Digital Commons Network^™

Maternal Nutritional Status And Immune Regulation In Early Offspring Development, Caroline C. Pagan

Honors Theses

Maternal nutrition, immune function, and microbiome health work together to shape fetal development in ways that influence health across the lifespan and even into future generations. This paper synthesizes evidence from molecular biology, nutrition science, immunology, and public health to show that essential nutrients-such as omega-3 fatty acids, folate, iron, zinc, and vitamin D-directly affect fetal immune programming, neurodevelopment, placental function, and metabolic regulation. Research on the maternal microbiome further demonstrates that microbial diversity and metabolite production modify nutrient absorption, inflammatory balance, and fetal gene expression, underscoring the microbiome’s role as both a mediator and amplifier of nutritional effects. At …

Social Drivers Of Health: Shifting The Focus Of Health Indicators From The Biological Code To The Zip Code, Jenna M. Barlage

Honors Theses

This study explored how healthcare facilities in Kentucky and Ohio are adapting to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 mandate requiring the collection and reporting of Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) data. Through literature review and interviews with healthcare administrators responsible for SDOH screening, documentation, and reporting, the research evaluated the central hypothesis: while the mandate has expanded the amount of available SDOH data, healthcare organizations continue to face substantial financial, technological, and organizational barriers in addressing identified patient needs. Findings indicated that many facilities have broadened and standardized their screening practices, leading to clearer early trends …

Do Honey Phytochemicals Modulate Forager Aggression And The Gut Microbiome In The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.)?, Wade A. Pike, Jaesylin Stephens, Mariah Donohue, Katsuri Rajandran, Erin D. Tranore, Abdallah Sher, Emily Croteau, Clare C. Rittschof

Biology Faculty Publications

Plant phytochemicals found in nectar impact bee learning and memory and plant pollination success. Especially for generalist pollinators, dietary changes that alter phytochemical consumption could be common sources of behavioral variation. For honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) foragers, a major potential change in phytochemical consumption occurs when individuals switch from collecting nectar from flowers to collecting honey from neighboring colonies, a phenomenon known as honey robbing. In this study we investigated whether phytochemicals dominant in honey compared to nectar act as a short-term trigger of robbing behaviors in honey bee, which include increased aggression. We fed forager honey bees sucrose …

Silver Linings 2025, Tower Health

Silver Linings

No abstract provided.

Dataset Of Raman Spectra And Matlab Code For: Elucidating Time-Resolved Intracellular Metabolic Dynamics Via Label-Free Raman Microspectroscopy And 2d Correlation Spectroscopy, Zohreh Mirveis, Nitin Patil, Hugh J. Byrne

Other Resources

This dataset contains raw spectral data obtained from single-cell Raman microspectroscopy under two nutritional conditions: glucose alone and glucose supplemented with glutamine. LLC-MK2 cells were starved for 2 h, then exposed to nutrients and fixed every 15 min for up to 120 min. At each time point, spectra were recorded from 25 individual cells (cytoplasm regions) and exported as machine-readable files (.csv). MATLAB scripts are provided to implement two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) for generating synchronous maps, along with utilities for loading spectra, averaging, and reproducing key figures. A set of simulated time-series spectra used to validate 2D-COS under high background …

Quality & Patient Safety Gazette : Volume 4, Issue 3 - 2025, Quality & Patient Safety Department And Infection Prevention & Hospital Epidemiology

Quality and Patient Safety Archives

• Advancing Healthcare Excellence: Structured Journey to JCI Clinical Care Program Certification (CCPC)
• Sindh Healthcare Commission Monitoring Visit at AKUH Clifton Medical Services
• SafeCare Recertification Assessment of Four Off-Campus Hospitals, Pakistan
• Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program (CUSP) Grand Round
• AKDN-HS Quality KPI Training Program Strengthens Alignment Across AKDN Health System
• JCI Patient Safety Pathways Grand Round-Pediatric Patient Safety I International Webinar
• International Webinar - Protecting our littlest Patients: Unmasking Pediatric Pain as a Safety Issue - Health Standards Organization
• Wed-Webinar Series 2025 JCI 8th Edition I Introductory Session
• Wed-Webinar | International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG)
• Wed-Webinar | Patient Centered Care (PCC) …

Adipose Tissue Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Overexpression Ameliorates High-Fat Diet–Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Marion C. Hope, Christian A. Unger, M. Chase Kettering, Cassidy E. Socia, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Barton C. Rice, Darya S. Niamira, Ben P. Wiznitzer, Diego Altomare Ph.D., William E. Cotham, Reilly T. Enos

Faculty Publications

Context

We created an innovative mouse model that enables inducible overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), specifically in adipose tissue (Adipo-ERα↑). Objective

We aimed to investigate how elevated Adipo-ERα↑ influences the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in both male and female mice. Methods

Male and female Adipo-ERα↑ mice and littermate controls were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 13 weeks. Adipo-ERα↑ was induced at the initiation of dietary treatment. Body morphology and composition, hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose tolerance, fasting insulin concentrations, and adipose tissue mRNA profiling were assessed. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine circulating and adipose …

Propelling Aging-Related Initiatives In A Next-Gen Cooperative Extension System: Editors’ Introduction To The Jhse Special Issue On Aging, Erin L. Martinez, James S. Bates

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 2, James S. Bates, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Erin L. Martinez

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Aging In America: Implications For Family Resource Management, Becky Smith, Portia Johnson, Brandan Wheeler, D E Kiss, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Stanford Center on Longevity reports life expectancy has surged over the last 120 years. Unfortunately, living longer may not equate to living with a higher quality of life without considering the amount, type, and uses of all resources available to individuals and families as they age. Family Resource Management (FRM) is the science and art of how individuals and families make decisions to develop and allocate resources, including money, time, energy, space, material, and health assets, and networks of support to meet their goals. Living longer means making more decisions and developing and allocating more resources to enhance the …

Community Partnerships To Address Social Determinants Of Health Among Older Adults, Cory Bolkan, Raven Weaver, Cheryl Eschbach, Erik Geissal, Breanne Wise-Swanson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH) among older adults is key to addressing health disparities, maintaining independence in their homes/communities, improving health outcomes, and avoiding high-cost institutional care. While primary care settings are equipped to meet older adults’ physical health needs, the network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) is designed to meet social needs (e.g., transportation, nutrition, caregiver support). Yet, cross-sector community partnerships between AAAs and primary care are rare. This article shares an evaluation of one such partnership, where SDOH screenings were routinely implemented in primary care, yielding social prescribing and direct referral to AAA’s support services. …

Combined Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance And Ph Testing In Infants And Young Children-A Narrative Review, Rochelle Sequeira Gomes, Sheeja Abraham, Michael Favara, Amy J. Sloane, Zubair H. Aghai

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in infants and young children, and thediagnosis and characterization of the disease continues to evolve in recent times. The typicalsymptoms thought to be related to GERD in young children are often nonspecific andubiquitous, underscoring the need for diagnostic testing in patients who have severe symptomsor complications related to GERD. Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pHtesting (MII-pH) is a diagnostic tool that can be used to study the frequency andseverity of gastroesophageal reflux. Compared to other diagnostic devices, MII-pH hasthe advantage of detecting both acidic and alkaline reflux events, as well as allows the study …

Analyzing Attitudes On Social Welfare: Partisanship Versus Self-Interest, Jack D. Ryder

Student Publications

What influences Americans' attitudes on social welfare? Why do some Americans vote seemingly against their interests? Using data from the 2020 National Election Survey, this paper will test hypotheses examining how rurality and Republican partisanship are associated with lower favorability toward social welfare spending. This paper will also analyze the current literature on immigration, locality, and partisanship to see how they shape attitudes toward welfare spending. Overall, the regression models show that Republican partisanship is more correlated with support for social welfare cuts than an individual’s rurality. This study is important for understanding how partisanship shapes attitudes on policy and …

Belmont Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Caitlin E. Coyle, Nancy Mazonson, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report presents the results of a comprehensive needs assessment of Belmont’s older adult population. The study was conducted to support planning by the Belmont Council on Aging and Beech Street Senior Center, and it also provides valuable information for other town departments, community organizations, and residents. Specifically, this report aims to: *Describe Belmont’s current older adult population and their needs. *Assess the services and resources currently available. *Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. *Provide recommendations to ensure Belmont remains a supportive, age-friendly community for years to come.

As the number of older residents grows, so too will the need …

Contracting For Consumer Trade Compliance, Christine Abely

Law Faculty Scholarship

Export compliance is becoming increasingly important for parties required to abide by U.S. law, including many online sellers of consumer products. These retailers' contractual terms with their customers set forth a number of provisions governing the relationship between them, including those which deal with arbitration, indemnification, disclaimer of warranties, and other issues. Many such agreements also purport to create obligations on the part of the consumer as to export control and sanctions compliance relative to the products they purchase. These contract provisions attempt to do so, however, in often markedly different ways, and with language that may leave notable gaps …

Breaking The Echo Chamber: Market Failures In The Social Media Information Market And The Need For Reform, Aleco M. Hamrick

Indiana Law Journal

Traditionally, the information market is centrally controlled. Once information consumption transitioned from the physical world to the digital world, the barrier of entry to the information dissemination market was reduced from printing presses and distribution networks to a smartphone and an internet connection. Ostensibly anyone can distribute any idea at any time. This strains the traditional information governance model that has dominated the information market for centuries; where epistemic authorities once controlled both the streams of information and the kinds of information that entered them, now social media companies exert limited control over information streams and no control over what …

Effects Of Provisioning On Two Species Of Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale Mareeba And Petrogale Assimilis) In North Queensland, Australia, Eve Oliker

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

Provisioning, the act of providing food, water, or shelter to wild animals, can lead to habituation, resulting in changes in behavior, abundance, and distribution (Newsome & Rodger, 2008). In North Queensland, a colony of Mareeba rock-wallaby (Petrogale mareeba) at Granite Gorge has been provisioned for over 45 years, mainly through direct hand-feeding, while a group of allied rock-wallaby (Petrogale assimilis) in Magnetic Island has experienced shorter and less consistent provisioning. This study investigated whether long-term provisioning causes more severe behavioral changes, higher aggression, and larger aggregation sizes. Approximately one week was spent observing each population. Scan sampling was utilized to …

The Imperative Of Regeneration: Exploring The Dimensions Of Tourism And Agriculture In Bali, Ava Whitney

Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

This research centers on the impacts of mass tourism, development, and modernization on the landscape and culture of Bali and investigates regenerative alternatives in agriculture and tourism. Regenerative thinking offers a vision of travel and subsistence that preserves the ecology of the landscape and the integrity of Balinese culture. Organic farming and permaculture principles are traditional agricultural practices in Bali that have existed for generations, imbued with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy of Balinese Hinduism. Agriculture is a facet of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that transmits ecological and cultural wisdom to future generations about how to relate to the natural …

Effects And Importance Of Structure And Light On Acropora And Platygyra Corals In A Shallow Reef, Olivia Becker

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

This study examined the niche’s corals had and their locations on the reef. And more closely observed how light availability and structural complexity affect the spatial distribution of different coral species on a shallow reef. By using photogrammetry and putting out HOBO light sensors data was observed to see how much light the corals received and the structural complexity that surrounds them. Surveys were done on Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef, and the study site was Horseshoe. Horseshoe is a shallow reef located on the sheltered side making it easy to survey at. During a 3 day span …

The Impacts Of Sports Specialization On Youth Development, Madison M. Allen

Honors Thesis

To this date, there has been a rise in the professionalism of youth sports, which has increased the competitiveness and likelihood of early specialization in young athletes. While this allows youth athletes to have recognition at a young age, many athletes experience negative effects that inhibit their ability to make it to the elite level at a later age. Sports specialization can be defined as the participation and/or training of one sport year-round, typically excluding participation in all other sports. Current research suggests that sports specialization can contribute to injury and musculoskeletal disorders, impact motor skills and coordination, and cause …

Psychological Impact And Severity Condition During The Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic Among The General Population In Iraq, Kawthar Nassir, Zainab Qasim, Nesif Al-Hemiary, Zahraa Al Nedawi

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: the COVID-19 pandemic is a global healthcare crisis that impacts multiple body systems and is linked to various psychiatric issues.Objective: this study aims to assess psychological symptoms, sleep disturbances, and insomnia associated with infection by covid-19, examining the severity of these symptoms based on the perceived threat of infection. Patients and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of patients, involved collecting medical data by distributing questionnaires under a psychiatrist’s supervision. The data included demographics, co-morbidities, disease severity, psychological measurements, treatment response, and prognosis. The questionnaires incorporated the Anxiety and Stress Scale, along with the Impact of …

Vitamin D And Carboxy-Terminal Cross-Linking Telopeptide Of Type-1 Collagen In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And Their Relation With Hyperandrogenism., Aya Badri, Nazar Haddad

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Key features such as hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, and obesity can affect bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Vitamin D is linked to reproductive health, metabolic changes, and mental well-being in PCOS patients.Objectives: To assess the relationship between vitamin D, CTX (C-Telopeptide of type 1 collagen), and testosterone levels in women with PCOS.Patients and methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 78 women with PCOS and 82 healthy controls. Serum testosterone and vitamin D levels were measured using a COBAS® e411 analyzer, while CTX …

Chemical And Sensory Attributes Of Different Ethanol Reduction Methods In Muscadine Wine Production, Alexandra A. Escalera, Patricia C. Patricio Morillo, Drew Budner, Katherine A. Thompson-Witrick, Andrew J. Macintosh

Chemistry

There has been a recent shift in the global wine market towards reduced-alcohol wines. Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) have become a popular choice in many emerging markets; however, their suitability in reduced-alcohol wine production has not been extensively tested. In this study, methods to reduce ethanol in muscadine wine were compared to determine differences in chemical and sensory attributes and consumer preference. The methods evaluated included full fermentation time with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (control), reduced fermentation time with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (stopped fermentation), fermentation with Saccharomycodes ludwigii yeast (instead of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and vacuum distillation. The control and distilled wines were fermented …

Growth Measurements In Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anaemia From A Hydroxyurea (Hydroxycarbamide) Treatment Trial Relative To Unaffected Sibling Controls, Dennis Kalibbala, Vincent Mboizi, Grace Nambatya, Susan Murungi, Joan Ashaba, Catherine Nabaggala, Lynnth Turyagyenda, Deogratias Munube, Phillip Kasirye, Robert Opoka

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Spatiotemporal Modeling Of Maternal Mortality In South Carolina 2018-2023, Leah Wood, Ray Bai, Emily Mann

Senior Theses

Maternal death serves as a public health indicator due to fact that it is considered preventable with the availability of modern biomedicine, however, it persists broadly throughout the United States. Current literature outlines national trends in maternal mortality with complicating, preexisting conditions, and structural upstream factors often cited as being the largest contributors to increased risk. This study utilizes publicly available, county-level data for maternal death in addition to demographic and descriptive data in order to estimate maternal mortality rates in each of South Carolina’s 46 counties from 2018 to 2023. In order to address sparsity in the outcome variable …

A Better Great Plains: Bridging The Implementation Gap For A Better Future, David W. Sandahl

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Northern Great Plains is experiencing extensive native grassland loss and landscape degradation, jeopardizing both ecological integrity and the socio-economic systems that rely upon these ecosystems. In an early effort to lessen degradation, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which generated ecosystem services benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, and increased species diversity through the retirement of cropland and rangeland for 10- or 15-year contracts. However, CRP has not fully modernized alongside today’s agriculturalists and adoption remains shaped by an historically fraught socio-political context characterized by deep-seated mistrust between ranchers, …

Illuminated Magazine - Fall 2025, School Of Graduate Studies, East Tennessee State University

Illuminated: Graduate Student Research Magazine

• 2: Editorial Staff
• 5: Graduate Students and Advisors
• 6: ETSU’s First Master of Music Cohort Finds Its Voice on Campus
• 9: Where Are They Now? Jacob Mitchell
• 10: Characterizing and Enhancing Carotenoid Production in Tomato Plants
• 14: Where Are They Now? Jeremiah J. Flake
• 15: In the Gaps of the System: Centering BIPOC Mothers in Maternal Mental Health
• 18: Roles of Female Musicians in Appalachian Bluegrass
• 20: Where Are They Now? Alexis Moser
• 21: From Guyana to Tennessee: Bridging Gaps in Women’s Mental Health Care
• 24: Where Are They Now? Megan Roberts
• 26: Characterizing User Experience in AI Chatbots within …

Nutrition In Context: How Cultural Beliefs, Gender Norms, Social Environments, And Interventions Shape Maternal Nutrition In Nepal, Rebecca Fan

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Maternal nutrition is recognized as one of the most significant and modifiable determinants of persistent inequities in maternal and neonatal health. In Nepal, what women are able to eat and how they experience pregnancy are all shaped by a complex interplay of cultural beliefs, gendered expectations, household dynamics, structural barriers, and nutrition intervention efforts. This study examines these intersecting factors through ethnographic accounts, peer-reviewed scientific literature, expert interviews, and an analysis of current interventions operating across different levels. Specifically, to understand the social environments shaping maternal nutrition, the paper explores cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding food, women’s limited control over …

Border Decriminalization As A State Project: Lessons From Marijuana And Assisted Suicide Legalization Across The United States, Victor C. Romero

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

My prior work argued for the decriminalization of border crossings without proof of specific intent to violate another law (like drug trafficking), which is even less likely to happen now than it was when the piece was published, given the current presidential administration’s zealous deportation strategy and Congress’s seeming acquiescence. As such, I advocate for a second-best solution involving federal-state cooperative agreements wherein border states abutting both Mexico and Canada are given the option by the federal government to pass local legislation decriminalizing border crossings into their states as their communities desire. To the extent that the current presidential administration …

Contracting For Consumer Trade Compliance, Christine Abely

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Export compliance is becoming increasingly important for parties required to abide by U.S. law, including many online sellers of consumer products. These retailers’ contractual terms with their customers set forth a number of provisions governing the relationship between them, including those which deal with arbitration, indemnification, disclaimer of warranties, and other issues. Many such agreements also purport to create obligations on the part of the consumer as to export control and sanctions compliance relative to the products they purchase. These contract provisions attempt to do so, however, in often markedly different ways, and with language that may leave notable gaps …