Digital Commons Network^™

Social Determinants Of Health And Aging In Africa: Structural Inequality, Vulnerability, And The Future Of Care, Aremu Umor Lukman, Sunkanmi Folorunsho, Abdulrauf Olaitan Taofeeq

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Population aging is accelerating across Africa yet remains underrepresented in research, policy, and public health planning. This review critically examines how social determinants shape aging experiences across the continent, focusing on health, care systems, and structural inequalities. While traditional African societies have historically valued older adults, modernization, migration, and economic hardship have eroded support systems, leaving many to face old age with limited resources. Older Africans, particularly women and rural residents, contend with lifelong disadvantages including low education, informal labor, poverty, and gendered caregiving roles that contribute to poor health and social vulnerability. Health systems remain poorly equipped to address …

The Lotus At Dawn: Rethinking Climate Resilience In An Archipelago, Marie Franchesca M. Borras

English Faculty Publications

Super Typhoon Rai, locally called Odette, hit the Philippines on December 16, 2021, devastating General Luna, a municipality in Surigao del Norte. Due to this natural disaster, this study—originally written as a pre-pandemic autoethnographic account via flâneuserie—endeavors to understand how the mobility of city dwellers contributes to the anthropogenic climate by exploring the ethics of care. Additionally, it seeks to posit inquiries on what it means to be climate-resilient in an archipelagic country such as the Philippines. Beyond economic methodologies, it is pivotal to examine issues of care that deal with our relationship with nature by understanding how, for example, …

Editorial: The Development And Evolution Of Larval Nervous Systems, Oliver Vöcking, Allan Carrillo-Baltodano, Néva Meyer

Biology

Throughout their development, animals of various taxa go through different larval stages, which have evolved adaptations to interact with specific environments. Larval nervous systems in particular experience strong selection pressures since they control crucial physiological and behavioral processes, especially in taxa with planktotrophic larvae that need to acquire food. Selection pressures also can vary across life history stages if there are differences in factors such as habitat, predation avoidance, and diet. There is evidence for this in the relationship of the larval nervous system to the adult nervous system, which can vary widely between species. Understanding the specific adaptations of …

Phylogenetic Proximity Is A Key Driver Of Temporal Succession Of Marine Giant Viruses In A Five-Year Metagenomic Time-Series, Sarah M. Laperriere, Benjamin Minch, J.L. Weissman, Shangwei Hou, Yi-Chun Yeh, Nathan Ahlgren, Mohammad Moniruzzaman

Biology

Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs), also called giant viruses, are widespread in marine systems and infect a broad range of microbial eukaryotes (protists). Recent biogeographic work has provided global snapshots of NCLDV diversity and community composition across the world’s oceans, yet little information exists about the guiding “rules” underpinning their community dynamics over time. We leveraged a five-year monthly coupled metagenomic-viromic time-series to quantify the community composition of NCLDVs off the coast of Southern California and characterize their temporal population dynamics. NCLDVs were dominated by Algavirales (Phycodnaviruses, 59%) and Imitervirales (Mimiviruses, 36%). We identified clusters of NCLDVs with distinct classes …

Maine State Seminary Students Of Color, Bates College

All Bates People Files

In the year following the close of the Civil War, three Black men in Virginia were recruited by either Alonzo Garcelon or Oren Cheney to come to Maine and attend the Maine State Seminary (the precursor to Bates College). These men -- John Dunjee (or Dungy), Hamilton Keyes (or Keys), and Alexander Sanders (Saunders), attended for the 1866-1867. Unfortunately, because this time predates the student newspaper and the annual President's Report, there is almost no documentary evidence of their time at the school. The information contained in these short biographies has been gathered from internet sources, both contemporary and later.

Additional Evidence From A Case Report Supports A Novel Hypothesis On The Association Between Complex Regional Pain Syndrome And Lymphedema, M Mark Melin, John C Rasmussen, Melissa B Aldrich, Ron J Karni, Caroline E Fife, Kristen A Eckert

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

A previous report of 4 heterogeneous cases demonstrated that automated manual lymphatic drainage therapy (AMLDT), administered by a novel, pneumatic mat of 16 pressurized air channels that inflate and deflate sequentially to mimic the stretch and release action of manual lymphatic drainage therapy (MLD), altered lymphatic contractility and relieved pain. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-LI) was used 1 h before AMLDT, during 1 h of AMDLT, and 30-60 min after treatment to obtain images that could be used to determine lymphatic contractility, as measured by pulsing frequency over a given timeframe. Herein, a case of type 2 complex regional pain syndrome …

Editorial: Advances In Pharmacotherapy For Alcohol Use Disorder: From Mechanisms To Clinical Interventions, Regina A Mangieri, Sunil Sirohi, Ezequiel Marron Fernandez De Velasco, Seungwoo Kang

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

No abstract provided.

Microglial Trem2 Promotes Phagocytic Clearance Of Damaged Neurons After Status Epilepticus, Dale B Bosco, Vaclav Kremen, Koichiro Haruwaka, Shunyi Zhao, Lingxiao Wang, Blake A Ebner, Jiaying Zheng, Manling Xie, Aastha Dheer, Jadyn F Perry, Abhijeet Barath, Aivi T Nguyen, Gregory A Worrell, Long-Jun Wu

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

In the central nervous system, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is exclusively expressed by microglia and is critical for microglial proliferation, migration, and phagocytosis. Microglial TREM2 plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, little is known about how TREM2 affects microglial function within epileptogenesis. To investigate this, we utilized male TREM2 knockout (KO) mice within the intra-amygdala kainic acid seizure model. Electroencephalographic analysis, immunocytochemistry, and RNA sequencing revealed that TREM2 deficiency significantly promoted seizure-induced pathology. We found that TREM2 KO increased both the severity of acute status epilepticus …

Menstrual Cycle Phase Effects On Exercise Thermoregulation And Performance In The Heat, Kailei J. Eustis

All Master's Theses

Hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle (MC) may influence physiological responses. This study examined whether thermoregulatory measures differ across MC phases, and if these changes impact running performance in the heat. Ten eumenorrheic adults completed two treadmill runs in simulated conditions (wet bulb globe temperature 31.7 ± 1.4°C) during early follicular (EF) and midluteal (ML) phases. First 45min was a constant self-selected light pace followed by a 15min performance test for distance. Core temperature (Tc), mean skin temperature (Ts), heart rate (HR), perceived exertion (RPE), thermal perception (THERM), and comfort perception (COMF) were assessed every 5min. Sweat perception (SP), sweat …

Medellín Manifesto On Transnational Value Chains And International Law, Diane Desierto

Journal Articles

Global Value Chains (GVCs) have been heralded as the ‘new world of trade’, yet they branch far beyond what has traditionally been considered ‘trade’—they interact with and are informed by multiple legal regimes often in ways unrelated to the theoretical and practical bases of those regimes. Building on the 2016 IGLP Manifesto, which sought to place law at the centre of GVC research, the Medellín Manifesto’s aspiration is to establish a research agenda that is specifically focused on international law: one that treats GVCs as amorphous and transnational legal creatures—they are transnational value chains (TVCs); one that recognises that the …

A Comparative Study Of Legacy And Modern Proton Therapy Pencil Beam Gantries In Prostate Cancer Treatment: Advancements In Efficiency And Performance, Mey Chou, Caitlin Fung, Shaun Ray, Yuting Li, Cameron Tharp, Shaun T. Caldwell

Research Methods Poster Session 2025

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care In Higher Education, Lauren Mochnal

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Trauma is prevalent among students in higher education, with 66% to 85% of university students having experienced a traumatic event (Wells et al., 2021). Additionally, college students in the United States currently report greater psychological distress and mental health challenges than in the past (Ray et al., 2024). Traumatic experiences can lead to challenges in emotional regulation, delayed brain development, and increased risk of adverse health outcomes and academic failure (Gao et al., 2023). However, use of a trauma-informed care approach to higher education at both a departmental and classroom level can minimize barriers and improve occupational engagement in education, …

Medical Providers' Understanding Of The Role Of Ot, Zachery Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The purpose of this scoping review was to gather information on medical providers’ current understanding of occupational therapy’s (OT) scope of practice and how their understanding impacts OT referrals. The question that guided this review was: does an increase of education on occupational therapies (OT) scope of practice for medical providers increase their understanding of OTs role? Current research highlights an inaccurate understanding of OT’s role by medical providers, which leads to decreased referrals. Further research is needed to determine medical providers’ motivation to receive education on OT’s scope of practice, what education methods are most beneficial, and if that …

Benefits Of Aquatic Therapy In Older Adults, Matile Kaplan

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Aquatic Therapy (AT) helps with physical, mental, and psychosocial components of recovery. Substantial evidence shows that traditional (on-land) therapy has a positive impact on quality of life and occupational performance. However, limited research exists on the impact of combining traditional and aquatic therapies on rehabilitation outcomes and occupational engagement. Aquatic therapy has been a therapeutic modality since 2400 B.C. and is not fully exploited despite having strong evidence of its benefits (B.E. Kauffman & B.W. Kauffman, 2014; Chesapeake Bay Aquatic and Physical Therapy, 2024). There is a large gap in the literature about the benefits of combining aquatic and on-land …

Medicaid Expansion And Black Maternal Mortality, Michaela Siver

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Maternal mortality is a national health crisis, disproportionately affecting Black women. The Medicaid expansion program, an optional program at the state level, is responsible for providing coverage for nearly half of all live births in the United States. This research addressed if Medicaid expansion has reduced maternal mortality rates, especially for Black women, when compared to non-expansion states. Multiple literature searches yielded a set of peer-reviewed journal articles and government reports that were used to answer this question. Medicaid expansion has resulted in a significant decline in maternal deaths, with 7.01 fewer casualties per 100,000 births in expansion states as …

Sensory Intervention For Bereaved Children, Eleanor Gemma

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Bereaved children have unique sensory needs due to unregulated bodily experiences impacting one’s sensory modulation. There is a lack of evidence-based sensory strategies used with children receiving bereavement services in Rhode Island, and little understanding of how sensory strategies can impact client's regulation. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the sensory interventions currently being applied with children who are experiencing bereavement.

Lbsci 702: Information Sources And Service: General, Nafiz Z. Shuva

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

University Of Richmond Magazine - Spring 2025

University of Richmond Magazine

The University of Richmond's Alumni Magazine was first published as The Alumni Bulletin in 1936 and continues to this day as the University of Richmond Magazine.

The Limits Of Ieepa, Peter E. Harrell

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Center Cannot Hold: Icc Sanctions, Rogue Turns, And The Unmaking Of Legal Order, Devika Hovell

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Teaching Agroecology Through Play: A Board Game On Companion Planting Using Agroecological Principles, Ashmita Das, Julie Capito-Hernandez, Estelí Jiménez-Soto

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Board games themed around environmental topics are promising tools for promoting awareness of complex sustainability issues, as the materiality, sociality, and multidimensionality of gameplay can help overcome some of the inherent limitations of more traditional learning formats. To explore the potential relevance of board games for communicating about agrifood system topics in particular, we designed and tested a game called Companion: An Agroecological Adventure, in which players take on the role of community gardeners who must apply both social and ecological principles of agroecology to cultivate a thriving garden plot. In this paper, we present the results of a study …

Food Sovereignty Among Migrant Farmworkers: The Role Of Agrobiodiversity For Autonomy And Resistance In A Mexican Coffee Plantation, Estelí Jiménez-Soto, Sanya Cowal, April Lopez

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Coffee agroecosystems represent the economic base for thousands of small growers and agricultural workers, as well as a significant proportion of many regional economies in Latin America. Every year, the production of coffee in this region attracts a great number of laborers and their families, particularly during the harvest season. Despite being essential workers in the food system, agricultural workers continue to be one of the most marginalized actors in the coffee production chain. Even with an environment of precarity, agricultural workers exercise their autonomy and food sovereignty—the process by which agricultural workers, in this case, define their food system …

“Finally Girls Hitting A Celly:” Emotions And Gender Embodiment In Competitive Swimmers’ Post-Race Celebrations, Lauren Q. Rohde , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

In athletic competitions, the moment of achievement is often extremely cathartic and results in a visible celebration. In competitive swimming, these reactions to success are isolated to the end of a race, completely individual, and often feature interaction with one’s surroundings, such as the water or lane lines. These moments are also highly visible and usually well-photographed, and the visibility of these actions contributes to a growing culture in the sport around post-race celebrations. The exposure of the body in competitive swimming additionally contributes to its visibility, further complicating behaviors and norms around celebrating race outcomes. This research aims to …

Dance Improvisation And Kinematics: Describing Spontaneous Motion Among Movers, Fallon Simone Doshi Brackley

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

State Of Utah, Plaintiff/Appellant, V. David Elliott, Defendant/Appellee : Brief Of Appellant

Utah Appeals Court Briefs

Appeal from denial of bindover and dismissal of all counts, in the Fifth Judicial District, Washington County, the Honorable Jay T. Winward presiding

Computational Approaches To Understanding The Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions In Ribonucleotide Reductase, Jiayun Zhong

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is a fundamental chemical process where both an electron and a proton are transferred simultaneously or sequentially, playing a key role in various biological and chemical systems, including enzymatic reactions and energy conversion. This thesis investigates the PCET reactions in ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), a critical enzyme responsible for DNA synthesis and repair in all living organisms. While significant progress has been made in understanding RNR's PCET pathway, several gaps remain, particularly regarding the specific mechanisms and energetics of individual PCET steps, the role of conformational dynamics, and the influence of water molecules. Through quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical …

A Strategy To Address The Challenges Of Intergenerational Conflict In The Haitian Churches At The Southeastern Conference In Florida, Nicolas Louis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Haitian churches in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) of Florida, are severely affected by intergenerational conflict, persisting between young people and adults who cannot get along. Churches affected by this misunderstanding are facing a loss of young people, particularly college-educated members and people with vocational skills. This conflict has touched entire congregations, decreasing growth numerically and financially. Between 2013 and 2018, there was a 60 percent decline in members with college degrees and vocational skills. This study analyzes this intergenerational conflict, which manifests in disagreements over leadership preferences and worship styles.

Method

To address this problem, I established a series …

Precedent Terms, Vincent Buccola, David A. Hoffman

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

An implicit binary underlies most academic thinking about commercial and corporate contracts. To judge from the theory literature, such agreements consist of just two kinds of terms: those that are negotiated and priced and those that are boilerplate. But on-the-ground realities don’t square with the picture of contract production that the standard assumption yields. That picture can’t easily explain, for example, why sophisticated parties regularly spend large sums quarreling over terms, nor is it compatible with commonly expressed attitudes of negotiating triumph or dismay.

This Article develops a new analytical category that can explain these and other empirical regularities and …

A Companion Guide To The Restatement Of Consumer Contracts, Oren Bar-Gill, Omri Ben-Shahar, Florencia Marotta-Wurgler

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

This short Essay, written by the Reporters of the recently published Restatement of Consumer Contracts, is intended as a companion to the Restatement. It highlights three areas, where the Reporters’ ambition was only partially reflected in the final version of the Restatement. The first was to ground the restated rules and principles in a systematic, empirical analysis of the entire body of consumer contracts cases. The second goal was to avoid an emphasis on disclosure mandates that have been shown to be unhelpful and even counter-productive. The third goal was to infuse the Restatement with social science realism, especially in …

Bankruptcy Minimalism, Douglas Baird

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

No abstract provided.