Is the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) successful in reaching its goal of supporting students through the completion of their first year at IHE (Institutions of Higher Education) schools? CAMP assists disadvantaged undergraduate students who are children of migrant/seasonal agricultural workers and who are usually migrant workers themselves. The program assists students by providing financial resources, tutors, personal academic advisors, and emotional support to students. Currently, CAMP measures its success by increasing the retention rates of its students and providing them with services that prepare them to enter their second year in good academic standing. Although these programs have been shown to have positive impacts on student retention rates, there is need for analysis of the extent of these successes and whether program methods could be improved to further increase graduation rates. This study examines, in depth, the current status of the program’s various factors ( i.e. funding, culture, academics, recruitting) that enhance and or deter students from continuing on to their second year and considers how improvements could be made. This study will be completed through literature reviews, policy analysis, and program evaluations of current CAMP programs. Ultimately this project aims to uncover the program’s strengths and weaknesses and to recommend at a grass roots practitioner level, as well as at the policy level; the expansion of financial resources, social capital and social support. This study will show that the successes of these types of programs are directly related with funding; the more resources CAMP obtains, the more effective it is as a whole. This research is important because the CAMP program serves as a model for future and current programs. Understanding the CAMP program can lead to creating more effective educational policies that cater to disadvantaged students.

Smokeless tobacco use, 90% of which occurs among males, typically begins in adolescence and significantly ceases by the end of young adulthood. This study tested the hypothesis that psychological factors consistent with the Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI) longitudinally predict male SLT acquisition and cessation. This is the first known study to test these predictions. TTI psychological risk factors (parental noncompliance, friend compliance, rebelliousness, and thrill-seeking) were assessed in a cohort of Washington State males participating in a 40 school district tobacco study. To predict acquisition of daily use, never SLT users had their risk factors assessed at age 12. Their SLT use was assessed at age 18 (N = 2,468; 94.8% 5-year retention). To predict cessation, all daily SLT users had their risk factors assessed at age 18. Their SLT cessation status was assessed at ages 20 and 28 (N = 182; 86.9% 10-year retention). All models were tested with logistic regressions adjusting for experimental condition, team sport participation, parental education, and clustering among participants in the same school district. Scoring high on the following psychological factors at age 12 increased the odds of daily SLT use at age 18: 156% increased odds for friend compliance (OR = 2.56; p <.001), 116% for rebelliousness (OR = 2.16; p <.001), and 133% for thrill seeking (OR = 2.33; p <.001). Parent noncompliance was not a significant predictor (p =.33) of SLT acquisition. None of the psychological factors at age 18 predicted SLT cessation at ages 20 or 28 (p value range: .13 to .94). This study provides the first evidence that friend compliance, rebelliousness, and thrill-seeking strongly predict SLT acquisition among males. However, there was no evidence that the psychological factors predicted SLT cessation. Targeting these psychological predictors early may help prevent SLT use among males.

In the failed state of Somalia, piracy is increasing exponentially, impacting all nations that engage in trade or travel in the region. The economic and human cost of piracy is sure to rise as the situation devolves into maritime terrorism. Although current anti-piracy efforts are moderately successful, there is room for improvement. This report has thoroughly researched the situation to create one comprehensive source for understanding piracy in the Horn of Africa. Research methods included reviewing secondary source material, in addition to interviews with professionals working in counter-piracy efforts and with Somalis in the United States. The coordinator of the U.S. Office of Counter-Piracy and Maritime Security, Donna Hopkins, and her team provided assistance through interviews, contacts with people working in Somalia and around the world, and other valuable sources. The research was compiled into a task force report that provides recommendations for the U.S. State Department, and for other organizations involved in counter-piracy efforts. The following recommendations provide alternative courses of action to address current imperfections in the international architecture’s counter-piracy campaign. Social media should be utilized to launch an anti-piracy information campaign that engages the vast Somali Diaspora. Because piracy is a land-based problem with a maritime manifestation, a grassroots approach to address the land-based causes of poverty and political instability must be instated. National prosecutions and detentions should be supported and facilitated through new international legal frameworks. Passive defensive measures must be expanded on commercial vessels and armed guards should be utilized. The three parallel naval forces patrolling the area are insufficient protection against pirates and must be consolidated into one international force. Finally, the U.S. must expand its diplomatic engagement with regional governments in Somalia through imams and clan elders if the fight against piracy is to succeed.

Paleontological evidence has shown that during large scale extinction events, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) rises to abnormal levels in Earth’s atmosphere. To survive these extinction events, an organism would be required to counter-act the negative effects of H2S by evolving unique adaptations. It can be hypothesized that many of these unique adaptations still exist in present-day lineages. Modern plants, for example, may have developed a method of utilizing H2S in order to survive, and possibly thrive, in what would be considered a highly toxic atmosphere. Through experiments involving species Phaseolus vulgaris and Pisum sativum, it was discovered that applications of H2S to seedlings increased growth at rates of up to 200% within 1 week. In addition to the increases in growth, increases in plant mass and photosynthetic activity were also observed. In order to better understand the effects of H2S on P. vulgaris and P. sativum, seeds of the species were also exposed to H2S, under the same controlled conditions. The effects of the seed experiment were similar to the initial seedling tests. Time to germination decreased with exposure, and the overall rates of germination increased. Large scale implications of these findings present benefits such as greater crop yields and perhaps a more efficient method of bio-fuel production. Continuing research of H2S and its effects on plant life could someday create a powerful means to deal with our ever-expanding human population…and the ever-expanding human footprint that goes along with it.

Nitrogen, a limiting nutrient, controls oceanic primary production which directly affects the global carbon cycle. Consequently the nitrogen cycle has great implications for how the oceans will react to climate change. Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) are areas of the ocean characterized by low oxygen levels and as areas of nitrogen removal. OMZs are expected to grow in the future, possibly increasing nitrogen removal from the ocean. Because nitrogen is requirement for primary productivity, the growth of OMZs has potential to slow the biological pump. The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETNP) OMZ is the largest OMZ in the world, running from 0-25 ° N with a core reaching depths from 280m to 850m.  Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidizing) bacteria are of particular interest in the ETNP because their ability to convert fixed nitrogen (ammonium and nitrite) into the form of N₂ gas, which is biologically unavailable. Anammox bacteria produce N₂ autotrophically by oxidizing ammonium in low oxygen environments using nitrite as an electron acceptor. Understanding the presence of anammox bacteria through the water column is crucial to gaining a clear understanding of the nitrogen cycle. Presence/ absence data of anammox bacteria has been constructed using PCR with primers that target the anammox specific Hzo gene. Samples from 5 vertical profiles were collected while aboard the RV Thomas G. Thompson during the oceanography senior thesis cruise from March 16^th to 27^th. Samples were taken at every layer in the water column, including the oxycline, the OMZ core and bottom of the OMZ. During the cruise denitrification rates and oxygen concentrations were determined. Comparing denitrification rates to presence absence data of anammox bacteria will help uncover the role of anammox bacteria as denitrifyers in the ETNP.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O, dinitrogen monoxide, commonly called laughing gas) is an important greenhouse gas with a global warming potential, over a 100 year time scale, about 298 times higher than that of CO₂. N₂O is also the major source of NO in the atmosphere, which is a natural agent of stratospheric ozone destruction. The ocean is an important natural source of N₂O providing up to 25% of emissions to the atmosphere. However, although it is known the ocean is a net source for atmospheric N₂O, our understanding of the distribution and magnitude of the oceanic source is limited. Eastern-boundary upwelling zones which contain large oxygen-depleted intermediate waters, like the Eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP), act as large sources of N₂O to the atmosphere but have not been adequately studied. I investigated the concentration of N₂O in the ETNP aboard the R/V Thompson between March 16th and 27th 2012. Water samples were collected at 6 locations between 20°N and 32.5°N along the west coast of Mexico on board the R/V Thompson and N2O concentrations measured on board the ship using gas chromatography. Using these results I plotted depth profiles of N₂O and O₂ from each station in order to characterize the vertical distribution of N₂O and compare the stations to see how N₂O concentration varies on a North-South axis. I consistently found a large peak in N₂O concentrations at around 200 m depth at the oxic-suboxic boundary. I used surface N₂O concentrations and known atmospheric N₂O concentrations to calculate the flux of N₂O across the air-sea boundary to determine the magnitude of the source of atmospheric N₂O in the ETNP and to explore the spatial and temporal variability of N₂O production in the region.

Vietnam, which is experiencing a heath transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases, has an increased burden of stroke. Understanding its risk factors, including stress, are needed. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship of chronic stress and stroke symptoms (which are indicative of a potential stroke) as well as hypertension and diabetes in participants ages 35 and older in Da Nang, Viet Nam. We randomly identified adults, age 35 and older using voter registration lists for inclusion in this study. Interviews and health procedures were conducted either at the local health clinic or participants’ homes depending on preference. Stress was measured using the chronic stress burden scale assessing problems occurring in five domains: problems with one’s own health, with another’s health, job difficulties, financial strain, and relationship problems. Hypertensions was defined as self-reported or measured systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or diastolic of 90 mm Hg and higher. Stroke was ascertained as a self-report of symptoms related to stroke or transient ischemic attack collected by the Questionnaire to Verify Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS). Multiple logistic regressions assessed the odds of increased risk of stroke related to level of stress categorized as no stress, 1 or 2 symptoms, and 3 to 5 symptoms in unadjusted and adjusted models. After adjustment for demographic, health characteristics, as well as diabetes and hypertension, individuals experiencing stress at the highest level (3-5 domains) were more than eight times as likely to report stroke symptoms as those with no stress (OR: 8.13, 4.43-14.91). Lower levels of stress (1-2 domains) also increased significantly the risk of stroke symptoms (OR: 3.27, 95% CI: 2.01-5.34). After adjusting for diabetes and hypertension, along with other potential confounding factors, we found stress to be independently associated with risk of stroke as measured by stroke symptoms.

Cancer vaccines offer a promising method of manipulating the immune system to seek and destroy malignant cells. However, there have been many limitations on their ability to enhance stimulation and persistence of CD4+ Type 1 helper (Th1) and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) necessary to promote adequate tumor regression. The long-term goal of this research is to use polymeric carriers to deliver antigens and immunomodulatory siRNA to antigen presenting cells (APCs), in order to promote anti-tumor cellular immunity. We have designed pH-responsive, endosomolytic, “smart” polymers that are capable of being conjugated to antigens and complexed to siRNA. Also, we have demonstrated the ability of these polymers to enhance class I antigen presentation by APCs. In addition, we have shown that polymeric delivery of siRNA promotes knock down of a model gene, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, in dendritic cells. We plan to demonstrate similar results with other immune cells, both immortalized and primary, and genes of interest, as well as extend this technology to relevant tumor-associated antigens. These data point to the modular nature of our polymeric delivery systems, as they provide a promising way of approaching challenges in cancer immunotherapy through multiple delivery modalities.