Situated Preparedness: The Negotiation of a Future Catastrophe in a California University

I examine preparedness efforts engaged at a large university in southern California vulnerable to a potentially catastrophic earthquake. I address how students and staff in this context enact preparedness using inductive research methods. Data collection efforts consisted of in-depth interviews, archival analysis of disaster planning materials, and observation of preparedness activities. For the workshop and related to its theme of disaster resilience, I will present official and unofficial conceptions of disaster preparedness as visions of potential responses. The official version of preparedness as it is currently practiced is a top-down approach where staff utilizes a combination of plans and educational materials in the hopes of educating and facilitating successful responses within the university community. In contrast, students, as representatives of the vulnerable public, relate minimal knowledge of both the risks of an earthquake and of organizational efforts and expectations, however, still relate the potential for successful response despite a lack of preparedness efforts. The source of the disconnection between the two groups is an expectation of personal responsibility and compliance in disaster preparedness when response is largely a situational and collective effort. I reconceptualize the disaster-risk community as a Community of Practice and outline a way to facilitate preparedness-engaged processes for both sets of actors, acknowledging both groups as experts of their own context. I pose an alternative vision of disaster preparedness as a situated, collaborative effort, designed to share and capitalize on aspects of the ‘endemic’ resilience of both sets of actors and bridge inherent disconnections between them

Situated Preparedness: The Negotiation of a Future Catastrophe in a California University

I examine preparedness efforts engaged at a large university in southern California vulnerable to a potentially catastrophic earthquake. I address how students and staff in this context enact preparedness using inductive research methods. Data collection efforts consisted of in-depth interviews, archival analysis of disaster planning materials, and observation of preparedness activities. For the workshop and related to its theme of disaster resilience, I will present official and unofficial conceptions of disaster preparedness as visions of potential responses. The official version of preparedness as it is currently practiced is a top-down approach where staff utilizes a combination of plans and educational materials in the hopes of educating and facilitating successful responses within the university community. In contrast, students, as representatives of the vulnerable public, relate minimal knowledge of both the risks of an earthquake and of organizational efforts and expectations, however, still relate the potential for successful response despite a lack of preparedness efforts. The source of the disconnection between the two groups is an expectation of personal responsibility and compliance in disaster preparedness when response is largely a situational and collective effort. I reconceptualize the disaster-risk community as a Community of Practice and outline a way to facilitate preparedness-engaged processes for both sets of actors, acknowledging both groups as experts of their own context. I pose an alternative vision of disaster preparedness as a situated, collaborative effort, designed to share and capitalize on aspects of the ‘endemic’ resilience of both sets of actors and bridge inherent disconnections between them

Zircon Trace Element Variation from Mono Craters (California) Ashes and Domes as Recorders of Temporal Changes in the Rhyolite Magma System

The Pleistocene to Holocene Mono Craters in eastern California comprise at least 28 high-silica rhyolite domes, lava flows and tephra cones. To examine the geochemical evolution of the magma system, trace elements were analyzed on crystal rims of zircons separated from juvenile pumice clasts from 5 ashes in the correlative Wilson Creek Formation (spanning from 62 to 21 ka) and from 3 rhyolite domes (21, 12.5, and 7 ka). Rare earth element (REE) patterns show similar overall shapes with prominent negative Eu anomalies, indicative of similar geochemical environments of zircon crystallization, but variation in key trace elements and ratios indicate that eruptions tapped discrete magma bodies within a larger rhyolite system. Ti-in-zircon temperatures (TTi,zrc) are predominantly 650°C to 750°C; similar to zircon-saturation temperatures. Zircons were stored at relatively cool but not necessarily subsolidus temperatures. Comparison of zircon rims with a subset of sectioned interiors for the 12.5 and 7 ka domes show decreasing Hf and increasing Eu/Eu*, Ti, and Th/U, consistent with a temperature increase prior to eruption. These observations indicate that heat from mafic injection helped maintain the magma system and possibly triggered eruptions. Zircon-melt partition coefficients (KDs) were also obtained by analyzing coexisting rhyolite glasses from each unit. The values are generally consistent with published partition coefficients and thus may be useful for modeling melt compositions for zircons

Delivery of patient education and support using an online digital platform for patients undergoing primary hip and knee replacement: The patient’s perspectives

The aim of the present evaluation was to evaluate the use of an online digital platform (ODP) to deliver patient education and support (PES) to patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Six objectives were outlined to assess the following areas: patient engagement; ease of use; understanding of information; quantity of information; aid of recovery; suggestions for improvements. A qualitative service evaluation of the ODP. Participants included patients who were registered to the platform for THR or TKR, were at least 90 days post-surgery and had accessed at least one carepac. Interviews followed a semi-structured schedule and were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. A total of 14 participants were interviewed. Three main themes were identified, each with subsequent sub-themes. (1) Health behaviours – internal control of own health, external email prompts, social support. (2) Contribution to recovery – quantity and quality of information available, structured program, suggestions of improvements to better aid recovery. (3) PES delivery – ease of use and accessibility of an ODP, technology advancements, alternative methods of PES. The online PES platform was beneficial for patients undergoing THR and TKR surgery. It aided their understanding of and preparedness for joint replacement surgery, as well as being a supportive tool for rehabilitation and recovery. All patients actively engaged with the ODP and in doing so, developed a greater understanding as a result of the detailed and structured carepacs assigned. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cell derived extracellular vesicles on 3D model of oligocortical spheroids

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by nearly every cell type and are an important structure in inter-cellular communication. Abnormal EV signaling is found in many conditions including ischemia, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Down Syndrome (DS). However, EVs from stem cells from healthy animals have recently emerged as a possible therapeutic intervention to address a variety of neurological conditions. Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived (MSCs) extracellular vesicles from the bone marrow of young healthy monkeys contain microRNAs and proteins and previous studies have shown that MSC-EV treatment mitigates inflammation and oxidative stress, promotes myelination, and improves functional recovery in a rhesus monkey model of cortical injury. EVs have also been shown to reduce AD pathology in mouse models by promoting anti-inflammatory processes and slowing the progression of AD. While AD currently effects over 6 million people in the United States, individuals with DS are disproportionately affected by early onset AD. Therefore, investigating the efficacy of MSC-EVs as a potential therapeutic to mitigate AD like pathology in DS is critical. Accordingly, the current study aims to explore the application of EVs on 3D human brain models of DS, ischemia, and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). We generated human oligocortical spheroids (OLS) containing neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes allowing investigation of the effects of the EVs in human, physiologically relevant conditions. First, with OLS in ischemic conditions results were insufficient in demonstrating the recapitulation of cell death and oxidative damage associated with ischemia in vivo. Consequently, the inconsistency of the model prevented us from comprehensive evaluation of the therapeutic potential of EVs in OGD model in OLS. However, we next used DS-derived OLS generated from isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) lines to evaluate the efficacy of EV treatment in DS. Trisomic OLS display significantly higher levels of amyloid beta (Aβ40 and Aβ42) depositions in both the soluble and insoluble fractions. Additionally, trisomic OLS are consistently smaller than their euploid counterparts, and have elevated levels of cleaved-caspase 3 (CC3) detection indicating more cell death. When treated with EVs, trisomic OLS demonstrated greater preserved cortical volume, significantly decreased levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in both fractions, and significant reduction in cell death compared to the untreated trisomic OLS. These results suggest that EVs alleviated the AD-related pathology in DS-derived OLS. Evaluation of the markers of cortical layer neurons demonstrated significantly higher counts of neurons expressing deep and superficial layer markers, suggesting that EVs contributed to greater preserved cortical volume of trisomic OLS by promoting neurogenesis and alleviating trisomy-induced deficits. Our studies show for the first time the efficacy of MSC-EVs in mitigating DS and AD-related cellular phenotypes and pathological depositions in human OLS. Furthermore, oligocortical spheroids present a unique tool for a target validation of potential therapeutics

What’s the Evidence for Involving Parents in Intervention for Speech Sound Disorders?

This systematic overview examines the evidence base for parent involvement in intervention for phonology-based speech sound disorders. Of the 175 identified papers, 61 reported including parents and/or home-based tasks in intervention. However, insufficient detail reported within these papers limits replication and implementation. The clinical and research implications are discussed

The efficacy of training parents to deliver multiple oppositions intervention to children with speech sound disorders

Optimal outcomes for phonology-based speech sound disorders (SSDs) can be achieved when intervention is delivered at high frequencies, such as 3 x week. However, many speech pathologists (SLPs) in Australia are unable to deliver such frequent services, with intervention typically being delivered weekly. One strategy to overcome this intensity shortfall is to engage parents in completing practice at home. The efficacy of this strategy is unclear. The results of this study showed that combined parent-SLP delivery of multiple oppositions can be used to achieve the recommended dose frequency of intervention. Child outcomes were likely influenced by multiple factors, including dosage, fidelity, and the nature of the child’s SSD. Implications for clinical practice will be discussed

An International Comparison of Intervention Practices for Children with Speech Sound Disorder

Two-hundred and seven speech-language pathologists (SLPs) from the US and 335 SLPs from Australia were surveyed about the intervention, service delivery models and intensity of intervention that they provide to children with speech sound disorder. Differences in practices, and implications for evidence-based practice and clinical outcomes, are discussed