Digital Commons Network^™

Financing And Productivity: Evidence From Indian Manufacturing Industry, Tingyi Wu

Master's Theses

India grows rapidly in recent years, not to mention its high-technology industry. What are secrets behind this fast-growing situation? This paper intends to find the answer using a firm-level panel data in India and examine the loan-productivity relationship via both contemporaneous and lagged models. I find positive and statistically significant results that loans play an important role in firms’ performances.

Reducing Vulnerability Through Reintegration: The Case Of The Syrian Refugees In Jordan., Felipe Hernan Rodriguez

Master's Theses

Abstract: The Syrian Civil War has claimed at least two hundred thousand lives, with over four million people having now fled Syria. Of those, about six hundred thousand have registered with the UNHCR in Jordan, with an estimated eighty thousand others living in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp. In view of the foregoing, this research attempts to analyze the vulnerability of Syrian Refugees living in Jordan in two very different environments: the Zaatari Camp and non-camp communities. We conduct a covariate matching analysis to compare the differences in socioeconomic conditions and well-being among the heads of Syrian households. Our results suggest that …

Political Intrusion On Firms: Effects Of Elections On Bank Lending In India, Shivprasad Prabhakar Gunjal

Master's Theses

This paper examines the intrusion of political system on performance of Indian firms, employing state and constituency level financial borrowing panel data by firms from domestic banks from 2010 to 2015. Using conditional logistic and fixed effects regression models, the results suggests that firms located in regions aligned politically with the ruling party enjoy possible preferential access to financing from banks. We find average productivity efficiency loss of 2.77% in the short term as a result of politically motivated redistribution of scarce capital. These political effects are statistically robust to the inclusion of region fixed effects, time fixed effects and …

Gender Differences In Willingness To Compete: Experimental Evidence From Bosnia, Boris Jokic

Master's Theses

Abstract: This research examines gender differences in willingness to compete with differing incentives . The results of previous experiments show that women are significantly less competitive, even when they perform equally well as men. However, in these experiments cash was the only incentive provided. Therefore, we investigate what happens to gender differences in willingness to compete when we switch the incentive from cash to non-cash prize. Similar to Cassar, Whordofa, and Zhang (2016) who found that women become equally competitive as men when incentive is related to wellbeing of their children, we find that the gender gap in competitiveness still …

Policing That Matters: Making Civilian Oversight Work, Sofia Aguilar

Master's Theses

Since 2015, there have been 8 fatal shootings by the San Francisco Police Department and no officers have faced any administrative discipline. This paper works to demonstrate how the San Francisco Police Department escapes administrative discipline in situations of officer involved shootings (OIS) through the combination of flawed accountability procedures, state laws and government leaders who fail to push against these protective forces. My project will show how the combination of little authoritative power from the Department of Police Accountability and protective state laws in favor of police privacy complicate the investigation procedures that determine whether or not officers face …

Investigation Of Absolute Photoionization Cross Sections Of Cyclic Ketones, Low Temperature Combustion Of Propargylamine By Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry, And Computational Study Of Hypersalts, Chelsea Liliana Price

Master's Theses

The presented research was carried out at the University of San Francisco. Measurements of absolute photoionization cross sections of both cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone, as well as the Cl-initiated oxidation of propargylamine were completed through the use of a multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometer (MPMIS) located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Advanced Light Source (ALS). Furthermore, the design of novel LiF containing hypersalts, constructed from superhalogens and superalkalis, were explored due to their enhanced ionization energies and electron affinities. All determined calculations were completed using the CBS-QB3 composite model with the Gaussian09 program.

Goal Effectiveness In Achieving Educational Outcomes: Experimental Evidence From 9th Graders In Medellin, Colombia, Daniel Salicath, Alessandra Cassar

Master's Theses

Does goal setting among low-income ninth graders leads to higher average goal achievements of educational outcomes? This question is explored by a field experiment motivated by the acknowledged California-based Family Independence Initiative (FII), to analyze the effectiveness of individual goal setting, incentives and self-help groups on the achievement of educational goals. By randomizing treatments and control with the cooperation of the Secretary of Education in Medellin, different classrooms were assigned to five different experimental groups that met systematically for five months. The results show that goal setting is a cost-effective method to help low-income students achieve educational outcomes. Setting a …

Financial Sector Development And Agricultural Productivity, John J. Onoja

Master's Theses

Global concern is rising about the performance of the agricultural sector in view of its integral role in poverty alleviation, economic development and meeting an ever-increasing nutritional demand. At the epicenter of the concern is declining productivity due to poor financial inclusion of the sector leading to low investment and returns to agriculture. A cursory examination of the existing literature on the subject reveals quite varied dimensions to the analysis of agriculture productivity-financial development nexus. Focusing on the role of financial sector development as a catalyst to agricultural productivity, we employ panel data and advances fixed-effects econometrics approach to empirically …

Drawings From Syria's Lost Generation: Psychological Impacts Of The Refugee Crisis, Rafael Panlilio

Master's Theses

Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, more than 11 million people have been forcibly displaced and exposed to violence. Even if the civil war were to end tomorrow, the refugee crisis will be expected to last for decades more. With nearly half of the refugees being children, the impact of the loss of health, education, social networks, and home environments on children have resulted in what is being called Syria‟s lost generation. A potential solution in mitigating these psychological impacts is the reintegration from refugee camps into non-camp host communities or the resettlement into other countries. …

People, Land, And Profit In The South Of Market: A Critical Analysis Of The Central Soma Plan, David Woo

Master's Theses

The South of Market neighborhood in San Francisco has undergone several transformations, especially since WWII, that have largely characterized the broader relationships among local city government, private interests, and the public in San Francisco. These transformations have included deindustrialization and the restructuring of the local economy after WWII, Urban Renewal, the intensification of office uses, and the first and second technology booms. City planning and the implementation of area plans (a type of city planning development tool) have also played a significant role in facilitating these changes. By historically situating the current moment in San Francisco, this research paper seeks …

Embodying The Oppressed And The Oppressor: Critical Mixed Race Studies For Liberation And Social Justice Education, Gwendlyn C. Snider

Master's Theses

This study will focus on the educational and social experiences of mixed race Filipinx PEP (Pin@y Educational Partnerships) instructors in the San Francisco/Bay Area and the connection of these various, lived experiences to their teaching pedagogy and praxis in Ethnic Studies curriculum. The main purpose of this research is to create additional evidence for the need of critical mixed race studies and acknowledgement of mixed race students’ unique experiences to be valued and included in Ethnic Studies curriculum. In addition, the research will also serve as reaffirmation of not only the efficacy of Ethnic Studies curriculum but also the need …

With Language Brings Light: Narratives By Deaf Ethiopians And Their Right To Sign Language, Jackie M. Eugster

Master's Theses

The goal of this case study is to share the narratives of Deaf individuals in Ethiopia and how the Deaf community uses Deaf Community Cultural Wealth in order to explore and flourish in audist and colonized spaces. This study engaged photovoice, in a participatory action research technique that can empower and enhance the community’s sense of identity (Wang & Burris, 1997). This study considers the influence of American missionaries and how colonization of African nations has also influenced the trajectory of Deaf education in Ethiopia. Moving away from deficient thinking, DCCW attempts to reframe the Deaf experience as one that …

Better Alternatives For Youth: Peace, Education And Human Rights, Abraham Jones

Master's Theses

Many urban youth in the United States live in what are identified as high stress neighborhoods, where trauma is a normative reality within which common life themes permeate. Colloquially, the communities in these high stress areas reclaim space by naming them as hoods, barrios and ghettos. However, depending on one’s perception, these words can have a negative connotation. Even when these communities hold various forms of community cultural wealth and capital, urban narratives are often dominated by false common perceptions that associate these spaces with the violence that occurs within them. There is a need for spaces that produce counter …

Ambiguity Aversion: Adoption, Uptake, And Trends, Adam Franklin

Master's Theses

What is ambiguity aversion and what is its role as a determinant of technology adoption? This study develops and implements a novel ambiguity preference instrument in the context of an ongoing RCT pilot program in southwest Uganda promoting adoption of an improved variety of sweet potato. No correlation between ambiguity aversion and crop adoption is observed, although it is suspected that RCT treatment arms including supply- and demand-side information reduced the ambiguity of the new variety, probably overcoming any ambiguity-preference-related constraints and clouding the picture. Methodological lessons learned regarding the development and implementation of an apporopriate ambiguity preference measure point …

Invoquer La Mer : Vers Une Écopoétique Du Poème Chez Saint-John Perse, Victoria Farrell

Master's Theses

Saint-John Perse's poetry is known for featuring elments of nature. This study of his body of poetry, which includes an in-depth ecocritical reading of the poem Amers, considers his work from an ecocritical viewpoint.

Exploring The Medical Model Organizational Structure On The Collegiate Athletic Trainer's Quality Of Life: A Case Study, Steven T. Gerhart

Master's Theses

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to gain the perspective of athletic trainers employed at a university using the medical model as its organizational infrastructure as it relates to job satisfaction, professional commitment, work-life conflict. Methods. Data from our participants were collected through semi-structured interviews as well as a demographic questionnaire. We utilized data source triangulation and peer-review to establish credibility. A general inductive process was used for analysis. Results. Three common themes emerged that affected quality of life. Role congruity addressed the participants’ awareness of their role and how they contributed within the department. Worktime control was defined …

Effects Of Language And Reading Ability On Input-Driven Plasticity Of Phonetic Category Structure, Stephen Edward Graham

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Battery Impedance Measurement Using Sinusoidal Ripple Current Emulator, Md. Kamal Hossain

Master's Theses

Battery impedance measurements are directly correlated with the internal thermal rise and lifetime of rechargeable Li-ion batteries. The ac impedance measurement is not only reflects the battery state of health, but also a crucial parameter for a charging control strategy to reduce the internal thermal rise. The battery ac impedance is achieved with a battery charger by injecting ac ripple current and measuring the ac voltage response with the sinusoidal ripple current (SRC) charging technique. The digital signal processor is used to extract the battery ac ripple content and calculate the impedance magnitude and phase angle. However, it has computational …

Schuell’S Stimulation Approach Administered Intensively For An Individual With Chronic, Severe Non-Fluent Aphasia, Shannon K. Hughes

Master's Theses

Background: Schuell’s Stimulation Approach is frequently implemented within conventional speech language therapy (SLT) for aphasia. Recent research supports the use of intensive treatment, as well as the potential for continued gains in the chronic stage of aphasia. Given the limited evidence-based treatment options for individuals with chronic, severe non-fluent aphasia, investigation was warranted.

Aims: The current study used a single subject design with multiple probes across behaviors to investigate how an individual with chronic, severe non-fluent aphasia, who had ceased to make gains in conventional SLT, would respond to administration of Schuell’s Stimulation Approach at the standard intensive dosage of …

Predictors Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Children And Adults: Findings From The Continuous National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey Nhanes 2001-2006, Lina Jaradat

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Coverage In Connecticut Newsapapers Of The Opioid Epidemic A Content Analysis, Peter Lam

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Phylogenetic Analysis Methods To Understand Deep Phylogeny, Jeffrey M. O'Brien

Master's Theses

This thesis describes two analyses conducted to learn more about the early evolution of life and characteristics of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). In chapter one, tree metric analysis methods were employed to determine if protein families identified in a previous analysis should be attributed to LUCA. It was found that many of the protein families identified by the previous analysis were likely the result of methodological errors, and either should not be attributed to LUCA or do not represent the full scope of diversity within the given protein family. Chapter two presents data from an ATP synthase catalytic …

Contextual Influences On A Coping Skills Intervention For Adolescents In Substance Use Recovery, Morica Hutchison

Master's Theses

Co-occurring disorders of substance use and mental health conditions occur in about 75% of adolescents, with depression ranked as the second most common co-occurring disorder, in 20-30% of adolescents (Hersh et al., 2014; Shrier et al., 2003). Contextual factors (i.e. parental substance use and DCF involvement) put adolescents at increased risk of substance use initiation and co-morbid depression (Clark et al., 2005; Walden et al., 2007). Results from the current literature are undetermined on how to best address co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health diagnoses in adolescents. Researchers sought to do this in the current study through a …

Shared Space In Today’S World: Quantifying And Classifying The Range In Design, Parker Sorenson

Master's Theses

Shared space, a street design philosophy which aims to improve the mobility of nonmotorized users by deemphasizing the priority given to automobiles, has received much international attention within the last decade. Today, shared spaces can be found across the world as planners and decision-makers look to different street design schemes as a way of providing much-needed public space to urbanized populations. Despite their growing popularity, rigorous evaluations of how shared spaces operate are rather limited. Advocates of shared space argue that this design approach reduces vehicle speeds, reduces vehicle delay, reduces the potential severity of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and improves the …

The Manufacturing Of High School Football Recruits In The United States (U.S.): An Examination Of The High School Football Landscape As An Economic Sub-Sector, Charles Macaulay

Master's Theses

The role of interscholastic athletics within the educational setting has been questioned by critics including many scholars for the seemingly incongruence between its stated mission and actual institutional practices. There have been numerous studies that have examined high school athletic programs and primarily have focused on the academic and social benefits derived therein. Yet, sports and athletics are becoming increasingly important and popular in U.S. society and globally. The commercialization of sport and athletics is not a novelty in the U.S., but the increasing attention paid to high school athletics is a fairly recent and emerging phenomenon. In 2005, the …

Exploring Role Conflict And Perceived Expectations Of Female Student-Athletes In High Performing Sports, Sofia Read

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Mediterranean Diet And Low-Fat Diet, With And Without Statin Drug Therapy, On Serum Lipids In Adults At High-Risk And With Existing Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis, Marisa L. Creatura

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Food Security Status, Dietary Behaviors And Health Outcomes In Cambodian Americans With Depression And At High-Risk For Diabetes, Living In New England, Chelsey Hahn

Master's Theses

Background:

Refugee survivors of starvation and trauma during the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia suffer myriad poor health outcomes, 30 years after the genocide. Having high rates of food insecurity, depression, and the highest rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus for an Asian subgroup complicates nutritional health outcomes.

Objectives:

(1) To document household food insecurity of Cambodian Americans who were alive during the Pol Pot era, with depression and elevated diabetes risk in New England; (2) To document the dietary behaviors of Cambodian Americans; and (3) To explore preliminary associations between household food insecurity, dietary behaviors and diabetes risk …

Hip Muscle Activity During A Functional Movement Assessment, Colleen M. Driscoll

Master's Theses

CONTEXT: Neuromuscular control throughout functional movement is a risk factor for lower extremity injury. When implemented correctly, some preventive training programs (PTPs) decrease injury risk while focusing on strengthening the gluteus medius. Specific changes to faulty biomechanics are typically not accomplished. Understanding the causes of these risk factors, and techniques to manipulate them are crucial in injury prevention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential differences in hip musculature activation, gluteus medius (GMed), gluteus maximus (GMax), and adductor magnus (ADD), during a jump-landing task between females with and without medial knee displacement (MKD). Additionally, to determine associations between hip muscle activation, vertical ground …

Coastal Protection, Environmental Change, And The Heterogeneity Of Preferences: A Case Study Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Ian T. Yue

Master's Theses

There is growing interest amongst the environmental management community to understand the feedback links between human and environmental systems, particularly the way humans value the natural environment and how such valuation affects behavior, choice, and actions. One prominent method for examining these linkages has been to consider the framework of ecosystem services: the naturally-occurring processes, functions, or outputs that are utilized (actively or passively) to produce human well-being. Especially in the context of climate change, ecosystem services can be used to gauge the value humans place on their surrounding environment, given that the supply of ecosystem services is expected to …