Digital Commons Network^™

Approaches To Form In First Movements Of Clarinet Concertos From Mozart To The Twentieth Century, Amy L. Schneider

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Adolescents’ Emotion Disclosure To Same-Sex And Cross-Sex Friends And Associations With Empathetic Distress And Latino Boys’ Machismo, Janill Marquez

Master's Theses

Friendships are important for social and emotional adjustment. Friendships are adaptive, as they help in the maturation of social skills (Asher, Parker, & Walker, 1996; Berndt, 1982; Sullivan, 1953) and provide emotional and cognitive resources for support and coping (Berndt, 1982). However, not all friendships are created equal. Differences exist across the sexes, particularly in regards to emotion disclosure. The current study assesses girls’ and boys’ emotion disclosure to same-sex and cross-sex friends. It also explores the relationship between emotion disclosure and empathetic distress- a maladaptive form of empathizing with a friend. In a subsample of Latino boys, this study …

Deciphering The Outer Envelope Of Thermotoga Maritima, Chaman Ranjit

Master's Theses

Thermotoga maritima is the representative member of the order Thermotogales, which is comprised of extremely thermophilic anaerobic bacteria. All members of this order are characterized by the presence of a unique outer envelope, the toga. The outer envelope appears as polar cellular distensions that sometimes are as large as the cytoplasm. The outer envelope increases in size while the cytoplasm remains the same leading to an outer envelope distension. The outer envelope distension development and increase in its size most likely occurs for storage of nutrients. Initial observations suggest that cells create larger distensions at the poles as they enter …

Full-Scale Shake Table Cyclic Simple Shear Testing Of Liquefiable Soil, Jasper Stanford Jacobs

Master's Theses

This research consists of full-scale shake table tests to investigate liquefaction of sandy soils. Consideration of the potential and consequences of liquefaction is critical to the performance of any structure built in locations of high seismicity underlain by saturated granular materials as it is the leading cause of damage associated with ground failure. In certain cases the financial losses associated with liquefaction can significantly impact the financial future of an entire region.

Most liquefaction triggering studies are performed in the field where liquefaction has been previously observed, or in tabletop laboratory testing. The study detailed herein is a controlled laboratory …

Cell Phone Vs. Microphone: Judging Emotion In The Voice, Joshua Green

Master's Theses

Abstract

A remarkable amount of information is conveyed by the human voice. For example, the emotional state of a speaker is conveyed by vocal cues such as pitch and intensity, though as is true for other speech qualities, affect does not map onto auditory signals in a one-to-one fashion. Despite the widespread use of cell phone technology, there is still little information regarding how emotional states are conveyed during cell phone transmissions. In this study, listeners judged speech samples for their affective qualities. Samples were simultaneously recorded on a microphone and a cell phone, and endpoints of two emotional “continua,” …

Becoming Adults: Trajectories Of Adult Identity Development Among Undergraduate Students With Implications For Mental Health, Jenna Shapiro

Master's Theses

One of the defining developmental processes that occur during the unique stage of emerging adulthood is the emergence of adult identity, or the subjective sense of adulthood. Adult identity has been hypothesized to grow gradually, linearly, and at different rates for subgroups of individuals over the course of this stage (Arnett, 2006; Côté, 2006). Differences have also been suggested to predict wellbeing and distress (Côté, 2006; Kroger, 1996; Kroger, Martinussen, & Marcia, 2010). The goals of the current study were to examine heterogeneity in adult identity development over four years in college and to examine differences in self-esteem and negative …

Investigation Of A Ubiquitous Spore Surface Protein, Justyna Kordzikowska

Master's Theses

All bacterial spores are comprised of concentric shells. All spores are encased in a layer called the coat. Some spores have an additional layer outside of the coat called the exosporium. Presumably, this morphological variation is an adaptation to variation in the environments in which these species can be found. However, spores from species with and without exosporia can often be found in the same niche. We hypothesize, therefore, that spores with and without exosporia share a common surface protein. Bacillus anthracis possess a well characterized surface protein called BclA. A BclA homologue is also present on the surface of …

Metrics Dashboard Services: A Framework For Analyzing Free/Open Source Team Repositories, Fnu Shilpika

Master's Theses

Software engineering as practiced today (especially in the industry) is no longer about the stereotypical monolithic life cycle processes (e.g. waterfall, spiral, etc.) found in most software engineering textbooks. These heavyweight methods historically have impeded progress for small/medium sized development teams owing to their inherent complexity and rather limited data collection strategies that predominated the 1980s until relatively recently in the mid-2000s. The discipline and practice of software engineering includes software quality, which has an established theoretical foundation for doing software metrics. Software metrics are a critical tool which provide continuous insight to products and processes and help build reliable …

Activity Recognition For Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Subjects Using Hidden Markov Models, Pichleap Sok

Master's Theses

Successful activity recognition in patients with motor disabilities can improve patient care by providing researchers and clinicians with valuable information on patient movements and quality of life in real-world settings. Understanding the everyday activities of patients is important for rehabilitation. For researchers, having convenient, objective, and continuous data can drastically improve outcome measures to better compare therapies, and ultimately make recommendations. For clinicians, individual assessment of compliance and outcomes outside the clinic can be more objective, permitting much more tailored recommendations to patients. Most importantly, for individual patients, activity recognition can make this improved health care possible by simply having …

Measures Of Acculturation And Relations To Weight Among Mexican-Origin Youth, Dorothy L. Mcleod

Master's Theses

Risk for obesity increases dramatically for Mexican-origin immigrants and their children among upon arrival in the United States. Many studies have shown that acculturative factors play a role in this process for adults, which suggests that this could also be the case for children and adolescents. The significance and directionality of this relation may differ based on many factors, including the multitude of methods currently used for the purpose of measuring acculturation. This study examines the relations between several measures of acculturation and child weight in a sample of 6 to 11 year old, Mexican-origin youth, cross-sectionally and longitudinally over …

Cortical And Psychological Mechanisms Of Visceral Pain, Kelly L. Polnaszek

Master's Theses

Objective: Dysmenorrhea is an incapacitating type of visceral pain that affects numerous menstruating women and is defined by painful menstrual cramps and often occurs in the absence of pelvic pathology. Women with dysmenorrhea have reported higher sensitivity to experimental pain, and vulnerability to pain sensitivity may be a primary risk factor for developing chronic pelvic pain for women with dysmenorrhea. Cross-organ sensitization (COS), or the theory that uterine inflammation during menstruation can contribute to chronic pelvic pain by generating neurogenic inflammation in other organs, may be a primary mechanism associated with pelvic pain in women with dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea sufferers with …

Lipoate Metabolism In Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenesis, Maria Azul Zorzoli

Master's Theses

Lipoate is an essential cofactor of several proteins involved in cellular energy homeostasis and catabolism. Lipoate metabolism has been linked to pathogenesis in some microbial species, but its role in Staphylococcus aureus infections had not been explored. In this thesis, we tested the hypothesis that lipoate acquisition mechanisms promote S. aureus infectivity. We used a bacterial genetics approach to elucidate the biological function of the S. aureus genes involved in lipoate metabolism. Our findings allowed us to propose a model for lipoic acid de novo biosynthesis and salvage pathways in S. aureus. Moreover, we detail hitherto undescribed genetic arrangements of …

The Relation Between Appearance Evaluation And Disordered Eating Attitudes Throughout College: Trajectories And Moderators, Amy Heard

Master's Theses

The college years are a time of increased risk for body image concerns and disordered eating in both men and women. Studies have shown that body image concerns may emerge in childhood, increase throughout adolescence, and become more stable in middle adulthood, but less is known about the changes that happen during the college years that may cause these concerns to level off. One of the most common ways of assessing body image is by measuring appearance evaluation, or global satisfaction with appearance. While problematic appearance evaluation and disordered eating attitudes are often associated with one another, all individuals who …

Grit In The Classroom, David Anthony Vaughn

Master's Theses

In the United States today, educational opportunity is not equally distributed. Statistical data show a persistent educational achievement gap that disproportionately affects students of color or with a low socioeconomic status. There have been countless efforts to reform this inequality within the American school system; however, many efforts have ignored underlying issues regarding power structures and may instead be rooted in the biased beliefs of dominant culture. Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Public Charter Schools, in particular, emphasize seven character strengths that are intended to promote success for their students and bring them to and through college. Such traits may …

Maimonides And Spinoza: Biblical Interpretation, Randi Feder

Master's Theses

This paper focuses on Maimonides’ The Guide of the Perplexed and Spinoza’s Theological‐Political Treatise and their divergent answers to the question as to whether the knowledge acquired through reason alone can be reconciled with Scripture’s content and teachings. Both Maimonides and Spinoza believed that the true understanding of what the Bible says could be achieved by the correct method of biblical interpretation. I show that despite approaching the question of philosophy’s relationship to religion in a similar way, their very different answers are readily understandable in light of each author’s pre‐existing philosophical and religious commitments. The Guide, published in 1190, …

Aligning K-12 And Higher Education: Using An Intersectional Approach To Identify Student Preparation Factors Present Upon College Entry, Edgar Martinez

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that were present in incoming college students that pertained to the connection they had with those in academic support roles, both during high school and upon college entry. The data for this study were collected using a survey containing closed- and open-ended items related to students’ sense of belongingness and connectedness within their high school and college settings. A total of 113 San José State University undergraduate students completed the survey. The findings indicated that students’ attributed their motivating force for succeeding in high school and reaching college to their teachers. …

Popularity Prediction Of Reddit Texts, Tracy Rohlin

Master's Theses

Popularity prediction is a useful technique for marketers to anticipate the success of marketing campaigns, to build recommendation systems that suggest new products to consumers, and to develop targeted advertising. Researchers likewise use popularity prediction to measure how popularity changes within a community or within a given timespan. In this paper, I explore ways to predict popularity of posts in reddit.com, which is a blend of news aggregator and community forum. I frame popularity prediction as a text classification problem and attempt to solve it by first identifying topics in the text and then classifying whether the topics identified are …

Spest – A Tool For Specification-Based Testing, Corrigan Redford Johnson

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a tool for SPEcification based teSTing (SPEST). SPEST is designed to use well known practices for automated black-box testing to reduce the burden of testing on developers. The tool uses a simple formal specification language to generate highly-readable unit tests that embody best practices for thorough software testing. Because the specification language used to generate the assertions about the code can be compiled, it can also be used to ensure that documentation describing the code is maintained during development and refactoring.

The utility and effectiveness of SPEST were validated through several exper- iments conducted with students in …

Troubadours Of The Disaster, Peter Christian Caravalho

Master's Theses

Following the death of his father, San Francisco-based music critic Manuel “Manny” Soares is sent by his editor to Amsterdam to find the next big thing in music. Manny hopes that the physical distance from his home will help him work through his father’s passing. Manny finds himself on a late-night flight to Schipol Airport. On a layover in Frankfurt, Manny manages to cause a small riot in the airport bar and escapes. Once he makes “groundfall” in Amsterdam as his editor, Ian, puts it, Manny is on the hunt. Globalization mixed with culture shock follow him as he navigates …

Can Positive Mood Or Mindfulness Interventions Increase Body Satisfaction?, Gabrielle Mary Rodgers

Master's Theses

Research has indicated that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and eating disorder interventions have historically targeted clinically diagnosed individuals. These interventions target specific predicting risk factors such as negative affect and body dissatisfaction. The current study focused on the relationship between negative affect and body dissatisfaction for a nonclinical population. The central questions were (i) whether the posited relationship between negative affect and body dissatisfaction could be replicated for a nonclinical population and (ii) if interventions that target mood would also lead to increases in self-perceived body satisfaction. The efficacy of mood interventions as a means to target body dissatisfaction was …

Simulating And Understanding A Summertime Dry Lightning Event In Coastal California, Philip Isaac Martin

Master's Theses

Thunderstorms are rare in coastal California during the summer months. Synoptic situations that encourage these summertime thunderstorms typically involve elevated instability that promotes dry lightning thunderstorms, where less than 0.1 in of precipitation reaches the ground. On 21 June 2008, a poorly forecasted dry lightning outbreak was responsible for starting more than 1,500 wildfires across California, and specifically the Monterey region. In this research, we used analysis data from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model to investigate the evolution of the synoptic conditions leading up to the outbreak. We then created two sets of ensembles with the Weather Research and …

Developing An Empirical Correlation For The Thermal Spreading Resistance Of A Heat Sink, Andrew Richard Werdowatz

Master's Theses

Heat sinks are a critical component in numerous thermal management strategies, ranging from consumer electronics to data centers. The ability to perform an accurate thermal performance analysis of a heat sink is a crucial step in the design process. In situations where the heat sink is larger in area than the component it is being used to cool, a phenomena known as thermal spreading resistance takes effect. Thermal spreading resistance is not as easily calculated as other components of the thermal resistance of a heat sink (i.e. material and external thermal resistance). However, multiple solutions have been proposed and published …

A Wholistic Model Of Apologetics For Equipping The Youth, Selim Kesmez

Master's Theses

Problem

While available studies indicate that biblical world view among young adults decreases in years of secular education Adventist education system in Germany is struggling to address the needs of the young adults. The question arises what kind of needs can be identified why they leave faith and church behind and how the Church may counteract this process and provide valuable assistance. The urgency of this question emerges in considering the high rate of de-conversion among Adventist youth.

Method

This study analyzes various studies and statistical reports regarding the condition of the spiritual life of young adults in both the …

Contribuicao Do Bpm (Business Process Management) Nas Operacoes Da Cadeia De Suprimentos De Uma Organizacao Sem Fins Lucrativos, Claudio Valdir Knoener

Master's Theses

Purpose

There are many activities that depend on an organization in order to provide conditions for an excellent service. In the present study, there was deepening and exploiting processes and sub processes involving the sector's supply West Paulista Association of the Seventh-day Adventist Church organization, considering the importance of offering supply service to internal customers seeking continuity of work and scope the organization's objectives. The research objective was to present possibilities for improvement in the development of processes and sub processes mentioned by the interviewees' perceptions and their contributions.

Method

Through data collection through qualitative research aimed to identify the …

Diagnostic Practices Of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Brazil, Ana Claudia Vespa Mainer Dias

Master's Theses

In Brazil, in spite of over half a million students with special needs in primary education, little research has been conducted about ASD diagnostic practices. This involves learning about the training that professionals are receiving, what diagnostic practices are being implemented on the field, and whether those are being contextualized according to the Brazilian culture. Students with special needs are directly affected by the results of diagnostic practices, since identifying the individuals is one of the first steps. Lack of understanding about that stage may lead to the problematic realities of underidentification or overidentification, exclusion of children who should receive …

Percepcao Dos Pastores Da Associacao Paulista Sul Quanto Ao Direcionamento Das Ofertas Voluntarias Em Relacao As Orientacoes Da Organizacao Adventista, Oseias Pereira

Master's Theses

Problem

In the report that was presented, the Associação Paulista Sul audit department identified that in 2012, 93% of the offerings received went to the local church and 7% went to cost the Church's worldwide expansion. According to the guidelines issued by Divisão Sul Americana da Igreja Adventista do Sétimo Dia (DSA), this amount should be 40% of the total. The Associação Paulista Sul offerings have been used to meet local needs rather than neglecting the Seventh-day Adventist Church's need for worldwide expansion.

Method

The quantitative methodology was chosen for this study, in an effort to make it more objective. …

Representing The Government Of God: Christ As The Hilasterion In Romans 3:25, Valentin Zywietz

Master's Theses

Problem

In Romans 3:25, Paul describes how the public display of Christ as the i``lasthrion demonstrates the righteousness of God. However, it is unclear what exactly Paul means by the term i``lasthrion, and how it is connected to the cover of the Ark of the Covenant for which it is usually used in the LXX.

Method

The first chapter of this paper consists of an exegetical investigation of Romans 3:25-26 paying consideration also to systematical implications for Paul’s understanding of atonement and the character of God. The second chapter is an analysis of the meaning and the function of the …

Soteriological Specifics In Paul, James, John, And Peter, Dominik Buchner

Master's Theses

Topic

The ideas of New Testament authors seem to stand in contradiction to each other: some appear to focus on justification by faith, whereas others seems to proclaim that works need to be performed in order to be saved. It is therefore very difficult to deduce relevant practical implications from the doctrine of salvation because it is often explained in a rather superficial and dissatisfactory way.

Purpose

The development of the interpretation of the doctrine of salvation is outlined in a chapter about church history. In the following chapter relevant Bible text passages in Paul, James, John, and Peter about …

Profile Of Graduates Of Adventist Latin American Seminary Of Theology In Brazil: A Study To Develop A Selection Process Of Pastors For Ministry At The Brazilian Northwestern Union, Gilmar Zahn

Master's Theses

Purpose

To characterize and evaluate the profile of theology course trainees in Brazil as compared to the profile required for the exercise of pastoral ministry in the UNoB.

Method

Research of a qualitative nature, carried out by means of structured interviews with undergraduated students of the Latin American Theology Seminary (Seminário Latino Americano de Teologia–SALT) in a total of 11 interviews with students who are Brazilian, both married and unmarried, born into the church or converted. Data from the registrar offices of the associations and institutions that compose the UNoB were also consulted.

Results

The interviewees had left professional careers …

The Relationship Of The Old Covenant To The Everlasting Covenant, Ashwani Kumar

Master's Theses

Problem

The old covenant is often understood to be contrary to the new covenant. A distinction is made by such claims as the following: the old covenant represents the Old Testament, and new covenant represents the New Testament. The old covenant was made with only Israelites while the new covenant is made with the Church. The old covenant was based on works, and the new covenant is based on grace and is better than the old.

Purpose

The goal of this study is to present evidence that the new covenant was not established because it was different in the content …