http://hdl.handle.net/10150/129652 2026-03-13T17:49:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/679721 Oxytocin Receptor Genetic and Epigenetic Variation, Early Life Adversity, and Breastfeeding Outcomes: A Three-Manuscript Dissertation Weinstein, Sarah Background: Suboptimal breastfeeding (BF) contributes to increased disease burden for both infants and lactating parents. Although social factors influencing formula supplementation and premature weaning are well documented, the physiological mechanisms underlying disrupted lactation remain less understood. Because BF is a biosocial process shaped by both biological and social forces, this dissertation applies a biosocial framework to examine how oxytocin system function relates to BF outcomes within the context of maternal early life adversity. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate associations between oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genetic and epigenetic variation and BF outcomes, and to evaluate how early adverse experiences may modify these relationships. Three cohesive manuscripts collectively address this objective. Methods: Manuscript 1 is a scoping review conducted using PRISMA guidelines to synthesize existing research on oxytocin and OXTR genetic and epigenetic variation in relation to postpartum outcomes, including maternal mental health, maternal behavior, and BF. Manuscripts 2 and 3 draw on secondary data from a randomized controlled trial led by PI Dr. Aleeca Bell (NIH R01NR018828), examining mother–infant synchrony among women with childhood adversity. Manuscript 2 uses a cross-sectional design to assess relationships between adverse childhood experiences, OXTR genetic and DNA methylation variations, and exclusive BF at 1 month postpartum through moderation models. Manuscript 3 employs longitudinal mixed-effects models to test whether BF exposure at 2 months postpartum predicts OXTR methylation, and whether these associations differ by genotype. Results: Across studies, this dissertation identified gene × environment interactions involving OXTR variations that influence maternal postpartum outcomes, with BF emerging as the least studied outcome in the literature. In the empirical analyses, higher adversity exposure combined with the GG genotype at rs53576 was associated with greater likelihood of exclusive BF at 1 month. Additionally, higher BF exposure at 2 months postpartum was associated with increasedmethylation among GG individuals but decreased methylation among A-carriers. These findings suggest differential susceptibility to social and biological exposures, highlighting that OXTR genotype may shape maternal physiological responsiveness during both early life and the perinatal period. Conclusions: Together, these three manuscripts demonstrate that OXTR genetic and epigenetic variation is associated with BF outcomes and may represent a mechanistic pathway linking early life adversity, lactation physiology, and maternal adaptation. This work underscores BF as a biosocial phenomenon and supports further investigation to identify individuals at increased risk for suboptimal lactation outcomes and to inform targeted, biologically informed interventions. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/679718 Teresa de Cartagena and Her Family: Jewish Continuity, Christian Endeavor, and Converso Voice Rodriguez, Catalina Hinrichs This dissertation examines the fifteenth century Castilian nun Teresa de Cartagena within the context of her family, her monastic career, her writing, and her religiosity. At its core, the study addresses the issue of religious continuity of Judaism after conversion and across three generations in Christianity. By situating Teresa alongside her grandfather and uncle, whose writings and careers reveal the persistence of Levitical traditions, the dissertation explores how familial background shaped her own spiritual identity and literary production. Methodologically, the project combines close textual analysis of key works by these family members with attention to the broader socio political and religious currents of fifteenth century Castile. This approach illuminates the ways in which Teresa’s voice, often read in isolation, resonates within a lineage negotiating faith, identity, and cultural belonging in a period of intense religious transformation. The central argument advanced here is that the Levitical heritage of the Cartagena family contributed significantly to the roles they assumed and to the distinctive sense of religiosity that Teresa herself embodied. In highlighting these continuities, the dissertation offers a new perspective on Teresa de Cartagena, situating her not only as an individual writer but also as part of a family whose experiences reflect larger patterns of conversion, adaptation, and cultural influence in late medieval Iberia. The findings contribute to scholarship on converso identity, women’s religious writing, and the interplay between Judaism and Christianity in medieval Spain, thereby enriching our understanding of Teresa de Cartagena’s place in Castilian cultural history. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/679716 Disseminating Intermediate Level Viola Repertoire Tovo Loureiro, Ana Luiza The mainstream approach to teaching the viola by using repertoire that is composed for other string instruments, such as pieces originally for violin, is problematic because it does not address challenges that are inherent to the viola, thereby not adequately preparing students for future technical and musical challenges in standard viola repertoire. Furthermore, the longstanding practice of relying on borrowed repertoire that does not take into account the specific acoustical qualities of the viola often results in subpar arrangements precisely because the repertoire does not take advantage of the tonal possibilities of the instrument and relies upon registers where the viola does not resonate fully. Moreover, appropriated repertoire can present technical challenges that prove discouraging for intermediate-level students, potentially hindering their progress and engagement with their studies. In order to move away from this approach to teaching the viola, this project aims to disseminate intermediate-level repertoire that is original for viola as well as resources to help teachers better prepare their students for their future artistic and technical challenges. A brief overview of salient aspects in the history of the viola contextualizes the rationale behind this endeavor in the document. Then, the YouTube channel Intermediate Viola Rep - which is the final product of this project and the means through which the dissemination effort happens is discussed. Subsequently, the pieces and the background of each composer featured in the channel are introduced. Then, the pedagogical aspects considered when choosing these pieces are discussed and examples from each piece provided, as well as links to the companion video that illustrates how those pedagogical aspects appear in each piece. Final considerations that include future directions for the project close this document. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/679715 DEEP LEARNING MODELS FOR ANALYZING AND PREDICTING MOSQUITO POPULATIONS Kinney, Adrienne Clara Understanding and forecasting mosquito population dynamics is a critical component of managing vector-borne disease risk, particularly in regions where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are endemic. This dissertation presents a progression of modeling strategies for predicting mosquito abundance, with a central theme of integrating mechanistic and machine learning approaches. The first study evaluates the ability of deep neural networks to learn the dynamics of a high-fidelity mechanistic mosquito population model. The results show that equation-free models trained on synthetic data can successfully replicate spatiotemporal abundance patterns, generalize well across diverse environmental conditions, and provide significant computational speedup. The second study introduces a probabilistic forecasting framework that converts local weather data into weekly predictions of gravid female trap counts. The method demonstrates robustness to imperfect weather forecasts and offers a practical tool for real-time surveillance. The third study presents a hybrid modeling approach using Universal Differential Equations (UDEs), in which a shallow neural network is embedded within a compartmental mosquito life cycle model. This structure enables the model to learn environmental drivers of mosquito trap counts while preserving biological interpretability. The UDE model accurately reproduces synthetic trap count dynamics and highlights the value of combining mechanistic and machine learning approaches. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the potential of scientific machine learning to advance mosquito population forecasting and inform targeted vector surveillance and control strategies. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z