Digital Commons Network^™

Big Data Quality Modeling And Validation, Khushali Yashodhar Desai

Master's Theses

The chief purpose of this study is to characterize various big data quality models and to validate each with an example. As the volume of data is increasing at an exponential speed in the era of the broadband Internet, the success of a product or decision largely depends upon selecting the highest quality raw materials, or data, to be used in production. However, working with data in high volumes, fast velocities, and various formats can be fraught with problems. Therefore, software industries need a quality check, especially for data being generated by either software or a sensor. This study explores …

Cultural Orientations As Antecedents Of Career Anchors: An Exploratory Study, Kathrine Agger

Master's Theses

In this study the relationship between cultural dimensions and career anchors was examined. The objective was to uncover whether cultural orientations, measured through cultural dimensions, could be perceived as antecedents of career anchors. Responses from 283 people, distributed over 24 countries and five continents, were collected and a canonical correlation analysis was conducted. Results showed that the relationship between cultural orientations and career anchors could be explained through a smaller set of variables. Specifically, results indicated that the cultural dimensions of uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation were related to the career anchors of job security/stability and, furthermore, that the cultural …

Hydraulic Sheet Resistance In Paper­-Based Porous Media, Stefan Myles Doser

Master's Theses

This work investigates the special case of in­-plane fluid flow of a Newtonian incompressible fluid across a thin paper-­based porous medium at very low Reynolds numbers (Re ≪ 1). Fluid transport with these characteristics is used in emerging devices such as microscale paper­based analytical devices (μPADs). The mathematical similarity between Darcy’s law and Ohm’s law is considered, and hydraulic equivalents of current, voltage and resistance are determined to propose hydraulic sheet resistance. Darcy flow is predicted under these conditions and tested by experiment at two flow rates of 5 μL/min and 10 μL/min. A device was designed and fabricated to …

Biophysical Approaches For Studying Desolvation Energy In Dna:Dna Binding Systems, Caroline Rose Harmon

Master's Theses

Hydration spheres have unique water behavior compared to the disorder of the bulk water phase. These hydration spheres have been shown to be crucial for structural and conformational stability, yet their effect on binding association has been largely mistreated. For a one-to-one binding system, we propose to append the classical Gibbs-free energy equation as follows: ΔG^0=-RT ln⁡(K_i )-[AB]ΔG_i^(H_2 O). Having a stronger grasp on how desolvation energy affects binding will ultimately aid studies from drug development and metabolism, to interpretation of structural models. To test our equation, we studied two small oligonucleotides that follow Watson-Crick base pairing using two different …

Chemical Competition Between Microscopic Stages Of Macrocystis Pyrifera And Five Native Kelp Species: Does Giant Kelp Always Lose?, Maria Suzanne Christensen

Master's Theses

The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera is often considered competitively dominant to other kelp species due to its high productivity. However, on the microscopic level, previous studies found that Macrocystis can be inferior to other kelp species through microscopic interspecies chemical competition. Recruitment failure can be caused by neighboring kelps because there is no species specificity in the stereochemistry of the signaling chemical used during reproduction to initiate spermatozoid release; therefore, Macrocystis spermatozoid release is pre-empted by that of its competitors. To date, this interaction has been tested between Macrocystis and only one other kelp taxon, Pterygophora. To test whether Macrocystis …

Evaluation Of The Fragility Of East Bay Municipal Utility District (Ebmud) Mokelumne Aqueduct, Sara Chalian

Master's Theses

The East Bay Municipal Utility District provides water to the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Water is delivered through the Mokelumne Aqueduct, which consists of three large diameter steel pipelines. Approximately 15 miles of the aqueducts cross the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A stability analysis has been conducted to evaluate how resilient the elevated aqueduct is in the Delta. Subsidence in the Delta considerably reduces the lateral support of piles. Based on previous studies, and available survey and LiDAR data, the amount of subsidence in the Delta has been predicted over time. In addition, site-specific seismic studies …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of 2013 Boston Marathoners' Experience Of Running A Subsequent Boston Marathon, Allison Grace

Master's Theses

While trauma experiences have been explored in several sport-related research studies, there is a lack of research on athletes’ experiences of a terror attack in sport. The present study qualitatively explored the meanings that 2013 Boston Marathoners ascribed to their experience of returning to the Boston Marathon to compete. Eight participants took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eight themes emerged and were organized temporally around pre-2013 Boston Marathon experience, 2013 Boston Marathon experience, and post-2013 Boston Marathon experience. Results suggest participants initially had difficulty processing their 2013 experience, but ultimately, several participants had a …

Effects Of A Preschool Arts Curriculum On Social And Emotional Competence, Sarah Rose Henderson

Master's Theses

This study investigated the extent to which low-income preschool children’s social, emotional, and behavioral competence improved after engaging in a six-week-long arts program. Participants included 46 students of three, four, and five years of age in two low-income, state-funded classrooms in the San Francisco Bay Area. Analyses of children’s scores on SCBE-80 measures of Social Competence and Egotistic-Prosocial showed statistically significant change from the pretest to the posttest. Teacher survey report of students’ frequency in social adaptation and enjoyment of the arts suggested that teachers observed social improvements in the classroom that were consistent with SCBE-80 results in Social Competence. …

Our Homes, Our Stores: Aging In Place For Lgbtq Communities In The San Francisco Bay Area, Simon Dean Jarrar

Master's Theses

The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of gentrification on the social networks and communities of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) elderly people living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The expectation was that, due to the rising cost of living, people in elderly LGBTQ communities would be relocating; this would result in the fragmentation of support networks and community spaces. I used a two-part interviewing process. In the first interview, I asked participants to tell me about themselves and their lives, as well as what they consider to be important aspects of their lives in …

In-Situ Measurement Of Plasma Etch Rate Using Etchrate Wafer, Razieh Mahzoon

Master's Theses

This paper presents the "EtchRate Wafer," a wireless monitoring silicon wafer that was invented by KLA-Tencor Corporation and patented in September 2014. This monitoring wafer measures the film thickness change in the etching plasma chambers while the etching process is running. The monitoring wafer has three sensors to measure the uniformity of thickness change across the wafer. The sensor is an optical stack that mainly consists of a collimator, an optical window, coated mirror, optical filter, and an optical detector. To measure the etch rate, the specific target material is coated on the optical window to be able to simulate …

The Interactive Effects Of Sex Of A Sender And Gender Role On Liking And Perceived Competence In Online Email Communication, Megan Opfer

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine how evaluations of an email sender would be influenced by gender role and sex of the sender. It was hypothesized that male senders would be liked more and perceived as more competent than females and that agentic male and communal female senders would be liked more and perceived as more competent than communal male and agentic female senders, respectively. Senders would also be ranked in the following order from most positive scores to least: agentic males, communal females, agentic females, communal males. Using a 2 (sex of participants: male vs female) …

Preparation And Characterization Of A Ferrocene Containing Main-Chain Peg-Cnt Phase For Hybrid Supercapacitor Application, Shalaka Rahangdale

Master's Theses

With the rapid development of the global economy, the depletion of fossil fuels, and increasing environmental pollution, there is an urgent need for new technologies associated with energy conversion and storage. Supercapacitors have attracted tremendous attention and are now extensively used for energy storage. They charge and discharge quickly for high power demands but have low energy density. The goal of the research was to synthesize electrode and electrolyte materials for the fabrication of a hybrid supercapacitor cell with high energy density. In this hybrid cell, carbon nanotubes were used as electrodes, which contribute to electrostatic capacitance, and redox polymer …

Structure And Emplacement Of The Eocene Golden Horn Batholith, North Cascades, Washington, Christopher Scudder

Master's Theses

The 48 Ma Golden Horn batholith is a ~310 km2, shallow intrusion constructed of sub-horizontal sheets in the crystalline core of the North Cascades of Washington. It is the only large body of granite in an orogen dominated by 96-45 Ma tonalite, and probably intruded during ridge subduction. The oldest and structurally highest unit of the batholith is diorite, followed by alkaline granite, one feldspar-biotite granite, two feldspar-biotite granite, and finally granodiorite, the youngest and structurally lowest unit. The batholith displays a weak NE-striking foliation restricted to the center of the intrusion and a stronger NW-striking foliation formed throughout the …

Constructing Dynamic Ad-Hoc Emergency Networks Using Software-Defined Wireless Mesh Networks, Roop Kumar Sriramulu

Master's Theses

Natural disasters and other emergency situations have the potential to destroy a whole network infrastructure needed for communication critical to emergency rescue, evacuation, and initial rehabilitation. Hence, the research community has begun to focus attention on rapid network reconstruction in such emergencies; however, research has tried to create or improve emergency response systems using traditional radio and satellite communications, which face high operation costs and frequent disruptions. This thesis proposes a centralized monitoring and control system to reconstruct ad-hoc networks in emergencies by using software-defined wireless mesh networks (SDWMN). The proposed framework utilizes wireless mesh networks and software-defined networking to …

Landscape Mobility Of The Precontact Ohlone: An Isotopic Investigation Of Dietary Reconstruction, Landscape Mobility, And Marriage Patterns, Kelli Sullivan

Master's Theses

Marriage and post-marital residence patterns shape and define various aspects of a population’s culture. This study aims to understand the complex relationships of precontact individuals from one earthen-mound burial site, Ryan Mound (CA-ALA-329), by examining human stable isotopes to elucidate mobility patterns through time. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from serial-sections of human third molars from the Ryan Mound suggest that mobility increased for males around the ages of sexual maturity for the Middle Period and Phase I of the Late Period, while females tended to be more stable in their residence, consistent with a matrilocal society. Both males and …

Nonpoint Source Bacterial Pollution In The Coyote Creek Watershed, Elisabeth Wilkinson

Master's Theses

Nonpoint source pollution is a global challenge affecting streams and rivers. Due to the highly dispersed nature of nonpoint sources, they are difficult to track and manage. The goal of this study was to assess the extent of bacterial pollution along Coyote Creek in Northern California and to provide insight on microwatershed characteristics and their potential correlation to bacteria loads. Samples were collected and analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria concentrations at 21 geographic locations from within the creek and its stormwater outfalls. E. coli levels within Coyote Creek and stormwater entering the creek exceeded recreational water quality standards. Stormwater outfall …

Migration, Individualism And Dependency: Experiences Of Skilled Women From The Former Soviet Union In Silicon Valley, Ievgeniia Zasoba

Master's Theses

An academic dialog concerning the intersectionality of national origin, economic class and gender, as mutually constitutive elements of migration, set the context for my inquiry into the experiences of wives who are barred from paid labor by their restricted visa status. Guided by grounded theory, I conducted seventeen semi-structured qualitative interviews to examine ways in which a move to Silicon Valley under a restricted visa class changes the self-image of women, and how they evaluate this change. I found that the ambiguous agency construct of women socialized in the Soviet and post-Soviet eras facilitated their choice to migrate despite the …

Patients’ Satisfaction With Existing Dry Mouth Therapies And Willingness To Pay For An Artificial Salivary Gland, Akanksha Srivastava

Master's Theses

Objectives: 1) To evaluate the effect of xerostomia and satisfaction with xerostomia therapies on patients’ oral health related quality of life (OHQoL); 2) To evaluate patients’ willingness-to-adopt and willingness-to-pay for an artificial implantable salivary gland.

Methods: A survey was conducted to obtain patients’ satisfaction with current xerostomia management strategies, effect of Xerostomia on their oral and general health, willingness to adopt an artificial salivary gland pump, and willingness-to-pay for the implantable device.

Results: A total of 107 individuals responded through either a paper-based questionnaire or online survey. Individuals with Sjögren’s syndrome and Radiation-related xerostomia had significantly poorer OHQoL compared …

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Outcomes Of Open-Versus Closed-Surgical Exposure Of Palatally Impacted Maxillary Canines: A Pilot Study, Suha Alghamdi

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Biomarkers Of Orthodontic Tooth Movement With Fixed Appliances And Vibration Appliance Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Stacey M. Reiss

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

English As A Second Language Proficiency: An Irt Approach To Scoring, Merve Sarac

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Perceived Gayness Of Prep: The Influence Of Masculinity Ideology On Black Men Who Have Sex With Men's Interest In Prep, Ladectric Driver

Master's Theses

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) experience higher HIV incidence rates than any other U.S. population subgroup. The development of a bio-behavioral strategy using anti-retroviral therapy, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), provides a new alternative for HIV prevention; however, interest and uptake among BMSM remains poor. Gender-based perceptions and roles may be a factor in PrEP interest among BMSM. The present study examined the relationship between avoidance of femininity, heterosexual self-presentation, PrEP stigma and PrEP interest among BMSM. A self-administered questionnaire assessing aspects of traditional masculinity ideology, stigmatized beliefs that PrEP use will out one as gay, and PrEP interest …

Observational Learning Of A Changing Goal Location In Rats, Ryan Troha

Master's Theses

Observational, or imitative, learning is a vital skill for survival. This type of social learning plays an important role in human development (e.g. Bandura), but is also relevant for other species.

We have developed an observational learning paradigm in which rats must learn the location of food in a T-shaped maze through observation. This is a working memory task with the correct goal changing on a daily basis. Therefore, the observer must attend to the demonstrator rat’s performance on a daily or continuous basis.

F344 rats can be trained to observe the location of food on a T-maze before being …

Selectivity Of The Lower Kellwasser Mass Extinction Event (Late Devonian) In The Appalachian Basin, Jaleigh Quai Pier

Master's Theses

Mass extinctions are often associated with multiple environmental perturbations. For example, the Upper and Lower Kellwasser Events (the two pulses of the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction in the Late Devonian) coincide with both global cooling and ocean anoxia/dysoxia. Assessing the selectivity of extinction—which types of organisms survived versus died—can help constrain which environmental changes were most important as kill mechanisms. Here, selectivity is examined with respect to several factors during the Lower Kellwasser Event. A thick package of siliciclastic sediments was deposited in the Appalachian Foreland Basin during the Late Devonian. Thanks to recent stratigraphic revisions, the Kellwasser Events can be …

An Evaluation Of Ultrasonic Shot Peening And Abrasive Flow Machining As Surface Finishing Processes For Selective Laser Melted 316l, Rhys Gilmore

Master's Theses

Additive Manufacturing, and specifically powder bed fusion processes, have advanced rapidly in recent years. Selective Laser Melting in particular has been adopted in a variety of industries from biomedical to aerospace because of its capability to produce complex components with numerous alloys, including stainless steels, nickel superalloys, and titanium alloys. Post-processing is required to treat or solve metallurgical issues such as porosity, residual stresses, and surface roughness. Because of the geometric complexity of SLM produced parts, the reduction of surface roughness with conventional processing has proven especially challenging. In this Thesis, two processes, abrasive flow machining and ultrasonic shot peening, …

Analysis Of Potential Vermicompost Market In California, Jason Alan Thomas

Master's Theses

Vermicompost transforms agricultural waste into a high quality soil amendment, though market acceptance remains in its infancy. This study examines how growers’ willingness to pay for vermicompost is affected by grower’s crop, region, income per acre, knowledge level of vermicompost and compost, previous use of compost, and the willingness to pay for compost. The survey results pulled together 223 responses from California growers. It was discovered growers’ had less knowledge of vermicompost than compost but were willing to pay more for vermicompost. There was statistical difference amongst the responses. It was shown the market value per ton of vermicompost lies …

Orbital Constellation Design And Analysis Using Spherical Trigonometry And Genetic Algorithms: A Mission Level Design Tool For Single Point Coverage On Any Planet, Joseph R. Gagliano

Master's Theses

Recent interest surrounding large scale satellite constellations has increased analysis efforts to create the most efficient designs. Multiple studies have successfully optimized constellation patterns using equations of motion propagation methods and genetic algorithms to arrive at optimal solutions. However, these approaches are computationally expensive for large scale constellations, making them impractical for quick iterative design analysis. Therefore, a minimalist algorithm and efficient computational method could be used to improve solution times. This thesis will provide a tool for single target constellation optimization using spherical trigonometry propagation, and an evolutionary genetic algorithm based on a multi-objective optimization function. Each constellation will …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Wastewater-Grown Algae Biomass With Optimized Biogas Yields And Nutrient Solubilzation, Tiffany A. Racz

Master's Theses

Whole-cell algae biomass grown on nutrient-rich wastewater can be anaerobically digested to produce renewable heat and power, and to solubilize nutrients to grow additional algae biomass in a biorefinery system. In this study, algae biomass was grown on clarified primary wastewater in 33-m² ponds at a 4-day residence time with sedimentation harvesting of the biomass. Lab digesters were used to test biogas yields and nutrient solubilization from the anaerobic digestion of algal biomass with and without mixing and with sonication as a pretreatment. Additionally, algae were fed to unheated and unmixed 1135-L pilot digesters to determine the effects of …

Topographic Maps: Image Processing And Path-Finding, Calin Washington

Master's Theses

Topographic maps are an invaluable tool for planning routes through unfamiliar terrain. However, accurately planning routes on topographic maps is a time- consuming and error-prone task. One factor is the difficulty of interpreting the map itself, which requires prior knowledge and practice. Another factor is the difficulty of making choices between possible routes that have different trade-offs between length and the terrain they traverse.

To alleviate these difficulties, this thesis presents a system to automate the process of finding routes on scanned images of topographic maps. The system allows users to select any two points on a topographic map and …

Funqual: User-Defined, Statically-Checked Call Graph Constraints In C++, Andrew P. Nelson

Master's Theses

Static analysis tools can aid programmers by reporting potential programming mistakes prior to the execution of a program. Funqual is a static analysis tool that reads C++17 code ``in the wild'' and checks that the function call graph follows a set of rules which can be defined by the user. This sort of analysis can help the programmer to avoid errors such as accidentally calling blocking functions in time-sensitive contexts or accidentally allocating memory in heap-sensitive environments. To accomplish this, we create a type system whereby functions can be given user-defined type qualifiers and where users can define their own …