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The Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Fertility and Reproductive Health
Get PDFEndocrine disruptors (EDs) are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals that interfere with hormones, which are the key molecules of the endocrine system by mimicking or blocking their effects. These endocrine disruptors have been shown to pose significant health threats. One of the most concerning health consequences derived from ED exposure is its adverse effects on reproductive health and fertility in women. Reproductive organs of females are susceptible to fertility issues, hormone imbalance, menstrual cycle abnormalities, and other negative effects when exposed to endocrine disruptors. Worryingly, exposure to EDs greatly increased as the production and use of plastic and pesticides increased and they can be found in a large array of items of everyday use. These harmful chemicals are found in plastic tupperware and plastic wraps, foods with pesticides, cosmetic products, toys, carpets, flame retardants, and fatty meats. This issue is of great public health importance as it is estimated that around ten percent of women of childbearing age around the globe suffer from endometriosis, and infertility globally affects around eight to twelve percent of couples of reproductive age, with females leading in rates of infertility2,4. It is vital to understand the long-term effects of endocrine disruptors on fertility and overall reproductive health as exposure to ED continues to become engrained in everyday life. This project will focus on conceptual models that will highlight the process of ED exposure and how it affects reproductive health for different populations, along with contemplating what interventions might be impactful in different stages.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1161/thumbnail.jp
Policy-Based Redactable Set Signatures
No full textA redactable set signature scheme is a signature scheme that allows a redactor, without possessing the signing key, to convert a signature on set S to a signature on set S\u27 if S\u27 ⊂ S. This paper introduces a new form of redactable set signature scheme called a policy-based redactable set signature scheme. These redactable set signatures allow for a signer to provide a redaction policy at signing time that limits the possible redactions that can be made by a redactor. In particular, a signature on set S can only be redacted to a signature on if S\u27 ⊂ S and P (S\u27) = 1
Enhanced construction project duration estimation using artificial neural networks: Initial design and planning stages
No full textBuilding Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity
Get PDFPresently in Massachusetts, one in three adults experience food insecurity. The problem is exacerbated by the high cost of living in the state, and its disproportionate effect on minority populations. To address these issues, this research has three major goals: 1) to educate community members working in the food insecurity field by providing a foundational understanding of the topic, 2) to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to network and meet others working in the field of food security, and 3) to share effective strategies for building strong, successful, sustainable partnerships and collaborations, which will create greater impact. For the purpose of this mixed-methods research approach, an in-person workshop titled “Building Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity in Chelmsford” was conducted in partnership
with the nonprofit Table of Plenty in Chelmsford, Inc. To evaluate effectiveness, a post- conference survey was used, along with observations of participants’ behaviors, questions, and discussions during workshop sessions. The results of this capstone helped identify the importance of providing ongoing opportunities for stakeholders to network to form collaborations that create greater impact when addressing food insecurity. It also drew attention to the need to make all community members aware of the issue and their part in finding solutions
Housing First: A Journey Towards Ending Homelessness in the U.S.
Get PDFHousing First is a model developed to address homelessness founded in the belief that housing is a basic human right; therefore, it does not require “housing readiness” when determining eligibility for housing. This capstone is a qualitative case study that aims to provide insight into the successes and challenges of utilizing the Housing First model. Five interviews were conducted with organizations across the United States who are effectively implementing the Housing First model in their programming. Key implementation themes were found across the interviews including individualized and client driven supports, the importance of wrap-around services, community partnerships and cross-agency collaboration, landlord engagement, and access to affordable housing and adequate funding. Despite systemic barriers to execution, the Housing First model has effectively helped communities decrease homelessness. Fidelity to the model and increased access to sustainable resources will allow for widespread implementation of Housing First
Built on Trust: Decolonizing Cultural Institutions through Organizational Partnerships
Get PDFThe focus of this capstone is on decolonizing cultural institutions through organizational partnerships in order to make recommendations to other organizations that wish to begin or continue this work. This capstone was a case study that invited seven nonprofit organizations to be interviewed virtually to discuss decolonial methods within their organizational partnerships. Interviews were conducted with cultural institutions and community organizations in the Northeast United States with aims to support the arts, education, community building, and environmental stewardship. This capstone found that cultural institutions with a desire to decolonize their body of work had to build trust with a community organization through individual relationships, self-reflection, and reevaluation of mission and values. This capstone also found that Black, Indigenous, Queer, and marginalized communities’ resiliency equips them for creating strong partnerships reinforced by decolonial methods. This study demonstrates how decolonizing cultural institutions can be achieved through thoughtful alignment of missions and by welcoming the possibility of operating outside of a capitalist system of perpetual production– in a new system founded in Indigenous worldview
Addressing the Federal Underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and its Impact on Urban School Districts
Get PDFUnderstanding the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities in vulnerable school districts prompted this scholarly policy review of the federal underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through discussion of the historical approach to educating students with disabilities that necessitated the passage of IDEA, to IDEA becoming a reality in theory but not in practice across the span of five decades is at the core of this policy impact report. Data informed research is discussed that points to the intersectionality of poverty and overidentification for special education services, while funding continues to lag from the federal government. Through this policy impact report, we intertwine distributive justice to highlight inequity in education driven by lawmakers, to the detriment of marginalized students with disabilities. This report is designed as a starting point for stakeholders to assess federal governance of special education policy and promote advocacy efforts to provoke meaningful reform
Student Motivation Questionnaire
Get PDFThis qualitative study examines what ninth graders at an urban high school report as motivators to learn. 72 ninth grade students from a large, urban and predominantly Hispanic high school completed an open prompt response to the question “What motivates you to learn?”
Additionally, students were given the option to answer what hinders their motivation if they were unable to respond to the first prompt. The data was categorized based on themes that emerged. Findings helped explore what students who are struggling academically report as motivators and how educators may be able to incorporate this feedback into practice.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1016/thumbnail.jp
The Neurodevelopmental Cost of Addiction: Parental Substance Use and Its Effects on Emotional Regulation and attachment in Children
Get PDFThis systematic literature review explores how parental substance use during early childhood (ages 0-5) influences emotional regulation and attachment development. Consistent and responsive caregiving is critical for fostering secure attachment, but parental substance use can disrupt this responsiveness. This review examines how inconsistent caregiving, neglect, and impaired emotional regulation contribute to the development of insecure attachment patterns, including avoidant, anxious, and disorganized attachment.The study also investigates how early attachment disruptions impact a child\u27s emotional regulation, potentially leading to heightened stress responses, difficulty with self-soothing, and increased risks of anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges. This review aims to bridge gaps in the literature and promote secure attachment and emotional resilience in children affected by parental substance usehttps://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1039/thumbnail.jp