Digital Commons Network^™

Measuring The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) On Adolescents’ Self-Esteem And Self-Appraisal: How Can School-Based Interventions Help?, Kayla M. Moses

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This paper explores the lasting impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on adolescents’ self-esteem and self-appraisal, with a focus on the role of school-based interventions in mitigating these effects. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) encompass various forms of trauma such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, and familial dysfunction during childhood. Due to adolescence being a critical period of identity formation and emotional development, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can significantly undermine adolescents' self-esteem, leading to lasting negative effects. These effects include various emotional, social, and psychological challenges, ultimately changing one’s life trajectory. Based on numerous theoretical foundations, it is supported …

Functional Genomics In Age-Related Macular Degeneration: From Genetic Associations To Understanding Disease Mechanisms, Alex Hewitt, Jianhai Du, Daniel R Saban, Caroline C W Klaver, John Ash, Dwight Stambolian, Santa J Tumminia, Jiang Qian, Deeba Husain, Sudha K Iyengar, Anneke I Den Hollander

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genome-wide association studies have been remarkably successful in identifying genetic variants associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), demonstrating a strong genetic component largely driven by common variants. However, progress in translating these genetic findings into a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and new therapies has been slow. Slow progress in this area can be attributed to limited knowledge of the functional impact of AMD-associated non-coding variants on gene function, the molecular mechanisms and cell types underlying disease. This review offers a comprehensive overview of functional genomics approaches to uncover the genetic, epigenetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying AMD and outlines …

Screening For Oropharyngeal Cancer: The Time Is Now

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Screening For Oropharyngeal Cancer: The Time Is Now

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Testing For Bleeding Disorders In Child Abuse: Aap Recommendation Adherence And Testing Results, Shannon L Carpenter, Angela Bachim, Caitlin R Mcnamara, Farah W Brink, Lori D Frasier, Nancy S Harper, Natalie Laub, Kristine A Campbell, Daniel M Lindberg, Joanne N Wood, James Anderst

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Using a multicenter child abuse pediatrics research network (CAPNET), the study objectives were to characterize the adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for bleeding disorder testing and the frequency of bleeding disorder identification.

Methods: We performed a descriptive study of bleeding disorder evaluations among children younger than 10 years of age who presented with bruising and/or intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) concerning for abuse from February 2021-May 2022 utilizing CAPNET. Cases were classified as bruising without ICH or ICH with or without bruising. Based on AAP guidance, testing was not recommended in cases with concomitant suspicious injuries, inflicted injury …

Generating Training Events For Building Cyber-Physical Security Skills, Avanthika Vineetha Harish, Kimberly Tam, Kevin Jones

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

As the threat of cyber attacks increases, the cyber security sector continues to train professionals as one form of mitigation. Gamification and infrastructure like cyber ranges have been proven useful in training cyber security specialists to detect and react to cyber-attacks in information technology. However, a subset of all digital threats target cyber-physical systems, not just information systems, and these threats have been growing rapidly in recent years. While those threats are increasing, training specific to cyber-physical threats is not growing as quickly as information technology training solutions. While cyber ranges are useful for training and supporting events like cyber …

Association Between Food Insecurity And Chronic Eye Disease In The National Institutes Of Health's All Of Us Research Program, Ramin Talebi, Fei Yu, Victoria L. Tseng, Anne L. Coleman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Purpose

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Pilot Implementation Of Mom Power In The Appalachian Highlands: Acceptability And Effectiveness Of A Parenting Group For Mothers With High Psychosocial Need, Megan Wolff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children need safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with a caregiver for optimal development. Maternal childhood adversity, traumatic life experiences, and mental health challenges can adversely impact parenting beliefs and behaviors in ways that compromise a caregiver’s ability to create and sustain a healthy caregiving environment for their child(ren). In the professional world of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH), policies, providers, and programs work together to promote optimal child and family wellbeing to reduce the intergenerational transmission of risk and to empower resilience in families and communities. The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the pilot …

Adolescent Externalizing Symptoms And Parent Emotion Socialization: An Examination Of Longitudinal Effects And Differences By Adolescent Sex, Cheston West

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is an important developmental context with several changes in social and emotional functioning. Though adolescents are gaining independence from their caregivers, they still engage in dynamic interactions with their caregivers who remain key figures in their lives. When adolescents express emotions, caregivers engage in various behaviors in response to these expressions, a process known as emotion socialization. This process has mostly been examined as a parent-driven construct in which parent emotion socialization impacts child-level outcomes, namely internalizing symptoms, with limited research on externalizing symptoms. However, available literature demonstrates that child-level characteristics (e.g., externalizing symptoms) are linked to differences in …

Rural High-School Principals’ Perceptions Of Their Understanding Of Special Education Law, Tiffany Jenkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study aimed to determine rural high school principals’ perceptions of their understanding of special education law. Although there is some literature regarding administrators' perceptions of their understanding of special education policies and procedures, this study focused specifically on special education law and perceived versus actual levels of understanding.

Data Collection strategies include voluntary, focused interviews of rural high school principals via Zoom. Data analysis included transcriptions of interviews, member checking, open coding, identifying themes and content analysis, and finally, interpretation and triangulation of the data. The analysis of this study was based on the theoretical proposition of andragogy. …

College Readiness In Mathematics Related To Student Academic And Belonging Mindsets, Tabitha Sherrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My quantitative study investigated the differences and correlations between students’ academic (growth vs. fixed) mindsets and belonging mindsets when enrolled in a college-level mathematics course or enrolled in both the college-level mathematics and learning support mathematics courses. The study was conducted at a Tennessee community college in the Fall 2021 semester. Sixty-two students completed the paper survey, which consisted of 17 items that measured academic (growth vs. fixed) and belonging mindsets and included demographic items (age and gender) and ACT mathematics scores. I conducted independent t-tests to find any significant differences between academic (growth vs. fixed) mindset scores and belonging …

Knowledge And Perceptions About Feeding And Growth In Infants And Young Children Among Early Interventionists, Kayla Chambers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutrition plays a vital role in early childhood, where rapid growth and development occur. This study investigates Early Interventionists’ (EIs) nutrition knowledge and perceptions of nutrition-related concerns in children receiving services through the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). An electronic survey was distributed to EIs in Tennessee to assess their nutrition knowledge and perceptions and to identify nutrition concerns. Findings revealed that most EIs have never received any nutrition education, despite being asked for nutrition guidance by families and being open to nutrition-related training. The EIs reported seeing nutrition concerns such as growth delays, food refusal, and picky eating, but …

Finding An Effective Measure Of Religiosity And Substance Use Levels For The Deaf: An Attempted Pilot Study, Angela Masiello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Deaf often lack access to health-promoting services (Meador & Zazove, 2005), though they have an increased risk of developing substance use disorders (Hommes et al., 2018). Communication has been a prominent barrier to the accessibility of healthcare services and participation in research for the Deaf (McKee et al., 2012). Literature has shown multiple methodological challenges when conducting research with the Deaf (Napier et al., 2018). This pilot study used Jones et al.’s (2001) cross-cultural translation model to translate two measures into American Sign Language (ASL). Six bilingual experts in ASL and English translated the RSAS-5 and the TAPS into …

The Moderating Effects Of Duration On The Relationships Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, Perceived Social Support, And Adult Mental Health, Jessica M. Templeton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood adversity is a significant predictor of negative mental health outcomes, with prior research primarily focusing on cumulative risk models of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This study examines whether the duration of ACE exposure moderates the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between ACEs and adult mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety and depression symptomatology. Using archival data from the Correlates of Adversity and Temperament in Childhood (CATCH) dataset, responses from 230 participants were analyzed. Mediation analyses revealed that perceived social support mediates the relationship between ACEs and both anxiety and depression. Moderated mediation analyses further indicated that …

Brand Media And Health Perceptions: A Thematic Analysis Of Generational Differences, Julie Irene Diaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the influence of brand identity and media on shaping evolving perceptions of health across generations. The three generations considered are Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. The initial hypothesis predicted the popular media and brands that each generation interacts with are most likely to influence their perception. Additionally, the health brands most popular with each generation would influence their overall health perception, based on the identity and values of the brand. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to gather data about health perceptions, brand identity, media influence, and holistic health. The findings suggest that individuals …

Disability Inclusion In Local Public Health Community Health Assessments And Community Health Improvement Plans, Haleigh Leslie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Local health departments (LHDs) use community health assessments (CHAs) and community health improvement plans (CHIPs) to identify and address health needs of the populations they serve. People with disabilities experience health disparities, and there is limited information about how the health needs of people with disabilities are included in CHAs and CHIPs. The purpose of this study was to describe and quantify disability inclusion in LHD CHAs and CHIPs.

Methods: This cross-sectional, mixed methods study used the CHAs and CHIPs of accredited local health departments, data about LHDs and populations served, and interviews with LHD staff and community partners …

Digital Revival: The Role Of Social And Streaming Media In The Resurgence Of Appalachian Country Music, Jacob Cody Powers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the role of digital media, specifically social media, and streaming platforms, in the resurgence of Appalachian country music. In recent years, niche music genres have found new life through online platforms, which offer unique avenues for discovery, engagement, and community building. Using a mixed methods approach, this research combines quantitative survey data and qualitative thematic analysis to explore how audiences discover Appalachian country music on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to college students and social media users, collecting responses on participants' digital engagement habits, platform preferences, and motivations for exploring …

Inferring Feeding Biology In Extinct Shrews (Soricidae: Mammalia): Application Of A Linear Morphometric Approach, Derek J. Den Ouden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Linear morphometrics have been used extensively to infer the ecology of fossil organisms, but shrews have not yet been thoroughly explored using this technique. Often considered to have a homogenous insectivorous diet, direct dietary observation suggests shrew dietary diversity is substantial. Diversity of this nature is well established to have influenced skull morphology in other mammal clades, so similar patterns are hypothesized to be detectable in shrews. To test this, I examined the link between known diet and morphological disparity in extant shrews using linear morphometrics and then utilized that framework to infer the dietary ecology of several fossil taxa. …

The Importance Of The Relationship Between General And Special Education Co-Teachers In Inclusive Preschool Programs, Ruth Copeland, Ruth B. Copeland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative case study was designed to examine the importance of the relationship between general and special education co-teachers in inclusive preschool programs. The holistic strengths-based portraiture method will be used to study the positive aspects of the relationships of two co-teaching teams. In-depth interviews with individual teachers, co-teaching teams, and administrators combined with a questionnaire and classroom environmental rating scales were used to examine the culture and community that build positive relationships between general educators and special educators who co-teach in an inclusive preschool setting. The main goal of this research was to identify critical elements that contribute to …

Revealing Hidden Histories: A Multi-Sensor Aerial Survey For Detecting Unmarked Burials At Sinking Spring Cemetery, Abingdon, Va, Noah Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Sinking Spring Cemetery, established in 1773 in Abingdon, Virginia, spans 11 acres and is divided by a road. The 9-acre southern section was reserved for white church members. Enslaved individuals and free people of color were buried in the smaller northern section, where few headstones remain today. This study aimed to map the unmarked graves using thermal, multispectral, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors deployed on unmanned aerial systems. Graves were characterized by subtle topographic depressions mapped by LiDAR and cooler radiant temperature anomalies in thermal imagery. Thermal data collected at different times of the day and year …

Investigating Stress Hormone Variations In Green Frogs (Lithobates Clamitans) During The Mating Season, Abby Mciver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring stress hormones in wildlife populations is increasingly used to understand how human activities may impact the environment. The goal of this study was to quantify corticosterone in green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) at baseline levels and in response to an acute stressor throughout the mating season. The project was conducted from May to September of 2024 at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. Corticosterone levels were determined over six consecutive days each month from May to September using a non-invasive dermal swab technique. Additionally, body metrics, water chemistry, and weather and habitat conditions were evaluated on each sampling …

“With Neither Hope Nor Fear”: Continuity In The Life Of Isabella D’Este, Alyssa Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Isabella d’Este is traditionally viewed as the most notable female art patron of Renaissance Italy, primarily studied for her excellent taste. This positive interpretation has left her out of the reputational rehabilitation that modern historians have applied to many of her contemporaries, and what recent work has been done focuses on her marriage. However, Isabella outlived her husband by nearly twenty years, and contrary to writers who view that widowhood as an afterthought, she remained a dominant political and cultural figure in her own right. This thesis reassesses Isabella’s letters to argue that the traditional segmentation of her life does …

Car Price Prediction Using Machine Learning: Analyzing The Dvm-Car Dataset, Yaman Abu Ghareebaih

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to predict car prices using machine learning models and the DVM-CAR dataset, which includes over 1.4 million images and car specifi- cations from 899 car models. Key factors such as mileage, engine power, and year of registration were analyzed for their correlation with car prices. Extensive data cleaning was performed, including filling missing values, identifying outliers, and normalizing numerical variables. Discrete variables like car make and body type were encoded using one-hot encoding. Linear relationships were analyzed with Multiple Logistic Regression, and Random Forest models were used for nonlinear patterns. Model performance was evaluated …

Development Of A Portable Electroencephalogram With Display, Seth D. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this experiment, the goal was to design, build, and test an Electroencephalogram (EEG) circuit that would then be paired with a touchscreen display as a portable unit for use in Schizophrenic research at East Tennessee State University at the Quillen College of Medicine. The requirements for this prototype denoted that the device had to be able to obtain a signal from two electrodes placed on the head of an individual with a third attached to the ankle as a ground, amplify and filter the signal, and display the results on a touchscreen display for recording and analyzing. The circuit …

Effects Of Ph On Product Yield Of One-Electron Oxidation To Guanine Derivatives, Abdul-Kadir Ibrahim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One-electron oxidation plays a major role in oxidative DNA damage in biological cells. Guanine, the most oxidizable DNA base, has been the major focus of studies on oxidative damage to DNA initiated by one-electron oxidation (OEO). The current study aims at understanding the mechanisms of photooxidation of guanine derivatives with OEO in acidic medium. D1A* and D1B*, which are the products of dGuo in acidic medium, were obtained from dGuo upon photolysis at 485 nm of the reaction mixture in the presence of S₂O₈^2- as the oxidant and Ru(II)(bpy)₃²⁺ as a photosensitizer. D1A* and …

Metastatic Medulloblastoma Remodels The Local Leptomeningeal Microenvironment To Promote Further Metastatic Colonization And Growth, Alexander Bahcheli, Randy Van Ommeren, Kyle Juraschka, Maria Vladoiu, Winnie Ong, Bryn Livingston, Pasqualino De Antonellis, Michelle Ly, Borja López Holgado, Olga Sirbu, Shahrzad Bahrampour, Hyun-Kee Min, Jerry Fan, Carolina Nor, Abhirami Visvanathan, Jiao Zhang, Hao Wang, Lei Qin, Ning Huang, Jonelle Pallotta, Tajana Douglas, Esta Mak, Haipeng Su, Karen Ng, Kevin Yang Zhang, Craig Daniels, Calixto-Hope G Lucas, Charles G Eberhart, Hailong Liu, Tao Jiang, Faiyaz Notta, Vijay Ramaswamy, Jüri Reimand, Marco Gallo, Jeremy N Rich, Xiaochong Wu, Xi Huang, Michael D Taylor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Leptomeningeal metastases are the major source of morbidity and mortality for patients with medulloblastoma. The biology of the leptomeningeal metastases and the local tumour microenvironment are poorly characterized. Here we show that metastasis-associated meningeal fibroblasts (MB-MAFs) are transcriptionally distinct and signal extensively to tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment. Metastatic cells secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligands into the local microenvironment to chemotactically recruit meningeal fibroblasts. Meningeal fibroblasts are reprogrammed to become MB-MAFs, expressing distinct transcriptomes and secretomes, including bone morphogenetic proteins. Active bone morphogenetic protein signalling and co-implantation of tumour cells with MB-MAFs enhances the colonization of the leptomeninges …

Social Identity And Eating Behaviors: How Cultural Norms Impact Disordered Eating, Cierrah Jesi-Rae Fulenwider

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), such as frequent dieting, emotional eating, and obsessive “clean eating,” are increasingly prevalent in our society and have been linked to significant physical and psychological health risks. However, the role of sociocultural influences, such as discrimination and social media, are often overlooked. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and perceived discriminatory experiences, social media use, physical self-description, and attitudes toward eating among undergraduate college students. The sample consisted of 110 undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey comprised of the Everyday Discrimination Scale-S (EDS-S), Social Media Usage Scale (SMUS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), …

Sacred Connections In Cartoonish Places: Exploring The Implications Of Teotl In Avatar: The Last Airbender (2008), Makenzie P. Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Taking Avatar: The Last Airbender (2008) seriously, Sacred Connections in Cartoonish Places explores the animated children’s series and how it is understood through the monistic Nahua (Aztec) concept of teotl. Relying on James Maffie’s text Aztec Philosophy: Understanding a World in Motion (2014), this thesis determines that Avatar: The Last Airbender benefits from monistic analysis. This analysis results in a breakdown of the show into four body chapters. These chapters respectively explore Aang’s role as a monistic representative, the differences between the physical and spirit worlds presented in the show, the kind of relationships that appear in the series, and …

Medication Assisted Treatment - The End In Mind, Nandita C. Kapur, Annas Aljassem

Posters

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is defined as a problematic pattern of substance use causing significant impairment or distress, and it is a leading cause injury deaths1 in the U.S.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), using methadone (full agonist) and buprenorphine (partial agonist/antagonist), is the gold standard for OUD2 , stabilizing patients by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• • Stigma and skepticism about MAT's effectiveness hinder its adoption in acute care settings3.
• More research is needed to overcome misconceptions and enhance the efficacy of MAT in hospitals since it is the first point of contact for patients.
• This project aims to educate patients …

Nature Meets Nurture: How Sustainable Design Can Cultivate Urban Renewal Along Commonwealth Ave. In Gary New Duluth, Katerina Kroska

Landscape Architecture Theses

This project reimagines a downtown corridor in the Gary-New Duluth neighborhood, transforming it into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly streetscape that fosters community connectivity and economic vitality. Historically defined by the rise and fall of the U.S. Steel Duluth Works plant, the area has struggled with fragmented land use, low-density development, and vehicle-dominated streets. In response, the design introduces a multi-layered public plaza system that activates underutilized spaces, creating a network of walkable, human-scaled environments. Curvilinear streets slow traffic, enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety, while green infrastructure promotes ecological health. Inspired by Jan Gehl's principles of protection, comfort, and delight, the corridor …