Digital Commons Network^™

I Am Scared Too: A Qualitative Study On The Influential Factors On The Fear Of Childbirth In Black Women, Imani Rivers

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Pregnancy and childbirth can evoke a range of emotions, including happiness, frustration, and fear. While some worry during pregnancy is expected, heightened and persistent fear can negatively impact a woman’s mental and physical health. Despite this, fear of childbirth remains underexplored, particularly in the context of Black women’s experiences. Existing literature lacks focus on the contextual and systemic factors contributing to this fear, creating a significant research gap (Reissig et al., 2021). Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by medical mistreatment, often experiencing dismissal and silencing in clinical settings—an issue frequently rooted in implicit bias and racial …

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 …

Pd-Catalyzed Microwave Irradiated Cross-Coupling Of Carboxylic Acids And Amino Alcohols., Md Shahin Reza

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Amino esters are valuable pharmaceutical intermediates with anesthetic properties and applications as prodrugs. In this study, we have developed a new microwave-assisted method for the cross-coupling of aromatic carboxylic acids with amino alcohol using a palladium catalyst. This approach has enabled an efficient synthesis of amino esters, overcoming challenges such as side reactions and product separation.

Regioselective C-Allylation Of Indole With Potassium Allyltrifluoroborate In The Presence Of Pd-Catalyst, Milton Kumar Kundu

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Indole is a versatile heterocyclic scaffold renowned for its wide range of pharmacological activities and strong potential as a successful drug candidate. These attributes continue to inspire researchers to explore indole derivatives as promising leads in drug development. In this project, we report the development of a cross-coupling reaction of indoles and potassium allyltrifluoroborate to the corresponding 3-allylindoles in the presence of PdCl2(dtbpf) and PdCl2(dppf)CH2Cl2 catalyst under microwave heating, offering a rapid, regioselective, and high-yielding synthetic route. This methodology provides a valuable platform for generating structurally diverse indole-based compounds, which could serve as promising leads for further pharmacological evaluation and …

Effects Of Tillage On Wheat Canopy, Stephanie Adanna Anyanwu

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Wheat canopy cover and greenness are useful crop performance indicators that provide significant insight into the performance of wheat crops. Understanding the effects of no-till and conventional tillage practices on winter wheat canopy cover and greenness will help inform agronomic decision making in wheat production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of no-till and conventional tillage practices on wheat canopy cover and greenness using drones. Wheat canopy cover mapping was carried out using deep learning supervised classification. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI) and optimized soil adjusted vegetation …

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 …

Identification And Characterization Of Peptide Responsive Histone Modification Genes During Root Nodule Symbiosis In Medicago Truncatula, Shivani Dharam

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an essential but limiting macronutrient for crop growth in agroecosystems. Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) is a critical biological process where atmospheric Nitrogen is converted into ammonia by Nitrogen fixing the bacteria called rhizobia, forming mutualistic relationships with legume plants. These interactions are mediated by several signaling pathways and may involve epigenetic modifications like DNA methylations, histone modifications, where gene expression is altered without any change in DNA sequence. Histones are proteins provide structural support to DNA. However, genes encoding enzymes for these post translational modifications are poorly investigated in the Leguminosae family. This project aims to answer …

Identification And Functional Verification Of Powdery Mildew Resistant Genes In Hydrangea Macrophylla, Christina Jennings

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Ornamental plant production is a continuously expanding industry in the United States and worldwide. Hydrangea species are highly valued in ornamental plant production, especially bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Powdery mildew is of particular interest on bigleaf hydrangea as there are no resistant varieties. The causal agent of powdery mildew of bigleaf hydrangea is Golovinomyces orontii (formerly Erysiphe polygoni). The goal of this research was to provide solutions for powdery mildew disease of hydrangea through improved chemical control, development of laboratory-based research systems, and identification of genes related to powdery mildew. A detached-leaf assay was developed and evaluations correlated to whole …

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 …

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 …

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 …

How The Inter-Nucleon Force Shapes Emergent Collectivity And Imparts Uncertainties In Ab Initio Nuclear Observables, Kevin Becker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The importance of collective motion in atomic nuclei has been well-established for many decades. Even before the advent of the nuclear shell model and its much-needed answers to surprising empirical phenomena, collectivity and surface deformation have played a vital role in broadening our knowledge. Reconciling the collective and single-particle camps into a unified description required tremendous strides in the application of group theory and advances in high-performance supercomputing, and thanks to these efforts the symmetry-adapted no-core shell model, or SA-NCSM, has developed into a reliable model for the study of deformed light and medium-mass nuclei. State-of-the-art calculations reveal remarkably simple …

Neurologists' Perspectives On Sudep Communication: A Comparative Study Across Five European Countries, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Objectives: The leading cause of epilepsy mortality is Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). National and international guidelines recommend that people with epilepsy are counseled on SUDEP risk at the point of diagnosis or at the earliest opportunity. This study compares neurologist views from five European countries on attitudes and relevance of SUDEP communication. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 17 Likert questions using validated themes was circulated via different ILAE and/or equivalent organizations using a non-discriminatory exponential snowballing technique, leading to a non-probability sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. Significance was accepted …

Early Phase Testing Of Functional Imagery Training As An Intervention For Anxiety, Jackie Andrade, D. J. Kavanagh, Carly Bowditch, Emily Mackriel, Emily Ravenshill, Amy Sime, Eleanor Trumfield, Jessica Watts, Jon May

School of Psychology

Cognitive models hypothesize a role for motivated behaviour in anxiety disorders, with safety behaviours leading to exaggerated threat appraisals and increased anticipatory anxiety. Based on the Affective Imagery Theory of Motivation, we propose that increasing motivation for engagement behaviours will reduce motivation for safety behaviours through competition for limited capacity cognitive resources supporting motivational imagery. We hypothesise that imagining successful engagement will reduce anxiety directly, and through promoting subsequent engagement. We present preliminary evidence that functional imagery training (FIT), an intervention that develops and teaches motivational imagery, reduces anxiety. FIT was delivered to undergraduates with anxiety in one session lasting …

Patient-Centered Management Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding While On Anticoagulation: A Survey Study, Benjamin Barnett, Rushad Patell, Dana Angelini, Leben Tefera, Jordan K Schaefer, Ang Li, Alejandra Gutierrez Bernal, Shruti Chaturvedi, Anjlee Mahajan, Leslie Lake, Jori May, Anna L Parks

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Nearly three-quarters of women experience heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) during anticoagulation treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE). HMB can lead to medical interventions, impact school or work and diminish quality of life (QOL). While there are several management options for HMB in patients with VTE, we lack information on how patients approach HMB treatment decisions.

Objectives: We examined patients' experience with, perceptions of, and preferences for treatment of HMB while on anticoagulation.

Methods: Clinicians and patient advocates developed a web-based survey that was distributed via patient advocacy organizations and social media between May and June 2024, targeting participants 18 years …

Flotsam And Jetsam: The Role Of Mlb Integration In The Wreckage Of The Negro Leagues, Nastasia Pollas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

“We are the ship, all else the sea.” Adapted from a Frederick Douglass speech, this quote by Rube Foster became the slogan of the Negro Leagues, illustrating the resolve and determination to prosper alone during a time of segregation. Setting aside long-standing rivalry and strife, Black baseball teams united under a shared vision of forming the first professional Black baseball league.

This paper examines how Giddens' structuration theory, connecting social structures with individual actions, can explain both the development and success of the league under segregation and its eventual demise during integration.

Associations Of Ambient Exposure To Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, And Xylene With Daily Mortality: A Multicountry Time-Series Study In 757 Global Locations, Lu Zhou, Ying Xiong, Francesco Sera, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Rosana Abrutzky, Yuming Guo, Shilu Tong, Micheline De Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva, Eric Lavigne, Patricia Matus Correa, Nicolás Valdés Ortega, Samuel Osorio, Dominic Roye, Jan Kyselý, Hans Orru, Marek Maasikmets, Jouni J.K. Jaakkola, Niilo Ryti, Mathilde Pascal, Veronika Huber, Susanne Breitner-Busch, Alexandra Schneider, Klea Katsouyanni, Evangelia Samoli, Alireza Entezari, Fatemeh Mayvaneh, Patrick Goodman, Ariana Zeka, Raanan Raz, Matteo Scortichini

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

BACKGROUND: The presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX) in the environment is of increasing concern due to their toxicity and ubiquity. Although the adverse health effects of BTEX exposure have been documented, robust epidemiological evidence from large-scale, multicountry studies using advanced exposure assessment methodologies remains scarce. We aimed to assess the association of short-term ambient exposure to individual BTEX components and their mixture with daily total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality on a global scale. METHODS: Daily data on mortality, meteorological factors, and air pollution were collected from 757 locations across 46 countries or regions. Data on individual …

Silent Damage, Early Signals: A Narrative Review Of The Evolving Role Of Cardiac Biomarkers In Oncology-Driven Cardiotoxicity, Aura Calderon, Luis Salcedo, Jose Loayza, Catherine Matos, Ivan Mogollon, Francisco Arias, Everardo Cobos

School of Medicine Publications

Advancements in cancer therapy have led to improved patient survival but have also introduced an increasing risk of cardiotoxicity, particularly with agents such as anthracyclines, trastuzumab, and various targeted treatments. Cardiotoxic effects may present as myocardial injury, systolic or diastolic dysfunction, or heart failure (HF), often developing insidiously before clinical symptoms become evident. Early detection is therefore crucial to preserve cardiovascular health in oncology patients. This narrative review examines the expanding role of cardiac biomarkers; including high-sensitivity troponins, natriuretic peptides, Galectin-3, soluble ST2, and novel molecular markers like microRNAs, in identifying and monitoring chemotherapy-induced cardiac injury. It also highlights how …

Prevalence Of Oral Mucosal Lesions Among Geriatric Dental Patients In Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study, Dalia Ghalwash, Ahmed Hamdy, Sara Abd El-Wahed

Dentistry

Background. The oral health needs of older adults must be prioritized due to the shifting demographics of the population and rising life expectancy. This study investigated the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) among geriatric dental patients in a sample of the Egyptian population and explored the association with age, gender, smoking habit, as well as the impact on the quality of life. Methods. This cross-sectional study screened 300 geriatric dental patients aged 65 years or older, from several dental hospitals and mobile clinics in various regions in Egypt. Demographic data and information regarding denture use, systemic diseases, and smoking …

Advancing U.S. Competitiveness In Agentic Gen Ai: A Strategic Framework For Interoperability And Governance, Satyadhar Joshi

Harrisburg University Other Works

Abstract : The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence has given rise to agentic AI systems—autonomous entities capable of perceiving their environment, making decisions, and executing actions with minimal human intervention. This work provides a systematic analysis of agentic AI frameworks, governance models, and implementation strategies. Drawing on a comprehensive review of the literature, we examine the current state of agentic AI technologies, highlight key challenges in governance, security, and ethical oversight, and compare architectural frameworks for responsible deployment. Our results, illustrated through detailed framework comparisons and governance analyses, demonstrate that while agentic AI holds transformative potential across multiple sectors, notable …

Experiences And Perspectives Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Among Women In Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder, Nicole M. Mattson, Aleigha Barry, Jessica L. Zemlak

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Women in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) have unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs resulting in health disparities such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections/HIV infection compared with women without OUD. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of co-occurring multiple social-ecologic influences (individual, interpersonal, community, society) on SRH among women in recovery from OUD.

Methods

Purposive sampling was used to recruit cis-gender women aged 18–49 who self-identify as being in recovery from OUD and speak English. We conducted one 45- to 60-minute audio-recorded semistructured telephone interview with each …

The Importance Of A Transport Medicine Rotation For A Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship, Jennifer K. Pfister, Katie L. Mcdermott, Christine A. Schindler, Tara L. Petersen, Ke Yan, Melodee A. Liegl, Prakadeshwari Rajapreyar

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM) fellowship programs must meet established educational standards; however, interfacility transport opportunities vary across sites.

Objective

To query key stakeholders, is the interfacility transport medicine rotation still an important component of the PCCM fellowship?

Methods

A multi-methods questionnaire was sent to a convenience sample (n = 66) of key stakeholders, including attending physicians, PCCM fellows, and transport team members, from a single site. An 80% response rate resulted in a total of 53 participants. Quantitative items used a Likert-scale and forced ranking response options. Qualitative responses were obtained regarding challenges and barriers during the …

Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain/A1 Uses Fast Synaptic Vesicle Cycling To Cleave Plasma Membrane Bound Snap-25, Alexander Gardner, Molly Sneller, William H. Tepp, Joseph T. Barbieri, Sabine Pellett

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are the most potent protein toxins for humans, yet how BoNT-Light Chain/A1 (LC/A1) journeys to cleave intracellular SNAP-25 is understudied. Here we use a cell-based assay to measure cytosolic EGFP-LC/A1 intracellular trafficking and SNAP-25 cleavage in Neuro-2A cells. Intracellular LC/A1 associated on microtubules and co-localized with Rab GTPases involved in fast synaptic vesicles and endosome recycling. Multiple Dominant Negative (DN) Rabs GTPases involved in fast synaptic vesicles or endosome recycling inhibited LC/A1 trafficking to the intracellular plasma membrane and SNAP-25 cleavage. A cytosolic LC/A1 variant that bound the plasma membrane from the cytosol was insensitive to DNRab …

Medication Prescribing Checklists And Their Impact On Patient Safety: A Scoping Review, Yilei Liu, Tate W. Miner, Kawtar Zouaidi, Anika N. Roy, Muhammad F. Walji, Kristin N. Ray, Donald B. Rindal, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Katie J. Suda

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Medication prescribing checklists and the impact on patient safety remain unexplored.

Objectives

This scoping review aimed to identify key elements of these checklists and evaluate their impact on patient safety outcomes.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Embase for studies reporting checklists in medication prescribing practices and the impact on patient safety outcomes as of October 23, 2024. We applied Fisher's exact test to evaluate the association between checklist effectiveness (based on patient safety outcomes) with study design (randomized controlled trials [RCTs] vs non-RCTs) and intervention type (bundled intervention vs checklist-only intervention).

Results

After full-text review, 53 articles met inclusion …

An Association At The Crossroads: The 1970s Crisis Within Chrie, Bob Bosselman

ICHRIE Research Reports

The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education (ICHRIE), founded in 1946, has a long history, although in the 1970s the future of the association was in doubt. This manuscript documents the crisis that nearly derailed the association, and details how this dilemma was resolved. Associations face many challenges throughout their history, and how they deal with each crisis often dictates their future.

Opiophobia In Postsurgical Adults With Cancer, Karen E. Alsbrook, Valerie Shelton, Bryan M. Fellman, Eduardo Bruera, Eileen D. Hacker

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study is to explore the occurrence of opiophobia among postsurgical adults with cancer and hypothesized associations among opiophobia, anxiety, depression, pain intensity, pain interference, and opioid medication adherence during the first week following hospital discharge for surgical treatment of a malignancy.

Uinta Basin Snow Shadow: Impact Of Snow-Depth Variation On Winter Ozone Formation, Michael J. Davies, John R. Lawson, Trevor O’Neil, Seth N. Lyman, Karlee Zager, Tristan D. Coxson

Bingham Research Center

After heavy snowfall in the Uinta Basin, Utah, elevated surface ozone occurs if a cold-air pool persists and traps emissions from oil and gas industry operations. Sunlight and actinic flux from a high-albedo snowpack drive ozone buildup via photolysis. Snow coverage is paramount in initiating the cold pool and driving ozone generation. Its depth is critical for predicting ozone concentrations. The Basin’s location leeward of the Wasatch Mountains provides conditions for a precipitation shadow, where sinking air suppresses snowfall. We analyzed multiple years of ground-based snow depth measurements, surface ozone data, and meteorological observations; we found that ozone levels track …

The Global Phase Space Of The Three-Vortex Interaction System And Its Application To Vortex-Dipole Scattering, Atul Anurag

Dissertations

This dissertation presents a global reduction of the classical three-vortex problem that is free from coordinate singularities, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the system's dynamics across all circulation regimes.

To achieve this, a two-step symplectic reduction procedure is developed. The first step introduces Jacobi coordinates adapted to the symplectic structure of the vortex system, and the second applies a Lie-Poisson reduction to the resulting system. This formulation eliminates the non-physical singularities associated with collinear vortex configurations and facilitates a global phase space analysis, including a detailed and novel investigation of bifurcations.

Within this reduced framework, all relative fixed points are …

Robust Ai Solutions For Financial Markets Through Generative Modeling, Dynamic Graph Learning, And Reinforcement-Based Portfolio Optimization, Jingyi Gu

Dissertations

Financial markets are inherently uncertain and dynamic, driven by complex factors such as macroeconomic signals, investor sentiment, and evolving inter-asset relationships. While machine learning has advanced financial modeling, existing approaches often fall short in addressing the real-world intricacies of finance. This dissertation confronts two critical challenges, human-driven stochasticity and risk-intensive decision-making under real-world trading constraints, while seizing a pivotal opportunity, the structural dynamics of evolving financial systems. These elements are foundational to advancing robust and practical financial intelligence.

To this end, this dissertation develops a unified framework for robust financial modeling and decision-making. The framework is architected as a progressive, …

Large-Scale Graph Algorithms And Applications With An Emphasis On Fintech Data, Fuhuan Li

Dissertations

Graph algorithms are essential analytical tools with applications spanning cybersecurity, biology, social media, and increasingly, financial technology (FinTech). The complex and interconnected nature of financial data, particularly in cryptocurrency networks, presents unique opportunities for graph-based analysis in fraud detection and anomaly identification.

This dissertation presents the design and implementation of scalable graph algorithms tailored for large-scale networks, with particular emphasis on FinTech applications. The primary contributions include: (1) novel cover-edge based triangle counting algorithms that significantly reduce computational overhead through breadth-first search preprocessing, achieving substantial speedups over traditional methods and dramatic communication reduction in distributed settings, (2) optimized parallel implementations …