Digital Commons Network^™

Benefits Of Teaching Pre-Literacy In Waldorf Education In Early Childhood, April Guerrero

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the benefits of teaching pre-literacy in Waldorf education in early childhood. In Waldorf Education, literacy development incorporates differentiated instructions that fosters cognitive and social emotional learning of their students. Through the use of literature review and several teachers in various grades of Waldorf schools, the result findings revealed that pedagogical practices around literacy instructions promote critical thinking skills, nurtures children’s creative expression, and imagination. Literacy curriculum in Waldorf schools allows students to create tangible evidence of self-expressions and communication skills. Given its emphasis on holistic curriculum, it allows teachers to engage with their diverse …

Addressing The Lack Of Parental Involvement With Spanish-Speaking Parents In Education, Zaira Cortez-Zacarias

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Student achievement and engagement at an independent studies school must be improved by the lack of parental involvement among Spanish-speaking parents. Learning for Life charter school provides an alternative, flexible learning environment for middle and high school students (grades 7-12) who require more individualized attention and they serve students in Monterey, Salinas, San Benito, and Santa Cruz school districts. Identifying obstacles to parental involvement in Spanish-speaking families and creating plans to improve engagement and communication were the goals of this project. The project's main objectives were to develop outreach strategies that are sensitive to cultural differences, provide language assistance, and …

Harvesting Hope: How La Casa De La Cultura Serves Migrant Families Through Health And Advocacy Programs, Ana Ruiz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project aims to enhance community engagement in Pajaro through strategic outreach and marketing efforts for weekly meetings hosted at La Casa de la Cultura. By increasing awareness and participation, the initiative seeks to empower residents, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, to access vital resources and services. The project will collect data on attendance and community interests, leading to more tailored presentations that address pressing concerns. Ultimately, this outreach aims to foster a unified, informed community capable of advocating for its needs and accessing available support systems effectively.

Cultural Concepts Of Distress Education For Clinicians, Leilani Jolene Santos Cancio

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Adult System of Care (ASOC) program at Monterey County Behavioral Health supports adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. Despite serving a diverse population, there is limited training that addresses the complex intersection of culture and mental health. This project involved a workshop for ASOC clinicians focused on cultural concepts of distress, specifically "ataque de nervios," a syndrome common in Hispanic and Latino individuals. The workshop aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of how cultural identity impacts mental health symptoms. Pre and post-workshop surveys assessed knowledge gains. The project yielded positive outcomes, with clinicians gaining valuable insights into …

Bridging The Gap Of Client Engagement With Mental Health Services, Megan Cuva

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Within Monterey County there is a continuum of deterioration of mental health and substance use. The Monterey County Behavioral Health: Adult Post Hospital Team (APHT) provides acute care to clients who are being discharged from the Emergency Room or Mental Health Unit with a mental health or substance use disorder. The purpose of the project is to help bridge the gap of client engagement through different collaborative methods of post hospital care. By analyzing quantitative data from the APHT tracking sheet and gathering qualitative insights through case notes and interviews with two mental health professionals, the researcher aims to determine …

Art For The Heart; Elevating The Annual Gathering For Women Art Fair, Melanie Verga

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Homelessness among women in Monterey County has many women facing mental health challenges, social isolation, and financial instability. Gathering for Women, a local nonprofit, serves homeless and at-risk women by providing essential services, including opportunities for creative expression. The project focused on expanding art media workshops and hosting an Art Fair and Artist Showcase to amplify the voices of marginalized populations. Workshops introduced diverse artistic mediums including jewelry making, painting, knitting and design. The Art Fair showcased participants' work online and at a local gallery, promoting community connection and support. The project successfully engaged nine participants, creating opportunities for artistic …

Combating Social Work Burnout With Agency Trainings, Franchesca Weaver

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Supporting providers to alleviate the high level of burnout is proven to ameliorate their ability to provide efficient care. With the understanding of the importance of supporting providers in this field, the deep dive into utilizing trainings that helps combat burnouts is equally important. This research project was aimed to investigate the relevance of the implemented trainings by reviewing finalized progress notes of county social workers who have taken the Sleep Coach training. This was done by analyzing notes using search keys, then giving a score to each time the word ‘sleep’ was mentioned, based on the context it was …

Language Tutors And Building Connections With Peer Students, Malia Balas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

To fulfill general education requirements, many college students must study a language other than English for academic and professional development. However, at California State University–Monterey Bay, language tutors stated that students often feel overwhelmed and struggle to stay motivated while studying their target language. Based on Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory, a workshop was conducted to explore common challenges students face and how tutors can address these issues. Findings show the importance of recognizing and managing emotional states and establishing SMART goals during tutoring sessions. An individualized approach based on the Zone of Proximal Development proved essential for fostering peer-student motivation and …

Stronger Together: Boys Of New School And Costanoa, Analupita Ramirez-Cortes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Monarch Services has been in Santa Cruz County since 1977, providing crucial support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through a range of programs, including crisis intervention, youth support, and emergency shelter. The organization serves approximately 1,500 survivors annually, with a strong focus on Latino communities and bilingual services. In 2023, the Children and Youth Program served 118 individuals, offering case management, safety planning, and counseling. This capstone project aims to bridge the gap in education about healthy relationships, focusing on teen boys at CostaNoa High School and New School Community Day High School. By implementing The Mask …

Breaking Barriers: Bridging Resource Gaps In Low-Income Communities, Maria Fernanda Yanez Cabrera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Low-income individuals often struggle with access to resources. CHISPA, which serves low-income individuals in Monterey County and surrounding areas, aims to remove this barrier through its community services department. CHISPA worked to address the resource barrier by implementing a resource fair for its population of low-income individuals, families, and seniors. CHISPA’s residents were invited to come out, explore, and create connections with community resources during a resource fair. The expected outcome was for residents gaining new knowledge and the opportunity to use resources there or in the future. Results were measured through surveys which showed success and interest in the …

Parental Involvement In Supporting Inclusive Elementary School Classrooms, Marisol Aldama Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this senior capstone research project is to examine the effective ways that parents can get involved in their elementary school students’ education that would impact their children’s academics in school classrooms. Given the barriers that some families face that cause them to be absent from their education in the classrooms, this study examines the role of parents on how they could support their children’s education in inclusive elementary school classrooms. Through the use of literature review and a case study, the findings revealed that parental involvement is important for their children’s early education years in both inside …

Effects Of Caretakers And Attachment Styles, Shayna Tran

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Daycare workers and teachers play vital roles in the emotional well-being and developmental trajectory of the children they care for. Attachment styles are rooted in early childhood interactions with primary caregivers and greatly influence a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive well-being (Fathi-Ashtiani & Sheikholeslami, 2019). Recognizing and responding appropriately to different attachment styles not only fosters secure attachment and relationships but also mitigates behavioral challenges (Bergin & Bergin, 2009). To address this need, I have created an interactive presentation for daycare workers at VillaSport, San Jose, by explaining why staff should know the different attachment styles, how it affects the …

The Importance Of Mental Health In Children, Haide Batres

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on teaching children how to identify and cope with their mental health challenges. Ho and Funk's (2018) research highlighted how children's social and emotional health impacts their development and social interaction. During this time, children experience changes within themselves, increased sensitivity to stress, and challenges to socially interact with others. They begin to develop mechanisms, which can either support or delay their emotional well-being. Understanding these changes is important for contributing to their future mental health. To promote resilience and healthy coping mechanisms, I presented a three-day workshop to third-grade students (8-9 years old) from Hispanic …

Buying The Trend: How Trends Target Identity Leading Into The Normalization Of Overconsumption, Marian Alvarado Rivera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper puts a lens on the growing popularity of social media apps promoting fashion trends for it's users leading to a rise in overconsumption of products. Research was aimed at several different online trends that were marketed towards female consumers; The Stanley Cup, The 2023 Barbie movie press tour and The Hello Kitty girl. In examining these trends the findings show that through the usage of the algorithm social media apps are able to learn and curate specific content targeted towards certain parts of one's identity.

Increasing College Students' Awareness Of Stress, Mental Health, And Well-Being, Marlene Villicana

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

College students face many stressors due to the transitions and responsibilities of young adulthood. According to Karyotaki et al. (2020), 93% of respondents in an international study of college students reported at least one type of mild stress, and 73% named stress in at least three life areas. The same study found that stress management interventions effectively reduce perceived stress, mood, and anxiety problems through a combination of problem-focused and appraisal-focused strategies. In order to address the issues of stress, mental health, and well-being among college students, I created an interactive two-day presentation for Human Development and Family Science students …

Easing The Transition To School By Strengthening Attachment, Serena A. Rodriquez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The transition to school for preschoolers aged three to five years old can be extremely challenging, more so due to the fact that separation anxiety is considered developmentally normal for children ranging from nine months to three years of age, regardless of attachment style. However, children with insecure attachment styles, such as anxious-ambivalent or avoidant, are especially vulnerable during this transition (Verywell Health, 2023). Children who exhibit insecure attachment styles often face several negative consequences that affect both their school experience and their overall development (Evans et al., 2018). Although the fear of separating from one's parents or primary caregiver …

Teaching New Mothers The Importance Of Prenatal And Postnatal Nutrition, Brisa Villa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many pregnant women are unaware of the significant impact that prenatal and postnatal malnutrition can have on both their health and their baby's development. Prenatal and postnatal malnutrition can affect pregnancy, childhood, and even adulthood. According to Barker (1997), prenatal malnutrition puts the baby at a high risk for heart disease, low-birth weight, high blood pressure, stillbirth, and many more long-term health issues. To address the issue of prenatal and postnatal malnutrition, I created a two-day workshop for new mothers on how to identify consequences of malnutrition during and after pregnancy, understanding appropriate portion sizes across different food groups and …

Eurocentrism In Curriculum And Its Detriment To Cultural Awareness, Kimberly Rose Sterzick

Masters Projects

Some school curricula may hinder students' development of cultural awareness. School is the vessel through which many students get their first glimpse of the world, and bias throughout that voyage can negatively alter students’ development of cultural awareness --- the very skill that schools hope to promote. A Eurocentric approach and overemphasis on Western civilizations and ideals dominates the cultural conversations through their prolific use in “world” courses. When educational discourses point to Western cultures as the epitome of culture in “world” courses, students fail to obtain a true cultural understanding and awareness of the world around them, and they …

Antiangiogenic Therapy Combined With Immune Checkpoint Blockade In Urothelial Cancer: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammad Jad Moussa, Iuliia Kovalenko, Emanuele Crupi, Ekaterina Proskuriakova, Yimin Geng, Giuseppe Fallara, Raed Benkhadra, Daniele Raggi, Matthew T Campbell, Pavlos Msaouel, Omar Alhalabi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Antiangiogenic therapy had been tested in urothelial cancer (UC) without reaching the clinic.

Objective: We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials to assess efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with antiangiogenic agents in UC.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for trials with at least one arm of patients with UC treated with ICI plus antiangiogenics. Data were analyzed with the "meta" package from R using a one-staged frequentist meta-analysis.

Results: After screening 13,708 titles and abstracts, 9 studies were selected for analysis with 14 identified cohorts comprising 621 patients: 448 were ICI-naïve (ICI-N) and 173 …

Contemporary Approach To The Diagnosis And Classification Of Myelodysplastic Neoplasms/Syndromes-Recommendations From The International Consortium For Myelodysplastic Neoplasms/Syndromes (Mds [Icmds]), Fnu Aakash, Savanah D Gisriel, Amer M Zeidan, John M Bennett, Rafael Bejar, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf, Uma M Borate, Jacqueline Boultwood, Andrew M Brunner, Rena Buckstein, Hetty E Carraway, Jane E Churpek, Naval G Daver, Amy E Dezern, Fabio Efficace, Pierre Fenaux, Maria E Figueroa, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Steven D Gore, Peter L Greenberg, Elizabeth A Griffiths, Stephanie Halene, Christopher S Hourigan, Tae Kon Kim, Nina Kim, Rami S Komrokji, Vijay K Kutchroo, Alan F List, Richard F Little, Ravindra Majeti, Aziz Nazha, Stephen D Nimer, Olatoyosi Odenike, Eric Padron, Mrinal M Patnaik, Uwe Platzbecker, Matteo G Della Porta, Gail J Roboz, David A Sallman, Valeria Santini, Guillermo Sanz, Michael R Savona, Mikkael A Sekeres, Maximilian Stahl, Daniel T Starczynowski, David P Steensma, Justin Taylor, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Andrew H Wei, Zhuoer Xie, Mina L Xu, Robert P Hasserjian, Sanam Loghavi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myelodysplastic neoplasms/syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of biologically distinct entities characterized by variable degrees of ineffective hematopoiesis. Recently, 2 classification systems (the 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid tTumours and the International Consensus Classification) further subcharacterized MDS into morphologically and genetically defined groups. Accurate diagnosis and subclassification of MDS require a multistep systemic approach. The International Consortium for MDS (icMDS) summarizes a contemporary, practical, and multimodal approach to MDS diagnosis and classification.

Receipt Of Home Health And 30-Day Outcomes Among Veterans With Dementia Following Inpatient Surgery, Heather Davila, Yubo Gao, Katherine E Hadlandsmyth, Andrea L Strayer, Michael A Jacobs, Robert A Tessler, Paula K Shireman, George L Wehby, Susanne Schmidt, Leslie R M Hausmann, Carly A Jacobs, Daniel E Hall, Mary Vaughan Sarrazin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Racial Bias Within The Risk Analysis Index Of Frailty, Michael A Jacobs, Leslie R M Hausmann, Robert M Handzel, Susanne Schmidt, Carly A Jacobs, Daniel E Hall

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Our objective was to assess potential racial bias within the Risk Analysis Index (RAI).

Background: Patient risk measures are rarely tested for racial bias. Measures of frailty, like the RAI, need to be evaluated for poor predictive performance among Black patients.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using April 2010-March 2019 Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program and 2010-2019 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. The performance of the RAI and several potential variants were compared between Black and White cases using various metrics to predict mortality (180-day for Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program, 30-day for National Surgical Quality Improvement …

Association Between Chronotype And Chronic Neuropathic Pain Sensitivity: A Pilot Prospective, Observational, Single-Center, Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Kim, Yuri C Martins, Kishan Patel, Chiu-Hsieh Hsu, Mohab Ibrahim, Vasudha Goel, Amol M Patwardhan, Sejal Jain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronotype defines an organism's biological preference for timing of activity and sleep. Being a morning chronotype (i.e., tending to wake up early and go to bed earlier at night) is associated with protection against chronic musculoskeletal pain and headaches, but the relationship between chronotype and neuropathic pain sensitivity remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to explore the relationship among chronotype, neuropathic pain sensitivity, and pain interference in patients with chronic neuropathic pain disorders.

Study design: This was a prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Patients were recruited from pain management clinics.

Methods: The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire …

Prevalence, Diagnostic Features, And Medical Outcomes Of Females With Turner Syndrome With A Trisomy X Cell Line (45, X/47, Xxx): Results From The Insights Registry, Natalia Klamut, Samantha Bothwell, Alexandra E Carl, Vaneeta Bamba, Jennifer R Law, Wendy J Brickman, Karen O Klein, Roopa Kanakatti Shankar, Catherina T Pinnaro, Patricia Y Fechner, Siddharth K Prakash, Iris Gutmark-Little, Susan Howell, Nicole Tartaglia, Marybel Good, Kelly C Ranallo, Shanlee M Davis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Turner syndrome (TS) is defined by partial or complete absence of a sex chromosome. Little is known about the phenotype of individuals with TS mosaic with trisomy X (45,X/47,XXX or 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) (~3% of TS). We compared the diagnostic, perinatal, medical, and neurodevelopmental comorbidities of mosaic 45,X/47,XXX (n = 35, 9.4%) with nonmosaic 45,X (n = 142) and mosaic 45,X/46,XX (n = 66). Females with 45,X/47,XXX had fewer neonatal concerns and lower prevalence of several TS-related diagnoses compared with 45,X; however the prevalence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses were not different. Compared to females with 45,X/46,XX, the 45,X/47,XXX group was significantly …

Why And When Do We Invasively Restage After Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy?, Jonathan D Spicer, Tina Cascone, Murry W Wynes, Karen L Kelly

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Dna Mismatch Repair Deficiency As A Biomarker In Sarcoma, Ryan A Denu, Christopher D Quintana-Perez, Sintawat Wangsiricharoen, Davis R Ingram, Khalida M Wani, Alexander J Lazar, Ravin Ratan, Christina L Roland, Y Nancy You

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Lynch syndrome (LS) is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a germline loss-of-function mutation in a mismatch repair (MMR) gene. While sarcomas are not classically considered LS cancers, we investigated the MMR status and clinical features of sarcomas in LS patients to help inform optimal treatment strategies.

Methods: A prospectively maintained institutional clinical cancer genetics database was queried for LS patients (defined by pathogenic germline mutation in a MMR gene) with a documented diagnosis of sarcoma between 1998-2022. Tumor MMR status was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for MMR proteins and secondarily by PCR assay if IHC was normal or …

Supporting Well-Being For The Home Visiting Workforce: Organizational Supports For Experiences Of Bias & Discrimination, Beth L. Green, Nicole M. Lauzus, Yumi Lee, Ron Joseph, Erin Gaines, Center For Improvement Of Child And Family Services

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This learning brief is the third in a series to share findings from a 2023 statewide survey of over 700 members of Oregon’s home visiting workforce. This study has provided a wealth of information about Oregon’s home visiting workforce and what could be done to improve and support worker well-being and retention, with a focus on the needs and experiences of home visitors of color and those who speak languages other than English.

Little research has examined the extent to which home visitors experience racism or discrimination on the job, how this may impact their professional and personal well-being, and …

Artificial Intelligence Uncertainty Quantification In Radiotherapy Applications – A Scoping Review, Kareem A Wahid, Zaphanlene Y Kaffey, David P Farris, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Amy C Moreno, Mathis Rasmussen, Jintao Ren, Mohamed A Naser, Tucker J Netherton, Stine Korreman, Guha Balakrishnan, Clifton D Fuller, David Fuentes, Michael J Dohopolski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/purpose: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiotherapy (RT) is expanding rapidly. However, there exists a notable lack of clinician trust in AI models, underscoring the need for effective uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods. The purpose of this study was to scope existing literature related to UQ in RT, identify areas of improvement, and determine future directions.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA-ScR scoping review reporting guidelines. We utilized the population (human cancer patients), concept (utilization of AI UQ), context (radiotherapy applications) framework to structure our search and screening process. We conducted a systematic search spanning seven databases, supplemented by manual …

Integrated Transcriptomics And Proteomics Study Of Starvation Selected Drosophila Melanogaster, Aavash Adhikari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Drosophila melanogaster, selected for starvation resistance exhibits phenotypic traits such as increased body size, slower development, reduced fecundity and obesity like characteristics including higher lipid reserves and cardiac dysfunction. While prior studies have explored the metabolic and biochemical changes in these flies, the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the gene expression and protein abundance in starvation-selected Drosophila through RNAseq, proteomics, and integrating both datasets using the MixOmics package in R. I found differential gene expression in the fat body at the third instar larval stage, particularly in pathways related to lipid metabolism, calcium …

Real-Time Predictive Analytics For Healthcare Monitoring And Terrain Classification Using Data Streaming And Online Learning, Ayemon Baraka

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis develops a scalable, real-time predictive framework aimed at improving outcomes in healthcare monitoring and gait classification. Specifically, it addresses two primary applications: early detection of cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction (MI) and arrhythmia, through continuous analysis of ECG data streams; and adaptive terrain classification from gait data. Utilizing data streaming technologies such as Apache Kafka and Apache Spark, coupled with machine learning models, this framework enables near real-time and precise predictions from high-throughput, real-time data. Furthermore, the integration of online learning frameworks, including the River API and TensorFlow I/O, allows for continuous model adaptation, enhancing the system’s responsiveness and …