Digital Commons Network^™

The Transition Of The College Quarterback To The Nfl: Why The Hardest Position In Sports Is Getting Easier, Derik Abbott

Theses

The NFL is changing. Score boards are being lit up by young quarterbacks like never seen before. Rookie quarterbacks are playing like 10 year veterans. Offenses are playing at light speed paces. But why? This Thesis paper looks to uncover why college quarterbacks are playing at MVP caliber levels at such a young age. With research in multiple fields such as analytics, neuroscience, youth football developmental leagues and artificial intelligence,, this paper seeks to determine the relationship between what strategies front offices and coaching staffs are using and the high success rate of young quarterbacks in the National Football League. …

Amelia: An Animated Short Film About Giving And Receiving Help, Emma Yun-Chieh Hsieh

Theses

Amelia is an animated short film that expresses a personal journey of finding the importance of the balance between giving and receiving. “Giving is better than taking” is a common concept people are taught since young age in Asian culture; however, if there is no common ground in giving and receiving the positive notion of helping others can become negative for the giver.

There are several elements in the film indicate that life is an infinite journey of self-improvement. Amelia starts and ends at the same place, with different quotes, while her mental state changes along with her energy. Sunrise …

Looking Past The Images: Art And Film As Propaganda Apparatuses, Alexander Schumm

Theses

This paper aims to show that art and film can operate as propaganda in subtle and unintentional ways. Jacques Ellul called such propaganda “sociological propaganda.” Recent work in philosophy has relied on the notion of intention in defining how propaganda works to affect the beliefs and attitudes of its recipients. This paper argues that intention is not a necessary condition for messages to be propagandistic and works to decouple propaganda from intention. Because our current models rely on intention in defining propaganda, recent work in philosophy cannot account for sociological propaganda. Ellul’s gestures toward defining propaganda explicitly feature intention as …

Rover: A Virtual Reality Puzzle Game About Creating An Experience That Helps The Player Rediscover Something About Themselves, Like Dream And Family., Shengjie Liu

Theses

With the development of virtual reality technology, VR is currently replacing old systems and modifying practices and processes in many fields, such as automotive, healthcare, training and psychological therapies (Salanitri et al., 2018). Amongst these fields, the industry of games particularly enjoys an increasingly mature technique in virtual reality technology. It is in no small part because such technology provides an immersive experience during the games, and it in turn enhances players’ comprehension upon the affections incurred in the games. Encountered with such an emerging visual carrier, many products and programs await creation. Throughout this project, motion patterns and visual …

Co-Exist, Samyuktha Valluru

Theses

My thesis is a visual narrative expression of co-existence in relationships. As I look deep inwards, I think about what has shaped the person I am today. I realize that if it were not for my learning to adapt and co-exist and the people I have met in my life, I would not be able to appreciate my personal evolution. Whether with self, family, society or the universe - behaviors like maintaining balance, flexibility, self-introspection, respect and transformation are all some fundamental stepping stones to co-existence.

For my thesis, I have crafted wearable jewelry, interactive small-scale objects and kinetic body …

Lc-Ms/Ms Based Analysis Of Vitamins B3 And B6 In Healthy And Obese Emirati Population, Ghada Rashad Mohamed

Theses

Water-soluble vitamins like Vitamin B3, B6, and B9 are of utmost importance in human health and disease, as they are involved in numerous critical metabolic reactions. Not surprisingly, deficiencies of these vitamins have been linked to various disease states. For example, Vitamin B6 deficiency has been related to many diseases in humans especially in women with type 1 diabetes and in patients with systemic inflammation, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and those infected with HIV. Similarly, derivatives of Vitamin B9 (such as folates), are needed to synthesize, repair, and methylate DNA as well as to act as a cofactor in certain …

Coloquio: Pro-Social Games For Healthy Social Interaction, Mintesinot T. Gebre

Theses

This study was conducted to address the unhealthy social and emotional development of children today as they are exposed to the adverse effects technology dominant environment. The extent of interference of screen interaction in today’s group activities at home, hinders opportunities for families to interact with one another. Surveys and tests were conducted for the purpose of finding where the undesired behaviors and habits formed by screen interaction become very pervasive. And the design solution proposes a pro-social activity that makes use of cognitive abilities to allow social activities and conversations to happen in parallel.

Forensic Art In Law Enforcement: The Art And Science Of The Human Head, Kourtnei F. Rodriguez

Theses

Forensic art is a highly specialized career field, but there are very few full-time forensic artists working today. There is only one school in the world that offers a degree in forensic art and it is located in Dundee, Scotland at the University of Dundee. The university’s School of Science and Engineering offers a Master of Science (MSc) in Forensic Art and Facial Identification. However, there have been a variety of training courses and workshops provided for individuals interested in studying forensic art locally throughout the United States. Some people may have heard the term used before, but they still …

Genesee Waterways Center, Andrea Stylianou

Theses

The Genesee Waterways Center, or GWC, is home to multiple competitive and recreational rowing programs and clubs, but lacks the appropriate facility to properly house and cater to its patrons and visitors. Rowing is an activity that values discipline and teamwork and has evolved into a sport that welcomes all those who are interested in joining. The GWC is located in Rochester, NY’s Genesee Valley Park which brings many recreational visitors past or through the boathouse. GWC wants to provide the opportunity for all those interested, but faces three major problems: a disconnection with its surroundings, lack of a facility …

Study Of Interior Public Spaces For The Promotion Of Social Interaction In High-Rise Residential Buildings, Xinyi He

Theses

Urbanization is progressing rapidly in China. To accommodate the increasing population, high-rise residential buildings are becoming more prevalent in urban areas. But residents of high-rise buildings have little opportunity to socially interact with their neighbors, and this lack of social interaction may generate community-relevant negative outcomes, such as loneliness, reduced helpfulness, and insecurity, all of which have an adverse effect on the overall satisfaction level of the community. To address this issue, there is a need to develop strategies for community-oriented high-rise residential building designs that take into consideration China’s specific realities.

Due to the high-density living environment that is …

How Architecture Can Promote A Sustainable And Therapeutic Experience For Patients In Psychiatric Hospitals In China, Xili Li

Theses

Mental, physical and social health are the interwoven strands of well-being for all individuals’ lives. Mental health, in particular, is crucial to the overall robustness of humans, as it enables individuals to realize their abilities, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities. Unfortunately, mental disorders have suffered the stigma of disgrace. Although the world has long struggled to understand, identify, and treat mental illnesses, the quality of relative facilities and treatments lags far behind other medical fields. The conditions of mental healthcare facilities are especially inadequate in developing countries, like China.

The author’s …

Design Vs. War: Modular System Of Toys For War-Affected Children, Shima Ghaheri

Theses

Toy and play as integral childhood components have proven to be crucial in child development. [1] It has been adults’ responsibility to provide children with suitable toys or help them find or make ones. However, this task seems to be challenging about children in war zones. Children that still have the rights to be recognized as children, to spend their time playing delightfully, and to grow peacefully.

In this project, first I examine how wars affect lives. To dig into the effect further, I explore the affected war children as the most vulnerable group of the society. Then I study …

For That What Didn't, Sue Britt

Theses

ABSTRACT The work of this book was pursued with the objective of exploring psychological and sociological causes and effects of the human condition with themes including family, love, solitude, loss, abandonment, estrangement, maternity, sex, and gender power dynamics--especially that of male dominance of women and varying female responses to this sociological organization--using characters, animals, settings and voices in the artistic medium of poetry. The assembly of the book is in the style of novel structure, but neither story nor chronology were considered in the order of organization as each poem is an independent piece. Epigraphs were used at the beginning …

Web Whys? An Investigation Into The Capacity, Capability And Commitment Of Youth Work Providers To Engage Young People In Their Services Through New Media And Technologies., Nora Butler

Theses

Firstly, we shall explore what technologies young people have at their disposal and how tools like social networking sites have created a shift in our communication processes. In order to harness the potential of this technology and improve the relationship between youth work and technology, we must first understand how it is used in practice which requires investigative research, of which this paper has undertaken. I suggest that Web Whys? is used as a resource for other practitioners in Youth Work to understand the real impact and potential of digital platforms for improving young people’s lives.

A mixed method approach …

#Metoo: Personal Accounts Of Sexual Violence On Facebook Analyzing Individual Stories To Reveal Themes About Gender, Power, And Intersectional Factors, Lauren Depoint

Theses

This study examines the types of narratives constructed about experiences with sexual violence shared in Facebook posts using the hashtag #MeToo. Feminist and intersectional theories were used to contextualize a textual analysis of 61 public posts to explore how individuals were presenting their experiences for a mass audience online in the absence of traditional gatekeepers. Most of the posts featured graphic details, strong emotion, and patterns of internalized misogyny. Stories shared revealed troubling power dynamics involving disability, race, and gender. Intersectional groups are underrepresented in online spaces, indicating a problematic absence of these individuals within online movements like #MeToo that …

Perceptions Of Non-Americans Towards American Tv Series, Thaarika Charumathy Seetharaman

Theses

Television drama is one of the most entertaining genre of the media industry, and it serves as a socialization platform (Greenberg, 1982). American TV series have gained audience and fans from all around the world which opens up the scope for examining the effects of American media on the secondary audience. Drawing on the framework of cultivation theory, this study examined the effect of American TV series on non-American population. The results suggested that the cultivation effects are dependent on age and gender of the respondents, in connection with the genre of the series influencing the audience’s framing of the …

Design For Motorcycle Safety, David Villarreal

Theses

The following presents a holistic approach for the design of safer interactions between motorcyclists and car drivers operating public roads. Several factors appear to influence the way motorcycles are perceived which has played a significant role for their development. Although motorcycles themselves are mechanically stable machines their use in mixed traffic environments can be highly dangerous as a motorcyclist’s inherent degree of conspicuity leaves them unseen by Other Vehicle operators. There are many factors that can have implications on a motorcyclist’s safety; those being a rider’s conspicuity on public roadways, the rider’s ability and confidence level, the size of the …

The Embrace - Design For Elderly, Meng Liu

Theses

The elderly requires special care, especially those who live in China and living alone. This age group faces physical, mental and emotional challenges, one of which is loneliness. This paper explores the help people age 65-75 in China need to reduce their loneliness due to their children living away from them. The proposed solution is to encourage them to meet new people and keep them busy; then reducing their isolation. One such solution, a bench, is designed to curb the loneliness of elders by providing a platform to connect with each other and promoting their health through physical exercise, comfort, …

Service Experience & Expectations Of Saudi Arabia Domestic Tourists In The Lodging Sector, Yasser Ahmad Qarashia

Theses

The Saudi’s 2030 vision has recognized the vital role of religious tourism in the diversification of the kingdom’s economy in addition to the reliance on gas and oil revenue. Currently, religious tourism contributes at least 3% of the Saudi’s GDP. The government plans to double the revenue from the religious tourism by doubling the accommodation capacity for both the Hajj and Umrah visitors. The increasing number of international and luxurious hotels in Makkah and other major cities reflect a rising of the hotel industry in Saudi Arabia.

Research has documented the importance role of service quality in influencing organizational outcomes …

Bubble Stream Production By Belugas (Delphinapterus Leucas), Megan Slack

Theses

Bubble stream production in belugas has been poorly characterized and its function is not well understood. I examined behavioral states when producing bubble streams (“bubbling”), and when bubbling calls, to determine whether bubbling was significantly associated with a particular call category or behavioral state. Using 19 hours of video and audio recordings collected over a two-day period, I quantified bubble streams of a 4-month old calf and an unrelated adult female housed together. Based on the overall activity budgets and pool of vocalizations for both animals, I calculated the expected counts of bubble streams with and without vocalizations, assuming that …

Daily Artefact: A Record Of Making And Maker, Aprille Nace

Theses

Reacting to the inherent qualities of clay this thesis is an exploration into how mass, color, expressionistic textures, quiet neutral planes, and the materiality of clay can embody extreme contradiction and tension in abstract ceramic sculpture. The body of work begins as a massive blank canvas awaiting my response of the moment. Each form is acted upon differently but holds in common a stretching of the expressivist potential of clay. This exploration is driven by my struggles with the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder.

That was the premise of my thesis before I began working on it. As …

Changes In Antisocial Attitudes And Recidivist Outcomes, Maranda Rose Quillen

Theses

This purpose of this study is to examine whether changes in offender antisocial attitudes predict recidivism, violent reoffense, and severity of reoffending among completers of the community based, Counter-Point treatment program. While offender antisocial attitudes changed following treatment completion, these changes did not significantly predict violent recidivism and general recidivism. However, violent offenders, upon entering the program, were more likely to recidivate violently, and a decrease in antisocial attitudes following treatment completion increased the severity of reoffending. These findings highlight that change takes time and treatment dosage may serve as an important component of maintaining attitudinal change in treatment and …

Adaptive Water Governance And Community Resilience: Assessing The Impact Of The Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Partnership On Communities In The Cache River Watershed Of Southern Illinois, Rachel Emeline Boucher

Theses

Resilience is a concept that is becoming heavily researched in the sustainability and resource management literature. For rural resource-dependent communities, community resilience is the ability to adapt to various drivers of change while maintaining or enhancing community well-being. In recent decades, the field of water resource governance has been transitioning from a reliance on command-and-control institutional structures toward adaptive multi-level institutions, such as adaptive co-management and adaptive governance. These transitions offer potential opportunities for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of resource-dependent communities. However, the relationship between these emerging governance approaches and community resilience is not fully understood. The Cache River …

Prediction Of Clinical Symptoms And Psychological Flexibility Using A Novel Values Card Sort Activity, Ryan S. Kimball

Theses

Values are directly relevant in a number of theoretical orientations in psychology, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In ACT, clarification of one’s personal values is paramount. The present study examined the ability to predict clinical symptoms and psychological flexibility using variables derived from one’s performance on the ACT Values Card Sort (ACT-VCS), a novel values clarification exercise. The independent variables, obtained from the ACT-VCS, included 1) the number of values endorsed as very important in the initial sort (i.e., valuing propensity), 2) the number of values domains represented in the final sort (i.e., values diversity), and 3) the extent …

Statistics Anxiety Towards Learning New Statistical Software, Shahd Saad Alnofaie

Theses

Based on previous research, statistics anxiety towards statistics were discussed. There is a study about anxiety and attitude of graduate students in on-campus vs. online statistics courses, and student attitude toward statistics. To date, no one has seemed to examine anxiety toward statistics with regard to use of coding vs. noncoding software. The purpose of this study was to know the level of anxiety towards learning new statistical software. Responses from seventy-nine graduate students who have or had classes in the Applied Statistics Division were collected. The survey made for this study had a Likert scale that included three categories …

Design For Curiosity: A Study Of Visual Design Elements, Interaction, And Motivation, Elaine Carole Montambeau

Theses

The field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has traditionally focused on the usability of a system, but as increasing numbers of interactive products become entwined in our daily lives, so does the opportunity to understand user impacts that reach beyond usability. In particular, interaction design, a subdomain of HCI, expands the focus of HCI by looking at the aesthetic impacts a system may have on user emotions. Curiosity is one such emotion that tends to induce information-seeking and motivational behaviors. An experimental study was undertaken to determine whether an interactive, front-end graphic that incorporated curiosity principles in its design would …

Heaven & Earth, Nelson Caliguia Jr.

Theses

Heaven & Earth is a graduate animated thesis film with a runtime of four minutes and 58 seconds. This animated short film is a playful take on the eternal struggle between humans and the heavenly forces that dictate weather conditions. Heaven & Earth combines elements from both Philippine folk art and classic American cartoons, exploring a stylistic hybrid borne out of influences that I have genuine affinity for.

This animated short is in full color, and was produced using digital 2D animation. It was entirely animated in TVPaint, while the backgrounds were drawn and painted in Photoshop. For compositing and …

“Hoilet System”— A Way To Improve Experience In High Traffic Female Public Restrooms In The U.S, Kaining Qiu

Theses

This paper focuses on improving the experience of women using high traffic public restrooms in the U.S. By looking into the past studies on the insufficient numbers of ladies’ rooms provided under building codes and the lack of accommodations for multi-tasking, with further research on public restroom cleanliness and personal privacy, this paper proposes that all four of those contribute to an unpleasant experience. At the same time, little has been done to address these problems nationwide and most of the relevant research is out of date. To further understand the overall experience women go through, a survey was conducted …

The Impact Of Perceived Leadership Styles On Hotel Employee Job Engagement, Abutaleb Zarban

Theses

Engaged employees have a positive impact on organizational outcomes. In fact, employees who are highly committed to their jobs tend to perform better, and such employees are less likely to quit. Leaders in the workplace have the potential to influence employee work engagement. Different leadership styles might drive employee engagement to different extents. The purposes of this study are twofold: to identify the leadership styles and drivers that lead to engaged employees, and to contribute to the literature of employee engagement in the context of hospitality and tourism. This study used a quantitative method, specifically survey that was distributed to …

Tactile Painting Easel: For People With Limited Vision, Yue Zhang

Theses

Visual art is probably the oldest art. But people with vision challenges have been held back, perhaps for many years by avoiding making art. However, it is never late to start and this painting system helps to paint with ease and joy. Through the researching about the behavior of people with visual disability, the conclusions are: Painting can help people with limited vision to face life in a more positive way; vision and touch are closely related. After the shape symbolism experiment and interview, the conclusion is people with visual disability understand the metaphors of the pictures. The mock blind …