Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Particulate Matter Exposures During Two Work Shifts In A Large University Dining Commons Kitchen, Shalom Emmanuel, Atin Adhikari

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective: Cooking emits a huge concentration of indoor air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM can lead to long-term adverse respiratory effects among workers engaged in cooking. Only a few studies have measured cooking-related air pollutants in large school cafeterias where young student workers are frequently employed. The objective of this research was to compare stationary exposures to PM from cooking during two work shifts at a very large university dining commons kitchen.

Methods: Number concentrations of PM of varying aerodynamic sizes (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 µm) were measured at the back kitchen, DC grill, and …

Anxiety And Depression And Associated Factors Among A Sample Of Semi-Rural High School Students In Georgia, Raul Perez Zarate, Yi-Ting Hana Lee, Jean A. Welsh, Julie A. Gazmararian

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Anxiety and depression can affect adolescents’ health and current literature lacks studies of youths living in non-urban settings.

Methods: We used chi-square and t-tests on data collected from self-administered online surveys, completed by 9^th-grade students (n=222) attending a large, semi-rural public high school in the state of Georgia, to assess the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression and associated factors.

Results: Almost half of the students self-reported anxiety (43%) or depression (55%) and students who self-reported either condition were more likely to report poorer sleep hygiene, sleepiness, race-related mistreatment, and higher stress.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest …

Improving Healthcare Experiences For Transgender And Intersex Populations, Destiny S. J. Lee, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Intersex is an umbrella term for individuals who are born with sex characteristics that do not typically fall into male or female categories. Individuals who are intersex make up about 1.7% of the United States population today and are identified within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTQIA+) community. Many people who are intersex identify as transgender, which relates to the social process of gender change, as they develop into adults. In Georgia, approximately 4% of the population identify as LGBTQIA+. The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness of the perceived discrimination from healthcare providers, non-inclusive organizational …

Global Perceptions Of Space: The Interior Designer's Role, Ansley C. Elliott

Honors College Theses

Interior designers need to show and share awareness of cultural inclusivity in design solutions to create a positive experience for all end users. In order to do this, interior designers need to gain an understanding of how people from various geographical locations perceive space and, as a result, behave and connect in public environments. This study explored existing literature on human factors in design, such as proxemics, territoriality, anthropometrics, cultural dimensions in business practices, and inclusivity in design. The research methodology included a Qualtrics survey on cultural background and demographic data; three-dimensional renderings of a public restaurant and a workplace; …

Excavating The Strata Of (Some) Of Archaeology's Problems And Applying Feminist Solutions, Kristin M. Dew

Honors College Theses

Over the past thirty years, feminist scholars in archaeology have gained a foothold in the discipline. Conkey and Spector's “Archaeology and the Study of Gender” (1984) is often credited with being the turning point for the topic of gender in archaeology. Still, there is more ground to gain. I argue for a fully engendered archaeology by understanding that achieving this will be difficult due to the past and current sociopolitics of American archaeology. Historically, mainstream archaeology has viewed feminist epistemologies, like those on which gender archaeology is based, as simply a standpoint, creating a disconnect identifying their importance. Despite these …

For The Love Of Stories: Re-Examining Academia’S Responsibility In Presenting Literature In The 21st Century, April Trepagnier

Honors College Theses

Angus Fletcher, a neuroscientist who hung up his lab coat to earn a Ph.D. in literature from Yale, studies stories as, “a narrative-emotional technology that helped our ancestors cope with the psychological challenges posed by human biology...an invention for overcoming the doubt and the pain of just being us.” But students entering college are losing interest in this “technology.” A 2017 report by the American Academy of Arts and Science showed a “statistically significant decline” in the number of English graduates from 2011-2012 to 2016-2017. Peter Barry, Professor Emeritus of English at Aberystwyth University, may offer insight into this trend. …

Self-Care In Mental Health: A Study On The Effectiveness Of Self Care For Overall Mental Wellbeing, Amy C. Branson

Honors College Theses

Studies have shown that self-care can be very effective in the treatment of different mental health issues. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of three common self-care techniques (sleep, diet, and exercise) on the overall mental health and wellbeing of college students. This research consists of two surveys that collect data on self-care habits and current mental health, interposed by a two-week period of implementing positive changes to one of the self-care methods. This study used voluntary response sampling. The survey was be administered online to students at Georgia Southern University. The survey data was collected …

Steam Gasification Of Biochar To Produce Hydrogen-Rich Syngas, Nnamdi Ofuani

Honors College Theses

A key greenhouse gas (GHG) emission contributing to climate change is carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission. This emission is largely due to the use of fossil fuel as a major energy source. Biomass is an alternative energy source. Biochar, a byproduct of the pyrolysis process (of biomass), could be gasified to produce syngas (a mixture of CO and H₂). This syngas can further be used to produce different kinds of fuels like biodiesel, bio-gasoline, bioethanol, etc. In the steam gasification of biochar, the quality and yield of syngas is dependent on parameters such as temperature, particle size, …

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Photodynamic Therapy Agents: The Power Of Mjöllnir To Eradicate Cancer, Sidney M. Hopper

Honors College Theses

After its discovery back in the 1900s, photosensitizers became a critical study for potential treatments and cures for medical issues, including cancer. It was discovered that porphyrins appeared to target and accumulate in proliferating cells, and to reach the cells, a certain wavelength of light with maximum absorbance associated with the porphyrin was necessary to achieve cell death. Photodynamic therapy involves making use of porphyrins or metalloporphyrins as activators when exposed to such light. When activated, these compounds generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as HO- or O2-, which can react with nucleic acids found in DNA and RNA. In …

Drone Control Using Bci Technology, Jeremie Otniel Kamba Kalunga

Honors College Theses

A drone, also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is a type of aircraft that is operated remotely or autonomously. The utilization of drones increased because it is now possible to use them to perform tasks that would be too complicated for human beings to do. Electroencephalograms (EEG) are generated by the electrical activity of the brain and can be measured by placing electrodes on the scalp. The idea of controlling drones using EEG signals refers to the use of EEG technology to control the movement of a drone. EEG signals are used to determine the user's intention and …

Utilization Of Machine Learning To Investigate Material State, Ana B. Abadie

Honors College Theses

The ability to predict material behavior that undergoes various loading conditions is critical to the development of reliable and safe components. Thermal and mechanical fatigue loading can cause significant damage to materials, leading to failure and potential safety hazards. Machine learning algorithms have emerged as a promising tool for improving accuracy and efficiency of predicting material behavior under such loading conditions. This research provides a comprehensive overview of a machine learning algorithm that is able to analyze and predict material state independently of the loading sequence. Unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (UD CFRP) composite which has undergone two different loading …

A Proof-Of-Concept Study For An Elastohydrodynamic Seal Design, Cameron M. Stuart

Honors College Theses

Supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) power cycles are superior to traditional water based, air-breathing, direct-fired, open Brayton cycles or indirect-fired, closed Rankine cycles in terms of efficiency and equipment size. They hold great potential in fossil fuel power plants, nuclear power production, solar power, geothermal power, and ship propulsion. To unlock the potential of sCO₂ power cycles, utilized technology must withstand 10–600 MWe and at sCO₂ temperatures and pressures of 350–700℃ and 20–35 MPa for nuclear industries. Amongst many challenges at the component level, the lack of suitable shaft seals for sCO₂ operating conditions needs to …

Cycle Time Reduction In Additive Manufacturing Using Peltier Thermoelectric Cooling Devices, Trevor Carlton

Honors College Theses

Thermoelectric cooling and the Peltier effect were discovered in 1834, over 188 years ago. Additionally, the first iterations of additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) began in the early 1980s, more than 40 years ago. Despite these technologies’ age and years of advancements, the application of Peltier cooling-based devices in additive manufacturing has not yet been realized. These devices can be used for the active thermal management of print beds in 3D printers. Developing a mechanism to heat and cool a print bed can reduce the cycle time to manufacture a part. In 3D printing, waiting for the heated bed to …

The Effect Of Golf Bag Load Carriage On Lower Body Force Expenditure, Ryan Collins-Smith

Honors College Theses

Golf is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide and as one of the most difficult sports to excel at, every area of improvement is important. Load carriage, lower body force production, and perceived exertion are keys to improving. The purpose of this project was to investigate the influence of a variety of golf bag load carriage styles on vertical jump performance and perceived exertion. The different modes of golf bag load carriage were no golf bag (1), single-strap golf bag (2), double-strap golf bag above sacrum height (3), double-strap golf bag below sacrum height (4), and push cart for …

Bioinformatic Analysis Of Mirna Mechanisms In Circadian Rhythm Using A Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Model, Layton F. Coursey

Honors College Theses

MicroRNAs are noncoding RNAs found in cells and the bloodstream, which help to maintain proper protein production and overall gene expression1. Typically, microRNAs bind to messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cell cytoplasm, acting as post-transcriptional regulators, and either degrade or repress mRNA2. Due to microRNAs playing a vital role in gene expression by repressing protein production of target genes, if they are underexpressed then the protein it regulates could be overexpressed as a result.

miRNAs have the potential to be biomarkers for numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegeneration can be seen in many forms such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s (AD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), …

The Concept Of Alterity: Its Usage And Its Relevance For Critical Qualitative Researchers In The Era Of Trump, E. Anthony Muhammad

Curriculum, Foundations & Reading: Faculty Publications

Alterity is a concept with an extensive yet elusive history. Popularly conceived of as radical difference and Otherness, I identify alterity as the source of much of the virulent forms of racism, sexism, islamophobia, and other dichotomies in society that pit one group against another. Coming out of the tradition of critical qualitative inquiry, I offer a genealogy of the concept of alterity through various contexts and disciplines with a focus on its use in traditional Western philosophy. Within this tradition, the alteric relationship between the Self and the Other was typified by a preeminence bestowed upon the Self and …

Synthesis Of 2-Bromo-6-Alkylaminopyridines, 2,6-Dialkylaminopyridines, And Tren Based Ligands, Stephanie E. Carter

Honors College Theses

Extended metal atom chains (EMAC) are multimetallic complexes that feature a linear metal chain with metal-metal bonds surrounded by stabilizing ligand molecules. When EMACs are formed with paramagnetic metal ions, unique magnetic properties can be derived from direct metal to metal communication. The challenge is that EMAC complexes are challenging to synthesize due to the inherent weakness of most M-M bonds and the specificity of the ligands required to stabilize EMACs. In prior work by the Guillet group, the silyl aminopyridine (SAP) ligands were observed to stabilize very unique triiron complexes, but they were inherently unstable. In other work, scaffolded …

The Economic Impact Of The Cruise Ship Industry On Destination Port Countries During Covid-19, Katherine Snowberger

Honors College Theses

The travel and tourism industry was the fastest-growing industry in 2019. With more discretionary income available, many people spent their time traveling and exploring new cultures. One major sector of the travel and tourism industry is the cruise industry. In this sector of the industry, the clientele pays a flat fee to cover room, food, travel, and entertainment, which allows them to explore new and exciting ports of call. These port destinations rely heavily on tourism income to support their communities and infrastructure. This economic study aims to show how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted destination port cities and how …

Perspectives On Movement In The Classroom And Strategies That Keep Students Engaged, Darley Desormo

Honors College Theses

Within this study, the question of “what are teachers’ rationale for incorporating kinesthetic learning in the elementary classroom '' will be addressed. The purpose of this study is to gain insight from elementary teachers’ perceptions and their rationale on the use of movement-based learning in the classroom. To examine further into this research, interviews were conducted. Participants of the study were elementary classroom teachers. During seven online meetings, the researcher interviewed using consistent guiding questions asking elementary teachers about their implementation and rationale of movement-based learning in their classroom experiences. The researcher also asked questions to gain an understanding of …

Teaching Creativity In Standards-Based Classrooms: The Impact Of Personal Creative Writing To Teachers’ Perceptions Of Creativity In The Classroom, Katie Jones

Honors College Theses

Creative writing is rarely highlighted in public classrooms, yet it may be the key to development for both students and teachers. Due to restrictions such as time limitations, personal experience, pressures of testing, and more, teachers find creativity intimidating to teach. The Deep Center in Savannah, GA, a site of the National Writing Project, offers an intensive 10-day program for teachers that encompasses writing, creativity, and community. This qualitative case study utilizes the context of the Deep Center’s Writing Project as a background to analyze participants' perceptions of creativity in their classrooms and their own personal engagement in creative writing. …

On Cox Proportional Hazards Model Performance Under Different Sampling Schemes, Hani Samawi, Lili Yu, Jingjing Yin

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Cox’s proportional hazards model (PH) is an acceptable model for survival data analysis. This work investigates PH models’ performance under different efficient sampling schemes for analyzing time to event data (survival data). We will compare a modified Extreme, and Double Extreme Ranked Set Sampling (ERSS, and DERSS) schemes with a simple random sampling scheme. Observations are assumed to be selected based on an easy-to-evaluate baseline available variable associated with the survival time. Through intensive simulations, we show that these modified approaches (ERSS and DERSS) provide more powerful testing procedures and more efficient estimates of hazard ratio than those based on …

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Structural Design And Fabrication Of A Test Chamber To Test Ppes For Effective Particle Filtration, Matthew G. Adharsingh

Honors College Theses

This research project aims to design and fabricate a test chamber for testing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure effective particle filtration. The chamber has a special purpose, which is to measure ultrafine and submicron particles concentration in the air and test the ergonomic design of PPE based on its effective filtration. The project also considers the environmental aspects of the chamber such as the level of noise and vibration. The chamber will be designed to measure upstream and downstream particle count. Initially, the chamber was going to be made from wood, but the research team encountered difficulties in the …

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The Effects Of Multiple Micronutrient Fortified Beverage And Responsive Caregiving Interventions On Early Childhood Development, Hemoglobin, And Ferritin Among Infants In Rural Guatemala, Alysse J. Kowalski, Victor Alfonso Mayen, Silvia De Ponce, Kaley B. Lambden, Nick Tilton, Lisa M. Villanueva, Ana M. Palacios, Greg A. Reinhart, Kristen M. Hurley, Maureen M. Black

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Undernutrition and a lack of learning opportunities can jeopardize long-term growth and development among infants in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a 6-month 2 × 2 cluster-randomized trial to assess the effects of multiple micronutrient-fortified beverages and responsive caregiving interventions among infants 6–18 months in 72 community sectors in southwest Guatemala. We administered baseline and endline assessments of childhood development (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development) and socioemotional development (Brief Infant Toddler Socio-Emotional Assessment) and measured ferritin and hemoglobin on a subsample. The trial was analyzed using linear mixed models. At the baseline, the mean age (SD) was …

Effect Of Covid-19 On Icu Nurse Burnout, Kayce Sheppard

Honors College Theses

Burnout is becoming increasingly worse for those in the nursing field after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While all nurses are at risk, ICU nurses are seen as at a higher risk for this increased burnout due to the already high stress environment they are subjected to in their unit. Without proper intervention of this issue, the levels of burnout are expected to continue to remain high, leading to job dissatisfaction, short staffing, and reduced patient satisfaction. The objective of this study is to review the level of burnout among ICU nurses. A burnout study was conducted on ICU …

Splenic Asssessment Of The Toxicological Effects Of Dietary Consumption Of Pfbs (Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid), Janelene Sanders

Honors College Theses

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) are synthetic chemicals that can pose adverse health effects such as kidney cancer, thyroid disease, pregnancy complications and liver damage due to human exposure in food and drinking water. In this study, the class of PFAs that will be investigated is Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), which is commonly found in the environment and consumer products such as wastewater, dust, and floor cleaners, and consists of 4 carbon chain bonded with fluorine and a sulfonic acid functional group. To accomplish study goals, PFBS, a shorter carbon chain length was ingested by Sprague Dawley rats. Serum LDH …

Inquiry As Practice: The Pathway To Redesigning An Educational Leadership Doctoral Research Seminar Series, Steve Tolman, Daniel W. Calhoun, Juliann S. Mcbrayer, Nikheal Patel, Elise J. Cain

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

As faculty of an educational leadership doctoral program (EdD) aligned with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) principles, we acknowledge the importance of inquiry to develop scholarly practitioners. Applying the tenet of Inquiry as Practice, our EdD faculty critically examined the doctoral curriculum to explore ways to effectively prepare our doctoral students to learn and apply research methodology meaningfully. This essay details how the review of our research curriculum led to a pedagogical and curriculum redesign of our research seminar series. This revised research seminar series culminates in a course offered every fall/spring semester in the final two …

A Pharmacoepidemiological Study Of Myocarditis And Pericarditis Following The First Dose Of Mrna Covid-19 Vaccine In Europe, Joana Tome, Logan Cowan, Isaac Fung

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

This study assessed the myocarditis and pericarditis reporting rate of the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Europe. Myocarditis and pericarditis data pertinent to mRNA COVID19 vaccines (1 January 2021–11 February 2022) from EudraVigilance database were combined with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)’s vaccination tracker data. The reporting rate was expressed as events (occurring within 28 days of the first dose) per 1 million individuals vaccinated. An observed-to-expected (OE) analysis quantified excess risk for myocarditis or pericarditis following the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The reporting rate of myocarditis per 1 million individuals vaccinated was 17.27 (95% …