Digital Commons Network^™

Modulating Acute Stress Reactivity: Behavioral Interventions And Caffeine-Linked Stress Physiology In College Students, Kaitlyn Smith

Honors Theses

College students frequently rely on caffeine to manage academic demands, yet its physiological and psychological effects on acute stress remain poorly understood. Although caffeine is known to increase cardiovascular arousal and self‑reported anxiety, little research has compared different caffeine sources within the same individuals or examined whether brief behavioral interventions can buffer these effects. Self‑affirmation, a short writing exercise centered on personal values, has been shown to reduce stress reactivity, but its interaction with caffeine‑induced arousal has not been tested. This within‑subjects study examines how coffee, energy drinks, and a no‑caffeine control influence acute cardiovascular and self‑reported stress responses, and …

Three Bacterial Endophytes Enhanced Plant Growth And Yield And Reduced The Severity Of Phytophthora Capsici In Bell Pepper And Tomato Plants In The Field, Daniel Ambachew, Margaret T. Mmbaga Mmbaga, Richard Hall, Peter Eyegheleme, Mustapha Olawuni, Jamille Robinson, Emily Rotich

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Naturally abundant endophytes colonize plants internally without causing harm to their host plants. Endophytes are likely to occupy the same ecological niches as phytopathogens and thus have a high potential to be effective biological control agents. Their demonstrated ability to suppress more than one plant pathogen suggests that they can offer a viable alternative to chemical fungicides and a strategy for decreasing the inoculum potential of soil-borne pathogens. Some biocontrol endophytes are also known to improve soil health and the overall health of plants. However, the results in greenhouse studies do not always translate to consistent field efficacy. In this …

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Movement In Healthcare Settings: What Are The Practical Solutions?, Shela Hirani

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in all healthcare facilities is valuable to protect, promote and support breastfeeding and the well-being of young children. Besides prioritizing patient care, the BFHI movement in healthcare settings supports well-being, job satisfaction and productivity of healthcare providers working in those workplaces. Saskatchewan, Canada, has 70 healthcare settings, out of which only one healthcare facility implements the WHO’s ‘Ten steps to successful breastfeeding’ and has a BFHI accreditation. This preliminary study aimed at exploring facilitators and barriers surrounding the successful implementation of BFHI in healthcare settings of Saskatchewan and identifying practical solutions and …

Longitudinal Fueling Status Of High School Female Athletes, Kaylee Turner, Abigail Rickermann

2026 Student Academic Showcase

Low energy availability (LEA) is a clinically significant concern in adolescent female athletes due to its impact on growth and development, bone health, hormonal function, performance, recovery, and cognitive outcomes. Despite established associations, a clear longitudinal understanding of how LEA relates to injury and illness rates across an academic year remains limited, representing a clinical gap in athletic training and sports medicine literature. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a comprehensive Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol to support a future longitudinal investigation examining LEA and its relationship to injury and illness incidence in high school female athletes. …

Environmental Stability Drives Development In Drosophila Melanogaste, Nestor Omar Rivera Guevera

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The development of Drosophila melanogaster is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly temperature, which has been shown to influence both developmental rate and lifespan. Previous studies report that higher temperatures accelerate development but may reduce adult longevity, while field observations in related Drosophila species indicate that stable environmental conditions support greater population success compared to fluctuating ones. Building on this, the present study examined the combined effects of temperature and humidity on fruit fly development. Groups of 10 female flies were placed in culture tubes containing standard medium, with three replicates per treatment. After 48 hours of egg-laying, adults were …

The Past, Present And Future Of The Dietary Guidelines Of America And The Impact On Community Nutrition, Jordyn Dearth

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The most recent addition of the Dietary Guidelines of America have been released to the public, and has caused many questions to the community. The guidelines serve not only as a resource for the general public and a resource for local and national policy regarding nutrition. Because community nutrition is directly shaped by these recommendations, exploring its past implementations, present implications and possible future actions can help in understanding how these guidelines influence public health at local and national levels. This project aims to explain the impact of the past Dietary Guidelines, show the newest Dietary Guidelines, and predict how …

Positive Correlations Between Olympic Weightlifting Performance And Countermovement Vertical Jumping Performance, James L. Tice, Calvin J. Lackey, Robert W. Smith, Kyle L. Sutherland, Patrick S. Harty

2026 Student Academic Showcase

In recent years, force plate vertical jump testing has greatly increased in popularity in the strength and conditioning space. PURPOSE: To examine any potential relationships between force plate vertical jump parameters and more traditional metrics of weightlifting performance such as snatch to clean and jerk ratio. METHODS: 14 male and 18 female collegiate weightlifters completed three rounds of countermovement vertical jumps with 30 seconds of rest between attempts. Competition results from all 2025 competitions were used to generate best Total, Sinclair points, Q-points, and best Snatch to Clean and Jerk Ratio. RESULTS: Vertical jump height, peak propulsive force, Sinclair, and …

Effects Of Spatially Targeted Fertilizer Strategies On Canopy Growth Across Contrasting Tart Cherry Orchard Sites, Kurt Wedegaertner, Brent Black, Matt Yost, Grant Cardon

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Variable-rate fertilization is increasingly promoted in perennial orchard systems, but its effectiveness remains difficult to predict because tree responses are often inconsistent and strongly conditioned by site-specific constraints. To address this, we evaluated soil-based and vigor-based zoning frameworks across four commercial tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) orchards representing contrasting soil conditions, canopy structures, and management histories. Within each orchard, management zones were defined using either soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) or satellite-derived canopy vigor. Fertilization strategies were implemented by varying fertilizer application timing among zones using split-application approaches while maintaining a constant total fertilizer rate. Tree-level canopy structure was …

What Happens After Oil And Gas Decommissioning? A Global Systematic Review Of Marine Environmental Effects, Anaelle Lemasson Lemasson, Antony M. Knights

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The thousands of oil and gas (OG) platforms placed at sea for fossil fuel extraction have introduced new hard substrate to the marine environment. Over time, these structures can become colonized by a diversity of marine life, fostering novel ecosystems. However, an increasing number of OG platforms are reaching decommissioning age and decisions regarding their fate must be made. Some view these artificial structures as litter that ought to be removed; others view them as valuable contributors to marine biodiversity worth preserving. Evidence of the environmental effects of these structures following different decommissioning strategies is needed to identify the potential …

Faunal Remains From The Byzantine Street (Area S2), Jerusalem, Lee Perry Gal

'Atiqot

The faunal assemblage from the Byzantine Street (Area S2) in the City of David derives from domestic refuse accumulated on a street surface and from redeposited construction fill associated with episodes of street repair during the late Byzantine–Early Islamic periods. The assemblage is well-preserved but highly fragmented, indicating rapid burial followed by post-depositional disturbance. Taxonomic composition is dominated by sheep and goats, with lower frequencies of pigs and cattle, alongside chicken, fish and molluscs, reflecting patterns of everyday urban consumption. Caprine age-at-death profiles are skewed toward adults, suggesting herd management strategies that emphasized secondary products and herd maintenance rather than …

Global Trends In Dietary Exposure To Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (Pcns): A Review Of Contamination Levels And Health Implications, Vhodaho Nevondo, Okechukwu Jonathan Okonkwo

Engineering and Technology Journal

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) belong to a class of persistent organic pollutants that are structurally related to chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and other chlorinated biphenyls as a result of the presence of benzene rings in their respective structures. Additionally, they display high levels of persistence in the environment, bioaccumulative, and dioxin-like toxicities characteristics. Although the production and use of PCNs is either banned or greatly regulated in several countries around the globe, unintentional production in industrial thermal processes and legacy usage have resulted in the ubiquity of these compounds in the environment and the food chain. Several studies have shown various exposure …

A Historical Analysis Of The Development Of Prenatal Care In The U. S., Kristen Montgomery Phd, Cnm, Aprn, Shelby Greene Bsn, Rn, Lauren Griffin Bsn, Rn, Destiny Lewis Bsn, Rn, Lauryn Lewis Bsn, Rn, Bryleigh Newberry Bsn, Rn, Brittany Scott Bsn, Rn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: This paper examines the historical development of prenatal care in the United States, tracing its evolution from informal, home—based management to structured, evidence-based systems that are central to maternal and fetal health.

Aims: The specific aim of this project was to determine how prenatal care evolved in the United States.

Methods: A historical methods approach was used. Historical documents were reviewed using PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to find relevant resources. Relevant articles were reviewed by the research team and analyzed for components regarding the development of prenatal care. All members of the research team reviewed the articles and …

Mechanistic Insights Of Enterolactone Within 3t3-L1 Adipocyte Cells, Merritt Smith

Liberty University Research Week

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with approximately 25% of healthcare expenditures directed toward its management and associated metabolic complications. In response to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies, recent research has focused on bioactive compounds derived from dietary sources. In light of that, we identified the plant lignan matairesinol (MA) and its gut-derived metabolite, enterolactone (ENL), as agents capable of enhancing glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. These results suggest that enterolactone may represent a promising dietary supplement for improving glycemic control in patients with …

Pilot Study: Black Tea Extract And Theaflavin Polyphenols Effects On L6 Myotubes, Elizabeth Allen

Liberty University Research Week

This research investigates bioactive polyphenol group theaflavins found in black tea and how they affect Akt signaling in skeletal muscle. The black tea polyphenols are a collection of innate compounds in Camillia sinensis, among them being the theaflavin group which is comprised of four compounds: theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin 3-gallate (TF2A), theaflavin 3’-gallate (TF2B), and theaflavin 3,3’ digallate (TF3) (He, 2017). The theaflavins group has been described as bioactive in a variety of different cellular pathways such as apoptosis, cellular division, gene expression and nutrient regulation (Li et al., 2021)(He, 2017)(Lin et al., 2007).

Previous work by Nagano et al., demonstrated …

“Slaves To Sin:” Harnessing Neuroplasticity To Defeat Habitual Behaviors, Charity Parrott

Liberty University Research Week

How does neuroplasticity affect the life of a Christian? This thesis will seek to address the concepts of habit formation, neuroplasticity, and top-down control through a neurobiological perspective, and how they relate to the Biblical concept of habitual sin. Discoveries in neuroplasticity have revealed the brain to be a malleable organ, capable of rewiring neural connections and, in the hippocampus region, neurogenesis, or the creation of new neurons (Fuchs & Flügge, 2014). This thesis will compile research in neuroplasticity, explore the biological reasons behind the difficulty in escaping patterns of sin, and connect Biblical-based strategies for sin prevention with neurobiology. …

The Impact Of Maternal Western-Style Diet On Ovarian Anti-Müllerian Hormone Expression And Localization In Mouse Offspring, Kati Platt, Chase Shinabery, Jackson Mellish, Madison Howard, Soriya Scott

Liberty University Research Week

The Western diet, characterized by high saturated fat and sucrose intake, has become increasingly prevalent in the United States and globally, yet its effects on female reproductive health across life stages remain insufficiently understood. In adult human females, consumption of a Western-style diet has been linked to an increase in premenstrual symptoms, higher rates of depression, and elevated free estradiol levels, contributing to an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. In human female children, Western diet consumption has been linked to an early onset of secondary sexual characteristics and premature menarche. Maternal consumption of this diet during …

Regulation Of Glut5 Expression And Fructose Uptake By Heat Stress And Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines In Enterocytes, Landri Shope, Gretchka Mair

Liberty University Research Week

Diabetes is an escalating global health concern, affecting 11.1% of the adult population worldwide, with over 90% of cases classified as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (Facts & Figures., n.d.). T2DM is characterized by chronic fasting hyperglycemia and is increasingly associated with alterations in the gut microbiome. This study tests the hypothesis that heat stress, a gut dysbiosis-associated stressor, will upregulate the fructose transporter GLUT5 in enterocytes. Increased GLUT5 expression may enhance intestinal fructose uptake, thereby contributing to worsened glycemic control in T2DM. While the mechanism linking inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis remains elusive, emerging evidence supports strong associations among …

Investigating Nutritionally Derived Treatments For Metabolic Disease: Enterolactone And Its Effect On Glp-1 And Pyy Secretion, Aidan Clancy

Liberty University Research Week

Gut-derived hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) play essential roles in maintaining glucose homeostasis and appetite regulation. These hormones are primarily secreted by enteroendocrine L cells in response to nutrient signaling in the gut. Emerging evidence suggests that polyphenolic compounds and their metabolites may influence gut hormone secretion. Enterolactone (ENL), a microbial metabolite of the dietary lignan, matairesinol, is of particular interest due to its reported anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we propose to test whether ENL can modulate the secretion of GLP-1 and PYY in L cells in vitro, thereby identifying a potential mechanism by …

Real World Fertility: From Participatory Research To Clinical Trial, Belinda Tan, Azure Grant, Ayla Barmmer

Oxford ICSB

Nutritional supplements are widely popular for female reproductive health, but their ingredients are typically studied in isolation in the laboratory. Finished products make claims based on these isolated studies, creating a gap in which impact of multi-nutrient formulas in the real world are not investigated, largely due to high research costs. Decentralized clinical research methods are modernizing clinical trials, leading to affordable, efficient evidence generation in large representative populations. Utilizing a decentralized research platform, we tested the hypothesis that specific supplement protocols would be associated with improved female health and fertility in a real world cohort. We present a novel …

Morphometric-Based Biomass Distribution And Carbon Sequestration Capabilities Of Native Perennial Plants In An Extremely Arid Environment In Eastern Saudi Arabia, Mohamed I. Alzarah, Mohammed M. Elgarawany, Majed A. Alotaibi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

Understanding ecosystem functioning, the processes of land degradation, and the potential for climate mitigation in hyper-arid environments requires quantifying biomass, carbon sequestration, and the structural characteristics of desert vegetation. This study was done In a hyper-arid habitat such as the location of west of Al-Ahsa International Airport in Eastern Saudi Arabia to study the integrates morphometric characterization, non-destructive biomass modeling, physiological assessment, and carbon stock estimation for native perennial plant communities. Twelve dominant perennial species were assessed across a 5.5 ha site using systematic random sampling. Plant height (cm), canopy volume (m³), basal diameter, projected canopy cover (%), …

Food Insecurity At Providence College, Jordan Foster, Emma Gilooly, Yessenia Tavarez

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Social Support And Weight Management Behaviors Lived Experiences Of Overweight Native Hawaiian Women, Satu Gruenstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Hawaiian Islands have an alarming concentration of obesity and related chronic health issues and many Native Hawaiian women do not have access to culturally sensitive weight loss information. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to increase understanding of the lived experiences of middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, relating to weight loss, weight management, and the impact of social support and cultural factors on those experiences. The conceptual framework for the study included the models of social support and social networks. A phenomenological research design and purposeful sampling were used to conduct semistructured interviews with eight middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, …

How Positive Psychology Coaching May Influence Authentic Leadership Development, Amy Lynn Weilbacher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although organizations often articulate values driven missions, failure by leaders to consistently embody these values in practice can erode credibility and effectiveness. Organizational leaders need to understand the role of positive psychology coaching in authentic leadership development because mission credibility depends on the leaders’ enacted values. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how positive psychology coaching may influence authentic leadership development. This study was guided by a conceptual framework integrating positive psychology and authentic leadership. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 U.S.-based organizational leaders who participated in positive psychology coaching. Six key themes emerged …

The Parthenon, April 22, 2026, Baylee Parsons, Kaitlyn Fleming, Abby Ayes, Ella Hatfield, Davina Snyder, Scott Price, Trista Honaker, Tally Mamula

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

Supporting Independence In Adults With Down Syndrome Through Parent Education And Program Development At Gigi’S Playhouse, Kristen Powlas

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit organization that provides free educational and therapeutic programming for individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan. The primary focus of this project was to design and implement a full semester of curriculum for the GiGi Prep adult education program, with an emphasis on developing foundational skills to support increased independence and participation in daily life.

Course content was delivered through an occupational therapy lens and included topics such as communication, emotional regulation, money management, coping strategies, self-advocacy, job skills, and independent living skills. In addition to …

Influence Of Sigb And Environmental Food Conditions On The Susceptibility Of Listeria Monocytogenes To Eugenol And Clove Oil, Ariana Perram

Honors Theses

Reports of Listeria monocytogenes foodborne infections continue to persist throughout the general population despite regulatory cleaning, disinfection, and recall efforts. Recently, there has been a noticeable consumer shift toward a preference for natural preservatives, disinfectants, and produce washes which utilize plant-based essential oils (EOs) as their antimicrobial agent. Clove oil and its primary component, eugenol, have been widely used in these household products and have been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, including L. monocytogenes. However, there is still much unknown about how bacterial stress responses and environmental storage conditions affect the susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes to …

Representation Of Active Girls, Women, And Female Athletes In Low Energy Availability Research: A Review, Ahnna E. Faust, Alexis V. Viehl, Melissa T. Lodge

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

More female athletes are participating in sports today than ever before, yet they remain underrepresented in sport and exercise science (SES) research. According to a 2021 review, 34% of SES research participants are females and just 6% of studies used female-only designs. Female athletes are also at an increased risk for low energy availability (LEA), or a mismatch between energy intake and exercise energy expenditure. However, the representation of women in research related to LEA remains unclear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to (a) evaluate the representation of girls, women, and female athletes in LEA research, and (b) explore methodological characteristics …

Using Lean Body Mass To Calculate Resting Metabolic Rate Across Gender Identities, Kara Dixon, Liza Goetcheus, Brett R. Ely

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

Accurate estimate of resting metabolic rate (RMR) is important for tailoring nutrition support in clinical settings. Metabolic rate is often calculated using the Harris-Benedict equations, which estimate metabolic rate using separate equations for men and women. PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a more inclusive, single predictive equation based on lean body mass instead of gender. METHODS: Six healthy individuals (Age: 22±5; BMI: 22.3±0.7) underwent assessment of resting metabolic rate (RMR) using indirect calorimetry, and full-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure lean body mass. RMR was divided by lean body mass to examine the relationship between muscle mass and …

Fifth Annual Research Symposium Program With Abstracts, Office Of Research Affairs, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Boonshoft School of Medicine Research Symposium

The program booklet is a compilation of abstracts from oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Fifth Annual Boonshoft School of Medicine Medical Research Symposium held on April 22, 2026.

Optimizing Performance And Preventing Injury: The Role Of Ot In Powerlifting, Anastasia N. Espinosa, Cassandra M. Nelson, Jaimee Fielder

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Powerlifting is a high-intensity sport associated with increased risk of injury, particularly in community-based gym settings where structured education on recovery, injury prevention, and training strategies is limited. This capstone project aimed to develop and implement a Performance and Wellness Program to support safe and sustainable participation in powerlifting. A program development approach was used, including a needs assessment through surveys, questionnaires, and observation to identify gaps in training, recovery, and self-management practices. The program was delivered through structured, self-directed modules and supported by a digital manual to promote long-term use. Findings from post-program surveys indicated improvements in athlete confidence, …