Digital Commons Network^™

Current Trends Of Information Seeking Behaviour Of Fishermen Of Indian Coastal Area, Ketan Joshi, Shishirkumar Mandalia

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This present study observes the needs of information and searches for fishermen's behavior. This study was done as pilot study on the fisherman living in the coastal area of Ghogha located in the western part of India. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 fishermen. Out of that 80 set of questionnaires were returned with the required information and taken for analysis. This research was done using a survey methodology with structured set of questionnaire on information seeking behavior and data was collected. The results are accomplished based on questions asked to the fishermen of this area. The main aim of …

Public Libraries In Nigeria And The Development Agenda, Victoria O. Okojie Phd, Rose B. Okiy Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper examined the services of public libraries in Nigeria, including the National Library of Nigeria with a view to ascertaining which services aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063 as well as knowing their level of awareness of the AFLIA Cape Town Declaration, 2015. A lot of training has been carried out for librarians by many international non-governmental organizations. However, the visibility of the development work of public libraries in Nigeria is still low. For instance, while many countries have uploaded stories on IFLA Library Map of the World (LMoW), there is no story …

Use Of Social Networking Sites By Karnatakites For Finding Information Regarding Covid-19 - An Investigation, Somanagouda Shankargouda Patil, Vysakh Chingath

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The focus of this paper is to study the usage of social networking sites by the Karnatakites for finding information regarding COVID-19. A web survey was distributed among the targeted participants to collect data for the study. The study findings reported that cent percent of the participants were users of social networking sites in whichWhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook were the most used SNSs for finding information regarding the COVID-19. The respondents used SNSs mainly to search for information regarding the status of COVID-19 in India as well as at the global level. Most of the respondents (48.8%) agreed that the …

Evidence-Based Detection Of Pancreatic Canc, Rajeshwari Deepak Chandratre

Master's Projects

This study is an effort to develop a tool for early detection of pancreatic cancer using evidential reasoning. An evidential reasoning model predicts the likelihood of an individual developing pancreatic cancer by processing the outputs of a Support Vector Classifier, and other input factors such as smoking history, drinking history, sequencing reads, biopsy location, family and personal health history. Certain features of the genomic data along with the mutated gene sequence of pancreatic cancer patients was obtained from the National Cancer Institute (NIH) Genomic Data Commons (GDC). This data was used to train the SVC. A prediction accuracy of ~85% …

Using Machine Learning To Optimize Predictive Models Used For Big Data Analytics In Various Sports Events, Akhil Kumar Gour

Master's Projects

In today’s world, data is growing in huge volume and type day by day. Historical data can hence be leveraged to predict the likelihood of the events which are to occur in the future. This process of using statistical or any other form of data to predict future outcomes is commonly termed as predictive modelling. Predictive modelling is becoming more and more important and is trending because of several reasons. But mainly, it enables businesses or individual users to gain accurate insights and allows to decide suitable actions for a profitable outcome.

Machine learning techniques are generally used in order …

Predicting Students’ Performance By Learning Analytics, Sandeep Subhash Madnaik

Master's Projects

The field of Learning Analytics (LA) has many applications in today’s technology and online driven education. Learning Analytics is a multidisciplinary topic for learn- ing purposes that uses machine learning, statistic, and visualization techniques [1]. We can harness academic performance data of various components in a course, along with the data background of each student (learner), and other features that might affect his/her academic performance. This collected data then can be fed to a sys- tem with the task to predict the final academic performance of the student, e.g., the final grade. Moreover, it allows students to monitor and self-assess …

Detection Of Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Diffusion Compartment Imaging, Matthew Jones

Master's Projects

The result of applying the Neurite Orientation Density and Dispersion Index (NODDI) algorithm to improve the prediction accuracy for patients diagnosed with MCI is reported. Calculations were carried out using a collection of 68 patients (34 control and 34 with MCI) gathered from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database (ADNI). Patient data includes the use of high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Images as with as Diffusion Tensor Imaging. A Linear Regression accuracy of 83% was observed using the added NODDI summary statistic: Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI). A statistically significant difference in groups was found between control patients and patients with MCI with …

Pattern Analysis And Prediction Of Mild Cognitive Impairment Using The Conn Toolbox, Meenakshi Anbukkarasu

Master's Projects

Alzheimer's is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder described by dynamic psychological and memory defalcation. It has been accounted for that the pervasiveness of Alzheimer's is to increase by 4 times in a few years, where one in every 75 people will have this disorder. Hence, there is a critical requirement for the analysis of Alzheimer's at its beginning stage to diminish the difficulty of the overall medical complications. The initial state of Alzheimer’s is called Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and hence it is a decent target for premature diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's. This project focuses on coordinating numerous imaging modalities …

Probabilistic And Machine Learning Enhancement To Conn Toolbox, Gayathri Hanuma Ravali Kuppachi

Master's Projects

Clinical depression is a state of mind where the person suffers from persevering and overpowering sorrow. Existing examinations have exhibited that the course of action of arrangement in the brain of patients with clinical depression has a weird framework topology structure. In the earlier decade, resting-state images of the brain have been under the radar a. Specifically, the topological relationship of the brain aligned with graph hypothesis has discovered a strong connection in patients experiencing clinical depression. However, the systems to break down brain networks still have a couple of issues to be unwound. This paper attempts to give a …

Ophthalmic Viral Diseases: A Bibliometric Study Based On Pubmed Database, Viswanathan V, Govindarajan R, Yugapriya S

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract: The study is to analyze the research productivity on viral infections caused in the eyes. The publications indexed in PUBMED database have been used for this study for a period of twenty years from 2000 to 2018.The retrieved data were analyzed with common bibliometric publication growth indicators such as Ratio of Growth, Relative Growth Rate, Doubling Time, and authorship pattern indicators such as Degree of Collaboration and Collaboration Index. The Analysis revealed that 6613 publications were published in this area of study. The publications' productivity shows a fluctuated trend over a period of time. Coauthored publications dominate over single …

Research Data Management (Rdm) Services In Libraries: Lessons For Academic Libraries In Nigeria, Mgbodichima Jummai Nwabugwu, Lucky Stephen Godwin

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Research funding organizations understand the importance of infrastructure and services to organize and preserve research data. Academic research libraries have been identified as locations in which to base these research data management services. Research data management services include data management planning, digital curation (selection, preservation, maintenance, and archiving), and metadata creation and conversion. However, some libraries are beginning to provide structure for research data management services. These services are starting to record some degree of success as local data policies are being formulated. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the importance of research data management in the …

The Role Of Socioeconomic Status And Prior Industry Exposure On The Attitudes, Career Goals, And Career Decision Self-Efficacy Of Undergraduates Studying Hospitality And Tourism Management, Laura Mckenzie Shroder

Dissertations

The hospitality and tourism industry struggles with high employee turnover, and many hospitality management students graduate and subsequently leave or choose not to enter the industry. Scholars have found it beneficial to study students’ industry attitudes, career goals, demographics, and career decision self-efficacy to further understand how these variables influence students’ perceptions, engagement, and retention. This quantitative study measured these variables as well as prior industry exposure, which is based on the Social Cognitive Career Theory. Results of an online survey of hospitality students in the Western United States (n = 315; response rate 79.9%) suggested that students’ prior industry …

Disordered Eating In Gender Minority Adults: An Evaluation And Integration Of The Gender Minority Stress And Resilience Model And The Tripartite Influence Model, Laura Ann Muratore

Master's Theses

Gender minority individuals experience elevated rates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in comparison to cisgender individuals; however, research assessing why this health disparity exists is limited. To address this gap, the present study investigated gender minority stress and resilience factors as proposed in the gender minority stress and resilience model (GMSR), sociocultural influence factors as proposed in the tripartite influence model of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating (TI), and an integration of these two theoretical frameworks in efforts to better explain disordered eating etiology for gender minority individuals. Results of regression analyses demonstrated that the integration of GMSR and …

Understory Response To Restorative Thinning In Coast Redwood Forests, Alyssa Hanover

Master's Theses

Restoration of late seral features in second-growth Sequoia sempervirens forests is an important management concern, as so little of the original old-growth remains. The abundance of herbaceous species provides a metric for assessing recovery in these forests where associated understory plants are adapted to closed canopy conditions. Data were collected using a stratified random sampling design across three treatments: mechanically thinned second-growth, un-thinned second-growth, and old-growth reference stands. Pairwise PerMANOVA indicated greater abundance and diversity of native herbs in old-growth and un-thinned second-growth compared to thinned stands, as well as higher measures of canopy cover, basal area, and dominance of …

Evaluation Of Silica Hydride Based Amide Stationary Phase For High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Aqueous Normal Phase Separations, Emma Tardiff

Master's Theses

With many modern chromatographic advancements, silica hydride based columns (also known commercially as Type-C) represent yet another evolutionary step in stationary phase development. Type-C silica hydride columns have the ability to retain both polar and nonpolar analytes and have the ability to behave in either RP or ANP modes of separation depending on mobile phase composition. A consequence of this increased stability is that Type-C columns can be used over a wide range of mobile phase compositions, from purely aqueous to purely nonpolar organic solvents, and any combination of the two. While the retention behavior of Type-C columns depends highly …

The Moderating Role Of Emotional Intelligence On The Relationship Between Job Resources And Employee Engagement, Amanda Lipson

Master's Theses

The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating role of emotional intelligence on the relationship between job resources (i.e., perceived supervisor support and autonomy) and employee engagement. Previous research has shown that these job resources are related to employee engagement. However, little attention has been paid to the possible moderators of this relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to bridge the gap in current literature by investigating how the relationship between job resources and engagement might change as a function of a personal resource (emotional intelligence). It was hypothesized that the positive relationship between job resources (perceived supervisor …

The Relationship Between Perceived Overqualification And Job Attitudes And Behaviors: The Moderating Role Of Psychological Empowerment, Emily Colleen Meyer

Master's Theses

It has been shown that employees who perceive to be overqualified in their roles are more likely to display negative attitudes and behaviors; however, little attention has been paid to the possible moderators of this relationship. Therefore, the present study proposed that psychological empowerment would moderate the relationship between perceived overqualification and job attitudes (affective commitment and careerist attitudes) and behaviors (counterproductive work behaviors). It was hypothesized that the relationship between perceived overqualification and these job attitudes and behaviors would be weaker for employees with higher levels of psychological empowerment than for employees with lower levels of psychological empowerment. Results …

The Baroque In Games: A Case Study Of Remediation, Stephanie Elaine Thornton

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a case study for the remediation of baroque painting by some contemporary video games. Video games such as Horizon Zero Dawn borrow illusionistic techniques, the motif of the labyrinth, and the use of the total work of art as presented in certain baroque paintings. These characteristics are modified and represented within the new medium in an effort to heighten immediacy and create an immersive experience for the audience. This thesis discusses the process of remediation in detail and then analyzes how video games—and Horizon Zero Dawn in particular—remediate illusionistic techniques like linear and atmospheric perspective. Then, the …

Using Deep Learning And Linguistic Analysis To Predict Fake News Within Text, John Nguyen

Master's Projects

The spread of information about current events is a way for everybody in the world to learn and understand what is happening in the world. In essence, the news is an important and powerful tool that could be used by various groups of people to spread awareness and facts for the good of mankind. However, as information becomes easily and readily available for public access, the rise of deceptive news becomes an increasing concern. The reason is due to the fact that it will cause people to be misled and thus could affect the livelihood of themselves or others. The …

Yoga Pose Classification Using Deep Learning, Shruti Kothari

Master's Projects

Human pose estimation is a deep-rooted problem in computer vision that has exposed many challenges in the past. Analyzing human activities is beneficial in many fields like video- surveillance, biometrics, assisted living, at-home health monitoring etc. With our fast-paced lives these days, people usually prefer exercising at home but feel the need of an instructor to evaluate their exercise form. As these resources are not always available, human pose recognition can be used to build a self-instruction exercise system that allows people to learn and practice exercises correctly by themselves. This project lays the foundation for building such a system …

Understanding The Barriers, Bridges And Bases To Inclusion Instruction For Secondary Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities, Angela Renee Lyte Crowther

Dissertations

Inclusion is the practice of educating students with disabilities and students without disabilities in the same learning environment. For secondary students with mild/moderate disabilities, inclusion is rooted in the philosophical mindset of social justice, equity, and legislation. Inclusion is a complex and sometimes controversial topic few educational systems want to tackle. The purpose of this multi-method research was to gather and analyze secondary site administrators' and teachers’ opinions on the barriers, bridges, and bases needed for the furtherance of inclusion practices and the elimination of the segregated classrooms for students with mild-moderate disabilities. A plethora of research on this topic …

Expanding And Improving High-Quality Early Care And Education In California: Is There Alignment Between Policymakers And The Public?, Heidi Schmidt Emberling

Dissertations

Although there is widespread agreement about the life-long benefits of high-quality childcare and preschool, access for all children in California is limited. The negative effects of this inadequate landscape are borne predominantly by children living in poverty, and middle-income families who do not qualify for subsidies and cannot afford full-fee care. This mixed-methods study examines specific factors that impede expansion and improvement of childcare/preschool in California, from the perspective of five diverse policymakers. Findings reveal a variety of policy solutions in the areas of funding, teacher workforce, quality of care, policy development, and public perception of the importance of high-quality …

Examining The Effects Of A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention On The Prosocial Behaviors Of Elementary Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Prabhjot Singh

Dissertations

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders represent part of the population of students who receive special education services, and the social skill deficits that they present makes it so that they are less likely to pass their classes and more likely to drop out of school than their typical peers. The social skill deficits of these students often lead to a variety of negative factors including poor relationships and academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a peer-mediated social skills intervention on fourth and fifth grade students in a public-school setting. The current study …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Novel Verdazyl Spin Probe, Allisa Clemens

Master's Theses

The use of probe molecules has been integral to the understanding of protein structure and dynamics. Spin labels are commonly used as probes on molecules, such as phospholipids, peptides, proteins, or drugs in vivo. The probes enable the precise and quantitative measuring of the movements of these molecules which has led to the elucidation of function. Nitroxides are the most widely studied and employed spin probes, despite being reduced to hydroxylamines by ascorbic acid in vivo in a matter of minutes. Verdazyls provide comparable applications to nitroxide radicals, with the added benefits of having tunable conformation and hydrophobicity by altering …

Coast Redwood Stand Composition, Structure, And Fuel Load Following Prescribed Fire In Big Basin Redwoods State Park, David Cowman

Master's Theses

With the prevalence of catastrophic wildfires increasing as a response to a century of widespread fire suppression, shifts in weather patterns, and other external factors, land managers throughout the United States have sought methods to increase the resiliency of landscapes to fire. With a host of adaptations to periodic disturbance, S. sempervirens has a competitive advantage over other species when fire is present. Utilizing sixty 10-meter diameter plots from sites previously burned in 1999, 2007, and 2011, and 60 unburned control sites, data was collected on forest stand composition and structure as well as understory species composition and dominance. Line …

An Examination Of Garden-Based Education Impacts On Title 1 Elementary School Students’ Environmental Literacy In San José, California, Alexandra Dahl

Master's Theses

The objective of this research was to assess garden-based pedagogy as an effective strategy to increase environmental literacy in elementary-aged students. With severe environmental issues facing children today and into the future, environmental literacy is a desired outcome of environmental education programs. Such interventions create environmentally responsible citizens who understand how humans impact the natural environment and thereby act sustainably. Currently, little research exists on garden education’s influence on students’ environmental literacy, especially in underrepresented communities. Using a nonequivalent control group study design, this project investigated the impact of a garden education program in Central San José, CA in an …

Noise Pollution, Environmental Justice, And Urban Green Space Accessibility: A Case Study In San José, California, Lauryn Duoto

Master's Theses

Noise pollution is an environmental stressor associated with a number of poor health outcomes. Promisingly, recent studies have identified urban green spaces such as public parks and community gardens as-built environments that can minimize noise pollution in the urban context. The objective of this project was to identify low-income communities of color that lack urban green space accessibility within the city of San José, California, to determine if sound level could be an indicator of urban green space usage and to evaluate whether urban green space can mitigate noise. Neighborhood demographics based on census tract data, including ethnicity and socioeconomic …

Auto-Landing System For Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Dan Dermer

Master's Theses

Unmanned aerial vehicle systems, or any kind or autonomous system, are relevant to many applications today. However, they are complex and sophisticated systems that require a deep understanding of multiple technologies. In addition, the mathematical rigor, computer modelling, and programming applications involved make t¬his a challenging field of study. This thesis explores the possibility of achieving the automated landing of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. Auto-landing systems can resolve the challenges for the novice user and make aerial vehicle platforms accessible and dependable. A wide spectrum of applications such as agriculture, aerial photography, and security, to name a few, can …

The Mediating Role Of Work Engagement On The Relationship Between Perceived Supervisor Support And Turnover Intention, Addison Yeosock

Master's Theses

The purpose of the current study was to examine the mediating role of work engagement on the relationship between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention using the Jobs Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and the motivational processes of engagement as the theoretical framework. A total of 954 employees of a healthcare organization participated in an online survey. Results showed that work engagement partially mediated the relationship between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention. Perceived supervisor support was negatively related to turnover intention directly and indirectly through work engagement. Based on these findings, organizations should focus on strategies of increasing the job resource …

E-Learning Research In Asia During 1996-2018 And The Four Country Indicators, Abdul Syahid

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study views the Asian research performance in e-learning during 1996-2018 from the number of documents, citable documents, citations, and self-citations along with the citations per document and Hirsch index. It also measures the correlation between the six research indicators and the four country indicators commonly associated with research performance of some countries, i.e. the Gross Domestic Product per capita, Research and Development expenditure along with the numbers of university and internationally indexed journals. The data on the six research indicators and journals were obtained from the SCImago Journal and Country Rank. Whereas those on the first two country indicators …