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Using Genetic Algorithm And Geographic Information System For Equity-Driven Transportation Planning And Analysis
Get PDFEfforts to address equitable access in public transit planning have gained momentum, spurred by incentives for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs). However, traditional strategies often fall short of meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities, particularly in underserved areas. This study presents a pioneering methodology leveraging Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to optimize bus stop placement, aiming to enhance equitable access in public transit systems. Focusing on Route 16 of Sun Metro in El Paso, Texasâ??a critical feeder route linking the Westside Transit Center to Upper Valley neighborhoodsâ??the research commences with a comprehensive analysis of demographic data and existing transit conditions to pinpoint disparities and accessibility challenges. By harnessing GA and GIS, the study proposes solutions tailored to equity factors, resulting in notable improvements in accessibility metrics. The research underscores the imperative of modernizing evaluation methodologies and integrating emerging technologies. Despite encountering challenges such as data availability constraints, computational demands, and the dynamic nature of urban environments, the study advocates for developing adaptive models. This research contributes significantly to advancing equitable transit systems and practices, offering valuable insights and a replicable methodology to enhance accessibility and equity in public transportation networks
Computational Investigation Of Transition Metal Photoredox Catalysis: Redox Property Tuning Via Ligand Modification
Get PDFIn the last decade, photoredox catalysis has become a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry. It relies on the ability of catalytic systems that facilitate energy-demanding redox reactions thanks to photoinduced electron transfer processes. This dissertation focuses on the computational investigation of the redox properties of transition metal photoredox catalysts using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The research systematically explores the effects of altering redox-active ligands on the thermodynamics of electron transfer events in the photoredox cycle. The electronic structure changes throughout oxidative and reductive quenching cycles are analyzed, with a particular focus on Cu(I) complexes. Through computational techniques, insights into ligand- and metal-centered redox events are obtained, including the impact of flattening distortion on the kinetics and thermodynamics of metal-centered electron transfers of Cu(I) photosensitizers. The influence of ligand modification on the redox properties of photoredox catalysts is also investigated with the aim of establishing structure-activity relationships to guide the discovery and optimization of new photosensitizers. Relationships between the inherent properties of the redox-active ligands and the thermodynamics of the photosensitizers were obtained, opening the door for faster screening techniques to accelerate the discovery of new photosensitizers and optimize their redox properties. The computational protocol for the calculation of reduction potentials was extended to investigate the electrochemical reduction and oxidation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), addressing environmental concerns surrounding poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This research highlights the potential of the computational method employed herein for the rational design of molecular platforms for catalytic and environmental applications
Establishing the Validity of a Measure of Implicit Bias Toward People with Alcohol Use Disorder
Get PDFAlcohol use disorder has been identified as one of the major burdens of disease but also remains one of the disorders with the lowest treatment prevalence. For individuals who seek treatment for their alcohol use disorder, they may experience barriers that impact their treatment for alcohol use disorder. These barriers may extend to a person’s beliefs, attitudes, and stigma. While attitudes and beliefs refer to their perceived need for treatment and beliefs of self-reliance, stigma is multistep process that makes way for stereotypes, prejudice, and acts of discrimination to take place. With labels such as “alcoholic” implying negative connotation and being frequently used, the fear of being stigmatized and negatively labeled often results in delayed or entirely avoided care. Attitudes towards stigmatized and other groups have primarily been examined using explicit measures of bias. While thought to be the most convenient way to learn about a person’s attitude, these measures may be affected by introspective limits and response factors. As such, explicit measure may succumb to social desirability. Research has turned to use of implicit measures such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to assess an individual’s unconscious and uncontrollable associations. The IAT is a validated task asking participants to quickly associate stimulus items with one of the two contrasting categories. The IAT measures response latency such that stronger associations are easier to pair resulting in faster response times and fewer errors made. While IATs have been used to assess biases toward vulnerable groups, the present study is among the first to psychometrically assess a measure of implicit bias toward persons with an alcohol use disorder through the lens of contact theory. Participants (n=175, 54.3% male) completed a developed IAT categorizing target categories (i.e., alcoholic versus non-alcoholic) and value categories (approach versus avoid), and also completed explicit measures of stigma. The IAT D-score was calculated and used to assess construct validity. Pearson correlations were also used to assess convergent and predictive validity. Results indicated small but significantly negative IAT D-scores, indicative of negative implicit bias toward people with alcohol use disorder. Exploratory analyses indicated that drinkers and children of alcoholics had an implicit bias toward people with alcohol use disorder, not in line with contact theory which would suggest that contact with stigmatized and other groups decreases prejudice ad increases positive attitudes. The IAT was not associated with explicit measures. However, initial results of the present study provide evidence of negative implicit attitudes toward alcohol use disorder. Future research should further assess negative implicit attitudes toward persons with alcohol use disorder, test the stability of the IAT using test-retest, and use multinomial processing tree analyses to further examine conscious and unconscious biases toward people with alcohol use disorder
Becoming a Bilingual Teacher on the Border: Developing Ideological Clarity at a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Get PDFAs teacher education programs encourage more candidates to pursue bilingual certification, a need exists to improve the ways that preservice teachers (PSTs) are prepared to teach in bilingual classrooms. Research suggests the importance of preparing PSTs in the area of linguistic ideological clarity. Scholars define ideological clarity as an ongoing process through which individuals can critically consider their ideological orientations as well as dominant ideologies that favor those in power, with an aim of becoming agents of change through this process (Alfaro & Bartolomé, 2017). This case study sought to understand the opportunities that bilingual PSTs have to develop ideological clarity during a teacher education program, as well as the ways their own linguistic histories might interact with the language ideologies in circulation and development in the program. Drawing from the theoretical lenses of language ideologies (Kroskrity, 2004; Woolard, 1998) and dynamic bilingualism (GarcÃa, 2009), this study analyzed the ways that bilingual PSTs in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands have come to understand bilingualism and what is necessary to become a bilingual teacher in this context. PSTs reported moments in which their bilingualism was framed in a monoglossic manner during their K-12 schooling, but the teacher education program had afforded opportunities to reframe it through a heteroglossic lens. Participants also described the ways that standardized testing had come to define success for them as bilinguals, both during their K-12 years and again during the teacher education program. Pedagogies implemented during an introductory bilingual education course provided opportunities for PSTs to notice, name, reflect on, and apply ideologies that were evident in their linguistic histories and in current educational practice. The findings of this study indicate ways that ideological clarity may be developed through teacher education, informing the field through implications in teacher education programs, K-12 bilingual education, and state policy
Don\u27t Get Too Close, It Hurts: Inclusion-of-Other-in-the-Self and Biased Evaluations of Romantic Partners and Their Behaviors
Get PDFThis investigation tested how inclusion-of-other-in-the-self (IOS) – the experience of closeness as overlapping selves – increases maladaptive biases toward romantic partners and their behaviors. Study 1 tested how the level of IOS is associated with disregarding signs that indicate that a romantic partner might be unhealthy for one’s emotional and physical well-being. Participants who were single (N = 77) reviewed four online dating profiles. Each profile was created to elicit high or low IOS and reveal a transgression committed by the potential romantic partner. Then, participants evaluated the potential romantic partner in suitability and the transgression on negativity. Study 2 conceptually replicated Study 1 and extended these findings by testing how the level of IOS is associated with sharing guilt for the transgressions committed by one’s romantic partner. Participants in romantic relationships (N = 112) recalled the most recent transgression committed by their romantic partner. Then, participants evaluated their romantic partner in suitability, evaluated the transgression on negativity, and rated the extent to which they shared guilt for the transgression committed by their romantic partner. In both studies, self-complexity was tested as a protective factor, and anxious attachment was tested as a risk factor. Both studies confirmed that higher IOS influenced the evaluation of romantic partners to be more positive. However, there was mixed support that IOS influences the evaluations of transgressions committed by romantic partners to be less negative, and no support that it influences the experience of shared guilt for the transgressions committed by romantic partners. Lastly, self-complexity and anxious attachment did not moderate the association between IOS and these biases, indicating no protective or risk effects. Implications of these findings are discussed
Hypertension and Treatment Modalities: what does the current evidence say?
Get PDFBackground/Problem Statement: The significantly elevated rates of cardiovascular (CV) disease observed among individuals with mental health conditions might stem from suboptimal handling of cardiovascular risk factors. In this project, I sought to address one aspect of cardiovascular risk: hypertension in patients 18-74 years of age, marked with a blood pressure \u3e140/90 mmHg in a psychiatric inpatient setting. A tenday review of patient care revealed that hypertension management provided to patients under our service was inadequate and might be improved by adopting and implementing more consistent and systematic protocols for medication administration.
Aims/Methods: At the onset of my project, I undertook a detailed examination of approximately 30 patient cases each day within our service. The selection criteria focused on patients aged between 18 & 74 years who exhibited a blood pressure reading exceeding 140/90 mmHg. Those who met these specifications were then introduced to a novel intervention regimen, which entailed administering 10 mg of oral hydralazine every 6 hours on an as-needed basis. This approach was designed to evaluate management of hypertension managing elevated among the identified patient group.
Results: In this quality improvement initiative, I delved into the strategic use of as needed (PRN) antihypertensive medications within a targeted group of patients. The findings documented 40 cases of PRN antihypertensive use, with oral hydralazine standing out for its efficacy. Remarkably, in approximately 80% of these instances, hydralazine successfully reduced blood pressure to levels below 140/90 mmHg within a two-hour window following administration. The remaining 20% of cases required a second dose of PRN hydralazine, which achieved the target blood pressure reduction to below 140/90 mmHg within 8 hours from the initial dose. This evidence underscores the significant potential of oral PRN hydralazine.
Conclusion: Hydralazine demonstrated rapid and effective action in managing acute instances of hypertension with blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 mmHg. By customizing treatment plans to cater to the unique requirements of each patient, diligently observing the outcomes of these treatments, and modifying the approach when needed, one can significantly enhance the likelihood of reaching the best possible results.
Implications for practice: My findings align with general hypertension treatment guidelines, which recommend aiming for a blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a psychiatric population, managing acute hypertension episodes swiftly with oral hydralazine can be particularly important because psychiatric medications can affect blood pressure, and psychiatric conditions may themselves influence cardiovascular risk
Interview no. 1791
No full textIngrid Leyva Vásquez was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, but grew up in Ciudad Juárez. She considers herself a borderland resident since she often travels back and forth between the United States and Mexico. She remembers traveling to El Paso on weekends to spend time with family or enjoy family celebrations. Her family had birthday celebrations at Furr\u27s and went shopping at the dollar store; she felt that her childhood was typical for Juárez.
However, she also addresses the violence created by the Calderon Administration and the “narco” war. Ingrid is the middle child of three women and was raised solely by her mother. She recognizes her mother’s anxiety because of the violence and her incessant need to know where her daughter was at each moment. She also remembers horrendous situations. One time, they assassinated a woman and left her body on the street corner of the house. The image of the body of the woman being picked up by forensics and the stain of blood that was left on the street still haunts Ingrid. Not only does she address the violence in Ciudad Juárez but also El Paso and recounts her personal experience during the August 3rd Walmart Massacre at Cielo Vista Mall. She felt the same sense of trepidation and sense of unease as she did when she witnessed the lifeless woman thrown on the corner of her street.
Ingrid explains that she utilizes art to process the situations around her. However, she has not been able to process the violence that she witnessed in Juárez and Walmart through her art yet, and she carries the weight of what she saw on her shoulders. She explains that she comes from a family of photographers who have shown her many aspects of photography
Seasonal Abundances Of Aedes Aegypti And Culex Quinquefasciatus In An Urban Community In The Texas/mexico Border
No full textAAedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are two medically relevant species of mosquitoes that can transmit several arboviruses that affect human health. Ae. aegypti is a vector for viral diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, and Zika, while Cx. quinquefasciatus is a vector for West Nile and Saint Louis Encephalitis. Both species are mostly found in urban environments and are affected by several anthropogenic factors such as the presence of artificial containers and overall changes to the native landscape. Little research is done on the ecology of these two species in the Chihuahuan desert, which has some areas that are urbanized and have both species present. The Chihuahuan desert is also expected to have decreased annual rainfall and warmer temperatures as global temperatures continue to rise. More efforts to understand their seasonal fluctuation as well as the factors that influence their abundance is needed to better understand when both species are most abundant and when vector control practices should occur. Furthermore, understanding their seasonal fluctuations is important in predicting their abundances under different climate change trajectories for global climate change future abundances since many species of insects’ distributions and abundance are expected to shift. Here I model the abundance of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus females from data that was collected during 2014-2018 and 2021-2022 in El Paso Co., Texas. I investigated climate variables that could best predict the abundance that were recorded at both a small household scale, and a larger neighborhood scale (1 km). Climate variables that were used to model both species consisted of Minimum Temperature, Minimum Relative Humidity, Precipitation, and Normalized Vegetation Difference Index (NDVI). With these variables, I was able to model the abundances for both species under different climate change scenarios and found that populations of Culex quinquefasciatus are expected to increase significantly by the year 2075 if average temperatures increase by ~3°C Understanding the seasonal abundance of both species and their potential future abundances under different climate scenarios could better assist in the assessment of periods of time where humans are at most risk to being exposed to arboviruses as well as inform future policy on the potential risks global climate change has on public health