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The Employment Effects of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States
Full text linkThis paper analyzes the impacts of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and Economic Support policies on employment across U.S. states during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It utilizes a Two-Way Fixed Effects estimator to assess the overall impacts of these policies, along with sector-level analysis over different time snapshots to understand the effects on various employment sectors at different time periods, extending to August 2024. The results show that stricter NPIs negatively affected employment, especially in close-contact industries like leisure and hospitality. Business services employment sectors were the least affected and recovered quicker post-pandemic. Economic support policies partially mitigated these effects, with their interaction playing a crucial role in shaping labor market outcomes. These findings underscore the complex trade-off policymakers faced between safeguarding public health and maintaining economic stability during COVID-19
First Report of Cave-Dwelling Mite Harvesters from Aotearoa New Zealand and an Examination of Species Boundaries in Aoraki (Arachnida; Opiliones; Pettalidae)
No full textSpecies are an integral unit of the biological world and are the primary means by which biodiversity can be measured and quantified. Given modern day conservation efforts rely closely on the implementation of the species rank, it is essential to describe as many species as possible in the most efficient manner. Mite harvesters (suborder Cyphophthalmi) are a type of tiny arachnid known to be extremely poor dispersers with species ranges typically no larger than 50km in any dimension. These animals commonly inhabit leaf litter environments throughout New Zealand, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. In 2021, mite harvesters in the genus Aoraki Boyer & Giribet, 2007 were collected from a cave in the northern South Island; these, along with a poorly documented specimen from 1973, represent the first ever record of cave-dwelling mite harvesters in New Zealand. A comparison of ratios taken from appendage measurements of the cave animals and thirteen other Aoraki species showcases trends characteristic of cave-adapted arthropods. Specifically, the elongated appendages of the cave specimens suggest adaptation to subterranean environments. We sequenced the mitochondrial loci COI and 16S from one of the cave populations and populations of the closely related species Aoraki westlandica (Forster, 1952) in order to better define the cave population’s phylogenetic position and assess the possibility that it represents a new species. Because species in the genus Aoraki display high levels of morphological conservatism and are difficult to distinguish from appearance alone, the use of non- morphological data types, like genetic information, are crucial in informing species hypotheses. We used data derived from the mitochondrial locus COI to assess genetic diversity within and between eleven species of Aoraki to gauge whether there exists a genetic threshold that can be used to define effective species boundaries in the genus. There was considerable overlap between interspecific and intraspecific differences in our dataset, suggesting there is no such threshold capable of delimiting species within Aoraki. Despite this, the patterns of genetic diversity observed within Aoraki offer much insight into understanding how biogeographical processes impact speciation, with potential implications for other ecologically similar organisms
Rapid Construction of Novel Aromatic Imides by a Diels-Alder Cycloaddition
No full textOrganic Field Effect Transistors (OFETs) have proven to be a competitive alternative to the Silicon Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) available on the market today. They can be produced at lower cost, lower energy, and higher throughput than TFTs and additionally show unprecedented physical flexibility, allowing for a variety of applications. However, OFETs lack the same level of intermolecular interactions as TFTs; as such, work is being done to discover high mobility values for the two types of materials needed for OFETs, n-type and p-type. My research in the Cao lab focuses on synthesizing different aromatic imides as potential n-type semiconductors
Unam Magnum Scutellam de Onichio: The Many Lives of the Tazza Farnese
Full text linkThe Tazza Farnese is a large-scale sardonyx phiale (a shallow bowl) with a diameter of about 22 centimeters. The Tazza has caught the attention of numerous historical figures throughout antiquity, but despite how coveted the object may have been, records of its provenance before the 1400s are dissatisfactory or entirely nonexistent. This project seeks to shape a number of clear, thorough timelines for the object, as a synthesis of the many conflicting scholarly theories for its chronology. Furthermore, it examines the Tazza in the contexts of the cultures it was immersed in and investigates the way it was interpreted by its proprietors
A Thermal Control System for the ATLAS HGTD Module Construction Process
Full text linkIn the aim of simplifying the production process of 2000 HGTD (High Granularity Timing Detector) modules at IJClab for the high luminosity phase of the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, I designed, coded, and constructed an automatic temperature control system for module assembly and testing. To this end, I examined the module’s thermal response to changes in air temperature using a climate chamber and to various currents fed through a Peltier device situated under the module. I adapted the Peltier setup into a fully independent control system driven by an Arduino microcontroller running a PID feedback loop
The Effects of Depleted Peripheral Macrophages on Alcohol Addiction Reward-Seeking Behaviors in Mice
No full textAlcohol addiction is a global issue negatively affecting both mental and physical health. Although previous data suggests a relationship between alcohol and immunity, significant gaps in knowledge remain in exploring how specific functions of the immune system contribute to the formation of addiction memories. This thesis explores shifts in DSM diagnostic criteria, brain regions beyond the canonical dopamine reward circuitry such as the hippocampus, and the importance of female representation in alcohol addiction research. Previous data suggest stress and weaker immune systems playing a role in addiction vulnerability. Motivated by these findings, we hypothesize that suppressing innate immune components will lead to a higher risk of addiction formation. To confirm this, liposomal clodronate was administered to the mice depleting macrophage function and systemically modifying inflammatory responses. The behavioral aspect of the investigation was completed using a four-day drinking paradigm called Drinking in the Dark (DID) helping assess binge drinking behaviors, while the Ethanol Conditioned Place Preference (eCPP) evaluated reward-seeking behaviors. Neither of the paradigms revealed a statistically significant relationship but showed variability often observed in humans consuming alcohol. The molecular analysis of this investigation was completed by performing a blood cytokine analysis and examining neuronal activation of the hippocampus using cFos immunohistochemistry (IHC). The cFos suggested a potential aversive relationship between innate immunity depletion and alcohol consumption, though additional research is essential to fully understand this relationship. These results have a goal of helping us to understand the effects of inflammation through depletion of peripheral macrophages on alcohol related behaviors and context associations
Encountering the Imaginary: Félix Régamey in Japan and the Legacy of Japonisme
No full textThis thesis critically examines Félix Régamey’s transformative role in the development of Japonisme, highlighting his pivotal contribution to bridging Western perceptions and authentic Japanese culture during the late nineteenth century. Through an exploration of his firsthand experiences in Japan, Régamey emerges as a multifaceted and paradoxical figure—an artist, educator, and author—whose pursuits reshaped the narrative of Japanese art and cultural exchange in France amid the fervor of Japonisme. His immersion in Japanese society enabled him to engage directly with its artistic traditions, which he skillfully translated for European audiences. This study reveals Régamey’s efforts to challenge the prevailing Orientalist stereotypes that misrepresented Asian cultures. By fostering a deeper appreciation of Japanese art, he promoted a more nuanced and respectful dialogue between cultures. However, Régamey’s efforts were unsuccessful in part because of his desire to find a compromise between the revolutionary modernists, who were appropriating Japanese aesthetics, and the traditionalists, who were not interested in them. Ultimately, this thesis aims to rectify the historical oversight of Régamey’s influence and assess his legacy as a crucial figure in bridging cultural divides and enriching artistic discourse in the nineteenth century
A Slight Pinch
Full text linkThis project is a short story collection featuring four independent stories that each explore what it means to embrace the chaotic independence of adulthood and to confront, often for the first time, an inescapable sense of self-awareness. The first story, “Ghost Town,” follows a 19-year-old ghost confined to the Airbnb where she died, forced to face the self-destructive behavior that led to her death. Next, “Camilla” depicts the volatile friendship of college student Lexi and her best friend Camilla as it forms, shifts, and inevitably implodes as the years pass. The third piece, “A Slight Pinch,” explores the complexities of sisterhood and social class through the fantastical lens of impending vampirism. Finally, “Water for the Fish” is a direct-address piece from college senior Izzy to her mother, both an apology and explanation of her actions after learning her mother’s cancer is returning. As a whole, this collection seeks to address the second wave of growing up that happens in our late-teens and early-twenties—how it manifests itself in all relationships, but most intimately in the one we have with ourselves. A Slight Pinch, the project’s title, is typically what is said just before the pain comes, which is at the heart of each of the four stories
Responsibility to the Land: Perspectives of Farmers on Climate Change and Land Transition
Full text linkAgriculture is a defining aspect of Minnesota and Wisconsin’s culture and identity, characterized by family farms, rolling hills blanketed with crops, and cows. Interspersed are small scale diversified farms and a growing number of emerging and young farmers. Another cultural mainstay is talking about weather, a ubiquitous conversation of Midwesterners. As weather events such as erratic rainfall, drought, and pest pressure become both more common and volatile, and long-term weather patterns shift from “normal”, it is important to ask farmers what they think about it. Adapting to changes and planning for resilience are what farmers have always done, yet increasing pressures including climate change and uncertain generational transition make adaptation difficult. This thesis examines Minnesota and Wisconsin farmers’ perspectives on climate change and experiences with the land, as well as their speculation about the future of agriculture in the region. Through eleven in-depth interviews with farmers, relationships between me and the farmers were created or strengthened. While most farmers named and acknowledged climate change, not everyone was concerned about it. All agreed that environmental conservation through farming practices was essential to their economic success and their ethical responsibility to the land. They hoped their land and farming practices could be passed on to the next generation rather than large farms consolidating farm land. Overall, this thesis emphasizes the need for listening to and understanding the diverse perspectives of Midwestern farmers in order to support and create opportunities for transitions for climate resilience
Courage Under Crisis: Examining Altruistic Resistance in Mass Atrocities
Full text linkWhy do individuals resist in different ways during mass atrocities? I theorize that variation in altruistic resistance is shaped by access to platforms, personal connections to victims, and organizational membership. Focusing on bystanders who choose to intervene, I develop a new typology of “Helpers” and construct an original global dataset. Using a mixed-methods approach, I test my hypotheses through regression analysis and triangulate my statistical evidence with individual Helper case studies. This research advances scholarship on resistance by systematically analyzing variation in altruistic behavior, contributing to our understanding of the social and institutional factors that may affect Helpers’ actions