Design and characterization of plasmonic nanoprobes and interparticle interactions for surface enhanced raman scattering and biomolecular detection

Functional nanoparticles serve as an intriguing class of probes in medical theranostics for enabling rapid, sensitive, multiplexing, and point-of-care treatment and diagnosis. One important aspect of these applications is the exploitation of the unique plasmonic properties of certain metal nanoparticles. A key challenge is the understanding of effective harnessing of the plasmonic coupling of the nanoparticles upon interacting with the targeted biomolecular species. This thesis work focuses on investigating the interparticle interactions of chemcially-labled and bioconjugated gold and silver based nanoparticles and their influences on the plasmonic coupling for specctroscopic detection of biomolecules. Examples of the interparticle interactions include dye-mediated π–π stacking, antigen-antibody recognition, and DNA complementary binding. These molecular and biomolecular interactions lead to the formation of interparticle “hot-spot” in terms of plasmonic coupling of the nanoparticles responsible for the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The interparticle plasmonic coupling induced SERS and LSPR characteristics are probed by experimental measurements and theoretical simulations for establishing the correlation between the interparticle structures and the spectroscopic properties. The results have provided new insights for a better understanding of the design and control parameters of multifunctional nanoparticles and interparticle interactions for spectroscopic enhancements in biomolecular recognition and detection

Examining Stakeholder Engagement Processes and The Shared Value Creation of Sustainability Partnership Program at Two Fairmont Hotels

Initially perceived as the individual philanthropic activities assumed by a businessperson or merely a useful marketing tool, CSR has undoubtedly become one of the primary focus areas of many business entities worldwide (Lee, Ham, & Koh, 2019). Evidently, businesses way of thinking has changed considerably since (Friedman, 1962, 1970) postulated that businesses only responsibility was to maximize their owners’ and shareholders’ wealth. Specifically, businesses have begun to recognize the importance of identifying stakeholder expectations and responding to such expectations (Font, Guix & Bonilla-Priego, 2016). Accordingly, in the tourism industry there have been growing pressures from external stakeholders to behave in a more sustainable way (Font et al., 2012). Comparatively, there has been growing interest in scholarship as well, as over 70% of all articles on the subject of CSR in tourism and hospitality have been published within the last five years (Font & Lynes, 2018). Simply, CSR has become more a matter of how than why (Smith, 2003). This basic qualitative study explores the processes by which the Sustainability Partnership Program creates value between Fairmont and the communities surrounding Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs. Particularly, external stakeholders (ie. government, NGOs, and suppliers) are the focus of this dissertation. This study found that Fairmont has been able to foster a shared sense of responsibility amongst employees and external stakeholders for planning and implementing impactful initiatives, leading to improved levels of efficiency in not only identifying community needs but also responding to them

The Identification of Demographic Profiles of K-12 Public School Districts Employing Female Superintendents in California, Michigan, New York, and Texas

The job of the local school superintendent is one of the most difficult chief executive undertakings in America today. Of the nation’s roughly 14,000 traditional public school superintendents, a mere 1,984 are women, according to the U. S. Department of Education. Yet, nationally over 75% of all K-12 educators are women. The purpose of this explorative quantitative study is to analyze the demographic profiles of public school districts in four of the nation’s largest states – California, Michigan, New York, and Texas - to see if there is a pattern of district types and sizes that women lead. Then the study will compare those districts that women lead to those that men lead. The districts were identified using the following variables: locale of districts, the size of the districts, diversity of student population, and poverty level. Looking through the lens of Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory, this study sought to show that resources and institutions are reproduced, or passed on, to those sharing similar social capital. Chi-square with cross-tabulations was conducted to determine if certain district characteristics would allow one to infer the gender of the superintendent leading that district. Additionally, a binominal logistic regression was used to see if there was a relationship between the district types and the gender of the superintendent. The results of the study identified that there was no relationship between the locales of the districts and the gender of the superintendents, but female superintendents were more prevalent in smaller districts with high diversity and high poverty

I Stay to Myself : Relocated Public Housing Residents\u27 Neighboring Strategy

The Atlanta Housing Authority’s decision to turn exclusively to Housing Choice vouchers to house its tenants has had significant consequences for the geographic and social landscape of the city. Policymakers largely advocate for relocation of public housing residents to private-market housing in mixed-income neighborhoods with the proposed benefit of interaction with middle-class neighbors that will facilitate improvements in residents’ lives. Prior research suggests that meaningful interaction between voucher holders and middle-class neighbors is unlikely. Through in-depth interviews (N=20) this study explores the relationships relocated residents have with their neighbors and strategies to deal with exclusionary boundary work. Results confirm that relocaters had little interaction with higher-income neighbors and reveal that relocaters use destigmatizing strategies, specifically employing the strategy of staying to self. Staying to self is described as destigmatizing boundary work, a concept introduced to capture relocaters’ neighboring strategy in response to general stereotypes of public housing residents

A Study to Determine the Learning Preference of Blood Bank Technologist and Technicians

The research questions used in this study were as follows: 1) What is the most preferred method for continuing education among laboratory professionals? 2) What is the least preferred method for continuing education among laboratory professionals

What determines workers’ preferences for efficiency over equity wages?

What makes workers consider it fair for wages to be indexed on job performance or efficiency? In this paper we attempt to answer this question using the 2005 wave of the World Values Survey data for 43 countries to investigate what socio-economic characteristics condition employees’ preference for efficiency over equity wages. Our results suggest that employees’ preference for efficiency wages increases with education and globalization while it decreases with unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates. Given that conventional economic theory demonstrates the importance of labour efficiency, which improves when workers are remunerated according to their efficiency, for economic growth; our results suggest that institutions and specifically public policies that promote education, and globalization, along with policies that reduce unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates could be used to promote efficiency-based wages.

Does education engender cultural values that matter for economic growth?

Empirical research has shown that cultural values matter for economic growth and has specifically identified the achievement motivation as an aspect of culture that engenders economic growth. If specific cultural values engender economic growth, how then can societies promote them? This paper attempts to answer this question using the 2005 wave of the World Values Survey data for 43 countries. We test the contention that education significantly impacts the relative importance an individual places on economic achievement vis-à-vis traditional social norms. Results suggest that individuals with higher education levels attach higher importance to values related to autonomy and economic achievement as compared to conformity to traditional social norms. The results have an important implication for efforts to promote economic development; institutions and specifically public policy on education could be used to encourage people to adopt values that are considered important for economic development.Cultural Values, Education, Ordered Probit, Semi-Nonparametric Estimation

Assessment of agricultural information needs in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States for CTA’s Products and Services: Phase II: Caribbean: Country Report: Barbados

Objectives The objectives of the study are as follows: - to identify agricultural information needs of key actors / beneficiaries for CTA products and services; - to identify needs of potential actors / beneficiaries of CTA activities and services in terms of building capacity for information and communication management; - to identify potential partners / beneficiaries for CTA activities and services; - to develop some baseline data to facilitate subsequent monitoring activitiesThis study commissioned by CTA aims to identify agricultural information needs of key actors / beneficiaries for CTA products and services, potential actors ..and, to develop some baseline data to facilitate subsequent monitoring activities