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Mental Health in Adult Oncology Patients
No full textAdults with cancer suffer from mental challenges that frequently go under diagnosed and under treated (Fernando et al., 2023). This can lead to lower quality of life, resulting in reduced adherence to treatment, more frequent hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and increased mortality rates (Matthews et al., 2025). There are currently no policies on mental health screening for adult oncology patients at every outpatient appointment. By consistently utilizing standardized screening tools such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 during all oncology appointments, this can close the gap in policy to address mental health needs of these individuals. It is vital to construct and enforce policy requiring all outpatient oncology providers to screen cancer patients for mental health disorders at every visit to ensure appropriate treatment and improved outcomes
How What We Feel Is Associated With What We Hear Early In Development: The Role Of Vision In Audio-Tactile Association
No full textSound-shape correspondences, also known as bouba-kiki effect, is the preferential mapping of nonsense sound like “baluma” to rounded abstract shapes while mapping nonsense sound like “takete” to spiky abstract shapes. Such association was seen for auditory and visual stimuli (AV), and auditory and tactile stimuli, which are touched but not seen (AT). Literature comparing typically-developing and early-blind adults showed AT association differ as a function of level of visual experience, and similar finding was also found comparing typically-developing adult and children. Specifically, typically-developing younger children benefited from prior AV experience of abstract shapes and nonsense sounds. While these findings suggest that vision may play an important role in the AT association in typically-developing younger children, limited works have focused on the specific factors prior visual experience contributing to the change in the strength of AT association. Current dissertation seeks to understand how prior visual experience potentially alters the haptic processing, thus influencing the AT association strength in typically-developing 6- to 8-years-old. First, I examined how 6- to 8-years-old children’s AT association change as a function of the amount and the type of prior experience (N = 183), and the result showed that AT associations strength differ as a function of the amount of prior visual experience, and this effect could not be found with repeated AT test trials. More of select non-visual prior experience highlighting the contour spikiness of the abstract shapes could yield strengthened AT association, but this effect is not as robust as prior visual experience. Then, I assessed how prior visual experience influence the haptic exploration of shape objects felt by hand but not seen in 6- to 8-years-old (N = 90), and the result showed that prior visual experience influences the efficiency of haptic exploration strategy during AT association task, and similar effect was found in participants with more versus less prior visual experiences. Lastly, I focused on the possibility of AT association circumventing the visual translation of haptic inputs by exploring the AT association between nonsense sounds and abstract objects with varied surface texture in 6- to 8-years-old. Through a series of experiment (N = 117), I did not find evidence of AT sound-texture association in early development. Taken together, my work has not only reinforced the idea that vision played an important role in AT association in early development but also contributed to the understanding of haptic processing of abstract objects in a multisensory context
Change in Community Composition and Structure on Subtidal Rock Walls in the Gulf of Maine over Four Decades of Warming
No full textThe Gulf of Maine (GOM) has faced many changes over the last 47 years from overfishing of its iconic cod fish stocks to the introduction on non-native species, but no change has been as dramatic as the warming ocean temperatures that began to increase rapidly in the 2010s. This thermal shift is due largely to the northward movement of the Gulf Stream current mixing with Arctic meltwater before entering the GOM. Average summer temperatures jumped by 3.35°C between the periods of 1980-1985 and 2015-2020. This warming trend, combined with an increasing frequency of marine heat wave events, has led to a ramp up in the metabolic demands of one of the GOMs primary grazers, the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Warming in the GOM has also led to temporal turnover in species richness as cold and cool-affinity species largely decline. We also find that warming in the GOM does not increase in parallel with depth and that our deepest sites are warming faster than our shallower sites. This unequal warming led to a shift in some warm-adapted species moving into deeper, slightly colder water to avoid warming surface waters, while cold-adapted species are faced with local extinction. Together this study aims to understand the dynamics of change on subtidal rock walls in the GOM by examining community-level responses to warming ocean temperatures
The strange made beautiful, the beautiful made strange: Dime museums, freak shows, and the Circassian Beauty in 19th-century American popular culture
No full textIn the fall of 1864, the infamous showman P. T. Barnum premiered a new human oddity exhibit at his American Museum in New York City. Unlike most of the other freak performers there, there was nothing inherently extraordinary about the body of the woman who he introduced as “Zalumma Agra, the Star of the East.” Instead, she had intentionally teased her hair into a mane of curls unfashionable and uncommon for Caucasian women, and dressed in a costume meant to evoke Turkish or more broadly Near Eastern aesthetics. To explain and elevate her unusual appearance, Barnum (or another of the museum’s impresarios) spun a tale for their audience of a noble people’s flight from foreign invasion, a young girl’s sale into sexual slavery, and ultimately her rescue by a representative of the American Museum itself.
This act, introduced by Barnum and Zalumma Agra, would be widely copied by other museums and itinerant performers across the United States through the 1880s. As a group, these performers are known as Circassian Beauties. This thesis addresses the character whom each of these women played, the singular Circassian Beauty, as a fictional construct representative of the time and place for which she was developed. Drawing on numerous interdisciplinary fields, I explore how the Circassian Beauty narrative embeds contemporary nineteenth-century values and anxieties within elements of classic and popular American literature; the design of her physical appearance and visual presentation, in the context of contemporary popular entertainments; the audience that her act was intended to appeal to, and the audience reaction she was intended to create; and the nature of the museum space which was uniquely able to introduce and support such a dialectically complex character
The state of Latino-Serving Community-Based Organizations in Massachusetts
Full text linkMassachusetts has a diverse Latino population with large numbers of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Mexicans. Nearly a third (32%) of the Latino population is foreign-born. Of this foreign-born population, 61% are not U.S. citizens. Nearly 210,000 Latino children are enrolled in K-12 schools. Of the Latino population over age five who speak Spanish in the home, 33% have limited English proficiency. Among the adult population, 28% have less than a high school education, and 60% are in the labor force.3 The varied needs of this population require a strong ecosystem of local organizations that provide services to support the development needs of Latinos across the state. As a result, this report introduces a significant expansion to understand the complete level of available resources to Latinos in the Commonwealth. The earlier report confined itself to non-profit organizations as defined below, whereas the present study includes a wider range of organizations, as signified by the following set of definitions and by Table 1
Addressing Workplace Violence Directed at Nurses in an Acute Care Medical Facility Through an Enhanced Multidisciplinary Huddle
Full text linkAbstract
Background: Healthcare workers are at increased risk of violence directed at them. Approximately three-quarters of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses related to violence were incurred by healthcare workers. Given this, the aim of this project was to decrease the frequency of workplace violence events directed at nurses and increasing the staff nurse’s perception of unit-based safety.
Local Problem: At the large academic medical center where the project was implemented, NDNQI quality data indicated a higher rate of assaults (per 1,000 care hours in a hospital with greater than 500 beds) than the national average (0.12 vs. 0.07 respectively).
Methods: A PRISMA guided systematic review of the literature was completed to determine what strategies have been shown to decrease patient/family/visitor assaults, or violence directed toward nurses in an acute care medical facility. The project was guided by the Middle-Range Theory of Nurses’ Psychological Trauma to inform a response to workplace violence in the project setting. Rapid change cycles (Plan-Do-Study-Act) along with Kotter’s Eight Step Change model were used to drive the process change at the project site.
Intervention: Over a 12-week implementation period, Police and Security were integrated into a multidisciplinary unit-based safety huddle on an adult general medicine unit. The safety huddle occurred daily, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Staff nurses and Police and Security received education and training related to the safety huddle structure and the process of logging completion of the unit-based safety huddle.
Evaluation: The quality improvement project was evaluated for success using a pre-and-post project implementation unit-based staff survey. Hospital NDNQI and safety reporting data was used to assess frequency of nurse assaults pre and post project implementation.
Results: Pre-post survey results indicated that six of the seven aims of the project were fully or partially met. The perception of nursing staff about the safety culture improved and staff reported increased confidence in their ability to identify patients/families/visitors at risk for workplace violence directed at nurses and were more confident in their ability to escalate concerns related to workplace violence to hospital resources.
Conclusion: This project demonstrated that an enhanced multidisciplinary safety huddle that included members of Police and Security resulted in positive change. Increased opportunities for dialogue related to workplace violence and safety, paired with further opportunities to collaborate and partner resulted in positive changes and improvement in staff nurses’ perception of unit safety. Aligning with the goals of the institution, the project provided a proactive approach to safety and workplace violence prevention and management
DEVELOPING A SMART FISH SMOKING TECHNOLOGY FOR CATFISH AQUACULTURE IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA
No full textMy dissertation investigates the development of a smart fish smoking technology for catfish aquaculture in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, focusing on the challenges and limitations of current traditional smoking methods. Fish smoking is a key preservation technique in the region due to the absence of cold storage facilities, yet it poses significant health and environmental risks, such as exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and excessive wood usage. This study uses a Needs Assessment Research (NAR) methodology, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data from key informants (KIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore the perceptions of stakeholders, including fish farmers, processors, and policymakers.
Through extensive fieldwork in Ekpan, Warri, Delta State, the research identifies key barriers to adopting new technologies and highlights the desire for a safer, faster, and more user-friendly fish smoking method. The dissertation proposes a hybrid smoking technology combining solar and biomass components, aiming to reduce health risks, lower environmental impact, and improve product quality and profitability. Laboratory testing of the technology confirms compliance with EU safety standards and indicates market potential based on consumer preference for a specific smoking duration. Despite higher initial costs, the new hybrid smoker is shown to be economically viable in the long term.
The study concludes with recommendations for stakeholder collaboration, training programs, and policy support to facilitate the adoption of this technology, contributing to sustainable development in Nigeria’s fishery sector and improving the livelihoods of fish processors, especially women
IRAQ-GCC RELATIONS: BALANCING DIPLOMACY AMID SECTARIAN DIVIDES POST-2003
No full textABSTRACT
IRAQ-GCC RELATIONS:
BALANCING DIPLOMACY AMID SECTARIAN DIVIDES POST-2003
May 2025
Firmesk Othman Rahim, B.A., University of Sulaimani
M.A, University of Sulaimani
M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston
Directed by Professor Stacy VanDeveer
This paper explores the evolving relationship between Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) after the fall of Saddam Hussein regime. It highlights the complex relationship of diplomacy, sectarianism, and regional geopolitics between the two and the region. The paper aims to answer the question of “how has sectarian-based politics shaped the diplomatic relationships between Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council Post-2003?” the aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of Iraq’s new political engagement with the GCC amid the rise of new power in Iraq and the region.
The paper adopts a qualitative research approach to analyze Iraq\u27s diplomatic engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council across successive Iraqi governments following 2003. It draws upon a diverse range of sources, including official statements by Iraqi and GCC officials, documentation from diplomatic meetings, interviews with key political figures and analysts, as well as reports from credible media outlets.
The paper concludes that sectarianism has played a significant role in shaping GCC–Iraq diplomatic relations, particularly in the years following the 2003 regime change. It was one key reason for the initial hesitation of GCC, especially from influential states like Saudi Arabia, to immediately reestablish full diplomatic ties was the perception of a Shia-dominated political order in Iraq. The instrumentalization of sectarianism was especially evident during the first decade after 2003, influencing both rhetoric and policy. Although its impact continues to shape aspects of the relationship today, but growing economic cooperation has begun to ease tensions, offering a more constructive framework for engagement and regional reintegration
Creating Family Flow by Participating in the Reflective Practice of Exercise with Family Members
Full text linkThis synthesis project explores how families can use shared exercise and reflective practice to cultivate lifelong learning habits and deepen family connection. Anchored in the fields of critical and creative thinking, the work integrates concepts of metacognition, flow, and personal mastery to examine how structured, intentional routines can foster both individual growth and relational attunement. The author documents a series of weekly exercise sessions undertaken with her co-parent and child at a local training facility. Drawing from theories of action research, reflective practice (Schön, Brookfield), and flow (Csikszentmihalyi), the project combines personal observation, scholarly frameworks, and course-based learning to construct a flexible model of family-based engagement. What began as a simple goal—to prioritize health and routine—evolved into a sustained inquiry into the developmental potential of shared practices. The synthesis offers practical insight into how families might use low-stakes, collaborative activities as a site for learning, connection, and habit formation. While deeply personal in origin, the project speaks to a broader audience of caregivers, educators, and practitioners interested in applying reflective strategies to family life. It highlights how flow states can emerge from ordinary routines, especially when supported by mindful reflection and shared purpose. The project ultimately affirms that lifelong learning is not only an individual pursuit but also a collaborative, evolving practice grounded in presence, structure, and co-creation
Becoming a Bridge of Collaboration: How Being Supports Doing Within the HELP Model of Leadership
Full text linkThis synthesis project introduces the HELP Model—Humility, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Service, and Psychological Safety—as a developmental framework for sustainable leadership rooted in character formation and relational trust. It asserts that credible and effective leadership begins with inner orientation before it can be embodied as consistent, ethical action in the world. Through integration of leadership theory, developmental psychology, and theology, the project critiques conventional, strategy-driven paradigms of organizational well-being. HELP extends Robert Kegan’s framework to include relational and spiritual dimensions of the leader’s individual growth as necessary conditions for fostering organizational collaboration. Drawing on reflective inquiry and practice-based insight, the project examines how each HELP capacity can be cultivated in complex organizational environments to support a culture of trust, resilience, and ethical integrity. Rather than treating leadership as a fixed role or position, the synthesis approaches it as a relational vocation—calling leaders to become bridges across divides of culture, function, and hierarchy. The project is especially relevant to professionals navigating mission-driven and public sector contexts, where high complexity and competing demands challenge traditional approaches to authority. By articulating the inner conditions that foster sustainable leadership from the inside out, the project invites readers to consider not only what leaders do, but who they are becoming in the process