Digital Commons Network^™

Personality, Motivation, And The War Between Facebook And Twitter, Elizabeth Shallal

Master's Theses

Social networking sites (SNSs) have recently become integrated in modern lives as entertainment, communication, and even careers have become more reliant on them. The current study explored the relationship between Facebook and Twitter attachment and demographic, motivation, and personality traits. Differing psychological relationships may explain why people become more attached to specific SNSs as well as explain their continuance of use. Using online self-report measures, this study measured motivations to use Facebook and Twitter, the Big Five personality traits, and Facebook/Twitter attachment of 109 participants who have been users of both Facebook and Twitter. Results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed …

The Effect Of Automating Routine Tasks On Air Traffic Controller Conflict Detection Performance, Lauren Claudatos

Master's Theses

The growing demand for air transportation necessitates the integration of automated support tools to assist air traffic controllers in managing the increase in number of flights. Using archival data from a human-in-the-loop simulation, the current study examined the potential consequence of integrating automated support on eight retired air traffic controllers’ performance and workload in current and projected future levels of air traffic. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA were used to examine workload and conflict detection performance across two levels of simulated air traffic density and two levels of automated routine task support. The participant controllers reported significantly higher workload and exhibited …

Objects Of Politics, Objects Of Art: Three Studies On The Display Of American Political Prints, Ricardo Chavez

Master's Theses

Fueled by the radical political thinking of the 1960s and beyond, people in the United States produced artistic responses in the form of political prints and posters for both documenting and actively galvanizing the popular movements of this era. This study analyzes the display of these prints and posters within an art-viewing context. It argues that, with characteristics of both objects of politics and objects of art, these works possess dynamic meaning that can be impacted by the institutional narratives of the locations in which they reside. Looking at three examples of political print exhibitions organized individually by the Museum …

Biochemical Study Of A Chymotrypsin-Like Serine Protease, Aachymo, From The Female Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, Olive Escalicas Burata

Master's Theses

The Aedes aegypti female mosquito is a dominant vector of four bloodborne viruses: dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. Defenses against viral infection are reliant on human competence to limit interactions with the vector or through abatement using

methods that are either too expensive or ecologically invasive upon other species. An alternative vector control approach focuses specifically on blood meal protein digestion, which is a required process to fuel the gonotrophic cycle. Reduction of eggs laid can be

observed by inhibiting midgut serine proteases that are afterward released in the midgut in the presence of a blood meal. Trypsin-like serine …

Associative Memory Performance Following Periods Of Wakeful Rest And Technological Distraction, Chalise Carlson

Master's Theses

We often spend breaks in our day by engaging with technological devices. However, literature across several species indicates that resting quietly without engaging in other activities, termed wakeful rest, can be beneficial to memory consolidation, a period following encoding which serves to stabilize memories. Prior research demonstrates that wakeful rest benefits memory for single items. However, the effects of wakeful rest on associative memory, (i.e. memory for associations between stimuli), remain unclear. To elucidate the effects of wakeful rest on associative memory, a study was designed to examine differences in associative memory performance following periods of wakeful rest and game …

A Biochemical Study Of The Autocatalytic Nature Of A Serine Protease (Early Trypsin) From The Aedes Aegypti Female Mosquito, Rachael Marie Lucero

Master's Theses

The female Aedes aegypti mosquito requires specific midgut proteases to digest

blood meals in a biphasic manner for completion of the gonotrophic cycle. The anautogenous nature of the female mosquito has led to the mosquito in becoming an efficient vector in transmitting several bloodborne pathogens: Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, Dengue and the Zika virus. With the many flaws associated with current vector control strategies, our research lab is focused on the development of a potential novel vector control strategy by targeting midgut proteases involved in blood meal digestion. The role of one of the four most abundantly expressed proteases, AaET, an …

Effect Of Evapotranspiration Rate On Almond Yield In California, Dafne Isaac Serrano

Master's Theses

Since 2011, California has been under drought conditions. These conditions have not only affected water availability for farmers, but also production. California’s second most valuable crop, almonds, has been affected by drought conditions. This study used three models (Model 1-3) to describe almond yield variability from year to year and almond yield variability within a year in Kern County, CA. The study evaluated 185 almond farms that were classified in three locations (east side, west side and north west side). The years of the study were 2011 (wet year) and 2013-2015 (drought condition years). Model 1 determined a functional regression …

Understanding Spatiotemporal Growth Of Ride Source Services In New York City, Lorenzo Roland Varone

Master's Theses

Ride source is among the fastest growing services in the transportation sector. While the service initially served a niche market, ridership has boomed in recent years. Daily ride source pickups in New York City have increased from about 60,400 pickups in January 2015 to about 550,000 pickups in December 2017, an 810% increase. Even though ride source broke into the transportation landscape almost seven years ago, research studying its effects has been stunted by the limited open source data made available by TNCs. In order to help city officials make smart policy decisions regarding ride source, transportation experts must continue …

Women With A Cause: Art, Representation, And Feminist Progress In Eighteenth-Century France, Darby Marie Leahy

Master's Theses

Throughout the eighteenth century the Age of Enlightenment transformed public discourse across Western Europe. In France, the salons of Paris became the primary institutions of Enlightenment thought. Hosted by women, the salons possessed a unique atmosphere in which men and women were regarded as intellectual equals. My thesis focuses on the role the female hostesses, salonnières, had in initiating French movements for gender equality that continued with great momentum throughout the French Revolution. By using popular artwork, literature, and memoirs I show how the efforts of French women to achieve gender equality helped give early rise to feminism.

An Assessment Of The Greatest Impacts On Distribution Uniformity For Drip And Micro Irrigation, Brooke Ashley Worden

Master's Theses

Using the Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Centers (ITRC) drip/micro evaluation program, global, or system, DU_lq is computed by combining the component DU_lq values of: pressure variation, uneven spacing between emitters, unequal drainage and “other” causes. “Other” causes include plugging, wear and manufacturing coefficient. The program also computes what percentage of the non-uniformity is due to each component. Burt (2004) showed that over 95% of the non-uniformity is due to “Other” causes and pressure differences. This thesis looks at what specifically in those components is driving the non-uniformity by analyzing various equipment and field practices and their …

Microfluidic Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy, John J. Foley

Master's Theses

The goal of this study is to design and manufacture a microfluidic device capable of measuring changes in impedance valuesof microfluidic cell cultures. Tocharacterize this, an interdigitated array of electrodes was patterned over glass, where it was then bonded to a series of fluidic networks created in PDMS via soft lithography. The device measured ethanol impedance initially to show that values remain consistent over time. Impedance values of water and 1% wt. saltwater were compared to show that the device is able to detect changes in impedance, with up to a 60% reduction in electrical impedance in saltwater. Cells were …

In Vitro Growth Of Osteoblasts On Poly Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid Scaffolds Created Via Gas Foaming, Matthew James Thomas

Master's Theses

This study analyzed the feasibility of using gas foaming to create Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) scaffolds for use as a substrate in bone tissue engineering and set out to determine whether the presence of osteoblasts on these scaffolds enhanced their material stiffness. The process of bone formation involves osteoblasts depositing extracellular matrix and calcifying this matrix with calcium phosphate crystals (Hasegawa et al., 2017) and pits between 30-40μm in diameter on tissue engineering scaffold surfaces have been shown to best promote osteogenic activity in the presence of bone-forming cells (Halai et al., 2014).The scaffolds were determined to contain pits within …

The Effects Of Poor Maternal Nutrition On Offspring Muscle Metabolism, Dominique Martin

Master's Theses

Poor maternal nutrition during gestation alters offspring muscle composition, fiber number, postnatal growth, and stem cell function. Additionally, poor maternal nutrition impacts offspring whole body and stem cell metabolism. We hypothesized that over- or restricted-feeding during gestation would alter muscle myoblast metabolism as well as offspring Longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) metabolome. Pregnant Western White-faced ewes (n = 47) were individually fed 60% (RES), 100% (CON), or 140% (OVER) of NRC requirements starting at d 30.2 ± 0.2 of gestation. At d 90 and 135 of gestation, ewes were euthanized for fetal muscle collection. Another group of ewes were allowed to …

Facilitating Effective Online Discourse: Investigating Factors Influencing Students’ Cognitive Presence In Online Learning, Xinran Zhu

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among social presence, cognitive presence and teaching presence in online learning within a Community of Inquiry (CoI) Framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000). In addition, the study investigated the impact of individual’s motivational factors on the relationship among the presences. An online survey testing learner’s perceived social presence, teaching presence, cognitive presence, situational interest and online technology self-efficacy was distributed to students who were taking online courses. A follow-up interview process was conducted in order to further interpret the quantitative data. The findings show that within the CoI framework, social …

Can The Job Characteristics Model Be Used To Attract Applicants? A Policy Capture Model Of Symbolic Attraction, Alec J. Calvo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Improving Diet & Physical Activity Behaviors Through Tailored Mhealth Messages: Application To Childhood Obesity Prevention In A Pediatric Emergency Department, Samantha Oldman

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Understanding Shared Demand: A Quantitative Investigation Into The Changing Modal Landscape Of New York City, Raymond Gerte

Master's Theses

The concept of shared travel, or making trips with other users via a common vehicle, is far from novel. However, recent technological advances have paved the way for new mobility alternatives within established transportation networks; including on-demand ride hailing/sharing/networking (e.g. Uber, Lyft) and citywide bike sharing systems. This shared concept has flourished and is being hailed as a potential option for autonomous vehicle operation moving forward. However, substantial investigation into how shared mode offerings impact travel behaviors and integrate into existing transportation networks is lacking. To address this, this research explores two main investigations. First, understand the demand for one …

Educational Prevention Program Of Surgical Site Infections At A Metropolitan Pediatric Hospital, Myra Hasan

Master's Theses

Surgical site infections (SSI) are a common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). They remain a significant problem, as they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and cause an increase in demand for several healthcare resources. In order to address this problem, hospitals have implemented several protocols and polices that are aimed to reduce these infections. However, the rates of SSIs continue to rise. Healthcare team members have found that while it is their responsibility to enforce preventative measures to the patient in the preoperative and surgical room, patient compliance to preventive measures at home also plays a role.

At …

Effects Of Polydatin On In Vitro Bovine Embryo Developmental Competence, Metabolism, And Cryopreservation, Corie Marie Owen

Master's Theses

Bovine in vitro produced embryos suffer from poor developmental competence and altered metabolism which hinders their cryotolerance. Overall, the goals of this thesis were to improve oocyte and embryo culture with the antioxidant polydatin and to optimize slow freezing procedures. This thesis was designed as three experiments, and in each experiment, oocytes were aspirated from abattoir ovaries, matured for 23h, fertilized with semen from 1 of 3 bulls, and cultured in synthetic oviductal (SOF) based medium (SCF1) in 38.5 °C in 5% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 90% N₂. Stage 7 blastocysts were stained with Nile …

Evaluation Of Endothelial Cell Responses To Elevated Glucose, Gabriella Sugerman

Master's Theses

Developing a tissue-engineered Blood Vessel Mimic (BVM) to represent diabetic macrovascular disease could expedite design of new vascular devices specifically tailored to diabetic patients. In contribution toward this model, this thesis assessed Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) responses to high glucose conditions. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cluster of Differentiation 36 (CD36) were selected to signify oxidative stress activity, a hallmark of diabetic macrovascular disease. Next, activity of potential reference genes B2M, HPRT1, and ACTB was assessed. All genes were found to exceed acceptable variability, so the E-ΔC T method of data analysis was selected. Next, cellular responses to high …

Enzymatic Activation Of Cannabinoid Pro-Drugs, Anna Theresa Margiotta

Master's Theses

Cannabinoids have been used throughout history as medical treatments spanning from menstrual cramps in ancient China to enhancing appetite in patients with AIDS or cancer in the modern day. Currently there is research indicating that cannabinoids also have anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on several strains of cancer cells (Carchman, Harris, & Munson, 1976; Glodde, Jakobs, Bald, Tüting, & Gaffal, 2015; McKallip et al., 2002; Preet, Ganju, & Groopman, 2008; Sánchez, Galve-Roperh, Canova, Brachet, & Guzmán, 1998). The traditional methods for administration of cannabinoids are inhalation or oral; however, for some cannabinoids these may result in undesirable psychoactive side effects. Cell-in-a-Box® …

Gold-Silver Core-Shell Nanoparticle Growth; Studies Towards The Development Of Biosensing Applications, Austin James Ethridge

Master's Theses

Gold and silver nanoparticles have been used since antiquity because of their unique optical properties (Amendola, Pilot, Frasconi, Mrago, & Lati, 2017) . These properties are related to a phenomenon called localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which is the collective oscillation of electrons located within the conduction band of a metal upon excitation by light at a specific frequency (Amendola et al., 2017). The extinction cross section, which defines the amount of incident light scattered or absorbed by a solution, that is related to the LSPR of gold and silver nanoparticles is up to five times greater than those of …

Mississippi’S First Statewide Teachers’ Strike, Emily Doyne Smith

Master's Theses

This thesis argues that the Education Reform Act of 1982 (ERA) inadvertently led to Mississippi’s first statewide teachers’ strike in 1985 because of the Southeastern pay average clause recommending that the teachers’ pay should reach the average of the southeastern states, if possible. The teachers’ associations in Mississippi used this clause to lobby and promote teachers’ pay to that average. However, after two years of stagnated pay raises, the teachers’ associations led a state statewide teachers’ strike. The strike successfully raised the teachers’ salaries and moved state legislators to consider the teachers’ pay issue carefully afterwards. However, the pay raise …

A Content Analysis Of Section 1983 Litigation Against Reserve Police Officers, Michael Ryan Broadus

Master's Theses

Police studies have well developed a demonstrative framework for detailing risks which generate financially-detrimental civil litigation – particularly regarding 42 U.S.C. §1983. Conversely, though, police studies have given little attention to the often-used but differentially-trained reserve police officer. Primarily replicating the methodologies of Kappeler, Kappeler, and del Carmen (1993) and Ross (2000), this descriptive study sought to fill this void via a manifest content approach to purposively select a sample of Section 1983 cases decided by U.S. District Courts over a 16-year period (2001-2016) to determine: (1) if significant liability was generated by reserve officers, (2) the main basis for …

Cornerstone Of Union Victory: Officer Partnerships In Joint Operations In The West, Aderian Partain

Master's Theses

The American Civil War included one of the pivotal naval contests of the nineteenth century. A topic of considerable importance is the joint operations on the western waters that brought about a string of crucial victories in the conflict for the Union. The effective cooperation of the naval river fleet and the western armies was a major cornerstone of Union victory. Scholars have written biographies of the more noted admirals and narratives of the flotilla have been detailed. What has not been accomplished is an exploration of the Union officers’ professional partnerships between the Mississippi Squadron commanders and their corresponding …

Blazing Worlds, Bethany Kinney

Master's Theses

Blazing Worlds is a collection of short stories exploring themes of understanding, isolation, the world of work, and identity. These stories follow characters who are searching for connections to others, to their environments, to their work, and to themselves. The protagonists of these stories inhabit worlds that are slightly adjacent to reality, worlds cast into a near future, and worlds that operate by the logic of the campy and the fantastic. Through heightened technology, body horror, or blurred metaphysical boundaries, the residents of these blazing worlds pursue knowledge of their place in life and fight to establish and maintain their …

Uptake Of Common Pharmaceutical Compounds In Hydroponically Grown Lactuca Sativa, Dorottya Ida Kelemen

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Metabarcoding Analysis Of Prey Composition Of The Copepod Calanus Finmarchicus In Regions Of The North Atlantic Ocean, Heidi Yeh

Master's Theses

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus occupies a pivotal position in the pelagic food web of the North Atlantic Ocean. Prey choice and predator-prey dynamics at this trophic level can influence energy transfer through the ecosystem. To examine the copepod prey composition and test the hypothesis that C. finmarchicus exhibit spatial variation in diet across four basins of the North Atlantic, this study used metabarcoding analysis (high throughput sequencing of orthologous gene regions) to analyze the gut contents of C. finmarchicus. Zooplankton net samples were collected during a 2013 cruise of the R/V GO Sars in the Norwegian, Icelandic, Irminger, and Labrador …

Evaluation Of Post-Graduate Endodontic Program Clinical Experiences: A Web-Based Survey, Jonathan David Blacher

Master's Theses

Endodontic residency programs vary in exposure to procedures, protocols and equipment across the United States. Available resources for clarifying the clinical experiences of current endodontic residents are lacking. Following Institutional Review Board approval, a survey regarding the clinical experiences of current endodontic residents was electronically distributed to all current endodontic residents that maintained an email address listed in the 2016/2017 AAE Membership Directory. The number of endodontic procedures, techniques employed, and products utilized were evaluated and described. The results of the survey included a 30% completion rate (133/437). The majority of respondents indicated completing between: 150-250 non-surgical root canals (NS-RCT), …

The American Dream(Ers): Undocumented Youth’S (Re)Interpretation Of Social Movement Frames, Kevin Zevallos

Master's Theses

The dreamer narrative and its accompanying frames have become a staple of immigration debates in the United States. Dreamer narratives afford undocumented youth organizations visibility to articulate their socio-political needs. As undocumented youth make claims for legal and social recognition, they utilize dreamer frames that highlight undocumented youth as productive, patriotic, and/or deserving members of U.S. society. Based on 18 semi-structured interviews with undocumented youth and Connecticut state legislators and participant observation of undocumented youth-led rallies, lobbying campaigns and organizational meetings, I examine how undocumented youth organizers react, respond and utilize nationally derived social movement frames in a local context. …