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- Creators: Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business
- Resource Type: Text
Description
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) display significantly earlier symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) beginning around age 35. Because AD-like symptoms tend to be ever present in those with DS, it is difficult to accurately evaluate those with DS for earlier onset of AD. It has been suggested that physical activity and sleep are potential measures to monitor for manifestations of early AD-like symptoms in people with DS. Our lab has previously shown remarkable improvements in physical activity, cognition, and motor control while using Assisted Cycle Therapy (ACT) for adolescents with DS, Parkinson's disease (PD), and stroke populations. This novel exercise intervention is suggested to mediate improvements in cerebral activation through upregulated neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and neuro-plastic mechanisms. Despite prior research, there remains to be limited studies behind these concepts in adults with DS and sleep, which is suspected to be an accurate metric for AD-like manifestations. Fifteen older adult participants with DS were assigned to one of two cycling interventions: ACT or VC. All participants were provided Fitbit HR devices for sleep and physical activity tracking. Only five adults had viable continuous collection of data for both sleep and physical activity. While none of our results reached conventional levels of significance, there were trends towards significance in the VC group for total steps taken and in the ACT group for sleep-onset latency (SOL). Individual cases of improvement were noted but it globally can be supported that Fitbit devices are not optimistic for adults with DS due to poor long-term compliance. It comes to no surprise to those involved with these groups that cooperativity tends to be low with long term interventions in research design. In spite of this significant barrier, Fitbit devices offer to be a reliable and inexpensive record keeper of physical activity and sleep. Future research should lean to investigate the viability of Fitbit devices within younger populations, the role of heart rate variability on sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency in DS, and utilize more extensive compliance reinforcement to obtain volume of data collection needed to establish significant measurements of physical activity and sleep in populations with DS.
ContributorsDietz, Matthew David (Author) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Thesis director) / Holzapfel, Simon (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Our lives are documented and facilitated by the internet. Given that an increasing proportion of time is being spent online, search and browsing history offers a unique frame of reference to conduct a qualitative study since it contains individual goals, day-to-day experiences, illicit thoughts, and questions, all while capturing sentiments rather than statistics. Seeing this recorded daily activity mapped out over the course of several years would hopefully provide a startling reminder of how life can be accurately and simply described as a series of constantly evolving interests and intentions, as well as give a sense of how exhaustively massive internet companies collect private information online. The search engine giant Google offers its users the transparency and freedom to export and download an archive of their web activity through a service known as Google Takeout. We propose using this service to empower ordinary individuals with Google accounts by developing a comprehensive and qualitative approach to understanding and gaining insights about their personal behavior online. In this paper, we first define and analyze the need for such a product. Then we conduct a variety of intent and interest-sensitive computational analysis methods on a sample browser history to explore and contextualize emergent trends, as a proof of concept. Finally, we create a blueprint for building an interactive application which uses our approach to generate dynamic dashboards and unique user profiles from search and browsing data.
ContributorsLi, Jason (Author) / Sopha, Matthew (Thesis director) / Shutters, Shade (Committee member) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor, Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
In this world of fading trends, a fear of missing out, and the next best thing, people crave lasting connection and authenticity. Music festivals are multi day musical and social events that have to power to bring people together for a ritualistic experience providing a meaningful awakening for each individual attendee. Peoples identity can be validated in the affirmative social negotiation and a safe environment - just so at a music festival. The ritual that exists at festivals through the actions attendees make all combine into an incomparable experience aiding them in their own personal growth and their connection to others and their surroundings. With the support of survey data on music festivals, the best changes to festival production would be the implementation of more purposeful activities to contribute to the ritual and meaning for attendees, as well as marketing content which showcases the elements of community, art and music, rather than the regular sales pitch. This shift of marketing content would set a positive tone for the given music festival, which is crucial in ensuring attendees arrive with good intentions and have that transformative experience to expand themselves and feel connected.
ContributorsPatterson-Gonzales, Ariel Christine (Author) / Gray, Nancy (Thesis director) / Nowak, Timothy (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
This study aims to identify the potential irrationality in the personal investment decision-making habits of university students, as influenced by the framing effect, loss aversion, and related heuristics. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of 114 students (n = 102). Participants responded to a survey regarding their willingness to invest in certain hypothetical investment scenarios. Outcome was measured primarily using Likert scales and yes
o binomial options regarding the participant’s willingness to participate in a specific deal. The study was broken into three blocks, the first of which dealt with the framing effect and the subsequent two considered loss aversion. Of the data collected, there were multiple significant results found to support the framing effect and loss aversion. There was a significant difference between responses that were positively and negatively framed, and between varying upside potential in equivalent-risk scenarios. For block one, those participants who received the positive framing condition were more likely to invest in the master’s program than those who received the negative framing condition. For blocks two and three, the majority of participants exhibited loss averse behavior more extreme than the predicted amounts; closer to 4x the upside was required (rather than the predicted 2x) for the participants to participate in the deal. Although the results did replicate the framing effect and loss aversion, college students were more loss averse than was predicted.
o binomial options regarding the participant’s willingness to participate in a specific deal. The study was broken into three blocks, the first of which dealt with the framing effect and the subsequent two considered loss aversion. Of the data collected, there were multiple significant results found to support the framing effect and loss aversion. There was a significant difference between responses that were positively and negatively framed, and between varying upside potential in equivalent-risk scenarios. For block one, those participants who received the positive framing condition were more likely to invest in the master’s program than those who received the negative framing condition. For blocks two and three, the majority of participants exhibited loss averse behavior more extreme than the predicted amounts; closer to 4x the upside was required (rather than the predicted 2x) for the participants to participate in the deal. Although the results did replicate the framing effect and loss aversion, college students were more loss averse than was predicted.
ContributorsKlemish, Colby (Author) / Radway, Debra (Thesis director) / Arrfelt, Mathias (Committee member) / Goldinger, Stephen (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
This thesis explores European identity through the European Union and the Eurovision Song Contest using Michael Walzer’s hyphenated American identity by expanding his argument to the EU, culture, and broadening the definition of diversity. Walzer had three main points about the American identity that makes it unique. First, a hyphen with a many side and a one side exist with no expectation of assimilation. Second, the should be a hyphen and can be emphasized. Third, there are unsuccessful patriotic fevers. On the political level, the EU has a hyphenated identity but fails with expectations of assimilation and successful patriotic fevers like Brexit. Walzer does not examine the cultural aspect of identity, this is where this thesis goes beyond his idea in examining European identity in the cultural institution of Eurovision. The literature and winning songs confirm that a hyphenated identity exists in Eurovision. I sorted the winning songs into three categories of diversity, national identity, and neutral. I did not reject two of my hypotheses, there were more neutral songs, and songs in diversity and national identity became common after 1992. The hypothesis I rejected was that national identity songs would be more common than diversity songs, this was not the case. I used Ukraine 2004 for diversity and Greece 2005 for national identity case studies. Overall, when there is a United States of Europe its identity will be the same as Walzer’s American identity. It is just not there yet, but with further European integration, it will.
ContributorsHubby, Turner Wilbanks (Author) / Kirkpatrick, Jennet (Thesis director) / Voorhees, Matthew (Committee member) / Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Predictive analytics have been used in a wide variety of settings, including healthcare,
sports, banking, and other disciplines. We use predictive analytics and modeling to
determine the impact of certain factors that increase the probability of a successful
fourth down conversion in the Power 5 conferences. The logistic regression models
predict the likelihood of going for fourth down with a 64% or more probability based on
2015-17 data obtained from ESPN’s college football API. Offense type though important
but non-measurable was incorporated as a random effect. We found that distance to go,
play type, field position, and week of the season were key leading covariates in
predictability. On average, our model performed as much as 14% better than coaches
in 2018.
sports, banking, and other disciplines. We use predictive analytics and modeling to
determine the impact of certain factors that increase the probability of a successful
fourth down conversion in the Power 5 conferences. The logistic regression models
predict the likelihood of going for fourth down with a 64% or more probability based on
2015-17 data obtained from ESPN’s college football API. Offense type though important
but non-measurable was incorporated as a random effect. We found that distance to go,
play type, field position, and week of the season were key leading covariates in
predictability. On average, our model performed as much as 14% better than coaches
in 2018.
ContributorsBlinkoff, Joshua Ian (Co-author) / Voeller, Michael (Co-author) / Wilson, Jeffrey (Thesis director) / Graham, Scottie (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Since 1979, Phoenix has been organized into 15 theoretically self-contained urban villages in order to manage rapid growth. The major objective of the village plan was to decrease demand for personal vehicle use by internalizing travel to the closest village core, or an adjacent village core, instead of expanding travel to one metropolitan core. Phoenix’s transition from a monocentric urban structure to a more polycentric structure has yet to be studied for its efficacy on this goal of turning personal vehicle travel inward. This paper pairs more conventional measures of automobile dependence, such as, use of alternative modes of transportation in place of private vehicle use and commute times, with more nuanced measures of internal travel between work and home, job housing ratio, and job industry breakdowns to describe Phoenix’s reliance on automobiles. Phoenix’s internal travel ratios were higher when compared to adjacent cities and either on-par or lower when compared to non-adjacent cities that were comparable to Phoenix in population density and size.
ContributorsCuiffo, Kathryn Victoria (Author) / King, David (Thesis director) / Salon, Deborah (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Department of Economics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The core of international business practices revolve around conducting business with other countries, and the need to understand the differences in legal, economic, and unique cultural practices. While every country has its own unique economic practices, Italy’s major cities each have its own individual business practices. This is a result of Italy’s rich history with each of the major regions and its capitals acting as singular city-states or republics. Even after the unification of Italy in the 19th century, major cities of various regions of the country have very different economic practices. From this research, it is evident that these industrial local differences are due to the key historical discrepancies that are characteristic to each city. The geographically spaced major cities that were analyzed are: Milan, Florence, Rome, and Amalfi. We looked at what each city was known for economically, and took a step back to see why its history eventually made that city famous for that. The research showed that Milan is a known global fashion hub due to increased production in the textile industries, changes in local perceptions of fashion, and the overall ability to adapt to the fashion demands that were not being met by other fashion capitals at the time a century ago. The biggest sector of Florence’s economy is cultural tourism, and this is due to Florence’s rich prevalence in art history and the Renaissance. Next, Rome’s economy is centered on politics and services industries. This research shows that Rome was the voted capital due to its significance as the head of the ancient Roman Empire, as well as its central location within the country. Moving even more south is Amalfi and its famous coast. Economically, it is known for its production of limoncello liqueur. This is due to its agricultural history of cultivating the unique Amalfi lemons and its importance with sailors and trading with the Middle East. Each city has different cultures, economic practices, and history, because of Italy’s past as a collection of independent city-states. For the creative project element of this research, a painting was created for each city to artistically display the city’s history that influenced its current economy.
ContributorsHarfouche, Lana (Author) / Dal Martello, Chiara (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
For the Supply Chain Management Alternative Thesis, I was required to attend 4 research seminars. After attending all four seminars, I wrote a summary for each one and then did my own research on a subject from one of the seminars. I selected the lecture from Mahyar Eftekhar to do more research on due to my passion of humanitarian work. The lecture delivered by Mahyar Eftekhar on September 27th, 2018 there was a question being asked, “How to improve service delivery, considering the peculiar characteristics of humanitarian supply chains?”. This question can either cost a company a lot of money or save it a lot of money. The problem is how do you reduce risk for a supply chain in humanitarian work? The objective of my research is to find different solutions on risk mitigation for humanitarian organizations and how to bring down costs for the supply chains that these organizations have. Risk mitigation can be difficult for events that happen randomly, but there are ways to help reduce risk. Reducing risk is key to humanitarian supply chains because it can save money for companies that have financial restrictions. Humanitarian supply chains are much different from typical supply chains, due to what is at stake. These supply chains cannot fail, because if they do lives will be put in danger. Disasters can happen at any moment and can range from all different types. Being prepared for the worst case scenario is important in humanitarian efforts in order to bring down costs and save lives.
ContributorsDominguez, Brady (Author) / Printezis, Antonios (Thesis director) / Oke, Adegoke (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
This thesis is a proposition for an addition to an engineering project that involves creating a heads up display for a scuba diving mask which displays important safety information. The premise of this thesis includes three different features: distress, distance, and direction. The distress feature is to alert a diver that their “buddy diver” is having an emergency and is requiring attention. Distance and direction are intended to be included on the heads up display, informing the diver of the relative location of their “buddy diver” in case they have lost sight of them. A set of requirements was created to find the most practical solutions. From these requirements and extensive research, three different methods of underwater communication were found, but only one, acoustics, was feasible for the scope of this project. Using modems and transducers, an acoustic signal is able to be sent from one diver to another in order to detect relative location as well as send a message of distress. Ultimately, two possible concepts were designed, with one deemed as most advantageous. This concept engages the use of four transponders that have the ability to transmit and receive high frequencies, minimizes blind spots, and is small enough to not cause discomfort or be obstructive to the divers experience.
ContributorsHocken, Chase (Co-author) / Nossaman, Grace (Co-author) / Padilla, Bryan (Co-author) / Richmond, Christ D (Thesis director) / Baumann, Alicia (Committee member) / Electrical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05