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Implementation of a Biometric Screening Program and Wellness Coaching Program in a Hospital Employee Wellness Center
Get PDFBackground: Wellness programs are an emerging priority among organizations concerned about employee wellness and productivity. Data from Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) revealed that in 2019 there were 1,690 employee visits to the ER due to chronic diseases; 30% were classified as ER sick visit and 40% of employees who visited the ER had no primary care provider. Many companies use biometric screening and health risk assessment to measure the health of their employees. The purpose of this improvement project was to implement a biometric screening program (BSP) that included wellness coaching to improve the health outcomes of LIJMC employees.
Methods: Employees with known adverse biomarkers were invited to participate in the 12-week BSP program. Participants engaged in a baseline and exit assessment and six scheduled visits for wellness coaching. Evaluation: Biometric values (A1c, total cholesterol, systolic BP, BMI) and VPRA were compared pre (baseline) and post (12 weeks) to assess change and percent improvement. SES and CSQ scores were assessed pre and post program to assess participant and staff satisfaction with BSP program.
Results: Pre-and post- mean biometric values demonstrated reductions in A1c (↓ 3.74%; goal ↓ 2%), systolic BP (↓ 11 mmHg; goal ↓ 10 mm Hg reduction), and BMI (↓1.59%; goal ↓ 5%). Pre/post measure of TC did not improve (↑ 0.62%; goal ↓5%). VPRA scores improved 10.22% at the end of 12 weeks. The VPRA pre heart score of 55 years old showed a reduced post heart score of 51 years old. The SES score shifted from an average pre-SES (92%) to average post-SES (98%). Overall, CSQ satisfaction scale scores indicated that 69% of participants rated the program as “excellent” and 31% reported it was “good”.
Conclusion: Implementation of a biometric screening and wellness coaching program in an employee wellness program demonstrated improvements in most biomarkers as well as increased self-awareness and satisfaction. Results highlight the importance of biometric screening and wellness coaching to mitigate the epidemic of chronic diseases
Multivalent Electrolyte Insights: Bridging Structure and Electrochemistry
No full textMultivalent ion batteries offer transformative potential for meeting escalating energy demands and the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. This dissertation delves into divalent chemistries as alternatives to lithium-ion chemistry, examining the intertwined nature of solution structures and charge transfer mechanisms. By investigating the electrochemistry of nonaqueous Magnesium, Zinc, and Calcium divalent electrolytes, a foundational understanding is established to design high-performance electrolyte systems for future energy storage applications. In this work, the functionality of novel cosolvent-facilitated nonaqueous electrolytes was systematically investigated. Hydrodynamic studies illuminated charge transfer mechanisms of electrochemical deposition and dissolution of divalent magnesium, revealing underlying challenges facing these electrolyte systems. Solvation structure was studied across different cations, connecting to the electrochemistry and stability characteristics, and emphasizing the potential benefits of a tailored solvation environment for optimizing electrochemical properties. Incorporating studies on coordination, ionic interactions, and kinetic constraints becomes imperative, and contributes to the understanding of solvation structure\u27s profound impact on the electrochemistry of divalent ions in rechargeable batteries. By revealing the interplay between electrolyte composition, cations, and solvation environments, a foundation is laid for high-performance electrolyte design. Fundamental exploration of multivalent electrochemical systems helps propel the advancement of novel rechargeable battery technologies, ultimately facilitating a greener, more sustainable energy landscape
Brutality Behind Bars: A Look at Prison Violence in Ecuador
Get PDFPrisons are frequently perceived as spaces where those unwanted by society are placed. Thus, they are often purposefully ignored and left under-served. This is the reality of prisons and inmates in Ecuador, where violence has reached unprecedented levels, raising concerns about its causes. As this thesis shows, violence inside prisons is not an isolated incident only provoked by the restrictive nature of detention centers, or the character of inmates, but rather a manifestation of a complex mix of institutional, organizational, criminological, and social factors at play in the country. This thesis aims at understanding, from a conflict resolution perspective, what factors contribute to prison violence in Ecuador between 2012 and 2022 and provides recommendations for short and long-term interventions.
Abstract (Spanish)
Con frecuencia, las prisiones son percibidas como espacios en los que se ubica a quienes no son deseados por la sociedad. Por lo tanto, a menudo se ignora deliberadamente estos espacios y se los deja desatendidos. Esta es la realidad de las cárceles y reclusos en Ecuador, donde la violencia ha alcanzado niveles sin precedentes, generando preocupación por sus causas. Como muestra esta tesis, la violencia dentro de las cárceles no es un incidente aislado provocado únicamente por la naturaleza restrictiva de los centros de detención, o el carácter de los reclusos, sino más bien es una manifestación de una mezcla compleja de factores institucionales, organizacionales, criminológicos y sociales presentes en el país. Esta tesis tiene como objetivo comprender, desde una perspectiva de resolución de conflictos, qué factores contribuyen a la violencia carcelaria en Ecuador entre 2012 y 2022 y brinda recomendaciones para intervenciones a corto y largo plazo
The Plastic Cycle: Atmospheric Deposition on Nantucket Island and an Analysis of Children’s Art in Plastic Education
No full textPlastic pollution is a ‘wicked’ environmental problem that has resulted from the growing demand for plastic and its poor management as waste. The cumulative global production of plastic is estimated to have reached 10,000 million metric tons (Mt) by 2017. Over 7000 Mt became plastic waste, the majority being landfilled or littered. Plastic’s durability and resistance to natural processes results in extremely slow decomposition in the environment. Instead, plastic readily fragments into small pieces called microplastics. Microplastics (\u3c5 mm) are found worldwide in ocean, freshwater, soil, and atmospheric systems. They present a risk because of chemical leaching, or by acting as a transport vector of heavy metals and chemicals that adsorb to the outside. Within an organism, microplastic can cause blockage, inflammation, or oxidative stress. Atmospheric microplastic is a major source of microplastics in humans due to the likelihood of inhalation. Atmospheric studies have also suggested long-range transport of microplastic to remote areas.
In this study, the seasonally-touristed island of Nantucket, MA was examined for atmospheric microplastics from October 2021 to September 2022 at two sites. Microplastics were present in every sample, with daily fluxes ranging from 5-62 mp/m2/d. Microplastic concentration was greatest during the tourist season, suggesting influences from increased human activity. Fibers were the most prevalent type (70%) of microplastic, similar to other atmospheric microplastic studies. The lowest length reached 76 µm, a size small enough to enter through the smallest bronchiole of the lung, suggesting that microplastic inhalation is a risk on Nantucket Island.
Society’s dependency on plastic will continue to exacerbate plastic pollution. To address the plastic problem, efforts should therefore focus on human behavior. Environmental education is one tool that spreads knowledge of environmental issues and raises awareness of behavioral impacts. When aimed at younger children, environmental education can promote environmentally friendly behaviors that are more likely to continue throughout adulthood. However, it is not always apparent if young children understand complex science topics. The second study looked at how art could be used to engage children aged 6-7 and help them to express their comprehension. Art was administered as a pre- and post-survey prior to and following a lesson on plastic pollution. Comparisons between pre- and post- artworks indicated that the children learned something new. 79% of children were engaged in creating both artworks. Children were also able to represent their own feelings and relationship toward plastic through the illustration of emotion. A framework was created to analyze the artworks that involved the artworks composition, the inclusion of semiology, and emotive expression
Transfer Pathways: Ensuring Transfer Student Success
Get PDFThis report reflects the partnership between the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Gastón Institute and Bunker Hill Community College’s Center for Equity and Cultural Wealth to build cultural inclusivity in curricular and co-curricular practices with the diverse student bodies served by both postsecondary institutions.
The partnership was created with the aim to develop activities and create data, including data sharing and joint data collection, to explore and create common research questions that will help close diversity gaps across the two institutions. This report is part of a study that seeks to improve the partners’ understanding of student transfer pathways between these two Minority Serving institutions and how they are used in order to advance student success. The study will help to inform strategies to advance student success by identifying common challenges facing students who transfer from BHCC to UMB. Additionally, data analysis will highlight areas for improving student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. The findings will inform best practices for helping the students succeed in both of our Institution
Higher Education Leaders Make College Possible for Students with Intellectual Disability
Get PDFAdministrators in higher education play an important role in making college possible for students with intellectual disability (ID). This resource is designed for higher education professionals and contains the perspectives of experienced leaders in higher education who have developed college programs for students with ID. There are also resources for professionals to explore developing an inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program and welcoming students with ID on college campuses
Synthesis of Novel Fused-Heterocyclic Scaffold Via Diastereoselective Decarboxylative [3+2] Cycloadditions and Aza-Wittig Reactions
No full text1,3-Dipolar [3+2] cycloadditions are an important class of reactions for making poly-heterocyclic ring scaffolds with potential biological activities. Presented in this thesis is a reaction sequence of three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a non-stabilized azomethine ylides, formed by decarboxylative condensation of α-amino acids, for making pyrrolidine-based adduct followed by the aza-Wittig reaction of for the synthesis of poly-heterocyclic products. In this work, polymer supported triphenylphosphine was used as a phosphine source for the aza-Wittig reaction to minimize the amount of waste and simplify the purification process
Implementation of Tuning in to Kids Social-Emotional Learning Program in the Kyrgyz Republic
Get PDFTo date, no research on the influence of social-emotional learning (SEL) instruction on school violence and academic performance in the Kyrgyz Republic has been published. However, the current levels of school violence and poor academic performance in Kyrgyz schools warrant action. According to the UNICEF report (2012), 83% of students reported witnessing or experiencing instances of violence at school. Research has shown positive results of SEL instruction on reducing school violence in various countries (Taylor et al., 2017). Therefore, the goal of this study was to pilot the implementation of a Russian translation of the Tuning in to Kids program, an SEL intervention, with teachers in Russian-speaking schools in the Kyrgyz Republic. The current study used mixed methods of analysis over two phases. In phase one, the program was piloted in four second-year classrooms using a multiple-baseline-across-classrooms design. In phase two, feasibility and acceptability of a Russian language adaptation of Tuning in to Kids was assessed through individual interviews with teachers who implemented the program in phase one. The study contributes to the school psychology literature by providing additional data regarding the transferability of evidence-based SEL curricula abroad and includes assessment of acceptability and feasibility of the Tuning in to Kids program in a culture and language completely distinct from those in Western countries. Results of the study inform modifications to the program that may facilitate potential future use as a Tier 1 intervention program in the Kyrgyz Republic
What Explains the Behavior of Chinese Companies in Africa? Exploring the Nature of African Agency in FOCAC Platforms and On the Ground
Get PDFWhat explains the nature of environmental cooperation and the environmental behavior of Chinese companies in Africa? Have African actors been oblivious and agnostic whilst Chinese actors are driving and dominating the space? The research endeavored to address these questions by conducting three studies. The first study explored negative impacts of Chinese engagements in Africa, and how African and Chinese actors have responded to it. The second study examined the nature of environmental cooperation under the FOCAC framework and whether FOCAC has been used to shape environmental behavior of Chinese companies. The final case study examined the role and nature of Ethiopian agency in shaping the behavior of a Chinese company that constructed the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, and factors that enabled or constrained the agency. The research combined desk research, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The African agency theory championed by Brown & Harman (2013), Shaw (2013) is used as an analytical framework, and the author proposed a new analytical framework to analyze the China-Africa environmental cooperation. Environmental cooperation has expanded overtime albeit dominated by Capacity Building and Multilateral Cooperation. While reports about negative impacts have been growing through time, Mitigation of negative social and environmental impacts have remained a low priority, nevertheless. African agents have usually been silent during FOCAC platforms regarding negative externalities mainly because environmental issues have always been subordinated to economic partnerships. The Addis LRT case study has shown that Ethiopian actors undoubtedly exercised agency during project initiation and implementation, which ebbed at a later stage, though. Moreover, local agency was disjointed, poorly coordinated, and predominantly politically driven. This led to poor decisions which constrained the LRT system from meeting expectations and objectives. Overall, while expression of agency by African agents is largely hamstrung by local structural and political factors, the involvement of international actors has sometimes enabled local agents. The research signifies that improving the environmental behavior of Chinese companies in Africa requires urgent changes at the levels of African countries, regional/continental frameworks, and FOCAC Secretariat through augmenting institutionalization of environmental cooperation in the China-Africa cooperation framework