Digital Commons Network^™

Methyl-Cpg-Binding Domain As A Protein Interaction Partner In Promoter Regulation And Neurodevelopment Through Evolutionary Expanded Entanglement, Stephanie M. Bilinovich, Surya B. Chhetri, Jackson T. Mitchell, Gage O. Leighton, Vladislav Jdanov, Jacob K. Zieba, Taylor W. Cook, Krysta L. Engel, Robert M. Vaughan, Humza Bhatti, Sadie L. Heeringa, Amy M. Wilstermann, Sophie Vanderweele, Akansha S. Das, Emily C. Sherry, Stephen A. Duncan, Katie L. Uhl, David C. Hinds, Mark Mackiewicz, Sarah K. Meadows, Kimberly M. Newberry, E. Christopher Partridge, Sara G. Cline, C. Joy Shepard, D. Casey Smith, Antonio Bradley, Daniel Vogt, Daniel B. Campbell, Lucas Pozzo-Miller, Caleb P. Bupp, Austin J. Goodyke, Surender Rajasekaran, Rebecca C. Knickmeyer, Benjie Blair

Research, Publications & Creative Work

There is increasing evidence that the methyl-binding domain (MBD) is a protein-protein interaction motif that can function independently of methylated DNA binding. The MBD proteins found throughout plants and invertebrates duplicated into multiple vertebrate DNA and non-DNA-binding members (MBD1, MBD2, MBD3, MBD4, MBD5, MBD6, MECP2, BAZ2A, BAZ2B, SETDB1, andSETDB2). Although many invertebrate species possess MBD proteins that can bind and recognize DNA methylation, the DNA-binding function has been independently lost multiple times, with only minor alterations to the protein interaction residues. The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, which interacts with MBD2/3 and is colocalized with MBD1/4 ChIP-Seq, is maintained …

Enhancing Engagement In Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Behaviors Through Motivational Text Messaging (Mtm) In An Underserved Population Of Memphis, Tennessee, Lindsey H. Dao

DNP Projects

Enhancing Engagement in Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Behaviors Through Motivational Text Messaging (MTM) in an Underserved Population of Memphis, Tennessee

Audit Culture And A Nonprofit In Northern Illinois, Onyenum Ruth Udoh

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Audit culture has become a defining feature of nonprofit life, shaping how organizations balance accountability to donors with responsibility to their communities. While existing scholarship often highlights large or international NGOs, less is known about how small and mid-sized nonprofits in the United States experience these pressures. This study focused on nonprofit in DeKalb County, Illinois, to examine how audits, donor restrictions, and accountability demands influence nonprofit practices, priorities, and relationships with their communities. Grounded in ethnographic fieldwork and organizational anthropology, I conducted eight weeks of participant observation and semi-structured interviews with seven staff across leadership, finance, program, and administrative …

Α Novel Ai-Based Modeling With Bias Classification Hybrid Risk Evaluation System For Confidence Enhanced Network Meta-Analysis Of Occupational Hazards And Burnout Risk Among Public Health Inspectors, Ioannis Adamopoulos

Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) serve a critical role in enforcing health and safety regulations, particularly under the growing pressures of climate change. With rising exposure to occupational hazards such as heat waves, air pollution, and vector-borne diseases, PHIs now face escalating stress and burnout. Geographical variability, limited resources, and institutional gaps in training and support further shape their complex risk profile. Despite growing concern, systematic, confidence-based evaluations of these occupational risks—especially tailored to PHIs—remain rare. This study addresses that gap using a Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA)-enhanced framework to assess domain-specific occupational risk profiles of PHIs working in climate-stressed environments. …

Pathways To Nursing And Midwifery Education In Tanzania With Reflection To The Global Perspectives: A Narrative Review, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Mary Lyimo, Eunice Pallangyo

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background/Objectives:

This review aimed to explore the pathways of nursing and midwifery education in Tanzania and compare them with global perspectives. The goal was to identify similarities, differences, and areas for potential improvement to align with international standards.

Methods:

A narrative literature review was carried out through databases with published studies in nursing and gray literature. The database search included Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, PsycINFO, clinical nursing, and gray literature from January 2014 up to December 2024. The search process was carried out by the authors with the following key words: admission, pathway to nursing profession, delivery mode, …

Effects Of Essential Oils Alone Or In Combination With Monensin In An In Vitro Model Of Ruminal Acidosis, Jorge L. Bonilla Urbina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oils and/or monensin on the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia, and pH in a ruminal acidosis in vitro model. Red Angus steers (n = 4; BW = 435 ± 9 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were 1) Fed no essential oils (RB) or monensin sodium (MON:CON); 2) Fed RB at a rate of 14 g daily with no Mon (RB+); 3) Fed no RB and fed Mon at 400 mg daily (MON+); 4) Fed …

Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Organic Food In Sri Lanka: Imports From Australia, Nalaka Kaushayla Mohotti

Theses

The Australian organic agriculture industry is thriving, with 9.9% of its agricultural land certified organic and production concentrated in fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy, collectively valued at over AUD 2 billion. At the same time, South Asia, including Sri Lanka, is experiencing significant growth in organic agriculture markets. In 1994, Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) was discovered among Sri Lankan paddy farmers. Research in 2012 linked it to hard water, pesticides, and heavy metals, triggering a pesticide ban and the ‘A Pesticides Free Nation’ program. This study analyses consumer buying behaviour for organic food in Sri Lanka, focusing …

Effect Of Exercise In Children, Jessica L. Moler

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Although the health benefits of exercise in adults are well established (Ruegsegger & Booth, 2017), the role of physical activity in promoting health in children is often overlooked. This narrative review synthesizes current research on the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of exercise in children aged 5 to 18, with a focus on providing practical, evidence-based guidance for families, educators, and healthcare providers. Studies consistently show that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors (Dias et al., 2017; Kovács et al., 2009; Migueles et al., 2023), improves insulin sensitivity (Bell et al., 2007; Davis et al., 2012), and …

Social Connection And Disability: A Longitudinal Experimental Study Of Intervention Effectiveness And Moderators, Krys Standley

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Background: Social disconnection is an epidemic-level problem that is exacerbated for people with disabilities. There is a pressing need for theory-based research to illuminate the factors that contribute to effective interventions for improving social connection in this population.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to test the hypothesis that the Peer Collective, a six-week, online, group-based intervention centered on social support topics, would result in increased levels of social connection among community-dwelling adults with any types of disabilities and 2) to examine potential moderating effects in this hypothesized relationship.

Method: A longitudinal intervention study design with random assignment …

Study Of The Relationship Between Interoceptive Sensibility And Distress Tolerance In Community And College Samples, William W. Moore, Ashley Howell

Modern Psychological Studies

Interoceptive sensibility involves the detection, integration, and interpretation of internal bodily signals, primarily from cardiovascular, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal systems. Dysfunction in interoceptive processing has been increasingly recognized as a clinically relevant factor in numerous neurological, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and distress tolerance, hypothesizing that individuals with heightened interoceptive sensibility may report poorer distress tolerance. This relationship could help identify patterns between interoceptive sensibility and tendencies toward maladaptive coping strategies or emotional dysregulation. To explore these relationships, two studies were conducted utilizing self-report measures of interoceptive sensibility and distress tolerance in …

Consumer Willingness To Buy And Willingness To Pay A Premium For Climate Smart Food Products, Jacob David Brewer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigated consumer willingness to buy (WTB) and willingness to pay a premium (WTPP) for Climate Smart (CS) food products. Focusing on soil health improvement practices such as biochar utilization, data from two surveys were analyzed. One survey was implemented and sought responses from consumer households in six midwestern states, and the other survey was distributed to institutional (universities, K-12 schools, corporations, etc.) and intermediary (restaurants, grocery stores, distribution centers, etc.) buyers. Consumer WTB and WTPP was examined through two independent ordered probit models, and the buyer survey data was utilized in descriptive analysis. Findings suggested that younger consumers, …

Best Management Practices: Sambucus Canadensis Propagation Techniques, Hannah Berendzen

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

American elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis) is a fruit-bearing shrub native to North America, traditionally utilized for medicinal and culinary purposes. In recent years, its popularity has surged due to emerging research supporting its immune-boosting properties. Despite its growing demand, standardized best management practices for elderberry cultivation, particularly propagation techniques, remain lacking. This study aims to clarify propagation recommendations by examining the influence cutting size and stem diameter on rooting success. A field study was conducted from February to May 2024, in which one-node and two-node dormant hardwood elderberry cuttings of varying stem diameters were planted in small …

Use Of Fecal Inoculum From Easy And Hard Keeper Horses To Determine In-Vitro Digestibility Of Feedstuffs Used In Equine Diets, Leah Bills

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Digestibility studies provide vital information for formulating ideal diets based on an animal’s ability to digest and absorb the available nutrients from the feed provided. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the nutrient digestion of horses between those that have a difficult time maintaining a healthy body weight (body condition score at or below 5, hard keeper) and those that easily maintain a healthy body weight (body condition score of >5, easy keeper). Six mature geldings averaging 534.1 ± 47.1 kg were used in this study. During the experimental period horses were …

Is Collegiate Athletics Already Professionalized While The Ncaa Still Recognizes College Sports As Amateur Athletics?, Justin Orsini

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Best Practices For Diabetes Education And Self-Care In Appalachia: A Literature Review., Angela J Occidental, Inga M Zadvinskis, Jacqueline Hoying

Nursing Articles

INTRODUCTION: The Appalachian Region has a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated adverse health outcomes. Although numerous papers report best practices for diabetes care and education, a clinician-friendly, synthesized summary of best practices tailored to Appalachian cultural preferences is lacking.

PURPOSE: This paper uses the Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt evidence-based framework to identify the best practices for T2DM care and education for Appalachian residents.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search using the databases CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and PubMed was guided by a PICOT question. Quality appraisals were completed for fifty-two articles; thirty papers were selected to synthesize …

Informal Caregivers Connecting On The Web: Content Analysis Of Posts On Discussion Forums, Michelle L. Foster, Chinenye Egwuonwu, Erin Vernon, Mohammad Alarifi, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Background: About 53 million adults in the United States offer informal care to family and friends with disease or disability. Such care has an estimated economic value of US $600 million. Most informal caregivers are not paid nor trained in caregiving, with many experiencing higher-than-average levels of stress and depression and lower levels of physical health. Some informal caregivers participate in web-based forums related to their caregiving role.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how informal caregivers use easy-to-access caregiving web-based forums, including the types of information they share and seek from others. It also aimed to gain insights into …

The Association Of Social Determinants Of Health And Type Ii Diabetes Self-Management Among Persons Living With Physical Disability (Mobility & Visual Impairments), Anita Aboagye

All ETDs from UAB

Type II Diabetes (T2D) management yield positive outcomes in glycemic control, lifestyle behaviors, knowledge enhancement, and self-care. Persons with disability (PWDs) - regardless of disability type - are faced with additional challenges in diabetes self- management. Moreover, PWDs exhibit adverse outcomes across various measures of social determinants of health (SDOH) compared to individuals without disabilities. This dissertation explored four research aims to examine the impact of adverse SDOH experiences on T2D self- management among persons with physical disability utilizing a preprint/reprint format - with each aim leading to a manuscript. Secondary data analysis using the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance …

Food Insecurity Among Graduate Students At The University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Amy Elizabeth Callahan

All ETDs from UAB

College food insecurity (FI) has grown steadily as a field of research over the past fifteen years. Existing research primarily has demonstrated that FI is a persistent problem with various risk factors and myriad potential impacts on students, though graduate students are largely understudied in favor of undergraduate and aggregated student populations. Given the unique circumstances graduate students face, as well as expected demographic differences such as age and household characteristics, this is a serious gap in the literature. This dissertation aims to investigate graduate student food insecurity in the United States, and particularly at the University of Alabama at …

Analysis Of Gas Station Drugs Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry And Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Megan Joos

All ETDs from UAB

Gas stations and head shops are a seemingly safe and legal marketplace for drug purchase. However, although marketed as dietary supplements or cognitive enhancers, the products sold there have been known to contain psychoactive substances which may be mislabeled or actually contain regulated substances. This study investigates the composition of such products, specifically those labeled as kratom and non-kratom Mitragyna species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and those labeled as phenibut using GC-MS and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Samples were acquired from retailers in the Birmingham, AL area. The products underwent both qualitative and quantitative analysis of their ingredients …

An In-Depth Review Of Food Insecurity In College Students Enrolled In Alabama Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Janice Dansby Washington

All ETDs from UAB

Food insecurity is a common issue in the United States (US), and special attention has been given to college students. There is empirical evidence of high food insecurity among African American students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (Duke et al., 2023; Dahl et al., 2022; Goldrick-Rab et al., 2018). The current research explores the food-insecure conditions of college students at HBCUs in Alabama, appealing for more studies highlighting the role of all stakeholders in combating this issue. The research questions posed in this study are significant, as they are expected to yield vital information regarding the experiences and …

Chronic Pain And Resilience: Associations And Interactions With Diet, Asia Wiggins

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic pain is a significant issue globally, affecting millions of people. One relatively new way mechanism to reduce pain is to promote resilience. Yet, the effect of resilience on chronic pain may differ by sociodemographic factors (like racialized group). Furthermore, access to therapies that promote resilience may be limited across populations. However, the utilization of diet interventions for chronic pain symptoms has also been well-examined. In addition, research has shown that diets can be related to psychological resilience. Therefore, beneficial diets could potentially be utilized as a catalyst to, not only promote resilience, but also reduce pain (in combination with …

Provider Perspectives On Produce Prescription Programs In A Rural Community, Heather Ward Dnp,Fnp-Bc, Sarah Giaquinta Md, Mph, Susan Storey Phd, Rn, Aocns

Nursing Publications, Posters, & Presentations

This poster was presented at the 2025 Nursing Research Symposium.

Purpose:

• To evaluate healthcare provider perspectives on PPPs in a rural community
• To identify barriers and facilitators to implementing a PPP
• To lay the groundwork for the successful implementation of a PPP in the Count

Use Of Machine Learning Models To Predict Microaspiration Measured By Tracheal Pepsin A., Annette Bourgault, Ilana Logvinov, Chang Liu, Rui Xie, Jan Powers Phd, Rn, Ccrn, Mary Lou Sole

Nursing Publications, Posters, & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Enteral feeding intolerance, a common type of gastrointestinal dysfunction leading to underfeeding, is associated with increased mortality. Tracheal pepsin A, an indicator of microaspiration, was found in 39% of patients within 24 hours of enteral feeding. Tracheal pepsin A is a potential biomarker of enteral feeding intolerance.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of microaspiration (tracheal or oral pepsin A). It was hypothesized that variables predicting the presence of tracheal pepsin A might be similar to predictors of enteral feeding intolerance.

METHODS: In this secondary analysis, machine learning models were fit for 283 adults receiving mechanical ventilation who had tracheal and …

Where Do New Englanders Buy Local Farm Food And How Often?, Cindy (Luyue) Zheng, Olivia Burton, Hannah Stokes-Ramos, Jessica Carson, Isaac Sohn Leslie, Analena B. Bruce

Faculty Publications

We conducted a population-based survey of food shopping attitudes and habits to inform decision-making about ways to expand market access for New England’s food producers; these findings can be generalized to the adult population of New England. Our research shows that more than half of New Englanders say farm stores or stands, farmers’ markets and retail stores are easily available to them, but they only shop occasionally at these places, indicating other barriers may limit participation. To understand potential barriers, we conducted 35 interviews with New Hampshire adult residents between June and November of 2023, capturing a diverse range of …

What Do New Englanders Prioritize When Purchasing Food?, Cindy (Luyue) Zheng, Olivia Burton, Hannah Stokes-Ramos, Jessica Carson, Isaac S. Leslie, Analena B. Bruce

Faculty Publications

We conducted a population-based survey of food shopping attitudes and habits to inform efforts to expand market access for New England farms. Our findings can be generalized to the adult population of New England. This research brief shares insights from our survey question asking respondents to indicate how important a series of food attributes are to their everyday food purchasing decisions (response options included “not important”, “neutral”, or “important”). Our findings show that over 70% of New Englanders say food that they like, is "tasty," "high quality" and "healthy" are important to them. The majority (78%) of New Englanders say …

Develop A Cross-Platform Toolset For In Situ Deep-Sea Coral Propagation, Joe Bevilacqua

Open Access Master's Theses

Mesophotic and deep-sea gorgonian octocorals in the Gulf of Mexico were significantly damaged following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, prompting a major federal investment in developing restoration techniques for these fragile, slow-growing communities. Asexual, in-situ coral propagation offers a biologically viable path for restoration at depth. However, current ROV systems are not optimized for the delicate, fine-scale interactions required to perform this process reliably. The objective of this research was to design, prototype, and evaluate a ROV-mountable toolset capable of preparing octocoral fragments for potting in epoxy substrate, with the additional goal of integrating the toolset into URI’s Coral Carousel …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Somatic Symptoms, And Athletic Injury Among Collegiate Student-Athletes, Samuel Aswegan

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Probiotic Supplementation In Ruminants: A Sustainable Alternative For Enhancing Health, Milk Production, And Rumen Function, Jovahna Williams

Research Papers

This paper examines the effects of probiotic supplementation on ruminant animals, with emphasis on several key areas including ruminant animal health, milk production, rumen microbial profile, microbial protein synthesis and diversity, and patterns of rumen fermentation. As global interest in economically and biologically sustainable alternatives to antibiotics continues to grow, probiotics have emerged as promising candidates for improving livestock productivity while promoting animal and consumer welfare.

The primary objectives of this paper are to evaluate the specific effects and benefits of different probiotic strains in ruminants, to assess their potential as replacements for traditional growth-promoting substances such as fermentation enhancers …

Molecular Interactions Between The Shellfish Pathogen Vibrio Coralliilyticus Re22 And The Probiont Phaeobacter Inhibens S4sm, Jessica Coppersmith

Open Access Dissertations

Oyster larvae aquaculture is an important industry, both economically and environmentally, helping to create sustainable food systems by supplying seed oysters to farms, and also to restoration projects aimed at building coastal resilience and improving water quality by rejuvenating wild populations. However, oyster larvae are highly susceptible to rapid mortality events, crashes, which can seriously impact the industry. One source of these crashes in hatchery systems is vibriosis, caused by pathogenic species of Vibrio bacteria that are ubiquitous in temperate coastal waters, and with rising surface water temperatures their prevalence and virulence are increasing. To prevent these larval crashes from …

A Serum Biomarker Panel And Miniarray Detection System For Tracking Disease Activity And Flare Risk In Lupus Nephritis, Chenling Tang, Gongjun Tan, Aygun Teymur, Jiechang Guo, Arturo Haces-Garcia, Weihang Zhu, Richard Williams, Jing Ning, Ramesh Saxena, Tianfu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Lupus nephritis (LN) leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD), and early diagnosis and disease monitoring of LN could significantly reduce the risk. however, there is not such a system clinically. In this study we aim to develop a biomarker-panel based point-of-care system for LN.

Methods: Immunoassay screening combined with genomic expression databases and machine learning techniques was used to identify a biomarker panel of LN. A quantitative biomarker-panel mini-array (BPMA) system was developed and the sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability of the were examined. The performance of BPMA in disease monitoring was validated with machine models using a …