Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying Shallow Foundation Failure Modes And Mechanisms Using Surveillance Of A Transparent Granular Soil Surrogate, Denys W. Purdy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

A transparent soil model of granular fused quartz is developed to study the mechanics of shallow foundations. Soil models, unreinforced and reinforced, prepared at relative densities 0.34 (loose) and 0.64 to 0.69 (medium dense) are tested using a rectangular footing (25 mm wide x 40 mm long) under strain-controlled loading. Digital Image Correlation is used to identify displacements of a seeded central plane parallel to footing width (B) and construct vector fields and contour plots. Fiber-reinforced soil model data analysis is inconclusive. For the unreinforced medium-dense soil, minimum and peak magnitude horizontal displacements occurred directly under the footing at the …

You’Re It! Tag Jurisdiction Over Corporations In Canada, Tanya J. Monestier

Journal Articles

In September 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Chevron v. Yaiguaje, a case that legal commentators had been keeping an eye on for years. The Chevron case has spanned several decades as well as several continents, and the enforcement action in Ontario was the latest in a series of procedural moves aimed at enforcing a nearly $10 billion Ecuadorian judgment against the oil giant. In Chevron, the plaintiffs sought to have the judgment enforced in Ontario against both Chevron (the judgment debtor) and Chevron Canada (a seventh-level indirect subsidiary of the judgment debtor). The Chevron case …

Landscaping Practices, Environmental Ethics, And Sustainability In South Florida, Iiro Maki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The research conducted for this thesis explores the link between environmental ethics and household landscaping practices. The central issue of any concept of sustainability is the incommensurability of various elements that define approaches, which is why it is treated here as a politicoethical process of subjective valuation. The ethics of sustainability were delineated according to major currents in environmental ethics, as well as briefly illustrated in the context of a broad discussion of climate change and resource availability, with some examples of strategies at different institutional levels. An online survey of 87 participants provided responses about local landscaping practices, environmental …

Belongings, Samantha Mclean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Belongings hybridizes photography, sculpture, and printmaking through new laser technology. The exhibited work communicates a lingering sense of homesickness and maps a path through the objects discovered in my father’s wallet shortly after his passing.

Bilingual Sentiment Analysis Of Spanglish Tweets, Melissa Serrano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Sentiment Analysis has been researched in a variety of contexts but in this thesis, the focus is on sentiment analysis in Twitter, which poses its own unique challenges such as the use of slang, abbreviations, emoticons, hashtags, and user mentions. The 140-character restriction on the length of tweets can also lead to text that is difficult even for a human to determine its sentiment. Specifically, this study will analyze sentiment analysis of bilingual (U.S. English and Spanish language) Tweets. The hypothesis here is that Bilingual sentiment analysis is more accurate than sentiment analysis in a single language (English or Spanish) …

Cellular Basis Of Sponge-Sponge Associations, Megan Conkling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Marine sponges interact and coexist with many different organisms. A two-sponge association between Amphimedon erina and Geodia gibberosa commonly occurs in the Florida Keys. Previous studies have only focused on the ecological influence of the association; they did not examine the cellular basis of the association. This association between A. erina and G. gibberosa was used in the development of an in vitro model to further the understanding of the cellular basis of natural sponge-sponge associations. In this study, sponge cells were cultured individually and in co-cultures and their responses related to apoptosis, cell death, and proliferation were monitored using …

Brevetoxin Metabolism And Physiology - A Freshwater Model Of Morbidity In Endangered Sea Turtles, Courtney Christine Cocilova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is one organism responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs) that severely impact marine life. K. brevis produces a suite of neurotoxins referred to as brevetoxins (PbTx) which bind to voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in excitable tissues, affecting cellular permeability leading to a suite of symptoms and potentially cell death. Brevetoxicosis is difficult to treat in sea turtles as the physiological impacts have not been investigated and the magnitude and duration of brevetoxin exposure are generally unknown. Due to their threatened and endangered status, experimental exposures cannot be performed to determine the fate of brevetoxin in sea …

Circulating Cell-Free Dna And Interleukin-6 Expression Following Acute High-Intensity Interval Exercise In Obesity, Peter J. Ferrandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of acute highintensity interval Exercise (HIIE) on plasma cfDNA and IL-6 responses in obese and normal-weight subjects. Fifteen subjects (8 obese and 7 normal-weight) were recruited to participate in an acute HIIE protocol. Our results demonstrated a significant elevation across time in plasma cfDNA and IL-6 immediately following acute HIIE, with no difference between obese and normal-weight subjects. Furthermore, cfDNA was not correlated with IL-6 in response to acute HIIE in either group. These findings indicate that the obese state does not further exacerbate the release of acute HIIE-induced …

Comparative Analysis Of Sarah Brightman And 2 Cellos, Classical Artists Applying Successful Crossover Strategy To Popular Music, Dragana Simonovska

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

For decades now, musicians have been using crossover to expand their career and earn more knowledge about the music industry. Soprano Sarah Brightman and duo 2 Cellos are classically trained musicians who implemented crossover into their career and used their classical training as guidance of become successful. Musicians who restrict themselves only to classical music may approach danger regarding a career and livelihood, which includes audience interest, employability and financial instability. In this study the term “crossover” refers to classical artists’ who use their skills to perform other genres. Crossover gives artists the chance to appeal to larger audiences and …

Development Of A Wearable Device To Detect Epilepsy, Bakappa Pradeepkumar Khandnor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a wearable device, developed by the author, to detect different types of epileptic seizures and monitor epileptic patients. The device uses GSR, Pulse, EMG, body temperature and 3-axis accelerometer sensors to detect epilepsy. The device first learns the signal patterns of the epileptic patient in ideal condition. The signal pattern generated during the epileptic seizure, which are distinct from other signal patterns, are detected and analyzed by the algorithms developed by the author. Based on an analysis, the device successfully detected different types of epileptic seizures. The author conducted an experiment on himself to …

Development Of A Biosensor To Detect Landfill Odors Using Human Odorant Binding Protein, Julia Gia Roblyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Landfills receive odor complaints from local residents potentially resulting in legal ramifications and decreasing quality of life of the neighboring communities. However, analytical technologies to objectively measure odors in the field that will reflect human odor perceptions at a reasonable price do not currently exist. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is detectable by humans at low odor thresholds and may be one of the main nuisance odors emanating from landfills. For the first time, hOBPIIa complexed with 1- AMA has been used to detect H2S concentrations by spectrofluorometry. The optimal ratio of hOPBIIa-to-1-AMA was determined to be approximately 1:1. A strong linear …

Distracted Driving: A Cross-Disciplinary Analysis Exploring The Effectiveness Of Public Service Announcements Regarding Texting And Driving That Employ A Filmed Narrative With Emotional Appeals, Jeremy R. Seibold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Despite efforts to mitigate texting and driving in the United States, accidents as a result of distracted driving continue to increase, especially within the 16-24 age group. Considering the traits of the members of this age group, as well as the attributes of the various means that are utilized to mitigate such behavior, I hypothesize that the employment of filmed narratives in public service announcements is more effective than any other established approach. Testing the validity of this hypothesis, contributing to a lack of research, three methods of analysis were employed in this project: a textual analysis of a filmed …

Iranian American Older Adults’ Attitudes And Proactive Actions Toward Planning Ahead For End-Of-Life Care, Zahra Rahemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Ethnically diverse older adults are the fastest growing population in the U.S. This population may experience transitional processes associated with immigration, acculturation, aging, and end of life (EOL). Advances in technology lead to increases in care options, which can cause uncertainty to make decisions for EOL. Unmade decisions about care prior to becoming unable to communicate are associated with burdens of last-minute decisions at EOL, unwanted intensive EOL treatments for people who may die naturally of old age, financial and emotional costs, and decreased quality of life. In the U.S., a multicultural country with a variety of care options, advance …

Let’S Get Real: Shifting Perspectives Of Virtual Life, Cailley Millar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

A hallmark of the cyberpunk era, virtual reality is now a real and readily available medium for technological entertainment and lifestyle. Cyberpunk texts and contemporary SF that incorporates virtual reality provide a framework for considering the implications of this newly popularized technology. By allowing the user to explore new forms of identity in an alternate reality, virtual reality poses many interesting opportunities for undermining current social constructs related to gender, race, and identity. This thesis investigates real and fictional examples of virtual reality and the significance of authorship and narrative construction, race and social hierarchies, death and selfpermanence, and gender …

Big Data Analytics And Firm Performance: Effects Of Dynamic Capabilities, Sf Wamba, A Gunasekaran, S Akter, Sj-F Ren, R Dubey, Sj Childe

Plymouth Business School

No abstract provided.

The Experiences Of Specialist Nurses Working Within The Uro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Team In The United Kingdom, G Punshon, R Endacott, P Aslett, J Brocksom, L Fleure, F Howdle, M Masterton, A O’Connor, A Swift, P Trevatt, A Leary

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Purpose: United Kingdom prostate cancer nursing care is provided by a variety of urology and uro-oncology nurses. The experience of working in multidisciplinary teams (MDT) was investigated in a national study. Design: The study consisted of a national survey with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Methods: A secondary analysis of a data subset from a UK whole population survey was undertaken (n = 285) of the specialist nursing workforce and the services they provide. Data were collected on the experience of working in the MDT. Results: Forty-five percent of the respondents felt that they worked in a functional MDT, 12% …

The Semiotics Of Minority Language Branding: A Study Of The Celtic Languages, J Tredinnick-Rowe

Peninsula Medical School

This paper investigates the role of minority language commodification in alcoholic drinks' branding, with a specific focus on Celtic languages and a particular emphasis on Cornish. The topic is introduced by exploring the ongoing and significant connection between language, culture and food, taking phrases and rhymes from historical sources and comparing their use. The aim is to establish cross-disciplinary synergies between semiotics and cultural analysis and to shed new light on marketing issues in the alcoholic drinks sector. The methodology section features the first ever analysis of alcoholic drinks' labels from four Celtic national minorities (N = 1.937) that illustrates …

Tracking The Amphibian Pathogens Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis And Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans Using A Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibody And Lateral-Flow Technology, Michael J. Dillon, Andrew E. Bowkett, Michael J. Bungard, Katie M. Beckman, Michelle F. O'Brien, Kieran Bates, Matthew C. Fisher, Jamie R. Stevens, Christopher R. Thornton

Peninsula Medical School

The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, a lethal epizootic disease of amphibians. Rapid identification of the pathogen and biosecurity is essential to prevent its spread, but current laboratory-based tests are time-consuming and require specialist equipment. Here, we describe the generation of an IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb), 5C4, specific to Bd as well as the related salamander and newt pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). The mAb, which binds to a glycoprotein antigen present on the surface of zoospores, sporangia and zoosporangia, was used to develop a lateral-flow assay (LFA) for rapid (15 min) detection of the pathogens. The LFA detects known …

Adapting To Survive: Addressing The Global Problem Of Antimicrobial Resistance, Laura Bowater, Jonathan Pyatt

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Sola Scriptura Statuat Lex Orandi: Toward A Transcultural Theology Of Liturgy, David A. Williams

Faculty Publications

The Seventh-day Adventist church is one of the most diverse religious groups. With this diversity comes a preponderance in worship practices. Calling upon the Reformation principle, sola scriptura, the Bible alone should establish the rule for liturgy. How do we apply the Bible as the rule for liturgy, with so many worship preferences and diversity of cultures within the Adventist church? In this paper, I seek to articulate a way forward, developing a transcultural theology of liturgy to be applied in every Adventist culture, allowing room for a rich variety of local cultural contextualizations.

Our Gift To All Of Us: Ga(Y)Am: Preface, Otlip17 Committee, Frank Loesche, Klara Łucznik, Susan L. Denham, Hannah Drayson, Kathryn B. Francis, Diego S. Maranan, Michael Punt

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

The Language Of Interaction, Rafael Arrivabene

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Actions, reactions, conditions, and restrictions form the basis of any game. The rules designed to conduct participation and behaviours of players and objects can be understood as a particular language. In an attempt to elucidate an expressive potential that may have been underestimated by game developers and researchers, this paper presents an approximation of game rules to linguistic concepts.

Academic Capitalism In Architecture Schools: A Feminist Critique Of Employability, 24/7 Work And Entrepreneurship, I Troiani

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This chapter examines the current situation that many universities worldwide are facing due to globalisation, which is of transitioning from institutions for education (Foucault’s ‘premodern or medieval university’) toentrepreneurial businesses (the ‘modern university’). The modern university is governed by a neoliberal system of production and consumption of students, staff, knowledge and research for the purpose of improving nation economies. Looking particularly at schools of architecture, it discusses employability, 24-hour work and entrepreneurship in relation to marketisation and economisation. It tracks the inequalities that arise from the neoliberalisation of public universities on teaching content, an administrative-directed work, workloads, wellbeing and gender. …

Playing In The Dark With Online Games For Girls, Rebecca Sinker, Mike Phillips, Victoria De Rijke

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Pregnant Rapunzel Emergency is part of a series of online free games aimed at young girls ( forhergames.com or babygirlgames.com ), where dozens of characters from fairy tales, children’s toys and media feature in recovery settings, such as ‘Barbie flu’. The range of games available to choose from includes not only dressing, varnishing nails or tidying messy rooms, but also rather more troubling options such as extreme makeovers, losing weight, or a plethora of baby showers, cravings, hospital pregnancy checks, births (including caesarean), postnatal ironing, washing and baby care. Taking the online game Pregnant Rapunzel Emergency as an exemplar of …

Bowled Over By Cricket: Impact Of Tape-Ball Injuries On The Eyes, Salman Naveed Sadiq, Azam Ali, Bushra Usmani, Khabir Ahmed

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to describe the type and severity of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries seen at a tertiary care hospital.

DESIGN:

A descriptive case series.

METHODS:

This study included all cases of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries presenting to the Section of Ophthalmology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2014 to January 2015.

RESULTS:

A total of 20 patients with tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries were treated during this period. The right eye was involved in most (14/20) of the cases. The commonest presenting symptoms included reduced/blurred vision, ocular pain, redness, and floaters. Sixty percent (12/20) …

A Dialectical Discourse On Responsible Business Behaviour Within Small Medium Enterprises: A Case Study Of Pakistan, Arzoo Fatima Syeddah

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis investigates the dialectical nature of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) phenomenon a common buzzword in today’s globalized economy. The emergence of CSR as a significant issue in recent years can be attributed to the expectation in developed countries for business to engage with society beyond their commercial interests. Business are now under sustained pressure to be held publicly accountable for their activities. The research shed light on two research gaps identified within business ethics- idea of business responsibility firstly in the context of the big economic players of tomorrow- emerging markets; and secondly in relation to small and medium …

The Conceptualisation Of Sustainability By Tomorrow's Managers., Christine Parkin Hughes

Plymouth Business School Theses

Abstract: The conceptualisation of sustainability by tomorrow’s managers by Christine Parkin Hughes. Sustainability is an emerging field, a knowledge frontier. However, the conceptualisation of what sustainability is, and what it means in theory and practice remains unsettled. Scant attention has been paid to how future managers make sense of sustainability, representing a significant gap in the literature. The overarching aim of this thesis is to explore how the polysemous phenomenon of sustainability is conceptualised by the next generation of managers. It explores how they made sense of sustainability; the drivers behind their sensemaking; whether there is a skew within their …

Developing And Evaluating ‘Plymtour’ A New Mobile Online Educational Resource For Students On Plymouth’S People And Places, Mark Holton, Nichola Harmer, Rebecca Vickerstaff

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The aim of the project was to develop and evaluate a new mobile digital resource for place-based learning in Geography and wider disciplines. The objectives were: • To work with ASTI to develop ‘PlymTour’, a digital walking tour of central Plymouth accessed through the Mobile with Plymouth University (MwPU) app and hosting multi-media resources on a dedicated Plymouth University Digital Learning Environment (DLE) page. • To research how Geography students engage with PlymTour in order to evaluate its use as a pedagogic tool for deepening knowledge of the socio-economic geographies of Plymouth and supporting learning in existing modules. • To …

Eco-Efficiency Of High-Yielding Variety Rice Cultivation After Accounting For On-Farm Environmental Damage As An Undesirable Output: An Empirical Analysis From Bangladesh, N-E Sabiha, R Salim, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study computes the eco-efficiency of high-yielding variety (HYV) rice production by including an on-farm environmental damage index (OFEDI) as an undesirable output using data envelopment analysis. It then identifies its determinants by applying an interval regression procedure on a sample of 317 farmers from north-western Bangladesh. Results reveal that the mean level of the OFEDI-adjusted production efficiency (i.e. eco-efficiency) is 89 per cent, whereas ignoring OFEDI adjustment (i.e. with OFEDI = 0) reduces the mean level of efficiency to 69 per cent, implying that the production of undesirable output or on-farm environmental damage induces an efficiency loss of 20 …

Constructing Accounts Of Organisational Failure: Policy, Power And Concealment, Mike Sheaff

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.