Bimodalities : a survey of experimental data and models

Bimodal distributions of some chosen variables measured in nuclear collisions were recently proposed as a non ambiguous signature of a first order phase transition in nuclei. This section presents a compilation of both theoretical and experimental studies on bimodalities performed so far, in relation with the liquid-gas phase transition in nuclear matter.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figures, 1 table Appeared in European Physics Journal A as part of the Topical Volume "Dynamics and Thermodynamics with Nuclear Degrees of Freedom

Compliance Safety and Health Officer Apprenticeship Program Expenditure Analysis

The purpose of this study was to explore ways to reduce expenditures in the compliance safety and health officer\u27s apprenticeship program at Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

LAW ENFORCEMENTS PERCEPTIONS REGARDING DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN THESE CASES

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is a significant issue that affects children, families, and communities throughout the United States. Due to the illegal nature of the problem, it is difficult for law enforcement to identify victims of DMST and when they are identified it is challenging to provide them with services. Because law enforcement often encounter DMST victims through first response calls or within juvenile hall, it is important to understand the collaboration efforts between social workers and law enforcement in order to provide effective services for this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the perceptions of law enforcement officers regarding the involvement of social workers in DMST cases. This study used a qualitative design by collecting data through face-to-face interviews with 10 law enforcement officers from Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. This design allowed participants the opportunity to provide a more in-depth explanation regarding the involvement of social workers in DMST cases. The study found that there is a need for social workers to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to provide and advocate for services for victims of DMST. The study also indicated the need for transitional housing or other placement options for youth because the current alternative is incarceration

Re-Writing English Identity: Medieval Historians of Anglo-Norman Britain

My dissertation uses post-colonial and narrative theories to examine the historiographic tradition of twelfth-century England. This investigation explores the idea of nationhood in pre-modern England and the relationship between history and romance in post-Conquest historical writings. I analyze how Geoffrey of Monmouth, Henry of Huntingdon Geffrei Gaimar, and Laʒamon imagine and narrate the explicit changes to the ruling elite in twelfth-century England, and how this process constructs their idea of “Englishness.

Antimicrobial Strategies for Topical Applications

Bacteria can thrive in diverse environments and are often harmless or beneficial. Bacteria in digestive tracts is one example of beneficial bacteria; however, bacteria can be harmful and when this type proliferates, it can cause infections within hosts. Bacterial infections are easily treated with antibiotics in most cases. However, bacteria are also capable of developing mutations which could cause them to become multi-drug resistant and eventually, “superbugs.” Therefore, the development of novel antimicrobial agents and materials capable of combating drug-resistant bacteria is necessary. Research presented in this dissertation focuses on different strategies for minimizing and preventing topical bacterial infections using Groups of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS) and biopolymers. The first part of this dissertation focuses on the synthesis and antibacterial activity of GUMBOS created from antiseptics and β-lactam antibiotics to combat Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Firstly, using ion-exchange reactions, antimicrobial GUMBOS from an outmoded antibiotic were synthesized and characterized using proton and carbon NMR, mass spectrometry, and FT-infrared spectroscopy. Improvement or bioequivalence in in vitro antibacterial activity was obtained on isolates of N. gonorrhoeae. In the second project, GUMBOS were synthesized using a currently prescribed antibiotic. GUMBOS not only showed improvement for killing N. gonorrhoeae, but also demonstrated increased efficacy against isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae. Overall, these studies present an alternative to current antibiotic drug therapy by using a novel group of ionic antimicrobial materials that have improved bio availabilities, multi-modal properties, and potent antimicrobial activity as a viable alternative to combating N. gonorrhoeae in the oropharynx. Finally, acute cytotoxicity against cervical cellular lines in addition to an assessment of intestinal permeability and bioavailability were completed. The next part of this dissertation focuses on developing materials from biopolymers for providing potential improvements to wound care and topical infection prevention applications. In the third project, composite materials using biopolymer blends are presented. These composites were synthesized using a simple ionic liquid and were incorporated with antimicrobial GUMBOS. Composites showed great potential for combating topical Staphylococcus aureus infections. Moreover, composites presented high swelling capabilities, which could be translated to exudation capacity. The fourth project focuses on polyelectrolyte complexes synthesized using metathesis reactions from a biopolymer and antiseptics. These complexes were then evaluated for use as oral and topical patches for combating bacterial infections. These materials were characterized using several analytical techniques. Further, these complexes were heat pressed into films which showed steady antiseptic release over several hours

Searching for the Feminine: The Women of the Holy Grail

The purpose of this thesis is to study the specific condition of female characters in the literature of the Holy Grail. While this women do not occupy a substantial portion of the narratives, they exude a feminine authority over the test and its progression. The female characters of Perceval\u27s sister in both the Vulgate\u27s Queste del Saint Graal and Malory\u27s Tale of Sankgreal and Sigune and Cundrie of Wolfram\u27s Parzival play integral roles to the ultimate achievement of the Grail by their male counterparts. By contextualizing these characters within the medieval Christian tradition, as presented by Caroline Walker Bynum, it is evident that they participate in a large convention of the unique female religious experience of the time. This special feminine spirituality allows them both autonomy and control over the story\u27s events

Not my son

This screenplay is an intimate and honest exploration of the nature of various relationships between fathers and sons. It explores how fatherly expectations can make lasting impacts, both helpful and detrimental, on their sons that can ultimately drive a wedge between them if the sons think they have failed their fathers or if the fathers think that the sons have not lived up to their potentials. The screenplay also lightly explores the quest for perfection and what ultimately is the price of that quest, especially for those who cannot meet those unrealistic expectations imposed on them by their parents and/or society due to circumstances beyond their control, such as disabilities

Blue to Black: Empathy Erosion in Law Enforcement Officers

This thesis examines the impact of work experiences on empathy among people employed in the law enforcement profession. It is hard to imagine that what law enforcement officers (LEOs) go through would not affect how they relate to the public or handle themselves for career longevity. It is possible that the mere exposure both physically and mentally experienced by LEOs erodes the very empathy needed to navigate such a profession and is not only detrimental to the community they serve but to themselves. Data were collected using a voluntary, anonymous survey which was distributed to LEOs across the United States over an eight-month period. The analysis probes whether empathy is diminished by what a LEO encounters while on-the-job. The results suggest that the regular day to day activities of a LEO do not noticeably reduce empathy as I first thought they would. Upon further review however, certain experiences like the physical stressors associated with police work do predict increased anger, and symptoms of depression and PTSD. Conversely, I found that the more the LEO feels supported by their family, friends, community, and department, the less they experience anger, depression, and PTSD. It should be noted that empathy actually increases if the LEO experiences an injury or illness that affects their job. This was unexpected and may be a starting point to be explored by further studies. Studies involving LEOs are far from new and often follow a more common theme where a LEO feels “burnout.” Unfortunately, there have been few studies that attempt to capture the feeling of empathy in general and even less with its relation to the law enforcement profession. Although the original survey designed for this thesis was very comprehensive, participation was lower than expected. Thus, the results only paint a partial picture of how experiences LEOs encounter on the job affect how they feel. Further research should examine how LEOs’ feelings and experiences might improve positive relations with the community and increase wellness for the LEOs that serve it

Professional as a Mother: Empowering Working Mothers Through Social Media

Women in the workforce continue to experience a gendered pay gap, making only around 86% of the salary of their male counterparts (Pew Research, 2022). This is worse still for those women with children, who are less likely to be considered for promotional opportunities and dismissed as not committed to their careers. As a mother, I have been on the receiving end of this discrimination, but I am also lucky enough to understand my rights and value in the workforce. The goal of this capstone project was to improve the outcomes for working mothers by developing an online community to share meaningful and actionable resources and tools through a social media platform. The Professional as a Mother identity was created with a campaign plan, branding and communication guidelines, and original content curated in service of this goal