Organ donation campaigns could be more effective if they focused on feelings rather than facts

First paragraph: There are over 6,000 people waiting for a life-enhancing organ transplant in the UK, but there is a serious shortage of organ donors. Every day three people die waiting for a lifesaving transplant, so finding ways to increase the number of donors is crucial. To overcome the shortage, many countries have changed donor laws to an opt-out system. This system, which is used in Wales, is now planned for Scotland and England.https://theconversation.com/organ-donation-campaigns-could-be-more-effective-if-they-focused-on-feelings-rather-than-facts-10655

LEADERSHIP TO ENABLE 21ST-CENTURY TEAMS TO SOLVE ILL-STRUCTURED PROBLEMS

Although contemporary literature overwhelmingly shows that high-performing teams are greater than the sum of their parts, the current Marine Corps manpower model systematically creates ad-hoc teams. Ad-hoc teams are temporary teams, which are formed to accomplish a specific task, in contrast to enduring, cohesive teams, which possess teamwork skills, share mental models, and have refined team processes to successfully accomplish a range of tasks. Due to the changing character of war, ad-hoc teams are tasked to operate in an increasingly complex environment. While manpower model initiatives have begun under Talent Management, the effect and timeline of these initiatives are yet to be seen. This thesis addresses current team challenges by synthesizing cross-discipline scholarly research findings into four recommendations for tactical-level Marine teams. The thesis presents a two-part, decision-forcing case study and teaching note that provides a mechanism to train teams in practical methods to improve team performance. Tactical Marine units cannot afford to wait for structural changes to address team dynamics. The tactical leader should use contemporary scholarly research findings to augment their current team practices to create an environment for high-performing teams to solve the ill-structured problems they will face.Outstanding ThesisMajor, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

I Wanna Know Where the Rule Book Is : YouTube as a Site of Counternarratives to Transnormativity

In June 2015, Caitlyn Jenner created waves of excitement with her coming out announcement on the cover of Vanity Fair: “Call me Caitlyn.” From the perspective of critical trans politics, however, the heightened visibility of trans people in mainstream media does not call for unequivocal celebration. Though trans women of color, such as Laverne Cox and Janet Mock, are more visible in mainstream media than ever before, mainstream media still largely depicts trans people through white constructs of what it means to be trans, namely medicalized binary transitions. Many trans people who deviate from mainstream media’s depiction of trans people are creating their own media on YouTube to voice their lived experiences. I argue that while YouTube is a particularly accessible platform for trans people to challenge transnormativity, the reach of trans YouTubers’ messages are highly limited by the medium’s design and genre conventions

Accessible Design in Rural Health care: Usability Profile of Outpatient Health Care Facilities in Rural West Virginia.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. Since then, research has shown that people with disabilities continue to experience environmental, systematic, and structural barriers to health care. The purpose of this research is to explore the prevalence of barriers in rural West Virginia health facilities and the relationship between building characteristics (like age and purpose) and accessibility. The researcher evaluated ten rural outpatient member-sites of the West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network using a survey to understand building characteristics and a tool to measure essential features for a facility to be considered ‘usable’. Findings included a negative correlation between building age and accessibility score. The results showed that once adjusted for items that did not apply to specific clinics, surveyed clinics scored an average of 73% in overall accessibility. Counters, restrooms, and exam rooms were the lowest scoring categories. The study also found a moderate negative correlation (Spearman p -.6274) between the age of the building and overall score and a strong negative correlation (Spearman -.71) between the age of building and Mobility score. In addition, this research found a moderate statistical difference mean in usability score of buildings retrofitted to house medical offices. This research supports the notion that physical and environmental barriers to health care access still exists and that older clinical buildings run a higher risk of being non-compliant with essential ADA items and thus, contribute to barrier creation

Resurrecting Olympus

The objective of this creative project was to reintroduce Greek mythology to the public, adapting the ancient tales to appeal to an ever-evolving world. In order to do the myths justice, it was important to examine adaptations and interpretations over the centuries to determine the philosophical trajectory of mythology. My studies unearthed a diverse portfolio of academic perspectives ranging from the likes of the more formal philosopher Thomas Bullfinch of the 1900s, to the modern, comedy-infused commentator Stephen Fry. Each voice revealed something new to consider. Synthesizing these varying positions into a holistic narrative, I set out to pen a collection of tales of my own with the expressed purpose of revitalizing interest in mythology outside of academia. This thesis is only the beginning of my mission to reimagine the Greek pantheon as beloved figures of fantasy literature to appeal to 21st Century readers

What Makes Trans Lives More Livable?: An Intersectional Content Analysis of #WeHappyTrans* and #TheGenderTag

Building on previous trans YouTube scholarship, this dissertation is based on a content analysis of two digital activism projects: 1) #WeHappyTrans*, a compilation of 59 YouTube video responses posted between 2012 and 2018, and 2) #TheGenderTag, a compilation of 704 YouTube video responses posted between 2016 and 2019. By analyzing the audio and visuals of a subsample (N=80) of these two archives using theoretical and emerging codes, I identified key themes as relevant to digital activism effectiveness and well-being. I discuss implications for policy, public health, healthcare, and community organizing in the conclusion. Contrasting prior medical sociology literature that is not presented from the perspective of trans people and primarily focuses on negative aspects of trans lived experience, I have employed a transfeminist methodology that centers self-definition and self-determination. My methods are heavily informed by transnormativity and intersectionality scholarship. In addition to providing an example of how transfeminist methodology can be applied in the context of digital media, this dissertation fills a crucial gap in literature focusing on qualities of trans lived experience that contribute to increased QoL. My hope is that the findings of this study will be considered collaboratively between scholars and activists in many contexts, including within the growing fields of health informatics technologies and trans public health. The findings of this study are also relevant to several ongoing discussions within the fields of sociology, public health, cultural and media studies, and queer and trans theory

A Model for Identifying Gentrification in East Nashville, Tennessee

Gentrification methodologies rarely intersect. Analysis of the process has been cornered to incorporate either in-depth, neighborhood case studies or large-scale empirical investigations. Understanding the timing and extent of gentrification has been limited by this dichotomy. This research attempts to fuse quantitative and qualitative methods to discern the impact of gentrification between census tracts in East Nashville, Tennessee. By employing archival research, field surveys, and census data analysis this project attempts to comprehend the conditions suitable for gentrification to occur and its subsequent effect on residents and the built environment. A model was generated to determine the relationship between a-priori knowledge and empirical indicators of gentrification. Trends were gleaned between these methods, although gentrification’s chaotic and complex nature makes it difficult to pin down

Immersing Teacher Candidates in Experiential Learning: Cohorts, Learning Communities, and Mentoring

In this article, we present three models of teacher preparation programs that immersed their candidates in experiential learning aimed at bringing together theory and practice. We identify the key components that can be generalized from studying such programs, examine factors that led to their dismantling, and propose a potentially more sustainable model.┬

Facilitating Return to Work Among Individuals with Mental Illness Through Occupational Therapy Interventions

The side effects of mental illness can affect areas of occupation, including: play, leisure, work, social participation, activities of daily living, etc. (Brown & Stoffel, 2011). Through collaboration with Riverview Psychiatric Center (RPC) in Augusta, Maine, as well as Maureen Martin OTR/L, an evaluation of relevant research was conducted to determine occupational therapy’s (OT) roll in the process of returning to work (RTW) for clients newly discharged from an inpatient psychiatric facility. This evaluation devised three themes: personal factors related to RTW; assessment tools & frameworks used to guide intervention; and OT interventions that can facilitate RTW. Research suggests that two major person factors related to likelihood of RTW are self-efficacy and decreased depressive symptoms (Brenninkmeijer, et. al, 2018), (Bejerholm & Areberg, 2014). Assessment tools that address depression, anxiety, internal locus of control and empowerment were shown to guide effective treatment. Frameworks proven effective aimed to ignite meaningful conversations about the worker role (Lagerveld, Blonk, Brenninkmeijer, & Schaufeli, 2010), (Hitch et. al, 2017). With OT interventions targeting coping skills, stress management, self-efficacy, worker roles and overcoming negative connotations regarding work, the treatment team at RPC can facilitate smooth transition from inpatient psychiatric care to community living and decrease re-admittance rates (Rose & Perz, 2005), (Reme, et. al, 2015), (Lagerveld, et. al, 2012)