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Progressive Paradox in Political Rhetoric: The Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965
No full textThis dissertation investigates the interplay between U.S. norms for inclusion, the embedded role of religion within these norms, and how political rhetoric challenges or sustains them. Using a historical lens, I outline key moments in U.S. history, unravel central ideologies entrenched in U.S. narratives, and illuminate the ideographic function of the key concepts land, family, and work. These terms serve as conduits for conveying complex systems of meaning, which are entrenched in societal assumptions and concretized through political discourse and action.
These dynamics are demonstrated in a case study of the discourse surrounding the Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965, a landmark bill that claimed to end racial discrimination in immigration policy. Through an analysis of the deployment of the ideographs, I illustrate how ideologies that rank individuals based on perceived worthiness become institutionalized and resistant to change. Moreover, I illuminate the influence of quiet religion embedded in national narratives and political speech as a foundational authoritative source invoked in critical junctures to legitimize actions as morally sanctioned and aligned with divine or natural order. Even in times of significant social upheaval, such as the transformative1960s, overarching norms of inclusion and exclusion persistently evade thorough interrogation, underscoring their ingrained place within the fabric of U.S. society
The Role of Edc3 in Drosophila Melanogaster Neuronal Development
No full textEnhancer of mRNA-decay 3 (Edc3) is a component of multiple decapping complexes that regulates the transcriptome by targeting a subset of transcripts for decapping for 5’-to-3’ messenger RNA (mRNA) decay. A missense mutation in the conserved Lsm domain of Edc3 has been reported in two siblings presenting with mild, non-syndromic intellectual disability (ID), however, the role of Edc3 is neuronal development has never been evaluated. Here, we use the Drosophila melanogaster model system to investigate the effects of Edc3 disruption on neuronal development. We found Edc3 reduction leads to significant hyperplasia at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), providing the first evidence of a synaptic phenotype of Edc3 in any model system. To better understand how Edc3 regulates neurite morphogenesis in Drosophila, we performed RNA-sequencing and identified a subset of neuronal transcripts differentially stabilized when Edc3 is disrupted, with the bulk of genes downregulated. We performed a genetic interaction NMJ screen and identified several candidate genes predicted to be targets of Edc3 for decapping and 5’-to-3’ mRNA decay to regulate neurite morphogenesis. Additionally, we found several targets that interact genetically with Edc3 that are downregulated when Edc3 expression is reduced, suggesting Edc3 may target these transcripts to regulate neurite morphogenesis independently of the 5’-to-3’ mRNA decay pathway
The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor
Get PDFAcute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants undergoing the acute psychological stressor with their pet dogs present had significantly lower heart rates, lower plasma cortisol responses, and higher salivary alpha-amylase responses than people without their dogs. Those who participated without their dogs had a statistically flat alpha-amylase response, which is typically associated with extreme or pathological stress. These findings extend the potential effects of pet dogs beyond merely lowering their owner’s stress levels to maintaining a healthier, balanced response across the sympathoadrenal medullary axis and hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis
“I Won’t Ever Feel Normal”: Experience Reported Through Photovoice by Children with Chronic Kidney Disease
No full textBackground
Much of the global chronic kidney disease burden is experienced in low- and middle-income countries. Children living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face medical and social challenges, and they need support at the individual and family levels. This study aimed to explore children’s experiences living with kidney replacement therapy (KRT) who attend the largest pediatric nephrology department in Guatemala.
Methods
This qualitative study used photovoice and asked children to take pictures that represented what is like to live with CKD. Each child and their caregiver underwent an interview where the photos were used to elicit and facilitate discussion. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Eight children and their mothers participated in the study. Three themes were identified: interactions with the health system, changing and difficult family dynamics, and strains on social interactions. Children face social challenges including self-isolation and alienation. The family dynamics and familial structures often are forced to change, inducing stress. This is all exacerbated by the difficulties that arise in navigating the Guatemalan health system.
Conclusions
Photovoice techniques are a feasible way to understand the experiences of children and their families who face CKD. The disease affects all aspects of life and recognizing this while advising and administering care can help provide a comprehensive level of care. Health systems need to make efforts aimed at improving the quality of care as well as the multidisciplinary support available to children and their families
Missed Exits: Causal Mechanisms Influencing Militarized Interstate Dispute Escalation in Latin America
Get PDFResearch on militarized interstate disputes (MIDs) and the reasons for their escalation to interstate war is sparse at the global level and the regional level in Latin America. This thesis contributes new research on militarized interstate dispute escalation in Latin America. In this project, I ask: how do differences in conflict escalation indicators between states affect whether a Latin American country will participate in a Militarized Interstate Dispute that escalates to the use of force? To answer this question, I conduct a case study utilizing the most similar cases analysis approach to compare the cases of the 1995 MID between Ecuador and Peru as well as the 1997 MID between Nicaragua and Honduras. I also utilize process tracing to analyze the impact of the causal mechanisms of territorial contiguity, natural resource contention, development level, and issue salience on the escalation of MIDs in the former cases to one where actual force is used. From this process tracing, I find that a difference in issue salience, or the degree of importance attached to an issue by the actors involved, between the two cases contributed to a difference in MID escalation. Overall, this thesis fills a preexisting gap in the literature on militarized interstate disputes in the Latin American region while contributing new points of discussion to research on militarized interstate disputes, conflict escalation, and conflict early warning
Just Win, Baby: The Tenth Circuit Rejects the Anything Goes Tactics of the Hail-Litigation Gold Rush
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Guitar Etudes in the Lisztian Vein: Zanon Plays Mignone’s Twelve Etudes
Get PDFDiogo Alvarez reviews Fabio Zanon\u27s recording of Mignone\u27s 12 Etudes and other works, with commentary on the music and the composer