Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Prototype System For Syndromic Surveillance And Visualization Using Social Media Data., Anup Aryal

Theses

Syndromic surveillance of emerging diseases is crucial for timely planning and execution of epidemic response from both local and global authorities. Traditional sources of information employed by surveillance systems are not only slow but also impractical for developing countries. Internet and social media provide a free source of a large amount of data which can be utilized for Syndromic surveillance.

We propose developing a prototype system for gathering, storing, filtering and presenting data collected from Twitter (a popular social media platform). Since social media data is inherently noisy we describe ways to preprocess the gathered data and utilize SVM (Support …

Experimental Design In Game Testing, Bhargava Rohit Sagi

Theses

The gaming industry has been on constant rise over the last few years. Companies invest huge amounts of money for the release of their games. A part of this money is invested in testing the games. Current game testing methods include manual execution of pre-written test cases in the game. Each test case may or may not result in a bug. In a game, a bug is said to occur when the game does not behave according to its intended design. The process of writing the test cases to test games requires standardization. We believe that this standardization can be …

Energy Savings And Marginal Emissions Factor Approach To Emissions Reductions From Household Appliance Efficiency Improvements, Courtney N. Smith

Theses

The goal of this thesis is to estimate the total emissions avoided from replacing residential lighting and air conditioning with more energy efficient versions, while showing that the marginal emissions factor (MEF) approach to estimating these avoided emissions tends to be a more accurate method than the average emissions factor (AEF) approach. This thesis is the first to use MEFs to analyze emissions avoided from household energy efficiency improvements. This approach considers emissions avoided from the last power plant that would have been dispatched to meet demand, in contrast to the more commonly used AEF approach that considers emissions avoided …

Third Eye, Nadine Longmore

Theses

The artwork completed as a part of my thesis exhibition is grounded in an investigation into perception, vision, intuitive art making, and the bond experienced between twins. The work comes from a personal place because art making, for me, has always been about self-understanding. For that comprehension to be holistic and far-reaching, I seek to recognize the sentimental, phenomenal, and physical ties created by being a twin.

This thesis exploration also creates an opportunity for the viewer to experience my visual inquiries into being a twin and my loss of eyesight. Seven years ago, I had a traumatic eye injury, …

Men In Vogue: A Visual Analysis Of The Male Gender On American Vogue Covers, Connor Lamb

Theses

For a better understanding of how gender is portrayed in media, it is important to include a specific investigation on how men are portrayed. This visual analysis study focused on the six unique American Vogue covers that included men to examine gender representation. All the cover images were analyzed for characteristics in the male and female cover persons’ pose, gaze, and race. Amidst current gender debates, American Vogue has portrayed both men and women together on the cover only six separate times over American Vogue’s entire history. The investigation of these six covers contributes a better understanding of how American …

Effects Of Using Ipad On First Grade Students' Achievements In Arabic Language Classes In Saudi Arabia, Jawaher Alsulami

Theses

Although the iPad device has become a new trend as a teaching and learning tool in schools, using it in Saudi schools is still relatively new. So, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether the iPad enhances the teaching and learning styles in Arabic language classes for first grade in Albushra primary school. It also examined how this new educational tool affects students' skills and achievements, how teachers and students use it in their Arabic language classes, and what are advantages and disadvantages of using it in a class and at home. The study data was collected by …

Dilemma, Yeliz Okdem Ates

Theses

I am currently exploring ways to express the spiritual essence of the space between life and death afterlife. As an artist I have always been interested in nature and animals, however birds have an intense personal connection to me. Of personal interest is the common childhood hobby of folding paper into abstract and stylized forms. This inspiration for the work comes from traditional origami, a technique I will modify through ceramic sculpture. Some of my previous works are also related to origami. I used plaster slabs to make models and molds. I find that the stylization of folding paper in …

Eba Playful Experiences, Lara Cardoso Goulart

Theses

This thesis is a study of the impact of busy lifestyles on children’s education, considering playtime. Eba Playful Experiences is the result of applied design methodology to solve the lack of play between children and parents, taking into account their routine and needs.

The research includes the study of the importance of play and the problems caused by its absence. The process contains user understanding considering children’s stages of physical, social and cognitive development. The project involves learning from different areas of study: product and interaction design, child psychology and business.

Eba Playful Experiences is an online company based on …

Determining The Impact Of Latitude On Parturition Timing In Captive North American River Otters: A Statistical Analysis Of Aza Studbook Records, Jordan I. Bailey

Theses

Historically, North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were widely dispersed throughout the North American continent. Trapping pressures and urbanization have led to regional exclusion of North American river otter populations from historic habitats, leading the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to spearhead conservation and captive breeding efforts to maintain genetic diversity of the aquatic mustelid. Difficulties in consistently breeding captive North American river otters have spotlighted a need to understand how geography and life history of adult individuals influence reproductive events. This study analyzed the AZA studbook records for all litters born in captivity from 2008 to 2014 (N = …

Healthcare Incident Reporting: The Impacts Of Usability Of Input Interfaces, Usability Of Resulting Data, And Attitudes Towards Reporting, Paul Wiele

Theses

Research into improving the safety of healthcare systems has recently focused on learning how incidents of harm to patients happen and how to prevent them. Although it is acknowledged that low participation in incident-reporting systems contributes to the problem of poor error prevention, little research has focused on improving participation. This research is focused on how both participation in and use of incident-reporting systems can be improved by examining the usability of the reporting tools. A large private hospital in the northeastern United States and the incident reporting app used there were examined as a case study. A mixed-methods approach …

Tribological Study Of High Performance Bio-Lubricants Enhanced With Ionic Liquids For Use In Wind Turbines, Edward Cigno

Theses

Wind power is one of the fastest growing power sources worldwide. Large installations of wind power generation are prominent in Asia, Europe and the United States. The gear boxes and bearings of large wind turbines continue to be huge liabilities and fail well short of their 20 year design life. These mechanical failures impose long and expensive repairs. The reliability of wind turbine drive systems may be improved through advances in lubrication. Furthermore, increasing environmental regulations and public policy have ushered in the need for development and implementation of environmentally friendly lubricants. Over the past decade, ionic liquids have emerged …

Sensationalism In Newspapers: A Look At The Reporter And Amandala In Belize 2010 – 2014, Deseree L.P. Cain-Arzu

Theses

Belize has been named among the list of 10 most violent countries in the world. The news media in Belize have been known to use crime stories as headlines in both electronic and print, but there has never been a formal study to determine how prevalent and sensational. This research seeks to address the question of whether two of Belize’s most-read newspapers, the Reporter and the Amandala, have more sensational stories in their headlines, and how these stories compare to government and other human interest news. A sample of 120 front-page headlines/stories spanning a five-year period – from January 2010 …

The Development Of Occupational Standards For Use By Ngos Pertaining To The Inclusion Of People With Disabilities In Sports Based Programmes In Developing Countries, Thabo Philmon Tsiki

Theses

The research on both the IT Tralee UNESCO Chair programmes as aligned to articles of the Charter on Physical Education, physical activity and sport (UNESCO, 2015) and MINEPS V Resolutions in Berlin 2013 (UNESCO, 2013), regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports. Therefore, this project focuses on setting up best practices for the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports based programmes in developing countries through developed occupational standards. The aim is to address the lack of inclusion of people with disabilities in sports based programmes in the developing countries.

A qualitative approach is employed to generate data …

Prevalence And Distribution Of Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites And Dung Beetles Associated With Upland And Lowland Grazing Of Irish Native Dexter Cattle, Noel Dineen

Theses

Diseases such as parasitic gastroenteritis are very common in cattle and can have detrimental economic consequences on agricultural productivity. This study was conducted to establish the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal nematode parasites associated with Dexter cattle under an organic lowland grazing regime and an extensive upland system. A secondary aim to the study was to investigate dung beetle assemblages in upland and lowland sites and their interactions with gastrointestinal nematode parasites as they offer an alternative method of natural control to organic farming systems in particular.

Cattle weights were recorded and faecal samples were collected at the beginning and …

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of The Use Of Communication Apps Through Mobile Devices On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd), Miriam O Sullivan

Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological disorder which impacts on people in three primary areas: communication skills, social skills and behaviour skills. The diagnosis of ASD continues to rise with an estimated 1 in 100 receiving diagnoses of ASD in Ireland. There are many interventions promoted on a regular basis that claim positive effects on the basis of empirical research. However, the claims made by such studies are sometimes a little at odds with the level of methodological rigour and/or sample size employed. The research available is based on small scale international studies (America, Canada and Australia); however, …

Effect Of Substrates, Iba And Types Of Cuttings On Rooting, Salim Mohammed Ai Makhmari

Theses

Tamarix aphylla L. (Locally known as Athel) was selected for the present investigation. It is native to Middle East (which include UAE), North Africa and south Asia. The tree is drought, heat and salt tolerant. It has some traditional uses. The research leading to standardize the propagation of Tamarix aphylla L. is very rare and therefore it is not widely exploited in the urban landscaping. The present study was aimed to standardize the methodology and substrate for rapid propagation of Tamarix aphylla L. tree. The parameters studied were morphological growth parameters, chemical content, biochemical constituents and antioxidant enzymes activities in …

In Vitro Regeneration And Marker Assisted Evaluation Of Genetic Fidelity In Endangered Tree Species Moringa Peregrina (Forsk) Fiori, Salama Mohammed Al Dhaheri

Theses

Moringa peregrina is a native plant in the United Arab Emirates; it is called “Shua”.It is an endangered species with important nutritive and medicinal properties. It shows high adaptability to the arid condition with short germination time after irrigation. Unmanaged grazing and slow regeneration rate after browsing leads to the endangerment of the species causing erosion in biodiversity. One way to protect these rare species is by multiplying the planting material through tissue culture system and re-introducing at the habitat. Micro propagation is an in vitro method used for plant clonal multiplication under controlled condition. This technique allows conserving the …

Oral Hygiene System Design, Jianlin Nie

Theses

This thesis is focused on the design of oral hygiene system. According to the research done by the author, poor oral hygiene mainly results from bad oral habits, including not brushing teeth before going to bed, failing to keep using dental floss, never going to dentists, and so on. Based on the findings, the author designed a system of oral hygiene products, an oral health database and platform for home use. As for the market, the initial targeting market is Chinese market. Then it can be promoted for universal use.

These oral hygiene products include a mini camera, smart sensors, …

The Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised In Practical Field Settings, Yuko Matsushima

Theses

This paper examined the inter-rater reliability of psychological assessments in practical field with 42 inmates’ PCL-R scores. As results, this study showed similar ICC and SEM values to those from PCL-manual. Concerning PCL-R structure, factor 2 showed higher ICC value than factor 1, and facet 4 showed higher ICC value than facet 1, 2, or 3. Especially, facet 2 showed low ICC value. Those are consistent with previous studies. However, ICC yielded by factor 2 only and both factor 1 and 2 showed similar ICC values. Considering theoretical and clinical aspects, it was recommendable to use PCL-R total score as …

The Brontë Attachment Novels: An Examination Of The Development Of Proto-Attachment Narratives In The Nineteenth Century, James Mcnierney

Theses

John Bowlby’s work on attachment theory in the 1960s altered the cultural understanding of parent-child relationships. Bowlby argued that the ability for an individual to form attachments later in life, be that familial, romantic, or friendship is affected by whether or not that individual formed a strong attachment to a primary caregiver in early childhood. My thesis uses Bowlby’s theory as a critical lens to examine three novels by the Brontës: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë. I use this theory in order to demonstrate that these …

The Hopeless Hope Or The Poet's Passion In The Farmer's Pragmatic World: Directing Eugene O'Neill's Beyond The Horizon, Nicholas Radcliffe

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF NICHOLAS B. RADCLIFFE, for the Master of Fine Arts degree in THEATER, presented on December 14, 2015, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE HOPELESS HOPE OR THE POET’S PASSION IN THE FARMER’S PRAGMATIC WORLD: DIRECTING EUGENE O’NEILL’S BEYOND THE HORIZON MAJOR PROFESSOR: Olusegun Ojewuyi The Hopeless Hope… documents the process of directing Beyond the Horizon, presented December 11-13, 2015 in the McLeod Theater at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The document specifically details the development of the director’s vision for the production, from the initial readings and research through rehearsal, performance and post-production evaluations. …

Recovering Eleanor Roosevelt's Voice: The Exhibition Of Prospects Of Mankind, Kellie S. Menzies

Theses

As she moved from being First Lady to diplomat to activist, Eleanor Roosevelt inspired citizens and nations to build a world governed by diplomacy, civic engagement, and democratic policy. Her example of peace building and human rights advocacy throughout her life is a model to be studied and applied not only in the United States but also around the world. To reach a broad audience, Roosevelt relied upon a wide range of media including the monthly television show, Prospects of Mankind. The series first aired on WGBH in October 1959, and was broadcast until 1961, a year before Roosevelt’s death. …

Factors Influencing Long-Term Adoption Of Wearable Activity Trackers, Alessandra Regina David Brandao

Theses

Wearable technology for activity tracking has been widely adopted to support users in improving or maintaining their physical activity rates. However, while some users derive value from their trackers for a long time, others find barriers to incorporating this technology into their routines. Using an online survey focused on both ex-users and current users of activity trackers, this study investigated factors of discouragement and reasons that could contribute to long-term adoption. Subsequent interviews with a sample of ten participants were conducted to complement the understanding of the users’ experiences and their motivations. Through these approaches, the findings of this study …

Onemile: An Interactive Journey To Wellness For Those With Chronic Illness, Keli M. Dirisio

Theses

Using interaction design, video, and social media to create an application that will encourage people to maintain or improve their quality of life when dealing with a chronic illness.

There are many tools, both tangible and online, for people with debilitating illnesses. There are websites and apps that focus on symptom management, medication monitoring or general wellness. The majority of these resources are mainly used for rehabilitation. There is technology used to help people, both healthy and those with an illness, to improve their health–featuring exercise, eating healthy, tips and tricks. Most people with a chronic illness are looking for …

Structure-Constrained Basis Pursuit For Compressively Sensing Speech, Miguel Dominguez

Theses

Compressed Sensing (CS) exploits the sparsity of many signals to enable sampling below the Nyquist rate. If the original signal is sufficiently sparse, the Basis Pursuit (BP) algorithm will perfectly reconstruct the original signal. Unfortunately many signals that intuitively appear sparse do not meet the threshold for "sufficient sparsity". These signals require so many CS samples for accurate reconstruction that the advantages of CS disappear. This is because Basis Pursuit/Basis Pursuit Denoising only models sparsity. We developed a "Structure-Constrained Basis Pursuit" that models the structure of somewhat sparse signals as upper and lower bound constraints on the Basis Pursuit Denoising …

Criticality Of Byproduct Materials: Assessing Supply Risk, Environmental Impact, And Strategic Policy Response For Tellurium, Michele L. Bustamante

Theses

Creating a more sustainable future will require a transition toward more clean energy technologies. As technology shifts, the portfolio of materials needed to support the energy sector will shift as well. To prevent resource scarcity challenges, it is necessary to investigate multifaceted risks for energy materials. In recent years, a tool known as criticality assessment has been used for this purpose, identifying economic vulnerabilities for key energy, defense, and electronic technologies. These studies intend to guide strategic response to reduce risk; however existing methodologies lack a comprehensive systems perspective necessary to inform decisions.

This is particularly true for materials supplied …

Blush: An Exploration Of Empathetic Cultivation Through Technological Devices, Jordan Reading

Theses

Technology has helped us keep in touch. Letters, telegrams, telephones, email, video chatting, social-networking — all ways in which we have communicated throughout the years. Each innovation has allowed us to lead independent lives from our loved ones and friends, while trying not to lose touch with each other. It’s freed us, but at the same time we’ve become chained it to. We’ve lost our ability to converse and empathize with each other directly — we’ve become more comfortable in front of a screen.

Unfortunately for us, digital devices in their current state are terrible forms of communication. It lacks …

Visualization Of Mind: Visual Exploration Of Brain Activity, Bilegsaikhan Baasanjav

Theses

Since ancient times, philosophical and religious thinkers have made attempts to understand the nature of the mind. Today, new developments in technology enable scientists and researchers to explore the brain’s complex physical activity, revealing a deeper mental reality. Moreover, the emergence of low-cost biometric devices gives nonscientific communities an ability to explore usage of biometric data in variety of ways.

This project explores visualization of human brain activity using electroencephalogram neural interface to create a visually engaging and meaningful user experience. The implementation of the project takes a form of an interactive installation. It projects the visual form, whose visual …

Policy Recommendations For Economically And Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities, Anthony Hennig

Theses

Asteroids are quickly moving from a speculative resource to potentially economically valuable deposits of a variety of mineral resources. There is a potential for a large scale disruptive innovation within the fundamental resource base, and at the same time policy does little to ensure that asteroid resource exploitation is socially and economically valuable. Existing international policies were put into place to prevent militarization of space and related basic risks, and the first national policies focusing on basic ownership rights are only now being put into place.

We identify five major technology, policy, and social issues that must be addressed: surveying …

A Spatial Analysis Of The Relationship Between Obesity And The Built Environment In Southern Illinois, Shiloh Leah Deitz

Theses

Scholars have established that our geographic environments – including infrastructure for walking and food availability - contribute to the current obesity epidemic in the United States. However, the relationship between food, walkability, and obesity has largely only been investigated in large urban areas. Further, many studies have not taken an in-depth look at the spatial fabric of walkability, food, and obesity. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to explore reliable methods, using sociodemographic census data, for estimating obesity at the neighborhood level in one region of the U.S. made up of rural areas and small towns – southern …