Digital Commons Network^™

Utilizing Registered Dietitians To Improve Nutrition Education For Medical Students, Andee James, Pasquale Manzerra

Scholarship Pathways Program

Despite the well-established link between nutrition and chronic disease prevention, medical education continues to underemphasize nutrition training. This study explores the impact of integrating registered dietitians (RDs) into pre-clerkship medical education to enhance students’ knowledge, confidence, and perception of nutrition in clinical care. A series of optional, system-based nutrition lectures were delivered by RDs and supplemented by senior medical students who shared real-world clinical case studies. Pre- and post-session surveys assessed students’ confidence in providing dietary counseling, understanding of the physician’s and dietitian’s roles, and the perceived importance of nutrition in disease management. Results showed significant improvements across all metrics, …

Comparative Three-Barcode Phylogenetics And Soil Microbiomes Of Planted And Wild Strawberry Trees., Flannery Mclamb, Armando Vazquez, Natalie Olander, Miguel F. Vasquez, Zuying Feng, Niharika Malhotra, Liisa Bozinovic, Karen Najera Ruiz, Katherine O'Connell, Joseph Stagg, Goran Bozinovic

Center for Life in Extreme Environments Publications

Taxonomic identification of closely related plants can be challenging due to convergent evolution, hybridization, and overlapping geographic distribution. To derive taxonomic relationships among planted and wild plants across a large geographic range, we complemented three standard plastid barcodes , , and with soil and fruit chemistry, soil microbiome, and plant morphology analyses. Soil and plant sampling included planted from manicured sites in Southern California, USA, wild plants from Southern and Northern California, and wild populations from Mediterranean island of Hvar, Croatia. We hypothesized that phenotypic variation within and between sites correlates with plants' genotype and geographic distribution. Similar fruit chemistry …

Parental Guidance Suggested: Genetic, Epigenetic, And Environmental Factors Shape Allele-Specific Gene Regulation In Metabolic Traits, Celine Louise St. Pierre

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Deciphering the “genotype to phenotype” map is a crucial goal of biology. We will not improve our ability to predict phenotypes from DNA sequences until we better incorporate epigenetic and environmental variation into our models of human health and disease. Genes are typically presumed to express both parental alleles equally, but genetic and epigenetic factors can cause one allele to function differently than the other (e.g. expressed or silenced more). These allele-specific imbalances can alter the final composition of a gene’s transcriptional product and ultimately shape phenotypes. Allele-specific effects have widespread impacts on complex traits, but how environmental signals contribute …

Client-Centered Food Distribution: An Analysis Of Patron Preferences At The Oxford Food Pantry, Ella Mann

Honors Theses

Food insecurity has long penetrated the rural South. This limits access to nutritious foods like fresh produce and contributes to chronic health conditions that may arise. Food pantries serve as a vital resource in addressing these disparities by providing free food to families in need. Many of these pantries incorporate strategies to increase consumption of nutrient dense options such as fruits as vegetables. These strategies can vary but the client choice model has proven to align with the self determination theory and promote greater autonomy in food selection. This study aimed to assess the food preferences of patrons at the …

Challenges Us Study Abroad Students Face When Acculturating To A Foreign Food Environment, Sydney C. Davis

Honors Theses

Studying abroad presents a unique opportunity for college students to immerse themselves in new cultures, including experiencing different food environments and dietary customs. However, adapting to a foreign food culture can pose various challenges that impact students’ overall health, eating behaviors, and study abroad experiences. The purpose of this study to develop a survey instrument designed to investigate the extent to which U.S. study abroad students embrace, accept, and face challenges with different aspects of Italian food culture, using the Social Ecological Model (SEM) as a guiding framework. Initial survey items were developed with information obtained from focus group discussions …

Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern, affecting individuals of all ages and ethnicities worldwide. A key factor in health concerns related to obesity is metabolic health: Obese individuals are either metabolically healthy obese or metabolically unhealthy obese, leading to different degrees of risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.. There is a lack of comprehensive research examining the association between metabolic health status among obese individuals and kidney, liver, and stomach diseases. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether metabolic health status is a significant predictor of kidney, liver, and stomach diseases among obese individuals when lifestyle is a …

Case Studies In Modern Accountancy: Exploring Financial Ethics, Corporate Influence, And Regional Development Through An Interdisciplinary Lens, Caroline Klocke

Honors Theses

This thesis compiles five case studies researched and completed during the 2023-2024 academic year, each exploring a different topic pertaining to the accounting profession today. With the guidance of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, professor at the University of Mississippi, these case studies were completed throughout the Accountancy 420 class to fulfill the research requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Patterson School of Accountancy. The first case emphasizes reliable international financial reporting, while exploring the exposure of fraudulent Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges that costed American investors billions of dollars. The second explores U.S. military spending …

Cooking For A Cause: Food Insecurity In Lafayette County, Ms, Anna K. Richie

Honors Theses

Many people in Lafayette County, MS, experience ongoing difficulties with consistent access to healthy food options. According to the Mississippi Health & Hunger Atlas, “food insecurity rates in Mississippi are consistently and statistically higher than national averages—having been ranked as #1 or #2 for highest food insecurity rate every year for the past 15 years” (Haggard, Cafer & Green, 2017). This capstone project examines how a Little Free Pantry (LFP) initiative can contribute to local food security efforts and evaluates cooking demonstration outcomes using ingredients found in LFPs. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods by tracking pantry inventory data …

Bridging The Justice Gap: Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic At North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Emma-Kathryn Bond

Honors Theses

Over the course of two years, I spent more than 130 hours completing on-the- ground volunteer work with the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC), a clinic within North Mississippi Rural Legal Services that provides free legal assistance to individuals navigating disputes with the IRS. While the Sixth Amendment guarantees legal representation in criminal cases, no such guarantee exists for civil matters such as tax disputes, housing instability, or loss of public benefits. Clinics like LITC fill a crucial gap by offering support in areas that are often overlooked, such as tax law, where clients risk audits, wage garnishments, and court proceedings …

Empowering Youth Through Cooking Classes, Jamiya C. Mason

Honors Theses

Chronic health issues and poor dietary habits continue to disproportionately impact rural communities in Mississippi, especially among children. Research has shown that early exposure to healthy foods and cooking practices can positively influence lifelong health behaviors. Cooking classes have also been linked to improved food literacy, culinary confidence, and willingness to try new foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a short-term culinary program on children’s cooking self-efficacy and food behaviors in Quitman County, Mississippi.

Four cooking classes were conducted with youth (grades 4–7) in a local after-school program. Lessons included vegetable-based recipes, including zucchini …

Building Community Through Food And Health: Student Initiatives To Address Food Insecurity In Mississippi, Sarah E. Sawaya

Honors Theses

This thesis explores food insecurity in Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi, within the broader context of state, national, and global challenges. Over a four-year period, student-led and community organizations collaborated to design programs that addressed both food access and chronic illness prevention through education, outreach, and direct service. Community input was gathered through health screenings, campus engagement, and informal interviews with residents, which guided the development of practical tools like recipe kits, QR code-based cookbooks, and on-site health education. These efforts were rooted in local partnerships and shaped by the lived experiences of those most affected. This project demonstrates that …

Health Fairs: An Effective Approach To Health Promotion Through Community Engagement And Community-Campus Partnerships, Brookleigh Brumfield

Honors Theses

Community engagement seeks to achieve long-term outcomes through collaborating with community and campus partners to address the issues affecting the community by centering their voices, concerns, and solutions. This capstone project seeks to offer health and language access for residents in Lafayette, Pontotoc, and Union Counties, and to evaluate the health fair model from the perspective of participating community and campus partners. With this information from organizations, it will be possible to create the most efficient, beneficial health fairs in these counties. The community partner perspectives show the importance of community engagement, but also the significance for the campus as …

Spartan Daily, May 8, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 43

Keep Me Upright, Joscelyn C. Zimmerman, Kamrie L. Peterson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Background: As our society ages, falls have emerged as a leading cause of accidental injury and death globally, significantly impacting older adults’ quality of life (Matchar et al., 2017; WHO, 2021). The consequences of falls are profound, encompassing physical injuries, psychological distress, and substantial healthcare costs. In the U.S., Medicare spends approximately $31.3 billion annually on fall-related care (Gettel et al., 2020). These statistics underscore the need for standardized fall prevention strategies in primary care.

Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to implement a standardized systems-level process change for fall risk screening and education during Medicare Annual …

Tackling Social Stigma: An Ethical Obligation In Healthcare Intervention To Involuntary Childlessness, Persis Naumann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stigma associated with involuntary childlessness has negatively affected health and well-being for several decades. This situation is particularly exacerbated for women within the Tamil socio-cultural context, resulting in feelings of shame, neglect, denial, isolation, and constituting a significant barrier to long-term access to healthcare services. Although advancements have been made in the provision of biomedical care, the psychosocial support remains inadequately addressed. Moreover, there are currently no healthcare interventions that specifically target the stigma associated with this issue, which hinders open communication with healthcare providers, delays necessary treatments, and adversely impacts overall health outcomes. The central thesis of this …

The Ethical Imperative Of The Renewal Of Virtue Within The Moral Community Of Catholic Healthcare, Amanda Altobell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catholic healthcare is one of the largest nonprofit organizations and providers in the United States, offering medical care to many diverse communities. The fundamental mission of Catholic healthcare is to bring about Christ’s healing ministry and live out the fundamental principle of caring for the vulnerable in pursuit of the common good. However, there have been many missteps, not only due to a more polarized and secular community but also to scandals and conflict due to previous hierarchical and rules-based anthropology that often misses the person's lived experience. Therefore, this dissertation will argue that for Catholic healthcare to survive the …

Swine Solutions: Enhancing Ffa Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects, Hannah M. Daily, Dr. John Michael Mehaffey, Dr. Candis Scallan, Dr. Amy Mehaffey, Dr. Joe Mask

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a portion of the three-circle model of agriculture education, providing experiential learning opportunities for students. The immersion SAE encourages students to build upon foundational learning components in a real-world application. A popular area of the immersion SAE includes ownership of market swine being raised for exhibition. This study serves as a pilot mentorship program for agricultural science educators and students, creating an educational resource encouraging record-keeping techniques and skill development, leading to eventual independence from the student’s standpoint. The model for the Swine Solutions Program includes utilization of the provided handbook, completion of daily observation …

Staff Education To Facilitate Patient Medication Adherence Among Schizophrenia Patients, Fri Florence Fon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the years, mental health practice has been characterized by a lack of compliance by schizophrenic patients after receiving a prescription for medication when discharged from the hospital (Kim et al., 2020). This issue has adversely affected the quality of experience and treatment outcomes among schizophrenia patients in my organization, an outpatient mental health clinic a similar challenge exists. Many patients diagnosed with schizophrenia struggle with medication adherence postdischarge, leading to increased relapse rates and hospital readmissions. This recurring issue has highlighted the need for enhanced patient education to improve compliance. The identified practice problem was the need for a …

Phytosynthesis Of Magnetite Nanoparticles From Piper Betle (L.) Var. Mysore And Evaluation Of Anti-Microbial Properties, Ravikant Shekhar, Sushma T, Madhusudhan Mc, Prakash Hs, Geetha N

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: Piper betle L., is a well-known herb in Asia, popular for its fragrance and mouth-refreshing properties. With more than 100 varieties, it has a number of medicinal and socio-economic benefits. Its phenolic constituents have been displayed to treat oral anaerobes, animate lipase action, and reduces lipid peroxidation. Magnetite nanoparticles, with their novel properties, are utilized in different applications, and amalgamating with plant sources, increases the efficacy of the nanoparticles to many folds.

Methods: In this study, biogenic synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) was carried out using aqueous solutions of Ferric Chloride and Ferrous Sulphate in a ratio of 2:1 …

Assessing Variability In Exercise Energy Expenditure Measurements: A Pilot Study, Philip W. Eng

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

GNYACSM Original Research Abstract

Assessing Variability in Exercise Energy Expenditure Measurements: A Pilot Study

PHILIP ENG MS; KATHRYN WHYTE, PHD RDN

New York Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Department of Medicine,

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center; New York City, NEW YORK

Category: Graduate

Advisor / Mentor: Whyte, Kathryn ([email protected])

ABSTRACT

Whole-room indirect calorimetry (WRIC) serves as the gold standard for measuring human energy expenditure (EE) including 24hr EE and its components. It has been applied to multiple research fields to determine EE in energy balance studies. Due to response times in WRIC, for exercise …

Comparison Of Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry And Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis For Assessing Fat-Free Mass In Older Adults, Sandra L. Rios, Bridget A. Mcfadden, Noberto Quiles, Anoop Balachandran

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is frequently used to assess sarcopenia and muscle mass in older adults. However, DXA is expensive, requires a licensed X-ray technician, and involves radiation exposure. In contrast, multi-frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is quick, less-costly, requires no expertise, and does not involve radiation. Despite these practical advantages, comparative studies of DXA and BIA in healthy older adults are limited. PURPOSE: We compared DXA vs BIA for fat-free mass assessment and associations with power and strength in community-living older adults. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults (N = 13, mean age = 68.5 years, 75% females) underwent both …

Sit-To-Stand Power,Grip Strength, And Performance Outcomes In Older Adults, Leno Benny, Anoop T. Balachandran, Norberto N. Quiles

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

GNYACSM Original Research Abstract

Sit-to-Stand Power,Grip strength, and Performance Outcomes in Older Adults

LENO BENNY, RENEE LUSTIN, NORBERTO QUILES & ANOOP T. BALACHANDRAN

Exercise and Aging Lab, Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, NY

Category: Graduate

Advisor / Mentor: Balachandran, Anoop T. ([email protected])

ABSTRACT

Hand grip strength is widely used as a marker for strength and sarcopenia in older adults. Although power is more strongly associated with physical performance, power testing is sparingly used due to high cost, expertise required and portability issues. The sit-to-stand power test is a low-cost,fairly …

Mental Toughness And Neuromuscular Strength: A Parsimonious Model From A Multisystem Perspective, Kaela Walker, Tomas Chapman-Lopez, Andrew Gallucci, Leroy Bolden, Olivia Russell, Alex Rothstein, Jeff S. Forsse, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental Toughness (MT) is a trainable capacity that supports consistent performance under pressure. Conceptually grounded in purposefulness, efficiency, and flexibility, MT is increasingly examined through a multisystem lens, including physiological function. Yet, specific physical indicators that meaningfully relate to MT remain unclear. PURPOSE: To identify physiological predictors of MT in healthy adults. METHODS: Eighty-four adults (M = 84; 44.7 ± 14.8 years; BMI = 26.8 ± 5.2; %BF = 24.2 ± 7.2) completed the Mental Toughness Index (MTI). Candidate predictors included VO₂max (Bruce Protocol), resting heart rate (RHR), % body fat and BMI (via DEXA), right-hand grip strength …

Mental Toughness And Physiological Function: An Exploratory Analysis Of Multisystem Correlates In Healthy Adults, Charles Siguenza, Tomas Chapman-Lopez, Andrew Gallucci, Leroy Bolden, Olivia Russell, Alex Rothstein, Jeff S. Forsse, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental Toughness (MT) is associated with a mindset of purposefulness, efficiency, and flexibility under stress. Although traditionally conceptualized as a psychological construct, emerging frameworks in psychophysiological toughness and mind-body integration suggest that MT may also be associated with or reflect variation in physical systems. This study explores whether MT can be meaningfully modeled within a multisystem framework of physiological and metabolic function. PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which physiological performance, metabolic health, and body composition predict MT in healthy adults. METHODS: Eighty-four adults (M = 84; 44.7 ± 14.8 years; BMI = 26.8 ± 5.2; %BF = …

The Underdiagnosis: Addressing The Underdiagnosis Of The Female Athlete Triad And Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport, Nicholas R. Bohannon, Kayla E. Hasty, Stacie Fairley, Robert Walker

Research Day

Introduction: Many elite athletes train their whole lives to reach elite status. For another set of athletes, their sports careers were cut short for one reason or another. The underdiagnosing of the Female Athlete Triad (Triad) or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) might be the reason for some athletes. A few main barriers have prevented the medical community from accurately diagnosing athletes suffering from the Triad and RED-S.

Objective: This study investigates the critical barriers to early and accurate detection of the Triad and RED-S. Key obstacles include insufficient research, limited physician education, and inadequate awareness among athletes and …

Social Support, Motivation, And Maternal Knowledge About Providing Essential Health Care Services For Preterm And Low Birth Weight Babies In West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, Ricvan Dana Nindrea, Long Chiau Ming, Nissa Prima Sari

Journal of Health Research

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm infants face heightened health risks, requiring specialized care. Social support, maternal motivation, and knowledge are vital for their care, yet research on these factors in West Sumatra, Indonesia, is limited. This study examines how social support and maternal motivation enhance maternal knowledge in caring for LBW and preterm infants.

Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2024 in Padang City and Solok Regency, West Sumatra. A total of 125 mothers with LBW or preterm infants born between January and December 2023 were selected using multistage random sampling. Data were …

Primary Care Doctors' Attitudes Towards Geriatric Care In Malaysia:An Online Survey, Azmi Mohd Ikhwan, Na. Hamid, Sukeri Surianti, Inche Zainal Abidin Sheleaswani, Abd Hamid Anees

Journal of Health Research

Background: Primary care doctors play a pivotal role in an ageing society. They must possess appropriate attitudes about offering effective care to older people. Therefore, this study sought to determine the attitudes of primary care doctors towards geriatric care and factors associated with positive attitudes among these doctors in Malaysia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between May 2023 and January 2024, included 328 primary care doctors in Malaysia. It used convenience sampling and included doctors who had worked for at least six months in a primary care setting. The University of California Los Angeles Geriatric Attitude Scale questionnaire was administered …

The Investigation Of Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Dietary Achievement, And Satisfaction Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer Post-Using A Web Application: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Pornpimon Nunthanawanich, Sanit Wichansawakun, Cholrit Luangjinda, Chatrapa Hudthagosol

Journal of Health Research

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, with malnutrition being a leading cause of death among Thai cancer patients. Misinformation, lack of knowledge, and false beliefs contribute to nutrition-related issues. Online platforms offer an alternative for patient education. This study aimed to compare the impact of two nutritional education tools, the Nutrition Educational Prototype based on Smartphone Web Applications (NEPSA) and standard hospital leaflets with nutrition counselling, on nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices in malnourished patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy.

Method: This quasi-experimental study employed pretest and posttest designs with a nonequivalent control group. Twenty-eight …

Pastoralism, Social Protection And Vision 2030 In Kenya: Possibilities And Prospects, Maurice N. Amutabi

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper is based on research which investigated the availability of social protection structures and institutions among pastoralists in northern Kenya. Social protection, which consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption/loss of income is something that northern Kenya needs. The paper faults Vision 2030 and suggests mechanisms and ways in which pastoralists can be incorporated in Kenya's development more meaningfully. The argument is that Vision 2030 has not addressed the plight of pastoralists in political, …

Controlling Women’S Sexuality: The Rise Of Emotional Abuse Among Indian Husbands, Puranjay K. Vedi

Journal of International Women's Studies

In ancient Hindu literature, marriage is regarded as the most sacred institution while adultery—known as vyabhichāra (व्यभिचार) in Hindi—is considered one of the gravest sins. Ancient practices still have impact in 21st-century India, where internal household sanctions meant to ensure Indian wives’ chastity continue to be seen as sacred. This study describes six different types of Husband’s Controlling Behavior (HCB) that are used to preserve wives’ chastity. HCB can either take the form of emotional violence (accusing/suspecting a wife of being unfaithful) or physical violence (hitting or beating a wife out of a suspicion she is being unfaithful). This study …