More than seven million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Genetics research has identified the APOE gene, specifically the APOE4 variant, to be associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The finding of this variant highlights the importance of being informed of one’s family history of Alzheimer’s Disease to determine whether genetic testing is recommended and assess one’s risk. This study aims to evaluate the experiences, disparities, and genetic knowledge of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. To investigate this, two-hour focus groups and interviews of African American and Latinx caregivers were conducted, followed by qualitative analysis via transcription and thematic coding using Dedoose software. Within these focus groups, participants described their experiences sharing family history with medical providers and their knowledge of genetics and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Analysis of caregivers’ perspectives on sharing family history explores themes of injustice, familial dynamics, and mistrust that hinder effective communication. Exemplar quotes of emerging themes reveal disparities in science communication regarding genetics, and in the accessibility of appropriate, trustworthy medical care for caregivers and their loved one. Addressing these disparities may improve access to information on APOE4 testing to facilitate conversations between caregivers and providers to improve the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s.

Afghanistan’s housing crisis is shaped by decades of conflict, environmental instability, and forced migration, resulting in widespread displacement and the growth of informal urban settlements. This project presents a literature review of existing research to examine how these structural forces contribute to housing insecurity, particularly in cities such as Kabul. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies and reports, this analysis synthesizes findings on internally displaced persons living in informal settlements known as “Zorabad,” where access to basic resources such as clean water, sanitation, and stable employment is severely limited. The literature highlights how conflict-driven displacement, climate-related disasters, and repatriation policies create ongoing cycles of migration and instability. Additionally, this review evaluates current humanitarian responses, identifying a mismatch between aid strategies and the needs of affected populations, as many interventions prioritize short-term relief over long-term solutions. Gender disparities are also emphasized, as women face heightened risks due to restricted mobility, economic exclusion, and limited access to healthcare. Overall, this study argues that housing insecurity in Afghanistan reflects broader political and social inequalities. Addressing this crisis requires sustained, community-centered approaches that prioritize long-term infrastructure, equitable resource distribution, and dignity in aid delivery.

Currently, many cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, are suffering from extreme traffic and poor public transit systems. For example, many UCLA associated students and staff face heavy traffic in 405 on a daily basis. The aim of the project was to handle societal issues and observe impacts of improvement of public transit service level. Again, my project questioned how different service levels of public transportation lead to different impacts in ridership and traffic. Most of the resources and insights were in regards to introduction or improvement of service, and my research incorporated ideas from multiple sources. Throughout the research, as an output, I noticed that light rail, bus rapid transit, and station improvement can attract more passengers while additional bus stops may decrease riders, and all of the outputs were supported by statistical evidence. Limitations of the research include that the background scenario and social context of each case of different service levels were different, leaving potential room to investigate in one same setting. This research topic and insights from my work are significant in terms of society level, as the problem not only touches the traffic issues mentioned above, but also affects environmental and social context.

This study aims to provide an examination—grounded in a methodological analysis that employs the analytical lenses of historical sociology—of the conditions and opportunities for social change that characterized the year 1968; analyzed as an event attributable to a sort of social catharsis that liberated society from the constraints and rigidities in the production process and the ‘world of life’ that had been settling like sediment in the consciousness of the new demographic cohorts. It is hypothesized that the Oedipal rebellion constituted by the long 1968 could be studied from its role as a catalyst in disseminating the social sentiment that the generations of the 1960s had been experiencing through a process that could be described as a differential association with respect to previous generations. It is hoped to demonstrate whether 1968, as an event, was able to bring about a shift in the consciousness and episteme of the people who participated, ultimately and unexpectedly fostering a reappropriation of the postulates aimed at abolishing the rigidities inherent in the Fordist-Keynesian organizational model in order to facilitate the advent of the ideologeme of flexibility (appropriated by neoliberalism) as the backbone of our cognitive and social orientation. From a sociological perspective, the project could represent a theoretical reevaluation of the historical significance of 1968, as well as a new approach to understanding the epistemological origins of the society in which we live.