Digital Commons Network^™

A Critical Study Of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth In A Local Housing Program, Michael J. Warren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Housing programs available to youth experiencing homelessness offer varying types of supports and initiatives. However, few programs are created by and with the perspectives of these youth. This qualitative study examines the experiences of unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) while living in a housing program, identifies specific needs of UHY, and aims to learn of the political role the community and educational institutions play in empowering youth experiencing homelessness.

Implications highlight how critical pedagogy can be used by educational leaders to empower student voice and aims to shift student learning from a “banking” model to democratic participation. This research will advance …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Physical Activity In University Communities, Hannah M. Shouse

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Introduction: In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began, transitioning the university community from in-person learning to virtual learning, and shutting down many industries across the country. This study was conducted in order to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic affected physical activity in university communities through the transition to virtual learning, and back into in-person learning.

Methods: Individuals who wore exercise tracking devices were recruited from university communities. Step count and activity data was collected from February 2020 to April 2021.

Results: 24 subjects completed the survey, with 17 being from Virginia, and other subjects being from other east coast states. …

X-Ray And Mri Theory For Mineral-Rich Fruits Affected By Heat Waves During Climate Change, Daler Djuraev, Somdat Kissoon, Robert O'Brien, Nino Jvarishvil

Publications and Research

Conventional Nutrition facts data relays the amounts of different minerals in apples. This information from such analysis may not connect these minerals with their natural biochemical or functional state for health or disease. These minerals may also be part of different particle sizes that affects X-ray transmission, absorption and scatter. The minerals may also redistribute within the tissue over time with or without heat shock. Current Medical Imaging procedures (Xray and MRI) do not localize such minerals. Our work offers a way to increase detection sensitivity of transition metals in various apple varieties non-invasively. This can constitute a step in …

Development And Evaluation Of A Measure For Social Support Provided By Friends During Lifestyle Management Programs, Laurie Abbott, Jennifer Lemacks, Tammy Greer

Faculty Publications

Obesity is a public health crisis that contributes to chronic disease prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Nutrition and physical activity are risk factors for many chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of death in the United States. Lifestyle management programs to address obesity and potential sequelae such as chronic conditions have shown efficacy, with social support an important factor in interventions. Instruments that assess social support specifically provided by friends are lacking but could be important predictors of program success. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the 10-item Social Support …

2022-May-13-Etsu Enters Partnership With Bridgeathletic, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 13, 2022) – East Tennessee State University’s Center of Excellence for Sports Science and Coach Education (CESSCE) has announced a new partnership with BridgeAthletic, a company renowned for supplying world-class software that not only tracks athletic performance but delivers custom training programs to the individuals who use it.

As a part of the partnership, ETSU will gain access to BridgeTracker, a cutting-edge athletic management data tracking system. The cloud-based software prioritizes sport efficiency. It allows athletes, coaches and researchers to develop customized workout plans based not only on an athlete’s current ability and goals, but also …

Inaugural Faculty Development Grant Recipients Announced, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Major Seed Storage Proteins, The Conglutins, Across Genetically Diverse Narrow-Leafed Lupin Varieties, Arineh Tahmasian, Angéla Juhász, James A. Broadbent, Mitchell G. Nye-Wood, Thao T. Le, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Lupin seeds have an excellent nutritional profile, including a high proportion of protein and dietary fiber. These qualities make lupin seeds an ideal candidate to help meet the growing global demand for complementary sources of protein. Of consequence to this application, there are nutritional and antinutritional properties assigned to the major lupin seed storage proteins—referred to as α-, β-, δ- and γ-conglutins The variation in the abundance of these protein families can impact the nutritional and bioactive properties of different lupin varieties. Hence, exploring the conglutin protein profiles across a diverse range of lupin varieties will yield knowledge that can …

Prevalence Of Hyperglycemia In Masters Athletes, Mike Climstein, Joe Walsh, Kent Adams, Trish Sevene, Tim Heazlewood, Mark Debeliso

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

BACKGROUND: Ageing is associated with decreased physical activity, obesity and subsequently an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2dm). Master athletes (MA) have initiated exercise or sport later in life or pursued a physically active lifestyle for an extended period. Subsequently, MAs have been proposed as a model of successful ageing as this active lifestyle is associated with health benefits including decreased health risk of chronic diseases and a reduction in premature mortality. Given long-term physical activity/exercise has previously been shown to be protective against hyperglycemia, a risk factor for T2dm, it is plausible that MA may have …

The Effects Of High-Intensity Functional Training (Hift) On Perceptions Of Exercise In Middle-Aged Females, Halle Brin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity within the U.S. has become a public health crisis. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) on the perceptions and beliefs towards exercise in an inactive sample of females. METHODS: Inactive, middle-aged females (n=8) were recruited to participate in an 8-week supervised and verified intervention (2-weeks High-Intensity Interval Training (On-Ramp), followed by 6-weeks of HIFT) three days per week. Pre- and post-assessments included: body composition (percent body fat (%BF)), strength (1RM bench press (BP), 5RM deadlift (DL)), a stage-graded exercise treadmill test ( O_2max), and a …

Rapid Acceleration Of Kras-Mutant Pancreatic Carcinogenesis Via Remodeling Of Tumor Immune Microenvironment By Pparδ, Yi Liu, Yasunori Deguchi, Daoyan Wei, Fuyao Liu, Micheline J Moussalli, Eriko Deguchi, Donghui Li, Huamin Wang, Lovie Ann Valentin, Jennifer K Colby, Jing Wang, Xiaofeng Zheng, Haoqiang Ying, Mihai Gagea, Baoan Ji, Jiaqi Shi, James C Yao, Xiangsheng Zuo, Imad Shureiqi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is a precursor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which commonly occurs in the general populations with aging. Although most PanIN lesions (PanINs) harbor oncogenic KRAS mutations that initiate pancreatic tumorigenesis; PanINs rarely progress to PDAC. Critical factors that promote this progression, especially targetable ones, remain poorly defined. We show that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPARδ), a lipid nuclear receptor, is upregulated in PanINs in humans and mice. Furthermore, PPARδ ligand activation by a high-fat diet or GW501516 (a highly selective, synthetic PPARδ ligand) in mutant KRASG12D (KRASmu) pancreatic epithelial cells strongly accelerates PanIN progression to PDAC. This …

Targeting A Chemo-Induced Adaptive Signaling Circuit Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities In Pancreatic Cancer, Xu Feng, Mengfan Tang, Merve Dede, Dan Su, Guangsheng Pei, Dadi Jiang, Chao Wang, Zhen Chen, Mi Li, Litong Nie, Yun Xiong, Siting Li, Jeong-Min Park, Huimin Zhang, Min Huang, Klaudia Szymonowicz, Zhongming Zhao, Traver Hart, Junjie Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Exploiting cancer vulnerabilities is critical for the discovery of anticancer drugs. However, tumor suppressors cannot be directly targeted because of their loss of function. To uncover specific vulnerabilities for cells with deficiency in any given tumor suppressor(s), we performed genome-scale CRISPR loss-of-function screens using a panel of isogenic knockout cells we generated for 12 common tumor suppressors. Here, we provide a comprehensive and comparative dataset for genetic interactions between the whole-genome protein-coding genes and a panel of tumor suppressor genes, which allows us to uncover known and new high-confidence synthetic lethal interactions. Mining this dataset, we uncover essential paralog gene …

Food Insecurity And Depression Among Us Adults: The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Nicole Reeder

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity has long been a global challenge associated with negative health outcomes. The spectrum of food insecurity corresponds to a spectrum of negative health outcomes that range from kwashiorkor and marasmus to obesity and chronic disease. The burden of food insecurity is a stressor that additionally negatively effects mental health. In this study, the relationship between food insecurity and mental health was examined using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Food insecurity was assessed with the 18-item United States Food Security Survey Module, and participants were classified into one of four categories based on their …

Phosphorus Enriched Modified-Douglas Fir Biochar As A Soil Amendment, Beatrice Arwenyo

Theses and Dissertations

Biochar application as a soil additive is gaining global acceptance. In this era of climate change, biochar use for improved soil productivity is not just a sustainable eco-friendly substitute to synthetic fertilizer, but a noble contributor to the fight against climate change. Although biochar has been accredited with some environmental and agricultural benefits, most studies concentrated on agricultural and biowaste products as feedstocks. This research was designed to explore P-enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar potential as a soil additive. Using corn as a test crop, greenhouse studies were performed on acidic sandy soil, comparing phosphorus enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar efficacy to …

A Harmonic Radar System For Honey Bee Tracking To Better Understand Colony Collapse Disorder, William B. Woo

Theses and Dissertations

Honey bees are some of the most important pollinators for agriculture in the world and are pivotal to the health of worldwide ecosystems. Like all insects, bees struggle with exposure to parasites, diseases, and other environmental factors that can negatively affect the overall health of the colony. Recently, a new unexplainable phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been wreaking havoc on bee populations worldwide. As a result, a system capable of tracking bees is required to understand the different contributions of chemicals, parasites, etc. to CCD. This research seeks to show data supporting the development of systems for an …

Assessment Of Retention Trends In The College Of Agriculture And Life Sciences To Determine Possible Internal Recruitment Efforts For Poultry Science Departments And Enhance University Retention, Peyton Alyssa Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

With only six poultry degree granting universities, producing a slim number of graduates each year, poses a challenge for the industry. There may be potential areas for internal recruitment within Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). In study 1, an evaluation of Mississippi State University’s CALS retention trends determined that Biochemistry (BCH) and Animal Science (AS) have the lowest retention rates. Study 2 compared all six poultry degree granting universities’ CALS retention rates, with AS continuously having one of the lowest retention rates. Lastly, Study 3 surveyed undergraduates, advisors, and faculty showing students having an interest in poultry while …

Nutrients Associated With Stunting Among Children In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review, Abby Mae Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify specific nutrients or nutritional biomarkers of dietary intake that are associated with stunting among children ages 2 and older in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a systematic review conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Twelve studies from sub-Saharan Africa met the eligibility criteria, including 11 observational studies and one randomized control trial. Nine of the 12 studies assessed dietary intake of macronutrients. Four studies found a significant association between proteins and stunting. Four found that children with stunting had lower dietary fat intakes or lower …

Studies On The Impact Of An Insect Growth Regulator And Host Plant On Reproductive Physiology Of Lygus Lineolaris, James Houston Chance Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, is an economically important polyphagous pest with a broad host range. With occurrence of insecticide resistance, strategies to limit its ability to reproduce, which would curb population growth, are becoming increasingly more valuable. Strategies toward this goal include the application of insect growth regulators (IGRs) and utilization of resistant cotton lines. This thesis summarizes experiments that elucidate the physiological underpinnings of the mode of action of novaluron, an IGR, and a cotton chromosome substitution (CS) line on the reproductive physiology of L. lineolaris. Investigations reported herein indicate that novaluron inhibits oviposition by …

The Guatemala Rabbit Project: A Household Agricultural Intervention Program Evaluation Using The Re-Aim Framework, Jessica Martin Graves

Theses and Dissertations

Amongst the breathtaking and mountainous landscapes of the Western Highlands is a highly indigenous Mayan population stricken with challenges of food insecurity and extreme poverty. Despite efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations alike to combat these challenges, the results of chronic malnutrition have led to some of the highest child stunting rates in all of Guatemala, particularly in the department of Totonicapán, where this study took place. To date, information is limited regarding agricultural programs that utilize the rabbit as a model to reduce food insecurity in Guatemala. Thus, a novel agricultural education program, Guatemala Rabbit Project (GRP), was developed …

Evaluation Of Cobb Mv X Cobb 500 Broiler Digestible Lysine Requirement And Response To Various Nutrient Regimens During The Finisher Phase, Dalton Gerard Dennehy

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research evaluated the dLys requirement and the impact of varying dLys and AME on Cobb MV x Cobb 500 broilers during the starter and grower phases, leaving the finisher phase to be determined. Experiment 1 estimated the finisher dLys requirement to range from 0.748-1.32% for males and 0.752-1.292% for females. Male broilers were more responsive to increasing dLys than females, though in general, increasing dLys improved performance and processing. Experiment 2 determined the effects of varying finisher dLys and AME on broiler performance and processing. Increasing dLys improved BWG, FCR, ALI, and breast yield while decreasing FI and fat …

Procedures For Genetic Modification Of Miscanthus X Giganteus, A Biomass Crop, Anjali Arpan

Theses and Dissertations

Development of genetic improvement procedures for the bioenergy crop, Miscanthus × giganteus (M×g; triploid), are desired for trait improvement. Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been used in other Miscanthus spp. for genetic improvement, but not in M×g, nor have more than a few genes been introduced at a given time. Transformation procedures for M×g were developed; studies included use of A.tumefaciens (strain LBA4404) and A. rhizogenes (strain A4) for introduction of seven genes isolated (by other researchers) from Sorghum bicolor involved in sorgoleone biosynthesis (an allelopathic compound), and selectable marker gene neomycin phosphotransferase II. Procedural development included generation of …

Growing Tea In Mississippi, Qianwen Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Tea is the most popular beverage worldwide, second only to water. The United States is the third largest importer of tea in the world, importing a total of about 260 million pounds tea annually. With increased demand for locally sourced food products, questions are raised regarding whether domestic production of tea is feasible. Compared to major tea producing countries with centuries of growing history, tea production in the U.S. is limited and requires research support in many aspects of tea production. The objectives of this study were to investigate plant growth, leaf morphology, and seasonal chemical compositions in tea leaves …

Analysis And Characterization Of The Volatile Compounds Associated With The Wooden Breast Condition, Hunter Hessler

Theses and Dissertations

In 2013, the wooden breast defect in broiler breast meat was characterized by hardened and pale areas at both the caudal and cranial regions of the breast. The objective of this study was to determine the flavor differences between severe woody and normal breast meat in both breast and patties using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-olfactometry, and sensory descriptive analysis. Forty-eight individual volatile flavor compounds were identified in both the ground and whole breast chicken samples including aldehydes, ketones, and other functional groups. Minimal differences existed in the volatile fraction of normal and severe woody breast meat. In contrast, woody …

Effects Of Pruning Timing, Leaf Removal, And Shoot Thinning On 'Midsouth' Winegrape Quality In South Mississippi, Haley Nicole Williams

Theses and Dissertations

‘MidSouth’, a relatively low maintenance interspecific hybrid bunch grape currently grown in South Mississippi, has low sugar and high acid levels for red wine use. Two studies, conducted at the Mississippi State University McNeill Research Unit in 2020 and 2021, determined the effects of pruning timing, leaf removal, and shoot thinning on ‘MidSouth’ development and fruit and wine quality. Treatments in the first study included early versus normal pruning timing, both with and without leaf removal, and treatments in the second study included leaf removal, shoot thinning, and control vines. Cluster temperatures, leaf chlorophyll, berries per cluster, berry and cluster …

Quantifying The Economic Impact Of Conservation Policy Changes Utilizing Precision Agriculture Tools, Kyle Stanley Watkins

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Farm Bill is a multi-billion-dollar federal legislation reenacted every five years to provide funding towards crop protection, nutrition, environmental protection, and other important focuses. The largest conservation program within the Farm Bill is the Conservation Reserve Program, which encompasses many conservation practices such as CP-33: habitat buffers for upland birds. Conservation implementation through the Farm Bill relies on voluntary producer enrollment in exchange for a rental fee to not farm enrolled land for a set time. I used yield data collected across six years from 36 agricultural fields in Humphreys and Holmes counties, Mississippi, USA, and a …

Health-Related Caretaking In An Institutionalized Setting: Applying The Index Of Care To Burial 1 From The Mid-19th To Early-20th Century Mississippi State Asylum, Jackson, Ms., Darcie Badon

Theses and Dissertations

This project employs a modified version of the Bioarchaeology of Care (BoC) in an analysis of Burial 1 from the Mississippi State Asylum, Jackson, MS. Burial 1 is a skeletal individual recovered from the historic MSA cemetery. Notably, Burial 1 exhibits recidivistic cranial trauma in the form of cranial depression fractures (CDFs) and significant entheseal changes in the upper extremities. However, because there is no identifying information associated with Burial 1, interpretations of the caretaking they may have received, both prior to and after institutionalization, include short- and long-term outcomes from their community and the MSA. Additionally, Burial 1’s CDFs …

Optimized Selenium Status, Gut Microbiota, And Type 2 Diabetes, Ying-Chen Huang

Theses and Dissertations

We have previously demonstrated that long-term dietary Se deficiency in old Terc^-/- mice with humanized telomeres induces type-2 diabetes and exacerbates age-dependent increases in the abundance of A. muciniphila and Lachnospiraceae, which are related to obesity and metabolic syndromes. The objectives of this dissertation are: 1) to determine the minimum intake of Se required for type 2 diabetes prevention in middle-aged mice; 2) to evaluate the efficacy of A. muciniphila and R. torques (a Lachnospiraceae family member) to intervene dietary Se deficiency-induced type 2 diabetes and the underlying mechanisms; 3) to assess sex differences in the responses to …

Novel Strategies In Near Infrared Spectroscopy (Nirs) And Multivariate Analysis (Mva) For Detecting And Profiling Pathogens And Diseases Of Agricultural Importance., Johjan Mariana Santos Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

The time required for the identification of pathogens is an important determinant of infection-related mortality rates and disease spread for species of relevance in agriculture. Conventional identification methods require a processing time of at least one to twenty days. Therefore, inaccurate empirical treatments are often provided while awaiting further identification, such that most cases progress with further aggravation of symptoms, contamination of other animals or plants, generating economic loss from decreased yield, and increased mitigation costs. Thus, there is a need for innovative, non-destructive, and rapid analytical techniques that provide reagent-free, portable, reliable, and holistic approaches to detect diseases in …

Is Agriculture Being Implemented In Private School Classrooms? The Impact Of Teacher Willingness And Availability Of Resources., Casey Moss

Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural literacy has been a topic of concern as most of the population have little to no understanding of agriculture, and the impact it has on society. Agricultural literacy can be defined as “having knowledge and understanding of agriculturally related scientific and technologically based concepts and processes required for personal decision making” (Meischen & Trexler, 2003, p.44). Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the significance of agricultural literacy beginning with elementary aged children and continuing through high school. The majority of studies conducted focus on public school students and teachers. This has led to a gap in the knowledge …

Determining Residual Control And Systemic Activity Of Commonly Used Insecticides In Soybean And Cotton, Jacob H. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Chemical control is a critical component of integrated pest management in cotton and soybean production. Residual efficacy of foliar insecticides can be highly variable and difficult to quantify due to several factors. The purpose of this research was to determine residual control and concentrations in flowering structures of commonly used insecticides. This research focused on the concentrations of active ingredient within the plant as well as efficacy over time. Previous research suggested chlorantraniliprole had a long residual and was highly lethal on corn earworm up to 28 days after treatment (DAT) in soybean; however, the results found in cotton were …

Assessing The Microbiological Profile Of Raw Goat Milk And Understanding Producer Practices And Perceptions, Jacinda Skye Leopard

Theses and Dissertations

Raw milk sales are legal in 30 states, including Mississippi, where regulations are largely management-based and not food-safety related. The research objectives were to analyze the microbial profile of raw goat milk from Mississippi farms and assess food safety practices and perceptions of dairy goat farmers. Deficiencies and opportunities for improvement in raw goat milk safety were identified. Staphylococcus spp. was present in most (70%) milk samples but aligned with drying-off. E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliforms were observed in 4, 10, and 12 samples, respectively; no Salmonella spp. or Listeria monocytogenes were detected. The survey highlighted farmers' need for …