Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Weekly And Triweekly Application Of Growth Hormone Gibberellin On Dwarf Millet Plants, Holly Harding, Kendall Klewer, Delanee Miller, Therie Moore, Clara Gallapoo

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Plant biology students teamed up with statistics students to examine the effects of the plant growth hormone gibberellin on mutant millet plants. Dwarf mutant millets exhibit stunted growth either because they do not produce gibberellin on their own, or because they lack the mechanisms to effectively use gibberellin. By growing some of these mutants in the greenhouse, applying a gibberellin solution to them, and observing their growth response, we can identify which kind of mutant the plant is. We are also examining the importance of frequency of gibberellin application, with some plants receiving one application of gibberellin per week, and …

Tracing The Path: Exploring The Drivers Behind Venezuelan Migration Waves, Sofia Hernandez Otero

2024 Student Academic Showcase

This research project investigates why Venezuela, once a wealthy nation, has experienced one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, causing many people to leave in large numbers. By examining the reasons behind these waves of emigration and the specific characteristics or backgrounds of the people leaving, we aim to understand the factors driving this mass exodus. Through studying the demographics of each wave, including factors like age, socioeconomic status, and education level, we seek to gain insights into the diverse experiences of Venezuelan migrants. By shedding light on these aspects, the research aims to provide a clearer understanding of the …

Mechanisms Of Genetic Dwarfism In Dwarf Millet Genotypes, Holly Willett, Savannah Jones, Rashmi Aryal, Therese West, Maddelyne Wright

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The goal of this project was to study and determine the different forms of genetic dwarfism in millet plants. This was done by creating three different types of millet samples using two different forms of mutant seeds and also normal seeds. 6 plants of each of the three varieties were sectioned into separate pots, and then given different treatment levels of gibberellin. Two plants in each group were given no gibberellin, two were given gibberellin once a week and two were given gibberellin daily Monday-Friday. The height of each plant was then recorded once a week throughout the trial period. …

Enhancing Concussion Education And Documentation Within Belmont University’S Athletic Department, Jenna M. Ogle

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Belmont University’s Sports Medicine Department. The primary purpose of this project was to identify the department’s current needs and to develop deliverables to enhance and facilitate the concussion education and documents provided to Belmont Athletics stakeholders (including student athletes, university educators, coaching staff, and other members of administration). The process included collaboration with university athletic trainers and student-athletes to ensure usability and creation of relevant products. These resources include informational handouts designed for both student-athletes and educators, an on-field concussion assessment and protocol, concussion education resources with increased opportunities for …

Artistic Identities In Japan And The United States In The 19th-20th Centuries, Mutsumi Yuki

2024 Student Academic Showcase

This project explores artistic identities in Japan and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main foci of this study are motifs and methodologies seen in paintings. In the 1800s, both countries transitioned to open their gates to the world, which greatly influenced their respective artistic cultures. Around this time, Japan continued to preserve its traditional techniques while actively adopting and trading styles and artifacts internationally. Meanwhile, in the United States, American realism and landscape paintings were established and advanced by paying homage to the natural environment of the country. My comparative study aims to deepen our …

Channeling Social Media, Megan Suszek

Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Pivot To Online Learning: A Case Study Of Efl Student Teachers’ Learning Experiences And Perceptions In China, Jingxin Cheng

Dissertations

Teaching and learning online was extensively adopted in English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher education program, as well in education of all levels in China with the advancement of the internet, multimedia information processing, cloud computing, and other information technologies since 1994. However, online education has remained more of a supplement to classroom education, and large-scale normal online education lacks cases and research in China. The COVID-19 pandemic caused profound change in higher education, with closures of campuses globally and migration of learning and teaching practices to online formats. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional teaching and learning activities, meanwhile, …

Empowering Clients And Care Partners Living With Parkinson’S Disease Through Evaluating And Addressing Gaps In Client And Care Partner Education, Victoria E. Vik

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with My LiveABILITY, LLC in College Grove, TN. My LiveABILITY is a mobile outpatient clinic that services Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers within the Williamson County area. They specifically provide in-home occupational therapy to address cognition, balance, gait, mobility, posture, strength, coordination, stamina, pain, and mental health, in-depth planning for aging in place, LSVT BIG for Parkinson’s patients, and they provide caregiver and care partner training, education, and support. The goals of this project were accomplished in two main parts. Part 1 consisted of conducting researching to gain the lived experience …

Pilot Project: Plant Hormones And Soil Bacterial Populations In Plant Growth Enhancement, Ada Sardana Sambola

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The way microorganisms affect plant health, through the contribution of nitrogen or phosphorus fixation by bacteria to the growing plants, has been thoroughly studied. Commonly referred to as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPBs), these organisms play a key role in enhancing plant growth by assisting in the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), facilitating the uptake of nutrients via mechanisms like phosphorus solubilization, and producing inhibitory substances that protect plants from pathogens. However, the reverse of this phenomenon has not been studied as deeply. This study will focus on how the addition of plant hormones, more specifically, gibberellins, affects the …

Gibberellic Acid Influence On Mutant Millets: An Exploration Of Effects, Fokam Felix Thierry Foading, Kennedy Femmer, Blake Reiger, Matthew Turray

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Setaria viridis, commonly known as green foxtail millets, exhibits diverse physical traits, including instances of dwarfism. Our study investigated the effect of gibberellic acid on millets, focusing on growth responses in normal and mutant plants, including dwarf variants. Gibberellic acid plays a vital role in stem elongation, and its deficiency may lead to hindered growth. We conducted experiments applying a gibberellic acid concentration of 0.5g/L to determine its impact on plant height. Two mutant types, Setaria Viridis 11970 Mutant 4 and Setaria viridis 03054 Mutant 6, were studied alongside the normal millet type Setaria Viridis A10.1 wild type. Results showed …

Disparities In Access To A Regular Primary Care Physician Among First-Generation Migrants With Early Psychosis In Ontario, Canada., Crystal Valdez, Rebecca Rodrigues, Jennifer Reid, Kelly K Anderson

Department of Medicine Publications

Disparities in primary care utilization among migrants with early psychosis may be related to lack of access to a regular primary care physician. This study aimed to investigate access to a regular primary care physician among first-generation migrants with early psychosis. People aged 14-35 years with first onset non-affective psychotic disorder in Ontario, Canada were identified in health administrative data (N = 39,440). Access to a regular primary care physician through enrollment in the year prior to diagnosis was compared between first-generation migrants (categorized by country of birth) and the general population using modified Poisson regression. Most migrant groups had …

An Undergraduate Laboratory Module Integrating Organic Chemistry And Polymer Science, Arya Patel, Michael Arik, Amrita Sarkar

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Polymer science is receiving wider acceptance in the organic chemistry community; thus, it is imperative to include it in the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum. Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the topic of polymer chemistry in undergraduate curricula, a comprehensive laboratory experiment module describing a polypeptide synthesis by ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA ROP) and a homopolymer synthesis by activators-regenerated by electron-transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) has yet to be proposed. Herein, we report a semester-long, ten week undergraduate laboratory module focusing on the synthesis and analytical characterization of polyalanine and polystyrene for an advanced organic chemistry class. …

Reducing Severity Of Primary Dysmenorrhea With The Utilization Of Acupressure, Tatum N. Britton

Theses and Graduate Projects

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition associated with painful

cramps during menstruation in the absence of other diseases. It impacts large populations of women worldwide yet is often disregarded and inadequately treated. The ways in which women are treated for this condition often bring forth issues including overuse of medications, drug dependence, adverse reactions from medication use, and increased medical expenses. The utilization of non-pharmacological options has been shown to be effective in managing pain related to primary dysmenorrhea, including the complementary and integrative treatment of acupressure. Guided by Jean Watson’s Human Caring Science Theory, this scholarly DNP-FNP project …

Utilizing Aromatherapy To Decrease Anxiety In Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Thomas A. Clawson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly project analyzes health disparities faced by people experiencing homelessness, specifically in regard to their mental health and how they experience heightened levels of anxiety when compared to individuals who have stable housing. Through a literature review, the use of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) was analyzed and has shown to be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for anxiety in a multitude of settings. Utilizing a theoretical framework distilled from Margret Newman’s theory Health as Expanding Consciousness, and Martha Rogers’ The Science of Unitary Human Beings. The quality improvement project was implemented at an inner city resource center for people experiencing homelessness. …

Implementation Of Vinyasa Yoga For Adults Experiencing Anxiety, Megan K. Malyuk

Theses and Graduate Projects

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States (US) and holistic treatment approaches, such as vinyasa yoga, are often practiced to alleviate the severity of symptoms (The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). A comprehensive literature review including evidence-based research, Metis-based knowledge, and personal accounts are used to support this scholarly project. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is explicated and synthesized as a theoretical framework. Methodology and evaluation of the scholarly project are described, analyzed, and reflected that vinyasa yoga has a positive impact on individuals who experience anxiety. This scholarly project was implemented …

Anything But Another Essay: Understanding Undergraduate Stem Student Perceptions Of Creative, Project-Based Learning, Emily M. Redding, Lorelei E. Patrick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The training of innovative and diverse scientists starts with creative teaching practices. Much of the pedagogy literature on incorporating nontraditional teaching practices in college STEM courses focuses on the use of in-class active learning activities. Less study has been devoted to creative, project-based assignments, such as “UnEssays”. The “UnEssay” is a semester-long assignment that challenges students to complete a library research project on a topic of their choosing and present it using anything but an essay. Although gaining popularity, few studies have assessed STEM student's perceptions of the assignments. To do so, Zoology students were asked to complete pre- and …

Screening Environmental Soil Samples For Antibiotic Production, Paige Mattick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Antibiotic resistance is a detrimental worldwide challenge, producing bacterial infections that are progressively more difficult to treat and cure. To attempt to help alleviate this issue, we screened soil samples for the presence of antibiotic-producing microorganisms. Soil samples were collected and diluted to 1:100 and 1:1000 ratios of soil and distilled water. These soil mixtures were then streaked onto tryptic soy agar (TSA) plates and incubated at 30℃ until colonies developed. These colonies were then selected and plated on a lawn of Serratia marcescens, which was utilized as the target organism.

Serratia marcescens was selected due to its known resistance …

The Role Of School-Based Dental Sealing Programs And Fluoride Varnish In Preventing Caries, Gyuri Park

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

To examine the effectiveness of school-based dental sealant programs and fluoride varnish applied to the teeth, we analyzed existing research on both methods. We also reviewed data from past research to reason the need for state funds, a sealant metric, and the elimination of prior exam rules for hygienists to increase dental sealant programs in the United States. Both dental sealants and fluoride varnish applied to the molar were found to be effective in caries prevention in existing dental research.

Utilizing Mindful Mediation To Reduce Burnout And Compassion Fatigue In Emergency Department Nurses, Allison Hickman

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this paper is to examine if implementing mindful meditation can reduce burnout and compassion fatigue in emergency department nurses. Methods. The research pulled from a sample size of 12. Six emergency nurses from varying shifts were given techniques and instructor guided meditations after taking a ProQOL survey and then six emergency nurses from varying shifts on took the ProQOL survey and did not receive any meditation. The sample of twelve then retook the ProQOL to compare compassion fatigue results. Results. The research showed a positive relation between those who were given mindful meditation techniques and those who …

Lgbtq+ Youth In The Juvenile Justice System, Matthias B. Pearce, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Many experts agree that the juvenile justice system has flaws, resulting in the need for different modifications. One area of particular concern within the juvenile justice system is the involvement of LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ youth are grossly overrepresented in both the juvenile and adult systems, including those who are incarcerated. This rate is highest for queer women and trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals (Buist, 2020; Donohue et al., 2021; Hereth & Bouris, 2020). This known pathway clearly depicts a systemic issue—one that warrants attention and remediation. This poster provides background information on the disparities that exist for LGBTQ+ youth …

Unlocking The Secret To Weight Loss: Discovering The Most Effective Green Tea Products, Seoyeon Kim

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

To find the most effective green tea product that can replace

weight loss drugs, we compared the amount of catechin in six

different green tea products. The result was green tea latte

powder contained a significantly small amount of catechin

compared to other products, and the dried pearl green tea leaves

had the highest amount of catechin. Also, the unexpected result

was that green tea supplements had less amount of catechin

compared to dried leaves or even tea bags that are commonly

sold in markets.

Juvenile Recidivism Rates, Logan Stump, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Juvenile crime peaked in the 1990s and has been on a downward decline since that time. However, youth remain overly represented in various stages of the juvenile and criminal legal systems. This poster outlines known criminogenic and non-criminogenic risk factors that influence juvenile offending. These risk factors have been identified in decades of correctional research and are reflected within many validated risk assessment instruments. The most widely used actuarial risk assessments will be outlined to demonstrate their effectiveness in predicting future offending behavior in youth. Lastly, based on known factors, this poster offers primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and intervention …

Exploring Strategies For Placement Stability Among Foster Care Children, Gabrielle Sewester

Dissertations

Children in foster care are considered a vulnerable population because of the maltreatment and abuse that previously occurred. In addition to the trauma resulting from previous abuse or neglect, children in foster care face ongoing exposure to trauma due to the lack of stability within the system. Instability in the foster care system is displayed by frequent changes in placement providers, multiple school changes, inconsistent mental and physical health treatment, prolonged permanency, and loss of connections with biological family members. The aim for this study is to fill the gap in the literature on foster parent’s experiences with successful placement …

Nontraditional Community College Students In Nursing: Perceptions Personified, Helene P. Seibert

Dissertations

Nontraditional students in nursing have been the topic of multiple research studies to gain insight into their perceptions regarding retention. This mixed methods study, using Jeffreys' Student Perception Appraisal-Revised (SPA-R, 2007a) takes the quantitative findings a step further by using a qualitative approach to generate findings that extend the value of that instrument by exploring the details pertaining to each of the environmental items using focus groups and individual interviews with community college nursing students, just prior to graduation. One hundred seven associate degree nursing students in their last semester at three Midwestern community colleges were surveyed with the SPA-R …

A Study Of The Effect Of Human Patient Simulation On Critical Thinking And Confidence Skills Of Baccalaureate Junior Nursing Students, Yanick D. Joseph

Dissertations

This quantitative study sought to evaluate human patient simulation's (HPS) impact on junior student nurses' critical thinking and confidence skills. The study investigated the impact of simulation as an adjunct to clinical learning on the critical thinking and confidence skills of (N=22) junior nursing students enrolled in the third quarter of a bachelor of nursing degree program in south Florida. A constructivist viewpoint served as the theoretical framework for the study. A two groups comparison group, pre-test-post-test design with the independent variable (simulation), and the dependent variables (critical thinking and self-confidence) ascribed to test the following null hypotheses set at …

Work Engagement, Burnout, And Well-Being In Nursing Professional Development Practitioners, Marlene T. Porter

Dissertations

This article-based manuscript dissertation will follow a two-manuscript process. The two manuscripts are related to work engagement, burnout, and well-being in the nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner. The first completed manuscript is a literature review that examines personal resources that affect work engagement, uncovers strategies to improve work engagement, and discusses the implications for the NPD practitioner. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria for the literature review identifying self-efficacy, resilience, optimism, meaning, mattering, hardiness, and grit as personal resources influencing work engagement. Strategies identified to improve work engagement included policy development, implementing self-awareness programs, and providing resilience, strengths, and gratitude …

Quantifying And Characterizing The Behavior Of Dissolved And Suspended Icp-Oes Detectible Elements In Utah Lake, Rachel Ann Valek

Theses and Dissertations

For Utah Lake in Utah, USA, we analyzed a uniquely comprehensive and longitudinal water quality dataset that extended over two summer sampling seasons. We measured 61 parameters using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), YSI ProDSS water sondes, and laboratory procedures to quantify and characterize dissolved and suspended behavior of trace elements in Utah Lake. We analyzed the data using principal component analysis (PCA) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) to understand the lake geochemistry and inform Utah Lake management decisions regarding nutrients and algal blooms. We found that 1) sediments rich in phosphorus (P) act as a source for bioavailable …

Psychotherapy Client Termination Patterns And Outcomes: A Large Follow-Up Study, Including Zero-, One-, And Two-Session Cases, Adam Victor Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical research examining psychotherapy clients' post treatment outcomes for all case lengths and their reasons for discontinuing treatment is limited in the literature, particularly for shorter case lengths. Research indicates that clients with zero-, one-, and two-session case lengths are the most common in psychotherapy (Howard et al., 1986; Nielsen et al., 2016; Phillips, 1985; Phillips 1987); and yet, little is known about these clients. The purpose of this study is to better understand these termination patterns and outcomes for the most common case lengths. Outcomes were measured with the Outcome Questionnaire-45 total score (OQ-45; Lambert et al., 2004). Client …

April 9, 2024, Nichole Mulvey

Minutes

Volume 52, Number 14

Speaker: Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer John Blue

Data-Driven Modeling Of Core Gene Regulatory Network Underlying Leukemogenesis In Idh Mutant Aml., Ataur Katebi, Xiaowen Chen, Daniel Ramirez, Sheng Li, Mingyang Lu

Faculty Research 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of poorly differentiated myeloid cells, with a heterogenous mutational landscape. Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are found in 20% of the AML cases. Although much effort has been made to identify genes associated with leukemogenesis, the regulatory mechanism of AML state transition is still not fully understood. To alleviate this issue, here we develop a new computational approach that integrates genomic data from diverse sources, including gene expression and ATAC-seq datasets, curated gene regulatory interaction databases, and mathematical modeling to establish models of context-specific core gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for a …