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.

The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mental and Physical Health of Low-Income Parents in New Orleans

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to document changes in mental and physical health among 392 low-income parents exposed to Hurricane Katrina and to explore how hurricane-related stressors and loss relate to post-Katrina well-being. The prevalence of probable serious mental illness doubled, and nearly half of the respondents exhibited probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Higher levels of hurricane-related loss and stressors were generally associated with worse health outcomes, controlling for baseline sociodemographic and health measures. Higher baseline resources predicted fewer hurricane-associated stressors, but the consequences of stressors and loss were similar regardless of baseline resources. Adverse health consequences of Hurricane Katrina persisted for a year or more and were most severe for those experiencing the most stressors and loss. Long-term health and mental health services are needed for low-income disaster survivors, especially those who experience disaster-related stressors and loss.

Multicast with proactive forward error correction

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multicasting blocks of data to a plurality of receivers, the blocks including a first block and a second block, the first block comprising k1≧1 data packets, the transmission of the first block comprising an initial transmission of the k1 data packets and h1≧repair packets and one or more subsequent transmissions of additional repair packets in response to repair requests, wherein any k1 of the data packets and repair packets provide sufficient information to recover the k1 data packets; and multicasting a second block comprising k2≧1 data packets, the transmission of the second block comprising an initial transmission of the k2 data packets and h2≧repair packets, wherein any k2 of the data packets and the repair packets of the second block provide sufficient information to recover the k2 data packets of the second block and either or both k2 and h2 differ from k1 and h1, respectively. The invention provides multicast data transmission with adaptive proactive forward error correction (FEC) in combination with automatic repair requesting (ARQ), and reduces response feedback implosion in multicast over digital packet networks.

Engineering Design‐Based Science, Science Content Performance, and Science Attitudes in Elementary School

Abstract: Background New learning standards call for engineering instruction to be incorporated into elementary education, yet engineering experiences must not detract from quality science instruction. Previous research at the secondary level has found engineering design to be a supportive context for science learning. Designing functional artifacts may ground children's exploration of scientific concepts; engineering design may contextualize science learning. Purpose Our research investigated whether an engineering design-based curriculum changed elementary student science attitudes and science content knowledge in four domains. Design/Method In the first year of the efficacy study, 12 elementary teachers taught science with their school or district's status quo curriculum. In the second year, they taught the same science content with a new engineering design-based curriculum that incorporated LEGO™ design challenges. In both years, students completed pre- and post-tests on science content and attitudinal surveys. Results The increase in science content performance from pre- to post-test was significantly greater for the LEGO engineering students than for the status quo students, but there was minimal difference in the science attitudes of the two student groups. Conclusions The findings suggest that engineering design-based science curriculum units may support elementary students' science content knowledge, while helping students learn to design, construct, and test solutions to engineering problems. Because students using either curriculum had similarly positive attitudes toward science, our research suggests that the benefit of engineering design for science learning cannot be attributed simply to the positive science attitudes that may result from the use of novel materials or methods.

Information System Assurance for Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: Unique Risk Considerations

Abstract: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems inherently present unique risks due to tightly linked interdependencies of business processes, relational databases, and process reengineering. Knowledge of such risks is important in planning and conducting assurance engagements of the reliability of these complex computer systems. Yet, there is little empirical evidence on this issue. To examine this topic, a semi‐structured interview study was conducted with 30 experienced information systems auditors (from 3 of the Big 5 firms) who specialize in assessing risks for ERP systems. This approach allowed us to obtain detailed information about participants' views and client experiences. The results indicate that the implementation process of ERP systems has an important impact on system reliability. Further, interviewees identified a number of common implementation problems (e.g., improperly trained personnel and inadequate process reengineering efforts) that result in heightened risks. Interviewees also reported ...