Digital Commons Network^™

Targeting The Subacute Progression Of Hippocampal Cellular Senescence Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Jacob Edward Exline

Master's Theses

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) increases an individual’s risk for developing persistent deficits in recognition memory with symptoms experienced by up to 30% of rmTBI patients. Cellular senescence has been suggested as an underlying mechanism of persistent rmTBI symptoms; however, the subacute progression of cellular senescence following rmTBI has not been evaluated. Furthermore, the use of subacute testosterone administration to treat persistent recognition memory deficits and the cellular and molecular underpinnings has yet to be well characterized. Our lab utilizes a 5-hit closed-head rmTBI rat model to induce deficits in recognition memory and determine the effects of subacute testosterone …

Decolonizing A Settler Colonial State: How Canada And The United States Have Approached Investigations Into Indigenous Boarding And Residential Schools, Holly Jacobs

Master's Theses

Indigenous boarding and residential schools were in use for over 100 years in both Canada and the United States. Grown from numerous policies aimed at assimilation, dispossession, and genocide of the Indigenous peoples of North America, these residential schools had a particular aim: to wipe away all cultural and familial ties of every individual and to replace them with beliefs and values of white settlers. Though the schools are no longer in operation, their legacy of erasure and pain continues to affect survivors, their descendants, and Indigenous communities across both nations. This thesis looks at what the federal governments of …

Investigating Putative Toxin-Immunity Pairs From A New Class Of Rhs Proteins In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Syed Faieq Imam

Master's Theses

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen that is ubiquitous in nature, especially in human/animal impacted environments. One of the reasons for this is the arsenal of protein systems and toxins that P. aeruginosa utilizes to mold its environment to suit its needs. Recently, we discovered a novel locus in the P. aeruginosa genome, which resembles other loci that are known to mediate interbacterial competition. Our bioinformatic analysis found this locus to be enriched in a rearrangement hotspot (rhs) motif which led us to ad-interim term the three ORFs of the loci as rhsB, rhsC, and rhsI. Furthermore, we have …

A Population Level Examination Of The Incredible Fruit Diversity In Astragalus Lentiginosus, Quinn Thomas

Master's Theses

Astragalus lentiginosus is the most taxomically diverse species in the North American flora with over 40 recognized varieties. The incredible diversity within A. lentiginosus, particularly in respect to its fruit morphology, makes it an exceptional model to study adaptation and evolution. However, it remains unknown whether fruit morphology is an adaptation and, if so, the extent to which selection or neutral evolutionary processes shape the striking diversity in this trait. In order to understand the adaptive significance of fruit morphology we must first understand the genetic structure of A. lentiginosus. Varieties of A. lentiginosus vary considerably in their range size …

Development Of Inattention And Executive Dysfunction In Youth With Spina Bifida: Condition Severity Variables As Predictors, Allison D. Payne

Master's Theses

Spina bifida (SB) is associated with neurologic impairments that increase individuals’ risk for neuropsychological deficits, particularly inattention and executive dysfunction. While extant literature has yet to examine the development of inattention in youth with SB, some research suggests that these youth may not experience the age-related improvements in executive dysfunction seen in the general population. SB is a heterogeneous condition; thus, it is important to consider variability in condition severity when examining outcomes over time in youth with SB. Lesion level and shunt status are commonly used as indicators of SB severity and have been significantly associated with variability in …

Hide And Seek: An Exploration Of Antipredator And Predator Avoidance Mechanisms In Orthopodomyia Signifera In Response To Predation From Toxorhynchites Rutilus, Nathaniel Dahlberg

Master's Theses

There have been many observations of larval Orthopodomyia signifera coexisting with the predator Toxorhynchites rutilus. There are three hypotheses that could explain how Or. signifera resists predation from Tx. rutilus. The first hypothesis states that larvae adapt behavioral changes that limit predation. The second hypothesis states thoracic setae serve as a physical defense that prevents Tx. rutilus from grasping Or. signifera. The third hypothesis states Or. signifera possess a chemical defense indicated by aposematic coloration. To test the first hypothesis larval Or. signifera were exposed to conspecific and heterospecific predation cues and their behavior was observed. Both cues …

The King And His Court: The Culture Of Royal Power And The Creation Of The Angevin Empire Under Henry Ii, Joseph Jarrell

Master's Theses

Legal codes, literature, history, and violence were necessary aspects of royal power that in conjunction with resources gained from familial inheritance and a fortunate marriage allowed King Henry II to build, govern, and legitimize his rule over the Angevin Empire, as well as attempt to create an Angevin dynasty. Examining these subjects advances ideas about medieval royal culture and its relation to political power and legal power in the twelfth century Angevin Empire.

Historiography has long examined this period as the histories of great men, but recent trends have examined the interplay of power, politics, and gender during the Middle …

Assessing The Contributions Of Proximity To Effective Instruction Delivery, Kenneth Ross

Master's Theses

Effective instruction delivery (EID) is a component of the Compliance Training for Children (CTC) Model developed by D. Joe Olmi from the School Psychology program at the University of Southern Mississippi that is designed to increase childhood compliance to adult-delivered directives. EID has been observed to be an effective strategy for increasing compliance in children (Bellipanni et al., 2013; Derieux, 2021; Ford et al., 2001; Griffin, 2007; Wimberly, 2016). Additionally, the contributions of the individual components of EID, such as demanded eye contact (Everett et al., 2005; Faciane, 2004) and contingent praise (Everett et al., 2005), have been investigated over …

Validation And Reliability Of A Questionnaire That Measures Food Waste Knowledge, Attitudes, And Motivations Of Adolescents, Joanna Fung

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis was to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure food waste knowledge, attitudes, and motivations of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in the United States (U.S.). This questionnaire was created with the objective to address gaps in adolescent food waste literature and to aid the creation and refinement of targeted food waste programs and policies. Questions were specific to the home, school, and restaurant settings, as well as, behaviors related to discarding food, composting food, and food expiration. Additionally, the questionnaire sought to understand how friendships and familial relationships affect adolescent food waste-related behaviors. …

Analysis Of Fire-Induced Circulations During The Fireflux2 Experimental Burn And Operational Rate Of Spread Models, Jeremy Tyler Benik

Master's Theses

In this study, the fire-induced circulations were analyzed during the FireFlux2 (FF2) experimental burn using WRF-SFIRE to directly quantify the effects of the fire on local conditions. We utilized observational data from the FF2 burn and numerical simulations to assess the impacts of fire on local micrometeorology under ∼12m/s winds. Two simulations were executed. One in a two-way coupled mode and one in a one-way coupled mode. The difference between the simulations was used to quantify the fire impacts on the circulation at the head and flanks of the fire. The fire-induced horizontal winds indicated the strongest fire-induced flow at …

The Relationship Between Perceived Overqualification And Organizational Citizenship Behavior And Affective Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Role Of Perceived Organizational Support, Mariem Laaraj

Master's Theses

The present research aimed to investigate the moderating effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on the relationship between perceived overqualification, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and affective organizational commitment. A sample of 110 employees from a variety of occupational backgrounds in the United States participated in the study by completing an online survey. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that POS did not act as a moderator of the relationship between perceived overqualification and OCB and affective organizational commitment. However, perceived overqualification was found to be significantly and negatively related to affective organizational commitment. Results also showed that POS was …

Combining Camera Trap And Fitness App Data Demonstrates That Mammals Change Behavior Near High-Use Bike Trails On Mount Tamalpais, Ca, Erin Rose Lacour

Master's Theses

Anthropogenic disturbance that results in habitat loss is the leading cause of the current extinction crisis. To mitigate loss of habitat, protected lands are dedicated to preserving ecosystems, but such areas often allow outdoor recreational activities. Research has shown negative impacts on a range of species from outdoor recreational activities, and there is little information about potential impacts of mountain biking on wildlife. Mountain biking and hiking tracking data from the social fitness app Strava Metro and data from a camera trap project in Marin County, CA, were analyzed to assess how mammal species’ spatial distribution, temporal activity, and richness …

Decentralizing The Electric Grid: Giving Power Back To The People, Nicole Chen

Master's Theses

Societies across the globe are shifting away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, resulting in significant changes to the electric grid. This clean energy transition is accompanied by transformative opportunities. However, the benefits of clean, reliable energy do not equitably accrue to all communities. In order to challenge and overcome the persistent social disparities that exist in the energy transition, energy justice must be a driving factor in energy planning and decision making. This research highlights metrics and parameters that should be included when considering deployment of community solar microgrids to advance a just energy transition. The results of …

A New Fire Initialization Method For Operational Coupled Fire-Atmosphere Models: Assimilation Of Infrared Perimeters And Satellite Detections, Kathleen Nicole Clough

Master's Theses

For coupled fire-atmosphere forecast models, such as WRF-SFIRE, the method used to initialize wildfire within the model can greatly impact meteorological, fire, and smoke extent forecasts. A well-constructed ignition process must be integrated within models to assure the atmospheric component of the model is not destabilized by excessive heat flux released during ignition and realistic fire-induced atmospheric circulation is established. Two ignition methods are tested on the 2020 Creek fire. Analyses indicate a gradual perimeter ignition with selective “masking”, fuel removal, provides the best results in terms of resolving the fire-induced vertical circulation and fire spread, and is thus preferred …

Homelessness And Taphonomy: A Multidisciplinary Study, Chloë Angst

Master's Theses

In this thesis, I present multidisciplinary research applicable to deceased unhoused individuals in urban San José, California. I present the problem of homelessness through a “hybrid collectif,” a conceptual framework that encompasses the factors that drive homelessness in life and death. I use taphonomic methodology to examine the problem of homelessness in this urban region by experimentation with porcine carcasses in simulated death scenarios. I utilize total body score (TBS), accumulated degree days (ADD), and predictive entomological species identification to examine decomposition trends. I also introduce “human survival scavenging” as an agent of decomposition, provide an account of ecological succession …

Phosphate And Silicate Analysis In Seawater Using Programmable Flow Injection: Optimization And Applications Of Benchtop And In Situ Methodologies, Marine A. Lebrec

Master's Theses

Oceanographic nutrient monitoring efforts still largely rely on discrete sampling at irregular intervals, hindering the advancement of high-resolution biogeochemical observations and models. Benchtop analytical instrumentation for macronutrient analysis is expensive, complex, and requires large reagent volumes and highly trained operators. This thesis describes the development and optimization of a novel and commercially available class of automated nutrient analyzers called programmable Flow Injection (pFI) for benchtop and unattended in situ operations with a focus on phosphate and silicate analysis. While pFI is an ideal candidate for unattended deployments due to its compact size, low reagent volume requirements, and ability measure multiple …

An Analysis Of Fire-Induced Conditions During Large Wildfires And Within Steep Canyons, Justin Mirabilis Haw

Master's Theses

For this study, fire-induced winds from a wind-driven fire (Thomas Fire) and a plume dominated fire (Creek Fire) were analyzed. Then, the small-scale fire-induced circulations within steep canyons were examined. This study used two different WRF-SFIRE simulations, one without the fire present, and the other with fire. The fire-induced conditions were calculated by subtracting a given variable from the “No Fire Run” from the “Fire Run” (Fire - No Fire). Wind speed and geopotential height fields were analyzed to assess spatial and temporal variability. Furthermore, cloud water mixing ratio, precipitation, and fuel moisture were analyzed for the Creek Fire to …

The Debate On Nil: Progress For Female Collegiate Sports?, Stephanie Andrada

Master's Theses

In this study, seven female collegiate athletes from three different women’s sports teams (basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball) from a mid-major, Division-I college were interviewed. The study analyzed the lived experiences that NIL has on these specific female athletes in these particular women’s sports using a qualitative methodology. Three research questions were posed:

1. In what ways does the commercialization of college sports influence the NIL opportunities for these female athletes?
2. Could NIL perpetuate an uneven playing field for these female athletes in competition for limited resources?
3. To what degree do these female college athletes feel that NIL presents opportunities for equitable …

Sustainable Roots: The Environmental Genealogies Of Chicanas And Latinas, Marlene Andrade

Master's Theses

Ingenuity and tending to the land are anything but contemporary to Communities of Color (COC). Even when our communities become targets of environmental racism and experience the brunt of institution-based degradation, COC resist in a multitude of ways. While there is a plethora of documented social movements led by the Chicanx community for civil, educational, and labor rights, there is a paucity of Chicanx presence in environmental discourse. Thus, my scholar-activist commitments are to highlight Chicana/Latina herstories, epistemologies, and praxes that debunk the narrow white-heteropatriarchal male narrative in mainstream environmentalism. This dominant narrative fails to: (a) address the historical and …

Group-Invariant Reinforcement Learning, Fnu Ankur

Master's Theses

Our work introduces a way to learn an optimal reinforcement learning agent accompanied by intrinsic properties of the environment. The extracted properties helps the agent to extrapolate the learning to unseen states efficiently. Out of all the various types of properties, we are intrigued towards equivariant and invariant properties, which essentially translates to symmetry. Contrary to many approaches, we do not assume the symmetry, rather learn them, making the approach agnostic to the environment and the property. The learned properties offers multiple perspective of the environment to exploit it to benefit decision making while interacting with the environment. By building …

Electronic And Optical Properties Of 2d Materials And Their Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using Density Functional Theory, Paridhi Bisht

Master's Theses

Layered 2D materials offer unique physical and chemical properties, including high surface area-to-volume ratios, layer-dependent electronic and optical traits, and scalability. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) represent a versatile class within 2D materials, with metals, semiconductors, insulators, and superconductors. Weak van der Waals forces between layers enable easy exfoliation and stacking for vertical heterostructures, promising electronic and optical device manipulation. This thesis investigates monolayer graphene, h-BN, MoTe2, WTe2-2H, WTe2-1T', and their heterostructures using DFT-based calculations. Results show stable heterostructures, particularly Gr/WTe2-2H as a Schottky n-type junction for FETs and magnetoresistance devices. Strain-induced bandgap modulation and redshifts offer potential for bandgap engineering …

Examining The Role Of Echo-Chambers Within Online Incel Communities Using Sentiment Analysis And Group Based Trajectory Modeling, Francesca Florine Fanucchi

Master's Theses

Technological advancements within the last decade have created new opportunities for social movements to meet and communicate online with like-minded individuals. Under this notion, these online communities generate an echo-chamber of information, to which certain individuals only surround themselves with people sharing similar values and opinions. As a result, online platforms (e.g., forums, blogs, websites) form as safe spaces for members to express their views seen as unacceptable offline. Research examining the role of echo-chambers in facilitating extremist rhetoric within online incel communities is limited, despite real-world acts of violence perpetrated by self-proclaimed incels. Therefore, the objective of this thesis …

Evaluating The Effect Of Resveratrol On Sirt1 With Different Peptide Substrates, Yujin Hur

Master's Theses

SIRT1 is an NAD+-dependent lysine deacetylase that is involved in many important cellular pathways. The protein has an extended N-terminal domain that seems to play a role in regulating its activity. Sirtuin Activating Compounds (STACs) are allosteric activators, such as resveratrol, that regulate the activity of SIRT1. STACs bind to the N-terminal STAC Binding Domain (SBD) in SIRT1. Past literature has found that SIRT1 activity can be increased, decreased, or remain unchanged by resveratrol depending on the identity of the peptide substrate. The goal of this study is to clarify the mechanism for substrate-specific allosteric regulation by resveratrol. The interactions …

Habitat Value Of Stormwater Retention Basins For Avian Species In The South San Francisco Bay, Maya D. Briones

Master's Theses

Shorebird populations are declining worldwide due to habitat fragmentation, degradation, and loss. A potential, understudied set of resources that might be used to benefit waterfowl, especially breeding shorebirds, are artificial wetlands such as stormwater retention basins. This study evaluated the habitat value of stormwater retention basins in the San Francisco Bay Area by measuring species abundance, richness, and behavior. Seston, or biota and other suspended material, was collected and tested for mercury contents. Additionally, the habitat features within each basin were recorded and tracked for changes over a year. The stormwater retention basins supported a higher diversity of bird species …

Impacts Of Synoptic-Scale Dynamics On Cloud Properties And Radiation In High Southern Latitudes, Tyler R. Barone

Master's Theses

Predicting future climate change relies on accurate representations of the earth’s surface radiation budget. Complex interactions between large-scale dynamical conditions (e.g., low-pressure systems) and microscale processes (e.g., cloud properties) are key contributors to energy budget biases within global climate models. Proper estimation of cloud microscale processes and their responses to synoptic-scale dynamics will greatly improve the accuracy of the simulated energy balance within global climate models. High-latitudinal clouds have significant influences on the Earth’s radiative balance. We examined observations from two field campaigns at Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean and McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Two global climate models are …

The Moderating Effects Of Sleep Quantity And Quality On The Relationship Between Job Stressors And Job Satisfaction, Olga A. Baryshnikova

Master's Theses

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study was the first to investigate the moderating effects of sleep quantity and sleep quality on the relationships between role overload, role ambiguity, role conflict, and interpersonal conflict with job satisfaction. In doing so, it addressed a gap in the literature on organizations and provided a new direction for future research in this sphere. Leveraging the Job Demands-Resources model as a theoretical foundation, this study looked at sleep quantity and quality as personal resources capable of counteracting the negative impacts of the aforementioned job stressors on job satisfaction. Underscoring their known detrimental …

Deep Learning In Ai Medical Imaging For Stroke Diagnosis, James Mario Guzman

Master's Theses

Enhancing medical imaging stroke diagnosis applications with artificial intelligence (AI) tools to determine lesion volume, location and clinical metadata is vital toward guiding patient treatment and procedure. A major hardship in developing stroke diagnosis AI tools is the scarcity of publicly available clinical 3D stroke datasets. Through working with Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan’s ICPSR data repository and SJSU research, we gained access to potentially the largest 3D MRI stroke dataset with clinical metadata annotated by neuroradiologists known as ICPSR 38464. With the ICPSR 38464 dataset recently being available through institutional review board (IRB) approval or exemption, we were …

No Kidding: The Moderating Role Of Childcare Responsibility On The Relationship Between Perceived Work-Life Balance Policy Culture And Job Outcomes, Ziwei Gao

Master's Theses

The societal assumption that everyone will or should have children at some point is deeply ingrained in many cultures. This often results in a lack of recognition and understanding of the experiences of childfree individuals, particularly within professional settings. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of childcare responsibility on the relationship between perceived work-life balance policy culture and job outcomes. A sample of 161 participants completed an online survey measuring perceived work-life balance policy culture, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions. Results showed that employees with high levels of perceived work-life balance policy culture reported …

Tree Removal From An Encroached Coastal Grassland Restores Soil Bacterial Communities Before Fungal Communities, Ka Ki Law

Master's Theses

Woody species encroachment depletes historic grassland biodiversity and degrades ecosystem function around the world. In particular, the encroaching trees can shift soil properties and microbial communities, which play critical roles in plant health and global nutrient cycling. Little is known about how removing encroached trees affects soil ecosystems, however. Over the last century, Pinus radiata and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (non-native to the area) both encroached into coastal prairies at Rancho Corral de Tierra in California, and selected trees were removed in 2017 and 2018 to restore grassland habitats. To examine the impacts of encroachment and removal on the soil ecosystem, I …

Partnering With International Peers To Promote Young Children’S Social And Emotional Learning: Students’ Experiences During An International Service Learning Program, Danica D. Mavroudis

Master's Theses

International Service Learning (ISL) has been used increasingly across fields of study in higher education to enhance student’s learning outside the classroom. ISL programs often encourage students to reflect on their experience to promote experiential and transformative learning. Previous research on ISL has found benefits to students’ professional and personal development. While the process may be helpful to participating students, there may be a lack of lasting benefit to the host community. There also is a gap in the literature of how mental wellness services could be delivered using ISL. In hopes to extend program benefits and provide mental wellness …