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- Creator:
- Dansby, Robin E.
- Description:
- An optimal linear control-law formulation is developed herein using an evolutionary state-transition to meet various performance objectives in seismically excited structures. The control-law makes use of a predictive optimal linear control algorithm that is expanded using the Force Analogy Method to incorporate the nonlinear behavior of an inelastic structure. The optimal linear control algorithm developed herein uses an evolutionary gain approach (varying the gain per time step), which makes the control mechanism more adaptive to the needs of the system in real time. Convergence on an appropriate gain value is achieved by setting performance objectives for the system that the control mechanism is required to satisfy. This ensures that the control force applied to the system is not arbitrary, but has been verified, by calculation, to force the system to respond within an acceptable range of deflection. The solution is best able to satisfy performance objectives by limiting the amount of inelastic strain using a changing strain-based window of allowable deflections. Various control-law formulations are examined analytically using a “software testbed” and a theoretical singledegree-of-freedom benchmark structure. The optimal control-law formulation is the one that best mitigates structural and nonstructural damage while applying an achievable value of control force
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Civil and Geomatics Engineering
- Creator:
- Licon, Adelita.
- Description:
- This thesis explores how guerrilla movements aided in the formation of women's and feminist groups that emerged in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Chiapas, Mexico. The development of feminism has been attributed to women's participation in the guerrilla movements of these regions. Feminism did not originate from women's involvement in guerrilla warfare; instead it grew from gender inequalities that women suffered in these countries. This thesis argues that feminism in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Chiapas, Mexico, derives from historically unbalanced power structures between the genders and cannot be entirely understood as a derivative from the revolutionary struggles in these regions.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- History
- Creator:
- Aguilar, Myraelen
- Description:
- Purpose/Hypothesis: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by a decline of both motor and non-motor features. Patients with PD demonstrate asymmetries in postural control and difficulties in the maneuver of sit to stand, however, literature on whether an appropriate rehabilitation program will advance limb weight bearing symmetry and improve sit to stand in the PD population is lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine if a multi-modal rehabilitation program can improve asymmetries in static positions and improve sit to stand activity in individuals with PD. The null hypothesis is there will be no difference between pre and post mean measures and no correlation in weight bearing symmetry and Five Time Sit to Stand (FTSTS). The alternative hypothesis is there will a difference between pre and post mean measures and correlation in weight bearing symmetry and FTSTS. Subjects: Participants were recruited from the Greater Fresno Parkinson’s Support Group and fit the selection criteria. 13 individuals (8 men, 5 women, age 68±9.5 years, Hoehn and Yahr scale 1-4) were selected. Method and materials: Study design was a 1 group quasi experimental design. The Weight Bearing Squat (WBS) on the Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) assesses the ability of an individual to obtain a static symmetrical weight bearing posture in neutral, 30, 60, and 90 degrees of knee flexion. The FTSTS is a method that provides a quantifiable measurement of functional lower extremity strength. Interventions occurred 3 times per week for 5 weeks. All participants received postural control, gait with dual tasking, and limb agility exercises. Results: Results showed no statistically significant difference after interventions for weight bearing squat in all positions of knee flexion. For the FTSTS, there was statistical significance from pre and post means (P=0.036). There was a moderate correlation at 30 degrees of knee flexion and FTSTS and a strong positive correlation at 60 degrees of knee flexion and FTSTS. Conclusions: A multimodal exercise program focused on gait with dual, task, limb agility, postural control and functional task (Sit to Stand) improves WBS asymmetries and FTSTS.
- Resource Type:
- Graduate project
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Physical Therapy
- Creator:
- Garcia Gomez, Wendy Jeannette
- Description:
- Functional Analysis procedures have become the gold standard in the assessment of problem behaviors, especially for individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Clinicians often report concerns with the standard Functional Analysis methodologies, particularly about potential risks related to the repeated occurrence of the problem behavior. Variations to the standard approach that enhance the efficiency of the procedure can minimize potential risks by reducing the number of occurrences of the behavior. This study focused on abolishing operations in the test conditions of functional analyses, using latency-to-first-response, to determine behavioral function, and to determine if it produces the same behavioral function, or functions, as the typical latency-to-first-response functional analysis. Procedures were compared for overall function, time to differentiation, and occurrences of the target behavior.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Bowe, Matthew Joseph
- Description:
- The natural formation of the rainbow is one of the most important and widely studied optical phenomena throughout history. Its creation is due to a process of refraction, and an underlying wave interference that is not commonly discussed among introductory physics texts. I have created an experiment that simulates the light scattering processes within a water droplet to clearly show this process of interference. I show that through the use of tapered glass rods, it is possible to recreate rainbow scattering of individual wavelengths of light that agree with the Debye theory of scattering. Experimentally, I show that the material of fused quartz is better than borosilicate when recreating a diffraction pattern similar to that of a natural rainbow. Calcium fluoride may provide an even better result, however it requires a more careful approach than I was able to achieve to properly modify it into an appropriate tapered shape. Within this experiment, I also include methods to superimpose lights of different colors onto the same position. When superimposing light, the 50-50 beamsplitter has out performed the available dichroic filter. It may be possible to achieve overall better results with the dichroic filter, if one with proper specifications is used. The methods I have used throughout this experiment can be applied for future analysis of rainbow diffraction, or they may be ideal for demonstrative purposes.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Physics
- Creator:
- Ayala, Miryam
- Description:
- Adolescents encompass a considerably large amount of the foster care population in the United States. Every year the number of youth who “age-out” of the foster care system at the age of 18 or 21 to live independently has continued to increase. Youth who are in the transition from out of-home care into emerging adulthood are considered to be one of the most vulnerable sub-populations of the foster care system. Aside from the trauma and the challenges associated with out-of-home care, adolescents emerging into adulthood are faced with the responsibility of self-sufficiency as they leave the system. A significant portion of AB12 youth who are aging-out of the foster care system are facing difficulty in transitioning into adulthood and stabilizing their life on their own. AB12 foster youth are individuals that are at least 18 years of age who wish to continue to be involved in the foster care system until the age of 21. Many of them are forced to live on the streets; they lack the money to meet basic living expenses, have a history with the criminal justice system, are unable to obtain health care, and fail to maintain employment (Mares, 2010). This study utilized qualitative methods to identify how social workers can work towards providing services to youth who are transitioning out of foster care to ensure they have the necessary skills needed to successfully transition into adulthood.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Social Work Education
- Creator:
- Vang, Linda.
- Description:
- The Hmong are undergoing a process of acceptance and rejection in forming their new Hmong American identities. As borderlands citizens, the Hmong’s new identities reflect the bicultural communities around them, and therefore, exemplify both Hmong and American values. In their formation of this identity, the Hmong are reevaluating all aspects of their history and culture, and their rhetorical gestures illustrate a reconceptualization of Hmong ways within the context of America, thereby reconfiguring Hmong American hybridity. As the Hmong accept certain western ideals and preserve certain Hmong traditions, their transnational, collective, and individual identities and ideologies change accordingly. Organizations like Stone Soup and Lao Family are assisting Hmong Americans in this process through the programs they offer, while also promoting Hmong visibility. Their gestures and language highlight the Hmong people as an asset to the wider community. The Hmong’s identity negotiation is particularly influencing the lives of Hmong American women as they struggle for gender equality. Their stories and their negotiation of a new identity are being portrayed through the literary works of Hmong American women, particularly those of Kou Vang. Through rhetorically significant acts, Hmong Americans are all obtaining new identities and voices, marking the start of a new era for the Hmong people in America.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Hernandez, Tess E.
- Description:
- The 2012 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report notes that the United States needs to create an additional one-million STEM professionals before 2022. Unfortunately, at the post-secondary level, not enough students are pursuing and completing STEM degrees to fulfill the recommended quota. Common reasons students lack interest in STEM are due to the stereotypical representations of scientists, perceived workplace culture, and lack of interest in the field. Thus far, inquiry-based learning has shown potential in helping students identify as scientists and motivate them to learn science. The National Research Council suggests a long-term partnership between schools and informal education centers, like zoos and museums, have the potential to address these issues. Therefore, in 2017, California State University, Fresno initiated such a partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, in hopes of addressing non-science major interests in science via a context-based Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory. A mixed methods approach was used, that allowed for triangulation of the data, which consisted of pre- and post-tests and surveys and student interviews. Overall, students’ conceptual learning of chemistry increased, with substantial increases by low prior knowledge students. Students’ initial interest in chemistry in the context of the zoo and animal conservation was high, with students requesting more activities related to the zoo at the end of the semester. In addition, second experience student narratives identified three themes related to their experiences in both the conventional and new zoo-inquiry project laboratories – community, relevancy, and ownership. Through this study, a rich understanding of student experiences in an inquiry-based laboratory were discovered, along with vital information needed to further develop the laboratory course. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence for the need of student narratives in chemistry curriculum.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Chemistry
- Creator:
- Weisman, Merith
- Description:
- The purpose of this study was to determine whether Sonoma State University (SSU) undergraduate students who visit career services manifest significant differences in levels of persistence, or different persistence rates than students who choose not to go, or choose to go more or fewer times. The researcher used statistical tests to determine whether the relationships between the independent variables (demographic characteristics and number of visits to career services) and the dependent variable (persistence) were statistically significant. Student level archival data were gathered from all SSU undergraduates enrolled in 2018-2019. Tinto’s (1982) seminal work frames this research. Tinto found that for over 100 years, the national college departure rate has remained consistently 45%. This rate has changed little as first-time, full-degree seeking students enrolled in colleges with open enrollment have between a 52% to 40% departure rate (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019). Further, underrepresented students of color/minorities (URM), first-generation, and low-income students graduate from college at lower rates than their peers (California State University, n.d.-b). Increasing retention and graduation rates is an effort nearly all universities undertake (D. Chase, personal communication, March 21, 2019). In 2016, the California State University tasked each of the 23 CSU campuses with creating a plan to spearhead the campus’ efforts toward their assigned persistence targets and with closing the achievement gap (California State University, 2016a). There are many reasons students depart including academic irrelevancy and unpreparedness, challenges making decisions about what to study, boredom, and problems adjusting from high school, and unrealistic expectations about college. Career services offices may be able to help address these challenges. SSU’s career services office is tasked with and funded by efforts to increase persistence. The study found that participants who visited career services were somewhat more likely to persist than those who did not visit career services. The number of career services visits predict persistence. Students who visited once or twice were more likely to persist than students who did not visit. Further, students who visited three or more times were less likely to persist than those who visited once or twice or not at all. Most of the results for the various demographic groups were not statistically significant with the exception of Hispanic/Latino students, transfer students, URM students, and freshmen.
- Resource Type:
- Dissertation
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership
- Creator:
- Gonzalez, Dalia Banesa
- Description:
- This study involved Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, as the model organism to study the behavioral differences seen in flies overexpressing the human tau protein throughout their adult life span. The tau protein (MAPT – microtubule associated protein tau) is linked to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). It is seen in both humans and Drosophila and has been noted to decrease learning and cognitive abilities in both. This study aimed to look at the cognitive and behavioral difference seen as adult flies age. The adult flies were tested at three different ages (young, middle, elderly) in order to look for any progression declines in behavior as the flies aged and expressed the human tau for longer periods of time. The human tau was driven into two different areas of the brain (ellipsoid body, mushroom body) that have been shown to be important regions for learning and memory in insects. The flies were tested in two different behavioral assays, a visual place learning assay and a negative geotaxis assay, in order to quantify spatial learning and memory. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy was used to analyze the amount of tau present in the brain at different times of the adult’s life, which confirmed the increased expression of tau as flies aged. As tau-expressing flies aged, both visual place learning and memory were impacted. These flies also showed a decline in planning ability. The behavioral declines seen in this study can be correlated to patients with AD who also overexpress this abnormal tau protein. This study aims to create a better Drosophila melanogaster model for AD. Moreover, the findings of this study can contribute to a better model organism for AD, which allow us to test interventions prior to the onset of dementia.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Fresno
- Department:
- Biology