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- Creator:
- Tacadena, Danica
- Description:
- Juvenile justice reform aims to create efforts that use detention, out-of-home placements, limiting their serving time, and general support for youth. Reforming the system would further prevent youth’s mistakes from future barriers that prohibit life opportunities and reintegrate them into society. Consequently, there is a link between education exclusion and the criminalization of youth. The disproportionate influence of school disciplinary policies continue to push youth of color out of school and toward incarceration at an extreme rate. This is called the school-to-prison pipeline. This article will examine dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline by eliminating zero tolerance, personal efficacy and systemic change, community support and youth engagement. The juvenile justice system has juggled between rehabilitative and punitive approaches to managing young offenders. Racial minorities, especially African American males, are affected and criminalized by this system. There are racial disparities in the juvenile justice system, known as disproportionate minority contact (DMC). Inequality in the juvenile justice system is very prominent in the U.S., and the system’s framework is built upon these prejudices. This article discusses the historical racial disparities that exists in the juvenile justice system and the distinct difference in treatment. The juvenile justice system in California is designed to handle all circumstances concerning juvenile law, which includes juvenile justice and delinquency cases and proceedings. This article will focus on the structure of juvenile sentencing and what society should do to reintegrate youth in California. The goals of juvenile sentencing in California are rehabilitation, limiting custodial sentences, and avoiding unwarranted disparities.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Summerhays, Bryce
- Description:
- Predatory coccinellidae are extensively used in biological control of aphids, whiteflies, and other common agricultural pests. Two such species, Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis were introduced to the continental United States to bolster this effort and have since been known to become invasive across its current geographical range. Herein we investigate population genomics using ddRADseq technology, here we investigate the genomic diversity, differentiation, and admixture among populations of both C. septempunctata and H. axyridis. Our analyses indicate (1) the presence of population structure, and pervasive inbreeding among our sampled populations of H. axyridis, and (2) extensive gene flow and admixture among all sampled populations of C. septempunctata. Our findings support previous studies that indicate that H. axyridis has not successfully invaded the continental USA, in comparison with C. septempunctata. Additionally, we build a framework for utilizing population genomics as a predictor of the success or failure of augmentative biological control. The convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is a generalist natural enemy that is utilized extensively in augmentative biological control across the United States. Recent studies have pointed to both genetic and phenotypic differences in Western (California) versus Eastern (Kansas) populations of the species. Here we investigate phenotypic differences in the utilization of pea aphids in (a) Eastern versus Western populations, (b) Hybrid Eastern and Western populations versus their progenitor populations, and (c) within population interactions in Eastern, Western, and Hybrid populations and developing in conditions of the Western United States. We found no differences between individuals from the Eastern and Western populations nor hybrids of the inbred populations under these conditions in the development of larvae and body mass over their third and fourth instars.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- San Marcos
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Valencia, Danielle
- Description:
- Clostridium species make up a large portion of the intestinal microbiota in humans and animals with strong implications that they are necessary for overall gut function. Dysbiosis due to decreased abundances and diversity of Clostridium often cause major health consequences due to the resulting lack of intestinal short chain fatty acids such as butyrate provided by these organisms. Safe and effective results have been reported upon oral administration of Clostridium probiotic supplements for symptom reduction and disease prevention indicating their prospective use as a therapeutic agent. We hypothesized that intestinal butyrate producing Clostridium can be isolated from the feces of animals and that some of these isolates will have the potential to be used safely as a probiotic dietary supplement. Enrichment and isolation of Clostridium from horse, cattle, sheep, pig, and goat fecal samples were identified and characterized by their colony morphology on egg yolk agar, microscopic morphology by staining, biochemical reactions, and 16S rRNA sequencing results. A total of 6 species from 134 Clostridia isolates were identified and the butyrate kinase gene was confirmed in all of these isolates implicating the ability to produce butyrate. Based on hemolysis and antibiotic susceptibility tests outlined by the European Food and Safety Authority, 6 isolates were considered to be potentially safe as a probiotic and were further biochemically characterized by API microbial identification kits. Of these probiotic candidates, Paeniclostridium sordellii isolates P1F and P2E were determined to be unsafe for use as a probiotic due to the high risk of virulence factors and horizontal gene transfer of toxins. Clostridium senegalense isolate C4H was potentially the safest for use as a probiotic followed by Clostridium tepidum isolates C4B, P2D, and P4D.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Dave, Janam
- Description:
- Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) causes 50-90% mortality with present forms of oral and intravenous (IV) antifungal drugs, emphasizing the need for improved treatments. To explore this, we built an aerosol system to deliver inhalable, antifungal therapy to mice. We investigated the in vivo efficacy of inhalable liposomal Amphotericin B, AmBisomeⓇ (AmBi), given as monotherapy or in combination with IV AmBi for the treatment of IPA in Aspergillus fumigatus infected mice. Swiss-Webster female mice were immunosuppressed with the steroid triamcinolone acetonide or cyclophosphamide and challenged d0 with 9 x 106 A. fumigatus (ATCC#13073). For all in vivo studies, mice were placed in a 12-compartment chamber (one mouse/compartment) and exposed to aerosol (aero) AmBi. In study 1, we compared the efficacy of IV vs. aero AmBi. Mice were treated 1X daily with either IV AmBi (7.5 mg/kg), 20 mins of aero AmBi (1.33 µg/mL in nebulizer) or IV phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for a total of 3 treatments. In study 2, we varied the aero AmBi monotherapy dosing regimen, starting 4h post-challenge and given 5X, once daily for 10 or 20 minutes/treatment or given every other day and compared it to IV AmBi monotherapy given three times, once daily. In study 3, we investigated treatment regimens that would be more clinically applicable since IPA is often diagnosed late. We did this by delaying aero AmBi monotherapy to 8h or combining aero AmBi at 8h with IV AmBi therapy starting at 12h to treat an established, systemic infection. In study 4, we used the same treatment schedule as in study 3 to test the efficacy of aero AmBi monotherapy vs. aero AmBi combined with IV AmBi in a cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed IPA mouse model. Finally, we tested the efficacy of aero AmBi monotherapy or its combination with IV AmBi to treat IPA caused by different strains of A. fumigatus (strains V079 and V080). In study 1 aero AmBi monotherapy was more effective than IV AmBi monotherapy in reducing lung CFU/g, but less effective at reducing liver, kidney or spleen CFU/g, indicating that aero AmBi monotherapy may need further optimization to reduce the fungal burden in the internal organs. Even though reduction of CFU/g in these internal organs was limited, mouse survival was very good with aero AmBi monotherapy (75%) compared to IV AmBi monotherapy (43%) and PBS (33%) suggesting that aero AmBi was preventing fungal dissemination from the lungs to the internal organs. In study 2, longer (20 minutes vs 10 minutes/treatment) aero AmBi monotherapy had exceptional survival (100%, p ≤ 0.05 vs all other groups). Intermittent every other day aero AmBi and daily IV AmBi monotherapy were less effective (43% survival). In study 3, when treatment started later at 8h. The combination of 3 IV AmBi treatments with 5 aero AmBi treatments was as effective as earlier aero AmBi monotherapy beginning at 4h (86% survival for both treatments). The delayed combination treatment was also significantly better in reducing organ fungal burden. In study 4, in the cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed IPA model (A. fumigatus ATCC 13073), the combination treatment yielded 100% survival. In study 5, combination treatment in the steroid suppressed IPA model, yielded 100% survival following infection with A. fumigatus strain V079 and 86% with V080, with significant reduction in organ fungal burden (p ≤ 0.05 vs. IV AmBi alone). Compared to IV AmBi monotherapy, aero AmBi monotherapy given early or combined with IV AmBi for delayed therapy significantly increased survival, reduced lung fungal burden and decreased dissemination to the internal organs. These results suggest that aero AmBi may be a promising treatment option to reduce the high mortality associated with IPA.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Melgoza, Brianna
- Description:
- Los Angeles County's growing homeless epidemic is a continuous challenge, especially among the chronically homeless. This literature review aims to explore engagement and retention of chronically homeless individuals, and compares methods used within Los Angeles County. A systematic literature search of multiple databases resulted in thirteen articles being reviewed. The literature reveals themes that contribute to barriers within the system relating to engagement and retention. LA County has begun to implement methods under the Measure H guidelines to aid the chronically homeless. Evaluating past practices within LA County, the literature shows that Measure H is likely to succeed with maintaining engagement and retention amidst this community. It will be reached by the implementation that promotes meaningful connections, reduced wait times, and the support of behavioral changes.
- Resource Type:
- Abstract
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Khan, Zuhayr and Newsum, Aleena
- Description:
- Exposure to an enriched environment has been shown to be beneficial to brain structure and cognition by preserving neuronal integrity and strengthening the functioning and plasticity of neural circuits [1]. These benefits derive from the added spatial, social, and sensory complexities in an enriched environment [2]. It has recently been established that physical exercise and enriched environments stimulate adult neurogenesis [3] and differentiation in dentate granule cells (DGCs) [4] in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. However, possible changes in other cell types, particularly interneurons, has remained elusive. Interneurons are an integral regulator in neurotransmission in the hippocampus. Damage to hippocampal interneurons have serious implications and lead to a decline in cognitive abilities [5]. Our study sought to elucidate possible changes in a subclass of interneurons affected by exposure to an enriched environment (EE) and enriched changing (EC) environment. The topographic arrangement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) positive interneurons was studied in the dentate gyrus of the rat dorsal hippocampus. We observed an increase in the number of NADPH-d positive neurons found in both enrichment groups. The elevated level of NADPH-d activity was represented uniformly across all six layers of the dentate gyrus and was most significant in the expected granular cell layer (GRCL) and infragranular zone (infraGRZ). The overall results suggest that the brain has the ability to adapt to increased amounts of sensory stimulation. These changes highlight a new mechanism of physiological homeostasis; with an increased demand for energy from new-born DGCs and increased input, the brain will regulate its energy expenditure via an increase in either the activity of existing interneurons, or the actual number of interneurons. Further research will involve observing the differences to the ventral hippocampus, CA1, and CA3 regions, and the effects on other specific subpopulations of interneurons.
- Resource Type:
- Abstract
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Aguayo, Juan Roque
- Description:
- California farms and ranches generated more than $50 billion in cash receipts with dairy leading the way at $6.56 billion, followed by grapes ($5.79 billion), almonds ($5.60 billion), strawberries ($3.10 billion), and cattle and calves ($2.53 billion). In southern California, weaned calves are often backgrounded in part by feeding costly concentrate-roughage feed supplements. Lack of suitable and reliable forages year-round contributes to this feeding strategy. In this study winter grasses, small grains, mainly barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), will be inter-seeded with winter legumes crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) or winter vetch (Vicia villosa L.), and grazed directly by early weaned (stocker) calves. The objective will be to research the effect of changing pasture conditions on grazing behavior and animal performance. Winter annuals will be established in September 2020 to be ready for grazing in December 2020 through April 2021. The grazing behavior of the early weaned calves will be monitored using GPS devices. This kind of technology to monitor animal grazing behavior can provide good information as to how cattle are responding to changing pasture conditions. In addition, average daily gain will be calculated to determine the performance of early weaned calves during the winter annuals. We hypothesize that grazing behavior and performance of early weaned (stocker) calves grazing winter annuals comprising grass/legume mixtures will compare favorably with those backgrounded on conventional roughage-concentrate mixtures typically fed to weaned calves in California. This research will provide valuable information that will benefit cattle producers in California, students and the scientific community.
- Resource Type:
- Abstract
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Cruz, Eric
- Description:
- The goal of this project is to use infrared thermal imaging to look at the surface temperature of horses before and after exertion after participating in an endurance ride. The horses would participate in either a 30 mile or 50 mile ride at the Fire Mountain Ride. This project looks at the color patterns of the surface temperature of the horses to determine if there are any changes after the 30 or 50 mile rides. Their surface temperatures would be measured before participating in the ride and after by capturing images of the front half, the back half, and the whole body of the horse. Surface temperature color patterns can change when an animal experiences stress or injury. Infrared thermal imaging is an alternative method to checking the surface temperature of animals because it is the least invasive method and is less likely to cause stress. Stress can cause a change in temperature and can lead to an incorrect diagnosis if there is a potential injury.
- Resource Type:
- Abstract
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Perdomo, Emely Giron
- Description:
- Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the protozoan pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv). Tv affects more than 300 million men and women worldwide. It has been shown that neutrophils use a process called trogocytosis to kill Tv. Trogocytosis is a process in which a cell, such as a neutrophil, takes "bites" out of its neighboring target cell. It has been shown that the neutrophil trogocytosis may be regulated by antibody opsonization of its target cell. Opsonization is the coating of a pathogen with antibodies to crosslink cells to the pathogen using Fc surface receptors. Research has shown cell surface receptors, such as FcγRIIa (CD32a) can be important for the trogocytosis mechanism against cancer cells. We hypothesize that CD32a is also important for neutrophils to trogocytose and kill Tv. To test this, we will knock out the CD32a gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We will generate CD32a knockout neutrophil-like cells (NLCs) and perform several assays that will show if trogocytosis was affected by that CD32a knock-out. The presence of CD32 in NLCs has been confirmed through antibody staining and flow cytometry and performed cytolysis assays under different inhibiting conditions of the CD32a receptor. We hope that our findings will give us more insight into the initiation process of trogocytosis of Tv by neutrophils that we can use to create prevention treatments in the future.
- Resource Type:
- Abstract
- Campus Tesim:
- Pomona
- Department:
- Biological Sciences