Digital Commons Network^™

Large Language Models Improve Readability Of Patient Education Materials On Vascular Conditions, Melissa Chen Xu, Nicola Habash, Justin Do, Jiaying Bi, Dawn Salvatore, Paul J Dimuzio, Michael Nooromid, Babak Abai

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Objective: Patient education materials frequently exceed the recommended sixth-grade reading level. Although large language models (LLMs) have shown inconsistent accuracy in medical query responses, they have demonstrated promise in simplifying complex text. This capability has not yet been studied in vascular patient education materials. This study evaluates whether ChatGPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro can improve the readability of Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) patient education flyers. Methods: SVS health flyers were selected based on five common vascular conditions: abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins. Each flyer was submitted to ChatGPT-4o and …

Las Pintas Inverview Project 2026, Beth Gulley, Luzma Alvarez, Lacey Andrews, Damien Duncan, Mariah Garman, Brenda Lofton, Alyssa Roland, Hero Sanner, Asja Thompson, Athena Gonzalez, Lee Martin, Samantha Miller, Lucy Sas

The Las Pintas Collection

Acknowledgements

Dear Reader,

This collection is the result of JCCC students’ efforts to reflect on the college’s decades long relationship with Centro Integral Comunitario (CIC) in Las Pintas, Mexico. Before they left on the trip, each student interviewed someone from JCCC who had traveled with the college to Las Pintas in the past. The first section of this book includes what students learned from their pre-departure interviews.

In the second part of this book, students wrote about what they learned from interviewing people who they met in Las Pintas. While these interviews were conducted in Spanish, the students wrote their …

Gun Violence Exposure And Gambling In Young Adults, Jadyn Torres

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Objectives: Problem gambling is a growing public health concern associated with emotional, financial, relational, and health harms. At the same time, exposure to violence among young people is increasing. Limited research has examined the relationship between witnessing gun violence and problem gambling, particularly among young adults. This study examines this association among young adults in Rhode Island. Methods: Data came from the 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (N=1,008) of individuals aged 18‚Äì25 years. Witnessing gun violence and problem gambling were assessed, with problem gambling measured using the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS). Multivariable logistic regression assessed main effects after …

Masculinity And Health In Lgbtq Young Adults, Hannah Pereira, Ruth Mckinnon

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

INTRO:‚ Restrictive masculinity norms, characterized by emotional suppression, dominance, and risk-taking, have been linked to adverse health among cisgender heterosexual men. Little is known about how RMNs operate among sexual and gender minority populations, particularly transgender young adults. METHODS: Data were from the 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a cross-sectional, web-based survey of adults aged 18-25 years. Analyses were restricted to SGM participants, with sub-analyses among transgender young adults. RMNs were measured using a 12-item questionnaire. Outcomes include alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, heroin use, intimate partner violence, problematic pornography use, and problem gambling. Modified Poisson regressions with …

Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In Immigrants, Maria Fana Mejia Bsc

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are severe or chronic stressors before age 18, including domestic violence, neglect, abuse, financial hardship, and parental separation (Loria & Caughy, 2018).

Research on ACEs in immigrants is limited, despite Latinx immigrant children being the fastest-growing child population in the U.S.

From Skeleton To Name: Profiling Cold Cases, Eddily Caridad Polanco

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This research examines how forensic investigators use skeletal remains to develop a biological profile that aids in identifying unknown individuals and advancing cold case investigations. A biological profile includes estimated sex, age-at-death, stature, and ancestry, which provide critical information that helps narrow potential matches among missing persons. This project will explore the forensic anthropology methos used to analyze skeletal indicators, estimate post-mortem intervals (PMI), and identify distinguishing skeletal traits. It will also examine the role of DNA recovery from bones and teeth, including how modern genetic comparison methods can confirm identity when traditional identification is not possible. In addition, the …

Effectiveness Of Social Media In Law Enforcement, Abigail O'Brien

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Over nearly three decades, social media has evolved from simple networking sites to a powerful communication and information-sharing tool with billions of users worldwide. The widespread use of social media has significantly transformed how law enforcement agencies interact with the public, particularly regarding crime prevention and criminal investigations. As social media gains relevance, law enforcement agencies have turned to these platforms as a means of connecting with their community. Additionally, agencies have begun to use these platforms as a tool for crime prevention and investigation support. This project examined the effectiveness of social media as a tool for law enforcement …

Linking Physical Evidence To Bryan Kohberger, Taylor Crowley

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project examines evidence from the criminal case of Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old male who murdered four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. The qualitative project utilizes online investigation documents, as well as court records, video footage from court hearings, and recent interviews with Kohberger's sister, along with past interviews with surviving roommates, to evaluate how the collected evidence was analyzed and presented in the case.

Building A Brand's Online Presence: Due Signori, Harper Ellis, Carmella Reed, Laura Romero

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Building their brand through one personal Facebook account and pure word of mouth, Due Signori had the goal of creating a professional online presence. Mike Morocco and Dan Bouchard share a passion for singing and performing, standing out from local competition by straying from traditional, formal performance tendencies and leaning into their charismatic and interactive ways. However, without access to popular online communities, growing a customer and fan base would have been increasingly difficult. The singing group had the choice between two different class-wide creative teams in charge of creating a social media and marketing plan for the brand to …

Feeding Futures: Jwu Vs. Student Food Insecurity, Ava Zajczenko

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

For my project, I am exploring the question: How does Johnson & Wales University combat food insecurity for its students on campus? I will be writing an action-based thesis paper that includes interviews with people on campus, such as dining staff, professors, and chefs. Along with this, I will use research from one of my classes and my experience volunteering with a nonprofit focused on food insecurity. Together, these sections will help me better understand what JWU is currently doing to address food insecurity as a whole, and what more can be done to close the gap on this issue …

Effects Of Academic Workload On Work-Life Balance, Haylee Canadas, Kara Zumbahlen, Sadie Lindgren, Elizabeth Kwak

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Origins and Importance: There is a significant gap in research regarding the toll of the workload assigned to students within specialized fields within the United States. These students have been found to have increased depression, anxiety, and burnout as well as decreased life satisfaction. This extends not only to physician assistants or medical students, but to students within many allied health fields. Positive occupational balance has been found to be associated with positive wellbeing. Dedicating research efforts to explore the work-life balance of health professional students will help students maintain their health and wellbeing as they become equipped to practice …

Supporting Successful Fieldwork Experiences, Gianna Pernicone Ots

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Fieldwork education is an essential component of professional preparation in OT. Educators play a critical role in supervising students, facilitating learning, and assessing competence. This scoping review synthesizes findings from multiple studies examining the preparation, experiences, challenges, and support needs of fieldwork educators when educating students of differing abilities across occupational therapy.

Job Readiness For Young Adults With Idd, Olivia Rousseau

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Young adults with disabilities want to gain employment but are much less likely to be employed than the general population, despite research showing that being employed increases the quality of life for this population. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to tackle this issue due to the unique skillset of helping individuals with disabilities do the things they want and need to do every day, which includes employment, assessing the work environment, and helping them gain the skills needed to become employed. This scoping review aims to answer this question: How does post-secondary skills training impact job-readiness for young adults with intellectual …

Implementation Of A Greenhouse Growing Method, Kheara Zito

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The Metcalf-Franklin Historic Community Garden is a volunteer driven farm in Cumberland, RI that grows fresh produce throughout the late spring and summer months. 100% of the food grown at the community garden is donated to the Rhode Island Food Bank and various different soup kitchens throughout the County. The intervention is to implement a greenhouse growing system to help lengthen the growing season throughout the winter months. This intervention can help aid in providing food insecure individuals with more fresh produce and nutrients throughout the entire year.

Health Assessment Of New York, Mukens Renfort

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Chronic disease continues to be a major contributor to illness and death in New York, with heart disease and cancer remaining the top causes of death statewide. New York‚Äôs diverse population faces ongoing disparities linked to poverty, racial inequities and rising substance, all of which contribute to the unequal health outcomes observed in New York. Surveillance data show an increase in chronic disease cases, higher rates of preventable conditions such as hypertension and cancer and continued concerns around opioid related incidences. Data from state surveillance systems and public health databases, including the New York Department of Health Leading Cause of …

Anorexia Nervosa In Epigenetics, Cassandra Pinkowski

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake leading to dangerous underweight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. AN symptoms and their related genes, as well as their transcription, can be explained by Epigenetics. AN is associated with nutrient deficiency, which causes hypermethylation of certain genes that cause common symptoms. Melanin-Concentrating hormone (MCH) binds to receptors in the brain that trigger expression of several genes, including both serotonin and oxytocin. When MCH is low, the genes responsible for appetite lowering, causing an individual to feel less hungry. High serotonin …

Healthy Starts: Cooking, Culture & Confidence, Lindsey Plumb

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Healthy Starts: Cooking, Culture, and Confidence for Healthier Families is a culturally tailored nutrition intervention designed for pediatric patients and caregivers served by the Nutrition Teaching Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. The program addresses high rates of childhood overweight and obesity, food insecurity, and low caregiver confidence in meal preparation among racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse families. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, Healthy Starts focuses on building practical cooking skills, nutrition knowledge, and self-efficacy through bilingual, hands-on cooking classes, family nutrition workshops, and peer support circles. Sessions emphasize preparing affordable, culturally familiar meals while accommodating religious …

Community Intervention: Cooking And Nutrition Education, Vanessa Mello

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

With my intervention, I hope to address the high rate of food insecurity amongst households with children (keiki) in Hawai`i. The target population are Native Hawaiians and marginalized communities that have long-term risk of developing CVD, hypertension, and T2DM (Hawaii Foodbank, 2024). This program will be an extension of the Food 4 Keiki program that distributes food to this population; however, with my program addition, it will promote self-efficacy by hosting community cooking classes and nutrition education events. This intervention incorporates elements of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to encourage observational learning that reflects these families‚Äô social and community needs. SCT‚Äôs …

Fall Outcomes Among Older Adults In Rhode Island, Samantha Bruno, Samaria Dalling, Steve Jacob

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Falls are a leading cause of injury, hospitalization, and death among older adults in Rhode Island. This analysis examines the burden of fall-related mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits among adults aged 65 and older, highlighting trends and opportunities for prevention and policy action. Data were obtained from the Rhode Island Department of Health, with population estimates sourced from the CDC WONDER Online Database based on the U.S. Census Bureau‚Äôs Blended Base. Fatal falls among older Rhode Islanders have increased each year, although the rate of increase has slowed. Adults aged 65 and older account for 87.9% of fatal falls, …

Insurance And Mental Health Across Various Groups, Samaria Dalling, Cierra Bradford

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project examined how health insurance status relates to anxiety, depression, and insomnia among young adults, and whether race/ethnicity and age moderate these relationships. Using data from the 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (RIYAS), the analysis included 1,008 participants ages 18–25 recruited through online ads, emails, and community flyers. Participants received a $10 gift card for completing the survey. Cross-sectional statistical analyses assessed associations between insurance status and mental health indicators, with moderation tests for race/ethnicity and age. Significance was determined at p< 0.05. The results showed that about one-quarter of the sample lacked health insurance, and most respondents were White, non-Hispanic, and 21 or older. Insurance status was not significantly associated with anxiety, depression, or insomnia overall. However, race/ethnicity significantly moderated the relationship between insomnia and insurance status, with the association becoming significant among individuals identifying as Mixed race or Other (x2=0.529, p=0.015). The project concluded that multiracial and Indigenous young adults may face heightened barriers to obtaining health insurance. These findings suggest the need for policy actions such as Medicaid expansion, strengthened public health programs, and clearer insurance enrollment processes to reduce inequities in access to coverage.

Ai Detection In Academic Writing: Evaluating Performance, Ashley Kulp, Ruth Mckinnon, Steve Jacob, Samantha Bruno, Marygrace Kasprzak, Shayanne Silva, Hannah Pereira, Miriam Liz Villa

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

AI-generated text is becoming increasingly common in educational and research settings, leading to a greater reliance on AI detection tools. While prior research has assessed the performance of AI detection tools, few studies have examined their performance at determining humanized and/or hybridized text This study intends to evaluate the accuracy of five publicly accessible AI detectors in distinguishing between human-written, AI-generated, humanized, and hybrid academic text. Discussion sections from 200 Alzheimer's disease research articles were collected. Of these articles, four versions were created: human only, AI only, humanoid, and hybrid (30% rewrite), resulting in 800 total samples. In the primary …

Changes In Gambling Behaviors Among Young Adults, Madalyn Lyons, Shayanne Silva, Jadyn Torres

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Background: Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, sports betting and mobile gambling have expanded rapidly across the United States. Young adults are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harms, yet state-level post-legalization surveillance data remain limited.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2022 (n=1,022) and 2024 (n=1,008) Rhode Island Young Adult Surveys were analyzed. Gambling behaviors and problem gambling (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) were compared across years. Multivariable logistic and Poisson regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sexual/gender status, and subjective social status.

Results: Overall gambling participation remained stable (40.6% in 2022 vs. 38.6% in 2024). However, among gamblers (n=803), participation increased …

Pregnancy Status, Depression, And Income Level, Sheriyah Hicks

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Previous research has examined the association between pregnancy status and mental health, with depression being prevalent among those who are pregnant. Similarly, research has also shows that those with lower socioeconomic status are at risk for depressive symptoms. This study fills a gap by examining whether pregnancy status among cis gendered women with low-income levels are at a greater risk for a depression diagnosis. To answer this research question, we utilized data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) using SPSS statistical software. A population of 235,893 respondents, self-identified as Female, were included in descriptive and chi-square analysis. …

Effect Of Play Environments On Social, Dory Stefanowicz Ots, Triana Newberg Ots, Makenna Sheehan Ots, Cianna Geni Ots, Aaron Fonseca Ots

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This study is a cross-sectional observational study that examines social participation during indoor and outdoor play among preschool-aged children. Thirty-minute video recordings will be collected three times a week over a four-week period, capturing both indoor and outdoor play of all preschool classroom participants that have signed the consent from one of the classrooms at the CDC. All data collection for the indoor play recordings will occur at the University of Rhode Island's Dr. Pat Feinstein Child Development Center (CDC) in their classrooms' play areas during free play time. For the outdoor play recordings, the classroom will be at their …

Nourish & Grow: Wic Family Cooking Program, Kelly Mccormick Bs

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project developed a practical nutrition education program for caregivers of infants and young children enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The goal was to increase confidence and skills related to preparing healthy, affordable meals using WIC-approved foods. The intervention focused on hands-on cooking demonstrations, simple meal planning and budgeting strategies, and culturally appropriate recipes designed for families with limited time and resources. The target population included low-income households experiencing food insecurity, diverse cultural backgrounds, and barriers such as limited transportation or access to fresh foods. A logic model was used to guide program planning, and evaluation …

Language Models For Enhanced Patient-Provider Communication: Methods, Measures, And Benchmarks, Joseph Gatto

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

In recent years, significant efforts have been made to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into healthcare. In this study, we explore how to improve patient-provider communication using LLMs --- with explicit focus on asynchronous communication through EHR-integrated web portals. Throughout this thesis, we describe three interconnected studies that allow us to adapt, train, and evaluate LLMs in asynchronous portal communications. The first study focuses on Patient Message Triage, which is the task of determining the medical urgency of patient-authored message content. We introduce a novel benchmark, alongside methods and training strategies producing a state-of-the-art and publicly available triage solution. Our …

University Of Richmond Magazine - Spring 2026

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

Bulletin 4936: Guidelines To Importing And Keeping Regulated Animals In Western Australia, Win Kirkpatrick

Bulletins 4000 -

Updated:

• January 2026 after a review of permit keeping conditions.
• December 2025 for transfer of restricted keeping bird permit business to DPIRD.

Introduced, exotic or alien animals are species that have been brought to a country or location where they do not occur naturally. (Hereafter referred to as introduced species). Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that are introduced or relocated to new areas often cause problems to agriculture, the environment and the community. Problems occur when introduced species:

• damage agricultural crops
• displace and compete with native animals and plants
• carry disease or parasites
• damage property
• cause land degradation
• have a …

Optimization Of A Group-Based Intervention For People Living With Severe Obesity (Progroup): Understanding Fidelity To Delivery And The Patient Experience, Lily Hawkins, Mark Tarrant, Shokraneh Moghadam, Dawn Swancutt, Rod Sheaff, Laura Hollands, Jonathan Pinkney, Jenny Lloyd

School of Psychology

Objectives: Understanding the fidelity of delivery of complex health behaviour interventions is crucial in determining their effectiveness and identifying aspects needing refinement. PROGROUP is a group-based intervention for people with severe obesity. It aims to promote a shared social identity to support behaviour change. Data from a feasibility randomized controlled trial (fRCT) were used to assess fidelity of intervention delivery and the impact on patient experiences, to optimize the intervention for a main trial. Methods: Data from 18 patient and five facilitator interviews, audio and video data of group sessions, two fidelity checklists, support calls and a group processes questionnaire …

“The True Me”: Unravelling The Dual Narrative Of Borderline Personality Disorder And Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Robin Iliffe-Lewis, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

Objectives: There is growing recognition that some individuals who receive a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are later diagnosed with autism. However, existing literature on this topic remains limited. This study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals diagnosed with BPD prior to autism, how they made sense of these diagnoses, navigated clinical systems, and learnt to manage the complex challenges associated with this diagnostic sequence.Methods: Thirteen (6 male, 6 female, 1 non-binary) adult participants took part in semi-structured interviews exploring their diagnostic journeys. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop a nuanced understanding of their experiences.Results: Three themes …