University of Massachusetts Boston

About: University of Massachusetts Boston is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 6541 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 411731 citations. The organization is also known as: UMass Boston.

Improving Youth Mentoring Interventions Through Research-based Practice

Abstract: Youth mentoring programs are in the limelight. Over three million young people have a Big Brother, a Big Sister, or a similar adult volunteer involved in their lives–a sixfold increase from just a decade ago–and generous federal funding continues to fuel new initiatives. This expansion speaks volumes about the faith our society places in one-on-one relationships between vulnerable young people and caring adults. But what do we know about the effectiveness of this intervention strategy? A better understanding of the research evidence for youth mentoring, including findings from reviews, evaluations, and meta-analyses, provides a basis for a more informed, practically applicable approach to strengthening youth mentoring interventions.

Electrically injected GeSn lasers on Si operating up to 100 K

Abstract: Monolithic lasers on Si have long been anticipated as an enabler of full photonic integration, and significant progress in GeSn material development shows promise for such laser devices. While there are many reports focused on optically pumped lasers, in this work, we demonstrate electrically injected GeSn lasers on Si. We grew a GeSn/SiGeSn heterostructure diode on a Si substrate in a ridge waveguide laser device and tested it under pulsed conditions, giving consideration to the structure design to enhance the carrier and optical confinement. The peak linewidth of 0.13 nm (0.06 meV) and injection current curves indicated lasing, which was observed up to 100 K with emission peaks at 2300 nm. We recorded a threshold of 598A/cm2 at 10 K. The peak power and external quantum efficiency were 2.7 mW/facet and 0.3%, respectively. The results indicate advances for group-IV-based lasers, which could serve as a promising route for laser integration on Si.

Caregiving and Volunteering: Are Private and Public Helping Behaviors Linked?

Abstract: Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between two forms of helping behavior among older adults—informal caregiving and formal volunteer activity. Methods. To evaluate our hypotheses, we employed Tobit regression models to analyze panel data from the first two waves of the Americans’ Changing Lives survey. Results. We found that older adult caregivers were more likely to be volunteers than noncaregivers. Caregivers who provided a relatively high number of caregiving hours annually reported a greater number of volunteer hours than did noncaregivers. Caregivers who provided care to nonrelatives were more likely than noncaregivers to be a volunteer and to volunteer more hours. Finally, caregivers were more likely than noncaregivers to be asked to volunteer. Discussion. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that caregivers are embedded in networks that provide them with more opportunities for volunteering. Additional research on the motivations for volunteering and greater attention to the context and hierarchy of caregiving and volunteering are needed.

Parent-Implemented Interventions for Young Children with Disabilities: A Review of Fidelity Features.

Abstract: The purpose of this review was to analyze fidelity features in parent-implemented interventions for young children with disabilities. The authors conducted a review of 24 studies published in nine peer-reviewed journals. Each identified article was scored on the following categories: the participant characteristics, settings, study design, independent variables, measurement of implementation and intervention fidelity, parent training components, dependent variables, social validity, overall outcomes, and study rigor. The results indicated that, although all studies described parent training components, few reported implementation fidelity. Across the studies trainers were most likely to use performance-based feedback and modeling to support parent implementation of the intervention. Although 20 studies used single-case design methodologies, only 2 studies met contemporary single-case research design standards. The authors provide an analysis of implications for future research related to supporting high-f...

Municipal Service Provision Choices within a Metropolitan Area

Abstract: The authors investigate the decision of municipal governments to out source the provision of public services during the 1980s and 1990s—a period of increased responsibility for municipalities. This study extends previous empirical work on outsourcing by distinguishing the type of outsourcing used (e.g., public, private, or other types of providers) and treating the out sourcing decision as a dynamic choice. Institutional characteristics and fiscal stress are found to play an important role in explaining service choices. Multinomial logistic regressions indicate that outsourcing was more common for poor cities than for wealthier ones, with the former often relying on government agencies and the latter opting for privatization. Throughout time, these choices are likely to reinforce interjurisdictional patterns of disparity in service quality and costs.