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Entre París y Cerro de Pasco: el ciclo narrativo de Manuel Scorza
No full textThis dissertation studies the narrative work of Manuel Scorza, the first Peruvian writer to be nominated to the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979. He wrote a series of five novels that describes the lives and rebellions of Indigenous peoples who served as peasants, farmers, and miners in Peru in the Central region of the Andes in the 1950s and 1960s. I argue that Manuel Scorza is not an “indigenist” writer like the literary studies say, but rather was both an Andean and Modern writer at the same time. Indigenist politicians and writers tried to incorporate Indigenous people into “civilization.” By “civilization” we can understand the life in society brought to the Americas by Europeans during the Conquest. This meant, indigenous people should give up their culture and join the Iberian way of life. But Scorza offers a sophisticated exploration of Andean ways of living, thinking, and knowing, something that Indigenism failed to consider. Some of the Andean cultural singularities that he elaborates are 1) the communal narration, in which first, second, and third person are combined to create the effect that the entire community narrates key scenes; 2) the idea that in Andean religiosity life does not end with death. Scorza's characters, after being murdered by the Army, come back to life to talk to the living; 3) the interpretation of Andean myths as repetition: events from the past will happen again because time is cyclical. Scorza also has a program and a doctrine to transform the structure of Peruvian society through what could be considered the Peruvian Revolution. In that plan, crafted with Marxist theories, he incorporated Andean philosophy: Peru was not an industrialized society, so the revolutionary force was in the indigenous communities and their forms of resisting coloniality without necessarily rejecting modernity. So, it is possible to understand that Scorza portrays a hybrid culture, just like José María Arguedas and Gamaliel Churata did. Thus, his work is significantly beyond indigenism. The thesis has five parts: Introduction, a conceptual map of modernity, a conceptual map of Andean thought, Andean elements in Scorza’s narrative, and conclusions
Three Essays on Machine Learning and Applied Economics
No full textThis dissertation explores two main themes: the development of static games using machine learning, and the impact of firms' behaviors on economic and health outcomes. The first chapter focuses on the development of machine learning estimators for static games. The second chapter examines the effects of chain pharmacy entry on competition, market structure, and access to pharmacies in rural areas, utilizing the estimators developed in the first chapter. The third chapter investigates how mergers alter the post-merger market structure
Social Cognition Measurement Validation in Latines with Schizophrenia
No full textThis dissertation evaluates social cognition assessments for (1) psychometric properties, (2) associations to functional outcomes in a cultural context, and (3) cultural measurement biases among Latine individuals with schizophrenia. Given the functional implications of social cognition in schizophrenia, and the growing Latine population in the United States, ensuring the cultural relevance and accuracy of assessment is paramount. Three studies investigate the cultural relevance of four social cognition measures: the Bell-Lysaker Emotion Recognition Task (BLERT), Emotion Recognition-40 (ER-40), the Hinting Task, and The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). In the first study, a comprehensive psychometric evaluation revealed that Latine participants scored lower on Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks compared to non-Latine Whites, with emotion recognition tasks performing better. However, lower internal consistency and test-retest reliability were noted in ToM measures. The second study explores the role of acculturation in social cognition task performance and its relationship to functional outcomes, finding that acculturation did not contribute to variance in task scores and did not moderate the functional relationship. However, acculturation does interact with other predictors of social competence as a functional outcome such as education and symptomatology. The final study is a qualitative investigation of cognitive processes and cultural measurement bias in social cognition tasks using cognitive interviewing. Participants favored BLERT for its multiple social cues, whereas method- and construct- level bias was detected in ER-40 due to cultural variations in emotion expression and interpretation. Measurement bias was also identified in measures of ToM due to their use of Western-centric social situations and stimuli, unfamiliar vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, and cultural differences in use and interpretation of indirect speech. Cross-cutting cultural themes were identified, including the role of work, family relationships, bilingualism, socio-political context, and holistic thinking. These findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive assessments that reflect the diverse experiences and contexts of Latine individuals. This research contributes to a more inclusive understanding of social cognition and highlights the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation of psychological tools to meet the needs of diverse populations
Reconstruction of Holocene hydroclimate shifts in the Canadian Rocky Mountains using stable oxygen isotopes from Princess Lake, Jasper National Park
No full textPaleoclimate studies documenting changes in regional water balance (precipitation – evaporation) over long time periods are necessary to place the rapid, anthropogenically-driven climate changes occurring today into a longer perspective. One way to investigate regional paleohydrology is through the measurement of oxygen isotopes preserved in authigenic carbonates precipitated from lake water and archived in lakebed deposits, thereby capturing the water chemistry at the time of formation. In open-basin lakes, water rapidly flows through the system, similar to a river, and are considered faithful recorders of precipitation 18O (meteoric water). Alternatively, closed-basin lakes which have no permanent outflows are more sensitive to evaporative enrichment of the 18O signal. Lakes that fall in between closed and open reflect a balance between precipitation and evaporation and often reveal subtle paleoclimate shifts that are missed in other lakes. Here, we present a carbonate isotope record from Princess Lake, a semi-closed basin lake located in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Modern water isotope data and field observations indicate that Princess Lake’s hydrology is highly sensitive to precipitation amount with a single outflow that floods and results in more depleted 18O and 2H isotope values following years of high precipitation. The Princess Lake sediment record provides a robust, high-resolution dataset of the last 4.1 thousand years (ka). For the majority of the record, Princess Lake 18O values are similar to that of Lime Lake, a known open-basin lake in the region. From 3.5 - 2.6 ka and 2.2 - 1.7 ka, Princess 18O values increase by 5.0 ‰ and reach values similar to those of nearby Celestine Lake, a known closed-basin lake. These periods of isotopic enrichment provide evidence for sustained droughts during the late Holocene that were characterized by an abrupt onset. The cyclic sustained droughts are likely the result of short timescale shifts in Pacific circulation patterns, which are modulated by the higher insolation in the earlier half of this record. The unique hydrologic sensitivity of Princess Lake provides a novel record of late Holocene megadroughts in the Canadian Rocky Mountains that have been undetected by previous studies
Rebel Governance and Durability of Peace
No full textThe fate of post-conflict countries varies significantly, with some successfully transitioning to peaceful and functioning states while others remain trapped in cycles of violence. In my dissertation, I investigate the factors driving these divergent trajectories, focusing specifically on the wartime governance activities of rebel groups. I argue that rebel governance during conflict plays a crucial role in shaping the durability of peace after war. Central to my analysis is the distinction between participatory and non-participatory forms of rebel governance. While some rebel groups allow for local civilian participation in governance structures, others impose strict hierarchical control. Participatory rebel governance fosters two key mechanisms that mitigate the risk of conflict recurrence. First, it enables rebel groups to transition into viable political actors post-war. By emphasizing common values that appeal to civilians during conflict, rebel groups can leverage this legitimacy to mobilize electoral backing after hostilities cease. This reduces their incentive to resort to violence to influence post-war policies, thereby lowering the likelihood of renewed conflict. Second, participatory governance facilitates civilian engagement in conventional political processes, such as voting. This diminishes the appeal of armed violence among individuals, thereby reducing the prospects for violent mobilization against the state. Through a mixed-method approach combining quantitative analysis and qualitative case studies, I demonstrate that participatory governance significantly enhances the prospects for lasting peace post-conflict. By elucidating the critical role of rebel governance, particularly participatory forms, in the post-conflict peace process, my dissertation contributes to our understanding of conflict resolution and peacebuilding dynamics. It underscores the importance of including civilians in rebel governance structures to foster sustainable peace in war-torn societies
The Role of Sensory Neurons in Cutaneous Inflammation
No full textCutaneous TRPV1+ neurons directly sense noxious stimuli, inflammatory cytokines, and pathogen-associated molecules and are required for innate immunity against some skin pathogens. Important unanswered questions are whether TRPV1+ neuron activation in isolation is sufficient to initiate innate immune responses and what is the biological function for TRPV1+ neuron-initiated immune responses. We used TRPV1-Ai32 optogenetic mice and cutaneous light stimulation to activate cutaneous neurons in the absence of tissue damage or pathogen-associated products. We found that TRPV1+ neuron activation was sufficient to elicit a local type 17 immune response that augmented host defense to C. albicans and S. aureus. Moreover, local neuron activation elicited type 17 responses and augmented host defense at adjacent, unstimulated skin through a nerve reflex arc. These data show the sufficiency of TRPV1+ neuron activation for host defense and demonstrate the existence of functional anticipatory innate immunity at sites adjacent to infection that depends on antidromic neuron activation. In order to further understand the mechanism by which TRPV1 neurons drive cutaneous inflammation, detailed kinetic analysis of the immune response following neuron activated was performed. Neurons trigger inflammation via reorganization of skin-resident immune cells. We found that TRPV1 neuron activation triggered dermal dendritic cell clustering in a Substance P, mast cell, CCL2-depenadnt manner. These data provide greater clarity to the early events that trigger neuroinflammation in the skin and highlight targets with exciting therapeutic potential
An Examination of Evaluation Policies and Funding Priorities in Informal STEM Education Funding Organizations
No full textThrough a landscape analysis and content analysis, this study investigated informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education funding and evaluation policies. The primary objectives of this study were to identify informal STEM education funding organizations, and to examine funding priorities and evaluation policies amongst these organizations.
Findings suggest that informal STEM education is a visible part of the STEM education funding landscape, supported by large funding organizations. Funders are specific about the audiences they serve and the types of effects they wish to support, aspects possibly motivated by self-interest. Though funders vary on how they describe their grantmaking and their interests, many detail a commitment to diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and/or justice (DEAIJ). Organizations committed to DEAIJ were more transparent with their evaluation policies. However, evaluation policies were not clearly detailed by most funders and few organizations specified monetary support for evaluation in their grantmaking.
This study explored informal STEM education funding priorities and evaluation policies in order to make them more transparent and accessible, opening avenues for advocacy and for practitioners, evaluators, and funders to improve their practices
A receptor tyrosine kinase/MALT1 axis promotes hallmarks of cancer in H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma
No full textBackground: H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a devastating pediatric brainstem tumor that affects 200-300 individuals in the US per year. Median survival is 9-11 months, and there are virtually no long-term survivors. Despite decades of clinical trials, radiation therapy remains standard of care, extending survival by 2-3 months. Elucidating the mechanisms that drive H3K27-altered DMG pathogenesis in order to uncover therapeutic vulnerabilities is of critical importance.
Recent studies implicate MALT1 as a potential therapeutic target in gliomas. MALT1 is the effector molecule of the CARMA-BCL10-MALT1 (CBM) signalosome, a cytoplasmic protein complex that drives downstream pro-survival transcriptional activity. MALT1, which possesses scaffolding and protease functions, promotes cell viability, proliferation, and migration/invasion in multiple solid tumor types in response to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) or G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. We aim to evaluate the hypothesis that MALT1 promotes H3K27-altered DMG cell proliferation and migration in response to RTK activation and represents a therapeutic target in H3K27-altered DMG.
Methods/Results: We screened a panel of H3K27-altered DMG cell lines by Western blot and found that the CBM complex members CARMA3, MALT1 and BCL10 are expressed in H3K27-altered DMG cells. We next demonstrated that MALT1 is proteolytically active in H3K27-altered DMG cell lines. Specifically, we showed that the MALT1 protease substrate HOIL1 is cleaved in DMG cells, and that this cleavage is abrogated by treatment with the MALT1 protease inhibitor MLT-748. We next engineered multiple H3K27-altered DMG cell lines to express dox-inducible MALT1 shRNA in order to assess the impact of MALT1 deficiency on H3K27-altered DMG cell biology. Results from an Oncology Array membrane evaluating expression of over 80 cancer-implicated proteins in HSJD-DIPG-007 DMG cells demonstrate that among all proteins tested, the RTK EGFR demonstrates the greatest decrease in expression following MALT1 knockdown. Subsequent studies indicate the operation of a MALT1-RTK signaling axis in HSJD-DIPG-007 DMG cells, whereby MALT1 knockdown leads to reduced expression of the RTKs EGFR and FGFR1, as well as diminished proliferation in response to EGF and FGF and reduced migration towards EGF. In contrast, MALT1 knockdown does not lead to a phenotypic effect on migration and proliferation of BT245 and SF8628 DMG cell lines, indicating that these effects of MALT1 knockdown are cell line specific. These differences may be due to the distinct mutational profiles of the H3K27-altered DMG cell lines tested.
Conclusions/Future Directions: MALT1 is expressed and proteolytically active in H3K27-altered DMG cells. Our studies implicate MALT1 as a regulator of EGFR and FGFR1 expression and migration/proliferation in response to RTK ligand stimulation in HSJD-DIPG-007 DMG cells. Future studies will evaluate whether MALT1 regulates RTK expression in additional cell lines and cancer types and will determine whether MALT1 knockdown reduces H3K27-altered DMG tumor progression in vivo. As we continue to uncover the specific pathways at work that sensitize some H3K27-altered DMG cells to MALT1 targeting, we hope to determine whether MALT1 represents a potential therapeutic target in a subset of patients with H3K27-altered DMG
Actualization of Strategic Planning in a Community College
No full textThe demand for strategic planning has increased at community colleges. When used as a comprehensive tool strategic planning can effectively track goals and outcomes for accreditation standards and federal requirements, which can assist institutions in ensuring compliance. This dissertation in practice examines strategic planning at Butler County Community College (BC3) and how actualization improves employee understanding and further advances the strategic planning process at the college. Pre-existing employee survey data and feedback from senior leadership interviews were used to develop a Strategic Planning Summit to provide employees with an interactive opportunity to learn more about the strategic planning process. Findings demonstrate that Strategic Planning Summit participants, regardless of time at the institution, found value in its activities and would encourage others to participate in similar events. The improvement project has specific implications for strategic planning practice at Butler County Community College (BC3) and provides broader implications to inform strategic planning at community colleges nationally
Investigating the Psychological Aspects of Voice and Communication via Contemporary Personality Science
No full textVoice-specialized speech-language pathologists regularly navigate the psychosocial aspects of voice and communication with their patients during voice therapy. Although some clinicians may feel comfortable navigating the psychological aspects of voice and communication, many do not, as very little empirical data exist to understand these relationships. The present manuscript examines two components of the psycho-social-vocal relationship: 1) how one’s voice and communication influence their well-being and 2) how individual psychological differences (i.e., personality) may relate to the pathogenesis of certain voice disorders.
The first two studies address communicative congruence, or the extent to which an individual feels that their voice and communication are aligned with their sense of self or identity, and how communicative congruence maps onto depression. Across two separate samples, these studies find robust evidence that experiencing incongruence is associated with dysphoria, or significant emotional unease or distress. Additionally, these studies demonstrate that dysphoria mediates the relationship between congruence and depression. Together, these studies provide an unprecedented examination of communicative congruence.
The third study revisits the Trait Theory of Voice Disorders, which posits that certain personality traits may predispose an individual to developing and maintaining certain voice disorders. By integrating advances from rigorous personality science, the results of this study replicate prior findings and document novel relationships previously uninvestigated. Additionally, this study addresses gaps in the extant literature and identifies meaningful, tangible steps forward to further advance this area of research.
Neither the notion of “congruence” or personality as a precipitating factor for voice disorders are new. The current investigations advance these areas of research by integrating contemporary theories and analytic frameworks from Psychology. As a result, these studies yield meaningful contributions to the relatively sparse empirical evidence in the existing literature into these topics. Collectively, the findings from these studies provide further insight into the ways in which communication behaviors may influence a person’s well-being, as well as how psychological processes like personality may serve as a risk factor for developing certain vocal pathologies. Although more work is necessary, the current studies provide a solid foundation for future, more rigorous work into these relationships