Digital Commons Network^™

2026 March 11 - Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes, Undergraduate Curriculum Council, East Tennessee State University

Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Rates Of Adult Obesity In The United States Through Childhood Education And Exercise, Ameer M. Abdelkrim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obesity is a growing national public health crisis, impacting millions of adults and children in the U.S. Untreated obesity causes or aggravates diseases across multiple body systems. The societal impacts of obesity include an avoidable strain on the national healthcare system, with obesity and its comorbid conditions raising healthcare costs. Proactive policy and practices, with strict oversight, are essential for achieving a reduction in obesity rates. One proactive strategy that may be effective is early-age intervention, including enhanced physical activity and nutrition education for U.S. children. This study evaluates adolescent-intervention strategies for reducing rates of adult obesity. The employed methods …

Teachers' Lived Experiences Addressing The Benefits And Challenges Of Screen Based Technology Use In The Classroom: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Amanda M. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher explored Title I elementary school teachers’ lived experiences in addressing the challenges and benefits of screen based technology (SBT) use in classroom spaces. Guided by Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural learning theory, a transcendental phenomenological approach was utilized by the researcher to explore the unique nuances of different learning spaces, buildings, and educational contexts. As SBT has become indispensable to modern education practitioners, teachers must balance the benefits to student learning with screen fatigue, reduced interpersonal interaction, and access disparities. The central research question states: How do Title I elementary school teachers describe their lived experiences in addressing SBT use …

Agreement Of Chatgpt With Clinical Practice Guidelines For Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment, Alessandra N. Garcia, Brian Neville, Bradley Myers, Lori Leineke, Karlyn Green

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This cross-sectional study evaluated whether Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O provide treatment information consistent with high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: High-quality CPGs published in the past decade were identified via PubMed and PEDro, with the search updated on November 11, 2024. Guidelines were appraised using the AGREE II tool. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O were queried with common treatment-related questions, and their responses were compared to CPG recommendations. Two independent reviewers conducted a thematic content analysis of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O responses using a deductive–inductive codebook, iteratively refined through consensus, to identify major themes/subthemes, …

Health Professional Students' Experiences With Gender-Identity Inclusive Content In The Classroom And Supervised Clinical Learning, Perry Xinyi Zhang, Aria Grabowski, Olivia S. Anderson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Gender-identity diverse populations have unique healthcare needs, but they experience stigmatization leading to negative health outcomes. Healthcare professionals have reported obstacles to delivering affirming care to gender-identity diverse patients due to limited training. We assessed how health profession students encounter gender-identity content and how students’ perceived preparedness to provide care for gender-identity diverse populations. Methods: A survey distributed to students enrolled in health professional programs at a large mid-western university included close-ended questions about exposure to gender-identity diverse curricular content in didactic and supervised clinical settings and perceived preparedness to work with gender-identity diverse populations. Open-ended questions asked what …

March 3, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Muscular Fitness Levels Of U.S. Children And Adolescents, Daniel J. Mcdonough, Yong Gao, Lynda B. Ransdell, Haichun Sun

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To describe muscular fitness (MF) levels and percentile benchmarks among U.S. children and adolescents aged 6–15 years old across sociodemographic, physiological, and behavioral subgroups. Methods: Data were from the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS). Four strength tests consisting of the plank, knee extension, modified pull-up, and handgrip, were analyzed by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, BMI category, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and physical activity (PA) among 1,234 participants (51% male) using SAS SURVEY procedures. Results: Mean ± SEM scores were 69.6 ± 1.8 s (plank), 56.6 ± 4.2 lb (left) and 59.2 ± 4.3 lb (right) knee extension, 5.5 …

The Need For Developing Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy Education, Dustin Cox

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Chronic pain presents a multifaceted challenge for healthcare providers, often impacting patients' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Research indicates that individuals with chronic pain process pain through emotional and reward pathways in the brain, underscoring the need for integrative treatment approaches. Evidence supports the effectiveness of combining psychological interventions with physical rehabilitation to improve outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy, has shown promise in addressing the psychological dimensions of chronic pain. However, physical therapists often lack formal training in ACT. This study protocol was designed to explore effective methods for educating physical therapists in ACT principles …

Provost’S Scholarly Dissemination Report: Une Authored Publications November 1, 2025, Through January 31, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost, Sonya Durney

UNE Provost's Reports

Scholarly dissemination report of UNE-authored publications during the period of November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, March 2026.

Provost’S Media Report October 10, 2025 – February 15, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Report of UNE media appearances during the period of October 10, 2025 through February 15, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, March 2026.

Bullying And Discrimination Experiences Of Bhutanese College Students: Prevalence, Impacts, And Responses, Kezang Sherab, John Howard

Journal of Global Education and Research

Prior studies as well as media reports have identified bullying and discrimination amongst Bhutanese school and college students as a cause of concern, especially so for a nation with Gross National Happiness as its goal. Bullying and discrimination are associated with negative outcomes and can impact overall well-being. This quantitative study examined bullying and discrimination amongst college students (n = 16) in Bhutan through a self-administered online survey to a representative sample of 2043 (male = 40.8%; female = 55.8%). There was a non-significant decline from the 2016 survey in the reported prevalence of being bullied (from 45.2% to …

Substance Use Stigma: Examining The Role Of Social Work Education., Eboni Burton

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

This study explored the extent of substance use related stigma among social work students and professionals (i.e., BSW, MSW, PHD and DSW) and its relationship to specialized education/training in substance use and professional practice with people who use drugs (PWUD)/live with a substance use disorder (PWSUD). Stigma was measured using the Opening Minds Provider Attitudes Toward Opioid Use Scale and the Medical Condition Regard Scale. The final sample size was 263. Results indicate that current enrollment in a social work program, post degree or non-curriculum related substance use related training, and personal and professional experience with substance use specifically, mitigate …

Undergraduate Health And Wellbeing Course And Study Away Program To Alaska, Lorraine S. Wallace, Steven J. Mousetes, Jennifer Bickley

Journal of Global Education and Research

High-impact practices, such as diversity/global education, have been shown to positively contribute to student development, engagement, and success. As the US is both culturally and linguistically diverse, domestic study away programs can offer students impactful multicultural educational experiences without leaving the country. The purpose of this study was to describe the design of a health and well-being academic course and accompanying study away program to Alaska for undergraduates at The Ohio State University (OSU). The authors (1) describe the application of the backward design process in guiding ELOs development, (2) provide a sample of course assignments and student responses, and …

Disease Detectives: An Exploration Of Foodborne Epidemiology Activities, Dr. Zachary Conley

Professional Learning Day

An interactive workshop presenting lessons utilizing inquiry-based and problem-centered learning to introduce basic concepts of epidemiology. In particular participants will engage in group discussion and interactive elements to explore foodborne illnesses and the science used to track them. Our hope is to present lessons, which in addition to sharpening scientific skills will present unique career pathways to students.

Cultural Science Night, Jiyoon Yoon

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

This book is to learn water and weather by integrating with other cultures. This textbook is organized around two interconnected components. The first component provides cultural knowledge of China, India, Korea, and Mexico. The second component focuses on culturally responsive science instruction created for the Cultural Science Night event, an occasion in which teachers present hands-on, culturally responsive science activities in collaboration with students.

If you need an accessibility accommodation or have questions about the use of this text, please contact Mavs Open Press.

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Examining The Impact Of Young Children’S Motor Development On Inhibitory Control And Social Skills, Ali S. Brian, Shea E. Ferguson, Angie Starrett, Emily Kallis, J. Ross Ramsey

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Understanding how motor and cognitive development may contribute to prosocial behavior is essential for supporting whole-child development in early learning settings. Early childhood education settings are well-positioned to address these concerns through integrated approaches that support the whole child. Research exploring the mechanisms that link developmental domains remains limited, especially regarding how motor development may influence social outcomes through cognitive processes such as inhibitory control. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether gains in motor skills were associated with prosocial behaviors indirectly through improvements in inhibitory control. Methods: Preschoolers (N = 238; Mage = 66.61, SD …

Examining The Impact Of Young Children’S Motor Development On Inhibitory Control And Social Skills, Ali S. Brian Ph.D., Shea E. Ferguson, Angie Starrett Ph.D., Emily Kallis, J. Ross Ramsey

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Understanding how motor and cognitive development may contribute to prosocial behavior is essential for supporting whole-child development in early learning settings. Early childhood education settings are well-positioned to address these concerns through integrated approaches that support the whole child. Research exploring the mechanisms that link developmental domains remains limited, especially regarding how motor development may influence social outcomes through cognitive processes such as inhibitory control. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether gains in motor skills were associated with prosocial behaviors indirectly through improvements in inhibitory control. Methods: Preschoolers (N = 238; Mage = 66.61, SD …

Inter-Rater Reliability Of Manual Waist Circumference And Agreement With Dxa-Derived Waist In Male Collegiate Rugby Players, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Waist circumference (WC) is a low-cost surrogate of central adiposity, but measurement error can limit athlete monitoring. PURPOSE: Evaluate inter-rater reliability of manual WC and agreement with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived WC in male collegiate rugby players. METHODS: Twenty-one male collegiate rugby players completed baseline testing (manual WC and DXA completed same day) following an overnight fast and euhydration. Two trained raters independently measured WC on bare skin at the superior border of the iliac crest (site not pre-marked) using a seca 201 measurement tape, with participants standing feet together and arms relaxed at their sides; the tape was verified …

Associations Between Dxa-Derived Trunk Adiposity And Resting Hemodynamics In Male Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes, Adesiji Adetona, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Trunk adiposity is a cardiometabolic risk factor that may relate to resting hemodynamics even in young athletic populations. PURPOSE: To examine associations between DXA-derived trunk percent fat and resting heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in male collegiate rugby union athletes. METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby athletes completed morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) following ≥12 h fast and post-void, with stimulants (including caffeine) restricted ≥12 h and no exercise ≥24 h. Hydration was screened using urine specific gravity (USG; CLINITEK Status+ with Multistix 10 SG) and urine color (clear yellow). Whole-body DXA (Hologic Horizon W; APEX v5.6.1.3 rev 007) provided trunk …

Comparison Of Dxa-Derived Body Volume Estimation Equations (Wilson Vs Smith-Ryan) In Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes, Jmya Hughes, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Accurate estimation of body volume (BV) is required for multicomponent body composition models. PURPOSE: Compare two published DXA-derived BV equations (Wilson vs Smith-Ryan) using whole-body Hologic DXA tissue masses in collegiate rugby union athletes. METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby union athletes underwent whole-body DXA (Hologic Horizon W; APEX v5.6.1.3 Rev 007; Classic calibration [NHANES BCA disabled]; standard tissue analysis; daily QC within tolerance) during morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) while fasted and post-void; caffeine was avoided (≥12 h) and exercise was avoided (≥24 h). Hydration was assessed prior to scanning via urine specific gravity (Siemens CLINITEK Status+; Multistix 10 SG) and urine …

Agreement Of Seca 286 Scale Weight With Dxa Acquisition Weight, Apex Soft-Tissue Mass, And Dxa Sum-Of-Components Mass In Collegiate Rugby Athletes, Matthew Poole, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Accurate body mass is foundational for DXA-derived indices and longitudinal tracking. PURPOSE: Determine agreement between Seca 286 scale weight and DXA acquisition weight, quantify the difference between DXA acquisition weight and the APEX whole-body mass field (fat + lean), and evaluate a DXA sum-of-components mass (fat + lean + BMC) relative to scale weight as an internal QC check (Houtkooper et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2000). METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby union athletes completed same-morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) while fasted and post-void; caffeine was restricted (≥12 h) and exercise abstained (≥24 h). Hydration was screened prior to DXA. Body mass …

Aerobic Capacity And Maximal Work Performance In Firefighters: The Role Of Age And Body Composition In Occupational Health Risk, Payton E. Miller, Michael Conner, Grant M. Tinsley, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christine M. Florez, Carina M. Velasquez, Kelly Hines, Jacob A. Mota

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Firefighting requires repeated bouts of high-intensity physical work performed under extreme environmental conditions, placing substantial strain on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of on-duty firefighter fatalities, with the majority of deaths occurring among firefighters aged 40 years and older. Physiological characteristics such as age and body composition influence aerobic capacity and maximal work performance, both of which are critical and essential while performing strenuous operations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine how age, sex, and body composition affect aerobic capacity (VO_2peak) and maximal work capacity (W_{max …}

The Effect Of 8-Weeks Of Exercise Training On Metabolic Health And Continuous Glucose Monitoring Metrics Among Insulin Sensitive And Resistant Adults, Joshua Labadah, Adrian Ordaz, Seyram Azagloh, Richard Vazquez, Jehu N. Apaflo, Sudip Bajpeyi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

An elevated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.5 is commonly used to classify insulin resistance (IR). IR is a well-established precursor to the development of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Exercise is a well-established intervention for the improvement of metabolic health but the comparison of the effect of exercise among IR and insulin sensitive (IS) non-diabetic adults with the use continuous glucose monitoring has not been adequately studied.  PURPOSE: To determine if non-diabetic individuals with insulin resistance have attenuated improvement in exercise-induced improvement in metabolic health and CGM metrics of glycemic control in comparison to …

Neuromuscular And Body Composition Associations With Estradiol Throughout The Lifespan, Braden A. Wright, Tomas Chapman-Lopez, Micheal Luera, Jaci Kelly, Christine M. Florez, Lem Taylor, Darryn Willoughby, Mandy E. Parra

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have sought to understand estradiol withdrawal throughout the female lifecycle and its role in the brain and cognitive function, while little is known about its specific role at the neuromuscular junction and body composition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine estradiol as a predictor of DXA- derived fat-free mass (FFM), lower body muscle quality (MQ), total fat mass (FM), and maximal muscle activation (EMG_RMS). METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from an existing data set using a cross-sectional design of eleven untrained women (pre-menopausal, n=6; age=23.3±4.3 years; height=160.6±8.3 cm; weight=60.5±11.6 kg; …

Delay In Increased Muscle Cross Sectional Area After Muscle Damage While Dehydrated, Sarah Walper, Casey Appell, Trinity Domonkos, Karina Olvera, Seth Bernardino, Jalyn Dunlap, Larry Munger, Hui-Ying Luk

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

When muscles are damaged, the tears in the muscle fibers triggers an immune response and muscles experience inflammation. Inflammation increases WBC in the muscles to repair the micro tears. Muscle inflammation can be assessed by measuring the cross-sectional area (CSA) via ultrasound images. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of hydration status during recovery on muscle swelling after muscle damaging exercise. METHODS: Six recreationally active men (19 ± 1yr, 169.8 ± 8.3cm, 79.5 ± 11.7kg, Lean mass 58.6 ± 13.0kg, %body fat 28.3 ± 6.5%) completed two bouts of an identical muscle damaging exercise (DAM-EX) under a hydrated state and underwent …

Surviving The Cure: Modeling The Long-Term Consequences Of Chemotherapy, Rachel R. Chiella, Jaden Wells, Sajedeh B. Tabrizi, Savannah V. Rauschendorfer, Cory Dungan, Michael P. Wiggs

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Due to advances in treatment protocols, survival rates for childhood cancers have improved significantly over the past several decades, with five-year survival now reaching 85%. However, survivorship often comes at a cost, as exposure to intensive chemotherapy impairs skeletal muscle health, reducing quality of life and increasing the risk of early mortality. The CHOP regimen, comprising cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, is a backbone combination used in the treatment of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Previous data from our lab demonstrates that CHOP causes acute and reductions in growth and muscle size in juvenile mice, yet data on long-term outcomes remain limited. …

Effects Of Nasal Breathing Exercise On Systemic And Cellular Inflammatory Biomarkers, Tesleem Imran, Minh Quan Le, Brady Johnson, Jose M. Moris, Yunsuk Koh

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Effective inflammatory control is required to maintain proper immune function and health. While nasal breathing (NB) is recognized for its respiratory and cognitive benefits, its influence on immune regulation remains unclear. PURPOSE: The current study examined the effects of acute and chronic NB exercise on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS: Twenty-two sedentary men (age=21.55±2.58 years, height=180.98±7.89 cm, and weight=86.81±14.33 kg) were randomly assigned to either the NB (N=11) or combined breathing group (CB, N=11). Participants performed aerobic exercise on a recumbent cycle at a moderate intensity (70% VO₂max) for 4 …

The Metabolic Cost Of Three Different Modes Of Interval Exercise Versus Continuous Running, Kyle R. Brelsford, Enrrique Reyes, Austin Dunn, James Rowe

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Our lab has previously reported that Tabata performed with body calisthenics expends less energy when performed at the same intensity and duration as interval running and continuous running and that EPOC and energy expenditure (EE) during recovery were similar between these 3 exercises.  How EE and EPOC would respond to interval resistance exercise remains unclear.  PURPOSE: Compare the metabolic response to 4 exercise bouts when performed at a self-selected pace. METHODS: Active men (n=6) and women (n=4) performed 4 separate exercise bouts in a counterbalanced order: total body Tabata (TBT), treadmill running Tabata (TRT), continuous running (CONT) and interval resistance …

Caloric Misperception Of Unhealthy Foods As An Independent Determinant Of Visceral Adiposity, Grecia V. Morales, Cristina Grana Gedrange, Camila Guadiana, Marcela Guadiana, Samantha Martinez, Jose M. Moris

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Understanding the interplay between physiological markers and cognitive-behavioral traits is essential to identifying pathological contributors to adiposity. Poor health literacy, specifically the inability to gauge energy intake, is linked to maladaptive dietary behaviors, potentially exacerbating the accumulation of body fat percentage (BF%) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and the perceived inaccuracy of food caloric content predict BF% and VAT in young women. METHODS: Nineteen young women (20.1 ± 0.9 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition (BF%, VAT) was assessed via Bioelectrical Impedance …