Digital Commons Network^™

Too Warm To Win Big? Unpacking The Backer Dynamics Behind Female Crowdfunding Success Using A Warmth And Competence Perspective, Dan Liu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While crowdfunding is often heralded as a democratized funding avenue that empowers women with higher success rates, this study reveals a more nuanced picture of gender dynamics. The Stereotype Content Model suggests that women are often perceived as warmer but less competent. Using a large dataset from Kickstarter, we find that female-led projects can attract more backers, likely due to warmth-driven appeal, but receive smaller average contributions, potentially due to concerns about risk linked to lower perceived competence. However, the total funding raised by female-led campaigns is comparable to that of male-led ones, showing no clear advantage or disadvantage. This …

Colorectal Cancer Screening In Saudi Arabia: Current Challenges And Future Directions, Abdulrahman A. Aljabri, Abdulrahman G. Alharbi

Saudi Medical Journal

Abstract Colorectal cancer has become a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia. It is the most prevalent cancer among men and the third most prevalent among women. Although screening for people aged 45-75 is recommended by national recommendations, screening uptake is still below 10%, and less than 1% of older persons have a colonoscopy. With regional differences that vary from age-standardized rates of 3.2 per 100,000 in Jouf to 21.8 per 100,000 in Riyadh among men, approximately 29% of cases are detected at late stages. Therefore, we assessed the epidemiological, social, and health-related systemic structures preventing effective colorectal cancer …

Prevalence Of Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Among Individuals With Celiac Disease In A Primary Care Setting In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mansour I. Alrasheed, Hussam Jnaid, Faisal K. Alrasheed, Tarfah R. Alsharidi, Abdulelah I. Alrasheed, Sarah A. Alobaid, Norah A. Sulaiman

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten consumption, leading to an immune response that damages the small intestine. Research shows a link between CD and autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD). This study seeks to determine the prevalence of AITD among adult and pediatric patients with CD in the primary care setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed electronic health records of individuals diagnosed with CD from January 2016 to December 2023 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Collected data encompassed patient demographics, diagnostic approaches, thyroid function assessments, thyroid autoantibody profiles, …

Potential Of Crispr/Cas9 Genome Engineering For Biofuel Production From Economically Relevant Algae, Sundram Kumar, Ankur J. Phillips, Bashir Adelodun, Francesco Di Maria, Suresh Sundaramurthy, Tarun Pal

Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre

The worldwide energy demand continues to rise, while reliance on fossil fuels remains unsustainable due to global warming, declining reserves and rising oil prices. This has intensified the search for renewable alternatives. Among these, microscopic algae have emerged as a promising feedstock for third-generation biofuels. Owing to their rapid biomass productivity, high lipid content and ability to generate diverse bioproducts, microalgae offer distinct advantages over terrestrial plants. Lipids derived from algae can be converted into biodiesel, while their biomass yields valuable co-products such as carbohydrates, proteins and polyunsatu- rated fatty acids (FAs). These attributes position algae as critical contributors to …

Metabolic Mind: A Critical Literature Review On The Influence Of Mindset On Metabolic Health, Jordan Daniel M.A., M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Evidence has demonstrated that psychological processes can influence metabolic functions, which are essential to overall health, as impaired energy metabolism can compromise physiological systems (Bobba-Alves N et al., 2022). Metabolic health is defined as a state of well-being characterized by optimal levels of blood glucose, lipids, cholesterol, blood pressure, and adiposity and is the absence of metabolic dysfunction, which encompasses but is not limited to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. A powerful psychological construct that has demonstrated its influence on health is a mindset. Defined as core beliefs or assumptions about oneself and the world, …

Evaluation Of A Nicotine Prevention Program In A Third Grade Classroom, Jennifer A. Pile

DNP Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase knowledge of nicotine products and promote negative perceptions of nicotine use among third-grade students through early prevention education.

Background: Prevention is key and to prevent nicotine use, there must be an educational program with that aim in a much younger population. Third grade encompasses 8-, 9-, and 10-year-olds. This group is in the middle childhood stage and begin more complex thinking and problem-solving skills. There is physical and emotional development among this group.

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study among third grade students in Breckinridge County Kentucky with pretest and …

Integrated Crop Management For Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Grain Production In Kentucky, Maria M. Ricciardi

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Cannabis sativa L. is legally defined (U.S.) as hemp if the total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration remains less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. Hemp can be produced for cannabinoid extraction, fiber, or grain. Hempseed meal and hempseed oil were approved as feed ingredients for chickens and performance horses in Kentucky. To leverage this opportunity, production requires improvement through an integrated crop management approach. This dissertation (1) reports the main arthropod and disease pests impacting hemp grain; (2) identifies grain yield components and their relationship with corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (CEW); (3) evaluates Fusarium head blight (FHB) development across …

Breeding For Fhb Resistance And Post-Harvest Quality In Soft Red Winter Wheat, Margaret E. Gillum

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is both an economically and nutritionally important crop in the global food supply. Despite its global importance, wheat is continually threatened by fungal diseases. Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a devastating fungal disease affecting wheat worldwide, resulting in low yields, reduced test weight and mycotoxin production. The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is toxic to humans, results in feed rejection in livestock, and is heavily monitored in the food supply. Because of wheat’s importance in the food system, post-harvest quality (milling, baking, and flavor) has been a growing area of …

Evaluating Spatial Variability Of Corn Yield Response To Phosphorus Fertilizer For Improved Precision Phosphorus Management, Jennifer Fridgen

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Soil scientists did not develop soil test-based fertilizer recommendations to support precision nutrient management. Knowledge of crop responses to applied essential nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), and the processes governing these responses at high spatial resolution are necessary to improve precision agronomic recommendations. This dissertation investigates the limitations of current soil sampling methodologies and recommendation frameworks for crop response to fertilizer, with particular emphasis on P fertility in Kentucky (KY) corn production. The first study examined the relationship between the resolution of systematic grid sampling and the spatial structure of soil test variables (Mehlich-3 P (M3P), Mehlich-3 potassium (M3K), and …

Just A Slip: Cognitive Distortions Associated With Lapse And Relapse In Recovery, Matthew Karr

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Substance use rates in the United States continue to rise despite low treatment utilization. Research has indicated the function of distorted patterns of thinking that can influence the relapse process. This study aimed to examine the relationships between relapse patterns, length of abstinence, and endorsed rates of cognitive distortions on the Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS). This study sought participants 18 years or older with a history of problematic substance use and substance use treatment within the past 2 years. Participants were recruited through social media sites. Proposed statistical analyses included Pearson’s product-moment correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate analysis …

2026 Jan Term Course Catalog, Saint Mary's College Of California

Jan Term Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

First Responders' Best Friends: A Mental Health And Trauma-Informed Care Program For First Responders, Jordan Postiglione

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

First responders experience consistent exposure to traumatic events in their day-to-day profession, placing them at increased risk for mental health challenges, including stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  The First Responder’s Best Friends doctoral capstone quality improvement project aimed to increase mental health and well-being in first responders as well as to bring awareness to the importance of mental health and the impact of trauma.  The capstone project consisted of three different areas of focus: program development and implementation, advocacy, and clinical practice skills.  Program development and implementation was a 12-week mental health program at the Kingston Fire …

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

All Faculty Scholarship

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 …

The Travelling Dancer: The Exploration Of Strength And Conditioning And Lifestyle Strategies To Mitigate The Risk Of Posterior Ankle Impingement Whilst Dancing Abroad, Emma Tucker

Theses : Honours

Ballet dancers commonly experience posterior ankle impingement (PAI), and while there is research regarding the biomechanical risk factors for PAI in ballet dancers, and mitigation and rehabilitation strategies for this type of injury, there is little research conducted surrounding further barriers posed by international travel. This study investigated the implications of international travel on the risk mitigation and rehabilitation of posterior ankle impingement in ballet dancers, exploring barriers posed by international travel to regular strength and conditioning and lifestyle practices. Three ballet dancers and two physiotherapists were interviewed and shared their lived experience with, or treating, posterior ankle impingement in …

Disproportionality: The Impact Identifying Students For Special Education, John M. Bradford

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the topic of disproportionality as it relates to the special education population. Disproportionality is an area of interest for this researcher, who wanted to explore and learn more about disproportionality, the true numbers behind it, the consequences of overrepresentation, and the consequences of our current system for addressing it. Some populations of students have been seemingly overidentified for special education, and current thinking suggests that these services may have negative consequences for the groups that are overidentified. Disproportionality data were reexamined, along with the concept of whether proportional representation in special education should be expected. Additionally, …

N Y State Dent J June 2026

The New York State Dental Journal

In the June/July 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• HIV Screenings in Dental Settings: Feasibility, Challenges and Opportunities
• Oral Myeloid Sarcoma
• Generational Differences in Dentistry and Dental Practice

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Disaster Risk Management During Climate Emergencies In The Dominican Republic And Puerto Rico, Rosleny Ubinas

Dissertations and Theses

This paper analyzes the DRM approach as an effective framework in addressing climate emergencies across the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. These two Caribbean regions, with high hurricane exposure and differing response structures, are deeply shaped by their governments and affiliated international organizations. Disaster Risk Management is the systematic process of using laws, plans, institutions, and community networks to reduce vulnerability to hazards and coordinate effective response when disasters occur. It covers the full cycle, from prevention to reconstruction and rebuilding more resiliently. The Dominican Republic’s law-based intervention led to greater local-level community participation during disasters with its embedded volunteer …

Establishing A Rigorous And Standardized Volunteer-Led Hypertension Screening Program: An Implementation Science Approach Using Cfir, Alexander Boakye

Public Health Theses

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition characterized by elevated blood pressure. It is a major risk factor for global cardiovascular disease-related illness and death [1]. Uncontrolled hypertension raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, stroke, and cognitive decline [2-4]. Although routine blood pressure screening, patient education, and early linkage to care are proven strategies for detecting and managing hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control rates remain suboptimal in the United States and worldwide [5,6]. Community-based hypertension programs involving trained non-clinical personnel have shown effectiveness in increasing screening participation and improving blood pressure control, especially among …

Dietary, Physical Activity, Mental Health And Substance Use Among Adolescents In American Samoa: A Cross-Sectional Study, Arwen Chen

Public Health Theses

Adolescent mental health is an important public health concern in American Samoa, but limited research has examined how modifiable health behaviors relate to mental health outcomes in this population. This cross-sectional study examined associations of dietary patterns, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, and physical activity with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and substance use among 449 high school students in American Samoa. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, substance use, diet, and physical activity were assessed using self-reported survey measures, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Adolescents (PHQ-9A), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) items, and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for …

Sex Differences In Metabolic Pathways Of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases, Yunhan Chen

Public Health Theses

Background: Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) is a major cause of death in colorectal cancer, and growing evidence suggests that sex may influence tumor biology and metabolism. However, sex-specific metabolic changes in CRLM remain poorly understood.Method: This study performed sex-stratified metabolomics analysis of CRLM tissue samples using datasets generated from HILIC and RPLC LC-MS acquisition modes. Differential metabolites were identified using Wilcoxon tests with FDR correction, and pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using MetaboAnalyst to compare shared and sex-specific metabolic patterns between male and female samples. Results: Both male and female CRLM samples showed metabolic alterations in shared pathways, including …

A Mendelian Randomization Study Of Maternal Thyroid Function And Cerebral Palsy, Yuewen Ge

Public Health Theses

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neuromotor disorder that is strongly associated with adverse perinatal conditions. Thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy was suggested to affect CP risk in a few cohort studies, but the evidence is not yet conclusive. We conducted a two-sample MR study to explore the effect of thyroid function on the risk of CP in offspring, and preterm birth as a potential mediator. Genetic instruments for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were obtained from a large European genome-wide association study (GWAS) by Sakaue et al. (2021), instruments for free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) were derived from the ThyroidOmics Consortium, and …

Water Resource Governance And Health Equity In Angola, Mads Harner

Public Health Theses

AbstractBackground: Angola is confronting a set of intertwined challenges including water insecurity, increasing climate variability, and deep structural inequality that together intensify the burden of waterborne and water-related diseases (Lombana Cordoba et al., 2021; World Health Organization, 2025). Roughly half of the population does not have reliable access to safe drinking water, and gaps in sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, especially in peri-urban and rural areas, facilitate the spread of illnesses such as cholera, diarrheal diseases, and malaria (UNICEF Angola, 2025; Moreira et al., 2012). These issues are further exacerbated by drought and broader climate variability, and underlying them are historical …

Indoor Environmental Quality Perceptions And Self-Reported Symptoms Among West Haven Va Healthcare Employees, Joseph Hyong Kim

Public Health Theses

Background: Indoor environmental quality in workplace settings influences worker well-being, yet the relationship between perceived workplace environment and reported symptoms remains less well characterized in heterogeneous healthcare settings. This study describes perceived workplace environmental quality and self-reported symptoms among employees at the West Haven Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted of VA employees across clinical and non-clinical roles to assess perceived work environment, symptoms and indoor exposures using an electronic survey and personal and area air monitoring of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and viruses. Perceived workplace environmental quality was assessed using the MM-40 …

Climate, Land Use, And Lyme Disease Risk In The United States, Mohan Li

Public Health Theses

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne bacterial infection in the United States. It remains an important public health concern due to its high disease burden, expanding geographic distribution, and complex transmission cycle. Climate change is frequently regarded as a driver of Lyme disease emergence, as many previous studies suggested. However, ongoing debate about the magnitude and mechanisms of climate effects complicates the interpretation of this relationship. This review synthesizes evidence on how climate influences Lyme disease through both direct and indirect pathways, with a focus on studies relevant to the United States and North America.Climate directly affects Lyme disease …

Optimizing Positivity Cutpoints Using Validated Assessment Tools For Osteoporosis And Sarcopenia In Aging People Living With Hiv In Peru, Joselito Malca Hernandez

Public Health Theses

AbstractBackground: People living with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, yet access to gold-standard diagnostic tools remains limited in many settings. Low-cost screening tools such as OST, SCORE, and SARC-F offer practical alternatives, but optimal cutpoints and their implications for clinical decision-making in PWH are not well defined.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 229 PWH aged ≥45 years receiving care in Lima, Peru. Osteoporosis was defined using DXA among postmenopausal women and men ≥50 years, and sarcopenia using AWGS-2019 and EWGSOP2 criteria. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of OST, SCORE, their …

Telehealth Adaptation Of Bright Bodies Program, A Pediatric Intensive Lifestyle Intervention For Obesity: Caregiver Experiences And Implications For Future Implementation, Xiayu "Katniss" Ni

Public Health Theses

Introduction: The Virtual Bright Bodies Program is a telehealth adaptation of Yale's evidence-based family-based intensive lifestyle intervention targeting pediatric obesity, delivered through video conferencing during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated caregiver experiences with the telehealth-adapted program among 25 caregivers of children aged 7-16 years who completed a post-program survey.

Method: Caregiver perceptions were assessed using the adapted Telehealth Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ, 13 items), the adapted Telemedicine Satisfaction and Usefulness Questionnaire (TSUQ, 4 items), and the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM, 4 items). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, followed by exploratory subgroup analyses examined whether acceptability …

Compromised Glutathione And Ascorbate Capacities Under Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, And Its Implications For Vulnerable Subpopulations, Reagan Strand

Public Health Theses

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains the leading preventable cause of lifelong neurodevelopmental impairment, yet the biological mechanisms underlying differential susceptibility remain poorly understood. The populations most vulnerable to PAE overlap substantially with those bearing the greatest burden of antioxidant insufficiency, including individuals experiencing food insecurity, environmental pollutant exposures, and alcohol use disorder, yet this convergence and its developmental consequences remain poorly characterized. This thesis investigates how dual antioxidant deficiency in both the dam and offspring modulates vulnerability to PAE using a compound heterozygous mouse model (GclmHET/GuloHET) that recapitulates reductions in antioxidants glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA, or Vitamin C) …

Modeling Pfoa And Pfos Infant Intake Through Breast Milk And Formula In The United States, Ka Hei Tang

Public Health Theses

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including PFOA and PFOS, may reach infants through breast milk and water used to reconstitute infant formula. However, current U.S. evidence is limited, and the absence of nationally representative breast milk PFAS data constrained estimation of early-life infant exposures.Methods: This thesis developed a state-level exposure modeling framework to estimate daily infant PFOA and PFOS intake across U.S. states at 3 and 6 months of age. Modeled intake included two feeding pathways, breast milk and formula-reconstitution water, using national maternal serum PFAS concentrations, state-level public drinking water PFAS concentrations, and infant feeding distributions. A total …

Trends And Prevalence Of Autism Among Asian American Subgroups In California, Qinyue Wang

Public Health Theses

AbstractBackground: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects a growing number of children in the United States (US), yet substantial heterogeneity in its remains poorly understood. While previous studies have identified racial and ethnic disparities in ASD prevalence, the Asian American population is frequently treated as a single, monolithic group. This aggregation masks critical variation across distinct Asian ethnic subgroups, potentially obscuring unique barriers to diagnosis and care. This analysis aimed to investigate trends in ASD by age 6 among seven distinct maternal Asian subgroups born between 2007 and 2015 in California and evaluate the influences from maternal demographic factors and neighborhood-level …

Assessing Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Healthcare Access Barriers To Identify Prevention Strategies Among Market Vendors In Uganda, Yumi Yang

Public Health Theses

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 10% of all deaths in Uganda, making it the leading cause of death among non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country. Across sub-Saharan Africa, urban market vendors serve as key participants in the informal workforce. Research from West Africa suggests that vendors, many of whom are women, are a vulnerable population with high prevalence of CVD risk factors and structural barriers to healthcare access. However, limited research has examined this population in East Africa, and the present study is the first to characterize 10-year CVD risk and assess healthcare barriers among market vendors in Uganda.Methods: …