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2014

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Multi-Armed Bandits With Applications To Markov Decision Processes And Scheduling Problems, Isa Mithqal Muqattash Dec 2014

Multi-Armed Bandits With Applications To Markov Decision Processes And Scheduling Problems, Isa Mithqal Muqattash

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The focus of this work is on practical applications of stochastic multi-armed bandits (MABs) in two distinctive settings. First, we develop and present REGA, a novel adaptive sampling-based algorithm for control of finite-horizon Markov decision processes (MDPs) with very large state spaces and small action spaces. We apply a variant of the epsilon-greedy multi-armed bandit algorithm to each stage of the MDP in a recursive manner, thus computing an estimation of the " reward-to-go" value at each stage of the MDP. We provide a finite-time analysis of REGA. In particular, we provide a bound on the probability that the approximation …

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The Effect Of Patch Dynamics And Nutrient Availability On The Production Of Zostera Marina Seeds Within Shinnecock Bay, Ny, Lisa Jackson Dec 2014

The Effect Of Patch Dynamics And Nutrient Availability On The Production Of Zostera Marina Seeds Within Shinnecock Bay, Ny, Lisa Jackson

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Exposing Zostera marina to fertilized porewater has been shown to increase vegetative shoot density and leaf growth rates, as well as affect morphological shoot characteristics including increasing leaf length, leaf area and the number of leaves per shoot. However, aside from changes in shoot density, records of morphological changes in reproductive shoots subjected to increased nutrient availability are lacking. To address this, five replicate ambient and nutrient enriched patches, each between 0.5 and 2.0 m2, were selected within a developing Z. marina meadow in Shinnecock Bay, NY. Fertilizer stakes, with a N:P:K of 15:3:3, were used to amend enriched patches …

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The Influence Of Biogenic Opal On 231pa/230th In Sediments From The Bermuda Rise And Its Implication For Paleocirculation Reconstructions, Theresa Marie King Dec 2014

The Influence Of Biogenic Opal On 231pa/230th In Sediments From The Bermuda Rise And Its Implication For Paleocirculation Reconstructions, Theresa Marie King

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Thermohaline circulation is responsible for the global transport of heat in surface waters of the ocean, and variability in this circulation has been linked to both short- and long-term climate change on time scales ranging from centuries to tens of thousands of years. Accurate reconstructions of past variability are thus critical to understanding modern and future thermohaline circulation changes and the response of the global climate system. The main circulation feature in the Atlantic is Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and has been reconstructed using a variety of static proxies, but more recently through the use of sedimentary 231Paxs …

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Diversity Of Skates (Batoidea: Rajoidei) And The Spatial Structure Of Nw Atlantic Communities, Christopher Michael Martinez Dec 2014

Diversity Of Skates (Batoidea: Rajoidei) And The Spatial Structure Of Nw Atlantic Communities, Christopher Michael Martinez

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Trait diversity often underlies complexity observed in biological systems. Whether it is behavior, life history, form or function, variation imparts differential performance on the organism, which may influence processes at higher levels of organization. Using two approaches, my dissertation research concerns the appraisal of diversity in fishes and its consequences for their ecology and evolution. The first two chapters focus on variety of spatial behaviors in northwest Atlantic marine communities. Temporal changes in community habitat utilization, as quantified by the interspecific abundance-occupancy (A-O) relationship, were the focus of chapter one. Trends in the A-O relationship indicated large-scale reorganization in some …

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Does The Seasonal Acidification Of Spawning Habitat Influence Offspring Co2 Reaction Norms Through Transgenerational Plasticity In The Coastal Fish Species, Menidia Menidia?, Christopher S. Murray Dec 2014

Does The Seasonal Acidification Of Spawning Habitat Influence Offspring Co2 Reaction Norms Through Transgenerational Plasticity In The Coastal Fish Species, Menidia Menidia?, Christopher S. Murray

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Experimental assessments of species vulnerabilities to ocean acidification are rapidly expanding, yet the potential for short- and long-term adaptation to high CO2 by contemporary marine organisms remains poorly understood. We used a novel experimental approach that combined bi-weekly sampling of a wild, spawning fish population (Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia) with standardized offspring CO2 exposure experiments and parallel pH monitoring of a coastal ecosystem. We assessed whether offspring produced at different times of the spawning season (April-July) would be similarly susceptible to elevated (~1,100 uatm, pHNBS = 7.77) and high CO2 levels (~2,300 uatm, pHNBS = 7.47). Early in the season …

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Oceanic And Atmospheric Influences On The Interannual Variability Of The Madagascar Phytoplankton Bloom, Lindsay Roupe Dec 2014

Oceanic And Atmospheric Influences On The Interannual Variability Of The Madagascar Phytoplankton Bloom, Lindsay Roupe

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Approximately every other year during the austral summer a larger phytoplankton bloom propagates off of the southeast tip of Madagascar. The cause of the interannual variability of this distinct oceanic feature remains unclear, so here we improve the analysis of the interannual variability of the bloom with a longer ocean color dataset, re-examine the existing mixed layer depth and iron fertilization hypotheses formerly used to explain bloom formation and analyze the variability in the larger ocean-atmosphere system in the region in relation to bloom formation. To resolve the forcings on the bloom, relevant satellite and reanalysis data were examined using …

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Molecular Characterization Of Quahog Parasite Unknown (Qpx), A Thraustochytird Pathogen Of The Hard Clam, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Ewelina Rubin Dec 2014

Molecular Characterization Of Quahog Parasite Unknown (Qpx), A Thraustochytird Pathogen Of The Hard Clam, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Ewelina Rubin

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The hard clam or northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria, is one of the most valuable seafood products in the United States. Severe episodes of hard clam mortality have been consistently associated with infections caused by a thraustochytrid parasite called Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX). Studies in the present dissertation examined the molecular bases of QPX virulence towards clams. Investigation of QPX transcriptome libraries generated a database of QPX putative virulence factors and other molecules potentially involved in interactions with the clam host. Multiple differential gene expression profiles were generated using oligoarray technology for QPX strains isolated from different geographic locations and for …

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Evaluation Of Wrf Planetary Boundary Layer Schemes Over The Coastal Waters Of Southern New England, Matthew Joseph Sienkiewicz Dec 2014

Evaluation Of Wrf Planetary Boundary Layer Schemes Over The Coastal Waters Of Southern New England, Matthew Joseph Sienkiewicz

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Winds, temperatures and moisture in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) are often difficult for operational models to predict given the relatively sparse observations and that most model PBL parameterizations were developed over inland locations. Coastal marine layer forecasts are important for the forecasting of severe storms and wind energy resources in the highly populated coastal marine environment of the Northeast U.S. (NEUS). Mesoscale models are known to have large biases in wind speeds and temperatures at these lower levels over coastal waters. The goal of this project is to evaluate the performance of six PBL schemes in the Weather Research …

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Microplastics In Long Island Marine Estuaries, Jessica Steve Dec 2014

Microplastics In Long Island Marine Estuaries, Jessica Steve

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

This study investigated the prevalence of microplastics in Shinnecock Bay and Jamaica Bay on Long Island in New York. Surface water samples were collected with a 200 μ m plankton tow net, filtered onto metal mesh screens, and examined under a dissecting microscope. A total of 517 microplastic particles were found in samples from Shinnecock Bay (0-0.58 particles m-3), and 1,005 particles were found in Jamaica Bay samples (0-3.93 particles m-3). Particles were visually sorted by size, color, and shape. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze microplastic particle diversity, evenness, and any spatial or temporal variation. Attempts to determine source …

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Nitrogen Loading To The South Shore, Eastern Bays, Ny: Sources, Impacts, And Management Options, Isabelle Stinnette Dec 2014

Nitrogen Loading To The South Shore, Eastern Bays, Ny: Sources, Impacts, And Management Options, Isabelle Stinnette

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The excessive delivery of nitrogen from land into coastal waters can lead to a host of environmental problems including algal blooms, hypoxic zones, habitat loss, and acidification. While many of these environmental problems have manifested themselves within Long Island's coastal bays, the quantity and sources of nitrogen are largely unknown in much of this region, making the development of effective management plans to ameliorate these problems exceedingly difficult. This study was designed to quantify nitrogen loads and sources to Moriches, Quantuck and Shinnecock Bays within the eastern extent of Long Island's South Shore Estuary Reserve. Further this study assessed water …

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Mechanical Properties Of 3-D Printed Cellular Foams With Triangular Cells, Pratap Kumar Bunga Dec 2014

Mechanical Properties Of 3-D Printed Cellular Foams With Triangular Cells, Pratap Kumar Bunga

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

In the present work, poly lactic acid (PLA) is used as a model system to investigate the mechanical behavior of 3-D printed foams with triangular cells. Solid PLA tension and compression specimens and foams made of PLA were fabricated using fused deposition 3-D printing technique. The solid PLA tension specimens were characterized for their densities and found to be about 10% lower in density as compared to their bulk counter parts. The triangular foams had a relative density of about 64%. The relationships between the structure of the foams and its deformation behavior under compression along two in-plane directions were …

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Recombination Of Charge Carriers In Low Dielectric Constant Organic Solvent, Hung Cheng Chen Dec 2014

Recombination Of Charge Carriers In Low Dielectric Constant Organic Solvent, Hung Cheng Chen

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

This dissertation consists of three projects: (1) Escape of Anions from Geminate Recombination due to Charge Delocalization. (2) Charge Separation of Electron-Hole Pairs (Exciplexes) Enhanced by Charge Delocalization. (3) Energies of Radical Anions Measured by Bimolecular Electron Transfer Equilibria Method. The first project studies geminate recombination of 23 radical anions (M*− ) with solvated protons (RH2+) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The recombination has two steps: (1) Diffusion of M*− and RH2+ together to form intimate (contact and solvent separated) ion pairs, driven by Coulomb attraction; (2) Annihilation of anions due to proton transfer (PT) from RH2 …

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Properties Of Boron Phosphide Films Grown On Different Substrates And Conoscopic Study Of Sapphire, Ruifen Chen Dec 2014

Properties Of Boron Phosphide Films Grown On Different Substrates And Conoscopic Study Of Sapphire, Ruifen Chen

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Boron phosphide (BP) with its high capture cross section for thermal neutrons is potentially a great candidate material for neutron detectors. Bulk BP substrates are not readily available for developing detector devices therefor heteroepitaxial growth by CVD on commercially available substrates are currently being explored. The quality of BP films growth on commercial Si substrates is too poor for use in detector applications. In this thesis, we explore various substrates for suitability for BP heteroepitaxy by characterizing the crystalline quality of the epilayers grown under various growth conditions. Substrate materials used in this study include on-axis c-plane 6H-SiC, off-axis c-plane …

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Pvp-Ca Composite Preparation And Its Characteristics, Ruiyao Cui Dec 2014

Pvp-Ca Composite Preparation And Its Characteristics, Ruiyao Cui

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a commonly used polymer that has some excellent properties, such as great strength and biocompatibility. Cellulose Acetate (CA) is another excellent polymer that has been employed in many applications, including drug. PVP-CA composite has both strength and flexible properties that can be used as ultrafiltration membranes or the drug release system. PVP-CA composites comprise a new class of materials that have been the scope of this work. In this research, the electrospun PVP-CA composites were prepared under different concentrations. Then, the impact of different electrospinning parameters on fiber diameters was investigated. Moreover, acetic acid and acetone were …

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Defect Analysis Of Boron Phosphide Thin Films And Sapphire Single Crystal Using Synchrotron X-Ray Topography, Zihao Ding Dec 2014

Defect Analysis Of Boron Phosphide Thin Films And Sapphire Single Crystal Using Synchrotron X-Ray Topography, Zihao Ding

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Boron phosphide is an ideal semiconductor material used for neutron detectors because of its superior material properties, such as wide band gap and large thermal neutron capture cross-section of 10B. Since bulk BP is not readily available for neutron detector application, BP thin films are mainly synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Among all the feasible substrates for BP deposition, SiC stands out due to its small lattice mismatch (4.5%) with BP, however it is necessary to optimize the growth condition to synthesize high quality BP thin films on SiC. In chapter III, BP thin film samples deposited on 4H-SiC …

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Investigation Of Biomineralization By Raman Spectroscopy, Robert William Fatscher Dec 2014

Investigation Of Biomineralization By Raman Spectroscopy, Robert William Fatscher

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Biomineralization is a process in which living organism grow composite materials consisting of inorganic and organic materials. This produces a composite material consisting of both inorganic and organic components, with superior mechanical properties. In the human body bone and dentin are both examples of biominerals. In this research Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize dentin from mice and human teeth, to determine composition. In the mouse tooth samples areas of irregular dentin were found, along the inside of the tooth, to be in the process of mineralization. By analyzing the samples along these areas we were able to determine the …

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Diamond Detector--Material Science, Design And Application, Mengjia Gaowei Dec 2014

Diamond Detector--Material Science, Design And Application, Mengjia Gaowei

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Modern synchrotrons, such as the NSLS-II, will enable unprecedented science by having extremely high brightness and flux with exceptional beam stability. These capabilities create a harsh and demanding environment for measuring the characteristics of the x-ray beam. In many cases, existing measurement techniques fail completely, requiring the development of new detectors which can meet the demands of the synchrotron. The combination of diamond properties ranked diamond an appealing candidate in the field of radiation detection in extreme conditions and it has been used as x-ray sensor material for decades. However, only until the development of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process …

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Investigation Of Bio-Inspired Hybrid Materials Through Polymer Infiltration Of Thermal Spray Formed Ceramic Templates, Katherine Claire Flynn Dec 2014

Investigation Of Bio-Inspired Hybrid Materials Through Polymer Infiltration Of Thermal Spray Formed Ceramic Templates, Katherine Claire Flynn

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

High strength and toughness are often mutually exclusive in engineered materials. This is especially true of ceramics and polymers. Ceramics exhibit high strength and stiffness, but are brittle while polymers are flaw tolerant but prone to deformation at low stresses. Nature overcomes this restriction in materials by strategically combining brittle components with tough organics, leading to materials with both a high strength and toughness. One of the most impressive natural composites is nacre consisting of mainly a brittle mineral phase, 95vol% calcium carbonate (aragonite), and 5vol% biopolymer (a combination of proteins and polysaccahrides). Nature combines constituents with poor macroscale properties …

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Preparation And Sensing Properties Of Fsp Processed Wo3 Nano Sensor, Jiahao Huang Dec 2014

Preparation And Sensing Properties Of Fsp Processed Wo3 Nano Sensor, Jiahao Huang

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Nano-scale tungsten trioxide particles have been synthesized by the flame spray pyrolysis method and a 3×3 mm2 sensor was made by the drop-coating method using the nanoparticles as the active element. After heat-treatment at 500 °C, the materials structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Sensing tests were carried out at 200 and 350 °C respectively, down to a trace nitric oxide concentration of 100 parts per billion. The sensor sensitivity was remarkable at these two working conditions employed in this work, providing evidence for the importance of flame spray pyrolysis method as …

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Comparative Study Of Microstructure And Properties Of Thermal Sprayed Mcraly Bond Coatings, Michael William Inglima Dec 2014

Comparative Study Of Microstructure And Properties Of Thermal Sprayed Mcraly Bond Coatings, Michael William Inglima

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

A series of experiments were performed in order to observe certain process-property trends in thermally sprayed MCrAlY bond coatings for thermal barrier coating (TBC) applications in gas-turbine engines. Firstly, the basis of gas-turbine operation and design is discussed with a focus on the Brayton cycle and basic thermodynamic properties with respect to both the thermal and fuel efficiency of the turbine. The high-temperature environment inside the gas-turbine engine creates an extremely corrosive medium in which the engineering components must operate with sufficient operating life times. These engineering constraints, both thermal/fuel efficiency and operating life, pose a serious problem during long …

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Deformation Behavior Of Honeycomb Foams In Compression, Doo Hee Lee Dec 2014

Deformation Behavior Of Honeycomb Foams In Compression, Doo Hee Lee

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

In the present work, poly lactic acid (PLA) is used as a model system to investigate the deformation behavior of honeycomb foams under compression loads. Solid PLA tension specimens and foams made of PLA were fabricated using fused deposition 3-D printing technique. The solid PLA tension specimens were characterized for their densities and found to be about 10% lower in density as compared to their bulk counter parts. The honeycomb foams had a relative density of about 47%. The deformation mechanisms leading to the crushing of the honeycomb foams under compression were characterized. Furthermore, simple finite element models were developed …

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A Study Modeling Secure Base Parenting Cognitions, Sandra Skinner Dec 2014

A Study Modeling Secure Base Parenting Cognitions, Sandra Skinner

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Secure attachment is associated with a host of positive outcomes including higher levels of prosocial behavior and self-efficacy, better stress regulation, and a lower incidence of psychopathology. Secure base support and sensitive caregiving interactions are predictive of secure attachment. Interventions designed to promote sensitive caregiving have had success in both improving parental behaviors and in increasing levels of attachment security. These interventions are, however, too time consuming and resource intensive to be rolled out to the general population. This study sought to determine if a brief and easy to deliver intervention could be successful in enhancing secure base cognitions in …

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The Arts In The Showcase: Santiago's Exposiciã³N Internacional Of 1875 | The Arts In The Showcase: Santiago's Exposición Internacional Of 1875, Marcela Alejandra Drien Dec 2014

The Arts In The Showcase: Santiago's Exposiciã³N Internacional Of 1875 | The Arts In The Showcase: Santiago's Exposición Internacional Of 1875, Marcela Alejandra Drien

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

During the 1870s, exhibition culture attained particular relevance among the Chilean elite, who saw exhibitions as a forum for portraying Chile as a modern nation. In this context, Santiago's Exposición Internacional of 1875, the first international exhibition carried out in the country, provided a unique opportunity for the display of Chile's material and cultural progress among national and international audiences. This dissertation examines the role the arts played in shaping the international image of Chile as a " civilized" nation, while simultaneously attempting to highlight the unique features of Chilean national identity during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Thus, the use …

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Family Education, Occupation, And Chronic Illness: Social Class And The Lives Of Hemodialysis Patients, Paul Eric Bugyi Dec 2014

Family Education, Occupation, And Chronic Illness: Social Class And The Lives Of Hemodialysis Patients, Paul Eric Bugyi

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

A vast amount of evidence exists showing a relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health. Regardless of how outcomes are measured (self-reported health, incidence of disease, mortality rates and others), income, educational attainment, and occupation are key predictors. How SES matters for health outcomes has been a major question asked by researchers during the past 25 years. Many sociologists argue that the resources that come along with high socioeconomic status - money, power, prestige, beneficial social connections, knowledge, and skills - explains the SES/health gradient. This research project assesses whether or not those resources were important to individuals in dealing …

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Gender, Power, And Inequality: An Examination Of The Causes And Consequences Of Queer Intimate Partner Violence, Bethany Marie Coston Dec 2014

Gender, Power, And Inequality: An Examination Of The Causes And Consequences Of Queer Intimate Partner Violence, Bethany Marie Coston

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Violence is a not a new social phenomenon--at least, in the sense that violence has occurred throughout history between individuals, within communities, and practiced by institutions. But mainstream sociological studies of violence are all too often studies of men's violence. This project is an attempt to challenge critically the specter of heteronormativity that haunts the theories and praxis of intimate partner violence (IPV). Under this preexisting framework, studies have focused on men's violence against woman and used patriarchy as an explanation (i.e. the unequal distribution of gendered power, with men benefiting). However, I want to know if gender is still …

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The Gendered City: The Politics Of Violence Against Women In Mexico City's Public Transportation System, Amy Dunckel Dec 2014

The Gendered City: The Politics Of Violence Against Women In Mexico City's Public Transportation System, Amy Dunckel

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

According to the World Health Organization as of 2010 more people live in cities than ever before. And yet, also according to them, women are one of the least likely groups to control the wealth and power that is produced in these metropolises. How are women excluded from equal right to the city? Why is gender inequality in cities so persistent and difficult for women to overcome? This research looks at the case of Mexico City -one of the largest cities in the world, hailed as an economic hub for Latin America- to answer these questions. In the last decade …

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Sexual Decision Making In The Context Of Hookup Culture; A Mixed-Method Examination, Rachel Kalish Dec 2014

Sexual Decision Making In The Context Of Hookup Culture; A Mixed-Method Examination, Rachel Kalish

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

This dissertation is a multi-method study of college students' sexual decision-making. It relies on interviews and focus groups to examine how college students make decisions within the context of the " hook-up culture" (Heldman and Wade 2010) prominent on American campuses. Patterns in the qualitative data are examined quantitatively using the Online College Life Survey. To understand how students make decisions in hookup culture, I examine their views of relationships, how they enact relationships, and the effects of hooking up on relationships. I that students envision relationships in their future, and choose not to expend time on them during their …

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Re-Facing Societies Through Art Faith47: A Heroine For Hope, Stephen Louis Francis Dec 2014

Re-Facing Societies Through Art Faith47: A Heroine For Hope, Stephen Louis Francis

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Areas of the world that are facing hardships of all kinds bare the same signature that is visible to all: a dilapidated infrastructure. A first step in improving the areas that are struggling is to give the citizens something to be proud of when they look out of their windows. The work of South African street artist Faith47 is the kind of art that can provide such pride and also hope for a better future. Using Faith47's native country, I am proposing a socialist regime of art to both physically and emotionally improve the areas and citizens who suffer each …

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The Effects Of Gender Mainstreaming On Maternal And Child Health: A Cross-National Analysis Of Sub-Saharan Africa, Lauren Pandolfelli Dec 2014

The Effects Of Gender Mainstreaming On Maternal And Child Health: A Cross-National Analysis Of Sub-Saharan Africa, Lauren Pandolfelli

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

A substantive body of sociological literature has found that women's status is correlated with improved maternal and child health outcomes in developing countries, and accordingly, proposes policy recommendations for ending discrimination against women. Yet, the sociological literature has not engaged adequately with policy models for improving women's status. I address this gap in the literature by conducting the first cross-national quantitative analysis of gender mainstreaming -the global strategy adopted in 1995 by United Nations member countries for fostering gender equality. Specifically, the dissertation uses two-way fixed effects ordinary least squares regression to estimate the effects of gender-mainstreamed bilateral health aid, …

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Why Wiki Works: Peer Production And Making Knowledge The Wiki Way, Michael Andrew Restivo Dec 2014

Why Wiki Works: Peer Production And Making Knowledge The Wiki Way, Michael Andrew Restivo

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

With the widespread adoption of advanced information and communication technologies, the past decade has witnessed a proliferation of online organizations that aim to create public goods through voluntary collaboration among self-organized, networked individuals. This form of online collective action has been termed peer production. One of the most successful examples of peer production, and the most widely studied, is the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which is written in a collaborative fashion by hundreds of thousands of volunteers and used by millions of people daily. In this dissertation, I use Wikipedia as a strategic case site to critically reflect on the …

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