Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Academics Using Brain Breaks, Nicole Rose Graeve

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how brain breaks, also known as activity breaks, impact student learning and retention as well as student overall well-being. The compiled research in this review demonstrates how breaks taken throughout the day not only help with health benefits, but also help students academically. Breaks help students perform better in the classroom, but even more importantly, students reported greater focus, engagement, and less restlessness after taking either a brain or academic break. This is reinforced through effective classroom implementation and proper application of brain breaks. Examples of common brain breaks include a video with active instructions to get …

Southern Adventist University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025, Southern Adventist University

Catalog, Undergraduate

Southern Adventist University's undergraduate catalog for the academic year 2024-2025.

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, J. Li, Y. Ge, J. Gamon, L. A. Puntel Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Gardner-Webb, The Magazine 2025, Fall (Volume 30), Noel T. Manning

Gardner-Webb, The Magazine

Gardner-Webb, The Magazine, previously titled The Webb Magazine, focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue includes articles celebrating 60 years of the GWU Nursing program, updates from interim president Nate Evans, stories from GWU Alumni (Alana Dagenhart, Keon Williams Jr., and Caroline Leitten), and Dr. Steve Harmon's coverage of the installation of Pope Leo from Rome.

Family Secrets: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Self After Dna Revelation, Joanna Rybnick M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

How much do we know about our families? There is limited research on the influx of family secrets revealed through genetic ancestry (genealogical/DNA) testing, a method utilized to learn about genealogy and family history that has become increasingly popular (Jorde & Bamshad, 2020). The present study stems from available research and archival stories and allows for a deeper understanding of how family secrets may present themselves in therapy. Previous research has focused on the content of secrets, categorizing themes within secrets, and the various functions of secret-keeping within family dynamics (Vangelisti, Caughlin, & Timmerman, 2001; Vangelisti & Caughlin, 1997). Additionally, …

The Supreme Court During Covid-19: Keeping Its Head When Those About It Were Losing Theirs, Timothy C. Macdonnell

Scholarly Articles

Alexander Hamilton's Federalist No. 78 suggests that one of the reasons for a life-tenured judiciary whose pay cannot be altered is because "judges may be an essential safeguard against the effects of occasional ill humours in the society." Our Nation's history is replete with instances of ill humor leading to violations of constitutional rights. Wars, epidemics, natural disasters, civil unrest, and economic crises all demand governments to act and act swiftly. But courts, and particularly the United States Supreme Court, are necessary to check governments when they go too far in contending with an emergency.

Historically the country's courts have …

Waldorf Education: New Perspectives On A Holistic Approach, Martyn Rawson

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This article outlines some of the core ideas underlying the practices of Waldorf education as re-envisioned by an experienced practitioner, as a contribution to the discussion about the educational implications of transpersonal psychology. It outlines a pedagogical anthropology that takes the spiritual dimension into account. It distinguishes between the lived body, the emergent psyche and the agentic Self as the spiritual core of being in the person. Learning is explained as a transformative process that involves the changing relationships to one’s own body, to others and to the world through which potentialities become abilities. The aim of the transformative education …

Improving Dental Hygiene Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Confidence Toward Prenatal Oral Health Through Experiential Learning, Denise C. Mckinney, Sinjini Sikdar, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Purpose Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for maternal health as well as the health of their child. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine dental hygiene (DH) students' knowledge of prenatal oral health before and after receiving an asynchronous prenatal oral health care training (POHCT), and their attitudes and self-perceived confidence before and after receiving an experiential learning opportunity with a pregnant and/or post-partum client at a Women's Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC) clinic.

Methods A one-group pre/post-test design was used. This IRB-approved study (#2027439-4) utilized a convenience sample of DH student participants (n=37) in their …

The Effect Of Biochar As Partial Cement Replacement On Mechanical, Durability, Thermal, And Microstructural Properties Of Concrete - Comparison With Biomass, Aysha Yousef Alsaadi

Theses

This thesis paper examines the use of 1% cement replacement with date palm derived biochar and compares it to 1% replacement of biomass. The main aim of this idea is to reduce the carbon emissions from concrete production factories and utilize the abundant waste from date palm plants, which is prevalent in the UAE. Three samples of concrete were used: 1% biochar mix, 1% biomass mix, and a control mix. Mechanical tests, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, were evaluated. Thermal conductivity, chloride penetration, water absorption, and characterization testing by XRD, TGA, SEM, and FTIR were conducted. As for compressive …

Dda Annual Report 2025, Tennessee. Department Of Disability And Aging

Annual Reports

This document is the annual report of the Department of Disability and Aging for the fiscal year.

Zinc Promotes Mitochondrial Health Through Pgc-1alpha Enhancing Bacterial Clearance In Macrophages Infected With Mycobacterium Avium Complex, Ruxana Sadikot, Prabagaran Narayanasamy, Zhihong Yuan, Deandra R. Smith, Daren L. Knoell

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

Mitochondria are increasingly recognized as important contributors to immune function, in addition to energy production. They exert this influence through modulation of various signaling pathways that regulate cellular metabolism and immune function in response to pathogens. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) is the primary transcription factor and regulator involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. Long known to be involved in immune function, zinc (Zn) is also required for proper mitochondrial function. It is increasingly recognized that many cellular immunometabolic activities are also Zn-dependent. Taken together, we investigated the role of Zn deficiency, both dietary and genetically induced, and Zn …

Additional Information - Kate Fields Interview, Tennessee State University

Hear from Kate Fields - Native Nashvillian Feeding the Flocks

No abstract provided.

Mind Matters: Addressing Food Insecurities As A Mental Health Barrier, Nicholas Thomas Guerra

OT Doctoral Capstones

Food insecurity (FI)—the limited or uncertain access to adequate food—is a growing concern among college students and is linked to increased stress, poor mental health, and reduced occupational engagement. Nationally, 41% of college students report experiencing FI, with higher rates among marginalized groups (Nickolaus et al., 2020). At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), 61% of students are affected, a figure influenced by financial strain, limited access to aid, and unique border-related barriers such as immigration status and language (El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, 2022; Weigel et al., 2007). This capstone project, grounded in the Person-Environment- Occupation (PEO) model, …

Internship Experience With Sunbelt Basketball Association, Jordan Clark

Theses & ETDs

The internship provided a valuable learning experience centered around key professional goals. One primary objective was to develop networking skills and foster new professional relationships, an effort that began immediately through mentorship from the internship supervisor. Emphasis was placed on the long-term value of strategic networking and its application within professional contexts. Another objective was to gain practical tools and insights for entering the workforce, particularly in marketing and finance/sales. Creative marketing strategies were developed to increase league visibility, while financial insights were gained by analyzing revenue streams and proposing ideas to enhance profitability. Overall, the internship offered a deeper …

Observing Activity With Multi-Sensory And Single Sensory Enrichment As Means Of Improving Animal Welfare For An American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis), Melody Fulmer

Theses & ETDs

American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are large reptiles living in marshy areas and are mostly active at night. Though being active at night is a natural behavior for them, alligators in human care will tend to adjust to their keepers schedule when getting fed and offered enrichment during the day. The goal for this project was to find an enrichment for an alligator in human care and help encourage her to become more active at night as a means to increase her wellbeing in human care. I tested the hypothesis that she will find multi-sensory enrichment more engaging over single sensory …

A Behavioral Analysis On The Orca (Orcinus Orca) Attacks In The Mediterranean Sea, Alexis Hollick

Theses & ETDs

The GLADIS pod of orcas inhabits the Strait of Gibraltar where the waters of the northern Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea intersect. This pod has initiated hundreds of attacks towards vessels in the Strait since May of 2020. Attacks consist of circling boats, ramming hulls, dismantling rudders, and other destructive activities. This review will examine four major hypotheses in an attempt to evaluate the cause behind these attacks. Play is assessed through five key criteria: the behavior does not result in food acquisition or physical reward, differs from functional activities like hunting or grooming, is repeated but not perfected, …

Probing Alopecia Areata: Jak-Stat Dysregulation And Immuno-Epigenetic, Neuroendocrine, Pharmacological, And Biopsychosocial Complexities In Autoimmune Pathogenesis, Isaiah Johnson

Theses & ETDs

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder in which hair is lost abruptly because the immune system damages hair follicles. In this thesis, I will first review the epidemiology and biology of the disorder and will then discuss the therapeutic potential of JAK-STAT pathway inhibition for AA and the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of JAK inhibitors, in particular Ruxolitinib. The Janus kinase/signal transducer/activator of transcription JAK-STAT pathway is a major driver of immune and inflammatory response, and its dysregulation contributes to AA. Ruxolitinib, by preventing JAK’s activity, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, allowing restoration of immune privilege in hair follicles and regenerating hair. …

Full Issue

Quidditas

No abstract provided.

Centering Maternal Breastfeeding In The Old English Metrical Charm 6, Kierra E. Burns

Quidditas

This article examines female authority and self-determination in relation to maternal lactation during early medieval England. While breastfeeding has always been essential to infant survival, its cultural significance extends beyond nourishment alone, reflecting broader social values and assumptions about gender and motherhood. Within this context, early English texts reveal that lactating mothers were regarded as natural authorities in the processes of childbearing and nourishing their infants. Through analysis of historical and literary evidence, this article argues that maternal breastfeeding was viewed in inherently positive and empowering terms with maternal self-determination and authority at the heart of that positivity. The article …

Validating Search Strategies For Healthy People 2030’S Leading Health Indicators: An Update On The Ph/Ha Caucus’S Structured Evidence Queries Project, Samantha Guss, Anita Kuiken, Erin Wentz, Dani Lapreze, Erin Reardon, Laura Zeigen, Courtney Pyche

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The Public Health/Health Administration (PH/HA) Caucus’s work in developing Structured Evidence Queries (SEQs) for Healthy People 2030’s leading health indicators, an initiative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aimed at improving the nation’s health in measurable ways highlights their search validation strategy and plans for outreach and assessment as the project nears completion. The SEQs, developed for PubMed, are designed to measure progress toward specified health outcomes while addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The team collaboratively developed and peer-reviewed these SEQs, refining criteria and creating a validation strategy using resources from HHS. Plans for …

Layer Industry Update: Nutrition Associated With Changes In Production Systems, Kenneth E. Anderson, Ishab Poudel

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This is not a hardcore research presentation but rather an overview of three North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Tests. I used the 39th, 40th, and 41st Layer Test Reports that cover the years 2013 through 2025. The proceedings cover white and brown egg strains as groups and the cage and cage-free production environments. Over all three of these tests the production environments were the same and met UEP Cage standards and the Humane Farm Animal Care cage-free standards. There are papers outlining the changes in more detail with all the statistics. This is an overview of visual trends in …

Field Experience And Production Challenges In Australia And New Zealand, Nick Rodgers

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Variability management represents the primary technical challenge facing the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) broiler industry's vertically integrated operations. This analysis examines systematic approaches to controlling seasonal performance fluctuations, raw material quality variations, emerging disease pressures, and evolving welfare demands. Key variability sources include climatic extremes, season to season raw material quality and nutrient value variability and intermittent [mostly enteric] disease challenges, particularly in no antibiotics ever (NAE) production systems. Solutions require a scientific, data-driven approach with insights from field experience for causation identification and a collaborative approach within business functional units, and across industry collaborators such as suppliers and …

State Plan On Aging, Tennessee. Department Of Disability And Aging

State Plan on Aging

This document includes plans to be conducted by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging under the provisions of the Older Americans Act from the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.

2025-2026 Factbook, Tennessee. General Assembly

Factbook

This Fact Book provides an overview of the state's budget for the fiscal year.

Gastronomy At The Heart Of Communication: A Locus Of Human Conviviality, Victoria M. O’Keefe

Theses and Dissertations

The significance of food over time is central to humanity and can aid in making people humane in a myriad of ways. This study seeks to (a) define the role of food in communication across sectors of global society and in the media realm (b) by analyzing a data set of all food related publications of the flagship magazine of UNESCO, The Courier, (c) through ethnographic study and inductive coding, I draw themes and trends that alter food communication from a multinational organization and pass the content through a theoretical lens and Large Language Model tool, to (d) illuminate implications …

Propelling Whole-Cell Biosensor Creation By Leveraging Gene Fusion To Assemble Synthetic Functional Transcription Factors For The Detection Of Biomarkers, Samuel J. Verzino

Theses and Dissertations

Biosensors are analytical devices that leverage biological modules for the detection of molecules of interest. As customizable tools designed to aid in a wide array of diagnostics, these instruments are rapidly advancing the field of synthetic biology. While varied in their construction and purpose, biosensors are ultimately concerned with converting a physicochemical stimulus into a detectable signal. Among the many existing variants, whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) stand out due to their versatility and engineering potential. WCBs are a type of biosensor in which a physiologically active cell sustains an array of biomolecular elements - receptors, transporters, regulators, etc. - capable of …

Embracing An Online Literary Identity: How Booktok Makes Literature More Accessible, Elizabeth Kaufmann

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I examine conversations that occur on TikTok’s literary corner, “BookTok.” My research involves focusing on the multimodality of BookTok, following comment sections and search options, as well as analyzing the components of the videos themselves. BookTok content creators focus on these features in order to spark literary conversation in an approachable way. These influencers heavily sway the app itself and the books being recommended. Extending my research beyond BookTok influencers, this essay seeks to understand the value of influencer backing on products towards their social legitimacy. Some users on TikTok are not fans of how the algorithm …

Sustainability Risk In Guyana’S Oil Sector: An Analytical Framework For Balancing Environmental And Economic Impacts, Kayla B. Moonsammy

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the sustainability risks posed by Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil sector, with particular focus on balancing economic benefits against environmental vulnerabilities. The primary aim is to develop a Sustainability Risk Index (SRI) that captures the multidimensional impacts of offshore oil development using an integrated data-driven framework. Specifically, this thesis examines how emissions, biodiversity loss, oil spill exposure, economic volatility, and social development indicators interact to influence sustainability outcomes in the context of Guyana’s transition into a major petroleum-producing nation. The research does not involve human participants; instead, it draws on publicly available datasets collected from 2015 to 2024. …

Nutrition Assessment Of Substance Use Population Compared To Control Population, Lalitha Indrani Dasari

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study aims to evaluate and compare the nutritional status of individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) with a matched control population. Poor nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and malabsorption are common in individuals with SUD, potentially affecting recovery outcomes. This study involves collection of biometric data, demographic information, conducting a structured nutrition survey and performing a one-time blood draw of 35ml to assess key nutritional markers such as lipid panel, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), magnesium, selenium, chromium, zinc, copper and lithium. While the original protocol was designed to recruit approximately 110 participants across …

Assessing The Impact Of Key Environmental Factors On Caretta Caretta Nesting Patterns In Sarasota County, Matthew Senecal

Theses & ETDs

Environmental factors can impact development for oviparous species during incubation. For sea turtles temperature can influence the sex ratio of the hatchlings and can decrease survival. The substrate the eggs are incubated in can differ between nests thus, impacting nests differently. This study examines the impact of sand characteristics, specifically grain size, color, calcium carbonate, change in sand surface temperature, and hydraulic conductivity, on overall nest viability in Sarasota County, Florida. Darker sands, such as those found further to the south, may lead to higher incubation temperatures and faster hatching rates, potentially increasing the proportion of female hatchlings. Laboratory analysis …