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Embracing the Enemy: How Henry Luce used his Time, Inc. Media Empire from 1944 to 1950 to Persuade Americans to Embrace Japan as a Key Cold War Ally
No full textThis thesis assesses the role of Henry Robinson Luce, founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Time, Inc. media empire, in convincing the American public to soften their perceptions towards Japan following the racial hatred propagated during World War Two. In doing so, it argues that Luce, in coordination with high level government officials and business leaders, made a concerted and successful effort through his most popular magazine, Life, to make Americans see Japan as an important ally in the fight against communist encroachment in the Far East during the Cold War, as well as a country opened to the spread of Christianity, and a viable and lucrative new market for American business interests.
The research is based on a close study of Luce’s calculated use of advocacy, changes in language, repetition, calculated symbolism, and terminology throughout Life magazine from 1944 to 1950, combined with public opinion polls and conversations between Luce and elite Washington policy makers. It imputes significant influence on Luce in persuading Americans to embrace the Japanese due to the massive circulation of Time, Inc. publications and the wide-ranging demographics of Life’s readers in particular. By 1945 Time Inc. publications had a combined readership of thirty million Americans and Life was the most popular magazine in America, read by 13.5 million people – ten percent of the population. Life was Luce’s main conduit to the general population of the U.S. and readers abroad. Due to this wide reach, this thesis deduces significant influence from Luce and Time Inc. but also acknowledges it was part of a larger media ecosystem reporting on similar topics and themes at the time.
This thesis concludes Luce used Life to publish editorials, articles from outside contributors, photojournalism, and curated letters to the editor to successfully persuade Americans to embrace the Japanese in a remarkably short period of time. Through these various aspects of Life, Luce seized on feelings of guilt and sympathy felt by Americans due to the destruction wrought by the use of atomic bombs, appealed to Americans’ inherent Christian values, and rehabilitated the image of Hirohito so he could be used as an American-approved puppet in the postwar occupation of Japan. Public polling conducted between 1945 and 1950 highlighted the positive change in attitudes amongst Americans towards the Japanese within only five years of being bitter enemies and confirms the success of Luce’s coordinated campaign of persuasion.Extension Studie
Decoding Germline Genetic Influence on Cancer Somatic Mutation Acquisition
No full textIn this paper we investigate the impact of germline variants on the somatic mutation profiles of key cancer drivers, focusing on TP53 and KRAS, in a cohort of 35,914 patients (16,424 TP53-mutated and 6,297 KRAS-mutated). Candidate genes were selected based on protein–protein interaction data from STRING and BioGrid, yielding tailored panels for TP53 (including BRCA1, MDM2, ATM, among others) and KRAS (including RAF1, BRAF, EGFR, etc.). Using a multi-model machine learning framework—incorporating logistic regression, random forests, and feed-forward neural networks—we captured both linear and non-linear associations in high-dimensional SNP data. Our analysis revealed a significant association between BRCA1 variants and TP53 mutation status in breast carcinoma, supporting the role of inherited DNA repair deficiencies in promoting somatic TP53 alterations. In contrast, no single germline driver was identified for KRAS mutations, suggesting a more complex interplay of factors in KRAS-driven oncogenesis. These findings underscore the value of integrating biologically informed candidate gene selection with advanced computational models to enhance our understanding of cancer genomics and inform future risk assessment and therapeutic strategies.Applied Mathematic
Tearing Down the Curtain: Heritage Management and National Identity in Lebanon
No full textHeritage site management and preservation are vital undertakings that go beyond simple conservation work since they are intricately linked to the formation and maintenance of national identity (Zeayter et al. 2017). This is never more apparent than in Lebanon, a nation with a rich cultural past that is still attempting to reconcile the intricacies of a fractured sense of national identity. It is critical to comprehend how national identity and heritage sites interact as Lebanon navigates the difficulties of historical contradictions and political unrest. In an effort to shed light on how heritage sites and their management affect Lebanon's national identity and the lack of a collective memory, this thesis proposes to unpack this complex connection. Conflict, foreign interference, and internal differences have all characterized Lebanon's historical trajectory, which has contributed to the disintegration of the country’s collective memory and national identity. Lebanon's cultural environment has been permanently shaped by the legacies of colonialism, civil wars, and geopolitical conflicts, which have shaped both past and contemporary narratives.
Using multidisciplinary viewpoints from history, anthropology, archaeology, and heritage studies, this thesis proposal seeks to offer a thorough understanding of the ways in which cultural sites shape Lebanon's sense of national identity. This research employed a case study approach, focusing on the National Museum of Beirut as a symbolic site of colonial heritage in Lebanon. I used collection of artifacts, such as pictures of major monuments and maps as well as observation logs as the major data collection techniques.
Due to the political conflict in Beirut that ensued at the time of the study, the study context was limited to the National Museum of Beirut.
The National Museum of Beirut stands as a symbol of Lebanon’s fragmented identity. Established under the French mandate, it is shaped by colonial narratives and designed to emphasize the country’s Antiquity heritage. Moreover, the Lebanese civil war transformed the museum into a battleground both literally, as it stood on the Green Line, and figuratively as the work it took to retore it post-war became part of the country’s larger fight to reconstruct its fractured identity. Despite its reopening and restoration, the museum still faces major challenges in curation such as a real inclusivity in its representation of Lebanese history, as well as a more chronological and objective historical display. The museum should rise above its storage like display in order to present a more balanced and nuanced narrative.Extension Studie
The Impact of Concussion History on Cognitive and Emotional Depression and Post-Concussive Symptoms in Adolescent Athletes
No full textConcussions pose serious risks to those who incur them, particularly in
adolescents. The developmental milestones of this cohort expose them to prolonged risks
of negative physiological and psychological symptoms. This study explored the
relationship between concussion history and the subdomains of cognitive and emotional
symptoms of the Post-Concussive Symptom Scale (PCSS) and Mood and Feelings
Questionnaire (MFQ) measures in an adolescent athlete population with a hypothesis of
significant differences in measure scores between prior concussion history and no prior
concussion history groups. Participants (N = 155) between the ages of 13-18 years were
analyzed, with (n = 49) reporting a history of prior concussion and (n = 106) reporting no
history of prior concussion. Higher PCSS item 13 scores were observed in participants
with prior concussion history through descriptive statistics (M = 0.78, SD = 1.46), when
compared to participants with no such history (M = 0.34, SD = 0.88). Additional
significant differences for this variable were detected through ANOVA F (1, 153) = 5.29,
p = .023. Effect size estimates demonstrated a small effect, with eta-squared = .033 and
omega-squared = .027. Variability was present in the precision of estimates as measured
by confidence intervals.
A multivariate analysis of variance indicated no further significant differences in
other cognitive or emotional subdomain variables across groups F (18, 136) = 1.56, p =
.080. Variability in the dataset was observed via Levene’s Test of Equality of Variances,
with unequal variances found for PCSS 12, PCSS 13, and MFQ 22 items.
Findings suggest a modest relationship between concussion history and cognitive
symptom severity in PCSS 13 scores. There was no clear evidence of broader interactions
on other cognitive or emotional symptoms. Additional research is needed to investigate
emotional and cognitive symptom severity and concussion history relationships without
the methodological concerns of small effect sizes and unequal variances present in this
study due to the limitations of secondary analysis.Extension Studie
Inquiring for Impact: Improving middle school outcomes in Fulton County Schools through cross-functional, inquiry-driven, continuous improvement
No full textFulton County Schools, the fourth largest school district in Georgia, serves a diverse student body, with notable performance disparities between schools in North and South Fulton. Despite gains in elementary and high school outcomes, middle schools in the district showed inconsistent performance across multiple measures, leading to the perception amongst employees that the district had a “middle school problem.” The “problem” was exacerbated by organizational challenges, including barriers to collaboration, fragmented interventions, and unclear definitions of the “middle school problem” to be solved.
Informed by relevant research and frameworks on continuous improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and organizing to learn, my strategic project focused on improving middle school performance and addressing organizational challenges within Fulton County Schools by establishing a cross-functional Middle School Core Team to engage in the Data Wise Improvement Process. The Middle School Core Team was tasked with engaging broader internal stakeholders to analyze a wide range of data sources to define the “middle school problem,” identify root causes at the learner and organizational level, and then develop actionable and impactful plans for improvement.
Through this work, the Middle School Core Team sought to align stakeholders across departments, foster shared ownership for middle school improvement, and develop a sustainable model for collaborative inquiry and action. In the process, factors for effective, district-wide continuous improvement were uncovered, including the need to push the team into the learning zone, to foster growth and innovation; to navigate the stages of team development, from storming to performing, to build effective, high-functioning teams; and, to attend to the authorizing environment, ensuring organizational support and alignment.
The implications of this project for Fulton County Schools include the importance of formally adopting a continuous improvement framework, prioritizing cross-functional stakeholder engagement to tackle complex organizational challenges, and empowering internal champions to continue and expand this work. Furthermore, the project also highlighted the need for the PK-12 education sector to match the speed of transformation with appropriate improvement processes, and to invest in job-embedded professional development on continuous improvement for school and district leaders, to truly drive change in American school systems.Educatio
Barbarian: A Semi-Autobiographical Memoir
No full textTake a glance at Kate Irwin’s background and budding résumé, and her life seems
just about as charmed as they come. She graduated number one in her Texas public high
school class at sixteen years old. She then took a gap year, during which she lived and
worked in New York City as a successful teen model. Now, at eighteen, she’s finishing
up her first year at Harvard, where she’s trying to find her place in the college newspaper.
But, as we all know, appearances can be deceiving.
The reality is that Kate’s world is crumbling.
Kate is facing expulsion from Harvard after two semesters of academic probation;
her short-lived modeling career was an unintended outcome of a depression-related
eating disorder that began around puberty; and, she’s struggling with severe alcohol
addiction and PTSD from a childhood rampant with a trifecta of abuse: physical, verbal,
and sexual.
Barbarian: A Semi-Autobiographical Memoir follows Kate from the crushing
blow of her expulsion, which will require her to take a year off from her studies; during
that time, her only option is to go home, a place to which she’d sworn she’d never return.
When Kate gets home, she finds her six-year-old niece—who is also named Katherine
Irwin, due to an embarrassing family situation—is living in her old childhood bedroom,
going to her old elementary school, and following in Kate Sr.’s footsteps. Much to our
protagonist’s horror, Little Katie may be living the same nightmare she herself lived a
decade earlier.Extension Studie
An Agent by Any Other Name: A Exploration of the Influence of Mental Models, Priming, and Perception on Users’ Views of Chatbot Character and Evaluation of Agent Effectiveness
No full textThis thesis endeavors to delineate the evolving interface between human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to contribute to the corpus of knowledge within this rapidly advancing domain. It investigates the ability of psychological priming and the placebo effect to alter one’s mental models to enhance user interactions with AI technologies. Through a randomized control experiment, surveys initially assessed users’ attitudes towards AI and subsequently introduced supraliminal priming via descriptions of a purportedly unique AI mental wellness chatbot. The findings establish that priming users measurably impacts their experience with AI. A micro-diverse set of priming objectives (Avery vs. Charlie vs. Jamie vs. Bot characters) yield observable differences in response. Character priming was found to improve positive participant experiences relative to the neutral Wellness-Bot priming, to a similar degree as initial attitudes towards AI, which also enhanced the overall experience. This research underlines the importance of personalized character creation in the design and deployment of digital wellness interventions, as well as the essential role of fostering positive AI attitudes for successful integration of chatbots in user-centric applications. By investigating the overlap of cognitive science and AI research, this work provides foundational insights for fostering more intuitive and rewarding human-AI relationships, especially in enhancing mental wellness through digital interventions.AcknowledgmentsComputer Scienc
Unveiling the Factors Influencing Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Response in Filipino Schools
No full textOver the past few decades, the Philippines has made significant progress in improving the health and wellbeing of its children and adolescents, leading to reduced infant and child mortality and a decline in adolescent pregnancies. However, despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly in providing universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. This study investigates the factors influencing the effective and equitable implementation of the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program. Despite operating under the same governmental structure, health inequities in program implementation across schools highlight areas that warrant further investigation, suggesting the presence of influential but less obvious factors. Utilizing a qualitative research design with a multiple case study approach, the study uncovers not only the direct factors impacting implementation but also explores the underlying drivers and strategic responses needed to address them. Findings emphasize the importance of adaptive local strategies and transformative leadership to effectively navigate these challenges, enhancing both the sustainability and effectiveness of the program. Recommendations are provided to guide policymakers and stakeholders in refining these strategies, informed by an understanding of the broader social determinants of health that shape educational and health outcomes.Public Healt
Simultaneous tracking of many neuromodulatory signals in the awake mouse brain
No full textMost neurons express receptors for dozens of neuromodulatory molecules. Concentrations of these molecules vary widely in the brain interstitial space across time and space, and their influences overlap and combine to modulate neural activity. While current tools allow for small numbers of such signals (usually one or two) to be tracked at the same time, no real-time methods exist to scale up this molecular dimensionality and reach a complete accounting of dynamic changes in local neuromodulator concentrations in the awake brain. To begin to address this gap, we have developed a probe to track a dozen or more neuropeptide and neuromodulator concentrations in various brain regions in mice. Our probe consists of an emerging family of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, the G protein-coupled receptor activation-based (GRAB) sensors, expressed in cultured cells and immobilized at the front of a gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens for 3D two-photon imaging. We validate this probe both in vitro, by sequentially placing it cells-first into small volumes (≤20 μL) of fluids with known concentrations of each sensor ligand while imaging the cells through the lens, as well as ex vivo by pressing it against a live brain slice and evoking neuromodulator release, detecting parallel molecular concentrations down to nanomolar levels. We have also validated the probe in vivo by acutely implanting it in the lateral ventricles of awake, behaving mice. We observed rapid shifts in cerebrospinal fluid signal concentrations across seconds to minutes, both spontaneously and in response to peripheral drug administration. Our novel, scalable approach enables rapid in situ profiling of a panel of molecules of interest in very small fluid samples and tissue regions in vivo and ex vivo. In future, this method can be used to study how the rich ensemble of time-varying concentrations of chemical signals correlates with and controls the activity of various cell types throughout the brain.Medical Science
Objective, Your Honor: Exploring the Complex Interplay of Risk Assessment Instruments, Judicial Decisions, and Prediction
No full textA wide array of algorithmic risk assessment tools are used throughout the United States for the purposes of pretrial reform, promising a more objective, less disparate, and comprehensive approach to pretrial decision making. Using statistical methods on historical data, these tools aim to predict pretrial outcomes of interest such as failure to appear in court and new criminal arrest in order to determine whether to release a defendant into the community before their trial. Yet, using historical data to influence future predictions introduces its own set of biases, raising questions about the potentially disparate outcomes of these tools. This thesis looks closely at the Public Safety Assessment (PSA), one of the most commonly used pretrial risk assessment tools, as a case study to explore the validity, accuracy, and fairness of actuarial risk assessment instruments (RAIs). Previous validation studies have focused primarily on the predictive accuracy and fairness of the PSA.
This research goes beyond validation to explore how the presence of the PSA recommendation influences judicial decision-making by using data from a randomized control trial (RCT) conducted in Polk County, Iowa in 2018. Using a variety of statistical analyses including Chi-Squared tests, logistic regression, ROC curves, and fairness evaluations, we find that little to no significant correlations exist between the features used to compute the recommendation scores and the outcomes observed. We also determine that the recommendations generated by this tool have little correlation with the judges’ decisions and that the tool is significant and correlated with outcomes for majority demographics groups, but less so for others. The results of this study highlight the consequences of using historical data to inform prediction, and how even demographic-blind evaluations can lead to disparate outcomes. These results raise questions about the usage of data-driven decision making tools in the criminal justice space, and highlight the limited benefits of supposed criminal justice reform measures, providing a critical analysis of RAIs in the pretrial reform space.Computer Scienc