Digital Commons Network^™

Metabolic Regulation And Cryotolerance Of In Vitro-Produced Holstein Embryos, Melissa Ann Roberts

Master's Theses

In vitro production and transfer of embryos has become a common practice within the dairy industry to efficiently breed superior animals and meet the consumption demand of the growing population. Cyropreservation is necessary for the application of commercialized embryo transfer, however, in vitro-produced embryos show morphological and physiological defects which negatively impact their ability to withstand cryopreservation in comparison to their in vivo counterparts. These artifacts result from culture conditions that cause stress to the embryo during development, leading to an accumulation of intracellular lipids, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately poor ability to withstand freezing and thawing. The objective of …

Field Emissions Of (Hydro)Chlorofluorocarbons And Methane From A California Landfill, Alexander H. Sohn

Master's Theses

A comprehensive field investigation was conducted at Potrero Hills Landfill (PHL) located in Suisun City, California to quantify emissions of twelve (hydro)chlorofluorocarbons (i.e. F-gases). The specific target constituents for this study included CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114, HCFC-21, HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HCFC-151a, HFC-134a, HFC-152a, and HFC-245fa. The majority of the F-gas emission studies have been conducted outside of the United States and very limited field landfill emission data are available in the United States. Because of historical usage of blowing agents in insulation foams including CFC-11, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, and HFC-245fa, models reported in literature predicted high F-gas emissions from a landfill …

Native Cryptography In The Browser, An Exploratory Approach, Joseph A. Wilson

Master's Theses

As applications move from the desktop to the web browser, security needs to be taken into consideration. The new Web Crypto API provides native support for web applications to perform cryptographic operations and key management functions. Client side cryptographic support is a critical component in the future development of secure web based applications. This thesis presents an exploration of the Web Crypto API. The aim of this research was to determine the feasibility of developing complex cryptographic applications in the browser. This evaluation was performed by building an end to end encrypted messaging system that implements the off the record …

The Importance Of The Multicomponent Display In Sexual Selection Of Black Morph Girardinus Metallicus (Pisces: Poeciliidae), Erin M. Wojan

Master's Theses

Multicomponent displays are composed of traits, such as coloration, structural ornaments, and behavior, that become integrated and signal information to conspecifics. Estimation of multicomponent displays in fishes often involves measurement of color traits. Fish color measurements are often obtained following immobilization via chemical anesthesia; however, the anesthetics may alter the resulting measurements, for example by darkening the skin. Girardinus metallicus, a poeciliid fish endemic to Cuba, has a multicomponent courtship and aggressive display. Black morph males exhibit black ventral coloration including the gonopodium (copulatory organ) and yellow in the non-black areas of their bodies. I investigated the effects of …

Effect Of Oxygen-Limiting Tidal Conditions On Muscle Metabolism And Structure In The Giant Acorn Barnacle, Balanus Nubilus, Katie O. Grady

Master's Theses

Crustacean muscle fibers are some of the largest cells in the animal kingdom, with fiber diameters in the giant acorn barnacle (Balanus nubilus) exceeding 3 mm. Sessile animals with extreme muscle sizes and that live in the hypoxia-inducing intertidal zone – like B. nubilus – represent ideal models for probing the effects of oxygen limitation on muscle cells. We investigated changes in metabolism and structure of B. nubilus muscle in response to: normoxic immersion, anoxic immersion, or air emersion, for acute (6h) or chronic (6h exposures twice daily for 2wks) time periods. Following exposure, we immediately measured hemolymph …

The Water Table And Soil Moisture Response Following The Removal Of Conifers From An Encroached Meadow, Thomas W. Sanford

Master's Theses

Montane meadows play a key role in the physical and biologic processes of coniferous forests in the western United States. However, due to climate change, over grazing, and fire suppression, conifer encroachment into meadows has accelerated. In some western regions, nearly half of all meadow habitat has been loss due to conifer encroachment. To combat this issue, encroaching conifers can be removed in an attempt to increase meadow habitat and function. While multiple studies have assessed changes in soil structure and vegetation composition, few studies directly investigate changes in hydrology following meadow conifer removal projects. The goal of this study …

Using Digital Performance Feedback To Increase Teacher Treatment Integrity, Heather Marie Whipple

Master's Theses

In intervention research, assessing treatment integrity is important to establish functional control of the independent variable and make accurate decisions regarding treatment effectiveness. This study examined the effects of digital performance feedback (DPF) as a follow-up strategy for teachers to increase integrity. A multiple baseline design was utilized to determine the effectiveness of this strategy. Results from this study expanded previous literature on ways to promote treatment integrity and help move toward a science of intervention implementation. The primary dependent variable measured was treatment integrity. Student behavior was also assessed to determine if there is a relationship between treatment integrity …

The Effects Of Tootling Combined With Public Posting In High School Classrooms, Sarah Joan Wright

Master's Theses

A traditional tootling procedure was implemented along with a public posting component to determine the effects on academically engaged, disruptive, and passive off task behaviors in four general education high school classrooms. The study employed an A/B/B+C multiple baseline design across classrooms. The primary focus of the study was to assess potential increases in academically engaged behavior across intervention conditions. Students in the traditional tootling phase (B) were instructed to report on their peers’ positive, prosocial behaviors. At the end of the class period, the teacher silently read through the tootles and added the total toward the group goal. When …

Police Education And Training: A Comparative Analysis Of Law Enforcement Preparation In The United States And Canada, Citlali Alexandra Déverge

Master's Theses

Police academy training for newly hired officers varies across locations and regions in regard to both training process and training content. The needs and demands of modern-day societies have evolved, and it is very important for police training academies to keep up with the practice of the police profession. Higher education adds value to police training as it reinforces the development of critical thinking skills and the necessary values needed to face the needs and demands of society, particularly in terms of accountability, professionalism, and legitimacy. This research presents a case study of two police training academies located in a …

Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Desotoi) Pre-Restoration Occupancy Patterns On Ship Island, Mississippi Sound With An Evaluation Of Designated Critical Habitat Use By Eastern And Western Population Segments, Page Elizabeth Vick

Master's Theses

Critical spawning and feeding habitat was designated for federally threatened, anadromous Gulf Sturgeon (GS) to aid in population recovery. This study examined GS occupancy, habitat use, and movement through critical habitat monitored by the Ship Island (SI) acoustic array during overwintering periods from 2011 to 2015 prior to MsCIP SI restoration. An occupancy index analyzed patterns of spatial and temporal habitat use of both western and eastern population segments (WPS and EPS, respectively) of GS on the SI array. The ends of SI along with the passes and cuts of the island, especially Dog Keys Pass (DKP), were occupied by …

Crafting Iron And Other Stories, Bryana Michelle Fern

Master's Theses

The stories that follow in this collection attempt to reveal studies in characters facing loneliness, and to do so by following Alice Munro’s conception of plot—the notion that characters shape the plot according to their position in the various “rooms” of the story. Feelings of loneliness look different for everyone, and necessitate many different methods of filling that hole. In these stories, many variations of loneliness are explored. A Vietnam veteran struggles to find healing through the adoption of his young godson, whose father was his best friend in the war; a lady in Surrey, England, takes a trip in …

Structure-Property Relationships Of Polyisobutylene-Block-Polyamide Thermoplastic Elastomers, Morgan Dunn Heskett

Master's Theses

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are a class of polymer fit for a wide variety of applications due to their customizability. In the synthesis of these types of materials, an elastically-performing polymer, deemed the “soft block,” is combined with a stiffer “hard block” polymer, each of which can be selected based on their own specific properties in order to achieve desired material behavior in the final copolymer. Recently, the use of polyisobutylene as a soft block in combination with a polyamide hard block has been investigated for use in TPE synthesis. While the material showed some promising behavior, many properties were still …

Understanding Concurrency For Graph Workloads In Large Scale Multicores, Masab Ahmad

Master's Theses

Algorithms operating on a graph setting are known to be highly irregular and un- structured. This leads to workload imbalance and data locality challenge when these algorithms are parallelized and executed on the evolving multicore processors. Previous parallel benchmark suites for shared memory multicores have focused on various workload domains, such as scientific, graphics, and vision. However, these suites lack graph applications that must be evaluated in the context of architectural design space for futuristic multicores. This paper presents CRONO, a benchmark suite composed of multi-threaded graph algorithms for shared memory multicore processors. We analyze and characterize these benchmarks using …

The Perceived Validity Of Stereotype Threat As An Explanation For Underperformance, Gabriel Camacho

Master's Theses

Research demonstrates that members of stigmatized groups may underperform when stereotype threat is induced. No research, however, has examined whether attributing underperformance to stereotype threat is perceived as a likely or valid explanation. In two experiments White students were randomly assigned to review the test performance of a fellow student described as a racial/ethnic minority (stigmatized group) or White (non-stigmatized group). Experiment 1 revealed that Hispanic and Black students were significantly more likely to have their underperformance attributed to dispositional and stereotypic causes than a White student. Experiment 2 revealed that White students perceived attributing underperformance to stereotype threat as …

The Role Of Diversity Of Academic Major In Influencing Group And Individual Creativity, Xiaochen Liu

Master's Theses

This study examined, on a preliminary basis, the role of diversity of academic major in influencing individual and group divergent thinking. Prior studies on diversity provide evidence that working with diverse individuals can make groups more productive in generating creative ideas. Diversity of academic major is an important element of group diversity that has not been sufficiently studied. This study provided direction for future research to help us understand the ways that diversity may influence creative thinking as well as enrich the school curriculum. A total of 56 graduate students from University of Connecticut were recruited to study this issue. …

Self-Efficacy Mediates The Relationship Of Neurocognitive Impairment And Hiv Risk Reduction Intervention Outcomes Among Female High-Risk Drug Users In Treatment, Tanjila Ahmed

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Beyond Economics: The Effects Of Religion, Migration, And Women’S Education On Nonmarital Fertility In Poor Counties, Jessica E. Yorks

Master's Theses

Existing research shows that poor economic conditions such as job loss, low wages, and financial insecurity increase nonmarital fertility. However, there are economically-depressed areas of the United States that have low levels of nonmarital fertility. Why are these areas unique, and what can they tell us about the significance of place in shaping fertility outcomes? Although much of the current research focuses on economic explanations, some attention has been given to other factors that play a role in influencing nonmarital fertility rates. These studies show that religion, migration, and education are also significant predictors of nonmartial fertility. This study builds …

Full Analysis Of Heat Pipes Including Fins And Nanofluids, Leonard M. Poplaski 5222235

Master's Theses

Full numerical simulation of heat pipes was performed for heat pipes under various operating conditions with a variety of working fluids including fins and nanofluid. Two and three-dimensional models were developed assuming a laminar compressible vapor core. An advanced thermal resistance network for heat pipes was used along with the numerical model to identify dominant thermal resistances. Simulations were performed on heat pipes with external channel cooling around the condenser with and without external fins to determine the impact of individual heat pipe thermal resistances. It was found that the vapor core thermal resistance is significant as the operating temperature …

Salt-Water Aging, Bonding, And In-Service Performance Of A Novel Poured Silicone Expansion Joint Sealant For Small Movement Bridges, Dominic Kruszewski

Master's Theses

According to ASCE’s 2013 Infrastructure Report Card, over 200 million trips are taken daily over a structurally deficient bridge in the United States. One of the most commonly observed degradation factors that contribute to compromising the structural integrity of bridges includes leaking expansion joints which allow water, debris and deicing corrosive materials to penetrate through to the substructure. These corrosive agents can significantly damage the bearing and other key components of the bridge, hindering the lifespan of the structure.

Currently, poured silicone sealant joint systems must be replaced every 2-3 years in Connecticut. A novel silicone foam sealant has been …

Creating A Comparative Map Of Relative Power For Dc Arc Flash Methodologies, Andre Azares

Master's Theses

Although arc flash has been a concern amongst the electrical industry for many years, it is only relatively recently that standards by the IEEE have been established on calculating the amount of energy behind an arc flash event. However, these standards only apply to AC systems, where extensive testing and research have been performed. Although the NFPA has provided recommendations on how to calculate the incident energy for DC arc flash events, these have not become the defining standard like those seen for AC. One equation outlined in the NFPA70E, the Maximum Power Method, does provide engineers with a formula …

Encouraging Development Of Mobile Applications As A Service To The Community, Vanessa Marie Forney

Master's Theses

The convenience of mobile applications combined with the efficiency and effectiveness provided by technology has contributed to an increased interest in mobile applications. Local groups and non-profit organizations often utilize outdated, manual processes and don’t have the resources or time to look into improving these systems. For Cal Poly students and other members of the community, this means there is an opportunity to apply technical skills and school projects to address these inefficiencies. This work explores whether a better system can be developed to provide the functionality of the existing system and enhance the experience of users through technology, data …

"Vidya Games Are For Nerds Like Us": Identity Deployment In The Gamergate Controversy, Matthew J. Rogers

Master's Theses

In February, 2014, video game developer Zoe Quinn released Depression Quest, a browser game centered on the subjective experience of depression, which met with critical success. In August of the same year, an ex-boyfriend published a vitriolic blog post accusing Quinn of having sex with a reviewer from the gaming website Kotaku in exchange for a favorable review. Users of the site 4chan seized on these accusations and subsequently subjected her to intense harassment, including death and rape threats.

These attacks, later labeled “GamerGate,” are only the latest in a series of attacks on women in the video game …

Wcet Analysis For Concurrent Execution Of Multiple Applications On Safety Critical Embedded Multicores, Kartik Lakshminarasimhan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Word And Concept Learning In Poor Comprehenders, Kayleigh Ryherd

Master's Theses

The current study aimed to examine how word and concept learning is related to comprehension ability beyond decoding skill. The study considered nonverbal concept construction and verbal label mapping in explicit and implicit paradigms to determine which aspects of concept learning were easiest for individuals with low comprehension skill. A sample of 28 undergraduate student participants completed two sets of word and concept learning, where they learned categories of novel items grouped on one nonverbal and one verbal feature. After learning, they were asked to indicate which items belonged to the same category. Accuracy, reaction time, and eye movements were …

Using Lidar To Determine Early Successional And Shrubland Structure In Eastern Connecticut, Jacob P. Conshick

Master's Theses

Since the decline of agriculture in the state of Connecticut due to the opening of the Erie Canal, the land originally used for cropland reverted back to forest. During this time dense shrubland shade intolerant plants sprouted in the abandoned fields. The dense cover is known as early successional habitat and is utilized by many different species such as the New England cottontail, bobcat, and woodcock. These species use early successional habitat for a source of food, cover and shelter to survive. Currently disturbance events such as clearing land for agriculture, hurricanes, clear cuts, and fires are on a decline, …

Trail Vision: Utilizing Leopold As Environmental Equipment For Living, Kendall Elizabeth Barrett

Master's Theses

Hiking trails are one of the major ways citizens make observations about the natural world. An analysis of trail maintenance texts demonstrates a focus on concealment and camouflage of human construction and upkeep in National Scenic Trails. These practices are detrimental to environmentalism, since the resulting ideology frames nature as overly self-sufficient and not in need of human stewardship. Trail maintenance practices are analyzed in reference to the nature/culture dichotomy. Perceptions of nature’s self-healing ability are analyzed through a comparison of the oil spills in Santa Barbara during 1969 and 2015. An alternative approach is found through Aldo Leopold. Leopold …

Silicon Revolution: Sustainability Disclosures And Performance In The Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry (2010-2014), Swarali Bhat

Master's Theses

This exploratory work investigates the sustainability performance and reporting practices in 20 semiconductor companies from 2010-2014 using content analysis, survey, and interview methods. The sample consists of companies that are either integrated chip manufacturers (ICMs) or semiconductor foundries with annual net revenue of $0.2 billion to $55.9 billion. A sustainability matrix based on the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines assesses the reporting completeness. Sustainability performance is measured based on two factors, identification of trends in social and environmental data and adoption of 28 sustainability best practices specific to this manufacturing sector. The majority of the resource use and emissions data followed …

Dynamics And Control Of A Suspended Atn Vehicle, Wade Patterson Brown

Master's Theses

In order to enhance the research into Automation Transit Network (ATN) systems

performed by the Spartan Superway team, a simulation environment and controller is

developed for a suspended ATN vehicle. The equations of motion are derived for a

suspended ATN vehicle constrained to move on a circular guideway (referred to as the

Planar System) and for an ATN vehicle constrained to move on a guideway of arbitrary

geometry (referred to as the General System). Additionally, a controller using feedback

linearization is designed that tracks the position of the ATN for a conditioned displacement

profile and minimizes the lateral acceleration experienced …

Design And Analysis Of The Impact Diffusion Helmet Through A Finite Element Analysis Approach, Steven Paul Warnert

Master's Theses

By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels …

Laff-O-Tron: Laugh Prediction In Ted Talks, Andrew D. Acosta

Master's Theses

Did you hear where the thesis found its ancestors? They were in the "parent-thesis"! This joke, whether you laughed at it or not, contains a fascinating and mysterious quality: humor. Humor is something so incredibly human that if you squint, the two words can even look the same. As such, humor is not often considered something that computers can understand. But, that doesn't mean we won't try to teach it to them.

In this thesis, we propose the system Laff-O-Tron to attempt to predict when the audience of a public speech would laugh by looking only at the text of …