Digital Commons Network^™

Cubesat Astronomy Mission Modeling Using The Horizon Simulation Framework, Alexander W. Johnson

Master's Theses

The CubeSat Astronomy Network is a proposed system of multiple CubeSat spacecraft capable of performing follow-up observations of astronomical targets of interest. The system is intended to serve as a space-borne platform that can complement existing systems utilized for astronomical research by undergraduate and high school students. Much research and development work has been performed to develop model-based system engineering methodologies and products for CubeSat missions, including the Horizon Simulation Framework. The Horizon Simulation Framework enables the development of system models using the Extended Markup Language (XML), and its simulation program can generate system simulations over model-specified timespans. System requirements …

Investigation Of The Under-Body Flow Field Of A Prototype Long-Range Electric Vehicle, Matthew P. Nguyen

Master's Theses

This thesis presents changes to the design of the Prototype Vehicles Laboratory (PROVE Lab) Endurance Car, an electric car intended to break the Guinness World Record for the single-charge range of an electric vehicle. The design range is 1609.34 km, however at the design velocity of 104.6 kph, the drag is 196 N; which requires more battery capacity than the 100 kWh maximum of the baseline model. With a fixed frontal area, drag reduction can come from lowered velocity or reduced CD. CD reduction is attempted in four ways: side skirts between the fenders, a raised ride height, an elongated …

Identification Of Factors That Influence The Cell Density Dependent Growth Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Archana Palakkal Meethil

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Community Attitudes Toward Complementary, Alternative And Integrative Medicine In North Hartford, Connecticut, Andria Matthews

Master's Theses

Background: This study explores the attitudes of residents of North Hartford, CT toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine. Methods: Twenty-five semi-structured, 10-15 minute in-person interviews were conducted at five sites over a two-week period in March 2019. Results: Few respondents were familiar with the term “Integrative Medicine.” Familiarity with modalities such as massage was higher (92%). Massage therapy was most often tried in the past (56%). Meditation and relaxation and yoga were the most frequently requested offerings. Cost, transportation, time of day and day of week, all emerged as potential barriers to participation. Pain-related complaints were prevalent amongst respondents. Conclusions: …

The Effects Of Creative And Cognitive Exercises On Body Balance, Gina Digiacomo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Whether Perceived Stress Mediates The Effects Of Income On Engagement And Weight Loss Loss Outcomes In An Online Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention, Kristen Volz

Master's Theses

Individuals with lower income have higher rates of obesity and are underrepresented in weight loss treatment. Moreover, when individuals with lower income do enroll in face-to-face interventions, their adherence and weight loss outcomes are worse due to known treatment barriers, including unreliable transportation, lack of childcare, and scheduling constraints associated with multiple jobs and unconventional work hours. Because online interventions are asynchronous and can be accessed any time of day, they hold significant promise for reducing treatment barriers and improving adherence and weight loss outcomes in lower income populations. However, one drawback of online interventions is that they are self-directed, …

Coastal Adaptation To Sea Level Rise: Effects Of Residential Proximity To The Coast, Climate Change Perceptions, And Attitudes Toward Government For Valuing Ecosystem Outcomes, Kristin B. Raub

Master's Theses

In a changing climate, there has been an increase in the frequency and severity of hazards impacting coastal communities. Traditionally, hard defenses (sea walls) have been constructed to protect these communities, even though they can have negative impacts throughout the nearby coastal environment. There has been increasing consideration of alternative shoreline protection strategies, such as living shorelines, or managed retreat. However, each of these coastal management strategies comes with a series of monetary, environmental, and social tradeoffs making individual preferences dependent on multiple scenario-specific attributes. Ecosystem service valuation is a useful tool for understanding how humans relate to the environment …

Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of Diversity And Inclusion Hiring: Are We Really Getting Ahead? [2019], Deidre D. Pierson

Master's Theses

Diversity and inclusion hiring in NCAA Division III athletic departments has seen some improvement over the last two decades, but questions remain on whether we are really getting ahead. There continues to be a lack of diversity, particularly in private Northeast institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of hiring practices and initiatives utilized by athletics departments. The study utilized tenants of critical theory which supported the in-depth questioning and centering of the lived experiences of participants. This study used semi-structured interviews of nine Division III female head coaches of women’s sports to examine their …

Spring-Guided Electromagnetic Vibrations Energy Harvester, Ghufran Jaber Aldawood

Master's Theses

In recent years, vibration based energy harvesting techniques showed a promising alternative to power wireless sensor networks (WSN). Billions of low power sensors are currently used widely in wireless sensor networks (WSN) and the Internet of Things environment (IoT). These sensors are currently powered by a traditional power source, i.e. a disposable battery. Vibrations are an abundant source of kinetic energy that can serve as the power source for these sensor nodes. This approach eliminates the necessity for frequent battery replacement due to their short-life span and hazardous disposal process. The adverse and irreversible effect from the disposal of these …

Heat Activation Of Bacillus Anthracis Persists Over A Seven Day Period, Nathan T. Ross

Master's Theses

Bacteria of the Bacillus genera are capable of forming dormant and resilient cells called spores in response to starvation. Spores can break dormancy in the presence of nutrients in a process called germination. Historically, spores are exposed to sublethal heat treatments to increase the extent and rate of germination. This process is known as heat activation (HA). Previous studies on Bacillus species indicate the effects of HA are reversible after 72 hours. After this time period, the spores must be reactivated. However, spores of Bacillus anthracis, a member of the Bacillus family, have not been tested to see how long …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Electromyography Biofeedback At Improving The Upper Trapezius To Serratus Anterior Muscle Activation Ratio, Julia Evelyn Holton

Master's Theses

Purpose: The upper trapezius to serratus anterior muscle activation ratio is essential for optimal shoulder function. An alteration of this ratio, specifically a decrease in upper trapezius and increase in serratus anterior activation, is a main area of focus in shoulder rehabilitation (Kibler, 1998; Paine & Voight, 1993). Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback has been shown to be an effective rehabilitation technique to address many musculoskeletal disorders but there is limited research on the retention of improvements seen with EMG biofeedback (Ma et al., 2011; Lim et al., 2014; Weon, et al., 2011). The purpose of this study was to determine if …

Customization Of Aneurysm Scaffold Geometries For In Vitro Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics To Use As Models For Neurovascular Device Testing, Camille D. Villadolid

Master's Theses

Cerebral aneurysms occur due to the ballooning of blood vessels in the brain. Rupture of aneurysms can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which, if not fatal, can cause permanent neurologic deficits. Minimally invasive neurovascular devices, such as embolization coils and flow diverters, are methods of treatment utilized to prevent aneurysm rupture. The rapidly growing market for neurovascular devices necessitates the development of accurate aneurysm models for preclinical testing. In vivo models, such as the rabbit elastase model, are commonly chosen for preclinical device testing; however, these studies are expensive, and aneurysm geometries are difficult to control and often do not replicate …

The Impact Of Pretrial Supervision Conditions: Evaluating Pretrial Release Orders Of One Colorado County, Anthony Mark Azari

Master's Theses

Pretrial risk assessments are tools that have been created to address concerns associated with monetary bail in the United States. A pretrial risk assessment tool provides an objective analysis of an arrested person to determine whether he or she will reappear in court or will be rearrested upon being released from jail. One of the goals of pretrial risk assessments is to reduce the financial bail burden the criminal justice system poses on suspected defendants by providing a tool to determine the relative risk defendants pose in the community. Another goal of pretrial risk assessments is to reduce jail overcrowding. …

Challenges For Nursing Students In The Clinical Learning Environment, Huyen Thi Tran

Master's Theses

The study aimed to survey the problems/challenges nursing students of Hong Bang International University (HIU) reported facing in the clinical environment. These factors might be a barrier or motivation for a student's clinical learning. In addition, collecting the information through this research helped explore the real difficulties that might exist when students practice clinical care. This data will help to develop appropriate recommendations to improve the quality of training as well as reduce the burden on nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Sixty-nine third-year nursing students (58 females and 11 males) of the Bachelor of Nursing Program from …

Children's Acceptability Of Vegetables: The Relationship Between Food Neophobia, Vegetable Neophobia, Picky Eating, Bitter Sensitivity, And Mouth Behavior, Tara Lynn Egigian

Master's Theses

Although vegetables provide many beneficial nutrients and have been shown to help reduce the risk of dietary related chronic diseases, children in the United States are not meeting the national recommendations of vegetable servings. The overall goal of this research was to study the relationship between children’s vegetable acceptance and the following children’s characteristics: food neophobia (FN), vegetable neophobia (VN), picky eating (PE), 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity, Mouth Behavior (MB). The specific objectives were to: (1) develop a novel method for evaluating children’s MB, (2) assess the FN, VN, PE, PROP sensitivity, and MB levels in children in San Luis Obispo …

Shall We Dance: Responses Of Participants To A Dance Class Designed For Parkinson’S Patients, Brittni Lynn Mcalister

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to describe the responses of participants in a dance class designed for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients. This study had a total of eight participants—six were adults with PD and participants in the Parkinson’s dance classes, one was the other primary instructor of the Parkinson’s dance classes, and the other one was a care partner of a participant in the classes. In this study, the researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the data. The researcher sought to observe the experiences of participants in dance classes designed for individuals with PD and interview …

Traditional Sounds On Western Instruments: The Use Of Traditional Music Of Mainland Southeast Asia In Western Orchestral Works, Tachinee Patarateeranon

Master's Theses

The cultural preservation of traditional music has become a serious issue in the mainland of Southeast Asia. The impact of political revolution, economic problems, westernization, and modernization have all but eliminated traditional music from its homeland. Western music, on the other hand, is flourishing in the region and has had a strong influence on the transformation of traditional musical genres in order to attract the attention of today’s society. As a result, one way to help traditional music survive in this modern context is to incorporate it with western genres. This research, therefore, aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating …

Assessment Of Patient Waiting Consultation Time In An Primary Healthcare Clinic -- The Outpatient Department Of Cho Ray Hospital, Pham Thi My Nhung

Master's Theses

Long patient waiting times in primary healthcare clinics in South Vietnam such as Thong Nhat Hospital and An Giang Hospital are a common phenomenon. In South Vietnam, especially at the Cho Ray Hospital, long patient waiting times were to be expected. Unfortunately, very little knowledge exists regarding potential causes of this problem or how it impacts patients. The purposes of this non-experimental, exploratory field study were to (a) assess the process and outcomes of an outpatient clinic as they related to waiting times, factors contributing to waiting times, and associated factors (outcomes) that influenced patient satisfaction levels in the outpatient …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol, Shawn Alan Bydalek

Master's Theses

Cannabinoids are a structurally diverse class of compounds that act as ligands at the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, through which the majority of the physiological effects of these compounds are mediated. Endocannabinoids (endogenous cannabinoids) are a subset of the cannabinoid family and include 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide, and like most cannabinoids, these compounds have been shown to have anti-neoplastic effects on various cancer lines. The synthesis of 2-AG from dihydroxyacetone was selected as a research goal to try to improve yield over older published synthetic methods, to keep 2-AG in a protected form to avoid isomerization and …

Direct Assessment Of Entrepreneurial Minded Learning Through Integrated E-Learning Modules, Aadtiyasinh Rana

Master's Theses

Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML) has a significant emphasis in engineering education

today. Several approaches have been used to assess the impact of various EML approaches. Many indirect assessment techniques have been used and a few direct assessment techniques have been developed. The work presented in this thesis investigates the effectiveness of two specific measurement methods to quantify entrepreneurial minded learning in students.

The University of New Haven has adopted the approach of integrating e-learning modules on entrepreneurial topics and related contextual activities into courses as the primary approach of developing an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) in students. This study focuses on …

The Evolutionary Diversity And Biological Function Of Phenazine Metabolite Biosynthesis In Burkholderia Spp, Samuel Hendry

Master's Theses

Burkholderia encompass a group of ubiquitous Gram-negative bacteria that include numerous saprophytes, as well as several species that cause infections in animals, immunocompromised patients, and plants. Some species of Burkholderia produce colored redox-active secondary metabolites called phenazines (Phz). In the model opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, phenazines strongly contribute to the competitiveness, formation of biofilms, and virulence in multiple models of infection. Similar depth of knowledge on the diversity, biosynthesis, and biological functions of phenazines in Burkholderiais missing. This project aimed to bridge this gap in knowledge by focusing on phenazine pathways of B. lata and closely related …

Werewolves: A Three-Dimensional Content Analysis Of Films From 1980-2014, Jennifer Lewis

Master's Theses

WEREWOLVES: A THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF FILMS FROM 1980 – 2014 revolves around how monsters function in stories. Monsters represent fears and teach social norms. They are often portrayed as “other”, but more recently the werewolf has appeared in media as more sympathetic (Brannon 2016, 21; Gilmore 2008, 362; Hughes 2009, 97). Limited research has systematically studied how werewolves are represented in the media. This content analysis focuses on how major werewolf characters are represented in 20 films.

The analysis showcases werewolf characters in today’s culture and what it means to be a monster by analyzing hybridity. This study presents …

Horses, Culture, And Trade: The Impact Of The Horse On Southeastern Native Nations, 1650-1830, Jacob Featherling

Master's Theses

A small portion of the regional literature details the impact of horses on Southeastern Native nations and focuses on a few of the larger groups, particularly the Choctaw, from the mid-eighteenth to the nineteenth century. This thesis intends to increase the scope to analyze the entire Southeastern region, as well as multiple Native nations in the area. The thesis argues that Southeastern Natives slowly adopted horses into their economies and cultures over a longer period of time than previously believed, allowing them to increase their use of horses easily to meet market demands. Instead of southeastern nations rapidly adapting their …

Acting Black: An Analysis Of Blackness And Criminality In Film, Blake Edwards

Master's Theses

This thesis will attempt to answer how films deal with blackness and crime, specifically when intersecting with the concepts of exploitation, appropriation, whiteness and the criminality of the black body. While not entirely the root of the negative perceptions of African-Americans in the United States, the manner in which African-Americans are portrayed in motion picture media influences how their presence is seen in society. This thesis will examine specific films that include elements dealing with the listed factors and what effects they may or may not have.

A Case Study Of Police Use Of Force On Juveniles In A Southeastern Police Department, Kayce Lowe

Master's Theses

Officer characteristics, situational factors, and organizational factors are common predictors in identifying and explaining police use of force (Friedrich, 1980). While these domains are important, the separation of juveniles in use of force studies is an essential component that is lacking in most use of force literature today. Some studies unintentionally imply that adults and juveniles present the same predictors of force by this lack of separation. Age, specifically the status of juveniles and adults, is not a common predictor of police use of force; however, it is one of the most influential factors in shaping a police officer’s decision-making …

Emotion Reactivity, Emotion Dysregulation, And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among At-Risk Adolescents: A Multiple Mediation Analysis, Paula N. Floyd

Master's Theses

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as deliberate self-inflicted damage to bodily tissue without the intent to die. NSSI has been identified as a major health concern, as it is related to both poor psychosocial outcomes and increased suicide risk. NSSI is especially important to understand among adolescents, as age of onset is typically during adolescence and prevalence rates are highest among this age group. One of the most well-established correlates of NSSI is emotion dysregulation. While many studies have examined emotion dysregulation and its subcomponents in relation to self-injury, there has been far less work devoted to factors that may …

What's Cookin'?: An Analysis Of Food As A Method Of Control In The Penal System, Zoe Livengood

Master's Theses

According to Garland (2001), the U.S. correctional system is a reflection of the culture of control that exists in American society. One way the correctional system exerts control is through food. This concept partnered with Foucault’s ideas about the evolution of punishment and the criminal justice system as an institution creates the theoretical foundation for food as a method of control in the correctional system.

Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study examined food as a method of control in three southern Mississippi jails in order to understand how food is a contested space for control between jail staff and …

Their Culture Against Them: The Assimilation Of Native American Children Through Progressive Education, 1930-1960s, Jamie Henton

Master's Theses

The failure of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to successfully assimilate Native Americans, especially Native children through education tactics such as boarding schools, led to a shift in the mid-twentieth century for pro-Indian reform. From the 1930s through the 1950s, BIA education reformers pursued progressive education. They imagined progressive education would allow the BIA to use Native American traditions and culture to educate and mold Native students into modern contributing American citizens. To appeal to students, the BIA commissioned a series of educational materials, primarily children’s books, designed to use Native culture to teach children how to adapt to …

Vocal Response Of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) To A Novel Stimulus, Lindsey Johnson

Master's Theses

Bottlenose dolphins utilize acoustic signals as their primary mode of communication. Although some aspects of dolphin vocal behavior are well understood, less is known about vocalizations in different behavioral contexts and how these vocal behaviors may indicate habituation and sensitization. The focus of this study was to investigate how bottlenose dolphins respond vocally to a novel stimulus. Archival data from three populations of bottlenose dolphins (N = 20) living in a human-care facility were exposed to a novel apparatus (a mirror) for 10 trials, each lasting 20 minutes. Five of the trials presented the mirror covered with an opaque …

Evaluation Of Commercial Protective Cultures For The Control Of Listeria Monocytogenes And Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli In Raw Milk Cheese, Catherine Gensler

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.