Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Not a member yet
77577 research outputs found
Sort by
Telomerase Expression and its Role in Aging in Adult Sea Stars
No full textAs humans age, they are at an increased risk of developing many diseases such as cancer. This is in part due to the shortening of our telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes that shorten with every cell division. Some organisms, such as sea urchins and flatworms, exhibit healthy mechanisms of aging- in other words, they contain unique biological mechanisms that prevent them from contracting age-related diseases. Understanding telomere biology in animals with healthy mechanisms of aging, can help develop new therapeutics aimed to increase human lifespan. One animal that remains largely unexplored and may be able to resist contracting age-related diseases, is the sea star, Patiria miniata.
Our aim is to study telomere biology in P. miniata to determine if they have molecular mechanisms that allow them to age in a healthy manner. Telomerase is an enzyme that has the ability to make telomeres longer. It is not found in most adult human somatic cells, which likely contributes to the increased risk of disease as humans get older. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to determine telomerase expression levels in adult sea star tissues and early development stages. This allowed telomerase levels to be measured in different tissue types, from both adult and juvenile sea stars.
The results indicate telomerase is expressed at relatively high levels in all three tissue types and developmental stages. Overall, our results are consistent with our hypothesis that Patiria miniata have molecular mechanisms that prevent them from contracting diseases as they get older
How Influencers Shape Fast Fashion Consumption and Trends
No full textThis study will focus on how influencers market fast fashion, how their promotions affect consumer behavior, and how they contribute to the fast-changing trend cycle. The study will analyze peer-reviewed journals, analyzing existing research. It will use symbolic interactionism to explain how influencers create an image of themselves on social media that makes their followers want to copy their lifestyle. To add, it will also use conflict theory to show how brands often use these influencers to increase their sales.
Social media influencers have transformed the way people engage with consumer culture, particularly with fast fashion. Through social media platforms like TIktok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. influencers market fast fashion brands promoting current trends, a sense of urgency, and reinforcing a continuous cycle of consumption. Influencers can reach large audiences because they can be seen as relatable by sharing personal and engaging content making them great marketers. Research has found how often videos are created on clothing hauls, styling tips, and brand deals, encouraging people to shop more. The findings show how influencer marketing can shape consumer habits and can reinforce materialistic values.
This research is important because it shows how influencers can shape shopping habits and consumer choices. It raises awareness about the impact of fast fashion and encourages discussions about ethical and sustainable alternatives. Understanding these patterns can help consumers make a more informed shopping decision and can encourage brands to use a more responsible marketing approach
The Factors that Contribute to the Rising Statistics of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
No full textWith roughly 582,641 missing and murdered people reported in the United States (U.S.) a year, Indigenous women and girls account for over 5,800 of these cases. For American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women and girls aged 10-24, homicide is ranked top 5 as leading causes of death varying on age. The focus of this project is to understand what systemic factors contribute to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) population in the U.S. from various sociological perspectives. Focusing on theories such as Critical Race Theory (CRT), Social Conflict Theory, and Feminist Theory will aid in examining the relationship between race, gender, and societal structures that factor into MMWI. These theories will help identify the factors that solely target the Indigenous women community in various states of the U.S. Using literature analysis and statistical collection, the research will look at rates as a whole across the U.S. and identify certain states that have more significant rates of violence towards this population. In addition, it highlights the start and establishment of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement in society. Finally, calling attention to the possible changes, reforms, and policies that can be implemented to reduce the violence toward the Indigenous women population
Gender Expectations in the Play El eterno femenino (1975) by Rosario Castellanos and the Film Adaptation Los adioses (2017) by Natalia Beristain
No full textThe essay analyzes gender expectations in El eterno femenino (1975) by Rosario Castellanos and its film adaptation Los adioses (2017) by Natalia Beristain. Both works depict the stereotypes that limit women\u27s autonomy. El eterno femeninocritiques these roles, showcasing the idealization of being a wife and mother but also addressing the experience of single life: “One is not what one wants to be, but what one can be” (Castellanos, 1975).
Meanwhile, Los adioses portrays Castellanos\u27 struggle to balance her career and personal life in a patriarchal environment, as expressed in the film. Beristain employs a fragmented narrative to represent both Castellanos\u27 strengths and vulnerabilities, creating an intimate portrait that resonates with the audience beyond historical facts. Through these narratives, the works highlight how stereotypes impact women\u27s development and question the social structures that perpetuate them
Audiology VR Training Simulation
No full textProblem: Audiology students have limited, variable access to clinical patients for practicing case history taking and patient counseling. Background: Immersive Remote Experiences (IREx) provide repeatable, standardized scenarios that can supplement live patient encounters and ensure uniform skill practice . Methods: We developed four 20-minute VR modules in Unity—two on case history collection and two on patient counseling—deployed on iOS/Android (cardboard viewers) and desktop headsets in The Cube. Modules use 360° video scenarios with decision branches; instructors monitor progress and deliver on-the-spot feedback via a custom dashboard. Learning outcomes are assessed with our Teaching Methods Evaluation Questionnaire (TMEQ), based on Kirkpatrick’s model. Status/Preliminary Results: Module development is complete, and initial pilot with one cohort of students yielded significantly positive TMEQ responses across all four modules. Full evaluation across multiple cohorts is ongoing. Implications: VR-based IREx modules promise to enhance clinical competence and confidence in audiology students, offering a scalable, equity-driven supplement to traditional training
Desperado
No full textThe project I have created, titled “Desperado”, is intended to be a “tactical turn-based role-playing game (or RPG)” video game for players both new and familiar to the genre and that plays in a 2.5D perspective, meaning the game operates in a 2D space but has a 3D feel to it due to the way the assets were created and used. In general, tactical turn-based RPGs feature strategic gameplay on a grid- or tile-based system where you control a number of units and try to achieve a certain win condition. The objective can change on a level-to-level basis but is typically defaulted to defeating some number of enemies pit against you. Different games will emphasize different aspects of a typical tactical turn-based RPG which include but are not limited to story writing, worldbuilding, character creation, combat, open world exploration, and character progression systems. In Desperado, due to the time constraints and its nature of being a solo project, the main focus/objective was to attempt to create a working demo that shows off a part of its main gameplay loop and some of the basic features that a level in the game will have, such as pixel art assets, player controls, character/enemy movement and pathfinding, simple combat, and UI functionality.
The main purpose of creating Desperado was to gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of what it means to be a game developer. While being a good programmer plays an important role in being a good game developer, a game developer has their own unique hemisphere of skills and experience in certain aspects that don’t necessarily overlap with being a good programmer, such as story writing (not shown in the demo as it isn’t critical to showcase game’s main features) and asset creation. In the case of Desperado, the learning process for creating pixel art required learning incredibly basic but important fundamentals such as color theory, common animation practices, and stylistic decisions someone can make when creating pixel art. All pixel art featured was created in “Aseprite”, a program specifically for pixel art creation in which learning how to use came with its own set of challenge. A second element that needed to be considered was designing the actual features and functions of the game, especially pertaining to the main gameplay loop. Beyond needing to be entertaining, a game should have intuitive features and controls that “make sense” to the average player but also be unique in ways that make the game stand out amongst similar experiences. Last but not least, learning a game engine and its capabilities proved to be a vast undertaking on its own. Developed in Godot, the importance of learning things such as how to use the tools given to you, understanding terminology, how to navigate menus, and using GDScript (Godot’s native programming language) was felt throughout the entire development process. The project’s development served as a great steppingstone to understanding the work, technical knowledge, and experience needed to become a good game developer
Understanding Physical Therapist Student Defined Success: A Qualitative Study
No full textPurpose: To (1) investigate student defined success in physical therapist education, and (2) generate key themes from the students’ perspective related to success to enhance physical therapist and health professions education. Method: A qualitative study was conducted through a series of focus groups with 13 first-year and 13 second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Study participants were asked open-ended questions regarding student success and the associated contextual factors. An inductive coding method with thematic analysis utilizing Dedoose software identified major themes. Results: The use of focus groups allowed for in-depth participant discussion, with sample excerpts presented. Data analysis yielded five categories or final codes and three major themes: (1) self-management and growth, (2) performance and learning, and (3) balancing commitments. Discussion: Personal attributes proved to be the main area that students relate to success. Students’ definition of success extended beyond the standard academic performance benchmarks, such as exam scores and licensure pass rates. They were eager to discuss other areas of success such as self-care, balancing commitments and their ability to understand and apply important concepts related to decision making and delivery of care for their future patients. These results have implications for enhancing instructors’ understanding of student defined success with the potential opportunity for educational interventions within physical therapist and other health professional education
