Digital Commons Network^™

The Dissolution Of Diatoms In Marine Microbial Mats, Almariet Palm

Master's Theses

Microbial mats are self-contained organosedimentary ecosystems that played an important role in the evolution of early life on Earth. Understanding the conditions of their formation and preservation in the fossil record could provide valuable insights into microbe-mineral interactions and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Diatoms are found at the surface of extant microbial mats, but their frustules are not observed at depth and rarely in fossil microbialites, which suggest their frustules dissolve. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of cyanobacterial photosynthesis, which locally elevates pH, in the dissolution of diatoms frustules. Field data and laboratory studies determined the effect …

Security Dilemma In U.S.-China Relations: A Non-Traditional Security Studies Perspective, Jessica Tran

Master's Theses

Since Former President Barack Obama’s announcement of the Pacific Pivot in 2011, the security dilemma in U.S.-China relations have worsened considerably. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the shifting of U.S. military focus to the Asia-Pacific region is expected to continue. As the U.S. moves forward with increasing its military presence in the Pacific to counter a perceived “aggressive” China, it may lead to serious consequences. This thesis presents the argument that China’s conception of national security includes the defense of the state from both foreign and domestic threats. Therefore, China’s military developments and policies are not strictly in response to …

Dreams Sin Fronteras: Exploring The Lives And Experiences Of Five Returned Migrants In Mexico, Andrea Portillo

Master's Theses

Due to an unprecedented number of deportations in the last decade, coupled with a recent fall in net migration from Mexico, return migration from the United States to Mexico has made its way to the forefront of the immigration discourse. This article uses the experiences of five Mexican migrants who have returned to Mexico, “voluntarily” or through deportation proceedings, to argue that the stories and experiences of returned migrants can provide insight into the challenges/successes of life post-return. In doing so, this article draws parallels between the personal experiences of these five returnees and the broader discourse on return migration, …

Immigrant Identities: U.S. Intervention And The American Dream In Central America, Madeline Linn

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the ways in which U.S. intervention in Central America has been a contributing force to out-migration. Moving away from the conventional lens of migration studies, this thesis attempts to bridge a connection between the imposed construct of the American dream and the early implementation of U.S. neoliberal policy to measure a shift in immigrant identity. The historical antecedents of U.S./Central American relations are explored in order to trace the earliest moments of intervention in the physical sense. Discourse analysis is utilized to track the ways in which a ‘good life’ narrative and benchmarks of ‘success’ have been …

Cultural Imperialism, Tv And Children Spectatorship In Contemporary Ghana., Aba Micah

Master's Theses

A content and discourse analysis of television programs is performed to show that Ghanaians do enjoy their local programs but very little time is allocated for children’s content on both the public and private stations. Instead, foreign content has flooded the TV channels for both adult and children’s programs and this is concerning because culture is being lost amongst the new generation. Also, in an era where representation matters, African children should be represented in the media. This paper centers on cultural and media imperialism and representation of the African child in the media and we find that TV programs …

Multilingual Families Homeschooling: Reasons, Goals, And Challenges, Georgina J.J. Aubin

Master's Theses

This study examines homeschooling among multilingual families by providing insight into multilingual parents’ motivations, goals, and challenges in homeschooling, along with their perception of the role their diverse language background plays in their homeschooling experience. Through the LangCrit framework, this study explores the intersection of language and parental involvement in the identities multilingual parents live as they homeschool their children. Findings demonstrate that parents’ goals and challenges center on academic and social concerns, rather than language issues. Rather, the influence of their language background emerges in descriptions directly focused on language and culture. The fluid dimensions of their identities are …

“Unwanted In My Own Country”: Testimonies Of Identity And Belonging-Negotiations In A Post-Trump America, Nadia Naghedi Baradaran Hajjar

Master's Theses

This research investigates the impact of Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 presidential elections and the so-called, “Muslim” Travel Ban presidential executive orders, on communities of first and second-generation Middle Eastern, Muslim immigrant women in the Los Angeles area, and it is framed within the context of post 9/11-biases and racial discrimination. The ethnographic-like methodology for this research has been conducted with the use of 11 semi-structured in-depth interviews from 2017 that have been transcribed and coded. Findings from the interview data shows that there is a varied amount of responses from the 2016 Presidential Elections and travel ban, however, …

On The Front Lines: Service Providers Respond To The Haitian Refugee Crisis, Karina Castro

Master's Theses

Haitian Refugees arrived in Tijuana in mass numbers in the fall of 2016, with the dream of receiving asylum in the United States. However, upon their arrival, U.S. immigration policy changed and Tijuana became their permanent home as it strived to absorb this new population. In this paper I will address how Tijuana service-providers responded to this humanitarian crisis and were affected by U.S. and Mexican policies in their ability to support the integration of Haitian refugees in their communities. The historical context of Haitian migration history will provide an overview of push factors via an analysis of the economic, …

From Davao City To Daly City: Examining Translanguaging And Transnationalism In The 1.5-Generation Filipin(A/O) Americans Of Daly City, Rita Ewing

Master's Theses

In the field of migration studies, research on transnationalism has been well

established. Applying an intersectional framework of post-colonial narrative and

linguistic anthropology to transnational migration, this research allows us to better

understand how the transnational immigrant deploys language. Through a nostalgia

studies approach, this study is able to analyze how transnational immigrants place value

on their heritage and second languages, and reflexively deploy their language sets to

reflect their unique positionality. This paper is a case study examination of five adult

members of the 1.5-generation of Filipin(a/o) American immigrants, who immigrated to

the US before the age of eighteen …

Overlooking Men And Boys In Forced Criminality At The Border: A Content Analysis Of Human Trafficking Training And Awareness Materials, Eric Beasley

Master's Theses

Executive Summary

In the Post 9/11 era, where American security is intimately linked to a militarized border management system designed to protect the United States and its territories from threats of terrorism, illegal drugs, and illegal immigration, the media continues to perpetuate the 'Latino Threat Narrative'. The images and information offered to us for consumption help us construct an understanding of events, people, and places. This paper explores how the 'Latino Threat Narrative' and inherent gender biases shape how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) understands vulnerability and identifies human trafficking victims, particularly men and boys from Mexico and Central …

Political Revolutions And Women's Progress: Why The Egyptian Arab Spring Failed To Deliver On The Promises Of Women's Rights, Anne Song

Master's Theses

The mass participation of women in the 2011 Egyptian Arab Spring began what many thought would be a new feminist movement. As news cycles started showing the central role of women in the Arab Spring, many people including the women who demonstrated believed women’s rights were on the horizon. This study shows why the 2011 Arab Spring did not deliver on the promises of women’s rights in Egypt. Explaining the historical, religious, and societal influences on women’s rights in Egypt, and using data from the Arab Barometer and reports from the World Bank and UN, this study shows that the …

Mineral Warfare: The Dark Side Of Technology And International Mediation, Priyanka Basnyat

Master's Theses

Conflict surrounding the extraction and trade of natural resources is not an uncommon phenomenon. Especially in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has historically suffered from the negative impacts of the resource curse since their mineral wealth was first discovered by their Colonial administrators. The importance of Congo’s minerals has fluctuated over the years but has peaked during recent times, as their use in technological advancements are becoming more vital. The global demand for these mineral ores have sky rocketed and consequentially, the largely informal trade has benefitted certain rebel groups, playing a pivotal role in …

Individualizing Care For Pediatric Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Perioperative Services, Erin Scheller

Master's Theses

This research explores solutions for individualizing and improving care for pediatric patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Perioperative Setting of an Outpatient Surgery Center. Specifically, it seeks to determine if providing parent and staff resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder is significantly helpful in increasing confidence in the staff by the parents and the staff themselves. Participants included thirty-five surveyed families who had pediatric patients visiting perioperative services and staff who work on the unit. Methods used include information dissemination with the use of printable and online evidence-based resources, an in-person education event for staff, and a pilot study of …

Don’T Worry Be Happy: Analysis Of Happiness As An Economic Measurement, Kofi Boadu

Master's Theses

Everyone wants to be happy. Happiness however never seems to be a national goal. A possible answer is that happiness is subjective and on its own may not be reflective of the economic status of a country. Therefore, should people’s happiness should be treated equally with other traditional economic measurements? This cross-country level study looks at the relationship between happiness and traditional economic measurements; mainly GDP per capita. Questions concerning whether GDP per capita indeed captures the overall well-being of a citizen and happiness’ eligibility as an economic measurement are addressed. Findings confirm that happiness and GDP per capita are …

Impact Of Innovative Menstrual Technology And Awareness On Female Empowerment Outcomes In Rural Nepal, Anjali Limbu

Master's Theses

In developing countries, menstruation poses two significant challenges for females. First, the resources required for periods are expensive for those in low-income communities. Hence, the absence of such menstrual products lowers females’ access to schooling and employment. Next, periods are also heavily stigmatized – especially in poorer or rural areas. Such taboos surrounding menstruation negatively impacts females’ psychological development and hamper their prospects of socialization. Thus, to analyze this issue, we ran a randomized control trial in Nepal, where we provided reusable menstrual pads and / or health seminar to 312 schoolgirls and 100 of their mothers. Our outcomes demonstrate …

Epidemiology Of Sudden Death In Organized Youth Sports In The United States, 2007-2015, Brad D. Endres

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Participant Gender And Exposure To Social Embarrassment Messages On Evaluations Of Binge Drinking Messages, Seth Mccullock

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of A Modified Heat Tolerance Test In Recreational Runners, Kelsey M. Rynkiewicz

Master's Theses

Exercising in hot and humid conditions is a stressful environment that can be taxing on the human body. In certain situations, uncompensable heat stress may occur in which there is an overwhelming of the thermoregulatory system. This may result in exertional heat illnesses, particularly exertional heat stroke, which warrant rapid and appropriate treatment to avoid long term complications, or even death.

Returning to activity, duty, or play after an exertional heat stroke, or for those who exhibit difficulty exercising in the heat, is a complex process. However, heat tolerance tests have been used, particularly in warriors, as an evaluation tool …

Telomerase Activator 65 (Ta-65) Favorably Affects Parameters Of Metabolic Syndrome - A Pilot Study, Minu Sara Thomas

Master's Theses

Abstract

Background: Telomerase Activator 65 (TA-65), a compound extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, was developed to increase or maintain telomere length. Objectives: To determine the effects of TA-65 on the parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: We recruited 40 patients aged 32-70 years with MetS to determine the effects of TA-65 on dyslipidemias and anthropometrics in this at-risk population. This was a double-blind, randomized crossover design in which patients were allocated to consume either 16 mg daily of a TA-65 supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. Following a 3-week washout, participants were allocated to the alternate treatment for an …

Conferring Diva Capability To A Commercially-Available Csfv Elisa: A Double-Competition Approach, Yuxiang Wang

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Near Field Mixing Characteristics Of A Variable Density Non-Reacting Jet In A Hot Vitiated Crossflow, Kyle T. Linevitch Jr

Master's Theses

The mixing characteristics in the “extreme” near field of a non-reacting jet in crossflow were experimentally investigated in an environment relevant to gas turbine combustors. A turbulent jet was injected into a hot vitiated crossflow of combustion products at 1500K. Different jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratios and jet-to-crossflow density ratios were studied using three different jet exit velocity profiles; a fully developed turbulent pipe flow with 4% turbulence intensity (TI), a top-hat flow with 8% TI, and a turbulent pipe-like flow with 40% TI. Center-plane scalar mixing of the jet and crossflow were investigated using measured temperature fields from planar laser …

Dental Anxiety Among Patients Attending A University Dental Clinic, Maria Vallejos

Master's Theses

Visiting the dentist may generate anxiety for many individuals. Some suffer from severe dental anxiety, and consequently avoid dental appointments. Despite the advances made in modern dentistry, anxiety about dental treatments remain prevalent. Health care professionals should attempt to identify these individuals to provide better care and improve access to dental care. Objectives: (a) examine the prevalence of dental anxiety and its association with the type of dental care sought (routine care/ emergency care); (b) explore when the patient suffers more anxiety, and (c) examine the possible relation between dental anxiety and sociodemographic factors. Methods: 120 Eligible participants …

Light And Electron Microscopy Analysis Of Gold Nanoparticle Penetration In Stiffness Varying 3d Tumor Spheroids, Mathangi Madhavan

Master's Theses

Mechanical properties have always been considered one of the primary biomarkers in distinguishing normal cells from tumor cells. The prime purpose of this thesis was to study and analyze the penetration of gold nanoparticles in different stiffness , same sized and varying time-points 3D tumor spheroids using light and electron microscopy techniques. Recently a lot of attention has been given to the culture of cancer spheroids for applications such as drug delivery, nanoparticles interaction, and penetration. Such analysis requires high-quality imaging modalities like transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this study, a set of spheroids were cryo-sectioned to study the distribution …

Development Of Tools For A 3d Reconstructed Intracortical Volume Around Microelectrode Arrays, Aparna Nambiar

Master's Theses

Extensive research using penetrating electrodes implanted in the central and peripheral nervous systems has been performed for many decades with significant advances made in recent years. While these penetrating devices provide proximity to individual neurons in-vivo and perform effectively for several months, they are prone to failure over a year and longer. 2D Histology studies using serial tissue sections have been extremely insightful over the years in identifying and quantifying most of these factors such as astrocytic scar formation, microgliosis, and neuronal death, around the implant sites. However, there are significant limitations of 2D histological studies in providing a holistic …

La Contribution De L’Espace Et De La Temporalité Dans L'Oœuvre De Pierre Pevel A La Reconsidération De La Fantasy, Oceane Rouxel

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Current Status Of Professional Networks Addressing Sex Education In The United States: An Initial Exploratory Thematic Analysis, Aliya Subhit

Master's Theses

Sex education in the United States has been a highly debated topic. The history of sex education depicts the changing narratives of both the public and the government’s ideals on the topic. Due to the discrepancy between the publics attitudes and perceptions versus the governments ideals, this thesis is the first of its kind to conduct an initial thematic analysis of available bodies of knowledge across the five core mental health disciplines (i.e., marriage and family therapy, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, and psychiatric nursing) to determine how the current state of sex education programs in the U.S. is …

L'Almanach De La Seconde Moitié Du Xixe Siècle: Formes Et Fonctions D'Un Nouvel Objet Informationnel De Rupture Moderne, Clemence Lucchini

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Cranial Neural Crest Cell Differentiation Towards An Osteoblastic Fate, Sean Congdon

Master's Theses

The world health organization estimates that craniofacial defects affect between 2-3% of all live births, with complications ranging from aesthetic issues to severe mental retardation (Marcucio 2015). It is estimated that for a pathology resulting in craniofacial aberrations, each affected individual costs society ~1 million dollars in corrective and palliative care (Singh 2014). Current investigations into genetics underlying these defects have revealed 564 human (HPO 2017) and 3297 murine (MGI 2017) genes thought to be involved in craniofacial pathologies. Facial development requires a population of cells known as Cranial Neural Crest Cells (CNCCs) to properly migrate from the neural plate …

Mobilizing Social Capital: A Qualitative And Network Analysis Of Human Service Organizations, Ethan Christian Adams

Master's Theses

Poverty and homelessness is a social problem that impacts all communities in the U.S. and globally. Social programs that address these issues often focus on mobilizing resources to provide opportunities to increase the social position of their clients and meet their basic needs. Sociological research into this problem, however, has emphasized the influence of social connections in the experiences of individuals in poverty. Social capital is the conceptual representation of actual or potential resources obtained through social network connections. Existing literature regarding social capital has demonstrated that social connections are a critical aspect of human social experience and the ability …

Impact Of Prolonged Sitting On Central Hemodynamics: Role Of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Therapy, Anna Kayleigh Downey

Master's Theses

Prolonged sitting (3-6 hours) negatively impacts peripheral vascular health. Whether sitting similarly impacts central cardiovascular hemodynamics and vascular stiffness is unknown. Purpose: Determine if prolonged sitting increases central blood pressure, aortic pulse wave reflection and vascular stiffness. Methods: In 10 subjects (Age=22±2 yrs, BMI=28±4kg/m², 3 females), brachial artery pulse wave analysis was performed before (baseline-BL), during, and after 3 hours of sitting. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was examined before and after sitting using carotid applanation tonometry coupled with oscillometry performed on left upper-thigh. For mechanistic insight, intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) was applied during sitting (i.e., 3, 120 …