8224 research outputs found
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Book Review: Wombs of Empire: Population Discourse and Biopolitics in Modern Japan, by Sujin Lee
Get PDFFrom Civic Duties to Democratic Mandates: The Theoretical Framework of Mill and Tocqueville on Compulsory Voting in the U.S.
Get PDFThis thesis examines the treatment of jury duty and voting in the United States through the philosophical framework of John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville. While jury duty is legally mandated, voting remains optional, despite both civic responsibilities being foundational to democratic participation. This research explores the historical, theoretical, and practical implications of voting becoming compulsory in the United States, as it is in other democratic nations. The analysis includes a comparative case study of the impact of Australia’s mandatory voting to evaluate whether it could become compulsory in the U.S. Both philosophers offer insightful knowledge on the role of civic responsibilities to uphold representative democratic values, with Mill’s utilitarian emphasis on the common good and Tocqueville’s focus on self-interest and the role of exclusion evident in American laws. The findings suggest that compulsory voting, or an equitable voting system, could address inequities in representation and foster a more inclusive democracy
Breaking Barriers: How Reusable Menstrual Products Can Enhance School Attendance and Education for Girls in Kenya
No full textIn Kenya, statistics show that at least one in ten girls who are of the age of puberty miss school during their menstruation hindering their ability to finish schooling, secure a stable employment, and live independently. This thesis aims to highlight the issue of girls missing school due to their menstrual cycle, a problem that persists globally despite being solvable. The primary focus is on how reusable sanitary products, such as reusable pads, can aid girls to stay in school longer by addressing affordability and accessibility issues associated with commercial products, while also offering environmental benefits. The question guiding my research is: “What strategies have proven most effective in addressing period poverty in low-income communities in developing countries, and how does access to resources influence their implementation.” By writing this thesis, I aim to advocate for the proliferation of reusable pads, particularly in the developing world. Using a qualitative approach, I conducted interviews with 12 18-year-old Kenyan girls and representatives from the NGO SeaVuria, which promotes the use of reusable pads
THE EXPERIENCE OF POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH FOR ATHEISTS
No full textBackground - This study aimed to understand how atheists manage to make meaning and find growth after experiencing trauma. Posttraumatic Growth is a well documented point of research across qualitative and quantitative domains, and this project aimed to add meaningful findings to that research body. Atheists, however, are an understudied population, especially as it relates to their subjective experience of trauma and posttraumatic growth.
Methods - This study aimed to investigate the experience of posttraumatic growth for atheistindividuals. Semi-structured interviews adhering to the tenets of interpretive phenomenological analysis were conducted then transcribed, coded, and analyzed. Themes and subthemes emerged and were analyzed.
Results – Several themes that map onto posttraumatic growth theory, in addition to themes outside of the five existing categories of posttraumatic growth were identified. The twelve themes identified are as follows: religious deconversion, PTG: existential change, meaning of life, intellectual haven, separation of church and state as a value, traumatic stress, survival, denial, PTG: personal strength, PTG: new possibilities, community, negative attitudes and perceptions of atheists, PTG: changes in relating to others, and advice for other atheist trauma survivors.
Conclusions – The atheist survivors have constructed immense meaning and purpose despite their lack of belief in a God or Gods. All survivors have struggled to find community at some point or another, but all pointed to having found community eventually. Evidence-based mental health guidelines aimed at identifying growth associated with the struggle of learning to survive after trauma has been discussed
Eco-Emotions and Climate Activism in Adolescents
No full textBackground. Youth are especially vulnerable to climate change, both physically and psychologically. Combatting climate change will require a coordinated, global effort. Understanding the motivations and emotions behind climate activism is essential to coordinate efforts to combat climate change.
Methods. This research uses survey data collected from first and second year undergraduates (n=521) at a private, urban university in California in the Fall of 2022. Youth were surveyed on emotions related to climate change, activism, compassion, eco-anxiety, and well-being.
Results. Experiencing positive emotions had a stronger relationship with environmental activism compared to negative emotions.
Conclusion. Results suggest climate change communications should consider incorporating more positive emotions to encourage activism in youth, especially since previous research shows negative emotions in response to climate change are linked to poor mental health. More research is needed in this field on positive emotions, which are often ignored completely in studies in favor of negative emotions
Spatially resolved transcriptomic profiles of placental cell populations in placental malaria
No full textMalaria remains a prevalent infectious disease that continues to cause disease-related morbidity and mortality. Despite preventative efforts, malarial pregnancies still cause birth complications, therefore emphasizing the necessity to study these adverse outcomes in malarial pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy can lead to placental malaria (PM), which is the presence and accumulation of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells in the placental intervillous space (IVS). Even after treatment, past PM (presence of hemozoin crystals from the parasite in the placenta) can cause a chronic inflammatory response. We predicted that the activation states of the maternal monocytes and fetal macrophages differ within the placenta and respond according to the parasite burden (active vs. past PM). We studied formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded placental biopsies from PM and healthy pregnancies. RNAscope HiPlex v2 in situ-hybridization technique was used to characterize the phenotypes of CD68 (pan-monocyte/macrophage marker), CD163 (anti-inflammatory macrophage marker), FOLR2 [tissue resident macrophage marker- fetal Hofbauer cells (HBCs)], and KRT7 (trophoblast marker). In the IVS compartment, the densities of pro-inflammatory maternal macrophages (FOLR2-CD163-), anti-inflammatory maternal macrophages (FOLR2-CD163+) and anti-inflammatory fetal HBCs (FOLR2+CD163+) showed a 3-, 3-, and 4-fold increase, respectively, in active PM compared to past PM (p\u3c 0.05). In the placental villi, the density of pro-inflammatory maternal macrophages (FOLR2 CD163-) demonstrated a 5-fold increase in past PM compared to active PM (p\u3c 0.05). The results demonstrate in active PM, anti-inflammatory fetal HBCs transmigrate into the IVS, recruiting both anti- and pro-inflammatory maternal macrophages. These results contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of PM and the development of treatments to diminish the effects of past PM
Graduate Student Paper: Aging in a Changing Japan: Gendered Adaptation to Changing Family Structure
No full textAlthough Japanese seniors are very healthy, research shows that they are not very happy. Compared to seniors in other developed countries, Japanese elders have lower ratings of subjective well-being and are increasingly alone. This paper argues that changes to Japanese family life help explain why Japanese elders are struggling with low subjective well-being. Specifically, declining marriage rates and declining rates of elders living with their children (co-residency) have made it harder for elders to get the support they need. Moreover, the effect and the adaptations to these changes are not equal between men and women. While elderly Japanese men are struggling to adapt, elderly Japanese women are adapting by building robust social networks. In turn, elderly men tend to have lower subjective well-being than their female counterparts. Although the Japanese government has many programs for its seniors, it needs to invest more resources to address this gender gap
Billiken as Transcultural Object from American Mascot to Japanese Pop Deity
No full textThis article examines Billiken’s transcultural journey from American novelty mascot (1908) to cultural icon, illuminating early twentieth-century Pacific exchange networks and patterns of cultural adaptation. Drawing on American and Japanese archives, it demonstrates how this commercial figure, born from Progressive Era optimism and incorporating Japanese (and Orientalist) design elements, was transformed within Japanese religious and cultural frameworks. The study analyzes Billiken’s metamorphosis from “good luck” commodity to quasi-religious icon, particularly in Osaka’s Shinsekai district, where strategic marketing drove his its late twentieth-century revival after decades of obscurity. While largely forgotten in America and elsewhere, Billiken’s endurance in Osaka challenges narratives of cultural imperialism and simple glocalization, revealing instead how transcultural objects can undergo ontological transformation through local agency, independent of their origins
Enhancing Patient Safety in a Skilled Nursing Facility with a Post-Fall Huddle Protocol: A Quality Improvement Initiative
No full textObjective To implement a post-fall huddle guide at a San Francisco Bay Area skilled nursing facility to address the 75 resident falls that occurred over an eight-month period. The literature emphasized the positive impact of huddles on staff communication, awareness, and collaboration which ultimately created a safe environment. Aim By November 4, 2025, the overall fall rates among patients in a San Francisco Bay Area SNF will decrease by 25%, from 4.8 falls per 1,000 patient days to 3.6 falls per 1,000 patient days. Methods Pre-implementation and post-implementation surveys were completed by LVNs and CNAs to assess knowledge of post-fall huddles and obtain feedback about barriers to its implementation. In-service sessions were conducted to introduce post-fall huddles to the LVNs and leadership staff. The electronic health record (EHR) was used to obtain and analyze fall data including overall falls, recurrent falls, injuries, and to identify trends. Results The data obtained from the EHR revealed 12 falls post-intervention and six falls pre-intervention indicating the intervention was not successful. Staff understanding of post-fall huddles was enhanced post-implementation. Conclusion Introducing post-fall huddles to the unit did not reduce the number of falls on the unit however with oversight from a change agent the QI team believes this intervention can create a safe environment for the residents