Digital Commons Network^™

International Student-Athletes' Agency, Authorship, And Voice At U.S. Higher Education Institutions, Malia Nicole Schimminger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, case study research project is to explore international student-athletes’ experiences at U.S. higher education institutions, probing how well nonimmigrant visa holders are prepared for postgraduate success through their college experiences. Six collaborators engaged in photo elicitation interviews to provide insight into how they have navigated their international student identity and student-athlete identity. Collaborators each shared 10-15 media files representative of their experiences, and then they engaged in 90-minute interviews to talk about what their selections meant to them and why they were significant. The frameworks of agency, self-authorship, and voice were used to gauge how …

Application Of Existing Statistical Models To Thermal Inactivation Of Escherichia Coli In A Lab-Based Circulating Water Bath And Investigation Of A Salmonella Challenge Model In A 42-Day Broiler Grow-Out In An Updated Facility, Michael Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

The Food Safety Modernization Act has enforced the importance of research in preventative and control measures for known hazards. Experiment 1 applies existing statistical models, Linear and Weibull, to Escherichia coli thermal inactivation in broiler mash feed in a lab-based circulating water bath to simulate conditioning. Linear and Weibull models were determined to be suitable for modeling the thermal inactivation of E. coli in broiler feed. In Experiment 2, a Salmonella challenge model for broilers raised in floor pens in the updated Animal Biosafety Level-2 facility was evaluated over a 42-day grow-out period. Broiler performance and recovery of Salmonella from …

Investigating The Effects Of Multiple Concussions On Neuropsychological Performance, Michaela S. Patoilo

Theses and Dissertations

It has been well-established in the literature that a history of concussion makes individuals more susceptible to sustaining subsequent concussions. However, there is little neuropsychological evidence of how sustaining multiple lifetime concussions affects cognitive functioning in the general adult population. It is known from previous traumatic brain injury and single concussion literature that impairments in cognitive performance across domains often follow the initial injury, and exploratory studies have shown that multiple concussions can have a measurable impact on cognition. However, existing research is often limited by its reliance on archival data and abbreviated neuropsychological batteries. Therefore, the current study aimed …

Divergent Selection For Anthesis Of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Ssp. Multiflorum), Prakriti Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

Annual ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) is an excellent cover crop for winter-fallow fields of the Southeast. However, late senescence and herbicide resistance pose challenges for spring eradication. This study aims to develop a ryegrass variety that naturally senescence early using the recurrent phenotypic selection. A base population with anthesis dates from March 21 to April 2 was collected in 2022. 903 seedlings of this population were grown in Cycle0. For Cycle1, the Cycle0 population upon anthesis was segregated into NV0 (11 non-vernalizing), E0 (earliest 70 to anthesis), and L0 (last 70 to anthesis). Isolated groups were allowed to polycross …

Living With Mamaw And Pawpaw: Examining The Impact Of Context When Raising One’S Grandchildren, Rachel K. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The parenting literature has long explored the influence that socioeconomic status has on parenting practices, but more recent theorists have suggested that contextual factors may influence or explain this relation in some capacity. The current study sought to explore the influence of these contextual factors within a nationwide sample of caregiving grandparents. The results indicate that grandparental financial well-being, depressive symptoms, scarcity of resources, and grandparenting practices share significant associations. Further, contextual factors (i.e., grandparental depressive symptoms and access to resources) mediate the relation between financial well-being and both the positive and negative grandparenting practices that are employed. These findings …

Longitudinal Influences Of Parental Relationships On Positive Adolescent Functioning, Rebekah Buckley Sparks

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the longitudinal influences of parental relationships – romantic, co-parenting, and parent-child – on positive adolescent functioning. Utilizing data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigates how various dimensions of parental relationships impact adolescent well-being at age 15, as measured by the EPOCH scale. Grounded in Attachment Theory and the Life Course Perspective, this research highlights the interconnectedness of early parental interactions and their long-term effects on adolescents’ emotional and social development. Key findings indicate that supportive and stable parental relationships significantly enhance adolescents’ engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness. The study emphasizes …

Exploring The Plant Orphan Gene Qqs: Unveiling Its Molecular Mechanism, Functional Network, And Agricultural Implications, Rezwan Tanvir

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, understanding the emergence and integration of novel genes into genomes has garnered significant interest within the scientific community. Species-specific orphan genes have become particularly intriguing due to their recent appearance and distinct structural characteristics. Despite their prevalence and potential evolutionary significance, studying orphan genes poses challenges due to their lack of similarity to other genes, resulting in limited functional annotations. This study aims to delve into the mechanisms, functions, networks, and agricultural implications of orphan genes. QQS (Qua-Quine Starch), exclusively identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, stands as the first functionally characterized orphan gene in plants. It regulates carbon …

Efficacy Of Fungicides And Herbicides, Applications To Manage Southern Blight In Mississippi Peanut Fields, Subina Tripathi

Theses and Dissertations

Peanuts are an important legume crop cultivated in Mississippi with an annual production of 71 million kg per hectare. Southern blight (SB), caused by Athelia rolfsii, is a devastating disease resulting in significant losses to peanut production. Cultural practices may not adequately control diseases; therefore, the application of fungicides is important. Recently, the rapid growth of weed species has emphasized herbicide usage and studied weed interaction with SB. In this study, Athelia rolfsii isolates were collected from different counties to identify their biological characteristics and determine the in vitro efficacy in both 2022 and 2023. In the field trial, seven …

The Case For Bisphosphonate Use In Astronauts Flying Long-Duration Missions, Reece Rosenthal, Victor S Schneider, Jeffrey A Jones, Jean D Sibonga

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Changes in the structure of bone can occur in space as an adaptive response to microgravity and on Earth due to the adaptive effects to exercise, to the aging of bone cells, or to prolonged disuse. Knowledge of cell-mediated bone remodeling on Earth informs our understanding of bone tissue changes in space and whether these skeletal changes might increase the risk for fractures or premature osteoporosis in astronauts. Comparisons of skeletal health between astronauts and aging humans, however, may be both informative and misleading. Astronauts are screened for a high level of physical fitness and health, are launched with high …

Barriers To Healthcare Faced By Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Families, Jennifer Lu

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication as well as repetitive behaviors or interests that can affect daily functioning. ASD individuals are also more likely to experience poor physical and mental health along with reduced life expectancy compared to non-autistic people. Thus, it is crucial that those with ASD are able to obtain adequate healthcare. However, there is limited research on the barriers to medical care access faced by those with ASD and their families.

Purpose: Due to the lack of autism awareness in the general population and …

Efficacy Of Probiotics In Decreasing Rates Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis And Sepsis In Preterm Neonates, Valisa K. Teekadharry

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: The incidence of preterm infants developing serious infections is a common finding in many neonatal intensive care units. Probiotics have been a supplement that has been used by numerous people to improve the microbiota of the intestine for prevention of infection.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to explore the efficacy of using probiotics in preterm infants for prevention of serious infections such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Lindell Library, Pub Med, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Using the search terms probiotics, probiotics in premature infants, probiotics and …

Awareness Of Nutrition's Impact On Mental Health And Ketogenic Diet’S Therapeutic Potential For Mental Illness And Other Chronic Disorders, Innocent Nsengiyumva

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mental health affects millions of people worldwide, and current pharmaceutical treatment approaches often lead to worse outcomes, weight gain, and increased cardiovascular risk. The ketogenic diet offers hope in the treatment of schizophrenia and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. The aim of this project is to explore public awareness of nutritional psychiatry and the ketogenic diet’s clinical utility for various conditions including schizophrenia, mood disorders, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. Study participants (n=108) completed a 12-question survey about individual nutritional habits and current knowledge of KD. Responses were obtained from medical students, practicing healthcare professionals, college undergraduate students, and members of …

Adiponectin, Interleukin-18 (Il-18), And Visceral Adipose Tissue In Filipino Americans: Biomarkers And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Julian L. Gallegos, Ruth E. Taylor-Piliae, Thaddeus W.W. Pace, Matthew J. Gallek, Leslie Ritter

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction

Objectives

Methods

Impact Of Partial Oil Removal On Energy Content Of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles For Finishing Cattle, Jordan E. Burhoop, J. L. Sperber, Curt J. Bittner, F. Henry Hilscher, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two experiments evaluated the impact of the reduction in the percentage of corn oil remaining in distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) after the ethanol plant de-oiling process or by adding corn oil back to DGS following de-oiling on finishing cattle performance and nutrient digestion. Experiment 1 utilized 320 yearling steers (initial BW = 413 kg; SD = 25 kg) fed in 32 pens (10 steers/pen) and assigned to one of four treatments (n = 8 pens/treatment). The four treatments consisted of a blended DRC:HMC corn control diet (CON), de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles included at 40% of diet DM …

Corneal Epithelial Tissue Engineering Approaches To Treat Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency, Sasirekha K

Theses and Dissertations

A clear healthy cornea is essential for visual acuity. As a self-renewing and regenerating tissue, the corneal epithelium has a stem cell pool, the limbus that acts as its proliferative reservoir. When limbal epithelial stem cells are destroyed or become dysfunctional, a pathological state known as limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) manifests. Damaged corneas have been successfully reconstructed by transplanting the cultured limbal epithelial stem cells. Limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) is one of the applicable and most challenging procedures in clinical ophthalmology for the reconstruction of the stratified ocular surface epithelium in patients with LSCD. Given the above challenge, …

Combating Dehydration In The Dementia Patient, Crystal L. Widemon

MSN Capstone Projects

Dehydration is a prevalent global health issue impacting individuals across all demographics, with the elderly—especially those suffering from dementia—being particularly vulnerable. As the elderly population grows and dementia rates increase, addressing dehydration becomes crucial to reduce hospitalizations, mitigate healthcare costs, and enhance patient well-being. This executive summary outlines a proposed intervention aimed at improving fluid intake among elderly dementia patients residing in residential care facilities.

Research indicates that dehydration significantly impacts the health and financial costs associated with dementia care. Studies have shown that dehydration exacerbates cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms in dementia patients, leading to increased dependency and healthcare …

Neural Control Of Swallowing In Infants: White Matter Tracts Associated With Swallow Function, Heather Christine Mcghee

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates innovative approaches to improve feeding and swallowing outcomes in infants, particularly those born prematurely or with brain injury. It focuses on understanding the neural networks involved in sucking and swallowing by utilizing diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), a more sensitive neuroimaging technique than traditional MRI, and the BaByVFSSImP, a standardized tool for assessing swallow function. Additionally, the research explores the use of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a neuromodulation technique to enhance oral feeding skills. The study found no adverse effects from taVNS on airway protection or swallowing physiology. Furthermore, there were some possible associations between …

Methodology For Evaluation Of Complex School-Based Health Promotion Interventions, Yvonne O’Byrne, J. Dineen, T. Coppinger

Publications

There is a need for careful examination of large volumes of collected (structured and unstructured) information related to school-based evaluation. There is also no published, comprehensive framework/s for evaluating complex interventions in Irish primary schools. The aim of this paper is to outline a methodology for process evaluation of an Irish primary school-based physical activity (PA) and nutrition intervention. Evaluation followed the three themes outlined by the British Medical Research Council: implementation, context, and mechanism of impact that we further divided into six dimensions. Methodological tools included questionnaires, PA logs, reflective journals, write and draw, and semi-structured interviews. We triangulated …

Our Bodies, Our Choices: Reproductive Justice And Social Embodiment, Charles Olney

Political Science Faculty Publications

Feminist scholars of reproductive justice argue for a broader model of politics organised around embodied experience. But to fully express the intersectional politics of reproductive justice, more attention must be given to the social function of embodiment—the ways that bodily markers create associative communities among strangers. This shared form of embodiment establishes connections that exceed the intimate relationship of a specific pregnancy. In particular, foetal embodiment manifests via communities with vested interest in the social meaning of life. These communities are affected, albeit indirectly, by reproductive choices and are therefore valid subjects of concern for reproductive justice. I develop the …

Microbial Phosphate Solubilization Mechanisms In P Solubilizing In Andisol, Agustina Erlinda Marpaung, Tengku Sabrina, Abdul Rauf, Dwi Ningsih Susilowati, Luthfi Aziz Mahmud Siregar

Jurnal Kultivasi

Phosphate (P) nutrient plays a significant role in plant growth and yield. P is an essential element that plays an important role in photosynthesis and root development. Phosphate nutrient availability is deficient in some soil types due to retention, such as in Andisol soil types. High phosphate retention in Andisol soil types causes P nutrients to be unavailable to plants and can reduce crop yields. The availability of P in Andisol soils can be done, among others, by applying phosphate solubilizing microbes. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms are soil microorganisms consisting of bacteria and fungi that can mineralize organic P, dissolve inorganic …

Socioeconomic Determinants And Maternal Mortality In Liberia, Monee Sherman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High rates of pregnancies and childbirth contribute to a heightened risk of maternal mortality among women between 15 and 49 in Liberia. Most women are uninformed about their maternal risk behaviors, symptom severity, and delayed care-seeking. The mortality rate for women between 25 and 34 during pregnancy and childbirth is unacceptably high. The highest increase in maternal mortality rates is seen among women between 40 and 44 who choose to delay motherhood. In Liberia, the deaths of 4.5 women a day are caused by complications during pregnancy and childbirth. We examined the influence of participant background characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and …

The Effects Of A High-Fat Meal Challenge With Polyphenol And Fiber On Postprandial Insulin And C-Peptide In Prediabetics: A Pilot Study, Gabrielle Richards

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The purpose of the present study was to understand the effects of varying levels of polyphenols and fiber on postprandial C-peptide and insulin levels after consumption of a high fat, high sugar meal (HFHSM) in prediabetic individuals. All subjects were diagnosed as pre-diabetic within 3 months of the start date of the study by a medical professional or were screened as meeting one of the criteria for prediabetes by researchers within the James Madison Human Performance Lab by a HbA1c (5.7-6.4%), fasting glucose (100-126 mg/dL), or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 140-199 mg/dL). After an overnight fast, five females …

Morphological Characterization, Seed Production, And Oil Content Of Several Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus (D.C.) Stapf.) Line, Adi Setiadi, Cheppy Syukur, Idam Holid, Lindiana

Jurnal Kultivasi

Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass, is a perennial herb widely cultivated for its culinary, medicinal, and aromatic industries. This research investigates the morphological characterization and potential yield of different lemongrass lines. The study involved the collection of diverse lemongrass genotypes from various geographic regions in Indonesia. The research was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications. Morphological character observations encompass both quantitative and qualitative characters of plants. Morphological characteristics such as plant height, leaf length and width, stem diameter, and number of tillers were measured to assess the variations among the genotypes. The results revealed considerable variability …

Integrated Modeling Of Nature’S Role In Human Well-Being: A Research Agenda, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, Stephen Polasky, Rob Alkemade, Neil D. Burgess, William W.L. Cheung, Ingo Fetzer, Mike Harfoot, Thomas W. Hertel, Samantha L.L. Hill, Justin Andrew Johnson, Jan H. Janse, Patrick José V. Jeetze, Hyejin Kim, Jan J. Kuiper, Eric Lonsdorf, David Leclère, Mark Mulligan, Garry D. Peterson, Alexander Popp, Stephanie Roe, Aafke M. Schipper, Tord Snäll, Arnout Van Soesbergen, Aline C. Soterroni, Elke Stehfest, Detlef P. Van Vuuren, Piero Visconti, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Geoff Wells, Henrique M. Pereira

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Integrated assessment models that incorporate biodiversity and ecosystem services could be an important tool for improving our understanding of interconnected social-economic-ecological systems, and for analyzing how policy alternatives can shift future trajectories towards more sustainable development. Despite recent scientific and technological advances, key gaps remain in the scientific community’s ability to deliver information to decision-makers at the pace and scale needed to address sustainability challenges. We identify five research frontiers for integrated social-economic-ecological modeling (primarily focused on terrestrial systems) to

incorporate biodiversity and ecosystem services: 1) downscaling impacts of direct and indirect drivers on eco- systems; 2) incorporating feedbacks in …

Clathrin Light Chains Negatively Regulate Plant Immunity By Hijacking The Autophagy Pathway, Hu-Jiao Lan, Jie Ran, Wen-Xu Wang, Lei Zhang, Ni-Ni Wu, Ya-Ting Zhao, Min-Jun Huang, Min Ni, Fen Liu, Ninghui Cheng, Paul A Nakata, Jianwei Pan, Steven A Whitham, Barbara J Baker, Jian-Zhong Liu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The crosstalk between clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) and the autophagy pathway has been reported in mammals; however, the interconnection of CME with autophagy has not been established in plants. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis CLATHRIN LIGHT CHAIN (CLC) subunit 2 and 3 double mutant, clc2-1 clc3-1, phenocopies Arabidopsis AUTOPHAGY-RELATED GENE (ATG) mutants in both autoimmunity and nutrient sensitivity. Accordingly, the autophagy pathway is significantly compromised in the clc2-1 clc3-1 mutant. Interestingly, multiple assays demonstrate that CLC2 directly interacts with ATG8h/ATG8i in a domain-specific manner. As expected, both GFP-ATG8h/GFP-ATG8i and CLC2-GFP are subjected to autophagic degradation, and degradation of GFP-ATG8h is …

A Social Media Game To Increase Physical Activity Among Older Adult Women: Protocol Of A Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate Challenge, Michael C Robertson, Maria Chang Swartz, Karen M Basen-Engquist, Yisheng Li, Kristofer Jennings, Debbe Thompson, Tom Baranowski, Elena Volpi, Elizabeth J Lyons

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Older adult women often do not engage in sufficient physical activity (PA) and can encounter biological changes that exacerbate the negative effects of inadequate activity. Wearable activity monitors can facilitate PA initiation, but evidence of sustained behavior change is lacking. Supplementing wearable technologies with intervention content that evokes enjoyment, interest, meaning, and personal values associated with PA may support long term adherence. In this paper, we present the protocol of an NIA-funded study designed to evaluate the efficacy of CHALLENGE for increasing step count and motivation for PA in insufficiently active older women (Challenges for Healthy Aging: Leveraging Limits …

Caffeine Trends And Optimal Intake Systematic Review, Mark Byaliy

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Caffeine is the world’s most consumed psychoactive stimulant, with many different sources. Many individuals drink caffeine for the wakefulness effect, but there are many secondary effects that might be unknown to most consumers.

Purpose: This review explores the trends in caffeine consumption, how our bodies process caffeine, the potential benefits and adverse effects of caffeine, and the health benefits associated with natural sources. It also examines the ingredients found in energy drinks, such as vitamin B complexes and taurine.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Augsburg Lindell Library, NIH National Library of Medicine, and Google Scholar. Using the …

An Evidence-Based Bundle To Decrease Pressure Injuries (Pis) In Homecare, Esther Owookade

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Pressure injuries are a significant problem in healthcare settings. The older adult patients in this home health agency have experienced an increased in incidences of pressure injuries which necessitates intervention.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was" In older adults 65years and above with pressure injuries in the home healthcare setting(P), does a pressure injury care bundle(I), compared to the current practices of standard care of repositioning alone( C),reduce the incidence of pressure injuries( O ) in 10 weeks (T)?"

Evidence: The evidence used to guide this evidence-based change project was from relevant health …

"If The Gyil Has Died, Dagara Itself Has Died": On The Relationship Of Dagara Music, Food, And Costume, Gordon Cortney

Honors College Undergraduate Theses

The Dagara people, located primarily in the Upper West region of Ghana, take pride in their careful preservation of traditional customs, amidst years of brutal colonization and ethnocide. Previous ethnomusicological research has recognized the gyil, a Ghanaian xylophone, as the focal point of Dagara society, noting how it interacts with and is inherent in all aspects of their culture. Recent developments to the gyil’s design, practice, and performance have created concern for a lost or dying culture among the Dagara. If the gyil is experiencing change, then so too is the rest of Dagara culture. In June and July 2022, …

A Systematic Review: Longevity And Quality Of Life In Blue Zones, Salmaan Mulla

Theses and Graduate Projects

Ikaria, Loma Linda, Sardinia, Okinawa, and Nikoya. These 5 cities around the world are famed for their increased longevity and quality of life and are termed “Blue Zones”. Blue zones are areas around the world noted for their population of centenarians, overall long life expectancy and high quality of life compared to the average population. Studying these communities offer insights into the commonalities they share to better understand the unique aspects of living a healthy, fulfilling and long life. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, with the search terms “Ikaria, Greece longevity; Loma Linda, California longevity; Sardinia, …