The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rules on controversial human rights cases in Russia to carry out the country's commitment to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). However, over the past 30 years, Russia has sought to disregard its membership in the Council of Europe by overruling ECtHR rulings. In 2015, Russia passed Law no. 7-FKZ to allow the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation the ability to overrule the ECtHR’s rulings, when deemed in conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. To decipher the impact of Russian Law no. 7-FKZ, I investigate the implementation of ECtHR rulings before and after 2015. This project examines the consolidating democracy of Russia's attempt to disregard international law by tightening access to courts, overruling and limiting the implementation of ECtHR rulings, and limiting individual freedoms and liberties. To answer, I develop an original case law dataset from 2014 to 2020 that includes the key ECtHR cases involving Russia. I code for the implementation level of ECtHR judgments to determine Russia’s ability to obstruct ECtHR judgments, after the enactment of Law no. 7-FKZ. Preliminary findings suggest that Russia is successful in limiting the reach of international law. These findings suggest de-democratizing nations have the ability to isolate on an international level, highlighting the struggles international courts may face when their legitimacy is challenged.

The concept of the separation of church and state was not a priority for the founders of the Irish Republic. Elements of the Catholic religion were woven into the Constitution, a reality that characterizes the laws in this country to this day. Despite this beginning, Ireland is transitioning away from a legal system and laws based on traditional and conservative religious values and adopting more progressive policies that reflect the current norms and values of society. In order to better understand this transition and how it is reflected in the legal system, I examine the legalization of abortion in Ireland focusing on the case law of the Supreme Court of Ireland and rulings regarding Irish reproductive rights by international courts. In this project, I assess whether the decline of traditional religious values in Irish society allowed the Irish Supreme Court to become more activist or progressive. To answer this question, I develop an original case law dataset from 1973 to 2010 coding the judgments for change in the legality of abortion. Further I utilize World Values Survey data to map changes in religious values during this time period. Preliminary results suggest that international pressure and change in the dominance of traditional and conservative religious values pushed the legalization of abortion. This research informs our general understandings of religious values and the legal system, and the role of courts in bringing change.

Cultural spaces are essential for creating a sense of belonging in our neighborhoods and cities. In rapidly growing metropolitan areas, gentrification threatens to displace spaces deemed significant by Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Initial research on Seattle’s cultural spaces produced an inventory skewed toward white-centric, dominant cultural spaces in the fine arts. The initial inventory failed to represent the full range of community culture spaces, especially those cherished by local Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. What is the best process for the City of Seattle to equitably engage with communities to identify cultural spaces? In partnership with the City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights, answered this question using the analysis of ethnographic data collected through qualitative interviews and surveys, and mental mapping exercises, conducted with 100 Black, Brown, and Indigenous community members. Our research team observed trends of several types of identified cultural spaces, including small businesses, outdoor and spiritual spaces, and spaces that are either stable or facing displacement. We represented our analysis, synthesis, and coded data spatially in an interactive storytelling map and report called “Holding Space: An Interactive Ethnographic Map of Cultural Spaces in Seattle’s Black, Brown, and Indigenous Communities”. Both have been made accessible online as anti-displacement advocacy tools for community-based organizations. The results of this study will help inform the City of Seattle's cultural spaces indicator, more equitable allocation of city government funds toward Black, Brown, and Indigenous-led community culture spaces, and policy recommendations to prevent further cultural displacement in Seattle.

During mitosis, chromosomes are organized and separated by the dynamic mitotic spindle. The kinetochore plays a central role in proper chromosome segregation. It is recruited by specialized sites on the chromosome, known as centromeres, and forms attachments to the spindle microtubule. The Dam1 and Ndc80 complexes are essential microtubule-binding elements of the outer kinetochore in budding yeast. The Ndc80 complex bridges the kinetochore to the dynamic microtubule tip, while the Dam1 complex enhances the Ndc80 complex’s residence time on microtubules and load bearing ability. It was previously reported that swapping yeast histone proteins with human histone proteins resulted in poor complementation, in higher frequencies of aneuploidy, and impaired adaption to novel nutrient environments. Several mutations in the Dam1 complex and one mutation In the Ndc80 complex were found to independently rescue these defects. To determine how these mutations rescue human histone swapping in budding yeast, we purified mutant versions of the Dam1 and Ndc80 complexes. We used an optical trap to measure if the mutations alter the amount of force required to break attachments to a dynamic microtubule. A difference in rupture force between wild type and mutant proteins tells us that the mutations rescue histone swapping by changing the load bearing ability of the kinetochore-microtubule interface. Further study is needed to determine the mechanism for rescue. A null result tells us that further research is required, and a novel interaction may be present. This research will uncover differences in human and yeast kinetochore structure and function.

The Chinese housing market is rising so fast compared to other countries, such as South Korea and the United States. In China, skewed sex ratios caused by the "One-Child" Policy increase the intensity of the marriage market, motivating men to purchase more and better houses in the favor of enhancing their attractiveness in the competitive marriage market. In this paper, we explore the implications of the "Two-Child" Policy on the intensity of the marriage market, represented by the sex ratios (number of boys per 100 girls), and the correlation between the sex ratios and growth rate of house prices. To test the effects of the “Two-Child” Policy, we regress the logarithmic form of house prices on the sex ratios, inflation rates, and other independent variables through building a fixed-effects regression model with two fixed-effects variables, City Fixed Effects for each province in China and Year Fixed Effects for each year from 2002-2019. The result indicates that a 1-unit increase in the sex ratio would increase house prices by 3%. Therefore, we are certain that skewed sex ratios have a negative impact on the growth rate of house prices. High housing costs in China make it harder for future generations to live. Through taking local sex ratios into consideration of implementing the optimal property tax, we could slow down the growth rate of house prices and increase the welfare of the citizens.

Nanofibers have broad capabilities in biomedicine, e.g. drug delivery and tissue engineering, because of their diverse tunable properties. For these purposes, nanofibers often must be patterned to be integrated in devices or to optimize their function. Current nanofiber patterning methods lack user-control over design or alter fiber integrity. To optimize and expand the applications of nanofibers, there is a need for a versatile nanofiber patterning strategy that maintains material integrity and function and can be generalized for patterns of different complexity and dimensions. This project aims to address this need with an in situ patterning strategy that allows for complex, three-dimensional patterning at the milli/microscale with different fiber materials. The approach consists of a two-layer composite electrospinning collector with an insulative layer and conductive recessed patterns. An inexpensive collector fabrication method was designed for rapid prototyping. Collector design features predicted to affect fiber deposition were evaluated by quantifying fiber selectivity. Optimal formulations of nanofiber materials were experimentally evaluated based on reproducibility, fiber yield, and selectivity to delineate key polymer solution properties affecting patterning. This project offers a guiding foundation to adapt this patterning strategy to various applications of nanofibers by tuning fiber formulations and specific collector design features.

Recent legalization of cannabis in various states has sparked research on the impact of cannabis use on postnatal outcomes. While previous research has yielded contradictory findings, some studies suggest increased cannabis use is directly associated with increased depression and psychological distress.We assert that prenatal mental health should be an essential consideration in the discourse surrounding prenatal cannabis use, as issues such as untreated maternal depression are risk factors for adverse postnatal outcomes like low birth weight and preterm delivery.However, few studies have considered the relationship between prenatal maternal mental health and cannabis use. Here we question: what is the association between cannabis use and psychological distress in pregnant individuals? For our sample population, we recruited pregnant individuals in the greater Seattle area. 12 individuals reported using cannabis (CB) at least 3 to 5 times a week throughout their first trimester of pregnancy, and 22 were non-cannabis users (n-CB). In early pregnancy, we administered the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), a self-reported measure, to evaluate psychological distress levels. We tracked cannabis use with weekly surveys from time of enrollment to birth, evaluating reasons for use and amount consumed, among other variables. We hypothesize that prenatal cannabis use will be associated with elevated BSI T-scores compared to the control group; within the prenatal cannabis use population, we expect cannabis use for mental health reasons to be associated with elevated BSI T-scores. More research is needed on possible causal versus correlational associations between cannabis use and psychological distress, and the role of psychosocial distress as a possible confounder in previous prenatal cannabis use and infant development studies.

International treaties provide citizens with guaranteed human rights and hold countries to a higher standard of accountability. Through monitoring mechanisms, international organizations can track both the effectiveness and implementation of rights outlined in their treaties. However, this process of human rights protection can be convoluted when involving countries with a rich history of authoritarianism. In this research project, I assess the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), to understand its effectiveness in implementing the Convention Against Torture in the Middle East. The project examines the six Middle Eastern countries that ratified the treaty and evaluates their success in circumventing the violence that it prohibits. To measure this, I have developed an original jurisprudence dataset ranging from 1994 to 2019 that includes all claims brought against Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Mauritania. Jurisprudence is broadly defined as the study of law but in this particular instance is the examination of case law. In a historical case law analysis, I code for whether the committee ruled in favor or against a violation to the treaty, participating advocacy groups, and the issue areas most prevalent. Additionally, I analyze annual reports documenting the personal accounts of Middle Eastern countries perceived efficacy in adhering to the treaty. Preliminary findings suggest that the Convention Against Torture is effective on the ground when there is a prominent culture of advocacy present to counteract the durable authoritarian setting it falls beneath. These findings may assist in answering larger questions about the impact of international treaties in safeguarding human rights and holding countries accountable. Importantly, these monitoring mechanisms may progressively inhibit authoritarian regimes from actively denying citizens their guaranteed human rights.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is responsible for prosecuting the most heinous of crimes, that of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. An institution with potentially universal jurisdiction, it was created to promote rule of law globally, not beholden to any one nation and unbiased in its pursuit of justice. However, allegations of an anti-African bias have been made against the ICC by the African Union and others. Is there an inherent bias against Africa or is the ICC merely fulfilling its duties as designed? This research investigates charges of bias through close examination of the ICC’s structure, case history, and the court’s relationship to the United Nation Security Council (UNSC). To fully answer the question of bias, I created a case law dataset cataloging all ICC investigations and cases from its first in 2002 to the present. I have coded each case and investigation according to charges, which referral mechanism triggered ICC jurisdiction, and the current status of the case. Preliminary results indicate a clear focus on Africa by the Court, however, each prosecuted case falls squarely within the jurisdiction entrusted to the Court. While a discernible bias may not be present, the relationship between the ICC and the UNSC does raise questions about impartiality and global separation of power. Future research on possible remedies to charges of impartiality may benefit the legitimacy of the ICC, as well as the Court’s efforts towards international justice.

International human rights law governs and safegaurds individual citizens with the intention of protecting  basic rights, liberties, and freedoms. These international laws are upheld through international courts who act to ensure member state compliance. Acceptance of international court authority and rulings is slow in many transitioning democracies. Yet increasingly, international court decisions are shaping domestic rights protection and the rule of law. In this project, I examine the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), an international court governing the Americas, and their case law involving Guatemala to understand how international courts develop and protect human rights. In my analysis, I construct an original dataset that codes all IACHR judgements involving Guatemala between 1996-2020. In particular, the dataset focuses on cases in the area of indigenous rights, children's rights, and the right to liberty, identifying if a violation is found and how this expands human rights protection. Preliminary findings suggest the court has slowly expanded rights in these areas of law, which has led to some strengthening of the domestic legal system. This study illustrates the power of international courts to protect fundamental individual rights, however, it calls for further research exploring the potential limitations of this power in the context of transitioning societies. 

Authoritarian regimes may construct courts to engage in administrative discipline and bolster executive legitimacy. Yet in China, citizens are also increasingly utilizing courts to contest the decisions of local government officials. Litigation is at once a tool of control by the state, but may also suggest an avenue for citizenry power against the state in an otherwise constrained society. In this project, I examine administrative law cases brought to the Supreme People’s Court of China (SPC) to analyze how administrative litigation processes are used to empower citizens or to discipline state bureaucrats. To answer these questions, I developed an original case law dataset of SPC administrative law judgments between the period of 2014 to 2019. Through case law analysis I coded each decision for key identifiers including the districts in which litigation was filed, the type of plaintiff, the issue in dispute, and compensation given by the government. Preliminary findings suggest that administrative litigation is disproportionately in the area of property rights and is most frequently utilized by corporations rather than citizens or public interest bureaus. The patterns hold across a diverse set of localities throughout China with plaintiffs winning in nearly half of the cases in this dataset. These findings bring into question whether courts in authoritarian regimes are merely a pawn of executive power, and instead suggest an avenue for individual and corporate claims making against the administrative state.

Disruptive mutations to DYRK1A, located in the Down Syndrome critical region of chromosome 21, are associated with autism spectrum disorder and medical comorbidities. Previous literature suggests facial anomalies in children with DYRK1A mutations, and studies of DYRK1A’s regulatory functions confirm its role in the expression of several morphology-affecting genes, particularly DCAF7. This study attempted to determine if quantitative differences in facial features exist between children with DYRK1A mutations and the general population, including unaffected parents. From a sample of 28 children with de novo DYRK1A mutations, analyses focused on nine white non-Hispanic children (M age = 11.33 years, 77.78% male) whose data were collected using a 3dMDhead System through an ongoing genetics-first study. Measurements between facial landmarks were later calculated using 3dMDvultus. FaceBase’s 3D Facial Norms for European Caucasians were used as a control group, and Z-scores were calculated for all complete measures. Six measures—intercanthal width, outercanthal width, palpebral fissure lengths, cranial base width, and philtrum width–were selected for analysis based on previous clinical findings. Wilcoxon sign-rank tests compared Z-scores between probands and each biological parent, assessing familial genetic influence on observed dysmorphologies. Outercanthal width in probands significantly differed from both biological parents and was significantly below population average. Additionally, palpebral fissure lengths significantly differed between probands and fathers and fell below population averages for probands. These findings bolster the link between DYRK1A and genes that code for craniofacial development and suggest the facial phenotype associated with DYRK1A mutations may be more variable and nuanced than expected, presenting challenges for clinical assessment. Additional research should examine how DYRK1A interacts with genes that code for eye regions, facial phenotypes in non-white participants, and possible differences in dysmorphology between sexes.

The recent measures taken by social media platforms to limit the spread of misinformation by flagging or removing posts and accounts was met with outrage and a doubling-down of posting by conspiracy theorists. The QAnon conspiracy theory, which poses that child trafficking and sexual abuse are occurring at the hands of political and Hollywood elites, has grown into a movement named #SaveTheChildren which aims to spread awareness, rescue children from trafficking and obtain justice against abusive elites. This research focuses on the perceived censorship existing among members of the #SaveTheChildren movement and identifying which forces are deemed responsible for controlling the narrative and/or excluding their narrative. We compiled a data set of social media posts linked to QAnon and #SaveTheChildren from Instagram and Twitter, using qualitative coding methods to find links between popular narratives shared by users and what factors they perceive to be under threat of censorship. We conducted interviews with users who shared content linked to #SaveTheChildren and later experienced flagging, removal or bans of their content or profile. Preliminary findings highlight a deep-rooted lack of trust in "mainstream news media,” which drives users to search for alternative knowledge providers. Overwhelmingly, this takes the form of community-constructed knowledge building conducted via social media. This is concerning as it leads to the sharing of information that is often unverified, emotionally charged and increasingly conspiratorial in nature. Emergent narratives from our thematic analysis highlight the dominance of visceral images, unverified statistics and conspiratorial claims. Further, these claims seem to gain traction in communities that previously do not engage in conspiracy theorizing, but who bought into the movement because of its moral claims. Further analysis is being undertaken that focuses on how narratives of conspiracy interact with broader claims of distrust in news media and perceived censorship by technology platforms.

From 2004 to 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded an average of 702 deaths per year in the United States related to excessive heat events. With more of the world’s population now living in cities, understanding the urban heat island effect and its impact on morbidity and mortality is increasingly important. In the US, the intensity of the urban heat island effect is well known in Atlanta, GA. As part of a team, I examined the extent to which ground cover affects the minimum, maximum, and average temperatures in Atlanta compared to its surrounding neighborhoods. Temperature data reported by weather stations was gathered at varying distances from downtown, and cross-referenced to a map of the land cover in Atlanta to find that temperatures varied greatly as the distance from downtown increased. Overall, it was found that minimum temperatures varied more than average or maximum temperatures, and of all the ground cover types studied, more urbanization contributed to warmer temperatures. This study builds on these findings by introducing the coarse-grained urban heat island model constructed by Gabriele Manoli and colleagues at ETH Zurich which considers factors beyond just ground cover. By applying the Manoli, et al, computational model to Atlanta Georgia I can further examine the urban heat Island effect in that region, and explore the patterns observed in previous findings. The implications of this model stretch far beyond Atlanta Georgia to help form geographically targeted guidelines for urban centers for which extensive research has not been done to understand temperature trends.

The COVID-19 shutdown in the states of Washington and New York significantly reduced transportation and cut normal daily activities due to constraints issued by governments. To understand how air pollution was affected during the shutdown, this research studied various air pollutants at two different locations in each state; Seattle and Olympia/Tacoma in Washington state, and New York City and Rochester in the state of New York. Daily averages of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, and tropospheric ozone were collected for each location from 2016-2020, including the months from January through August. A linear regression model with a 95% confidence interval, was built using the 2016 to 2019 data to estimate the monthly averages for 2020 to determine if there was a change in any of the air pollution levels due to the COVID-19 shutdown. While there was no notable difference in most of the air pollution levels during the COVID-19 shutdown, there was a significant drop in nitrogen dioxide levels at all four locations. More surprisingly, carbon dioxide was showing an increase during the shutdown. It is speculated that there are two reasons behind the increase in carbon dioxide. First, carbon dioxide is showing an overall yearly increase during our selected research time interval. Secondly, the biggest carbon dioxide producers are industry and power plants. Due to said constraints and confinements, it is concluded that households' electricity consumption went up. This could be explained by the fact that schools and businesses moved entirely online requiring everyone to participate via video conferencing systems and to operate daily tasks via online platforms. As a whole, this research is significant to the study of climate change and its effects, and mitigation of said effects of climate change.