Digital Commons Network^™

The Meaning Of Travel: An Exploration Within The ‘Baby-Boomer’ Generation, Regan Hicks, Alison Warren

School of Health Professions

This qualitative research explored the underresearched area of subjective meaning(s) of travel for U.K. baby-boomers, from an occupational perspective. Using a descriptive phenomenology, a convenience sample of eight baby-boomers was recruited using social media. Participants took part in semistructured interviews, and narratives were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (a) travel is important to me, (b) travel changes through time, (c) travel facilitators and barriers and (d) travel as a shared experience. Participants perceived travel as a meaningful and health-promoting occupation that represented freedom, choice, independence, connection and achievement. Greater comfort was sought with age while financial constraints …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Wellness Program In A First-Year Medical Student Anatomy Course, Gina R. Lepore, Gavin Turner, Benjamin Abramoff, Daniel Depietro, Nicole Robinson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is a central component to anatomy education. However, for many students, dissection can be emotionally taxing, highlighting a potential area for increased support. This project evaluated the implementation of a wellness program within a dissection-based anatomy course.

Methods: Throughout a 12-week first-year medical student anatomy course, two teaching assistants (TAs) served as “Wellness TAs” and implemented a structured wellness program that included weekly office hours, supportive emails to students that addressed emotionally challenging coursework, and scheduled “wellness breakfasts/snack breaks.” An anonymous survey was distributed following the course. The survey assessed demographics, perceptions of the anatomical …

Physicians’ Knowledge, Perceptions And Use Of Large Language Models In Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study At Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Rahma Al Kindi, Hana Al Sumry, Aisha Al Khamisi, Wijdan Al Rashaidi, Hamza Al Salmi, Adhari Al Zaabi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions and use of ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) among physicians at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman. It also explored perceived benefits, barriers and ethical concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) integration into clinical practice. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2024 using a structured online questionnaire distributed to physicians across different specialties. The survey covered demographics, familiarity with LLMs, applications in medical education, research, clinical care, administrative tasks and ethical considerations. Results: A total of 146 physicians were included (response rate = 48.7%); 65.1% were familiar with …

Editorial: Advancing Understanding Of Neonatal Bacterial Infections., Susana Chavez-Bueno, Shelley M. Lawrence

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Needs Of The Unhoused Population With Education And Wound Care Kits Based On Input From Healthcare Professionals, Presley Ann Cobble

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Awareness Under Anesthesia: A Scoping Review Of Risk Identification And Detection Strategies, Martin Nguyen

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Central Auditory Processing Is Altered After Traumatic Brain Injury In Tanzanian Adults, Jonathan D. Lichtenstein, Christopher E. Niemczak, Abigail Fellows, Lindsay J. Wood, Shufaa Masoud, Alexis Rooney, Monika Adhikari, Albert Magohe, Jay C. Buckey

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) damages pathways throughout the brain and is a significant global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the incidence is high and long-term deficits are prevalent. This study explores the utility of central auditory processing (CAP) testing as a marker of previous TBI. Seventy individuals with a history of moderate to severe TBI (msTBI) were matched by age and sex to 46 healthy controls in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants underwent comprehensive behavioral CAP testing, including tests of speech-in-noise ability, temporal resolution, and dichotic listening. Multivariate logistic regression showed the Triple Digit Test (TDT) …

A Nationwide Registry Study Of Surgical And Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Part 2 - Cage With Versus Without Local Bone Graft, Daniel De Wilde, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Patrick Vigren, Victor E. Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Local bone grafts are commonly used as filling material in cages during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Alternatively, cages without filling materials can be used. The literature comparing these approaches is limited, and their respective effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROM) have been scarcely studied. This study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and PROMs between local bone graft-packed cages and empty cages in ACDF surgery.

METHODS: This observational study utilized data from the Swedish nationwide registry, Swespine. All adults who underwent ACDF between 2006 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included missing baseline or outcome data. …

A Case Study Of The Implementation Of Non-Linear Assessment Protocols For Pre-Service Music Teachers, Jeffrey Ward, Phillip Payne, Michele Henry

School of Music Faculty Publications

Grounded in previous research regarding admission and graduation standards of music education undergraduate candidates, we created a framework to assess student readiness to enter the music education profession across multiple points of inquiry. To determine the efficacy of the protocols, we conducted a case study to pilot implementation of the protocols with two university music education programs in the United States. Two of the authors–music education faculty at these universities–served as site coordinators implementing the protocols with multiple student cohorts (comprised of first-year, midpoint, and graduates) within their institution. The authors reviewed the reports employing a three-step process. In the …

Heterologous Recombinant Expression Of Tropomyosin From Litopenaeus Vannamei, Li Yanchu, Yang Yuying, Hu Weicheng, Liu Shucheng, Wei Shuai

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To obtain recombinant tropomyosin (TM). [Methods] In this study, the gene sequence of a TM homologous protein is obtained from the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI ) database, and specific primers are designed accordingly.Subsequently, using the cDNA of Litopenaeus vannamei meat as the template, the TM coding gene sequence of L.vannamei is amplified by PCR and sequenced.Finally, the prokaryotic recombinant expression system for L.vannamei TM is established using the Escherichia coli heterologous recombinant expression vector pET 29a. [Results] After agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE ) of the RNA samples, the band is clear and bright, with no diffusion observed …

Ultrasound Assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis Combined With Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry For Determination Of Lutein And Natural Vitamin K Homologues In Poultry Eggs, Cai Zhenlin, Li Tao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop an ultra -high performance liquid chromatography -tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC -MS/MS ) method for determining lutein and natural vitamin K (VK) homologues, including phylloquinone (VK1), menaquinone -4 (MK-4), menaquinone -7 (MK-7), and menaquinone -9 (MK-9), in poultry eggs by optimizing ultrasound assisted enzymatic hydrolysis. [Methods] The target compound is extracted from poultry egg samples by ultrasound assisted enzymatic hydrolysis and then separated on C18 (100 mm ×2.1 mm, 3.0 μm) column with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution -0.1% formic acid methanol for gradient elution.Meanwhile, the samples are quantified by external standard with APCI source for detection and …

Defects Of The Criminal Law On Food Safety And Its Improvement, Hu Weichen, Yu Dehou

Food and Machinery

From the perspective of China's criminal law practices and their effectiveness in addressing food safety issues, the main deficiencies in the current criminal regulation of food safety in China are manifested in three areas:the unreasonable classification of offenses within chapters, the absence of provisions for negligent crimes, and the lack of a mandatory qualification penalty, along with the rigidity of the prohibition order.In response, this article proposes improvement to the current criminal regulation of food safety by reasonably determining the classification of offenses within chapters, scientifically adding specific provisions for negligent crimes, and optimizing the design of the qualification penalty …

Research On Punitive Damages System In Criminal Incidental Civil Public Interest Litigation In Food Field, Wang Dan

Food and Machinery

Civil Code, Law of the People 's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, and Food Safety Law of the People 's Republic of China have all made specific provisions for the punitive damages system in criminal incidental civil public interest litigation in the food field.However, there are still difficulties such as unclear calculation bases for punitive damages, a lack of sufficient rationality in the amount of punitive damages, a poor connection between punitive damages, criminal fines, and administrative fines, and certain deficiencies in the management and use mechanism of punitive damages.In this regard, we can …

Effect Of Distillation Equipment On The Aroma Quality Of Crude Distilled Jujube Wines, Fang Qiang, Feng Zuoshan, Bai Yujia, Alimire Yibulayin, Yan Yahui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To explore novel distillation equipment and address the adverse effect of burnt tastes in the wines caused by excessively high distillation temperatures of traditional equipment. [Methods] Three types of low -temperature distillation equipment, self -developed in the laboratory, along with pot distillation equipment, are used to distill jujube wines.The volatile components in the crude distilled jujube wines are analyzed using gas chromatography -mass spectrometry (GC-MS). [Results] A total of 74 compounds are identified in the crude distilled jujube wines, including 44 esters, 8 alcohols, 5 acids, 6 aldehydes, 4 ketones, and 7 other compounds.An orthogonal partial least squares discriminant …

Trajectory Optimization And Tracking Method For Intelligent Food Production Robots Based On Multi-Objective And Afsmc, Ye Linlin, Liu Zhaoqiang, Wu Yunmei, Li Yueqing

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To further enhance the intelligence level of food production, and address the issues of insufficient flexibility and operation accuracy of existing Delta robots for food sorting in applications, thus improving the overall efficiency of food production lines and product quality stability. [Methods] Based on the intelligent food production system, a trajectory optimization and tracking method for intelligent food production robots is proposed, which integrates multi -objective trajectory optimization and adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control (AFSMC ).Firstly, a multi -objective (energy consumption and operation time ) optimization model is built.Next, the model is solved through an improved particle swarm algorithm …

Segmentation Feature Detection Method Of Pig Carcass Based On Improved Yolov 8n, Liu Chunshan, Li Zhiang, Deng Wenbin, Shang Tao, Xiao Xuecai

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To achieve accurate and efficient detection of pig carcasses' segmentation features, which are hard to distinguish and relatively small. [Methods] The Ghost Conv module and C 3Ghost module are introduced into the Backbone layer to replace the ordinary convolution and C 2 modules in the original YOLOv 8n feature extraction network, aiming to reduce the computational amount and model complexity.The SPPF module is replaced with the SPPELAN module, so that the model can more effectively cope with multi -scale and small target features.Finally, parameter -free attention SimAM is introduced in front of the three detection heads to improve the …

Optimization Of Preservation Process And Quality Analysis Of Leisure Dried Tofu By Linalool Synergized With Surfactin, Yuan Chi, Wang Yujie, Huang Zhanrui, Hu Lianhua, He Wanying, Chen Hao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] This study developed a preservation process for leisure dried tofu (LD-tofu) by using natural antimicrobial agents, Surfactin and linalool, to replace chemical preservatives. [Methods] The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC ) of Surfactin and linalool was determined with Bacillus subtilis as the indicator bacteria, and aerobic plate count and sensory score were used as the evaluation indicators to optimize the optimal preservation process parameters of linalool and Surfactin for LD -tofu through single -factor and response surface experiments, and the quality changes of LD -tofu during storage were analyzed. [Results] The minimum inhibitory volume fraction of linalool was 1.95 μL/mL, …

Preparation Of Pva-Silver Nanoparticle Composite Film And Application In Hericium Erinaceus Preservation, Zhang Xuesong, Hong Yi, Gu Rongrong, Gao Daxiang, Li Jiaxin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop a novel packaging film to prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and improve the utilization of enoki mushroom. [Methods] Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs ) were green -synthesized using enoki mushroom water extract as the reducing agent, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA ) as the dispersant, and silver nitrate solution as the silver source.A PVA -AgNP composite film with a hydrophobic surface was prepared and applied for the preservation of Hericium erinaceus. [Results] The optimal conditions for AgNP synthesis were pH 13, 2 g of enoki mushroom water extract, 2 g of PVA, 0.20% final concentration of silver nitrate …

Formulation Optimization And Flavor Characteristics Of Functional Rice Cake, Shi Jiacheng, Wu Yingying, Shen Cunkuan, Zhang Huien, Yang Hua

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop a novel functional rice cake with enhanced nutritional value and improved flavor, achieving a health -conscious modification of traditional rice cake formulation. [Methods] Japonica rice flour was used as the base substrate, supplemented with co -fermentation of plant lactic acid bacteria and brewing yeast.The composite ratio of flaxseed meal (7%) and chickpea meal (5%) was optimized by single -factor experiments combined with principal component analysis (PCA ).The effects of the improved formulation on product quality, nutritional composition, in vitro digestion characteristics, antioxidant activity, and flavor profile were systematically evaluated. [Results] The optimized rice cake maintained whiteness while …

Physicochemical Properties Of Japonica Rice And Indica Rice And Their Quality Analysis After Industrial Microwave Processing, Li Jinian, Guo Jia, Jia Yibin, Ma Mengjie, Wang Ye, Chen Lishui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To evaluate the taste quality of boxed instant rice prepared on industrial microwave cooking production line with eight kinds of rice, including japonica rice and indica rice. [Methods] Not only composition, cooking quality, and gelatinization characteristics of raw rice are tested, but also taste value, hardness, viscosity, sensory scores, and the microstructure are detected to evaluate the taste quality of different rice varieties. [Results] There are significant differences in the properties of different rice varieties.Compared with indica rice, japonica rice has lower average content of protein (by 0.76 g/100 g) and amylose (by 0.85 g/100 g), a higher average …

Microbiological Characteristics Of Kluyveromyces Marxianus And Its Application In Fermented Foods, Ji Xin, Zhang Yuhang, Huang Weining, He Shan, Tang Xiaojuan

Food and Machinery

Kluyveromyces marxianus is a GRAS -classified fungal microorganism, renowned for its capacity to generate both conventional and specialized enzymes, as well as its function as a vector for the expression of specific enzymes.In the food industry, K.marxianus serves as a fermentation agent capable of effectively controlling the fermentation process and significantly enhancing the quality of fermented foods.This article systematically analyzes the microbiological characteristics of K.marxianus, reviews its application in the fermentation of products such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, grains, meat products, and alcoholic beverages, and explores its potential application in the future food industry.

Research Progress On Physiological Activities , Extraction , And Applications Of Bamboo Shoot Protein, Dai Nana, Chen Jun, Shuai Xixiang, Han Jialong, Dai Taotao

Food and Machinery

In recent years, plant proteins have become highly sought -after ingredients in health foods due to their wide range of sources, high nutritional value, low cost, and minimal environmental pollution.Bamboo shoot protein is abundant in resources and features a well -balanced amino acid composition.It possesses good solubility, oil-holding capacity, foaming ability, antioxidant activity, and anti -tumor activity, playing a significant role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other illnesses.However, under the conventional processing model from harvesting to final product, a large quantity of inedible by -products is discarded, and the complex high -fiber structure of bamboo …

Extraction , Structure , And Biological Activities Of Polysaccharides From Nostoc Sphaeroides Kützing : A Review, Li Shanyu, Fan Xinyu, She Xiangqian, He Qiuxing

Food and Machinery

Nostoc sphaeroides kützing is a freshwater wild blue algae that has gained significant attention due to its unique nutritional value and multiple biological activities.Nostoc sphaeroides kützing contains a variety of nutritional components, including polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral elements.It has demonstrated antibacterial, anticancer, lipid -lowering, and antioxidant effects.This article systematically reviews the extraction methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications of Nostoc sphaeroides kützing polysaccharides, and provides an outlook on its future research directions.

Defect Detection Of Liquor Packaging Based On Improved Yolov 8n, He Gangjian, Zeng Shuiling, Lin Fangcong, Xiang Shuo, Zhang Jiaxiong

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To improve the accuracy of liquor packaging defect detection. [Methods] A detection model based on an improved YOLOv 8n is proposed.The ADown module is introduced into the model to effectively reduce parameter count and computational load while maintaining the original feature extraction capability.Large separable kernel attention (LSKA ) is integrated into the spatial pyramid pooling fusion (SPPF ) structure to further enhance the model's ability to capture and extract multi -scale features.In addition, the original CIOU loss function is replaced with the Inner -WIoU loss function, which combines Inner -IoU and Wise -IoU, thereby improving detection accuracy and accelerating …

Preparation And Characterization Of Composite Edible Film Based On Soy Protein Isolate , Whey Protein Concentrate , And Arctium Lappa L. Polysaccharide And Its Application In Morchella Preservation, Song Hao, Feng Xiyao, Wei Jiayi, Liu Xuanrong, Lu Naiyan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop an active edible film based on soy protein isolate (SPI), whey protein concentrate (WPC ), and Arctium lappa L.polysaccharide (ALP ) by using the casting method. [Methods] This study characterizes the surface morphology, tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB ), water solubility (WS), moisture content (MC), water vapor permeability (WVP ), and light transmittance of the composite film.It also systematically investigates the impact of different ALP proportions on film properties.The optimal ratio for the film is identified, and its performance in Morchella preservation is evaluated. [Results] When the mass ratio of SPI/WPC to ALP is 1.0∶0.2, …

Reducing Foodborne Bacteria Public Health Burden By Novel Compounds And Pressure-Based Technologies, Junice Alannah Sibley

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Food safety strategies are being developed in the hopes of combating foodborne pathogens and their risks. Previous techniques and technologies are struggling to meet the needs of the public, leading to the demand for new, innovative methods. Mild high-pressure processing (HPP) of 350 MPa was used in a synergetic combination with mild heat of 60°C and the antimicrobial carvacrol for the decontamination of non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars that resulted in a >5 log CFU/mL reduction. Additionally, a secondary study was conducted comparing a single Salmonella Tennessee strain with a 4-strain Salmonella cocktail to examine sensitivity to pressure-based treatments resulting in a …

Challenges And Succession Planning Among Beginning, Young, And Minority Farmers In Tennessee, Christian Alexander Smith

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Tennessee has over 77,300 farms covering 10.8 million acres that counts for about forty-one percent of the state’s 26.4 million land acres (DeLong et al., 2023). However, access to land for young, beginning, or minority farmers who need farmland and starting their farm enterprise journey can be challenging. The challenges identified by farmers in general in the U.S. range from factors of production such as financial resources, labor, management, and physical resources. Land prices and insecure leasing terms have also been identified as factors that affect farm land ownership (Horst & Gwin, 2018). This study highlights and discusses the challenges …

The Impact Of Teacher Effectiveness Factors On Student Achievement: A Case Study, Renita Joy Perkins

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between teacher, evaluation scores and student achievement using Tennessee's Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluation system at Spencer Elementary School in rural Van Buren County. The study analyzed data from nine teachers across grades 3-5 and 150 students, investigating correlations between TEAM evaluation scores, Level of Effectiveness (LOE) ratings, and student performance on Tennessee Ready assessments in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science. Key findings revealed a counterintuitive experience-performance paradox: while teacher years of experience positively correlated with evaluation scores (r=.422, p<.001) and LOE ratings (r=.132, p=.024), it negatively correlated with student English Language Arts achievement (r=- .174, p=.039). The study demonstrated strong internal consistency within the TEAM evaluation system, with significant correlations between LOE scores and teacher evaluation ratings (r=.375, p<.001). However, only weak correlations emerged between teacher evaluation scores and student achievement outcomes, with a slight positive relationship found only in English Language Arts (r=.165, p=.049). The research revealed robust cross-subject correlations in student achievement (r=.706, p<.001), suggesting that effective teaching impacts learning holistically rather than in subject specific ways. These findings challenge assumptions about the predictive validity of observation-based evaluation systems and highlight the complexity of measuring teaching effectiveness. Implications for educational leaders include reconsidering the relationship between teacher experience and effectiveness, implementing differentiated professional development based on evaluation data rather than years of service, and developing more nuanced approaches to using evaluation systems that integrate multiple measures of teacher impact on student learning outcomes.

Educational Leadership's Role In Understanding Nil Policy Perceptions Among College Football Players, Carlton Rice

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study examined educational leadership's role in understanding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy perceptions among college football players at an American Athletic Conference institution. Using Expectancy-Value Theory as the theoretical framework, the research explored how educational leaders interpret and communicate NIL policies to student-athletes, assessed student-athlete perceptions of leadership effectiveness, and investigated how leadership experiences influence attitudes toward NIL policies. The mixed-methods study surveyed 97 college football student-athletes and conducted interviews with athletic administrators. Key findings revealed a moderately positive correlation (r=.340, p<.001) between administrative support and student-athlete knowledge of NIL policies, demonstrating that institutional investment in educational support directly impacts policy comprehension. The research found that 67% of student-athletes indicated NIL opportunities would influence their school choice decisions, fundamentally altering recruitment dynamics. Additionally, 57.7% of participants agreed that NIL affects team culture, though responses indicated this impact is highly contextual and dependent on institutional management. The study identified significant variation in educational leadership approaches across institutions, with some employing dedicated NIL strategy teams while others integrate responsibilities within existing compliance departments. A notable gap emerged between student-athlete NIL expectations and institutional support, with many athletes reporting they "do everything on our own." For higher education institutions, findings suggest the need for comprehensive NIL education programs extending beyond basic compliance to include financial literacy, contract negotiation, and personal branding. Institutions should develop values-based frameworks aligning NIL opportunities with institutional missions while protecting student-athlete interests. The research contributes valuable insights for navigating the evolving NIL landscape while supporting student-athlete success.

The Effects Of Applying Self-Regulated Learning Prompts On Academic Achievement In A Public Middle-School Science Classroom, Andrew Barham

Doctoral Dissertations

Student success in science courses is a critical focus for K–12 educators, particularly during the transition period of middle-school, where students face increasing academic and social demands. Self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies have been shown to enhance academic outcomes by fostering independent learning and metacognitive awareness. However, research on the implementation and effectiveness of SRL interventions in middle school science classrooms, particularly within the constraints of public school settings, remains limited.

This study investigated the effects of an SRL intervention on the academic achievement of eighth-grade students during a six-week astronomy unit. Students from a public middle school in the San …