Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Affecting School Readiness And Level Of Distraction Among Black Children During Virtual Learning In The United States, Imani Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an shift to mandatory virtual learning (VL) for kindergarten through grade 12 students, disrupting educational systems globally and exposing systemic inequities. Although researchers had explored health and education disparities separately, they had not adequately examined the intersection of child health, specifically body mass index (BMI) and health-affected ability, with school readiness and level of distraction in VL environments. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine associations between BMI, health affected ability, school readiness, and distraction levels among U.S. Black children engaged in VL in the 2020 school year, controlling for gender, age, and …

Effects Of Hambeles (Myrtus Communis L.) Leaf On In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation Parameters, Methane Production And Protozoa Counts, Çağrı Kale, Fatma Özkan, Taylan Aksu, Devrim Saripinar Aksu, Nuriye Tuğba Bingöl, Mehtap Güney, Süleyman Ercüment Önel

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Current ruminant nutrition studies are based on improving rumen fermentation to enhance performance and reduce greenhouse gases. For this purpose, the use of herbal-based feed supplements has become widespread. To determine the effects of adding Hambeles (Myrtus communis L.) leaf to some roughage on rumen fermentation parameters by in vitro gas production technique. Corn silage, alfalfa hay and wheat straw were used as roughage. Hambeles leaf was added to roughage at the rate of 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% of the dry matter. According to the data obtained, it was determined that adding 6% and 9% Hambeles leaves to corn …

Sustainability In Culinary Arts Education, Nimra Farooqui

Education Department Student Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Social Media Use And Its Association With Eating-Related Attitudes And Behaviors In Rural University Students, Erin S. Clark

Honors College Theses

Context: Eating disorders (EDs) are psychiatric illnesses wherein atypical patterns of eating induce harmful physical and psychosocial consequences. ED rates have increased globally in recent years, jumping from an estimated 3.5% to 7.8% between 2006 and 2018. ED onset typically occurs in adolescence and early adulthood and results from complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. One such social factor is social media (SM) usage.

Research Design: The present quantitative study examines how measures of SM use (including use intensity, activity, personal perceptions of SM, and initial age of introduction to SM) relate to ED risk among rural university …

Genetically Modified Crops In Africa: Evidence On Adoption, Economic Benefits, Environmental Effects, And Constraints, Aloyce Hepelwa, Innocensia John

Tanzanian Economic Review

Africa faces deep food insecurity with over 300 million undernourished people driven by, low agricultural productivity, and climate shocks. To enhance food production and sustainable development, there is potential seen in genetically modified (GM) crops. To explore the potential of GM crops, this paper examines their production, adoption, economic and environmental impacts, adoption barriers, and policy implications in Africa and globally. This is done using a structured narrative review of peer-reviewed literature, reports, and policy documents (2014–2024) sourced from different databases complemented by stakeholder consultations. The findings show that GM has expanded considerably worldwide driven by high productivity, reduced pesticide …

Predicting, Culturing, And Characterizing Beneficial And Detrimental Strains Associated With Plant Phenotypes., Anastasiia Onyshchenko

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Modern agriculture’s reliance on chemical fertilizers has greatly increased crop yields but has also contributed to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and unsustainable resource use. Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria offer a sustainable alternative, enhancing plant growth through mechanisms such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and phytohormone modulation, while also protecting plants against pathogens and abiotic stresses. However, soil microbial communities are highly diverse and structurally complex, making the isolation of individual beneficial strains challenging. Traditional approaches rely on selective media and labor-intensive phenotypic screening, which often capture only a small fraction of soil diversity. To overcome these limitations, we combined …

The Relationship Between Agency Understaffing And Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

For families trying to enroll in public programs to meet essential needs like food and health care, speed and timeliness can be critical. But people face numerous barriers in enrolling in these programs and in maintaining eligibility once enrolled. This research brief uses a new measure of staff workloads in public benefit agencies for every U.S. state and examines the link between these workloads and the experience of administrative burdens among low-wage workers. The analyses draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Survey.

Evaluation Of A Food Distribution Center, Antonia Danielle Bates-Ford, Darlene Showalter

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Food insecurity in the United States is experienced by one in seven American households. In 2023, the food insecurity rate for the U.S. was 13.5%, which was 6% higher than the prior year. As a result of these rising numbers, emphasis has been placed on food insecurity as a social determinant of health that, on its own, serves as a contributing factor and predictor of patient outcomes. The food distribution center is crucial in alleviating food insecurity in Madison County. This program evaluation assesses the efficacy and operational efficiency of the center, providing insights for strategic enhancements and informed policy …

Character Of Leaders Initiative Celebrates People And Virtues, Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi officials are working to integrate virtues into campus life while recognizing those who personify the traits through an initiative launched this fall.

From Liahona To Talk: An Inspired Method 1, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

If our past series, Actionable Insights from the Liahona, laid out essential principles like a detailed instruction manual, this time, I'm shifting gears into a softer narrative.

The core question is: "How do we make sure these essential principles stick?"

To answer that, I've sprinkled in approachable metaphors and a bit of humor that will make you want to slap your knee and exclaim, "That's exactly my story!" My goal is that, once you've finished reading or listening, these vital principles will adhere to your mind like a magnet on a refrigerator door.

From Liahona To Talk: An Inspired Method 2, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

In my previous series, Actionable Insights from the Liahona, I introduced many principles that felt like tightly cut jewels. This time, I'm changing the tempo and delivering those same principles set to a heart-stirring melody. I've set aside the rigid outlining and repackaged the principles with relatable stories and humorous metaphors that I hope will make you chuckle and think, "Oh, I know that feeling!" My wish is that this new approach helps these vital principles to gently drop anchor deep within your heart.

Community Water Fluoridation And Oral Health: Proposal & Systematic Review, Kristina Lauranzano

Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) Theses

Fluoridation of community drinking water systems has been a staple of preventative dental care in the United States since the mid 20^th century. In recent years, there has been increased public discourse pertaining to the safety and efficacy of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF). The aim of the proposed study is to identify if there is an association between the CWF status (never fluoridated, currently fluoridated, or formerly fluoridated) and oral health status of a community in New England. This study will be a retrospective cross-sectional study design using NHANES Oral Health Status Survey data from the 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 …

Provider Perspectives Of Produce Prescription Programs In A Rural Community: Evaluating Barriers, Heather Joy Ward, Sarah Giaquinta, Susan Storey

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Poor diet is the leading identifiable cause of poor health.¹ Diets high in produce are recommended to improve chronic diseases.² Food insecurity, the inability to access sufficient food to meet basic needs,³ has higher rates among rural households.⁴ Produce Prescription Programs (PPP) successfully pair access to fruits/vegetables with education by a dietician⁶ for people with chronic disease. Health care providers (HCPs) are well-suited to screen for food insecurity and refer patients to PPPs. However, day-to-day practice demands make this challenging .^7,8 This project examined HCPs perceptions of and barriers to referring patients to PPPs. …

Exploring Predictors Of School Lunch Completion: Taste, Time, And Student Preferences, Bhanoday Boda

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Struggles Of Minorities In Low-Income Communities With Affording And Financing Housing In San Antonio, Daniel Maes

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Affordability of housing has emerged as a major socio-economic issue in San Antonio, Texas,

especially among minority groups and other low-income groups. This thesis provides an analysis of the underlying factors that lead to housing unaffordability and the systemic factors that deny

these groups of people a chance to live in stable and affordable houses. This paper combines both primary survey data of local residents and secondary governmental and academic data, which

allows identifying the intersection of income differences, increased property prices,

gentrification, and the lack of affordable housing to worsen the affordability crisis. The

evaluation of the perception of …

Sustaining People And Planet: A Triple Bottom Line Analysis Of The University Of San Diego’S Initiative To Empower The Community And Climate Through Food Waste Reduction, Iris L. Dao

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Every year, 17% of the world’s food supply is wasted by consumers, contributing to 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When food is unconsumed and disposed of, food waste rots in landfills and open dumps, which is one of the largest contributing factors to the planet’s drastic climate change. As a result, crop yield, growth, and nutrition are negatively impacted, disrupting the food supply chain and food security, while 3.1 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. College and university campuses are one of the most concentrated generators of food waste due to large-scale food preparation and buffet-style services. As …

Healthcare Access, Economic Stability, And Food Security And Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Hispanic Adults Living In The United States, Jennifer Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic adults in the United States experience disparities in chronic disease detection and outcomes, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Social determinants of health (SDoH), including economic stability, healthcare access, and food security, play a crucial role in shaping health risks and diagnostic opportunities in this population. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between selected SDoH factors and self-reported IBD diagnosis among U.S. Hispanic adults. This study utilized survey data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey (n = 29,457). Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationships between variables while …

Using Food As A Fun And Effective Teaching Tool In Preschool, Kelly Furr, Melani Duffrin, Eugene A. Geist

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Food is one of the most engaging, hands-on materials for preschool classrooms. This article highlights research from the Food FAN Academy (Furr, 2023), which demonstrates how food can be used as a teaching tool across early childhood learning environments. Practical strategies are provided for preschool teachers, including detailed lesson plans that connect to early math, science, literacy, and social development. The article emphasizes the importance of using everyday materials, cultural inclusivity, and active learning methods to promote curiosity, health awareness, and foundational skills in young learners.

Ellen White And Environmental Ethics, Joann Davidson

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Ovarian Characteristics And Propylene Glycol Supplementation On Pregnancy Rates Per Ai In Suckled Beef Cows Subjected To A 7-Day Co-Synch Fixed-Time Ai Protocol Across Seasons, Body Condition Scores, And Postpartum Intervals, Pachara Pearodwong, Sarawanee Khunmanee, Kajohn Nitiwararuk, Thuwanon Boonkerd, Thananon Junsuri, Andrew A. Ponter, Winai Kaewlamun

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The present study evaluated the independent effects of ovarian characteristics and oral propylene glycol (PG) supplementation on pregnancy rates in suckled beef cows subjected to the 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR fixed-time AI (FTAI) protocol across different seasons, body condition scores (BCS; 5-point scale), and parturition-to-FTAI intervals. Cows received a CIDR insert and 10 μg GnRH on day -10, followed by 25 mg PGF2α at CIDR removal on day -3, and another 10 μg GnRH 72 h later (day 0). In Study 1, the ovarian characteristics of 36 cows were assessed transrectally on days -10 and 0 relative to the FTAI. …

Assessing Health Literacy In Somali Women Living In The United States With Hypertension, Tawanna Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy (HL) remains a critical public health concern, particularly among immigrant populations. This qualitative study explored how low health literacy relates to hypertension (HTN) management among Somali immigrant women. Low HL and chronic conditions such as HTN continue to affect this group disproportionately, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Guided by the Health Belief Model, this research examined Somali immigrant women’s perceptions of HL, how literacy levels influence hypertension management, and the barriers they encounter when managing their condition. Five Somali immigrant women who met the criteria participated in semi-structured interviews. All spoke English, were at least 18 years …

Inferring Disease Progression Networks To Predict Comorbidities, Nolan Stuessy

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Consensus-Based Expert Recommendations For Diagnosis And Clinical Management Of Vanishing White Matter., Romy J. Van Voorst, Daphne H. Schoenmakers, Joshua L. Bonkowsky, Adeline Vanderver, Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann, Geneviève Bernard, Enrico Bertini, Ali Fatemi, Paulo V. Sgobbi, Nicole I. Wolf, Samuel Groeschel, Davide Tonduti, Caroline Sevin, Jennifer L. Orthmann-Murphy, Ludger Schöls, Ettore Salsano, Bernard Brais, Nicole Jaffe, Kasper W. Ter Horst, Sabine E. Hannema, Katherine G. Hayes, Jochen Meyburg, Marc Van Heerde, Anne Marie Sbrocchi, Rosalina Van Spaendonk, Isabelle Thiffault, Geesje H. Hofsteenge, Carolina Sudmeier-Broek, Corrie Timmer, Donna Skwirut, Allyson Buck, Bret Hollberg, Ron Chapleau, Hanka Dekker, Susan G. Campbell, Truus E M Abbink, Prisca S. Leferink, Marjo S. Van Der Knaap

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Vanishing white matter (VWM) is a rare disorder, characterized by degeneration of CNS white matter, clinically often exacerbated by stressors such as fever and minor head trauma. VWM is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the EIF2B1-5 genes, causing reduced activity of eukaryotic initiation of translation factor 2B, resulting in dysregulation of the integrated stress response (ISR). New scientific insights and increased clinical trials in experimental therapies highlight the need for clinical guidelines to improve and standardize care for patients with VWM worldwide. Standardized care is important for therapy development, as it lessens clinical variability of trial participants at study …

Advancing Louisiana's Cropping Systems: Sustainable Bioenergy Production, Cover Crops, And Technology Integration, Pedro R. Carrillo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The adoption of cover crops in Louisiana is lower than the national average, underscoring the need for region-specific research to address environmental challenges and demonstrate the short-term benefits of these practices within existing production systems. This research evaluated the integration of cover crops (CC) in energy cane (Saccharum spp.) and no-till cotton systems, focusing on their effects on soil health, nitrogen (N) management, and biomass production. Soil health indicators (SHIs), including enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, and urease), protein N, inorganic N concentrations (nitrate and ammonium), soil organic matter (SOM), and microbial community composition assessed through ester-linked fatty acid …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, December 9, 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Communities With Diverse Subsistence Needs Require A Variety Of Functional Tree Traits, Minoseheno Rakotovao, Cortni Borgerson, Kerry A. Brown, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Steig E. Johnson, Onja H. Razafindratsima, Ruth Mendum, Onjaniaina O. Andrianjatovo, Harisoa B. Ravaomanalina, Seheno Andriantsaralaza, Sheila M. Holmes

Department of Anthropology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Tree species preference is an understudied yet crucial component of sustainable forest management, as unsustainable harvesting can lead to non-random loss of functional traits. We examine wood resource preference across five regions of Madagascar's biodiverse eastern humid forests. We asked forest users in 19 men's and 19 women's focus groups to list their preferred tree species for common short- (charcoal, firewood) and long-term (house construction, furniture, tools) uses. We then measured functional traits of 260 preferred and common tree species: height, DBH, bark thickness, specific leaf area, wood specific gravity, and seed dispersal syndrome in the surrounding landscape. Using household …

Adolescent Children’S Risk Of Long Covid-19 Syndrome Based On Diet And Demographic Factors From An Online Survey, Christopher Waskewich

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Limited information is available on how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has [JG1] affected adolescents regarding long-term health risks. This quantitative study focused on the effect of U.S. adolescents’ daily diet, race/ethnicity, levels of income, family level of education, access to health care, age, and comorbidities on the risks of long COVID-19 syndrome. I used the constructs of the health belief model to understand the impact of those variables. The online survey results (N = 298) found that adolescents whose daily vegetable consumption was more than daily recommendations (2–3 cups) had a lower odds ratio of having long COVID-19 syndrome …

Conceptions Of Indigenous Child Development: Perspective Of Families And Health Professionals, Francisca Marquez-Doren, Camila Lucchini-Raies, Marcela Gonzalez-Aguero, Angelica Farías-Cancino

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction. The factors that deprive children of their rights are well known, and one of them is their belonging to indigenous peoples. Indigenous children in their early childhood are exposed to greater social inequalities, as they are born and develop in more unfavorable living conditions (Alarcón Muñoz et al., 2021; Pyerín & Weinstein, 2015). The percentage of poverty, deficits in education, social security and work is higher in indigenous early childhood (Pyerín & Weinstein, 2015). In Chile, children belonging to indigenous peoples account for around 14% of the population between 0 and 9 years of age, with the Mapuche, Aymara …

Exploring The Synergistic Effect Of Curcumin On Gelatin Films For Real-Time Pork Freshness Assessment, Risna Erni Yati Adu, Gebhardus Djugian Gelyaman, Kristoforus Wilson Kia, Emirensiana Oki, Maria Desi Silab, Angelina Knaofmone

Chimica et Natura Acta

A smart film based on hydromethanol-curcumin has been developed as a freshness detector for local packaged pork. It was fabricated using solution casting method by varying the curcumin content to determine its effect on the chemical, physical, mechanical and functional characteristics of the film. Film characteristics were determined using colorimeter, TGA, FTIR, SEM and bioactivity assay. Film response was analyzed in different pH buffer solutions, different acid base media and pork samples during the storage period. Film characteristics such as antioxidant, antibacterial activity and surface color was improved by increasing curcumin concentration. On the other hand, mechanical dan physicochemical characteristics …

Analysis Of Source–Sink Organ Dynamics In Kaffir Lime (Citrus Hystrix Dc.) At Different Plant Ages, Siti Auliya Rahma, Rahmat Budiarto, Syariful Mubarok

Jurnal Kultivasi

Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC.) is a leafy spice commodity widely used as a culinary ingredient, in bio-pharmaceuticals, and as a raw material for essential oil production. Despite its high demand, leaf productivity remains relatively low, highlighting the need for improved cultivation practices. A better understanding of source–sink dynamics is essential, as leaf production is strongly influenced by the balance between assimilate-producing and assimilate-consuming organs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the source-sink capacity of kaffir lime plants of different ages as a preliminary step toward identifying cultivation strategies to enhance leaf production. The experiment was conducted at Bale Tatanen …