Digital Commons Network^™

Myelink: A Potential Design To Treat Mld, Andrew Peet

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

After a great deal of research, I have designed a potential tissue to combat the affects of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) called Myelink. This tissue would be directly attached to the brainstem via internal implantation. In a similar style to a glucose monitor/pump it will secrete cells periodically (rather than insulin) directly into the blood stream on the upper spinal cord right outside the brain. This secretion would be developed based on the patient's fine and gross motor ability and decline, so that when a patient showed signs of neurodegeneration, the tissue would secrete specialized cells for a period of time. …

Playing The Man: The Age Old Struggle To Get Ahead, Emily Patenaude

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Lisa Gottlieb's Just One of the Guys is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It is a modern take on the story of a young woman who disguises herself as a young man to get a job. Each of their journeys is quite different, but they drive home the same point that sometimes, to get ahead in life, you just need to be a man. Interestingly enough, though Twelfth Night was likely written in 1601-1602, it has a more modern take on the fluidity of sexuality and gender identity than the movie produced in 1985. I find it quite …

Facilitating Return To Work And School Post-Stroke, Amber Brown

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Importance: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, and many working-age survivors desire to return to work or school, where participation is closely tied to identity, routine, and well-being. However, structured supports for return to work (RTW) and return to school (RTS) are often limited. Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify strategies and programs that facilitated RTW and RTS among adult stroke survivors. Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four academic databases: Academic Search Complete (EBSCO), Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and SAGE Journals. Study Selection and Data Collection: Peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 …

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.

Community Needs Assessment- Rhode Island, Joy Ilabija

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Rhode Island (RI) has been significantly impacted by the drug overdose epidemic, recording 3,800 overdose deaths between 2014 and 2024. RI's overdose death rate, 37.5 per 100,000, exceeds the national average (31.3 per 100,000). Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) increase vulnerability to opioid use disorder (OUD) for higher risk groups. The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) examined how SDOH (education, economic stability, healthcare access) influence OUD in RI. Data sources included the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Opioid Overdose Integrated Surveillance System, RIDOH's Opioid and Stimulant Use Data Hub, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and ten academic journals. …

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 …

Wic Gestational Diabetes Wellness Program, Anna Tobin

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

BACKGROUND: An average of 9% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes (GDM), with higher rates among individuals with food insecurity, including participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Uncontrolled GDM increases the risk for pregnancy complications and health risks for the mother and baby. GDM management requires education and lifestyle interventions. METHODS: First, a needs assessment was conducted for WIC participants to identify health risks and service gaps. Next, a logic model was used to identify resources/inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of potential nutrition programs. This information was used …

Oakley Home Access: Changing Homes Changes Lives, Grace Carolonza

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Older adults are challenged to safely remain in their homes, or, "age in place." Multi-level residences and lack of sturdy adaptive equipment can be unsupportive of activities of daily living (ADL) completion. This scoping review examines the effect of home modifications on improving people's quality of life (QoL) and ability to safely live in the community.

Keywords: QoL: an individual's impression of how well their place in life reflects personal goals, expectations, standards, and concerns (Khourieh et al., 2025)

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 …

Hallucinogen Use And Witnessing Community Violence, Euphoria Brown, Alejandra Marin, Brianna Weimert

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Current research shows that those who witness community violence (CV) at a young age have a higher likelihood of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) in their future compared to those who do not witness CV (Basedow et al., 2021). CV can include, but is not limited to, gang violence, terrorist attacks, shootings, robberies, and assaults that happen outside of the home. SUDs consist of a severe dependency on illicit substances, such as hallucinogens, opioids, alcohol, or other drugs. This study’s purpose is to examine the correlation between witnessing CV and use of hallucinogenic drugs and the development of hallucinogen-related …

Return To Occupations For Individuals With Sci, Emily Lieberman, Sara Brouillard, Meghan Dinsmore, Carlos Deus

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) experience challenges in their ability to participate in meaningful activities. OT researchers investigate interventions that will provide the best care to these individuals, but there is a lack of information on the effects of community-based interventions on their return to work or school. This scoping review aimed to explore the effects of community-based interventions on return to work or school in adults with SCI. A total of 8 articles were analyzed, and the results indicate that community-based interventions that utilize client-centered care, assistive technology, and contextual and client factors can increase positive RTW …

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 …

The Emergence Of The Dutch Republic As A Grand Tour Destination, Boele Van Oosten

MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design Dissertations

This dissertation examines the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a Grand Tour destination, tracing its foundations in the seventeenth century and its consolidation in the eighteenth century. Whilst traditional itineraries centred on encounters with classical antiquity and Renaissance art, the Republic attracted travellers through its financial stability, flourishing art market, renowned universities, and reputation for tolerance and modernity. These qualities offered visitors a distinctive intellectual and sociocultural experience that complemented, and at times rivalled, the established centres of the Grand Tour. This study addresses three interrelated themes: the Republic’s rise as a Grand Tour destination in its own right; …

Promise, Progress, Or Posturing? India And The Intellectual Property Chapter In The United Kingdom-India Comprehensive Economic And Trade Agreement, Pratyush Nath Upreti, Virender Chandel

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Infected Intra-Abdominal Hematoma Post-Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Mini Gastric Bypass: Case Report And Literature Review, Musa Machibya, Hellen Mram, Jackline Gabone, Ally Mwanga, Tanseer Asghar, Authar Ali

General Surgery, East Africa

Introduction: Laparoscopic one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is a widely performed bariatric procedure with favorable outcomes; however, it carries a risk of postoperative complications. An infected intra-abdominal hematoma is a rare but potentially serious complication, often presenting with nonspecific features that can delay diagnosis.

Case presentation: A 29-year-old female with class II obesity (BMI 36 kg/m2 ) underwent elective laparoscopic OAGB. The immediate postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged in stable condition. Eleven days later, she presented with fever and systemic symptoms without significant abdominal findings. Laboratory investigations suggested sepsis. Imaging revealed a large perigastric collection consistent with …

Reversible Hemi-Parkinsonism Syndrome Secondary To Bilateral Subdural Hematomas: Case Report And Literature Review, Musa Machibya, Godlove Mlay, Kelvin Sawe, Zainab Ali, Mugisha Clement, Philip Adebayo

General Surgery, East Africa

Introduction: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare but reversible cause of secondary parkinsonism. Bilateral CSDH presenting with unilateral parkinsonian features is exceptionally uncommon.

Case presentation: A 61-year-old male from Comoros developed a right-hand tremor, intermittent dystonia, and mild right-sided motor deficits months after a motor vehicle accident. Medical therapy was ineffective. Imaging revealed bilateral frontoparietal subdural collections with a right hematoma causing a midline shift. Bilateral burr-hole evacuation led to marked improvement, with the UPDRS Part III score improving from approximately 7 to 1–2 points and near-complete hematoma resolution on follow-up.

Discussion: This case demonstrates the variable …

Sae For All: Curriculum Guide, Emily Carpenter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a critical component of agricultural education, designed to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. The SAE for All model ensures that every student participates in meaningful experiential learning tailored to their interests and career goals. By integrating SAE into the curriculum, students develop technical skills, career readiness competencies, and an understanding of real-world agricultural applications. This guide includes a teaching plan and a comprehensive set of assignments.

A Publication Record Of Umb's Writ Large, Carston Anderson

The Watermark: A Journal of the Arts (1993-2014)

This is a publication record for UMass Boston's student journal Writ Large, which was succeeded by The Waterfront.

Reframing Faces: Brief Cognitive Restructuring And Emotion Recognition In Depression, Disha Sharma

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Commemoration Within Palestinian Refugee Camps: Knowledge Production And External Influence In Lebanon, Hope Lee

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Institutionalization Of Nuclear Sharing: A Happy Medium For Asymmetric Alliances, Masanao Goto

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Creative Nonfiction Story, Lee Gutkind

Literary History: The Creative Nonfiction Story

How a little magazine defied resistance and ridicule and helped launch the true-story revolution.

Biological Dental Hygiene: Principles, Educational Pathways, And Clinical Practice Considerations, Tara Newcomb

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Dental hygiene practice is rapidly evolving in response to emerging evidence on the oral–systemic health connection, advances in preventive technologies, and increased emphasis on individualized, minimally invasive care. A commitment to lifelong learning and continuing professional development is essential for maintaining clinical competence and integrating new scientific knowledge into practice. Biological dental hygiene has emerged as a complementary framework that emphasizes whole-body health, biocompatibility, reduction of toxic exposures, and prevention-centered care. This approach expands traditional dental hygiene practice by incorporating enhanced risk assessment, salivary diagnostics, targeted preventive strategies, as well as patient education focused on nutrition, inflammation reduction, and systemic …

Impact Of An Educational Video Intervention On Word Recognition And Vocabulary Knowledge Of Paediatric Dental Terms Among Low-Income Caregivers Of Youth Children, Melissa L. Sullivan, Denise C. Mckinney, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Deanne Shuman

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Objective

To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on paediatric dental term recognition and vocabulary knowledge among low-income caregivers of young children.

Methods

A randomized two-group pretest-posttest trial was used to analyze the impact of an educational intervention on caregivers' word recognition and vocabulary knowledge of paediatric dental terms. The study included 60 pregnant women and caregivers with children enrolled in a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in the Southeastern United States. Both groups received an educational pamphlet on children's oral health. The experimental group also received an educational video with common paediatric dental …

Leaning Into Absence: Lessons From Kony, Mark A. Drumbl

Scholarly Articles

This article begins with the confirmation of charges decisions undertaken by the International Criminal Court in the Kony case. These proceedings struggled with the reality of in absentia. This article addresses the high absentee rate among individuals against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants and notes the stark presence of absence in the ICC’s work as well as within the enforcement of international criminal law at large. This article suggests that international criminal lawyers lean into the prevalence of absence and reboot predominant collective thinking. One path forward is to truly and warmly embrace transitional …

Spiritual And Religious Lay Community Support For Informal Caregivers Of Adults At The End Of Life: A Literature Review, Rachel Lenko

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

• Informal caregivers of adults at the end of life often experience significant physical, psychological, and economic burden because of their caregiving and bereavement (Schulz et al., 2003; Skantharajah et al., 2022) 
• Prior evidence suggests that spirituality and/or religiosity contribute to positive religious coping and improved adjustment to bereavement (Damianakis et al., 2012; Stelzer et al., 2020) 
• Spiritual and religious communities often provide practical and social, in additional to spiritual/religious, support to their members 
• There is limited evidence describing practical and social support from spiritual/religious lay communities for informal caregivers of patients in the terminal phase of a disease

The Roadhouse And Mindful Alienation: On Fearlessly Losing Hope In Twin Peaks’ House Away From Home, Matthew C. Halteman

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The Roadhouse scenes in Twin Peaks: The Return resolutely defy the conventions of serial television drama. From showcasing interminable bouts of floor-sweeping, to featuring lengthy music videos by little-known acts, to lavishing attention on the trivial conversations of seemingly random people, these scenes give significant time and space to stuff you just don’t usually see in a tightly plotted series. I suggest that these unconventional scenes are a feature rather than a bug. I argue that the Roadhouse scenes in The Return offer a therapeutic opportunity for viewers to become well-practiced at coping mindfully with feelings of alienation that arise …

Leading The Way In Pediatric Oral Health Promotion, Denise C. Mckinney

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Dental hygienists promote oral health and provide preventive services to patients throughout their lifespan. The Commission on Dental Accreditation, Dental Hygiene Standards emphasize that graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for all patient populations, including children.¹ In fact, promoting pediatric oral health begins prior to birth with the expectant mother and/or caregiver. Oral health care to include education is essential during pregnancy; specifically, around the prevention and treatment of dental caries for the mother and the unborn child.² In the U.S., from 2013-2016, roughly 30% of women aged 20-44 years had untreated dental caries.³ Expectant mothers …

Privacy’S Autonomy Thicket: Disentangling Choice, Consent And Control, Jordan Francis, Woodrow Hartzog, Neil Richards

Faculty Scholarship

When it comes to talking about autonomy, privacy law could use a little clarity. Its discourse uses terms like “choice,” “consent,” and “control” to evoke autonomy, but these terms are too rarely defined and too often used interchangeably, even though they can mean very different things. The three terms have become entangled in a way that has become confusing and counterproductive. We call this problem “privacy’s autonomy thicket,” and it matters because it encourages talking past each other in policy debates, enabling the redefinition of these terms in misleading ways that produce weak and disempowering “notice and choice” regimes.

In …