MARS

MARS is a repository service of Mason Publishing and the Data and Digital Scholarship Services (DDSS) at the George Mason University Libraries. MARS provides enduring, stable, well-indexed access to a wide range of scholarship from the Mason community, such as Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), articles, presentations, reports, and creative work. Learn more about publishing, sharing, and preserving research data with the George Mason University Institutional Dataverse, and our other repository services.

To start publishing your content in MARS, please contact us by using our online form. Questions? Please email publish@gmu.edu.

 

Recent Submissions

Publication
Climate Change as a Human Rights Crisis in the United States: Evaluating Government Response and Accountability
(2025-01-30) Lin, Yenting
Climate change is not just an environmental crisis; it is a fundamental human rights violation issue. This paper examines the impact of climate change on the communities in the United States, highlighting violations of essential human rights such as the right to life, health, and an adequate standard of living. Through case studies of extreme weather events, including the 2025 LA wildfires and the 2024 hurricanes in Florida, the research underscores how climate-induced disasters harm low-income and minority populations. It critiques the U.S. government's climate policies and disaster response mechanisms, exposing systemic inequalities in resource distribution and emergency assistance (UN Human Rights Council, 2023). Drawing from international human rights frameworks, this paper argues for stronger legal protections and climate policies that prioritize social equity and environmental justice. The discussion includes an analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA climate initiatives, and FEMA's role in disaster relief, assessing their effectiveness in mitigating human rights violations (Environmental Protection Agency, 2025). Additionally, the paper aligns policy recommendations with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to advocate for a more inclusive, rights-based approach to climate action (United Nations, 2025). This paper is both an academic analysis and a personal commitment to advancing environmental justice, ensuring that climate policies serve all communities equitably, rather than exacerbating existing social injustices.
Publication
Reducing Readmission Rates Through Remote Monitoring: A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Heart Failure and Pneumonia
(2024-04-24) Adam, Mariam; Min, Hua
This thesis addresses the significant challenge of high hospital readmission rates in the U.S., with a specific focus on heart failure and pneumonia, and proposes remote monitoring as a viable solution to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Utilizing data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, this study delves into the complex factors leading to readmissions, such as care coordination, medication management, and social determinants of health. It argues that remote monitoring—through mobile apps, wearable devices, and teleconsultations—can bridge the care gap post-discharge by allowing for continuous management, early detection of health issues, and greater patient engagement. Despite potential concerns around patient privacy, data security, and equity of access, the research suggests that remote monitoring offers a promising strategy to decrease readmission rates, highlighting the need for future research and policy shifts towards more technology-driven, patient-centric healthcare models.
Publication
Effects of Rearing Conditions on Behavior and Neuropathology in h-TAU Transgenic Alzheimer’s-Type Mice
(2023-08-04) Sharma, Karolina; Flinn, Jane
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and currently incurable form of dementia that affects nearly 5.8 million Americans (CDC, 2021). It results in brain atrophy and neuronal death, which with time results in severe memory impairment and loss of ability to function. Activities of daily living (ADLs) and meaningful interactions with others are primarily affected, even in the early stages of the disease. There are numerous variables that exacerbate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Some of those variables include isolation and the lack of environmental enrichment. Those burdened with AD are often secluded at home or in a nursing center and there has been extensive research regarding loneliness and isolation in both human and mice models. Contrarily, socialization and environmental enrichment has not been studied substantially. Enriched housing has been shown to have a positive effect on AD progression and could be a promising area of research against Alzheimer’s disease (Griñán-Ferré et al., 2018). This study aims to investigate the effects of rearing conditions on behavioral and neuropathological differences in hTau transgenic Alzheimer’s-type mice. rTg 4510 and 4510 -/- mouse models, which are models of AD were employed in this study. Mice were either reared in Block Party housing or standard cages for a duration of four months, in order to allow for appropriate neurodegeneration to appear in the transgenic subjects. All mice underwent various behavioral testing to assess cognitive deficits. Western blots were used to analyze tau protein and p-Tau concentration. Based on the results of this study, Block Party housing did not ameliorate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Furthermore, it seems to lead to some negative outcomes for mice housed in this type of paradigm. Nevertheless, these findings have important implications for understanding the behavioral and molecular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
Publication
Inhibition of TC-83 Alphavirus by Small Molecule Saracatinib and Piscidin Peptide Candidates
(2024-04-18) Green, Leykie I.; Narayanan, Aarthi
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) is an encephalitic alphavirus that is known to cause disease in the central nervous system (CNS). It is naturally transmitted by infected mosquitoes and causes disease in equines and humans on a regular basis in various parts of the world. VEEV also has the potential to be aerosolized, and when infection is acquired via the respiratory route, the chances of CNS penetration are higher, with increased incidences of morbidity and mortality. Even if infected individuals clear the infection, there is a potential for long term neurological sequelae in survivors, thus increasing the disease burden. There are currently no FDA-approved therapeutic intervention strategies to treat the encephalitic manifestations of VEEV infection-induced disease. This thesis project focused on establishing early stage efficacy measurements for a candidate small molecule inhibitor, Saracatinib, which is already FDA-approved for the treatment of cancer. In addition, this project also involved screening a small library of synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from a parent piscidin peptide. Piscidins are fish-derived, naturally occurring AMPs that have been demonstrated to have antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties. My project was based on the hypothesis that Saracatinib and synthetic piscidin-derived AMPs will demonstrate antiviral activities against VEEV. This project was performed using the attenuated TC-83 strain of VEEV, in the context of several human-derived cell lines of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Analysis of antiviral activities of Saracatinib in the nontoxic range demonstrated that endothelial cells were highly responsive to treatment and showed significant reduction in viral load in treated cells. Screening of the synthetic piscidin library has identified four candidates that showed a statistically significant reduction in viral load in a human astrocyte cell line. Cumulatively, these data provide the foundation for further development of Saracatinib and prioritized synthetic piscidin AMPs as therapeutic intervention strategies against VEEV infection.
Publication
Exploring Structure Risk and Hazard Analysis Using Geographic Information and Spatiotemporal Trends
(2024-01-12) Graulich, Jack; Rice, Matthew
This research reviews the past, current, and future approaches to hazard risk assessment and its use in accreditation and insurance processes for local governments. The overarching theme of this research is modeling potential risk, defined as the likelihood of an event multiplied by the consequences of the outcomes of a hazard. For the last millennia, efforts have been taken to reduce the risk of fire impacts on surrounding structures, and to reduce the potential for catastrophic spread and destruction of property and loss of life. This thesis research includes an in-depth look at past instances of large fires that resulted in large scale changes in approaches for reducing risk and hazard to structures, and doctrinal approaches for reducing risk and hazards over time. Past visualizations of hazard risk with examples form Sanborn Maps in the late 19th and early 20th century are presented, finding similarity with modern GIS-based modeling and mapping approaches. The current industry standard modeling approaches are demonstrated, using frameworks and risk metrics defined by the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). These are used to develop optimized models for fire and structure risk in the City of Fairfax, in the context of local fire and rescue capabilities. The groundwork for future technologies is also analyzed for potential spatiotemporal modeling of an important dynamic risk factor: building occupancy. The technologies reviewed are evaluated according to their function and capability for developing a dynamic spatiotemporal model, with a goal of incorporating risk analysis into the framework of a detailed 4-dimensional structure model. The final discussion in the thesis is about strategies and methods to further model and analysis of risk from the perspective of fire response.