Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Covid-19 On School Attendance: Examining Explanations For Chronically Absent Students, Samantha Kaloustian

Theses and Dissertations

Kindergarten through 12th grade school administrators and educators are tasked with the challenge of ensuring every student is consistently attending school. Balfanz and Byrnes (2012) and Henderson et al. (2014) stated that either students cannot attend school because of multiple factors, students will not attend, or students do not attend because of a lack of value in education. Then, in 2020, the school attendance challenge was heightened with educating students during a worldwide pandemic. During this time, school environments varied from 100% virtual learning to hybrid learning—meaning they had both virtual and face-to-face instruction—to 100% face-to-face instruction. After knowing how …

Relationships Matter: A Narrative Analysis Of Agenda Setting And Policy Perspectives That Influence Higher Education In North Dakota (1990-2020), Billie Jo Lorius

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is about North Dakota’s political structures and culture spanning the past 30 years through a case study approach examines the modern identity of politics that derive meaning into how policies are decided upon, and ultimately, the dynamics of those policies for the state’s system of higher education. Individual interviews and narrative inquiry analysis of the participants’ perspectives shed light on the social and political context in which key policy influencers play their role in the direction of policy deliberation and the ways that these policies influence decisions and lawmaking for the state. Agenda setting theory informs a conceptual …

Obtaining The Transfer Function Of A Camera Mount Using Ansys And Matlab, Ikechukwu Stanley Nwade

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the transfer function of a camera mount is obtained using ANSYS and MATLAB. In a heads-up display (HUD) application, achieving precise image registration requires careful consideration of the camera's position relative to the vehicle. Vibrations can alter the camera's position, with tilt being the most impactful due to its increased displacement effect as objects are further away. This research tackles vibration by predicting the position of the camera using transfer function. To determine the transfer function for complex structures, such as camera mounts, this study aims to first establish a transfer function for a simpler model, like …

An Exploration Of The Meaning Of The Phenomenon Of Hope, In The Context Of Hopelessness, For Rural Frontline Registered Nurses In South Dakota, North Dakota, And Minnesota During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Stephanie Jean Orth

Theses and Dissertations

Background & Purpose: This study’s purpose was to understand what the phenomenon of hope meant to rural critical access hospital RNs in three Midwest states, and what gave them hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full scope of the pandemic on the rural nursing workforce is unknown. Prior research has shown that hope can be a positive tool for sustaining psychological well-being, setting and achieving goals, and can facilitate coping (Collins, Bhathal, Field, Larlee, Paje, & Young, 2018; Hacimusalar, Kahve, & Aydin, 2020; Persell, 2016; Snyder, 1995). Methods: Ten participants were interviewed using a semi-structured, interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological approach. van …

Community College Strategic Planning: An Examination Of Implementation, Assessment, And Evaluation Practices, Aaron Miller Prestwich

Theses and Dissertations

Strategic planning is the process in which organizations develop goals and objectives that drive actions for the purpose of fulfilling their institutional mission. This paper addresses how strategic planning can be utilized at community colleges. A review of relevant literature is also included. A qualitative case study research methodology was used to examine three main research questions. 1. How do community colleges evaluate their strategic planning processes in determining the achievement of their strategic plan’s desired results? 2. In what ways, if any, do community colleges assess and define the successful implementation of their strategic plan initiatives? 3. What, if …

Estimation Of Idle Time Using Machine Learning Models For Vehicle-To-Grid (V2g) Integration And Services, Prashanth Rajagopalan

Theses and Dissertations

As the Electric Vehicles (EVs) market continues to expand, ensuring the access to charging stations remains a significant concern. This work focuses on addressing multiple challenges related to EV charging behavior and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) services. Firstly, it focuses on accurate minute-ahead (20 minute \& 30 minute intervals) load forecasts for an EV charging station by using four years of historical data, from 2018-2021. This data is recorded from a university campus garage charging station. Machine Learning (ML) models such as Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), Random Forest (RF), and Neural Networks (NN) are employed for load forecasts in terms …

Anomaly Detection And Trajectory Prediction Models For Ads-B Datasets, Akshay Ram Ramchandra

Theses and Dissertations

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are critical for accurate navigation in aviation networks.GPS information could be subjected to several interferences due to challenging terrain, rural areas, high-rise buildings, and intentional or unintentional jamming, spoofing, or unknown causes. Recently, the frequency of GPS/Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-related interferences in commercial airlines has increased. This thesis focuses on enhancing civil aviation safety using machine learning (ML) algorithms, particularly focusing on vulnerabilities in the ADS-B and its role in improving the National Air Space (NAS) surveillance and safety. Through scholarly article surveys, foundational issues in the ADS-B are identified. A study centered around a GPS …

Federated Vs Central Machine Learning On Diabetic Foot Ulcer Images: Comparative Simulations, Mahdi Saeedi

Theses and Dissertations

In the forefront of biomedical engineering, timely detection and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are pivotal for enhancing patient outcomes. This study explores the advancements of machine learning, adopting a federated learning framework to augment the precision and privacy of medical image analysis for DFU identification. Federated learning, a decentralized machine learning approach, proves essential, enabling the collaborative training of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) across a network of healthcare providers while upholding the sanctity of patient data confidentiality. The study employs the U-Net architecture, acclaimed for its adeptness in biomedical image segmentation. It showcases that through federated learning, the …

Educating Families To Engage Families In Grades 9-10 Of Public Education, Travis Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Engaging families in the academic lives of their children continues to be an area that needs improvement in public education. Furthermore, public educators continue to fail at establishing two-way communication practices, as well as providing educational opportunities for parents on the various ways they can help their students outside of school. Schools must focus on building family efficacy by utilizing a practice that supports meaningful and relevant two-way communication. This study explored one practice of engaging families through an online family engagement platform. An action research approach was used and was guided by Constantino’s (2020) Logic Model of Five Simple …

Trauma Education In Social Work Curricula: An Innovative Approach To The Teaching Of Trauma-Informed Care, Jennifer M. Schlinger

Theses and Dissertations

Many professionals, especially social workers, work with individuals who have a history of or are experiencing trauma. If students understand the trauma their clients have experienced, they are better suited to meet the individual where they are and help them work towards their goals. Social work professors must prepare their students by instructing them about different types of traumatic experiences, the impacts, assessment tools, and various intervention strategies. I used a qualitative research approach and document analysis to understand how social work programs incorporate education related to trauma and trauma-informed practice into their curricula. This method allowed me to gain …

Attitudes, Subjective Norms, And Perceived Behavioral Control Of Perianesthesia Nurses' Intentions To Engage In Mindful Self-Care, Brenda Sanya

Theses and Dissertations

Study Purpose and Design: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions to engage in mindful self-care among nurses working in the perianesthesia setting. The study utilized cross-sectional design and was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior. Methods: Modified Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire and Mindful Self Care Scale were utilized for data collection among 85 perianesthesia nurses using a survey through the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN). Findings: Regression analyses demonstrated that attitude (β=0.51, t=5.63, p=0.001) and self-compassion and purpose (β=0.29, t=2.54, p=0.013) were significant factors …

Performance Analysis Of Data-Driven Algorithms In Detecting Intrusions On Smart Grid, Tala Talaei Khoei

Theses and Dissertations

The traditional power grid is no longer a practical solution for power delivery due to several shortcomings, including chronic blackouts, energy storage issues, high cost of assets, and high carbon emissions. Therefore, there is a serious need for better, cheaper, and cleaner power grid technology that addresses the limitations of traditional power grids. A smart grid is a holistic solution to these issues that consists of a variety of operations and energy measures. This technology can deliver energy to end-users through a two-way flow of communication. It is expected to generate reliable, efficient, and clean power by integrating multiple technologies. …

The Mysterious Mu Wave: The Effects Of Tdcs On Visuomotor Integration And Processing, Jessica Lynn Van Bree

Theses and Dissertations

Visuomotor integration is the coordination of neuronal activity between the motor- and vision-related parts of the brain that influence behavior and perception, resulting in a motor reaction (Shin et al. 2016). Previous studies have demonstrated that longitudinal training of oculomotor, visual, attentional, and motor skills produce significant improvements of visuomotor integration and control in healthy subjects. Within healthy populations, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been found to facilitate visuomotor learning, motion processing, and the coordination and accuracy of motor movement (Antal et al., 2004; Coffmann et al., 2014). As such, tDCS may be an appropriate addition to the rehabilitation …

A Molecular Phylogeny Of Ctenuchina Kirby, 1837 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini: Ctenuchina), Sydney Winterton

Theses and Dissertations

Ctenuchina are a subtribe of tiger moths in the subfamily Arctiinae and are known for their aposematism and mimicry of noxious insects. Their overall appearance signals predators of their unpalatability due to larval sequestration of plant secondary chemicals. The taxonomic history of Ctenuchina is complicated because of convergent phenotypes within the lineage and with other tiger moth groups such as the Euchromiina. Independent evolutionary events that converge on mimetic phenotypes obscure evolutionary relationships and render classifications based on morphology to be suspect. Although morphological phylogenies have since been used less often in favor of quantifiable, molecular-based phylogenies, these studies provide …

Land Acquistion For Flood Adaptation Under Changing Climate, Jiyang Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Flood has caused tremendous life and economic losses over the past few decades and is expected to cause more in the future under the effects of climate change and socioeconomic development. With limited resources, cost-effective adaptation policies are urgently needed to minimize the economic and social impacts of future floods. The increasing flood losses and recent catastrophic flood events around the world expose two major issues of current flood adaptation schemes: 1) Flood risks are not well captured and predicted under climate change, leaving many communities unprepared for potential extreme flood events; 2) Current flood adaptation measures focus on the …

Bible Astronomy, W. B. Godbey

William B. Godbey

Forty-eight years ago I had never dreamed of writing a book an anything but straight Holy Ghose religion and my travels. Therefore this is responsive to immediate request by the Lord's people, whom I recognize as God's medium, through whom he communicates to me His will in theater of humble service in His kingdom.

Covering (Il)Legible Bodies: A Cda Of News Discourse About Undocuqueer Life In The U.S., Ayleen Cabas-Mijares

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

News narratives about immigration shape not only constructions of immigrants but of nation states. Through a critical content analysis informed by intersectionality and queer of color critique, this study explores how the news coverage of undocumented LGBTQ immigrants and the Undocuqueer Movement render distorted and incomplete constructions of these immigrants, their struggles and activism. Furthermore, the analysis shows how selective (mis)representations and erasures in the coverage contribute to the constitution of a homonationalist reimagination of the United States. Additionally, the paper makes the case for the incorporation of transnational sensibilities to enhance intersectional approaches to reporting.

A Techno-Economic Analysis To Determine The Levelized Cost Of Hydrogen Generation Through Electrolysis For Humboldt Transit Authority, Humboldt County, California, Deepak Tripathi

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the techno-economic feasibility of on-site electrolysis-based hydrogen generation for the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA), focusing on determining the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for various system configurations and utility rate schedules. The study recommends using a 2.5 MW electrolyzer with the B-20 (T) utility rate schedule along with an E-GT rate supplement provided by PG&E as the most cost-effective solution to meet HTA's projected hydrogen demand. This demand is currently based on the utilization of 11 H₂ fuel cell buses, which is further expected to grow to 21 buses, and estimated public use …

A Black Prometheus Among The Gods: Illuminating African American Literary Tradition In Sam Greenlee's The Spook Who Sat By The Door, Kenneth L. Rainey Iii

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In his hard-hitting novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door Sam Greenlee aims to help his target African American audience to succeed and thrive as their true selves with the novel functioning as a guide to resisting the ever-present physical and spiritual threat faced daily. On the one hand the novel functions as a manual for civil uprising, but underneath that surface, Greenlee argues that true African American resistance comes through nurturing self-determination, self-love, and self-esteem. This project also argues that Spook ought to be located closer to the center of the African American literary canon and provides comparisons …

Indigenous Women In Active Drug Abuse Recovery: An Analysis Of Native And Non-Native Programs, Raquel J. Muñoz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In general, much has been written on the experiences of prototypical women in drug recovery programs, however there is only a scarcity of research on the experiences of rural women of color in drug recovery programs. Very few Northern American cultures had experience with alcohol before the first wave of European settlers. Responses to intergenerational trauma faced by Native women include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, suicidal thinking, and more. Due to socioeconomic disadvantages drug and alcohol abuse tends to be a coping mechanism for many Native American women. Drawing on the narratives of ten Indigenous women who are …

Habitat Selection And Habitat Use Of Gray Foxes (Urocyon Cinereoargenteus) On Trespass Cannabis Grows., Haley-Marie R. Jones

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Trespass cannabis grow sites, otherwise known as illegal cultivation sites on public lands, are extremely hazardous to the environment and can severely impact wildlife movement and behavior. Trespass grow sites are dangerous to wildlife as they negatively impact the quality of habitat and wildlife behavior through habitat modification, pesticide use, discarding of trash, and poaching on national forests. I researched gray fox habitat selection and habitat use at six different grow sites in the Klamath National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northwestern California. I deployed GPS collars on three gray foxes at two of those grow sites and three …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of A Utility-Scale Solar Power Plant In Bhutan., Minjur

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology, which captures energy from the sun, is a rapidly growing technology. Bhutan’s heavy dependence on a single energy source, hydropower, has become a significant concern for energy security. To address this, the Government of Bhutan intends to diversify energy sources using alternative renewable sources.

This research determined that Bhutan has the total potential to develop 3 gigawatts (GW) of solar power based on the utilization of about 7,100 acres of suitable land. The study also identified Tenchhekha, near the capital city of Thimphu, as a potential solar power plant location, with a capacity of 4.85 MWp …

Prototypicality Threat And Intergroup Threat Theory: Support For Blm Using Militant Or Peaceful Language, Jordan C. Mcdowell

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Black Lives Matter (BLM) symbolizes the need to recognize the humanity of Black lives and the systemic discrimination contributing to the murders of unarmed Black Americans at the hands of police. While there were some white Americans who participated in the demonstrations during the summer of 2020, there was also significant opposition (Astor, 2020). . The current work seeks to contribute to existing social identity literature by examining how subtle racist rhetoric in the media, combined with a threat to the white American identity (prototypicality threat) may impact support for BLM. To address these hypotheses, white participants will be recruited …

Monitoring Bull Kelp (Nereocystis Leutkeana) Remotely At High Resolutions, Hannah E. Joss

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana) is a foundational seaweed in nearshore, marine systems, traditionally supporting economically important fisheries, extracting nutrients in its vicinity, and sequestering carbon and transporting it great distances to subsidize shallow and deep-sea environments. Bull kelp is also a culturally important species for some indigenous peoples along the northeastern Pacific coastline and provides a harvestable product with growing demand. Global trends in kelp distribution show patterns of decline, and the immense loss of northern California bull kelp forests in response to climatic changes have highlighted the need for alternative sources of kelp, both for the product …

Investigating Tribal Co-Management Of Caifornia’S Public Lands, Zachary Joseph Erickson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Collaborative management with Indigenous groups is becoming increasingly common as many Indigenous communities continue to assert their inherent rights to self-determination. Due to the removal from and dispossession of lands, tribes often rely on access to public properties for various uses including ceremonies and gathering of culturally important plants. Some believe that the absence of indigenous involvement has also led to a decline in both the quality and abundance of culturally important resources, as well as limited the intergenerational transfer of traditional ecological knowledge, or TEK. There is increasing momentum toward re-engaging tribes as stewards of their ancestral lands through …

Negative Social Media And Its Influence On Athlete's Performance, Bernd R. Huber

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of negative social media content on athletes' cortisol levels and subsequent performance. The study focused on the change in cortisol levels and differences in free throw performance, based on previous research findings. We hypothesized that negative social media postings would increase the stress experienced by student-athletes, resulting in elevated cortisol levels and decreased performance. Additionally, participants (n = 8) completed a questionnaire to examine the interaction between preexisting fear and the biological stress response. Contrary to expectations, there was no significant change in stress response, and negative postings did not have …

The Revolution Will Be Memed: Digital Memes As Sites For Hegemonic And Counter-Hegemonic Practices, Kimberly Sisu

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Internet memes have become a part of everyday life as a way to participate in digital and online culture. The study of memes, known as memetics, have analyzed memes in many ways: for their political and social participation, for their multimodal presence, and their influence on online discourse. What has not yet been deeply studied are the ways memes participate in hegemonic and counter-hegemonic practices. This project aims to address this gap by investigating how hegemonic and counter-hegemonic practices show up in memes on feminism, and how those practices uphold or disrupt dominant narratives. Fifteen memes on feminism are analyzed …

Examining Educator Burnout And Classroom Outcomes As Correlates To Teaching Pyramid Implementation, April N. Frazer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Teaching Pyramid is a research-based socio-emotional framework created for implementation in early childhood education programs. It is designed to support children’s socio-emotional development and decrease persistent challenging behaviors. Challenging child behaviors have been linked to early educator stress. Job stressors in early childhood educators have been previously linked to educator burnout.

This study examined fidelity of implementation of the Teaching Pyramid framework as well as experience being trained and coached on the framework in 21 early childhood educators. It evaluated how these variables correlated with educator burnout, children’s socio-emotional development, and observed quality of care in nine Head Start …

Bridging Science And Spirituality: The Intersection Of Religion And Public Health In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shahana Ayub, Gibson O Anugwom, Tajudeen Basiru, Vishi Sachdeva, Nazar Muhammad, Anil Bachu, Maxwell Trudeau, Gazal Gulati, Amanda Sullivan, Saeed Ahmed, Lakshit Jain

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had global impacts on social interactions and religious activities, leading to a complex relationship between religion and public health policies. This article reviews impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious activities and beliefs in relation to the spread of the virus, as well as the potential of religious leaders and faith communities in mitigating the impact of the pandemic through public health measures and community engagement.

METHODS: A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, with search terms including "religion," "COVID-19," "pandemic," "coronavirus," and "spirituality." We included English articles published between January 2020 …

Reconfigurations In Brain Networks Upon Awakening From Slow Wave Sleep: Interventions And Implications In Neural Communication, Cassie J. Hilditch, Kanika Bansal, Ravi Chachad, Lily R. Wong, Nicholas G. Bathurst, Nathan H. Feick, Amanda Santamaria, Nita L. Shattuck, Javier O. Garcia, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Sleep inertia is the brief period of impaired alertness and performance experienced immediately after waking. Little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. A better understanding of the neural processes during sleep inertia may offer insight into the awakening process. We observed brain activity every 15 min for 1 hr following abrupt awakening from slow wave sleep during the biological night. Using 32-channel electroencephalography, a network science approach, and a within-subject design, we evaluated power, clustering coefficient, and path length across frequency bands under both a control and a polychromatic short-wavelength-enriched light intervention condition. We found that under …