Digital Commons Network^™

Hypoxic And Viral Contributions To The Etiopathogenesis Of Schizophrenia: A Whole Transcriptome Analysis, Kathryn A. Gorski

Theses

Schizophrenia is a mental illness with a complex and as of yet unclear etiology. It is highly heritable and has a strong polygenic character, however, studies examining the genetics of schizophrenia have not sufficiently explained all variability in its prevalence. Environmental causes are theorized to have a non trivial contribution to the pathoetiology of schizophrenia, including interactions with genetic components, but these mechanisms remain unclear. Analyzing schizophrenia dysfunction using transcriptomic approaches is a paradigm still in its infancy, and fewer studies still have examined non neurological contributions to schizophrenia pathology with next generation sequencing technologies. This pilot study uses several …

Mechanochemical Nitration Of Aromatic Compounds, Oleg Shlomo Lagoviyer

Theses

Aromatic compounds such as toluene are commercially nitrated using a combination of nitric acid with other strong acids. This process relies on the use of highly corrosive chemicals and generates environmentally harmful waste, which is difficult to handle and dispose of. In this study aromatic nitration using solvent-free mechanochemical processing of environmentally benign precursors has been achieved and investigated. Mononitrotoluene was synthesized by milling toluene with sodium nitrate and molybdenum trioxide as a catalyst. Several parameters affecting the desired product yield and selectivity were identified and varied. MNT yields in excess of 60% have been achieved in different tests. The …

Knowledge Management In New Product Development (Npd), Luca Maria Mancinelli

Theses

This thesis analyses features that, in New Product Development process (NPD), foster knowledge, and their contribution to the creation and application of knowledge with the aim of increasing both global performance and organizational effectiveness. Since knowledge is becoming more important to achieve competitive advantage, companies have already started to focus on their ability to generate new competencies and create new opportunities for producing new knowledge.

One of the issues compelling knowledge management understands what aspects of the organization's work system and organizational design affect its ability to acquire, create and apply knowledge. In fact, the way that workers are organized …

Head Impacts In The A7fl, Stephen Mcgeever

Theses

The American 7s Football League (A7FL) is a semi professional football league that does not use helmets or pads. The theory is that the game is safer without helmets and pads because players feel more vulnerable and use a different tackling technique to protect themselves. Rather than lowering and leading with their head when the players tackle, as many helmeted football players do, A7FL players primarily use their arms to wrap the opponent up. A7FL players were given Vector mouth guards designed by Athlete Intelligence to wear. These mouth guards have built in tri-axial accelerometers to record impact data, which …

Modelling Of Oxygen Diffusion In Cork, Swapnil Shivputra Rane

Theses

The primary objective of this project is to better understand gas diffusion through natural cork structures by comparing simulations of gas diffusion through natural cork to experimental measurements of oxygen gas diffusion through the same structure. The cork's internal structure is measured using x-ray computed tomography (CT). From the measured internal structure, a simple mapping is assumed converting the measured x-ray computed tomography images into a 3D map of local diffusion coefficient. Specifically, it is assured that the x-ray CT pixel value is inversely proportional to the diffusion coefficient of oxygen through the cork. A diffusion model for the cork …

Detecting And Characterizing Self Hiding Behavior In Android Applications, Raina Samuel

Theses

Applications (apps) that conceal their activities are fundamentally deceptive; app marketplaces and end-users should treat such apps as suspicious. However, due to its nature and intent, activity concealing is not disclosed up-front, which puts users at risk. This study focuses on characterization and detection of such techniques, e.g., hiding the app or removing traces, known as 'self hiding' (SH) behavior. SH behavior has not been studied per se - rather it has been reported on only as a byproduct of malware investigations. This gap is addressed via a study and suite of static analyses targeted at SH in Android apps. …

Start-Up And Open Innovation, Gonxhe Tali

Theses

Nowadays, in many industries the traditional research and development approach has become obsolete. For this reason, during the past two years companies started focusing on Startups and the Open Innovation. Firms should use internal and external relationships, ideas and paths in order to advance their organizational process and technology. Open Innovation combines all those ideas into a system and defines all the requirements for the new business model.

The purpose of this thesis is to illustrate how Startups successfully organize and manage open Innovation with large and small companies and to highlights the strengths, weaknesses, challenges and barriers faced by …

Intense Ultrasonic Waves In Fluids: Nonlinear Behaviour, Jitendra Kewalramani

Theses

High-intensity ultrasonic wave has several engineering, biological, medical and chemical applications. High intensity acoustic waves can lead to a desired change in a medium by initiating one or more diverse mechanisms such as acoustic cavitation, heating, radiation pressure, or chemical reactions. Nonlinear nature of intense acoustic waves opens an entire new spectrum of applications. Hence there is need to understand and model the mechanism of nonlinear wave motion for practical applications of intense acoustic waves.

In this research, one-dimensional motion of shock waves in an ideal fluid is studied to include nonlinearity. In nonlinear acoustics, the propagation velocity of different …

Halal Certification For An Industrial Machine Intended To Come In Contact With Food, Luca Caffarelli

Theses

Halal Certification is a worldwide recognition that the products are permissible under Islamic law. These products are thus edible, drinkable or usable by Muslims. It can be extended to industrial machinery and tools. This Certification must be issued by a Notified Body under the supervision of an IMAM. Focus of the Certification are GMPs and Food Contact Materials and Articles. Four main phases to achieve Certification (the scheme is the same of ISO 14001, ISO 18001 and ISO 9001):

• Pre-Audit - The activity is to evaluate the documentation describing our internal system.
• Audit - The activity is to evaluate how …

The Impact Of Copper On Non-Indigenous And Native Species Of Suspension-Feeding Bivalves In Mission Bay, San Diego, California, Brian Juhl

Theses

Native (Chione californiensis) and non-indigenous bivalve species [Musculista senhousia (now known as Arcuatula senhousia), and Venerupis philippinarum] were collected from Mission Bay, San Diego, California and exposed to copper contaminated water at estimated concentrations of 0 ppb, 25 ppb, and 50 ppb over the course of two experimental periods of 18 days and 12 days. Bivalves were placed in tanks in a temperature controlled environment, and measurements of a number of parameters were taken during and after the exposure to copper: survivorship, feeding rates, growth, mucus production, and tissue copper concentrations for the entire body, …

The Temporal And Spatial Dynamics Of Larval Supply, Settlement, And Adult Populations Of Chthamalus Fissus Within The La Jolla, California Rocky Intertidal, Catharine Hargenrader

Theses

The role of post-settlement processes in benthic invertebrate recruitment dynamics has been well established; however, more recently, studies have been resolving the pre-settlement processes and environmental variables that may shape initial settlement. We examined the major space occupying barnacle Chthamalus fissus to determine the spatial and temporal dynamics of settlement in relation to larval supply, adult populations, and habitat characteristics (including elevation as a proxy for immersion, proximity to water’s edge, and the availability of free space) within the La Jolla, CA rocky intertidal. With respect to habitat characteristics, we investigated the influence of available free space on the dynamics …

Graphs With K-Uniform Edge Betweenness Centrality, Mariya Belchikova

Theses

The edge betweenness centrality of an edge is defined as the ratio of shortest paths between all pairs of vertices passing through that edge. A graph is said to have k-uniform edge betweenness centrality, if there are k different edge betweenness centrality values. In this thesis we investigate graphs that have k-uniform edge betweenness centrality where k=2 or 3, and precisely determine the edge betweenness centrality values for various families of graphs.

Understanding The Language Learning Strategies Of English Language Learners In The Community College System, Steven Kean

Theses

This study focused on English language teaching and learning through the lens of language-learning strategies, and how strategies-based instruction is implemented within the community college system. The intent of this study was to determine the extent to which language-learning strategies are taught to second-language learners in a community college district, the specific strategies that language-learners use, and whether improvements to strategies-based instruction in the community college system are needed. This research used a customized version of Rebecca Oxford’s Strategies Inventory for Language Learners. It also queried instructors who teach English as a Second Language (ESL), and it analyzed ESL course …

The Cost Of Clean Space- A Study Of The Additional Fuel Costs Of Launching Above Low Earth Orbit, John O'Gorman

Theses

Ever since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, humans have put over 40,000 pieces of debris into orbit around the Earth. In particular, most launches and debris tends to go to either Low Earth Orbit (LEO), or Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). While GEO has some regulations on its use, there are limited regulations for the use of LEO. Accumulated debris in LEO jeopardizes the future utility of space. So far, various measures for the mitigation and management of debris in LEO have been proposed. This paper looks to establish a baseline cost of clean space in LEO against which other …

A Passive Solar Retrofit In A Gloomy Climate, James Russell Fugate

Theses

A common perception with solar technologies is that they are practical only in sunny regions of the country. The sun is a source of clean and plentiful energy, but for regions of the country that experience frequent cloud cover, solar energy is typically not considered a worthwhile endeavor. In addition to the problem of limited sunshine, solar energy is often deemed to be too expensive for the average homeowner, particularly without significant government incentives. For solar technology to be adopted on a broad scale, it must make practical sense to the homeowner, not just economically, but also for an improved …

Team Queue: A Mobile Application Which Provides A Third Party Stage For An E-Sports Service Provider, Mengying Wang

Theses

E-Sports, known as electronic sports, professional video gaming or pro gaming, refers to the use of video games for sports. In today’s a growing economy, there is a continuous strengthening of the E-Sports industry; E-Sports has officially become a kind of sports. Believe or not, E-Sports has an incredible market share in the gaming market. In 2017, E-Sport the grew of 41.3 % over last year, which equates up the value of $696 million (NewZoo, 2017).

According to 2017 Global E-Sports Market Report (NewZoo, 2017), day, worldwide, there are E-Sports games held every day. It also reported that 67 million …

Justice By Any Means: The Relationship Between Societal Stress And The Rise Of Vigilantism In Comic Books, Gregory Heerkens

Theses

The following study used sales data to ascertain the presence of a link between current socio-political tensions (as measured by the Bulletin of Atomic Sciences’ Doomsday Clock and national crime statistics) and the prevalence and acceptance of so-called “vigilante justice” portrayed in the top-selling comic books during the period between 1989 and 2001. The purpose of this study is to understand what, if any, relationship exists between dark times and desperate measures; between a feeling of powerlessness in world affairs, and the belief that justice outside of the system is acceptable when that system, at home or abroad, fails to …

College Students’ Use Of Digital And Traditional Media: Uses And Gratifications Approach, Kelly M. Bodine

Theses

In the higher education field marketers need to better understand how to keep abreast with the trends of their current and future audiences. With ever-evolving technologies, students’ have multiple methods in which to acquire campus related information. The aims of this study were to discover what communication methodologies students employ when learning about campus information and what methodologies they employ when actively searching. Based on a uses and gratifications framework, this study involved conducting an online survey to compare college students’ use and level of influence from traditional or digital media marketing. The findings of this study show that both …

Modeling Health Effects Of Particulate Matter Emissions From Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks Involved In High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing With Benmap-Ce, Katelijn Van Munster

Theses

The use of high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) has grown substantially in the past decade, and with it the number of heavy duty diesel trucks (HDDTs) used to transport HVHF materials and wastes. This research is a pilot study for the third phase of a three-phase project to determine the potential negative health effects caused by these HDDTs. This pilot study developed the methodology of modeling health effects, subsequent costs, and their spatial distribution with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program – Community Edition (BenMAP-CE), using data from previous phases of the project and focusing on …

Online News Coverage About Fraud And Self-Defensive Behavior In China, Congxi Wang

Theses

This study explores the role of online news media in directing people’s behavior in China. Previous literature shows that Chinese tend to be suspicious or hostile towards strangers and those outside their network. This study assumes that this self-defensive behavior was caused by negative portrayal of strangers in Chinese online news media. A survey and a qualitative content analysis were conducted to understand how the exposure to crime news affects people’s perception of strangers and public safety in China, then causes self-defensive behavior in China. The finding shows consistency between survey responses and media coverages about strangers, which establishes the …

Why Day Zero Matters In Early Ambulation For Postoperative Patients: An Evidence-Based Project, Danielle Tekolste, Danielle Currier, Mary Anne Wheatley

Theses

The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to review the literature to determine if ambulation on postoperative day zero improved patient outcomes when compared to ambulation on postoperative day one. The PICOT question used in this research project was: In adult patients in a postoperative setting, how does ambulation within twelve hours of surgery compare to non-early ambulation after twelve hours of surgery improve patient outcomes during the first thirty days following surgery? This topic addressed both quality improvement and evidence based practice in nursing.

Uses And Gratification Of Posting Selfies On Social Media, Amanda Kearney

Theses

Selfies have become an easy and instantaneous form of self-expression and communication. Posting selfies to various social media platforms has become wildly popular and socially accepted in the digital age. This study investigated the motivation behind posting selfies to Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat using the framework of uses and gratification theory. This study also compared differences in gratification sought from individual social media platforms. A cross-sectional survey shared on Facebook using a snowball sampling method recruited participants who post at least one selfie per week (N = 156). Factor analysis revealed five gratifications for posting selfies to social media: attention …

Modeling The Health Effects And Economic Costs Of Particulate Matter Emissions From High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing, Marissa Steinheimer

Theses

With natural gas drilling on the rise (Penn State, 2012), there is a general lack of data on the emissions from the entire lifecycle of hydraulic fracturing. This research project is designed to study the health impacts of emissions from high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) production and at HVHF well sites. Using data from previous research (Korfmacher et al., 2015 and Korfmacher et al., 2016) and the Environmental Protections Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program - Community Edition (BenMAP-CE), estimated health impacts and economic costs of emissions are analyzed. This study models the health impacts and economic costs of …

Geometric Properties And A Combinatorial Analysis Of Convex Polygons Constructed Of Tridrafters, Trevor Nelson

Theses

The aim of this thesis is to show how the use of parity in tandem with the triangular grid as well as a newly introduced and similar method are insufficient to provide proof for why convex regions composed using the full set of shapes known as "proper tridrafters" have a portion shifted in a fashion known as against-the-grain. These two methods are applied in a combinatorial fashion.

Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy And Poetry As Geometry Of True Morality, Badreyah Almuqhawi

Theses

All human languages are tightly interwoven with the history and culture of the nations and people who speak them. There is an inherent beauty to the lines of each sign, balance, and proportion of the symbols in Arabic calligraphy that are amazingly beautiful. In Arabic writing, one can feel musical rhythm to the words- there is a feeling as if one can hear the music or poetry. Arabic calligraphy is an art that contains the Arabic alphabet or Arabic script and has significant value because it includes a message which is meaningful to the artist. I think Arabic calligraphy is …

Designing For Embodied Energy: An Examination Of Bim Integrated Lca Using Residential Architecture In Rochester, Ny, Thomas Shreve

Theses

The energy consumed by a building can be divided into two types. Operational energy (use phase) and embodied energy (energy consumed during the production, construction and replacement of building components). Typically, overshadowed by operational energy, embodied energy has slowly increased for a variety of reasons. A major reason for the increase in embodied energy is the surge in the Low-Energy and Net Zero Energy Building movement.

One of the primary tools used to measure embodied energy in buildings is through whole building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA modeling in architecture is a complex and timeconsuming process, that presents a variety …

Investigation Of The Role Of Gene Clusters In Terpene Biosynthesis In Sorghum Bicolor, Rebecca Hay

Theses

The staple crop Sorghum bicolor shows potential as a source of secondary metabolite-based biofuels due to its diverse phenotype and chemical profile. S. bicolor produces a variety of high-energy metabolites, including terpenes which are a potential renewable source of fuel additives. Information on the biosynthetic and genetic pathways by which S. bicolor terpenes are produced is limited and these pathways must be better understood before they can be engineered for human applications. Recent work on plant biosynthetic pathways has shown that terpenes can be modified by the products of clustered genes. Identification of biosynthetic gene clusters may accelerate the elucidation …

Batsen: Modifying The Batman Routing Protocol For Wireless Sensor Networks, Nelson Henry Powell Iii

Theses

The proliferation of autonomous Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has spawned research seeking power efficient communications to improve the lifetime of sensor motes. WSNs are characterized by their power limitations, wireless transceivers, and the converge-cast communications techniques. WSN motes use low-power, lossy radio systems deployed in dense, random topologies, working sympathetically to sense and notify a sink node of the detectable information. In an effort to extend the life of battery powered motes, and hence the life of the network, various routing protocols have been suggested in an effort to optimize converge-cast delivery of sensor data. It is well known that …

Comparative Transcriptomics Of Grapevine Powdery Mildew, Christopher Wayne Snyder

Theses

Grapevine Powdery Mildew is caused by the obligately biotrophic fungus Erysiphe (syn. Uncinula) necator. This plant disease leads to severe crop loss and subsequent economic burden for the wine and juice industry. While the life cycle of the fungus has been explained, the mechanisms underlying how the fungus surpasses the grape’s defenses are not fully understood. In order to identify suitable targets for gene silencing approaches, a better understanding of the Powdery Mildew transcriptome is necessary. De novo assembled contigs of E. necator G14 mRNA were compared to the published E. necator C-strain transcriptome to determine the areas of overlap …

Learning From The Past: An Analysis Of The Sustainable Features Of Hakka Tulou, Bixiao Shen

Theses

The Hakka tulou represent an ancient form of Chinese architecture common in Southeast China. In 2008, several of the tulou were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A tulou is usually an earthen building with an enclosed circular shape serving hundreds of residents. People have inhabited such structures for centuries due, in part, to their ability to passively moderate temperature. This particular form of architecture represents an ancient wisdom: it is a sustainable design concept that has thrived for centuries. The global energy crisis has become a problem for all. The ancient concept of the Hakka tulou, which has the …