Digital Commons Network^™

Graph-Based Data Visualization In Virtual Reality: A Comparison Of User Experiences, Paul Andrew Sullivan

Master's Theses

Virtual reality is currently in the spotlight, attracting intense scrutiny by the press, technology companies, and consumers. After twenty years of dormancy, the technology has experienced a renaissance following advancements in both hardware and software. Most of these developments, and thus press attention, have been centered on entertainment. However, if the technology is going to continue to grow, it must be useful in a wide variety of situations. This paper explores the effectiveness of visualizing data in virtual reality in comparison to traditional presentations.

In this thesis, we present an approach to displaying data in a virtual reality environment. We …

Investigating Novel Approaches For The Integrated Control Of The Soilborne Strawberry Pathogens Macrophomina Phaseolina And Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Fragariae, Mel Carter

Master's Theses

Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) are emerging soilborne pathogens causing crown rot and Fusarium wilt, respectively, in commercial strawberry production in California. Fungicides representing eight active ingredients from four different mode of action groups (FRAC groups 1, 3, 7 and 12) were evaluated for their efficacy against each pathogen in vitro and each disease in planta. Fungicide active ingredients were evaluated for their ability to inhibit mycelial growth of both pathogens in vitro. Half-strength potato dextrose agar was amended with six different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, 10, 50 µg …

The Impact Of Performance Management System Characteristics On Perceived Effectiveness Of The System And Engagement, Laura Ricci

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine performance management systems to determine the characteristics that are most influential in predicting desirable organizational outcomes. Results of an online survey administered to 159 participants revealed that the four performance management system categories significantly predicted employees’ perceived effectiveness of their performance management system and employee engagement. The activities category was found to be the strongest predictor of perceived effectiveness and employee engagement. Four performance management system characteristics significantly led employees to perceive their performance management system to be effective and be engaged at work. These four performance management system characteristics include …

Cultural Influences In Political Ideology: Conservatism And Vertical Individualism, Cyrus Sarrafpour

Master's Theses

After an extensive literature review on authoritarianism and right-wing ideology, Jost, Kruglanski, Glaser, and Sulloway (2003) developed a model of conservatism as motivated social cognition. The model asserts that feelings of uncertainty, fear, and threat stimulate existential, epistemic, and ideological social-cognitive motives, which in turn lead to political conservatism in the forms of resistance to change and endorsement of inequality. The model, however, generally bypassed the notion that situational factors, such as cultural values, might also be influential in the manifestation and shaping of conservative ideologies. This study included situational factors such as the role of a hierarchical cultural dimension …

Incorporating Histograms Of Oriented Gradients Into Monte Carlo Localization, Michael K. Norris

Master's Theses

This work presents improvements to Monte Carlo Localization (MCL) for a mobile robot using computer vision. Solutions to the localization problem aim to provide fine resolution on location approximation, and also be resistant to changes in the environment. One such environment change is the kidnapped/teleported robot problem, where a robot is suddenly transported to a new location and must re-localize. The standard method of "Augmented MCL" uses particle filtering combined with addition of random particles under certain conditions to solve the kidnapped robot problem. This solution is robust, but not always fast. This work combines Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) …

The Effects Of Online Course Pedagogies On Learning And Cognitive Workload, Kallan Kay Christensen

Master's Theses

The use of recorded lecture video is a common online practice, although the implementation of this pedagogy varies and may have differential impacts on learning depending on the extent to which it increases cognitive workload. This study compared two different online statistics lecture formats: interactive and non-interactive. The interactive lecture video stopped approximately every minute and the participant had to answer a question regarding the material before moving on to the next section of the video. The non-interactive lecture video was the exact same video edited to remove all interactive breaks in the video. Cognitive workload was measured using the …

Juana Alicia: A Case Study Of The Artist As Critical Muralist, Allison Ann Connor

Master's Theses

Much has been written on Mexican Muralism and on the resurgence of mural art in the United States, and Chicana/o murals in San Francisco in particular, but very little has been written about mural artist Juana Alicia specifically, and none of this material has been gathered into one document. This study focuses on Juana Alicia as an important community-educator-artist-leader-activist, what educator and mural artist Arturo Rosette defines in his doctoral dissertation as a “critical muralist.” In particular, this study analyzes Juana Alicia’s 2012 mural, The Spiral Word, and places it within the context of mural art that functions as activist …

Effects Of Global Change On Algal Biomineralization And Benthic Community Interactions On California's Temperate Rocky Reefs, Emily Marie Donham

Master's Theses

Marine ecosystems are threatened by CO2-driven global change, such as ocean warming and acidification (OA). The primary objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the response of the coralline red alga, Calliarthron cheilosporioides, to global change; and 2) investigate the responses of California’s kelp forest communities to OA and sea urchin grazing. Results indicated that C. cheilosporioides growth and calcification were reduced under both increased temperatures and increased pCO2 despite increased photosynthetic rates in high pCO2 conditions. Mineralogy did not differ among treatments as a function of warming or acidification. Differences were observed in Mg incorporation into calcified walls …

Treatment Of Sk-Mel-28 Cells With R-Moj-Dm Upregulates Pro-Apoptotic Genes P53 And Tnf-B While Downregulating Oncogene C-Myc, Melissa Lombardo

Master's Theses

Cell death by apoptosis is the result of one or multiple signaling pathways that can be initiated inside or outside the cell for a variety of reasons. Integrins, expressing themselves on the cell surface, play a central role in some apoptotic pathways. Cancer cells have been known to bypass this function and upregulate survival factor genes in order to elude apoptosis and thrive in the body, thus creating an environment in which it is possible for them to grow and metastasize. Previously in Dr. Soto’s lab, a recombinant disintegrin mutant, r-Moj-DM, was shown to induce apoptosis in melanoma cell line …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Usa Weightlifting Facebook Follower Engagement During A World Event, Dora Gyulai

Master's Theses

The current case study explored USA Weightlifting’s Facebook use during a world event. Research questions were developed to guide a study through which the author investigated how USA Weightlifting utilized Facebook for advertising purposes, to encourage fan engagement, and to encourage brand community amongst customers interested in weightlifting at the international level. I used qualitative content analysis and collected data from the organization’s Facebook page, utilizing the Facebook Insights tool. By examining Facebook posts by type (photo, video, link) and engagement (likes, shares, comments), I developed a hierarchical categorization of the types of Facebook actions taken by USA Weightlifting. Based …

Dendrimer Modified Silica Nanoparticles As Fluorescent Chemosensors For The Detection Of Copper And Cyanide Ions, Alicia Luhrs

Master's Theses

A series of silica nanoparticle-based fluorescent chemosensors were synthesized for the sensitive and selective detection of Cu²⁺ ions in aqueous solution and subsequent CN^- ion detection. Silica nanoparticles (SNP) were modified with branching polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, which function as selective turn-off Cu²⁺ ion chelators and platforms for the attachment of rhodamine isothiocyanate (RITC) or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescent dyes. In the presence of Cu²⁺ ions, the emission of the fluorescent dye is quenched by Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and is dependent upon dendrimer generation, pH, fluorescent dye, and surface charge. The quenching effectiveness was analyzed …

Effect Of Non-Monetary Incentives On Women's Competitive Inclination: Experimental Evidence From Ancona, Italy, Kalkidan Shebi

Master's Theses

This study investigates how monetary incentives versus non-monetary incentives affect women’s decision to enter a competitive environment. This study was conducted in Ancona Italy, in a controlled laboratory experiment with a total of 60 participants; of which 29 were male and 31 were female. Participants were given mathematical addition problems to solve under alternative incentives. How they received these incentives differed based on their preference to enter or withdraw from the competition. The study also included components that assessed risk preferences and willingness to pay for the non-monetary incentive in the experiment. Results show no significant difference in performance scores …

Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles For Sensitive And Selective Detection Of Palladium (Pd2+), Sichen Zhang

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Environmentally Sustainable Practices At Small Community Sport Facilities, John Schumacher

Master's Theses

Despite the “greening” trend of professional/university sport organizations adopting more environmentally friendly approaches to the management of their sport facilities, a significant “greening gap” has grown between those organizations and the thousands of small community sport facilities (SCSFs) across the country that have yet been able to integrate environmentally sustainable (ES) policies into their operations and management.

As limited research existed in this area, I conducted a qualitative research investigation utilizing the framework of the diffusion of innovation theory to explore SCSF managers’ perceptions concerning the implementation of ES in the maintenance and operation of their facilities. I conducted interviews …

Internalized Stigma Among Hiv-Positive Men On Antiretroviral Therapy In Urban India, Mitchell L. Irving

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Modulating The Release Of Therapeutic Agents From Plga Coated Cancellous Allografts, Seth Malinowski

Master's Theses

Bone grafts are used in 2 million annual surgeries with that statistic expected to rise due to the increasing elderly population as well as sports related injuries. At a certain size bone fracture or defect, the body is unable to heal spontaneously, and a bone graft must be implanted into the defect site. Allografts are used as bone grafts due to their availability and elimination of donor site morbidity, however they show poor bioactivity and bone regeneration. This study utilizes a degradable poly(lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer coating applied to cancellous allografts, loaded with a variety of therapeutic agents aimed to improve …

Assessing Factors Related To Clinicians’ Attitudes Towards Suicide Prevention, Amanda L. Johnson

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Stimulation And Stiffness Characterization Device For Electrospun Cell Culture Scaffolds, Soliman A. Alhudaithy

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Vitamin D On Blood Pressure At Rest And In Response To A Peak Graded Exercise Test, Braden Armstrong

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

"Do Not Fashion The Other": Representing Contemporary Haudenosaunee Literature 2016, Michael Patrick Brewster

Master's Theses

Historically, the issue of representation in postcolonial studies is one of some contention. While scholarship might recognize the necessity for highlighting the plights and struggles attendant to postcolonial societies, the primary literature being studied is most often written by natives of those societies themselves. This gap is especially evident with Indigenous cultures, because there are relatively few Indigenous scholars working in the academy. We are at the point now when we have a multiplicity (but not a plurality) of Indigenous voices writing literature (poetry, memoir, fiction, film, etc.) and academic criticism. However, there is value in non-Natives reading and writing …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The National Alliance Of Mental Illness's Ending The Silence Program, Sarah L. Taniyama

Master's Theses

The National Alliance of Mental Illness’s Ending the Silence (ETS) program focuses on the epidemic of mental illness stigma among school- aged youth. The program is targeted specifically at high school- age youth, and aims to educate, dispel myths about mental illness and instill a message of hope and recovery all while encouraging students to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. A trained presentation team containing two people, one of whom is a young adult who is living with mental illness or recovered from mental illness, delivers the program. Participants (n=142) completed assessments measuring their thoughts and attitudes towards …

Student Perceptions Of Mentally Ill Offenders, Kimberly Nicole Rayborn

Master's Theses

Since deinstitutionalization, the responsibility for mentally ill members of society has shifted to the criminal justice system in a process of trans-institutionalization or “criminalization of mental illness” (Slate & Johnson, 2008). Though various groups have been studied to ascertain their perception of mentally ill individuals and offenders, previous research focuses largely on students of psychology, social work, and medicine. Little research has been conducted regarding the perceptions of students of criminal justice toward mental illness, despite the increasing involvement of the criminal justice system in treating and handling mentally ill individuals in the past thirty years. This exploratory research serves …

Effects Of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression On Leg Blood Flow And Vascular Function After Spinal Cord Injury, Lena Marie Cialdella

Master's Theses

Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) can increase leg blood flow (BF) in able-bodied persons. Whether IPC can alter leg BF, and improve vascular function in people with SCI is currently unknown. PURPOSE: Test the hypothesis that acute IPC will increase leg BF, and improve vascular function in SCI. METHODS: Participants (n=8; injury level: T3 and below; A.S.I.A. class A-C; age: 41±17 yrs) were recruited for a 1-hour IPC session performed in one leg (experimental leg; EXP), with the other serving as a control (CON). IPC consisted of sequential, foot-to-calf compressions (4-s inflate, 16-s deflate; 3 compressions/min). Posterior-tibial artery BF (Doppler-ultrasound) was …

Geometric Energies For Haptic Assembly, Morad Behandish

Master's Theses

Haptic-assisted virtual assembly and prototyping has seen significant attention over the past two decades. However, in spite of the appealing prospects, the adoption has been slower than expected. Putting hardware limitations aside, the main roadblocks faced in software development can be traced to the lack of effective and efficient computational models. Such models must 1) accommodate the inherent geometric complexities faced when assembling objects of arbitrary shape; and 2) conform to the computation time limitation imposed by the frame rate requirements---namely, 1 kHz for haptic feedback compared to the more manageable 30-60 Hz for graphic rendering. The fulfillment of these …

Exploring The Experiences Of Novice Athletic Trainers As They Gain Role Inductance Into Their First Full-Time Position, Mclain M. Whitney

Master's Theses

Context: While current literature suggests novice athletic trainers enter the workforce with the necessary clinical skills and experience to begin practice, little is known in how they handle other aspects of their job or life outside of the workplace.

Objective: To examine the level of preparedness and quality of work-life balance of recently-credentialed athletic trainers and examine the challenges they face in the professional socialization process.

Design: Qualitative Study.

Setting: I conducted semi-structured phone interviews with all participants.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 20 recently-certified (within past four years) athletic trainers (12 women, 8 men) working within the …

The Use Of Cone Beam In Private Dental Practices In The United States: Cost And Reporting Patterns, Andrew J. Pakchoian Dds

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigating Simple Shear Mechanics Of Bovine Cartilage Using A Triaxial Shear Test Machine, Stephany Santos

Master's Theses

Objective: Articular cartilage is a non-homogeneous tissue with complex structure-function relationships. Damage to articular cartilage leads to traditionally irreparable conditions such as osteoarthritis, a disease that is both painful and debilitating to a large human population. The objective in this thesis is to perform triaxial mechanical tests on articular cartilage that are quasi-static and large-shear strains, in order to understand tissue mechanical behavior. Methods: Cartilage explants were taken from three healthy adult bovine femurs. Specimens were categorized by joint contact and contact stress regions with respect to the femoral condyle. Specimens were subject to applied shear parallel and perpendicular …

Predicting Changes To Source Code, Justin James Roll

Master's Theses

Organizations typically use issue tracking systems (ITS) such as Jira to plan software releases and assign requirements to developers. Organizations typically also use source control management (SCM) repositories such as Git to track historical changes to a code-base. These ITS and SCM repositories contain valuable data that remains largely untapped. As developers churn through an organization, it becomes expensive for developers to spend time determining which software artifact must be modified to implement a requirement. In this work we created, developed, tested and evaluated a tool called Class Change Predictor, otherwise known as CCP, for predicting which class will implement …

How Organizational Communication Shaped The Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement, Mo Tehrani

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to show how organizations involved with the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement negotiations might have used the feedback loop characteristic of two-way Symmetrical communication theory to reach consensus on the Hearst Ranch Conservation Agreement.

Conservation easements are complex situations and each has separate and distinct goals, constraints, compromises, funding mechanisms, and public values.

This study analyzed public documents from seven different organizations that provided input in the public consultations regarding the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement, which completed in 2005. This study concluded that one of the communication methods adopted during the Hearst Ranch Conservation Negotiation …

The Effect Of Xenon Pulsed-Light Technology On Biofilm Adhered To Stainless Steel Surfaces, Stephanie Jacquez

Master's Theses

In food processing, inadequate surface sanitation procedures lead to the formation of biofilms in which bacteria attach and aggregate in a hydrated polymeric matrix of their own synthesis. Formation of these sessile communities and their inherent resistance to existing sanitation procedures and agents are at the root of the risk of bacterial infections for consumers. Due to this existing problem, an effective method for reducing biofilm formation in dairy processing equipment is necessary for dairy products processing. Ultraviolet Pulsed light Technology has shown a positive effect in eliminating microorganism populations on food products. The objective of this work is to …