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STEWARDSHIP, FOOD SECURITY, COMMUNITY: NATURE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FOOD EQUITY AND YIELDS, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION AT A SMALL URBAN FARM.
No full textThis thesis explores the ways in which nature-based interventions, like a food forest can be used to support and enhance ecological diversity, food equity and community inclusion at a 1.5-acre urban farm in Edmonston, Maryland. Urban farms are an integral part of our food system with the potential to lower the carbon footprint of our food, connect people with locally sourced healthy produce and bolster community engagement and connection. I examine the three areas (diversity, food equity and community) through case studies and site analysis as common themes emerge to unite and emphasize their interconnectedness. Through concepts rooted in permaculture and agroecology, I redesigned an unused space on the farm into a diverse and productive landscape ripe with educational features to engage the community with one another and our surrounding ecosystem
Evaluating Environmental Drivers of Soil Reduction Using IRIS in Field and Laboratory Settings
No full textProviding evidence of anaerobic conditions is critical to identify hydric soils for wetland research and mitigation efforts. Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) devices utilize the reduction of iron (Fe) oxides and manganese (Mn) oxides to document anaerobic conditions. Currently, only Fe IRIS devices are incorporated into the guidelines of the Hydric Soil Technical Standard (HSTS). Even though Fe IRIS have been used for the past two decades, there is a growing need to clarify and compare the effect of early growing season conditions on the performance of Fe and Mn IRIS. In this study, we set out to explore the influence of saturation, temperature, and soil organic carbon content on IRIS performance in 11 mitigation wetland sites as well as in two laboratory microcosm experiments. In addition, the suppressive effect of Mn oxide on Fe reduction was demonstrated in a third microcosm experiment. We observed that increasing the temperature, duration of saturation, and soil organic carbon content all significantly increased the amount of Fe and Mn oxides removed from IRIS films and promoted the mobilization of these metals into microcosm porewater. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the current HSTS threshold for Fe IRIS paint removal of ≥30% adequately identifies anaerobic conditions in warm (≥11 °C) conditions, but it is too conservative in cool conditions (<11 °C) and lowering the threshold to ≥15% minimizes the possibility of false negative results. In contrast, Mn IRIS paint removal is more sensitive than Fe IRIS paint removal. While no HSTS guidelines exist for Mn IRIS, we found a threshold of ≥30% Mn removal best documented anaerobic conditions in cool conditions. However, no Mn IRIS threshold was deemed informative in warm conditions due to the greater reactivity of Mn oxides. This study presents insights into the environmental drivers of soil reduction and provides a more nuanced understanding of the application and interpretation of IRIS films in seasonal conditions and restored wetlands
Discrete and continuous variable systems: Properties, protocols, and applications
No full textQuantum information science is a promising, interdisciplinary field focusing on both understanding and utilizing quantum systems. Two major paradigms of quantum mechanics are discrete variable (finite dimensional) systems, such as qubits and qudits, and continuous variable (infinite dimensional) systems, such as bosonic modes. In this dissertation, we explore the properties, protocols, and applications of both discrete and continuous variable systems.
In the first part of this dissertation, we study Hilbert space structures called quantum state designs, which are small ensembles of quantum states that mimic properties of the full space. While such designs are well-studied in the discrete variable setting, we show that they can also be defined and constructed in the continuous variable setting. Using specific multimode ensembles, we demonstrate continuous variable shadow tomography protocols which allow for efficient estimation of expectation values of many observables. Additionally, we use these ensembles to define notions of average and entanglement fidelities of continuous variable quantum channels, and we derive an explicit relationship between them that resembles the analogous relationship in the discrete variable setting.
Meanwhile, on the discrete variable side, we construct a theory of designs on the torus and find general methods for constructing them in arbitrary dimensions. Using these toric designs and their relationship to quantum state designs, we construct many new and explicit families of quantum state designs. Furthermore, we use toric designs to prove various structure theorems about complete sets of mutually unbiased bases.
In the second part of this dissertation, we examine entanglement in continuous variable systems. Specifically, we analytically derive average and typical entanglement properties, as measured by all integer R\'enyi- entropies, of random ensembles of Gaussian states outputted from a Gaussian boson sampling device.
Finally, in the third part of this dissertation, we examine the use of qubit systems for resolving frequency spectrums in signal processing applications. Specifically, we show that a classical signal whose spectrum contains closely spaced frequencies can be resolved by coupling the signal to a qubit and performing a superresolution protocol. We find general conditions for a protocol to exhibit superresolution and show various analytic and numerically-optimized protocols that achieve superresolution
Intersectionality of Race, Autism, and Anxiety in Marginalized Youth
No full textThe prevalence of anxiety in marginalized (i.e., non-White) populations has been largely overlooked in literature. Autistic research and its focus on comorbidities with anxiety are mostly focused on White youth and their families (Malone et al., 2022). These gaps in literature are often due to an overrepresentation of White individuals in studies and a lack of wide scale Non-White studies. This may be due to systematic disparities that marginalized populations often face. Research geared towards non-White populations is
vital in creating a better understanding of their life experiences and how to treat their diagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety in non-White adolescents relative to White adolescents, and to examine the intersectionality with autistic diagnoses and experiences of discrimination. The Anxiety Scale for Children- ASD (ASC-ASD; Rodgers et al., 2016) scale was used to assess anxiety and the Everyday Discrimination Scale (Williams et al., 1997) was used to capture experiences of discrimination. Participants were 30 adolescents (12 Non-Hispanic White, 20 non-White), aged 11-14 years, and their parents. Results of an independent samples t-test indicated that marginalized autistic youth reported higher levels of anxiety in comparison to their non-White counterparts (p = 0.08). When evaluating whether experiences of discrimination moderated relations between race and anxiety, we found that the effect of discrimination varies by race, although not statistically significant (p = .13). Further, being a member of a marginalized group was associated with a 19.18-point increase in anxiety (holding experiences of discrimination constant)
Portable Sensor for One-Pot Ligation LAMP Assay to Detect miRNA Biomarkers
No full textmicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short sequences of non-coding RNA that play a vital role in the regulation of gene expression in cells and tumorigenesis. Previous research has identified specific miRNAs can be used as biomarkers, as patients with cancer exhibited elevated concentrations of miRNA in blood samples. Patients can have poor prognosis rates without early detection; however, current detection methods are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. In this study, we have developed a point-of-care screening tool to detect miRNA using ligation-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (ligation-LAMP) and a 3D-printed sensor. Specifically, we designed a colorimetric ligation LAMP assay that has high sensitivity and specificity to miRNA-155, a cancer biomarker, and created a One-Pot system using Thermally Responsive Alkane Partitions (TRAPs). Furthermore, we have developed a portable sensor for the assay, with controlled heating and real-time quantification, to make the assay more accessible at the point of care. Combining the One-Pot assay with the portable sensor allows for rapid and inexpensive detection of miRNA biomarkers
Large Bipartisan Majorities Oppose Deep Cuts to Foreign Aid
No full textVoice Of the People (VOP) is a nonpartisan organization working to re-anchor our democracy in its founding principles by giving ‘We the People’ a greater and more effective voice in government. VOP champions innovative methods and technology – notably online public consultations – that enable the American people to play a role in the policymaking process and provide policymakers with a more accurate understanding of the views of their constituents.
The Program for Public Consultation conducts policymaking simulations, which are an online process that puts citizens in the shoes of elected officials by simulating the process they go through in making policy decisions. Each simulation introduces a broader policy topic and then presents a series of modules that address a specific policy option that is currently under consideration in the current discourse.
For each module, respondents: 1) receive a short briefing on a policy issue and the option or options for addressing it; 2) evaluate arguments for and against the policy options; and 3) finally, make their recommendation for what their elected officials should do.An overwhelming majority of 89% of Americans say the US should spend at least one percent of the federal budget on foreign aid – the current amount the US spends on aid. This includes 84% of Republicans and 94% of Democrats.
Fifty-eight percent oppose abolishing the US Agency for International Development and folding its functions into the State Department, including 77% of Democrats and 62% of independents. But 60% of Republicans favor the move.
These are some of the findings of a new survey by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland, fielded February 6-7, 2025 with a representative sample of 1,160 adults nationwide.https://publicconsultation.org/foreign-aid/large-bipartisan-majorities-oppose-deep-cuts-to-foreign-aid
Automated Cell Identification Methods for Stained Images using FIJI
No full textPosterAccurate identification of stained cells in images is critical for many applications. One of the current methods is manual identification which is time consuming and has risk of human bias. Standard image processing methods consist of basic thresholding and water shedding. However, they struggle with segmenting cells when there are variations in cell morphology, large range of fluorescence intensity, and background artifacts. In addition to false positives and false negatives, errors include overcounting, undercounting, and inaccurate cell areas. In this project, we developed an automated cell counting approach in ImageJ (Fiji) that incorporates a series of optimized image processing steps that include background subtraction, edge detection, and adaptive thresholding. We also investigated using information from Hoechst nuclear staining to assist with segmentation of Calcein-stained images showing cell metabolism. In order to assess the performance of the various approaches, we manually identified cells in a set of challenging images and compared the results of the existing and proposed automated methods. Results show that the method improves throughput and also provides a robust tool for analysis of complex sample images.National Science Foundation CBET BIOSENS 2316199, EFRI ELiS 2318027, and ExLENT DREEM 232269
Optimal Control of an SIR-Inspired Malnutrition Model: Subconscious and Societal
No full textThis research project uses differential equations based on an epidemiology ("SIR") model to study how malnutrition is comparable to an infectious disease, considering factors such as poverty and social and economic culture around processed foods. My analysis considers an “infected” population of malnourished people as a group of people who choose processed junk foods out of convenience or preference, but are not completely aware of their choice’s severe impacts. This is a scientific investigation into how social conventions around food culture slowly work their way into everyday food choices. I am analyzing how education, different lifestyles, and conversations around food in the home impact the spread of “casual” and “normalized malnutrition” throughout the working middle class in the U.S. To scientifically model this, I consider an optimal control analysis to specifically analyze parental influence on food choices
Serotonergic modulation of habituation and associative learning in mice
No full textPsychedelic drugs are frequently used in therapy-related scenarios where they can have a long-term effect on mood and psychiatric issues such as depression and anxiety. Psychedelics are also used in relation to hearing, because they can influence perception of auditory stimuli. 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, also known as DOI, is a psychedelic drug with effects on associative learning. In this experiment, ketanserin and saline are used as well. Ketanserin specifically is an antagonist and it’s believed to block the effects of the agonist DOI. Saline is used as a control to compare results amongst the different drugs.
To investigate, we studied the effects of the serotonergic psychedelic drug, DOI, to assess its effects on habituation and associative learning during pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) in mice. ASR is a phenomenon where mice jump when exposed to a sudden stimulus. PPI is when a ‘warning noise’ will be played to prime the mice for a sudden, loud noise. Effects of ketanserin and saline during PPI and ASR were studied as well.
The data showed that the dosage of DOI did not contribute to differences in ASR or PPI. Additionally, DOI correlates with a lower startle response with higher ISI’s, indicating associative learning and habituation. Ketanserin temporarily blocked habituation during two sessions, but others remained the same. In the saline sessions, habituation was shown.
From these results, we can conclude that DOI may improve associative learning indicated by the changes in PPI with long ISI’s. Additionally, in the future, this experiment can be redone with a larger batch of mice to ensure that the results are accurate.UMD-REAC
Health Insurance and Access to Care for Trans People in Maryland
No full textThe Maryland Trans Survey is a community-based research project conducted by Trans Maryland and the Queer/Trans Collective for Research on Equity and Wellness examining experiences of trans people in the State of Maryland in areas such as health and healthcare, employment and economic wellbeing, and legal and policy experiences. To date, this is the largest survey of trans people in the State, with 750 trans people representing all 23 counties in Maryland and Baltimore City.
Data were collected from June to December 2023 through in-person and online community outreach. The project was approved by Towson University’s Institutional Review Board (Protocol #1897) and used Trans Research Informed Consent (TRICON) Disclosures to provide trans community members with additional transparency on the project, recognizing long histories of harmful practices in trans research from scientific institutions.
Trans individuals in Maryland face significant insurance barriers that impede their access to necessary healthcare services. These barriers are similar (but in some ways distinct) to those encountered by other marginalized populations and have broader implications across various service lines. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare access for all. Some examples of barriers include: a) Excessive healthcare costs and issues with insurance coverage, b) Gendered services (e.g., reproductive care) excluding trans people, c) Discrimination and insufficient provider knowledge regarding trans health. To further explore these concerns, this brief contains information from the survey related to experiences of trans people with health insurance to help advocates, policymakers, and community-serving entities better understand and support the current needs of trans people in Maryland.University System of Maryland - Wilson H. Elkins Professorship (2021-2023); Washington University in St. Louis - Audre Lorde Distinguished Professorship (2023-present)https://transmaryland.org