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A Case Study Of A Campus Food Pantry, Community And Belonging.
No full textAbstract:This case study examines the role of a food pantry on a college campus and how a sense of community and belonging is fostered among its’ students. As food insecurity increases on college campuses, this study explores how food pantries create spaces for reducing hunger but also for spaces of connection, community and belonging. Through the use of interviews, this research explores the experiences of students and volunteers who ultimately form vital connections with each other
Effects Of Conservation Laws On Particle Correlations In Heavy-Ion Collisions
No full textThis thesis serves to summarize the recently developed microcanonical particlization pre-scription in heavy ion collisions, and study its effects on correlation observables in charged hadrons. As per the microcanonical ensemble, we partition the (3+1)D hypersurface into many so-called patch regions; where each patch is treated as an isolated system with con- served local charge quantities in (Q,B,S). I simulate sampling particles from the hypersurface and propagating them through the hadronic transport phase. By comparing to a baseline limit from grand canonical particlization, I study the enhancement of correlation strength due to microcanonical particlization. I systematically study the correlation strength over a range of rapidity ∆y and azimuthal angle separation ∆ϕ, between different pairs of hadrons: pions, kaons, and protons. The patch energy Epatch is indicative of the correlation strength, and I capture this trend in the width of the correlation functions. The study is performed at two collision energies √sNN = 200 GeV and √sNN = 19.6 GeV. I study the correlations in head-on collisions and peripheral collisions, and quantify flow-related effects in addition to effects on correlation strength
Uncovering Landscapes Of Labor: The Contributions Of The Citrus Lime Industry To Socioeconomic Transformations In The Post-Emancipation Lesser Antilles
No full textThis dissertation is an historical archaeological analysis of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of Montserrat’s citrus lime industry (ca. 1852-1928) in the post-emancipation era. This study uses a multi-scalar and multi-sited framework, drawing upon different resolutions of data at the local, regional, and global level to interrogate the relationships and pathways through which the industry operated. It integrates scholarly insights from archaeologies of capitalism and the anthropology of food and consumption to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive narrative of post-emancipation life in the Caribbean. Combining archaeological, archival, and GIS data, it investigates the transition from sugar to lime production, the rise of The Montserrat Company, and the experiences of the island’s inhabitants at two contemporaneous, yet disparate, domestic sites. The research also explores the regional and global connections of the lime industry, tracing the circulation of lime commodities and their representation in British colonial discourse. Archaeological evidence suggests that a complex network of agents, policies, and processes was active in shaping the dynamics of lime-era Montserrat. These entities interacted in a diverse set of often conflicting ways, with significant consequences for daily island life and the colonial hierarchies of class, race, and labor. Most notably, Afro-Montserratians exercised their agency during this period of socioeconomic upheaval to initiate intergenerational mobility and the emergence of an Afro-Caribbean middle-class by the turn of the 20th century. The dissertation contributes to understanding the complexities of post-emancipation life in the Caribbean, the role of agro-industries in shaping local landscapes, and the legacies of colonialism and capitalism in the region
Modeling Cocaine Use And Relapse: A Focus On Sex Differences In Behavioral And Neurobiological Responses
No full textCocaine use and relapse drive increased morbidity and mortality, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying these complex behavioral phenomena is necessary for improved treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder. Individual differences, including sex and gender, impact use patters and treatment outcomes, and preclinical research suggests a strong role of biological sex on cocaine use and relapse-like behavior. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie these behavioral differences remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this dissertation used models of cocaine use and relapse-like behavior to investigate whether sex differences exist in two factors relevant to cocaine behaviors: neuronal ensembles in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and food-restriction. As described in Chapter 2, I replicated previously reported behavioral sex differences in cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, cocaine self-administration, and cocaine-seeking, but found little evidence of an impact of sex on neuronal ensembles in the NAc. As detailed in Chapter 3, I found that food-restriction sex-dependently affects cocaine-induced body weight reduction, self-administration, and cocaine-seeking. These findings emphasize the role of biological sex in cocaine use and warrant further investigation into the mechanisms that drive sex-based differences. This work, which builds upon decades of translational research, aims to inform the treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder and aid in the development of a precision medicine approach to treat substance use
Transcriptomic Predictors Of Infertility: Insights From Esc Under Stress And Uterine Dendritic Cells
No full textThis study explores the molecular mechanisms governing cellular responses to environmental stressors, with a focus on embryonic development and immune regulation. By integrating findings from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and tissue-resident dendritic cells (uDCs) in the human endometrium, this research advances our understanding of stress impacts on developmental biology and immune function. Chapter 1 employs single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to investigate ESC responses to varying doses of sorbitol, revealing dose-dependent transcriptomic changes and highlighting the differential susceptibility of cellular subpopulations to stress. High doses disrupt pluripotency and activate differentiation pathways, while low doses maintain stem-like characteristics. These findings emphasize the role of environmental stress in altering ESC differentiation trajectories. Chapter 2 expands on this by identifying a pan-stress signature across various stressors, illustrating how weak stressors maintain normal differentiation, while strong stressors lead to aberrant differentiation and disrupted regulatory networks. In Chapter 3, scRNAseq of uDCs in the human endometrium uncovers a self-renewing progenitor population, challenging the notion that uDCs are exclusively recruited from peripheral blood. This discovery offers new insights into immune regulation during reproductive processes, highlighting the roles of markers like CLEC10A and AXL in immune tolerance and implantation. Together, these chapters demonstrate the interconnectedness of stress, development, and immune regulation, with implications for reproductive health, regenerative medicine, and stress mitigation. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches to further explore the molecular networks underlying stress adaptation and immune regulation
Shustho: Women-Led Initiatives And Improved Healthcare Access For Bangladeshi Women In Southeast Michigan
No full textAccording to the U.S. Census there are over 213,000 Bangladeshis in the U.S. in 2020, with over 15,800 Bangladeshis living in Southeastern Michigan, home to many working-class families. In this community, a significant concern is Bangladeshi women often face more challenges to healthcare access, including language, culture, and insurance barriers. Previous research indicates minority communities face negative social determinants of health. Relying on the Interviewing Research Method, I examine current barriers faced by Bangladeshi women in Southeastern Michigan, revealing healthcare issues prevalent among this community, while brining to light how women-led initiatives are empowering Bangladeshi women to be “Shustho,” or “healthy,” in mind, body, and spirit
“First you go and form a Co”: Boundary Disputes in Patricia Grace’s “Ngati Kangaru”
No full textAustralia is often regarded by people from Aotearoa New Zealand as a land of promise and opportunity, yet this turns out to be a mirage for many Māori. Patricia Grace’s short story “Ngati Kangaru” (1994) features a Māori whānau (family) that ingeniously deploys the techniques of Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s New Zealand Company to reclaim land for discontented members of the Australian Māori diaspora. The title “Ngati Kangaru”—“ngati” meaning tribe or clan, and “Kangaru,” a transliteration of kangaroo—collectively refers to Māori living in Poihākena/Sydney who express a desire to reinhabit their whenua (land). “Ngati Kangaru” offers an intertextual parody of E. G. Wakefield’s foundational writing, which has exerted its influence with devastating effects, particularly through appropriation of ancestral land. In this article I perform a close reading of Grace’s “zestful Swiftian” satire, which speaks back to Wakefield, imagining the return of Māori whānau whose Australian dreams have failed to materialize
Mechanistic Insights Into Pfas-Mediated Disruption Of Bone Homeostasis: Impacts On Marrow Adiposity, Osteoclastogenesis, Macrophage Polarization And Prostate Cancer Progression
No full textPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large and chemically diverse class of synthetic compounds used in industrial applications and consumer products for their water- and stain-resistant properties. Due to their environmental persistence and resistance to degradation, PFAS have become widespread contaminants, accumulating in soil, water, and human tissues, including bone and bone marrow. Epidemiological studies have linked PFAS exposure to a range of adverse health outcomes, including endocrine disruption, metabolic dysfunction, immune modulation, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and cancer. Despite growing concern, the mechanisms by which PFAS compromise skeletal health and influence tumor progression remain poorly defined. Here, we investigate the mechanisms by which PFAS disrupt bone homeostasis and potentially drive prostate cancer progression, integrating in vitro, in vivo, and clinical analyses. Firstly, we concluded that PFAS exposure, particularly to PFHxS, promotes bone marrow adipogenesis via PPARγ activation, shifting mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation toward adipocytes and reducing bone mineral density (BMD) in mice. High-fat diets synergize with PFHxS to amplify marrow adiposity, underscoring diet-exposure interactions. Second, we found that both legacy (PFOS, PFOA) and alternative PFAS (GenX) enhance osteoclastogenesis via PPARα, with GenX emerging as a potent inducer of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. In vivo exposure reduces trabecular bone volume and alters mineral composition (e.g., chromium depletion), linking PFAS to structural and metabolic defects.Thirdly, our data suggest that PFAS reprogram immune-metabolic crosstalk in the bone tumor microenvironment. PFHxS-exposed bone marrow adipocytes upregulate lipid metabolism genes (CD36, FABP4) and stress markers (HO-1) in prostate cancer cells, enhancing tumor survival. Concurrently, PFAS polarize macrophages toward an immunosuppressive ARG1-high phenotype, potentially impairing T-cell function and fostering metastatic progression. Clinical data corroborate elevated ARG1 in metastatic prostate cancer tissues, aligning with our results demonstrating PFAS-driven macrophage polarization. Key findings reveal that PFAS compromise skeletal integrity through dual mechanisms: metabolic dysregulation (adipocyte expansion, lipid rewiring) and immune suppression (ARG1-mediated). These effects are exacerbated by dietary fat, highlighting gene-environment interactions. The work advances understanding of PFAS as environmental accelerants of bone loss and metastatic cancer, with implications for regulatory policies targeting PFAS exposure limits and therapeutic strategies (e.g., PPAR antagonists, FABP4 inhibitors). This dissertation underscores the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the skeletal and oncological burdens of PFAS, informing public health interventions and environmental regulations
Exploring Faculty and Academic Advisors’ Experiences Supporting College Students with Mental Health Challenges: A Qualitative Study Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Full text linkThis interpretive phenomenological study explores faculty and academic advisors’ experiences in supporting students with mental health challenges. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which suggests that personal beliefs, prior experiences, and familiarity with symptoms influence behavior, the study examines participant narratives to identify key factors that shape their approaches to supporting students. Findings indicate that personal beliefs about mental health, prior experiences with individuals facing mental health challenges, and campus-based mental health training opportunities all significantly enhance mental health support mechanisms for students outside traditional counseling settings. The ability of faculty and academic advisors to recognize signs of mental health challenges is critical for promoting overall campus well-being
Fixed Trait Emotion Mindsets and Emotion Regulation Self-Efficacy: Moderation by Emotional Competence and Gender
No full textEmotion mindsets play an important role in how emotional challenges are navigated. Although existing research demonstrates that emotion mindsets have important implications for emotion regulation self-efficacy (ERSE), little is known about the role of individual differences. The present study examined whether the association between trait emotion mindsets and ERSE varied as a function of negative emotionality, emotional clarity, and gender during late adolescence. Results demonstrated that for males, fixed trait emotion mindsets were associated with less ERSE except at very low levels of negative emotionality and very high levels of emotional clarity. For females, fixed trait emotion mindsets were associated with less ERSE except at very high levels of negative emotionality and very low levels of emotional clarity. These findings emphasize that emotional competence and gender are important considerations when examining the link between emotion mindsets and emotional functioning