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A case study of one district’s efforts to enact and sustain a systemic racial equity transformation
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore one district’s efforts to enact a systemic racial equity initiative, with a particular focus on the perceived roles, responsibilities, and effectiveness of the district’s leadership. The study involved examining a large urban school district’s systemic racial equity policy implementation from 2017 to 2022. The case study design ensured in-depth data collection via artifacts and interviews with persons closely involved with the initiative. The first research question addressed to the five practices for equity-focused school leadership framework with three themes representing prioritizing equity leadership of (a) self-awareness, (b) understanding systemic inequities, and (c) adopting a systemic transformation approach; three themes about preparing for equity practice of (a) shared language, (b) culturally responsive leadership, and (c) paradigm shift; three themes for development of equity leadership teams of (a) an equity team and tools, (b) a systemic professional development plan, and (c) learning communities; four themes for equity-focused systems of (a) equity leadership teams, (b) equity focused systems, (c) equity and community collaboration, and (d) successes and critiques of district structures; and for the fifth practice of equity sustainability, one theme of systems erosion threatens sustainability. The themes for the perceptions of stakeholders in a systemic racial equity initiative explored the following: (a) centralized leadership versus distributed responsibility, (b) influence and impact on systemic change, (c) perceptions of the superintendent’s leadership roles as messenger and symbolic actor, and (d) challenges and criticisms centered on superintendent’s political inconsistencies. Only the influence and impact on systemic change theme produced subthemes for this research question, which were (a) influence of the superintendent and (b) impact on systemic change by stakeholders.
Finally, the third research question exploring community perceptions of the initiative and district leadership yielded (a) the polarization of community opinions theme with subthemes of support for racial equity efforts and opposition to racial equity efforts and (b) theme of political influences reflecting the district’s racial equity initiatives as shaped by the political landscape of the state’s larger political tensions
Re-examining multicultural courses: Centering the voices of students of color counselors-in-training
No full textUniversities implemented multicultural courses to train White counselors-in-training on effectively working with diverse populations (see Arredondo & Arciniega, 2001; Ridley, 2005). Throughout the years, SOC counselors-in-training attendance in counseling programs has increased (CACREP, 2018, 2023). Although numerous counselors and trainees completed multicultural counseling education, scholars have rarely considered the factors contributing to multicultural competence in SOC counselors-in-training. This interpretative phenomenological and CRT study aimed to understand the lived experiences of counselors-in-training who identify as SOC and what informed their practice when working with White clients. This study’s findings supported that SOC counselors-in-training rely significantly on their counselor education program, personal experiences, and self-study to assist and supplement their learning to inform their decision-making process in their work with White clients. Participants considered sociopolitical factors such as power, race, culture, and geographical locations as informants of their interactions with White clients. Ultimately, the participants reported bearing the additional weight of internal conflict as they considered the racial and cultural dynamics that informed how they navigated their work with White clients. This study contributed to research highlighting SOC voices and how multicultural courses influence their decisions when working with White clients. This study focused on racism, how it presented during sessions, and the skills participants used to work with White clients in navigating these complex situations. This study added to the body of literature stakeholders may utilize to make decisions around strategies, counseling curricula, equitable policies, and praxis that uphold professional and ethical standards
Conservation and Efficiency before Transition
No full textA new infrastructure is needed for the transition to renewable electricity and very high investment must be made in solar energy units, wind turbines, and the required energy storage capacity (pumped-hydro, CAES, batteries, hydrogen, etc.) that would ensure the demand-supply balance. This is where energy conservation and efficiency measures can help substantially: The extensive adoption of energy conservation and energy efficiency measures in households and industry has the potential to substantially reduce the electric power demand in all countries with commensurate savings in investments for renewable energy power generation units and storage facilities. In the case of Texas, the adoption of such measures would decrease the investment in additional renewable energy generation units by a factor of 2.9 and the required energy storage capacity by a factor of 2.0. In our opinion, the message for the energy policy drivers should be “energy efficiency and conservation measures before transition”
Surveying for Ancient Supernovae Across the Galaxy: Mapping SDSS-IV/OCCAM Abundances and the Search for Heavier Elements
No full textOpen clusters are powerful tools for tracing the dynamic and chemical evolution of the Milky Way because of the reliable ages and chemistry that can be derived for them. However, to effectively leverage the open cluster sample to constrain the evolutionary characteristics of the Milky Way, we need to build a large, comprehensive, dataset that samples a large swath of the Galaxy. This is the goal of the SDSS/APOGEE-based Open Cluster Chemical Abundance and Mapping (OCCAM) survey: to identify and analyze a large sample of open clusters with 15+ elemental abundances, currently derived from Gaia and SDSS/APOGEE data. Here we present the results from the OCCAM analysis of DR17, the final data release of SDSS-IV. This dataset of 153 open clusters and 2061 stellar members is used to investigate the Milky Way’s radial metallicity and abundance gradients for different alpha, iron-peak, and odd-z elements. In addition to this dataset, we also present the current status of optical follow-up observations and analyses, of these same stars, that are intended to add 3+ r- and s-process neutron capture abundances each
One of these strains is not like the others: C. elegans DW102 has an altered dependence on brc-1 and brd-1 for regulation of cyp gene transcription
No full textSeveral strains of Caenorhabditis elegans with mutations in brc-1 or brd-1 are readily available to aid in elucidating the functions of these two genes in DNA damage repair, meiosis, and gene repression. DW102 is the only C. elegans strain to our knowledge with mutations in both brc-1 and brd-1. However, several groups have reported the DW102 strain is indistinguishable from wild-type when observing levels of embryonic lethality, sensitivity to radiation, and rates of male progeny, while strains with mutations in either brc-1 or brd-1 display increased occurrence of these phenotypes. Here, RT-qPCR analysis of the cyp-13A gene family, reveals distinctive and aberrant expression patterns in DW102 compared to other brc-1 or brd-1 mutant strains underscoring the need for caution in choosing this strain to draw conclusions about brc-1 and brd-1 functions. The expression profiles of cyp-13A2, cyp-13A4, cyp-13A5, cyp-13A6, cyp-13A7, cyp-13A8, cyp-13A10, cyp-13A11, and cyp-13A12 in wild-type N2 (WT) and DW102 strains were assessed using RT-qPCR and normalized to the expression of the reference gene, tba-1. Data are presented as the mean starting quantity relative to WT. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean (� SEM) for four biological replicates. The deviation from WT was determined using student's t-test with * indicating a statistically significant value (p-value < 0.05)
A holistic approach to the total energy and cost for carbon capture and sequestration
No full textCarbon capture and sequestration from a stationary source comprises four distinct engineering processes: separation of CO2 from the other flue gases, compression, transportation, and injection into the chosen storage site. An analysis of the thermodynamic and transport properties of CO2 shows that dissolving this gas in seawater at depths more than 600 m is, most likely, an optimal long-term storage method; and that for transportation, the CO2 must be in the denser supercritical state at pressures higher than 7.377 MPa. The separation, compression, transportation, and injection processes require significant energy expenditures, which are determined in this paper using realistic equipment efficiencies, for the cases of two currently in operation coal power plants in Texas. The computations show that the total energy requirements for carbon removal and sequestration are substantial, close to one-third of the energy currently generated by the two power plants. The cost analysis shows that two parameters – the unit cost of the pipeline and the discount factor of the corporation – have a very significant effect on the annualized cost of the CCS process. Doubling the unit cost of the pipeline increases the total annualized cost of the entire CCS project by 36% and increasing the discount rate from 5% to 15% increases this annualized cost by 32%
Conversations with counselors post-covid: A phenomenological study
No full textThis qualitative study explored the unique experiences of Texas Licensed Professional Counselors working during the COVID-19 pandemic and how those experiences transformed their lives and practices. This phenomenological study allowed nine therapists from varied therapeutic settings to examine how pandemic-related experiences impacted them, reflect on the emerging meanings, and share their experiences in a non-judgmental space. Participants engaged in two interviews and supplemented those conversations with images they provided that represented their experiences as clinicians working during the pandemic. Key findings included adjusting to virtual counseling sessions, increased need for self-awareness and self-care, experiencing a parallel process, and adapting to counseling practices after the pandemic. Findings from this research project will deepen the general understanding of how counselors who worked during the pandemic made sense of their experiences and inform future counseling, education, and supervision practices within the profession.
Keywords: Texas Licensed Professional Counselors, LPCs, COVID-19 Pandemic, phenomenology, qualitative, meaning-making
Principal retention: A phenomenological exploration of principal attrition and strategies to build capacity and sustainability in the retention of school leaders
No full textThis phenomenological research examines the personal experiences of school principals and the factors that shape their choices to either stay in or leave the role of principal. Through in-depth interviews with current and former principals, this research uncovers key conditions contributing to principal attrition, such as job dissatisfaction, inadequate compensation, excessive workload, lack of support, and emotional exhaustion (Cieminski & Asmus, 2023; Grissom & Bartanen, 2019; Husain et al., 2021). By identifying these antecedents, the study aims to provide actionable insights for school districts to improve retention rates and reduce attrition among principals.
Adopting a phenomenological approach, the study delves into the personal and systemic factors that shape principals’ decisions, making it especially aligned with exploring the multi-dimensional nature of burnout and organizational support. This method allows for a deep examination of how principals perceive and react to challenges, providing a nuanced understanding of the pressures associated with the role (Van Manen, 2023; Moustakas, 1994; Duke, 1984). Findings reveal that excessive workloads and administrative tasks often impede principals' ability to fulfill their educational vision. Participants described being overwhelmed by the demands of paperwork, regulatory compliance, and staff and student management. Additionally, a pervasive sense of isolation due to insufficient support from district administration and peers further exacerbates stress, leading to diminished job satisfaction.
The study offers recommendations for improving principal retention by addressing these challenges, emphasizing the importance of reducing workloads, enhancing support systems, and promoting well-being within the role. Through these strategies, schools and districts can better support principals, ultimately contributing to more sustainable leadership practices in education
Communicate to Care: Implementing Health Literacy in a Pediatric Ears, Nose, and Throat Clinic
No full textBackground: Despite positive outcomes in controlled trials, organizations have been slow to adopt health literacy practices. The purpose of the Communicate to CARE (Clear Communication, Achieve Understanding with Teach-Back, Receptive to our patient family needs, Empathetic care delivery) study was to use theories and strategies from implementation science to scale up health literacy practices in a pediatric Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic. Brief Description of Activity: Expanding on previous efforts that simply reflected on barriers, the CARE team identified barriers within the local context pre-implementation to select strategies to directly address barriers during health literacy implementation. The RE-AIM framework was used to evaluate the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of health literacy practices. Implementation: Over 18 months, the CARE team delivered multiple implementation strategies, including external facilitator, microlessons, preparing champions, audit and feedback, local consensus discussions, and small test of change. We tailored health literacy practices to clinic team roles to accommodate the clinic workflow. Results: ENT team mean ratings on acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility remained >4 indicating a high likelihood of successful implementation. Caregiver always ratings significantly increased from baseline to 12 months for easy-to-understand medication instructions (74%�96%), test results (54%�96%), know what to do if had questions (89%�96%), and encouraged to talk about health problems (76%�90%). Caregiver ratings dropped slightly at 18 months, indicating a need for booster training. While one third of caregivers reported Teach-Back practice across all time periods, the ENT team reported increased practice from baseline (42%), 6 (61%) and 12 months (70%). Lessons Learned: Over the first 12 months, the external facilitator delivered implementation strategies with weekly contact, tapering contact over the final 6 months. The local champion became engaged in the CARE study through a quality improvement project with meaningful outcomes for the clinic and an incentivization program for scholarly endeavors. Lunch and learn sessions helped build relationships between the CARE and ENT team to discuss and problem solve issues. The 5-item CAHPS health literacy composite proved to be sensitive to changes during implementation of health literacy practices. Integrating these items into standard follow up surveys with patients and families would help realize the return on investment for health literacy implementation
Categorizing E-Cigarette-related Tweets using BERT Topic Modeling
No full textBackground Social media platforms are critical channels for promoting e-cigarettes, particularly among youth, making analysis of their vast and diverse content essential for public health interventions. Prevalence rates of e-cigarette use are high and evidence suggests that social media are popular forums that promote e-cigarette use through direct and indirect marketing techniques. The volume and diverse nature of e-cigarette-related information on social media is challenging and may obfuscate public health prevention messaging. Traditional hand-coding methods are labor-intensive and limit scalability. In contrast, unsupervised machine learning approaches, such as topic modeling, allow for efficient analysis of large datasets, uncovering patterns and trends that manual methods cannot achieve at scale. The present study focused on ascertaining the extent to which themes and topics in tweets related to e-cigarettes can be successfully rendered into useful homogenous units using machine learning. A better understanding of current depictions and discussions around e-cigarette products and use on social media can inform public health counter messaging and policy interventions. Methods We used topic modeling (BERTopic) to iteratively derive vape-related tweet clusters and calculate the importance of particular words to these groupings. We conducted a qualitative content analysis to study clustered tweets. We also sought to determine the geographic locations of e-cigarette conversations using automated geoparsing methods, which translate toponyms in textual data into geographic identifiers, to attempt to infer the location of tweets. Results We were able to successfully identify >100,000 tweets in broad thematic categories in English and Spanish. Our correlation and inter-topic map analysis of the machine-derived topics, which examines the relationships between topics, indicated that most of the topics were unique (correlation value < 0.5) and did not overlap with each other. We identified six topics: Flavors and Disposable Vapes, Cannabis, Vape Shops and Refillable Vapes, Vape Culture, Anti-vaping and Quitting, and Spanish Tweets and Vaping Nicotine. Further analysis of these topics using qualitative methods identified themes within each topic. For example, Category 6 (Spanish Tweets and Vaping Nicotine) included four topics focused on the health risks of vaping, personal motivations for vaping, and the regulation of vaping products. Using geoparsing, which automatically detects location information, we found that the United States had the highest number of tweets related to vaping. Discussion/conclusion Results underscore the possibility of leveraging BERTopic modeling to reduce large quantities of data to comprehensively describe and categorize myriad e-cigarette related messages to which social media users are exposed. This data reduction approach can be applied to various social media platforms to describe and categorize e-cigarette posts and thereby triangulate and validate findings. Thematic content analysis of the topics identified through this technique requires supervision and human inputs. Our approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolving e-cigarette discourse, informing public health counter-messaging and policy interventions. Moreover, findings support the need for regulation, such as reducing appealing flavors and suggest that social media can be used effectively to support public health messaging (i.e., quitting messages)