Digital Commons Network^™

Colaborate: A Mixed-Methods Approach To Enabling Inclusive Dialogue Of Emotional Regulation Resources For Young Autistic Children, Sarai E. Deese

Senior Theses

Emotion regulation (ER) is a critical developmental milestone and is often delayed or more difficult for autistic children. Publicly available resources for birth-5-year-olds with autism could benefit significantly by integrating the values of and information provided by autistic adults. However, existing resources may have poor accessibility, acceptability, and feasibility according to different groups within the autism community, creating a significant gap in effective support. This mixed-methods study investigated ER experiences, resource knowledge, and resource desire among autistic adults (N=4; Stage 1) and caregivers of young autistic children (N=4; Stage 2) to inform the development of acceptable ER supports. In Stage …

Healthcare Informatics October 2025, Aga Khan University

Department of Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) Archives

• Message from the CMIO
• Update by Workgroup Leads
• AKUH-Karachi, OneHealth Activities
• Office of CMIO collaborate in Allied Health Conference
• Department Engagement
• SIMPACT 2025; The First Hour: Sepsis Simulation in an EHR-Driven Workflow
• Upcoming Event
• Academics Research Scholarship

“Contains: Gluten” And “Gluten Free”; Fda, It’S A No-Grainer!, Elizabeth Bulat

Cardozo Law Review

Reading food, drug, and cosmetic labels is a frequent practice for all individuals with allergies. However, unlike those who are allergic to peanuts, dairy, or another major food allergen, individuals with celiac disease (“celiac consumers”) are not offered a bold, capitalized statement clearly identifying the allergen they seek to avoid. Instead, celiac consumers are tasked with studying a list of ingredients and relying on their own ability to catch any sources of gluten. This Note considers the authority provided by Congress to the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remedy this rash regime. Then, this Note proposes that the …

Ccfan Brochure 2025, Joy Gagnon

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2025 Ccfan Accomplishments, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Taxes And Tournaments, Alex Raskolnikov

Faculty Scholarship

What is the best way to reduce economic inequality? Economists, lawyers, political philosophers, and politicians have pondered this question for decades. Yet there is another group of savvy and highly motivated individuals who have been thinking about redistribution for just as long. Commissioners of the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball, together with team owners and player unions, have been inventing and reinventing ways to redistribute resources, and they continue to do so today. The same is true of the President of National Collegiate Athletic Association, along with the heads of …

An Animal Interest Approach Method As A Gateway To A One Health Educated Pipeline, Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe, Sarah A. Reed, James N. Macleod, Rebekah B. Epps, J. Scott Radcliffe, Robert J. Coleman, Steven A. Zinn

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Food Insecurity And Social Connection Of Nicaraguan Refugees And Asylum Seekers In Costa Rica: A Qualitative Study, Keren Herran

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Given the physical and mental health consequences of food insecurity, solutions should be evidence-based and seek to prioritize vulnerable populations. This qualitative study adds to limited literature on how refugees and asylum seekers use their social connections to mitigate food insecurity by investigating how Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica foster social connections and use these connections to acquire and manage food.

Methods

In fall 2024, 35 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in San José, Costa Rica. Participants were recruited through six migrant-serving nonprofit organizations. For study inclusion, participants had to: 1) be 18 or older; 2) …

Identifying And Understanding The Barriers To Sexual Health Information Seeking Experienced By Young Adults (Ages 18-26) Using Social Media, Alexander Nicolas Vera

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses a qualitative, constructionist approach to examine the sociotechnical and cultural dynamics that shape digital sexual health-seeking practices of young adults. Guided by information practices and affordance theory, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and digital walkthroughs with 20 young adults (ages 18–26) from a convenience sample of young adults residing in South Carolina. Participants described how they use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit not only to locate information but to assess its trustworthiness, inclusivity, and personal relevance in real time. Through in-depth accounts and screen-based demonstrations via digital walkthroughs, the study examines how participants engage in …

Hungry Minds: Analyzing The Impact Of Food Insecurity And Food Assistance Programs On Neurocognitive Development And Childhood Mental Health, Kayla A. Davenport

Senior Theses

Introduction: Food insecurity affects millions of children in the United States and is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for poor nutritional intake and adverse health outcomes. However, less is known about how the experience of food insecurity disrupts healthy development and well-being, particularly among American youth. This thesis had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and children’s neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and (2) to evaluate how major food assistance programs address, or fail to address, these developmental risks.

Methods: This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating a narrative literature review, a cross-sectional …

Association Between Weight Stigma Experiences In Healthcare And Self-Reported Healthcare Avoidance In A National Sample., Kathleen M. Robinson, Aaron M. Scherer, Alithea N. Zorn, Michelle A. Mengeling, Helena Laroche

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: Although weight stigma in healthcare is common, existing measures may not capture the full range of patients' weight stigma experiences in clinical practice. We aimed to examine how physical examination by healthcare providers, communication, and the built environment perpetuate weight stigma and impact healthcare avoidance. Items from the previously developed Weight Stigma in Healthcare Inventory (WSHCI) were tested to assess weight stigma experiences and assess association with healthcare avoidance.

METHODS: Two sample groups, identified through ResearchMatch and a Qualtrics survey panel, completed the WSHCI online. We analyzed the association between individual items and healthcare avoidance, and between a summation …

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts As Mediators Of Tissue Microenvironment Remodeling In Cancer, Fernanda G Kugeratski, Emily J Kay, Sara Zanivan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a multifunctional cell population of solid tumors that substantially remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME). The combination of single-cell and spatial technologies with elegant mouse models and analysis of patient samples is enabling unprecedented advances in the characterization of CAF origins, heterogeneity, and functions within the TME. As such, the field is now evolving to delineate tissue-specific subpopulations of CAFs, their markers, and the biological context in which each subset presents with a tumor-promoting or a tumor-restraining function. In this timely review, we discuss recent advances in CAF biology in the context of emerging areas of interest …

Design Of A Maintenance Protocol Based On Bipolar Neutrosophic Analysis For Severe Depression, Karina Alejandra Álvarez Lino

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Severe depression has been one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and maintains a high risk of relapses even after successful treatment, especially in medium-sized cities in Latin America. Therefore, this study focused on the design of a clinical maintenance protocol based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), aimed at young adults residing in Ambato, Ecuador, who had previously received Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). To this end, a bipolar neutrosophic analysis of depression was conducted to determine the attributes that impact the identified patients and define the design of the proposal. The designed protocol was structured into eight group sessions, …

The Weight Of Stigma, Rebekah A. King, Michael S. Sinha

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

Many health care providers, both implicitly and explicitly, perpetuate stigma in their treatment of patients classified as obese. While medical professionals understand that a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment is ineffective, patients classified as obese are frequently offered limited treatment options that fail to account for their unique needs. Access to a range of effective treatment options has historically been limited, but new GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), have shown incredible promise in addressing the obesity crisis. Unfortunately, these transformative drugs are costly, in high demand, and not widely covered by insurance, rendering them inaccessible for …

Bridging The Rural Telehealth Divide, Deborah Farringer

Law Faculty Scholarship

This article examines the historical development, regulatory landscape, and post-pandemic future of telehealth in the United States, with a particular focus on its original purpose: improving access to care for rural populations. Although Congress first authorized Medicare reimbursement for telehealth in 1997 to alleviate rural health disparities, federal and state regulatory frameworks—especially restrictions on originating sites, licensure rules, and HIPAA-driven technology requirements—significantly limited adoption for more than two decades. The COVID-19 public health emergency triggered sweeping temporary waivers that removed geographic limitations, permitted the use of common communication technologies, liberalized supervision and prescribing rules, and allowed audio-only encounters. These changes …

Flies: Nature’S Hidden Helpers, A Science Literacy Project Exploring Beneficial And Pest Insects, Natalie Johnston

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A science literacy project for elementary learners exploring beneficial and pest insects with a focus on flies, nature's hidden helpers.

This project demonstrates that science literacy can be cultivated through experiential and interdisciplinary teaching. Future developments could include digital tools for compost monitoring, citizen science participation, or expanded studies of other decomposer species. Cross-curricular collaboration with language arts and art education can further strengthen the integration of creativity and evidence-based reasoning.

Ultimately, this work reaffirms that even small organisms—like flies—can inspire big learning outcomes. By integrating science literacy with sustainability education, we prepare students to think critically about ecological relationships …

Experimental Insights Into High Background Radiation: Reduced Cancer Risks In A Murine Model Study, S. M.J. Mortazavi, M. Arshadi, B. F. Baha'addini Baigy Zarandi, J. S. Welsh, H. Mozdarani, M. Haghani, N. Jooyan, S. Nematollahi, Negar Azarpira, Lembit Sihver

Informatics and Engineering Systems Faculty Publications

Background: Natural background radiation varies geographically and has potential implications for cancer development. High-level natural radiation areas (HLNRAs), like Ramsar, Iran, offer unique opportunities to study the biological effects of radiation exposure. This study investigates the relationship between high background radiation and tumor progression in a murine model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were exposed to varying levels of natural radiation (0.097 μSv/h to 9.24 μSv/h) for two months, simulating conditions in Ramsar. Mice were divided into four groups based on radiation intensity. After exposure, 1106 B16-F10 melanoma cells were injected subcutaneously, and tumor growth was monitored for 24 …

Institute For Global Health And Development : Issue 12 - October 2025, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Dr. Bhutta Awarded the Virchow Prize 2025 For Global Health
• Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Across the Prepare Pakistan Project – Promoting Climate Resilience, Pakistan’s High-Risk Districts
• Choice Project Dissemination Workshop Held in Accelerating Progress Towards Health and Health-Related SDGS Nairobi
• Farhana Tabassum Attends the Inauguration Of “Imagining Life” At the Climate Action Center, Karachi
• IGHD Participates in the Green Zameen Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Transition
• IGHD Team Leads Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analysis
• Empowering Research in Maternal Health Dr. Khadija Vadsaria Completes Her PhD at Aga Khan University
• Climate Change and Maternal Health Dr. Jai Das Featured in the Economist …

The Case For Using Student-Generated Goals To Cultivate Strong Readers, Heather Anne Wyman

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored how to motivate seventh-grade students to become stronger readers. I empowered my students by giving them the autonomy to set their own Lexile goals and develop plans to reach them, offering goal-setting lessons along with feedback and support. Students were motivated to meet the goals they created. Lexile assessment data from two benchmark periods enabled me to determine students’ growth, and survey and interview data helped me to determine their perceptions of their increase in self-efficacy and motivation to achieve. While most students did not meet their self-identified Lexile goals, most made academic progress, …

October 2025, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

• October is National Dental Hygiene Month!
• Reminder: YOGA class Oct. 14th for SWOSU employees
• Spooktacular Step Challenge
• Home Fire Safety
• Wellness Committee has three standing desks to loan out
• National Family Health Month
• Autumn Word Search

Effective Practices In Working With Academic Coaches, Tracia M. Forman, Jessica M. Sanchez

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

As online education grows, instructional teams with academic coaches have become increasingly valuable in higher education. Coaches play crucial roles in fostering student engagement, supporting active learning, and delivering timely feedback, particularly in large online courses. Recent mixed-method research examined effective coach integration into online instructional teams by analyzing faculty characteristics, behaviors, preferences, attitudes, and knowledge. The study identified successful strategies and best practices for faculty-coach collaboration, providing actionable insights for instructors. This research expands our understanding of how team-based approaches can enhance educational quality in virtual environments, contributing meaningfully to ongoing discussions about online teaching effectiveness and the strategic …

Ccfan Summer Meals Success Story, Joy Gagnon

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Carotenoids As Neuroprotective Agents In Multiple Sclerosis: Pathways, Mechanisms, And Clinical Prospects, Elham Nadimi, Shirin Jamal Omidi, Mahshad Ghasemi, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur, Aida Iraji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune andneurodegenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by demyelination and neuroinflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. The global incidence of MS is rising, demonstrating the necessity for new therapeutic agents against its complex pathophysiology. Carotenoids, naturally pigments with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective activities, have been recognized as promising candidates to target MS.The antioxidant effect of astaxanthin, lycopene, β-carotene, crocin, and lutein resulted from the deactivation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), preservation of mitochondrial integrity, and prevention of lipid peroxidation. Additionally, carotenoids regulate inflammatory pathways by suppressing NF-κB activation, …

Signs & Symbols, Fall 2025, Illinois State University, Department Of Sociology And Anthropology

Signs & Symbols

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Sociology and Anthropology. An email newsletter version of this document is available at https://web.archive.org/web/20260223203547/https://news.illinoisstate.edu/newsletters/signs-symbols-fall-25/.

Feasibility And Usage Of A Virtual Assistant Device In Cognitively Impaired Homebound Older Adults, Matthew Nunez, Prisha Patel, Lindsey Ulin, Leslie Kian, Martin Cominsky, Jason Burnett, Jessica L Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social technology in older adults can improve self-rated health; however, there can also be difficulties using it. Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device (VAD) use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults. 52 newly referred Meals on Wheels clients aged 60 and older were recruited for a three-phase study: 6 weeks of meals alone (control), followed by 6 weeks of meals+Alexa Echo Show 8 (AES8) basic usage, and lastly 6 weeks of meals+AES8 advanced usage. Technology acceptance with the AES8 was significantly higher by the end of the study and participants anecdotally enjoyed playing …

Effects Of Exercise On Inflammation In Female Survivors Of Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Francesco Bettariga, Dennis R. Taaffe, Anita Borsati, Alice Avancini, Sara Pilotto, Stefano G. Lazzarini, Pedro Lopez, Luca Maestroni, Umberto Crainich, John P. Campbell, Timothy D. Clay, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Despite advances in breast cancer treatment, recurrence remains common and contributes to higher mortality risk. Among the potential mechanisms, inflammation plays a key role in recurrence by promoting tumor progression. Exercise provides a wide array of health benefits and may reduce inflammation, potentially reducing mortality risk. However, the effects of exercise, including mode (ie, resistance training [RT], aerobic training [AT], and combined RT and AT) and program duration, on inflammatory biomarkers in breast cancer survivors remain to be elucidated. Methods: A systematic search was undertaken in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and CENTRAL in August 2024. Randomized controlled trials examining …

Rapid Discrimination Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis And Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Disease Via Interpretive Machine Learning Analysis Of Routine Laboratory Tests, Jia Wei Tang, Xue Song Xiong, Ting Ting Huang, Yu Lu Zhang, Lin Fei Yao, Wen Wen Zhang, Yun Yun Xie, Quan Fa Liang, Zhi Xuan Tan, Kun Jiang, Xin Liu, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives Rapid discrimination of infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is crucial in clinical settings. Despite overlapping clinical and radiological features, the two require markedly different therapeutic approaches and public health responses. Current laboratory methods are time-consuming and complex, underscoring the urgent need for a simple and efficient diagnostic tool to inform public health decision-making. Methods Demographic, haematological and biochemical data were collected from two hospitals in Jiangsu province, China, between December 2018 and October 2024. A total of 400 patients were included in the training cohort, with 66 patients used for external validation. Six machine …

Accelerating Precision Exercise Medicine In Cancer Patients Using Pooled Individual Patient Data: Polaris Experience, Laurien M. Buffart, Marlou Floor Kenkhuis, Robert U. Newton, Anne M. May, Daniel A. Galvão, Kerry S. Courneya

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Numerous exercise oncology trials have been completed, greatly informing exercise recommendations for patients with cancer. Exercise medicine can be administered in various types, doses, and schedules at various time points. Advancing precision exercise medicine requires understanding of how the effects of different exercise interventions vary by characteristics of individual patients. The Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study provides an international infrastructure and shared database to perform pooled analyses of individual patient data (IPD) from multiple randomized controlled trials. This commentary aims to highlight the value of pooled IPD analyses, summarize key findings from published pooled IPD analyses …

Co-Design Of A Weekly Meal Box For Neurological Conditions: Findings From Consumer And Healthcare Provider Collaborative Workshops, Joanna Rees, Kelly Moes, Amanda Devine, Melanie Clark, Ros Sambell, Simon Laws, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: This study explores the collaborative co-design process for developing a weekly meal box tailored for individuals with neurological conditions. Recognising the critical role of nutrition for this community, the research addresses the challenges posed by cognitive and physical impairments in meal preparation. Methods: Through two co-design workshops involving consumers, healthcare providers and industry experts, insights were gathered on dietary preferences, nutritional needs and practical challenges. Results: The workshops emphasised the importance of convenient, easy-to-prepare meals with simple instructions, flexibility and customisability. Consumers expressed preferences for convenient, easy-to-prepare meals with simple, easy-to-follow recipe instructions that align with optimal dietary patterns …

University Of San Diego Magazine Fall 2025, Publications Department

University of San Diego Magazine (1992- )

Beauty, Goodness and Truth; Dear Toreros; Around Alcalá Park; At The Edge of It All; Faith In Action; Torero Spotlight; Torero Athletics; Toreros Making Waves; In Memoriam; Leading With Love