Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond Home And Child Care Centers: Reimagining Affordable Child Care Through Pod Design In East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Kassidy Allard

Architecture Theses

Due to rising operational costs, increasing regulatory pressures, and a steady decline in home-based providers, Minnesota is facing a child care shortage. In turn, the state has adopted community-based family child care, or pod model. A majority of the existing facilities are retrofitted spaces that neglect essential design considerations affecting the daily experiences of children and the well-being of the child care provider. This project explores how architectural design can strengthen and reimagine the emerging pod model by creating an affordable facility designed to prioritize daylight, spatial flexibility, comfort, and safety. This research aims to create a shared environment where …

Re-Barn: Adaptive Barn Reuse As A Model For Aging In Place And Multigenerational Living On A Rural North Dakota Farmstead, Jared Eggermont

Architecture Theses

Across rural landscapes, agricultural buildings are increasingly left vacant as farming practices evolve, while a growing senior population remains in homes ill-equipped to support aging, often facing challenges with daily needs, health, and social connection as younger generations leave for urban areas. These underutilized farmsteads present an opportunity to support multigenerational living through the reuse of existing structures, allowing families to remain rooted while adapting to changing needs. This thesis explores how rethinking agricultural buildings can sustain social and physical continuity, drawing on research into adaptive reuse, aging in place, multigenerational households, and rural living. It proposes design strategies on …

Farming The Future: Urbanizing The Naturhus For Small Scale Food Cultivation, Madysen Brooke Rath

Architecture Theses

Modern urban centers face the pressures of rapidly rising populations and food insecurity, leaving a landscape of “urban voids”-underutilized lots that remain dormant and unproductive. While the Naturhus typology offers a potential solution for symbiotic, glass-encased green living and food production in rural settings, it has yet to be adapted as a viable infill solution for the American urban grid. This thesis investigates the potential for urbanizing the Naturhus concept by reinterpreting a row-house typology as an infill strategy to create “greenhouse villages,” where residents actively participate in their own food production. It focuses on the cold-climate urban fabric of …

Plasma Metabolites After 10-Weeks Of Glucose Vs Fructose-Sweetened Beverages In Subjects With Overweight/Obesity, Mélanie Guirette, Danielle E Haslam, Jiantao Ma, Peter J Havel, Kimber L Stanhope, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher B Newgard, Nicola M Mckeown, Mark A Herman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

To identify metabolites as potential biomarkers of fructose vs glucose consumption and related metabolic changes, we conducted exploratory metabolomic profiling of fasting blood samples from participants in a double-blind, parallel-arm trial involving 31 male and female adults with overweight or obesity, both before and after supplementation with glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages. Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminatory Analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to identify metabolites that could discriminate between the 2 intervention groups. Changes in 16 metabolites (5 of which are branched-chain amino acid catabolic pathway metabolites) and the branched chain keto acid (BCKA) composite score showed nominal (FDR adjusted P-value …

Maternal Fish Intake In The Year Prior To Conception And Birth Defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011, Dorothy Kim Waller, Zeyu Miao, Renata H Benjamin, Richard Finnell, Nithya Lakshmi Mohan Dass, Eirini Nestoridi, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto, Julie Peterson, Tunu Ramadhani, Mark A Canfield

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Epidemiologic data on the association between maternal fish intake and birth defects are sparse. Our objective was to assess associations between maternal fish intake and 52 different birth defects, most of which have not been assessed previously.

Methods: Using logistic regression, data was analyzed for 29,242 mothers of infants with birth defects and 10,973 mothers of control infants who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) and delivered between 1997 and 2011. We focused on associations between mothers who reported high fish intake of 2 or more servings of fish per week for the year prior to …

Noncanonical Clock Regulators Control Stress Responses In Digestive Diseases, Dishu Zhou, Roberto E López-Valiente, Samer G Mattar, Dongyin Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The digestive system is essential for nutrient absorption, processing, and waste elimination. The expression of many genes and physiological processes within this system exhibits a 24-h rhythmicity. However, modern lifestyle factors, such as jet lag, shift work, and irregular eating patterns, significantly disrupt these rhythms, triggering various stress responses and contributing to numerous digestive disorders. Here, we focus on emerging studies on noncanonical clock regulators involved in stress responses, integrate these novel findings into the established model of the core circadian clock, and highlight recent advances in the development of novel therapeutics targeting these 24-h regulators. In addition, we discuss …

Prevention Of Dementia Using Mobile Phone Applications (Prodemos) – A Health-Economic Cost-Utility Analysis In People Aged 55–75 Years With Low Socio-Economic Status, Ron Handels, Marieke Hoevenaar-Blom, Manshu Song, Carol Brayne, Eric Moll Van Charante, Fiona E. Matthews, Junfang Xu, Linus Jönsson, Nicola Coley, Rachael Brooks, Xuening Jian, Tingting Qin, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang, Edo Richard, Anders Wimo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction We aimed to explore the potential incremental cost-effectiveness of the PRODEMOS coach-supported mobile health intervention for primary prevention of dementia versus standard of care provided to people aged 55–75 years with low socio-economic status (SES) in the United Kingdom (UK), and any SES in China. Methods 12–18-month PRODEMOS trial (ISRCTN15986016) efficacy outcomes on hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity and smoking were extrapolated to lifetime impact on dementia onset, myocardial infarction, stroke and death using a health-economic open-source simulation model. Results Simulated outcomes showed dementia cases were avoided (UK = -206 (-658 to 281), China = -140 (-456 to 205) …

Associations Between Source-Specific Nitrate And Nitrite Intakes And Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease In Two Prospective Cohorts, Nicola P. Bondonno, Pratik Pokharel, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Liezhou Zhong, Dorit W. Erichsen, Jörg Schullehner, Kirsten Frederiksen, Cecilie Kyrø, Peter Fjeldstad Hendriksen, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Torben Sigsgaard, Christina C. Dahm, Anne Tjønneland, Alysha S. Thompson, Tilman Kühn, Aedín Cassidy, Anja Olsen, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

SummaryBackground and AimsDietary nitrate and nitrite may have source-dependent effects on liver health: plant-sourced nitrate may confer hepatoprotective benefits via its conversion to nitric oxide, whereas nitrate and nitrite from animal foods, processed meats, or contaminated drinking water may promote liver injury via their conversion to N-nitrosamines. We aimed to examine associations between source-specific nitrate and nitrite intakes and incident metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in two large cohorts. Secondary aims were to assess associations with liver MRI biomarkers and to evaluate whether nitric oxide-pathway gene variants modify associations with plant-sourced nitrate/nitrite.MethodsWe analysed 53,854 participants from the Danish Diet, …

Role Of Allied Health Professions In Falls Prevention For Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review, Amy Lawton, Nicholas Tripodi, Rebecca Wospil, Breanna M. Wright, Hylton B. Menz, Suzanne Martin, Daniel R. Bonanno, Corey Linton, Andisheh Bastani, Andrew Ross, Rees Thomas, Daniel Corcoran, Timothy Mcnamara, Danielle Baxter, Brett Vaughan, Rebecca Lane, Jack Feehan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Falls among community-dwelling older adults are prevalent and have serious individual, societal and economic consequences. Allied health professionals provide key falls prevention interventions yet their representation in current clinical practice guidelines is inconsistent. Increased recognition of allied health roles and delivering context-specific guidelines for falls care could help to address workforce gaps and optimise care approaches. This scoping review explored the roles of the allied health professions in falls prevention screening, assessment and intervention for community-dwelling older adults. Design: Scoping review, using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science …

Increasing Food Resource Awareness Among College Students In Monterey County, Lesley Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a growing concern in Monterey County, particularly impacting underserved communities, including college students. This capstone project aims to address the need for food resource awareness among college students at Hartnell College, while providing a nutritional cultural tailored plant-based meal. College students have an overwhelming amount of pressure balancing school work and their own personal lives. Outside barriers, such as food insecurity, have an adverse influence on their well-being, which can impact their academic performance in their studies. El Mercado is a basic needs resource center located at Hartnell College, supporting students with free basic need supplies located …

Effects Of Weight Loss Medications In Combination With Psychotropic Medications, Emily A. Hoffman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and aims: The obesity epidemic has been well-documented and weight loss medications are becoming increasingly popular. Patients with psychiatric conditions often suffer metabolic side effects from psychotropic medications and are often prescribed weight loss medications to mitigate these side effects. When treating patients on these medications concurrently, understanding their potential side effects is essential for developing an effective care plan. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), pharmacists, and mental health professionals working in mental health facilities should be aware of these potential side effects to better care for their patients.

Methods: After completing a thorough literature review, a handbook …

Effects Of Western Beauty Ideals In Social Media On Latina Women's Body Image, Angel S. Espinosa, Lizette Casillas-Rodriguez, Dalia Osorio

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The proposed study would utilize a quantitative design to examine the relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction among Latina college students from ages 18-25. The purpose is to investigate the correlation between social media engagement and body dissatisfaction with particular attention to the impact of Westernized beauty standards on Latina women.

Data will be collected through an online Qualtrics survey utilizing standardized measures of appearance-related social media behaviors. On a micro level, results may inform culturally responsive clinical interventions. At a mezzo level, findings may support the development of community-based support groups and prevention programs for Latina communities. …

Access, Equity, And Achievement: The Impact Of Student Support Programs On First-Generation College Students Through Their Lived Experiences, Veronica Carrero

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

First-generation college students often enter higher education while confronting significant systemic inequalities that limit their academic preparedness, confidence, and sense of belonging. These challenges deeply intertwined and often overlooked intensify gaps, the complexity of their college process, and underscore the urgent need for support structures that nurture both cognitive development and socio-emotional well-being. This qualitative, exploratory, phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of ten first-generation college students enrolled across California State Universities (CSU), focusing on how access and equity initiatives shape their academic journeys.  Student Support Programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), and …

Tips For Health Care Practitioners: A Guide For Adolescent Obesity, Regina Santana

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adolescent obesity continues to be a significant public health concern that is associated with long term physical consequences. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence based, user friendly guidebook that supports healthcare professionals in the education of adolescents with obesity and their families. A structured literature review development process was used to inform the current development of the guidebook. The guidebook includes components of obesity management such as nutrition and physical activity recommendations. The validity of the content was established through the evaluation of five healthcare professionals that include registered dietitians and licensed therapists. The guidebook was …

Easy Travel-Friendly Snack Recipes For College Students To Support Mental Well-Being, Lidia Vides

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

College is a pivotal period in life of a young adult, marked by newfound independence, increased responsibilities, heightened academic pressure, and significant changes in daily routine. While this transition can often be exciting for a young adult, it also presents many different challenges. As a result, many students experience increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Nutrition plays a powerful yet often overlooked role in supporting mental and physical health. Current research studies show that a balanced diet rich in whole food ingredients can help regulate mood and promote emotional well-being through multiple biological pathways. However, despite this knowledge, convenient, …

Eating Patterns Among College Athletes, Sarah Sanchez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine eating patterns among college athletes attending a minority-serving, urban institution where commuting is highly prevalent to assess potential risks of disordered eating, nutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity. A total of 189 students [M age (SD) = 20.29 + 1.46 years] from a mid-sized university in the U.S. responded to an anonymous online survey. The survey consisted of questions regarding food security, hydration/beverage status, demographics, disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and food consumption patterns. Findings indicated a low prevalence of severe disordered eating behaviors within this sample. However, attitudes about disordered eating …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1ra As A Public Health Interventions, Briana Sepeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medications have become a prominent topic of interest both in clinical medicine and broader societal discussions. Although the medication are relatively new and expensive, ongoing research continues to explore pharmacologic modifications aimed at improving therapeutic effectiveness and prolonged drug half-life. GLP-1RAs have gained significant traction due to their ability to lower glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) and blood glucose levels in individuals who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition to glycemic control, evidence suggests its associations with appetite suppression, weight loss, reducing cardiovascular disease, improved renal dysfunction, neuroprotective effects related to neurodegenerative disease …

Investigation Into The Effects Of Moderate-Dose Radiation On Ligament Biomechanics, Andrew Landefeld

All Theses

Recent advances in arthritis treatment pin ionizing X-ray radiation as a useful tool in reducing joint pain and immune response. However, due to a lack of fundamental research in the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on tendon and ligament biomechanics, the safety of these studies is rather unknown. While most related studies investigated cellular response to low dose treatment, surrounding tissue physiology is left out of the picture. Additionally, moderate range doses of irradiation are rarely studied, as most uses of radiation on tendons and ligaments are for sterilization of cadaver tendons for allografts. This study provides a preliminary investigation …

Mining The Usda Snap Bean Association Panel For Resilience: Genetic Dissection Of Heat And Disease Tolerance In Snap Bean, Atiya F. Khan

All Theses

Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop whose production is increasingly threatened by rising temperatures and emerging bacterial diseases, particularly in the southeastern United States. Heat stress during reproductive development can significantly reduce yield, while newly emerging pathogens such as Pseudomonas capsici present additional risks to crop productivity. This study leveraged the USDA Snap Bean Association Panel (SnAP) to investigate the genetic basis of heat tolerance and disease resistance and to identify germplasm and genomic regions useful for breeding resilient cultivars.

To evaluate heat tolerance, a subset of the SnAP panel was …

The Impact Of Dipeptides On Product Quality In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Louise C. Herman

All Theses

Biopharmaceuticals are medicines produced in cells which are used to treat diseases such as cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent the majority of approved biotherapeutics. MAbs are mostly produce using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CHO cells are favored for resiliency, scalability, and established safety, and are considered the “workhorse” organism for biopharmaceuticals.  Amino acids are a key component of cell culture media, however several amino acids have solubility limits, such as cysteine, cystine, and tyrosine.  At neutral pH, these amino acids are poorly soluble.  However, dipeptides, such as N,N'-di-L-Alanyl-L-Cystine (ACCA) have been reported to increase cysteine and cystine availability. Further, …

Scrolling For Support: Social Media Use, Health Information Seeking, And Social Support In Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes, Loren Myers

All Theses

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong chronic illness that is rapidly increasing in prevalence. Continuous treatment is necessary for proper management, but barriers to care can cause some to turn to other sources for health-related information, like social media. Given the limited research on social media use and health information seeking behaviors in people with T1D, this study aims to gain an understanding of how people with T1D use social media, where they get their health information, and how social support is related to social media behaviors among people with T1D. Adult T1D participants completed an online survey that …

Anxiety And Intuitive Eating: Examining Dispositional Mindfulness As A Protective Factor, Jordan Signorelli

All Theses

Intuitive eating (IE) is an anti-diet approach focused on listening to internal hunger and fullness cues and is associated with reduced disordered eating patterns and improved dietary intake. However, anxiety negatively impacts IE. Dispositional mindfulness (DM) – one’s innate, present-centered, nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations – is associated with lower anxiety and greater IE. Yet, whether DM mitigates the negative impact of anxiety on IE remains underexplored. Grounded in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Framework, this study aimed to: 1) examine the relationship between anxiety and IE, 2) examine the relationship between DM and IE, 3) examine whether …

Attendance Matters: Incentive Programs And Chronic Absenteeism In Elementary Schools, Aubryn Street

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a common challenge in elementary education. Schools often use attendance incentive programs, such as rewards or recognition, to encourage students to attend regularly. However, it is not always clear whether these programs actually improve attendance. This study examined whether attendance incentive programs are effective and how school staff view and use these programs.

This mixed-methods study used both school attendance data and interviews with school personnel. Attendance data from two school years showed that schools with incentive programs did not have lower absenteeism rates than schools without them. However, attendance improved overall from one year to the …

Malnutrition And Frailty Risk Among Community Dwelling Older Adults In Northeast Tennessee, Shreeyesha Pradhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Frailty and malnutrition are prevalent conditions among community-dwelling older adults, affecting approximately 10% and 25% of this population, respectively. Despite overlapping symptoms such as functional decline, their relationship remains underexplored in community dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional feasibility study examined the association between frailty and nutritional status among 47 older adults in the East Tennessee Tri-Cities area using the Fried’s Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Long Form (MNA-LF®). Results indicated 13% were pre-frail, 24% were frail, 21% were at risk for malnutrition, and 2% were malnourished. Regression analyses revealed that self-perceived nutritional status (37.6%), daily meal frequency (29.0%), …

Feasibility Of Assessing Dietary Patterns And Anxiety In College Students: A Pilot Study Using Nutrition Questionnaires, Gad-7, And Asq, Kylie Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is highly prevalent among college students representing a significant public health concern. Research indicates that dietary patterns may influence mental health outcomes; however, the practicality of collecting comprehensive dietary and psychological data in college populations remains unclear. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of evaluating dietary patterns and anxiety using self-report instruments. Participants completed the Nutrition and Eating Habit questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ). Although twenty-one students were recruited, survey completion rates were low, with only seven participants completing the nutrition questionnaire necessary to calculate the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Descriptive analyses …

Ontogeny And The Effects Of Perinatal Stress In The First Immature Skeleton Of Teleoceras Aepysoma (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae), Joe Gajewski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recovery of an immature fossil rhinoceros (Teleoceras aepysoma) skeleton (ETMNH 32999) from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee offers the first insights into the ontogeny of the species. ETMNH 32999 is interpreted to be a subadult male in an age class equivalent to ~17-20% of potential lifespan. Comparative analyses support the hypothesis that subadults of related taxa are typically ~91% of average adult size in most dimensions. However, certain cranial dimensions are substantially lower than expected in ETMNH 32999, averaging only ~74% of the average conspecific adult. Such departure from typical growth rates is suggested to be attributable …

Discerning Patterns Of Floral Sugar-Feeding: Dynamics Of The Mosquito Culex Antillummagnorum In Puerto Rico, Ella J. Branham

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes rely on sugar feeding for survival, primarily from flowering plants, yet mosquito–plant interactions remain understudied. I examined plant-feeding associations of the mosquito Culex antillummagnorum in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, which may clarify patterns of habitat use, disease dynamics, and broader species interactions. First, plant DNA was extracted from field-collected Cx. antillummagnorum to identify potential nectar sources. DNA barcoding produced positive matches to the flowering plant genera Billia, Aesculus, Cladium, Fimbristylis, Xyris, Cakile, and Habenaria. Habenaria was the most compelling result because it belongs to the same subtribe of orchids …

The Impact Of Place-Based Education Professional Development On Faculty Identity And Perceptions Of Nature-Culture Dichotomies, Reyt Middleton

Master's Theses

This qualitative study analyzes how implementing place-based education (PBE) in undergraduate coursework shapes faculty identity narratives and nature–culture positionalities across conceptual lenses of past, present, and future. Three faculty members at a regional Mississippi university engaged in a PBE professional development program; narratively driven pre- and post-implementation interviews were given to participants, then examined via thematic analysis. Framed primarily through lenses of constructivism, with support from critical pedagogy of place, relational and ecological epistemologies, and scholarship on faculty identity, this study posits two research questions—1: How does teaching PBE influence faculty identity narratives across past, present, and future temporalities? 2: …

Psychological And Inflammatory Ties To Diet In Breast Cancer Survivors, Sonal Kaur Johal

Master's Theses

Breast cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer and is a primary cause of death among women (Wang et al., 2020). Cancer patients experience higher levels of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and inflammation compared to non-cancer patients, which can predict a diminished quality of life but also contribute to higher mortality rates among cancer patients (Bortolato et al., 2016; Song et al., 2022). Diet has the potential to impact the manifestation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in both healthy individuals and those battling cancer. This study explored the association between dietary habits, specifically cholesterol, fiber, saturated fat, added …

The Impact Of High-Cadence Cycling On Overground Running Performance In Recreational Runners, Matthew Ott

Master's Theses

Cycling is a commonly used exercise because it provides a controllable cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demand while imposing relatively low impact on the rider. High-cadence cycling (HCC) has been shown to influence subsequent running performance and gait performance by increasing cadence and reducing work rate when cycling prior to running. However, most of this work has focused on triathletes and older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of HCC on subsequent 800 m running performance and spatiotemporal parameters in adult recreational runners. Thirty recreational runners completed two testing sessions. On Day 1, participants performed …