Youth Expression with Video Surveillance Technology

This qualitative study examines five young Afro-Franco Caribbean males in the Diaspora and their experiences with systems of technology as a tool of oppression and liberation. The study utilized interpretive biography and participatory video research to examine the issues of identity, power/control, surveillance technology, love and freedom. The study made use of a number of data collection methods including interviews, round table discussions, and personal narratives. A hermeneutic theoretical framework is employed to develop an objective view of the problems facing Afro-Franco Caribbean males in the schools and community. The purpose of the study is to provide an environment and new media technology that Afro-Franco Caribbean males can use to engage and discuss their views on issues mentioned above and to ultimately develop a video project to share with the community. Moreover, the study sought to examine an epistemological approach (Creolization) that young black males, particularly Afro-Franco-Caribbean males, might use to communicate, document, and share their everyday experiences in the Diaspora. The findings in the study reveal that the participants are experiencing: (a) a lack of community involvement in the urban space they currently reside, (b) frustration with the perspective of their home country, Haiti, that is commonly shown in mainstream media, and (c) ridicule, shame, and violence in the spaces (school and community) that should be safe. The study provides the community (both local and scholarly) with an opportunity to hear the voices and concerns of youth in the urban space. In addition the study suggests a need for schools to create a critical pedagogical curriculum in which power can be democratically shared.

Applications of functional nucleic acids in imaging, sensing and drug delivery and investigations of DNAzyme-metal interactions

Functional nucleic acids (FNA), including nucleic acids catalysts (ribozymes and DNAzymes) and ligands (aptamers), have been discovered in nature or isolated in a laboratory through a process called in vitro selection. They are nucleic acids with functions similar to protein enzymes or antibodies. They have been developed into sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity; it is realized by converting the reaction catalyzed by a DNAzyme/ribozyme or the binding event of an aptamer to a fluorescent, colorimetric or electrochemical signal. While a number of studies have been reported for in vitro sensing using DNAzymes or aptamers, there are few reports on in vivo sensing or imaging. MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique; smart MRI contrast agents were synthesized for molecular imaging purposes. However, their rational design remains a challenge due to the difficulty to predict molecular interactions. Chapter 2 focuses on rational design of smart T1-weighted MRI contrast agents with high specificity based on DNAzymes and aptamers. It was realized by changing the molecular weight of the gadolinium conjugated DNA strand with the analytes, which lead to analyte-specific water proton relaxation responses and contrast changes on an MRI image. The designs are general; the high selectivity of FNA was retained. Most FNA-based fluorescent sensors require covalent labeling of fluorophore/quencher to FNAs, which incurrs extra expenses and could interfere the function of FNAs. Chapter 3 describes a new sensor design avoiding the covalent labeling of fluorophore and quencher. The fluorescence of malachite green (MG) was regulated by the presence of adenosine. Conjugate of aptamers of MG and adenosine and a bridge strand were annealed in a solution containing MG. The MG aptamer did not bind MG because of its hybridization to the bridge strand, resulting in low fluorescence signal of MG. The hybridization was weakened in the presence of adenosine, leading to the binding of MG to its aptamer and a fluorescence increase. The sensor has comparable detection limit (20 micromolar) and specificity to its labeled derivatives. Enzymatic activity of most DNAzymes requires metal cations. The research on the metal-DNAzyme interaction is of interest and challenge to scientists because of the lack of structural information. Chapters 4 presents the research on the characterization of the interaction between a Cu2+-dependent DNAzyme and Cu2+. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to probe the binding of Cu2+ to the DNAzyme; circular dichroism was used to probe the conformational change of the DNAzyme induced by Cu2+. It was proposed that the conformational change by the Cu2+ binding is important for the activity of the DNAzyme. Chapter 5 reports the dependence of the activity of 8-17 DNAzyme on the presence of both Pb2+ and other metal cations including Zn2+, Cd2+ and Mg2+. It was discovered that presence of those metal cations can be cooperative or inhibitive to 8-17 activity. It is hypothesized that the 8-17 DNAzyme had multiple binding sites for metal cations based on the results. Cisplatin is effective killing tumor cells, but with significant side effects, which can be minimized by its targeted delivery. Chapter 6 focuses on the effort to functionalize liposomes encapsulating cisplatin by an aptamer that selectively bind nucleolin, an overexpressed protein by breast cancer cells. The study proved the selective cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells of the aptamer-functionalized liposome.

Tangible mobile app store design for China's new generation migrant worker

China has the largest numbers of Internet users and mobile phone subscribers in the world, as well as the most extensive peacetime internal migration on the planet. Mobile phone uses play a very important role in migrant responses to alienation and discrimination. There are 150 million to 200 million migrant workers in China, 60% of them are the second-generation migrant workers. They support the nation’s manufacturing and industry. The majority of these individuals is poor and is from rural areas of the country. These young people are currently ignored by mainstream mobile device manufacturers, even though this constituency will be a growing consumptive segment in the future. Thus, my research will target the new-generation migrant workers in China, and concentrates on their mobile lives to best develop a tangible mobile devices application store that will improve their mobile experiences.