Digital Commons Network^™

Plastics, Microplastics, And The Gut Microbiome: Restoring Scientific Communication To Fight For Public Health, Benjamin Sanders '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Over the course of eight years from 2016 to 2024, a study by Nature Medicine found that the concentration of plastics in the brain increased by 50%. Even samples from patients with a documented dementia diagnosis showed a greater accumulation of microplastics (Nihart, 2025). In one of the most protected regions of our body, microplastics have made themselves known. In one of the most exposed regions of the human body, the story is no different. With the emergence of gut microbiome science and understanding, researchers are just beginning to discover the unique interplay between the microbiota of our gastrointestinal tract …

The Influence Of Lower-Body Explosive Power, Speed, And Eye-Foot Coordination On Long Jump Performance: A Path Analysis Study, Alwi Fahruzy Nasution, Imanuddin Siregar

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Long jump performance is influenced by various physical and coordinative components, particularly lower-body explosive power, running speed, and eye-foot coordination. However, limited studies have simultaneously examined the predictive relationships among these variables using a path analysis model among university students in physical education programs. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the direct and indirect predictive relationships among lower-body explosive power, speed, eye-foot coordination, and long jump performance. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design with path analysis. The sample consisted of 30 students selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected using standardized physical performance tests, …

Global Trends And Research Directions Of Augmented Reality In Sports: A Bibliometric And Scoping Review, Novri Gazali, Ahmad Rahmadani, Romi Cendra, M. Fransazeli Makorohim, Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali, Joseph Lobo, Edi Setiawan

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Advances in digital technology have accelerated the adoption of augmented reality (AR) in sports, enhancing training quality, performance analysis, and learning experiences. However, comprehensive studies that systematically map global research trends and sport-specific applications remain limited. Objective: This study aims to analyze global trends and applications of augmented reality (AR) in sports using a mixed-method approach combining bibliometric analysis and a scoping review. Methods: Bibliographic data were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, covering the period 2016–2025. Following a PRISMA-ScR-based selection process, a total of 520 articles were included. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer and …

Fast-Food Consumption And Metabolic Syndrome Risk In African Children And Adolescents, Norkinsha Willis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity and excessive fast-food intake represent a significant public health concern among African American children. Grounded in the social-ecological model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study examined whether frequency of fast-food or pizza meal consumption and reliance on low-cost food was associated with total cholesterol (mg/dL) and waist circumference among African American children and adolescents aged 6–15 years while controlling for key sociodemographic factors (age, gender, parental education status, and annual household income). Secondary data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N=184). Descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze …

Good Neighbor Physician Gives Distinguished Service To Fsu, Kathy Whitlock

Documents

DR. T.L. Bennett, Jr. and his service to the university as university physician--The Flor-Ala

Roy Stevens Hall Dedicated, Vincent Toney

Documents

Dedication of the Education/Nursing building as Roy Stevens Hall--The TimesDaily

A Blueprint For Success, Una Publications Office

Documents

Brochure for the Education-Nursing Building at UNA

Lgr5: From Stem Cell Marker To Therapeutic Target, Peyton C High, Maya G Cappellino, Tiffani A Blackburn, Kendra S Carmon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is an established marker of normal and cancer stemlike cells. LGR5 has been implicated in promoting cancer cell plasticity that drives tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. LGR5 rapidly and constitutively internalizes and potentiates Wnt (Wingless/Int-1)/β-catenin and adhesion signaling pathways, though its precise mechanisms and interacting partners remain unresolved. An improved understanding of LGR5 signaling may provide invaluable insight into its intricate and important functions in cancer progression. Moreover, several LGR5-targeting therapies, including peptibody- and antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies, are showing promising efficacy and tolerability in colorectal cancer and other tumor types. This …

Analysis Of Stance Position On The Accuracy Of Forehand And Backhand Strokes In Beginner Table Tennis Players, Azzahra Julia Putri Anjani, Mochamad Yamin Saputra, Geraldi Novian

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: This study was motivated by the low accuracy of forehand and backhand strokes among beginner table tennis players, which is due to unstable stance positions and poor balance during ball striking. Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between stance position and the accuracy of forehand and backhand strokes among beginner table tennis players. Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational design with 7 beginner table tennis athletes. The research instruments were forehand and backhand accuracy tests using the multiball method and stance position analysis through video recordings, analyzed using the Kinovea application. Data analysis was performed using …

Development And Evaluation Of An Iot-Based Data Analytics System For Optimizing Football Learning In Higher Education, M. Said Zainuddin, Sudirman Sudirman, Ahmad Zakaria

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: While smart technology and big data have advanced, football instruction at Indonesian universities lags. Most local classrooms lack high-tech tools, presenting an opportunity to modernize sports science. Objective: This research aimed to develop an IoT-based system and analytics platform for higher education, equipping students and coaches with data-driven insights for modern football training. Methods: Conducted at Universitas Negeri Makassar over five months (August–December), the study followed a Research and Development approach with six phases: needs analysis, design, development, expert validation, field trials, and effectiveness evaluation. Participants included Physical Education students divided into experimental (IoT system) and control (traditional methods) …

Mondo: Integrating Disease Terminology Across Communities, Nicole A Vasilevsky, Sabrina Toro, Nicolas Matentzoglu, Joseph E Flack, Kathleen R Mullen, Harshad Hegde, Sarah Gehrke, Patricia L Whetzel, Yousif Shwetar, Nomi L Harris, Mee S Ngu, Gioconda L Alyea, Megan S Kane, Paola Roncaglia, Eric Sid, Courtney L Thaxton, Valerie Wood, Roshini S Abraham, Maria Isabel Achatz, Pamela Ajuyah, Joanna S Amberger, Lawrence Babb, Jasmine Baker, James P Balhoff, Jonathan S Berg, Amol Bhalla, Xavier Bofill-De Ros, Ian R Braun, Eleanor C Broeren, Blake K Byer, Alicia B Byrne, Tiffany J Callahan, Leigh C Carmody, Lauren E Chan, Amanda R Clause, Julie S Cohen, Marcello Deluca, Natalie T Deuitch, May Flowers, Jamie Fraser, Toyofumi Fujiwara, Vanessa Gitau, Jennifer L Goldstein, Dylan Gration, Tudor Groza, Benjamin M Gyori, William Hankey, Jason A Hilton, Daniel S Himmelstein, Stephanie S Hong, Charles T Hoyt, Robert Huether, Eric Hurwitz, Julius O B Jacobsen, Atsuo Kikuchi, Sebastian Köhler, Daniel R Korn, David Lagorce, Bryan J Laraway, Jane Y Li, Adriana J Malheiro, James Mclaughlin, Birgit H M Meldal, Shruthi Mohan, Sierra A T Moxon, Monica C Munoz-Torres, Tristan H Nelson, Frank W Nicholas, David Ochoa, Daniel Olson, Tudor I Oprea, Tomiko T Oskotsky, David Osumi-Sutherland, Kelley Paris, Helen E Parkinson, Zoë M Pendlington, Xiao P Peng, Amy Pizzino, Sharon E Plon, Bradford C Powell, Julie C Ratliff, Heidi L Rehm, Lyubov Remennik, Erin R Riggs, Sean Roberts, Peter N Robinson, Justyne E Ross, Kevin Schaper, Brian M Schilder, Johanna L Schmidt, Elliott W Sharp, Morgan N Similuk, Damian Smedley, Tam P Sneddon, Rachel Sparks, Ray Stefancsik, Gregory S Stupp, Shilpa Sundar, Terue Takatsuki, Imke Tammen, Kezang C Tshering, Deepak R Unni, Eloise Valasek, Adeline Vanderver, Alex H Wagner, Ryan F Webb, Danielle Welter, Doron Yaya-Stupp, Andreas Zankl, Xingmin Aaron Zhang, Julie A Mcmurry, Christopher G Chute, Ada Hamosh, Christopher J Mungall, Melissa A Haendel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Precision medicine aims to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis by integrating multimodal data at the point of care. However, challenges arise due to the vast number of diseases, differing methods of classification, and conflicting terminological coding systems and practices used to represent molecular definitions of disease. This lack of interoperability artificially constrains the potential for diagnosis, clinical decision support, care outcome analysis, as well as data linkage across research domains to support the development or repurposing of therapeutics. There is a clear and pressing need for a unified system for managing disease entities⁠-including identifiers, synonyms, and definitions. To address these …

Mechanisms Of Ventricular Catheter Obstruction, Mohamed Khalil Attie Ms, Christopher Roberts Ms, Carolyn Harris Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Hydrocephalus is treated primarily with ventriculoperitoneal shunts, which fail over time mainly due to proximal ventricular catheter (VC) obstruction of the drainage holes. Prior computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies based on idealized geometries have suggested that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) preferentially enters distal holes due to lower resistance, thereby increasing the risk of obstruction at those locations. However, these models do not incorporate explanted VC data, patient-specific anatomy, or differences in catheter architecture.

Methods: To evaluate whether flow distribution matches failure sites, we compared obstruction patterns from 30 explanted catheters with CFD simulations of four commercial VC designs. For every …

Opportunities And Barriers For Innovation At The Interface Of Engineering And Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Thomas S Howlett, Jacqueline G Parchem, Kelsey L Swingle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The development of safe and effective maternal-fetal therapeutics is significantly hindered by chronic underfunding, inequitable access to specialized care, and persistent sociopolitical stigmas surrounding women’s health. Addressing these challenges will require interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and engineers to design accessible therapeutics for maternal-fetal healthcare.

Changes In 25(Oh)D Concentration, Bone Resorption Markers And Physical Performance Due To Sun Exposure, Diet And Training Load Among Professional Women Handball Players During The Half-Year Training Season, Sorin Dacian Buhas, Zbigniew Jastrzębski, Paul Florian Dragos, Marius Alin Marinau, Maria Skalska, Mirela Stef, Joanna Jastrzębska, Mihai Sandra, Dana Ioana Cristea

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the study was to demonstrate changes in 25(OH)D concentration, bone resorption indicators and physical fitness in female handball players as a result of their exposure to the sun, diet and exercise load during the six-month training period from mid-March to mid-September, i.e. the time when the sun exposure is the highest during the calendar year. Twenty-two women handball players participated in the study. Due to the random occurrences and exclusion criteria, 20 players completed the project. Biochemical analysis of blood, aerobic capacity, running speed and power tests (Wingate test, squat jump, counter movement jump, etc.) was …

Exploring The Ethical And Practical Considerations Of Artificial Intelligence In Real-World Health Care Settings: Stakeholder Focus Group Study, Carmen Wendy Ulizio, Devika Dua, Naya Meenkashi Mukul, Santosh Areti, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Vasiliki Nataly Rahimzadeh

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to transform how we research human disease, diagnose and treat patients, and operate hospitals. However, emerging ethical dilemmas surrounding their design, use, and oversight demand both policy attention and empirical research.

Objective: This study aims to explore current AI development, integration, and use activities across the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world, and identify emerging ethical priorities.

Methods: We conducted a total of 3 qualitative focus groups via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) between May and June 2025 to gauge the perspectives of 19 clinicians, developers, administrators, and patient …

Breaking Barriers: Advancement Toward Practical Nursing Licensure For Certified Medication Assistants In Long-Term Care--A Descriptive Study, Aleshia L. Maxwell

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The persistent nursing shortage across the United States, particularly in Long-Term Care (LTC) settings, has complicated the healthcare system’s ability to meet the needs of an aging population. While existing research often examines progression from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN), limited research explores factors influencing progression from entry-level LTC healthcare workers to Practical Nursing (PN) licensure. This quantitative descriptive study examined the barriers and supporting factors influencing advancement toward PN licensure for Medication Assistants-Certified (MA-Cs) in Arkansas LTC facilities. A convenience sample of N=100 participated in the study. Results indicated that financial and structural barriers often …

Florence S.T.C. Building Starts, Birmingham News

Documents

Student health at Florence State Teachers College to be enhanced with new gymnasium for the school

Construction Projects Picking Up At Una Again, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

Demolition of Floyd Hall and other talk of new construction for The University of North Alabama

Media Center Gets New Studio, Name, Timesdaily

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New Media Center and grand opening for the new Communications Building (former Gymnasium) in 1988

Health, Physical Education Program At College Will Be Aided By New Gym And Pool, The Florence Times

Documents

Construction of new Gymnasium and Pool at Florence State Teachers College

The History Of Women In Neuroradiology In North America From 1990 To The Present, Vijay M. Rao

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

From 1990 to 2024, women neuroradiologists in North America have made tremendous progress in the areas of leadership, clinical innovation, research, education, diversity, equity and inclusion, and global outreach. This chapter begins with summaries of their key accomplishments in four broad domains, followed by short biographical sketches of numerous luminaries organized by leadership roles and areas of expertise, and ending with conclusions and future directions.

Nanog Proximity Proteomics Maps Neighborhood Hubs Linked To Mesenchymal Stem Cell Stemness And Chromatin Control, Kyoung-Jae Choi, Michail Tyryshkin, Harathi Jonnagaddala, Allan Chris M Ferreon, Marian Kalocsay, Josephine C Ferreon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

NANOG overexpression has been reported to reverse aging-associated decline in mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) function, but the molecular machinery engaged by NANOG in MSCs remains incompletely defined. Here, we applied APEX proximity labeling coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry to define the NANOG proximity interactome (proxeome) in human MSCs. Of 1040 quantified proteins, 828 were significantly enriched in the APEX-NANOG (H2O2 labeling) samples, consistent with a broad NANOG-centered neighborhood rather than a single stoichiometric complex. Enriched proteins encompass RNA-processing pathways (including splicing/RNP factors and selected m6A-related proteins), transcriptional coactivation and elongation control (Mediator and 7SK/P-TEFb regulators), chromatin repression/poising modules (Polycomb and …

Innovator - Spring 2026

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

12 - News

22 - Gabrielle Kemberling ’12

28 - The Oughton Family

34 - Beyond the Seams

44 - Question & Innovate

46 - Ram Roundup

48 - Which Ram Was the GOAT?

52 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia

Innovator - Fall 2025

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

24 - Nureed Saeed ‘99

28 - Cell Mates

32 - Robert C. Sergott, MD

36 - Working Smarter

42 - Question & Innovate

44 - Alumni Impact

48 - Leeor Gal ‘19

50 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia

Innovator - Winter 2025

Innovator

06 - Message from the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

14 - New Leader for a New Century

18 - Fashion’s Fairy Godmother

22 - Diploma School of Nursing

26 - Question & Innovate

28 - Alumni Impact

30 - Ram Roundup

32 - From the Washington Ballet to Wimbledon

36 - Homecoming 2024 and Alumni Awards

42 - JCLS Alumni Day

44 - Class Notes

50 - Love Train

52 - In Memory

54 - Trivia

Innovator - Summer 2024

Innovator

06 - A Message from the President

10 - Time Machine

16 - The Nexus

32 - Our History

38 - Weaving a Legacy of Excellence

40 - Bridging the Gaps

44 - Harnessing the Qualities That Create Healthcare Heroes

48 - Question & Innovate

52 - Alumni Impact

54 - Ram Roundup

58 - Be Kind

62 - Class Notes

68 - In Memory

70 - Trivia

Innovator - Fall 2023

Innovator

06 - Get to Know Jefferson's Interim President

08 - Leadership Announcements

10 - Time Machine

14 - The Nexus

22 - Climate Change on Your Block

30 - Humana and Jefferson

34 - Question & Innovate

38 - Caffeinated Creativity

42 - Alumni Impact

46 - Ram RoundUp

50 - Brotherhood's Enduring Legacy

56 - Class Notes

60 - In Memory

62 - Trivia

Antibiotics And You: A Comprehensive Guide, Brady Haas

Senior Theses

Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly emerging issue within public health. As resistance grows, the effectiveness of traditional antibiotic therapies diminishes while risk of treatment grows. Alongside novel therapies, public knowledge is a strong combatant of the resistance-related risks of antibiotic usage. Through a comprehensive review of current literature, this work serves as an accessible guide to the mechanisms of antibiotics, bacterial resistance, and the challenges related to current antibiotic usage. Additionally, the ability of current policy and emerging novel treatments, such as nanoparticles and bacteriophage therapy, to fight antibiotic resistance is evaluated. This analysis highlights the importance of improving public …

Burnout Sentinel: An Early Warning System For Student Burnout Using Workload And Recovery Indicators, Minh Duy Do

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Video Essay Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences
• Health Sciences & Health Professions
• Physical & Applied Sciences
• Service-Learning
• Social & Behavioral Sciences

Research Day 2026 Program, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School Of Medicine

Research Day

No abstract provided.