Digital Commons Network^™

Up-Island Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Ceara Somerville, Caitlin E. Coyle

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Up-Island Council on Aging (UICOA). The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury residents age 50 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the Council on Aging’s (UICOA’s) objective to identify and serve the needs of older residents of Up-island.

Post-Term Births As A Risk Factor For Small For Gestational Age Births And Infant Mortality In Brazil, Mexico, And Palestinian Refugees: An Analysis Of Electronic Birth Records, Zeina Jamaluddine, Lorena Suarez Idueta, Enny S. Paixao, Julia M. Pescarini, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Miho Sato, Akihiro Seita, Luis A. Martinez-Juarez, Mauricio L. Barreto, Eric O. Ohuma, Louise T. Day, Oona M.R. Campbell, Hannah Blencowe

Faculty Publications

Background:

Post-term pregnancy, defined as reaching or exceeding 42 + 0 weeks of gestation, is known to be associated with unfavourable birth outcomes. High-income countries have responded to this risk by widely adopting labour induction protocols in late-term, but many low- and middle-income countries have not. However, understanding underlying mechanisms linking post-term births to adverse newborn and infant outcomes remains limited.

Objective:

To investigate the (a) prevalence of post-term, (b) the risk factors associated with post-term (c) the association between post-term births and the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and of infant mortality in middle-income settings.

Methods:

We used existing …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Diabetes Nurse-Led Health Coaching Intervention For Type 2 Diabetes At Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi: A Randomised Controlled Study, Jane Mugo

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) has placed a significant burden on both healthcare systems and individuals living with the disease. However, it is preventable through health promotion strategies. Healthy behavior changes, which improve disease outcomes, highlight the importance of supporting and sustaining self-efficacy in diabetes self-management.

Objective: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a nurse-led health coaching program on diabetes control for individuals with T2DM with HbA1c >6.5% specifically on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels as compared with standard diabetes care only.

Methodology: The study adopted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two groups: an intervention group receiving the …

Let’S Talk About Quality: How Equitable Funding And Program Structure Impact Academic And Social Outcomes In Supplemental Education Programs, Inayah Ansari

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Although many studies have highlighted how high–quality supplemental education programs (early childhood education and after-school programs) help children and adolescents reach developmental milestones faster, very few studies focus on how programs are structured to create the quality that produces positive outcomes. In this paper, I define quality as equitable funding and program structure and interrogate how this conception of quality determines cognitive and social-emotional benefits, particularly for programs in New York City. Using fiscal data and study reviews, I illuminated the impact of budget cuts on programs and the importance of funding. Using a thematic analysis of six interviews conducted …

The Perspectives Of Play Advocates On Children’S Unstructured Play In Turkey, Bengi Sullu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has established children’s rights to non- discrimination, development, participation and the observance of their best interests. With this recognition, there has been a growing global interest in acknowledging play as a right. Yet unstructured play, in which children can choose when, where and how to play, with control over their play, has not received the same attention, support and investment as organized, structured play (UNCRC General Comment 17, 2013). The way adults perceive and support play shapes the play opportunities that are available to children (Bianquin, 2018; Göl-Güven, 2017). Additionally, institutions and …

Characterizing The Nutrition-Gut Microbiome-Host Physiology Axis To Examine Flexibility In A Fruit-Specialist Primate, Nina Beeby

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Nutrition and, increasingly, microbiota are recognized in shaping all aspects of animal behavioral ecology and physiology. Since diet and nutrition shape not only animal physiology but also gut microbiota, and these microbiota serve as suppliers of and competitors to host nutrition, this raises questions of how these complex nutritional and microbial environments synergistically affect animal physiology. Examining this nutrition-gut microbiome-host physiology axis has immense potential to unveil how these intricate relationships contribute to animals’ responses to environmental change at multiple scales. Most of what we know about primate responses to environmental change is based upon studies examining one or few …

Exploring Access To Care In Zimbabwe Using The 3-Delay Model, Katerina Green, Naboth Matinhira, Amiti Jain, Tissiana Vallecillo, Priya Arya, Estephania Candelo, Munyaradzi Katiro, Tafadzwa Nyamurowa, Dontre' Douse, Joshua Wiedermann

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVES: We aim to identify the diversity of barriers to care for otolaryngology-head and neck surgery patients in Harare, Zimbabwe.

METHODS: Interviews were conducted at four general otolaryngology clinics in Harare in October 2022.The patient population included children and adults presenting to either government or private clinics. Via interpreter, six standardized questions were discussed with each patient. Survey responses were used to categorize patients into one or more of three types of delays: (1) deciding to seek care, (2) reaching the appropriate healthcare facility, and (3) receiving adequate care after reaching that facility.

RESULTS: Forty-six patients participated in this survey. …

Hypoalbuminemia And Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Salivary Gland Resection, Praneet C. Kaki, Aman M. Patel, Jason A. Brant, Steven B. Cannady, Karthik Rajasekaran, Robert M. Brody, Ryan M. Carey

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVE: Hypoalbuminemia (HA) is a proxy for malnutrition that has been associated with postoperative complications in several surgical subspecialties. This study investigates the association between pre-operative HA and complications following major salivary gland (MSG) resection.

METHODS: Patients undergoing outpatient, elective MSG resection were extracted from the 2005 to 2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Demographics and comorbidities were compared between HA (preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL) and non-HA cohorts. To determine associations between albumin status and postoperative complications, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 5774 patients undergoing MSG resection were included, of which 321 (5.6%) had preoperative HA. HA was associated with older age on univariate analysis (65.2 vs. 60.2 years,

CONCLUSION: Preoperative HA may …

Aging In Uxbridge: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin E. Coyle, Katherine Burnes, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Uxbridge. The goals of this project were to investigate the interests, preferences, and opinions of Uxbridge’s residents aged 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the Council on Aging’s (COA’s) and Senior Center objective to identify and serve the needs of all Uxbridge citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Uxbridge, the …

An Intensified Cereal Push-Pull System Reduces Pest Infestation And Confers Yield Advantages In High-Value Vegetables, Frank Chidawanyika, Evanson R. Omuse, Lavender O. Agutu, Jimmy O. Pittchar, Dickens Nyagol, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Crop diversification is associated with ecosystem services that can improve yield. We integrated tomatoes and kales within the cereal push-pull technology (PPT), to form the vegetable integrated push-pull (VIPP), and explored the influence of these cropping systems on pest and disease management, and subsequent yield of the vegetables. Aphids and diamondback moths (DBM), the major pests in kale production, together with grasshoppers were consistently lower in the VIPP plots. Low incidences and damage by leafminers, whiteflies and fruitflies on tomatoes were observed in VIPP plots compared to plots of tomato intercropped with maize (control). The severity of black rot and …

Characterizing Phosphorus Removal And Recovery Performance Of A 3d Printed Iron-Embedded Polylactic Acid Composite, Colin B. Wilson, Anthony J. Parolari, Andrew Hiestand, Brooke K. Mayer, Allison Murray

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Green infrastructure (GI) has been heralded as a solution for reducing phosphorus (P) pollution through increasing stormwater runoff infiltration and improving water quality. Despite its global implementation, GI struggles to improve the effluent water quality discharged from these systems consistently. This research evaluates the P removal performance and recovery potential of iron-embedded polylactic acid (PLA) composites through a novel application of three-dimensional (3D) printed representative unit cells (RUC) that could be used to improve effluent quality in GI. The RUC required chemical oxidation to convert the embedded iron to hematite (Fe₂⁢O₃) to facilitate P adsorption. Batch …

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It is the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. The February issue sets the tone for the MDA’s Annual Meeting, Revving Up Dentistry, this April in Detroit.

A detailed Annual Session Preview is included within the Journal with course listings and activities planned for the four-day event. Regular Departments: News You Need, New Dentist Column, MDA Insurance, Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, MDA at your Service, Governmental Affairs, and a Michigan Dental …

Gestational Weight Gain And Increased Risk Of Cesarean Delivery Across Body Mass Index Categories., Pearl A Mcelfish, Britni L Ayers, Nicola L Hawley, Aaron Caldwell, Austin Porter, Michael D Macechko, Donya Watson, Jennifer A Callaghan-Koru, James P Selig, Jennifer A Andersen, Nirvana Manning, Lanita White, Enrique Gomez-Pomar, Clare C Brown

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Unnecessary cesarean delivery can have negative implications for both mothers and infants. In the United States, the proportion of women undergoing cesarean delivery exceeds the acceptable World Health Organization proportion. Reducing cesarean deliveries is a national goal of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy People 2030, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine if excessive gestational weight gain is associated with increased risk of cesarean delivery across multiple body mass index categories.

STUDY DESIGN: Analysis was conducted using vital records data from the National …

To All The Nations Of The World: A Postcolonial Analysis Of Protestant Christian-Oriented Study Abroad Programs, Joshua Patterson, Melissa Whatley, Anna Kelly

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Faith And Hunger, Mason Hennessy

Father Jack McGrath, S.M., Research Award Presentations

Mason Hennessy is a recipient of the Father Jack McGrath, S.M., Award for Research in Catholic Intellectual Traditions.

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study Of Naproxen During Dental Implant Osseointegration, Hattanas Kumchai, Daniel Taub, Ryan Tomlinson

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed following the placement of dental implants, but the effects of these drugs on the osseointegration process are poorly understood. We designed a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study to quantitatively assess the effect of NSAIDs during early implant osseointegration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects receiving a maxillary dental implant were randomized to take naproxen or placebo for 7 days after the surgery. Implant osseointegration was quantified using Resonance Frequency Analysis device. Implant-Stability-Quotient (ISQ) measurement was performed at the time of surgery and at follow-up visits 1, 4, and 16 weeks after surgery. Periapical radiographs were …

Ipulse - February 2025, Lynn University

Student Newspapers

Issues:

• February 2025 - Volume 1
• February 2025 - Volume 2
• February 2025 - Volume 3

Spectrum And Classification Of Atp7b Variants With Clinical Correlation In Children With Wilson Disease, Ruqayah Gy. Al-Obaidi, Bassam Ms. Al-Musawi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To study the spectrum and classification of ATP7B variants in Iraqi children with Wilson disease by direct gene sequencing with clinical correlation. Methods: Fifty-five unrelated children with a clinical diagnosis of Wilson disease (WD) were recruited. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and variants in the ATP7B gene were identified using next-generation sequencing. Results: Seventy-six deleterious variants were detected in 97 out of 110 alleles of the ATP7B gene. Thirty (54.5%) patients had 2 disease-causing variants (15 homozygous and 15 compound heterozygous). Twelve (21.8%) patients had one disease-causing variant and one variant of uncertain significance (VUS) with …

Tennessee Investment In Student Achievement: First-Year Implementation, Tennessee. Comptroller Of The Treasury.

Office of Research and Education Accountability

No abstract provided.

State Laws Leveraging The Community Eligibility Provision To Build Healthy School Meals For All: A Content Analysis, Elizabeth Piekarz-Porter, Juliana F.W. Cohen, Rebecca M. Schermbeck, Julien Leider, Tanya Agurs-Collins, Jamie F. Chriqui

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Chmy 121n.Vh1: Introduction To General Chemistry, Julia Michelle Kotler

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Life Span Policies And Macroeconomic Transition Will Help The 21st-Century Brain Health Revolution In Developing Countries, Cyprian Mostert, Chinedu Momoh, Manasi Kumar, Shehzad Ali, Kendi Muchungi, Gloria Chemutai, Cynthia Smith, Dominic Trepel, Harris Eyre, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders for 2022 to 2031, emphasizing important connections between brain health, population well-being, and economic growth. A year later, the WHO followed up with strategic guidelines aimed at enhancing brain health outcomes in developing countries. However, critical gaps remain. Our policy forum paper advocates for policies that target brain health across all stages of life, starting with measures to reduce the consumption of alcohol, sugar, and tobacco. Additionally, we propose the integration of school meal programs and social pension schemes as essential …

Relationship Between Parental Neglect, Socioeconomic Status, And Aggression In Adolescents, Chemarin Eve Boyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aggressive behavior among adolescents poses significant challenges for families, educators, and communities, often stemming from complex interactions between parental behavior and environmental factors. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined the relationship between parental neglect, socioeconomic status (SES), and adolescent aggression, guided by the parental acceptance-rejection theory. Data were collected from 250 parents of adolescents age 12-18 divided into two groups: those reporting no to low levels of aggression and those reporting moderate to high levels. Binary logistic regression was employed to predict the likelihood of adolescent aggression based on parental neglect (categorical) and SES (scale). The results demonstrated that parental neglect …

Course Design Toolbox (February 2025), Instructional Design And Delivery, Gonzaga University

Instructional Design & Delivery

No abstract provided.

The Future For Sport Officiating Research: An Expert Statement, Tom Webb, David J. Hancock, Matthew Weston, Stacy M. Warner, Werner F. Helsen, Clare Macmahon, Noel Brick, Roy D. Samuel, Jacob K. Tingle

School of Business Faculty Research

Research, coverage, and understanding in sport officiating related scholarly activity have increased markedly in the last decade. Sport officials (referees, judges, umpires) have been historically underrepresented in the sport management, psychology, and physiology literature, but this collection of experts provides avenues for collaboration and exploration that can contribute to understanding systems, individuals, and initiate real-world changes for sporting organisations, policy makers, and officials themselves. Focused and organised around the key research areas and priorities of physiology, decision making, psychology, mental health, management, and training and development, this statement offers detail on the development of the research and associated literature and …

The Future For Sport Officiating Research: An Expert Statement, T. Webb, D. J. Hancock, M. Weston, S. Warner, W. F. Helsen, C. Macmahon, N. Brick, R. D. Samuel, Jacob K. Tingle

School of Business Faculty Research

Research, coverage, and understanding in sport officiating related scholarly activity have increased markedly in the last decade. Sport officials (referees, judges, umpires) have been historically underrepresented in the sport management, psychology, and physiology literature, but this collection of experts provides avenues for collaboration and exploration that can contribute to understanding systems, individuals, and initiate real-world changes for sporting organisations, policy makers, and officials themselves. Focused and organised around the key research areas and priorities of physiology, decision making, psychology, mental health, management, and training and development, this statement offers detail on the development of the research and associated literature and …

Regulating Cultured Meat Labels In The United States, Natalie Mousa

Colorado Environmental Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Personalized Periodontitis Risk Based On Nonimage Electronic Dental Records By Machine Learning, Laura Swinckels, Ander De Keijzer, Bruno G. Loos, Reuben Joseph Applegate, Krishna Kumar Kookal, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Harmen Bijwaard, Josef Bruers

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This study aimed to develop a machine-learning (ML) model to predict the risk for Periodontal Disease (PD) based on nonimage electronic dental records (EDRs).

Methods: By using EDRs collected in the BigMouth repository, dental patients from the US were included. Patients were labeled as cases or controls, based on PD diagnosis, treatment and pocketing. By learning from their data, a model was trained. The ability of the developed model to predict PD was evaluated by the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUROC) and the most important features were determined. The best-performing model was applied …

A Model For Advocacy: Advancing Policy Change In Support For Patients With Medicaid, Betsy J. Becker, Jenae Pope

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

There are differences in access and utilization of care for patients with Medicaid. When patients cannot access timely therapeutic care, the resulting outcomes are often poor. Because a major limiting factor in accessing services is insurance type, investigating optimal coverage practices is an important first step in advocating for change. This abstract reports on Phase One of a larger collaboration with state professional associations for physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) to present a model that describes Medicaid authorization services for PT, OT, and SLP, serving as a guide for policy change.

We collaborated with the …

Integrated Agricultural Interventions And Women’S Empowerment\ A Case Study Of “She Feeds The World” – “Aysheen Bekhirha” Program In Egypt, Pakinam Shibl

Theses and Dissertations

“She Feeds the World” program is a program that empowers women in farming communities by integrating them into the agricultural value chain. With increased access to essential resources such as land, seeds, water, and technical training, women are expected to actualize their full potential and generate more income. This paper explores the intersection of societal mobilization and economic development through a case study of the “Aysheen Bekhirha” program. By drawing on primary sources, the researcher aims to provide insights into the program’s multifaceted approach and its impact on economic and social outcomes. The analysis focuses on the significance of women’s …