Digital Commons Network^™

Nonlinear Stiffness And Viscoelasticity Of Inhibitor-Treated Blood Clots By Tensile Testing, Wilson S. Eng

Master's Theses

Although blood clots are vital to wound healing, little is known about what factors influence clot stiffness and dynamic response. This work investigates the mechanics of inhibitor-treated clots by direct tensile testing using a custom designed system for forces below 1 N. Inhibitors that affect clot formation include blebbistatin, which affects myosin II movement on actin, and cytochalasin D, which affects actin polymerization. The hypothesis of this investigation is that blebbistatin will have a greater effect on mechanical behavior than cytochalasin D, because the inhibition of myosin II will weaken the overall clot more than actin. This hypothesis was investigated …

Metabolomic Profiles In Breast Cancer: A Pilot Case-Control Study In The Breast Cancer Family Registry, Marcelle Dougan, Yuqing Li, Lisa Chu, Robert Haile, Alice Whittemore, Summer Han, Steven Moore, Joshua Sampson, Irene Andrulis, Esther John, Ann Hsing

Faculty Publications

Background Metabolomics is emerging as an important tool for detecting differences between diseased and non-diseased individuals. However, prospective studies are limited. Methods We examined the detectability, reliability, and distribution of metabolites measured in pre-diagnostic plasma samples in a pilot study of women enrolled in the Northern California site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry. The study included 45 cases diagnosed with breast cancer at least one year after the blood draw, and 45 controls. Controls were matched on age (within 5 years), family status, BRCA status, and menopausal status. Duplicate samples were included for reliability assessment. We used a liquid …

Indian Research Output In Immunology And Microbiology 2012-2016: A Scientometric Study, Jyoti Rana Ph.D. Scholar, Rakesh Kumar Bhatt Associate Professor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: The study examines India’s research productivity in immunology and microbiology during 2012-2016, depending on various parameters, including India’s annual average research growth rate, institutional output profile of institutions and profiles of some of the most productive authors.

Aim: The focus of this study is to analyze performance of India’s research output in immunology and microbiology, the quality and productivity of major institutions participating in research in microbiology and immunology and the productivity and quality of leading authors in research in immunology and microbiology.

Methods: The study in the area of immunology and microbiology using 5 years publications data from …

Analysis Of Doctoral Thesis Citation Patterns: A Case Study Of The Sam Jonah Library, Ghana., Imoro Osman, Anankyela Anaba Alemna, Mariyama Abdulai Kumah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

No abstract provided.

Measuring User Need And Satisfaction: A Study Of Dhaka University Residential Hall Libraries, Bangladesh., Sazzadul Karim

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Users are the main attention of a library. Every library tries to meet the needs and requirements of its users. Knowing user needs and measuring their satisfaction is very important to ensure a better library service. Actually, library performance depends on the satisfaction of user towards services. For this purpose library authority needs to know the demands of its user first. The main objective of the study is to assess user’s needs and satisfaction of the residential hall libraries of the University of Dhaka. A survey questionnaire was developed and used to collect data on students’ demographics, their needs and …

Digital Literacy Skills And Mooc Participation Among Lecturers In A Private University In Nigeria, Opeyemi Soyemi, Adebowale Ojo, Mobolude Abolarin

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) promote open access to learning materials, thereby, providing learning opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning. University lecturers, especially in developing countries can leverage on the opportunities provided by MOOCs for skills acquisition. Considering that studies have highlighted digital literacy skills as a determinant of MOOC participation, this study examined lecturers’ digital literacy skills and their participation in MOOCs. The study adopted a survey research design while the population of study comprised 110 lecturers from the Management and Social Sciences discipline at a private University in Nigeria. A self-developed questionnaire was used as an instrument …

Mapping And Analyzing The Co-Authorship And Thematic Networks Of Kurdistan University Of Medical Sciences In The Science Citation Database From 2011-2016, Masoumeh Ansari, Mostafa Karimi, Mehrdad Khaledian

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Background: Considering the importance of co-authorship and thematic networks in expanding specialization and improving the quality of scientific works, the purpose of this research is to map and analyze the co-authorship and thematic networks of the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in the Science Citation Database between years 2011-2016.

Method: Research society of scientific publications in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, indexed in the science citation database between years 2011-2016. In order to analyze the data, Excel and HistCite software, and to map the networks and analyze them the Citespace and Gephi software were used.

Findings: …

Open Access Movement: Reception And Acceptance By Academic Libraries In Developing Countries, Roseline Bawack, Prudence Nkolo

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT The open access movement in its diverse forms constitutes the most interesting and promising model for the research output of an academic library or university. Even though the growth of OA presents some challenging hurdles to academic libraries, there are a number of notable benefits that are good enough to boost this movement. OA has come for good and is rapidly gaining impetus with an increasing number of academic institutions accepting and adopting open access policies and mandates for their research, publishing and dissemination. The purpose of this study is to discuss the situation of open access in academic …

Information Management As A Nexus To Promote The Use Of Indigenous Medicine And Enhance Public Healthcare Delivery: A Bibliometric Analysis, Patrick Ajibade (Phd), Stephen M. Mutula Prof.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper uses a bibliometric analysis to explore the citations trend in ethnomedicine and information management. A text mining algorithm of a total number of 8, 333 publications (n = 8,333) was conducted based on the title, abstract and keywords to find co-occurrence of key terms in indigenous medicine and information management. The first objective was to analyze the authorship, outputs and citation trends and establish if researchers have been able to establish a nexus between indigenous herbal use and the role of information management in promoting such use. Secondly, the study sought to establish if there is already …

Perceived Effect Of Personality Traits On Information Seeking Behaviour Of Postgraduate Students In Universities In Benue State, Nigeria, Victor Ozowa, Jane Igie Aba

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT

This study investigated perceived effect of personality traits on information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students in Universities in Benue state. The study focused on information seeking behaviour and personality traits in the area of extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience and neuroticism. Six (6) research questions were raised and five hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted survey research design. The entire population of 373 registered postgraduate students’ library users was used as sample.Research instruments was an adopted questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on the Perceived Effect of Personality Traits on Information Seeking Behaviour of Postgraduate Students in …

Population-Level Plasticity In Foraging Behavior Of Western Gulls (Larus Occidentalis), Scott A. Shaffer, Sue Cockerham, Pete Warzybok, Russell Bradley, Jaime Jahncke, Corey Clatterbuck, Magali Lucia, Jennifer Jelincic, Anne Cassell, Emma Kelsey, Josh Adams

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Background Plasticity in foraging behavior among individuals, or across populations may reduce competition. As a generalist carnivore, western gulls (Larus occidentalis) consume a wide range of marine and terrestrial foods. However, the foraging patterns and habitat selection (ocean or land) of western gulls is not well understood, despite their ubiquity in coastal California. Here, we used GPS loggers to compare the foraging behavior and habitat use of western gulls breeding at two island colonies in central California. Results Gulls from offshore Southeast Farallon Island (SFI; n = 41 gulls) conducted more oceanic trips (n = 90) of …

Information Literacy In Ghanaian Academic Institutions: Case Of Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology (K.N.U.S.T), Ghana, Lilian Atta-Obeng Miss, Ernest Boakye Mr., Fynn Paapa Kwamena Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

A case of a credit bearing information literacy skills class, offered to first year undergraduate students though not across all colleges at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana was analysed. The survey research methodology was used and questionnaire was distributed to 136 students. The findings indicated that the course was relevant and should be maintained though students’ knowledge on ethical use of information, citation skills, and information searching skills were poor. The study recommends a collaborative partnership between librarians and faculty for the teaching and learning of information literacy skills.

Foraging Behavior And Energetics Of Albatrosses In Contrasting Breeding Environments, Michelle Antolos, Scott Shaffer, Henri Weimerskirch, Yann Tremblay, Daniel Costa

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Animals can maximize fitness by optimizing energy acquisition through the selection of favorable foraging habitats, but trade-offs exist between time spent in preferred feeding habitats, energetic costs of travel, and reproductive constraints. For pelagic seabirds, geographic distribution of suitable breeding islands can restrict access to marine prey resources and influence foraging strategies. Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (P. nigripes) breeding in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and Indian yellow-nosed albatrosses (Thalassarche carteri) breeding in the Southern Indian Ocean, utilize productive subtropical-subpolar transition zones during their breeding and non-breeding periods, but this marine feature is at a comparatively greater distance for …

Effect Of Land Use Types On The Distribution Of Carnivore Species In Santa Clara County, Ca., Logan Thompson

Master's Theses

Anthropogenic pressures such as habitat loss and hunting pressures have caused terrestrial mammalian carnivores to decline by 95–99% in many regions of the world. These species are especially susceptible to fragmented habitats and a diminishing food supply because of their slow reproductive rates and high metabolic demands. In biodiversity hotspots such as California, understanding the range of human impacts to species is critical. This project assessed carnivore species distribution and occupancy by placing remote camera traps in a protected Reserve, agricultural, and developed land use types. Mountain lions were only detected in the protected Reserve, and because of this coyotes …

Community Structure And Zonation Of Antarctic Benthic Invertebrates: Using A Remotely Operated Vehicle Under Ice To Define Biological Patterns, Dorota Szuta

Master's Theses

The Ross Sea, Antarctica is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean that exhibits seasonal sea ice and is adjacent to a permanent ice shelf overlying seawater. In 2008 and 2009, imagery of the seafloor under the McMurdo Ice Shelf and under the seasonal ice in the Ross Sea was collected via remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at depths to 300 m. Distinct differences in Antarctic benthic communities were observed over multiple environmental gradients. Species abundance typically exhibited a unimodal distribution with depth with mid-depth peaks, reflecting a food limitation at the deep end and potentially ice disturbance on the shallow …

Youth Sport Development Pathways And Experiences Of Ncaa Division I Women's College Soccer Players, Emily Hardell

Master's Theses

As youth sport has become increasingly professionalized, many believe that the route to elite level play is through early specialization. Early specialization is a contentious issue, and many risk factors have been associated with high levels and intensities of training in youth. Youth today participate in highly competitive sport in pursuit of elite levels of play, recognition, and financial gain. Early specialization is thought to be a requirement for advancement, yet little is known about the early experiences of team sport athletes who grew up in the US. This is the story of 15 elite female athletes who “made it” …

Eductional Persistence In Latino Male Students Attending University: Their Experiences And Identity Development, Michelle Swartz

Master's Theses

Because Latino male students have lower graduation rates from high school and postsecondary institutions than other demographic groups have, this qualitative research study examined the psychosocial experiences that influence the development of educational persistence. To this end, eight Latino male undergraduate students, who are also low-income and first-generation students at San José State University, participated in semi-structured interviews in which they discussed their identities and school experiences. An analysis of the eight interviews shows how these students made meaning of their education, gender identity, and ethnicity. The constant comparative method for analyzing interview transcripts revealed the following themes: (a) the …

Design And Analysis Of Bio-Inspired Nacelle For Current Energy Turbine, Michael Coe

Master's Theses

he world’s oceans contain a substantial amount of energy, stored in ocean currents and waves. Ocean current energy can be extracted using similar principles to existing wind energy platforms. A problem with such extraction methods is that the velocity of the fluid in ocean currents is too low for efficient energy generation. A potential solution to this problem is the use of a concentrator or diffuser to increase fluid velocity to the blades, but this carries with it extra costs. A more cost effective solution to this problem is presented by the use of a down flow current turbine in …

Traditional Ecological Knowledge In Collaborative Forest Restoration In The Sierra Nevada, Michael Boero

Master's Theses

Forest restoration in the Sierra Nevada is receiving increased attention due to climate change, increasing populations in the wildland-urban interface, and the historical mismanagement of some forests, evidenced in part by the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in recent years. In response to an urgency to implement restoration in the absence of consensus on the best ways to proceed, public land managers practice collaborative management approaches to ameliorate antagonism between stakeholders and allow restoration projects to proceed when agreement is difficult to achieve. Stakeholders often include representatives from local community groups, environmental organizations, private industry, and—notably—tribal groups, who hold …

A Full Factorial Analysis Of Polymerization Conditions Of Sodium Alginate Beads To Determine The Effect On Diffusivity And Concentration Limit Of Tryptophan And Glucose, Allison Schulkins

Master's Theses

The purpose of this work is to develop an experimental setup with associated mathematical analysis to analyze the changes in diffusivity through calcium alginate gel beads made under different polymerization conditions. The diffusivity of the solutes glucose and tryptophan was calculated by measuring the concentration change over time as solute diffused out of the alginate spheres and into the bulk. The alginate beads were generated using different polymerization conditions following a two-level, three-factor, full-factorial matrix with alginate concentration, cross-linker concentration, and cross-linking time as the factors. The diffusivities showed variations between different conditions, which were analyzed to determine the main …

Developmental Effects Of Nicotine Exposure In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lisa Janet Wong

Master's Theses

Approximately 12%-20% of pregnant women smoke at some point during pregnancy, and 10% of pregnant women are reported to have smoked during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy leads to developmental health risks for the fetus and child, including increased mortality, low birth weight, and developmental delays. The direct molecular targets of nicotine are nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) due to the similarities in structure between nicotine and acetylcholine. However, in many cases, it remains unclear what molecular events downstream of nAChRs lead to the deleterious effects of nicotine on development. We have established Drosophila melanogaster as a …

Preparation And Characterization Of A (Viologen) Containing Main Chain Peg-Carbon Nanotubes Phase For Hybrid Supercapacitor Application, Kanishka Rana

Master's Theses

Supercapacitors (SCs) and batteries are recognized as the two most important electrical energy storage devices. SCs have some distinct advantages such as high-power density and long cycle life when compared to batteries. However, they have yet to match the energy densities of batteries. In an effort to improve the energy density of SCs, a hybrid supercapacitor was developed using a pair of single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes and two polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) gel-polymer electrolytes (GPEs) containing redox additives of viologen (V) and ferrocene dicarboxylic acid (Fc), respectively. The introduction of V and Fc, was expected to improve the energy performance of …

Latino Male College Students' Identities, Psychological Stress, And Coping Mechanisms, Ana E. Ramirez

Dissertations

Latino male college students’ identities impact their personal experiences, academic achievement, and well-being. This qualitative study uses a narrative inquiry approach to research Latino male college students’ racial and ethnic, gender, and academic identities and to investigate how these identities impact their psychological stress and the coping mechanisms they implement to manage their stress. Latino males undergo an identity development in which they engage in negotiating their gender identities in order to prioritize higher education academic requirements. When Latino males are determined to achieve a college degree, they are able to adjust their familism gender role expectations and shift their …

Sexual Recombination And Increased Mutation Rate Expedite Evolution Of Escherichia Coli In Varied Fitness Landscapes, George Peabody, Hao Li, Katy Kao

Faculty Publications

Sexual recombination and mutation rate are theorized to play different roles in adaptive evolution depending on the fitness landscape; however, direct experimental support is limited. Here we examine how these factors affect the rate of adaptation utilizing a “genderless” strain of Escherichia coli capable of continuous in situ sexual recombination. The results show that the populations with increased mutation rate, and capable of sexual recombination, outperform all the other populations. We further characterize two sexual and two asexual populations with increased mutation rate and observe maintenance of beneficial mutations in the sexual populations through mutational sweeps. Furthermore, we experimentally identify …

Spartan Daily, December 7, 2017, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2017

Volume 149, Issue 44

Suicide Prevention: Do San Francisco Afsp Community Walks Reduce Hopelessness?, Tyson Peltz

Master's Projects

Community-based outreach programs have been found to be effective, helping to educate people, and reduce suicide through outreach and peer group support. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has been at the forefront of the battle to reduce suicide through education, fund raising, lobbing, and support efforts to those in need of suicide prevention services, as well as those who have lost someone. One of the ways they have done this is through community walks and fundraising throughout the nation for anyone affected by suicide. These events are called Out of the Darkness Walks, which allow the community to …

Gender Variations In Research Productivity: Insights From Scholarly Research, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, Manzoor Hussain

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

The variations in research productivity available in the scholarly world, between men and women, have always attracted the interest of many researchers across the globe. The present study aims to identify the differences in research productivity, patent creation, funding, collaboration, citation and impact between men and women across regions and disciplines over a period of time. After the comprehensive literature survey, results of various studies were correlated in a systematic manner for further analyses to reveal the findings and draw conclusions. The findings clearly depict that comparatively, males have a higher average productivity than females for all the performance …

Availability And Utilization Of Electronic Information Databases For Research By Agricultural Scientists In Federal University Libraries In North Central Nigeria, Mohammed Suleiman Abubakar, Philip Usman Akor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was undertaken to determine the Availability and Utilization of Electronic Information Database for Research by Agricultural Scientists in federal universities in North Central, Nigeria. The instruments used were questionnaire and documentary records. Data were analysed using frequency distribution tables; percentage, mean and standard deviations. The population of this study was 415 scientifically distributed among the schools and faculties of Agriculture of the various universities covered by this study. Survey method was used for the study. Stratified sampling method was used to select 195 respondents to accommodate the different strata of the subjects involved in the study. The copies …

Evaluation Of The Influence Of Indigene-Ship And Interpersonal Relationship On Employment Of Staff In Selected Federal University Libraries In South-West, Nigeria., Uwaebuka Wisdom Madu Mr, Chukwuemeka Ogbonnaya Azubuike Mr, Helen Chris-Israel Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study evaluated the influence of indigene-ship and interpersonal relationship on employment of staff in selected federal university libraries in South-West, Nigeria. The selected libraries are the Hezekiah Olowsanmi Library of Obafemi Awolowo Univesity, Ile-Ife and Kenneth Dike library of the University of Ibadan. Two research objectives and two hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The ex-post facto research design was adopted, while census sampling technique was employed. The population comprised all the 143 professional and para-professional librarians in the libraries under study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data generated were analyzed using simple linear regression …

Spartan Daily, November 21, 2017, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2017

Volume 149, Issue 38