Matching Items (168)
Description
Maricopa County is the home of the Phoenix metropolitan area, an expansive city with serious air quality concerns. To ameliorate air quality in the county, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department developed a website and mobile application called "Clean Air Make More" as a means of outreach and engagement. In doing this, the county has found a way to engender a bilateral relationship between individuals and their government agency. This study analyzes the effectiveness of Clean Air Make More in establishing this relationship and engaging the community in efforts to improve air quality. It concludes that the design of the application effectively meets user needs, but marketing efforts should target populations disposed to taking action regarding air quality.
ContributorsLapoint, Maggie Lane (Author) / Johnston, Erik W., 1977- (Thesis director) / Hondula, David M. (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Background:
Environmental heat exposure is a public health concern. The impacts of environmental heat on mortality and morbidity at the population scale are well documented, but little is known about specific exposures that individuals experience.
Objectives:
The first objective of this work was to catalyze discussion of the role of personal heat exposure information in research and risk assessment. The second objective was to provide guidance regarding the operationalization of personal heat exposure research methods.
Discussion:
We define personal heat exposure as realized contact between a person and an indoor or outdoor environment that poses a risk of increases in body core temperature and/or perceived discomfort. Personal heat exposure can be measured directly with wearable monitors or estimated indirectly through the combination of time–activity and meteorological data sets. Complementary information to understand individual-scale drivers of behavior, susceptibility, and health and comfort outcomes can be collected from additional monitors, surveys, interviews, ethnographic approaches, and additional social and health data sets. Personal exposure research can help reveal the extent of exposure misclassification that occurs when individual exposure to heat is estimated using ambient temperature measured at fixed sites and can provide insights for epidemiological risk assessment concerning extreme heat.
Conclusions:
Personal heat exposure research provides more valid and precise insights into how often people encounter heat conditions and when, where, to whom, and why these encounters occur. Published literature on personal heat exposure is limited to date, but existing studies point to opportunities to inform public health practice regarding extreme heat, particularly where fine-scale precision is needed to reduce health consequences of heat exposure.
ContributorsKuras, Evan R. (Author) / Richardson, Molly B. (Author) / Calkins, Mirian M. (Author) / Ebi, Kristie L. (Author) / Gohlke, Julia M. (Author) / Hess, Jeremy J. (Author) / Hondula, David M. (Author) / Kintziger, Kristina W. (Author) / Jagger, Meredith A. (Author) / Middel, Ariane (Author) / Scott, Anna A. (Author) / Spector, June T. (Contributor) / Uejio, Christopher K. (Author) / Vanos, Jennifer K. (Author) / Zaitchik, Benjamin F. (Author)
Created2017-08
Description
Spasticity is a neurological disorder in which a target group of muscles remain in a contracted state. In addition to interfering with the function of these muscles, spasticity causes chronic pain and discomfort. Often found in patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or stroke history, spasticity affects an estimated twelve million people worldwide. Not only does spasticity cause discomfort and loss of function, but the condition can lead to contractures, or permanent shortenings of the muscle and connective tissue, if left untreated. Current treatments for spasticity are primarily different forms of muscle relaxant pharmaceuticals. Almost all of these drugs, however, carry unwanted side effects, including total muscle weakness, liver toxicity, and possible dependence. Additionally, kinesiotherapy, conducted by physical therapists at rehabilitation clinics, is often prescribed to people suffering from spasticity. Since kinesiotherapy requires frequent practice to be effective, proper treatment requires constant professional care and clinic appointments, discouraging patient compliance. Consequently, a medical device that could automate relief for spasticity outside of a clinic is desired in the market. While a number of different dynamic splints for hand spasticity are currently on the market, research has shown that these devices, which simply brace the hand in an extended position, do not work through any mechanism to decrease spastic tension over time. Two methods of temporarily reducing spasticity that have been observed in clinical studies are cryotherapy, or the decrease of temperature on a target area, and electrotherapy, which is the delivery of regulated electrical pulses to a target area. It is possible that either of these mechanisms could be incorporated into a medical device aimed toward spastic relief. In fact, electrotherapy is used in a current market device called the SaeboStim, which is advertised to help stroke recovery and spastic reduction. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the viability of a potential spastic relief device that utilizes cryotherapy to a current and closest competitor, the SaeboStim. The effectiveness of each device in relieving spasticity is reviewed. The two devices are also compared on their ability to address primary customer needs, such as convenience, ease of use, durability, and price. Overall, it is concluded that the cryotherapy device more effectively relieves hand spasticity in users, although the SaeboStim's smaller size and better convenience gives it market appeal, and reveals some of the shortcomings in the preliminary design of the cryotherapy device.
ContributorsWiedeman, Christopher Blaise (Author) / Kleim, Jeffrey (Thesis director) / Buneo, Christopher (Committee member) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Regardless of religious beliefs, all one has left when they leave this Earth is the meaning the individual has derived from building connections and relationships with other people. I propose whether or not one is able to reach his or her potential and the quality of life that follows is based inherently in the following question: How will you manifest your truth into reality, thus becoming the best at your profession or craft, and spreading your gifts to help the lives of others? The answer to this question, and ultimately the key to leading the best life available is in the equation: vulnerability through playfulness and connection instigates happiness, which results in spreading positivity and facilitating the ability to make fearless decisions that guides one's life as an artist or profession of one's choosing, leading one to their highest potential. This theory applies to everyone and does not discriminate. This is the beginning of a life-long exploration and discovery with these elements as I further my work as an artist, and I will explore these themes from my exposure to the Balinese people and culture, our theatre workshops and experiences there, and through additional inspiration and research. The workshop and clowning in Bali training helped form the theory I have proposed, and further introduced a different approach to acting that I utilize in my own work that incorporates taksu: an achievable state of being that is unanimously understood by the Balinese that influences and shapes how they approach life, work, and each other that I discuss more extensively in my work. I will continue to inquire about how one finds space for imagination and pursuit of taksu without traveling, although traveling is an amazing way to broaden one's scope of perspective. The combination of elements discussed and taksu help create a humanity that is more in touch with inner peace and happiness as a result of spreading both positivity and a positive mindset to others. This in turn, influences and shapes performance and how we approach the craft of acting, while creating emotional truth and integrity within one's craft.
ContributorsSwim, Hannah Grace (Author) / Espinosa, Micha (Thesis director) / de la Garza, Amira (Committee member) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Arizona State University and Banner Thunderbird Hospital have partnered to provide pre-med students with an internship at a local emergency department. Students entering into this program will have access to each patient's vital signs, medical imaging, lab tests, and medications. This access presents students with an opportunity to learn about a variety of tools used in the assessment and treatment of emergency room patients. In order to enhance the amount of knowledge students take away from the program, I created a handbook summarizing a variety of diagnostic tests and medications. The first section of the handbook (assessment) is spilt up into the three following categories: vital signs, medical imaging, and lab tests. The second section (treatment) consists of one category, medications. Each section was written with emphasis on basic physiology, and is intended to provide pre-med students with a foundation for building further medical knowledge. Although this handbook was tailored to the information students are most likely to encounter working in Banner Thunderbird Hospital's emergency department, it is still appropriate for any student interested in learning about emergency medicine.
ContributorsBecker, Bryson (Author) / Orchinik, Miles (Thesis director) / Washo-Krupps, Delon (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
This creative group project aims to bring visibility to the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community at Arizona State University by sharing the personal stories and opinions of people from across ASU's rainbow spectrum. Created and produced by a gay couple that met in their first year dorm and a passionate ally, gAySU: Exploring Sparky's Rainbow is a compilation of photos, videos, and stories from ASU students, faculty, and staff that identify with the LGBTQ+ community. When reflecting on their own journey over the past three years, gAySU's creators recognized ASU can feel large with many pockets of communities, yet through trial and error over the past 4 years they managed to explore their identities and grow as individuals, as a couple, and as an ally. By sharing their story and the stories of others, it is the hope that gAySU allows its readers and viewers an insight into what it means to be both a Sun Devil and LGBTQ+, and for those new to or anxious to identify with the LGBTQ+ community, to understand they are not alone in their journey and that it is okay to bleed maroon, gold, and all other colors of the rainbow.
ContributorsKing, Shay Scott (Co-author) / Hendricks, Brock (Co-author) / Hom, Claire (Co-author) / Dove-Viebahn, Aviva (Thesis director) / Sanchez, Daniel (Committee member) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
This thesis explores the various reasons that Broadway musicals fail, or "flop". It goes into detail on several musicals of different genres, and explains what their shortcomings were, whether it be a less-than-perfect book, a weak score, or a production team that was not experienced in the skills that it takes to put together a musical. It discusses how long the shows ran for, or if they ever made it into a Broadway house. It looks at what the audience reception was like for each show, and whether the shows were a success with the tough critics of Broadway. In addition to this, I have recorded several of my peers performing songs from the musicals I have discussed in the written portion of this thesis. This helps to educate an audience on what it would have been like for one of the flop's real performances. The videos also do a wonderful job of communicating what the show sounds like, and how it can make an audience feel or react. Lastly, it gives more insight into why the musicals they are from failed to thrive in front of a Broadway audience. Through my research, I have discovered that creating a musical is possibly one of the most difficult feats a team of creative people can accomplish. There are countless reasons for failure in these shows, but overall, I feel that every failure had something to offer, and because of that, are surely worth celebrating.
ContributorsUrias-Ramonett, Sedona Lee (Author) / Yatso, Toby (Thesis director) / Dreyfoos, Dale (Committee member) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Music (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
In June 2016, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) with researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) convened a one-day workshop of public health professionals and experts from Arizona’s county and state agencies to advance statewide preparedness for extreme weather events and climate change. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sponsors the Climate-Ready Cities and States Initiative, which aims to help communities across the country prepare for and prevent projected disease burden associated with climate change. Arizona is one of 18 public health jurisdictions funded under this initiative. ADHS is deploying the CDC’s five-step Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework to assist counties and local public health partners with becoming better prepared to face challenges associated with the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards. Workshop participants engaged in facilitated exercises designed to rigorously consider social vulnerability to hazards in Arizona and to prioritize intervention activities for extreme heat, wildfire, air pollution, and flooding.
This report summarizes the proceedings of the workshop focusing primarily on two sessions: the first related to social vulnerability mapping and the second related to the identification and prioritization of interventions necessary to address the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards.
This report summarizes the proceedings of the workshop focusing primarily on two sessions: the first related to social vulnerability mapping and the second related to the identification and prioritization of interventions necessary to address the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards.
ContributorsRoach, Matthew (Author) / Hondula, David M. (Author) / Putnam, Hana (Author) / Chhetri, Nalini (Author) / Chakalian, Paul (Author) / Watkins, Lance (Author) / Dufour, Brigette (Author)
Created2016-11-28