VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Intercultural Translation in Higher Education A Case Study at the Maya Intercultural University of Quintana Roo

Intercultural translation is a salient feature of communicative interactions in multilingual institutional spaces. The dissertation draws on a concept of intercultural translation that functions as a linguistically radical strategy through which other ways of knowing and being are introduced, with particular emphasis on institutions, multilingualism, and Native languages. The dissertation presents an appraisal of instances of intercultural translation whereby different processes of cross-language interaction and interpretation take place, and through which incommensurable forms are juxtaposed. The juxtaposition resulting from these practices highlights equivalence assumptions and draws attention to what remains equivocal—mainly, how intercultural translation interrogates equivalences and acknowledges equivocation as a transformative source. Viveiros de Castro (2004) introduced the concept of equivocation to include the sorts of conceptual relations that emerge in translation offering different perspectival positions. One goal is to recognize that understandings are not the same and that mutual incommensurability is what enables comparability through a difference in perspectives./nBased on a one-year ethnographic study at an intercultural university in Mexico the dissertation presents three examples of how intercultural translation works as a means and end of language socialization in classroom interactions. Examples demonstrate how lecturers and students engage in intercultural translation as a pedagogical practice. Findings show how the study of intercultural translation informs research practice, specifically, how we come to know other ways of doing, knowing, and being in multilingual contexts. The dissertation describes the modes in which indigenous actors used intercultural translation to modify Mexico’s institutional tutoring program in higher education. It focuses on the selective appropriation of words and meanings, the standardization of concepts, and the configuring of an intercultural frame of reference, whereby members of an intercultural Mexican university introduced the Yucatec Maya word iknal as a hybrid educational system. In sum, the disseratation posits intercultural translation as a critical communicative practice ubiquitous to the dynamics of language in socio-cultural spaces.

Advisor: Baquedano-López, Patricia
Probing the Acyl Carrier Protein-Enzyme Interactions within Terminal Alkyne Biosynthetic Machinery

The alkyne functionality has attracted much interest due to its diverse chemical and biological applications. However, the underdeveloped alkyne biosynthetic toolbox severely limits the applications of this functionality in drug discovery and chemical biology. De novo biosynthesis is a recently developing and one of the most promising strategies for installing the terminal alkyne functionality into various molecular scaffolds, including diverse bioactive natural products, through the in situ generation and incorporation of the terminal alkyne functionality. We recently elucidated an acyl carrier protein (ACP)-dependent alkyne biosynthetic pathway comprised of JamABC from Moorea producens JHB that produces a terminal alkyne-tagged polyketide using hexanoic acid as a starting substrate for terminal alkyne generation. However, little is known about ACP interactions with the other alkyne biosynthetic enzymes in the JamABC pathway, including an acyl-ACP ligase (JamA) and a membrane-bound bi-functional desaturase/acetylenase (JamB). In this study, we demonstrated that JamB has a more stringent interaction with ACPs than JamA and subsequently pursued two different strategies to pinpoint key protein-protein interactions between JamB and several non-cognate ACPs. We first employed rational engineering of a non-cognate ACP (TtuC from Teredinibacter turnerae T7901) through site-directed mutagenesis, which significantly improved its compatibility with JamB and suggested a possible electrostatic interaction at the ACP-JamB interface. We also utilized an error-prone PCR and screening protocol towards a second non-cognate ACP (PeACP from Pseudomonas entomophila L48) to identify two hot spots on that ACP that are important for interacting with JamB and yielded mutants which were better recognized by JamB than the wild-type ACP. This study thus not only provides insights into the ACP interactions in alkyne biosynthesis, but it also potentially aids in future combinatorial biosynthesis of alkyne-tagged metabolites for chemical and biological applications.

Advisor: Zhang, Wenjun
Synthesis and Characterization of Colloidal Quantum Dot Ensembles with Near-Unity Photoluminescent Quantum Yields

Colloidal quantum dots are semiconductors with dimensions on the nanoscale and they have remarkable size-tunable optical properties. Colloidal quantum dots have the potential to combine the scalable synthesis and processing conditions of molecular luminophore dyes with the high photoluminescence quantum yield and broad absorption of highly optimized bulk semiconductors. Quantum dots have been used in several optoelectronic applications, including light-emitting diodes and display technologies, in which the performance of the luminophore critically determines the overall efficiency. In addition, there are on-going efforts to develop luminescent concentrators and other optical cavity-based applications that are theorized to experience divergent efficiencies as the quantum yield of the luminophore approaches nearer to unity. While the performance of colloidal quantum dots has continued to improve over the years, there is a tremendous opportunity to optimize the performance of materials operating at near-unity efficiencies. To improve the performance of these materials, strategies must be developed and employed to robustly mitigate the optoelectronic consequences of optical defect states./nThis dissertation presents efforts to synthesize, optimize, and characterize high quantum yield colloidal quantum dots. An emerging class of nanoscale luminophores are the cesium lead halide (CsPbX3; X = Cl, Br, I) nanoparticles due to an impressive combination of optical properties and tolerance to material defects. By understanding the underlying mechanism and kinetics of anion exchange reactions, high quality CsPbX3 nanocrystals of any halide composition and visible photoluminescence band gap can be reliably accessed, these ideas are developed in Chapter 2. However, the optical efficiencies of the CsPbX3 nanocrystals are still hindered by non-radiative losses from optical defect states. Post-synthetic selective chemical etching can eliminate the presence of shallow electron traps from the surface of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals and improve the optical performance of these materials to near-unity. The selective chemical etching of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals and the mechanistic understanding of the etching reaction are developed and presented in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, the optimization of synthetic protocols to robustly access near-unity quantum yield CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots is presented. Additionally, the optical characterization of the CdSe/CdS quantum dots and development of a quantum yield measurement with two orders of magnitude less uncertainty than traditional techniques are presented in Chapter 4. These investigations lay the ground work for further optimization of near-lossless materials and development of applications that employ photons as a working fluid.

Advisor: Alivisatos, Armand P.
A Spin TQFT Related to the Ising Categories

Most interesting 3d Topological Quantum Field Theories (TQFTs) are constructed by starting with algebraic data, usually in the form of some kind of category. This category typically comes from an area of mathematics different from 3-manifold topology, and its topological nature can be hard to understand. This dissertation reverses the process, at least in one simple example, by constructing a Spin TQFT from pure topology and then uncovering some interesting categories./nThe topology used to construct the Spin TQFT is entirely classical. If $(M, s)$ is a closed Spin 3-manifold, then an embedded surface $\Sigma\subset M$ inherits a $\Pin^-$ structure, $s|_{\Sigma}$, from $(M, s)$. If $\Sigma$ and $\Sigma'$ represent the same class in $H_2(M;\bbZ/2)$, then $s|_{\Sigma}$ and $s|_{\Sigma'}$ are isomorphic. If $t$ is a $\Pin^-$ structure on $\Sigma$, there is a classical invariant of the isomorphism type of $(\Sigma, t)$, denoted $\beta(\Sigma, t)$, that is an eight root of unity. One can therefore form the Spin 3-manifold invariant/n\[/nZ_3(M, s) := \frac{1}{2^{b_0(M)}} \sum_{[\Sigma]\in H_2(M;\bbZ/2)} \beta(\Sigma, s|_{\Sigma})./n\]/nIt turns out that this invariant fits into a Spin TQFT. The detailed construction of this TQFT is the subject of this dissertation./nBy a theorem of Kirby and Melvin, $Z_3$ is very much related to the Ising categories. In extending the TQFT for $Z_3$, one encounters a category (associated with the bounding Spin circle) which has most of the same properties as the Ising categories. One also encounters a category (associated with the interval) from which $Z_3$ can be reconstructed in the style of Turaev-Viro and Barrett-Westbury. Because $Z_3$ is a Spin TQFT, these categories are linear over super vector spaces. In fact, they are realized as the module categories of certain explicit super algebras.

Advisor: Agol, Ian
Surveying Personality with Behavior: The Situational Influences and Individual Outcomes of Self-Monitoring Behavior

Through decades of research, scholars have illustrated the complexity of the relationship between unobservable personalities and observable behaviors. Yet, despite this complexity, the predominant empirical method of assessing personality remains the psychometric scale. In this dissertation, I extend past research on behavioral measures of personality by proposing a novel approach using natural language, and highlight at least three key ways it helps advance our understanding of personality and behavior. First, assessing personality from behavior directly bypasses potential cognitive and perceptual biases involved in the self- and peer-report of scales, allowing for a more objective account. Second, it uncovers temporal and situational variance largely obscured by scales, which capture mean tendencies and more stable, individual differences. Third, it has greater potential to shed light on the processes underlying documented correlations between personality and distal outcomes./nIn Chapter 1, I review the personality and behavior literature and draw out two major conclusions, describing how they have led to three different methods of personality assessment. I discuss the limitations of these methods, explain how my approach overcomes these limitations, and introduce the personality construct of self-monitoring through which I illustrate my approach. In Chapter 2, I detail the construction of a behavioral measure of self-monitoring. I explain how characteristics of the technical apparatus map on to the general theory of self-monitoring, outline the design decisions I made in constructing the measure, and provide comparisons with the survey measure as well as robustness checks. In Chapter 3, I conclude with an empirical analysis of the measure, demonstrating that it is responsive to situations as expected. I additionally demonstrate its utility in its association with consequential individual outcomes such as salary bonus and network constraint.

Advisor: Srivastava, Sameer B
A Logical Theory of Confirmation

This dissertation concerns the interpretation and structure of two intuitive notions: rational credence and confirmation. Probabilistic accounts of rational credence currently enjoy a position of considerable prestige, underwriting significant work not only in philosophy but also in economics and statistics. Confirmation, in contrast, is widely regarded as ill-formed, a misleading misconception akin to phlogiston, witches, or cosmic ether (de Finetti x). The primary project of this dissertation is to undercut the contemporary consensus on both notions by first demonstrating a systemic weakness in probabilistic accounts of rational credence (part I) and then providing a non-probabilistic account of confirmation (part II). Since any adequate account of confirmation is prima facie an adequate account of rational credence, the negative work of part one dovetails with the positive account offered in part two. Confirmation is no misleading misconception, and rational credences are not probability functions.

Advisor: Buchak, Lara
Local Probe Analysis of the Structural, Electronic, and Optical Properties of Nanomaterials

This dissertation is divided into two segments. The first segment focuses on the structural and electronic characterization of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS). The second segment focuses on the investigation of unique optical behavior in 1D-2D heterosystems using scattering-scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM)./nBottom-up synthesis from molecular precursors provides a useful methodology for designing and fabricating interesting nanomaterials. The first part describes application of bottom-up synthesis techniques to fabricate 1D nanostructures (graphene nanoribbons (GNRs)) and 2D networks (covalent organic frameworks (COF)). Following the synthesis, the structural and electronic properties of these nanomaterials were studied using STM and STS. In this dissertation, two specific GNR projects are discussed that provide in-detail investigation of the manipulation of the electronic properties of GNRs through the site-specific introduction of dopant atoms. The first project describes the detailed study of boron-doped N=7 AGNRs, where the AGNRs are substitutionally doped with boron atoms in their backbone. The second project focuses on the study of sulfur-doped N=13 GNRs, where the sulfur atoms substitutionally dope the edges of the GNRs. This dissertation also describes two COF projects that demonstrate the strong dependence of the electronic structure of single-layer COFs on the chemical bond arrangement within the covalent network. Specifically, the synthesis and characterization of two different porphyrin-based single-layer 2D COFs that exhibit symmetric (COF-366-OMe) and asymmetric (COF-420) bonding environments are studied./nThe second part of the thesis describes investigation of the coupling between 1D plasmon polaritons in silver nanowires with 2D phonon polaritons of the silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. The silver nanowire-SiC hybrid structure was investigated using near-field infrared spectroscopy. A significant change in the 1D plasmon dispersion by the 2D phonon polaritons in SiC was observed upon approaching the SiC phonon polariton energies.

Advisor: Crommie, Michael F
Design and Evaluation of a Back Support Exoskeleton for Reducing the Risk for Back Injuries

This thesis describes the design and development of a novel back-support exoskeleton for reducing the risk for back injury. As work tasks requiring repetitive, consistent movements become increasingly automated, the role of the human worker will shift from repetitious labor to specialized tasks. The exoskeleton discussed here is a passive, purely mechanical device that is lighter, cheaper to manufacture, and more intelligent than other current state-of-the-art passive exoskeletons, able to differentiate between walking and bending, and being able to automatically adjust sizing in response to its user’s body type./nA torque generator is selected and modified to provide a torque profile suitable for worker use. Based on feedback, a modification is added to enable the operator to toggle between standard, 30 degree engagement to support lifting, and instant engagement mode (IEM) to support postures where the operator’s torso may be upright, but manipulation of a load far from the body places a large moment load on the lumbar spine musculature. To transfer torque from the torque generator into a force that supports the weight of the upper body, a back-frame is designed. A posterior mounted frame is designed and dynamically adjusts in response to the operator’s body type and significantly reduces donning and doffing time. Additionally, four more degrees of hip abduction/adduction on the exoskeleton frame enable operators to perform a wider array of complex maneuvers that are difficult to current exoskeletons such as deep squats and high steps. Additionally, the exoskeleton is designed to be compatible with other exoskeletons for augmenting different parts of the body such as the leg or the shoulder muscles./nLastly, an ergonomic study to evaluate the effects of wearing a back support exoskeleton on muscle fatigue are presented. The results of this study indicate that wearing a back-support exoskeleton during a lifting task reduces median and peak muscular activation of the erector spinae. Additionally, in doing a set of fixed tasks during a work session with the exoskeleton, the subjects wearing the exoskeleton were able to last 42% longer, in any secondary task, than the unassisted condition. This is corroborated by subjective rated perceived exertion, where subjects significantly rated the work session as less fatiguing when wearing backX. No changes in oxygen consumption were observed.

Advisor: Kazerooni, Homayoon
Essays on the Expression and Measurement of Consumer Preferences

I present three papers that each investigate an aspect of consumer preferences. In the first paper, I document preference reversals between willingness-to-pay and choice, and find that consumers are more likely to pay more for utilitarian goods but choose hedonic goods. I show that this is due, in part, to the greater level of deliberation inherent in generating willingness-to-pay values. In the second paper, I investigate how different features of choice design can lead consumers to select greater variety. I show that consumers choose variety in relation to the number of pathways to variety available to them. Finally, in the third paper, I show that consumers allow anticipated feelings of guilt about spending money to affect their preferences. I show that consumers have standards about how they believe they ought to spend money, I develop a scale to measure anticipated spending guilt, and I validate this scale by using it to predict purchase intentions above and beyond product liking.

Advisor: Evers, Ellen R
Risk and Protective Factors Facing Refugees in Jordan

The refugee and displacement problem is one of the most complicated humanitarian issues facing the Middle East, and perhaps the world. The UN Refugee Agency reports that there are 65.3 million people seeking protection and assistance as a consequence of forced displacement. Globally, over 40 million people are displaced within their own country, 21 million are refugees with 5.2 million of those listed as Palestinian refugees registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and the remaining 3.2 million are asylum seekers. A vast proportion of these individuals and families come from or find refuge in the Middle East./nThis dissertation seeks to find out how the reproductive, maternal, and child health of refugees in Jordan compare to Jordanian nationals. Additionally, what possible risk factors or protective factors do refugees in these camps encounter? And then what void can donors fill? And what should be donors top priority among these factors? Refugees are separated from critical social institutions that provide health, education, security and economic opportunity. Support organizations ability to replace these social institutions depends on the complexity of the institution, resources available, and characteristics of the refugees. I will compare refugee characteristics to assess effectiveness of support communities. I will include characteristics of refugees so see how important these are. Results will help scholars, policy makers and governments understand which social institutions are or are not being replaced, and I will discuss possible reasons for this./nThis research uses the 2012 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from Jordan and the 2012 DHS survey from Haiti. Findings across all three articles suggest that there is an ambivalence of refugee camp membership that is consistent- camp membership provides a health security and a social liability. In all instances involved in this research, the camps are able to provide provisional resources on par with or better than the host country while simultaneously making the refugees vulnerable to abuses and other social hardships. These findings suggest an agenda focused on social integration for aid organizations going further.

Advisor: Johnson-Hanks, Jennifer
Expanding Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing in Scale and Dimension

Multicellular organisms rely on diverse cell types to carry out the multitude of tasks necessary/nfor complex life. Understanding the interplay between cell populations within a tissue/nor organism is a major goal of biological and medical research. In pursuit of this aim, recent/nadvances in micro/nuidics and molecular biology have propelled single-cell RNA-sequencing/n(scRNA-seq) to the forefront of cell population analysis. Routine scRNA-seq experiments/ncan prole tens of thousands of genes from tens of thousands of cells in parallel, oering a/nplatform ripe for technological development, a sandbox in which a clever molecular biologist/nmay develop more varied experiments at unprecedented scale and depth. Accordingly, we/nhave made signicant inroads toward the goals of simultaneous RNA/epitope quantication/nand ultra-low-cost library preparation, and we have expanded the capacity of scRNA-seq/nwith a novel sample multiplexing method. We demonstrate the power of parallel cell population/nanalysis with a high-resolution screen of experimental perturbations, introducing a/nnew paradigm in which scRNA-seq is used to understand a cell population at multiple scales/nwith unprecedented depth of information.

Advisor: Pachter, Lior S