This collection addresses the exposure created by a missing personal boundary. The confusion of psycho-personal interactions is explored as is the damage created by living without a protective shield. These poems explore emotional, physical, and social emergence, with nature as a silent, yet sentient witness. This exploration culminates in an awareness that natural life has stepped in to enable healing. The duality of a fractured upbringing between the New York City center and the isolation of farmland, as well as the paradox of extremes created, lead to a need to find solace in safe spaces. The gentle canopy created by outstretched branches act as a surrogate for the arms that did not protect or embrace through childhood. This collection of poems is a celebration of natural healing. Peel in the Garden is a deep dive into what was a forbidden area for so many years. The landscape left by trauma becomes a tangible experience that readers can hopefully grasp, digest and savor.

This study investigated the use of "naturalistic stressors" such as physical restraint and animal pheromones on the etiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a murine model. Pilot data suggest that stress effects may lead to an increase in the amount of time needed for cutaneous wounds to heal. Pilot data to support the creation of this model are presented suggesting that a delayed stress response may inhibit healing rates. In the present study an animal model of PTSD was used to investigate the effect of stress on the immune system. Yehuda and Antelman's (1993) nonhuman animal model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was tested with respect to the animals' immune response to cutaneous wounding. Additionally, effects of stress on exploratory behavior and activity were examined. The findings support the hypothesis that restraint and pheremonal stress and housing arrangements influence the ability of mice to heal a 1.5 mm punch biopsy, and exploratory behavior. The findings also support a profile for the Post-Traumatic Mouse. / Ph. D.

My personal experience on loss inspired me to consider how parents who lose children to cancer, accidents, or other terrible things are able to deal with the loss. Where did they go for support? How did they learn to cope with the loss for a lifetime? As I dealt with my loss, I went to therapy and opted for a prescription free treatment. I dove deeper into yoga and meditation and I recognized that therapy was helping but was not enough. The only thing that truly made me feel better was physically moving my body. I felt some satisfaction from recognizing this, yet I felt alone on my journey. Time passed and one afternoon during my weekly practice of yoga, I had a pivotal Matsyasana (fish pose) with the crown of my head submerged in the shoreline of St. Augustine Beach. It became clear to me that the I needed to use my thesis to create a healing place to unify bereaved parents. I desired it, and knew that others around me did as well. That sunny afternoon the idea of a holistic support center was conceived. / Master of Architecture

Biophilia: the close relationship between architecture and nature. In my thesis, I look to embrace that relationship by designing housing for homeless veterans. For veterans, this connection helps the space become a place of healing and reconnection to nature, which is proven to have a positive impact in our health and wellness. The building becomes a container of nature, where the presence of green features and natural elements are present from the moment you come into the building, the choice of materials, the different activities and position of the spaces to welcome the most amount of natural elements into the building. This creates an indoor/outdoor environment where the resident feels secure by the walls but also welcome by nature. The building captures nature through different activities and moments, where both nature and architecture work together to create a space of healing and peace, a place of freedom, but at the same time a place of security and stability. An oasis in the city, which helps homeless veterans start over and create a space they can call home. The building is equipped to offer different activities and purposes not only for the residents, but also for the employees and visitors. The building becomes a welcoming space for the neighbors but also for nature. The building welcomes different species and promotes the creation of different habitats that can serve the growth of the ecosystem. / Master of Architecture / How can Architecture and Nature work together to create healing spaces? The purpose of this thesis was to study the relationship between nature and architecture. Today, rapid growth in cities and urbanization has cause these two to be seen as separate or different, creating spaces that do not promote human well-being and healthy spaces. When in fact, when both nature and architecture work together, it creates the best and healthiest spaces for human health, performance and well-being. In this project, I focused on creating healing spaces for homeless veterans; a group that is increasing in number in large cities such as Washington D.C. Veterans are falling into homelessness due to Post-traumatic stress disorder, making it hard for them to adapt back into their normal life. Many of them live in poor conditions on the street, shelters and cars; spaces that are not suitable for people living with this disorder. Instead, I am proposing a transitional housing project where they will be trained, offered job opportunities, and a space where they will in constant presence of nature from the moment they walk into the building until they get to their room. This is because biophilic design has proven to improve the perfomance, quality of life, and health of humans. The residents of this project will have an efficient building with communal spaces, spaces for active and passive recreation, and different connections to nature to improve and expedite their healing.

There are approximately 375 million people that suffer from mental disorders or mental illnesses in the world, which can cause severe psychological problems and mental illnesses in general. it is, however, an unfortunate fact that many of these patients go undiagnosed and untreated as a result of the stigma that surrounds mental illness and prevents them from seeking help. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, mental illness is not considered to be a serious problem by the majority of people. Since the stigma associated with mental illness in Saudi Arabia is high, there are no accurate statistics on the number of people diagnosed with mental illness there. Mental illness in this country is stigmatized by many people, which causes many people to avoid seeking treatment from psychiatrists. The research found that stigma was the most common reason delaying psychiatric visits since 96% of the population believes that people who suffer from illnesses of the mind are mad and therefore have weak personalities as a result of such illnesses and psychological problems. This underlines the crucial importance of raising awareness and educating the public about mental health. In this thesis, I want to shed light on the stigma surrounding mental health and to emphasize the need to minimize stigmatization and decriminalization of mental health. King Salman Park, a new development project, aims to provide a beautiful park for the Saudi community, by linking it to a variety of roads to make it accessible to everyone. By using a small portion of this park, we can construct an equine therapy centre that provides safe, supportive surroundings for our visitors. As a part of incorporating Saudi Arabian culture and therapy, an Arabian horse has been used, which has been cherished and loved by Saudi Arabians since ancient times as a great companion. Hopefully this unobtrusive move will bring awareness to Saudi Arabians and encourage them to seek more serious assistance in the future. / Master of Architecture / Mental illnesses are often referred to as psychiatric disorders and they affect approximately 375 million people all over the world. In spite of this, a large number of these patients go undiagnosed and untreated because mental illness carries a stigma that prevents them from seeking help. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, mental illness is not considered to be a serious problem by the majority of people. There are no accurate statistics on the number of people in Saudi Arabia who are diagnosed with mental illness because many patients do not seek assistance from psychiatrists due to the stigma associated with mental illness in the country. Researchers found that stigma was the most common reason delaying psychiatric visits, since 96.9% of the population believed that patients with mental illness were mad and had weak personalities as a result of mental illness and psychological problems. This underscores the importance of public education and raising awareness regarding mental health. The main goal of this thesis is to reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. A supportive environment can be created through integrating Saudi Arabian culture and therapy by using an Arabian horse, which Saudi Arabians have loved and cherished as a great companion since ancient times.

Whether innate immune cells may be adapted into potential memory states has becoming an important question in the field of immunity. Although previous conceptual paradigm failed to acknowledge this important question, emerging clinical and basic observations have started to shed intriguing clues to shake the previous dogma regarding innate immunity of being "simple", "raw", "first-line defense with no memory". We have aimed to further address this fundamental issue in this dissertation work, under the close guidance of Dr. Liwu Li. We have chosen to use the model system of Toll-Like-Receptor (TLR) signaling networks within primary monocytes. TLRs play fundamental roles in sensing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and modulation of innate immunity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin found on the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, is the ligand of TLR4 and induces a range of inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory responses. Higher dosages of LPS were known to cause robust yet transient expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. On the other hand, the effects of super-low dose LPS, commonly manifested in humans with adverse health conditions, have been largely ignored in the basic research field. Super-low dose LPS may skew host immune environment into a mild non-resolving pro-inflammatory state, which is a risk factor for inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, compromised wound healing, and elevated risks for sepsis. Our central hypothesize is that monocytes may be adapted by super-low dose LPS into a non-resolving low-grade inflammatory state conducive for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. We have employed both in vitro cell culture system as well as in vivo disease models to test this hypothesis. For the in vitro system, we have cultured primary murine monocytes with increasing signal strength of LPS. Monocyte phenotypes such as the expression of key inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and cellular surface markers were studied. Potential molecular and cellular mechanisms were examined. We revealed a novel low-grade inflammatory monocyte phenotype termed ML adapted by super-low dose LPS, mediated through IRF5. For the in vivo system, we have employed both acute and chronic models of inflammation. For the chronic model, we have tested the effects of super-low dose LPS on monocyte polarization in vivo, as well as its contribution to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we have tested the effects of programmed monocytes on wound healing. For the acute model, we have tested the effects of pre-conditioning with super-low dose LPS on the subsequence risks of sepsis elicited by cecal ligation and puncture. We have demonstrated aggravated atherosclerosis, compromised wound healing, and increased sepsis mortality in mice pre-conditioned with super-low dose LPS. Taken together, our findings reveal that monocytes can be differentially programmed into distinct states, depending on the signal strength of LPS. The differential programming and adaptation of monocytes can occur both in vitro and in vivo, and may bear profound pathological consequences. / Ph. D.

This paper explores the intersection of healing, movement, and landscape architecture, focusing on the concept of therapeutic movement. Drawing from the author's background in both landscape architecture and dance, the research investigates how outdoor environments can be designed to facilitate healing through mindful movement practices. By examining existing outdoor spaces designed for various purposes such as recreation, yoga, tai chi, and other forms of mindful movement, the study seeks to understand how landscape architects can integrate therapeutic movement into their designs. The research is centered on a design project situated in Blacksburg, VA, proposing the seamless transformation of unused areas to a nature park tailored for therapeutic movement, adjacent to actively used recreational areas. Throughout the paper, the author engages with topics including the human experience of landscapes, the therapeutic value of movement, and the design considerations for creating healing landscapes. By analyzing practices such as Dance/Movement Therapy, Yoga Therapy, and Tai Chi, the paper offers insights into how landscapes can enhance healing benefits and foster a deeper connection to oneself, community, and the landscape. The proposed design guidelines aim to inform future landscape architecture projects, contributing to the field's understanding of designing spaces for therapeutic movement and promoting holistic well-being. / Master of Landscape Architecture / This paper dives into how nature, movement, and designing outdoor spaces intersect to promote healing. The author, a student of landscape architecture and a dancer, looks at how being mindful about movement outdoors can help people heal. They study existing outdoor areas used for things like yoga and tai chi to see how landscape architects can create spaces that encourage healing through other types of movement, like dance. The research focuses on a project in Blacksburg, VA, where they suggest turning unused areas into a nature park specifically for therapeutic movement, next to places where people already go for recreation. The goal is to give guidelines for future projects in landscape architecture that promote well-being through movement and nature.

Forward Fast, Always/Never (Together Forever) and Shotgun Baby are three short experimental documentary films as part of the requirements for earning a Master of Fine Arts in Feature Film Production from the University of Central Florida. These films focus on the unique power of cinema and its ability to assist in healing from complex trauma. Three films were produced on an artisanal, micro-budget scale. This body of work confronts and examines the significant traumas from an abusive childhood upbringing (Shotgun Baby), the effects of misogyny in Western media on my developing filmic sensibilities (Forward Fast), and the lasting emotional distress from a recurring pattern of fractured friendships (Always/Never (Together Forever)). Home movies and personal archives are employed in a ritualistic approach to self-healing and the reframing of these narratives. This work is confrontational and deeply personal, exploring the unique power of cinema to heal complex trauma and connect audiences through a shared experience. This thesis outlines personal research with my self as the subject. These short films serve as a vehicle for catharsis and self-healing; reclaiming and reframing narratives, ultimately seeking freedom from trauma’s grasp. The style of the films are intensely personal, therefore, the following thesis mirrors a certain level of self-disclosure and diaristic framework. The findings from development to completion of three short films are all focused around transmuting pain.

Home - the universally understood and desired state of being that is existing naturally, harmoniously, familiar, and whole. What does it mean to leave home and to seek refuge? And how do we find home again? Throughout history and today, communities across the globe have either suffered in or been plagued with a refugee crisis in some form. Laos is the most bombed country per capita in history. During the American Secret War on Laos, 270 million tons of cluster bombs were dropped on Laos from 1964-1973: equivalent to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours per day, for 9 years. Today, over 265,000 Lao Americans live in the United States with a majority of them arriving as refugees in the 1980s as a result of the Secret War. Lao Americans forced from their homes have since found refuge but what does it look like for them to come home? Understanding home as not only defined as a physical geospatial location, what creates the physiological sense being at home in one's body and one's mind? These are the questions underpinning this thesis. They necessitate an understanding of psychology, sociology, and neurology in a way that has traditionally not been a framework of architectural education and design process thinking. As the broader mental health crisis and concern for well-being continues to dominate societal struggles, architecture and design are called upon to evolve their methodologies. Making Space: Refuge to Home presents a design methodology that focuses on cultivating an informed and empathic client relationship in order to drive intentional design choices based on desired physiological outcomes. In doing so, this thesis offers an approach of how to navigate the complexities of place, home, safety, and identity in order to make space that shifts from providing refuge and safety, to being home and whole. By utilizing participatory story-telling, psycho-social outcome identification, and empathic imagination, this thesis develops a trauma-informed and well-being centric design approach for cultivating resilience and making space to come home. This methodological rigor is applied specifically to the Lao American community and their experience of forced resettlement and intergenerational trauma. Making Space: Refuge to Home challenges traditional architectural approaches that often lean on cultural appropriation, iconographic motifs, or traditional programmatic understandings of what a cultural center is and instead, crafts a new design language. The result is a design approach that places the lived emotional and physiological experience of the user group first. The result is an attempt at a more authentic and complex understanding of home that straddles a multiplicity of cultures and lived realities. / Master of Architecture / Home - the universally understood and desired state of being that is existing naturally, harmoniously, familiar, and whole. What does it mean to leave home and to seek refuge? And how do we find home again? Throughout history and presently, communities across the globe have either suffered in or been plagued with a refugee crisis. Laos is the most bombed country per capita in history. During the American Secret War on Laos, 270 million tons of cluster bombs were dropped on Laos from 1964-1973: equivalent to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours per day, for 9 years. Today, over 265,000 Lao Americans live in the United States with a majority of them arriving as refugees in the 1980s as a result of the Secret War. Lao Americans forced from their homes have since found refuge but what does it look like for them to come home? Understanding home as not only defined as a physical geospatial location, what creates the physiological sense being at home in one's body and one's mind? These are the questions underpinning this thesis. The direct connection of the built environment and individual well-being has only become more apparent in the past two years as a widespread societal awakening towards systemic issues around public health have been illuminated during the global pandemic. As the mental health crisis and concern for well-being continues to dominate societal struggles, Making Space: Refuge to Home presents a design methodology that focuses on using psychology, sociology, and neurology to inform an empathic client relationship that is better equipped to drive intentional design choices. In doing so, this thesis offers a trauma-informed and well-being centric design approach of how to navigate the complexities of place, home, safety, and identity in order to make space that transforms from simply offering refuge to being home. This method is applied specifically to a study of the Lao American community and their lived experience of forced resettlement and intergenerational trauma. Although the thesis focuses on the Lao American community, Making Space: Refuge to Home, speaks to all communities and individuals navigating multiple identities and cultures, seeking wholeness - seeking home.

No / Peripheral intracrine sex steroid synthesis from adrenal precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate has evolved in humans. We sought to establish if there are differences in intracrine, paracrine, and endocrine regulation of sex steroids by primary cultures of human skin epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Microarray analysis identified multifunctional genes modulated by steroids, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) mRNA expression, enzymatic assay aromatase activity, scratch assay cell migration, immunocytochemistry α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen gel fibroblast contraction. All steroidogenic components were present, although only keratinocytes expressed the organic anion organic anion transporter protein (OATP) 2B1 transporter. Both expressed the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1). Steroids modulated multifunctional genes, up-regulating genes important in repair and aging [angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), lamin B1 (LMNB1), and thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP)]. DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S), DHEA, and 17β-estradiol stimulated keratinocyte and fibroblast migration at early (4 h) and late (24–48 h) time points, suggesting involvement of genomic and nongenomic signaling. Migration was blocked by aromatase and steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitors confirming intracrine synthesis to estrogen. Testosterone had little effect, implying it is not an intermediate. Steroids stimulated fibroblast contraction but not α-SMA expression. Mechanical wounding reduced fibroblast aromatase activity but increased keratinocyte activity, amplifying the bioavailability of intracellular estrogen. Cultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes provide a biologically relevant model system to investigate the complex pathways of sex steroid intracrinology in human skin.—Pomari, E., Valle, L. D., Pertile, P., Colombo, L., and Thornton, M. J. Intracrine sex steroid synthesis and signaling in human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.