Programming is a valuable skill in the labor market, making the underrepresentation of women in computing an increasingly important issue. Online question and answer platforms serve a dual purpose in this field: they form a body of knowledge useful as a reference and learning tool, and they provide opportunities for individuals to demonstrate credible, verifi- able expertise. Issues, such as male-oriented site design or overrepresentation of men among the site's elite may therefore compound the issue of women's underrepresentation in IT. In this paper we audit the differences in behavior and outcomes between men and women on Stack Overflow, the most popular of these Q&A sites. We observe significant differences in how men and women participate in the platform and how successful they are. For example, the average woman has roughly half of the reputation points, the primary measure of success on the site, of the average man. Using an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, an econometric technique commonly applied to analyze differences in wages between groups, we find that most of the gap in success between men and women can be explained by differences in their activity on the site and differences in how these activities are rewarded. Specifically, 1) men give more answers than women and 2) are rewarded more for their answers on aver age, even when controlling for possible confounders such as tenure or buy-in to the site. Women ask more questions and gain more reward per question. We conclude with a hypo thetical redesign of the site's scoring system based on these behavioral differences, cutting the reputation gap in half.

This thesis examines the impacts of Title IX compliance on salary gap of Division I Football Bowl Series and Football Championship Series universities male and female associate professors. Title IX athletic proportionality requirements have been established since the 1980’s and require that each university have an equal percentage of female student athletes as they do female undergraduates. This study uses the National Center for Education Statistics database, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System to calculate salary gap between male and female associate professors and uses the Office of Civil Rights Equity in Athletics Database to calculate Title IX compliance. In this study paired t-tests and OLS regression are used to find the relationship between the salary gap and compliance of Title IX. This study found an inverse relationship between salary gap and Title IX compliance, refuting the hypothesis. Because Title IX compliance requires an equal proportion of student to athletes, the universities with significantly more female undergraduates were less likely to be Title IX compliant.

There is evidence there is a global gender price gap in traditional global art auctions. Taking into account recent technological advances in the secondary art market, this study examines if there is a gender gap for the sale prices of female artists’ work in the contemporary, online art auction market. The analysis uses a unique data set of art works sold in Christie’s Online-Only Auctions for the year of 2018. We regress measures of price on gender and controls for various characteristics of the art work and artist. We find that while there is discount in prices of 17% for artwork created by female artists, further analysis indicates the difference is not necessarily the result of bidder’s biased prices, but rather rooted in the pre-sale estimates given by the auction houses.

Gap junctions are a class of membrane proteins that facilitate cell-to-cell communication by forming channels that directly couple the cytoplasm of neighboring cells. The channels are composed of monomers called connexins. Humans express 21 connexin isoforms in a cell-type specific fashion, and each isoform has distinct mechanisms of permeation and regulation. Co-assembly of multiple isoforms into a single intercellular channel can change channel properties, such as conductance and selectivity to substrates (e.g., ions, metabolites and signaling molecules). However, the mechanistic basis for this functional diversity has remained poorly understood. This lack of mechanistic insight has been due in large part to the lack of high-resolution (atomic-level) structural knowledge on this class of proteins. Prior to this work, the only high-resolution information available on gap junction structure came from a single connexin isoform, connexin-26 (cx26). CryoEM has recently transformed from a low-resolution technique into one capable of rivaling the atomic-level resolutions achieved by x-ray crystallography -- but without the necessity for crystal formation, which has hindered progress towards understanding many classes of proteins (ie, membrane proteins, intrinsically disordered cell signaling complexes and other structurally dynamic systems). For my thesis research, I applied novel methods in single particle electron cryo-microscopy (CryoEM) to study a class of membrane proteins called gap junctions isolated from native lens tissue, as well as two signaling complexes not amenable to other structural techniques. I determined the structure of the lens gap junction, which contains connexin-46 (cx46) and connexin-50 (cx50), to a resolution of 3.4 Å and generated atomic models for both connexin isoforms. Structural analysis paired with molecular dynamics gave insight into energetic features of these channels that determine their isoform-specific conductance and selectivity to electrically charged ions. The cx46/50 gating domain was found to be stabilized by hydrophobic anchors, and also seems to adopt a more stable open state than found in cx26. Genetic mutations associated with congenital cataract formation were found to map to hot-spots of conserved structural and functional importance, rationalizing their disease-causing effects. As part of collaborative efforts, I used methods in single particle EM to characterize two separate signaling complexes that had proven difficult to study with x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. One system, Ca2+/Calmodulin Kinase II (CaMKII), is a signaling complex in the brain involved in memory formation. Characterization of the CaMKII complex by single particle EM revealed an extended state, which was also shown to be prevalent in cells -- giving more depth to our understanding of how this signaling molecule functions. The second collaboration characterized the multimeric binding sites of the hub protein LC8, which interacts with the disordered region of a transcription factor (ASCIZ). This provided support for a novel model of transcription regulation, wherein LC8 fine-tunes its own transcription levels through multi-valent binding to the disordered region of its own regulatory transcription factor.

As newly licensed registered nurses enter their first nursing role, their perceived preparation for practice may vary. This descriptive study addressed the education-practice gap that exists as nurses transition into nursing practice. The use of Benner's skill acquisition model offers a structure for connecting theory to practice. New graduate nurses responded to the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey-© to identify gaps in preparedness for novice practice. A convenience sample of nurses within the first 12 months of hire (n = 35) was sent the survey link by educators from the chosen sites. Anonymity was maintained with 18 total responses and 5 respondents completing the entire 25-question survey. Responses were analyzed via descriptive statistics. New graduate nurses either strongly agreed or agreed that they were prepared for their new role and received positive support from preceptors and staff. However, nurses disagreed or strongly disagreed that they were prepared for transition from student to nurse in the areas of workload, unit integration, system, and interpersonal concerns. Thirty percent also felt uncomfortable with independent performance of some technical skills, such as emergency management and blood administration. None of the new graduate nurses felt unprepared in professional skills related to leadership, communication, and decision making, a finding which contrasts with the literature, which indicates that these are areas of difficulty for new graduates. These findings can be used to structure curriculum and educational strategies to address the perceptions of preparedness and transition-to-practice concerns discovered in this project. This project may lead to social change in its attempt to close the education-practice gap with a stronger population of new graduate nurses.

The formation of adipocytes is a complicated process in which insulin and IGF-1 signaling pathways and numerous transcription factors control the conversion of precursor cells to mature fat cells. The Rab5 protein acts as a rate-limiting protein during receptor-mediated endocytosis by switching between a GDP-bound inactive form and a GTP-bound active form. The inactivation and activation of Rab5 are regulated by several Rab5 GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) and Rab5 guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), respectively. This dissertation demonstrated that the activity of the small GTPase Rab5 and its regulators are essential for the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Specifically, it showed that Rab5 activation is detrimental to the differentiation process. The overexpression of a dominant-negative Rab5:S34N mutant, but not an active counterpart (Rab5:Q79L), stimulated the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Consequently, the expression of Rab5:S34N increased the expression of two adipogenic-specific transcriptional factors, PPARγ and C/EBPα. siRNA-mediated depletion of Rab5 inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, providing further evidence for the requirement of Rab5 in the process of adipogenesis. A dramatic decrease of the Rab5-GTP level is also observed during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Consistent with these observations, I found that the expression of Rab5 GEFs (i.e., RIN1, Rabex-5, and RAP6), which increased the GTP-bound form of Rab5, blocked the differentiation process. In contrast, the expression of Rab5 GAPs (i.e., RN-tre and RabGAP-5), which decreased the GTP-bound form of Rab5, stimulated differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. I also found a novel interaction between the VPS9 domain of the Rab5 GEFs and the activated insulin receptor. This interaction is specific since the VPS9 domain did not interact with the catalytic inactive mutant of the insulin receptor and the Rab5 GAPs (no VPS9 domain) did not bind to the activated insulin receptor. The data point out that a reduction on the GTP-bound form of Rab5 is required for the rapid differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, identifying Rab5 inactivation as an important contributor of adipogenesis. Also, these observations suggest a novel cellular mechanism of Rab5 activity in the adipogenesis process in connection with the insulin receptor, the Rab5 GAPs, and the Rab5 GEFs.

Empirical investigations concerning generational differences between parents and adolescents were prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s. Interest in generational differences has resurfaced with the advent and evolution of technology. This study examined perceived generational differences between late adolescent and parent knowledge about interactive technologies. A sample of late adolescents (N = 605) reported their own interactive technology knowledge and perceptions of their parents’ technology knowledge via online questionnaires. Paired t tests and Cohen’s d were used to compare late adolescents’ self-reported knowledge with their perceptions of their parents’ knowledge. Perceived digital generation gaps were identified in the knowledge areas of video chat, cell phones, general social networking, Twitter, basic email, and advanced email. The differences remained constant when paired t tests were conducted separately by male and female late adolescents. Patterns between perceived parent-late adolescent relationship characteristics and perceived generational differences in technology knowledge were examined using Cohen’s d. Differences in perceived parent-child quality time were found among male late adolescents when there were generational technology knowledge differences in the areas of email, Twitter, and social networking. Parent-child conflict was most related to perceived generational technology differences in Twitter, video chat, and general social networking knowledge. Finally, perceived generational technology knowledge differences in the areas of video chat, Twitter, email, and general social networking were most related to differences in perceived parental-knowledge of late adolescents’ behaviors.

This thesis presents work aimed at exploiting the grammar of film for the purpose of automated film understanding, and addresses the semantic gap that exists between the simplicity of features that can be currently computed in automated content indexing systems and the richness of semantics in user queries posed for media search and retrieval. The problem is set within the broader context of the need for enabling technologies for multimedia content management, and arises in response to the growing presence of multimedia data made possible by advances in storage, processing, and transmission technologies. The first demonstration of this philosophy uses the attributes of motion and shot length to define and compute a novel measure of film tempo. Tempo flow plots are defined and derived for a number of full length movies, and edge analysis is performed leading to the extraction of dramatic story sections and events signaled by their unique tempo. In addition to the development of this computable tempo measure, a study is conducted as to the usefulness of biasing it toward either of its constituents, namely motion or shot length. Thirdly, a refinement is made to the shot length normalizing mechanism, driven by the peculiar characteristics of shot length distribution exhibited by movies. The next aspect of film examined is film rhythm. In the rhythm model presented, motion behaviour is classified as being either nonexistent, fluid or staccato for a given shot. Shot neighbourhoods in movies are then grouped by proportional makeup of these motion behavioural classes to yield seven high-level rhythmic arrangements that prove adept at indicating likely scene content (e.g., dialogue or chase sequence). The second part of the investigation presents a novel computational model to detect editing patterns as either metric, accelerated, decelerated, or free. / It is also found that combined motion and editing rhythms allow us to determine that the media content has changed and hypothesize as to why this is so. Three such categories are presented along with their efficacy for capturing useful film elements (e.g., scene change precipitated by plot event). Finally, the first attempt to extract narrative structure, the prevalent 3-Act storytelling paradigm in film, is detailed. The identification of act boundaries in the narrative allows for structuralizing film at a level far higher than existing segmentation frameworks which include shot detection and scene identification, and provides a reliable basis for inferences about the semantic content of dramatic events in film. Additionally, the narrative constructs identified have analogues in many other domains, including news, training video, sitcoms, etc., making these ideas widely applicable. A novel act boundary posterior function for Act 1 and 2 is derived using a Bayesian formulation under guidance from film grammar, tested under many configurations, and the results are reported for experiments involving 25 full-length movies. The framework is shown to have a role in both the automatic and semi-interactive setting for semantic analysis of film.

Abstract Substance misuse is a global phenomenon. However, little is known about substance misuse issues in Islamic nations or about the provision of preventative and rehabilitative services in such nations. This thesis explores the legal context of such services in the Maldives and pays particular attention to tensions between the formal policies of the National Narcotics Control Bureau and clinical practice. Findings are drawn from a review of government and service policy documents, five semi-structured individual interviews with clinical practitioners and senior administrative staff from rehabilitative services, and a three day focus group workshop with clinical staff. Findings show the lack of awareness of the legal and policy contexts for service provision and the ways in which existing policy frameworks often detract from the forging of therapeutic alliances. The primary concern raised by the analysis is the lack of involvement of clinical staff in policy formation and revision. This contributes to series of tensions and contradictions between official aims for services and the actual provision of these services. Further a range of ethical issues arose as a result of inadequate professional monitoring, training, and peer review. Recommendations are made regarding how these issues should be addressed in order to enhance the Maldivian response to increasing substance misuse.

With the introduction of enterprise bargaining in 1991, decentralised wage determination in Australia was generally expected to widen the gender wage gap (see Chapter 3). However, as discussed in Chapter 4, the research that underlies this expectation is typically based upon aggregated data and suffers from a number of deficiencies. In contrast, this dissertation utilises unit record data from the extensive 1995 Australian Workplace Industrial Relations Survey (AWIRS95) commissioned by the former Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business to test the hypothesis that enterprise bargaining has affected the gender wage gap in Australia. Whilst the passing of four years between 1991 and the time of data collection may not have allowed for the landmark industrial relations change to have worked itself through the labour market, a noteworthy and major feature of AWIRS95 is that it identifies workers and workplaces operating under enterprise bargaining agreements, as well as containing a female/male split of the enterprise bargaining status (see Chapter 5). Along with hourly earnings data derived from AWIRS95, a clear assessment can be made of gender wage gaps for employees under enterprise bargaining and those not employed under enterprise bargaining. The thesis uses OLS earnings regressions to identify the part of any gender wag gap that can be justified by the difference in measured characteristics between males and females, as well as identifying the part that remains unexplained (see Chapter 7). Given the potential that workplace characteristics can affect the integrity of OLS results, a random effects model is also used (see Chapter 8). Interestingly, the OLS and random effects results are virtually identical (see Chapter 9). It needs to be noted that the component of the gender wage gap that is unable to be justified by direct statistical reference to the regression model has been attributed to discrimination in the labour market. However, this is something of a misnomer as the unjustified component also captures the impact of: � model misspecification, including excluded variables; � mismeasurement; and � errors of calculation. 111 Every effort has been made to reduce these effects. Nevertheless, there may be an element of discrimination in the regression model utilised in this thesis that is not discernible through the observable and measurable variables (see Chapter 3). Results of analysis undertaken in this thesis indicate that the gender gap, as well as the unexplained component thereof, are larger for employee data associated with enterprise bargaining than is the case for workers not so employed. Even so, the result is not deemed to be statistically significant, as is further supported by extensive sensitivity testing (see Chapters 7 and 8). Further research is needed to support the posed hypothesis. Nevertheless, the thesis still provides a wide range of interesting outcomes in providing a greater understanding of an observable gender wage gap in Australia, as well as the associated and contributing characteristics of employees and employers. It is in this capacity that the research work recorded in this thesis provides a new level of knowledge and understanding, particularly given the thorough use made of recent microdata and the observed earnings effects of selected variables. As a consequence, the results of this thesis will form a solid foundation upon which further gender wage gap debate, policy formulation and labour economics research can stand.