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Kawaii As Politics: The Visible-Invisibility of Oriental Japan
No full textPastel colors, pink stationery, animalistic features, and Lolita imagery all call to mind the fantasyland that is contemporary Japan, but these concepts were not always tied to Japanese identity. Kawaii (cute in Japanese) was a part of Japan's Post-World War II cultural diplomacy campaign in the 2000s, an attempt to improve relations with countries affected by Japanese conquest. Since then, Japan has grown militarily, economically, and politically. This research will trace Japan's shift from militarism to the promotion of cuteness and the connection between Japan's exhibition of traits that represent Edward Said's idea of the "Orient" through kawaii and the seeming increase in political freedom post-Japan's cultural diplomacy projects. I will first examine the United States's reaction to Japanese political and economic activity before and immediately following WWII as instances of racial anxiety, fear of a rising non-white Other. Then, I will analyze the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs's appointment of "kawaii ambassadors" in 2009 as an example of kawaii images being used as a substitute to replace Japanese ethnic identity in international politics. This analysis will utilize Ather Zia's "visible-invisibility" to explain how the acceptance of Orientalism through kawaii eases American anxiety and creates a veil for Japan to act politically.Modern and Classical Languages, Department ofHonors Colleg
Clonal Analysis of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells for Therapeutic Advances
No full textPancreatic cancer had the 10th most new cancer cases in the world in 2024, but is the third leading cause of cancer death (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Patients in the US have a 5-year survival rate of 6% (Gillen et al., 2010). 90% of pancreatic cancer cases are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), one of the most aggressive cancers (Truong & Pauklin, 2021). The dense fibrous tissue that forms within the pancreas and its location near vital organs make it especially hard to treat with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (Zeng et al., 2019; Myo et al., 2023). At all stages of PDAC, only around 20% of patients survive one year (Tang et al., 2011). Currently, surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine is the only potentially curative measure for PDAC (Mizrahi et al., 2020). However, much of the clinical success depends on early detection and treatment. In PDAC, heterogeneity at the levels of epithelial cell types, stromal activation, and immune signaling confer tumor resistance, growth, and metastasis. While the extent of epithelial subtypes is under investigation, there is general agreement that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is comprised of p63+ 'basal' and GATA6+ 'classical' subtypes, as well as various 'intermediate', hybrid, and immune subtypes. Using technology that clones stem cells of the human gastrointestinal tract, we are able to isolate and characterize different classical subtypes from ascites patients (Wang et al., 2015). This then allows us to develop effective treatments that can target all of the varying pancreatic cancer stem cell subtypes. [This project was completed with the contributions from Jaffer Ajani from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.]Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg
The Impact of NICU Stay on Prematurely Born Toddlers' Visual Engagement Processes: A Task-Related EEG Study
No full textPremature birth and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) exposure are associated with neurodevelopmental risks. The NICU environment may expose infants to stressors, such as painful procedures and reduced parent-infant interaction, which impact brain development. Premature children commonly show delays in visual engagement (VE); however, most research has focused on behavioral outcomes. Less is known about how prematurity affects the neural mechanisms supporting VE. Prior studies have used alpha desynchronization as a marker of attention, linking it to brain regions involved in attention processes. However, it remains unclear whether this neural system is altered in children born prematurely and how gestational age and NICU stay jointly shape early neural processes related to VE. This study examines the combined effects of gestational age and NICU stay on VE in toddlers born prematurely. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data measured alpha power spectral density (PSD) during a VE task in 33 toddlers with varying NICU exposure and gestational ages. We hypothesized that greater NICU exposure would be associated with immature neural patterns (higher alpha power). For extremely premature infants, longer NICU stays correlate with higher alpha power, and for near-term infants, longer NICU stays correlate with lower alpha power. This interaction reveals that the relationship between medical intervention and neurodevelopment is different depending on gestational age, with the impact of NICU care on visual processing systems varying based on the infant's developmental stage at birth. While behavioral VE measures were not significantly affected, parietal neural adaptations may reflect early alterations in attention processing following NICU-related experiences.Psychology, Department ofHonors Colleg
Variability in Bilingualism: Understanding Sentence Interpretation In Spanish-English Heritage Bilinguals
No full textThis study investigated sentence interpretation strategies in Spanish-English heritage bilinguals and English monolinguals using the Competition Model (CM) framework. The CM posits that language users rely on cues such as word order and verb agreement based on their cue validity, cost, and strength. Participants completed a sentence interpretation task in English and/or Spanish, along with objective (MiNT, Woodcock-Muñoz) and self-report (LHQ3) proficiency measures. Results revealed that bilinguals demonstrated flexible cue integration strategies across languages, relying more on verb agreement in Spanish and word order in English, supporting amalgamation and transfer patterns. Reaction time data showed increased processing cost under cue conflict, particularly for bilinguals using morphosyntactic cues in noncanonical structures. Analysis revealed that objective proficiency and maternal education significantly related to greater agreement cue use, whereas self-report proficiency, particularly in English, was less related. Bilingual participants showed dominance profiles reflecting differentiation, forward/backward transfer, and amalgamation, suggesting individual-level variability in strategy. These findings extend the CM by operationalizing cue strength via composite scores and highlight the role of language experience and SES in shaping bilingual syntactic processing. The study advances a nuanced perspective of bilingualism, framing it as a dynamic, experience-driven experience rather than a fixed categorical label
Exploring Mental Health Stigma Associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Subtypes in Latino Communities in the United States
No full textOCD affects 2-3% of the global population, more than 160 million individuals worldwide, yet certain groups such as Latino communities face significant mental health disparities and barriers to care. This study investigates how Latino people in the United States view mental health stigma related to different OCD subtypes and which factors determine their preferences for seeking help. The study employed experimental vignette methodology based on ecological systems theory to have more than 200 Latino participants read scenarios about protagonists Gabriel or Gabriela who experienced contamination, harm, or scrupulosity/religious OCD subtypes. The participants answered questions about their perceptions of stigma and their understanding of mental health conditions and their religious beliefs and their choices regarding seeking help. The results showed that harm-related OCD received higher stigma scores than contamination or scrupulosity subtypes, and the gender of the protagonist did not make a significant difference in stigma levels. The results showed that older participants and those who attended church more frequently reported higher stigma, but participants with higher education and those who practiced their religion in private settings reported lower stigma. The results showed that participants chose formal help sources over informal ones, but private religious practices were linked to recommendations for informal help-seeking. These findings have important implications for developing culturally responsive interventions and reducing OCD-related stigma in Latino communities
Validating Oculomotor Across-Subject Testing to Assess Visuomotor Function in At-Risk Populations
No full textRecent studies have proposed oculomotor signatures as diagnostic tools. However, application of oculometrics to patient populations will generally require across-subject testing, due to the absence of within-subject baselines. More than 66% of long-duration spaceflight astronauts are diagnosed with retinal anomalies. The goal of this thesis was to validate the ability of a Comprehensive Oculomotor Behavioral Response Assessment, which yields 21 oculometric measures, to enhance ophthalmologic diagnosis with the specific aim of supporting human spaceflight. The first study reviewed spaceflight studies on human performance. We summarized the relationship between structural changes in the eye and visuomotor function. The second study explored key differences between binocular and monocular viewing and the role of eyesight dominance in a healthy population with an eye towards establishing monocular baselines for future across-subject studies. We found binocular viewing outperforms monocular viewing; smooth pursuit initiation is quicker and more vigorous, leading to reduced reliance on saccadic compensation. Sight-eye dominance is linked to enhancement of visual motion processing. The third study investigated oculomotor performance in a cohort of asymptomatic lupus patients at risk of hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity. COBRA detected mild but significant functional impairment that was not be evident through standard clinical tests and established a connection between oculometrics and retinal structural measures. We showed that pursuit latency, initial acceleration, steady-state gain, and fixation error are correlated with retinal thickness even accounting for age, whereas standard clinical functional measures from perimetry testing are not. In a fourth study, we combined six oculomotor parameters that were altered in the patient cohort and computed an impairment vector that could be used to compute a single scalar impairment index. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis of the lupus/toxicity impairment index showed an area under the curve of 89%, providing reliable classification of patients. In conclusion, we have shown that COBRA is a highly sensitive and reliable tool for detecting mild functional impairment and could be used for enhancing diagnosis even in the absence of a baseline. These findings advance this approach with the goal of improving healthcare outcomes by improving best practices for the surveillance of at-risk population on earth and in space
Understanding Cytotoxic Mechanisms of Cancer Immunotherapies
No full textImmunotherapies have revolutionized our ability to treat cancers effectively; therapeutics like adoptive cell therapies and antibody-based therapies have yielded clinical success. Cancer immunotherapies rely on a patients’ immune cells to elicit anti-tumor responses; however not all patients respond to these therapeutics. To decode these discrepancies in response and understand the molecular mechanisms associated with these therapeutics, a deep understanding of immune cell cytotoxicity is required to fully understand how to augment their anti-tumor efficacy. The first part of this dissertation explores the killing mechanisms behind the adoptive cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Using single cell technologies, such as time lapse microscopy in nanowell grids (TIMING), we discovered that through granzyme B inhibition by the overexpression of the native inhibitor, PI-9, CAR-T cells are capable of compensating for this inhibition through redundant cytotoxic pathways such as granzyme A and Fas ligand. We observed that inhibiting granzyme B and granzyme A resulted in a considerable impact on liquid tumor cytotoxicity, but not in solid tumor cell lines. In contrast, inhibiting granzyme B and Fas ligand negatively impacted killing of solid tumor cell lines. We validated our findings by analyzing publicly available datasets of CAR T cell infusion products to show that compensation of granzyme B through granzyme A likely drives responses in patients with hematological tumors. In the second part of this dissertation, we explore the molecular mechanisms of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in natural killer (NK) cells. Using integrated TIMING and single cell RNA sequencing, we identified a population of killer NK cells that perform ADCC efficiently and correlate with clinical responses to trastuzumab. From functional validation of the killer signature, we discovered that 1) inhibiting CD16 shedding does not improve ADCC and 2) killers upregulate interferons which can be stimulated with the STING agonist, 2’3’-cGAMP, to accelerate tumor killing through increased ADCC mediated degranulation. We demonstrate that knockouts of the degranulating marker, NKG7, abolished lytic granule exocytotsis, highlighting the essential role of NKG7 in ADCC. Collectively, our findings uncovered unique cytotoxic features associated with anti-tumor efficacy by immune therapies, advancing strategies to improve cancer therapeutics
How Global Is Ecology?
No full textEcology addresses global challenges such as climate change, invasions, and pollution. Ecological research is, nevertheless, geographically biased, with most of it being conducted in relatively richer countries such as North America, Europe, and Australia, and cold and dry ecosystems, in particular, being underrepresented yet occupying vast areas. This is realized through data-based analysis of 17,000 field-based ecological research papers in 170 journals published in various languages. Research activities are focused in temperate zones, and key ecosystems like the Arctic, the Sahara, and South America are underrepresented even though they are ecologically significant. Bias precludes collaboration, regional exchange of knowledge and neglects biodiverse and less studied regions. The article suggests China's growing ecological research production as a possible model for wider global outreach. The key barriers to a more balanced distribution of research are funding, institutional support, and language. Policy reform, increased economic investment, and international collaboration need to be leveraged to expand research into temperate areas that have historically dominated research agendas. Improved conservation planning, climate resilience, and integrated ecological understanding will be offered by a more balanced global perspective. Further research needs to be developed in underrepresented areas to support environmental policy and bring about a truly global response to environmental issues.Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg
The Role of Estrogen Receptor beta Isoforms in Prostate Cancer
No full textSteroid receptors play a critical role in hormone-dependent cancers, influencing gene transcription programs that regulate development, tissue homeostasis, and differentiation through endocrine signaling. The androgen receptor (AR) is a primary therapeutic target in prostate cancer, essential for prostate development and cancer proliferation. While advancements in anti-androgen therapies have improved outcomes, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is limited by the development of androgen independence (AI), which remains incurable. In addition to AR, estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) was shown to have overlapping roles in prostate development and homeostasis. In prostate cancer, ERβ1 functions as a tumor suppressor, regulating genes that counteract carcinogenesis. However, the involvement of the ESR2 gene encoding ERβ in prostate cancer includes three alternative splice isoforms of the full length ERβ1: ERβ2, ERβ4, and ERβ5, which lack the ligand-binding domain (LBD) necessary for classic steroid receptor functions. Initially deemed non-functional, these truncated isoforms are now recognized for their oncogenic roles, including hypoxic signaling stabilization, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cell (CSC)-associated factor transcription, and chemotherapy resistance. Our study investigated the role of the endogenously expressed truncated ERβ isoforms in regulating hypoxic signaling and CSC populations. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we developed a system to differentiate the actions of ERβ1 from its truncated isoforms. We confirmed the system's effectiveness through complementary methods, such as shRNA mediated knockdown and ERβ1-specific antagonists. Findings revealed that truncated ERβ isoforms up-regulate genes linked to CSCs, chemotherapy resistance, and hypoxia response, while ERβ1 suppresses these genes. ChIP-sequencing demonstrated distinct and overlapping chromatin binding sites for ERβ2, ERβ4, and ERβ5, further indicating their roles as active transcription factors despite their truncated LBD. These isoforms directly regulate genes such as ABCB1 and OCT4, explaining their contribution to therapy resistance and CSC population expansion. This study underscores the critical role of ERβ isoforms in prostate cancer, highlighting the need for isoform-specific therapeutic strategies. Future research should explore the mechanistic pathways of these isoforms, develop selective modulators, and investigate their roles in other cancers. By advancing our understanding of ERβ isoforms, we could improve therapeutic outcomes for advanced prostate cancer and potentially other steroid receptor-related cancers
Mitigating Carbon Emissions in the Oil & Gas Sector: A Comparative Economic Analysis of the US and Nigeria
No full textThe oil and gas sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for 15% of energy-related emissions and an additional 40% from the use of oil and gas products. This research examines the challenges of implementing carbon reduction strategies in the oil and gas sectors of Nigeria and the United States, representing developing and developed economies, respectively. Using a comparative analysis of emissions data, energy mixes, and economic indicators, the study highlights the unique barriers each country faces. Nigeria's heavy reliance on oil and gas for economic stability, coupled with limited infrastructure and funding, poses significant challenges for decarbonization. In contrast, the US, with its diversified economy and advanced technologies, has made progress in reducing emissions but continues to face political and social barriers. The findings emphasize the need for tailored strategies that address the economic and infrastructural limitations of developing countries while leveraging the technological and financial resources of developed nations. Key recommendations include international collaboration, financial and technical support for developing countries, and stronger regulatory frameworks for developed countries. This research underscores the importance of a just and equitable energy transition that considers the unique contexts of both developed and developing economies, ensuring that carbon reduction strategies are both effective and inclusive.Honors CollegeChemical and Biomolecular Engineering, William A. Brookshire Department o