Digital Commons Network^™

Physically Effective Fiber Threshold, Apparent Digestibility, And Novel Fecal Microbiome Identification Of The Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys Pardalis), Breanna Paige Modica

Master's Theses

Particle size distribution of diet, feces, and change from diet to feces, as well as apparent digestibility (aDig, %) of selected nutrients, and novel fecal microbiome identification of mature female leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis, n = 16) fed exclusively one of three, nutritionally complete, pelleted diets were evaluated in a blind, complete randomized design study. Two diets included insoluble fiber (powdered cellulose) consisting of either 2.0 mm or 0.2 mm length. Insoluble fiber provides nutritional and physical benefits to both the animal host and the microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Insoluble fiber length was used as a …

Analysis Of Machine Learning Classifier Performance In Adding Custom Gestures To The Leap Motion, Eric Yun

Master's Theses

The use of supervised machine learning to extend the capabilities and overall viability of motion sensing input devices has been an increasingly popular avenue of research since the release of the Leap Motion in 2013. The device's optical sensors are capable of recognizing and tracking key features of a user's hands and fingers, which can be obtained and manipulated through a robust API. This makes statistical classification ideal for tackling the otherwise laborious and error prone nature of adding new programmer-defined gestures to the set of recognized gestures.

Although a handful of studies have explored the effectiveness of machine learning …

Identification Of Agricultural Land Use In California Through Remote Sensing, Todd Allen Robinson

Master's Theses

Ground truthing actual crop types in an area can be expensive and time-consuming. The California Department of Water Resources attempts to ground truth land use in each county in California every five years. However, this is limited by budgetary constraints and often results in infrequent (more than every ten years) surveying of many counties. An accurate accounting of crops growing in a region is important for a variety of purposes including farm production estimates, groundwater and surface water modeling, evapotranspiration estimation, water planning, research applications, etc. Agricultural land use is continually changing due to development and environmental factors.

Currently, USDA …

Experimentation Of Mode I And Mode Ii Fracture Of Uni-Directional Composites And Finite Element Analysis Of Mode I Fracture Using Cohesive Contact, Joseph Daniel Garrett

Master's Theses

As the use of fiber-reinforced composites has increased over the decades, so has the need to understand the complexity of their failure mechanisms as engineers seek to improve the damage tolerance of composite laminated structures. One of the most prevalent and limiting mode of failure within composite laminates is delamination, since it not only reduces a structures stiffness and strength, but can be very difficult to detect without the use of special non-destructive equipment. Industry testing organizations have utilized several fracture tests in order to characterize the fracture toughness of composite materials under different loading conditions. For this research, ASTM …

Scaled Synthetic Aperture Rader Development, Jason Garvey Schray

Master's Theses

Several previous Cal Poly thesis projects involve synthetic aperture radar (SAR), automatic target recognition (ATR), and tracking. SAR data was either accessed from a publicly available database or generated using complex computer modeling software. The motivation for this dual thesis project is to design and construct a scaled SAR system to support Cal Poly radar projects. Ideally this is a low-cost, high resolution SAR architecture that produces raw range Doppler data for any desired target area. To that end, a scaled SAR system was successfully designed, built, and tested. The current SAR system, however, does not perform azimuthal compression and …

A 3-D Multiplex Paper-Microfluidic Platform, Mitchell Patrick Young

Master's Theses

3-D paper-based microfluidic devices (micoPADs) are small and portable devices made out of paper that offer a promising platform for diagnostic applications outside of a laboratory. These devices are easy to use, low cost, require no power source, and capable of detecting multiple targets simultaneously. The work in this thesis demonstrated the ability of a 3-D paper-microfluidic platform to simultaneously detect 5 targets. Rubber cord stock was used in conjunction with an acrylic housing unit to apply pressure along the edge of the channel. The indirect pressure application was successful in promoting vertical fluid flow between layers. Average channel development …

Examining Valve Shape Variation In The Freshwater Diatom Genus Eunotia Over Time And Space, Jordan M. Bishop

Master's Theses

A geometric morphometrics landmark analysis was used to investigate evolutionary shape change of Eunotia, a cosmopolitan freshwater diatom genus. Modern records from temperate and tropical habitats were compared with fossils originating from a locality in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The Giraffe Pipe sediment core from a middle Eocene tropical lake contains abundant siliceous remains of diatoms and other taxa, including Eunotia, making these the oldest known representatives of the genus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the shape of Eunotia when comparing modern tropical specimens to analogous fossil specimens. Over 600 specimens were examined in total, …

Cyberbullying Among Young Adults: Effects On Mental And Physical Health, Brett M. Goshe

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Gender In 17th Century Southern New England, Megan K. Willison

Master's Theses

This thesis, written in the form of two broadly related articles, aims to address questions related to topics of gender, identity, cultural change and continuity, and the materiality of social institutions. Each article investigates how artifacts, as physical objects unintentionally or purposefully discarded, represent and reflect human behavior, societal ideologies, and cultural infrastructures. Using primary sources, archaeological evidence, and linguistic data, each article proposes that certain artifact classes are representative of larger societal ideals and cultural mores, such as gender systems and ways of defining one's gender identity. The first article studies these topics through the analysis of funerary remains …

Examining Altered Neural Activation In Patients With Patellar Tendinopathy: A Preliminary Study, Steven Davi

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Examining altered neural activation in patients with patellar tendinopathy: a preliminary study

Davi SM, Lepley LK, Lepley AS, Denegar CR, Aerni G, DiStefano LJ: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

CONTEXT: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common injury that can affect 15-45% of all athletes, with nearly 50% of these athletes reporting no longer being able participate in sport due to the severity of the injury. One of the consequences of PT leading to physical inactivity is muscular weakness, particularly in the quadriceps, which may be attributed to arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). OBJECTIVE: To …

The Receptacular Nectar Tubes Of Pelargonium (Geraniaceae): A Study Of Development, Length Variation, And Histology, Timothy Tsai

Master's Theses

The nectaries of Pelargonium are unusual in the Geraniaceae in that the flowers only have one deep dorsal tube as opposed to five shallow canals. The genus is also known for having great length variation in nectar tubes, variation that has been suggested to play an important role in the diversification of this genus. Interpretations of Pelargonium nectaries contradict each other as some describe the nectar tube as an adnate sepal spur while others describe it as an hypanthial tube as a result of an elongate receptacle. In addition, the developmental basis of differing nectar tube lengths is unknown.

SEM …

An Empirical Study Of Problem-Based Learning Of English In China, Xinning Cui

Master's Theses

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of problem-based learning on 9^th grader Chinese students’ performance on writing, speaking and self-efficacy in learning English. Of particular interest to this study was the comparison of problem-based learning with the traditional Chinese learning method for improving students’ performance on English language writing and speaking, and in addition, students’ self-efficacy towards English learning. An empirical experiment was conducted in Qingdao No.2 high school in Shandong province, China. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The findings show that students using the problem-based learning method tend to have stronger …

Ecological Risks And Benefits From The Novel Crop Camelina Sativa (L.) Crantz (Camelina), Richard C. Rizzitello

Master's Theses

It is important to fully understand the ecological implications of introducing new crop species and genetic traits because of potential hazards such as changes in native plant populations or the establishment of aggressive weeds. Conversely, the introduction of new crops and traits could provide ecological benefits such as providing pollen and nectar forage for pollinators. Camelina sativa (camelina or false flax) is an oilseed crop that is being genetically engineered (GE) for the production of biofuel, bioplastics, and dietary supplements for humans and animals. Relatively little scientific information exists about camelina cultivation, reproductive biology, and ecology. The primary research goals …

Preventive Health Care Among Immigrant Sudanese Women In The Greater Hartford Area Of Connecticut, Fawatih Y. Mohamed-Abouh

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Association Of The Dietary Inflammatory Index With Metabolic Syndrome In The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2006), Genevieve C. Caron

Master's Theses

Metabolic syndrome currently affects one third of adults in the U.S. and has been associated with a variety of chronic diseases that pose a burden to the nation. ^1,2 In the nationally representative NHANES dataset (2001-2006), dietary inflammatory index scores were found to significantly predict metabolic syndrome outcome among individuals above the age of 50 (OR=1.088; 95% CI=1.014-1.167; p=0.0184). Individuals older than 50 years of age who consume diets very high inflammatory properties were found to be 2.14 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those who consume a diet with very low inflammatory properties. This study supports the …

Characterizing Headwater Stream Hydrology And Nitrogen Export During Storms Across A Gradient Of Watershed Development, Jason Sauer

Master's Theses

Nitrogen (N) is a critical element for aquatic ecosystem function that can degrade water quality and cause eutrophication if in excess of natural levels. Anthropogenic nonpoint sources contribute more than 90% of total N added to major watersheds in the U.S, in excess of natural levels, and they are increasing with land development. Storms mobilize N from anthropogenic sources and generate periods of high N export to aquatic ecosystems. In this thesis, I explore how a gradient of watershed development affects the volume-weighted load, composition, and timing of N exported from first-order streams in New England during storms. I find …

The Causes Of Regional Sea-Surface Temperature Anomalies During Wind Relaxation Events Off The U.S. West Coast In Summer, Kayla Flynn

Master's Theses

The term ‘wind relaxation’ describes weakening or reversal of the prevailing upwelling-favorable winds. Summertime wind relaxations along the U.S. West Coast exhibit an ‘event cycle’ spanning ~12 days. The winds first relax or reverse off the coast of Oregon. Next, the upwelling-favorable winds strengthen off the coast of central California; the strong winds move poleward and reach Oregon in ~3 days. Then the winds relax off central California. This previously known synoptic scale pattern in the momentum flux from atmosphere to ocean has led to two questions: 1) How does sea-surface temperature (SST) respond on scales of 100s to 1000s …

Overtime Work Hours, Health Behaviors And Health Outcomes For Correctional Officers: An Examination Of Moderated Effects, Diana C. Tubbs

Master's Theses

Most of the existing research on corrections officers (COs) has focused on stress and burnout as well as the organizational factors that contribute to these outcomes. Recent studies have also revealed that COs are more likely to be obese and hypertensive than the general population. Studies not specific to corrections provide evidence that overtime hours are associated with poor employee health, and the present study aimed to address this general lack of research on the potential health impacts of overtime hours for COs. More specifically, this study investigated whether the effect of healthy behaviors on health and wellness outcomes changed, …

Childhood Obesity Prevention In Income-Disadvantaged Populations: An Evaluation Of Two Novel Approaches, Kayla L. Vosburgh

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Chemosensory Function In Chronic Smokers: Findings From Nhanes 2011-2014 And An E-Cigarette Intervention, Sarah-Grace Glennon

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Driver Of The Carbon Isotope Minima During The Last Deglaciation: A Weakened Biological Pump Or Enhanced Southern Ocean Circulation?, Melissa C. Cote

Master's Theses

The cause of the initial rise in atmospheric CO₂ during the last deglaciation remains unknown. Coincident with the rising atmospheric CO₂, the δ¹³C of atmospheric CO₂ decreased by ~0.3‰ during Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1: 14.5-17.5 kyr BP), which requires the input of carbon from an isotopically light reservoir. The light carbon signal in the atmosphere occurred concurrently with the carbon isotope minimum, or a decrease in surface ocean δ¹³C of ~0.5‰, suggesting the two phenomena are related. The leading hypotheses explaining the δ¹³C minimum are (1) enhanced ventilation of ^{13 …}

The Self Relevance Of Stigma: The Impact Of Weight Stigma On Normal Weight Women's Health Cognitions, Paige Martinez

Master's Theses

Previous research has demonstrated that weight stigma is associated with negative health outcomes among women who are overweight; this effect has been shown in both experimental and longitudinal studies. However, normal weight women do not tend to experience negative health impacts from exposure to weight stigma. This study attempted to manipulate the self-relevance of weight stigma among 150 normal weight women, in order to test whether self-relevance of stigma has an impact on health cognitions. Limited support for this framework was found.

Perceived Self-Efficacy And Financial Incentives: Factors Affecting Health Behavior And Body Weight In Individuals With Overweight And Obesity, Julia Ann Simon

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Understanding How Intentionally Unplugging From Cell Phones Shapes Interpersonal Relationships And The Undergraduate College Experience, Jadelin P. Felipe

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of what motivated college students—the Unplugged Students—to intentionally use their cell phones less and how they understood the impact that unplugging had on their interpersonal relationships and college experience. Nine undergraduate college students from four private schools were interviewed in one-on-one semi- structured interviews. These students, considered non-users, provided a particularly useful perspective as these students made a conscious choice to counteract social norms and experienced both being plugged in and unplugged. Cell phones and the act of unplugging proved to make up a complex and more nuanced topic than …

Investigating Unit Stream Power And Drainage Capture In The Upper Dajia River, Taiwan Using Geomorphic Indices, Lindsey C. Belliveau

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Micro-Grid Reliability Modeling And Analysis Approaches, Xiaofang Shi

Master's Theses

Micro-grids are becoming of more interest worldwide to achieve reliable electrical energy infrastructure during natural hazards and catastrophic situations due to their ability to operate in both grid-connected and islanded modes. They typically include distributed generation resources that could provide heat and electricity and are expected to have significant clean energy penetration.

Micro-grid system reliability is critical for system design and maintenance since it is commonly used as a backup power system especially during the main grid blackouts or failures. The study of micro-grid reliability can give system designers, operators, and customers potential failure modes of its subsystems and components …

Qm/Mm Calculations Of Spectral Tuning In Squid Rhodopsin, Jennifer Pardus

Master's Theses

This study utilized a QM/MM methodology to model and explore the protein structure and active site of invertebrate squid rhodopsin, and employed time dependent density functional theory (td-dft) calculations to further investigate the excited states of this protein. The high-resolution (2.5 Å) X-ray crystal structure of squid rhodopsin (species Todarodes pacificus) was the first Gq-coupled Guanine Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) structure to be determined. The availability of this novel x-ray structure data, in conjunction with computational tools, provided the opportunity to study the relationship between certain structural attributes of squid rhodopsin in the vicinity of the photoreactive center, and the …

Individual Differences In Sensitivity To Morphological Structure In Words And Nonwords, Oliver M. Sawi

Master's Theses

Understanding visual word recognition has been a central goal of psycholinguistics from its early beginnings. Examination of the statistical properties of language has uncovered many aspects of words that facilitate recognition. In addition, evidence from both behavior and computational modeling suggests that individual differences in experience and the strength of connections in an individual’s reading network affect the sensitivity to these statistical properties in language. Morphology has special properties in this sense as morphologically related items have statistical regularities across both form and meaning. The current study examined whether individual differences in skill modulate sensitivity to morphological structure. Specifically, we …

Testing The Sea Level Hypothesis With New Records Along The Southern East Pacific Rise And Pacific Antarctic Ridge, Emily I. Seeley

Master's Theses

Melting glaciers may have indirectly affected submarine volcanism via changes in sea level. As sea level quickly drops, the rate of pressure change increases, resulting in decompression melting in the upper mantle, increasing magmatic flux. Given that hydrothermal activity at mid-ocean ridges is driven by near-axis magmatic heat, the concentration of hydrothermal proxies in ridge crest sediments (Fe, Mn, and As) can be used to infer long-term changes in hydrothermal plume activity. Using a series of well-dated sediment cores from the East Pacific Rise (EPR), we find glacial-interglacial variations in the concentrations of Fe, Mn, and As at multiple locations, …

The Mediterranean Diet And Cardiovascular Disease: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis, Julia E. Shook

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.