Digital Commons Network^™

Machine Learning Methods For Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Danushka Sandaruwan Bandara

Dissertations - ALL

Identification of user state is of interest in a wide range of disciplines that fall under the umbrella of human machine interaction. Functional Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (fNIRS) device is a relatively new device that enables inference of brain activity through non-invasively pulsing infra-red light into the brain. The fNIRS device is particularly useful as it has a better spatial resolution than the Electroencephalograph (EEG) device that is most commonly used in Human Computer Interaction studies under ecologically valid settings. But this key advantage of fNIRS device is underutilized in current literature in the fNIRS domain.

We propose machine learning methods …

A Smart Products Lifecycle Management (Splm) Framework - Modeling For Conceptualization, Interoperability, And Modularity, Yunpeng Li

Dissertations - ALL

Autonomy and intelligence have been built into many of today’s mechatronic products, taking advantage of low-cost sensors and advanced data analytics technologies. Design of product intelligence (enabled by analytics capabilities) is no longer a trivial or additional option for the product development. The objective of this research is aimed at addressing the challenges raised by the new data-driven design paradigm for smart products development, in which the product itself and the smartness require to be carefully co-constructed.

A smart product can be seen as specific compositions and configurations of its physical components to form the body, its analytics models to …

Regulation Of In Vivo Excitatory/Inhibitory Balance By The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger System Xc-, Sheila Marie Shahidzadeh Sears

Dissertations - ALL

System xc- (Sxc-) is a cellular antiporter that links the import of L-cystine with the export of L-glutamate. In the central nervous system (CNS), this export contributes to the ambient glutamate levels found in the synaptic cleft. To wit, a 50% reduction in extracellular glutamate has been demonstrated in animals null for the substrate-specific light chain, xCT. Moreover, in most tissues, including the CNS, cystine import through Sxc- is necessary for the synthesis and maintenance of glutathione (GSH) levels. Given that either a reduction in ambient glutamate levels and/or a redox imbalance involving GSH have been reported to affect synaptic …

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Relative Energetic Stabilities Of Crystalline Anhydrous Polymorphs And Pseudopolymorphs, Teresa Dierks

Dissertations - ALL

The stability of pharmaceutical solids is impacted by the properties of both active and inactive ingredients. Given that the aqueous solubility of solid-state medicinal products can be directly linked to the component properties, it is prudent to carefully study these materials to predict bioavailability and shelf stability. The relative energetic stabilities of the molecular crystals of interest are governed by both the intermolecular forces and the molecular conformations within the structure. In this research, the electronic origins of crystalline stability were investigated using a combination of solid-state density functional theory (ss-DFT) and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Terahertz spectroscopy of the …

On Classification In Human-Driven And Data-Driven Systems, Qunwei Li

Dissertations - ALL

Classification systems are ubiquitous, and the design of effective classification algorithms has been an even more active area of research since the emergence of machine learning techniques. Despite the significant efforts devoted to training and feature selection in classification systems, misclassifications do occur and their effects can be critical in various applications. The central goal of this thesis is to analyze classification problems in human-driven and data-driven systems, with potentially unreliable components and design effective strategies to ensure reliable and effective classification algorithms in such systems. The components/agents in the system can be machines and/or humans. The system components can …

A Structural And Dynamic Model For The Assembly Of Replication Protein A On Single-Stranded Dna, Luke A. Yates, Ricardo J. Aramayo, Nilisha Pokhrel, Colleen C. Caldwell, Joshua A. Kaplan, Rajika L. Perera, Maria Spies, Edwin Antony, Xiaodong Zhang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Replication Protein A (RPA), the major eukaryotic single stranded DNA-binding protein, binds to exposed ssDNA to protect it from nucleases, participates in a myriad of nucleic acid transactions and coordinates the recruitment of other important players. RPA is a heterotrimer and coats long stretches of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The precise molecular architecture of the RPA subunits and its DNA binding domains (DBDs) during assembly is poorly understood. Using cryo electron microscopy we obtained a 3D reconstruction of the RPA trimerisation core bound with ssDNA (∼55 kDa) at ∼4.7 Å resolution and a dimeric RPA assembly on ssDNA. FRET-based solution studies …

Take Charge For Therapy Discharge: Outcomes Of A Patient Education Program Applying The Co-Op Approach, Kathryn Westley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A thorough needs assessment at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo revealed slight dissatisfaction scores on the Press Ganey survey for both the occupational therapy department and discharge planning processes. This quality improvement project, Take Charge for Therapy Discharge, implemented a two-session patient education protocol using the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach. Using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), participants identified and prioritized three therapy goals and rated their perceived current performance. Results demonstrated a significant difference between the participants’ PSFS pre and post-intervention scores. Patients’ improved self-perceived goal attainment scores served as evidence that, in addition to using …

Independence Through Patient Education In A Spinal Cord Injury Population, Justin Mctish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Know More, Live Better program was developed because the population of people with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) includes a substantial number of young people, who often readmit into hospitals for preventable causes such as pressure ulcers, respiratory infections, and bowel/bladder infections. These complications can be avoided through patient education. A needs assessment was conducted at the SCI unit at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown, PA. This assessment included structured observation of patient education in the therapy process, semi-structured interviews about site needs and patient education topics completed with patients and occupational therapists on staff, and surveys of multi-disciplinary …

Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2018, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

TCRS Financial Reports

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Ipad Instruction On Capital Letter Recognition Of Preschoolers, Jessica Adkins

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study is to look at the effect of iPad instruction on capital letter recognition in preschool children between the ages of four and five. The study divided participants into two groups. One group received capital letter instruction with an iPad. The second group received capital letter instruction using letter manipulatives. Letter manipulatives were wooden puzzle letters. Baseline data was taken on capital letter recognition of all participants before this study began. At the end of the study, data was taken on capital letter recognition of all participants. Baseline and final data was compared to show growth. …

Effectiveness Of Visual Cues During Transitions In A Third Grade Classroom, Tory Gaard

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of using visual cues during transition periods vs. verbal cues. The visual cues are a Google Slide with a list of the required materials and an embedded timer. The investigation employed ongoing monitoring of students during their transitions throughout the school day. The ongoing monitoring was documented using the attached data table. The data table tracked the time it takes students to transition, the # of students in attendance, number of students with all required materials, and the number of students in the correct location. Outcome analysis includes a comparison …

The Effect Of A Weekly Social Presence In Online Classes, Cindy Salfer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study involved looking at the effect that providing a visual presence in online classes had on the students’ success on tests, overall achievement in the class, and retention. The instructor provided a weekly visual video to review weekly outcomes, summarize weekly expectations, and provide clarification on content and assignments. The literature on the importance of including engagement by the instructor and adding a human component to online classes for the most part supports the positive effects it can have on students completing online courses successfully. This research included comparing the results of two exams given in a Methods and …

The Effect Of Instruction (Rapid Automatic Naming Versus Repeated Read Aloud) On Vocabulary Building For Preschool Children, Alison Bendickson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

STUDY ABSTRACT

Title

The Effect of Instruction (Rapid Automatic Naming Versus Repeated Read Aloud) on Vocabulary Building for Preschool Children

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this research was to determine whether using the strategy of rapid automatic naming or repeated read aloud would increase children’s vocabulary development. The study assessed children in an inclusive classroom. The participants were 3 year old students who required specialized instruction and have Individual Education Programs and students who were typically developing. The students were assessed using Individual Growth and Development Indicators (picture naming) to assess which intervention strategy produced more growth in …

Lindenwood Digest, December 21, 2018, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Speaking From Places: A Phenomenological Deconstructive Study Of Children’S Places, Child-Centric Methods, And Politics., Sugandh Dixit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation adopts an innovative phenomenological and deconstructive methodology to create a child-centric research process sensitive to facilitating, integrating, and representing children’s voices in designing their school playground. The study developed and employed two novel child-centric methods, an Embedded Walk and a Communal Child-Map Project in order to integrate parents’ and children’s experiences of the school spaces the authorities planned to renovate. Both methods reveal and complicate the socio-political dynamics that structure children’s, parents’, and researchers’ stances towards children’s places and worlds. During the Embedded Walk, children led their parents through their play spaces and they collaboratively documented the childrens’ …

Camp Geronimo: Evaluating The Influence Of An Animal Assisted Intervention Based Summer Camp On Social Participation In Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Joelle Ruggeri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research regarding animal assisted intervention (AAI) has found that it can be an effective intervention towards promoting positive social participation in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A quality improvement project was implemented at The Barn at Spring Brook Farm, where children ages 2-12 with IDD are able to participate in AAI activities. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Barn’s Camp Geronimo, a six-week long summer camp program, and its impact on the social participation of participants using the Home & Community Social Behavior Scales (HCSBS). The study findings showed positive results, with statistically significant change …

An Ethical Model For Mandatory Reporting To Avoid Preventable Adverse Harm In Health Care, Kate A. Molchan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of the dissertation is to undertake an analysis in healthcare ethics that focuses upon organizational ethics to resolve problems related to medical error in the U.S. The ethical argument focuses upon justifying a model of mandatory reporting nationally. While countless others have argued in favor of the implementation of a mandatory reporting system, this dissertation presents its model through the lens of organizational theory; arguing first that healthcare organizations are ethically required to invest in patient safety. This premise frames the foundation for this dissertation's central argument; namely, that U.S. healthcare organizations have an ethical imperative to protect …

Exploring The Cultural And Infrastructural Impacts Of Consumerism On The New Cuba, Grace Stainback

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

This paper seeks to explore how a shifting economic model and an increasing influx of U.S. tourism, customs, and products will impact consumerism and waste in Cuba. The paper begins by charting the rise of an unwitting conservationist culture among Cubans, built out of necessity as a response to Castro-era economic hardships. This is followed by a discussion of recent Cuban economic reforms and the rise of tourism, private enterprise and material luxury in Cuba. For the emerging autonomous economic class who have shouldered decades of scarcity, the social and economic values of consumerism far outweigh any perceived environmental cost. …

The Effects Of Policy On Cuban Transnational Families, Zoë Flanagan

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

This paper examines the effects of nations’ policies on transnational families, specifically looking at Cuban families. Transnationalism is a relatively young theory, it was developed in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the migration theories of assimilation and integration. Scholars argued at the time that migrants were actively maintaining ties with their homeland while also establishing themselves in their respective receiving nations. The transnational practices of families are greatly impacted by the policies of both the home nation and the receiving nation, making Cuba a unique case to examine given the governments’ extreme control over migration since the revolution in …

Education And The Economy: The Rising Private Sector’S Effect On University Enrollment And Post-Graduation Employment In Contemporary Cuba, Adriane Bolliger

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

During Cuba’s Socialist Revolution of the 1960s, the education system was restructured to train and prepare citizens as part of the subsidized state-owned universal education model. In a centrally-planned system like Cuba’s, the state determines the needs of the economy and provides corresponding funding for associated educational and vocational training programs. Students who graduate from these programs transition into government jobs with modest stipends to support the state. Fidel Castro envisioned this system as the solution to Cuba’s instability based on full employment and prosperity for the public and for the state.

Change came in 2008 when presidential power was …

The “Necessary Evil”: State And Non-State Sector Interactions In Cuba And Effects On Public Services, Laura Lyons

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

Five years after Lineamientos reforms were approved by the 2011 Communist Party Congress, the effects are beginning to emerge. The development of the private or non-State sector in particular has begun to cause shifts in the economic, social, and political landscape as Cuba continues to adapt to and implement these changes. This paper explores the effects of the expansion of the non-State sector on the delivery of State-run public services, especially education, health care, and other social services. Four possible orientations between the State and non-State sector are explored in general and in the context of existing literature on Cuba, …

Rethinking The Federal Indian Status Test: A Look At The Supreme Court's Classification Of The Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribe Of Oklahoma, Clint Summers

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Tribal Franchise: An Expression Of Tribal Sovereignty And A Potential Solution To The Problem Of Mass Disenrollment, Brent Mulvaney

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Cuban Health Paradigm: An Exploratory Analysis Through Lgbtq And Hiv/Aids Individual Perspectives, Sarah Dryfoos

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

The purpose of this research project was to develop an understanding of the social, systemic, interpersonal, structural, and political dynamics of the health care system in Cuba. This was done by selecting two populations of focus; LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS positive individuals. The health care system and social determinants of health are analyzed using these two populations as lenses. While there is a plethora of information about the formal Cuban health care system, there is a dearth of literature pertaining to the social determinants, especially as it relates to LGBTQ Cubans and their quality of life and health care experience. To …

Constructions Of Masculinity In Bollywood Promotional Content, Alyssa Grace Lobo

Theses - ALL

Following a growing public discussion on violence against women in India, some commentators have turned their eye upon Bollywood. The film industry’s role in perpetuating models of courtship based on the stalking and harassment of women has drawn criticism from several quarters. While there has been much said about the depiction of women in Bollywood film, there has been relatively less said on portrayals of masculinity. The research that does exist focuses on textual analyses of films, or looks at masculinity through the lens of global capital flows. This thesis instead, analyzes trailers, posters, promotional pictures and social media for …

Exploring Specificity And Stability Of A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, Stephen Robert Shepherd

Theses - ALL

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have numerous practical applications, including integration with quartz crystal microbalances to make specific, stable, chemical sensors, but most published research literature does not provide details concerning the specificity or stability of such an imprinted polymer. A polymer made from polyacrylic acid monomers, templated with benzoic acid, was tested for specificity with solutions of benzoic acid, acetic acid, phenol, and terephthalic acid passed through samples of uniform size under vacuum filtration. Additionally, MIP samples were also stored for extended periods of time in varied microclimates and then tested for performance, and consequently, stability. Initial conclusions indicate that …

Herrmann ’01 Named Vice Chancellor For Finance And Facilities, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

Bryan Herrmann has been appointed vice chancellor for finance and facilities at the University of Minnesota Morris. Herrmann, an alumnus of UMN Morris (’01) with an MBA from UMN Duluth, has served in the interim role since 2015.

Low Temperature Thermochronologic Constraints Across The East-Central Denali Fault: Evaluating Vertical Tectonics Along A Transpressive Orogen, Thomas Stuart Warfel

Theses - ALL

The Denali Fault is an active intracontinental structure located ~500 km north of the southern Alaskan plate boundary. In 2002, a M 7.9 earthquake initiated on a previously unmapped thrust fault subsidiary to the Denali Fault (Susitna Glacier Thrust) and propagated ~227 km eastward along the east-central segment of the Denali Fault and the Totschunda Fault. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate how fault geometry and rheologic strength control spatial-temporal patterns of exhumation along large-scale transpressive structures. Apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology and apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) dating are used on a combination of bedrock and cobble samples to …

State V. Boggs Appellant's Brief Dckt. 45824

Not Reported

No abstract provided.

August 2017 - August 2018 Case Law On American Indians, Thomas P. Schlosser

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.