Digital Commons Network^™

Symptom Burden, Healthcare Utilization, And Risky Behaviors In Survivors Of The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (Ccss): An Observation Cohort Study, Rachel Webster, Deo Kumar Srivastava, Lu Xie, Himani Darji, Wei Liu, Tara M Brinkman, Kirsten K Ness, Bernard Fuemmeler, Alicia S Kunin-Batson, I-Chan Huang, Gregory T Armstrong, Rebecca M Howell, Daniel M Green, Yutaka Yasui, Kevin R Krull

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Childhood cancer survivors face physical, psychological, and neurological symptoms that contribute to risky health behaviors and increased healthcare utilization. Traditional survivorship care models overlook risk associated with this symptom burden. The current study examined symptoms phenotypes to identify high-risk groups.

Methods: Five-year survivors (N = 17,231; Mean [standard deviation] age = 27.4 [5.98]; 80% non-Hispanic White; 48% female) from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (NCT01120353) self-reported symptoms and risky behavior at baseline and first follow-up (original cohort data collection: baseline 1994-1998 and follow-up 2002-2004; expansion cohort: baseline 2008-2010 and follow-up 2014-2016). Medical records were extracted through chart …

Experimental Design And Control Methods For Dose Rate Optimization In A Synchrotron-Based Proton Therapy Beamline, Jason Tang, Daniel Liu, Jacob Mathew, Sabrina Campelo, Lawrence Bronk, Yuting Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy (typically defined >40 Gy/s) has shown promise for enhanced normal tissue sparing while maintaining tumor control, termed the FLASH effect when this biological response is observed. However, precise dose rate control remains a technical challenge in proton therapy systems, particularly for research applications investigating dose rate effects.

Purpose: To develop and validate a passive beam modulation technique using tungsten scatterers for controllable dose rate adjustment in a synchrotron-based proton therapy beamline without modifying accelerator parameters.

Methods: We investigated dose rate modulation using tungsten foils of varying thicknesses (0.1-3.5 mm) positioned upstream in an 87.2 MeV …

Periostin Promotes Sarcoma Growth By Promoting Tumor-Associated Macrophage Migration And Differentiation, Jin-Fen Xiao, Kristin Ishaya, Emily Y Ko, Annaliese Fowler, Marina T Broz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are characterized by abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, yet the functional contribution of specific ECM components remains poorly understood. In this study, we identify periostin (POSTN), a matricellular protein, as a regulator of sarcoma progression and the tumor immune microenvironment. Analysis of human sarcoma datasets revealed that high POSTN expression correlates with poor prognosis and elevated expression of ECM-related and myeloid cell–associated genes. In murine genetic models of sarcoma, tumors expressing high levels of Postn displayed enhanced expression of ECM genes and monocyte-recruiting cytokines. Functional silencing of Postnin vivo reduced tumor growth without altering tumor cell …

Reference Dosimetry Data And Machine Performance Comparison For Tomotherapy Delivery Systems Audited By Iroc, Paige A Taylor, Hunter Mehrens, Mallory C Glenn, Fre'etta Brooks, Hayden Scott, Taylor Meyers, Michael Yang, Paola Alvarez, Jessica Lowenstein, Andrea Molineu, Stephen F Kry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The aim of this work was to compare the imaging and radiation oncology core (IROC) on-site TomoTherapy dosimetry measurement results among institutions and generate a dataset of basic dosimetric properties for TomoTherapy units. Independent ion chamber measurements for nine TomoTherapy units were acquired by IROC physicists between 2008 and 2023. Measurements included percent depth dose (PDD) in a water tank and off axis factors (OAF) in a solid Polystyrene phantom. The independent measurements collected during the on-site audits for each TomoTherapy system were compared to corresponding TomoTherapy TPS calculations from the institution to assess agreement. Numeric measurement values and comparative …

Adherence To Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Age-Eligible Us Women: Findings From Nhis 2021, Monalisa Chandra, Joël Fokom Domgue, Robert Yu, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Despite the proven benefits of early breast cancer detection in reducing mortality, adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines in the United States is suboptimal. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and factors associated with adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines.

Methods: Using nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey 2021, we included breast cancer screening-eligible women (aged 50-74). Descriptive statistics and population-weighted multivariable logistic regression were employed to examine breast cancer screening adherence per the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, and its determinants in this population.

Results: Of the 6814 screening-eligible women included in …

Monte Carlo Simulations Of Geometric Deformation Of Harrison-Anderson-Mick Applicators Used In Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, Benjamin Insley, Brett Bocian, Sam Beddar, Reza Reiazi, Patrick James Jensen, Joshua Scott Niedzielski, Gabriel Oliveira Sawakuchi, Luis Augusto Perles

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Harrison-Anderson-Mick (HAM) applicator is a high-dose-rate intraoperative radiotherapy (HDR-IORT) applicator used to position Ir-192 brachytherapy sources over surgically-accessed tumor volumes or post-resection tumor beds. Because of the lack of a 3D imaging system, dwell times are optimized pre-surgery by a TG-43-based treatment planning system (TPS) that assumes a perfectly flat applicator surface surrounded by an infinite water phantom. These assumed conditions are disparate from typical treatment conditions, especially in the pelvic regions, which often involve uneven patient surfaces and superficial irradiations with little to no backscatter material.

Purpose: Develop and validate a Monte Carlo (MC) model of HDR-IORT …

Forecasting Chemoradiation Response Midtreatment For High-Grade Gliomas Through Patient-Specific Biology-Based Modeling, David A Hormuth, Maguy Farhat, Bikash Panthi, Holly Langshaw, Mihir D Shanker, Sara Thrower, Sophia Ty, Calliope Custer, Jeanne Kowalski, Thomas E Yankeelov, Caroline Chung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The entire course of radiation therapy (RT) for high-grade glioma (HGG) is currently derived from pre-RT magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although it is possible to adapt RT during the course of treatment, it is often guided only by anatomical changes to the tumor. This study seeks to determine if a biology-based mathematical model, parameterized by patient-specific, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) data, can accurately forecast HGG response during RT.

Methods and materials: Twenty one patients with HGG planned for 6 weeks of concurrent RT and chemotherapy were imaged weekly with mpMRI during RT and at 1, 2, and 3 months post-RT. …

Tsunami Simulation And Boulder Transport Across Contrasting Coastal Geomorphologies In Sanriku, Japan, Storm Roberts, Daisuke Sugawara, Hidetoshi Masuda, Sarah Boulton

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tsunami boulders serve as crucial indicators for reconstructing past tsunami events, yet their full transport process remains poorly understood. This study investigates tsunami boulder transport at two geomorphically distinct field sites in Japan affected by the 2011 tsunami, integrating field data with a validated tsunami simulation to track wave parameters at every transport stage. The simulation was validated against eyewitness accounts, local reports, and offshore GPS buoy data. Near the shoreline at the Settai site simulated flow velocities reached a maximum of 7.55 m/s, compared to 6.51 m/s at Hoshiyama beach. Inland at Settai, a maximum 15.56 m/s flow velocity …

Tectonic Modulation Of Caldera Volcanism On The South Aegean Island Arc, A Metcalfe, Tim Druitt, Katharina Pank, Steffen Kutterolf, Jonas Preine, Sarah Beethe, Axel K. Schmitt, Christian Hübscher, Paraskevi Nomikou, Thomas A. Ronge, Carole Berthod, Hehe Chen, Shun Chiyonobu, Acacia Clark, Susan Debari, Ralf Gertisser, Raymond Johnston, Olga Koukousioura, Michael Manga, Molly Mccanta, Iona Mcintosh, Ally Peccia, Masako Tominaga, Yuzuru Yamamoto, Adam Woodhouse, Alexis Bernard, Tatiana Fernandez-Perez, Christopher Jones, Kumar Batuk Joshi, Günther Kletetschka

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Many highly hazardous, caldera-forming explosive eruptions occur in extensional tectonic regimes, but the role of lithospheric rifting in modulating caldera volcanism remains enigmatic. IODP Expedition 398 deep-drilled the volcano-sedimentary infills of submarine half-grabens around Santorini caldera on the continental South Aegean Volcanic Arc. Here we use the volcanic tephra archives to produce a high-resolution eruptive chronostratigraphy for Santorini, to ground-truth seismic stratigraphy, and to extract an integrated timeline of volcano-tectonic couplings. The rift basins contain several submarine volcaniclastic megabeds from the caldera-forming eruptions of Santorini and one from the Kos caldera. The thickest megabed succession is < 250,000 yrs old and lies on a seismic reflection onlap surface that records a phase of rapid rifting. Sedimentation lagged behind subsidence during this rifting phase, creating bathymetric troughs. Integrating submarine core-seismic and onland datasets, we propose that rifting may have driven the transition of Santorini from a prolonged state of effusive and minor explosive activity (∼550 – 250 ka) typical of arc stratovolcanoes to one of repeated caldera-forming eruptions (<250 ka). Rapid rifting may have amplified the normal internal dynamics of the magmatic system in three ways, driving the volcano into a sustained, highly explosive state: (1) an increase in the supply of mantle-derived basalt, (2) enhanced shearing, permeability, and melt percolation in the transcrustal magmatic system, and (3) the development of horizontally extensive magma reservoirs. Broadly simultaneous transitions into caldera-forming activity of the widely separated Santorini and Kos Volcanoes suggest that the two magmatic systems are linked by plate-scale lithospheric stresses.

Combining Pirfenidone With Mycophenolate Mofetil For Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease (Scleroderma Lung Study Iii): An Investigator-Initiated, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial, Dinesh Khanna, Cathie Spino, Donald P Tashkin, Elana J Bernstein, Jonathan Goldin, Eric C Kleerup, Airi Harui, Grace Ibrahim, Grace Hyun J Kim, Suiyuan Huang, Richard Mclain, Yi-Hsuan Tu, Vivek Nagaraja, Richard M Silver, Virginia D Steen, S Samuel Weigt, Joyce S Lee, Aryeh Fischer, Mary Beth Scholand, Jessica K Gordon, Paul F Dellaripa, Ivan O Rosas, Gary M Hunninghake, Marcin A Trojanowski, Robert W Simms, Jane E Dematte, Vivien M Hsu, Robyn T Domsic, Ganesh Raghu, Maureen D Mayes, Ryan D Boente, Michael D Roth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) can stabilize or improve lung function in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We hypothesized that combining MMF with pirfenidone (PFD) would produce a significantly more rapid and/or greater improvement in lung function.

Methods: A randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo (PLA)-controlled phase 2 trial was conducted in SSc-ILD in which patients received PFD or PLA (801 mg three times daily) along with MMF (1,500 mg twice daily) for 18 months. The primary outcome was change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC-%). Linear mixed-effects models assessed treatment differences in a modified intention-to-treat population.

Results: Only fifty-one of …

Refractory Hypoxemia In An Asymptomatic 6-Year-Old: It Is Not Always The Heart, Aymen Mirza, Bibek Bista, Vidhya Annavajjhala, Chinyere O'Connor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Bias And Disparities In Neonatal End-Of-Life Care, Tamiko Younge, Daria Murosko, Simranjeet S Sran, Terri Major-Kincade

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Acculturation, Values, And Acculturative Stress For Autistic Latino Emerging Adults And Spanish-Speaking Parents Participating In The ¡Iniciando! La Adultez Program, Antonio F Pagán, Miriam Ortiz, Erin Bernal, Katherine A Loveland, Ana Esparza, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Latino families with emerging adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face unique challenges during the transition to adulthood, influenced by cultural values, acculturation, and systemic barriers. Acculturation and acculturative stress are particularly relevant in this population, as they navigate cultural adaptation while maintaining traditional values like familismo (family) and respeto (respect). These dynamics are further complicated by disparities in access to resources and culturally responsive interventions. This study explores the interplay of cultural values, acculturation, and acculturative stress among Latino emerging adults with ASD and their Spanish-speaking parents participating in a culturally adapted and translated intervention. Using a cross-sectional …

Help-Seeking Among Early Adolescents Who Use Physical Peer Violence, Kelli Franco, Elizabeth Baumler, Leila Wood, Heidi Adams Rueda, Jeffrey R Temple

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite accumulating research on help-seeking among violence victims, little is known about help-seeking among youth who use violence. In a racially and ethnically diverse sample of early adolescents (N=2,676; 50.3% female; Mage=12.67), participants self-reported physical bullying, physical fighting, physical dating violence perpetration, and help-seeking intentions over the past year. T-tests and one-way ANOVAs examined help-seeking by sex and race, respectively. Prevalence and comparisons of help-seeking across youth with and without any violence were examined. Youth who used any physical peer violence (n=965) reported lower help-seeking intentions than their peers, and among violent youth, males reported …

Allogeneic Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells For Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Trial., Mya C Schiess, Jessika Suescun, Juan D Martinez-Lemus, Charles Green, Tia S Thomas, Mohammad Shahnawaz, Emily Tharp, Nikunj B Satani, Jerome G Saltarrelli, Christopher Adams, Marie-Francoise Doursout, Vanessa Thyne, Rula Abuamouneh, Elsa M Rodarte, Sean I Savitz, Timothy M Ellmore

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Neuroinflammation contributes to Parkinson's disease (PD) progression and motor dysfunction. Allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (allo-hMSCs) may reduce neuroinflammation and improve motor symptoms.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of repeated intravenous doses of 10 × 106/kg allo-hMSCs in improving motor symptoms in patients with PD (PwP).

Methods: In this phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (November 2020-July 2023), mild-to-moderate PwP received either three allo-hMSC infusions, one placebo followed by two allo-hMSC infusions, or three placebo infusions at 18-week intervals. Follow-up lasted 88 weeks. The primary outcome was a >70% posterior probability (PP) of a difference in the proportion of participants …

Unveiling The Interactions Between The Antibiotic Resistome And Microplastics Influenced By Trace Elements And Ppcps In Wastewater Treatment Plants, Tahira Tasneem Rahman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, and wastewater treatment plants play a critical role in controlling its spread. These facilities process water containing microplastics (small plastic particles), trace elements like copper and zinc, and chemicals from everyday products like pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Together, these pollutants may contribute to the survival and spread of bacteria containing antibiotic resistance genes, but their combined effects are not fully understood. This study investigated how these pollutants behave and interact in wastewater treatment plants using two approaches: direct monitoring of real treatment plants and controlled lab experiments using synthetic wastewater. Results showed …

Spatial Strategies For Restoring Native Biodiversity And Connectivity In Managed Landscapes Of The Upper Clutha Basin, New Zealand, Jessica Zuban

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Across New Zealand and around the world, biodiversity is declining due to the widespread loss and fragmentation of native habitat. This is especially true in agricultural landscapes, where native habitats have been replaced by intensive land use. This research focuses on the Upper Clutha Basin in Central Otago, New Zealand that has been significantly altered over time by farming, development, and other human activities. As a result, only a small amount of native vegetation remains, and the region is well below the critical threshold needed to support healthy ecological systems.

This study investigates how native vegetation can be strategically restored …

Evaluating Energy Transition Winners And Losers: Are Algae Biofuels Desirable, Feasible, And Viable?, Michelle M. Arnold

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Climate change, environmental degradation, finite resources, and the uneven distribution of energy access all points to an urgent need for a global energy transition. But making that transition responsibly requires more than enthusiasm for “green” solutions—it demands careful evaluation of which energy sources are truly worth investing in. This dissertation develops a practical decision-making framework to help policymakers, scientists, and the public answer three foundational questions about any new energy technology: Is it desirable? Is it feasible? Is it viable? By systematically weighing public narratives, biophysical constraints, and patterns of innovation, the framework aims to prevent wasted time, funding, and …

Improvisation Of Mands Using Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Lauren Decker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Research shows that young children who use pictures to communicate can use colors, shapes, and functions of items to request when the specific picture of the item is not available. This problem-solving skill is called improvisation, which this study taught to a preschool aged participant with communication delays. A four-year-old preschool student was able to make these requests with basic colors, shapes, and three function pictures. They also were able to make these requests for items not taught to them in different settings. This suggests that improvisation training can be successfully implemented with preschool aged children with communication delays and …

An Evaluation Of Virtual Reality Modeling To Improve Accuracy Of Physical Education Skills In Teenage Students With Disabilities, Kristen Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is becoming more common in schools, especially for teaching and training. In this study, researchers explored how VR can help teenagers with disabilities improve their physical education skills, specifically push-ups, lunges, and jumping jacks. The participants all showed an increase in their skills and reached a high level of accuracy on every skill. The results showed that adding feedback was also necessary for some participants. Additionally, participants enjoyed using the VR equipment and showed high levels of happiness throughout the study. These findings suggested that using VR technology can be an effective way to support teenagers …

Discourses Embedded In The Adams V. School Board Of St. Johns County Decision And The Rights Of Transgender Students In Schools, Douglas Larson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study was critical analysis of the language of the court case Adams v. School Board of St. Johns County (2022). This case was brough by a student against the School District challenging a policy that prevented him, a transgender boy, from using the boys’ restroom. The analysis was not intended to determine the merits of the case or the correctness of the legal reasoning. Rather, the analysis was performed on the text of the case—the language used by the judges—to learn about the beliefs, attitudes, and values of the judges.

The reason this analysis is important is because judges …

The Effects Of Lactoferrin And Iron-Enriched Whey On Iron Status Of Collegiate Females, Connor Kemp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Iron deficiency has remained a global issue even in developed countries despite food fortification and increased nutritional literacy, biological women of child baring age are at particular risk due to menstruation and reduced dietary intake of iron containing foods compared to men. This issue is of particular concern in athletics due to the critical role of iron in oxygen transport and energy metabolism. With nearly half of female athletes presenting low iron status iron supplementation is often necessary. With iron supplementation often resulting in gastrointestinal symptoms that could negatively impact sport performance itself there is a need to explore other …

Developing Standardized Testing Datasets For Benchmarking Automated Quality Control Algorithm Performance With Aquatic Sensor Data, Ehsan Kahrizi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Advances in water monitoring technologies have led to a large increase in the amount of data collected from rivers, lakes, and other water systems. However, ensuring that these data are accurate and reliable remains a major challenge. Traditional data quality checks are done manually by a technician, which can be slow, inconsistent, and not practical for real-time monitoring. This research addresses these challenges by developing standardized datasets for testing computer-based methods that automatically detect and correct errors in water data. Using information from the Logan River Observatory in northern Utah, we created a step-by-step process to identify, categorize, and label …

Predicting Major Solar Flares Using Convolutional Neural Networks And Multivariate Magnetic Field Time-Series Data, Arash Azizian Foumani

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Major solar flares are sudden, intense bursts of X-ray energy from the Sun, capable of severely impacting critical technological infrastructure like satellites, communication networks, and power grids on Earth. Accurate prediction of these high-intensity events is crucial but presents a significant challenge. This is largely due to their infrequent occurrence and the complex, dynamic nature of the Sun's underlying magnetic activity which drives these events. This research focuses on improving the prediction of major solar flares by utilizing detailed historical data that tracks the evolution of magnetic properties within solar active regions over time. This time-based data, however, contains inherent …

Cognitive Dynamics In Undergraduate Engineering Education: Effects Of Need For Cognitive Closure And Achievement Goal Orientation On Cognitive Engagement, Zain Ul Abideen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cognitive and motivational factors play an important role in students’ engagement during problem-solving, which can lead to academic and professional success. Among these factors, Need for cognitive closure (NFCC) and achievement goal orientation (AGO) have been studied extensively individually, but their interaction and impact on engineering students’ problem-solving is still not explored. NFCC refers to the person’s desire for quick answers, and AGO is the student’s approach to learning and success. This research investigated the impact of NFCC on gender and engineering major, and the relation between NFCC (five facets) and AGO (Mastery, Performance) at their different levels. Additionally, this …

Enabling Scalable Camera-Based Streamflow Monitoring With Serverless Cloud Computing, Sajan Neupane

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis introduces a modern and automated method for monitoring rivers and streams using cameras and cloud-based software tools. Traditional monitoring methods often rely on sensors placed directly in the water, which can be expensive, hard to install, and difficult to maintain, especially in remote or rough terrain. In contrast, this approach uses cameras to observe water flow from a distance, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative. However, camera systems come with their own challenges, such as collecting large amounts of image data, transferring it reliably from the field, and analyzing it quickly enough to be useful. This research …

Using Luminescence Of Quartz Temper From Archaeological Pottery To Infer Wildfire Intensity In The Southwestern Us, Brooklyn D. Dib

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The size and frequency of wildfires have increased recently, impacting ecosystems, communities, and human health. This research uses the heat-sensitive luminescence signals of quartz sand temper within archaeological pottery to record past wildfire conditions. Pottery sherds, which are fragments of archaeological pottery, from the forest floor in sites in New Mexico and Arizona were collected from different fire contexts (no fire exposure, historical fires, prescribed burns, and modern wildfires). These forests are primarily Ponderosa Pine with a grassy understory. The interior sand grains of each sherd sample were analyzed using optically stimulated luminescence, which dates when the mineral grains were …

Quicklime-Based Self-Healing Concrete For Bridge Deck Applications, Mehrnoosh Nazari

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. However, over time, it can crack and deteriorate, especially on roads and bridges exposed to harsh weather and deicing salts. Inspired by the long-lasting durability of ancient Roman concrete, this study explores the self-healing capabilities of concrete incorporating quicklime (calcium oxide) aggregates to extend the service life of bridge decks. For this purpose, three concrete mixtures were developed using local materials: one without quicklime (C-Q 0%) and two with 2% (C-Q 2%) and 4% quicklime (C-Q 4%). These mixtures were tested for fresh properties, strength, durability, and …

Biocontrol Of Canada Thistle (Cirsium Arvense) With The Rust Fungus, Puccinia Punctiformis In The Intermountain West: Integrated Weed Management Compatibility And Characterization Of Microbiome Associations, Caitlin Henderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an invasive weed of major concern in both agricultural and native areas. It competes against native plants, reduces crop production and quality, and causes significant costs in management and damages. Canada thistle can survive and spread through seeds, but primarily does so through its extensive root system, which causes the greatest management difficulties. There are several control methods for this invasive weed, herbicides are perhaps the most common and effective, however, they have limitations and negative consequences. Herbicide use near waterways is restricted and there are growing concerns of the development of herbicide …

Assessing The Human Health Impacts Of Nutrient-Dense Diets: Clinical Trials On Regenerative Agriculture And Protein Source, Jennifer Jensen-Cloward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Increasing consumer demand for sustainable, animal-friendly food options has sparked discussion about farming production practices. As more people prioritize their food choices, questions have circulated about how farming practices might impact not just the environment, but also human health. Regenerative agriculture is a farming method that has gained popularity for its potential to improve both food quality and environmental outcomes. It focuses on restoring ecosystem function, ultimately impacting the resulting nutrients in food products, and includes foods like grass-fed meat and organic produce. However, it is still unclear whether these practices make a difference in human health. This dissertation informs …