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Built to Last? An Exploratory Analysis of Facility Investment Planning and its Impacts on Financial and Operational Sustainability in the National Park Service
Get PDFThis research, conducted with the National Park Service’s (NPS) Park Planning and Special Studies division, explores how long-term facility planning affects the operational and financial sustainability of national parks. Amid rising visitation, climate challenges, and shrinking budgets and staff, the study reassesses Unit Management Planning (UMP)—NPS’s primary tool for long-range park planning. Using a mix of methods—including plan reviews, park leader surveys and interviews, environmental compliance analysis, and project implementation tracking—the research followed the full lifecycle of proposed major facility projects, from planning through to implementation. Findings show that while newer, more flexible planning approaches have lowered costs and development time, most plans still propose infrastructure expansions that parks may not be able to sustain. Park leaders expressed concern that proposed projects often outpace available resources, risking long-term feasibility. Environmental compliance analysis further indicated that including proposed facility projects in long-term plans does little to reduce the burden of subsequent NEPA requirements. Additionally, most proposed major facility projects in UMP plans were never completed, and many built projects had not been proposed in a UMP plan—highlighting a disconnect between planning and real-world investment. The report recommends aligning facility planning more closely with operational capacity, improving transparency around project funding decisions, and adopting a standardized monitoring and evaluation framework to track plan use and outcomes over time. In sum, this research provides evidence to underscore the need for a more adaptive, grounded approach to NPS facility investment planning—one that supports park leaders in making informed, implementable decisions and ensures that national parks remain resilient and sustainable long into the future.Master of City and Regional Plannin
Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences in Granville and Vance Counties Through the Use of School-Based Interventions
Get PDFGranville and Vance Counties in North Carolina face significant challenges related to food insecurity, economic stability, and the mental health of the youth within these communities. In Vance County, 17.8% of children experience food insecurity, exceeding the state average of 14.9%, while unemployment rates in Granville (5.6%) and Vance (7.5%) surpass the state average of 4.5% (NCIPH, 2023). Additionally, 25% of students report symptoms of anxiety and depression which highlights the urgent need for early intervention (2021).
Limitations in policy and funding impact efforts to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), emphasizing the need for advocacy to enhance mental health support and improve resource allocation. Research indicates that students suspended between the grades 7-12 have an increased risk of incarceration by the age of 26 (Hemez et al., 2021). This emphasizes the importance of school-based interventions and data-driven policies. By fostering partnerships and implementing CQI, this initiative aims to enhance long-term health outcomes by disrupting cycles of trauma and strengthening resilience with the communities of Granville and Vance Counties.
The project implements a data based coordinated strategy with community partnership with policy advocacy and continuous quality improvement (CQI) to decrease ACEs effects while enhancing mental well being. The initiative focuses on early intervention combined with specific support services and inclusive program design to construct resilience while decreasing disparities and enhancing long term health results. The approach focuses on creating lasting systems changes and sustainable infrastructure to tackle structural inequities which will produce better health outcomes for children and families in these rural counties.Master of Public Healt
Corrigendum: Loneliness and low life satisfaction associated with older adults' poor oral health
Get PDFCorrigendum to "Loneliness and low life satisfaction associated with older adults' poor oral health
Participants’ reactions to the inclusion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) measures in an established large-scale cohort: The California Teachers Study
Get PDFSexual and gender minority (SGM) populations are more likely than non-SGM populations to experience poor health outcomes but are underrepresented in research. The California Teachers Study (CTS) is a large prospective observational cohort that, in its 2017-2019 survey, included sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) measures and also asked participants to provide feedback on the questionnaire. We conducted an inductive content analysis of participants' feedback responses and used these qualitative codes to a) identify which participants commented on SOGI and b) establish whether these participants had a positive, negative, or ambiguous reaction to the measures. We used Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate whether demographic factors were associated with reaction type. A total of 373(2%) of 19,496 respondents commented on the SOGI questions. Of these, 41% had negative reactions, 35% had ambiguous reactions, and 25% had positive reactions. Younger age (<65 years) was positively associated with positive reaction (OR=2.30; 95%CI, 1.23-4.32). Non-white participants had lower adjusted odds of having a negative reaction to the SOGI measures compared to white participants (OR=0.38; 95%CI, 0.17-0.87). In this large established study of older adults, feedback on SOGI measures was rare but differed in frequency and content by participants' demographics
Advancing the understanding and management of Mpox: insights into epidemiology, disease pathways, prevention, and therapeutic strategies
Get PDFMpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the Mpox virus (MPXV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. This disease is of significant concern due to its zoonotic transmission, which can be challenging to control, its ability to spread easily from person to person, the potential for severe symptoms or even fatality, and its history of frequent global outbreaks. Despite the growing threat, there is still limited research on the pathophysiology of the disease and available disease-modifying treatments. To address this gap, the latest developments in Mpox epidemiology, viral variant detection, and advanced diagnostic tools for accurate MPXV detection have been reviewed. Ongoing preventive measures, including vaccination strategies, have also been examined. Additionally, the genomic and proteomic characteristics of MPXV have been explored, and network and pathway enrichment analyses have been performed to identify potential therapeutic targets. The findings presented in this manuscript suggest the potential for novel disease-modifying treatments. Moreover, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and "big data," are playing a crucial role in advancing disease management and enhancing prevention strategies. This review emphasizes the evolving understanding of Mpox and MPXV variants and underscores the importance of continued research and public health initiatives to combat the disease and prevent future global outbreaks
EXPANDING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL (MBH) SERVICES FOR NORTH CAROLINA’S FOSTER CARE YOUTH
Get PDFChildren and youth in foster care (CYFC) face significantly higher rates of adverse childhood experiences, which place them at a heightened risk for mental and behavioral health (MBH) challenges. These challenges are compounded by inappropriate and unstable foster care placements, such as social services offices, emergency rooms, or congregate care settings (e.g., psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs)). North Carolina lacks appropriate community-based services for CYFC with significant mental or behavioral health problems. This proposal expands the current Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC), which is a career pathways program for Social Work students to intern in the child welfare system, with the commitment to continue this work post-graduation. This bill would expand the CWEC program to recruit students pursuing Psychology and Counseling degrees. The expanded CWEC program would also bring in licensed MBH professionals to provide direct care to CYFC, while training student interns.Master of Public Healt
What’s the Fuss About the Bus?: How Parent Perceptions of Transit Affect Teen Transit Use in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Get PDFDespite Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) offering fare-free bus service to all residents, local youth exhibit strikingly low ridership. This study investigates why, exploring the often-overlooked influence of parents on adolescent transportation choices. Through four focus groups composed of Chapel Hill-Carrboro parent-teen pairs, this research explores attitudes, perceptions, and behavioral norms around public transportation use in a small university town.
Findings indicate that while both teens and parents express positive views toward public transportation in theory – citing environmental and social benefits – actual bus use remains minimal. The most significant barriers are not rooted in safety fears or negative perceptions, but in unfamiliarity, perceived inconvenience, and a built environment that doesn’t support teen travel patterns. Parents are generally supportive of their teens riding the bus but rarely model or teach transit-riding behaviors. Teens, for their part, rarely need to use the bus due to the prevalence of peer and parent car access.
Recommendations include transit education programs in local schools and changes to CHT’s operational schedule and route coverage to better serve teen needs. In particular, the study advocates for normalizing transit within families and schools to promote long-term transit use among youth. While Chapel Hill’s fare-free transit model provides a rare opportunity for youth to develop a relationship with transit, cultural, infrastructural, and educational interventions are needed to turn that potential into real ridership gains among the next generation.Master of City and Regional Plannin
AUW Strong Schools 2024/2025: De-Identified Transcripts of Student Videos on Flip.com
No full textThe videos transcribed in this dataset were originally posted on flip.com on three different flip boards with students sharing their experiences with (1) writing the open access e-book 'AI in Education', (2) using generative AI and (3) general course feedback for the 2024/2025 course "Educational Technology for Strong Schools" at the Asian University for Women. The videos were initially incoporated into the e-book, but are no longer accessible since flip.com discontinued its service. The student e-book is accessible online: https://edtechbooks.org/ai_in_educatio
Gut Butyrate Reduction in Blood Pressure Is Associated with Other Vegetables, Whole Fruit, Total Grains, and Sodium Intake
Get PDFBackground: African Americans (AA) are disproportionally affected by hypertension (HTN). Gut microbiome metabolites (e.g., butyrate) may mediate the relationship between the microbiome and blood pressure (BP). Previous research reports a consistent indirect relationship between gut butyrate, a product of gut microbial nutrient fermentation, and BP. Thus, this study assessed the relationship between individual diet intake on BP changes after a butyrate treatment. Methods: AA aged 30–50 with HTN underwent treatment with a blinded placebo (5 mmol) and butyrate enema (80 mmol) with a one-week washout period. Ambulatory BP monitors collected measures up to 24 h post-enema. The Nutrition Data System for Research was used to assess diet and Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores from diet records. Paired t-tests and Kendall’s correlation tests determined group differences and relationships between variables (p < 0.05). Results: Positive correlations were found between other vegetables and 24 h diastolic BP (r = 0.64), daytime diastolic BP (r = 0.68), and MAP (r = 0.72). Positive correlations were also found between 24 h systolic BP and HEI-2015 greens and beans sub-scores (r = 0.64) and 24 h DBP and total vegetables (r = 0.64). Negative correlations were found between nighttime arterial stiffness and total grain intake (r = −0.71). Conclusion: These data suggest diet impacts BP measures in response to acutely increasing gut butyrate. These results provide preliminary evidence linking food groups, not individual nutrients, with BP outcomes and gut butyrate availability
SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION OF ALLELIC REGULATORY ACTIVITY OF GENETIC VARIANTS ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Get PDFGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genomic regions implicated in the risk of psychiatric disorders. However, discerning the causal variant(s) remains challenging due to linkage disequilibrium, necessitating further experimental validation. To address this challenge, a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) has been developed to functionally validate the allelic regulatory effects of thousands of variants in a single experiment by utilizing next-generation sequencing technology. In the first part of this study, we performed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) on 5,173 fine-mapped schizophrenia-associated common variants in primary human neural progenitors (HNPs), identifying 439 variants with allelic regulatory effects (MPRA-allelic variants). Existing strategies for prioritizing causal variants, such as GWAS summary statistics, fine-map posterior inclusion probability, and enhancer overlap, proved inadequate in predicting MPRA-allelic variants. Notably, 64% of MPRA-allelic variants did not exhibit expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) signatures, indicating that MPRA can uncover previously unexplored variants with regulatory potential. Since many psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) show comorbidity among other psychiatric disorders, scientists have hypothesized that there is underlying pleiotropy at play. To understand the genetic basis of pleiotropy, the Psychiatric Genomic Consortium (PGC) has conducted a meta- genome-wide association study (meta-GWAS) across eight psychiatric disorders and identified 136 loci, of which 109 were associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, underscoring the need to investigate the mechanisms underlying pleiotropic effects. In the second part of this study, we conducted MPRA on 15,902 variants associated with single or multiple psychiatric disorders to elucidate the regulatory logic of variants with disorder-specific and pleiotropic effects in HNPs. We identified 683 expression-modulating variants (emVars) that exhibit allelic regulatory effects in enhancers. Subsequent bioinformatic analyses revealed that disease-specific and pleiotropic emVars alter binding motifs for transcription factors (TFs) with minimal overlap, and that pleiotropic TFs exhibit higher connectivity in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Lastly, linking our emVars with eQTL resources showed that 62% of our emVars overlapped with eQTLs. This overlap was higher for emVars than the MPRA-allelic variants identified by the same study, highlighting the higher biological relevance of emVars compared to MPRA-allelic variants.Doctor of Philosoph