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The Paradox of Value
Full text linkThe present thesis project examines how, in the United States, and especially in the state of Virginia, archetypes of wealth, value, and identity have been constructed in relation to land and territory. This analysis explores the tension between the inherent value of life on the land and the economic value that can be derived from it. This tension is exemplified by a theory known as the paradox of value , also referred to as the paradox of water and diamonds , which was developed by the renowned Scottish economist and philosopher, Adam Smith. This theoretical framework serves as a fundamental axis for the investigation.
The exploration of the concept of value, as it pertains to the depiction of fauna, flora, ethnography and geography in historical visual representations, including archival photographs, engravings and numismatic elements such as coins and banknotes, constitutes my artistic research. In this particular instance, the historical emissions of the United States dollar and landscape photographs of Virginia have been utilised as the primary materials for an art installation that incorporates photography and sculpture
Feeling Foreign / Foreign Feeling: Affect in Southeast Asian Diasporic Short Story Collections
Full text linkAffect studies have long been saturated with scholarship investigating the fluidity of emotions, though a larger turn in the field now prioritizes the felt experiences of marginalized peoples. Sianne Ngai’s work is one part of this turn that seeks to unpack the effects of oppressive systemic forces on Black, Brown, and queer bodies. Sianne Ngai reexamined the nature of emotions in her seminal text Ugly Feelings (2005), particularly concerned with how negative feelings are disproportionately felt by marginalized bodies as a result of conditions of obstructed agency, systems of power, and wage labor capitalism. Drawing from Ngai’s writing, this thesis intervenes as an examination of affect in the Southeast Asian diaspora, specifically attuned to how migration and assimilation shapes the identities and relationships of individuals in Filipino, Vietnamese, and Cambodian communities across the globe. My project argues that analyzing the Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee through an affective lens illuminates the methods of survival enacted in order to negotiate their citizenship in new places of residence. In tandem, my thesis reveals how the forces of white hegemony and assimilation violently threaten the Southeast Asian\u27s citizenship and belonging in the West. Organized into three chapters built upon affects of guilt, gratitude, and nervousness, my thesis explores three short story collections to trace how affect functions within the Southeast Asian. I argue that an attunement to affect in literary narratives augments our understanding around cultural values, identity formation, and the institution of family. In my investigation of these texts, I call attention to the short story collection as a form especially equipped to convey diasporic narratives due to the form’s allowances for a multiplicity of voices that emphasize community. I posit that labor and a deeply embedded obligation to family and community are central to the affective atmospheres of the diasporic Filipino, Vietnamese, and Cambodian communities. A significant aim of this thesis is to highlight the interconnected struggles, life, and love of the Southeast Asian diaspora
Strata: Layered support through community, resources, & design
Full text linkStrata reimagines transitional housing as a layered, responsive ecosystem that supports the holistic well-being of individuals experiencing housing insecurity. Inspired by the vertical structure of a forest canopy, the design integrates biophilic principles, trauma-informed strategies, and sustainable practices to create a dignified, inclusive environment. Located in the historic Sauer’s Factory in Richmond, Virginia, the project leverages adaptive reuse to ground the building in local context while addressing systemic gaps in supportive housing. Public amenities, such as a hygiene center, café, learning spaces, and a free store, encourage community integration and reduce stigma, while flexible private units and calming retreat spaces promote autonomy and healing. Rooted in equity, wellness, and environmental stewardship, Strata demonstrates how interior design can be a transformative tool for resilience, recovery, and connection
Crafting Futures: Balancing Tradition and Technology in Craft Practices
Full text linkUnder pressure from mass production and the decline of artisan skills, craft traditions risk becoming relics of the past. Crafting Futures challenges this by treating machines as tools of creative expression, working alongside and in harmony with traditional hand techniques. By pairing an experienced potter with a creatively deployed 3D-printer to develop a series of artifacts, this research fosters a dynamic conversation between partners. Digital fabrication can engage with, rather than replace, traditional making practices, emphasizing the role of the maker’s imagination as the site of knowledge, intuition, and improvisation. The resulting series of hybrid clay vessels reinforce not only the value of the human hand in the production process but also the role of technology, producing outcomes neither could achieve alone
Immersive Medical Practice and Clinical Training: Virtual and Mixed Reality in Pharmacy and Orthopedic Surgery
Full text linkExtended‑reality (XR) technologies including virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) offer new ways to improve training and surgical precision. This thesis evaluates their educational and clinical impact through two complementary studies.
Specific Aim 1 compared an immersive 360° video VR module with conventional training for teaching USP \u3c 797\u3e sterile‑compounding skills to second‑year PharmD students (N = 36). VR trainees raised their knowledge from 6.14 ± 1.55 to 8.69 ± 1.07, yet the overall post‑test advantage versus control was not statistically significant (U = 71.50, p = 0.21). Item‑level McNemar testing showed significant VR‑exclusive gains on three critical questions (K5, K6, K10; p ≤ 0.004). Self‑perceived confidence (U = 130.00, p = 0.284) and rubric‑based performance (U = 136.00, p = 0.41) were comparable between groups. NASA‑TLX scores confirmed the intervention was well‑tolerated, with high perceived performance (mean = 90) and very low frustration (mean = 7.5).
Specific Aim 2 employed a randomized crossover design in which three PGY‑4 orthopedic residents placed guide‑wires in 3D‑printed scapulae under free‑hand and MR‑guided conditions, yielding 15 paired observations. MR guidance (Microsoft HoloLens 2 plus custom planning software) reduced positional error from 22.46 ± 14.38 mm to 12.23 ± 8.98 mm (t = 2.34, p = 0.027), while rotational and overall Euclidean errors showed non‑significant but favorable trends. Descriptive NASA‑TLX data suggested lower mental and physical demand with MR support.
Conclusions. VR delivered item‑specific sterile‑compounding knowledge gains. MR significantly improved positional accuracy in simulated shoulder arthroplasty. Together these findings demonstrate that XR can both enrich learning and improve precision, underscoring its promise for widespread adoption in pharmacy education and surgical practice
GUARDIANS OF THEIR OWN: ROUTINE ACTIVITIES, RISK PERCEPTIONS, & SELF-PROTECTION AMONG POLICE OFFICERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY
Full text linkThis research illuminated how police officers perceive risks in the line of duty and whether police officers implement protective behaviors on duty. This was done by implementing two phases of data collection: focus groups (I) and self-report surveys (II). The focus groups (N = 21) were conducted to inform the self-protective behaviors instrument in the self-report surveys (N =143). Officers self-reported their risk of assault and injury in the line of duty in the next six months to be 33.86% (SD = 27.13) and their risk of felonious death to be 14.4% (SD = 18.1). Results show that officers feel most at risk in one-officer vehicles alone, more likely to be injured by an offender’s personal weapons (hands, fists, feet), but killed by their firearm. Officers working patrol had a significant, positive relationship with assault/injury risk perception while female officers had a significant, positive relationship with felonious death risk perception. The results further show that not only are officers implementing self-protective behaviors in the line of duty, but, on average, they are implementing them anywhere from often to occasionally. The results found a significant, positive relationship between self-protective behavior implementation and PTSD symptomatology. Further, the results found a significant, negative relationship between self-protective behavior implementation and years of law enforcement experience. The results of this study provide further insight into police officers’ perceptions of their own risk of victimization, including in specific circumstances, based on the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted data, and find that police officers are implementing self-protective behaviors to limit this risk
Through Their Eyes: Black Girls Reimagining the Future of School Mental Health Post-COVID-19 through Youth Participatory Action Research
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of Black high school girls regarding school-based mental health (SBMH) services in a post-COVID-19 context. Grounded in Black Feminist Thought (BFT) and utilizing a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) framework with Photovoice methodology, this study engaged seven student-researchers as co-investigators in examining how they perceive, experience, and reimagine mental health support in their schools. Before this study, limited research had centered on Black girls’ voices or positioned them as co-researchers in evaluating and shaping SBMH services.
Through data analysis, six significant themes and subsequent subthemes emerged: 1) knowledge (self-knowledge and awareness, importantce of mental health); 2) protective factors (safe spaces, relationships and community); 3) challenges and barriers (stigma, accessibility, quality); 4) reimagining school-based mental health (school integration, enhancing services); 5) school belonging and connectedness (trusted adults, group-based supports); and 6) advocacy and change (student advocacy, mental health awareness, school leadership engagement).
Findings from this study suggest that Black girls offer critical insights into both the systemic barriers and the transformative possibilities of school-based mental health. Their experiences emphasize the need for culturally responsive, student-centered approaches affirming identity, fostering belonging, and promoting wellness. As schools increasingly focus on mental health, Black girls must be regarded as essential stakeholders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of SBMH services. Results from this study provide a foundation for future research and practice related to school counselors, equity-driven mental health supports, and participatory research with Black youth
Modeling Synergistic Effects of Integrin and TGF-β Signaling in Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition
Full text linkThe induction of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is initiated by a
number of protiens and growth factors, one of which is the profibrotic cytokine Trans-
forming Growth Factor β (TGF-β). Within the extracellular matrix (ECM), TGF-β
is found in a latent, inactive form bound to proteins such as fibronectin (FN). For
TGF-β to contribute to EMT induction, it has to be extracted from the latent com-
plexes into a soluble form. This soluble, activated TGF-β can then bind to receptors
on the cell membrane, which causes the transduction of signals that begin EMT. Re-
search has shown that the release of soluble TGF-β is mediated by integrins on the
cell membrane. The binding of the Latency Associated Peptide (LAP) and of soluble
FN to integrins αv and α5 respectively triggers the activation of motor and formin
proteins that contribute to the assembly of ECM and contract to release soluble, ac-
tive TGF-β from the latent complexes. While there is extensive research on the roles
of TGF-β and integrin signaling in inducing EMT, the synergistic effects of the two
remain unexplored. To investigate the combinatorial effects of the two, we developed
viiia deterministic model simulating the integrin-mediated unfolding of the complexes
that release active TGF-β that can then bind to receptors to induce EMT signaling
A deterministic model consisting of 13 ODEs was developed representing the
unfolding of latent TGF-β and the binding of fibronectin and the latent TGF-β com-
plexes with transmembrane integrins using the compiled results of numerous experi-
mental studies. A combination of rate law kinetics and the Hill activation equation
were used to develop the model, and rates were optimized using steady state values
derived experimentally or from assumptions based on knowledge of the behavior of
the variables. The model was validated by running simulations mimicking the treat-
ment of MCF10A human breast cells with soluble TGF-β and comparing the final
concentrations of the components of the system. Simulations of the inhibition of in-
tegrin activity were then run to use the model to predict the extent of influence of
integrin signaling in the progression of the system
Mechanisms of Chemoresistance: The Role of Fatty Acyl-CoA Chain Length, GBA, and Multidrug Transporters
No full textMultidrug resistance (MDR) remains a major obstacle in cancer therapy, contributing to nearly 90% of cancer-related deaths. While ceramides and their downstream metabolites have been extensively studied in relation to chemoresistance, the role of upstream precursors and key enzymes in ceramide metabolism remains less understood. This study explores two objectives: whether the fatty acyl-CoA precursors 16:0 CoA and 24:0 CoA influence chemoresistance in lung epithelial cell models, and whether the enzyme glucosylceramidase beta (GBA), which hydrolyzes glucosylceramide (GlcCer) into ceramide, modulates the expression of MDR-associated transporters and alters drug response across cancer cell lines. In Chapter 1, HBEC-derived lung epithelial lines with distinct resistance profiles were treated with 16:0 and 24:0 CoA to assess changes in growth, viability, lipid composition, invasion potential, and drug sensitivity. Lipidomic analysis confirmed precursor incorporation into ceramide species. 16:0 CoA promoted resistance in p53-deficient cells but decreased viability in others, while 24:0 CoA unexpectedly increased chemosensitivity in specific contexts. Chapter 2 evaluated GBA’s role across cancer models, showing that GBA knockdown reduced MDR1 and MRP1 expression and sensitized H1299 cells to vinorelbine and paclitaxel, but in H460 cells, knockdown increased transporter expression and chemoresistance, suggesting cell-type-dependent effects. These differences may reflect variations in lipid metabolism, stress responses, or oncogenic signaling. Overall, this study reveals that fatty acyl-CoA precursors and GBA expression significantly influence chemoresistance in a context-specific manner, linking ceramide metabolism to ABC transporter regulation and offering insights for developing targeted strategies against resistant cancers
HAFNIUM OXIDE-BASED NANOHETEROSTRUCTURES FOR CATALYTIC RADIOSENSITIZATION AND ENHANCED X-RAY RADIOTHERAPY
No full textOrthovoltage X-ray beams are attractive for surface and intra-operative radiotherapy. Yet, their clinical utility is constrained by rapid attenuation and the limited dose that can be delivered without harming healthy tissue. High-Z hafnium oxide (HfO2) nanoparticles can boost local energy deposition through the photoelectric effect, while catalytic surface defects accelerate water radiolysis. Harnessing both mechanisms in a single nano-heterostructure could enable potent radiosensitization at diagnostic-range energies.
This thesis develops and evaluates HfO2-based nanoheterostructures, both bare and Au-decorated, as catalytic radiosensitizers.
Two types of HfO2 were evaluated, one was synthesized following a specific route and the other commercially available. Afterward, each HfO2 was decorated with Au nanoparticles via a wet-chemical route. Crystallite size, phase, morphology, Au loading, and surface chemistry were investigated by XRD, TEM and XPS. Cat- alytic radiosensitization was assessed by monitoring pseudo–first-order degradation of methylene blue under 70kV, 100kV, 150kV and 225kV X-rays, varying nanoparticle concentrations (0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 mg mL−1).
The hydrothermally synthesized HfO2 rose the rate constant k by up to 0.110 min−1 and delivering a 43% enhancement at 225 kV; even at 70 kV it achieved a 30% gain. Au decoration passivated active sites on this support, adding no more than 6%. In contrast, the commercial powder showed minimal benefit, \u3c 10 %, unless augmented with Au, which restored activity to 19 % at the lowest energy tested.
Performance correlates with lattice disorder and surface defect chemistry rather than Au loading alone. By tailoring synthesis to maximize oxygen-vacancy density while controlling noble-metal coverage, catalytic dose amplification approaching 40 % can be achieved across the entire 70 kV to 225 kV window. Together, these insights set the stage for HfO2 nanomaterials that maximize therapeutic gain at low kilovoltage energies with minimal collateral toxicity