Digital Commons Network^™

Public Housing: Appreciating Assets?, Sock Yong Phang

Research Collection School Of Economics

The topic of HDB housing is one that is close to the hearts and minds of the majority of Singaporeans. The first part of the presentation will provide a brief overview of price trends in Singapore’s housing sector. The second part delves into the market and policy factors behind the rapid increase in HDB housing prices since 2006. The monograph “Reflections on Housing a Nation” published by the Ministry of National Development in February 2011, contains numerous statements on the goals of housing policy. Briefly, the government is committed to affordable home ownership as a major pillar of Singapore’s public …

Conditional Independence Specification Testing For Dependent Processes With Local Polynomial Quantile Regression, Liangjun Su, Halbert L. White

Research Collection School Of Economics

We provide straightforward new nonparametric methods for testing conditional independence using local polynomial quantile regression, allowing weakly dependent data. Inspired by Hausman's (1978) specification testing ideas, our methods essentially compare two collections of estimators that converge to the same limits under correct specification (conditional independence) and that diverge under the alternative. To establish the properties of our estimators, we generalize the existing nonparametric quantile literature not only by allowing for dependent heterogeneous data but also by establishing a weak consistency rate for the local Bahadur representation that is uniform in both the conditioning variables and the quantile index. We also …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Severity, Dissociation, And Perceived Social Support Predict Performance On Event Processing And Memory Tasks, Michelle Eisenberg

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

New Methods For The Construction And Characterization Of Molecules On An Addressable Array, Bo Bi

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Microelectrode array has great potential as a platform for building "addressable" molecular libraries and being utilized to probe the ligand-receptor binding events in "real-time". To achieve this objective, a complete study would generally include three phases: 1) to enable and expand site-selective chemistry on the array; 2) to understand structural information of the molecules loaded; and 3) to develop research protocols of electrochemical analysis on the device to monitor those molecular interactions. While 2), quality-control analysis, is a core task of this thesis, the studies in other phases that drove this work or derived from it, are also discussed in …

Strategic Insight And Age-Related Goal-Neglect Influence Risky Decision-Making, John Westbrook

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Maximizing long-run gains often requires taking on some degree of risk, yet decision-makers often exhibit risk aversion: RA), rejecting risky prospects even when these may have higher expected value than safer alternatives. We investigated whether explicit strategy instruction and practice can decrease prepotent RA, and whether aging impacts the efficacy of such an intervention. Participants performed a paired lottery task with options varying in risk and magnitude, both before and after practice with a similar task that encouraged maximization of expected value and instruction to use this strategy in risky decisions. In both younger and older adults, strategy training reduced …

Novel Roles For A-Type Lamins In Maintaining Genomic Stability, Abena Redwood

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

A-type lamins, key structural components of the nucleus, have been implicated in the maintenance of nuclear architecture and chromatin organization. Mutations in A-type lamins have been associated with defects in a number of nuclear processes, including DNA replication and repair, and gene transcription and silencing. In support of an important role for nuclear organization in pathogenesis, mutations in A-type lamins are associated with a wide variety of degenerative diseases which range from muscular dystrophies and lipodystrophies to premature aging syndromes. In addition, alterations in the expression of A-type lamins are associated with different cancers such as small cell lung carcinoma …

Charles Sheeler's "Practical Manifestations": Painting And Design In The 1930s, Jennifer Padgett

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Work-Family Conflict And The Pipeline To Power: Lessons From European Gender Quotas, Julie C. Suk

Articles

The article examines the persistent gender disparities at the top of the legal profession, attributing them to work-family conflict and the disproportionate impact of caregiving responsibilities on women. It explores European gender quotas as a potential solution, arguing that such measures address the legitimacy and effectiveness of institutions by ensuring gender parity in leadership positions. While acknowledging the challenges in implementing quotas in the U.S., the analysis suggests that European approaches offer valuable insights for addressing the "leaky pipeline" and advancing gender equality in the legal profession.

Rescuing The Dignitary Torts From The Constitution, Cristina Carmody Tilley

Faculty Publications

The rights of individuals to recover for dignitary torts has been withering for the past forty years, since the Supreme Court constitutionalized the state common law tort of defamation in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964. The Court announced in that case that the First Amendment required it to impose high standards for individual defamation claims in order to protect robust speech. As that principle has taken hold, it has in effect squeezed the rights of individuals to recover for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as defamation. Just last Term, the Court held …

Taspase1 Is A Non-Oncogene Mediator Of Tumorigenesis And Maintenance, David Chen

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The clinical success of oncogene-targeted therapies substantiates the continued reliance of certain cancers upon the continued function of apical oncogenes involved in its genesis--a phenomenon known as "oncogene addiction." Though this shift from non-targeted, cytotoxic therapies offers new hope to patients, resistance to oncogene inactivation often remains an eventuality, and it is clear that further investigation is required to more effectively battle cancer using alternative therapeutic targets. Our studies on Taspase1: threonine aspartase 1) reveal its role in coordinating cellular proliferation and apoptosis in cancer. Loss of Taspase1 by shRNA-mediated knockdown decreased cellular proliferation in a diverse set of cancer …

Development And Application Of Fluxomics Tools For Analyzing Metabolisms In Non-Model Microorganisms, Xueyang Feng

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Decoding microbial metabolism is of great importance in revealing the mechanisms governing the physiology of microbes and rewiring the cellular functions in metabolic engineering. Complementing the genomics, transcriptomics, proteinomics and metabolomics analysis of microbial metabolism, fluxomics tools can measure and simulate the in vivo enzymatic reactions as direct readouts of microbial metabolism. This dissertation develops and applies broad-scope tools in metabolic flux analysis to investigate metabolic insights of non-model environmental microorganisms. 13C-based pathway analysis has been applied to analyze specific carbon metabolic routes by tracing and analyzing isotopomer labeling patterns of different metabolites after growing cells with 13C-labeled substrates. Novel …

Participating In Public: Female Patronage And Economic Prominence At Hellenistic Priene, Ashley Eckhardt

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Wasp Ode, Ran Wang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

A collection of poems.

Quantification And Reconstruction In Photoacoustic Tomography, Zijian Guo

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Optical absorption is closely associated with many physiological important parameters, such as the concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. Conventionally, accurate quantification in PAT requires knowledge of the optical fluence attenuation, acoustic pressure attenuation, and detection bandwidth. We circumvent this requirement by quantifying the optical absorption coefficients from the acoustic spectra of PA signals acquired at multiple optical wavelengths. We demonstrate the method using the optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy: OR-PAM) and the acoustical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy: AR-PAM) in the optical ballistic regime and in the optical diffusive regime, respectively. The data acquisition speed in photoacoustic computed tomography: PACT) is limited by the …

Joint Functions Of Mett-10 And Dynein In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Germ Line, Maia Dorsett

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

During normal development as well as in diseased states such as cancer, extracellular "niches" often provide cues to proximal cells and activate intracellular pathways. Activation of such signaling pathways in turn instructs cellular proliferation and differentiation. In the C.elegans gonad, GLP-1/Notch signaling instructs germ line stem cells to self renew through mitotic cell division. As germ cells progressively move out of the niche, they differentiate by entering meiosis and eventually form gametes. Using this model system, I uncovered a cooperative role for the METT-10 putative methyltransferase and the dynein motor complex in regulating the balance between germ cell proliferation and …

The Role Of Snail Homolog 1 In Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation, Jennifer Gill

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

During gastrulation, epiblast cells undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: EMT) as they ingress through the primitive streak and form mesoderm. To better understand the molecular pathways of EMT during this developmental transition, we developed a model system utilizing mouse embryonic stem: ES) cells. We show that EMT occurs during ES cell differentiation and is dependent on the Wnt signaling pathway. We further show that the Wnt-dependent transcription factor Snail homolog 1: Snail) is expressed and capable of inducing EMT in differentiating ES cells. In addition to EMT, Snail accelerates differentiation, promotes mesoderm commitment, and restricts markers of primitive ectoderm and epiblast. …

Dual Mode Sensing With Low-Profile Piezoelectric Thin Wafer Sensors For Steel Bridge Crack Detection And Diagnosis, Lingyu Yu, Sepandarmaz Momeni, Valery Godinez, Victor Giurgiutiu, Paul Ziehl, Jianguo Yu

Faculty Publications

Monitoring of fatigue cracking in steel bridges is of high interest to many bridge owners and agencies. Due to the variety of deterioration sources and locations of bridge defects, there is currently no single method that can detect and address the potential sources globally. In this paper, we presented a dual mode sensing methodology integrating acoustic emission and ultrasonic wave inspection based on the use of low-profile piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS). After introducing the research background and piezoelectric sensing principles, PWAS crack detection in passive acoustic emission mode is first presented. Their acoustic emission detection capability has been validated …

"You Are So Beautiful... To Me": Romantic Partners' Insight Into Others' Perceptions, Brittany Solomon

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Do romantic partners see each other realistically or do they have overly positive perceptions of each other? Research has shown that realism and positivity co-exist in romantic partners' perceptions: Boyes & Fletcher, 2007). The current study examines a novel approach to understanding how this seemingly paradoxical effect occurs. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that people are aware that others do not see their partners as positively as they do. Using both mean differences and correlational approaches, we test the notion that, despite their own biased perceptions, people have insight into how their partners see themselves: i.e., identity accuracy) and how …

Novel Sequence-Based Method For Identifying Transcription Factor Binding Sites In Prokaryotic Genomes, Gurmukh Sahota

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Computational techniques for microbial genomic sequence analysis are becoming increasingly important. With next–generation sequencing technology and the human microbiome project underway, current sequencing capacity is significantly greater than the speed at which organisms of interest can be experimentally probed. We have developed a method that will primarily use available sequence data in order to determine prokaryotic transcription factor binding specificities. The prototypical prokaryotic transcription factor: TF) contains a helix–turn–helix: HTH) fold and bind DNA as homodimers, leading to their palindromic motif specificities. The connection between the TF and its promoter is based on the autoregulation phenomenon noticed in E. coli. …

Cardiac Pi3kα Signaling And K+ Channel Regulation In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure, Kai-Chien Yang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Pathologic biomechanical stresses cause cardiac hypertrophy, which is associated with QT prolongation and increased risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Previous studies demonstrated that repolarizing K+ current densities are decreased in pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy, resulting in action potential and QT prolongation. Cardiac hypertrophy also occurs with exercise training, but this "physiological hypertrophy" is not associated with electrical abnormalities or increased arrhythmia risk, suggesting that repolarizing K+ currents are upregulated, in parallel with the increase in myocyte size, to maintain normal cardiac function. To explore this hypothesis directly, two mouse models of physiological hypertrophy, one produced by chronic exercise: swim-) …

Exploring The Role Of Wolbachia Endobacteria In The Biology Of Filarial Nematode Parasites, Samantha Mcnulty

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Filarial nematodes are vector borne parasitic worms that cause a variety of disfiguring and disabling diseases, including lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Many filarial species require Wolbachia endobacteria: family: Rickettsiaceae) to carry out their life cycle. Studies using antibiotics to target the endobacteria, thereby interfering with worm fertility and viability, have generated interest in using Wolbachia as an antifilarial drug target. However, the exact mechanisms underpinning this interesting mutualistic interaction are poorly understood. Wolbachia-dependence is not ubiquitous in the filarial family. Some species are able to survive in the absence of an endosymbiont. The inconsistent patterns of Wolbachia-dependence and independence seen …

Reenactment Season And Other Poems, Heather Overby

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Allosteric Modulation Of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 As A Treatment For Pain, Michael Montana

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5: mGlu5) has been suggested to play a role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. mGlu5 is expressed at synapses throughout the pain neuraxis where it is believed to modulate the function of ion channels that underlie nociceptive transduction and transmission. Injections of mGlu5 agonists cause hypersensitivity or nocifensive behavior when administered peripherally, intrathecally, and centrally. In addition, pharmacological antagonism of mGlu5 has been suggested to be analgesic in a variety of animal pain models. Unfortunately, the selectivity of antagonists used in these studies has been called into question, suggesting that at least some of …

New Mri Techniques For Nanoparticle Based Functional And Molecular Imaging, Lingzhi Hu

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Although in clinical use for several decades, magnetic resonance imaging: MRI) is undergoing a transition from a qualitative anatomical imaging tool to a quantitative technique for evaluating myriad diseases. Furthermore, MRI has made great strides as a potential tool for molecular imaging of cellular and tissue biomarkers. Of the candidate contrast agents for molecular MRI, the excellent bio-compatibility and adaptability of perfluorocarbon nanoparticles: PFC NP) has established these agents as a potent targeted imaging agent and as a functional platform for non-invasive oxygen tension sensing. Direct readout and quantification of PFC NP can be achieved with fluorine: 19F) MRI because …

The Role Of Autophagy And Il-17 In Bone Resorption, Carl Deselm

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Osteoclasts are essential for skeletal homeostasis: Teitelbaum, 2000). These macrophage-lineage cells function by generating a polarized microenvironment between themselves and bone wherein skeletal matrix is degraded. This resorptive compartment is isolated from the general extracellular space by an actin ring which encompasses the ruffled border, a convoluted plasma membrane structure formed by its fusion with lysosome-related vesicles containing an electrogenic H+ATPase, a chloride channel, LAMP-1, and cathepsin K. In consequence, resorption of bone reflects secretion of HCl to mobilize mineral, and cathepsin K to degrade the collagen-rich organic matrix, into the resorptive space: Stenbeck, 2002; Zhao et al., 2008). We …

[Introduction To] Executive Power In Theory And Practice, Hugh Liebert, Gary L. Mcdowell, Terry L. Price

Bookshelf

Since September 11, 2001, long-standing debates over the nature and proper extent of executive power have assumed a fresh urgency. What is executive power? When did it first emerge, and why? And what is the role of the executive within the American regime? In this book, eleven leading scholars of American politics and political theory address these and related questions, in essays on topics ranging from Aristotle and the Roman Republic to the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

[Introduction To] Consuming Traditions: Modernity, Modernism, And The Commodified Authentic, Elizabeth Outka

Bookshelf

In an unprecedented phenomenon that swept across Britain at the turn of the nineteenth century, writers, advertisers, and architects began to create and sell images of an authentic cultural realm paradoxically considered outside the marketplace. Such images were located in nostalgic pictures of an idyllic, pre-industrial past, in supposedly original objects not derived from previous traditions, and in the ideal of a purified aesthetic that might be separated from the mass market. Presenting a lively, unique study of what she terms the "commodified authentic," Elizabeth Outka explores this crucial but overlooked development in the history of modernity with a piercing …

The Effectiveness Of A Ninth-Grade Mentorship Program For Increasing Reading Comprehension, Yolanda M. Tucker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation compared 50 Grade 9 students’ reading and English language arts performance before and after a mentoring program focused on reading. There were no instructional support programs at this high school that could assist struggling students in the area of reading and English language arts. This high school mentoring program was implemented during the 2008–2009 school year to help students in areas such as oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension in response to a growing number of Grade 9 students failing the state’s annual reading assessment. Foundational reading skills are needed to succeed in all subject areas. …

Effects Of Participative Leadership On Teacher Job Satisfaction, Rachaniphorn Ngotngamwong

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

With the astronomical rates of teacher turnover caused mainly by teacher dissatisfaction, school administrators are currently faced with the big challenge of retaining teachers. This problem is faced worldwide, and one of the main factors of teacher dissatisfaction is the lack of their participation in school decisions. The purpose of this study was to examine if a relationship existed between participative decision-making processes and teacher job satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was used to examine two research questions: 1. To what degree is the practice of participative leadership perceived by schoolteachers in private schools in Bangkok, Thailand? 2. …

An Evaluation Of Teaching Strategies Using Computer Technology, Anthony Griffin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The push to integrate technology into teachers’ daily practices has met with many forms of resistance. A common approach to increasing technology integration has been to provide teachers with professional development. This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the impact of a peer-led professional development program on teachers’ ability and confidence to integrate computer technology in daily classroom practices.

The writer prepared and facilitated a peer-led professional development program on the use of computer technology for volunteer English and social studies teachers. The program was presented as a 6-hour training. At the conclusion of the training, the participants evaluated the …