The purpose of this dissertation is to employ simulation modeling to test theories of group formation as they pertain to hate groups: groups whose hate ideology may or may not condone violent criminal behavior. As of 2010, there were 1002 hate groups known to be active in the United States. Previous examinations of hate groups have assumed formation. This dissertation uses simulation modeling to test Hamm's (2004) criminological theory of collective hate and Weber's (1947) socio-political theory of charismatic leadership. Simulation modeling is designed to create a computer simulation that simplifies people and their interactions to mimic a real world event or phenomena. Three different experiments were tested using five models of hate group formation. These experiments test the importance of personal and societal levels of hate in group formation and the influence of charismatic leadership. These experiments also tested hypotheses regarding the number of groups that form, the speed of formation and group size. Data to test these hypotheses was collected from fifteen thousand model iterations. All three models successfully generated hate groups. Hate groups were generated at all levels of societal hate. An in-depth understanding of how hate groups form may assist in slowing the proliferation of these groups and decreasing their appeal. / Criminal Justice

DNA damage occurs to all living things; its subsequent repair is a crucial component of life. The most dangerous, and potentially most useful form of DNA damage is the double strand break (DSB). A DSB is defined by breaks occurring to both sugar phosphate backbones in close enough proximity that they lead to the separation of the two pieces of the DNA. This type of damage will kill the cell if left unrepaired. It is the most lethal type of DNA damage. Most living organisms have also developed ways to take advantage of DSBs through their repair systems, primarily as a means of introducing genetic variation. There are two primary DSB repair pathways across life: homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). The focus of this work is NHEJ. NHEJ is known as “error-prone” because it does not use a homologous template and can introduce small addition or deletion mutations during the repair process. This pathway has been extensively studied in eukaryotes and is known as the primary form of DSB repair in mammalian cells, however the prokaryotic NHEJ system was more recently identified and as a result, a void of information surrounds it. NHEJ is comprised of 3 core steps: DSB recognition and binding, DNA end processing, and ligation. In the eukaryotic version of NHEJ these 3 steps involve a plethora of factors; conversely, in the prokaryotic version, the same functionality is accomplished by just 2 proteins, bacterial Ku and LigD. The focus of this research is Ku: the DNA end-binding protein responsible for identifying the DSB, binding and protecting the DNA end, as well as recruiting LigD to the break. Ku is composed of 2 domains, the first of which is predicted to be highly homologous to eukaryotic Ku’s equivalent domain; this is the core domain which forms a ring-like structure that DNA threads through. The second is completely unique to bacterial Ku, it is the C-terminal domain, which can further be split into 2 sub-domains, the minimal C-terminus, and the extended C-terminus. The sub-domains are defined by their level of conservation across bacterial species, with the minimal C-terminus being highly conserved, while the extended C-terminus is highly variable. Using DNA-binding assays and several mutant constructs which affect the C-terminal domain, I show that this C-terminus is unexpectedly responsible for destabilizing the Ku-DNA interaction. This observation leads me to hypothesize that maintaining a weak interaction with DNA is important for Ku because of the other proteins which need access to the DNA (e.g. replicative helicase). While Ku is bound, it could be capable of blocking regions of DNA, in turn blocking other vital cellular processes like replication. Ku maintaining a lower affinity for DNA should facilitate Ku displacement by other proteins. A tighter binding would restrict Ku’s freedom to move on DNA making it more likely to inhibit other critical pathways. To better understand Ku, I attempted to solve the Ku structure using X-ray crystallography, and was able to achieve crystals of Ku, however diffraction was too limited for a structure. Another way to investigate the validity of my proposed model is to use a biophysical approach with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize protein-DNA complexes. The initial work has established key controls for future Ku-DNA AFM work by imaging and analyzing Ku on its own. Interest in bacterial NHEJ is two-fold from the antimicrobial perspective: NHEJ is a highly mutagenic pathway, so it serves as a proverbial well for differentiation and thus the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR); NHEJ is very important in bacteria that enter a stationary phase due to their lack of a homologous piece of DNA for HR. Thus, NHEJ inhibition could be useful for slowing bacterial evolution and potentially as a treatment for infections such a Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is known to lie dormant in host macrophages for long periods of time. To investigate the viability of NHEJ inhibition, I had begun the process of creating ∆ku strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to simulate Ku inhibition under various conditions. This Ku project is the focus of the first two chapters, however, during my Master’s degree I participated in 2 other major projects. The third chapter details a bacterial DNA damage tolerance pathway, which similarly is highly mutagenic and poorly characterized: the ImuABC translesion synthesis polymerase complex. The fourth and final chapter details the work for a Journal of Visualized Experiments article meant to highlight the benefits of AFM as a means of studying protein-DNA interactions. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Abstract in English, Venda and Tsonga / Released prisoners in Kenya have a 75% likelihood of committing another crime and a 50% probability of going to jail two years after their discharge from prison custody. From the trend of recidivism in Kenya, there are a staggeringly high number of offenders being incarcerated and eventually released back to the community, and the high risk of re-arrest and reincarceration is a concern for policymakers, criminologists and correctional managers. This study examined the influence of offender characteristics, offender reintegration and community perception and attitude regarding recidivism in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study adopted a survey research design. Findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between offender characteristics and recidivism. In addition, offender reintegration and community perception and attitude towards offenders greatly influence recidivism. From the study, it is recommended that the government provide correctional officers with the required resources to use the actuarial risk assessment model. The model is applied to the released offenders to predict the future probability of recidivism. In addition, it is recommended that the government and the various correctional stakeholders come up with an integrated approach that specifically targets successful re-entry of offenders upon release from prison. Finally, it is recommended that the government develop programmes targeting awareness of the community members to desist from stigmatising ex-offenders. / Vhafariwa vho vhofhololwaho ngei Kenya vha na khonadzeo ya 75% ya u ita vhuṅwe vhutshinyi na 50% ya khonadzeo ya u ya dzhele miṅwaha mivhili nga murahu ha u bva tshiṱokisini. U bva kha nzulele ya u tshinya fhafhu ngei Kenya, hu na u mangadza huhulwane ha tshivhalo tshi re nṱha tsha vhatshinyi vha re dzhele vhane vha fhedzisela vho vhofhololelwa murahu kha tshitshavha, khohakhombo khulwane ya u dovha u farwa hafhu na u valelwa hafhu dzhele zwi vhilaedzisa vhabveledzi vha mbekanyamaitele, vhaḓivhi vha zwa vhutshinyi na vhalanguli vha vhululamisi. Ngudo i ṱola ṱhuṱhuwedzo ya zwiṱaluli zwa mutshinyi, mbuedzedzo ya mutshinyi na zwine tshitshavha tsha mudzhiisa zwone na vhuvha zwi tshi ya kha u tshinya hafhu kha Dzingu ḽa Kakamega, Kenya. Ngudo yo shumisa tsedzuluso ya pulane yo dzudzanywaho ya ṱhoḓisiso. Mawanwa o dzumbulula tshivhalo tsha vhushaka ha ndeme vhukati ha zwiṱaluli zwa mutshinyi na u tshinya hafhu. U ḓadzisa khazwenezwo, mbuedzedzo y mutshinyi na zwine tshitshavha tsha mudzhiisa zwone na vhuvha zwi tshi ya kha vhatshinyi zwi ṱuṱuwedza nga huhulu u tshinya hafhu. U bva kha ngudo, hu themendelwa uri muvhuso u ṋetshedze vhaofisiri vha ndulamiso zwiko zwine zwa ṱoḓea u shumisa tshiedziso tsha u ṱola khohakhombo tsha vhukuma. Tshiedziso tshi shumiswa u vhofholola vhafariwa u humbulela khonadzeo ya vhumatshelo ya u tshinyahafhu. U ḓadzisa kha zwenezwo, hu themendelwa uri muvhuso na vhadzhiamukovhe vho fhambanaho vha vhululamisi vha ḓe na kuitele kwo ṱanganelaho kwo livhiswaho tshoṱhe kha u dzhena hafhu ha vhatshinyi musi vha tshi tou bva dzhele. Tsha u fhedzisela, hu themendelwa uri muvhuso u bveledzise mbekanyamushumo dzo livhiswaho kha u tsivhudza miraḓo ya tshitshavha u sa i sa phanḓa na u fara vhatshinyi vha kale nga nḓila i si yavhuḓi. / Vakhotsiwa lava tshunxiwaka eKenya va na 75% wa ntolovelo wa leswo va nga endla vugevenga byin’wana na 50% ta nkoteko wa ku ya ejele nakambe endzhaku ka ku tshunxiwa ka vona ejele. Kusuka eka ntolovelo wa ku vuyelela ku endla vugevenga nakambe eKenya, ku na nhlayo ya le henhla hindlela yo hlamarisa ya vaonhi lava va nga eku pfaleriweni ekhotsweni naswona endzhaku ka swona va tshunxiwa ku vuyela eka tindhawu ta vaaki, naswona ku na nxungeto wa le henhla wa ku khomiwa nakambe na ku pfaleriwa ekhotsweni nakambe hi vuntshwa, leswi i xivileriso eka vaendlatipholisi, vativi hi swa vugevenga na vafambisi va makhotso. Ndzavisisadyondzo lowu wu kambele nhlohlotelo wa swihlawulekisi swa vaonhi, ku hlanganisa nakambe vaonhi na vanhu eka tindhawu ta vaakandhawu na mavonelo na maehleketelo ya vaakandhawu hi mayelana na ku vuyelela ka swigevenga ku endla vugevenga eka Xifundza xa Kakamega, eKenya. Ndzavisisadyondzo lowu wu tirhise dizayini ya ndzavisiso wa mbalango ku nga survey research design. Leswi kumiweke swi paluxe vuxaka bya le henhla hindlela ya tinhlayonhlayo exikarhi ka swihlawulekisi swa vaonhi na vuyelelo bya ku endla vugevenga nakambe. Na le henhla ka sweswo, ku hlanganisa hi vuntshwa vaonhi na vaakandhawu nakambe hi vuntshwa na mavonelo na maehleketelo ya vaakandhawu eka vaonhi swi hlohlotela swinene vuyelelo bya ku endla vugevenga nakambe. Kusuka eka ndzavisisadyondzo, ku bumabumeriwa leswaku mfumo wu nyika vaofisiri va makhotso swipfuno leswi lavekaka ku tirhisa modlolo wa nhlahluvo wa nxungeto wa xiakichuwari ku nga actuarial risk assessment model. Modlolo lowu wu tirhisiwa eka vaonhi lava tshunxiweke ku vhumba nkoteko wa nkarhi lowu taka wa vuyelelo bya vugevenga nakambe. Ku tlhela nakambe ku bumabumeriwa leswaku mfumo na vakhomaxiave va makhotso vo hambanahambana va va na endlelo leri hlanganisiweke leri kongomisiwaka ngopfungopfu ku humeleka kahle ka ku vuyela ka vaonhi eka tindhawu ta vaaki loko vaonhi va tshunxiwa ekhotsweni. Xo hetelela, ku bumabumeriwa leswaku mfumo wu endla minongonoko leyi kongomisiweke eka vulemukisi bya vaakandhawu leswaku va tshika ku nyenyemuka khale ka vaonhi lava a va khotsiwile. / Corrections Management / Ph. D. (Criminal Justice)

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L’élimination programmée d’ADN spécifique de la lignée germinale pour former un nouveau noyau somatique a été décrite chez les eucaryotes. Ces réarrangements sont initiés par l’introduction de cassures double brin (CDB) de l’ADN et la préservation de l’intégrité du génome requiert une réparation efficace. Chez Paramecium tetraurelia, le génome est largement réarrangé pendant le développement du nouveau noyau somatique, après l’introduction de milliers de cassures double brin programmées par la transposase domestiquée PiggyMac (Pgm)Ces réarrangements consistent en l’excision précise de dizaines de milliers de séquences uniques et non codantes (IES) qui interrompent 47% des gènes dans la lignée germinale ; et l’élimination hétérogène de séquences répétées qui mène à des délétions internes de taille variable ou à la fragmentation des chromosomes avec addition de télomères aux extrémités.L’implication de la voie du Non Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) dans l’excision précise des IES a été prouvée. Dans des cellules déplétées de Ligase IV ou XRCC4, les cassures aux bornes des IES sont introduites normalement mais il n’y a pas de jonctions d’excision formées et les extrémités cassées s’accumulent sans être dégradées. Mais la voie de réparation impliquée dans les réarrangements imprécis est encore inconnue. L’hypothèse d’une réparation par la voie NHEJ alternative (alt-NHEJ), indépendante de Ku et impliquant la résection des extrémités et l’utilisation de microhomologie, a été émise. C’est pourquoi pendant ma thèse je me suis intéressé à ma thèse au rôle des protéines Ku.Deux gènes KU70 et trois gènes KU80 ont été identifiés dans le génome de la paramécie. KU70a et KU80c sont spécifiquement induits pendant les réarrangements programmés du génome et les protéines localisent dans les noyaux somatiques en développement. Des expériences d’extinction de ces gènes par ARN interférence ont prouvé que ces gènes étaient indispensables. Au niveau moléculaire, l’ADN non réarrangé est amplifié dans les cellules déplétées de Ku. De plus, les cassures double brin programmées ne sont pas introduites aux bornes des IES.Mes résultats suggèrent que Ku fait partie d’un complexe de pré-excision, avec la transposase domestiquée Pgm, et est nécessaire pour l’introduction des cassures double brin programmées pendant les réarrangements programmés du génome. / Programmed elimination of germline specific DNA has been described in several eukaryotic organisms. These rearrangements are initiated through introduction of DNA double strand breaks (DSB). To ensure genome integrity, efficient repair is needed. In Paramecium tetraurelia, the genome is widely rearranged during development of a new somatic nucleus after introduction of tens of thousands of DSBs by the domesticated transposase PiggyMac (Pgm)These rearrangements consist in: the precise excision of thousands of unique and non coding sequences called IESs that interrupt 47% of genes in the germline; and the heterogeneous elimination of repeated sequences. It leads to internal deletions of variable sizes or to chromosome fragmentation with telomere addition at DNA ends.Implication of the Non Homologous End Joining Pathway (NHEJ) in precise IES excision has been proved. In cells depleted for Ligase IV or XRCC4, DSBs at IES boundaries are introduced normally but broken DNA ends accumulate without being repaired nor degraded. The repair pathway implicated in heterogeneous rearrangements is still unknown. An hypothesis would be that heterogeneous rearrangements involve a Ku independent alternative NHEJ (alt-NHEJ) pathway characterized by end resection and use of microhomologies. During my thesis I studied the role of Ku proteins in programmed genome rearrangements.Two KU70 genes and three KU80 genes has been identified in the Paramecium genome. KU70a and KU80c are specifically induced during programmed genome rearrangements. Encoded proteins localize in developing somatic nuclei. Gene extinction by RNA interference experiments proved that these genes are necessary for programmed genome rearrangements. At molecular level, non rearranged DNA is amplified in cells depleted for Ku. And more surprisingly, no programmed DSBs are introduced at IES boundaries in these cells.My results indicate that Ku is a part of a pre excision complex with the domesticated transposase Pgm and necessary for the introduction of programmed DSB during programmed genome rearrangements.

L’augmentation du nombre d’appareils communicants et du débit de données a pour conséquence une montée en fréquence des dispositifs micro-ondes, notamment dans le secteur du spatial. L’optimisation des modules existants n’est pas toujours suffisante. Il faut donc synthétiser de nouveaux circuits. Cependant, la plupart des méthodes de synthèse existantes, inclues dans les logiciels de CAO, ne prennent pas en compte les modèles à pertes des fondeurs. Or, plus la fréquence de fonctionnement est élevée, plus leurs prises en compte est indispensable. Cette thèse propose une nouvelle méthode de synthèse et de conception pour les circuits faible bruit intégrés (amplificateur faible bruit et mélangeur). Elle prend en compte les modèles à pertes des composants passifs des fondeurs, les lignes de connexion, les jonctions et elle combine plusieurs fonctions comme l’amplification et le filtrage ainsi que le mélange et le filtrage. Elle a été validée en simulation et en mesure. / Due to the evolution of wireless systems and data rate, it is necessary to increase microwave operating frequencies, especially in space industry. Optimization of existing circuit topologies are always not enough and therefore, we need to synthetize new circuits. Unfortunately, most of the existing synthesis methods, including in CAD softwares, are only based on lossless passive component models. With the increase of operating frequency, we need to take the effect of losses in the passive component models during synthesis. This thesis introduces a new synthesis and design method for low noise integrated circuits(low noise amplifier and mixer). Lossy passive component models from foundries, connecting wires, junctions and co-design (amplification and filtering or mixing and filtering)are included. The design procedure was validated by simulations and measurements.

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The early 1920s are generally described as a period of transition for American society. Many forces of change collided to create an unsettled atmosphere that appeared to threaten traditional American ideas and values. After World War I, the United States fostered a climate of anti-Catholicism and nativism out of fear that foreign ideas spelled the demise of traditional American values. These ideas were certainly not new to American culture as anti-Catholic sentiments figured prominently throughout the founding of the nation. During the early 1920s, however, a resurrected Ku Klux Klan promoted itself as the protector of American institutions. It won recruits with an identity as a secret society for white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant citizens. The organization also exploited the political issues of the day to ingratiate itself within communities across the nation.

An analog circuit for beamforming in a mobile Ku band satellite TV antenna array has been implemented. The circuit performs continuous-time gradient descent using simultaneous perturbation gradient estimation. Simulations were performed using Agilent ADS circuit simulator. Field tests were performed in a realistic scenario using a satellite signal. The results were comparable to the simulation predictions and to results obtained using a digital implementation of a similar stochastic approximation algorithm.

An analog circuit for beamforming in a mobile Ku band satellite TV antenna array has been implemented. The circuit performs continuous-time gradient descent using simultaneous perturbation gradient estimation. Simulations were performed using Agilent ADS circuit simulator. Field tests were performed in a realistic scenario using a satellite signal. The results were comparable to the simulation predictions and to results obtained using a digital implementation of a similar stochastic approximation algorithm.