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Unequal Shocks: The Heterogeneous Impact of Earthquakes
Get PDFWhat effect does neighborhood wealth have on disaster outcomes and disaster induced migration? Using the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake in Southern Türkiye and Syria as a natural shock, I examine how the short term migration response to building damage and earthquake exposure differs by average neighborhood home prices. Using a panel dataset of population by bing tile, from Meta’s Data for Good Project, I employ time series and cross sectional regression analysis. I find that wealthy neighborhoods are better able to retain population than non-wealthy counterparts
Language Attrition as a Social Process
No full textLanguage attrition is a process in which the gradual decline in proficiency of a language occurs when another language becomes more prominent among individuals, families, and broader societies. This shift often occurs not by choice but by necessity, as speakers are expected to adapt to the other language in educational settings, for employment, and to conform to societal pressures in their new environments. Although language attrition is often described as an individual loss of proficiency, contemporary research reveals a far more complex picture—one shaped by factors that determine which languages are valued and which fade into obscurity. These forces collectively determine whether certain languages remain active across generations and which languages get silenced and eventually lost to the realms of history. The following literature review examines these dynamics through scholarship from the last decade on language attrition and the factors that influence it, including immigrants\u27 language practices and beliefs, educational systems, institutional policies, and broader political ideologies. Ethnolinguistic Vitality (EV) theory serves as a guiding framework for this literature review, supported by sociolinguistic and educational perspectives that identify specific factors that determine whether languages are more able to be sustained or are more prone to language attrition. The opening chapters introduce the main problem, outline the research questions guiding the literature review, and establish the theoretical framework, methodological foundations, and data collection process for the resources examined in the literature review. Chapter III presents a literature review across the four interconnected dynamics, each tracing distinct pathways through which factors influence language attrition. Chapter IV synthesizes these dynamics and analyzes the research questions among the current literature reviewed. Chapter V concludes with recommendations for future research, practices, and policies to strengthen the understanding and actions that shape attrition
Reimagining Nurse Education: Virtual Reality & Didactic Education for Better Nurse Handoff and Documentation
No full textSetting: The pediatric perianesthesia unit (pre-operative and post-anesthesia care unit). Problem: Gaps in perianesthesia documentation contribute to poor handoff communication, leading to adverse events and increased hospital costs. Additionally, inconsistent documentation reduces clarity and consistency during handoffs. Context: Staff in the microsystem reported low confidence scores with required OP-Time documentation, inconsistent workflows, and I-PASS handoff expectations. These factors contribute to incomplete charting and a lack of standardization across providers. Interventions: A two-part educational intervention was conducted, consisting of eight sessions. The first component is a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation that demonstrates an accurate perianesthesia I-PASS handoff. The second component is a didactic education related to organizational OP-Time documentation policies and further I-PASS handoff elements. Methods: Pre- and post-intervention documentation audits were conducted to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of required OP-Time documentation elements and handoff components. Results: Documentation compliance increased from 85% to 89% post-intervention, indicating a 4% positive trend towards the target goal. Additionally, staff confidence improved 88% regarding hospital policies and 80% related to required documentation and handoff requirements after the intervention. Conclusion: The VR-based documentation module was an effective strategy to improve documentation accuracy and staff confidence. Although the project did not reach the intended 95% benchmark, the intervention produced meaningful improvements in documentation quality and nurse handoff consistency. Continued integration of education, consistent audits, and reinforcement are recommended to further enhance patient safety in the perianesthesia microsystem and increase compliance
From Fear to Familiar: Alleviating Technology Anxiety in Older Adults Through a Community-Based Mentorship Program
No full textThis quality improvement project was implemented in a senior residential facility in Richmond, California, catering to older low-income adults who frequently experience elevated levels of technology anxiety. Aim This project aims to reduce the mean modified technology-anxiety score among residents aged 65 and older by at least 25% from baseline by November 5, 2025. Methods The Abbreviated Technology Anxiety Scale (MTAS) was modified to consider the cognitive, linguistic, and experiential differences among target population. The original 11-item instrument, which was validated primarily within college-aged populations, used terms and repeated items irrelevant to older people. The adapted tool included five simplified Likert-scale items assessing technology anxiety and acceptance and reverse scoring for positively worded statements. The intervention came in the form of eight weekly one-on-one technology mentorship sessions that student interns at the University of San Francisco conducted by tailoring instruction to learning needs. Baseline assessments identified priority areas of instruction and pre- and post-intervention surveys with the modified scale were administered to measure changes in technology anxiety levels. Results Data revealed a technology anxiety reduction of 28.6% after participation in an individualized mentorship program. Conclusion The results indicate that continued personalized technology support could serve as a potential tool to alleviate this technology anxiety and enhance older adults’ digital engagement in under-resourced residential contexts
Improving DKA Protocol Adherence In The Emergency Department
No full textProblem There was inconsistency in implementation of the DKA protocol by nurses in the emergency department at the Hospital A. Only 58% of the nurses reported feeling comfortable following the DK protocol, and 84% of the nurses described the DKA order set as confusing. Context Hospital A is a large magnet-recognition hospital system in the Bay Area. The emergency department at Hospital A averages about 12 DKA patients per quarter. Intervention Education sessions were held during pre-shift cuddles across day and night shifts to clarify the DKA protocol and answer any questions or nurses may have. Measures Baseline surveys and post-education surveys were collected in order to measure the changes in the nurses’ knowledge related to the DKA protocol. Results The findings showed an increase in the percentage of nurses that reported feeling “very comfortable” with the DKA protocol from 15% to 55% after education sessions. The nurses that reported the DKA order set was too confusing as a barrier to implementation of the protocol decreased from 84% to 51%, and the percentage of nurses that indicated having “excellent” knowledge of the DKA protocol increased from 10% on the baseline surveys to 40% on the post-education survey. Conclusion The results from this project indicate that education sessions are useful in improving protocol knowledge and comfort among nurses. However, in order to sustain these results and create lasting improvement in practice, education sessions should be standardized and included in new hire orientation, and chart audits should be done to assess for change
Identification of Methylation Patterns, Associated DNA Methylating Proteins, and Methyltransferase Inhibitors on the Promoter Regions of DAX-1
No full textThe DAX-1 gene (Dosage-Sensitive Sex Reversal, Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita, Critical Region on the X chromosome, gene 1) encodes for an orphan nuclear hormone receptor and its mutation is implicated in multiple diseases including congenital adrenal hypoplasia, adrenal cancer, and breast cancer. Previous research has linked DAX-1 downregulation to tumor initiation in breast tissue, suggesting the gene acts as a tumor suppressor with respect to breast cancer. Additional studies completed by the Tzagarakis-Foster laboratory have shown that methylation of the DAX-1 promoter region is heavily influential in breast cancer development, with release of epigenetic repression resulting in slowing of cellular proliferation and tumor progression. Subsequently, epigenetic mechanisms controlling DAX-1 gene expression in breast cell lines were investigated.
Methylation patterns in both normal human breast and breast cancer cell lines were initially determined via a bisulfite sequencing workflow including techniques such as bisulfite conversion, PCR, and plasmid vector ligation. While bisulfite sequencing the DAX-1 promoter returned results below a certain confidence threshold, nanopore sequencing was attempted and is under further review. The binding affinity of DNA methylating proteins along the DAX-1 promoter were measured via chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR. Preliminary results show differential levels of expression in the various methyltransferases throughout the promoter region; moreover, expression of methyl binding domains suggested that there are additional, untested DNA methylating proteins that may play significant roles in the methylation of the DAX-1 promoter. Introductory studies attempting to identify chemical inhibitors of methylating proteins were performed, as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors have shown to restore expression of tumor suppressor genes and induce expression of endogenous retroviruses that lead to a viral mimicry state, potentiating host immune response. A proof-of-concept study was performed using 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, a universal demethylating compound, and Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Additional chemical inhibitors were also identified as potential therapeutic compounds for inhibiting DAX-1 activity based on their affinity for the identified methylating proteins.
The goal of these experiments was to map out epigenetic modifications and begin preliminary trials to identify chemical inhibitors that would lead to restoration of the normal phenotype in human breast cancer cells. Preliminary studies with the nanopore sequencing technology have been completed and results are currently undergoing analysis. With comparative analyses of normal and cancerous epitypes, differential expression patterns of associated DNA methyltransferases, and direction for therapeutic compound testing, such results provide a systematic basis for further investigation into the role epigenetics plays in DAX-1-mediated breast cancer initiation
Lost in Translation: Navigating Cultural and Linguistic Barriers for Indian Learners in TESOL Classrooms
No full textABSTRACT This thesis examines the cultural, linguistic and emotional issues of the Indian multilingual students in the U.S. TESOL classroom and explains the value of decolonized and culturally responsive pedagogies to ameliorate foreign language anxiety and create equitable education. Based on the frameworks of Culturally Responsive/Sustaining Pedagogy and Affective Filter Theory, the study integrates existing and existing research to investigate the role of colonial heritage in influencing TESOL practice, the undermining effect of anxiety on academic achievement and the empowering effect of instructions that are inclusive and responsive. Chapter I presents the problem, including how multilingual and multicultural identities of Indian students tend to conflict with Western-centric TESOL models causing the increase in anxiety and lack of involvement. It defines the research questions, theoretical, and relevance of the study. The third chapter surveys some of the most important literature on the history of TESOL, language anxiety, and culturally responsive pedagogy and demonstrates that inclusion and affirmation can contribute to improved engagement, confidence, and academic performance. Chapter IV reviews the way that the current literature tackles these problems, the limitations of the methodology and necessity of the research with the focus on Indian learners and decolonial practices. Altogether, the results prove that the implementation of culturally maintaining and emotionally influential pedagogies may make TESOL classrooms the places of equity and belonging. The paper ends by proposing research, teacher education, and policy change to make the TESOL education truly representative of linguistic diversity and social justice
Automated Differentiation Between Awake and N2 Sleep Stage via Dynamical Systems Measures
No full textNegotiating Migration in the Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of Morocco and Italy’s Border Policies and Their Humanitarian Impact on Irregular Migrants
No full textServing as both a barrier and a bridge that connects Africa and Europe, the Mediterranean is today the focal point of global controversies around migration, where humanitarian interests balance against border policing and meet securitization policies. This thesis examines the questions: How do irregular migrants adapt, interpret, and maneuver around securitized Moroccan and Italian migration policies, and what do their strategies tell us about the relationship between humanitarianism and securitization in Mediterranean bordering processes? Drawing on qualitative evidence, including expert interviews with organization employees and volunteers in Morocco and Italy (Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas, Nosotras Onlus, and Caritas Maroc), field observation, and document analysis, this study explores migration as a negotiation strategy rather than a passive process. Migrants are represented as actors in a complex environment of externalized border control, exclusionary legal regimes, and constrained humanitarian intervention. The study identifies the inconsistencies in the governance of migration policies, such as the disconnect between the intention and outcome of policy, especially as these apply to human rights. The interview and case study data identify recurring patterns of non-recognition and non-protection by the law, notably against African migrants, such as those subjected to labor exploitation, social exclusion, and gender-related vulnerabilities. Policy implementation analysis illustrates how the securitization discourse, often under pressure from the EU and public opinion, is at odds with the everyday existence of displaced individuals, who resist, adapt, and assert dignity despite psychological, social, and corporeal threats. Arguing thus, this study suggests that migration must be understood as a negotiated dynamic process that shapes both state power and migrant agency. The thesis closes with policy recommendations on decriminalizing irregular migration, promoting compliance with human rights standards, and creating more humane and responsive migration governance in the Mediterranean
Skin Care Excellence: Increasing RN Skin Check Frequency to Prevent HAPIs
No full textBackground: This quality improvement project was implemented in the Transitional Cardiac Unit (TCU), a 32-bed telemetry unit primarily serving older adults recovering from cardiac procedures. A microsystem assessment revealed a hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rate of 1.49 per 1,000 patient days, exceeding the regional target of 0.82. Key barriers included limited skin assessment frequency, inconsistent documentation, and gaps in staff training.
Problem: From June to December 2024, six HAPIs occurred in the TCU. Despite existing protocols requiring two-RN skin assessments at admission, transfer, and discharge, early detection of skin breakdown remained insufficient. Contributing factors included inconsistent surveillance, varied assessment skills, and missed follow-up on early signs of skin compromise. The project aimed to reduce HAPIs to no more than two cases in six months by implementing weekly two-RN skin assessments.
Intervention: Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, a standardized weekly two-RN skin assessment protocol was implemented for high-risk patients (Braden score ≤18 or length of stay ≥7 days) from January to July 2025. The initiative included targeted staff education, visual checklists, CNL oversight, wound care specialist input, and collaboration with the Unit Council and Daily Integrated Safety Huddle (DISH).
Results: The project led to improved assessment consistency, early identification of at-risk skin, and enhanced accountability. Only three HAPIs were reported—a 50% reduction. Estimated cost avoidance was $210,000.
Conclusion: Weekly two-RN skin assessments effectively reduced HAPI incidence. Ongoing refinement aims to achieve zero HAPIs by end of 2025, supporting organizational safety goals