cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-387080
title: Variance risk in stock returns and asset pricing implications

description: In general, investors are recognized to be risk averse. Investors favor higher expected returns but dislike variance. In an inter-temporal setting, investors may also dislike variance changing since it may reduce their investment opportunity set. In my dissertation, I study how variance risk is priced in the aggregate market and in individual stock returns. ❧ The second chapter of the dissertation introduces a new out-of-sample forecasting methodology for asset returns using the variance risk premium (VRP). While Bollerslev, Tauchen, and Zhou (2009) demonstrate that the VRP predicts market returns up to six months, I show that the out-of-sample performance is comparably weak. In contrast, my new approach produces an out-of-sample forecast that is both highly statistically and economically significant. Specifically, I find a monthly out-of-sample R-squared of 8% and a trading strategy that produces a 0.1 gain in the annual Sharpe ratio. This new approach is motivated by the ‘beta representation,’ which implies that the market risk premium is related to the price of variance risk by the exposure to variance risk (beta). Hence, empirically, when the slope of the contemporaneous regression of market returns on variance innovation is larger, future returns are more sharply related to the current VRP. Also, when variance shocks explain a greater fraction of market returns, the predictions are more accurate. Furthermore, these results are extendable to the cross-section of exchange rates. The VRP of the S&P 500 Index only predicts returns of currencies that are highly correlated with changes in market variance. For those currencies, the new methodology offers considerable improvements in out-of-sample performance. These results suggest that the variance risk exposure is a key factor that determines whether and how returns are predictable by the VRP. ❧ The third chapter studies the interaction between the price and quantity of variance risk in explaining the cross-section of stock returns. While in general, stocks with a high negative price of variance risk tend to have higher subsequent returns than those with a positive price, the spread is much bigger for stocks whose risk exposure (i.e. quantity of risk) is highly negative. When the risk exposure is highly negative, the spread between stocks with a negative and positive price of variance risk is 1.35%, but this spread decreases to only 0.28% for stocks with positive exposures. In particular, investing in stocks with both a high negative price and quantity of variance risk yields 1.91% in monthly excess returns and 0.93% in risk-adjusted returns. The third chapter also investigates the determinants of risk exposure. Firms that are smaller, with more growth options, and more likely to be in financial distress tend to have more positive risk exposures. Therefore, firms that have a negative price of variance risk can reduce the cost of capital by increasing growth options.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-192
title: Anh Luu
title: My Family Was Broken and Separated

description: Anh Luu was born and raised in Vietnam until the age of 17 when he left because of the war. He lived in Oregon, after his arrival to America, and currently lives in Orange County. Anh is married and has two daughters. He shares his stories of Vietnam with his family, and us, to teach us the importance of living in happiness. Phoonie Ngo is the niece of Anh Luu, and also grew up in Vietnam. She is a business major at USC Marshall School of Business with a concentration in Marketing.; Marc Botezatu wants to be an occupational therapist, he is expected to graduate in May 2016.; Nemanja Bisenic is majoring in Geological science at USC with the hopes of becoming a geologist.; Bernice Flores is majoring in Biology and will graduate in May 2015.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-296
title: Trent Young
title: Experiences of an American Soldier

description: Trent Young is an American Vietnam veteran who grew up in a military family on the East Coast. He joined the United States Air Force immediately after his high school graduation in 1971 and was stationed in Saigon until the conclusion of the war. Trent now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife Ava and drives FedEx routes between Arizona and California. He has published a book about his experiences titled "And That's The Way It Was". Jordan is a junior at the University of Southern California majoring in Biological Sciences. Michael is a senior majoring in Business. Jeremy is a freshman majoring in International Relations/Global Business.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-681
title: Lawrence Lifschultz
title: The Growth of the Anti-War Movement in America

description: Lawrence Lifschultz is an esteemed international journalist and author. As a young college student at Yale, he became increasingly critical of American foreign policy in the Vietnam war. He put his education on hold and decided to take a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in 1970 to witness the war first-hand and absorb as much knowledge as possible. Upon returning home he actively participated in non-violent anti-war protests. Willy Carlsen is a freshman from California with the intent of majoring in International Relations Global Business. Christine Ching is a senior from California double majoring in Business Administration and Accounting. Keyla Kolenovic is a junior from New Jersey majoring in Astronautical Engineering. Erik Thomas is a senior from New Jersey double majoring in Business Administration and Neuroscience. The four teammates attend the University of Southern California.
DOI: 10.25549/prim-c46-4895
title: Japanese education ; lecture by Alvin Coox, 1988

description: AASCU's Japan Studies Institute in 1988 was held in San Diego from June 21 to July 15, under the direction of Alvin P. Coox and featuring lectures by specialists in a range of subjects within Japanese studie.
DOI: 10.25549/prim-c46-5995
title: Panel discussion on doing business in Japan, 1989

description: AASCU's Japan Studies Institute in 1989 was held in San Diego from June 21 to July 14, under the direction of Alvin P. Coox and featuring lectures by specialists in a range of subjects within Japanese studies. At the time of this panel, Richard Davis was representative of a Japanese advertising agency and Robert Ayres was Vice President of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank of California. Mr. Kumiro, from Sumitomo Bank, was an observer on the panel.
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-118318
title: Adoptive families revisited: A follow-up study seven to ten years after adoption
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-125759
title: Social worker perceptions and the prediction of initial appointment performance
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-134033
title: The nature of the family's reaction to an educational change for their handicapped child
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-309719
title: Antifungal activity of lichochalcone-A and monolaurin against Candida albicans biofilms

description: Oral candidiasis (OC) is an opportunistic fungal infection with high prevalence among immunocompromised patients. Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen responsible for OC, often manifested in denture stomatitis and oral thrush. Virulence factors, such as biofilms formation and secretion of proteolytic enzymes, are key components in the pathogenicity of C. albicans. Given the limited number of available antifungal therapies and the increase in antifungal resistance, demand the search for new safe and effective antifungal treatments. Lichochalcone-A and monolaurin are natural compounds, known for its broad protective activities, as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of lichochalcone-A and monolaurin against C. albicans biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. In our in vitro assays, Lichochalcone-A (625 μM) and monolaurin (1250 µM - 2500 µM) significantly reduced C. albicans (MYA 2876) biofilm growth compared to the vehicle control group (1% ethanol). Furthermore, proteolytic enzymatic activities of proteinases and phospholipases, secreted by C. albicans were significantly decreased in the lichochalcone-A treated biofilms. ❧ In addition, we investigated whether lichochalcone-A and monolaurin can alter gene expression of host inflammatory cytokines, IL-1α and IL-1β. In co-culture models, oral fibroblast cells were cultured simultaneously with C. albicans for 24 hrs. followed by the exposure to treatments of lichochlacone-A (62.5 μM), monolaurin (62.5-125μM), positive control fluconazole (32.2 μM), and vehicle control group 1% Ethanol (v/v), which was a model used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of monolaurin on fibroblasts as well as analyze morphological characteristics of biofilms through fluorescence microscopy. In addition, the co-culture model was used for RNA extraction of oral fibroblasts to assess gene expression of host inflammatory cytokines, using quantitative real-time PCR. There was also a significant down-regulation of IL-1α and IL-1β in the co-culture models treated with lichochalcone-A and monolaurin. Our findings confirmed that lichochalcone-A and monolaurin can modulate the host’s pro-inflammatory response. ❧ Furthermore, for the first time we have tested both compounds in a novel mouse model. The in vivo models utilized longitudinal imaging of OC fungal load using a bioluminescent-engineered C. albicans (SKCa23-ActgLUC) and coelenterazine substrate. Mice treated with lichochalcone-A and monolaurin topical treatments exhibited significant reduction in total photon flux over 4 and 5 days post-infection. Similarly, ex vivo analysis of tongue samples, showed a significant decrease in CFU/ml/mg in tongue tissue sample of lichochalcone-A and monolaurin treated groups, which suggest the potential of lichochalcone-A and monolaurin as novel antifungal agents for future clinical use.
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-356348
title: How long is a minute? How time perception influences inter-temporal choices

description: Psychophysics studies suggest that our perception of time is different from the objective passage of time. Economics research emphasizes that the value of a reward depends on the delay involved. In this paper, we combine both strands and estimate time perception and time discounting functions at the individual level in an incentivized controlled laboratory environment. We find a negative and statistically significant correlation between time perception and time discounting: subjects for whom one unit of time feels longer are less willing to delay gratification by that amount of time. The result suggests that our ability to delay consumption is related to our mental representation of time delays.
DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c40-411776
title: The exploration of how a mentor teacher conceptualized her role and how the role conceptualization was reflected in a student teaching experience

description: In the midst of major societal growth and rapid expansion of diverse populations, we need highly effective teachers who are equipped to face and respond to the cultural needs of our students from historically marginalized communities. Teacher preparation programs must be intentional in how they guide novice teachers in becoming culturally competent and the role of the mentor teacher is an integral piece of the puzzle. In an optimal student teaching experience, the mentor teacher must actively do the following: 1) demonstrate an asset ideology toward students and novice teachers, 2) enact and support novices in enacting their own culturally relevant pedagogy, and 3) conceptualize his/her role as a teacher educator. Additionally, mentor teachers must be explicit about their mentoring practices by providing the rationale of their instructional decisions in relation to developing cultural competence. This study was designed to explore how a mentor teacher constructed her role and how this role conceptualization was reflected in the student teacher experience. ❧ Through a qualitative case study of a middle school special education teacher who mentored a pre-service candidate during a 1-year residency, data collection included eight in-person interviews with the mentor and novice teacher separately; three classroom observations; three observations of coaching debriefs, one observation of a co-planning session; three observations of student-led conferences; and a review of mentor teacher documents, such as written lesson plans, coaching logs, present levels of performance, school schedules, and mentor training resources. Analysis of the data revealed that at face value, the mentor teacher expressed beliefs that aligned with culturally relevant pedagogy, at times demonstrating them with her own students. She also actively conceptualized her mentor role in relation to certain teacher educator practices, such as modeler of practice and supporter of reflection. When looking closer at the data, however, it was not evident the mentor teacher intentionally conceptualized her role as a mentor in relation to the culturally relevant practices in which she believed. As a result, her approach to mentoring positioned the novice to be prepared as a strong special education teacher, but did not intentionally position her novice to be a teacher who was culturally competent.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-314
title: John Morris
title: A Career That Began in Vietnam

description: John Morris has been involved in the water industry for more than 45 years, continuing his family's long involvement in the industry. Some of the first water projects he worked on were during his 13-month tour in Vietnam, from August 1966 to September 1967. John was stationed at the Public Works Design Office in Danang, where he was involved with designing the barracks and a water treatment system at Camp Tienxia, among other projects. After returning home, he continued his education at USC in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Though he has lived in Pasadena all his life, his service in Vietnam has led him to pursue water projects in many other parts of the world during his professional career, including Africa, Saudi Arabia, and other parts of southeast Asia. John is a strong leader in the water industry in southern California, and has served numerous leadership roles in the civil engineering industry. Even past retirement, John continues to find ways to help others with his expertise in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He currently serves as a mentor for USC's chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and has traveled to Honduras for these projects. John currently lives in San Marino with his wife. Mohammed AlDahash, Economics major & Business Administration minor. Rachel Steinberg, Double majoring in Neuroscience and Biology at the University of Southern California
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-503
title: Paul R. Alwine
title: Service to the Country

description: Captain Paul R. Alwine, Jr. is a native of Binghamton, New York. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management in 1962. He was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program, was assigned to the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia and completed the Basic Qualification Course for Supply Corps officers. While on deployment in the Western Pacific in 1964, the VALLEY FORGE supported early military action in South Vietnam immediately after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. In July 1966 Captain Alwine completed his active duty and affiliated with the Navy Reserve while pursuing a civilian career in the computer and information technology field. During the ensuing years he served in a variety of Navy Reserve Supply Corps units involving procurement, defense contract management, aviation supply, and served on the staff of Commander, Navy Reserve Readiness Command Region 19 in San Diego. During annual active duty periods he served afloat on the USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64), the USS RANGER (CV 61), and ashore at west coast Naval Supply Centers, Naval Air Stations, Defense Logistics Agency commands, as well as duty at the Naval Supply Systems Command in Washington, DC. Captain Alwine served as Commanding Officer of four Navy Reserve units during his career. Additionally, he completed the aviation supply warfare qualifications and became the first Navy Reserve officer on the west coast to earn the “wings of gold” of a Naval Aviation Supply Officer. In 1970 he received a Master of Business Administration from California State University Fullerton, and in 1982 he completed an Executive Sales program conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Business. As a member of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro Aero Club he completed general aviation pilot training, earning Commercial Pilot, Multi-engine, Instrument In 1992 Captain Alwine retired after completing a 30-year Navy career. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and numerous unit and campaign awards. In civilian life he is a retired sales executive from the IBM Corporation, and is the President of the Naval ROTC Alumni League at the University of Southern California. He resides with his wife in Irvine, CA. Kyle Curley is a senior studying Industrial and Systems Engineering.; Sungwon Byun is a junior studying Chemical Engineering. Kasey Owens-Shelton is a senior studying Psychology.; Wenzhen Gong is a senior and masters student studying Electrical Engineering.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-563
title: Chinheng Chy
title: The End of the Beginning: From Cambodia to America

description: Chinheng Chy, born and raised in Battambang, Cambodia, escaped to Thailand in 1988 forced by the prosecution of the Khmer Rouge regime. After going through a strict selection process, Chy fortunately moved to America sponsored by his sister-in-law and church. With the help of government welfare program, English language training and a series of other assistance, Chy gradually settled down in Los Angeles, where he worked in sewing and raised a family with two sons. In this interview, he described his nightmare with the Khmer Rouge regime, experience in adjusting to the American culture and perceptions on the American involvement in the Vietnam War. Isabella Estrada is a sophomore majoring in history at the University of Southern California. She was born and raised in Torrance, California.; Benjamin Goncharenko is a sophomore from Whitter, California majoring in Geographical Design.; Jialin Li is a junior majoring in Public Relations at the University of Southern California. She was born and raised in China.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-7
title: Bao Nguyen
title: The Past Has Made Me Who I Am Today

description: Bao Nguyen's incredible story begins in 1980, with his family's successful escape from Vietnam while Nguyen was still in his mother's womb. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand with no official citizenship, a young Nguyen endured the arduous journey to the United States with his family before ultimately settling in Garden Grove, CA. Today, he is actively involved in his local community as a member of the Garden Grove Board of Education. Nguyen holds a BA in Political Science from UC Irvine and an MA in Religious Studies from Naropa University in Colorado. He is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Joseph Dorri is a senior from Pasadena, CA majoring in Neuroscience.; Siddharth Gupta is a senior from Orange County, CA majoring in Economics and Business Administration.; Michael Lin is senior from Yangon, Burma, currently residing in Cerritos, CA and majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-722
title: George Trujillo
title: It wasn't ours to choose, it was just our time

description: George Trujillo was in high school when the Vietnam War began. He enlisted in the Marine Corps during his final semester of his high school at the age of seventeen, graduated on June 27, celebrated his eighteenth birthday in boot camp and was deployed in Vietnam for a thirteen-month tour of duty in late January 1968, just prior to the Tet offensive. He was a member of the 1st and 3rd Marine Corp that fought in the northern I Corps, a much-contested area close to the DMZ. George served as an ammunition and explosive ordinance disposal technician. The responsibilities of his job included clearing unexploded ordinances, munitions caches, etc. He fought with one main unit but, given the nature of his assignment, was frequently relocated for temporary additional duty. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife of thirty-three years. Andy was born and raised in Hong Kong, and came to the United States three years ago. He is currently a junior at the USC Marshall School of Business. Julian is a junior from Pennsylvania majoring in Biology and Art History at the University of Southern California.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-734
title: Gary Coletti; Don Lewis, "Grumpy"
title: Impressions of Vietnam from Three American Veterans

description: In this video we profiled the experiences of three Vietnam veterans who didn't fight the war together but connected after the war. The video explains their opinions on the way the war was fought, their opinions of the Vietnamese people and finally how they were received upon their homecoming. Thanks a lot to our subjects: Don Lewis, Gary Coletti and Wayne McVeigh and thanks for watching. The Profilers were Dylan McBride from Redmond, WA a sophomore majoring in Business Administration; Chris Serna from Munich, Germany a junior majoring in Business Administration; and finally George Siao a senior from Hong Kong majoring in Business Administration as well.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-822
title: John Hamilton
title: Memories of the 7th Marines in Viet Nam

description: John Hamilton was born in Detroit, Michigan in June of 1946. He was a former lance corporal and sergeant for the United States Marine Corps. John joined the military as a career and he became a radio operator in an artillery battalion. John served two tours of duty in the Viet Nam War. He was stationed in Chu Lai and Da Nang. In 1965, John was sent on his first tour in Viet Nam at the age of 19 years old. John worked with the infantry units, on foot, and was responsible for radioing in enemy positions for artillery strikes. John returned to the U.S. after a year in Viet Nam and was stationed in North Carolina. In 1967, John returned to Viet Nam for a second tour which lasted until 1968. He now lives in Lawndale, CA. Chu-Yin Chuang is a 4th year Architecture student from Taiwan. Joanna Lam is a 4th year Architecture student from Hong Kong.; Keith White is a Senior at USC, majoring in Kinesiology: Human Performance.; Benjamin Cohen is a Senior at USC, majoring in Writing for Screen and Television.; Nicolae Ivanescu is a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship at USC. He is the founder and CEO of justhearit.com, an on-demand music streaming service.; Tyler McDonald is a senior majoring in History.; Rachel Deane is a senior majoring in BCT.
DOI: 10.25549/viet-c80-830
title: Stanley Kennedy
title: I Was Focused on Getting Back Home

description: Stanley Kennedy was born in April of 1947 in Yuma, Arizona. He was drafted into service for the U.S. army after dropping out of college for a semester break in 1966. He served in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam from March of 1967 until March of 1968. He spent most of that time in combat in the Mekong Delta. The largest engagement Stanley took part in was the Tet offensive, where he was in close combat with Viet Cong forces in and around Saigon. After leaving the military, Stanley developed a career in the garment manufacturing industry. He is now retired and living with his family in Southern California. Though it was not by choice, Stanley is proud to have obeyed and served his country. Shonita Peterson is a senior from Los Angeles, CA majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership and Development.; Riti Chandiok is a junior from Northern California majoring in environmental studies. He aspires to go to law school after he graduates.; Michael Kennedy is a sophomore from Denver, Colorado majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business Administration.