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Collection Description
Collection of student theses and dissertations from as early as 1939, but mainly from 2010 to present.
Pages
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- A desktop client interface for JIRA
- JIRA is a bug, issue and project tracking software developed by Atlassian Software Systems. JIRA is very popular, being used in over 11,500 software development and research organizations worldwide. JIRA is used by software developers and managers to track tasks and bug fixes. A JIRA installation provides a web-based system where users may log on to create tasks, assign tasks, log work and comment on tasks, vote for new features and so on. However a perceived limitation is that only one issue can be updated at a time. The user also has to visit a separate web page to perform each function like editing the task, progressing the task along pre-defined workflows, editing the task, etc. While this may be acceptable for junior developers who may work on just one or two tasks at a time, the complexity fairly explodes in the case of project managers and other administrators who may be tracking scores or hundreds of tasks at a time. The time spent in visiting many web pages to update a single task, and then repeating the process for every task that needs attention, simply becomes too much of a hassle. To address this perceived shortcoming, we propose a desktop client to JIRA that allows concurrent access to many tasks at the same time. A two-dimensional grid view allows simultaneous access to all the desired attributes of a group of tasks. The time saved and the ease of updating many tasks at one go improves the productivity of each user and by enabling comparative editing, reduces the error rate. All this translates into huge savings for the enterprise. The design is kept as intuitive and close to the original JIRA design as possible, in order to flatten out the learning curve for users.
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- A determination of the peak to total ratio for a Ge(Li) detector
- In the use of gamma-ray spectroscopy for absolute activity determinations, the peak to total ratios must be known. These ratios were measured, for an energy range of 0.515 MeV to 1.332 MeV, for a Ge(Li) detector of cylindrical shape with radius 1.13cm used with a 512 channel analyzer. The observed photopeaks were assumed to fit a gaussian function from which the contributions from the photopeaks were calculated. The results were graphically displayed., San Diego State College, Digitization of this archival thesis was made possible through a generous donation from Robin B. Luby.
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- A detrital heavy mineral provenance study of Upper Cretaceous fore-arc strata, northern Peninsular Ranges, Southern California
- San Diego State University, Provenance analyses of detrital minerals in sedimentary basins allow geologists to determine the characteristics of ancient highlands that are now eroded away and inaccessible to direct study. The purpose of this study is to apply techniques of provenance analysis to Upper Cretaceous forearc basin strata in San Diego and the Santa Ana Mountains. These strata were deposited adjacent to and locally onlap crystalline basement of the deeply denuded Peninsular Ranges batholith (PRB), the presumed source of forearc basin sediment. The PRB is divided into western and eastern zones based on distinct asymmetrical characteristics in the plutonic rocks that reflect transverse spatial variation across the batholith. The Cretaceous sediment characteristics of the fore-arc basin can be compared to the plutonic rocks to spatially resolve sources within the PRB. Most detrital sediment provenance studies utilize the framework mineral grains of sandstone such as feldspar and quartz. This study focuses on the heavy minerals to support previous studies that have shown the Upper Cretaceous sediments in the fore-arc basin were derived from the PRB as well as to narrow the provenance for most of the Upper Cretaceous sediments to the eastern zone of the batholith. Analytical methods selected for this detrital sandstone heavy mineral investigation include: in situ measurements of magnetic susceptibility, point counting of heavy mineral separates, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Fe-Ti oxide minerals, 87Sr/86Sr isotopic analysis of detrital apatite grains, and scanning electron microscope examination of selected mineral grains. Analysis was performed on sandstone samples from the Trabuco, Ladd, and Williams Formations of the Santa Ana Mountains and Lusardi, Point Loma, and Cabrillo Formations of the San Diego Embayment. The mineralogy of the Trabuco and Lusardi Formations at the base of the sections studied indicates a western zone PRB source for detritus. These formations are at least in part red-beds deposited in subaerial environments. The provenance of overlying formations demonstrate a predominantly eastern zone PRB source with sediments deposited in marine diagenetic conditions that allowed unstable minerals to survive. The fore-arc basin minerals and their condition indicate the distance from source to the sedimentary basin was relatively short. Batholithic source rocks had a partial cratonic signature based on 87Sr/86Sr apatite ratios, and were of an acidic igneous composition. Upsection shifts in provenance characteristics indicate progressive headward erosion of drainage basins into the denuding batholith during the deposition of the Point Loma and Williams Formations.
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- A discriminative study of the sea language found in twelve selected modern American novels
- This thesis grew from a long-standing interest in sea language, an interest deepened and intensified by many years of familiarity with technical terms, nomenclature, procedural directions, and traditional expressions used in both routine and in emergency situations. Histories of English literature discuss the influence of Smollett and Marryat in introducing sailors' talk into eighteenth and nineteenth century fiction. Lexicographers and philologists have dealt at length with seagoing words, but there has been no detailed study of the sea language in modern American fiction. This thesis is an initial step towards fulfilling that need. From hundreds of modern American sea novels, twelve were selected. A primary consideration in the selection was the inclusion of authors with various backgrounds of seagoing experience so that the language of authors who are landsmen could be compared with that of authors who ventured but briefly offshore and with that of seamen who became authors. After authors with the desired qualifications had been chosen, specific novels were selected on a basis of general public appeal and popular readability rather than because of literary merit. No novel published before 1940 was considered. Writers without fundamental experience as seamen wrote five of the novels: James Michener, The Bridges at Toko-ri; Guy Gilpatric, Mr. Glencannon Ignores the War; Charles Nordoff and James Hall, The High Barbaree; Kenneth Roberts, Lydia Bailey; and Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea. Authors with duration-of-war or other passing association with life aboard ship wrote four of the novels: Thomas Heggen, Mr. Roberts; Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny; Vincent McHugh, The Victory; and Marcus Goodrich, Delilah. Professional seamen wrote three of the novels: Robert Carse, Deep Six; Kenneth Dodson, Away All Boats; and William Leaderer, All the Ship's at Sea. This thesis considers each group in turn. An author's relationship with the sea and with his story is outlined briefly before identifying, listing, and discussing the sea language of his novel. Confirmation of the nautical character of each listed word was checked in maritime dictionaries, glossaries, or other authoritative reference works; the composite glossary, forming Chapter VI of the thesis, shows the nautical definition of each word and the authority defining it. In addition to a list of the sea vocabulary used by an author, his facility in the use of sea language and the suitability of his expressions are analyzed. Errors are critically examined. Statistical analyses are presented to compare the average number of sea terms used per page by authors of the same sea experience. Likewise, each group is compared to the others to show similarities and differences in usage and in statistical averages of sea terms per page. As would be expected, this study shows that the sea vocabulary of an author is a function of his interest and familiarity with life at sea, and that the romantic atmosphere of the sea in a sea novel is greatly enhanced if the sea language is fluent and effective., San Diego State College, Digitization of this archival thesis was made possible through a generous donation from Robin B. Luby.
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- A discussion of Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Ken Kesey's first novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, is a parable of the human condition, and more specifically, of contemporary American society. It bends normality to make madness the touchstone of reality. Captain Marvel and Kafka inspire the bizarre hallucinations, placing Kesey somewhere between the Absurd and Black Humor. The theme of the novel focuses on the predicament of modern man, which is the conflict between the individual and the system. The metaphor is a mental hospital, which serves as the microcosm to reflect the ills of the macrocosm, society. The characters are the patients themselves and their staff, and the narrator is a deaf-and-dumb schizophrenic Indian. The conflict is between Big Nurse, who represents the system, and McMurphy, who represents humanity, the individual. The purpose of this study is to define and discuss the elements of Kesey's parable, arriving at some conclusions about his view of the human condition and its modern counterpart, American society. Requisite to the discussion is Kesey's concept of the individual and the system. The formal elements of point of view, genre, structure, and character are analyzed in detail to determine their influence upon and relationship to the parable of the forces of Good versus the forces of Evil. A great deal of use is made of biographical information on the author, because of its relationship to the novel itself. The limited studies available on Kesey have been presented accurately, where pertinent to the discussion. The conclusion that develops is that the novel is a parable of the human condition, and more specifically a commentary on sociopolitical ills in the United States. He is the champion of the individual and the enemy of any system which threatens to usurp the rights of the individual, or to divide him against himself. However, the system cannot operate without the willing participation of the individual; thus, Kesey is also emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility for actions, self-awareness and integration, and an acceptance of all aspects of one's nature. Kesey's polarization of values into the forces of Good versus the forces of Evil, as seen in his use of imagery, point of view, and structure, definitely classifies the novel as a parable of the individual struggle for freedom and self-awareness in opposition to the system., Page 56 is missing from physical book., San Diego State College, Digitization of this archival thesis was made possible through a generous donation from Robin B. Luby.
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- A dollar for your life: The dehumanization of labor in capitalism
- This thesis aims to explain why many workers are unhappy with their work. Due to its inherent logic, capitalism inevitably dehumanizes all workers, although to varying degrees. This work describes and explores the dehumanization of workers. Namely, it highlights the characteristics of capitalism that result in feelings of objectification and alienation, which leads to dehumanization. Besides analyzing the structure of capitalism that leads to dehumanization, several workers’ voices are introduced to support this theoretical claim. Ultimately, in order to break out of this bondage of oppression, a revolutionary perspective must be introduced that includes a humane dimension where we can cultivate a healthier work environment free of exploitation. Keywords: capitalism, dehumanization, objectification, alienation, San Diego State University
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- A dyadic approach to examine the association between intimate partner violence and romantic relationship satisfaction
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 23-26), This study examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and romantic relationship satisfaction in a sample of 100 heterosexual newlywed couples. IPV, defined as the physical, psychological, and/or sexual abuse of an intimate partner, is a prevalent concern for couples in the United States. The negative association between IPV and relationship satisfaction has been widely examined in the academic literature. However, the inter-relatedness of the effects that individuals' behaviors may have on themselves (actor effects) as well as on their partners (partner effects) remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify individual and relationship-level associations between IPV victimization and relationship satisfaction among newlyweds from their first to their third year of marriage. It was hypothesized that for both husbands and wives, higher levels of IPV victimization during the first year of marriage would be associated with a reduction in their own levels of relationship satisfaction (actor effects) and their partner's levels of relationship satisfaction (partner effects) during the third year of marriage. In addition, it was hypothesized that the association between IPV and relationship satisfaction would be stronger for female victimization due to the fact that the consequences that follow from male perpetration are more severe than those that follow from female perpetration. To examine these hypotheses, archival data from a two-wave marital satisfaction study was used. Partners' IPV victimization was assessed using the Aggression (AGG) subscale of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (MSI-R) and relationship (dis)satisfaction was assessed using the Global Distress (GDS) subscale of the MSI-R. In order to statistically account for the effects that a partner has on an individual's outcome, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used. The APIM estimates both actor and partner effects, allowing for the investigation of issues of mutual influence on an outcome variable through dyadic analysis. Overall, it was found that wives' levels of satisfaction were impacted by their own as well as by their partners' levels of IPV victimization. Interestingly, while wives' own levels of IPV victimization were associated with wives' decreased satisfaction, their husbands' levels of IPV victimization were associated with wives' increased satisfaction. When splitting the sample by ethnicity, compelling patterns emerged, showing that while among Mexican Americans, wives' IPV victimization was related to husbands' decreased satisfaction, among Caucasian Americans, wives' IPV victimization was related to husbands' increased satisfaction. These results elucidate the role that gender and ethnicity may play in romantic relationships marked by aggression. More importantly, knowing about the mutual influence that violent partners have on one another and taking into account these effects when developing treatment plans might help researchers and practitioners to come up with the most effective interventions possible. Thus, the findings of the present study might be useful for the development of individual as well as couple-based interventions for IPV and for the development of differing treatment plans for male versus female victims of IPV as well as for Caucasian versus Mexican Americans.
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- A family study of PTSD: Occurrence and correlates of internalizing disorders in children of OIF/OEF soldiers with combat posttraumatic stress disorder
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-97), Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among U.S. combatants who are deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom conflicts (OIF/OEF). Combat PTSD has been shown to be associated with impaired social, occupational, and physical functioning. An understudied area of research is how PTSD from combat affects interpersonal functioning at the family level. Of particular vulnerability to disruption in relational systems is the parent-child dyad. The present study focused on parental PTSD, child environment, and child psychological symptoms in order to begin delineating pathways connecting parent trauma to child psychopathology. The sample consisted of 21 dyads : Adult participants with and without combat-related PTSD and biological child participants (aged 6 - 17). Parents and children were administered structured diagnostic interviews and dimensional measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD and home environment. Simple linear regression was used to test a predictive model between fathers' level of PTSD symptoms and child clinical symptoms. Multiple regression was used to test the mediation model of child home environment on the relationship between parent and child symptomatology. Results from descriptive analyses showed that level of fathers' combat exposure was a significant predictor at the alpha = 0.05 level for child anxiety, PTSD symptoms, oppositional, and conduct problems. However, level of fathers' combat exposure did not predict child depression, somatization, or withdrawn symptoms. Results showed no interaction effects. This pilot study demonstrates that the experiences of OIF/OEF combatants such as the nature of their combat exposure during deployment may be important in impacting the psychological outcomes of their offspring. Furthermore, the warzone experiences of OIF/OEF combatants during deployment appear to predict child anxiety, PTSD, and externalizing symptoms, but not child depression, withdrawn symptoms, or somatization. Results of this pilot study should be considered preliminary and the design should be replicated with a larger sample of OIF/OEF combatants. The current findings may be relevant in advancing our knowledge of etiological models of psychiatric illness in youths, identifying at-risk individuals during early life stages, and advancing mental health interventions for military families