Digital Commons Network^™

Minimizing Musculoskeletal Injury Risk In Health Care Professionals With Education On Physical Activity Recommendations, Emma H. Foran

Honors College Theses

Working in healthcare settings that require patient handling is physically demanding - over 80% of providers involved in patient handling report work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Injuries or exacerbation of a previous injury may occur if the individual cannot tolerate heavy workloads. Injuries that cause lost work time or work restrictions impact the healthcare team, may alter quality of life, and impact employee income. A practical way to minimize these effects is to prevent WMSDs. Training providers to use proper body mechanics, practice patient handling, and engage in regular exercise designed to increase muscular strength and endurance through resistance training improves …

Community Vitality: Establishing Blue Zone Based Education For Elementary Students, Eliza G. Heinrich

Honors College Theses

Blue Zones are areas of the world where people live longer and healthier lives. These areas share several key characteristics called the Power 9 (Buettner & Skemp, 2016). The goal of this study was to increase general knowledge of Blue Zones as well as the implementation of healthy habits to increase the longevity of the population of Calloway County, Kentucky through educational sessions of elementary students. Researchers involved in this study asked participants to fill out a pre-test to gauge knowledge of Blue Zones. Participants then underwent several educational sessions and activities surrounding the Power 9. Participants were then asked …

Sorghum Grain Secondary Metabolites And Underlying Genetics To Reduce Foodborne Pathogens In Poultry, Maria A. Conti

All Dissertations

The rise in antibiotic-resistant pathogens poses a threat to the poultry industry's ability to maintain animal health, prompting growing interest in alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. The use of non-tannin sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in poultry rations offers a valuable alternative, as this cereal grain has a high bioactive profile that can provide health benefits, including antimicrobial (AM) activity. The scope of this study was to examine the AM potential of non-tannin sorghum grain against Clostridium perfringens, a major foodborne pathogen that negatively impacts poultry health and production. To that end, the inhibitory effects of a non-tannin sorghum …

Reframing Health: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Lived Experiences Of Weight- Inclusive Healthcare Providers, Hannah Brass

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the unique lived experiences of healthcare professionals who practiced from a weight-inclusive lens. This study was guided by the following research questions:

Q1 What is the unique lived experience of a healthcare provider practicing from a weight-inclusive lens?

Q2 What are the significant experiences that have influenced the development of weight-inclusive providers’ attitudes (i.e., thoughts, feelings, and behaviors)?

Data from these findings were analyzed using Giorgi’s (2009) descriptive phenomenological method to discover rich descriptions and themes of weight-inclusive healthcare practitioners' experiences. The study explored the significant experiences and supports that influenced …

Voices Of Men In Diabetes Care: Evaluating Participant Satisfaction With A Men's Diabetes Management And Self-Care Program, Elida Herrera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Hispanic populations in the US experience higher diabetes prevalence, yet Hispanic men participate in traditional diabetes education programs at lower rates than non-Hispanic White men and Hispanic women, in part because existing programs lack cultural and gender-relevant tailoring. To address this disparity, the Diabetes Garage (DG) program was developed for Hispanic men in Southwest Texas, leveraging car culture by using automotive maintenance analogies to illustrate diabetes self-management concepts to engage men. Purpose: To evaluate participant satisfaction with the DG program among cohorts participating across three predominantly Hispanic communities and to examine their personal opinions on their program experience. Methods: …

Tiny Tusk Internship: Gut Instincts: A Review Of Literature On The Impact Of Breastfeeding On The Infant Gut Microbiome, Rayla Payne

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate both the short- and long-term benefits that breastfeeding has on the infant gut microbiome. The PICOT question was: In full-term infants, how does exclusive breastfeeding compared to mixed or formula feeding influence the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome throughout the first 12 months of life? For this research, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, and the National Library of Medicine databases were searched to find relevant studies and systematic reviews. Terms such as “breastfeeding and infant gut microbiome” were used to conduct the search. Other terms used included “breastfeeding OR formula feeding”, “human …

Bridging Care Gaps For Sickle Cell Disease: Examining Case Management And Healthcare Utilization., Lindsey Page

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience complex medical and social needs, including high emergency department (ED) utilization, fragmented care, and systemic inequities. Disease-specific case management has emerged as a promising strategy to improve care coordination, patient outcomes, and healthcare efficiency. This mixed-methods case study examined the impact of disease-specific case management on healthcare utilization, patient-reported outcomes, and healthcare providers’ perspectives. Quantitative analysis evaluated the impact of disease-specific case management on ED and inpatient admissions, healthcare-related costs, and the length of stay for inpatient admissions. Qualitative data were collected using interviews with patients and healthcare providers, exploring utilization, bias, …

Parental Monitoring And Approval As Moderators Of Peer And Parental Influences On Adolescent Drinking, Clara Pool

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Adolescence (i.e., ages 12 to 18) is a developmental period marked by exploration and risk-taking behavior, which is often associated with increased risk for alcohol use. Adolescents’ perceptions of what is typical or approved behavior within their social environments (e.g., peers, parents) may be associated with their drinking behaviors. Parental monitoring is related to reduced substance use risk, though peer and parental influences can interact. For example, adolescents who perceive their parents do not approve of adolescent alcohol use may be less susceptible to alcohol-approving peers. Therefore, this study examined how adolescents’ perceptions of peer approval, parental approval, and parental …

The Emperor Julian As The Lynchpin Of Ammianus Marcellinus’ Histories, Sebastian Peavy

Theses & ETDs

Ammianus Marcellinus prized Julian as his hero in his histories. This paper explores this fact through intratextual analysis. It explores the depiction of the emperors and usurpers Constantius II, Gallus, Valentinian I, Valens, Procopius, Silvanus, and Barbatio through the lens of Julian as the central point of comparison. The paper explores Julian’s own depiction in Ammianus, including his domestic policy, his foreign policy, and the rebellion that elevated him to being emperor. The paper explores domestic and foreign policy for Constantius, Valentinian, Valens, and draws parallels between these elements in their reigns and that of Julian as depicted in Ammianus’ …

Exploring Exercise Motivation And Mental Well-Being In College Students, Elaine M. Lindesmith, Anqi Deng Dr

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined the relationship between physical activity, exercise motivation, and mental well-being among 48 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the study used survey data to measure depression, anxiety, physical activity, and open-ended exercise motivation responses. Motivation responses were coded as autonomous or controlled.

Results showed that physical activity was weakly and negatively related to depression and anxiety, but these relationships were not statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in mental health between autonomous and controlled motivation groups, and motivation did not significantly predict mental health outcomes in regression analyses. Overall, the …

Persistence In The Pressure Cooker: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Of Teacher Working Conditions In High Turnover School Districts, John E. Byrnes

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

American schools face teacher shortages in many disciplines and age groups (Darling-Hammond et al., 2023; Learning Policy Institute, 2024). Rural and urban schools, especially those serving low-socioeconomic-status students, feel this shortage most (Goldhaber et al., 2021; Ingersoll et al., 2022). Teachers report rising dissatisfaction with their work (Lin et al., 2024). This study examined teacher working conditions in two high-turnover districts: Orleans and Jefferson Parish Schools. It used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods case study to assess working conditions (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011; Stake, 1995; Yin, 2009). District and federal data showed limited resources in Jefferson Parish. Orleans Parish had …

Developing Transparent Sustainability Data Systems In A Poultry And Pet Food Company: An Internship Case Study, Catherine L. Warren

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

My honors thesis examined my internship experiences and its implications on sustainability data gathering and reporting in poultry and pet food companies. It highlighted my internship projects, the skills I developed, and the connections to sustainability data transparency and reliability in a corporate environment.

In my thesis, I shared details about my internship. I described what projects I worked on, the places I visited, the hands-on experience I gained, and the different teams I worked with throughout the internship duration. I discussed the analytic and professional skills I developed through conducting a waste audit, developing Tableau dashboards, and helping to …

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression, Samuel Vinson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Inconsistent quality grading in beef production leads to inefficiencies, economic disparity, and consumer mistrust. While USDA meat grading traditionally relies on skilled visual inspectors, these human evaluations suffer from cross-facility variability and subjectivity. This paper introduces the first known application of unsupervised domain adaptation regression for cross-facility beef marbling score prediction—an innovation that improves generalization across diverse environments in the beef supply chain. Utilizing numerical scores ranging from 100-900, the research employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including ResNet, VGG, and AlexNet architectures. The study specifically introduced and validated a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method using the ResNet-50 architecture to …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Astaxanthin On Human Colorectal Cancer Cells, Kara A. Walters

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Astaxanthin (AXT) is an antioxidant carotenoid that is produced by the microalgae Haemococcus pluvialis. This supplement is best known for its potential health benefits including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. Astaxanthin is marketed as an oral dietary supplement and is widely used in the nutraceutical industry as well as a coloring agent in the food industry. Since Astaxanthin has been increasingly popular as a dietary supplement, cytotoxicity is relevant to consumer exposure. Obtaining the IC50, the concentration that inhibits 50% of cell growth, is important to find how Astaxanthin may interact with cancer, and this can be found …

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Education, Employment And Nutrition Needs And Reflection, Ninotchka Valdez, Tyler Forbes, John Pirau, Rachel Perez-Cruet, Nicholas Durand, James Ha, Annie Liang, Willa Roberts

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Unruly Boards: Abrogating The Separate Duty Of Obedience In Nonprofit Organizations, Andrew Faul And Dr. Muthusami Kumaran

Barry Law Review

This Article examines whether the duty of obedience should remain a separate fiduciary duty in nonprofit governance. While traditionally recognized alongside the duties of care and loyalty, the duty of obedience has become increasingly impractical and largely redundant in modern nonprofit law. The Article argues that obedience is better understood as a foundational principle underlying other fiduciary duties rather than an independent obligation. Ultimately, it advocates for eliminating the duty of obedience as a standalone duty while preserving its role in promoting accountable and mission-driven nonprofit governance.

Caribbean Sea Fan Health And Disease: Investigating Aspergillosis At Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, Jayden Ponsford

Theses & ETDs

Coral reefs represent one of the most biologically rich environments on the planet, providing habitat, protection, and resources for numerous marine species. Soft corals, particularly gorgonians, are essential to reef health by providing environmental services such as habitat, food, and nutrient cycling. However, these organisms are increasingly threatened by environmental stress and disease, including the fungal pathogen Aspergillus sydowii (Bainier & Sartory Thom & Church 1926), which commonly infects Gorgonia ventalina and G. flabellum (sea fans). They are eukaryotic organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, order Alcyonacea, family Gorgoniidae, and genus Gorgonia. In this study, I …

Soft Life Or Survival? The Digital Rebranding Of Black Womanhood In Online Culture, Elizabeth Revangil

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This thesis examines how Black women are using digital media, specifically the popular social media platform, TikTok, to redefine femininity through the soft life SOFT LIFE OR SURVIVAL 2 movement. Historically, Black womanhood has been tied to strength, resilience, and survival, leaving limited space for softness and emotional vulnerability. This tends to create unrealistic expectations, and an undeniable societal pressure on Black women to perform. In recent years, social media has created opportunities for Black women to challenge these expectations and present alternative definitions of the Black women identity, reshaped around peace, emotional well-being, and softness instead of strength. Using …

Modeling Structural Supports To Facilitate Novel Treatments Of Degenerative Disc Disease, Luis Calderon

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

From The Field To The Sidelines: Student-Athletes’ Transitions Into Coaching, Lais Leonardo Martins

Theses & ETDs

This study explores the transition from student-athlete to coach and examines how athletic experiences shape individuals’ motivations, leadership philosophies, and identity development. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with current and former student-athletes, as well as the researcher’s own experience, this research analyzes how individuals navigate the shift from competitive sport to leadership roles. The findings highlight the central role of athletic identity in shaping the transition process, as many participants experienced challenges redefining their sense of purpose after leaving competition. Coaching emerged as a key pathway that allows former athletes to maintain their connection to sport while transforming …

Effects Of Early Life Karenia Brevis Exposure On Bottlenose Dolphin Calves In Sarasota Bay, Florida, Elizabeth Fry

Theses & ETDs

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have increased in frequency, intensity and geographic distribution in the past several decades. Florida is an epicenter for an HAB, commonly referred to as red tide, caused by the algal dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which produces the neurotoxin brevetoxin. Acute exposure to brevetoxin causes respiratory distress and has been associated with large scale marine mammal mortalities and fish kills. However, potential chronic effects of exposure, including via maternal transfer, have not been well characterized. Fetal and juvenile mammals may be particularly susceptible to the neurobiological effects of excitotoxins due to their developmental stage. Many resident coastal bottlenose …

Social Protection To Foster Inclusive, Resilient Early Childhood Education In Kenya, Uganda, And Tanzania, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

In order to evaluate the efficacy of systems approaches in enhancing early childhood education (ECE), this study summarizes outcomes from the SESEA and F4L programs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The study investigates how context-responsive ECE, social-emotional learning (SEL), and social protection (SP) interventions contribute to improvements in teaching practices, inclusion, and learner outcomes using mixed-methods data, including teacher surveys, classroom observations, and policy analysis. The findings show significant improvements in inclusive classroom practices, gender-sensitive pedagogy, and teacher confidence, especially when reflective peer learning and continuous mentoring are incorporated. Children’s academic performance and well-being have been linked to the integration …

Edvard Munch And The Feminine Sublime, Saralyn Goodspeed

Theses

This paper explores the theory of the sublime in relation to Edvard Munch’s depictions of women. Departing from the common view that Munch was simply anxious about the “New Woman” that emerged in the late nineteenth-century, I argue that Munch’s conflicting emotions regarding women were sublime in nature, rooted in his childhood relationship with his mother. A formal analysis is conducted on three of Munch’s works: Inheritance (1897), Three Stages of Woman or Sphinx (1894), and Madonna (1895). These analyses link Munch’s representations of women to a maternal sublime.

The Economic Viability Of The Sports Academy Industry, Dylan Bowen

Theses & ETDs

This paper examines the economic viability of the sports academy industry, focusing on its rapid growth and underlying market dynamics. The analysis begins by outlining the rise of sports academies from niche training facilities to fully integrated institutions that combine academics, elite athletic development, and commercial operations. It highlights how the increase in competition in youth sports has created a demand for elite training facilities and pathways to collegiate and professional athletics. Sports academies are able to meet this demand providing exclusive training programs along with strong academic programs that will prepare them for the next step. The paper then …

Strength And Conditioning As A Physiological Strategy For Injury Prevention In Competitive Sports, Gabriel Mocco

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the relationship between strength and conditioning and injury risk in competitive sport, with a focus on collegiate soccer. The motivation for this study grew from four years of personal experience as a student-athlete, during which multiple injuries and a growing engagement with structured strength training led to a deeper understanding of how physical preparation influences the body's ability to handle the demands of competitive sport. The Literature Review covers nine key areas, including neuromuscular and biomechanical factors, strength training and injury prevention, training load management, previous injury as a risk factor, specificity of training, energy availability and …

College Of Natural Sciences Spring Newsletter, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

[Page 1] Dean's Message
[Page] 2 Awards & Recognitions // Student Spotlights
[Page] 3 Zhang Named to Landsat Science Team // The Power of Teaching
[Page] 4 “Science as Art” Competition Welcomes High School Artists
[Page] 5 Testing for “Forever Chemicals” in Surface Water // New Faculty Spotlight
[Page] 6 Ambassador Initiated Outreach
[Page] 7 57th Annual Geography Convention
[Page] 8 Twice the Impact on On Call with the Prairie Doc
[Page] 9 Making Staple Foods Healthier // Halaweish & Cole-Dai Retire
[Page] 10 Drone Day 2026
[Page] 11 Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Day (SRSCAD)
[Page] 12 Ceremony …

Red 40 Riot: An Interdisciplinary Perspective On The Fight For Food Additive Regulation, Margaret Q. Gray

Honors Theses

This paper explores the chemical, business, and governmental influences that impact the perception and future of Red 40. This inquiry was inspired by the increasing trends towards health-conscious consumer preferences and the 2025 Red 3 ban. This thesis examines foundational research, modern sources, and public-facing articles to create a comprehensive understanding of both sides of the argument in support of and against regulation. The paper concludes that a three-pronged approach would be ideal to target each key perspective included: chemistry, business, government. The approaches include confirming chemical research method validity, encouraging governmental regulation, and corporate accountability and enforcement. The paper …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, May 1, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Exploring Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Frozen Produce Purchases Among U.S. Households, Joslyn Russell

Honors Capstone Projects

Frozen fruits and vegetables are convenient, cost-effective, healthful options that could help consumers meet national nutritional recommendations. However, there is a dearth of data regarding household sociodemographic factors associated with frozen food purchases. My two-fold honors capstone project involved conducting a secondary analysis of nationally representative data obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Surveys to explore the sociodemographic factors associated with the likelihood of purchasing frozen fruits, frozen vegetables, and frozen meals. An exploratory analysis was also conducted with additional variables such as United States region, household area population size, and number of hours worked …

Sensing Rna’S Conformation With A Solid-State Nanopore Device At Various Ph And Temperature, Haopeng Li

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study uses solid-state nanopore technology to investigate the stability and dynamics of RNA molecules under thermal stress and pH fluctuations. Two distinct mRNA samples were analyzed: (1) heat shock protein (HSP)-encoding mRNA extracted from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2, a thermophilic archaeon inhabiting extreme environments such as geothermal sulfuric hot springs (pH < 4, temperature range: 65–90°C), and (2) total RNA extracted from White Leghorn chickens, which thrive under standard physiological conditions. ΦX174 virion single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) were included as a comparative reference. Nanopores, fabricated in silicon nitride membranes, were used to electrically characterize the structural properties of individual RNA molecules in solution, close to their native environments. The nanopore membrane separates two chambers containing salt buffer solution, where ionic current is the primary measurement parameter. When a voltage bias is applied across the membrane, ion flow and an ionic current can be measured. Charged RNA molecules driven translocation through the nanopore induces pore resistance changes, resulting in detectable current blockade events. Variations in these events provide insights into RNA secondary structure and conformational dynamics. By systematically altering pH and temperature, this study elucidates the effects of environmental stressors on RNA stability and structural integrity. The findings reveal distinct responses between thermophilic HSP-encoding mRNA and mesophilic RNA, underscoring the adaptive mechanisms of thermophilic RNA under extreme conditions. These results contribute to a better understanding of RNA behavior under stress and establish a foundation for future applications in RNA-based diagnostics and biotechnology development.