University at Albany, State University of New York
University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY): Scholars ArchiveNot a member yet
6197 research outputs found
Sort by
Mythogenesis in As I Lay Dying: A Comparative Exploration of Mythmaking and Counter-Myths
Full text linkThis thesis explores William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying through the lens of comparative mythology, arguing that the novel constructs a counter-myth that challenges dominant Western narratives. By engaging with non-Western mythological traditions—particularly Proto-Indo European, Hindu, and Indigenous cosmologies—the study reveals how Faulkner embeds symbolic structures that transcend Christian and Greco-Roman frameworks. Using semiology and structuralist frameworks developed by Ferdinand de Saussure, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and Roland Barthes, the analysis deciphers a mythopoetic narrative that refocuses marginalized myths to destabilize binary oppositions such as Christian/Pagan, civilized/uncivilized, and male creation myths with female creation myths. Each chapter examines a different mythic layer: Chapter One interprets the Bundren family’s journey through world-wide Ursa Major myths and the axis mundi motif; Chapter Two identifies linguistic and thematic links to Hindu deities and cosmology; and Chapter Three recasts Anse Bundren as a trickster god, a figure known for mischievous and theft that ultimately disrupts binary oppositions. This thesis demonstrates that Faulkner’s novel serves not merely as a Southern gothic narrative but as a transgressive mythic text that reclaims suppressed cosmologies and reimagines freedom beyond dogmatic constraints. This thesis argues that Faulkner’s novel reanimates mythic patterns, ones that have been marginalized or labeled as Pagan or Heathen, as counter-myths that ultimately rupture the foundations of Western myth and hegemonic social narratives
Analysis of the RNA Binding Capabilities and Structural Predictions of the C-Terminal Domain of the Nucleocapsid Protein of Mouse Hepatitis Virus
No full textCoronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for the recent COVID-19 pandemic, pose a serious threat to human health. Due to its genetic similarities, Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV) serves as a good model organism to study these dangerous coronaviruses. The Nucleocapsid (N) protein of MHV is responsible for specifically packaging the viral genome in the presence of the RNA genomic packaging element (PS). The C-terminal domain (CTD) is thought to be involved in this process; however, it is unknown which section(s) of the protein are responsible for RNA binding specificity. Thus, this research sought to identify the protein domains involved in specificity of binding and conduct preliminary structural predictions on the MHV-N-CTD structure. Proteins containing varying domains of MHV-N were prepared and complexed to varying lengths of the previously identified PS element. These complexes were run through native gels and specifically bound groups were run in triplicate and quantified. A prediction of the complex structures was then generated using AlphaFold3. Using protein that had been denatured, purified, then refolded, there was no discernible difference between proteins complexed with the unique tip of the PS element (PS25). However, when complexed to the unique tip and one repeating unit of the PS element (PS45), MHV-N-CTD formed a unique complex (Complex 1) at lower concentrations in comparison to the same RNA element with 7 silent mutations (silPS45) and other protein domains (MHV-N-CTD-BN3 and MHV-N-CTD-BN3-Mt) which formed a higher running complex (Complex 2). This indicates that, although non-specific binding can occur at higher concentrations of protein, there is specificity of binding between the CTD and PS45. Further experimentation should focus on developing the experimental structure of CTD, either through X-ray crystallography or other structural determination techniques
Rawls on Justice in Gender: Tensions of Intervening in Gender Equality
Full text linkWhen considering gender equality in society there are certain inclinations one makes concerning how it is to be combatted. One inclination being that in a society with a structured government that promises to be fair to all its citizens should in fact address cases of gender inequality. Yet following questions arise, if we are to expect that there be governmental intervention in cases of inequality, how are we to go about this intervention and how much intervention should be justified into citizen life, in short what is required by justice to combat this injustice. John Rawls believes he answers these questions by his theory of justice. This makes his work an attractive starting point for considering the boundaries of political intervention. Even then, upon insight from feminist philosophers it appears as if Rawls does not have it all covered. Rawls\u27 work opens a door for the discussion of gender equality in a well-ordered society. With the door open then, we are welcome to discuss how political intervention may assist in gender equality. With political intervention however, a tension of value arises. There is (1) the inclination that women’s autonomy matters to such a degree that the government is justified to combat women’s inequality and (2) the inclination that citizen autonomy needs matter to such a degree that the government should not intervene in everyday life. The project is balancing these two wants, finding how we value regular citizen autonomy to the life they choose while making certain that in the lives they wish to live gender equality is valued. It is about understanding Rawls theory as a base starting point and then reviewing why and what areas it is helpful, hurtful, or ambiguous in the discussion of gender equality. Further, it is about understanding how Rawls theory can be understood to do better in this discussion and how previous feminist philosophers have seen these areas and expanded from them. Ultimately it is about finding what gender equality requires from justice to be realized
Friend or Foe: Exploring the Biological Function of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis RecA Intein
No full textMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the leading source of death due to a single infectious agent, and increasingly drug resistant strains threaten to quash progress in battling tuberculosis (TB) disease. Three of Mtb’s genes, the iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein sufB, the DNA gyrase dnaB and the recombinase recA, have been invaded by an intervening protein, or intein. Inteins are translated in frame with their host gene. The resulting precursor consists of the intein flanked by each half of the invaded protein, termed the N- and C-exteins (NE and CE). This hybrid protein is non-functional until the intein splices itself out, with concomitant ligation of the NE and CE to produce mature host protein, also called ligated exteins (LE).
Splicing is coordinated by two catalytic residues: the first residue of the intein, which can be a cysteine or serine, and the first residue of the CE, which can be a cysteine, serine or threonine. In addition to productive splicing, off-pathway cleavage products can occur when the NE or CE are liberated (also called N-terminal or C-terminal cleavage: NTC and CTC respectively). Inteins were thought to be mobile genetic parasites that provided no benefit to the host, but recent evidence suggest that this paradigm is untrue for some inteins. Rather, they act as important post-translational regulators of their host proteins, generally by splicing in response to specific environments such as pH, temperature, or DNA damage.
The RecA protein is an important hub for two DNA repair pathways: 1) as a regulator for the SOS DNA repair response, which has been implicated in generation of drug resistance, and 2) as the driver of homologous recombination, the high-fidelity double-strand break repair pathway. Mtb RecA is provided with a unique opportunity for post-translational regulation through the intein, which is specific to Mtb complex mycobacteria. Despite being the first bacterial intein discovered and well-studied in vitro using non-native expression systems, the role the Mtb RecA intein plays in Mtb biology is unknown.
I leveraged the non-essentiality of Mtb’s recA to study the impact of the recA intein on regulation and production of RecA protein in Mtb. I followed RecA species production in various conditions (LE, intein and NE) via western blot analysis, and recA transcription via a green fluorescent protein-based recA transcriptional reporter. DNA damaging therapeutics mitomycin C and ofloxacin increased the amount of recA transcription, RecA splicing and NE production. Non-DNA damaging therapeutics isoniazid and rifampicin did not increase transcription, splicing or NTC.
Treatment of cells grown in hypoxia impacted RecA splicing and NTC. Copper, a heavy metal used as an antimicrobial by macrophages, had no effect on RecA in ambient air conditions, but increased splicing and decreased NTC in hypoxia. Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic that has been suggested as a potential splicing inhibitor and anti-Mtb therapeutic, had no effect on RecA in ambient air, but increased splicing in hypoxic conditions.
This is the first report of NTC of a WT intein in its native environment and notably, NTC was affected by various conditions. I explored if NTC was biologically important. The NE retains all features needed to activate the SOS response: the ssDNA binding motifs, ATP binding motifs, interfaces for multimerization with other RecA monomers, and the key residues for activating cleavage of the SOS transcriptional repressor, LexA. By using western blot analysis, I found that the NE retained LexA-activating capability when heterologously expressed in E. coli.
Interestingly, unspliced RecA precursor was not detected in Mtb under any environment tested, including those, such as copper and cisplatin, that inhibit RecA splicing in vitro. This runs counter to the initial paradigm that post-translational regulation by an intein would involve producing a pool of precursor protein, which could then have splicing triggered by specific environmental signals. RecA precursor was only detectable in Mtb when one or both catalytic cysteine residues were mutated, suggesting rapid splicing of the WT RecA intein. Rapid splicing was specific to the Mtb RecA intein, as splicing of a second Mycobacterial RecA intein, intein B, did not occur when expressed in Mtb. Rapid splicing of intein B could be induced by moving intein B to the position of the Mtb RecA intein.
I also provide preliminary data on recA regulation in hypoxic air conditions and non-replicating persister populations, and how RecA may interact with the NucS mismatch repair system. These results provide the first evidence of how the Mtb RecA intein impacts regulation of RecA, and that regulation of the Mtb RecA intein in Mtb proper differs from previous in vitro results
A Study of Regulatory Compliance in U.S. Nursing Homes
Full text linkThe federal government is responsible for ensuring that nursing homes comply with regulations designed to protect residents from abuse, neglect, and substandard care. To this end, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) partners with states to conduct onsite inspections of nursing homes, during which regulators may identify violations. The agency can take one or more actions in response to violations, including imposing civil money penalties (fines), appointing a state monitor, or mandating remedial education for staff. Despite this regulatory framework, the quality of care in nursing homes remains poor, with many facilities failing to protect the well-being of residents. This persistently poor quality in the face of governmental regulations raises questions about the effectiveness of the interventions employed by CMS. My dissertation is an effort to better understand the regulatory framework and its consequences for nursing homes. In the first of three chapters, I find that contributors to regulatory non-compliance include shortages of staff and supplies; issues with organizational culture; and breakdowns in communication. In the second chapter, I find that penalties are effective at deterring future violations but other types of non-monetary actions have limited effect. In the third chapter, my results show that large penalties have the potential unintended effect of jeopardizing the financial stability of nursing homes. Taken together, the three chapters provide insight into the organizational dynamics that drive regulatory non-compliance, and they suggest that while penalties can deter future violations, they should be carefully calibrated to avoid damaging the financial health of facilities
Towards Human Explainable Digital Forensics: Generating Human Interpretable Evidence for Semantic Understanding in Manipulated Images and Text
Full text linkDetecting and characterizing manipulations in digital media continues to pose a significant challenge within the field of digital forensics. Despite notable advancements, the discipline often remains in a reactive stance against emerging threats. Current state-of-the-art methods, typically evaluated within academic settings, fails to mirror the complexities of real-world disinformation scenarios. These methods generally prioritize high performance based on quantitative metrics, yet they demonstrate a considerable dependency on training data and lack adaptability to new novel attack signatures. With the rapid evolution of attack methodologies, the dependency on highly accurate models that do not generalize or adapt well to unseen threats proves inadequate for safeguarding today\u27s media landscape.
We propose that the forensic community reevaluate methodological design from a threat assessment perspective. Approaches that prioritize explainability, adaptability, and independence from specific data sets are crucial as a primary line of defense. If new disinformation signatures remain undetected, defending against them becomes a formidable challenge. We advocate for a shift within the community towards developing models capable of producing actionable evidence that semantically explains the rationale behind identified manipulations. This shift is imperative as machine learning models become increasingly accessible to the public and all future media inevitably incorporates some synthetic elements. Identifying whether such alterations pose a semantic threat through a comprehensive threat assessment framework is essential to maintaining the integrity of the media we consume
Grandparenthood and Psychological Well-Being of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Multigenerational Family Relationships in China
Full text linkThis dissertation examines whether and how experiences of grandparenthood—including becoming a grandparent, providing grandchild care, living with grandchildren, and exchanging intergenerational support—affect the well-being of middle-aged and older adults in China. Drawing on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011–2018), a nationally representative survey of Chinese adults aged 45 and older, the study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and random effects models to investigate the associations between multigenerational family relationships and depressive symptoms among this population.
There is limited evidence that the transition to grandparenthood itself has a significant impact on psychological well-being. However, patterns surrounding the transition reveal gendered differences: men tend to experience a decline in depressive symptoms in the years preceding grandparenthood—possibly due to data collection timing or anticipation during the pregnancy period—while women show a gradual increase in depressive symptoms. Early grandparenthood is associated with higher depressive symptoms, particularly among grandparents not involved in caregiving. Delayed grandparenthood appears to negatively affect men’s mental health, while its impact on women is less clear. Providing care for grandchildren is generally associated with better mental health, while lack of caregiving involvement is linked to worse outcomes. However, intensive or prolonged caregiving offers no additional benefits. Overall, the timing of grandparenthood appears more consequential for men, while moderate involvement in grandparenting is more beneficial for women.
Second, multigenerational coresidence is generally associated with higher levels of depression among grandparents, likely due to the psychological strain exacerbated by modernization, which is contrary to traditional cultural expectations. While rural residents tend to report higher levels of depressive symptoms than their urban counterparts, the link between grandchild coresidence and depressive symptoms does not significantly differ between rural and urban areas at the national level. However, rural-urban differences vary significantly across regions when examined in more detail. In urban areas, coresidence with grandchildren is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms in the northeast and southwest, higher levels in the northwest, and shows no significant effect in other regions after statistical adjustments. In rural areas, by contrast, no clear regional differences are observed.
Finally, grandparents engaged in any form of support exchange with their children—whether giving, receiving, or reciprocal—report fewer depressive symptoms than those with no exchange. However, the benefits of receiving support alone (financial or instrumental) are limited compared to providing or reciprocating support, especially for rural residents and women. Grandfathers show no significant differences across exchange types. Moreover, financial support from adult children moderates the grandparenting-depression link: current and expected future financial aid are associated with lower levels of depression and weaken the caregiving benefits, especially for rural grandparents. In contrast, urban grandparents’ depression is not affected by financial support but is linked to expectations of future instrumental help. Lastly, long-term exchange patterns also matter. Grandparents in one-sided receiving or no-exchange relationships exhibit more depressive symptoms than those in reciprocal exchanges, though long-term receiving may be confounded by other factors
Are We Safe Yet? Experimental Analysis of Emergency Post-Alert Messages
Full text linkWireless Emergency Alerts can offer timely warnings and crucial guidance for people at risk from natural and technological hazards. However, at the time an alert is issued, it is rarely clear how long hazardous conditions will persist and when affected people can return to normal activities. This highlights the potential benefits of issuing post-alert messages to indicate that the hazard has passed; yet in practice, these post-alert messages are rarely used. When they are used, they frequently use operational language focused on the status of the associated alert (i.e. “the alert has expired” or has been “canceled”) rather than information focused on the resolution of hazardous conditions and what actions can now be taken or ceased. Here, we conduct an online experiment (N = 815) of residents of Portland, OR to examine the impacts of providing post-alert messages following an emergency message in a scenario for 3 different hazards (earthquake, bomb threat and wildfire). We compare both message-status-focused and resolution/action-focused post-alert messages to a no-follow-up control. Our results suggest substantial increases in the understandability and actionability of messages as well as reductions in fear and anger and increased perceptions of credibility and transparency of the alerting organizations when participants received a post-alert message. Furthermore, the increases for many outcomes were significantly greater for resolution/action-focused messages than those focused on the alert status. In addition, the majority of participants prefer these types of messages. Our results highlight the potential benefits of closing emergency communication loops using post alert messages
Epithelial Responses and Remodeling in the Submandibular Gland Post-irradiation
No full textRadiation therapy for head and neck cancer often causes irreversible salivary gland dysfunction, resulting in chronic xerostomia. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction is essential for developing regenerative therapies. Given the cellular complexity of the salivary gland single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful approach to investigate cell-type-specific injury responses to ionizing radiation (IR) and uncover transcriptional changes that may be masked in bulk analyses. This study investigates the cellular and molecular responses of the murine submandibular gland (SMG) to irradiation, with a focus on epithelial loss and remodeling, and regenerative failure. In order to effectively use scRNA-seq for transcriptomic analyses, we also sought to develop a rigorous data cleaning pipeline to improve data quality and deconvolute mixed-gland tissue samples.
Our findings reveal that multiple epithelial populations adopt a conserved stress-adaptive transcriptional program post-irradiation, marked by upregulation of inflammatory, mitochondrial, and translational genes, alongside persistent downregulation of metabolic and secretory regulators. Subclustering analysis also identified distinct SMG acinar subpopulations with different stress, secretory, and proliferative profiles, though all converged on a similar injury response. Notably, a subset of acinar cells upregulated Bpifa2, which encodes parotid secretory protein (PSP), suggesting the emergence of a stress-associated, non-regenerative state. We also observed a progressive loss of SMGC⁺ intercalated duct cells, indicating that certain ductal populations are susceptible to long-term damage following radiation injury and may contribute to disease progression.
These results demonstrate that radiation injury leads to lasting transcriptional and structural changes in the salivary epithelium, accompanied by chronic inflammation and fibrosis.The failure of acinar regeneration and the emergence of a fibrotic microenvironment likely underlie long-term glandular dysfunction. Understanding these responses provides a foundation for developing regenerative therapies targeting epithelial preservation, progenitor activation, and anti-fibrotic intervention
Contributions of Birthing People’s Prenatal Parasympathetic Nervous System Functioning and Postnatal Sensitivity on Infant Temperament
Full text linkGrounded in developmental psychobiology, this research aimed to elucidate how birthing people’s physiological regulation during pregnancy may shape the early emergence of socioemotional development in early infancy. The present study examined how birthing people’s prenatal parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, specifically baseline high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) and HF-HRV withdrawal, and postnatal sensitivity contributes to infant temperamental reactivity at six months of age. The study aimed to clarify early developmental mechanisms through which birthing people’s PNS shapes emerging infant temperament. Data were drawn from a longitudinal cohort of Black and African American birthing people, a population underrepresented in psychophysiological research, and their infants. Baseline HF-HRV and HF-HRV withdrawal were analyzed separately to distinguish their unique roles. Birthing people’s HF-HRV was measured prenatally, and sensitivity was assessed during an observed free play task at six months postpartum. Birthing people reported on their infants temperamental surgency and negativity using the IBQ-R-SF. Results revealed that less HF-HRV withdrawal or blunting was significantly associated with higher levels of infant temperamental surgency at six months. These findings elucidate the complex interplay between prenatal PNS functioning and postnatal caregiving in shaping early affective development and point to promising avenues for supporting birthing people and infant wellbeing during a critical window of development