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Network Configuration with Natural Language
No full textThis thesis presents a novel framework for leveraging LLMs to configure networks using natural language. Specifically, we introduce the use of an intermediate representation to facilitate precise network configuration, a comprehensive verification mechanism to ensure that configurations are correct, and an approach to context provision that facilitates scalable prompt-based learning. Our evaluation demonstrates that this solution is able to configure networks with high accuracy in real-world configuration tasks. Finally, we suggest directions for future refinement of our system.Computer Scienc
Elucidating kynurenine pathway control of systemic bacterial infection in macrophages
No full textStrategies to combat bacterial infections have focused on directly eliminating the bacteria, but a complimentary approach is to boost the host immune response. In a whole organism screen for compounds that improve survival to infection, we found that exogenous application of the kynurenine pathway metabolite 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) rescued zebrafish larvae from lethal Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) bloodstream infection. Exogenous 3-HK did not act like a typical antibiotic in that it did not inhibit bacterial growth when applied directly to bacteria in axenic media but did restrict bacterial growth in vivo in a whole organism by targeting glutamate-gated kainate receptor (KAR) ion channels. We next found that kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (Kmo), the enzyme responsible for catabolism of kynurenine to 3-HK, is required for the normal innate immune response to systemic S. Typhimurium infection. Macrophages are a preferred intracellular niche for S. Typhimurium and are required for 3-HK mediated protection to infection. Transcriptional and functional assays of infected macrophages revealed that lysosomal acidification is impaired upon Kmo inhibition, which is rescued by 3-HK application as well as KAR antagonism. Taken together, this work reveals a novel role and target for 3-HK, a metabolite of the kynurenine pathway, in promoting survival to systemic Salmonella Typhimurium infection by antagonizing kainate receptors to enhance macrophage lysosomal function.Medical Science
Utilizing Moral Persuasion to Reduce False and Harmful Conspiracy Theory Belief
No full textThis study combined research on reducing conspiracy theory belief (CTB) and
research on moral persuasion (MP) by testing the efficacy of MP as a novel technique to
reduce CTB. Additionally, the study examined associations between CTB and moral
values, along with various factors previously established or suspected to play a role in it
(such as political attitudes). The MP technique was tested against existing methods for
reducing CTB predicated on improving or appealing to rationality. Respondents’ levels of
CTB were operationalized in two ways: latent CTB as measured by two established
scales (the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale and the Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Index) and endorsement of a specific theory described in the study (CTE).
The study provides limited evidence for MP’s potential for reducing CTB.
Although latent CTB was reduced overall, none of the three experimental techniques
(including MP) were found to be more effective than a control. In individual comparison
of CTE, however, MP outperformed the control. No significant link between the moral
values examined in the study (Authority and Fairness) and CTB or CTE was found.
Despite the lack of significance on some tests, the MP method performed directionally
better than other methods, especially when focused on the Fairness value. This indicates
some basis for potential future research, especially if larger sample sizes capable of
revealing smaller effect sizes can be obtained. Additional minor findings related to
political and personality correlations are also discussed.Extension Studie
Disorder in quantum many-body physics: from strange metal to spin glass systems
No full textThis dissertation investigates the role of disorder in quantum many-body systems, focusing on strange metals and spin glass systems.
For strange metals, we analyze the low-frequency spectra of complex Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) models at arbitrary densities, combining analytical and numerical methods. Building on these insights, we study the overdoped random t-J model, demonstrating that strange metal behavior persists across the entire doping range. We also show that the critical metal develops an instability to a low-doping spin-glass phase, and compute the critical doping value. Furthermore, we explore the chaotic properties of a distinct strange metal model—the large N theory of a critical Fermi surface—and establish that it exhibits maximal quantum chaos.
For spin glass systems, we examine the low-energy spectrum and Parisi replica-symmetry-breaking function in the quantum Ising model with infinite-range random exchange interactions with the presence of transverse and longitudinal fields. In the spin glass phase, we find that the local spin spectra are gapless and provide a detailed analysis of the phase diagram. Additionally, we investigate the quantum spherical p-rotor model in an external field, showing that the spin glass phase remains robust across a wide range of field strengths. The potential experimental applications of these findings are also discussed.Physic
Bayesian Weighted Clustering Methods for Dietary Survey Data
No full textIn this dissertation, we examine the intersection between Bayesian and survey statistics. Motivated by questions in nutritional epidemiology and health disparities, we introduce three Bayesian weighted clustering models to better understand dietary behaviors of understudied populations using data from population surveys.
Chapter 1 provides an introduction and a brief overview of the motivation behind our methods. Chapter 2 contains a literature review of Bayesian survey statistics methods and their applications in population health. We summarize advantages and disadvantages, review recent applications and extensions, and consider how these approaches may be leveraged to improve research in population health equity.
In Chapter 3, we introduce a survey-weighted extension to joint models that cluster multivariate categorical variables supervised by a binary outcome, referred to as supervised weighted overfitted latent class analysis (SWOLCA). We evaluate model performance using simulation studies and apply SWOLCA to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to derive dietary patterns associated with hypertensive outcomes among low-income women in the United States (US).
Chapter 4 extends Bayesian clustering models to non-probability samples (NPS), where the mechanism of inclusion into the sample is unknown, through the introduction of a Weighted Overfitted Latent Class Analysis for Non-probability samples (WOLCAN). Dietary behavior patterns are identified for adults in Puerto Rico aged 30 to 75 and analyzed in association with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
Chapter 5 highlights a survey-weighted extension to model-based clustering that addresses subpopulation heterogeneity, referred to as weighted robust profile clustering (WRPC). With data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), we derive dietary patterns among individuals of Puerto Rican heritage living in the US and analyze food consumption heterogeneity by income, nativity, sex, and age.
Chapter 6 provides concluding remarks and avenues for future research.Biostatistic
Building Bridges, Expanding Opportunities: Reflections on Leadership and Collaboration in Philadelphia's Extended Day Extended Year Initiative
No full textEnrichment programs have been increasingly adopted in K-12 schools nationwide due to their impact on student engagement, academic achievement, and social-emotional development. The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) in partnership with the mayor of Philadelphia sought to mitigate the opportunity gap for Philadelphia’s children by providing Extend Day/Extended Year programming in 20-pilot schools in the district. This high-priority initiative was based on the needs of working parents and expanding access to enrichment programs. The district’s Superintendent, along with the mayoral appointed School Board, leveraged the expertise of members of various SDP departments and created a cross functional team to liaise with the mayor’s education team on this initiative. Extended day/Full Day and Extended Year/Full Year is defined as a comprehensive initiative to offer additional programmatic opportunities for SDP students and their families that include services before and after school, winter break, spring break, and during the summer months. I had the responsibility of supporting the roll out of this initiative and collecting data throughout the process to assess the overall effectiveness of the program. This capstone specifically explores the inaugural Winter Break Camp in SDP. By partnering with new and existing stakeholders, developing a comprehensive directory to aid in internal planning, and communicating pertinent information with families, the goal was that SDP and the City of Philadelphia would host a safe, welcoming, and fun Winter Break Camp for the families in Philadelphia. This capstone explores the collaborative process between the school district and the mayor’s office, while simultaneously exploring my leadership learning throughout the strategic project.Educatio
Saints, Sheriffs and Paranoid Politicians: Early Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Election Fraud in Iowa in the 1848 US Presidential Election
No full textIn this thesis I argue paranoid politics existed and was used against members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in nineteenth-century America, despite this otherization, a group of them voted as they desired, demanded their rights and challenged the definition of American citizenship. These voters in Pottawattamie County, Iowa pushed against being manipulated as they voted for the Whig Party despite the expectations of Democratic politicians, two bribery scandals and election-day threats. Following the election, the Iowa State Legislature nearly dissolved Pottawattamie County because of this bloc of Whig votes. A handful of state senators advocated for inclusion and upheld the county establishment by a slim margin. In doing so these state senators and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pressed the boundaries of freedom in the US to include more people, regardless of their demographic, race or religion.Extension Studie
A Wearable-Based Hidden Markov Model for Health Monitoring in Conflict Zones: A Case Study of Gaza
No full textDuring humanitarian crises, such as the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the collapse of healthcare infrastructure severely disrupts patient intake processes. Unconscious individuals and unaccompanied children arrive at medical facilities without any means of identifying their age, blood type, or medical history -- information that is critical for effective treatment. Severe shortages in medical personnel and essential diagnostic tools further hinder the ability to monitor vitals and track patient conditions during treatment. Current health monitoring wearables are expensive and often ill suited for crisis settings where power and resources are scarce.
This thesis proposes the development of a rugged and cost-effective wearable device designed for use in conflict zones. The device integrates both passive and active components: a passive NFC module stores essential patient identification and medical history, allowing healthcare workers to access critical data efficiently, while active sensors monitor patient vitals. To extract meaningful insights from the data, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are employed to assess physiological states over time. These models account for time-dependent variations in patient vitality, providing a probabilistic framework to detect stress, fatigue, and critical health conditions. By incorporating age and gender specific physiological baselines, the HMMs enhance the device’s ability to adapt to individual health patterns, improving its effectiveness in triaging patients.Biomedical Engineering A
Architecture of Softness: Ecology Center at the Gateway of Olympic National Park
No full textHuman imprint is irrevocably entwined with what we perceive as “wild” nature; we are a part of, not apart from, the natural world. Biodiverse ecosystems are more interconnected and communicative than commonly recognized, relying on intricate networks within and above the soil that entangle interactions with material effects. As citizens of these woven ecologies, how do we contribute to the production and perpetuation of community?
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse realms globally, operates as a library and workshop of nature’s material knowledge – older, richer, and more complex than we can imagine. Humans have intervened in this environment to varying degrees: from resource extraction to conservation, indigenous philosophy to scientific study, leaving a patchwork landscape. Today, these engagements linger between curiosity and restraint at the fringe of the ecological web. Seasonal tourists, the largest migratory species to Olympic National Park, have refocused attention on the forest, while permanent residents struggle to transform evanescent interest into meaningful, sustainable relationships.
This thesis proposes a hybrid ecology education and community center at the gateway between the park and the city of Port Angeles, bringing together visitors and locals in communion with the peninsula’s biology and culture. The center reintroduces participation in the ecosystem, nourishing understanding of its mechanisms and rekindling material practices that immerse people in the function of these textile-like ecologies. Its architecture embodies softness—merging inside and outside, bridging timescales, interlacing sensory experiences, and comingling ways of being to reflect nature’s remarkable wholeness, greater than the sum of its parts.Department of Architectur
Understanding the Biomechanics of Balance Perturbations & Movement Objectives: Estimating Step Width Variability Using Minimal IMU Sensors
No full textMovement is an essential part of life; by developing and learning to understand the biomechanics of movement, more advantageous assistive devices can be created in the future. Step width variability is a gait metric that can be used to understand balance, especially perturbed balance. Normalized balance, or a participant's survey results for the emphasis they placed on maintaining balance, is a metric used to understand a person's movement objective. Visual optical flow perturbations make a participant off-balanced to understand how the body responds to impaired balance. By understanding the biomechanics of perturbed balance through step width variability and normalized balance in “real world” scenarios, better assistive devices may be able to be developed to help people with balance impairments. However, it is hard to compute step width variability in “real world” scenarios without large and expensive motion capture lab setups. I developed a method to calculate step width variability from two IMU sensors (one on the pelvis and one of the foot) through average speed, yaw angle at heel strike, and trigonometry to estimate step width on the order of magnitude expected for these gait metrics. While this method was only able to be applied to data from one participant in a pilot study, my results demonstrate a method that may be used in further research, after further validation, to understand balance in “real world” context better and could open up cheaper and more accessible ways to estimate gait metrics to help develop assistive devices for balance impairments.Biomedical Engineering A