Digital Commons Network^™

Uncovering Environmental Justice Disparities: Tree Canopy Inequality In Low-Income Marginalized Communities, Emmanuel Wallace

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Tree canopy inequality in low-income marginalized communities is a direct result of decades of environmental injustice within urban communities in the United States, specifically the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation. This phenomenon underscores the disproportionate distribution of tree cover, green spaces, and their myriad benefits in neighborhoods marked by poverty and social vulnerability. Rooted in a history of discriminatory urban planning practices and systemic disparities, tree canopy inequality has profound consequences on residents' health and well-being. It leads to urban heat island effects, reduced air quality, and additional socio-economic disparities. On average, urban communities of color have 33% less tree canopy …

Dietary Modulation Of Obesity-Specific Gut Microbial Signatures And Their Functional Roles, Anjula Swathi Sagam

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Obesity remains a major global health concern, contributing significantly to chronic diseases. While diet is a well-known driver of obesity, emerging evidence suggests the key role of gut microbiota in mediating diet-related metabolic outcomes. Numerous epidemiological and microbiome studies suggested diet-microbiome-obesity associations. However, consistent microbial markers and mechanistic insights remain limited. To address this gap, this study aimed to identify consistent microbial species associated with obesity and investigate how diet influences their growth and function. A review of over 200 publicly available 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic studies revealed consistent microbial patterns in obesity, including members of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. …

Development Of The Negative Attitudes Toward Nonbinary Individuals Scale, Jenna Sue Lehmann

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Research within the field of psychology examining the experiences of transgender individuals and prejudice toward transgender individuals has increased in recent history alongside the conscious awareness of transgender individuals within the United States. The research that has been conducted has primarily focused on transgender individuals broadly as a group on binary transgender individuals. As, such measures of prejudice toward these groups have been developed and validated. Although the study of nonbinary experiences and prejudice is developing, there has been no extant measure of prejudice toward nonbinary individuals specifically. A measure of prejudice toward this group is needed to (1) examine …

Exploring The Cooling Effects Of Urban Forests In Summer, Xiaoyue Li

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

As a nature-based solution to combat urban heat islands, urban forests can provide cooling and other co-benefits. However, little is known about the cooling benefits of urban forests in parking lots and under different land covers, especially with field observations. To address this gap, we measured air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) and calculated heat index (HI) in three urban settings in Nashville, TN, in summer 2024. The research sites included: 1) Two different parking lots: parking lots with and without trees; 2) Three different distances from trees within the parking lot with trees: under trees, near trees, and …

Dynamics And Controls Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Bioenergy Croplands, Lovish Kasrija

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, requiring sustainable methods for tackling climate change. This thesis includes two mega-analyses and one field experiment to investigate the impact of conservation tillage and soil amendments on crop productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. The first mega-analysis combined data from 30 meta-analyses to assess the impact of no-tillage (NT), reduced-tillage (RT), and combination NT+RT on crop yields and soil GHG emissions. NT decreased yields by 3.3% and increased N₂O emissions by 8.7%, but RT and NT+RT had no effect. The second mega-analysis found that both NT and RT considerably increased soil organic …

Effects Of Straw Return On Crop Yield, Soil Organic Carbon And Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Maazeera Fatima

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Global crop residue production was substantial, at approximately 3758 × 106 mg annually. The practice of straw return, was found to enhance soil organic matter content, increase crop yield, and mitigate soil greenhouse gas emissions. However, individual studies showed inconsistent results. While meta-analyses synthesized multiple individual studies and provided overall effects of straw return, but their conclusions were varied. We evaluated meta-analyses on the effects of straw return on crop yield, soil organic carbon, and greenhouse gas emissions and proposed a grand mean response ratio to estimate an overall effect and the impacts of different properties. The result showed that …

Gentrification And Voter Turnout In Urban School Board Elections, Erika Leicht

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Gentrification is a process in which low-income urban neighborhoods experience reinvestment and an influx of higher socioeconomic status (SES) residents. There is a growing literature on the impacts of gentrification on public schools, including effects on enrollment, student achievement, and parent involvement. This study examined whether gentrification is related to voter turnout in school board elections in urban local education agencies (LEAs) in Texas. It also examined whether the relationship between gentrification and voter turnout varies depending on the availability of school choice options and the racial/ethnic differences between public school students and neighborhood populations. Using a fractional logistic regression …

Influence Of Parental Approval And Disapproval On Interracial Relationship Outcomes, Stefanie Boakye

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Interracial couples may encounter unique challenges in their relationships due to negative perceptions such as racial prejudice, discrimination, disapproval, cultural stereotypes, and opposition from society and family. These challenges can be especially difficult when the disapproval comes from their parents. This study explored how perceived parental approval influences interracial romantic relationship outcomes, specifically relationship satisfaction, commitment, and closeness. Data were collected from individuals in interracial relationships (N ≈ 80) using the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), the Investment Model Scale (IMS), the Relationship Closeness Inventory (RCI), and the Parent-Adult Child Relationship Questionnaire (PACQ). A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted …

A Case Study Of Public Policy, Neighbourhood Change, And Transit Equity Outcomes, Stacy-Ann Baker

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Despite intentions or understatement, public policy has influenced neighbourhood change, such as gentrification. However, its impact tends to be muted, ignored, or underappreciated. Transit equity policy and research have also lacked a robust social justice framework that considers spatial justice. Additionally, there have been several knowledge gaps, limitations, and mixed results regarding impacts, notably concerning buses, bus rapid transit (BRT), accessibility, and communities of concern. Unlike other studies, this dissertation proposal employs the social-ecological system framework (SESF), the public transportation sustainability list (PTSIL), and sustainability impact assessment (SIA) guidance from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in a …

Distribution And Occurrence Of Cyanohabs, Nutrients, And Water-Quality Data In The Tennessee State University Wetland, Kristi Hill

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Toxic algal blooms are an expanding issue for aquatic ecosystems because they are hazardous to human and environmental health. Algal blooms naturally occur from the combination of warm temperatures, sunlight, and abundant nutrients in water, but what triggers them to become harmful algal blooms (HABs) and begin synthesizing toxin is not well understood, and their threat to freshwater sources was not heavily researched until recently. Microcystin (MC), a freshwater algal toxin, is a HABs toxin which targets the liver and causes sickness and death in humans and animals (pets, livestock, and wildlife). Urban freshwater wetlands are among the most HAB …

The Impact Of Supervisor Cultural Humility On The Supervisory Working Alliance Among International Trainees, Fanchen Gao

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Supervisor cultural humility has been theorized to contribute to stronger supervisory working alliances (SWA), yet limited research has examined its role within multicultural contexts involving international trainees. Guided by the Multicultural Orientation framework, this study explored whether supervisors’ cultural humility predicted the quality of the supervisory working alliance, whether the relationship differed based on participant role (supervisor or trainee), and whether international trainees’ cultural backgrounds influenced their perceptions of the SWA. The sample included 72 participants from counseling and psychology training programs in the United States, consisting of international trainees and clinical supervisors. Participants completed an online survey assessing cultural …

Mindfulness And Student Achievement In Urban Middle After-School Programs, La Shell Bonds

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the influence of mindfulness-based interventions on academic achievement, disciplinary outcomes, and social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies among urban middle school students participating in after-school programs. Grounded in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, self-regulatory frameworks, and Dweck’s growth mindset, the study employs a quasi-experimental design with 36 participants randomly assigned to either a mindfulness intervention group or a control group that receives the standard SEL curriculum. Over two weeks, the experimental group engaged in structured mindfulness activities—including breath awareness, body scans, and peer-led circles,—while quantitative data were collected on standardized test scores (Math and English Language Arts), suspension rates, and SEL …

Predisposed: Race, Disability, And Death Investigations, Britney Wilson

Articles & Chapters

Disability, preexisting conditions, or underlying conditions might seem like uncontroversial factors to cite when determining an individual’s cause of death. However, many death investigators have also cited these conditions in deaths caused by state violence or neglect. For example, a 2021 study found that medical examiners cited sickle cell trait, a gene mutation, as a cause or significant factor in the deaths of forty-seven Black people who died in police custody in the past twenty-five years. Sickle cell trait is a relatively common and benign trait disproportionately found in Black people in the United States. It is also distinct from …

Multidimensional Biocircuitry Of Exercise Adaptation, Jeremy S. Mcadam, Zachary A. Graham, S. Craig Tuggle, Kaleen M. Lavin, Marcas M. Bamman, Jeremy S. Mcadam, Zachary A. Graham, Brandon Peoples, Regina S. Seay, Kaleen M. Lavin, Amber B. Gargus, Sufen Yang, Samia M. O’Bryan, Devin J. Drummer, Christian J. Kelley, Margaret B. Bell, Inmaculada Aban, Gary R. Cutter, Marcas M. Bamman, Michael P. Craig, Jin Zhang, Akshay Hira, Timothy J. Broderick, Madhavi P. Kadakia, Zachary A. Graham, Kalyani Peri, Margaret B. Bell, Inmaculada Aban

Physiology Faculty Publications

In a randomized, dose-response trial, we used molecular and phenomic profiling to compare responses with traditional moder ate-intensity endurance and resistance training (TRAD) versus high-intensity tactical training (HITT) that encompassed explosive whole-body interval training and high-intensity resistance training. Ninety-four participants (18–27 yr) completed 12 wk of TRAD or HITT followed by 4 wk of detraining. Although similar performance and body composition improvements were observed in response to HITT and TRAD, some dose-dependent differences were observed for: 1) ex vivo muscle tissue changes in myofiber size, capillarization, satellite cell frequency, and mitochondrial function and 2) differential gene expression (DGE) of muscle …

Satellite Cells Choreograph An Immune Cell-Fibrogenic Cell Circuit During Mechanical Loading In Geriatric Skeletal Muscle, Nicholas T. Thomas, Camille R. Brightwell, Allison M. Owen, Alexander R. Keeble, Sabin Khadgi, Yuan Wen, Christopher S. Fry, Kevin A. Murach

Physiology Faculty Publications

Muscle stem cells, or satellite cells (SCs), decline in number throughout the lifespan and may become senescent in very old age. Whether and how remaining SCs contribute to muscle adaptation in the oldest-old is unclear. Using acute mechanical overload in geriatric SC replete and depleted mice (28-month-old) combined with single-cell RNA-sequencing, we show: (i) subsets of geriatric SCs display signs of senescence as well as normal fate progression during overload, (ii) SCs express markers that may contribute to the regulation of innervation, (iii) the presence of SCs during overload enhances global intercellular communication and increases mRNA levels of the cell …

Ibi-Dt: A Novel Approach Combining Individualized Bayesian Inference And Decision Tree For Identifying Cancer Drivers And Their Interactions, Md Asad Rahman, Gregory F. Cooper, Jinying Zhao, Xinghua Lu, Jinling Liu

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cancer is mainly caused by a relatively small portion of somatic genome alterations (SGAs), called cancer drivers. Despite success in identifying a good number of cancer drivers, many more remain to be discovered to explain various cancers. Moreover, limited tools are available to identify potential interactions among cancer drivers for a better understanding of oncogenesis. To tackle these challenges, we have developed a novel approach called individualized Bayesian inference using a decision tree (IBI-DT). IBI-DT recognizes the genetic heterogeneity among cancer patients, where different individuals or patient subgroups of distinct genomic makeup may have different drivers. IBI-DT works by constructing …

Closing The Racial Wealth Gap: Public, Private, And Philanthropic Collaborations -- Event Information, Lender Center For Social Justice

The Lender Center for Social Justice

A brief description of the “Closing the Racial Wealth Gap: Public, Private and Philanthropic Collaborations” conference event.

The Role Of Implicit Bias In Police Citizen Interactions - A Historical Review And Policy Recommendations, Catherine Anne Liedman, Ziwei Qi

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of implicit bias on police-citizen interactions, contributing to racial disparities in stops, arrests, and the use of force. While explicit racism has declined since the Civil Rights Era, unconscious stereotypes continue to influence law enforcement decisions. Research highlights that Black individuals experience higher rates of police encounters and fatal force compared to White individuals, a pattern not fully explained by crime rates but rather by systemic and historical biases within policing institutions. Efforts to address implicit bias, such as diversity training, have shown limited long-term effectiveness. Instead, meaningful reform requires structural changes, including improved …

Korea’S Unification: Unifying Visionary Leadership, Paul Hong

KAUPA Letters

This third essay highlights the critical role of unifying visionary leadership in advancing Korea’s unification—a goal that cannot be achieved through policy frameworks or economic integration alone. While shared history, language, and culture provide the foundation for national unity, it is bold and ethical leadership that transforms these foundations into strategic action and reconciles entrenched ideological and institutional divides. A brief analysis of prominent figures in Korean history—Dangun, Kim Choonchu, Wang Geon, Yi Seong-gye, King Sejong, Yi Sun-sin, Kim Gu, Syngman Rhee, and Park Chung-hee—reveals recurring leadership traits such as moral authority, long-term vision, cultural stewardship, and inclusive governance. These …

Korea At The Crossroads: Steering Between Two Paths In The New Global Trade Order, Paul Hong

KAUPA Letters

Korea stands at a pivotal crossroads in global trade, caught between the twin forces of rising protectionism and the emergence of a multipolar economic order. Once a major beneficiary of U.S.-led free trade, its export-driven growth thrived under predictable rules and open markets. That stability is now eroding as the United States shifts toward protectionism—driven by mounting debt, persistent trade deficits, and the burdens of overextended global commitments—through tariffs, reshoring incentives, and strategic restrictions on key sectors like steel, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. These measures have disrupted Korea’s supply chains, complicated market access, and heightened uncertainty, even as China’s economic …

Practicing The Art And Craft Of Screenwriting: Analysis And Opportunity From A Faith-Informed Perspective, Kevin R. Crawford

KAUPA Letters

This paper describes the commitments and standards of practice required by those wishing to write from a faith-informed perspective – particularly, a Christian worldview frame. It highlights elements of Minkyu Lee’s award-winning animation Adam and Dog (2011) by way of illustration and argues a new role for faith-informed storytelling that correctly resists the temptation to preach especially in a world where any project deemed to promote an organized religious agenda, however simple or subtle, is apt to be ridiculed, marginalized, and ignored.

Combining Prose And Poetry: The Aesthetic, History, And Uses Of Haibun And Tanka Prose, John J. Han

KAUPA Letters

This chapter introduces the defining features, formal structure, and literary functions of haibun and tanka prose—two Japanese hybrid poetic forms that artfully merge lyrical narrative with short-form poetry. After tracing their classical origins and modern development in both Eastern and Western contexts, the chapter explores six thematic categories through original examples: travel, nature, memory, spiritual and philosophical reflection, social critique, and humor. These themes showcase the versatility and emotional range of the forms. The chapter concludes with a hands-on writing guide and practical advice on publication, encouraging readers to engage personally and creatively with these genres. Blending scholarship, lived experience, …

“Afrolatines In Los Angeles”: Curatorial Process And Personal Reflection, Nicole Murph

Librarian Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Certainty-Based Approach To Implementing Zero Trust Architecture Using Nist Sp 800-207 And Nist Sp 1800-35, Young B. Choi

KAUPA Letters

This paper proposes a certainty-based methodology for implementing the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) as defined in NIST SP 800-207 and NIST SP 1800-35 (NIST, 2020; NIST, 2025). By applying a probabilistic model that quantifies the certainty of security-related facts, the proposed approach enhances decision-making for access control and security policy enforcement. This method utilizes major security databases to assess and compute certainty of facts, thereby improving the resilience, adaptability, and accuracy of Zero Trust systems (Liu, Chandramouli, & Kuhn, 2020).

Light & Faith: September 2025, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

How To Be An Indispensable Professor: An Administrator’S Perspective, John J. Han

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Reminiscences On My Visit To North Korea: Put Down Your Swords And Money And Think Hard, Yeomin Yoon

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Color Change In Commercial Resin Composites With Different Photoinitiators, Feng Gao, David W. Berzins

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

The yellowing effect of camphorquinone (CQ) has led manufacturers to add alternative initiators into resin composites (RCs) to reduce the amount of CQ used. The aim of this study was to investigate the color change in commercial RCs with alternative photoinitiators besides CQ. Color change upon polymerization and aging in air and artificial saliva for up to 3 months was tested for seven commercial RCs (traditional and bulk-fill) with either CQ only or CQ and additional photoinitiators (CQ+). Color measurements were obtained with a spectrophotometer. Color change (ΔE) was calculated using the CIELab and CIEDE2000 formulae. ANOVA and a post …

Evaluating Dental Ai Research Papers: Key Considerations For Editors And Reviewers, Sergio E. Uribe, Manal H. Hamdan, Nicola Alberto Valente, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Fahad Umer, Antonin Tichy, Ruben Pauwels, Falk Schwendicke

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in dental research for diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease prediction. However, many dental AI studies lack methodological rigor, transparency, or reproducibility, and no dedicated peer-review guidance exists for this field.

Methods

Editors and reviewers from the ITU/WHO/WIPO AI for Health – Dentistrygroup participated in a structured survey and group discussions to identify key elements for reviewing AI dental research. A draft of the recommendations was circulated for feedback and consensus.

Results

The consensus from editors and reviewers identified four key indicators of high-quality AI dental research: (1) relevance to a real clinical …

Corrigendum To “A Compound Of Concentrated Growth Factor And Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-Derived Conditioned Medium” [Tissue Cell 65 (2020) 101373], Z. Aghamohammadi, M. Kadkhodazadeh, M. Torshabi, Fahimeh Tabatabaei

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.