The Influence of Host and Origin Country Dynamics on Refugee Journeys

This dissertation explores relationships between refugee host and origin states, as well as conditions within these countries, to help explain host government behavior in the context of hosting refugees and when refugees are more likely to return to their country of origin. This project highlights the necessity to expand the scope of our studies of refugee displacement and return by considering contexts in both the origin and host nations, as well as the relationship between the two states. I investigate these relationships and contexts in three essays. In the first, I argue the interstate relationship between the host and origin state helps explain variation in host government behavior upon the arrival of forcibly displaced populations. Host states engaged in a strategic rivalry with refugees' country of origin have an incentive to promote inclusive good-will action toward the exiled population of their adversary. The host state's willing cooperation with humanitarian organizations to provide for refugees is expected to also help increase the country's overall respect for human rights. In the absence of a strategic rivalry, host governments do not have an incentive to support refugee populations. Instead, the lack of cooperation with humanitarian organizations and accounts of mistreatment of refugee communities will be perceived unfavorably by the international human rights community. This leads to an overall decrease in respect for human rights. I generally find support for these expectations. In the second essay, I investigate how conditions in the host and origin state influence refugee return patterns. Adopting a push and pull framework from other studies of voluntary and forced displacement, I derive three hypotheses anticipating refugees are pushed to return when political, economic, and physical security in the host state is negative and pulled toward their country of origin when these factors are positive. The findings suggest conditions in the host and origin state must be included in theoretical and empirical models attempting to explain refugee return. Additionally, physical security seems to supersede the explanatory power over political and economic variables by serving as a strong push and pull factor for return. A counter-intuitive finding from the second essay shows refugees are predicted to return in larger numbers during conflict compared to the post-conflict period in their country of origin. Building upon this relationship, I identify leader turnover as a factor that can motivate refugee return, even in the context of ongoing conflict. In the third essay, I argue leader transitions demonstrating policy change from the previous leader, stability, and legitimacy will provide updated information to observers (such as refugees, host governments, and humanitarian organizations) about safety in the country of origin. The findings show leader turnovers that signal forecasted policy change, that happen in accordance with established conventions of the state, and do not involve foreign assistance are associated with more refugees returning to their country of origin. The findings suggest a high profile political event like leader change is useful information for actors monitoring the situation to gauge whether the country of origin has improved enough to encourage refugees to return. Taken together, this dissertation illustrates the importance of considering both origin and host states to explain government behavior in the context of hosting and returning refugees. By systematically assessing conditions refugees are living through at the host and origin state level, relationships and trends emerge on what motivates refugee movement. This is useful to academics and policymakers who want to support refugee populations by understanding the dynamics in which refugees are operating in while in exile

Reconciling the future of (in)formal exchange in Saigon's public market

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2010.Includes bibliographical references (p. 65).At the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the bustling Ben Thanh market is where vendors have come to sell their wares since the 17th century, and where throngs of locals and tourists alike come to buy, eat, and engage in general exchange and consumption. This marketplace and its vendor population have been instrumental in shaping the form of the surrounding urban structure and patterns of life, as well as the nature of the shopping and tourist experience in Vietnam under the guise of 'culture'. With four solid walls erected that define the interior and exterior of the Ben Thanh Market, the existing French colonial building acts as a fortress -- a spatial construct of exclusion that prevents the potentially fruitful intermingling and reconciliation of the formal shop owner with the informal street vendor. This thesis analyzes the condition of both the shop owner and street vendor in Vietnam, and proposes a platform for exchange while reconceptualizing Ben Thanh as a new hybrid experience of modern shopping and traditional marketplace in the context of other public markets around the world. Rethinking boundaries, edges, and cultural notions of space, this project delves into the relationships between body, street, and vending furniture as the inspirational instigators for bringing together the formal and the informal.by Tiffany Chu.S.B

A Model for Measuring Ambulatory Access to Care Recovery after Disasters

Introduction: Although little research has examined impacts of disasters on scheduled ambulatory care services, routine care delivery is important for emergency planning and response because missed or delayed care can lead to more urgent care needs. This article presents potential measures of ambulatory care recovery and resilience and applies the measures to data around a recent disaster. Methods: We conceptualize “ambulatory care recovery” as the change in median business days to complete appointments that were canceled, and “ambulatory care resiliency” as the change in percentage of completed appointments in time frames before, during, and after disasters. Appointments data from Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics were examined around a category 4 hurricane that affected a coastal area with a substantial veteran population. Results: For the disaster studied, ambulatory care resilience was associated with geographic proximity to the storm’s impact. Primary care recovery was longer in locations closest to storm landfall. This research indicates the usefulness of routine appointments data in emergency planning. Conclusion: Quantifying care disruptions around disasters is an important step in assessing interventions to improve emergency preparedness and response for clinics. The illustrative example of measures captured the disaster event duration and severity in relation to ambulatory care appointments.U.S. Department of Veterans Affair

Optimisation of concentration of <i>Undaria pinnarifida</i> (Wakame) and <i>Himathalia elongate</i> (Sea Spaghetti) varieties to effect digestibility, texture and consumer attribute preference

In this study, seaweed concertation in a model system (cracker) was investigated to better understand addition of seaweed on starch modulation, texture, and consumer attribute detection. Temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) showed that seaweed concentrations over 15% had a dominant attribute of fishy for both Wakame and Sea Spaghetti varieties, whereas for both, Crunchy was observed for the 5% and 10% crackers. This corralled well with the texture analysis where crackers fortified with both seaweeds at 5% and 10% have a harder texture, with lower fracturability compared to higher concentrated seaweed crackers. The fracturability levels within the 15% and 20% crackers were comparable to the no substitution controls. In vitro digestion indicated that glucose was liberated immediately after initiation, with both seaweed systems reaching plateau by 4 minutes. In this study it was observed that seaweed variety affected starch digestibility, with wakame seaweed inhibiting starch digestion.</p

Bioactive Lipid Coating of Bone Allografts Direct Engraftment and Fate Determination of Bone Marrow-Derived Cells in Rat GFP Chimeras

Bone grafting procedures are performed to treat wounds incurred during wartime trauma, accidents, and tumor resections. Endogenous mechanisms of repair are often insufficient to ensure integration between host and donor bone and subsequent restoration of function. We investigated the role that bone marrow-derived cells play in bone regeneration and sought to increase their contributions by functionalizing bone allografts with bioactive lipid coatings. Polymer-coated allografts were used to locally deliver the immunomodulatory small molecule FTY720 in tibial defects created in rat bone marrow chimeras containing genetically-labeled bone marrow for monitoring cell origin and fate. Donor bone marrow contributed significantly to both myeloid and osteogenic cells in remodeling tissue surrounding allografts. FTY720 coatings altered the phenotype of immune cells two weeks post-injury, which was associated with increased vascularization and bone formation surrounding allografts. Consequently, degradable polymer coating strategies that deliver small molecule growth factors such as FTY720 represent a novel therapeutic strategy for harnessing endogenous bone marrow-derived progenitors and enhancing healing in load-bearing bone defects

The Journey Home: Violence, Anchoring, and Refugee Decisions to Return

While the UNHCR promotes voluntary repatriation as the preferred solution to refugee situations, there is little understanding of variation in refugees’ preferences regarding return. We develop a theoretical framework suggesting two mechanisms influencing refugees’ preferences. First, refugees’ lived experiences in their country of origin prior to displacement and in their new host country create a trade-off in feelings of being anchored to their origin or host country. Second, firsthand exposure to traumas of war provides some refugees with a sense of competency and self-efficacy, leading them to prefer to return home. We test these relationships with data from a survey among Syrian refugees hosted in Lebanon. We find refugees exposed to violence during the war have a sense of attachment to Syria and are most likely to prefer return. Refugees who have developed a detachment from Syria or an attachment to Lebanon are less likely to prefer return

Genes invoked in the ovarian transition to menopause

Menopause and the associated declines in ovarian function are major health issues for women. Despite the widespread health impact of this process, the molecular mechanisms underlying the aging-specific decline in ovarian function are almost completely unknown. To provide the first gene–protein analysis of the ovarian transition to menopause, we have established and contrasted RNA gene expression profiles and protein localization and content patterns in healthy young and perimenopausal mouse ovaries. We report a clear distinction in specific mRNA and protein levels that are noted prior to molecular evidence of steroidogenic failure. In this model, ovarian reproductive aging displays similarities with chronic inflammation and increased sensitivity to environmental cues. Overall, our results indicate the presence of mouse climacteric genes that are likely to be major players in aging-dependent changes in ovarian function