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Effect of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment on Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textChinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has grown rapidly over the past two decades, sparking debate over whether it meaningfully supports economic development or instead fosters enclave projects with limited local benefits. This thesis offers a comprehensive econometric analysis of Chinese FDI in SSA using both country-level and industry-level data, extending through 2022. We investigate how Chinese capital influences key outcomes—ranging from short-term infrastructure and trade gains to longer-run indicators like GDP growth, export complexity, and industry-specific spillovers. Despite prior assumptions that Chinese FDI might concentrate in resource-rich, weak-governance contexts, our regressions find no robust link. Moreover, using multiple measures of Chinese FDI across industry-specific analyses and event study designs, we find largely null or marginal effects on local outcomes, including only limited evidence of positive spillovers in the Construction industry. These findings suggest that Chinese FDI alone rarely drives transformative growth, highlighting the need for strong institutions, complementary policies, and sectoral integration to unlock potential advantages of Chinese investment in SSA.Applied Mathematic
Molecular cellular and neuronal circuit basis of torpor regulation
No full textThe advent of endothermy is a defining feature of mammalian and avian evolution, achieved through finely tuned homeostatic regulation of body temperature and metabolism. However, when faced with food deprivation or harsh environmental conditions, many mammalian species initiate adaptive energy-conserving survival strategies, such as torpor and hibernation, during which body temperature drops far below its homeostatic setpoint. Despite their significance, the mechanisms by which homeothermic mammals initiate and regulate these extraordinary hypothermic states remain poorly understood.
In Chapter 2, we show that mouse torpor, a fasting-induced state characterized by a significantly decreased metabolic rate and body temperature as low as 20°C, is regulated by neurons in the medial and lateral preoptic area of the hypothalamus. We demonstrate that re-stimulation of neurons activated during a previous bout of torpor is sufficient to initiate key features of torpor, even in animals that are not calorically restricted. Among these neurons, we identify a population of glutamatergic Adcyap1+ cells whose activity reliably determines the timing of torpor initiation and arousal, and whose inhibition disrupts the natural process of torpor entry, maintenance, and recovery. Collectively, this work uncovers a specific neuronal population in the hypothalamus that serves as a core regulator of torpor in mice.
Next, in Chapter 3, we confirm that the Etruscan shrew, a mammalian species with the smallest body mass and an unfavorable surface-to-volume ratio, readily enters torpor upon fasting. Compared to the rat, a non-torpid species, the Etruscan shrew exhibits a relatively enlarged median preoptic area, the putative torpor-regulating region. This finding suggests that the expansion of this region in the Etruscan shrew might be a specialized adaptation to orchestrate torpor in a mammal with an exceptionally high metabolic rate.
Finally, in Chapter 4, we investigate how fasting-associated molecular changes influence avMLPA torpor-regulating neurons during the fasting-induced torpor process. Using single-nucleus multiome sequencing, we profile gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in the anterior and ventral portions of the medial and lateral preoptic area, where torpor-regulating neurons reside in mice. Notably, the majority of fasting-induced gene expression changes prior to torpor entry occurred in non-neuronal cells rather than neurons. In astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, we identify upregulated genes associated with glucocorticoid receptor signaling. Moreover, glucocorticoid receptor-binding sites, represented by the nuclear receptor family 3 sequence motif, are among the most differentially accessible regions during fasting compared to fed states. These findings suggest that fasting-induced changes in glial cells may prime avMLPA torpor-regulating neurons for activation.
Together, this work provides a foundation for future exploration of the molecular, cellular, and neuronal mechanisms regulating extreme hypothermic and hypometabolic states. Our findings enable genetic access to monitor, initiate, and manipulate these ancient adaptations of homeothermic biology, with potential applications in developing novel therapeutic strategies, advancing critical medical care, and facilitating adaptation to long-distance space travel.Medical Science
The identities and roles of cerebrospinal fluid macrophages during development and in the setting of neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage
No full textThe choroid plexus (ChP), a complex epithelial structure in the brain’s ventricles known for the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is being increasingly recognized for its role as an immune system hub. The largest population of immune cells are macrophages, which exist as two distinct populations inside the ChP (on the blood side of the blood-CSF barrier) and on the epiplexus surface of the ChP (on the CSF side of the blood-CSF barrier). The CSF population of cells includes not only the cells on the surface of the ChP, but those on the ventricle walls and free-floating in the CSF—together, these are the intraventricular macrophages, the first immune cells that encounter the CSF milieu.
One such condition in which the CSF milieu changes dramatically is in neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage, a common disease of preterm infants in which the fragile blood vessels of the adjacent germinal matrix (known as the lateral ganglionic eminence, or LGE, in mice) burst and causes bleeding directly into the brain ventricles. Macrophages are well-known for clearance of waste products, but how these immature macrophages interact with the harmful iron-containing red blood cells (RBCs) is currently unknown.
This study investigated the developmental appearance and activity of the brain macrophages ex vivo, their expression profile, and how they responded to hemorrhage in the embryonic mouse brain. We describe this elusive population in the ventricle over embryonic brain development and devise a method of imaging the intraventricular macrophages ex vivo. We use this technology in E12.5 embryos to examine the interactions between microglia of the LGE and the developing blood vessels in this region. In E15.5 embryos, we visualized the ChP, and compared the motility of stromal and epiplexus cells. Sequencing of these populations revealed that the embryonic intraventricular macrophages share a transcriptional identity with a previously described developmental microglial type. Using a mouse model of neonatal IVH, we show that embryonic intraventricular macrophages robustly respond to RBCs in the ventricle, and that in their absence, there is an increased number of RBCs present in the brain ventricles 3 days after hemorrhage. Altogether, the work presented here provides compelling evidence that intraventricular macrophages contribute to the removal of RBCs from the ventricle. Future work will explore targeting this population pharmacologically to ameliorate symptoms from neonatal IVH.Biology, Molecular and Cellula
Association Between Inflammatory Diet and Oral Diseases: Results from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
No full textObjective
The link between diet and oral health is well-established, yet the role of inflammation in this relationship has been underexplored. This study investigates the association between the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and various oral health outcomes including caries prevalence, missing teeth, and overall caries experience, while accounting for demographic and behavioral factors using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Materials and Methods
Dental outcomes assessed included active untreated caries, measured as the number and prevalence of: coronal and root caries; and number of missing teeth due to caries or periodontal disease complete edentulism; and overall caries experience measured by the DMFT index, which quantifies decayed, missing, and filled teeth. Logistic regression and Poisson regression models were used to evaluate associations between E-DII and oral health outcomes, adjusting for age, race, gender, education, income, smoking status, and time since last dental visit. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings by modifying the E-DII and applying different analytical approaches.
Results
The analysis included 8,131 U.S. adults aged 20 years or older who had completed dental examinations and two-day dietary recalls, representing a weighted population of approximately 231 million adults. Participants were categorized into quartiles based on their E-DII score, with higher scores indicating a more pro-inflammatory diet.
The distribution of E-DII quartiles varied by demographic factors. Higher E-DII scores were associated with lower education and income levels. More than one-third of non-Hispanic Black adults (34.4%) were in the highest E-DII quartile, whereas 43.2% of non-Hispanic Asians were in the lowest quartile. A higher proportion of current smokers and individuals without recent dental visits were also in the highest E-DII quartile.
Higher E-DII quartiles were significantly associated with poorer oral health outcomes. Individuals in the highest E-DII quartile had greater odds of experiencing coronal caries (adjusted OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.62–2.91), root caries (adjusted OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.37–3.22), and missing teeth (adjusted OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.13–2.06) compared to those in the lowest quartile. The mean number of decayed teeth increased progressively with higher E-DII quartiles, with an adjusted mean ratio of 1.79 (95% CI: 1.29–2.47) for the highest quartile. Sensitivity analyses, including a modified E-DII that excluded carbohydrates and alcohol, confirmed these associations. Further analysis using a binary classification of E-DII and continuous modeling supported the relationship between pro-inflammatory diets and poor oral health. Each unit increase in continuous E-DII was associated with increased odds of coronal caries (adjusted OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.16–1.44) and missing teeth (adjusted OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05–1.27).
Conclusion
This study highlights the significant impact of pro-inflammatory diets on oral health. A higher E-DII, indicating a more inflammatory diet, was consistently associated with worse oral health outcomes, including greater odds of coronal and root caries, missing teeth, and a higher number of decayed teeth. These findings suggest that dietary modifications could serve as a potential strategy for preventing oral diseases and improving overall oral health.Dental Public Healt
Worlds Left Over: Curiosity and Enhanced Experience in Bāṇa’s Kādambarī
No full textThis dissertation looks to the past in order to make claims about the future—or multiple possible futures—of a literary text. It does so by presenting a grounded ahistorical reading of Kādambarī, a remarkably difficult work of Sanskrit literary prose written by the court poet Bāṇa in the seventh-century capital city of Kannauj. This reading illustrates what I call “four-dimensional philology,” the self-reflexive interpretive practice whereby an influential conceptual resource from a text’s reception history functions as a point of departure for novel rereading. The main conceptual resource employed by this dissertation is Bhāmaha’s notion of “enhancement” (atiśaya). With it, I examine moments of heightened experience and expression in Bāṇa’s prose romance, particularly those involving divine horses and precious stones. Instead of limiting myself to the historical question of “what has been said about Kādambarī?” I instead opt for the irrealis mood, asking “what could be said?” in the hope of gaining greater clarity into what should be said about Bāṇa’s work. Ultimately, this dissertation aims to read Kādambarī better with the hope that we might better read ourselves. What is it about literature—especially difficult literature—that piques our curiosity? What forms can the ensuing “revelation” take? And why, after all this, would we ever wish to read Kādambarī again?South Asian Studie
Parental Bereavement in Childhood and the Development of Adult Psychopathology: A Scoping Literature Review
No full textTraumatic experiences have significantly negative effects on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents. This thesis aims to explore the long-term impacts of childhood bereavement and parental death on mental health using a scoping review approach. The review discusses the lasting consequences of parental death, identifies important characteristics, reviews gaps in current research, and situates the findings within existing literature. The central research question guiding this review is: To what extent does the existing literature present a relation between childhood bereavement and certain adult mental disorders? What factors moderate this relationship? Twelve key articles were included to form the basis of this discussion. These articles investigate the lasting psychological consequences of childhood bereavement on adults and their correlation to specific adult mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, unipolar disorders. The results indicate several factors influencing psychiatric outcomes, including the cause of death, the age at bereavement, and the gender of the deceased parent and child. External causes of death, especially suicide, were strongly related to the highest psychiatric risks compared to natural causes. The developmental stage at bereavement was also a crucial moderating factor, with early childhood bereavement leading to increased vulnerability. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the importance of further research to explore age- and gender-specific risk patterns and effective strategies to reduce the long-term psychological effects of bereavement. These findings indicate the significant and persistent impact of childhood parental loss.Extension Studie
The New function of Oblique
No full textOrthogonality in architecture has shaped our perception of the built environment. Floors, walls, ceilings, and structural grids are typically perpendicular to each other, which affects people’s behavior inside heavily constrained three-dimensional boxes. This thesis challenges the widespread notion of orthogonality in manmade structures and explores opportunities in oblique composition.
The oblique system was often overlooked due to its unfamiliarity compared to its orthogonal counterpart. From the factory buildings of the industrial era to contemporary supertall office buildings, planar walls, floors, and perpendicular connections between them consist of the basic structure of architecture. Conventional spatialization has a certain advantage regarding efficiency in space use and construction cost. However, adapting obliqueness opens up the possibility of a more active and dynamic space, as well as offering novel ways to connect spaces with different functions.
Typical perpendicular compartmentalization hardly offers a physical and sensorial connection with each space. Oblique planes bring obscurity, intentionally blurring the defined boundary between spaces. Different inclinations and slanted walls define the space, which also imagines how people interact with this novel method of comprising the building. There is a discrepancy between what people expect (orthogonal system) and what people will engage in (oblique). Claude Parent and Paul Virilio’s experiment on oblique architecture opened the discourse for novel ways of defining space.
This thesis uses Packard Plant, a well-known dilapidated industrial building in Detroit, as a testing ground to examine the contrast between the highly orthogonal and extreme oblique building orders. By doing so, the thesis expects to develop and play between traditional perception and visionary opportunity.Department of Architectur
Strengthening Relocation Pathways in Puerto Rico: A Community-Informed Approach to Coastal Hazards, Land Use, and Policy Integration
No full textPuerto Rico faces growing climate threats, sea level rise, extreme weather, and land loss, placing increasing displacement pressure on coastal communities. This thesis examines existing and potential policies, programs, and plans that could enable viable internal relocation pathways. It explores how land use planning, community-led initiatives, and cultural engagement can intersect to support residents who wish to remain rooted in place. The study proposes a framework for inland relocation that enhances long-term community resilience while honoring cultural continuity. Findings reveal opportunities to align current climate adaptation efforts with local priorities, supporting both physical safety and cultural survival. This work contributes to global climate justice research by offering practical strategies for sustaining island communities confronting existential environmental change.Department of Urban Planning and Desig
Deneys Reitz: “South African First, Dutchman Second” – A Case Study of the Evolution of South African Identity in South Africa in the First Half of the Twentieth Century
No full textThis thesis considers the life of Deneys Reitz, a South African soldier, author and politician who was a key member of the Afrikaner ruling elite in South Africa in the first half of the twentieth century. This was a seminal period in South African history, which included the formation of the new Union of South Africa in 1910. During this time, a distinctive new South African identity, known as “South Africanism” developed, centered around reconciliation between the two primary white linguistic groups in South Africa, and an acceptance of South Africa’s place within the British Empire. Over time, under the influence of his mentor and future Prime Minister Jan Smuts, Reitz became a fervent advocate of this new philosophy and an ardent Anglophile. Through a biographical examination of Reitz’s life and works (and that of certain of his contemporaries), this thesis considers the factors that influenced moderate Afrikaners like Reitz to embrace this new identity. It contends that these factors were complex and multifaceted, and, at least initially, had more to do with personal loyalties and internal Afrikaner politics than a genuine ideological belief in the importance of reconciliation and the values of Empire. In some cases, like Reitz and Smuts, the ideological belief evolved over time. However, this thesis argues that at the heart of many other moderate Afrikaners’ acceptance of South Africanism lay a more transactional trade-off – a willingness to reconcile with their English-speaking countrymen and accept British sovereignty, in exchange for a restoration and protection of Afrikaner political and cultural rights and the economic and security benefits of being part of the British Empire. For many Afrikaners (particularly those who didn’t necessarily share Reitz and Smuts’ Anglophilia) this trade-off was arguably made more palatable in the years between the two World Wars by the increasing degree of autonomy afforded to the Afrikaner-controlled South African government as a result of Britain’s slow-motion retreat from Empire after the First World War. This thesis further contends that a key motivating factor underpinning the philosophy of South Africanism was a belief in the necessity of white racial solidarity between Afrikaners and English South Africans of British origin, which was ultimately prioritized over other linguistic, ethnic and class divisions. Finally, this thesis considers the role played by moderate South African women in creating this new South African identity, with a particular focus on Deneys Reitz’s wife Leila (a strong advocate for women’s rights and South Africa’s first female parliamentarian). It argues that women, both South African and British, played a key role in encouraging Afrikaner / English reconciliation. It also seeks to show how white racial unity became an important justificatory factor in the fight for female rights such as suffrage and birth control, and ultimately helped ensure a political alignment across the gender divide.Extension Studie
Extracting Foresight from Hindsight: Is Automated Warfare, Law Fair?
No full textThere is no settled position on whether Automated Weapons Systems (AWS)
should be prohibited or permitted. Speculation as to what AWS might look like, allows
different people, who take different views of what AWS will become, to produce
different conclusions as to how the future of AWS should be regulated. This also means
that there is a lack of a clear line between different definitions – the same weapon, over
time, can be programmed to perform in different modes.
History suggests an innate skepticism of technological advancements and an
anxiety about “future shock.” Such fears are magnified by the role and influence of
popular media who highlight the dangers of automation. Such fears do not allow for a
rational basis on which to assess the lawfulness of weapons system in general, or AWS in
particular.
A linguistic analysis of the term, “autonomous weapons system” reveals that
although the term “weapons system” is readily susceptible to clear linguistic analysis, the
term “autonomous” is not.
The lack of an agreed definition of AWS has allowed states to emphasize
different parts of AWS, to advance their own geo-political interests. This has resulted in
12 different declared state positions as to AWS. This thesis adopts a working definition
of AWS as a non human instrument, which is capable of deploying force against a person
or object, in response to a pre programmed or learned stimulus. The device may or may
not be overridden by human command.
Contrary to the focus on AWS as a future technology, this thesis argues that AWS
already exist. Current weapons of all types are judged on the basis of their compliance
with the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC). This thesis argues that AWS, whether in
existence, or whether a future capability, should be judged using the LOAC standard.
Some of the arguments in the literature in favor of or against AWS focus on
AWS’s legitimacy or undesirability based on efficiency or effectiveness. While these
arguments are powerful, they can be difficult to reconcile or assess – because, like the
definition of AWS, they come at the problem from differing perspectives. What is
needed, is to re-consider the arguments, using LOAC as the common platform of
analysis.
A current AWS, the Close in Weapons System (CIWS), is used as a case study to
demonstrate the usefulness of compliance with LOAC as a way of determining whether
an AWS should be permitted to be used or not.Extension Studie