Digital Commons Network^™

Playing At Work: Creating A Physically Creative Training Center, Christine Grotke

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explores the idea of fostering creativity in the physical work environment through the use of a training center. The training center would be a place where employees and management of an organization could learn about the Creative Problem Solving process using elements such as play, incubation, and an individual’s interaction with their physical surroundings. Once the physical requirements of what makes a creative environment are learned in the training center, the techniques could then be applied to the workplace in order to encourage a more productive and positive atmosphere. The research and different studies in this paper help …

Using Player Profiling To Enhance Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment In Video Games, Aaron Burke

Computer Engineering

Video games have certainly come a long way since the days of pong. From humble beginnings of the first arcade machines they have bloomed into a multi-billion dollar industry and a global force to be reckoned with. Just like with movies there are enough genres out there to fit any demographic of gamer, and that’s not even just the game’s content but also the gameplay.

Unlike other types of media though, games are meant to be interacted with and played, which brings up new issues with accessibility and keeping things interesting for different levels of skill. Dynamic game difficulty adjustment …

A Look Into The Multiple Aspects Of Child Development Using Theories Of Moral, Social, And Cognitive Development, Mazalynn Demas

XULAneXUS

No abstract provided.

Service-Learning At St. Margaret's Nursing Home, Simone A. Walters

XULAneXUS

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Listening, Michael W. Dowdle

Chicago-Kent Law Review

This article explores a particular methodology of comparative constitutional analysis that it calls "constitutional listening." Derived from the interpretive "principle of charity," constitutional listening involves interpreting constitutional discourse of other polities in their best light. This includes not simply polities whose constitutional structures and values resemble our own, but perhaps even more importantly, polities and constitutional systems whose values and structures seem alien to us. The value of this methodology, it is argued, lies in its ability to expand our understanding of the diversity of experiences that have gone into the human project of constitutionalism, and in the diversity of …

Early-Life Influences On Body Composition, Metabolic Economy, And Age At Menarche, Megan A. Workman

Anthropology ETDs

Prenatal energy balance and postnatal psychosocial experiences have been linked by separate literatures to maturational timing, adult body composition (e.g., height, skeletal muscle mass), and life-long differences in metabolic physiology. This dissertation examines the potential influences of prenatal energy balance and postnatal psychosocial experiences in simultaneous analyses designed to test whether they exert additive or interacting influences on adult body composition (chapters 2 and 4), metabolic physiology (chapter 3), and age at menarche (chapter 4) among samples of U.S. men and women. Evolutionary models that address human developmental plasticity are explored as possible explanations for the observed relationships.

The 2008 Us Presidential Election And New Digital Technologies: Political Campaigns As Social Movements And The Significance Of Collective Identity, Stephanie Takaragawa, Victoria Carty

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The growing role of the Internet social networking sites (SNS) has served as a flash point for debate about the democratization of information, particularly in light of their perceived roles in the 2008 presidential election. This horizontal sharing of information undoubtedly facilitated the revival of the youth vote and volunteerism in many ways mimicking traditional grassroots approaches. While the role of the Internet SNS in mobilization efforts and information-sharing cannot be overstated, its effectiveness in creating a new “public sphere,” or transforming traditional electoral campaign strategies and communicative practices must be closely examined before generalizations about the democratization of media …

Empathy And Belief In Documentary Theatre: A Cognitive Perspective On Mike Daisey's The Agony And The Ecstasy Of Steve Jobs, Kristin Vieira

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

In the spring of 2012, celebrated monologuist Mike Daisey was accused of embellishing the truth and misleading fact checkers on the Public Radio International program This American Life. Daisey had performed an excerpt of his theatrical monologue The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs on This American Life in January of 2012. Three months later, This American Life aired a retraction episode, claiming that Daisey had lied about many of his eyewitness experiences. Following the retraction, a heated debate ensued about the blurring of lines between entertainment and journalism and about the implied contract between documentary theatre artists and …

Mitigation Of Bone Loss And Augment Of Anabolic Adaptation By Physiological Dynamic Fluid Flow Stimulation, Minyi Hu

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Novel modalities with strong translational potential to prevent osteoporosis are urgently called for, as osteoporosis strikes the society with high incidences of disease-related fractures and excessive medical costs. While bone fluid flow (BFF) regulates bone adaptation, intramedullary pressure (ImP) can initiate BFF and influence osteogenic signals. To establish the translational potential, a non-invasive intervention with direct ImP-coupled BFF can help develop new non-pharmaceutical treatments for osteopenia/osteoporosis. The overall objective of this dissertation was to investigate the effects of a novel, non-invasive dynamic hydraulic stimulation (DHS) on skeletal regulatory responses at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. The global hypothesis was …

Some Results On One-Dimensional Models With Broken And Deformed Symmetries, Francis Norman Claridades Paraan

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

We present analytic results for the ground state properties and entanglement in the Lieb-Liniger model and q-deformed Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) models. The translational invariance of the Lieb-Liniger model is broken by an external harmonic potential in one case and by coarse-grained measurements of particle number in another. Meanwhile, anisotropy is introduced into the AKLT model by generalizing its SU(2) invariant hamiltonian into one that is SU_q(2) invariant. The Lieb-Liniger model describes a one-dimensional gas of bosons that mutually interact by a zero-range interaction term. Under longitudinal harmonic confinement, the exact spectrum of the hamiltonian is known only for free …

Feeding The Christians, James Patrick Redmond

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Feeding the Christians is a work of fiction about Grey Daniels, a young man managing his family's restaurant and choosing to "live under the radar" in his conservative community in Ft. Sackville, Indiana. When Trace, a 17-year-old employee, comes out to Grey, their lives are changed forever by local social constructs. The story is about God, guns, gays, and green beans. | 236 pages

An Educational Data Mining Model For Online Teaching And Learning, Jui-Long Hung, Kerry Rice, Anthony Saba

Educational Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study contains two major parts. First, this study proposed a generic model for Educational Data Ming (EDM) studies by reviewing EDM literature and the existing data mining model. Second, the procedures of the EDM model are demonstrated with a case study approach. The case study results showed patterns and relationships discovered from the EDM model that could be applied to improve online teaching and learning and to predict students’ academic performances.

Videopoetry: Collaboration As Imaginative Method, Peter Lutze, James Armstrong, Laura Woodworth-Ney

Literacy, Language and Culture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Three Idaho professors (a poet, videographer, and historian) have been collaborating for eight years on a cross-disciplinary project called VideoPoetry, which integrates historical narration, narrative poetry, historical photographs, and videography into the video medium. To this point we've worked primarily on a specific program, Culture of Reclamation, which explores the culture of the early irrigated landscape communities in southern Idaho. In reflecting on our work-process, we’ve discovered that we’ve fundamentally changed as scholars as a result of our collaboration. This paper identifies the nature of our changes and documents instances of the ways in which we have been challenged to …

Individual Factors And Successful Learning In A Hybrid Course, Kelly Arispe, Robert J. Blake

World Languages Faculty Publications and Presentations

What personality factors make for a successful hybrid L2 learning experience? While previous studies have examined online learning in comparative terms (i.e. Which format is better: in class or hybrid?), this study examines certain personality and cognitive factors that might define the ideal hybrid language learner. All informants studied introductory Spanish with multimedia materials supported by synchronous chat (video, voice, text). Personality and cognitive traits were probed using the Big Five Inventory scale (BFI¹) and the Shipley Institute of Living scale (SILS²), respectively. The results were correlated with course outcomes and learner preferences for online, chat, …

Plant Community Composition And Structure Monitoring For Scotts Bluff National Monument, 2012 Annual Report, Isabel W. Ashton, Michael Prowatzke, Stephen K. Wilson

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

the last remnants of native mixed-grass prairie in the region. The Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network (NGPN) surveyed 8 long-term monitoring plots in Scotts Bluff National Monument in 2012 as part of an effort to better understand the condition of plant communities in the park. We measured plant diversity and cover, estimated tree and shrub density, looked for the presence of exotic species that are of concern to park management, and evaluated the amount of human and natural disturbance at all plots. This effort was the second year in a multiple-year venture to document the current …

Are Twitter Users Equal In Predicting Elections? A Study Of User Groups In Predicting 2012 U.S. Republican Primaries, Lu Chen, Wenbo Wang, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

Existing studies on predicting election results are under the assumption that all the users should be treated equally. However, recent work [14] shows that social media users from different groups (e.g., “silent majority” vs. “vocal minority”) have significant differences in the generated content and tweeting behavior. The effect of these differences on predicting election results has not been exploited yet. In this paper, we study the spectrum of Twitter users who participate in the on-line discussion of 2012 U.S. Republican Presidential Primaries, and examine the predictive power of different user groups (e.g., highly engaged users vs. lowly engaged users, right-leaning …

Sustainable County Operations: Yamhill County, Oregon, Portland State University. Hatfield School Of Government. Center For Public Service, Ed Gallagher, Dave Rouse, Dennis Kurtz, Tanya Johnston

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

Portland State University, Hatfield School of Government (PSU), and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), has formed a partnership to develop Sustainable Municipal Operations Plans that documents sustainability and energy management best practices. The goal of this partnership is to determine how a county/municipality can actively manage energy as a controllable expense by following a predetermined operation protocol. The PSU team developed a framework of best practices for sustainable municipal operations in different categories including facilities, fleet, purchasing, operations and the work environment. After identifying pilot jurisdictions, the team applied these best practices to the current operations of local governments in …

Patronage Politics As A Driver Of Economic Regionalisation: The Indonesian Oil Palm Sector And Transboundary Haze, Helena Varkkey

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Recent evidence has linked illegal peat and forest fires in Indonesia to commercial oil palm plantations. Fire is the most cost-efficient way to clear land for planting, but these fires release smoke causing transboundary haze pollution. The countries worst affected by the haze are neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysian and Singaporean investors control more than two-thirds of the Indonesian oil palm plantation sector and they have been implicated in the fires alongside local plantations. Using information obtained from interviews with individuals linked to the sector, this paper aims to explain why these companies continue to burn despite the dire consequences …

Learning Disabilities And Substance Use, Marqueeta L. Harrington

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Mortality Assessment Of Redwood And Mixed Conifer Forest Types In Santa Cruz County Following Wildfire, Steve R. Auten

Master's Theses

On August 12, 2009, the Lockheed Fire ignited the west slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains burning approximately 7,819 acres. Foresters and other land managers were left with challenging decisions on how to evaluate tree mortality. Big Creek Lumber Company, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)’s Swanton Pacific Ranch (SPR), and other resource professionals familiar with this region teamed up to develop a method for evaluating damage and thereby mortality for redwood, California nutmeg, live oak, tanoak, California bay, Pacific madrone, big leaf maple, Douglas-fir, Monterey pine, and knobcone pine. Quantitative damage criteria were used to design …

Mapping And Visualizing Ancient Water Storage Systems With An Rov – An Approach Based On Fusing Stationary Scans Within A Particle Filter, William D. Mcvicker

Master's Theses

This paper presents a new method for constructing 2D maps of enclosed un- derwater structures using an underwater robot equipped with only a 2D scanning sonar, compass and depth sensor. In particular, no motion model or odometry is used. To accomplish this, a two step offline SLAM method is applied to a set of stationary sonar scans. In the first step, the change in position of the robot between each consecutive pair of stationary sonar scans is estimated using a particle filter. This set of pair wise relative scan positions is used to create an estimate of each scan’s position …

Low Cost Neurochairs, Frankie Pike

Master's Theses

Electroencephalography (EEG) was formerly confined to clinical and research settings with the necessary hardware costing thousands of dollars. In the last five years a number of companies have produced simple electroencephalograms, priced below $300 and available direct to consumers. These have stirred the imaginations of enthusiasts and brought the prospects of "thought-controlled" devices ever closer to reality. While these new devices were largely targeted at video games and toys, active research on enabling people suffering from debilitating diseases to control wheelchairs was being pursued. A number of neurochairs have come to fruition offering a truly hands-free mobility solution, but whether …

Effect Of Short-Term Estrogen Depletion On Compact Bone Microdensitometry In The Ewe, Cailyn Bugbee

Master's Theses

Osteoporosis affects the human skeleton through the direct effects of the disease on the function and structure of bone. Individuals who are affected by osteoporosis may be subject to serious fractures and it is estimated that annually approximately 1.5 million fractures can be attributed to this disease [1]. The disease is categorized as the direct side effect of increased bone porosity and bone loss and is directly linked to estrogen deprivation [2]. Animal models are often used to make initial conclusions about the effects of the disease or pharmacological treatments. In this study, sheep were chosen as a representative animal …

Noise Reduction With Microphone Arrays For Speaker Identification, Zachary Gideon Cohen

Master's Theses

The presence of acoustic noise in audio recordings is an ongoing issue that plagues many applications. This ambient background noise is difficult to reduce due to its unpredictable nature. Many single channel noise reduction techniques exist but are limited in that they may distort the desired speech signal due to overlapping spectral content of the speech and noise. It is therefore of interest to investigate the use of multichannel noise reduction algorithms to further attenuate noise while attempting to preserve the speech signal of interest.

Specifically, this thesis looks to investigate the use of microphone arrays in conjunction with multichannel …

Space Vehicle Testing, Charlotte Ann Belsick

Master's Theses

Requirement verification and validation is a critical component of building and delivering space vehicles with testing as the preferred method. This Master’s Project presents the space vehicle test process from planning through test design and execution. It starts with an overview of the requirements, validation, and verification. The four different verification methods are explained including examples as to what can go wrong if the verification is done incorrectly. Since the focus of this project is on test, test verification is emphasized. The philosophy behind testing, including the “why” and the methods, is presented. The different levels of testing, the test …

Vehicle-To-Grid (V2g) Bidirectional Power Converter Design And Integration For 2011 Chevrolet Volt – Extended Range Electric Vehicle (Erev) Drivetrain, Rithy-Newton Mao Chhean

Master's Theses

This thesis proposes of an integrated two-stage V2G bidirectional power converter for the 2011 Chevy Volt’s EREV drivetrain. The power converter consists of a four switch bidirectional buck-boost DC-DC converter, 2-legged HB bidirectional DC-AC converter, and LCL grid filter. Designs in literature have integrated DC-AC converter via traction inverter, but this design also integrates DC-DC converter via modified secondary traction inverter. The proposed structure allows battery charging and V2G functionality to be integrated into existing electronics of the 2011 Chevy Volt; only the following additional components are needed: GFI, a few passive components, diodes, and relays. The converter structure is …

Calibration And Characterization Of Cubesat Magnetic Sensors Using A Helmholtz Cage, Justin Dean Foley

Master's Theses

Small satellites, and CubeSats in particular, have quickly become a hot topic in the aerospace industry. Attitude determination is currently one of the most intense areas of development for these miniaturized systems and future Cal Poly satellite missions will depend heavily on magnetometers. In order to utilize magnetometers as a viable source of attitude knowledge, precise calibration is required to ensure the greatest accuracy achievable. This paper outlines a procedure for calibrating and testing magnetometers on the next generation of Cal Poly CubeSates, utilizing a Helmholtz cage to simulate any desired orbital magnetic field that would be experienced by a …

Amaethon – A Web Application For Farm Management And An Assessment Of Its Utility, Tyler Yero

Master's Theses

Amaethon is a web application that is designed for enterprise farm management. It takes a job typically performed with spreadsheets, paper, or custom software and puts it on the web. Farm administration personnel may use it to schedule farm operations and manage their resources and equipment. A survey was con- ducted to assess Amaethon’s user interface design. Participants in the survey were two groups of students and a small group of agriculture professionals. Among other results, the survey indicated that a calendar interface inside Amaethon was preferred, and statistically no less effective, than a map interface. This is despite the …

The Impact Of Outward Remodeling On Vasodilation In Skeletal Muscle Resistance Arteries, Ryan Robert Gallagher

Master's Theses

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is an ischemic disease characterized by narrowing of the peripheral arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in the inner lining of the vessels, which disrupts blood flow to downstream tissues. Blood can be redirected into collateral vessels, natural bypasses around arterial occlusions, causing shear-induced outward remodeling of the vessels. The enlarged vessels facilitate transfer of increased blood flow to downstream tissues. The remodeling process, however, may impair vasodilation, which in turn may cause or contribute to intermittent claudication- transient pain brought on by locomotion. To stimulate the growth of collateral arteries, the femoral …

Exploring The Broader Impact Of The Twenty-First Century Museum Professionals Grant Program, David J. Gugerty

Research Papers

No abstract provided.