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Pain Intensity and Alcohol Use Behavior Among Veterans with Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role of Chronic Pain Acceptance
No full textThe co-occurrence of chronic pain and unhealthy alcohol use is common among veterans and associated with worse treatment outcomes and greater functional impairment relative to either condition alone. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has underscored the importance of addressing co-occurring medical conditions in their clinical practice guidelines for substance-related disorders. Recent legislation has also oriented the VA towards complementary and integrative health therapies to minimize opioid prescriptions for chronic pain. Thus, identifying malleable psychological factors linking pain to alcohol use is a vital step in the development of tailored interventions for veterans. The goal of the current study was to examine the moderating role of chronic pain acceptance in pain-alcohol relations among veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Veterans (N = 429; Mage = 56.6) were recruited via Qualtrics Panels for an online survey and completed validated measures of pain intensity, chronic pain acceptance, alcohol use severity, and perceptions of alcohol-assisted pain coping. Hierarchical linear regression and conditional effects models were used to test associations between pain intensity, chronic pain acceptance, and alcohol outcomes. Results indicated that chronic pain acceptance moderated the relationship between pain intensity and alcohol use severity, with a significant positive association observed at low, but not moderate or high, levels of acceptance. In addition, pain intensity and chronic pain acceptance were independently associated with perceptions of alcohol-assisted pain coping. Extending previous research linking chronic pain acceptance to opioid-related outcomes, the current findings suggest greater pain acceptance may buffer the impact of pain on alcohol use. Chronic pain acceptance may represent a promising treatment target for veterans with co-occurring pain and alcohol use
QUANTIFY THE IMPACT OF OCCUPANT BEHAVIOR ON BUILDING RETROFITS TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO TARGET UNDER FUTURE CLIMATES
No full textIt is estimated that about 40% of all the electricity generated in the United States is consumed by the building sector. This scale of energy use by buildings can be understood by the fact that the U.S. alone consumes approximately 20% of all the energy produced globally, despite having only about 4.23% of the world\u27s population. Given the threats posed by climate change, it is necessary to curtail the energy demand of this sector. Additionally, global climate change has increased the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme climate events like heat waves, cold waves, hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Given the growing risk of more frequent extreme climate events, it is essential to retrofit older, high energy-consuming buildings to improve their resilience. Apart from building resilience, it\u27s crucial to consider the stochastic nature of Occupant Behavior (OB), especially under future weather conditions. OB significantly influences building energy consumption but is often overlooked in simulations. This study examines the changes in building energy consumption, occupant behavior, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort in residential dormitories before and after deep energy retrofits. Significant reductions in Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) exposure were observed following the installation of Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) units. The frequency and duration of natural ventilation usage also decreased, particularly during late summer and transitional seasons, due to improved indoor thermal conditions. Post-retrofit indoor thermodynamic conditions consistently fell within the comfort boundaries as defined by ASHRAE Standard 55. Additionally, HVAC energy use dropped by nearly 80%, driven by better envelope insulation, significant infiltration reduction, and the adoption of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs). To extend these insights to the entire State of NY, retrofit outcomes from the campus dormitory were scaled to residential dormitories across New York using a Python-based framework. This framework sampled relevant building models from the Model America database, a large-scale energy model archive developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, encompassing over 5.1 million New York State buildings. The first part of the framework identified dormitories using the information available in NYS Department of Education. The second part enabled automated modification of EnergyPlus models, adjusting parameters such as insulation levels and infiltration rates to reflect retrofit scenarios. Future climate simulations were based on RCP8.5 projections sourced from ORNL’s repository, which included 20 years of weather data—ten representing near-future conditions (2045–2054) and ten representing long-term futures (2085–2094). Comprehensive EnergyPlus simulations for the year 2094 showed that infiltration control remained the most impactful retrofit strategy, reducing energy use by 11.05%, while insulation upgrades achieved a modest reduction of 3.11%. Furthermore, by leveraging metadata from the 5.1 million NYS Building Energy Models (BEMs), the study identified building models closely matching the geometry and characteristics of the original dormitories. This allowed the integration of machine learning–based occupant behavior meta-models into the statewide energy simulation. These meta-models were developed using transfer learning from original models and were designed to generalize occupant behavior patterns across different genders and demographic groups. The neural network-based meta-model combined multiple trained networks into a unified model capable of recognizing complex occupant behavior patterns. Lastly, the research examined the compression cycles of ASHPs under future climate scenarios and confirmed their continued suitability for small- to mid-sized residential buildings (less than 10,000 ft²) in the future. The results highlight ASHPs as a viable, future-ready technology for decarbonizing space heating in New York State homes under long-term climate change. In short, this research explored the following three important questions: 1. How can AI-based method help to quantify OB and assist in retrofit decision making? 2. How will OB change with future climate changes and what are the impacts on retrofit decisions? 3. How can we scale our methods developed using the data from our university dorms of the entire New York State
The Employment Situation of Veterans: April 2025
No full textIn April 2025, the U.S. added 177,000 jobs, with the national unemployment rate holding at 4.2%. Veteran unemployment declined to 3.5% from 3.8% in March, while Post-9/11 veterans saw a drop to 2.9%. Male veteran unemployment fell to 3.1%, but female veteran unemployment rose to 5.9%. Black and Hispanic veterans experienced significant improvements, with rates falling to 4.8% and 2.9%, respectively—both lower than their nonveteran peers. Younger veterans (25–34) and those aged 45–54 saw notable declines, while veterans aged 55–64 experienced a slight increase. Despite gains, disparities remain, especially for female and older veterans
Navigating Dual Worlds: The Complex Experiences of Concurrent Enrollment Instructors
No full textDespite the rapid expansion of dual enrollment programs in the United States, limited research has examined the experiences of concurrent enrollment instructors (CEIs), high school teachers who deliver college-level courses within secondary school settings. This qualitative collective case study explores how twelve CEIs within Maine\u27s public universities navigate their unique position at the intersection of K-12 and higher education systems. Guided by role theory (Katz & Kahn, 1978), this research investigated how CEIs perceive their dual role and navigate competing institutional expectations. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: dual system role navigation, pedagogical practices and classroom autonomy, professional relationships, communication and coordination challenges, and navigational strategies and coping mechanisms. Findings revealed that CEIs operate within a complex liminal space, experiencing role ambiguity, fragmented communication systems, and competing institutional demands. Despite these challenges, CEIs demonstrated remarkable adaptability through strategic compartmentalization, compromise, and innovation in their teaching practices. The study illuminates critical systemic gaps requiring comprehensive interventions at high school, university, and system levels. Recommendations include establishing clearer role definitions, improving communication infrastructure, developing tailored professional development opportunities, and recognizing CEIs as integral partners in expanding college access. This research contributes to the limited body of qualitative literature on CEI experiences and provides actionable insights for strengthening concurrent enrollment programs
Inequality and COVID Risk at School: Racial Disparities in Indoor Density, Vaccination Rates, and Consequences for Absenteeism
No full textDuring the COVID pandemic, schools were widely believed to be a venue that facilitated disease transmission. While some worried Black and Hispanic students would disproportionately face greater risk of COVID exposure at school (school COVID risk) – given well-documented racially disparate school environments and resources – little empirical evidence exists documenting or refuting potential disparities in school COVID risk. This paper begins to fill this gap by examining racial disparities in the school environments that contribute to COVID risk at school—specifically, vaccination rates and classroom space per pupil (indoor density) - in New York City elementary schools. We then document the relationship between school COVID risk and absenteeism, to shed light on potential academic consequences of this risk, and explore the extent to which this risk mediates racial disparities in absenteeism. Finally, repeat the analyses for middle and high school students to assess consistency of the findings in other school levels. While Asian and White students, on average, attend schools with higher vaccination rates, they also face more crowded classrooms than Black or Hispanic students. Perhaps surprisingly, White students are more likely than Black students to attend the riskiest schools – schools with both indoor density above and vaccination rates below expert recommended critical thresholds. Importantly, we find that much of the racial disparity in school COVID risk – roughly half – is attributed to differences across neighborhoods rather than within them. Controlling for school COVID risk narrows racial gaps in attendance and chronic absenteeism – suggesting variation in risk partially explains racial gaps in attendance rates and chronic absenteeism. We find similar results for the other school levels, although magnitudes vary. Our findings highlight the need to consider multiple dimensions of school health risk and distinguish between risks rooted in physical environments and those driven by behavioral responses
Cross-Discipline Collaboration: A Holistic Legal-Social Work Partnership for Veteran Advocacy
No full textThe Veterans Legal Clinic integrates social work into legal advocacy to support homeless veterans facing complex legal and personal challenges. In collaboration with Altamont, social work students provide case management that connects clients to VA benefits, housing, mental health care, and other essential services. The interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model addresses systemic barriers such as service-connected disabilities and social inequalities. By delivering personalized client-centered support, the clinic empowers veterans to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience
Band-Aids Don\u27t Fix Bullet Holes: The Veterans Who Are Not Veterans, The Unique Crises They Face, and Why Proactive Interagency Collaboration is Key
No full textNot all veterans are veterans. Over 540,000 living veterans have served this country, yet their military administrative discharge status prevents them from accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits. A shocking number of these veterans suffer from undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions, and when exacerbated by the secondary effects from lack of access to VA support, put them at one of the highest risks for other psychosocial crises such as suicide and homelessness. The VA excludes these veterans from accessing their services due to the less-than-honorable nature of their discharge, which is excluded in the federal statutory and regulatory definitions of a veteran. For a veteran with a less-than-honorable discharge to become a veteran they must embark on a lengthy, arduous, inefficient, and often unsuccessful administrative appeal process within the VA or within Military Department Review Boards\u27 in the Department of Defense (DoD). Uniquely, this Article proposes that despite the differing missions of the DoD and VA, greater alignment of their policies, concerning administrative discharge status and unequal treatment of veterans with less-than-honorable discharges, could proactively reduce the number of veterans at highest-risk for the secondary psychosocial crises of suicide and homelessness by creating a better avenue towards veteran-centric healthcare and services provided through the VA. Where reactive policy band-aids have been of little avail, new proactive policy collaboration between the DoD and VA can reaffirm this Nation\u27s commitment to care for all veterans who have served under the banner of the United States
Political Agroecology in Syracuse: Local Understandings, Possibilities, and Barriers to Food System Transformation
No full textIn recent years, agroecology has begun to receive increasing attention from international institutions such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO). For some, this is seen as a valuable case of up-scaling agroecology which will lead to greater institutional support for the framework. However, critical agroecologists have raised concerns that such institutional adoption is rather a form of co-optation where the social and political elements of agroecology are omitted to facilitate the integration of the framework into a wider program of food system reform. As a result, there is ongoing contestation over the framework between these co-opted agroecologies, which support and reproduce the corporate food regime, and political agroecologies which seek to advance radical anti-capitalist transformative change. Framed within this contestation, this thesis explores how agroecology exists and is understood within Syracuse, NY in order to build greater understanding of how political agroecology can be advanced in urban US contexts. Through a critical review of the literature and interviews with food movement actors in Syracuse, I argue that there are deep incompatibilities between the radical politics of political agroecology and the current US political landscape. While research participants thought highly of agroecology generally, they tended to view the social and political elements of the framework as untenable within the Syracuse context, running the risk of advancing a depoliticized, co-opted agroecology. To avoid this co-optation and enable the advancement of political agroecology in the US, further scholarship is needed, particularly that which employs participatory methods to support the co-creation of politically engaged understandings of agroecology within existing US food movements
Independent Horror Video Games as Modern Zines
No full textVideo games are typically perceived as expensive projects requiring hundreds of specialized employees to produce. However, they can serve as a potent medium for personal expression and collaborative storytelling, especially in the realm of Independent games. This paper will examine video games as modern illustrated zines, particularly their role as tools for socially transgressive expression. To provide a baseline for understanding how horror games engage players through polished, more mainstream narratives, we will first examine Triple-A horror games with professional staff and publisher financing. We will use this as a stepping stone to delve into independent horror games, we will discuss their role as cultural artifacts rooted in the DIY ethos, and punk-inspired experimentation. These “indie games” offer small voices creative freedom to explore identity, belonging, gender, sexuality, and themes of interest to queer Gothic studies such as alienation, desire, and subversion of sexual norms. Just like the photocopier revolutionized self-published zines in the mid-20th century, the internet, accessible and user-friendly developer engines have had a democratizing effect on game creation, allowing marginalized voices to find and forge their own communities. Indie games exemplify this democratization and function as the digital evolution of the self-published zine by challenging norms and experimenting with what their respective mediums can do. By examining the themes and mechanics of horror games, this research highlights the medium’s unique capacity for catharsis, the construction of communities, and the expression of transgressive and experimental ideas in a safe place
Advancing Situation Awareness in Safety-Critical Systems: The Role of Multi-Modal Wearable Augmented Reality
No full textAugmented Reality (AR) is emerging as a transformative tool for enhancing multi-modal interaction and situational awareness in safety-critical environments. This dissertation investigates the impact of wearable AR interfaces on maritime navigation, examining their effects on operator performance, cognitive workload, and operator communication. This research evaluates AR’s role in supporting multi-modal information processing and decision-making in high-risk operational contexts. This work is structured around three studies. The first study quantifies how wearable AR displays influence navigational accuracy, cognitive load, and situation awareness, revealing both efficiency gains and cognitive trade-offs. The second study explores multi-modal AR’s impact on operator mobility and communication, highlighting its ability to streamline real-time decision-making while requiring new communication strategies. The third study takes a qualitative approach, capturing operator perceptions of AR usability, trust development, and workflow integration. Findings indicate that while AR can enhance situational awareness and mobility, its adoption depends on interface adaptability, ergonomic design, and user training. This dissertation contributes to the broader discourse on multi-modal interaction in safety-critical systems, demonstrating how wearable AR shapes operator cognition, information flow, and collaborative decision-making. Beyond maritime navigation, these insights extend to aviation, emergency response, and industrial safety. Additionally, reflections on Google Glass and the GlassNav AR system provide design recommendations for future multi-modal AR interfaces. The research also explores the trajectory of AR in an AI-enabled world, emphasizing the need for adaptive, AI-driven AR solutions that dynamically tailor information presentation to operator workload. By identifying key challenges and opportunities in AR integration, this dissertation advances the development of human-centered, multi-modal AR technologies for safety-critical operations