Digital Commons Network^™

Elucidating The Role Of Hd5 In Colonic Wound Healing, Lavin Radiro

Student Scholar Symposium

Crohn’s colitis (CC), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causes chronic inflammation in the large intestine, leading to malnutrition, diarrhea, and severe pain. Early and accurate diagnosis of CC is crucial, as misdiagnosis with ulcerative colitis (UC) can result in inappropriate treatment and worsened outcomes. The innate immune peptide human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5) is upregulated in CC but not in UC, suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis. Preliminary data from our lab indicates that HD5 impairs wound healing in colonic epithelial cells, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Hypothesis We hypothesize that HD5 increases RNA and protein levels …

The Nesting Behavior And Habitat Selection Of Wood Thrushes, Amelia Browning, Alexandra Price

Student Scholar Symposium

Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) are a species of concern in Tennessee due to many factors. Historically, their nests have been found in low-hanging branches at the edge of dense forest (Evans et al. 2020). In 2021, a Wood Thrush nest was found in Warner Parks, a 3100-acre urban park sixteen kilometers south of Nashville, TN nesting eighteen meters off the ground and thirty meters from an active trail. We wanted to learn if this unusual nest height was a common occurrence in an active area of Warner Parks or an anomaly. We decided to compare nesting behavior and habitats at …

Driving Social Revolutions In 20th Century Latin America, Oliver Orellana

Student Scholar Symposium

This paper explores various definitions of social revolutions to create one cohesive and operationalized definition that measures success through a numerical rating scale. Once establishing what revolutions were successful or fall into different typological sortings, this research employs qualitative content analysis as well as quantitative methods still being refined, in order to investigate the potential drivers of social revolutionary success in Latin America throughout the 20th century. The findings have implications for whether the masses and political movements should pursue this endeavor and when their efforts will have the highest potential and likelihood of success. On the other hand, these …

A Teacher, Medical Advisor, And Comedian Walk Into A Bar: Table For One, Everything Ai Can Do, Lorelai M. Kline

Student Scholar Symposium

As Generative AI continues to rise in popularity, AI chatbots have emerged as a promising solution for addressing students’ real-world needs. This presentation investigates the development process behind a series of specialized, personality-driven AI assistants—created via the Boodlebox platform—and examines how these chatbots enhance educational experiences and practical applications. The research uses progressive design methodologies, including persona development, natural language processing optimization, and user-centric testing protocols. Examples of personal bots include a historical assistant that interprets contemporary social scenarios through an 18th- to 19th-century perspective and a Spanish-speaking chatbot that leverages playful sarcasm to foster deeper engagement. Preliminary findings show …

Investigating The Effects Of Body Composition Assessment On Dietary Intake In Division I Football Players, Cameron Nill, Nicole Dicicco

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Things That Just Happen, Naomi Hollans

Student Scholar Symposium

Naomi Hollans’s nonfiction piece, “Things That Just Happen,” narrates a young woman’s experience with tragedy. After her grandfather’s death from cancer, the young woman receives another shock: her mother is diagnosed with cancer. While her mother endures chemo and the young woman prepares for college, her 4-year-old brother is also diagnosed with cancer. In the midst of these bafflingly painful circumstances, the narrator, her peers, hairdressers, and Sunday school teachers seek an explanation for suffering. Hollans’s reflection examines the human need to understand pain and discusses the various motivations for asking “why?” in response to grief. “Things That Just Happen” …

“In A Relationship”: Can Ai Take The Place Of A Human Relationship?, Hannah Smith

Student Scholar Symposium

This research explores the impact of AI on adolescent development, specifically focusing on how large-language models (LLMs) influence the way adolescents approach and value human connections. While AI can offer some benefits, it cannot fully replace the essential elements of human relationships, such as empathy, creativity, and emotional understanding, which are fundamental to a fulfilled life.

Investigating The Potential Ability Of The Tlr4-Nf-Κb Axis To Reduce Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Expression In Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Gabriella Longoria

Student Scholar Symposium

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) primarily affects premature infants and is characterized by intestinal necrosis, inflammation, and high mortality. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-induced apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells is thought to drive NEC development. Upon binding bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TLR4 signaling activates NF-κB, leading to inflammatory gene expression. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a pro-ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), prevents NEC in a mouse model by downregulating TLR4, despite reduced AhR expression in NEC-affected intestines. However, the molecular mechanism behind the reduced expression of AhR in NEC is unclear. To model NEC in vitro, we treated IEC-6 enterocytes with LPS, which reduces AhR …

Investigating The Role And Mechanism Of Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii In Fatty Acid Metabolism And Obesity Using The Drosophila Melanogaster Model, Jackson Head, Whitley Whitehead

Student Scholar Symposium

The obesity epidemic has increased to enormous numbers with 890 million adults being classified as obese (BMI≥30). Obesity is of extreme concern as it is a comorbidity to coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and cancer. Although obesity has classically been attributed to genetics and lifestyle, there is a growing interest in other factors, including the gut microbiome. Germ-free mice are resistant to weight gain even when placed on a high-calorie diet, establishing that metabolites produced by gut microbiota can dramatically inhibit metabolism. Here, we use Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which has been previously shown to be reduced in obese individuals; however, …

The Effect Of Hd5 On Colonic Wound Healing, Kaitlyn Sneed

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Domination, Limitation, And Liberation In Gilman's Herland, Ella Cauley

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Indole Improves Outcomes Of Cronobacter Sakazakii Infection In C. Elegans Through Ahr-1, Cayden Durrough

Student Scholar Symposium

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease primarily affecting premature infants. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated epithelial damage allows microbial translocation, triggering inflammation that can lead to sepsis and death. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor, and AhR ligands have been shown to prevent NEC in a mouse model. Indole, an AhR ligand, has been reported to extend the healthspan of C. elegans, and we have shown previously it mitigates poor outcomes in wild-type worms infected with Cronobacter sakazakii (Cs), a bacterial pathogen linked to NEC. We hypothesized that C. elegans must express ahr-1, the ortholog …

Indole Treatment Of C. Elegans Rescues Cronobacter Sakazakii Induced Illness, Joshua Asselin

Student Scholar Symposium

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe and often life-threatening inflammatory condition of the intestine primarily affecting premature infants. The opportunistic pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii (Cs) has been implicated in NEC. While activation of the ligand-dependent transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been shown to prevent NEC in a mouse model, its potential as a therapeutic target for established NEC remains unclear. We hypothesize here that the AhR ligand indole can reverse Cs-mediated illness in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results demonstrate that exposure to live Cs, but not heat-killed Cs, significantly impaired worm motility, demonstrating Cs is an effective …

Myocardial Pi3k-Akt Pathway And Cardiovascular Disease Etiology, Bryson Lovorn, Brennan Kaplan

Student Scholar Symposium

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death in the United States according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Myocardial infarctions, heart attacks, Coronary Artery Disease, ischemic reperfusion injuries, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies represent common pathologies leading to the hospitalization of Americans. The etiologies of these diseases vary, however there is a common link. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) AKT pathway is a cellular pathway that is commonly overexpressed or repressed in myocytes. The human body is in an active limbo to maintain homeostasis. At a cellular level this can be simplified to a delicate balance between cell …

Hyperbaric Chambers For College Athletes, Alex Pinkston

Student Scholar Symposium

The use of hyperbaric chambers is gaining attention as a beneficial treatment for college athletes, offering a healthier alternative to more common, yet riskier, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and modern pharmaceuticals. While professional athletes often have the financial resources to afford hyperbaric therapy, college athletes face similar intensive training regimens but frequently turn to harmful substances to enhance recovery and performance due to limited access to alternative treatments. This research explores the potential of hyperbaric chambers to support the physical and mental well-being of college athletes, highlighting their role in reducing recovery time, enhancing tissue repair, and improving overall performance. Furthermore, …

Traffic Study, Kennedy Case, Koryn Harms, Min Kaung, Abel Assefa, Eli Lockert, Dj Church

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Nashville Bus System Efficiency, Koryn Harms

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville’s recently approved “Choose How You Move” plan creates a dedicated funding source for transportation improvements in the city. A key component of the plan is to increase transit service throughout Nashville to make it more accessible and reliable. In order to optimize the use of the funding, an analysis of existing conditions would allow officials to locate and target specific areas in need of improvement. The aim of this research is to determine the efficiency of different bus routes in Nashville based on ridership and on-time rates. The analysis will focus on the eight primary bus routes in the …

In Pregnant Women, What Is The Effect Of Nutritional Guidance And Intervention On Maternal And Fetal Health Outcomes Compared With Standard Or No Nutritional Counseling Within The Prenatal And Postpartum Period?, Kaitlyn Boyer, Ainsley Cash, Mallye Merritt, Meagan Enbody

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Nutritional Guidance And Intervention On Maternal And Fetal Health Outcomes, Kaitlyn Boyer, Meagan Enbody, Mallye Merritt, Ainsley Cash

Student Scholar Symposium

Title: Effect of nutritional guidance and intervention on maternal and fetal health outcomes

Short Title: Impact of nutrition guidance on maternal and fetal health

Keywords: nutritional guidance, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, maternal and fetal health, nutrition teaching

Syllabus Tone And Student Self-Efficacy, Natalia Calderon-Hernandez, Alan Avila

Student Scholar Symposium

Educational research has indicated that Syllabus documents have the potential to communicate equitable policies and clear the path for positive educational experiences (Artze-Vega et al., 2023). Changes to syllabus language, such as warm tones, increase the likelihood that students will ask the professor for help (Gurung & Galardi, 2022). Our proposal is to compare the use of language targeted toward these learner-centered principles within a syllabus document, as compared to traditional cold “content-focused” language, to assess outcomes of perceived student self-efficacy. After viewing two syllabi documents, participants complete portions of The Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (Chen, Hsiao, Chern & Chen, 2014) …

Gaylord Opryland Congestion Reduction, Kennedy Case

Student Scholar Symposium

Lipscomb University’s College of Engineering is working collaboratively with Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to explore potential solutions to its traffic congestion problem, particularly during peak times such as the holiday season. This research aims to identify strategies that can alleviate congestion in the resort area. With over one million visitors during the holiday season each year and limited parking capacity, the traffic congestion poses a significant challenge to both operational efficiency and visitor experience. The primary objective of this research is to identify strategies that optimize parking usage, reduce congestion, and improve the overall visitor experience. Beginning with …

Association Between The Diet Of Adolescents In America And The Prevalence Of Depression Found Within This Population, Mary Hoffman, Belinda Asamoah, Fadeyemi Okewusi

Student Scholar Symposium

Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity increase the risk of chronic mental and physical health conditions such as depression and obesity in American adolescents. Depression is the leading mental illness found in adolescents across the United States and less than 1 in 10 children eat their recommended vegetables, only 16 % of adolescents meet U.S. physical activity guidelines, 36.3% consume fast food on a given day, and as many as 20% are obese. These numbers show a rapid rise along with the availability of fast food. Multiple studies examine the relationship between healthy nutrition and the signs and symptoms …

Green Roof, Elizabeth Fulton

Student Scholar Symposium

Green roofs, a concept dating back over 100 years, offer a sustainable solution to urban environmental challenges such as poor air quality, the urban heat island effect, and increased stormwater runoff. This study focuses on green roofs as an effective way to address these issues in cities like Nashville, which are experiencing rapid urbanization. By transforming rooftops into green spaces, green roofs can improve air quality, manage stormwater, and reduce urban heat, while also enhancing the aesthetic value of urban environments. The research explores the integration of green roofs, considering factors like substrate composition, plant selection, and environmental conditions. Key …

Emergence Delirium In Post-Op Pediatric Patients With Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological Care: An Integrative Review, Ava Yune, Chloe Renaldi, Morgan Taylor, Jennarose Rangel, Alysa Penicaro

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Probiotics And The Low-Fodmap Diet On Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Charlotte A. Renfrow, Carsyn Wharton, Jordan Overstreet, Jordyn Munch

Student Scholar Symposium

The Effects of Probiotics and the Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keywords: gut microbiome, probiotics, low FODMAP, IBS

Smart Traffic Lights, Roa Ghanem

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville is quickly growing, and as a result, traffic congestion is becoming a bigger challenge for commuters. Longer travel times and increased vehicle emissions are major concerns. This research examines how smart traffic lights can improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the city. By analyzing peer-reviewed journal articles, this study explores how AI, IoT, and machine learning can optimize traffic signal timing in real time. In particular, simulation models illustrate how these technologies adapt dynamically to changing traffic patterns in cities similar to Nashville. Furthermore, this research compares the cost-effectiveness of smart traffic lights with other solutions, such as …

Sugar Sweetened Beverages And Dental Caries Prevalence In Children: An Integrative Review, Caroline Carr, Hailey Servin, Jada Davita, Addie Clementz, Bekah Doolittle

Student Scholar Symposium

Are children who consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) at increased risk for dental caries compared with children who don’t consume high SSBs during childhood? It has been previously established that children who consume (SSBs) are at an increased risk for dental caries. Nonetheless, we raise the question again to consider the current literature and statistical analyses of current trends. Are American children consuming fewer SSBs and subsequently developing fewer dental caries since before 2000? We are investigating this question to discover if the relationship between SSB consumption and the development of dental caries in children is a continued problem among children …

The Treatment Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos) Using Synthetic Hormone Therapy Versus Holistic Approaches: An Integrative Review, Sarah Mullin, Olivia Matis, Olivia Fair, Emma Joy Dolan, Jennifer Hicks

Student Scholar Symposium

Is synthetic hormone therapy more effective in treating PCOS compared to holistic approaches such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, supplements, and microbiome support?

Neonatal Immune System Development And Infection Susceptibility Within The First 6 Months After Vaginal Versus Cesarean Section Delivery: An Integrative Review, Lauren Ford, Jordan Lanham, Itzel Romo, Kelsey Olson, Leydi Ortiz-Barcenas, Jennifer Hicks

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Ai In Construction, Samuel Gilbert

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.