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BRIDGING THE GAP: FIGHTING SOCIAL ISOLATION IN HOSPICE THROUGH EDUCATION
No full textHospice patients with terminal diseases often experience social isolation and loneliness at the end of their lives due to factors such as cultural norms, transportation barriers, and challenges related to their diagnosis. Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for depression, which exacerbate the severity of symptoms from other diseases and increase mortality rates, leaving hospice patients particularly vulnerable to these health risks. This thesis examined whether education enhanced community engagement with hospice patients, thereby reducing social isolation and loneliness. Students were recruited to participate in a survey assessing their understanding of hospice care and the effects of social isolation. The students then received educational materials that included interviews with a hospice volunteer. Following this, the students retook the survey on hospice care and social isolation, and the results were analyzed using a pre-post analysis. The surveys showed an overall lack of knowledge surrounding hospice care and fear as primary barriers to engagement. Increased education of students is necessary to reduce hesitations with hospice care and increase social engagement
EVALUATING EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EPIGENETIC MODIFICATION AND OVARIAN CANCER
No full textEpigenetic modification is a way in which gene expression can be regulated without actually changing or mutating the gene sequences themselves, and it is often associated with changes in expression that lead to cancer development and progression. This review focuses specifically on ovarian cancer and how epigenetic modifications have been associated with the progression of the disease. Multiple types of epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and RNA methylation have been associated with ovarian cancer. These associations present multiple potential targets for new screening protocols and treatments of ovarian cancer, which has historically been associated with late diagnosis and poor outcomes. However, pre-clinical and clinical research in these areas has yet to show clinically actionable results, indicating a need for further research before epigenetic-based screenings and treatments for ovarian cancer can be used in humans
A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR CLÍNICA AMISTAD'S PREDIABETES PROGRAM
No full textLatinx populations in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, driven by complex cultural, socioeconomic, and structural factors. This literature review examines historical and contemporary health disparities affecting Latinx communities, focusing on risk factors, barriers to healthcare access, and the effectiveness of culturally tailored diabetes prevention interventions. Building on this evidence, a quality improvement plan is proposed for the Prediabetes Education Program at Clínica Amistad, a free health clinic in Tucson, Arizona. Recommendations include integrating culturally relevant recipes, increasing family involvement, incorporating experiential learning activities, implementing the buddy system, and enhancing participant incentives. These interventions aim to improve program engagement, retention, and clinical outcomes, ultimately advancing health equity for low-income, uninsured Latinx individuals. An evaluation plan is outlined to assess the success of the proposed strategies
BOOLEAN NETWORK MODELING OF LINEAGE PLASTICITY IN MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA
No full textMerkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) skin cancer frequently associated with
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) integration. Current treatments remain limited and fail to specifically
target MCC's underlying regulatory mechanisms. Reversing the neuroendocrine differentiation characteristic of
MCC could induce terminal differentiation or enhance sensitivity to existing therapies. Here, we employed computational modeling and single-cell RNA sequencing data from two independent datasets of MCPyV-positive
MCC tumors. Analysis with CytoTRACE2 revealed distinct subpopulations with varying neuroendocrine differentiation states, characterized by differential expression of key transcription factors. We constructed a regulatory network of these transcription factors and using BooleaBayes, we identified five transcription factors
(FOS, KLF4, ATOH1, RBPJ, and EGR1 ) as key regulators whose inhibition significantly shifts MCC cells
toward a more differentiated and potentially more therapeutically responsive state. Future experimental work
will validate these in silico predictions by targeting these transcription factors in MCC cell lines, aiming to
uncover novel therapeutic targets in MCC
IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN SEMICONDUCTOR HVAC SYSTEMS
No full textThe semiconductor industry plays a major role in modern technology, including consumer electronics and advancing computing systems. As demand for semiconductors continues to grow, the need for efficient and sustainable processes has increased. A critical focus within the industry is optimizing cleanroom environments, which are essential for contamination-free production. Cleanrooms must meet strict standards for air quality, temperature, and humidity, but maintaining these conditions requires significant financial investment, energy consumption, and water usage. Addressing these challenges is essential to improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Optimizing HVAC systems in semiconductor cleanrooms provides an opportunity to address these issues. This project focuses on developing and analyzing various HVAC airflow configurations tailored for different cleanroom classifications. The primary objective is to identify the optimal configuration that balances energy usage, cost-effectiveness, water consumption, and environmental responsibility. Through modeling and analysis, various cleanroom HVAC systems were created and evaluated for their ability to supply clean air efficiently while maintaining compliance with air quality, temperature, and humidity standards. Emphasis was placed on reducing energy usage and emissions without compromising cleanroom integrity.
This initiative is driven by the growing demand for sustainable manufacturing practices and the continuous expansion of the semiconductor sector. With rising global energy costs and tightening environmental regulations, HVAC optimization can reduce operational expenses and support sustainability goals. Innovative airflow configurations and energy-efficient designs can also help establish new industry standards for cleanroom operation.
This report analyzes four airflow configurations, labeled Exhibits A through D, using ISO 4, ISO 5, and ISO 7 cleanrooms to simulate different manufacturing processes. Exhibit A models fully independent cleanrooms with no air reuse. Exhibit B connects the cleanrooms in sequence, recycling air between different classifications. Exhibit C mirrors A but incorporates return air into the feed stream. Exhibit D combines both return and recycled air strategies across interconnected cleanrooms. In Stage 1, all configurations were modeled under extreme hot and cold dry conditions over a six-month period. In Stage 2, daily temperature and humidity data from Chandler, Arizona were used for a more realistic, year-round cost comparison.
The economic analysis evaluated financial feasibility using cash flow diagrams that included capital costs, utility expenses (electricity, municipal water, R-32, and ultra-pure water), maintenance, and equipment depreciation. Utility rates were sourced from the City of Phoenix (2024), and water costs from Whitehead (2020). A 12-year Net Present Value (NPV) analysis using a 20 percent minimum acceptable return rate was conducted. In Stage 1, Exhibit D was the most cost-efficient option (NPV: 389,298,169). In Stage 2, Exhibit D again performed best (NPV: 133,110,000). The use of real daily data in Stage 2 resulted in lower projected losses overall.
In Stage 1, heating and cooling dominated electricity usage due to the modeled extremes. Assumptions in equipment sizing and weather profiles introduced uncertainty. Stage 2 results, based on daily climate data, showed greater accuracy, with humidifier operation emerging as a key cost driver. However, using daily averages may obscure fluctuations in heating and cooling demands, especially when temperatures hover near the cleanroom setpoint. This limitation can affect the accuracy of utility cost estimates.
Despite these uncertainties, the relative rankings of configurations in the decision matrix are unlikely to change. Refining equipment sizing and incorporating more detailed weather data could improve future modeling. Additional considerations, such as varying air change rates and fan filter efficiencies, may provide further optimization opportunities. Based on this study, Exhibit D is expected to remain the most effective configuration. This work highlights key cost drivers and areas for future refinement in cleanroom HVAC system design
PAGE BY PAGE: USING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES TO ADDRESS FAMILY NEEDS DURING ILLNESS
No full textFamilies navigating a child's illness face not only logistical challenges but also profound emotional and psychosocial strain"”needs that are often overlooked in current support systems. While organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provide essential instrumental resources such as housing and meals, there remains a critical gap in expressive support that addresses the emotional well-being of both children and their caregivers. Rooted in my two-year volunteer experience with RMHC and informed by a comprehensive literature review, this project responds to that gap through the creation of a dual-format resource: a children's storybook and a companion guide for caregiving adults. The storybook helps children understand and process their medical experiences, while the adult guide offers developmentally appropriate language, evidence-based insight, and conversation prompts to foster emotional connection. This project bridges research and creative practice to support family resilience during medical crises. By providing both emotional literacy tools for children and structured support for adults, this resource addresses unmet psychosocial needs and promotes holistic, family-centered care"”advancing the conversation around how we support families facing serious pediatric illness
FACTORS OF POWER WITHIN THE AGENDA SETTING STAGE OF GLOBAL HEALTH POLICYMAKING: A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF MATERNAL HEALTH POLICY PRIORITIZATION IN RWANDA
No full textIn the context of global health, the agenda setting stage of policymaking is pivotal to the effective advancement of global health policy. While global health policy advancement is often portrayed as an objective, altruistic effort seeking to better the health of a population, it is equally necessary to recognize the underlying power dynamics which shape policy outcomes. Researchers in the field of global health policymaking have developed several frameworks to analyze how power dynamics influence health policy advancement on a global scale. Notably, Dr. Jeremy Shiffman proposes a four-factor framework which identifies key actors of power present within the agenda-setting stage of health policy making within a country. This thesis includes a case study of successful Rwandan maternal health policy advancements within the last two decades, and utilizes Shiffman's framework to identify key factors of power which influence health policy prioritization within the country. Key findings from this study have allowed for a deeper understanding of how actors of power interact with one another to shape health policy, and have ultimately highlighted the effectiveness of strong political entrepreneurship, effective decentralization, and a participatory approach to policymaking as central factors in Rwanda's maternal health policy success. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how power dynamics can be strategically leveraged to advance global health agendas
THE FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION: ARABIC-SPEAKING ANGLICANS AND THE JERUSALEM BISHOPRIC, 1947-1949
No full textWhile extensive research has been conducted on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, little attention has been paid to its impact on Christian communities, specifically Protestant churches. Even in studies of Christian minorities in the Middle East, rarely is the work of the Anglican Church recognized, let alone the experiences of Arab Anglicans. This thesis seeks to fill this gap by exploring the challenges that Arab Anglicans of the Jerusalem Bishopric faced between 1947 and 1949. Amid the transition from being under British control to Israeli rule, I highlight Arab Anglicans' fight for recognition by the wider Anglican Church and its leadership. By conducting original archival research at the Middle East Centre at St. Antony's College in Oxford, and Lambeth Palace Library in London, England, I bring to light the dramatic searching, discovery, and reshaping of Arab Anglican identity in Jerusalem during a time of political transition
THE SILENCE BEFORE THE STORM: UNDERSTANDING EARLIER PARKINSON'S DISEASE DETECTION THROUGH VOCAL AND MOLECULAR ANALYSIS
No full textVocal impairments are early and underexplored symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), often preceding limb motor deficits. This study uses the zebra finch, a songbird with a well-defined vocal-motor circuit, to investigate how alpha-synuclein (a-syn) aggregation contributes to vocal dysfunction in a PD model. Adult male finches received AAV-mediated overexpression of human a-syn in Area X, a basal ganglia song nucleus. We developed a novel metric, the Border Expression Ratio (BER), to quantify regional a-syn accumulation. In the use of BER, we used a ratio of the a-syn fluorescence values outside of Area X versus inside Area X. A lower BER ratio means a higher a-syn protein expression inside Area X. Compared to controls, a-syn overexpression led to significant BER reduction. These molecular changes were associated with alterations in song features such as syllable duration, entropy, and amplitude. Our findings highlight the zebra finch as a powerful model for linking a-syn pathology to early vocal deficits in PD and offer a new framework for studying neurodegeneration in behaviorally relevant circuits
MODULATIONS OF SALIVARY CORTISOL LEVELS, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND HEART RATE AFTER HUMAN-DOG INTERACTIONS IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
No full textUndergraduate student stress has increased over the last few decades. With it becoming progressively more competitive to matriculate into graduate/professional schools, or find a job post-grad, college students are experiencing heightened stress primarily due to worries about future plans, academic rigor, and busy workloads. Stress is a natural physiological response to a stimulus that the body perceives as dangerous. While thought of as negative, a proper stress response is vital to human life. When encountering threatening stimuli, the body releases hormones including cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine as signalers to react. When this response is controlled, the body adapts to stressful encounters and reacts accordingly. When this response undergoes hyperactivity, the body is negatively affected and conditions including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can arise. To mitigate this, students report methods such as physical activity and interacting with supporting family/friends. Interestingly, students also report that interacting with animals have helped mitigate stress. Studies have shown that interactions with therapy dogs reduced participant stress in military veterans, nursing students, and college students. This study will investigate whether these interactions have modulations on physiological stress variables including salivary cortisol concentrations, heart rates, and blood pressures to determine their potential to mitigate stress