Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Methods For Determining Reference Conditions For Riparian Restoration In Santa Clara County, Claire Mallen

Master's Theses

Valley Water is the primary water wholesaler and flood control agency in Santa Clara County, providing services to 1.9 million residents. The operation and maintenance of infrastructure for water supply and flood control often require work within legally protected natural resources such as riparian ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems are dynamic and diverse ecosystems that provide our society with valuable services such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. However, the threat of human development on native ecosystems has led to the degradation and loss of 85-98% of riparian ecosystems nationwide. Today, federal, state, and regional laws mitigate further impacts to riparian …

Dangerous Dice: Playing With Artificial Intelligence And Populism During Brazil's 2018 Election, Glen Salazar

Master's Theses

With the advent of artificial intelligence and the resurgence of populism, in particular right-wing populism, we see nationalist parties that were once on the fringes of mainstream politics gain power around the world. Putting under the limelight the recent electoral victories of world leaders riding this new wave of populism, we recognize a troubling new reality: the confluence of artificial intelligence and populism allows for election interference through the spread of disinformation, propaganda, and emotionally charged populist rhetoric on social media. This tectonic shift in election tactics used by extreme nationalists presents an existential threat to democracy, with the potential …

Centering Community Voices Through Children's Literature: Co-Authoring An #Ownvoices Picture Book For The Maine Migrant Education Program, Melanie Shelton

Master's Theses

Since its inception, the field of migrant education has been characterized by a tension between honoring the subjectivity of migrant families and positioning them as victims. This same tension exists in the analysis of children’s picture books that depict the daily lives of migrant farmworkers. In response to Eve Tuck’s (2009) call for a moratorium on damage-centered research in the field of education, this report describes the collaboration process between a representative of the Maine Migrant Education Program and a migrant

farmworker and her family to write, illustrate, and present an autobiographical picture book. Las aventuras, travesuras, y peligros del …

Estimating Treatment Effect Heterogeneity In A Comprehensive Microenterprise Intervention, Mary Gathungu

Master's Theses

Do cash transfer programs have heterogeneous treatment effects within the treatment group? Why do some households in these interventions seem to benefit more than others? What is the overall treatment effect of the Microenterprise Intervention? I address these questions through the study of a comprehensive microenterprise intervention program carried out in Kenya, Africa by a non-profit organization called the Village Enterprise Organization and I obtain economic outcome data from a randomized control trial that gives out conditional cash transfer that is conditional on business formation. The Microenterprise Intervention combines cash grants and mentorship and training to achieve long term economic …

Green Gold: Avocado Price Shocks And Violence In Mexico, Katie Roett

Master's Theses

The role of economic incentives in political armed conflict is well documented, but there is very little evidence on a growing and increasingly globalized form of violence: organized crime. Most existing research focuses on the impact of price shocks on wages and how this affects an individual’s opportunity cost to join an armed group or political movement. However, unlike other violent groups, organized criminal groups do not compete for political power, but profits in illegal markets. In Mexico, these groups have more than doubled in the past two decades, leading to an explosion of violence and record high 35,000 people …

The Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Ntca Immigrants’ Accessibility To Mexico’S Health Care System, Ken Nishikata

Master's Theses

Mexico’s geographical location has made the country play a centric role in trans-national migration from the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA) comprising Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. As a result, immigration has increasingly become a political issue for Mexico over the past decades^[1]. Before the eruption of the Central American crisis in the 1980s, Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala was recognized for its openness. However, such a tolerating status-quo changed as the number of NTCA immigrants entering Mexico increased upon the exacerbation of the crisis that placed thousands of individuals in exile. Indeed, the turmoil during the …

The Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Ntca Immigrants' Accessibility To Mexico's Health Care System, Ken Nishikata

Master's Theses

Mexico’s geographical location has made the country play a centric role in trans-national migration from the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA) comprising Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. As a result, immigration has increasingly become a political issue for Mexico over the past decades^[1]. Before the eruption of the Central American crisis in the 1980s, Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala was recognized for its openness. However, such a tolerating status-quo changed as the number of NTCA immigrants entering Mexico increased upon the exacerbation of the crisis that placed thousands of individuals in exile. Indeed, the turmoil during the …

Implementing Nurse Education And Training On Sapphire Patient-Controlled Analgesia (Pca) Pump To Establish Competency And Improve Patient Pain Management And Outcomes, Gregory Punsalan

Master's Theses

Pain management is a never-ending battle when caring for patients, whether post-operative for surgical procedures, managing disease processes, or caring for acute injuries. Nursing understanding and proper utilization of their tools and resources are imperative to maximize patient comfort levels as best as possible when dealing with pain. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps are a modern marvel which allow patients to control (to an extent) medication received when feeling discomfort, however, as well all devices, PCA pumps must be programmed correctly and monitored to ensure accurate, effective, safe dosing. This quality improvement project examined the utilization of a new Sapphire PCA …

The Efficacy Of Intensive Application Of Schuell’S Stimulation Approach For Chronic Wernicke’S Aphasia: An Analysis And Comparison, Callie Ann Marsalisi

Master's Theses

Background: Roughly one million people in the United States are living with aphasia, and Wernicke’s aphasia is the most common fluent type. Few treatment options have been thoroughly research for Wernicke’s aphasia; a major obstacle with these patients is lack of awareness of errors. For persons with aphasia in general, it has been found that more intensive treatments are more effective, as long as the treatment is not overly fatiguing and does not lead to drop-out. One intensive treatment is Schuell’s stimulation approach, which focuses on bombardment of the auditory modality in order to effect improvement across all modalities.

Aims: …

Examining Opportunity In The Dental Community To Identify Prediabetes, Kirsten S. Carew

Master's Theses

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In response to the growing epidemic of prediabetes and diabetes (type 2), the State of Connecticut passed Public Act 19-72 “An Act Concerning Dental Practitioners” effective July 1, 2019 allowing licensed dentists to administer an in-office blood screening test to consenting patients identified as having an increased risk for diabetes. The intent of this law is to expand the venues to screen, identify and inform those at-risk for disease.

METHODS: An anonymous online cross-sectional pilot study was conducted utilizing membership of major statewide dental societies to recruit licensed practicing dentists in the state of Connecticut. Participants completed a …

Notre-Dame-Des-Fleurs : La Glorification De L’Abject, Elifnaz Kayhan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Bobcats Within A Mosaic Of Housing Densities In Connecticut, Kristen Beattie

Master's Theses

Understanding a species’ ability to adapt and persist in a human-dominated landscape is important as urban development continues to spread, resulting in wildlife living in close proximity to people. Mesocarnivores are using urban landscapes, yet differences in habitat selection across a species’ range and among urban areas are beginning to emerge. Bobcats are a strict mesocarnivore species that is considered sensitive to fragmentation and intolerant of human activity yet is now living within densely populated areas in some regions. An important first step in understanding bobcat habitat use throughout a range of housing densities is understanding how the effectiveness of …

Nf-Κb Subunits P50 And Rela Contribute To Oncogenesis In A Mouse Model Of St-Epn, Ericka J. Randazzo

Master's Theses

The NF- κB pathway has been demonstrated to be upregulated in supratentorial ependymoma (ST-EPN). Whether the different NF- κB transcription factors contribute to ST-EPN tumorigenesis however, has not been investigated. We assessed the degree to which NF- κB subunits p50 and RelA interact with the ST-EPN fusion mutation C11orf95-RELA in regulating gene expression via colocalization analysis in Hek293T cell nuclei. We analyzed the functional outcomes of overexpression of p50 or RelA, or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of p50, in combination with the C11orf95-RELA fusion in vivo by examination of tumor area in P14 – 21 CD1 mice. We further analyzed the …

Mirroring Antagonistic And Mutualistic Interactions Give Rise To Shifts In Network Architecture Among Hummingbirds, Phoretic Mites, And Tropical Flowers, Laura Bizzarri

Master's Theses

Interaction networks among plants and animals are important determinants of the stability of ecological communities. Historically, researchers have considered interaction networks in isolation, and characterized the structures of the interactions within such networks, and how these structures can affect community stability. Such studies have identified unique structures attributable to different interactions, such as mutualisms (e.g. pollination) and antagonisms (e.g. herbivory). My thesis explores a tropical system in which all interacting guilds are directly connected. Mutualistic hummingbird-plant pollination networks are connected to antagonistic nectar robbing mite-plant networks, via phoresy. Because phoretic mites must hitchhike on hummingbirds to colonize flowers, we aim …

The Harms Of Willful Ignorance: Maternal Healthcare Providers’ Insight On Racial Disparities, Cara Marisa Cancelmo

Master's Theses

Black women in the United States die in pregnancy and childbirth at alarmingly high rates. According to The Center for Disease Control, black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The black-white racial disparity is even greater in New York City, and The NYC Department of Health has found that black mothers in NYC still face higher rates of harm even when accounting for risk factors like educational attainment, obesity, and neighborhood poverty level. Drawing on 18 interviews with NYC-based Obstetricians, Labor and Delivery Nurses, and Midwives, this study examines how …

New Childhood Chronic Illness: Pans/Pandas And The Impact On Family Functioning, Jamie L. Dolce

Master's Theses

The current study examined parents’ reports of change in the parent-child relationship and family functioning following the onset of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)/Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) in their child. Research questions explored 1) how families’ day-to-day lives and functioning changed since the onset and 2) what challenges the families faced in raising a child with PANS/PANDAS. Research was conducted in two phases: narrative thematic analyses of online parent forum threads followed by semi-structured interviews with parents. Four primary themes were compiled from analyses of both data sources: Determinants of Family Functioning; Close Relationships; Routines …

Genome-Wide Rnai Screen Of Kinase Pathways Regulating Rrt-1 Constitutive Cytoprotective Gene Expression, Jacob Bowie

Master's Theses

Environmental stress disrupts cellular homeostasis leading to proteostasis disruptions which must be correct by rapid reprogramming of transcription and translation mediated by the translation machinery of which tRNA and aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are particularly important. Our aim in this study was to conduct a genome-wide RNAi kinase screen of a long-lived and stress-resistant rrt-1(gc47) (MC240) C. elegans mutant that constitutively, under naïve conditions, expresses a GFP reporter for gpdh-1, which is required for survival during hypertonic stress, but not expressed under naïve, non-stress conditions. Our approach was to administer RNAi by feeding, and we used 382 RNAi clones, including genome-wide …

Predictors Of Willingness Of The Sheltered Homeless To Be Screened For Hepatitis C, Linda Casey

Master's Theses

Background. Homeless individuals are at high risk of contracting the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) given that many use intravenous drugs or have a prison history, common risk factors for the disease. Although there is no vaccine, it is curable.

Methods. This cross-sectional study surveyed residents (n=120) of five homeless shelters in Connecticut to understand their screening willingness and knowledge about HCV.

Results. Those who tested previously (OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.23-0.90) and those who had never spent time in prison (OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.15-0.98) were less willing to be screened. Most did not recognize HCV symptoms and risk factors.

Conclusions. The …

Adsorptive Desulfurization Using Rare Earth Exchanged Zeolite Y: A Comparative Study, Tyler Crowl

Master's Theses

Sulfur emissions pose a serious risk to human health and the environment. Adsorptive desulfurization using ion-exchanged Y zeolites has proven to be a promising alternative to the traditional hydrodesulfurization process. Cu in Y (CuY) has proven to be an effective sorbent of sulfur molecules in fuels, even in the presence of aromatics. It was also demonstrated that Cu performs remarkably well when paired with Ce (CuCeY), a rare earth (RE). This study explores the potential of using other REs such as Lanthanum (La), Samarium (Sm), and Neodymium (Nd) ion exchanged in Y zeolite alone or paired with Cu on the …

Manufacturing Process Of Electrode Films, Bryan Aponte

Master's Theses

Rotating disk electrodes (RDE) provide a rapid, and reliable method of quantifying catalyst performance, however fabricating consistent RDEs require understanding of the role of fabrication parameters. The goal of this research is to identify the parameters that control the quality of a catalyst film and the role of these parameters that control the performance. To understand the role of environment, tests are conducted in ambient uncontrolled environments and in controlled environments. Catalyst film performance is measured with electrochemical methods. It was found that the uniformity of catalyst films directly affects the electrochemical performance when tested using RDE. The films that …

Intersecciones Entre Cine Documental Y Archivos Queer: Notas A Propósito De Sexilio., Lazaro J. Gonzalez

Master's Theses

For decades, documentary filmmakers have combined academic research and narrative non-fiction, making the genre of documentary a resourceful tool to address certain agendas that exceed the boundaries of traditional research methodologies. My feature film Villa Rosa (2016) as well as the work in progress of Sexilio (2020…) combine the scholarly and cinematographic realms as a strategy to foreground queer issues and the preservation of individual and collective memory. More specifically, my thesis will focus on rhetorical strategies used by queer filmmakers and archivists when the so-called historical archive appears deficient. As a result, the filmmaking process itself must create the …

Altered Gene Expression In Circulating Immune Cells Following A 24-Hour Passive Dehydration, Aidan Fiol

Master's Theses

Dehydration has many deleterious effects ranging from impaired cognitive function to decreased aerobic performance. This study evaluated the effects of a mild, passive dehydration on the transcriptional responses of circulating immune cells. We pursued research questions about how whole-body dehydration and small changes in plasma osmolality may affect the greater concept of immune resiliency or susceptibility to infection through acute gene expression changes that may persist during chronic stress. Our approach was to precisely quantify hypertonicity experienced by circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells and neutrophils and quantify transcriptomic changes in cell lysates using RNAseq. RNAseq revealed 373 total genes changing …

Food Insecurity, Race, And Adolescent Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Nhanes 2001-06, Kritika Shankar

Master's Theses

Abstract

Introduction: Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver condition in the U.S and is an emerging public health concern in adolescents. Risk factors for adolescent NAFLD remain largely unexamined.

Aim: To investigate if demographic and dietary-related factors are linked with NAFLD in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from NHANES (2001-2006) ages 12-19 (n=4714) were analyzed. NAFLD was defined as >30 u/L ALT. Food Insecurity levels (child, adult, household), race/ethnicity, sex, BMI, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) were tested using multivariate binary logistic regression with elevated ALT (no, yes) as the dependent variable.

Results: Risk for …

Household Food Security Status, Dietary Patterns And Diabetes Risk (Hemoglobin A1c) Among Cambodian Refugees With Depression, Shanjida Jui

Master's Theses

Background

Cambodian refugees who experienced famine and trauma from the Khmer Rouge genocide are disproportionately at high risk of type 2 diabetes. This risk is exacerbated when this vulnerable population experiences a high prevalence of food insecurity upon resettlement in the U.S. As a result, refugee dietary intake and nutrition uniquely contribute to the rise of often long-term health consequences and pose an unexpected burden on the U.S. healthcare system.

Objectives

(1) To describe household food security status of Cambodians refugees (2) To examine the association between food security status and socioeconomic status (SES) of Cambodian refugees; (3) To describe …

Developing A Qi Culture In Accredited Local Health Departments: Use Of Normalization Process Theory, Lina Smith

Master's Theses

Background: Accreditation can benefit local health departments (LHDs) through the promotion of a culture of quality improvement (QI); yet LHDs tend not to perform well on QI-related measures (Domain 9 – Evaluate and Continuously Improve Processes, Programs, and Interventions). Methods: This study evaluated whether small/medium LHDs’ performance on Domain 9 impacts their accreditation results or performance on other domains. The qualitative analysis utilized Normalization Process Theory to reveal factors that guide LHDs in accreditation preparations. Results: Small/medium LHDs not required to submit an action plan scored higher on Domain 9. Performance on four domains exhibited a moderately strong correlation with …

Piggybac Transposon-Based Lineage Tracing To Reveal Ependymogenesis, Tasnuva Nuhat Shafin

Master's Theses

The lateral walls of the lateral ventricle of the brain are home to one of the two main neurogenic niches of the postnatal and adult mammalian brain, the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ). During late embryonic development (E14 to E16 in mouse brain), a subpopulation of radial glial cells from the neuroepithelial lining of lateral ventricle wall starts ependymogenesis to establish an ependymal cell lining of the ventricular system. Ependymal cell maturation and ciliogenesis continues after birth and the remaining radial glia, designated neural stem cells after birth, are established within the ependymal lining by retention of a thin apical process. The …

A Thermal-Mechanical Finite Element Analysis Of Orthogonal Cutting For Normalized Steels, Lilia Miller

Master's Theses

A coupled thermal-mechanical finite element analysis is performed in order to simulate orthogonal cutting of normalized steels. The Johnson-Cook cook material and damage parameters are utilized to define the behavior and failure of the material. Four cases are simulated with workpiece materials of A2024-T351, AISI 1045, AISI 4140, and AISI 9310. The numerical results include the average cutting force, residual stresses and strains, chip morphology, and tool temperature. These results are summarized for each of the four cases and validated with experimental results found in literature. This study looks at optimizing the Johnson-Cook damage parameter D₂ for steel materials …

Waves Of Binding: Neural Oscillations Of Visual, Auditory, And Lexical Integration, Hannah Morrow

Master's Theses

If our conceptual knowledge about concrete objects is represented (in part) across the brain regions that are active when those objects are perceived, how is information from those regions integrated, or “bound” into a coherent whole? One potential mechanism for binding is synchronized neuronal firing. In particular, high-frequencies (e.g., gamma) may support local interactions, while lower frequencies (e.g., theta) may support longer-range interactions. Previous work has implicated the role of gamma and theta in binding, but not testing both on the same paradigm with a condition intended to create more cortical distance. We recorded participants’ EEG while they were presented …

Convergence And Historical Contingency In The Evolution Of Lingual Prey Capture Systems In Lizards, Amanda E. Hewes

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Heat Acclimatization, Heat Acclimation, And Intermittent Exercise On Aerobic Performance, Lauren Fry

Master's Theses

The primary aim of this study is to determine if heat acclimation (HA)/acclimatization (HAz) improves VO_2max. A secondary aim of this study is to examine whether or not any changes in VO_2maxoccur during intermittent exercise heat exposures (HAM). Twenty-seven male endurance runners (mean±SD: age: 36±12 years, nude body mass: 73.03±8.97 kg, height: 178.81±6.39 cm, VO_2max: 57.48±7.03 ml×kg^-1×min^-1) performed five VO_2maxtests at various time points (baseline, test 1; post-HAz, test2; post-HA, test 3; 4 weeks of HAM, test4; 8 weeks of HAM, test5). Participants completed a summer training regimen …