Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Low Birth Weight In The Metro Atlanta Area Using The Urban Institute’S Social Mobility Dashboard, Jason Davis, David Pena, Lisa Holland-Davis

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Infant birth weight is the foundation for childhood and adult health outcomes, and health, according to the Urban Institute, is an important predictor of upward social mobility. Prior studies have found that infants with low birth weight are susceptible to a host of physical, cognitive, and social deficiencies that can adversely impact the ability to achieve upward mobility. The current study utilizes the Urban Institute's Mobility Metrics to explore low infant birth rates among the 11 counties that comprise the Metro Atlanta area. We focus on the average rate of low birth weight from 2021-2023 overall and disaggregated by mothers’ …

Breaking Bread And Barriers: Interprofessional Strategies To Improve Mental And Nutritional Health In Family Caregivers, Candy Ratliff

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Family caregivers provide essential unpaid support to individuals with chronic illness, disability, dementia, and age-related decline; however, caregiving responsibilities often place caregivers at increased risk for psychological, physical, nutritional, and social challenges. This literature review examines the mental health and nutritional implications of family caregiving and explores barriers that contribute to declining caregiver wellness. Findings reveal elevated rates of depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, social isolation, food insecurity, sleep disturbances, financial strain, and chronic stress among caregivers. The literature further highlights the interconnected relationship between mental health, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Given the multidimensional nature of caregiver burden, interprofessional …

An Inseverable Link To The Outside: Describing Shifting Food Consumption Patterns And Predicting Food Dysregulation During Covid Lockdown, Andrew F. Baird, Andria D. Timmer, Morgan E. Miller

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

This study examines how COVID-19 lockdown shaped household food practices and contributed to food dysregulation, defined as anxiety, stress, indecisiveness or impulsivity surrounding diet. We conducted a mixed-methods community survey of Newport News, Virginia (n ≈ 400), administered shortly after the March–May 2020 lockdown. Open-ended responses revealed widespread disruption of food routines, with participants describing heightened anxiety about shopping, increased meal planning, stress-related snacking, and difficulties maintaining healthy diets. These qualitative themes were systematically mapped to survey items, yielding a composite Food Dysregulation Index and predictors spanning life circumstances, income strain, and food-related behaviors. Regression analyses showed that meal planning …

Mitigating Negative Emotions: The Role Of Adaptive Coping Mechanisms During The Pandemic, Yeokil Cho, John Marks, Ryulah Lim

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

The role of coping strategies on negative emotions has been extensively researched; however, there is limited literature specifically examining this link within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. This study fills this gap by examining the impact of physical activity and parental discussion on depression among 2,265 Korean adolescents in 2021. Multiple analyses, including Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), advocate the relevance of General Strain Theory (GST) in carving out the true effect of adaptive coping mechanisms on strain-induced distress. These results indicate significant theoretical and practical implications for comprehending adolescent negative emotions and informing policy recommendations to mitigate …

Viral Voices: Examining Nurse-Led Maternal Mistreatment In The United States Via Tiktok, Celeste N. Lee

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of all industrialized nations. Yet, most pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable. As a result, ensuring birthing people’s access to respectful and equitable maternity care is an essential component of addressing the U.S. maternal health crisis. Maternal mistreatment is a common experience in the United States: one in five birthing people report experiencing mistreatment while receiving maternity care, and among birthing people of color, the prevalence of mistreatment is even greater. While maternal mistreatment is a well-documented phenomenon, existing scholarship has largely focused on physicians’ roles in these dynamics, leaving the influence …

Social Stratification Of Ace Biomarkers: A Story Of Perpetual Inequality, Sheena Martin, Ellis S. Logan

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are early-life deviations from expected environments that contribute to adverse health, social, and behavioral outcomes. Fundamental cause theory and Marxist theory link these outcomes to structural inequality, while life course theory and cumulative disadvantage theory highlight compounded long-term disparities. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory integrates these perspectives across multiple levels and their interactionary relationships. Using 2021-2023 NHANES data, we grouped ACE proxies into SES and health categories to measure influence on biology. To assess the biological impact, we examined 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a key factor in DNA methylation, a process inhibited by early-life adversity. After exploring a binary variable, …

Antimicrobial Resistance In Pediatric Infections: Current Status, Challenges, And Future Directions, Clare Dinh, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance in pediatric infections presents a worsening global public health challenge, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accounting for more than one million deaths annually and disproportionately affecting children younger than 5 years of age. Neonates and critically ill children face heightened risk owing to immature immunity, frequent healthcare exposures, and limited therapeutic options. This review synthesizes evidence on the epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, clinical outcomes, and management of AMR across the full pediatric age range. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for literature from 2014 to 2026 using terms covering antibiotic resistance, pediatric populations, and key …

Fear Appeal Advertising As A Tool For Preventative Medicine And Chronic Disease Mitigation, Samuel J. Moore

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic disease refers broadly to a group of diseases that develop and progress as individuals age, that last 1 or more years, and that require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living, or both (“About chronic diseases,” 2026). Chronic disease is most often associated with years of compounding effects of poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Since negative emotion-based advertising, also known as “fear campaigns,” have been shown to be effective forms of communication for other health related topics (Huang et al, 2017), we sought to test a fear campaign’s potential to discourage unhealthy physical activity practices in young …

Exploring The Relationship Between Body Composition, Bmi, And Sleep Outcomes Among Nepalese Brick Workers, Zoe C. Peterson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sleep is a critical determinant of metabolic health, with extensive evidence linking insufficient and fragmented sleep to increased adiposity and obesity risk in high-income populations. However, these relationships remain poorly understood in labor-intensive, low-income occupational settings. This study examined associations between objectively measured sleep characteristics using accelerometry and body composition among a population of Nepalese brick workers, a group of people exposed to substantial environmental and occupational stressors.

A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 233 adult brick workers in the Nepal Kathmandu valley. Sleep metrics – including total sleep, wake after sleep onset (WASO), and number of …

Past Present, & Future: Bushwick Inlet Redevelopment, Aaryan Nair

Publications and Research

This report examines how ecosystem structure, hydrology, and material flows in Williamsburg, Brooklyn have changed from pre-colonial conditions to the present and how they are expected to evolve under future climate change. Prior to European colonization, the landscape functioned as a forest–wetland mosaic with high infiltration capacity, slow water movement, and strong nutrient retention. These conditions supported stable aquatic ecosystems and minimized pollutant transport to the East River.

Modern urbanization has fundamentally altered this system. Impervious surfaces and engineered drainage systems have shifted hydrology from infiltration-dominated to runoff-dominated pathways, producing rapid “flashy” flows and reducing water residence time.

Storm events …

Processing Mechanism And Efficacy Maintenance Strategy Of Ginseng Active Ingredients Based On Spectroscopy Technology, Yang Hantong, Kong Linghui, Jiang Mengmeng, Wang Yingxiu, Li Xiangguo

Food and Machinery

Ginseng, as a medicinal and edible plant, has ginsenosides as its core active components, which are widely applied due to their physiological functions such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities; however, their structures and activities are easily affected by food processing. During processing steps such as cleaning, steaming/boiling, and fermentation, temperature, pH, and microbial enzyme systems alter the types, contents, and stability of active components through reactions such as hydrolysis and oxidation. The intrinsic linkage mechanism of "component transformation-activity-bioavailability" constitutes a core focus and challenge in current research. This study, based on spectroscopic techniques including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic …

Rapid Determination And Uncertainty Evaluation Of Vitamins A , D 3, And E Content In Cereal-Based Complementary Foods For Infants And Young Children By Online Solid Phase Extraction-Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography, Long Qiang, Zhao Tao, Xiao Mei, Wu Haizhi, Zhou Fan, Dai Zhiyong

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To establish a rapid determination method for vitamin A, D3, and E content in cereal-based complementary foods for infants and young children by online solid phase extraction -two-dimensional liquid chromatography simultaneously.［Methods］ Sample saponification solution is purified by online solid -phase extraction. Then, vitamin A and E are separated and detected by the first -dimension chromatography, while vitamin D3 is preliminarily separated in the first dimension and then transferred to the second -dimension chromatography for further separation and detection, with all quantification achieved by the external standard method.［Results］］ Vitamin A,D3,and E exhibit a good linearity in the concentration ranges, with …

Determination Of Eight Fungicide Residues In Eggs By Solid-Phase Extraction Coupled With Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Liang Jun, Chen Xiong, Wang Yu, Qu Zihao, Zhang Wei, Li Qing

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To establish an analytical method for the determination of residues of eight fungicides ametoctradin, triadimefon,triadimenol, flutriafol, mandipropamid, penthiopyrad, isopyrazam, and prochloraz ) in eggs by solid -phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS ).［Methods］ The samples are ultrasonically extracted with acetonitrile. The extracts are purified using ProElut DPC solid -phase extraction cartridges. The purified eluate is concentrated under reduced pressure and reconstituted with acetonitrile.Chromatographic separation is performed on a Kinetex C18 column (2.6 μm,2.1 mm ×100 mm ) with gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Detection is carried …

Rapid Geographical Origin Identification Of Amomum Villosum Using Electronic Nose And Electronic Tongue Technologies, Zheng Meijuan, Wang Xiaoping, Wang Jing

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To develop a rapid method for identifying the geographical origin of Amomum villosum based on intelligent sensory technology.［Methods］ Amomum villosum samples from four origins:Yangchun (Guangdong), Changtai (Fujian), Chengmai (Hainan), and Xishuangbanna (Yunnan),are used as the research materials. A PEN 3 electronic nose and a TS -5000 Z electronic tongue are employed to collect their aroma and taste profiles, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA),linear discriminant analysis (LDA),and sensor loading analysis are applied to discriminate samples from different origins.［Results］ The response values of the 10 electronic nose sensors vary significantly, among which the W 5S sensor, sensitive to nitrogen oxides, exhibits …

A Rapid Quality Inspection Method For Refrigerated Fish Based On Improved Plsr-Yolov 13, Wu Xia, Tian Erlin, Wang Qifeng, Zhu Cong

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To effectively solve the problems of complex operation, long time consumption, insufficient accuracy, and difficulty in balancing speed and accuracy in existing quality inspection methods for refrigerated fish.［Methods］ On the basis of a food quality inspection system that integrates multiple detection technologies, a rapid quality inspection method for refrigerated fish that combines hyperspectral data and machine vision is constructed. The hyperspectral imaging technology is employed to collect spectral data of refrigerated fish, and the data are preprocessed and input into an improved partial least squares regression model to achieve accurate determination of total volatile basic nitrogen content, and then …

Effects Of Wrinkled Pea Meal Replacement Powder On Glucose And Lipid Metabolism Disorders And Gut Microbiota In Mice, Cui Yajun, Hong Lingyu, Zhou Sumei, He Yuhua, Yao Yang, Hou Dianzhi

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To investigate the effects of wrinkled pea meal replacement powder on glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and gut microbiota.［Methods］ A 12-week intervention experiment was conducted using a high-fat diet-fed mouse model. Changes in key indicators,including mouse phenotypes,blood biochemical parameters, histopathology, and gut microbial composition, were systematically monitored.［Results］ Wrinkled pea meal replacement powder significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, area under the blood glucose curve, and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in high-fat-fed mice (P<0.05). It effectively alleviated hepatic steatosis, reduced serum alanine aminotransferase levels (P<0.05), and significantly mitigated hepatocyte damage. Additionally, consumption of wrinkled pea meal replacement powder significantly regulated gut microecological imbalance induced by a high-fat diet, increased gut microbial richness, decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, including norank_f_ Muribaculaceae, norank_o_ Clostridia _UCG- 014, and Bifidobacterium.［Conclusion］ Wrinkled pea meal replacement powder has potential application value in improving glucose and lipid metabolism and regulating gut health.

Effects Of Gardenia Extract On Body Weight And Intestinal Mucosal Microbiota In Obese Mice, Liu Qin, Deng Na, Zhou Mengsi, Tan Zhoujin

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To explore the effects of gardenia extract on intestinal mucosal microbiota and body weight in mice fed a high -fat diet, and to explore the microecological mechanism of gardenia extract in obese mice.［Methods］ The potential mechanism of gardenia extract in treating obesity is predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Additionally, 24 SPF C 57BL/6 male mice are randomly assigned into a blank group (8 mice ) and a model group (16 mice ). The model group receives a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, while the blank group receives an ordinary diet. After modeling, 12 successfully modeled mice …

Effect Of Garlic Paste Addition On Volatile Flavor Substances In Crayfish Tails, Tu Jianqiu, Fu Wenjun, Yang Xiaocong, Jing Lixiang, Zhu Jing, Li Jianfang

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To investigate the effect of garlic paste addition on volatile flavor substances and color attributes of crayfish tails, and provide a theoretical basis for flavor standardization in industrial production.［Methods］ This paper adopts gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS ) combined with colorimetric analysis to study the characteristics of volatile components and color parameters (L*,a*,b* values ) of crayfish tails under garlic paste additions of 0%,4.4%,8.8%,13.2%,17.6%,and 22.0%. Principal component analysis (PCA ) is applied to analyze flavor differences.［Results］ Colorimetric analysis reveals that garlic paste addition significantly decreases L* from 45.69 to 34.50 and b* from 39.24 to 29.94 (P<0.05), while a* values show a significant difference under the garlic paste addition of more than 13.2% (P<0.05). A total of 53 volatile substances are identified by GC-IMS, and their total content increases gradually with the rising garlic paste addition (highest value in the 22% group at 18 749 and lowest value in the control group at 10 758). Camphene, 2-ethylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutyl acetate, allyl isothiocyanate, and heptanal are identified as intrinsic flavor markers of crayfish meat. Key contributors to flavor include camphene, 1-heptanol, 3-pentenenitrile, 2,3-pentanedione, diacetyl, and isopropanol. PCA shows that the 13.2%~17.6% group exhibits significantly different flavor characteristics from other groups (PC1 contribution rate of 76%).［Conclusion］ Under the garlic paste addition of 8.8%~13.2%, the optimal balance between flavor and color attributes is achieved, while excessive addition of more than 17.6% results in aldehyde overaccumulation and accelerated browning.

Effects Of Thermal Processing Methods On Flavor Quality Of Fish Meat And Differential Formation Mechanisms : A Review, Zou Wanghua, Hou Xiaoyi, Liu Miao, Deng Na, Ni Panxianzhi, Li Hui, Fu Haohua, Wang Jianhui

Food and Machinery

Thermal processing is the most commonly used technique for fish products. Different thermal processing techniques vary in the degree of lipid oxidation, protein degradation, and Maillard reaction, as well as the synergy among these reactions, thereby differentially affecting flavor. Focusing on four typical thermal processing methods, steaming, boiling, frying, and roasting, this paper reviews the flavor change patterns in various types of fish products under different thermal processing conditions. Moreover, from the perspective of the synergy among lipid oxidation and decomposition, protein degradation, and the Maillard reaction, this paper systematically elucidates the formation mechanisms underlying the flavor substance enrichment and …

Data-Driven Electrochemistry Reveals The Impact Of Hydrophobicity On Aptamer Cross-Reactivity, Emily Carroll, Michael A. Pence, Elizabeth Winterholler, Taylor D. Sparks, Shelley D. Minteer

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) biosensors offer a promising platform for reagentless detection of molecular targets, yet aptamer recognition can be limited by cross-reactivity, particularly for hydrophobic analytes such as steroid hormones. To investigate how cross-reactivity influences E-AB sensor performance, we use automation and machine learning to screen a library of possible interferent molecules against a steroid-binding aptamer, with progesterone serving as a physiologically relevant test case. Here, we develop a label-free E-AB sensor for progesterone detection using a methylene blue-modified aptamer anchored with a hexanethiol linker. We then used an automated electrochemistry platform to perform reproducible and high-throughput characterization of our …

Invasive African Fig Flies (Zaprionus Indianus) Have Reduced Cold Acclimation Ability Compared To Cosmopolitan Drosophilid Species, Mia Hollekim, Lucy Smith, Priscilla A. Erickson

Biology Faculty Publications

Zaprionus indianus, an invasive species of fruit fly originating from Africa, has successfully inhabited eastern North America but is thought to be seasonally limited by cold temperatures. We compared the cold acclimation abilities of Z. indianus to six drosophilid species. Each species’ survival at -5°C was tested following acclimation periods at 10°C, 15°C, and 25°C. We found that Z. indianus had a similar baseline cold tolerance to other cosmopolitan species and acclimated following treatment at 15°C. Overall, cold acclimation in Z. indianus was better than tropical species but weaker than some cosmopolitan species, suggesting cold may restrict Z. indianus …

Justice-Involved Individual Experiences Accessing Community Reentry Services Postincarceration In Northern California, Pamela Michelle Kesee-Wyre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Safety Evaluation Of Dofetilide Administration Per Enteral Tube., Megan E Labreck, Katherine Crawford, David M Nemer, Auroa Badin, Anish Amin

Heart and Vascular Articles

No abstract provided.

When The Safety Net Becomes A Barrier: Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

The goal of the U.S. social safety net is to ensure that everyone can meet a basic standard of living, regardless of their economic, health, or life circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two key parts of this safety net, support low-income families in affording food and health care. This brief summarizes findings on seven dimensions of administrative burden in SNAP and Medicaid. The findings come from analyses conducted with data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Project’s survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. They suggest that administrative burdens are common, affect …

Essential Employer Benefits For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Employer benefits are important for supporting employees’ financial well-being, but are they accessible to low-wage workers? This brief presents findings from a survey conducted for the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project with low-wage workers in the United States. The findings reveal information on respondents’ access to employer benefits, including health insurance, paid sick leave, a retirement plan, and financial-wellness benefits.

When Getting Ahead Means Falling Behind: Work And Savings Disincentives In Public Benefits, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Public benefits help millions of workers meet basic needs such as food, health care, housing, and childcare. But for many low-wage workers, these programs can also create a difficult trade-off: Earning more or saving more can sometimes mean losing the benefits they need to keep their family afloat. This brief summarizes key findings from a survey conducted for the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project with a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. The findings suggest elements of a public benefits system that could protect families from economic risk while supporting work, savings, and long-term mobility.

The Association Of Daily Urinary And Bowel Incontinence With Emotional Functioning In Young Adults With Spina Bifida: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Audrey I. Young '26, Devon J. Hensel, Konrad M. Szymanki

Student Research

Many young adults with spina bifida experience bladder and bowel leakage, but clinic visits often rely on people remembering and summarizing their symptoms over long periods. In this study, we asked participants to report their experiences each day for one month using simple phone-based check-ins. We found that leakage does not affect every day in the same way. On days when symptoms were more frequent or harder to manage, participants reported worse mood, more worry, and were more likely to avoid activities. These day-to-day experiences also related to over- all quality of life at the end of the month. For …

Innovations In Financial Services For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

The financial services landscape in the United States has shifted dramatically in recent years, with technology driving profound changes. New products and services are emerging in a competitive digital marketplace to meet the basic banking, savings, and short-term credit needs of workers. This brief presents findings from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project on the employment and financial circumstances of low-wage workers in the United States and on their use of financial services.

From Crip Time To Care Time: How Library Administrators Can Support Professional Development Of Disabled Employees, Leah T. Dudak, Rhys Dreeszen Bowman Dr.

School of Information Studies - Post-doc and Student Scholarship

Building on our 2025 In the Library with the Lead Pipe article "Cripping Conferences", this piece moves from naming the problem to offering solutions to library administrators. Disabled library workers face significant barriers to professional development, including the financial cost of attendance, the physical and mental toll of navigating inaccessible spaces, and the conflict between crip time and the neoliberal clock time that governs academic and library culture. While accommodations are needed, they are not enough; we need to interrogate the systems that exclude disabled employees. Written by two disabled LIS scholars, this piece offers library administrators practical guidance, from …

Supporting Lgbtq Youth Through A Cross-Cultural Lens Of Wellbeing, Correna Bartow

UN SDG Open Pedagogy Faculty Fellowship: Renewable Assignments

No abstract provided.