Digital Commons Network^™

Anacalypsis, Kristopher David Bendrick

Masters Theses

The title of this piece, Anacalypsis, takes its name from the text Anacalypsis: An Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Saitic Isis or an Inquiry into the Origin of Languages, Nations and Religions, written by Godfrey Higgins in 1836. The word anacalypsis is an antonym to the word apocalypse and comes from the Greek word ανακάλυψης which translates to find or discovery. In his two-volume treatise, Higgins attempts to unveil "a most ancient and universal religion from which all later creeds and doctrines sprang.”

Reading through Higgins’ text brought me to the intriguing idea of a time before …

Agritourism Development In Southwest Michigan: Motivations Of Agritourists And Operators, Esther Akoto Amoako

Masters Theses

National agricultural statistics show that the number of agritourism farms and the proportion of agritourism related revenues in the United States has steadily increased during the last ten years, especially among small family farms. The recent growth in agritourism is both demand - and supply-driven. However, there are limited studies that explore agritourism motivations from both the visitors' and operators’ perspectives. This study examines what the agritourists' and operators’ motivations are and the challenges facing the industry to provide information for those currently involved and those wanting to include agritourism in their operations. Online and in-person surveys and unstructured interviews …

Social And Demographic Drivers Impacting Family Planning And Family Size In Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia, Sami Abdulkarim Alwulayi

Masters Theses

The goal of this research is to identify factors impacting changes in family size for medium-size cities in Saudi Arabia. Since the initial comprehensive development plans were adopted in the 1970s, Saudi society has changed rapidly in many different ways, and demographic change is one of the most noticeable. This mixed methods research is based on an online survey conducted in the summer of 2019 of 560 married couples and their families living within the 29 neighborhoods of Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia. Specifically, this research examines socioeconomic and demographic conditions related to family planning, as well as collecting perspectives on …

The Common Core State Standards In Mathematics For Place Value: Developmentally Appropriate Or Not?, Sarah N. Hughey

Masters Theses

This exploratory case study examines the developmental appropriateness of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM) for place value for second through fourth-grade students. A correlation analysis was performed on end of year scores from the 2018-19 school year on a standardized norm-referenced test and a conceptually-based interview assessment from the Math Recovery program (AVMR) on 137 students from one school in the Midwest. An item analysis was also performed on AVMR assessments for 70 students from the 2019-20 school year. The results showed that second and third-grade students did not display the expected amount of growth in conceptual …

Investigation Of Selective Laser Melting Fabricated Internal Cooling Channels, Colin Jack

Masters Theses

Channels where coolant is run to cool a system are common in injection mold tooling. Conventionally, these channels are machined into the mold. This has limited the design of mold cooling systems to the constraints of traditional machining processes, where straight circular channels machined from cast material are typical. The transfer of heat away from the part cavity into these cooling channels has a large effect on the cooling time of the injection mold cycle. In this investigation, laser powder bed fusion processes were used to create non-circular cooling channels. To compare cooling performance, elliptical and circular channels of equal …

Lower Limb Force Asymmetries During Landing And Jumping Exercises, Simon Cone

Masters Theses

Significant asymmetries can exist between the lower limbs’ force production during the take-off phase of bilateral jumping exercises. Some studies have indicated that similar asymmetries can exist during the landing phase as well. It has not been demonstrated if the magnitude and/or direction of this imbalance is alike during the landing (L) and take-off (TO) phase of a jumping exercises. The main purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the asymmetry that occurs during the L and TO phases. In order to quantify the degree and describe the direction (left. vs. right) of the …

Field And Numerical Evaluation Of Nitrogen Transport From Septic Systems In Surfical Aquifer Systems To Charlotte Harbor, Florida, Tanten T. Buszka

Masters Theses

Shallow water tables in coastal surficial aquifers limit effective treatment of septic effluent which can result in excess nutrient loading into nearby surface water bodies. Approximately 45,000 septic systems in Charlotte County, Florida transmit effluent into an under studied surficial aquifer and contribute to harmful algal blooms and outbreaks of E. coli. An undeveloped field site was characterized using standard hydrogeologic methods, including a one-year duration natural gradient tracer test, to obtain representative lithology of the sandy surficial aquifer and estimates of groundwater velocity, flow directions, effective porosity and dispersion. These data were used to support the development of a …

Developing Student Leadership: The Use Of Programs And Methods To Build Adolescent Leadership Capacity, Jonathan D. Waldron

Masters Theses

High school students have a wealth of opportunities to practice leadership skills. Focusing on the importance of leadership training to help teens develop and strengthen their ability to influence, in this project I evaluate the current research about best practices in adolescent leadership training. Although best practices suggest that students grow as leaders with intentional training and guidance from mentors and coaches, few students who hold leadership positions in school or community organizations receive any training at all. This paper describes the necessity for, and creation of a program designed to inspire, motivate and strengthen leadership skills in high school …

Mission Architecture Analysis: Exploring Long-Period Comets From Multiple Staging Orbits, Gabriel Prescinotti Vivan

Masters Theses

Objects that have retained pieces of information about the early Solar System are key to our understanding of its formation and evolutionary history. However, the high delta-V required to reach these objects, such as long-period comets or interstellar objects, makes designing an intercept mission at the time of detection impractical. In this thesis, multiple heliocentric staging orbits are explored to serve as departure positions for future missions, prior to objects’ detections. By utilizing more than one staging orbit concurrently, the set of objects that are reachable is expanded, therefore increasing mission feasibility. Delta-V maps are generated and superimposed; two-impulse burn …

Binary, Jared Tubbs

Masters Theses

bInary is an interactive sound installation featuring seven stations that represent common aspects of modern life in the digital age. Most stations center around modern technology, and its central role in many aspects of society. Users engage with each station to do various tasks, including inputting personal data, manipulating touch screens, typing out social media posts, taking selfies, and recording greetings. The combined stations, done consecutively, take on a ritualistic nature, taking habitual aspects of everyday life and exposing them to stand alone. bInary takes data from interactions with the stations to create a sonic representation of those who interact …

“College Is Mandatory In Our Family”: A Study Of Homeschooler Anticipatory Memorable Messages About College, Gina S. Reynolds

Masters Theses

Homeschooling in the United States provides many children with a unique educational background that may present different perspectives when considering college attendance. This thesis examines the memorable messages homeschool students received regarding college, where these messages came from, and the perceived impact they have on the student. Memorable messages are easily recalled words that participants receive from others, which they believe has an impact on their attitudes and decisions (Cranmer & Myers, 2017). This study also looks at the messages homeschool students received from the media and the effect these have on their college choices. A qualitative study gathered reports …

Comparison Of Optimal Energy Management Strategies Using Dynamic Programming, Model Predictive Control, And Constant Velocity Prediction, Amol Arvind Patil

Masters Theses

Due to the recent advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, future vehicle velocity predictions are becoming more robust which allows fuel economy (FE) improvements in hybrid electric vehicles through optimal energy management strategies (EMS). A real-world highway drive cycle (DC) and a controls-oriented 2017 Toyota Prius Prime model are used to study potential FE improvements. We proposed three important metrics for comparison: (1) perfect full drive cycle prediction using dynamic programming, (2) 10-second prediction horizon model predictive control (MPC), and (3) 10-second constant velocity prediction. These different velocity predictions are put into an optimal EMS derivation algorithm to derive optimal engine …

Exploring Song As A Reproductive Isolation Mechanism In A Hybridizing Population Of Winged Warblers, Amy E. Janik

Masters Theses

Reproductive isolation mechanisms such as song are used by birds to promote assortative mating by species and prevent gene flow when closely related species come into secondary contact. Based on the strength of a reproductive barrier, signals in hybrid zones can diverge and become more dissimilar to maintain species or converge to become more similar and make species discrimination more difficult. When two closely related species overlap in territories and have similar songs, song convergence is likely and has the capacity to disrupt species recognition. We test the hypothesis that song acts as a reproductive isolation mechanism by examining song …

Counter Stories In Counterpublics: Exploring Documentary As A Form Of Activist Media To Counter Reinforced Stereotypes About The Criminalization Of Black Men, Tirrea S. Billings

Masters Theses

A story told can change the world. Storytelling has been around since the inception of human communication and has been used as a tool to educate, preserve cultural values, and make meaning of our existence. More recently, storytelling has been used in activist and social change movements. One approach to social justice storytelling is through filmmaking: creating films as a tool to disrupt, interrupt, amplify, organize, shift power and create lasting, transformative change in communities. Specifically, social justice-oriented documentary film and media can be used as a vehicle for those who are in counterpublic spaces to argue against mainstream discourses …

Examination Of The Impact Of Contingent Praise And Monetary Rewards On Intrinsic Motivation And Creative Performance, Merrilyn Akpapuna

Masters Theses

Despite many decades of debate, the question of whether or not extrinsic motivation is detrimental to intrinsic motivation and creativity continues to spark discussion among professionals (Cameron & Pierce, 1994). This is an important issue for business owners who do not want to stifle creativity and intrinsic motivation in an effort to increase productivity. Even though many authors have labelled extrinsic motivation as archaic and harmful (Deci, 1971; Kohn, 1993; Pink, 2009), the available empirical evidence does not match such levels of condemnation. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of several interventions (performance-contingent money, performance-contingent …

Recidivism, Gender, And Race: An Analysis Of The Los Angeles County Probation Department’S Risk And Needs Assessment Instruments, Robert V. Howard

Masters Theses

This study assesses the predictive validity of an adult risk need assessment, the Los Angeles Probation Department’s Risk and Needs Assessment Instruments, on 793 clients using several logistic regression models. Models were generated to look for a relationship between risk score and recidivism. This relationship is further explored across gender and race. There are two separate risk assessment instruments used in this study and the sample is separated into two separate groups. The first risk assessment instrument was based on static risk factors such as history of drug or alcohol use, age of first conviction, and conviction history. This assessment …

Innocent No More: How Child Vampires Challenge The Social Narrative Of Childhood, Ashley Quinn

Masters Theses

The inclusion of children within Gothic and horror fiction has always been regarded as untoward because children are vulnerable to misrepresentation. However, excluding children from transgressive genres eliminates a space where childhood can be critically analyzed. Fortunately, authors such as Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Ajvide Lindqvist break the taboo through the inclusion of children in vampiric narratives. These narratives encourage readers to question the social narrative of childhood within the context of vampire stories. Through an examination of ‘Salem’s Lot (King, 1975), “Popsy” (King, 1987), Interview with the Vampire (Rice, 1976), and Let the Right One In (Lindqvist, …

Creating A Transformative Visual Art Curriculum, Alison M. Marchbanks

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the process of creating transformative learning experiences within a visual art curriculum that emphasizes individual reflection, creative expression, and community involvement. The strategies and philosophies discussed will facilitate student engagement with big ideas and complex messages that will inform their social consciousness beyond their formal school career. Examples of how these practices are being used in K-12 visual art settings are presented to provide an in-depth roadmap for implementing a community-based, social justice learning opportunity.

Cellulose Based Separator For High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries, Akshit Vaidya

Masters Theses

During the past two decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained great success in the field of portable devices, and currently, are penetrating to the market of vehicles. Compared to the fast development of LIBs, little efforts have been dedicated to the separator, which is one of the most important components of LIBs. Primarily, the lithium-ion battery separator has two functions, one is to prevent direct contact between the positive and negative electrodes, and the other is to provide a path for effective ionic transportation. Currently, the separator market of LIBs is dominated by polyolefin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and …

Oxidized Phospholipid Regulation Of Chronic Inflammation In Endothelial Cells, Cameron Scott Brutsche

Masters Theses

Atherosclerosis, the primary cause of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), has become one of the top causes of death in the world. As low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles become trapped and oxidized inside arterial walls, the primary oxidation products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylcholine (PAPC) induce the binding of monocytes which can potentially lead to fatty plaque build ups. A fragment of one of these oxidation products, OxPAPC, has previously been studied and can act as standard for testing new phospholipids and how they affect protein expression levels. The central hypothesis of this study was that three newly studied classes of oxidized fatty …

Verification Of Effectiveness Of Spot-Heating Technique In Reducing Spread Of Weld Lines In Injection Molded Plastic Products, Shah Ashikul Abed Sakar

Masters Theses

In producing a plastic part in an injection molding machine many physical factors related to the machine, such as injection pressure, holding pressure, heater temperature, etc. play their roles in the overall quality of the produced part. There are many aspects of the quality of a plastic part, such as part strength, part dimensions, and part surface finish. If any of those aspects gets compromised, the part is considered to have some defects. Of all defects found in injection-molded plastic parts, one most common defect is the presence of weld lines.Weld lines are formed when the flow of the molten …

Numerical Investigation Of Leading-Edge Modifications Of A Naca Airfoil, Anisur Rahman Ikram

Masters Theses

A parametric investigation was carried out to understand the flow characteristics of tubercle airfoils and to determine the best approach and parameters for designing a tubercle airfoil. For this purpose, a straight edge base airfoil (NACA 4414) and several tubercle airfoils, by modifying the leading edge of the base airfoil, were created in SolidWorks and tested with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) application software Star CCM+.

Alternative tubercle airfoil with elliptical bumps demonstrated superior post-stall performance when compared to their straight edge counterparts; their post-stall lift did not decrease drastically. However, their pre-stall lift coefficients were always lower than the base …

Detection Probability Of The American Marten (Martes Americana) In Michigan’S Lower Peninsula, Taylor Brian Root

Masters Theses

To accurately manage for the sustainability of wildlife populations, managers must first determine how to locate individuals of a population with great consistency. Determining the efficiency of detection techniques is a challenge, especially when the study species are scarce or elusive. Such is the case with the American marten (Martes americana), a small mustelid found across the Northern United States and Canada. In the lower peninsula of Michigan, marten are considered a species of concern, and the full extent of their range remains unknown. My goal was to test the efficacy of motiontriggered cameras for detecting the presence of American …

The Unmasking Of Aggressive Chemosignaling Via The Crayfish Model: An In-Depth Urinalysis Using Hplc, Kristi Ruvina

Masters Theses

It is well established in the scientific community that decapod crustaceans secrete molecules via nephropores to communicate with each other. These molecules have been shown by numerous conducted studies to affect the animal behavior, especially aggression. However, studies in decapods crustaceans have yet to elucidate the chemical nature of aggressive chemosignals during agonistic interactions. The main goal of this study was to identify the chemical profile of crayfish urine via HPLC during two conditions: when stressed and while fighting. The urine analysis of stressed crayfish showed that uric acid, guanosine, L-tryptophan, and N-acetylserotonin were present in the samples, minutes after …

An Examination Of Religious Institution Involvement In Trauma Recovery, Caitlin M. Brown

Masters Theses

This qualitative study examines the ways in which faith leaders within the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) work with parishioners who have experienced an interpersonal trauma and are seeking religious support. For the purposes of this study, interpersonal trauma will include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse experienced as a child or adult, childhood neglect, and/or witnessing violence as an adult or a child. The researcher interviewed 14 Pastors at CRCs in Kent and Ottawa Counties in the state of Michigan to learn more about their experiences in working with survivors of interpersonal trauma. Common findings indicate that pastors assist survivors of …

An Analysis Of Large Displacement Pneumatic Slug Tests For The Characterization Of Aquifer Parameters – Guidelines For An Alternative Field Procedure, Madison E. Wayt

Masters Theses

Variations in hydraulic conductivity (K) between larger scale aquifer tests and smaller scale slug tests, and within individual aquifer tests, have been linked to method bias and aquifer heterogeneity. The impacts of varying slug sizes on K, which represents K dependence on a smaller scale, is not as well understood. To examine the relationship between K and slug size, a series of slug tests with a range of initial displacements were performed in three intermediate to high K, unconfined aquifers encompassing homogeneous, mildly heterogeneous, and moderate to highly heterogeneous conditions. Slug test estimated K values at Asylum Lake are compared …

The Analysis Of Trauma-Informed Risk Assessments Within A Juvenile Justice System In A Midwest State, Kayla M. Bates

Masters Theses

With approximately 90% of justice-involved youth experiencing at least one traumatic event before entering the justice system, trauma-informed care has moved to the forefront of juvenile justice in recent years (Dierkhising et al., 2013). Trauma-informed care aims to capture and address the impact trauma has on youth. One area within the juvenile justice system that is critical to capturing these events in justice-involved youth are risk assessments. The current study aimed to address whether a Midwest state is using trauma-informed questions and incorporating aspects of intersectionality (gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and class) within practices directed at justice-involved youth. …

The Hybrid Ensemble Model, Melanie Emily Riley-Gonzalez

Masters Theses

Music education plays a significant role within the public school and needs to be available to all students. Students should have opportunities to learn with voice or instrument and learn the art of performing for an audience. Students that are unable to attend music classes in a traditional class setting or have selected different pathways for their education other than a traditional classroom setting, may be excluded from opportunities to work with others in a collective music environment. Limited options are available for students to remain in their school ensembles when schedule conflicts arise for example, with advanced classes or …

Meritpatch - Family Collaborative Activities, Jason Allan Crouch

Masters Theses

There is no doubt that the modern family is very busy and disrupted by outside influences. Social trends and expectations have caused many families to become disconnected. There is research that points to overuse of technology as one culprit. Other research suggests that lack of spiritualism has negatively affected families. Regardless of the cause, it can be argued that the more disconnect within a family, the more likely it is for family members to experience negative social, emotional and/or health related issues as well as broken relationships. This study seeks to define family interactions and activities that support a healthy …

"Members One Of Another": Heteroglossic Utterances As Critiques Of Injustice In Charles Dickens’S Bleak House, Cale Baker

Masters Theses

Charles Dickens often dealt with societal injustice within his work, and he often used the different languages—the language of the poor, the rich, the religious, the political—of various social strata to expose the disparity between the high and the low social classes. Within Bleak House, Dickens inserts different voices common to Victorian London through his third-person narrator to highlight the upper class oppression of the poor. To see Dickens’s insertion of these different voices, I use Mikhail Bakhtin’s work on heteroglossia and dialogism as a framework for understanding how Dickens inserts these different voices to specifically expose injustice. Additionally, I …