Research Review: VETERAN AFFAIRS DISABILITY COMPENSATION: Likely the U.S.’s largest disability program, but what do we know about its impacts on service-disabled veterans?

This research review highlights the complexities of estimating the causal impacts of the Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation (VADC) program. The authors suggest that reliable estimates of the causal impact of VADC on labor market outcomes requires estimates of the causal impact of other programs available to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Currently, there is limited evidence of the causal impact of these programs, pointing to several opportunities for practice, policy, and future research

Why Money Matters: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Differences Between U.S. Public And Commercial Media Journalists And Their Work

This study, based on survey responses from 1,491 commercial and 394 public media journalists working in the United States, as well as in-depth interviews with 44 U.S. broadcasters, shows how boundaries created by each group’s interpretive community separate them from the other group because of their professional roles, norms, and routines. While U.S. public and commercial journalists do not necessarily see one another as competitors, this study examines whether they exhibit in- and out-group preferences and prejudices, which might lead them toward excluding each other’s work from in-group considerations

The Importance of National Government Participation in Local Smart Cities Planning

The arrival of the smart city paradigm represents a significant shift in urban planning, integrating technology and data analytics to enhance urban environments\u27 livability, workability, and sustainability. This thesis explores the critical role that national and local governments play in planning and executing smart city initiatives across a nation state, examining the impacts of policy in such technologically advanced urban spaces. With a multiple case study research design and the use of secondary data it seeks to understand how important national policies are in supporting and influencing the endeavors of local governments in deploying smart city solutions that cater to the unique needs of their communities. Three smart city indices are used as reference points for selecting the case study cities (Zurich, Singapore, Seoul, Philadelphia and Cape Town), which provided an opportunity to consider the extent to which national governance may or may not have influenced their positions on these and other points of reference. Using a mixed methods research design, the results indicate that the policies, strategies, frameworks and levels of engagement by national governments play a major role in determining the success or otherwise of smart city planning and implementation. Based on this, appropriate conclusions are drawn and recommendations made

Mannose: The Hands of Fate – Overexpressing a Pinus taeda hemicellulose biosynthesis gene in Populus tremula × alba leads to increased height and a modified cell wall sugar profile

Lignocellulosic biomass as an input for biofuel generation has gained popularity in recent decades due to attainable feedstock ubiquity and an anatomical propensity to fix and sequester carbon. A major challenge facing the integration of such feedstocks is the presence of recalcitrant polymers that are extant in their cell walls, namely lignin and various hemicellulose species. Many studies have illustrated methods in which cell wall modification through genetic means has produced phenotypic improvements with regard to biomaterial generation, though to this point, none have overexpressed exogenous hemicellulose genes to shift the composition of the Populus tremula × alba cell walls. If this were to be performed, a hemicellulose sugar profile more akin to cellulose would be possible, limiting pitfalls in biomaterial production due to more uniformity in cell wall biochemistry. The present study independently expresses Pinus taeda GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase 2 (PtGMP2) and phosphomannose isomerase (PtPMI) in the Populus tremula × alba 717 INRA-B4 hybrid poplar species. Both genes are associated with glucomannan production, a hemicellulose composed of six-carbon sugars, in contrast to the dominant xylan, composed of five-carbon sugars. Several GMP2 lines experienced greater change in height relative to the wild type, and a single line experienced an increase in mannose, a constituent of glucomannan. Such beneficial phenotypes suggest this modification has potential for integration into biomaterial feedstocks.The following describes the process by which individuals with such phenotypes were achieved, beginning with an extensive analysis on the nature of the plant cell wall along with the knowledge gaps that drove the conceptualization of this project. Following an introduction, the second chapter discusses the nature of functional diversification in the plant cell wall,characterizing the numerous families with diverse members responsible for its construction. Chapter 3 then focuses on the aforementioned study, uncovering physiological responses to the overexpression of the genes of interest and nutrient stress. Prior to beginning the project described in Chapter 3, significant time was spent characterizing the nature of functional duplicates associated with the biosynthesis and maintenance of the Populus cell wall, namely members of the Korrigan and Cobra families. Chapter 4 discusses the progression and necessary shift away from this project. A conclusion is present that discusses the nature by which findings and overall intellectual merit fit with the field of plant biotechnology, along with future directions of pursuit

Understanding the Spatial Characteristics of Urban Morphology and Its Application

Rapid urbanization due to the population boom in urban areas changes the physical layout and structures of cities including buildings, streets, open spaces, and amenities, which are collectively defined as urban morphology. Microclimate dynamics of urban environments, such as airflow, heat retention, and pollution dispersion, are profoundly affected by urban morphology. Although the roles of urban morphology at small spatial scales (e.g., single buildings, building complexes, or buildings within a block) in microclimate dynamics have been extensively studied, the scale-up effect of buildings at the city scale on microclimate dynamics is still not fully understood. In this thesis, I examined the spatial characteristics (distributions and patterns) of urban morphology in Syracuse with reference to the existing zoning design. The urban morphology is embodied in six representative parameters that are most relevant to microclimate dynamics, namely Porosity, Rugosity, Occlusivity, Sinuosity, Compacity, and Mineralization. Each parameter is calculated at a relatively large spatial scale, census block group (CBG), and the city has a total of 133 CBGs. The first part of my thesis concerned calculations of the six parameters and their spatial distributions across the city. Based on the definitions of these parameters, I manually calculated their values in all 133 CBGs and analyzed their geographic distributions in terms of the associated city zoning designations. Porosity is mainly dominated by open spaces (OS). CBGs with high Porosity values tend to be designed as OS districts and located in the northwestern part of the city. Higher values of Rugosity, Sinuosity, Compacity, and Mineralization exist in CBGs concentrated in the geographic center of the city, which is designed as the urban core and business district (MX-4 and MX-5). Values of Occlusivity are randomly distributed across Syracuse, indicating this spatial characteristic is not relevant to any type of zoning design. The second part of my thesis dealt with the geospatial patterns of these six parameters based on four distinct geostatistical techniques: central features and standard distance for measuring central tendency, Global Moran’s I for determining global spatial pattern, and hot spot analysis for identifying local clusters. The central features of the six parameters do not share the same CBG and their corresponding standard distances show different orientations and sizes, suggesting that buildings in Syracuse have different spatial centers and degrees of compactness and orientations for different spatial characteristics. Only four parameters- Rugosity, Sinuosity, Compacity, and Mineralization- demonstrate cluster patterns over the city, but to varying degrees of the cluster. All of the six parameters exhibit local cluster with high values concentrated in different neighborhoods of the city. CBGs with high values of Rugosity, Occlusivity, Compacity, and Mineralization tend to be packed in the city center, and those with high Sinuosity values present in the mixed-use districts, indicating that these areas have relatively straight and regularly arranged streets. The third part of my thesis tackled the issue of linking urban morphology to two aspects of microclimate dynamics, urban heat islands (UHIs) and ventilation potential (VP), through the lens of large-scale spatial characteristics. Based on the existing knowledge of the relevance between each parameter and UHIs and VP, respectively, I created a comprehensive index by combining Rugosity, Compacity, and Mineralization for UHIs and another one for VP by using all but compacity. By revealing the spatial patterns of these two indices, I revealed that the high values of the first index are concentrated in the urban core (MX-4) and central business district (MX-5), representing the potential hot spots of UHIs, while those of the second index are distributed along the outskirts of the city, indicating the focused areas of ventilation. These linkages suggest that at the city scale, tall, densely located buildings in the city center enhance the UHIs effect, whereas low and identical residential houses around the city periphery promote ventilation. These findings provide a solid benchmark for future studies of the roles of urban morphology in microclimate dynamics at the city scale

The Monumental Challenges of Pastmaking

Pastmaking is a process in which agents exercise power to make or use documents depicting a past that can be given or taken as historical truth. Such documents often possess narrative elements perceived for use in heritage formation, collective remembering, and identity maintenance practices such as storytelling. Pastmaking encompasses the performative creation of historical knowledge. The implications of pastmaking prompt considerable pause about: (1) who gets spoken for in (re-)tellings of prior events, (2) how agents arrive at consensus to determine what is historically known, and (3) how knowledge is lost or gained when historical narratives get (re-)written, a particularly salient disciplinary issue in light of conceptual developments on epistemicide and epistemic injustice in library and information science (LIS). In response, the research question of this dissertation asks: How are epistemicide and pastmaking related through storytelling? This dissertation addresses this question by undertaking comparative case studies of two commemorative monuments using critical discourse and narrative analysis, abductive content analysis, and document phenomenological insights: (A) Columbus Circle in Syracuse, NY, and (B) The Place of Remembrance at Syracuse University. A literature review of storytelling, epistemicide, and pastmaking is conducted. Narrative documentality is conceptualized as the guiding framework to describe the interplay between narratives and documents. This critical qualitative investigation reveals how commemorative monuments subject to performative agencies of giving and taking afford or deny experiences of historical narrative through their use in constructions of the past. Findings enable three distinct contributions, including: a relational model of pastmaking; the assessment of relevance as a performative process; and demonstrating instances of document-dependent truth. Theoretical, empirical, practical, and curricular implications of pastmaking for LIS are discussed

HOPE IN THE LIVING WATER

This thesis focuses on the concepts and ideas behind my paintings. It aims to explain the conceptual and theological aspects of my works as well as the importance of faith in a Christian’s life. Using my own experiences, I reveal how faith can help us understand sufferings, and how through our faith-related experiences we mature in spirit, learn to understand God’s ways, and ultimately enjoy His companionship. Though our faith does not live by understanding all the ways of God, by growing in faith we will understand in spirit that all things will work out for good for those who are in Christ, even if we cannot comprehend that truth with our earthly logic. In that respect, I will explain how our Christian belief comes into practice. The main ideas in this thesis are faith, Christian suffering, God’s way of working, and one’s relationship with God according to the Christian theological truth, confirming that all things have been created through God and for God (NIV Bible, Colossians 1:16)

Characterization of the Molecular Mechanisms of Noise Stress on Developmental Plasticity in Gryllus bimaculatus & Co-teaching and Peer-Led Team Learning in Undergraduate Introductory Biology Courses Toward Expanding Participation in STEM for All

As part of my training as a Discipline Based Education Researcher (DBER), I gained human subjects educational research experience as well as traditional biology research experience in the laboratory setting. This dissertation explores both my biology education research and traditional developmental biological research. The first and second projects focus on biology education research, examining how Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) and modifying introductory biology course instructional design can influence student outcomes in undergraduate Biology education. The third project examines how anthropogenic noise affects the developmental biology of the two-spotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus using a genetic approach. Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) is an active learning model that has been shown to be beneficial for student learning. Using a longitudinal approach, this study focuses on understanding the trajectory of students over the course of five years to examine the potential long-term effects of PLTL. We assessed the relationship between PLTL participation and student outcomes like earning a C+ or better in introductory biology and graduation rates in any major and STEM specific majors. PLTL participation was associated with a higher likelihood of passing introductory biology with a grade of C+ or better with URM and first-gen status being associated with lower odds. When considering the percentage of students who achieved a C+ or better, both URM and non-URM students who participated in PLTL had significantly higher rates of earning a C+ or better. A performance gap was observed between URM and non-URM students in the non-PLTL groups. A similar relationship was observed in first-generation students, with students who participated in PLTL outperforming their non-PLTL peers with a similar gap in the non-PLTL group. Analysis disaggregated by sex showed that PLTL benefitted both male and female students in a similar manner. Students who completed a STEM degree showed similar trends with performance gains across URM status, sex, and first-generation status. These results suggest that PLTL participation continues to promote positive student outcomes and mitigate structural barriers for success in STEM. We also examined how instructional strategies may influence student learning trajectories. Introductory biology is often seen as a gateway course in which students tend to compartmentalize information for performing well on exams without considering the connection between foundational content and the content of more advanced courses. There also exists a discrepancy between what advanced course instructors expect foundational courses to cover, and student retention of that knowledge. We investigated whether a co-teaching model in the introductory biology course can bridge the divide between these contexts. We involved the instructor for the genetics course in the instruction of genetics content in the introductory classroom, and measured student performance using a course assessment by implementing 20 items that typically appear on exams in the genetics course into the introductory course’s exam. The implemented items directly aligned with the exam objectives of the introductory course. Following a nonequivalent control-group design, one year of introductory biology served as our control group which had the typical instruction with one instructor, with the genetics items implemented. Our treatment group was a population of students in the following year with the genetics instructor teaching the introductory content and genetics items implemented. We used an open-ended survey to measure students’ impression of the experience, opinions on diversity of instructors, and whether they thought including upper division course instructors in introductory biology instruction was a good idea. The results indicated that students who were taught by the genetics instructor improved at a greater rate than their peers in the control group. Students reported positive impressions of the experience, and several mentioned a need for increased diversity in instructor identities. Anthropogenic noise levels are increasing as humans continue to expand their usage of land and natural resources. Noise pollution has been recognized as a source of environmental stress with associations with detrimental health impacts on humans and other organisms. Invertebrates in particular use sound for many biologically relevant processes like mate selection, therefore, increased noise levels may work to impede those processes. We investigated the developmental and genetic impact that roadside noise exposure has on the cricket species Gryllus bimaculatus. Crickets were exposed to 24-hour playbacks of roadside noise or silence in our trials. We compared the developmental timings, body size, and expression profiles of adult crickets from the two experimental treatments. There was a significant decrease in the time to adulthood of crickets exposed to chronic noise stress. We hypothesized that the adult physiological differences were due to differential gene expression patterns as a result of the environmental stimulus of chronic noise. Male and female cricket brains and gonads were dissected and examined to identify any significant differences in gene expression under the experimental conditions. Female brains and male gonads were found to have the highest numbers of differentially expressed genes that included genes like heat shock factor, ryanodine receptors, among other genes involved in cell signaling pathways. GO term enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways linked to stress response, energy metabolism, and protein interactions suggesting that noise stress may alter both cellular stress responses but also metabolic processes in a tissue and sex specific manner. Though this dissertation describes three distinct projects, they work together to contribute to our understanding of both biological systems and the systems through which biology is taught and learned by undergraduates