VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Barker’s Hypothesis and the Selection Effect: The Repercussions of Fetal Malnutrition in the Context of the Great Chinese Famine in 1959-1961

The causal pathway linking prenatal and early childhood environments with health and economic outcomes in adulthood has been a question that has intrigued doctors, economists, and policymakers alike. In drawing upon the regional and temporal variation in the intensity of the Great Chinese Famine in 1959-1961—the largest famine known to-date, I find that prenatal exposure to the famine results in a negative impact for both men and women. Specifically, women were found to have a higher likelihood to be diagnosed with diabetes, whereas men were found to have a lower likelihood to be presently working. Furthermore, these results are reinforced with additional specifications. These findings demonstrate that the impacts of the famine have considerable ramifications on the health and wellbeing of those affected more than 40 years later, and strengthen support for the importance of programs that reduce nutritional during the period of gestation and early childhood years.

Keywords:  Department of Economics
Stanford Department of Economics
China
famine
health
Barker’s hypothesis
gender
Thesis
Advisor: Bhattacharya Jay
Eggleston Karen
Being present [electronic resource] : expanding consumers' perceptions of time through momentary temporal focus

One of the most striking features of our modern society is the high degree to which time is valued: For many Americans, time has become the most precious consumer commodity and the ultimate scarcity. Indeed, prior research has documented that those who consume, work, and live in our society are feeling increasingly starved for time and that this sense of time famine can take a toll on health and well-being. So, how can we combat this time shortage? Approaching this problem from a psychological perspective, this dissertation illustrates that altering people's perceptions of their temporal resources may be one possible remedy for these feeling of time starvation. Although increasing the objective amount of time that people possess has inherent limitations (there are, after all, only 24 hours in a day), this dissertation provides evidence that this time shortage problem has an important perceptual component and that it is possible to meaningfully expand people's subjective sense of time availability. Across a series of laboratory experiments, this dissertation reveals that one's momentary temporal focus (i.e., the extent to which one is currently focused on the past, the present, and the future) influences perceptions of time: A stronger focus on the present expands people's ensuing perceptions of current time availability, making them feel more time affluent or "rich" in time. Exploring this time expansion effect across diverse dependent variables and various methods of construct activation (including direct cognitive means [e.g., priming tasks and deep thinking exercises], indirect behavioral means [e.g., slow controlled breathing], and indirect emotional means [e.g., the experience of awe]), this work also demonstrates the robustness of the effect, identifies a specific instance when the effect does not occur, reveals the mechanisms underlying the effect, and provides a variety of insights into the psychology of time. Moreover, the results of these experiments also demonstrate that this perceptual expansion of time alters people's decision making, preferences, cognitive abilities, behavioral tendencies, and psychological well-being. Thus, this dissertation underscores that shifting people's perceptions of time availability can have significant downstream consequences for both consumers and managers.

Keywords: Business.
Advisor: Aaker Jennifer Lynn primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Shiv Baba
Vohs Kathleen D. advisor. Thesis advisor
Beyond "limited English proficiency" [electronic resource] : reading, bilingualism, and long-term English learners

This dissertation, a multiple case study of five long-term English learners (LTELs), problematizes the prevalent interpretation that their low standardized reading test scores are evidence of their "limited English proficiency." Rather than relying on this predominant assumption, I spent a year examining five high school LTELs' reading practices in biology and English language arts through ethnographic observations, interviews, think-alouds, and the collection of selected documents. Both my data collection and the subsequent analysis were informed by a conceptualization of reading as a social practice. This perspective recognizes reading, as measured on standardized tests, as a cultural product that reflects particular sociocultural ways of making meaning with texts. The analysis, which relied primarily on iterative coding and analytic memoing, led to a multifaceted representation of the five focal students' reading practices. The findings indicate that the focal students were inexperienced with the kinds of reading tasks that they encountered on standardized assessments of reading. In particular, they were unaccustomed to autonomous and silent reading of disciplinary texts. Moreover, students' beliefs about reading reflected what previous research has described as "more passive" ideas about comprehension. Nevertheless, during think-alouds, students demonstrated the ability to engage in comprehension strategies that are prized by the research literature. In summary, these findings suggest that the interpretive focus on English proficiency obscures the students' English-speaking identities and ignores multiple factors beyond language proficiency that influence the way they construct meaning with texts. Specifically, the results suggest that the five focal students' difficulties with reading are not unique to ELs and highlight the importance of their in-school experiences with reading. The implications of this research are integral to research, policy, and practice that seek to create more appropriate instructional environments for LTELs.

Keywords: Education.
Advisor: Valdés Guadalupe primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Alim Hesham advisor. Thesis advisor
Lunsford Andrea A.
Smagorinsky Peter advisor. Thesis advisor
"Big think" or "bottom-up"? [electronic resource] : how private philanthropic foundations seek to influence public education policy

Private philanthropic foundations are perennially controversial actors within public policy contexts, and their influence within U.S. education policy has increased over the last several decades, yet their actions in the public sphere have received limited empirical and theoretical attention. This dissertation presents a cross-case comparative analysis of four influential foundations active in the field of K-12 public education. I determine that these foundations have fundamentally different values regarding their roles as policy actors. These contrasting values represent two distinct modes of engagement, which I describe as economic and political approaches. I also find that four distinct organizational norms influence whether foundations predominantly align with an economic or political approach. These norms include the foundations' loci of control, problem orientation, preferred policy actors, and expectations regarding results. I use these empirical findings to explore key questions regarding the influence of foundations as private actors within public education.

Keywords: Education.
Advisor: Ramirez Francisco O. primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Reich Rob primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Powell Walter W. advisor. Thesis advisor
Sievers Bruce R.
Biological fluorescence imaging on the nanoscale [electronic resource] : STED super-resolution microscopy of cells and tissues

A majority of biological microscopy investigations involve the focusing of visible light with conventional lenses. Fluorescence microscopy is one of the most widely used tools in biology but its resolution has historically suffered from the diffraction limit to about 200 nm laterally and 800 nm axially. In the past decade, this resolution problem has been overcome by the rapidly emerging field of super-resolution microscopy. The first demonstrated super-resolution technique, STimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy, is the topic of this Dissertation. This Dissertation has two primary areas of focus: the design optimization of a STED microscope, covered in Chapters 2-4, and its application to super-resolution imaging in cells and tissues, covered in Chapters 4-6. Chapter 2 describes the STED apparatus and experimental methods used. This chapter covers the guiding principles behind the design of a STED microscope, which forms a basis for understanding the logic underlying the homebuilt STED microscope which was constructed for this research. This STED microscope has a typical resolution of approximately 60 nm (full-width-at-half-maximum) or 25 nm (sigma) and has the sensitivity to image single fluorophores. In Chapter 3, a framework for evaluating and optimizing STED performance in the presence of several key tradeoffs is presented. Chapter 4 describes both developments in STED Microscopy required to utilize far-red-emitting dyes and the challenges associated with performing super-resolution imaging in intact Drosophila tissue. In Chapter 5, the optimization of labeling density revealed the 9-fold symmetry of a centriole protein structure, an important organelle in cell development. In Chapter 6, Huntingtin protein aggregates are resolved beyond the diffraction limit in a cell model of the neurodegenerative Huntington's disease.

Keywords: Chemistry.
Advisor: Moerner W. E. (William Esco)
Fayer Michael D. advisor. Thesis advisor
Zare Richard N. advisor. Thesis advisor
Biophysical analysis of bacterial and viral systems [electronic resource] : a shock tube study of bio-aerosols and a correlated AFM/NanoSIMS investigation of vaccinia virus

The work presented herein is concerned with the development of biophysical methodology designed to address pertinent questions regarding the behavior and structure of select pathogenic agents. Two distinct studies are documented: a shock tube analysis of endospore-laden bio-aerosols and a correlated AFM/NanoSIMS study of the structure of vaccinia virus. An experimental method was formulated to analyze the biological and morphological response of endospores to gas dynamic shock waves. A novel laser diagnostic system was implemented to provide time resolved data concerning the structural decomposition of endospores in shock-heated flows. In addition, an ex situ methodology combining viability analysis, flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy was employed to both assess the biological response of the endospore to the shock event, as well as to provide complementary data regarding the structural state of the treated endospore. This methodology was implemented to model the shock wave induced response of a variety of Bacillus endospores. The results are subsequently synthesized into a theoretical framework to be employed in modeling the interaction of endospore-laden bio-aerosols with blast waves. An analytical method combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanometer-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was developed to examine the spatial localization and depth distribution of specific biological elements in viral systems. This methodology was implemented to analyze the distribution of 13C labeled fatty acids as well as 15N labeled thymidine in individual nanometer sized vaccinia viral particles. Based upon the 13C and 15N signals, three-dimensional depth-resolved data regarding the architecture and localization of the virion lipid membrane and the nucleoprotein complex was generated. In addition, this methodology was employed to provide direct correlation of architectural and chemical data for isolated sub-viral structures. The technique and results presented herein represent a novel tool for the structural and chemical study of both intact viral particles as well as specifically targeted sub-viral elements.

Keywords: Mechanical Engineering.
Advisor: Hanson Ronald primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Kuhl Ellen
Malkin A. J. (Alexander J.) advisor. Thesis advisor
"Blessed is he who says and does" [electronic resource] : gender, law, and Jewish communal identity

This dissertation explores the ways in which contemporary Jewish law defines women's place in the Jewish community. I carry out a close reading of recent responsa on women and public prayer, women and ritual objects, and women in the rabbinate that utilizes Ronald Dworkin's theory of law as integrity, Catherine Bell's understanding of ritual, and Pierre Bourdieu's conception of the habitus. I identify several main themes in the current halakhic attitude toward women. Women occupy an ambiguous space in this rhetoric: they are Jews, but if Jews are also defined as those obligated in all the commandments, then women are in some important sense outsiders to the 'real' Jewish community. The decisors struggle with this issue, and with the legitimacy of women's requests for greater Jewish participation. Some seek to maintain the status quo in the name of fidelity to tradition, while others ultimately grant women a limited set of new rights as exceptional individuals rather than as a group.

Keywords: Religious Studies.
Advisor: Fonrobert Charlotte Elisheva primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Magid Shaul
Weitzman Steven
Zipperstein Steven J.
Bonding and structures of light element energy systems under extreme conditions [electronic resource]

This dissertation focuses on investigating the effect of pressure on the structure and bonding of three types of light-element energy systems using a suite of synchrotron x-ray characterization probes including diffraction, spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Ammonia borane (AB), which contains a remarkably high hydrogen content, shows rich structural and dihydrogen bonding variations upon compression. More strikingly, AB is found to be capable of storing a significant amount of extra hydrogen molecules in addition to the hydrogen chemically stored in itself, which makes this novel AB-H2 compound one of the most hydrogen rich materials currently known. LiMn2O4, a promising cathode material for Li-ion batteries, is found to be extremely sensitive to deviatoric stress which triggers a cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition. Such a transition during the battery working environment is detrimental to both the performance and lifetime. However, the nanostructured material can accommodate more stress and strain compared to its bulk counterpart. Glassy carbon, which has very low density and 100% sp2 bonding at ambient conditions, undergoes a transition to amorphous diamond at high pressure. This new carbon allotrope possesses an amorphous structure with 100% sp3 bonds and exceptional hardness. The property of superhardness, if turns out to be isotropic, can be advantageous relative to crystalline diamond for which the hardness is highly anisotropic. The findings could lead to new classes of ultradense and strong materials that can serve as energy-efficient components such as wear resistant parts for all kinds of transportation.

Keywords: Geological and Environmental Sciences.
Advisor: Mao Wendy (Wendy Li-wen) primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Brown G. E. (Gordon E.)
Stebbins Jonathan Farwell advisor. Thesis advisor
The borders of culture [electronic resource] : public diplomacy in United States-Mexico relations, 1920-1945

"The Borders of Culture" is a comprehensive study of U.S. government-sponsored transnational cultural programs to focus on the U.S. and Latin America. After the end of the military phase of the Mexican Revolution in 1920, the Department of State established a variety of initiatives--celebrity tours, libraries, cultural centers, film, and radio campaigns--to give Mexican citizens first-hand knowledge of the U.S. These projects aimed to promote the U.S.'s vision of modernization for the Americas and to temper the perceived radicalism and violence of the revolution. As U.S. fears of extremism increased during the 1920s and 1930s, transnational cultural and educational programs became well-funded and permanent tools of U.S. statecraft. These new institutions and campaigns formed a crucial part of the Good Neighbor Policy, allowing the U.S. to influence the development of the Mexican state without resorting to military intervention. Cultural and educational programs became the main vector of power through which the U.S. attempted to transform Mexico into a better neighbor by shaping the information available to Mexican citizens, influencing educational reforms, and encouraging Mexicans to reproduce a U.S. middle-class lifestyle.

Keywords: History.
Advisor: Bernstein Barton J. primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Frank Zephyr L.
Kennedy David advisor. Thesis advisor
A bound on wireless power transfer to subwavelength devices in the body [electronic resource]

Wireless power transfer to medical devices in the body is desirable for removal of bulky energy storage components. Most existing power transfer systems are concep- tually based on coils linked by slowly varying magnetic fields (less than 10 MHz). These systems have many important capabilities, but they are poorly suited for tiny, millimeter-scale devices where extreme asymmetry between the source and the re- ceiver results in weak coupling. In general, system parameters such as operating frequency and the structure of source that optimizes efficiency should be determined based on the receiver structure and position, as well as the tissue property of the body. Although many researchers attempt to optimize the system through numerical electromagnetic simulations and experiments of specific source structures and operating frequencies, it remains unknown which design parameters yield the highest global efficiency. This dissertation instead analytically solves the problem. With a proper modeling of tissue, we prove that for a given receiver structure and position, there exists an upper bound on power transfer efficiency and a solution for the current distribution that achieves this bound. The bound on efficiency and the optimal current distribution are evaluated for various medical applications -- a cardiovascular device to sense and stimulate heart signals, a wireless endoscope in the small intestine, and a neurostimulator in the brain to record neural activity. Reminiscent of Shannon's channel capacity in information theory, this theory predicts that there is significant room for improvement in existing power transfer systems and facilitates the design of structures to approach this optimal bound. The design procedure of the wireless power delivery system for a given receive structure in the body is demonstrated. The theory is verified with both numerical simulation and experimental results.

Keywords: Electrical Engineering.
Advisor: Poon Ada Shuk Yan
Meng Teresa H. advisor. Thesis advisor
Miller D. A. B. advisor. Thesis advisor
A bridge to text [electronic resource] : an exploratory study of film as a scaffold for reading comprehension

Historical feature films are regularly nominated for Oscars, grossing billions of dollars in revenue, and are consumed by the public more frequently than history books (Rosenzweig & Thelen, 1998). Film is also popular among history teachers and has become a ubiquitous part of the classroom. Teachers tend to use films to get students excited about a topic or present them with background knowledge (Stoddard & Marcus, 2005). But too often these rich interpretations of the past go unquestioned, unanalyzed, and unconnected to the disciplinary ends of history. This study informs educators' efforts to integrate film into the classroom. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of film on struggling readers' ability to comprehend historical primary sources. In this study, students read two letters written by a black Civil War soldier and responded to questions about each letter to measure their comprehension. Prior to reading each letter, participants were given either a film scene or a textbook equivalent with relevant background information. After reading each letter, participants responded to a series of questions designed to measure their comprehension. This study asked the following questions: 1. Can viewing a film scene help struggling readers to comprehend the literal meaning of the text; and/or make inferences related to and which go beyond the text? 2. How does the content and characteristics of a scene influence struggling readers' comprehension of a related primary source? 3. How do adolescence make sense of historical feature films? What do they understand and misunderstand? What parts of a scene resonate with young people? Participants' responses to the questions were evaluated. No significant differences were found between the film and textbook conditions. However, there were intriguing differences in the patterns of response that give rise to a variety of hypothesis about the influence of film on literacy and historical understanding. Additionally, participant comments revealed patterns of interaction with film that were not anticipated prior to this study. This study offers no conclusive evidence for the benefits of film on reading comprehension. If anything, it provides insight into how film can both help and thwart comprehension. This study offers a framework for teachers and researchers to evaluate the potential negative and positive influence that background information has on comprehension. Finally, this study hopes to lay the foundation for pedagogical practices that support teachers' discerning use of film in the history classroom and beyond.

Keywords: Education.
Advisor: Wineburg Samuel S. primary advisor. Thesis advisor
Brown Bryan Anthony advisor. Thesis advisor
Grossman Pamela L. (Pamela Lynn)
Building a synapse [electronic resource] : from extracellular cues to intracellular proteins

Nervous system function, from sensory perception to motor control, requires precisely patterned networks of synaptic connections. Each synapse is the fundamental unit of connection and proper establishment of this complex structure is essential for cognitive processes. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms and characterizing the proteins important for the development and structural organization of a synapse is fundamental to our understanding of the brain. Using C. elegans, I have explored the process of presynaptic development for my thesis work. I demonstrate that specification and initiation of synapse formation by clustering of SYG-1/Neph and SYG-2/Nephrin, two immunoglobulin superfamily transmembrane proteins, is dependent on their cell adhesion strength and interaction topology during development. Once this extracellular instructive cue is established at nascent synapses, an Arp2/3 dependent actin cytoskeleton is built locally that is dependent on the WVE-1/WAVE regulatory complex (WRC). This is mediated by interaction between a WRC interacting receptor sequence (WIRS) motif on the intracellular tail of SYG-1, which recruits the WRC. Next, an adaptor protein NAB-1/Neurabin binds to F-actin and recruits active zone proteins, SYD-1 and SYD-2/Liprin-[alpha] by forming a tripartite complex. SYD-2/Liprin-[alpha] is a key scaffold protein that interacts with multiple active zone components including UNC-10/Rim, ERC/ELKS-1, and GIT to form the synaptic active zone. SYD-2/Liprin-[alpha]'s pro-synaptogenic function can be regulated by interaction between its N-terminal coiled-coil domains and C-terminal sterile alpha motif (SAM) domains. Taken together, this insight into how synapses assemble in a simpler organism may lead to better understanding of development and function of the mammalian brain and its dysfunction in disease.

Advisor: Shen Kang
Barres Ben
Clandinin Thomas R. (Thomas Robert)
Südhof Thomas C. advisor. Thesis advisor