Digital Commons Network^™

Trapped In The Towers, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky

Capstones

New York City’s public housing, known as NYCHA, is a popular choice for disabled and elderly adults. 40% of NYCHA residents receive support from government programs intended to help older New Yorkers and New Yorkers with disabilities, and 32% of NYCHA households include an elderly person. Contrast that to New York City as a whole, where 11.2% of the population is disabled and 13% is elderly. For many disabled and elderly New Yorkers, NYCHA is one of precious few affordable options in an increasingly expensive city. But recent reporting suggests that NYCHA housing may be especially poorly suited for people …

Museum-School Partnerships: From Creative Discourse To Resource Development, Emma Doctors

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper aims to explore museum-school partnerships and best educational practices within each entity's efforts to collaborate. The project surveys museum education and explores programmatic and curriculum development that help to serve as enrichment for students. These partnerships are important to the museum studies field as it fulfills a fiduciary responsibility that museums hold - to educate the public. By fulfilling the needs of both entities (museums and schools), creative discourse ensues, creating solutions for students to enrich their learning. I end with a project to propose the development of an exhibition resource guide that would combine the knowledge and …

Revival, Anya Van Wagtendonk

Capstones

My hometown, Great Barrington, MA, has one famous former resident: NAACP co-founder W.E.B. Du Bois. For generations, his legacy in the predominantly white town was hardly acknowledged. People actively protested the landmarking of his birth site in the 1960s. When I was a kid, plans to name a new middle school after him were scrapped after the uproar grew too loud. Even in this supposedly liberal enclave in western Massachusetts, people continued to object to his membership in the Communist Party. As former NAACP president Cornell Brooks said recently, this would be like Princeton, N.J., ignoring that Einstein had ever …

A Modern-Day Affliction: Did Wifi Make Joel Dean Sick?, Dominic Mckenzie

Capstones

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity is one of many disorders that exist in a strange border zone between recognized syndromes and discredited ones. One young man, a computer engineer by trade, had his life turned upside down by the disorder that has doctors and scientists across the world confused on how to treat it. Here's his story:

https://medium.com/@dominic.mckenzie/capstone-1dd7ff866a29

Failing The Mothers Of New York City, Irene Spezzamonte, Vanessa Swales

Capstones

Between 2015 and 2011, about 4,000 women lost their lives while delivering a baby in the United States. That’s 1,000 lost lives every year.

The causes of these deaths are often preventable and are the mere result of racial discrimination. African-American mothers, for instance, have a three-time higher rate of dying than White mothers. Several investigative investigations have been conducted on the racial disparities and the lack of resources offered nationwide, but, so far, none has focused on the local level. This capstone focuses solely in New York City and the three populations that are being affected the most by …

Inside C3: Portrait Of A Megachurch, Andrew Chandler, Reece T. Williams

Capstones

Our project centers on C3 NYC, a popular evangelical megachurch that has exploded in popularity despite allegations of abuse and financial impropriety currently swirling around it. Through photos and an accompanying audio piece that features voices from current and former members of the church, our piece seeks to go inside of C3

https://audioproject.wordpress.com/

Cannabis Caught Between Smoke And Mirrors, Laura M. Olivieri Robles

Capstones

Cannabis legalization advances across the country and social attitudes are changing. Public health experts see parallels with the tobacco industry-- and are concerned about kids exposed to cannabis advertisement.

Offset: How The Government Improperly Takes Money From The Disabled, Carmen Reinicke

Capstones

The US Department of Education is supposed to use its computers to match its borrowers who now suffer from total permanent disabilities based on Social Security or Veteran Administration rolls. If the borrower has been disabled for more than five consecutive years, then deductions for unpaid student loans are supposed to cease.

A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a federal agency that reviews government work, shows that the program, now a computerized system that matches Social Security numbers, fails to identify thousands of individuals who deserve student debt relief.

Link: https://medium.com/@careinicke/offset-how-the-government-improperly-takes-money-from-the-disabled-8928cd556f93

Is American Retail At A Historic Tipping Point?, Violetta Torres-Baron

Capstones

There’s a transformation happening in the American economy as consumers increasingly buy things online and e-commerce approaches 10% of all US retail sales with Amazon leading the way. Now, nearly everyone knows that Amazon is one of the hottest stocks on Wall Street right now given its impressive gains year after year. With its technological sophistication and ability to know it’s customers in ways never seen before, many retailers fear the “death by Amazon” as the company moves into different sectors and diversifies its product offerings – but is this is a bonafide fear for the retail sector? The big-box …

The New World Of Pet Prosthetics, Anna Brooks

Capstones

When an abandoned dog was found in Brooklyn with his paw gnawed off, the animal shelter had two options: amputate the leg, or put the dog down. But neither seemed like a solution. So they decided to do something different, and fit the dog for a prosthetic leg. Prosthetics for people have been around for millennia, and now these devices are moving into the animal kingdom. This story explores the new world of animal prosthetics, and how these devices have changed the lives of animals like Mr. Stubbs — the first alligator with a prosthetic tail — and saved the …

Politically-Connected Nonprofit Makes Millions Putting Homeless Families In Unsafe Homes, Benjamin Foldy

Capstones

A document-driven investigation into the city’s largest recipient of homelessness funds uncovered the group’s dense political connections, questionable practices regarding subcontracting to for-profit affiliated entities and systematically subpar housing provided to homeless families. https://medium.com/@ben.foldy/politically-connected-nonprofit-makes-millions-putting-homeless-families-in-unsafe-homes-309314c2eed2

Kinder Carnage, Talib Visram

Capstones

In the wake of school shootings, including Parkland, states and school districts have scrambled to protect against threats. But faced with no federal focus on gun control and little funding, schools have to make tough safety choices. Some have adopted novelty security gadgets; others have discussed arming teachers and even giving children tools to defend themselves. To some, this is the ideal solution; the answer to violence is more violence. And so, some schools are starting to resemble military camps. With reporting from a security conference in Florida, and a military camp for kids in Kentucky, this story takes a …

1897 - Decisions Of The Department Of Interior And General Land Office From July 1, 1896 To June 30, 1897

US Government Legislation and Statutes

A compilation of the decisions of the Department of Interior and General Land Office concerning the administration of the United States public land laws.

1899 - Decisions Of Department Of Interior And General Land Office From January 1899 To June 30, 1899

US Government Legislation and Statutes

A compilation of the decisions of the Department of Interior and General Land Office concerning the administration of the United States public land laws.

The Human Right To Science And Foundational Technologies, Andrea Boggio, Calvin W. L. Ho

History and Social Sciences Faculty Journal Articles

Feeney et al. (2018) make a valid argument for restrictions on the exclusivity of foundational technologies such as CRISPR. The issue of balancing intellectual property right with access to scientific and technological advancements is certainly not new. In our commentary, we argue that the human right to science offers a more concrete basis for governments to balance their competing commitments in promoting scientific development on the one hand, and ensuring benefit-sharing on the other, in ways that advance social justice under non-ideal conditions.

Intra-Exchange Cryptocurrency Arbitrage Bot, Eric Han

Master's Projects

Cryptocurrencies are defined as a digital currency in which encryption techniques are utilized to regulate generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, independent of a central governing body such as a bank. Due to the large number of cryptocurrencies currently available, there inherently exists many price discrepancies due to market inefficiencies. Market inefficiencies occur when the price of assets do not reflect their true value. In fact, these types of pricing discrepancies exist in other financial markets, including fiat currency exchanges and stock exchanges. However, these discrepancies are more significant in the cryptocurrency domain due to …

Variations On A Theme: Using Amino Acid Sequences To Generate Music, Aaron Kosmatin

Master's Projects

In this project, we explore using a musical space to represent the properties of amino acids. We consider previous mappings and explore the limitations of these mappings. In this exploration, we will propose a new method of mapping into musical spaces that extends the properties that can be represented. For this work, we will use amino acid sequences as our example mapping. The amino acid properties we will use include mass, charge, structure, and hydrophobicity. Finally, we will show how the different musical properties can be compared for similarity.

Implementing Ihi Joy In Work Framework To Decrease Turnover Among Unit Leaders, Allison Reid

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem: A medical center in an integrated health care system in Northern California has experienced high turnover for unit level leaders employed in an acute care setting. The role of unit level leaders (managers, assistant managers, and supervisors) in this organization is complex, often stressful, and includes 24/7 accountability. These leaders must simultaneously deliver on organizational goals, patient safety, quality, budgets, and staff satisfaction (Loveridge, 2017). Increasing resilience can help these leaders cope with stress and find joy in their work, making them less likely to leave their leadership positions (Hudgins, 2016).

Context: According to Loveridge, the turnover rates of …

Frontline Focus: A Nurse Manager's Employee Engagement Toolkit, Christen Straw

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Average hospital turnover rates in the US reached 18.2% in 2017. Turnover rates for registered nurses (RNs) were also at an all-time high of 16.8%. RN turnover can cost up to $61,100 per nurse resulting in the average hospital loss of $5.7 million per year (NSI, 2018). Employee engagement and job satisfaction levels are predictors of nursing turnover and patient outcomes and should be a top priority for nurse leaders. A disengaged workforce not only affects team morale and organizational spending, but it also impacts the quality of patient care. Multiple studies suggest that employee engagement is the number …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Nurse-Driven Protocol For Urinary Catheter Management, Analynn Cisneros

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem Description: Hospitals compromise quality care and the health of its patients by subjecting the patients to risks that are preventable, such as nosocomial infections (IOM, 1999). The most preventable infection is a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) (Tenke, Meizei, Bode, and Koves, 2016). CAUTIs remain prevalent in the acute care setting (CDC, 2016).

Context: Prior to the implementation of this DNP project, the organization of focus did not have a nurse-driven protocol in place to guide urinary catheter management. Joint Commission mock surveyors recommended a protocol be implemented. A nurse-based protocol would benefit this Magnet hospital. Implementing …

School-Based Suicide Prevention Program Implementation: Improving Awareness Among Parents And Faculty, Nicole Neuman

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The health development and critical transition period of preteen to adolescence are subject to adverse experiences and prevalent risk behaviors that may negatively influence mental health. Emerging issues of depression and suicide among school-aged youths present a global epidemic. Well-designed interventions, such as school-based programs, align with national strategies and health initiatives to reduce suicide rates and facilitate treatment of concerning symptoms. Database searches for school-based, suicide, depression, prevention, and screening literature from 2012-2017 identified 12 relevant studies selected for review. Mental wellness and suicide prevention curricula must successfully improve wisdom, enhance coping skills/resilience, and foster relationships which support help-seeking …

Using Games To Teach English In Chinese High School Classroom, Wenyu Zhu

Master's Projects and Capstones

In the 20th century, English played an important role in international communication as an international language. English is a bridge between countries' economies, cultures, and trade. However, current English education in Chinese high schools is still test-oriented which is ineffective, and students are tired of it. Moreover, teachers also have trouble engaging students in the class. The purpose of this project is to create a curriculum for high school English teachers in China to use games to teach English language skills. Krashen’s (1982) Theory of Second Language Acquisition contains five main hypotheses which support this project. The project includes twenty-three …

Community, Preservation, And Street Art: A Proposal For San Francisco’S Mission District, Marissa Nadeau

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Latinx community is an integral part of San Francisco’s rich history. From Mexican missions in the late 1700s to an influx of immigrants from various Latin countries starting in the early 1900s, the Mission District (‘the Mission’) of San Francisco has served as a hub for this mix of residents, fondly called “Raza,” emphasizing the people of a community rather than the country they have come from. Wars and issues dealt in their homelands were close to the hearts of the entirety of the Latinx population of the Mission, and their voices and opinions were heard through a type …

Improving Knowledge And Attitude Of Primary Healthcare Givers Towards Vulnerable Populations: A Quality Improvement Project, Kimberly Shankel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Improving Knowledge and Attitude of Primary Healthcare

Givers Towards Vulnerable Populations

Kimberly Shankel

University of San Francisco

Abstract

Problem

This project aims to improve patient satisfaction for vulnerable population patients while in hospital, namely transgender and gender non-conforming people. A major roadblock for this population in seeking medical care is their fear of discrimination when accessing healthcare, resulting in a delay, or avoidance of medical care. Multiple studies agree there is a need for nursing education on cultural competence to improve care and satisfaction for vulnerable populations.

Context

The site for this quality improvement project is a small suburban hospital …

Raising Oas Cahps Scores: Using Patient Education, Katrina Pangilinan

Master's Projects and Capstones

At the Golden Gate Endoscopy Center (GGEC), the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery (OAS CAHPS) survey results on patient satisfaction have been below the 50th percentile for the last three quarters of 2018. Patient satisfaction scores are a quality measure for the patient care experience and important for the success of the organization and its providers. Based on patient comments from previous surveys, patients feel that the center does not explain the possible side effects of the anesthesia in a way they can understand. Other patient comments and concerns included confusion regarding dietary restrictions …

Building Engagement Through Developing Students’ Sense Of Self-Control, Natalia Sanchez Gonzalez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Students who enter public schools in the United States in the latter part of their academic career may lack the English language proficiency or capital necessary to successfully participate in mainstream content courses. Students such as these, known as late arrivals, face even greater difficulties when they enter academic institutions that or not equipped to provide language supports that ensure students can access content. Arriving at a later age and grade level, places additional pressure on educators and students to enter mainstream language classrooms. With little control or access to be active participants in the new academic settings, these students …

Bullying In Schools: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Early-Career Elementary School Principals, Jason Q. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Since the latter part of the 19th Century, researchers have been studying the bullying phenomenon and the devastating short- and long-term impact it has on children’s lives. In an attempt to reduce bullying incidents that arise in school, many have set up anti-bullying programs. The goal of these programs is twofold: (a) to reduce the number of bullying incidents in school and (b) create a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. Although principals work tirelessly to establish conditions to sustain learning for others, they receive very little support for their own learning and development. As principals’ on-going experiences …

Secondary Organic Aerosol Production From Local Emissions Dominates The Organic Aerosol Budget Over Seoul, South Korea, During Korus-Aq, Benjamin A. Nault, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Douglas A. Day, Jason C. Schroder, Bruce Anderson, Andreas J. Beyersdorf, Donald R. Blake, William H. Brune, Yonghoon Choi, Chelsea A. Corr, Joost A. De Gouw, Jack E. Dibb, Joshua P. Digangi, Glenn S. Diskin, Alan Fried, L. Gregory Huey, Michelle J. Kim, Christoph J. Knote, Kara D. Lamb, Taehyoung Lee, Taehyun Park, Sally E. Pusede, Eric Scheuer, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Jung-Hun Woo, Jose L. Jimenez

Faculty Publications

Organic aerosol (OA) is an important fraction of submicron aerosols. However, it is challenging to predict and attribute the specific organic compounds and sources that lead to observed OA loadings, largely due to contributions from secondary production. This is especially true for megacities surrounded by numerous regional sources that create an OA background. Here, we utilize in situ gas and aerosol observations collected on board the NASA DC-8 during the NASA–NIER KORUS-AQ (Korea–United States Air Quality) campaign to investigate the sources and hydrocarbon precursors that led to the secondary OA (SOA) production observed over Seoul. First, we investigate the contribution …

The Fight Before The Fight: Weight-Cutting In Mixed Martial Arts, Michael T. Desantis

Capstones

For professional mixed martial artists, fighting may not even be the most dangerous aspect of the job. Many of these athletes consider weight-cutting to be a fight itself, one that could have deadly consequences. Fighters, coaches, doctors, nutritionists and other experts discuss the state of weight-cutting in MMA, why it's done, how it's dangerous, and the potential solutions to making it safer.

https://medium.com/@michaeltdesantis24/the-fight-before-the-fight-weight-cutting-in-mixed-martial-arts-6a920ad5e37b

The Cult Of Names, Shaydanay A. Urbani

Capstones

The Mormon church keeps extensive records of its members. This is a personal story about how I tried to get my record removed, 15 years after leaving the church, as well as a short history of naming, women, and theology.