DYNAMISM, DOMINATION, & ILLUSION: HOW THE LOS ANGELES GARMENT INDUSTRY (AB)USES ITS POWER IN A GLOBALIZED MARKET

The Los Angeles fashion industry presents an exception to the rule of offshore production in the increasingly globalized world market. This thesis conducts an in-depth examination of the Los Angeles fashion industry, specifically focusing on its laborers, manufacturers, and retailers, in order to better understand how Los Angeles is able to feasibly compete with and thrive in the globalized fashion industry. Utilizing organizational metaphors, this thesis examines dynamics of transformation and of power as applied to laborers, manufacturers, and retailers in Los Angeles. Divided into two primary constituents, laborers and owners of capital, I posit the levels of power held by manufacturers and by retailers, the exploitation of laborers, and the pursuit of profits are responsible for the continued existence of the Los Angeles garment industry

CULTURAL LANGUAGE VARIATIONS: AN EXAMINATION OF APPALACHIAN DISCOURSE

Examinations of discourse are essential for documenting the linguistic variations of a particular culture. In turn, linguistic variations across cultures may suggest similar variations in global discourse measures. It is imperative for clinicians to first understand the framework and cultural norms of a particular dialect or language to properly identify deficits in disordered language. By first looking closely at specific aspects of discourse such as story grammar within a normative or non-brain injured population, clinicians can improve treatment protocols for working with aphasic or brain-injured clients. With Appalachia being the heart of the “stroke belt,” research in intervention strategies for discourse deficits is especially important for the future of quality rehabilitation and subsequent impact on the lives of Appalachian citizens in this region

A global library screen of human primary microRNA processing utilizing a ratiometric fluorescence assay

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that play a vital role in gene regulation for many biological processes by binding target transcripts and marking them for degradation or post-transcriptional silencing. miRNAs undergo maturation within the nucleus beginning with cleavage ofprimary miRNA (pri-miRNA) by Drosha/DGCR8 to form premature miRNA (pre-miRNA). Whether this recognition relies more heavily on sequence motifs or structural features within the pri-miRNA is unknown. Algorithms based upon these potential recognition motifs predict many more miRNA sequences within the human genome than have been observed. To investigate the type of features thattarget a sequence for miRNA processing, we conduct a library screen of miRNA sequences within HEK293T cells to obtain a global view of miRNA processing. A reporter system consisting of GFP-P2A-puromycin and a mCherry—pri-miRNA fusion library was utilized. Library sequences that are processed by Drosha/DGCR8 lead to cleavage and degradation of the mCherry transcript and a decrease influorescence. These sequences are then analyzed for sequence motifs or structural features to elucidate how miRNAs are recognized and targeted for maturation

Short-term phosphorus dynamics and wheat productivity under integrated fertiliser management

Modern phosphorus (P) fertiliser production depends on phosphate rock reserves which could be exhausted by 2040. Substituting inorganic P with organic fertilisers may reduce farmers’ requirements for rock-derived phosphate while encouraging the use of waste products. Research shows that integrating the use of organic and inorganic fertilisers increases P phytoavailability compared to the application of inorganic P alone. Field studies typically report results of one sampling occasion conducted after years of experimentation, with no intermittent monitoring. The aim of this thesis was therefore to determine how substitution of inorganic P with organic alternatives affects short-term P cycling and wheat productivity. Results were obtained from intact soils cores maintained in a greenhouse sown with winter wheat and fertilised with different ratios of organic-to-inorganic P. There was no statistically significant effect of substituting inorganic P with pig slurry (PS) or digested cake (DC) on available P concentration during stem elongation or anthesis compared to the application of inorganic P alone. The results suggest that increases in phytoavailable P reported in previous studies following integrated fertiliser management (IFM) may not develop immediately but through gradual accumulation of the soil reserve. The time it takes for these differences to emerge could depend on the organic amendment; repeated measures analysis showed that the PS substitution treatment provided a more sustained supply of phytoavailable P than the DC substitution treatments. Grain yield and P leaching losses were statistically similar between treatments. The thesis therefore shows that in the short term, inorganic P use could be reduced through the incorporation of organic amendments to soil without compromising yield, P phytoavailability or P leaching losses. P application rates should be matched between treatments and respond to changes in P phytoavailability between seasons to better understand the effect of IFM on P cycling and yield over time

Voicing Across Cultures: The Role of Communication Style and Relationships In Employee Voice and Subsequent Influence

Constructive input from a diverse workforce can enhance firm performance. However, cultural norms and differences in communication behavior expectations may prevent concerns and suggestions from being expressed, or from being implemented when they are expressed. The purpose of the current study is to bridge the Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Communications, and International Management literatures in an attempt to understand how subordinates with different communicaton norms voice and how (or whether) managers use the content of the voiced messages. Two models are presented examining prohibitive and promotive voice as central variables in the relationship between subordinate communication style and subordinate influence over managerial decisions. The models also present manager communication style and the relationship factors of leader-member exchange, psychological safety, and felt obligation for constructive change as moderators of the more general relationships proposed. Results of a field study including subordinates and managers from six continents produced several findings. In line with hypotheses, subordinate communication style had a direct effect on prohibitive voice, while its effect on promotive voice was moderated by leader-member exchange quality. Also, leader-member exchange quality and manager communication style moderated the relationship of each voice type with influence over managerial decisions. Implications and limitations are discussed

Genetic and dietary interactions of fishy-egg taint in brown-shelled laying hens

Fishy-egg tainting has long been a problem associated with feeding canola meal (CM) to brown-shelled laying hens. It is a classical example of nutrigenetics, as both dietary and genetic factors must be present for a hen to lay fishy-tainted eggs. Trimethylamine (TMA), the compound responsible for the fishy smell, is produced by bacterial fermentation of choline in the lower gut. CM contains large amounts of choline in the form of sinapine. Choline must first be hydrolyzed from sinapine before it can be absorbed or converted to TMA. Normally, the malodourous TMA is metabolized to the odourless trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3). A mutation in FMO3 (c.984A>T) prevents TMA from being oxidized to TMAO, and subsequently TMA accumulates in the developing egg yolks. Our objective was to determine the inheritance pattern of fishy-egg tainting when hens are fed canola meal, reflecting typical industry conditions. In the first of two trials, hens of a commercial brown-shelled strain were genotyped at FMO3 c.984A>T and fed graded levels of CM (0, 6, 12, or 18%). These hens were bred to produce a second generation of hens, which were also genotyped and fed graded levels of CM (0, 6, 12, 18, or 24%) or choline chloride (0, 0.055, 0.110, 0.165, or 0.220%). Choline chloride, at levels up to 0.220%, does not lead to the production of fishy tainted-eggs. When fed CM, TT hens laid fishy-tainted eggs. Mean yolk TMA concentration was not significantly different between hens of the AA and AT genotypes, with means from both genotypes remaining below the human detection threshold for all of the dietary treatments. Large day-to-day variations in yolk TMA concentration were seen in hens of all three genotypes. We concluded that fishy-egg tainting is recessive when hens are fed CM at levels reflecting typical commercial practices

Graduate Recital: Katherine P. Ward, Soprano

Kemp Recital Hall Friday Evening May 10, 1996 6:00p.m

Media Literacy in the United States: A Close Look at Texas

It is difficult to deny the ubiquitous nature of our mediated landscape in the United States. With the plethora of mediated messages come media related risks for children. Training in media literacy is one way to combat these risks. Unfortunately, most American public school media literacy standards are in need of improvement. This project examines how media literacy functions in American K-12 public schools. It not only applies a standard of assessment for media literacy standards, but also provides a synopsis of the range of advanced to poor programs across the country. Then, suggestions for improving lacking programs are revealed in a case study on Texas’ advanced media literacy program

Student Recital: Gabriella Fodor, Piano Katherine Ward, Soprano

Kemp Recital Hall Monday Evening November 13, 1995 8:30p.m