Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Mathematics

Persistent homology is a central tool in topological data analysis that allows us to study the shape of data. In the one-parameter setting, there is a lossless, discrete representation of the persistent homology of an input space in the form of a persistence diagram, which consists of a multiset of points in the plane. Despite having nice theoretical properties and demonstrating practical usefulness in numerous domains, it is well-known that one-parameter persistence can be greatly disrupted by noise or outliers in the input data. A standard way to mitigate these issues is to move to multiparameter persistence, where we utilize an indexing poset for our persistence module that is not totally ordered. The downside of multiparameter persistence is that, in general, there is no lossless, discrete representation such as the persistence diagram in the one-parameter setting. In light of this fact, researchers studying multiparameter persistence aim to introduce discrete invariants for multiparameter persistence and study how much information they are able to retain, as well as the practicality of their computation. This dissertation follows this program of research. In particular, advancements towards this end in this dissertation include: (a) Extending the notion of generalized persistence diagrams by Kim and Mémoli to the setting where the indexing poset is not locally finite, and precisely characterizing the discriminating strength of the resulting invariant, (b) Introducing the meta-rank and meta-diagrams, new invariants for 2-parameter persistence, studying their theoretical properties, and introducing an algorithm for their computation, (c) Extending the notion of persistence sets by Gómez and Mémoli to the multiparameter setting, demonstrating stability for multiparameter persistence sets and showcasing their strength and computability in a shape classification experiment, (d) Providing implementations and experiments for tools utilizi (open full item for complete abstract)

PHD, Kent State University, 2009, College of Education, Health, and Human Services / Department of Teaching, Leadership and Curriculum Studies

The overall purpose of this study was to uncover and describe the barriers that low-income, single mothers between the ages of 17-24 experience and the strategies they adopt in their efforts to persist through year one to year three of college at a four-year public university. Adult education scholarship has shed light on the obstacles to college enrollment and persistence for adult students. For example, Cross (1981) classified obstacles that have an impact on the persistence and retention of adult students under three categories: situational, institutional, and dispositional. Non-traditional age adult students are challenged by these barriers as they attempt to enroll and persist in college. Less well known is whether these barriers also pertain directly to single mothers who are traditional age students with adult responsibilities.This study provided an examination of traditional age, first generation, low-income single mothers' persistence in college from entry to third year at a four-year public institution. In addition, the study examined multiple barriers and strategies concerning student's employment and residential status, relationships of students with parents, and academic/college preparedness. The qualitative inquiry method used in this study allowed for an examination of low-income first generation student and their persistence from year to year. Narrative analysis was utilized in this study to assist the researcher in creating a written detail of the phenomena of single parents' persistence towards college completion and to investigate and identify barriers and support systems identified by single-parent students The researcher employed a retelling of the struggles and strategies of the study participants as individual interviews were weaved together in the coding and discussion of the study.

Doctor of Education (EdD), Wright State University, 2020, Leadership Studies

As higher education institutions continue to compete for a declining population of students (National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2019), an increased focus on retaining existing students is required to maintain current levels of undergraduate enrollment (Elliott & Shin, 2002; Habley, Bloom, & Robbins, 2012; Judson & Taylor, 2014; Schertzer & Schertzer, 2004, Vianden & Barlow, 2014). Predominant student retention models (Astin, 1965; Bean, 1985; Tinto, 1987, 1993) emphasize the interaction between students and institutional representatives as a primary factor influencing the student experience and student decisions to continue enrollment in future academic terms. Although academic advisors are the institutional representative most likely to interact with a student throughout the student's academic life, it is challenging to quantitatively examine the influence of academic advising on student persistence. Guided by the conceptual models for College Impact Theory (CIT), Social Exchange Theory (SET), Relationship Marketing Theory (RMT), and the Theory of Planned Behavior Theory (TPB), the current study examined the influence of perceptions of the academic advising experience on student-institution relationship quality, student loyalty to the institution, and student enrollment intentions. Based on theory and prior research, an a priori hypothesized structural equation model (SEM) was constructed. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesized structural model. Data were collected via a self-administered online survey completed by undergraduate, degree seeking students, over the age of 18, who were enrolled at the main campus of a large, Midwestern, 4-year, public institution of higher education (N = 10,809; n = 685). SEM analysis using maximum likelihood (ML) estimation was performed to a) assess the overall fit of the hypothesized structural model to the sample data; b) determine the amount of variance in all endogenous variables that could be exp (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Educational Studies

The purpose of this qualitative, grounded theory study was to explore the educational experiences of first-generation, urban, high-achieving, Black females who attended a predominately White institution. More specifically, this investigation sought to understand what factors impacted the persistence of the population under review. Data analysis from a semi-structured interview and focus group revealed that the students experienced the following patterns of persistence: 1) Persistence Builders, 2) Persistence Detractors, 3) Persistence Mitigators, and 4) Persistence Re-Builders. The students in this study experienced racialized interactions and environments on campus such that, they experienced an erosion of their well-being and persistence. The outgrowth of this research suggests that Black females seek and search out others like them as a means of support. The application of an intersectionality lens allowed for the identification of Co-bearers as a theory to explain the many identities that guide first-generation, urban, high-achieving Black females to locate individuals like them from which they derive support, thereby rebuilding their persistence. This study provides a foundation from which future researchers can build upon.

Doctor of Education (EdD), Ohio University, 2018, Educational Administration (Education)

This study focused on what persistent factors contribute to adults with learning disabilities sustaining enrollment in college. The number of students who enter higher education programs with learning disabilities continues to increase (Eckes & Ochoa, 2005; Madaus & Shaw, 2006; Newman, Wagner, Cameto, & Knokey, 2009). This study explored approaches for meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities by examining their experiences, and their efforts of earning a college degree. While also including their parents' perspectives, the observed information offers suggestions that may help sustain a more fluid transition from the K-12 setting to a postsecondary college environment for other students. To understand these experiences, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with five young adults with learning disabilities, and their parents. Information gained from this qualitative case study provided pertinent insights for future students with learning disabilities when preparing to attend a postsecondary college environment. This research also provides insights regarding how students with disabilities can access and use disability services on college campuses, what kind of individual characteristics a person needs to help promote persistence (self advocacy and self-determination), and lastly, what impact did their parents have on their persistence to complete their degree. In addition to interviews, campus visits were made to each of the participant's prospective colleges to compare the differences and similarities from what the office of disability services advertised to what each participant experienced while on those campuses.

EdD, University of Cincinnati, 2007, Education : Urban Educational Leadership

This qualitative study examined attrition and retention in special education teachers in cross-categorical settings. Specifically, this project investigated the reasons why these teachers remain in the field. In order to gather relevant data, the researcher interviewed ten teachers who consecutively taught in this field for a period of five to twenty years. The researcher conducted interviews with the participants in order to understand what factors influence teacher retention. The goal was to discover common patterns, themes, and other factors that determine longevity. The research revealed that special education teachers are more likely to remain in the field if they are able to concretely identify with students; in addition, teachers who can make both personal and professional changes that benefit students persist. The research also showed that in order for teachers to thrive in cross-categorical settings, they must clearly identify their career goals and objectives. Specifically, in consideration of the input from the ten participants, this study identified seventeen factors that influence teacher retention. Finally, this study compared those seventeen factors to the existing literature on special education teacher retention to establish a conceptual framework. This framework highlights career choices, along with factors that influence teacher retention in special education cross-categorical classrooms.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Mathematics

Persistence theory discussed in this thesis is an application of algebraic topology (Morse Theory) to Data Analysis, precisely to qualitative description of point cloud data. Mathematically a point cloud data is a finite metric space of a very large cardinality. It can be geometrized as a filtration of simplicial complexes and the homology changes of these complexes provide qualitative information about the data. There are new invariants which permit to describe the changes in homology and these invariants are the “bar codes”. In Chapter 3 work is done to develop additional methods for the calculation of bar codes and their refinements. When the coefficient field is Z_2, the calculation of bar codes is done by ELZ algorithm (named after H. Edelsbrunner, D. Letscher, and A. Zomorodian). When the coefficient field is R, we developed an algorithm based on the Hodge decomposition. The original persistence theory can be viewed as a sort of Morse Theory and involves the “sub level sets” of a nice map. With Dan Burghelea and Tamal Dey we developed a persistence theory about level sets in Chapter 4. This is a refinement of the original persistence. The level persistence is an alternative to Zigzag persistence considered by G. Carlsson and V. D. Silva. I discuss new computable invariants and how they are related to the known ones. These invariants are referred to as “relevant level persistence numbers” and “positive and negative bar codes”. We provide enhancements and modifications of ELZ algorithm to calculate such invariants and illustrate them by examples. Chapters 3 and Chapter 4 are preceded by background materials (Chapter 2) where the concepts of algebraic topology used in this paper are defined.

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2009, Psychology

Prospective control can be characterized as the ability to anticipate future events and act in an anticipatory manner to arrive at a desired goal. If this process is disturbed, one must actively explore the environment to properly detect new mappings. Virtual environments are able to circumvent the limitations of the physical environment and therefore can aid in determining the boundaries of people's ability to engage in prospective control. However, it has not been shown that the behaviors exhibited in these contexts are generalizable. Participants' head motion was recorded while they navigated through a physical or virtual maze. The results indicated main effects of time and segment as well as a time x segment interaction for both yaw and pitch rotations. There was no significant difference between the physical and virtual conditions nor were there any significant interactions involving condition. These changes reflect how behavior is modified to regain prospectivity.

MA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

Feeling a sense of belonging positively impacts many facets of life, including educational and professional outcomes. For college students, a strong sense of belonging can influence their career paths and intentions to stay in college. However, women and racial/ethnic minorities often struggle with belonging in computing, which can diminish their desire to stay in the field. Existing research on belonging in college emphasizes the role of faculty and peers in promoting belonging, yet few studies have examined the relative impact of these different type of relationships. Furthermore, I could not find any studies that have examined the relative importance of faculty versus peer relationships for belonging within the field of computing. My thesis aims to fill this gap by exploring how relationships with faculty and peers uniquely impact students' sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and, in turn, their persistence intentions in computing. Additionally, I evaluate how these processes are moderated by students' gender and racial/ethnic identities. I find that for the overall sample, positive relationships with faculty have a greater direct impact on students' sense of belonging in computing and computing self-efficacy than relationships with peers. In addition, I find that positive relationships with faculty also have a greater indirect impact on students' computing persistence intentions than do positive relationships with peers. While these results are generally replicated across students of varying gender and racial/ethnic identities, there are some notable exceptions. This research increases our knowledge of how faculty and peer relationships impact students' feelings of belonging, self-efficacy, and, in turn, persistence in a field of study. It also helps inform future interventions to broaden participation in computing by highlighting the relative importance of faculty relationships for marginalized students.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2025, Pathology

Throughout their lives, T cells must navigate divergent hemodynamic environments to successfully respond to infection, injury, and stress. From the complex array of fluid dynamics found throughout the bloodstream, to the relatively static, matrix-defined parenchyma of tissues, T cells must effectively perceive and process their extracellular environment to make decisions about motility, growth, differentiation, and effector function. Understanding their environment is accomplished through an array of signaling cascades mediated by specialized proteins that are mechanosensing, including structural components of the cytoskeleton, adhesion molecules, and stretch-activated ion channels. To mount an appropriate immune response, naive T cells must exit from the bloodstream and enter secondary lymphoid organs for antigen surveillance, recognize cognate antigen presented by antigen presenting cells, and effectively proliferate, differentiate, and fine tune its effector function. Effector T cells must then navigate back through the bloodstream to the site of inflammation. Notably, studies of the molecular mechanism of these processes have thus far largely neglected the important contribution of intrinsic mechanical forces. Because each of these processes is regulated, in part, by mechanosensation, the focus of the present work is to assess the role in T cell biology of a stretch-activated ion channel known to be highly expressed in T cells, Piezo1. We first generated and characterized a mouse model with a T cell specific deletion of Piezo1. This model afforded us the opportunity to assess the role of Piezo1 in vivo in all aspects of T cell biology leading us to demonstrate three insights. First, although Piezo1 decreased intrinsic T cell motility, Piezo1 is dispensable in naive T cell homing at steady state and during inflammation. Second, Piezo1 restrains T cell overresponse and upregulation of inhibitory molecules upon TCR activation but is not necessary for succes (open full item for complete abstract)

PHD, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Political Science

When Donald Trump was elected president in 2016 there was a lot of speculation about how that happened. One of the story lines that became prominent was one that described “rural resentment” that had been building over recent decades. The problem with that narrative was that all rural areas were collapsed as if they were uniformly moving strongly in a Republican direction. Acharya, Blackwell, and Sen (2023), on the other hand, have argued in their discussion of “historical persistence” that areas are more likely to remain the same, and that change is less likely to occur. Nevertheless, they suggest that areas that change and areas that stay the same both need to be studied in order to better understand what causes persistence as opposed to change. With that in mind, this case study focuses on four rural Ohio counties that changed from Democrat to Republican and four rural Wisconsin counties that have remained more consistently Democrat. Local public officials and community leaders were interviewed to discern the reasons as to why each type of county remained Democrat or moved into the Republican column. The four rural Wisconsin counties included two farming counties and two industrial counties. The same was true for the four rural Ohio counties. Institutions have played a large role in these eight counties in explaining whether a county stayed Democrat or moved into the Republican column. The Democratic counties in Wisconsin each have had vibrant cooperatives. Moreover, in the Wisconsin counties, unlike in the two heavily Catholic Ohio farming counties (where the abortion issue became paramount by the 1980s), the Lutheran church was more dominant, and abortion was less of an issue. The two industrial counties in Ohio remained Democrat as long as the unions were a major force; once the factories and mines closed, however, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Democratic vote began to dissipate. Not only that, but the emergence of fracking by 2014 in the two Ohio ind (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Helices are abundant and crucial examples of rigidity throughout biology from protein lever arms in molecular motors to collagen type II that assembles into fibrils in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The origin of the collagen fibril radial length scales is not fully understood but is hypothesized to be related to the flexibility of the protofibril and environmental effects. In this work, we systemically investigate both the elasticity of biomacromolecules and their surrounding elastic environments using simple polyacrylamide gels. We determine the persistence length (lp), a measure of elasticity, of model polypeptide single helices and collagen type II triple helices by using static and dynamic light scattering. Using circular dichroism, we observe that the model polypeptide transitions from a random coil to a helix with increasing pH, and lp increases from ~1 - 2 nm to ~20 nm. In addition, we crosslink the model polypeptide to utilize its increase in lp and produce hydrogels with stain stiffening behavior at low crosslink densities. In various pH and ionic strength environments, triple helical lp varies from 60 - 90 nm but has an intrinsic lp of 90 nm when backbone interactions are neutralized. We correlate the triple helical lp to the fibril diameter as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in various ionic strength solutions and determine that the values are of similar magnitude unless in high ionic strength solutions. We then investigate the environmental elasticity effects on self-assemblies of complex coacervates using light microscopy and collagen type II fibrils using cryogenic TEM. The volume of the complex coacervate droplets is inversely proportional to the modulus of the gel that the complex coacervates are formed in and have a non-monotonic salt resistance as a function of gel moduli. Collagen fibrils in 100 mM PBS solution are ~50 nm in diameter, and the fibril diameter drops to ~30 nm in gels across 63-8700 Pa moduli. Collagen's lp, s (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Food Science and Technology

Antibiotics are powerful tools to treat bacterial infections. However, the surge of antibiotic resistance (AR) is considered one of the top threats to food safety and global public health. Every year, close to 5 million deaths are associated with AR bacterial infections with around 1.27 million deaths directly attributed to AR bacterial infections worldwide. Besides the public health threat, around $60-100 trillion financial loss is expected by 2050 if no action is taken. AR commensals, while usually not directly causing death, can disseminate AR genes to pathogens, and thus indirectly negate effective therapy, making people vulnerable again. Thus, even the most common AR bacterial infections, like mid-ear infections and tooth extraction, may become life-threatening again. For decades, the overuse of antibiotics has been considered as the main cause of AR. Thus, limiting the use of antibiotics has been the primary control strategy worldwide. However, in reality, AR bacteria are still prevalent and persistent in human and animal hosts, as well as the environment even without antibiotic exposure. Humans and animals will get sick and inevitably need antibiotic treatment. AR is a complicated issue and there are multiple contributors to it. Besides the applications of antibiotics, it is now recognized that the rich gut microbiota residing in human and animal gastrointestinal tract system as a breeding ground have key roles in the AR ecology from evolution, dissemination, enrichment and persistence. Oral/nasal introduced AR bacteria proliferate and persist in the host gut. Gut-impacting (orally administered and biliary excreted) antibiotics further selectively enrich AR bacteria. The AR-rich human and animal feces have served as the most significant avenue impacting the AR gene pool in the ecosystem. Therefore, an improved understanding of AR persistent mechanisms and effective mitigation of the pre-existing, persistent AR bacteria in host GI tract system are essential fo (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Mathematics

Given a metric space $(X,d_X)$, the $n$-th curvature set is the set of $n$-by-$n$ distance matrices generated by a sample from $X$ with $n$ or less points. Similarly, the $(n,k)$ persistence set of $X$ is the set of $k$-dimensional persistence diagrams of all $n$-point samples from $X$. This dissertation has two major parts, each dedicated to persistence sets or curvature sets. A major obstacle that hampers the widespread use of topological techniques in data science is the sometimes prohibitive computational cost of persistent homology. Persistence sets aim to circumvent this limitation while retaining useful geometric and topological information from the input space. We study the experimental and theoretical properties of persistence sets, and compare them with the standard VR-persistent homology from the perspectives of computational efficiency and discriminative power, including in a practical shape classification task. We characterize several persistence sets of the circle, higher-dimensional spheres, surfaces with constant curvature, and a specific family of metric graphs, and show spaces that have different persistence sets but are indistinguishable by persistent homology. All in all, we believe that persistence sets can aid in data science tasks where the shape is important but the standard persistent homology algorithms are impractical. In the second part, we study the curvature sets $\Kn_n(\Sp^1)$ of the circle $\Sp^1$ as a topological space. We give several characterizations of $\Kn_n(\Sp^1)$ as quotients of tori under group actions, and use them to compute the homology of $\Kn_n(\Sp^1)$ with Mayer-Vietoris arguments. We construct an abstract simplicial complex $\St_n(\Sp^1)$ whose geometric realization is $\Kn_n(\Sp^1)$. Moreover, we give an embedding of $\St_n(\Sp^1)$ in $\R^{n \times n}$ and show that $\Kn_n(\Sp^1)$ is the union of the convex hulls of the faces this embedding. Lastly, inspired by the characterization of a persistence set of su (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Engineering Education

One important step that engineering students take during their engineering journey is selecting a discipline of engineering to major in or specialize in. Some programs have students make this choice before entering the university, while others admit students to Colleges of Engineering and then choose their major after they arrive. While both the student and engineering program play a role in the student finding and entering a major after university admittance, sometimes the processes that programs use to help students enter a major can act as a barrier or potential instance where students may not feel the belong in engineering if they are not able to enter the major they selected. My research aimed to better understand how a major application processes can affect student motivation to persist in engineering. I employed a mixed methods design to study the different aspects of a major application processes used in the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University. First, I explored quantitative data on how students navigate this major application process by examining which majors they were selecting, if they were likely to switch pre-majors, and how these decisions related to their sensitivity to rejection. Next, I explored quantitative data on which students were getting into their first-choice major and which were not, as well as how strongly students' grades predicted the outcome of their applications. Then, I used qualitative data from interviews with students that did not get into their first-choice major to examine what they believe affected the outcome and their next steps, as well as integrating their quantitative sensitivity to rejection to explore how their experiences may differ related to this measure. Through this research, I was able to investigate how students decided whether to reapply to their first-choice major, accept a different major, or leave engineering. My research helped to identify what support these students used when making thes (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2023, Educational Leadership

Black women in higher education are situated in a hegemonic, white, patriarchal context of academia. Despite staff and faculty attempts to support students utilizing foundational theories of student development, these efforts still reinforce controlling stereotypes of Black women and (re)subjugate them to a tumultuous existence in the academy as “others.” Student development theories traditionally have focused on the experiences of white students, and for the few that are focused on Black women, the attention has been on what their experiences consist of, not how they exist, resist, and persist in the academy. Consequently, student development theories fail to identify models and frameworks that simply support Black women's existence in academia. This study is a grounded in Womanism, Black Feminist Theory, misogynoir, and the theory of adultification. Specifically, utilizing portraiture methodology to explore the manifestation of Black women graduate student's formation of Grown Black Woman Voice, a framework which emphasizes Black women's development of voice, to ultimately construct their own existence in academia. Through a qualitative study with Black women graduate student participants, findings illuminate that voice is contextual and influenced by parents, community, and societal influences. Furthermore, the ways in which voice is expressed relies heavily on authentic expression. Implications from this research suggest a deeper need to unpack the development of voice beyond higher education such as the workplace and k-12 education. Ultimately, the voices of the participants emphasize the continued necessity to center the diversity in expression that Black women hold and engage, as they exist in the academy.

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2023, English: Composition and Rhetoric

This dissertation explores the impacts that first-year composition (FYC) courses can have on student retention. As one of the only courses that all students will take, coupled with its early placement in students' academic careers, FYC courses are uniquely positioned to be influential on students' early retention and persistence. In chapter one, I describe the situation and issues that academia faces regarding student retention, and I introduce the concept of high-impact teaching practices, connecting them to the field of composition. In chapter two, I explain the research processes I utilized to undertake my project, which included observation, ethnography, interviews, and questionnaires. Additionally, I introduce the institution that I conducted my research at, explaining the student demographics, the physical setting, and the instructors who I observed over the course of one academic semester. In chapters three and four, I explore the unique cases of two instructors whose FYC classes I observed for one semester: Julia Webb and Elise Smith. Over the course of this semester, I observed each class meeting that they conducted, and I interviewed them at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. I explain what their teaching philosophies and outlooks on teaching writing are and connect how they teach to the high-impact teaching practices I have previously introduced. In doing so, I draw conclusions on how effectively both instructors utilized these practices and how such teaching may have promoted student academic growth and retention. In chapter five, I describe the student populations of Julia and Elise's classes based on the observations I conducted and the questionnaires I distributed. I also describe what aspects of their instructors' teaching were most effective for these students from the students' perspectives. In chapter six, I conduct an in-depth discussion of the cases of two students, who I will refer to as Amy and Lynn. Both students consented to (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), Bowling Green State University, 2023, Criminal Justice

Many universities have been experiencing a decline in student enrollment, retention, and persistence. As a result, programs and initiatives such as learning communities have been used to entice students to enroll or stay enrolled in post-secondary education. Learning communities have been shown to provide positive impacts for students involved by building connectedness among students, easing the transition into post-secondary education, and increasing academic performance, thus increasing student persistence and retention. This study extends the current literature and examines how involvement in a learning community specific for criminal justice majors has the potential to lead to encouraging outcomes for its members. To assess this premise, data from two sources: (1) a survey administered to all criminal justice students in the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022 and (2) institutional data gathered in the spring of 2023 representing the fall 2021 and fall 2022 cohorts at a midwestern public university were used to determine the benefits of a learning community. Results from the survey data found that students involved in the criminal justice learning community are significantly more likely to feel connected to campus, faculty, and peers. Students who commute to campus were more likely to feel as if they do not belong and that the transition into post-secondary schooling was not the easiest. Findings from the institutional data indicated that prior college credit or semester GPA is a greater predictor of student persistence and retention than learning community involvement. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2023, Educational Administration

In the City of Chicago, a collaboration between the City Colleges, the Chicago Public Schools, the philanthropic community and the mayor's office has berthed a unique program called the Chicago Roadmap for Success (The Roadmap). The Roadmap aligns resources to ensure that more students have more access to college. One of the keystone features of the Roadmap is the Navigator program. This program is a mentoring program that is designed for high school juniors and seniors as they plan for their postsecondary lives. The Navigator program is run by the City Colleges of Chicago. It has a strong focus on students attending the City Colleges after high school, but Navigators can help students with any postsecondary pathway. This program evaluation study examined the Navigator program from both a quantitative and qualitative viewpoint. Surveys were completed by over 40 students. Interviews were conducted and included both students and Navigator mentors. The results showed a very strong connection between students who had a strong relationship with their Navigator and their matriculation to City Colleges. Additionally, the interviews showed that the mentoring program helped immensely with students understanding how to and wanting to matriculate to college. Interviews also showed an improved perception of both the City Colleges as well as going to college. This dissertation also includes an action plan. The action plan, which is based on the results of the study, calls for an expansion of the mentoring program to not only help mentors be in their schools more often, but also to target Black and Latino male students through specialized Navigator programming. Finally, there is a call to support the Navigators more strongly through better ties to City College resources and an increase in availability to students.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Biomedical Sciences

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first human retrovirus discovered, is estimated to have infected 5-10 million individuals worldwide, largely in the regions of Japan, Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. HTLV-1 infection is strongly linked to the development of two severe diseases, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Disease onset and progression occur in approximately 5-10% of cases, while most HTLV-1-infected individuals will remain asymptomatic. Although certain risk factors have been identified, such as viral load, age, gender, and family history, the specific molecular events that drive HTLV-1-mediated leukemogenesis or neurodegeneration in a small percentage of carriers remain unknown. ATL and HAM/TSP are frequently associated with dismal prognosis, and treatment options are limited; therefore, studies to understand HTLV-1 pathobiology are critical to identify new therapeutic targets and design effective medical interventions. A key feature of the HTLV-1 life cycle is the ability to integrate into host DNA to form a provirus and activate gene expression from identical elements that flank the proviral genome: the 5' and 3' LTRs. These elements mediate transcription of genes encoded on the proviral sense DNA strand and the complementary antisense strand, respectively. Two viral oncoproteins produced during infection, Tax and Hbz, are major contributors to dysregulation of cellular signaling, persistence of infected cells, and initiation of genetic changes that lead to disease development. Tax promotes viral gene expression by recruiting host transcription factors to the 5' LTR and upregulates the synthesis of new virus particles. In addition, complex interactions between Tax and cell signaling pathways initiate transcriptional reprogramming, uncontrolled cell growth, and transformation. However, Tax induces a strong immune response, and host mechanisms s (open full item for complete abstract)