Digital Commons Network^™

Host Promiscuity In Symbiont Associations Can Influence Exotic Legume Establishment And Colonization Of Novel Ranges, Metha M. Klock, Luke G. Barrett, Peter H. Thrall, Kyle E. Harms

Faculty Publications, Environmental Studies

Aim
Invasive Acacia species have negatively impacted natural areas in multiple regions around the globe. Almost 400 Acacia species have been introduced outside their native ranges in Australia; approximately 6% have become invasive, 12% are naturalized, and 82% have no record of naturalization or invasion. This variation in invasiveness provides a comparative framework in which to examine mechanisms that either promote or constrain establishment and colonization of species in novel regions. Here, we experimentally examine the role that the legume–rhizobia symbiosis plays in the differential invasiveness of acacias introduced outside their native Australian ranges.
Location
Canberra, Australia.
Methods
We paired …

Research Productivity Of The Scientists Of Indira Gandhi Centre For Atomic Research (Igcar) Kalpakkam (Chennai): A Scientometric Analysis, Jeyshankar -. Ramalingam -

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study evaluates the research publication trend among scientists of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research during the period 1989-2013. Data were analyzed based on type of publication, year of publication, language, source, country, institutions, most preferred journals and most prolific authors among other variables. The study revealed that majority (96.26%) of the researchers preferred to publish their research papers in joint authorship only and the degree of author collaboration ranges from 0.84 to 0.99 and its mean value is 0.95. It also revealed that IGCAR scientists preferred to publish their work in the Journal of Nuclear Materials and …

An Audit Of Records And Information Management Practices And Icts Utilisation Among Smes In Northern Uganda, Constant Okello-Obura Dr., Faridah Muzaki

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Good management practices for records and information are now becoming key norms in organisations due to the value attached to records and information. This is because records and information is considered the life blood of business transactions. However, with the advancement in technologies, the business enterprises need to rethink the ways they manage records and information (RIM). This study was carried out in northern Uganda among the SMEs to make an audit of RIM with special focus on the life cycle of RIM and application of ICTs in RIM functions. It also investigated the management of e-mail as valuable records …

Managing Disasters In University Libraries In South East Nigeria: Preventive, Technological And Coping Measures, Richard N. C. Ugwuanyi Dr., Mercy Ebere Ugwu, Kelechi Chukwunonso Ezema

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

This study examined the types of disasters that occur in university libraries and the extent of application of preventive, technological and coping measures in managing these disasters. The study adopted descriptive survey design and the major instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The results showed that university libraries in South East, Nigeria had experienced disasters which resulted in adoption of some preventive measures. It was however found that no significant technological and coping measures were applied in managing disasters in the university libraries. The study recommended that policy framework or …

Tradition, Culture, And The Problem Of Inclusion In Philosophy, Justin E. H. Smith

Comparative Philosophy

Many today agree that philosophy, as an academic discipline, must, for the sake of its very survival, become more inclusive of a wider range of perspectives, coming from a more diverse pool of philosophers. Yet there has been little serious reflection on how our very idea of what philosophy is might be preventing this change from taking place. In this essay I would like to consider the ways in which our ideas about philosophy's relation to tradition, and its relation to other dimensions of human culture, influence efforts to promote greater diversity in the field.

Bibliometric Study Of Literature On Leptospirosis For The Period 2006-2013, Kotti Thavamani

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper attempts to assess the literary output in the field of Leptospirosis productivity for the period 2006-2013. Statistical analysis has been carried out using SPSS and other relevant measures. It shows that the year wise distributions of Leptospirosis records are increasing year after year except the years 2008, 2009 and 2011. It shows that 88.76% articles are of English language and followed by Spanish and French languages. It is observed that USA has contributed the highest number of records in the study period. Next major contribution belongs to England, Netherlands and India. India has the 4th position among the …

Connecting Self-Efficacy And Nature Of Science Shifts In Undergraduate Research Experiences, Gina Quan

Faculty Publications

Undergraduate research can support students’ more central participation in physics. We present analysis of one way this participation may shift: changes in their beliefs about the Nature of Science coupled to changes in a sense of ability to contribute to authentic research. Students in the study worked with faculty and graduate student research mentors on research projects and also participated in a seminar where they learned about research and reflected on their experiences. In videotaped interviews, we asked students to describe their experiences in research. Students developed nuanced views about how the research process works coupled to shifts in their …

Sjsu Erfa News, Summer 2015, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (ERFA) Newsletter

Volume 28, Number 4

Prokaryotic Diversity In The Rhizosphere Of Organic, Intensive, And Transitional Coffee Farms In Brazil, Adam Caldwell, Livia Silva, Cynthia Da Silva, Cleber Ouverney

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Despite a continuous rise in consumption of coffee over the past 60 years and recent studies showing positive benefits linked to human health, intensive coffee farming practices have been associated with environmental damage, risks to human health, and reductions in biodiversity. In contrast, organic farming has become an increasingly popular alternative, with both environmental and health benefits. This study aimed to characterize and determine the differences in the prokaryotic soil microbiology of three Brazilian coffee farms: one practicing intensive farming, one practicing organic farming, and one undergoing a transition from intensive to organic practices. Soil samples were collected from 20 …

Investigating The Paleoecological Consequences Of Supercontinent Breakup: Sponges Clean Up In The Early Jurassic, Frank Corsetti, Kathleen Ritterbush, David Bottjer, Sarah Greene, Yadira Ibarra, Joyce Yager, A. Joshua West, William Berelson, Silvia Rosas, Thorsten Becker, Naomi Levine, Sean Loyd, Rowan Martindale, Victoria Petryshyn, Nathan Carroll, Elizabeth Petsios, Olivia Piazza, Carlie Pietsch, Jessica Stellmann, Jeffrey Thompson, Kirstin Washington, Dylan Wilmeth

Faculty Publications

The continued release of fossil fuel carbon into the atmosphere today means it is imperative to understand Earth system response to CO2 rise, and the geologic record offers unique opportunities to investigate such behavior. Stomatal and paleosol proxies demonstrate a large change in atmospheric pCO2 across the Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) transition, concomitant with the eruption and emplacement of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) and the splitting of Pangea. As one of the “big 5” mass extinctions—when the so-called modern fauna was particularly hard hit—we know the biosphere was severely affected during this time, but the details are relatively poorly understood, …

Growth, Mortality, And Reproductive Potential Of California Halibut (Paralichthys Californicus) Off Central California, Cheryl L. Barnes

Master's Theses

Differences in key biological processes, such as growth and reproduction, can greatly influence localized population dynamics. Thus, it is important to evaluate intraspecific variation at several spatial scales to better understand biological limitations and develop management plans that maximize fishery sustainability. In 2011, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) conducted its first comprehensive stock assessment for California Halibut, Paralichthys californicus. However, limited life history data were available north of Point Conception. To improve our understanding of central California Halibut biology, 704 fish were collected during 2012 and 2013. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated at L∞ = 1041 …

Human Impacts On Rocky Intertidal Gastropods: Are Marine Protected Areas Effective?, Cassie Bednar

Master's Theses

As the human population has exponentially increased, so have anthropogenic effects on the ocean including pollution, eutrophication, acidification, changes in sea level, and overfishing. The California coast is visited by millions of people every year and is subject to a range of impacts. In the near-shore marine environment, people collect intertidal gastropods for food, bait or recreation. Collecting these animals has caused a decline in body size because humans preferentially take the largest individuals. Marine protected areas (MPAs), established to protect marine resources, may serve to reduce impacts to species, including gastropods. I collected 2510 individual samples to determine the …

The Effect Of Post-Operative Analgesics On Ovarian Medullary Angiogenesis And Vasculogenesis, Shamus Martin Brady

Master's Theses

A critical factor for successful ovarian transplantation is the expeditious establishment of sufficient blood supply. Recommendations intended to improve recovery, reduce the effects of stress, and decrease the amount of pain for laboratory animals undergoing surgical procedures include post-operative analgesia. The two main types of drugs that are recommended for pain management are opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Buprenorphine, an opioid, and meloxicam, an NSAID, are both widely used and have been shown to affect angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. This study was designed to examine the influence meloxicam and buprenorphine had on new blood vessel formation in the ovarian medullary …

Alfalfa Trap Cropping Increases Abundance Of Key Arachnids In An Organic Strawberry Agroecosystem, Sutapa Biswas

Master's Theses

Eighty three percent of the strawberries consumed in North America are grown in California, where the widespread use of insecticides has become hazardous to public health. The intensive use of pesticides for growing strawberries causes serious health risks to farm workers, in addition to contaminating the soil and groundwater. The cost to the environment and public health in the United States is estimated at $12 billion annually. Finding effective nontoxic management strategies for insect pests has become essential for long term sustainability. One strategy strawberry producers can use to promote sustainability is to increase the effectiveness of biological control techniques. …

Growth Of Literature In Higgs Boson: A Scientometric Analysis Of Scopus Database (2005-2014), Soumen Teli, Asish Maity

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper analyses the growth pattern of Higgs Boson literature during 2005-2014 (10 years). The socups database has been used to retrieve relevant data. Total number of publication has been identified as 4359 records contributed worldwide over a period of 2005-2014.The distribution of publications based on the year of production, country wise productivity, document type of the publications, Major subject categories , authors whose contribution is in the maximum level were studied. The organizations contribute Higgs Boson research have also been studied.

Longitudinal Distribution And Summer Diurnal Microhabitat Use Of California Red-Legged Frogs (Rana Draytonii) In Coastal Waddell Creek, Neil Keung

Master's Theses

Habitat use by federally threatened California Red-Legged Frogs (CRLF; Rana draytonii) is incompletely understood. I captured, PIT-tagged, and radio-tracked CRLFs (n = 20) at Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz County, from July–December 2012. Limited tracking for movements was also conducted in 2013. Frogs were clumped in deep, complex habitats along the stream within 2 km of breeding ponds near the stream mouth, but most adults were concentrated in the lagoon. Marked and tracked frogs had very small summer home ranges, and most returned to the same home range after breeding. Frogs tended to use good aquatic (e.g., wood, undercut banks, dense …

Gender Differences In Stress, Alcohol Consumption, And Cigarette Use Among College Students At San José State University, Thomas Farleigh

Master's Theses

Stress, alcohol consumption, and cigarette use represent three considerable threats to the mental and physical health within this country. Learning more about the prevalence and predictors of these threats in young adults may aid the development of programs to reduce the deleterious effects of these threats as young adult's age. A vast amount of research has been done to examine the possible association between stress and substance use in college students, but given the diversity of college students across the US, more research is needed targeting specific college campuses. This study did so with regard to a sample of students …

Modeling Black Bear-Vehicle Collision Zones In Yosemite National Park, Katie Elaine Rodriguez

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify road and habitat characteristics associated with black bear-vehicle collisions in Yosemite National Park and to suggest proper mitigations to reduce their occurrence. Black bear-vehicle collision data collected by Yosemite National Park staff between 1995 and 2011 were used to identify variables associated with collisions. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software was used to map and split Yosemite roads into 1 km segments. After measuring road and bear habitat-related variables along each road segment, logistic regression analyses showed that segments with collisions were associated with crossing sites, understory vegetation, curves, close proximity to …

Investigation Of Population Structure And Distribution Of The Invasive Bryozoan Watersipora Species Along The California Coast Using Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna, Darren James Wostenberg

Master's Theses

This study combined microsatellite nuclear DNA analysis with cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA analysis to evaluate coastal population structure, environmental factors influencing population distribution, and the potential for hybridization among coexisting Watersipora haplogroups along the California coast. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the COI gene identified three haplogroups: W. subtorquata clade A, W. subtorquata clade B, and W. new species. Analyses resulted in seven haplotypes for haplogroup clade A, and a single haplotype in each haplogroup clade B and new species. Microsatellite data indicated the greatest source of genetic variation in the two species examined (W. subtorquata and W. …

Mining Concept In Big Data, Jingjing Yang

Master's Projects

To fruitful using big data, data mining is necessary. There are two well-known methods, one is based on apriori principle, and the other one is based on FP-tree. In this project we explore a new approach that is based on simplicial complex, which is a combinatorial form of polyhedron used in algebraic topology. Our approach, similar to FP-tree, is top down, at the same time, it is based on apriori principle in geometric form, called closed condition in simplicial complex. Our method is almost 300 times faster than FP-growth on a real world database using a SJSU laptop. The database …

Cryptanalysis Of Classic Ciphers Using Hidden Markov Models, Rohit Vobbilisetty

Master's Projects

Cryptanalysis is the study of identifying weaknesses in the implementation of cryptographic algorithms. This process would improve the complexity of such algo- rithms, making the system secure.

In this research, we apply Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to classic cryptanaly- sis problems. We show that with sufficient ciphertext, an HMM can be used to break a simple substitution cipher. We also show that when limited ciphertext is avail- able, using multiple random restarts for the HMM increases our chance of successful decryption.

How Access To Plant & Animal Books Affects Participation In Conservation Activities, Dustin Ingram, Hassnaa Ingram

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Public libraries are an important resource for communities. Access to plant and animal books impacts a communities’ ability to learn about their environment. In this study, the number of plant and animal books available to people through local libraries in northern Kentucky, and neighboring counties in Ohio and Indiana were counted and a survey assessing one’s preferences and likeliness to participate in conservation activities was distributed to local residents. Based on the collected data, a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) was found between access to plant and animal books available at local libraries and the likelihood of people to participate in conservation activities. Further analysis was performed between the total number of shelved plant and animal books at local libraries, the total number of shelved juvenile plant and animal books and the shelved adult plant and animal books, and the total number of plant and animal books in libraries compared to the local household income and number of households near a library. This study found that people that read books about plants and animals were more likely to participate in conservation activities associated with their book preference. This study also found that people living in low-income communities with fewer households are less likely to participate in plant and animal conservation, as compared to higher-income communities with a higher number of households. Additionally, this study found that lower income areas have fewer plant and animal books on the library shelves than higher income areas. Consequently, study results suggest that if more plant and animal books were made available to low-income areas and areas of biological importance through libraries, people may be more likely to conserve the wildlife around them.

Malware Detection Using Dynamic Analysis, Swapna Vemparala

Master's Projects

In this research, we explore the field of dynamic analysis which has shown promis- ing results in the field of malware detection. Here, we extract dynamic software birth- marks during malware execution and apply machine learning based detection tech- niques to the resulting feature set. Specifically, we consider Hidden Markov Models and Profile Hidden Markov Models. To determine the effectiveness of this dynamic analysis approach, we compare our detection results to the results obtained by using static analysis. We show that in some cases, significantly stronger results can be obtained using our dynamic approach.

33rd Annual African American Commencement, 2015, San Jose State University, Associated Students

African American Commencement

33rd Annual African American Commencement

"Black Grad: Striving Today to Create a Better Tomorrow." The 2015 African American Commencement ceremony was held on Friday, May 22, 2015 in the Student Union Ballroom at San Jose State University.

Using Neural Networks For Image Classification, Tim Kang

Master's Projects

This paper will focus on applying neural network machine learning methods to images for the purpose of automatic detection and classification. The main advantage of using neural network methods in this project is its adeptness at fitting non­linear data and its ability to work as an unsupervised algorithm. The algorithms will be run on common, publically available datasets, namely the MNIST and CIFAR­10, so that our results will be easily reproducible.

Static Analysis Of Malicious Java Applets, Nikitha Ganesh

Master's Projects

In this research, we consider the problem of detecting malicious Java applets, based on static analysis. In general, dynamic analysis is more informative, but static analysis is more efficient, and hence more practical. Consequently, static analysis is preferred, provided we can obtain results comparable to those obtained using dynamic analysis. We conducted experiments with the machine learning technique, Hidden Markov Model (HMM). We show that in some cases a static technique can detect malicious Java applets with greater accuracy than previously published research that relied on dynamic analysis.

Sociobot: Twitter For Command And Control Of A Botnet, Ismeet Kaur Makkar

Master's Projects

A botnet is a collection of computers controlled by a botmaster, often used for malicious activity. Social network provides an ideal medium for botnets to spread their reach. In this research, we develop and analyze a botnet that uses Twitter for its command and control channel. We use this botnet to perform a distributed denial of service attack on a web server, and we utilize the biological epidemic models to analyze the spread of the botnet using Twitter.

Combining Dynamic And Static Analysis For Malware Detection, Anusha Damodaran

Master's Projects

Well-designed malware can evade static detection techniques, such as signature scanning. Dynamic analysis strips away one layer of obfuscation and hence such an approach can potentially provide more accurate detection results. However, dynamic analysis is generally more costly than static analysis. In this research, we analyze the effectiveness of using dynamic analysis to enhance the training phase, while using only static techniques in the detection phase. Relative to a fully static approach, the additional overhead is minimal, since training is essentially one-time work.

Using Probabilistic Graphical Models To Solve Np-Complete Puzzle Problems, Fengjiao Wu

Master's Projects

Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGMs) are commonly used in machine learning to solve problems stemming from medicine, meteorology, speech recognition, image processing, intelligent tutoring, gambling, games, and biology. PGMs are applicable for both directed graph and undirected graph. In this work, I focus on the undirected graphical model. The objective of this work is to study how PGMs can be applied to find solutions to two puzzle problems, sudoku and jigsaw puzzles. First, both puzzle problems are represented as undirected graphs, and then I map the relations of nodes to PGMs and Belief Propagation (BP). This work represents the puzzle grid …

Comparative Analysis Of Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithms For Text Feature Selection, Shuang Wu

Master's Projects

With the rapid growth of Internet, more and more natural language text documents are available in electronic format, making automated text categorization a must in most fields. Due to the high dimensionality of text categorization tasks, feature selection is needed before executing document classification. There are basically two kinds of feature selection approaches: the filter approach and the wrapper approach. For the wrapper approach, a search algorithm for feature subsets and an evaluation algorithm for assessing the fitness of the selected feature subset are required. In this work, I focus on the comparison between two wrapper approaches. These two approaches …