Digital Commons Network^™

Growing Healthy Habits: Impacts Of A Youth Community Garden For Children In Rural Mississippi, Olivia G. Degravelle

Honors Theses

This study examines the implementation and outcomes of a Youth Garden Program conducted in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Funded by the Allstate Community Service Project Grant, the Youth Garden was constructed within the previously established Pontotoc Community Garden. The initiative comprised four weekly workshops designed for participants ranging from preschool to adolescence. Each session incorporated hands-on fruit and vegetable (FV) planting or harvesting, an educational lesson, and a complementary craft activity. Children’s FV consumption patterns, nutritional knowledge, and attitudes toward FV were assessed through pre- and post-program surveys. In addition, the photo-elicitation interview method invited participants to take digital photographs of garden …

Ellagic Acid Reduces Inulin's Adverse Effects: A Combined Approach To Enhance Therapeutic Potential In Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Tharani Senavirathna, Shafaei, Ricky Lareu, Lois Balmer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This mouse study investigates the efficacy of ellagic acid (EA), a potent antioxidant in fruits and nuts, and inulin, a prebiotic known for gut microbiota benefits, in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A Western-style diet (WD) was used to induce NASH in C57BL/6J male mice for 16 weeks. Mice then received EA (100 mg/kg/day, oral gavage, 5 days/week) and/or 5% inulin (w/w in diet) for 12 weeks while continuing WD. Inulin increased energy intake and trended toward higher body weight and fasting glucose. EA reduced liver weights and restored the liver-to-body weight ratio. EA and inulin combined significantly reduced steatosis and hepatocyte …

Dietary Manipulations Of The Undernourished Infant Microbiome, Cyrus Zhou

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Today, undernutrition affects approximately 150 million children worldwide. During the first two years of life, the healthy gut microbial community undergoes a series of predictable developmental transitions. These transitions are delayed in undernourished children resulting in microbiota “immaturity.” In a foundational study, immature gut microbial communities from undernourished children and normally developing communities from chronologically age-matched healthy children living in the same area were transplanted into groups of germ-free mice consuming the same diet – one representative of what consumed by the study population. Compared mice with a mature gut microbiome, mice with an immature gut microbiome had impaired weight …

Essays In Macroeconomics, Sihyun Kim

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation consists of two research projects in macroeconomics. The first chapter studies a topic in fiscal policy and sovereign debt. I became interested in this topic during my third year of the Ph.D. program while working as a research assistant for Professor Manuelli. He recommended several papers on debt sustainability in the U.S. and Japan. I initially struggled to reconcile the coexistence of low default risk and persistent fiscal deficits in these countries. This led me to think that, in addition to the realized fiscal path, the fiscal capacity---such as the tax base---can also play an important role in …

Rethinking Consumer Data And Behavior, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

Today’s food and agricultural consumers are driven by more than just price—they are influenced by trust, values, and perceptions that are often difficult to measure. Rethinking Consumer Data and Behavior explores what truly shapes consumer choices and how businesses can respond effectively.

This book utilizes research on loyalty, risk, sustainability, and ethical considerations, revealing how these factors influence purchasing decisions in ways traditional data often misses. It examines consumers’ willingness to pay for local and organic products, the impact of food labeling and safety messaging, and the surprising role of sensory cues such as appearance and taste. The book also …

Microalgae-Based Probiotic Delivery Systems: Nutritional, Functional, And Synbiotic Potential – A Review, Azza Silotry Naik

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Purpose of review: This review aims to evaluate current probiotic encapsulation strategies, with a particular focus on the potential of microalgae-based systems. It seeks to answer how microalgae can enhance probiotic viability during processing and gastrointestinal transit, and what advantages they offer over conventional encapsulation agents, thereby supporting the development of more effective, sustainable probiotic delivery solutions.Recent findings: Recent research highlights that microalgae such as Chlorella vulgaris and Isochrysis galbana possess robust cell structures and bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants, which confer protection to probiotics and contribute beneficial prebiotic effects. Innovative approaches like synbiotic formulations,direct fermentation …

A Digital Diabetes Prevention Program For Hispanic Adolescents (Fit24+): Protocol For A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial, Erica G Soltero, Marbelly Partida, Sandra Mihail, Lizette Villanueva, Callie Lopez, Salma M Musaad, Teresia M O'Connor, Maria J Redondo, Matthew Buman, Debbe Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Hispanic youth are disproportionately impacted by obesity and subsequent type 2 diabetes (T2D) yet remain underrepresented in diabetes prevention research. Digital health interventions hold promise for increasing the accessibility to and engagement in disease prevention programming, particularly among high-risk populations. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding digital T2D prevention programs for adolescents or Hispanic youth.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the protocol for examining the feasibility of a 12-week digital diabetes prevention program among Hispanic adolescents with obesity.

Methods: Participants (N=40; aged 12-16 years) will be randomized (1:1) to a 12-week …

2025 Tenncare Quality Assessment And Performance Improvement Strategy, Tennessee. Division Of Tenncare.

TennCare Additional Reports

No abstract provided.

Annual Report 2025, Tennessee. Department Of Human Services.

Annual Report

No abstract provided.

Tennessee State Plan On Aging, Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2027

Department of Disability & Aging

This document includes plans to be conducted by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging under the provisions of the Older Americans Act from the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.

Dda Annual Report 2024, Tennessee. Commission On Aging & Disability.

Department of Disability & Aging

No abstract provided.

Dda Annual Report 2025, Tennessee. Commission On Aging & Disability.

Department of Disability & Aging

No abstract provided.

Feminization Poverty: Comparing The United States And Afghanistan, Molly Cue, Carly Henrickson, Lauren Classen, Swarupa Evans, Lauren Huston

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Feminization poverty is a prevalent worldwide issue containing many layers such as societal norms, single-mothered household, the gender wage gap, unpaid care work, and cost of childcare. When comparing the United States and Afghanistan, there are similarities in these issues. Both countries live in primarily patriarchal societies, which heavily contributes to feminization poverty. In the United States, over 14.8 million women are currently living in poverty compared to roughly 25 million women in Afghanistan. There are some strategic interventions utilized to fight feminization poverty in both countries. Therefore, the objective of this project is to compare the effectiveness of these …

Women's Access To Education: A Global Perspective, Olivia Clausen, Lillie-Kay Colby, Ellie-Lynn Colby

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for …

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus And Early Peg Tube Complications, Eric E. Romero Rodriguez, Adrian Reta, Angelo Manuel Piazza, Kuljot Bansi

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Severe Gastritis Mimics Acute Coronary Syndrome With Elevated Cardiac Enzymes, Michael Rollins, Laura Preece, Micheline Tantchou

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Visual Attention And User Satisfaction In Ota Platforms: An Eye-Tracking And Big Data Approach, Aura Lydia Riswanto, Seieun Kim, Hak-Seon Kim

Faculty and Student Publications

Purpose – This study aims to investigate how visual attention to online travel agency (OTA) app elements influences user behavior and satisfaction by integrating experimental and real-world data.

Design/methodology/approach – This study used a multi-method approach combining an eye-tracking experiment with 40 participants, a post-experiment survey on usage intention and big data analysis of 5,547 Google Play reviews from five major OTA platforms, using text mining and regression techniques.

Findings – The eye-tracking results showed that users focused most on user reviews and app information, rather than logos or app names. Visual attention to reviews significantly predicted higher usage intention …

Icc Agenda 4-14-26, Angela Brock

Individual Course Committee (ICC)

No abstract provided.

Progressive Neuropathy With Normal Vitamin B12 Levels And Demyelinating Findings, Michael Rollins, Juan Rodriguez, Laura Preece

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Model Based On Dynamic Hematologic Parameters To Predict Short Term Clinical Events In Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ​, Neryal Tahta, Sali̇h Gözmen, Sultan Okur Acar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment is frequently complicated by infections, emergency visits, and therapy interruptions, yet early prediction of short-term clinical deterioration remains challenging. Traditional prognostic markers rely on static laboratory values, whereas dynamic hematologic fluctuations may provide earlier warning signals. This study presents and internally validates a clinically applicable prediction model based on dynamic hematologic parameters and clinician-documented symptoms for predicting short-term (7-day) clinical events in children with ALL.

Materials and methods: Included in this retrospective study were 44 pediatric ALL patients treated with Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster-based protocols between January 2023 and June 2025. Weekly observation units were created by …

Sun-Macerated Hypericum Perforatum Oleates In Fixed Oils: Analytical Characterization And Comparative Wound-Healing Activity, Ci̇han Çapar, Esra Akkol, Ayli̇n Yaba, Ayhan Parmaksiz, Engi̇n Sümer, Erdem Yeşi̇lada

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Hypericum perforatum L. oleates prepared in fixed oils have long been used for wound management due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and tissue-regenerative properties. The bioactivity of these oleates is mainly attributed to hypericin, hyperforin, and pseudohypericin. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the wound-healing potential of H. perforatum oleates prepared in different fixed oils, including Olea europaea L. (olive), Sesamum indicum L. (sesame), Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower), and Nigella sativa L. (black seed).Materials and methodsFixed oils were characterized by GC–MS, while oleuropein in olive oil and thymoquinone in black seed oil were quantified by HPLC, and sesamin and sesamol …

The Effects Of Dietary Protein Manipulation On Operant Demand, Brianna R. Lilly

LSU Master's Theses

Previous work with dietary protein restriction in rodents has demonstrated that rodents fed a low protein diet exhibit physiological effects such as lower rates of weight gain and increased levels of circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Dietary protein restriction also produces behavioral effects. Compared to rodents that are not protein-restricted, rodents that are protein-restricted exhibit increased food intake and higher preference for a protein vs. carbohydrate solution. Additionally, protein-restricted rodents will respond at higher levels for a protein reinforcer than non-restricted rodents. The current study assessed the effect of dietary protein restriction on operant protein demand during and after …

Enhanced Dietary Monitoring Using Fecal Genomics For Childhood Malnutrition Interventions, Ammara Aqeel, Najeeha T Iqbal, Sanam Iram Soomro, Sheraz Ahmed, Teresa K Mcdonald, Olivia Osborne, Sharon Jiang, Nolan Ives, Kazi Ahsan, Fayaz Umrani, Michael J Barratt, Jeffrey I Gordon, Syed Asad Ali, Lawrence A David

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ready-to-use therapeutic and supplementary foods (RUTF/RUSF) are a primary treatment for childhood malnutrition in Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programs. However, measuring intervention compliance is labor intensive and unreliable. We applied FoodSeq, a fecal genomic dietary assessment biomarker, in malnourished infants (3-15 months) from Matiari, Pakistan. FoodSeq identified a significant increase in the abundance of DNA from chickpea, a primary RUSF ingredient, during RUSF administration and captured region-specific complementary feeding practices, including age-inappropriate feeding practices such as wide-spread tea consumption. Our findings highlight the potential of dietary genomics as an empirical and scalable tool for compliance monitoring and dietary …

Comprehensive Profiling Of Gut Microbiota In Postmenopausal Osteoporosis ​, Gülsemi̇n Ertürk Çeli̇k, Sedat Yildiz, Münevver Aksoy Bektaş, Yaprak Engi̇n-Üstün

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial skeletal disease that predominantly affects postmenopausal women and is characterized by reduced bone mass and an increased risk of fractures. Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in bone metabolism through immunological, endocrine, and metabolic pathways, forming the basis of the so-called gut– bone axis. This study aimed to characterize gut microbiota composition in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis compared with healthy controls.

Materials and methods: Forty postmenopausal women aged 55–65 years were classified into osteoporosis (n = 20) and healthy control (n = 20) groups based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry T-scores. …