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The Role of Climate Change in Driving Sex Trafficking in Louisiana
Get PDFThis thesis examines how anti-trafficking service providers of East Baton Rouge Parish and Orleans Parish, Louisiana understand climate change’s role in driving sex trafficking. In exploring their understanding, this project investigates whether climate change is a factor in sex trafficking patterns and whether anti-trafficking service providers see climate change as a factor. I argue that climate change is a factor in sex trafficking patterns as climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities to sex trafficking. By drawing on interviews done with two service providers of East Baton Rouge Parish, four service providers of Orleans Parish, and one with relations in both locales, this project uses narrative theory to draw out the perspectives of service providers on these issues and the reasoning for those perspectives. Including their perspectives will add to the limited knowledge of the climate change and sex trafficking nexus. Through localizing this knowledge, I hope to foster specific policy responses to this phenomenon
UNDERSTANDING USER PREFERENCES FOR SPATIAL INFORMATION: MONITORING AND ASSESSING LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE IN THE MID-ALANTIC
Get PDFResource managers who implement and monitor the results of carbon management and land use policies rely on remotely sensed information to inform their work and, in turn, accomplish their goals. To date remotely sensed information and its derivative products are primarily designed and frequently disseminated by the research community with nominal understanding of the end user’s needs, preferences, and constraints. It is hypothesized that this lack of understanding has led to a disconnect between the information that is produced versus what is preferred by resource managers. This study utilized a qualitative approach to understand user preferences and gain insight into the value resource managers place on attributes of information: spatial resolution, temporal frequency, geographic scale, and uncertainty of remotely sensed data. Specifically, this study focused on learning the value resource managers in the mid-Atlantic region place on different data attributes as they relate to land use. Respondents were interviewed using a semi-structured approach to learn what information they use; how the data’s spatial resolution, temporal frequency, and uncertainty impact its use; what data attribute trade-offs they make; and what constraints (e.g., costs, limited technical expertise) they consider when using spatial data. Four major findings highlighted domain-specific preferences for specific attributes
Ground Based Light Curve Follow-Up Validation Observations of TESS Object of Interest (TOI) 4620.01
Get PDFThe TESS satellite scans the sky for possible exoplanets using the transit photometry method. Any possible exoplanet candidates are marked as Objects of Interest and selected for follow-up ground-based observation. This paper presents the results of follow-up ground based observation conducted on the candidate exoplanet TOI 4620.01. The goal of this observation was to determine if the transit detected for TOI 4620.01 occurred near the predicted star, and at the predicted time, with the predicted duration and orbital depth. Our observations showed that the transit occurred with all of the expected characteristics. This indicates that TOI 4620.01 is likely an actual exoplanet
Exploring the relationship between human trafficking and prostitution and human trafficking through an analysis of state statues and human trafficking initiatives
No full textProstitution is considered one of the world’s oldest professions, and it continues to be the subject of ongoing debates, particularly in the United States. It evokes concerns about fundamental values and concerns, such as morality, choice, and coercion, and it implicates larger social, cultural, and political views shaping attitudes towards women and sex. These debates seem to have garnered increased attention with the emergence of human trafficking as a major crime during the 1990s, particularly sex trafficking (which often bears a close resemblance to prostitution). This dissertation explores changing attitudes and responses toward prostitution and trafficking, with a particular focus on their relationship to one another. It does so through a critical analysis of the social, historical, and legal factors that have helped define these crimes and state responses to them. This provides a context for conducting a statutory analysis of prostitution and human trafficking laws, including a focus on how states have tried to define and distinguish human trafficking and prostitution as crimes within their statutes, including where they are placed in the state’s criminal code and the severity of punishments associated with them. This is then followed by a content analysis of how these statutes are interpreted through the mission statements and reports of human trafficking initiatives and taskforces designed to combat this problem at the state and local level. The overall purpose of this thesis is to contribute to ongoing debates about how these crimes are socially constructed and to deepen understanding about how their contested meanings contribute to a range of punitive and rehabilitative responses
Leaving the Clinic and Entering Uncertainty: Diagnostic Disclosure Decision-Making in HIV and Mental Illness
Get PDFIndividuals with non-visible stigmatized health conditions face a difficult dilemma when seeking the social support that years of research indicates is vital to their care: they may experience prejudice and discrimination instead. One such example is the sequelae of HIV disclosure, though extant literature on disclosure decisions has tended to focus on gay men disclosing to medical professionals and sexual partners. Study 1 of this dissertation utilizes data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (N = 1105) to better elucidate the ways and correlates of how women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) disclose their HIV status across eight types of relationships (e.g. family, neighbors). Four distinct classes spanning minimal to very broad disclosure emerged from a latent class analysis and were characterized descriptively before being examined in two path models where disclosure class predicted symptoms of (1) anxiety and (2) depression, with social support and discrimination modeled as parallel mediators. Despite initial analyses suggesting that low disclosers reported less endorsement of mental illness symptoms, results from the path analyses indicate that this relationship was subject to competing mediation by social support (anxiety model only) and HIV-related discrimination (both models). These findings provide greater context for disclosure decisions by WLWHA, uncovering latent patterns of, and potential contributors to, anxiety and depression symptoms that may have been previously misattributed to greater disclosure. Study 2 shifts focus to mental illness, another stigmatized non-visible health condition. Given that there are currently no disclosure decision-making models specific to mental illness, two potentially applicable health-related models, the Disclosure Decision-Making Model (DD-MM) and the Disclosure Processes Model (DPM), were examined and a systematic literature review of mental illness disclosure to close others was conducted. As previous work has mostly considered a binary of whether people disclosed their mental illness, a focus on how people disclose was emphasized in this review. Despite a comprehensive search and review of articles (N = 996), of the 23 total articles that met overall inclusion criteria, only eight specifically examined the how of mental illness disclosure. All included articles assisted in identifying relevant themes about this process, including considerations of selecting an appropriate disclosure method, navigating outcomes of disclosures, the influence of culture and identity, and the potential of social media as a disclosure tool. This review revealed several additional considerations for future research and intervention, including how mental illness is defined, the need for more diverse populations in these studies, the role of providers in preparing patients to make disclosures, the role of mental health advocates in social change, and the importance of viewing disclosure as a persistent, ongoing process that extends beyond one “coming out” conversation
Ground based light curve follow up confirmation of the planetary nature of TOI 3506.1
Get PDFThe Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission gathers data for thousands of candidate exoplanets and their host stars (Zhang et al., 2022). In this paper we present research on candidate exoplanet TOI 3506.01, which orbits host star TOI 3506.01. The goal of this paper is to provide a ground based follow up of the planetary nature of TOI 3506.01. We took 249 exposures with the GMU 0.8 m telescope and reduced them, then we conducted ground based multi aperture photometry using AstroImageJ to generate a light curve. In addition, we plotted residuals and the fluxes of our target stars and adjusted trends within the data. We confirmed the planetary nature of TOI 3506.01, due to the visible transit on the ground based light curve
Integrated Coastal Flood Mitigation Policies for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Utilizing a Federated Hurricane Mitigation Modeling Framework
Get PDFThis dissertation describes the development and implementation of a Federated Hurricane Mitigation Modeling Framework (FHMMF) to conduct System-of-Systems level analysis of tropical storm flood and wind mitigation policy alternatives for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The FHMMF integrates the Advanced 3D Circulation Model (ADCIRC) coastal flood model with the Multi-Agent Simulation of Neighborhoods/Networks (MASON) agent based modeling system to conduct simultaneous analysis of household level and community-wide structural flood and wind mitigation policy options. A combined Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) model was developed and integrated into the MASON modeling framework to reflect home owner decision processes and calibrated against historical responses in Sea Bright, New Jersey from Hurricane Sandy. The calibrated model was then validated against Hurricane Hugo for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Design storms were modeled in ADCIRC for various storm strengths and berm heights to determine maximum storm surge and wind velocity. Century long storm series were generated and Monte Carlo techniques were utilized to apply the relevant design storms in the ABM. The benefit versus cost of alternative coastline berm heights, building flood-proofing heights and a collection of storm shutters, roofing fastener improvements and roof strapping were analyzed separately and in combination to determine the benefits of a holistic analysis approach. In the process of researching and writing this dissertation, the author conducted a literature search and review of coastal storm and agent based modeling. Results highlight the relative impact of both flood and wind components and their mitigations analysis and support recommendations for future Myrtle Beach hurricane mitigation policies
Transit Method Analysis for Exoplanet Detection Validation Observations for TESS Object of Interest 3553.01
Get PDFThe goal of this observational research was to further develop a conclusion for the confirmation of TIC 239628993 (TOI 3553.01) as an exoplanet, originally detected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). We used the transit method to measure the light emitted from a system's host star and plotted data values throughout the exoplanet's transit. To increase the effectiveness of the transit method, we used image calibration, stack editing, image stabilization/alignment, interactive macro settings, multi-aperture photometry, and differential photometry, all supplied via the software AstroImageJ. Using the features of AstroImageJ, we compared the emitted light of the target star to those of numerous surrounding stars, and generated light curves consisting of normalized and best-fit data. Based on the best-fit modeled light curve, TIC 239628993 (TOI 3553.01) was classified as an exoplanet However, the light curve showed that the host star's brightness consistently decreased towards the end of the data set, not showing the returning increase of brightness. The decrease in emitted light was deemed sufficient to further support the classification of TIC 239628993 as an exoplanet, but based on these tentative results, the transit of the exoplanet as it passed in front of its host star was rendered an incomplete (partial) transit
Project 4: Gut Microbiome and Kidney Transplant
Get PDFBackground: The gut microbiota, comprising the entire population of microorganisms that colonize the colon, has evolved over time to establish a symbiotic relationship with the human body, yielding mutual benefits [1]. This microbiome plays a pivotal role in critical bodily functions, including biosynthesis, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, gut regulation, and immune system function. Under normal circumstances, these gut bacteria are referred to as indigenous microbiota, performing their customary functions; however, in the presence of disturbances, detrimental or opportunistic bacteria emerge, known as pathobionts [2]. Imbalances within the gut microbiota have been associated with various diseases, including obesity, metabolic disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, allergies, and autoimmune disorders [1]. Of particular concern is the impact of immunosuppressants and antibiotics administered after kidney transplant surgeries, as they disrupt the patients' gut microbiome, alter indigenous microbiota, and promote the proliferation of pathobionts, resulting in a condition known as dysbiosis. Dysbiosis, in turn, may facilitate the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) by modifying SCFA composition and generating elevated levels of toxins. Both AKI and pathobionts can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). If left untreated, CKD can escalate to infections and even rejection of the newly transplanted kidney by the recipient's immune system [2].
Objective: This project aims to 1) examine the degree of change occurred in the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiome, before and after kidney transplantation, and 2) identify treatments that support the microbiome in returning to its healthy, stable state
A Mixed Method Study of Educators Aiming To Increase Equity In Gifted Education Through A K-6 Talent Development Program
Get PDFAbstractA MIXED METHOD STUDY OF EDUCATORS AIMING TO INCREASE EQUITY IN GIFTED EDUCATION THROUGH A K-6 TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Theresa M. Carson Ph.D.Dissertation Director: Dr. Seth B. Hunter For almost a century, gifted programs throughout the United States have been criticized for their lack of equity. Underrepresented groups in gifted and other advanced academic programs are ethnically, culturally, linguistically, economically diverse (ECLED) students. To address this issue, some school systems throughout the United States have turned to talent development (TD) programs; initiatives that seek out targeted learners who exhibit advanced academic potential and nurture that potential. This mixed method study explores the outcomes of a TD intervention at one school district’s Title I schools from the teachers' perspectives. The results indicate the Young Scholars (YS) talent development model can be an effective remedy for underrepresentation. However, this closing of the “opportunity gap” for diverse learners did not necessarily equate to more ECLED students being formally identified as gifted. Keywords: underrepresentation, gifted, talent development, Young Scholar