Digital Commons Network^™

When Does A Juvenile Become An Adult? Implications For Law And Policy, Alexandra O. Cohen, Richard J. Bonnie, Kim A. Taylor-Thompson, B J. Casey

Faculty Articles

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a series of landmark decisions regarding the culpability of juveniles under the age of eighteen and has increasingly referenced developmental science in these opinions. Still, the line between juvenile court jurisdiction and criminal court jurisdiction varies widely among state laws, as do the minimum ages for other legal or regulatory purposes. Although the operative age of “adulthood” typically falls somewhere between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, it has been set lower in some important policy contexts, such as the age at which an adolescent is subject to criminal prosecution and punishment. Legal distinctions …

Obergefell V. Hodges And Nonmarriage Inequality, Melissa Murray

Faculty Articles

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court announced its much-anticipated decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, opening the door to nationwide recognition of marriage rights for same-sex couples. The public response to the Court’s decision was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. There is certainly much to celebrate about the Obergefell decision, but there is also cause for serious concern—even alarm. Although the Obergefell decision is a victory for same-sex couples that wish to marry, it is likely to have negative repercussions for those—gay or straight—who, by choice or by circumstance, live their lives outside of marriage. Obergefell builds the case for equal …

Is The Trans-Pacific Partnership’S Investment Chapter The New "Gold Standard"?, José E. Alvarez

Faculty Articles

The Trans-Pacific Partnership's Investment Chapter, and particularly its inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), has been the focus of considerable criticism both in the United States and New Zealand. Despite huge differences between these two potential TPP partners, the anticipated economic and political benefits offered by the pact – but also the threats to democracy posed – have been expressed in similar ways by distinct stakeholders in both countries. This essay describes how this chapter is the culmination of reforms to United States investment protection treaties that began with the investment chapter of the North American Free Trade Agreement in …

Reconsidering Experimental Use, Rochelle C. Dreyfuss

Faculty Articles

In the years since the Supreme Court began to narrow the scope of patentable subject matter, uncertainties in the law have had a deleterious impact on several important innovation sectors, including, in particular, the life sciences industry. There are now initiatives to expand patentable subject matter legislatively. In this article, I suggest that the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence is an outgrowth of the concern that patents on fundamental discoveries impede scientific research. To deal with that issue, any measure to expand the subject matter of patenting should be coupled with a parallel expansion of defenses to infringement liability, including the restoration …

Privileged Or Mismatched: The Lose-Lose Position Of African Americans In The Affirmative Action Debate, Devon W. Carbado, Kate M. Turetsky, Valerie Purdie-Vaughns

Faculty Articles

This Article challenges the perception of affirmative action as a racial preference. That perception has made the policy less constitutionally secure and more difficult normatively to defend. We focus our analysis on middle-class African Americans. We do so because the framing of affirmative action as a racial preference has particular traction when its beneficiaries are perceived to be black but not economically disadvantaged. Which is to say, if people believe that colleges and universities employ affirmative action to admit African Americans who are not economically disadvantaged, the conclusion that affirmative action is a racial preference is easy to reach: Black …

Nicotinamide Is An Endogenous Agonist For A C. Elegans Trpv Osm-9 And Ocr-4 Channel, A. Upadhyay, A. Pisupati, T. Jegla, Matthew Crook, K. J. Mickolajczyk, M. Shorey, L. E. Rohan, K. A. Billings, M. M. Rolls, W. O. Hancock, W. Hanna-Rose

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

TRPV ion channels are directly activated by sensory stimuli and participate in thermo-, mechano- and chemo-sensation. They are also hypothesized to respond to endogenous agonists that would modulate sensory responses. Here, we show that the nicotinamide (NAM) form of vitamin B3 is an agonist of a Caenorhabditis elegans TRPV channel. Using heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, we demonstrate that NAM is a soluble agonist for a channel consisting of the well-studied OSM-9 TRPV subunit and relatively uncharacterized OCR-4 TRPV subunit as well as the orthologous Drosophila Nan-Iav TRPV channel, and we examine stoichiometry of subunit assembly. Finally, we show that …

Assessment Of Impacts Of The Biomedical Careers Program – Just-A-Start Corporation Of Cambridge, Ma, Brandynn Holgate, Françoise Carré, Michael Mccormack, Wendel Mirbel

Center for Social Policy Publications

In 2015, Just-a-Start Corporation (JAS) of Cambridge, MA asked the UMass Boston Center for Social Policy to conduct an assessment of the impacts of the Biomedical Careers Program on the region and state, examining individual impacts for graduates as well as the economic contributions of program graduates to the biomedical industry.

The Biomedical Careers Program (hereafter “BioMed”) is described by JAS as an eight month program designed to enable local residents to complete “a Certificate in Biomedical Sciences to prepare them for entry level jobs at local biotechnology companies, universities, research institutions, clinical laboratories and hospitals. The program includes a …

Hegranesþing On Hegranes: Geophysical Prospection Interim Report 2013 – 2015, Brian N. Damiata, John M. Steinberg, John W. Schoenfelder, Douglas J. Bolender

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

Geophysical surveys were conducted at Hegranesþing on Hegranes in North Icelad during the summers of 2013 and 2015.

Let's Talk About Race : ǂB A Study Of Racial Discourse And Self-Esteem In Transracial Adoptees, Hyun-Zie Hong

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the relationship between racial socialization in transracial adoptees and their self-esteem in adulthood. This study also sought to explore if this relationship was different for transracial adoptees who were adopted domestically, and those who were adopted internationally. An online survey was administered to 50 adult transracial adoptees, featuring the Ethnic and Racial Socialization of Transracial Adoptee Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. All study participants were adopted in or into the United States. The results of this study indicated that differences in self-esteem scores by adoption origin approached significance. Other significant findings showed a positive correlation between …

Experiences Of Intimacy And Gender Non-Conformity In Assigned Female At Birth (Afab) Same-Sex Partnerships, Denise E. Goitia

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study is to address the question: In what ways, if any, does non-conforming gender expression shape the lived experience of emotional and sexual intimacy of partners assigned female at birth same-sex romantic relationships? Healthy relationships are found to contribute to overall positive health outcomes and general satisfaction with life and sexual and emotional intimacy are necessary precursors for establishing healthy and satisfying relationships. Twelve assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals in same-sex relationships participated. Six identified as gender non-conforming (GNC) and six were partnered with individuals who identified as gender non-conforming. Four major themes were …

"You Have To Know Whether Or Not You Can Really Compassionately Hold White Folks" : Perspectives Of Instructors On White Msw Student Engagement With Race And Racism Course Material, Eleanor H. Broh

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative, exploratory thesis explores the perspectives of instructors of courses on race and racism in social work masters programs. It looks at how these instructors are teaching race and racism content and how White students in their classes engage with the content. In doing so, this study addresses a gap in the social work literature on pedagogy for race and racism, which often fails to address the particular dynamics of teaching this material to White students in the United States.

Through qualitative, semi-structured interviewed with eleven instructors, this project describes the many ways White students engage with this material, …

Clinical Perspective On Non-Suicidal Self Injury In Adolescents : A Qualitative Study, Rachel E. Weiner

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

There has been an increase in the number of adolescents who engage in non-suicidal selfinjury (NSSI). This qualitative study explored clinical social workers’ perceptions of the causes of NSSI and the processes whereby social workers develop treatment for this behavior. This research was based on 10 in-person interviews conducted with Massachusetts licensed clinical social workers (mean average experience=20 years) who treat adolescent self-harm. Findings suggest adolescents often feel pressure to cut in order to fit in and therefore are more likely to engage in self-harm if their peers are encouraging this behavior. Further findings suggest that many participants seemed less …

Clinicians' Perceptions Of Their Role In Grief Counseling, Dinh Q. Tran

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The experiences and perceptions of grief counselors regarding their work is an often ignored, though highly valuable topic. Previous literature suggests that practicing grief clinicians are largely utilizing outdated grief theories in their practices. This study seeks to elucidate the meaning of these findings, explore what grief clinicians are actually doing in the field, and learn from the insights and clinical innovations of these contemporary clinicians. In this study, 10 clinicians, who have all practiced grief counseling within the last five years, were interviewed using a semi-structure interview model. Their theoretical models, most commonly used interventions, and conceptualizations of grief …

Co-Parenting Children Survey : An Investigation Between Separated And Intact Families, Abigail R. Sushchyk

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study sought to investigate and test the newly designed Co-Parenting Children Survey (CPCS). As a preliminary examination of the CPCS, the study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of reliability and internal consistency of the measure and whether it could distinguish co-parenting differences between diverse family structures (intact and separated). A total of 252 participants completed the online CPCS containing 13 demographic questions, the 56-item co-parenting measure, and two open-ended questions. The findings revealed that initial testing of the CPCS demonstrated good overall internal consistency and reliability between items on the measure and the capacity to differentiate co-parenting between …

Caring For The Caregivers : The Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support And Teacher-Child Interactions In Head Start Classrooms, Mariel R. Stadick

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose ofthis study was to examine whether there is a correlation between Head Start preschool teachers’ perceived agency support and the quality of their interactions with children in their programs. This study utilized a mixed methods design with both observational and self-report measures to examine the correlation between two measures as administered in Head Start preschools programs: The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS). A national sample of 69 Head Start preschool teachers responded to a modified version of the SPOS that included demographic items and agreed to release their CLASS scores. …

Climate Change On The Therapist's Couch : How Mental Health Clinicians Receive And Respond To Indirect Psychological Impacts Of Climate Change In The Therapeutic Setting, Elizabeth B. Seaman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The scientific community has reached near consensus that climate change (also known as anthropogenic global warming) poses a significant and potentially dire threat to the ecosystems upon which we, as humans and as a society, rest. While climate change is most often discussed in terms of its effect on the natural environmental, its psychological impacts are also expected to be immense and varied and include indirect distress related to the threat that climate change poses. The purpose of this study was to explore how this kind of indirect distress gets talked about in the therapeutic setting. Using a mixed methods …

Coping With Incarcerated-Related Stress : A Study Of Coping Responses By Women Romantically Involved With Incarcerated Men, Jaleesa I. Myers

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Research related to coping responses of women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men has been unexamined in social work literature. This study examined how women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men cope with economic, social and emotional stress associated with their partners ’ incarceration by examining their use of problem-focused, emotion-focused and avoidant-focused coping styles. The study answered to what extent do women romantically involved with, or married to, incarcerated men utilize adaptive coping responses, especially paying close attention to experiences of African American women. Using quantitative methods, the Brief COPE —a 28-item inventory—was administered to …

Does Degree Matter? : An Exploration Into The Stigmatization Of Mental Illness By Social Workers And Other Mental Health Professionals, Alexandria R. Huber

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative descriptive study sought to explore any differences in stigmatization by social workers and other mental health professionals. The second research question explored whether mental health professionals felt their degree program actively challenged them to explore stigma towards those with mental illness. Fifty participants completed an anonymous online survey that included the Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness scale, measuring stigma of mental illness. There were an additional four Likert scale questions exploring stigma of mental illness, and the participants perspectives of their education about stigma. The findings indicated that social workers had a lower mean score on the subscale …

Levels Of Perceived Stress Among Clinicians Who Work With Client Suicidal Behavior With An Organizational Context, Elyse A.S. Chastain

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative study set out to explore the relationship between clinicians’ levels of stress and perceptions of agency or organizational support when working with clients exhibiting suicidal behaviors, attempts or completed suicide, known throughout this thesis as client suicidal behavior (CSB). It is well documented in the literature that clinicians experience a range of personal and professional reactions when working with CSB that, if left unacknowledged, can have negative implications for clinicians, clients and the agency or organization at large. With the theoretical underpinning of person in the environment, the reciprocity between an individual and their environment can be understood. …

Developing Authentic Summative Assessments That Correlate To The Next Generation Science Standards For A Middle School Science Classroom, Nick Bushkofsky

Graduate Research Papers

A major shift in science education has occurred in the state of Iowa and it involves the adoption of performance expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) standards. The new curriculum demanded by NGSS will instigate a learning shift for science teachers in Iowa. They must re-format lessons and assessments to encompass their target NGSS standards. This creative component has analyzed six targeted NGSS performance standards and has developed high quality summative authentic assessments correlated to the targeted NGSS standards.

Characterization Of The Protective Role Of Regulatory T Cells In Experimental Periapical Lesions Development And Its Chemoattraction Manipulation As A Therapeutic Tool, Carolina Favaro Francisconi, Andreia Espindola Vieira, Cláudia Cristina Biguetti, Andrew J. Glowacki, Ana Paula Favaro Trombone, Ariadne Letra, Renato Menezes Silva, Charles S. Sfeir, Steven R. Little, Gustavo P. Garlet

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Introduction

The pathogenesis of periapical lesions is determined by the balance between host pro-inflammatory immune response and counteracting anti-inflammatory and reparative responses, which include regulatory T cells (Tregs) as potential immunoregulatory agents. In this study, we investigated (in a cause-and-effect manner) the involvement of CCL22-CCR4 axis in Tregs migration to the periapical area and the role of Tregs in the determination of outcomes in periapical lesions.

Methods

Periapical lesions were induced in C57Bl/6 (WT) and CCR4KO mice (pulp exposure and bacterial inoculation), and treated with anti-GITR to inhibit Tregs function or alternatively with CCL22-releasing, PLGA particles to induce site-specific migration …

Saffron Extract And Its Active Constituents As Preventative And/Or Treatment Agents For Prostate Cancer Using In Vitro And In Vivo Models, Faisal Fayih Albaqami

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saffron extract and its active constituents were evaluated as chemopreventatives and/or treatments for prostate cancer. Different models of prostate cancer (in vitro and in vivo) were used for studying saffron and its constituents’ mechanisms. In normal prostate cells, saffron extract, crocetin, and safranal, in non-toxic concentrations, possessed antioxidant properties against the reactive oxygen species induced by H2O2 which further supports saffron constituents as chemopreventative agents. Moreover, saffron and its active constituents produced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells through intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Potential efficacy in minimizing prostate cancer metastasis was also examined. Saffron extract, crocetin, and safranal decreased the migration and …

Targeting Protein Kinases To Manage Or Prevent Alzheimer’S Disease, Manal A. Nael

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to the pressing need for new disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), new treatment strategies and alternative drug targets are currently being heavily researched. One such strategy is to modulate protein kinases such as cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3α and GSK-3β), and the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). AD intervention by reduction of amyloid beta (Aβ) levels is also possible through development of protein kinase C-epsilon (PKC-ϵ) activators to recover α-secretase levels and decrease toxic Aβ levels, thereby restoring synaptogenesis and cognitive function. In this way, we aim to develop …

Examining Hope And Resilience Among Mississippi Adolescents, Kristie Vail Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hope theory involves the way in which individuals perceive their abilities in relation to three factors: 1) clearly defined goals, 2) the specific strategies necessary to obtain those goals (called “pathways”), and 3) the sustained motivation necessary to use those specific strategies (called “agency thinking”) (Snyder et al., 1991; Snyder, Lopez, Shorey, Rand, & Feldman, 2003). Hopeful thinking is defined as a belief that an individual can find the pathways to reach a desired goal and the belief that one can use those designated pathways effectively (Snyder, 2002; Rand & Cheavens, 2009). Research shows that hope in adolescents is positively …

Representation Of The American South In Marvel Comics, 1963-2016, Katherine Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My work tracks the role of the American South and Southern characters in Marvel Comics, from 1963 to 2016. This thesis spring from a simple question: how stereotypical does this Northern industry portray the American South? To achieve this goal, I read a lot of comics, applying literary theory (such as Patricia Yeager and Tara McPherson) as well as American cultural studies (1980s televangelism and the history of human trafficking in America) to my findings. After reading multiple comic books from multiple sources, I settled on four different texts, each with a unique approach to portraying the South: the portrayal …

Influence Of Plant Species, Location, And Seasonality On Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities In Freshwater Wetlands, Hakchul Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plant-associated microbes influence plant functions, including development and growth and abiotic stress tolerance. Rhizosphere microbial communities have been shown to vary according to differences in wetland vegetation. Owing to the complexity of factors influencing soil microbial community structure, a greater knowledge of the relationship between rhizosphere microbial communities and different types of plant species will lead to a deeper understanding of plant-microbe interactions in wetlands. Thus, the purpose of my research was to determine the influence of plant species on rhizosphere microbial communities from different freshwater wetlands. The spatial variability, associated with different wetland sites, of rhizosphere microbial communities was …

Biochemical Composition Of Caribbean Gorgonian Corals And Their Symbiosis Under Ambeint And Stressful Conditions, Kartick Prakash Shirur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gorgonian corals are the dominant benthic fauna on Caribbean reefs. Unlike scleractinian corals, gorgonian abundance on these reefs has remained stable or has increased. Therefore, to predict how climate change will affect the reef community, it is essential to understand gorgonian physiology under ambient and stressful situations. Under ambient conditions, eight gorgonian species hosted different clade B Symbiodinium, and in two gorgonian species in which the bacterial microbiomes were investigated, two distinct communities were found. In the eight gorgonian species, skeletal content varied from 75-96%, with those having more tissue also having more Symbiodinium density within their branches. The composition …

Dialogue Across Borders: Dam Projects In Yunnan And Sikkim, Payal Banerjee, Li Bo

Sociology: Faculty Books

This chapter explores what a new lexicon of subregionalism might look like. It entails transgressing borders of all types: geographical, disciplinary, discursive, and epistemic. First, we reach across the India-China border to look at their common borderlands. Second, we do not abide by a typical comparative approach by listing the similarities and differences that distinguish India and China as states, then ask whether or how each may compete or collaborate with the other. Instead, third, in comparing two cases of the same phenomenon—that is, local resource management—we talk to each other as researchers and concerned, transnational subjects of India and …

Assessing Photoreceptor Structure Associated With Ellipsoid Zone Disruptions Visualized With Optical Coherence Tomography, Drew Scoles, John A. Flatter, Robert F. Cooper, Christopher S. Langlo, Scott Robison, Maureen Neitz, David V. Weinberg, Mark E. Pennesi, Dennis P. Han, Alfredo Dubra, Joseph Carroll

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: To compare images of photoreceptor layer disruptions obtained with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) in a variety of pathologic states.

Methods: Five subjects with photoreceptor ellipsoid zone disruption as per OCT and clinical diagnoses of closed-globe blunt ocular trauma (n = 2), macular telangiectasia type 2 (n = 1), blue-cone monochromacy (n = 1), or cone-rod dystrophy (n = 1) were included. Images were acquired within and around photoreceptor lesions using spectral domain OCT, confocal AOSLO, and split-detector AOSLO.

Results: There were substantial differences in the extent and appearance of the photoreceptor mosaic …

Finite Element Modeling And Analysis Applications In Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Jessica M. Fritz, Nicole M. Grosland, Peter Smith, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Understanding the biomechanics of bones in persons with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a key component to further understanding the disease, optimizing treatment and quality of life, as well as injury prevention. However, it is not feasible to study bone biomechanics in vivo. Thus, modeling may play a key role in understanding how OI bones respond to the loading experienced during various activities, especially ambulation. Biomechanical modeling can provide insight into bone fracture risks, such as type and location, from single applied loads or repetitive loading. One method for obtaining this information is via a finite element analysis (FEA). FEA is …