Digital Commons Network^™

Landscape Of Physical Activity And Quality Of Life Research In Breast Cancer Survivors: Topic Modeling Analysis., Suryeon Ryu, Ki-Yong An, Min Song, Zan Gao

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background/Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a beneficial approach to improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer survivors. This study explored key research topics and emerging trends in studies related to PA and HRQoL among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Titles and abstracts of 3847 English-language research articles (2000-2024) were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus using keywords related to 'breast cancer', 'PA/exercise', and 'HRQoL'. A text-mining algorithm based on the Dirichlet-multinomial regression approach in Python was applied to identify the top 10 research topics and their trends over time. Results: In total, …

The Effects Of Varying Temperatures And Food Availability On The Reproductive Output Of The Acorn Barnacle: Chthamalus Fissus, Karina L. Rog

McNair Summer Research Program

Climate change is predicted to intensify ocean warming and the reduction in phytoplankton abundance, potentially disrupting reproductive processes in filter-feeding intertidal invertebrates. This study investigated the combined effects of water temperature increases and food availability on the reproductive output on Chthamalus fissus, a dominant intertidal barnacle species found along the Southern California coastline. Using a controlled laboratory experiment, adult barnacles collected from the nearshore rocky intertidal habitat in La Jolla, California, were exposed to two temperature regimes (ambient water temperature ~ 18°C and elevated water temperature ~ 20-21°C) and two food concentration treatments (low and high phytoplankton and rotifer …

Efficacy Of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus And Its Metabolites To Mitigate The Risk Of Foodborne Pathogens In Hydroponic Nutrient Solution, Esther Oginni, Robin A. Choudhury, Veerachandra Yemmireddy

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Hydroponic nutrient solution (HNS) has been established as an ideal conduit for pathogen contamination and proliferation. This study evaluated the efficacy of lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites in mitigating the risk of foodborne pathogens in HNS when compared to conventional chemical treatments. Hoagland’s HNS were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions and inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, and Listeria innocua at 105 CFU/mL cell concentration. These nutrient solutions were subjected to treatment with various concentrations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus live cells, a cell-free extract (CFE) of L. rhamnosus metabolites, sodium hypochlorite and peroxyacetic acid at 22 ± 1 …

Mir-9-5p Alleviates The Development Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm By Regulating The Differentiation Of Cd4+Il-10+T Cells Via Targeting The Crosstalk Between Nrf2 And Nf-Κb Signaling Pathways, Hongfu Liu, Jinyi Zhang, Lubin Li, Benxiang Yu, Chunlei Zhang, Wenqiang Niu, Yawen Cheng, Hengyang Dong, Yukun Zhang, Xinlin Luo, Yanlian Xiong, Yueming Wang

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a gradual segmental dilatation of the abdominal aorta, is associated with a high mortality rate. The pathophysiological molecular mechanisms underlying AAA remain unclear. In recent years, changes in miRNA levels have been reported to be involved in the development and treatment of AAA. This study aimed to investigate the potential targets and underlying mechanisms of miR-9-5p in attenuating AAA progression by modulating the inflammatory response.

Materials and methods: Biochemical kits were used to measure the levels of inflammatory factors, antioxidant enzyme activity, and serum oxidative stress in normal and AAA model mice. miR-9-5p overexpression was …

Lactic Acid Bacteria Alleviate Neuronal Excitotoxicity And Extend Caenorhabditis Elegans Lifespan, Bao Le, Thi Nhat Hong Nguyen, Seung-Hwan Yang

Turkish Journal of Biology

Aim: Neuronal cell death plays a critical role in the development of neurological disorders associated with aging. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria (hkLAB) on neuroblastoma cells and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Materials and methods: We pretreated heat-killed Lactobacillus fermentum CNU384 (hkCNU384), L. brevis CNU386 (hkCNU386), L. helveticus CNU395 (hkCNU395), and L. paracasei CNU396 (hkCNU396) at a concentration of 10⁹ CFU/mL to investigate their neuroprotective effects on glutamate-induced SH-SY5Y cells and their impact on the lifespan of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced C. elegans.

Results: Our findings indicate that hkCNU395 and hkCNU396 protected against glutamate-induced cell death …

Wellness Tourism: An Introduction, Karen Thal

All Open Educational Resources

Wellness tourism is a growing segment of the travel industry that focuses on experiences designed to improve physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. From yoga retreats and spa getaways to outdoor adventures and healthy culinary experiences, this form of tourism reflects a broader cultural shift toward self-care and holistic health. The current textbook introduces wellness tourism in a U.S. context, offering a practical, business oriented overview for undergraduate students. It provides insights into the concept of wellness, defines and examines both the wellness industry and the wellness tourism sub-sector, highlights key trends, explores the motivations of wellness travelers, and explains how …

Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Cesarean Birth Rate, Roseanna Juarez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Cesarean birth rates for nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies in the United States continue to exceed the Healthy People 2030 goal of 23.6%, resulting in preventable maternal and neonatal complications and higher healthcare costs.

Context: This quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted in a high-acuity labor and delivery unit in California’s Central Valley, an area characterized by maternal health disparities, high rates of comorbidities, and limited access to prenatal care. The goal was to reduce the NTSV cesarean rate to 18.0% by July 31, 2025.

Interventions: Guided by Kotter’s 8-Step Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, …

Dietary Protein’S Effect On The Gut Microbiome And Its Metabolites: Protocol Description And Virtual Recruitment Efforts For A Remote Randomized Controlled Trial, Karyn M. Gallivan, Kristin S. Ondrak, Denise M. Danos, Meng Luo, Christopher M. Taylor, Lauren E. Meyer, Ann M. Byerley, Alexander W. Nguyen, Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Jiri Adamec, Lauri O. Byerley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Fiber’s effect on our gut microbes has been studied extensively, while knowledge of the effect of protein is sparse. Colonic putrefaction of dietary protein is known to produce several potentially detrimental compounds. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) uses a pre- and post-study design to investigate the effect of consuming higher levels of dietary protein on the gut microbiota and the metabolites it produces. Here, we describe our virtual recruitment efforts and RCT protocol. Potential participants lived throughout the contiguous US. Several recruitment methods were employed, of which email reached the largest group of people (approximately 9,100) and generated a 0.3% …

The Link Between Disability And Suicide Ideation In Men Over 60, Cassandra Lawrence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers suicide and suicide ideation as a severe public health issue among older men and people with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between the level of disability, type of disability (i.e., physical, visual, hearing), functional disability, (i.e., mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs), and having multiple disabilities on suicide ideation among men with a disability who are aged 60 years and older while controlling for age, depression, marital status and retirement status. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal …

Post-Drought Growth Recovery Of Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Under Different Techniques And Doses Of Biofertilizer Applications, Nabila Ragil Wiharti, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Yudithia Maxiselly

Jurnal Kultivasi

Drought stress is a major limiting factor affecting the growth, yield, and quality of tea (Camellia sinensis). The present study aimed to analyze the success of post-drought growth recovery of tea in response to different techniques and doses of biofertilizer applications. Field experiments were conducted from January to August 2024 in the experimental garden of the Research Institute for Tea and Cinchona, Gambung Blok A8, Bandung. This work was arranged in a split-plot design, consisting of a main plot with two biofertilizer application techniques (foliar feeding and soil drenching) and subplots with four levels of biofertilizer dosage (control (B1), 15 …

Sociodemographic, Neighborhood-Level, And Health-Related Factors Associated With Progression To Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Chart Review., Angela Godwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for patients with Class 3 obesity. However, of individuals who start the bariatric surgical process, only about half undergo surgery. Factors associated with completion, including race, have been described; however, consistent evidence on obstacles remains to be identified.

Objectives: To explore variables based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) that may be related to bariatric surgery completion.

Setting: A large, private hospital with a Bariatric Center of Excellence in New York City

Methods: This retrospective chart review utilized data from adults who established an initial bariatric surgery visit from April 1, 2012, …

Describing Latent Tuberculosis Infection And Treatment Completion In Virginia: A Social Determinants Of Health Approach, Amber N. Harmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is a key strategy in tuberculosis elimination nationally and globally, there is a limited understanding of the general prevalence of latent tuberculosis as well as factors related to successful treatment. This dissertation describes the known landscape of latent tuberculosis in Virginia and explores possible factors related to latent tuberculosis infection treatment through three manuscripts. The first manuscript, Chapter 1, outlines the overall proposal for this dissertation research in the style of a National Institute of Health grant proposal. The second manuscript, Chapter 2, describes the current understanding of the factors related to latent …

Where Pipes Meet The Water: Urban Infrastructure In Tijuana, Joab Barrientos

McNair Summer Research Program

Tijuana's rapid urban growth and industrial development have placed significant pressure on its water infrastructure, resulting in ongoing pollution concerns in the Tijuana River Watershed and elsewhere in and beyond the city. In many areas of the city, rapid urban growth has outpaced the building of critical infrastructure like sewage and stormwater systems. These factors have left neighborhoods at risk for a long time. At the same time, industrial growth has often relied on old infrastructure or happened without the right systems in place. Although poor water quality has been a problem for years, few studies have used spatial analysis …

Growth And Yield Of Curly Red Chili (Capsicum Annum L.) In Response To Mulching And Chicken Manure Application In The Erosion-Prone Area Of Loto, Ternate Island, Tri Mulya Hartati, Lily Ishak, Krishna Aji, Chumidach Roini

Jurnal Kultivasi

Information on soil resources in volcanic landscapes presents a high potential for agricultural land development, but its development is always faced with the potential for continuous land degradation. This study aims to reduce the rate of land degradation through the application of vegetative conservation in erosion-prone Loto agrotourism area, Ternate Island. The research location is focused on erosion-prone areas. The research consisted of a soil resource inventory and a vegetative conservation application. The vegetative conservation application method used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) pattern, composed of 2 factors. The first factor is mulching, namely: no mulching (M0) and mulching (M1), …

The Life Of Reason, Or The Phases Of Human Progress, George Santayana

Hannah Arendt Marginalia - All

New York, Scribner, 1954 [i. e. 1953]

Call #: B945 .S23 L7 1953

Contains marginalia, underlining, and marginal lining

PDF Information: 69 pages – 6.8 MB

Demographic And Clinical Predictors Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease And Advanced Fibrosis In The United States, Gail Fernandes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver fibrosis) is a growing public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MASLD-related advanced fibrosis in the United States and assess whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were independent risk factors for MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. This study was a quantitative cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2020, grounded in the social ecological theory. Participants (N = 21,829) were included if they were ≥18 years, excluded if …

Staff Education On Blood Glucose Monitoring Protocols For Assisted Living Facility Staff, Musa Ahmed Mugenyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the practice site, older residents face inconsistent and untimely blood sugar assessments, contributing to avoidable complications such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and hospitalizations. Many caregivers lack standardized training in blood glucose monitoring, which poses a significant risk to residents with diabetes or prediabetes. To address this practice problem, a staff education program on blood glucose monitoring protocols was initiated. The practice-focused question was the following: Will staff knowledge and confidence increase after participating in an education program on monitoring blood glucose levels? As part of the education program, staff received evidence-based instruction on proper techniques for blood glucose testing, recognizing …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Addressing Physical & Psychosocial Health Needs Within The Dance Community To Optimize Artist-Athlete Longevity, Krista Narvasa Antonio

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Purpose: This capstone project seeks to advocate for holisitc and sustainable training approaches in dance by creating a system of improving awareness of current evidence-based protocols and practices surrounding dancer health.

Vision-Based Estrus Detection: Integrating Yolo Segmentation, Thermal Imaging, And Depth Estimation For Precision Livestock Monitoring, Iyad Almadani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Traditional methods for predicting sow reproductive cycles are expensive, labor-intensive, and expose workers to occupational hazards, including respiratory toxins, repetitive stress injuries, and mental health issues. On large farms with limited staff, managing individual sow health becomes increasingly difficult, underscoring the need for automated solutions. This is where computer vision offers a promising, non-contact method to detect estrus by analyzing vulva features like size and using thermal imagery to monitor temperature changes, which are key indicators of reproductive readiness. Automating this process enhances breeding efficiency by ensuring insemination occurs at the optimal time while continuously monitoring sows and alerting staff …

Household Food Security Status And Physical Health Conditions Among Adults In The United States, 2019-2023, Golam Morshed Suhel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study explores the association between household food security status and physical health conditions among U.S. adults from 2019 to 2023, utilizing nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (n=134,904). Multivariable logistic regression models indicate that adults facing food insecurity exhibit significantly higher odds of reporting poor or fair self-rated health (OR = 2.43) and are at heightened risk for various chronic conditions, including heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cancer. The findings demonstrate that food insecurity serves as a strong and consistent predictor of adverse health outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities, particularly non-Hispanic …

Harnessing The Potential Of Biostimulants To Mitigate Drought And Heat In Soybeans, Vijaykumar Hosahalli

Theses and Dissertations

Drought and heat stresses during vegetative and reproductive stages cause yield losses up to 50% in soybeans. Biostimulants have potential to improve stress tolerance and enhance crop resilience, but selecting an effective product remains challenging due to the wide range of commercial options. This study aimed to identify suitable biostimulants that alleviate drought and heat stress during vegetative and reproductive stages. There was 64% and 76% reduction in stomatal conductance under vegetative and reproductive stage drought stress, respectively. Drought and heat stress during reproductive stages resulted in 44% and 36% reduction in total seed weight, respectively. Among biostimulants, treated check …

Assessing Trends In Snap-Authorized Food Retailer Participation And Temporary Losses Using Historical Retailer Data, Adam Nathan

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides descriptive statistics for the universe of SNAP-authorized food retailers in the United States between 1996 and 2023 including the number of SNAP-authorized retailers over time as well as the frequency and duration of temporary lapses in SNAP authorization for the average retailer. Results are presented at different geographic levels, by urbanicity, by store type, and by dollar versus non-dollar stores. This study also provides a methodology for achieving these results that can be used by future researchers to utilize the key dataset, the Historical SNAP Retailer Locator dataset (HSARL). Several issues are present in the HSARL data …

Independence Beyond Sight: Occupational Therapy's Role In Promoting Functional Independence In Low Vision Communities, Kristina Holcomb

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Many individuals with low vision experience a multitude of barriers limiting access to community and healthcare services. Interviews highlighted the need to expand outreach to youth, build an updated community resource guide, and the need for community events for all programs.

From Plan To Practice: Enhancing Lifestyle Management Through Effective Carry Over Strategies Using Occupational Therapy Perspective, Josephine Hernandez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Explore and build on existing knowledge of occupational therapy’s role in lifestyle management techniques through embodied experience. Explore evidence-based research on embodied interventions with multidisciplinary care. Explore and exercise advocacy skills within a multidisciplinary team. Explore and apply marketing and outreach initiatives for increased community awareness of resources.

The Effect Of Coadministration Of D156844 And Ar42 (Rec-2282) On The Survival And Motor Phenotype Of Mice With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Ashlee W. Harris, Rod C. Scott, Matthew E. R. Butchbach

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by degeneration of spinal motor neurons and is a leading genetic cause of pediatric death worldwide. SMA results from the loss of or pathological variant in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Disease severity is dependent on the number of copies of the orthologous SMN2 gene, which is nearly identical to SMN1 except for some key nucleotide differences. As disease severity is inversely related to SMN2 copy number, most SMA therapeutics trials have focused on identifying ways to increase SMN2 expression at different levels of gene regulation. Other studies have investigated compounds which …

Determining The Toxic Threshold And Other Use Characteristics For Industrial Hemp Seed Oil Used For Wood Product Protection, Daylan M. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Plant-based wood treatments have been utilized for many years, with varying success. Oils such as those extracted from linseed (flax), tung, and hemp plants have been used for thousands of years as finishes on wood. These are all drying oils, which dry to a film when exposed to air. Hemp seed oil has a high fatty acid content and can take a long time to dry on wood products but is valued in woodworking for being easy to use, food-safe, and having little to no odor. In this study, cold-pressed hemp seed oil, blended with a soybean carrier oil, is …

Integrated Analysis Of Untargeted Liver, Serum Metabolome And Gut Microbiome Following Selenium Deficiency Diet In Selenoh Knockout And Wildtype Mice, Richard Eugene Baird

Theses and Dissertations

Selenoprotein H (SELENOH) is an oxidoreductase located in the nucleolus, and its biochemical levels decrease with selenium (Se) deficiency, as reported in mammalian research. This current investigation aimed to understand the impact of nutritional Se deficiency on gut microbial composition and metabolomic profiles. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio, linked to various health conditions, was balanced for wildtype (WT) mice (1.06). In contrast, selenoh knockout (KO) mice associated with dietary Se deprivation had a significantly (p < 0.002) lower ratio (0.56), suggesting dysbiosis. It is believed that SELENOH levels decreased due to the Se deficient diet, and the selenoh KO mice exhibited alterations in microbial community composition and metabolite profiles, as supported by correlative analyses. With respect to the bacterial communities, significant differences between diets occurred for three taxa, including Akkemansia mucinphila, Bacteroides caecimuris, and Parabacteroides goldsteinii. Candida tropicalis, Malassezia restricta, and Cyberlindnera jadinii were three abundant fungal yeasts. Only Cyberlindnera jadinii exhibited significantly greater relative abundance between genotypes and was more abundant in the selenoh KO versus WT mice. Correlation analyses between bacterial and fungal taxa revealed both positive and negative relationships, but no specific trends were observed. The liver and serum metabolomic data contained similar amino acids, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Using NMR spectroscopy, 112 liver metabolites were detected, while GC-TOF-MS analysis of the serum revealed the presence of 172, comprising both polar and nonpolar compounds. The metabolite levels varied significantly when analyzed using multivariate models such as PCA and PLS-DA (VIP scores), particularly for glucose, taurine, lactate, and UDP-glucose, which are associated with energy production and cellular health. Overall, the Se deficient diet had the most significant impact on the microbial community structure and the concentration of key metabolites within liver tissues and serum. Correlation analyses conducted across studies revealed significant linear relationships between metabolites and the microbiome. However, these differences were associated with bacterial and fungal taxa containing low relative abundances. Based on these findings, further investigation into the impact of SELENOH homeostasis on microbial and metabolite profiles should be conducted using selenoh KO mice under various nutritional Se dietary levels.

Cotton Response To Banded Vs. Broadcast Potassium Fertilizer Rates And Varietal Response Of Peanut To Disease Pressure In A Mid-South Growing Environment, Bryce Dale Bullock

Theses and Dissertations

Cotton and peanut are commonly grown in rotation for two reasons, cotton requires high fertility, and peanuts are susceptible to diseases which cannot survive on cotton. The objectives of these two studies were to determine if banding K2O closer to the rooting zone of cotton could potentially decrease the amount of potash required to decrease costs, and to determine varietal susceptibility of peanut to early and late leaf spot and southern blight. Application rates of K2O were determined based on soil tests with a full rate being 90 Kg ha-1 and a half rate being 45 Kg ha-1 banded and …

Variables That Affect Designers’ Use Of Edible Planting In Residential Landscape Design, Emily Margaret Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Edible landscaping or “foodscaping” has had a resurgence into the mainstream. Though many trailblazers aim to encourage edible landscaping through homeowners and renters, there seems to be a lack of initiative from designers. To identify the variables that can affect a designer’s use of edible planting in the residential Southeastern United States, research and statistical methods were employed. Beyond interviewing an expert in the field of edible planting in the residential space, a survey consisting of both Likert and open-ended questions was sent to licensed landscape architects in the Southeastern U.S. The survey was conducted using Qualtrics and analyzed using …

Influence Of Diverse Forage Environments On Honey Bee Colony Health, Angus Catchot Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Honey bees are important pollinators that face a multitude of stressors in their environment such as pathogens, parasite pressure, forage availability and pesticide exposure. This study examined how the makeup of different environments and the stressors related to those environments are affecting honey bee health in Mississippi. A field experiment was conducted during the first year of the study across four distinct landscapes ranging from intensively cultivated cropland to predominantly natural forage habitats to assess the impact of landscape availability on varying honey bee colony health parameters. Locations that had cultivated crops within foraging range produced more honey and brood …