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How it Flows: Examining the Menstrual Experiences of Latinx Women
No full textThe discourse surrounding menstruation has historically reflected broad, often monolithic understandings of women's experiences-frequently marginalizing the nuanced voices of women of color. This study explores the lived experiences of twelve Latinx women, amplifying a narrative long underrepresented in academic literature. While existing scholarship has addressed the stigma associated with menstruation, it has frequently overlooked the strategies of resilience and resistance women employ to navigate this stigmatized terrain. Through intimate accounts shared by participants, this study illuminates how menstrual experiences shaped Latinx women's self-esteem and identity development. Five key themes emerged: sources of information, invisibility of menstruation, resisting stigma, from fear to empowerment, and transforming menstrual narratives for future empowerment. In Latino culture, menstruation is often regarded as a taboo subject-surrounded by silence, euphemisms, and cultural myths that discourage open conversation. This cultural backdrop reinforces gendered expectations of secrecy and shame, limiting access to accurate information and emotional support. Participants described how this cultural silence contributed to heightened feelings of embarrassment and anxiety during their formative years, often exacerbated by misinformation, gendered silence, and fear of ridicule in both public and private settings. As they entered adulthood, however, many experienced a profound shift in self-perception. This transformation fostered a deeper sense of confidence, bodily awareness, and autonomy, ultimately reframing menstruation as a site of empowerment rather than shame. This research affirms the resilience of Latinx women and underscores the transformative potential of sharing personal narratives in deconstructing stigma. Importantly, the participants' growing empowerment has also inspired many to become advocates-committed to fostering openness, dismantling taboos, and reshaping menstrual education for future generations
Generation Z's Perceptions on Transformational Leadership and Its Impact on Motivation and Engagement in the Public Sector
No full textThe emergence of Generation Z (Gen Z) presents new challenges for the workforce as public administrators seek strategies to attract and retain employees amidst high turnover and evolving work values. As of today, public management must work to embrace new leadership approaches like transformational leadership (TFL) to navigate through generational shifts. While previous research emphasizes TFL's success in upper management of organizations, few studies indicate its role in operational management within public agencies. This research investigates how lower-level Gen Z employees perceive their supervisors' TFL behaviors and the extent to which these perceptions are associated with their motivation and engagement at the Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures. A cross-sectional and quantitative method will be employed, incorporating the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale to measure such variables. The expected findings will provide insight into how core elements of TFL align with Gen Z's workplace values. These results will serve as informative precursors to public agencies and human resources departments when revamping leadership training and succession planning strategies that acclimate to generational transitions and workforce sustenance in the future
Impact of AI and Technology on police effectiveness, efficiency, and trust in the community
No full textAbstract The Impact of AI and Technology on Police Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Trust in the Community By Dany Saikaly Master of Public Administration, Public Sector Management and Leadership Police agencies have accelerated in recent years the adoption of new technologies for patrol. Apart from making their work more efficient, they also do this so that they can demonstrate to the public that they are more transparent and accountable. This research examines the impacts of AI-driven patrol technology on crime outcomes, officer productivity, and public perceptions of legitimacy through a systematic review of peer-reviewed research articles from 2015 to 2025. Artificial intelligence and technology are affecting work, officer productivity, and public trust in a multi-faceted manner. Though body cameras and LPRs undoubtedly accelerate evidence collection, they have shown little effect in lowering general crime rates or use-of-force encounters. Predictive analytics can maximize deployment strategies but replicate current biases. Objectivity and transparency are core values, and legitimacy and performance gain public trust through openness, responsiveness, and inclusiveness. They must be cultivated if modest operational achievements are to be transformed over the long term into policy transformation and generalized public confidence
Accessibility and Types of Services Available for HIV-Positive Individuals in Los Angeles County: A Qualitative Investigation
No full textThe primary research question guiding this systemic literature review was, "What are the lived experiences of HIV-positive individuals living in Los Angeles County and what are their experience in accessing services meant to address their HIV diagnosis?" Researchers employed a qualitative research design, utilizing thematic analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of HIV-positive individuals regarding their overall access to healthcare services. The mode of data collection (zoom and phone) was collected by utilizing a semi-structured interview guide. The total sample included 3 participants and they provided insights into their experiences. These findings revealed significant commonalities in the experiences of individuals living with HIV who were undetectable, underscoring the critical role that access to care and social support played in their health journeys. The absence of additional resource referrals suggests a gap in behavioral health services, potentially leaving individuals without the necessary emotional and psychological support to navigate their diagnosis
Displacement and Systemic Inequities in Housing within Los Angeles County
No full textThe housing crisis in Los Angeles County is reshaping urban areas and presents significant challenges that impact marginalized communities. This systematic literature review will discuss the curtailing motivations by public officials and stakeholders that have resulted in inequitable access to housing in Los Angeles and how it has stemmed progress. By employing the Network Theory, it will analyze the causes and objectives of housing displacement and systemic inequities during behind choices made during the decision-making process among public officials, what gains or losses government agencies received from the decisions made, and the consequences that have impacted displacement and exclusion. Findings from this thesis support the importance of acknowledging and addressing the various challenging factors that contribute to the patterns and outcomes of displacement such as systemic biases in housing, local land use and zoning policies, gentrification, and rising housing costs
Role of two terminal selectors on the evolution of left-right neuronal asymmetry
No full textThe final step of neurogenesis is the specification of neuronal type, requiring transcription factors known as terminal selectors. Neurons display remarkable diversity, and this is well illustrated by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has only 302 neurons with over 118 distinct neuronal types. These neuronal identities are achieved through the regulation of gene batteries by combinations of transcription factors expressed in each neuron. In C. elegans, there are twelve pairs of bilaterally symmetric sensory neurons in the head, known as the amphid neurons. One of these pairs, the ASE neurons, exhibits directional asymmetry, differentiating into the ASER (right) and ASEL (left) subtypes. The ASER and ASEL fates are specified through regulation by the terminal selector Cel-che-1, which promotes expression of the microRNA lsy-6 in ASEL, and the transcription factor cog-1 in ASER. While terminal selectors and their effector genes have been well studied in C. elegans, little is known about the conservation of these factors across species, and how they may be co-opted in specifying alternate neuronal identities. In the distantly related nematode Pristionchus pacificus, it was recently discovered that the homologous Ppa-ASE neurons may have left/right asymmetry, despite a reduction in the number of asymmetrically expressed sensory receptor families (receptor guanylyl cyclase). Interestingly, Ppa-che-1 has gained expression in the AFD neurons, making it bilaterally expressed in both the AFD and ASE neurons. We hypothesize that Ppa-che-1 and downstream regulatory components involved in ASEL/ASER identity have been co-opted to also establish AFD identity. In this study, we utilized HCR FISH to identify five ASER markers, three ASEL markers, and three AFD markers. We performed a forward genetic screen for genes that disrupt ASE asymmetry and identified Ppa-die-1, a homolog of a transcription factor that specifies ASEL fate in C. elegans. We then investigated the post-transcriptional regulation of Ppa-cog-1 as a nexus for miRNA involvement in establishing ASE asymmetry and AFD identity. Finally, we examined the role of the putative terminal selector Ppa-ttx-1 in AFD fate. The ASE regulatory module provides invaluable insight into how convergent evolution of terminal selector and microRNA regulatory networks can give rise to multiple neuronal fates
Analysis of performance management systems and employee motivation in the public sector
No full textThe use of performance management systems (PMS) is now widespread in the public sector, a trend largely driven by New Public Management principles. Understanding the true motivational impact of these systems has become a critical issue for modern governance. While intended to increase efficiency and accountability, their actual effectiveness is often undermined by implementation deficits, such as fragmentation and symbolic adoption. Using a systematic review of the literature, this graduate project investigates how specific design elements and broader contextual factors shape motivational outcomes in public agencies. The findings reveal that while participatory design in goal setting and feedback is a key enabling factor for motivation, its success is powerfully mediated by its organizational context. The findings also show how the surrounding organizational context can override a system's intended benefits, particularly when confronted with an unsupportive culture or a deficit in leadership and supervision. The analysis also consistently points to a breakdown in employee trust and engagement whenever there is a fundamental lack of clarity, whether in the goals being set, the feedback being given, or in the communications from leadership
Analytical modeling of SiC MESFET for switching speed.
No full textMicroelectronic devices continue to shape the future of technology, with wide bandgap semiconductors like Silicon Carbide (SiC) enabling significant advancements in high-power and high-frequency applications. Among these, the SiC Metal-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MESFET) stands out for its robust electrical and thermal properties, making it suitable for applications in RF systems, radar electronics, satellite communication, and microwave circuits. This research explores analytical modeling and switching performance evaluation of SiC MESFETs, specifically focusing on enhancing switching speeds through optical control methods. The study develops a physics-based analytical model to examine critical device parameters, including I-V characteristics, threshold voltage, gate capacitance, transconductance, and switching time, without relying on TCAD or commercial simulation tools. Instead, MATLAB-based simulations are used to validate the theoretical models and observe trends across varying device conditions. Ion implantation at an energy of 100 keV is considered in the channel region for modeling the doping profile. The influence of channel doping levels on device performance is investigated, with the goal of optimizing conduction and switching behavior. In the switching analysis, optical illumination is introduced to simulate photogenerated carrier effects, resulting in a marked improvement in switching time, a key advantage for future optoelectronic and hybrid device applications. By combining theoretical modeling with numerical analysis, this project not only strengthens the understanding of SiC MESFET physics but also showcases how microelectronic principles can be applied to solve real-world engineering challenges in high-speed, high-power electronics
Loving Accommodations
No full textPhilosophers of disability have argued about the incorporation of disabled persons within the United States of America and the need for adequate representation. The current approaches of creating accommodations refers to both the legal approach which aims to form accommodations within classrooms, workplaces, and places of government, and the interpersonal approach which creates accommodations for friends, family, or strangers outside of governmental oversight. In this paper I will address the need to theorize accommodations outside of providing lawful protections and provisions for disabled persons. In this thesis, I will first argue that the current foundation of either approach is problematic as they utilize what Marilyn Frye refers to as "arrogant perception". When evaluating justified need and implementing an accommodation, the specific needs and multifaceted perspectives of disabled people are ignored as able-bodied perspectives and norms are upheld. In addition, I will defend an alternative to this standard by utilizing the concepts of playfulness, world-traveling, and loving perception developed by Maria Lugones. In doing so, I will develop the concept of loving accommodations which emphasizes the vulnerable and intimate conditions of providing meaningful accommodations and more importantly the need for putting disabled persons' perspectives first in the process of accommodations.https://doi.org/10.46569/5712mh05
Understanding the Impacts of Identity and Well-being of Transracial Adoptions in Child Welfare
No full textThis meta-synthesis examines how transracial adoption impacts children's cultural connection, identity development, and well-being. Using existing research, this paper identifies how transracial adoption can have negative impacts on the adoptee and how factors such as cultural socialization, exposure, and engagement can help mitigate those challenges. It also briefly explores how the support of adoptive families can support adopted children through open engagement and racial/ethnic acceptance and awareness. The significance of this research can help inform adoptive families or those considering the importance of keeping children connected to their birth culture and encourage them to have open conversations about race and their overall well-being.https://doi.org/10.46569/0p096h32