Digital Commons Network^™

Mobile Health With Head-Worn Devices: Challenges And Opportunities, Andrea Ferlini, Dong Ma, Lorena Qendro, Cecilia Mascolo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Monitoring human behavior and health status using mobile devices, a.k.a. Mobile Health, has gained increasing attention from both academia and industry in recent years. It allows imperceptible health tracking from the users and remote health management from the healthcare service providers. Headworn devices, such as earbuds, glasses, and BCIs (Brain Computer Interfaces), exhibit great potential for mobile health due to their advantageous wearing position, the human head, which is motion-resilient and full of human bio-signals. Although initial attempts have been conducted for different healthcare applications with head-worn devices, this fast-growing area is still under-explored and retains great promises. With this …

The Dominican Population Of The New York Metropolitan Region, 1970 - 2020 (Revised), Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Introduction:

This study focuses on the demographic and socioeconomic changes occurring within the Dominican population of the New York metropolitan area between 1970 and 2019. By 2019 Dominicans had become the largest Latino nationality in New York City having surpassed Puerto Ricans a decade earlier in sheer numbers.

Methods:

This report uses the American Community Survey PUMS (Public Use Microdata Series) data for all years released by the Census Bureau and reorganized for public use by the Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, IPUMSusa, (https://usa.ipums.org/usa/index.shtml). See Public Use Microdata Series Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew …

Self-Adaptive Systems: A Systematic Literature Review Across Categories And Domains, Terence Wong, Markus Wagner, Christoph Treude

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Context: Championed by IBM’s vision of autonomic computing paper in 2003, the autonomic computing research field has seen increased research activity over the last 20 years. Several conferences (SEAMS, SASO, ICAC) and workshops (SISSY) have been established and have contributed to the autonomic computing knowledge base in search of a new kind of system — a self-adaptive system (SAS). These systems are characterized by being context-aware and can act on that awareness. The actions carried out could be on the system or on the context (or environment). The underlying goal of a SAS is the sustained achievement of its goals …

Destress: Computation-Optimal And Communication-Efficient Decentralized Nonconvex Finite-Sum Optimization, Boyue Li, Zhize Li, Yuejie Chi

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Emerging applications in multiagent environments such as internet-of-things, networked sensing, autonomous systems, and federated learning, call for decentralized algorithms for finite-sum optimizations that are resource efficient in terms of both computation and communication. In this paper, we consider the prototypical setting where the agents work collaboratively to minimize the sum of local loss functions by only communicating with their neighbors over a predetermined network topology. We develop a new algorithm, called DEcentralized STochastic REcurSive gradient methodS (DESTRESS) for nonconvex finite-sum optimization, which matches the optimal incremental first-order oracle complexity of centralized algorithms for finding first-order stationary points, while maintaining communication …

Repeating Patterns: Does Emotional Child Abuse Lead To Intimate Partner Abuse?, Kathryn R. Henry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Childhood abuse and intimate partner abuse (IPA) are serious issues in the United States This study examines the correlation between emotional childhood abuse and IPA. Anyone regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status may be a victim of childhood abuse or IPA. One in seven children are victims of childhood abuse, which results in a lifetime cost of $428 billion. The costs of IPA are even higher and estimated by the CDC (2020) to be near $3.6 trillion as 25% of women and 20% of men have been victims of IPA. Previous research has found a connection between childhood maltreatment …

Investigating Conserved Mechanisms For Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Cindy Kha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regeneration is a complex process to replace or restore tissue after damage. However, animals vary in their ability to regenerate tissue, and humans are limited in their abilities. Understanding how regeneration occurs in highly regenerative vertebrates, such as in Xenopus laevis frogs will lead to defining common regeneration mechanisms. In recent years, eye regeneration research in Xenopus laevis tadpoles provided new promising insight into the mechanisms necessary for repair of damaged eye tissue. Much progress has been made towards understanding the regenerative capability of the complex eye since Xenopus tadpoles can regenerate mature eye tissues, including: the optic nerve, retina, …

Predictor Of Hospital Closure In The United States, Haniyeh Shariatmadari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hospital closures have recently been more common and a crucial concern in the United States since they can influence many aspects of patients' health conditions. This situation has led many scholars to investigate the adverse effect of hospitals closure. Previous research has well documented the effects of a hospital closure. However, there is a lack of studies on the predictor of a hospital closure. To fill this gap, the objective of this longitudinal study is to explore organizational and market factors associated with hospital closure. We used Data from the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid …

Scientific Collaboration And The Cold War: 1945-1970, Autumn Wyland

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis is an examination of scientific collaboration between 1945 and 1970, covering the end of World War II and through the early stages of the Cold War. Prior to the Second World War, scientific collaboration was frequent and necessary to development and research. World War II created a new atmosphere of secrecy, preventing scientists from collaborating as they once had. This paper examines what that collaboration looked like, how it was derailed and why, how some scientists sought to return to collaboration, sometimes at personal expense, and finally what those effects looked like throughout the Nuclear Age and Space …

Evaluation Of Energy Release From Wildfires Across The Elevation Gradient, Isabelle Rose Butler

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Wildfires are an integral process in vegetative terrestrial land which shape ecosystem functions. A warming climate, however, has increased the size and severity of fires with significant ecosystem and societal implications. Furthermore, warming has changed characteristics of wildfires enabling a median upslope advance of 252 m in high-elevation forest fires from 1984 to 2017, allowing wildfires to burn in areas that were previously too wet to burn frequently. This exposed an additional 81,500 square kilometers (11%) of western US montane forests to fires.

In this thesis, I test the hypothesis that wildfires burn more intensely in high-elevation mesic forests than …

Predicting Surgical Outcome In Patients With Recurrent Patellar Dislocation, Dario De Caro

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Lateral dislocation of the patella is a common injury in active adolescents and young adults. Patients who are ultimately managed surgically have a significantly lower risk of recurrent dislocation. However, determining the optimal surgical treatment remains a challenge, with patients sometimes undergoing multiple surgeries prior to successful stabilization. The aim of this study is to computationally evaluate patients that have undergone multiple surgeries to correct for recurrent lateral patellar dislocation and predict their clinical outcome.

Methods

Our patient cohort consisted of 16 patients with patella dislocation. Patient-specific imaging were used to create three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models of …

Going Viral: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Anti-Vaccine Movement & Social Media, Corinn Evancho Schumacher

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In the recent years of the rise of Web 2.0, health information has become more accessible. With this shift has come a reliance on social media to inform and educate the masses on vaccines. With the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine, the conversation surrounding vaccines moved to the forefront of the United States’ zeitgeist from late 2021 to early 2022. In this research, I conducted a case study on the communication surrounding vaccines on social media while examining specific Facebook groups that advance the misinformation surrounding vaccines. I examined over 300 posts from four public Facebook groups in order to …

Effects Of Aging On Patellofemoral Joint Stress During Stair Negotiation On Challenging Surfaces, Nicholas Lynn Hunt

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain is an incessant lower limb musculoskeletal disorder that may be underreported in older adults. During common locomotor activities, such as when negotiating stairs, older adults (over the age of 65 years) adopt knee biomechanics reported to increase patellofemoral pain. Negotiating stairs with a challenging surface, such as uneven or slick, may place greater demand on the knee and further exacerbate joint biomechanics related to PFJ stress. Yet, it is unknown if older adults exhibit increases in patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stress when negotiating stairs with challenging surfaces. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect …

Drought Tolerance Of Artemisia Tridentata In Response To Herbivory And Mycorrhizal Colonization, Mathew Geisler

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Interactions with other organisms can affect a plant’s ability to cope with drought. The re-establishment of Artemisia tridentata, a keystone species of the sagebrush steppe, is often limited by summer drought. This study investigated the effect of two biotic factors, herbivory and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on the drought tolerance of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) seedlings. For this purpose, I conducted two separate but concurrent field experiments. The herbivory experiment had three treatments: seedlings without tree protectors and seedlings within Vexar or metal-mesh tree protectors. In the mycorrhizal experiment, all seedlings were within metal-mesh …

Open-Source Workflows For Reproducible Molecular Simulation, Jenny W. Fothergill

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

We apply molecular simulation to predict the equilibrium structure of organic molecular aggregates and how these structures determine material properties, with a focus on software engineering practices for ensuring correctness. Because simulations are implemented in software, there is potential for authentic scientific reproducibility in such work: An entire experimental apparatus (codebase) can be given to another investigator who should be able to use the same processes to find the same answers. Yet in practice, there are many barriers which stand in the way of reproducible molecular simulations that we address through automation, generalization, and software packaging. Collaboration on and application …

Innovative Foundation Alternative Inspired From Tree Roots, Macie Larranaga

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

It is not easy to find a more efficient foundation system than the roots of a tree. Trees create a vast three-dimensional network of roots to support and anchor the critical above-ground trunks, leaves, and limbs. In this work, investigations are made for the feasibility of imitating such a technique and creating similar networks to support civil infrastructure, particularly those subjected to moment loads such as traffic signal posts. Some of the raised questions were: Is it feasible to have a shallow tree root-based foundation system to provide the same capacities as conventional foundation alternatives? If this is feasible: What …

Seamless Transition Of A Microgrid Between Grid-Connected And Islanded Mode, Julie B. Matarweh

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on improving the behavior of inverters during transition periods from islanded mode to grid-connected mode (GC) and vice-versa. A systematic approach is presented to add smart features to inverters to enhance their capability to cope with sudden changes in the power system.

The importance of microgrids lies in their ability to provide a stable and reliable source of power for critical loads in the presence of faults. For this purpose, a design is proposed consisting of a distributed energy resource (DER), battery energy storage system (BESS) and a load connected through a bypass switch with the main …

Ontology-Based Formal Approach For Safety And Security Verification Of Industrial Control Systems, Ramesh Neupane

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Control logics, as part of the Industrial Control Systems (ICS), are used to control the physical processes of the critical infrastructures such as power plants, water, and gas distribution, etc. Most commonly, the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) manages these processes through actuators based on information received from sensor readings. Any safety issues or cyberattacks on these systems may have catastrophic consequences on human lives and the environment. In an effort to improve the resilience and security of control logics, this thesis provides algorithms and tools to formally define the safety and security requirements w.r.t. the physical processes, and the industrial …

Robust Inference In Wireless Sensor Networks, Santosh Paudel

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a systematic approach to obtain robust statistical inference schemes in unreliable networks. Statistical inference offers mechanisms for deducing the statistical properties of unknown parameters from the data. In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), sensor outputs are transmitted across a wireless communication network to the fusion center (FC) for final decision-making. The sensor data are not always reliable. Some factors may cause anomaly in network operations, such as malfunction, corruption, or compromised due to some unknown source of contamination or adversarial attacks.

Two standard component failure models are adopted in this study to describe the system vulnerability: the probabilistic …

Ranchers' And Federal Land Managers' Perceptions Of Rangeland Management Across An Environmental Gradient, Calandria Puntenney

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Managing semi-arid rangelands to meet social-ecological goals requires monitoring of key ecological indicators that will inform management responses. These goals and monitoring objectives are in turn grounded in land managers’ understandings, or “mental models,” of how the rangeland system operates. Rangeland managers’ mental models are often highly place-specific, which can enable management actions to be matched to local conditions. In the western United States, ranchers and federal agency resource specialists, like those in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are two of the primary groups involved in rangeland management. We compared ranchers’ and BLM agency specialists’ rangeland mental models in …

Multivariate Analysis Of The 2021 Boise Drought In The Context Of Natural Human Systems, Jesus Martinez-Osario

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Droughts generally refer to lack of sufficient water to supply specific needs, and has several categories including meteorological, hydrologic, agricultural and socioeconomic droughts [22]. Drought is triggered by the lack of or reduced precipitation, but other factors including low soil moisture, groundwater depletion, insufficient snowpack, reduced surface storage, increased evaporation, and contaminated surface water also contribute to various drought categories [12, 27].

Droughts impact many functional aspects of a community including agricultural production, recreation, access to clean drinking water, and the health of local ecosystems. Arid and semi-arid regions such as Idaho are specifically vulnerable to drought [12]. According to …

Measuring Engineering Students' Engagement In Sustainability Design Concepts, Karen Aide Perez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Within industries, governments, and accreditation organizations, there has been a push to incorporate sustainability concepts into their models. Universities like Boise State University (BSU) have already begun to place greater emphasis in inclusion of sustainability concepts in different engineering department curricula. As part of this effort, BSU plans to redesign courses to integrate sustainability concepts using active learning modules (ALMs) suited for each grade level and discipline. The effectiveness of these modules will be evaluated across disciplines. In support of this larger goal, the work in this study will specifically focus on mechanical engineering students.

A survey instrument was developed …

Improving The Ribozyme Toolbox: From Structure-Function Insights To Synthetic Biology Applications, Jessica Michelle Roberts

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Self-cleaving ribozymes are a naturally occurring class of catalytically active RNA molecules which cleave their own phosphate backbone. In nature, self-cleaving ribozymes are best known for their role in processing concatamers of viral genomes into monomers during viral replication in some RNA viruses, but to a lesser degree have also been implicated in mRNA regulation and processing in bacteria and eukaryotes. In addition to their biological relevance, these RNA enzymes have been harnessed as important biomolecular tools with a variety of applications in fields such as bioengineering. Self-cleaving ribozymes are relatively small and easy to generate in the lab using …

Reproducible Prediction Of Organic Semiconductor Properties Through Open Source Software Development, James Rushing

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Semiconducting materials made from carbon-based molecules are potential replacements for inorganic semiconductors, but with lower costs of processing. Devices made from organic semiconductors can be produced at scale by inkjet printing and roll-to-roll manufacturing of these molecules in solution or melt phases. The efficiency of these organic devices is dependent on the structure of the active layer, so controlling the morphology of organic molecules through self-assembly during manufacturing is a key challenge to realizing their utility. Molecular self-assembly depends on the chemical structure of the molecules, how key moieties interact with each other and with any solvent present, and the …

Data-Driven Passivity-Based Control Of Underactuated Robotic Systems, Wankun Sirichotiyakul

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Classical control strategies for robotic systems are based on the idea that feedback control can be used to override the natural dynamics of the machines. Passivity-based control (Pbc) is a branch of nonlinear control theory that follows a similar approach, where the natural dynamics is modified based on the overall energy of the system. This method involves transforming a nonlinear control system, through a suitable control input, into another fictitious system that has desirable stability characteristics. The majority of Pbc techniques require the discovery of a reasonable storage function, which acts as a Lyapunov function candidate that can be …

Integrated Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling Within A Finite Element Framework To Investigate Mechanisms And Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Conditions, Victoria L. Volk

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions that stem from irregularities in the nervous system that lead to complications in function and movement. The goal of this work is to develop computational tools that: (1) measure the accuracy of surgical interventions in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions, and (2) integrate neural and musculoskeletal frameworks to provide a platform to better investigate neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition projected to affect over 1.2 million people by 2030 in the US. It is caused by atypical firing patterns in the basal ganglia region of the brain …

Study As Form-Of-Life: Meditations On Schooling, Enjoyment, And The Inoperative Life, Bryan K. Weeks

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to explore what potential that the concept of 'inoperativity' has in the philosophy and theory of education. I will discuss the method of critique used which aims to think through the problems in existing theory rather than discard good thinking when problems are found. The strengths and weaknesses of deschooling and democratic approaches will be at the center of this critique. As a response to the weaknesses of both, the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, focusing on the way that interiority and enjoyment are essential concepts for the philosophy of education, as well as Giorgio …

Solution Synthesis And Additive Manufacturing Of Bismuth Telluride Nanoflakes For Flexible Energy Harvesting, Ariel E. Weltner

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are energy harvesting devices which convert temperature differences into electrical power. These devices require no moving parts and offer silent and autonomous operation. The variety of suitable materials covering a broad range of operating temperatures positions TEGs as a promising renewable energy source using waste heat recovery, especially for space and microgravity applications. Conventional manufacturing of flexible electronic and thermoelectric devices requires complicated and relatively expensive processing, which limits the capabilities of in-space manufacturing. Additive manufacturing (AM) expands the use of flexible electronics to new surfaces, applications, and recently, low gravity conditions. Plasma jet printing (PJP) …

Process-Property Linkages Construction For Inkjet Printing With Machine Learning, Fataneh Jenabi

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Printed electronics are emerging technologies that can potentially revolutionize the manufacturing of electronic devices. One promising technology for printed electronics is inkjet printing. Inkjet printing offers both low-cost processing and high resolution. Being a subset of additive manufacturing, inkjet printing minimizes waste and is compatible with a wide range of inks. However, inkjet printing of electronic devices is still in its infancy. One major challenge for inkjet printing is the complexity of the process optimization and uncertain high throughput production. To achieve a high-quality print, there is a complex parameter space of materials and processing parameters that needs to be …

Investigating Cause-Specific Mortality Of Sheep To Determine The Impacts Of Carnivores On Domestic Livestock, Nathan Jacob Floyd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Livestock and carnivores interact in ways that are considered conflict throughout the world. In the western United States, livestock are often grazed on public lands in close proximity to predators in their natural habitat, and can be killed as prey. Livestock losses to predators can threaten rancher’s livelihoods. Sheep and lambs are especially vulnerable to predators due to their small size and lack of defensive abilities. To reduce the impacts that predators have on livestock, it is important for ranchers and wildlife biologists to have an accurate understanding of how many livestock die and are killed by predators when grazing …

Syntax Exercises And Their Effect On Computational Thinking, Marina Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Abstract—Job opportunities and the need for programmers are increasing. Companies are looking for new hires who have the ability to learn how to learn, who have computational thinking skills. Student dropout rate in computer science is the highest among college majors. Educators are striving to find a way to teach efficiently and effectively the technical and the problem solving skills students need. In this paper we will be studying the effects of syntax exercises on a subject’s ability to think computationally and precisely. We tested our process on professionals and students. Half of the professionals were in the computer science …