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From Ballots to Bodies: Exploring the Impact of Electoral Gender Quotas on Abortion Legislation
No full textM.P.P.Since 1980, electoral gender quotas have been implemented in over 130 countries in an attempt to promote gender equality. Multiple studies have been conducted to test this connection. However, most literature on the subject examines whether quotas promote gender equality more generally instead of analyzing the effect on specific policies. This paper uses the Quality of Governance’s Standard Dataset to conduct a fixed effects regression analysis to understand whether gender quotas assist in protecting a woman’s right to obtain an abortion. Ultimately, this analysis did not find a strong relationship between gender quotas and strictness of abortion laws. However, more research should be conducted on this important topic
Examining the Effect of State-Issued Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants on Labor Force Participation
No full textM.P.P.This study examines the relationship between state legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire driver’s licenses and subsequent immigrant labor force participation. The research uses a fixed effects linear probability model analysis on a panel dataset, drawing on data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). It investigates whether states that issue driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants foster improved economic outcomes for immigrant communities by way of an increased likelihood of labor force participation the year after enactment of the policy. The study finds that driver’s license policies do not significantly increase labor force participation, particularly among men already disengaged from the workforce. I suggest that while these policies enhance mobility and autonomy, they may not fully address structural barriers that trap undocumented immigrants in poverty. The research underscores the need for targeted policy interventions to support immigrants facing persistent obstacles in accessing and participating in society, aiming to dismantle systemic inequities
Improving Lipoprotein(a) Identification Through Provider Education
No full textD.N.P.Ischemic cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death around the world. Efforts to mitigate the impacts of heart disease include implementing lifestyle measures, using cholesterol lowering medications and controlling other metabolic states such as diabetes which contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. Despite these efforts, ischemic heart disease is expected to rise over the next few decades. One important contributing factor that has gained attention in recent years is Lipoprotein (a), a low-density lipoprotein that when elevated in excess of 50mg/dl has been found to be an independent risk factor for a multitude of cardiovascular conditions. Lp(a) testing is widely available, but often underperformed in those who have elevated cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this Quality Improvement Project was to ascertain whether dedicated Lp(a) education provided to primary care providers would increase the rate of testing in patients who have ASCVD risk factors. Following participation in two education sessions on Lp(a) and its role in heart disease, primary care providers ordered statistically significantly more Lp(a) tests in their patient populations. The results of this project are discussed in light of improving health equity in vulnerable communities where ASCVD is a primary health concern
Senescent-like Microglia Limit Remyelination through the Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype
No full textPh.D.Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease where increased age is associated with inefficient remyelination, resulting in degeneration of axons and worsening of symptoms. However, the impact of senescent cells (SC), whose accumulation is often associated with aging, remains unexplored in the demyelinated CNS. Here, I describe in my thesis, the presence of senescent-like cells in demyelinated lesions in mice. I observed an increase in SCs following demyelination and that SC depletion stimulates increased remyelination. Using a murine reporter line for p16INK4a, an indicator of senescence, I found an increase in senescence early post-lesion, with expression decreasing throughout remyelination. These markers predominantly colocalized with microglia. Additionally, analysis through MERFISH, a multiplexed single-molecule spatial transcriptomics approach, and immunofluorescence showed increased, prolonged SCs with age, correlating with reduced remyelination. Genetic and pharmacologic SC depletion resulted in increased remyelination, and senescence associated secretory phenotype reduction. RNA-sequencing and protein multiplexing identified multiple prospective targets for this improvement, including Eotaxin-1/CCL11, which we also found elevated with age in parallel with disease progression. When we inhibited CCL11 during remyelination in mice, it partially replicated the beneficial effects of SC depletion. The results of my study suggest that targeting of cellular senescence might promote remyelination in MS
AI Use Cases in Teaching Across Georgetown University
No full textFaculty will comparatively explore their experience using artificial intelligence in the process of designing, developing, and teaching online, hybrid, and in-person courses
Exploring Variation and Change in Huthail Arabic: The Case of the First-Person Pronoun
No full textPh.D.This dissertation presents a variationist sociolinguistic investigation of the Huthail Arabic dialect spoken in Alshafa village, western Saudi Arabia. It investigates dialect leveling and the impact of social factors—age, education, and gender—on the evolution of the Huthail dialect, particularly focusing on the morphological variable of the first-person singular possessive and object pronoun. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, utilizing sociolinguistic interviews with 24 Huthail native speakers across different age groups and genders alongside information about speaker attitudes assessed through identity questionnaires.Quantitatively, the study reveals that age, education, and gender significantly influence the use of the traditional [jah] variant, with a notable generational shift towards standard Arabic features among younger speakers, signifying dialectal change. Older and less-educated women exhibit a strong preference for [jah], symbolizing their role in preserving linguistic heritage. Conversely, educated older individuals and middle-aged speakers show a declining use of [jah], especially among men, indicating a transitional phase influenced by changing social dynamics and exposure to broader dialects.
Qualitatively, the analysis of attitudes uncovers a complex interplay between tradition and modernity within the community. Older and uneducated women hold strong traditionalist views and a deep attachment to the dialect and village life, whereas younger generations adjust their speech in formal settings and express concerns over stereotypes associated with the 'Bedouin' dialect. Young women, in particular, are less inclined to defend village stereotypes, reflecting a change in social and cultural perspectives. Middle-aged individuals straddle these viewpoints, acknowledging both the benefits and challenges of traditional village life.
This investigation fills a gap in sociolinguistic research on Bedouin dialects in Saudi Arabia, linking broader socio-economic transformations to language evolution in minority dialect communities. It underscores how education, age, and gender drive linguistic variation and change, and how community perceptions and attitudes shape dialectal evolution amidst rapid societal shifts. By tracking language change the Huthail community, the dissertation contributes valuable insights into the preservation of cultural identity and the adaptation to societal changes, offering a nuanced understanding of dialect leveling in the context of Saudi Arabia's rapid modernization
Book Review: La Totalité littéraire: Théories et enjeux de la littérature mondiale, by Jean-Marc Moura. Paris: PUF, 2023, 283 p., ISBN 978-2-13-085061-8
No full textReview of - La Totalité littéraire: Théories et enjeux de la littérature mondiale, by Jean-Marc Moura. Paris: PUF, 2023, 283 p., ISBN 978-2-13-085061-8https://doi.org/10.57928/wass-wn6
Book Review: Hannah Arendt e il cosmopolitismo. Stato, comunità, mondi in comune, by Angela Taraborrelli. Milano: Mimesis, 2022, 158 p., ISBN 9788857592947
No full textReview of - Hannah Arendt e il cosmopolitismo. Stato, comunità, mondi in comune, by Angela Taraborrelli. Milano: Mimesis, 2022, 158 p., ISBN 9788857592947https://doi.org/10.57928/5bqh-b75
Religion and Secularity in Classical Islam: The Dīn/Dunyā Differentiation in the Practical Philosophy and Cultural Context of Abū l-Ḥasan al-Māwardī (d. 450AH/1058CE)
No full textPh.D.This dissertation examines the categories religion (dīn) and worldly life (dunyā) in premodern Islamic thought, illustrating how an investigation of these domains of thought and activity enables a comprehensive and renewed understanding of the practical philosophy of al-Māwardī (d. 450 AH/1058 CE). Scholars have predominantly framed al-Māwardī as a jurist, a perspective shaped by a prevalent historiography that conceives of revealed religion as the singular normative discourse on ethics and social order in Islam. This approach has produced a one-sided reading of al-Māwardī’s legacy, focusing mostly on one legal work, The Ordinances, while neglecting his contributions in other fields such as adab-siyāsa (discourse on political prudence and governance). Although recent literature has explored some of his non-juristic writings, the emphasis on jurisprudence continues to underpin the assessment of al-Māwardī’s thought and the broader study of Islamic political tradition.Aiming to rectify the fragmented portrayals of al-Māwardī, this dissertation employs linguistic theories, including semantic fields and Bakhtin’s notion of “speech genre,” to trace the formation of the dīn/dunyā differentiation in Arabic theological, philosophical, and juristic discourses from early Islam to the classical Islamic culture (circa. 750–1100 CE). By closely examining al-Māwardī’s thought through the religious/worldly distinction, the dissertation shows how this differentiation functions in key areas of his practical philosophy, thus revealing the connections between his ideas on religion, ethics, politics, and jurisprudence. In particular, the study shows that al-Māwardī’s thought extends beyond juridical discourse, with the dīn/dunyā differentiation serving as a paradigmatic principle that enables various forms of normativity in his corpus and cultural context. It then introduces the construct of “dunyawī meta-discourse” to elucidate the worldly discourse on the human condition in al-Māwardī’s works and examine its overlaps with the disciplines of revealed religion. This approach leads to more nuanced interpretations of al-Māwardī’s ethical and political ideas and their place in Arabo-Islamic intellectual history.By examining the dīn/dunyā differentiation and its continued significance in Arab and Muslim thought, this study contributes to the fields of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, and Political Science, offering new insights into the genealogies and functions of the concept of dīn in Islamic thought
Utilizing Leisure: Socializing Children and Adolescents in Revolutionary Egypt, 1956-1964
No full textM.A."Utilizing Leisure" is a look at the cultural production and state-sponsored programs that contributed to the Socialisation of children and youth during the Nasserist period. Using a range of primary sources that include songs, magazines, and comic books, I look into how the "utilization of leisure time" was an opportunity for the state to promote its values and ideas for students. Each chapter will look into how that process developed, whether it was through songs, comic books, or student journalism