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DO YOU CARE WHAT OTHERS LIKE YOU THINK? EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF CORRECTING CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION MISPERCEPTIONS
No full textClimate change is a complex phenomenon requiring collective action, which begins with public awareness and support for government action. On first glance, public opinion about climate change in the U.S. is well-poised to spark public pressure for the introduction of wide-sweeping climate policies. Two-thirds of Americans are worried about climate change (Ballew et al., 2019; Leiserowitz et al., 2024), while a similar proportion supports more government climate action (Tyson & Kennedy, 2020). However, at the same time, Americans across parties and states underestimate the proportion of other Americans holding pro-climate attitudes, thus perceiving a false social reality. Polls and studies consistently document that Americans’ estimates of other Americans’ pro-climate attitudes are much lower than reality (Geiger & Swim, 2016; Leiserowitz et al., 2019; Mildenberger & Tingley, 2017; Pearson et al., 2018), with one study finding that people falsely perceive nearly two-thirds of Americans as against more government action on climate change (Sparkman et al., 2022)
Three-State Donor-Acceptor Biaryl Lactone Molecular Switches with Enhanced Solubility
No full textColor poster with text, images, charts, and graphs.Our research is focused on the synthesis of a bridged biphenyl molecule with an amino donor and tetraethylene glycol solubilizing groups (TEG). This three-state biphenyl molecule, due to its chemical properties, will find applications as nanoscale fluorescent sensors and molecular mechanical devices. Biphenyl molecules have known dihedral angles, leading to differing optical and conducting properties when manipulated. Utilizing a lactone-bridge, we can force the molecule into and out of planarity. At low pH, the molecule takes a planar conformation (“ON”), while at high pH it's non-planar (“OFF”). Previous research has shown similar two-state molecules’ effectiveness at readily switching conformations when exposed to different chemical environments. Prior research combined cyano and nitro acceptors with differing amino donors within biphenyl molecules to enhance optical properties and pH sensitivity. This pH sensitivity will be more precise with the addition of a third “OFF” state. At low pH, the amino group should become protonated, leading to the second “OFF” state and giving a narrow “ON” state. The “ON” state results in visible color differences from the “OFF” states of the molecule. These characteristics improve the usefulness of these molecules as pH sensors. Our research aims to synthesize a biphenyl molecule with a cyano acceptor, and TEGs. Prior research shows nitrile fluoresces better than its nitro counterpart. Long TEGs will increase the solubility of the molecule, enhancing the practicality of the planar biphenyl molecule as a dye. We have successfully synthesized one of our target molecules, a benzene ring with an iodine and a para-TEG group. We will be continuing our work to synthesize a three-state donor-acceptor biaryl lactone molecular switch with a cyano acceptor and TEGs, enhancing solubility and fluorescence.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Effects of Industry and Occupation on Domestic Labor by Gender
No full textSenior Honors Thesis, Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin-MadisonThis paper uses Panel of Survey Income Dynamics (PSID) data
from 1979 to 2019 to examine how a spouse’s industry and occupation
of work relates to gender disparities of domestic labor in cohabitating
American couples, using involuntary unemployment to control for labor force decisions. The results show that, from 1979-1999, increasing
the proportion of women in an industry by one standard deviation
resulted in a 1.15 hour increase in weekly housework for women after
involuntary unemployment. During this period, both men and women
in certain manual labor-intensive industries experienced a statistically
significant increase of 0.58 to 2.46 hours in weekly housework after involuntary unemployment, compared to involuntary unemployment in
the reference industry (agriculture, forestry and fishing). After 1999,
the proportion of women in a job or industry had no significant effect on housework and a handful of specific occupations and industries
affected the results of domestic labor
REFUGEE CHOICES AND STATE RESPONSES IN CIVIL CONFLICTS: THE EFFECT OF ETHNICITY ON REFUGEE CHOICE OF ASYLUM, HOST STATE INTERVENTION, AND REFUGEE RETURNS
No full textHow do conflict type and ethnicity shape refugee choices and state responses? This dissertation investigates how civil conflict type — ethnic or non-ethnic — shapes refugee choices and state responses across three key stages: refugee choice of asylum state destination, asylum state intervention, and refugee return to the country of origin. It emphasizes how ethnic identity is a direct influence on refugee choices and state responses and provides a framework to assess the broader context of displacement and intervention. Utilizing a newly constructed cross-national dataset on ethnic kinship matching between refugees, origin states, and asylum states, this study conducts a large-N analysis to identify systematic patterns in refugee choices and state responses to ethnic and non-ethnic civil conflict from 1975-2023. Current scholarship aggregates civil conflict types to understand refugee choices and state responses, failing to analyze the underlying conflict dynamics that shape such choices and responses. Findings reveal that conflict type significantly impacts how ethnicity shapes displacement, intervention, and return dynamics. Factors influencing refugee decisions to flee and return, and the likelihood of state intervention vary across ethnic and non-ethnic civil conflicts. The ethnicity of refugees guides them to asylum states with shared dominant ethnic kinship in ethnic wars, highlighting the importance of ethnic security and survival. In such contexts, asylum states, driven by ethnic solidarity, are more likely to engage in direct (i.e. military) and indirect (i.e. financial and arms support) interventions. While ethnicity does not guide refugee return rates during ethnic conflict, upon conflict termination, shared ethnic kinship with the dominant group in the home state increases the likelihood of return, indicating how ethnic identity shapes perceptions of safety and reintegration prospects. These patterns are less pronounced, reversed, or nonexistent in non-ethnic conflicts. This research advances the field of migration studies by moving beyond aggregated analyses of civil conflict to demonstrate the distinct impacts of ethnic and non-ethnic conflict on refugee choices and state responses throughout the conflict and displacement process. By clarifying the intersection between conflict type and ethnic identity, this research contributes to broader debates on forced migration, conflict-driven displacement, asylum state behavior, and post-conflict reintegration. It offers valuable policy insights into the importance of ethnic ties in shaping refugee displacement trajectories, asylum state intervention, and sustainable refugee return strategies
Breaking the biofilm barrier: CRISPRi-guided investigation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibility to natural products
No full textSenior Honors Thesis, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonAntibiotic resistance is a growing concern, with pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa evolving resistance to clinical treatments. Furthermore, our race against antibiotic resistance is worsened by a slowdown in novel antibiotic discovery. The Gram-negative bacterium P. aeruginosa often causes infections in patients with cystic fibrosis and poses a particular threat due to its ability to form biofilms, which are stable supercellular structures that adhere to surfaces and enhance resistance to antibiotics. However, natural products are promising sources for discovering new antimicrobial compounds. This project investigates the mechanism by which a recently discovered antibacterial natural product and a semi-synthetic derivative inhibit P. aeruginosa and its biofilm formation. Full genome CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) knockdown strains of P. aeruginosa PA14 were utilized to identify the genetic and biochemical targets of the natural product and its analog. By elucidating the mechanism of how biofilm formation is inhibited, this research aims to reveal vulnerable genes and pathways that can be targeted for future antibiotic development, with implications for treating P. aeruginosa and potentially other comparable pathogens
Facilitating ERP Changes: Change Management Recommendations for Success
No full textA seminar paper presented to the graduate faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science - Organizational Change LeadershipEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is an essential program to run businesses. It is a tool that
consolidates information from multiple departments, including human Resources (HR), finance,
Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and others (Schwarz, 2023). When it is time to
replace or upgrade an ERP system, change management is essential due to the complex
integrations. Three literature reviews are appraised to determine the top 5 Critical Success
Factors, or CFSs, of ERP implementation. Additionally, studies find that Kotter’s model is the
best change management model for ERP implementations. Case study reviews provide some
additional confirmation that Kotter’s model works best for ERP implementations, although
recommendations include that additional future studies be planned to provide additional
confirmation
Adventurers and Algorithms: AI and the Evolution of TTRPG Gameplay
No full textModern tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have received increasing attention in library and educational contexts due to their ability to serve as an alternative experiential learning opportunity. However, common TTRPG safety frameworks lack consideration for the adoption and impact of AI tools. To address this gap, this study employs a qualitative approach to explore how AI tools are used in TTRPGs and players’ concerns related to fairness, bias, and safety. The findings aim to aid the development of more comprehensive safety frameworks for AI-integrated TTRPG experiences
INVESTIGATING PSEUDOMONAS KILLING OF GENETICALLY IDENTICAL BACTERIA
No full textPseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) is a plant pathogenic bacteria and causal agent of bacterial speck, which can have serious impacts on the yield and quality in tomato. Previous work has shown that Pst grown in planta is able to limit the growth of in vitro grown cultures of Xanthomonas hortorum pv. gardneri (Xg), Salmonella enterica, and genetically identical Pst that has not been exposed to the plant environment. Here, we investigate the conditions Pst can limit the growth of other bacteria and explore the underlying mechanism of this limitation. Assays comparing the growth of a target population mixed with Pst grown either in planta or in vitro revealed that Pst’s ability to limit other bacteria is activated in the plant environment. Growing Pst in homogenized leaf tissue revealed plant-derived factors are suficient to trigger inhibition. Co-inoculating cultures of Pst and Xg indicated that Pst more efectively suppressed target bacteria when populations resemble that of a pre-established infection. Finally, using a reporter plasmid, we found that Pst’s T6SS is expressed at higher levels in planta, indicating that it may be the mechanism responsible for Pst’s limiting ability. Together these findings indicate that during infection, Pst may utilize its T6SS to inhibit the growth of immigrating bacteria, allowing it to maintain dominance in its infection court, the apoplast
NEMATODES AND NITROGEN: MOLECULAR MIMICRY AND HOST MANIPULATION
No full textNitrogen efficiency and other nutrient uptake in agroecosystems across the globe are of economic and environmental importance, yet only 30% of applied nitrogen is utilized by crops. While nitrogen management strategies optimize fertilizer applications, they often overlook biotic stressors. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) modulate host growth and behavior to suppress plant pathogen defenses, form feeding sites, and alter plant nutrient uptake including stimulating nitrogen absorption. Under low nitrogen conditions, long distance peptide phytohormones in the C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE (CEP) family are secreted in plants from root to shoot. There, they interact with a receptor and illicit a downstream signal that increases expression of transcription factors and nitrate transporters in the roots stimulating nitrogen uptake. CEPs are unique to vascular land plants and are ubiquitous among them; however, two genera of PPN, the root-knot nematode (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) and the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis), encode CEP phytohormone mimics. These peptides have been experimentally shown to increase nitrate transporter expression, and in the absence of high nematode pressure, represent a novel tool to increase nitrogen efficiency in agroecosystems. This thesis characterizes the biology and history of nitrogen use in agriculture, the need for improved nitrogen efficiency in modern agriculture, discoveries in plant hormone and CEP research, and the role of PPN in modulating host nutrient uptake. Findings from this work may help lower the inputs of N, increase uptake of applied N, and reduce runoff and leaching of N into the environment
EVALUATING NO₂ COLUMN VARIATIONS OVER UPPER NORTHERN THAILAND AND PARTICULARLY LAMPANG PROVINCE TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF AIR QUALITY USING SATELLITE AND GROUND DATA
No full textThis study assesses NO₂ column variations over upper northern Thailand using satellite data. The study examined seasonal variable and spatial distribution, both horizontally and vertically, by tracking satellite-based nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particular matter (PM2.5) and ground-level data. Since the ground-based NO₂ monitoring stations are limited across the region, satellite-based observations serve as a valuable alternative. This approach helps clarify relevant vertical air quality issues, identify regions that are the most vulnerable to poor air quality, and clarifies the main source of air pollution in different seasons.
The findings show that air pollution in the region is mainly influenced by anthropogenic activities such as industrial emission, transportation, and agricultural waste burning. Additionally, forest fires and agricultural burning during the dry season represented a significant natural hazard contributing to poor air quality. In addition, geographical and meteorological factors also affect the persistence and dispersion of pollutants. Seasonal analysis indicated that NO2 column amount peaked during the hot season, coinciding with the second maize harvesting period and the forest fire season. In contrast, pollutant levels declined significantly during the rainy season due to wet deposition, while moderate concentrations persisted around urban and industrial zones, including the Mae Moh power plant. During the cold season, stagnant air led to pollutant accumulation in low-lying valleys.
Finding potential sources or contributing factors is essential for supporting more effective air pollution control strategies, apart from simply focusing on controlling burning. A more comprehensive approach to industrial emission control is needed, one that is not only large industries but also small and medium-scale factories. In addition, an integrated strategy that includes increasing law enforcement, public awareness, promoting ground-based monitoring stations near industrial area, enhances continued assessment of NO2 to improve understanding of related pollutants such as PM2.5 and ground-level ozone (O3).
This scientific evaluation of different pollutants underscores the necessity of proactive risk management strategies to support sustainable environmental management and enhance public well-being