivility targets’ patterns of appraisal and coping. In particular, I propose that the frequency with which incivility occurs, resilience, and work contexts, such as organizational justice and civility norms, can influence the target’s appraisals and coping. Additionally, incivility research has utilized different time frames to examine incivility and predictors (Cortina, Kabat-Farr, …

An Examination Of Whether Perceived Stress Mediates The Effects Of Income On Engagement And Weight Loss Loss Outcomes In An Online Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention, Kristen Volz

Master's Theses

Individuals with lower income have higher rates of obesity and are underrepresented in weight loss treatment. Moreover, when individuals with lower income do enroll in face-to-face interventions, their adherence and weight loss outcomes are worse due to known treatment barriers, including unreliable transportation, lack of childcare, and scheduling constraints associated with multiple jobs and unconventional work hours. Because online interventions are asynchronous and can be accessed any time of day, they hold significant promise for reducing treatment barriers and improving adherence and weight loss outcomes in lower income populations. However, one drawback of online interventions is that they are self-directed, …

3d Printed Robotic Arm As A Developmental Platform For Education, Samuel Soifer

Master's Theses

Modern engineering courses provide students with exposure to the theory and derivations of problems. Rarely do these courses require students to apply their theoretical knowledge to problems that an engineer would face in industry, thus leaving a gap in a student’s education. In order for future engineers to effectively prepare to apply their engineering education to problems in industry, it is vital that engineering students take courses in which they can learn how to integrate different engineering topics and apply theoretical knowledge to industry problems.

The objective of this thesis is to develop an educational platform that both integrates and …