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It Was Mainly My Own Choice: Examining the Decision-Making Process of Chinese Undergraduates and Their Parents on Study in the United States
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Integrating The PDCA Cycle for Continuous Improvement and Academic Quality Enhancement in Higher Education
No full textComparative Methylation Analyses Across Juglans Species to Investigate Epigenetic Contributions to Fungal Resistance
No full textJuglans cinerea (butternut) is a critically threatened North American tree species experiencing severe declines due to the fungal pathogen Ophiognomonia clavigignentijuglandacearum. In contrast, its Asian relative, Juglans ailantifolia (Japanese walnut), shows natural resistance. To investigate the genomic and epigenetic factors underlying this difference, we constructed and analyzed high-quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies for both species from long-read sequencing data (J. ailantifolia: 527Mb; J. cinerea: 586Mb), focusing on transposable element (TE) content, DNA methylation patterns, and regulation of pathogen resistance genes (PRGs).
Repeat analysis revealed that J. cinerea has a slightly higher overall transposable element (TE) content, with LTR retrotransposons (particularly Gypsy and Copia elements) dominating both genomes. Notably, J. cinerea exhibits a recent expansion of Penelope-like elements (PLEs), which are highly methylated and enriched within pathogen resistance gene (PRG) regions. In contrast, J. ailantifolia maintains fewer TE insertions and lower methylation across PRGs, potentially supporting more flexible gene activation. While J. cinerea shows overall higher TE methylation, J. ailantifolia showed greater CHH methylation across the genome, a pattern that may reflect increased responsiveness to environmental cues. Together, these findings suggest species-specific differences in TE regulation and methylation landscapes that could be relevant to disease response
From the Eyes of Latinx Children: Parental Detainment and Deportation in Picture, Middle Grade, and Young Adult Books
No full textIn the current sociopolitical environment of the United States, detainment and deportation issues are highly prevalent for many Latinx families and have emotional, social, financial, and/or educational ramifications for affected children. However, discussing legal status challenges in educational settings can create spaces for open conversations and promote empathetic classroom communities. Furthermore, bibliotherapy, the therapeutic use of books to combat feelings of loneliness and guide readers through faced challenges (Gomm et al., 2017), could be one usage of these books. This research critically analyzes parental detainment and deportation portrayals from the perspective of a main Latinx character in 20 PreK-12th grade books to assess their representativeness and their potential to be tools for bibliotherapy. I coded the books using an instrument adapted from Gomm (2012) to examine demographic characterizations, legal status challenges described, and conversations about these challenges. Findings suggest that these books touch upon many prevailing emotional, social, and financial burdens in diversely representative and accurate ways. Anticipated “happy endings” are often contrasted in these stories’ conclusions with many Latinx parent(s)/parental figure(s) still in detainment or having been deported, which parallels reality for many families. However, the presence of educational burdens on Latinx children in these stories is limited which may impact school-based adults\u27 ability to recognize effects on a student’s academics or provide support. Nonetheless, authentic and relatable characters model strength for readers in these stories through activism, resilience, and other admirable traits/actions, which supports their possible use in bibliotherapeutic approaches
Reimagining Heroes: The Evolving Narratives of Helen and Achilles in Feminist Greek Mythology Retellings
No full text“Reimagining Heroes: The Evolving Narratives of Helen and Achilles in Feminist Greek Mythology Retellings” is an analysis of an array of novels, monographs, and critiques regarding the genre of mythology retellings. Combining feminist ideas with historical examples, this thesis delves into why retellings are so popular in the twenty-first century and why the stories of Greek Antiquity have stayed relevant.
This thesis focuses specifically on Helen of Troy, Achilles, and the events of the Trojan War in The Iliad. Comparing the epic with retellings of its events may reveal why these characters, gods, and heroes have continued to be discussed in popular media. This thesis also examines how these retellings challenge the oppressive systems that dominate their culture and provide commentary for modern times. This thesis aims to answer why this book genre is so popular and what its purpose is in the 2025 political and social sphere
Fintech Companies vs Traditional Lenders: Who Performed Better during Recent Rate Hikes?
No full textThis research examines the performance of financial technology (fintech) lending companies, compared to traditional lenders, to assess whether a competitive advantage exists during periods of rising interest rates. A meta-analysis is conducted, linking historical lending behavior of banks and fintech lenders in relation to interest rate movements. Analysis of loan performance during the period 2013-2024 indicates that fintech lending does not reveal a significant advantage on a risk-adjusted basis during interest rate hikes. However, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that the largest peer-to-peer lending platform experienced enhanced lending efficiency during a period of low interest rates. Overall, evidence suggests that non-traditional lenders exhibit greater risk-seeking behavior in such environments
Deadly Choices: Political, Legal, and Moral Understandings of U.S. Supreme Court Death Penalty Decisions
No full textThis thesis explores the political, legal, and moral factors that influence Supreme Court justices when penning capital punishment decisions. It also examines the evolution of thinking toward the death penalty by former justices John Paul Stevens and Harry Blackmun throughout their tenure on the Court. Cases are analyzed through fact-pattern analysis and the jurisprudential regime theory, which quantitatively build upon existing literature detailing the theoretical background of judicial decision-making through the attitudinal model. An analysis of Justices Blackmun and Stevens’ papers at the Library of Congress focuses on rhetoric that reflects utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment. Findings show that multiple victims, appellant type, and justices’ ideologies may influence Supreme Court justices’ decisions. Findings also show that utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment guide Blackmun and Stevens’ decision-making processes. The justices’ papers show that race, age, and cognitive impairment of the accused may influence capital punishment decision-making
Depressive symptoms and associated factors among men who have sex with men in Malaysia
No full textThere is a high prevalence of mental health issues, including depressive symptoms, among men who have sex with men (MSM) globally. Such a study has not been done in Malaysia, a setting where stigma and discrimination are particularly high and same-sex behaviors are criminalized. While HIV and sexual behavior among MSM in Malaysia are well studied, their depressive symptoms remain underexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of MSM in Malaysia who experience depressive symptoms. In this study, we conducted a secondary data analysis of the baseline data of the Project JomPrEP, which is a randomized controlled trial of a smartphone app-based study to evaluate its efficacy for improving HIV prevention outcomes among Malaysian MSM. Participants were recruited between November 2023 and September 2024 (N=268). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Participants (mean age = 28.85 years) were predominantly Chinese (44.8%) or Malay (38.1%), with most earning 1200–1500 RM monthly (57.5%), having tested for HIV (86.2%), reporting 0–4 sexual partners in the past six months (69.8%), and experiencing depressive symptoms (23%), suicidal thoughts (37.3%), or suicide attempts (12.3%). Findings suggest that participants with suicidal thoughts (aOR=5.397, p=\u3c0.001), suicide attempts (aOR=1.114, p=0.003), and fair self-rated health (aOR=12.590, p=0.004) were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms. This study may provide evidence for the integration of mHealth applications to alleviate symptoms of depression in Malaysian MSM
Deadly Choices: Political, Legal, and Moral Understandings of U.S. Supreme Court Death Penalty Decisions
No full textThis thesis explores the political, legal, and moral factors that influence Supreme Court justices when penning capital punishment decisions. It also examines the evolution of thinking toward the death penalty by former justices John Paul Stevens and Harry Blackmun throughout their tenure on the Court. Cases are analyzed through fact-pattern analysis and the jurisprudential regime theory, which quantitatively build upon existing literature detailing the theoretical background of judicial decision-making through the attitudinal model. An analysis of Justices Blackmun and Stevens’ papers at the Library of Congress focuses on rhetoric that reflects utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment. Findings show that multiple victims, appellant type, and justices’ ideologies may influence Supreme Court justices’ decisions. Findings also show that utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment guide Blackmun and Stevens’ decision-making processes. The justices’ papers show that race, age, and cognitive impairment of the accused may influence capital punishment decision-making