Digital Commons Network^™

Prosperity Gospel Orientation Interacts With Life Stress To Impact Religious Doubt And Psychological Well-Being, Ellie Stork, Grace Henry, Haley Rose Wills, Joanna Jernigan, Peyton Smith, Josephine Magar, Rachel Russell, Jonathan Miller

Student Scholar Symposium

Prosperity gospel beliefs (PGB) assert God wants believers to prosper on earth and will reward the faithful with health and financial success. Wilkinson and Biondolillo (2021) developed the Prosperity Gospel Belief Scale, finding relationships with religiosity, prayer, attachment to God, materialism, greed, and entitlement. This study examines whether PGB and stress interact to increase religious doubts (RD) and decrease psychological well-being (PWB), measured by life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA). Participants were recruited from psychology courses and completed study questionnaires using an online platform, with all procedures approved by the Lipscomb University IRB. Seventy-nine participants (Mage …

A Quest For Identity, Josephine Magar

Student Scholar Symposium

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie delves into the story of an adolescent boy growing up on an Indian reservation, wrestling with hard medical issues and the typical emotional turmoil associated with coming of age. Arnold, who goes by Junior, also faces complex issues such as racism, less-than-ideal family relationships, and identity. Alexie approaches Arnold’s experiences with humor and storytelling that can only be found in the genre of young adult literature. This paper finds Alexie’s notion of identity construction as an unstable, shifting process often shaped by the opinions of others. The structure …

Elucidating The Effects Of Hd5 On Actc1 Expression In Crohn's Disease, Carolyn Tran, Sohir Abdelnour, Joyce Lawson, Ellis Puscas

Student Scholar Symposium

Approximately 1.6 million Americans currently have Crohn’s Disease (CD), a condition that affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the small intestine, leading to chronic inflammation, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, and fatigue. Although treatments exist, misdiagnosis remains a challenge due to symptom overlap with other inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Previous studies have shown an increase in Human Alpha Defensin (HD5) in Crohn’s Colitis, resulting in slower wound healing closure, increased apoptosis, and potential effects regarding alpha-actin expression. However, its effects in the small intestine remain unclear. Alpha-actin is a cytoskeletal protein that maintains cellular structure through cell migration, tissue remodeling, and …

Trauma Severity And Religious Detachment In Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence Within A Religious Context, Trevor Hulan, Trevor Glenn Hulan

Student Scholar Symposium

Intimate partner violence is often a traumatic experience that impacts all aspects of a person’s life, including their spiritual well-being. The goal of this research is to study the intersection of psychology and religion. This study assesses the severity of trauma and religious detachment in women who have experienced intimate partner violence within a religious context. The study utilizes the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) and the Spiritual Harm and Abuse Scale (SHAS) to examine the relationship between PTSD severity and religious detachment in participants. It is hypothesized that women who have experienced intimate partner violence within a religious context will score …

Post-Tonal Pedagogy In The Music Of György Ligeti, Easton Ball

Student Scholar Symposium

Post-tonal piano literature remains unpopular with many modern performers due to a perceived lack of technical approachability. As a result, a wealth of post-tonal keyboard music passes into obscurity, never reaching modern audiences. Despite the preconception that post-tonal music lacks formal and harmonic structure, one can assign order to elements within these compositions both for purposes of improving pedagogy and engendering familiarity with the literature. My research aims to demonstrate one process of elucidating the relative accessibility of post-tonal literature for keyboard by means of an analysis of a selection of György Ligeti’s Études pour piano. Because this material often …

Sisterhood: Fostering Solidarity, Well-Being, And Advocacy For Women, Mallory Syvertson, Ann Sowell, Y'Alexia Robinson, Monroe Mccoury

Student Scholar Symposium

Abstract

Women’s health, safety, and empowerment remain critical global issues, often hindered by limited access to resources and societal barriers. The Sisterhood PR Campaign is a strategic public relations initiative designed to foster solidarity, well-being, and advocacy for women by providing essential resources and support. Through partnerships with brands such as Always and Tampax, the campaign promotes education on mental health, personal safety, and self-care, ensuring that women have the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive. A key component of the campaign is #SisterhoodStrong, a digital movement encouraging women to share personal stories of empowerment and resilience.

This …

Message In A Bottle, Ellie Harwood

Student Scholar Symposium

In her poetry collection “Message in a Bottle”, Ellie Harwood explores the relationships we maintain with each other, animals, and nature. Through the poems in this collection, Harwood examines how we as humans simultaneously harm one another and our fragile ecosystem while seeking love and belonging in those very relationships and spaces. By contrasting the evolutionary journey of whales with the rampant development of technology in the poem “Whale Song”, or through portraying the desire to flee from somebody you love deeply in “Bedhead”, Harwood highlights the many contradictions and conflicts that come with being alive (and the numerous ways …

Improving Home Affordability In Greater Nashville Through Construction Efficiency And Innovations, Nate Mclain

Student Scholar Symposium

Engineering Greater Nashville Home Affordability

The Metabolic Effects Of Carbon-Plated Shoes On D1 Runners, Bingham Hudson, Cole Kimmel, James Schmidt, Adam Macleod

Student Scholar Symposium

Background: This study looks at the metabolic effects of carbon plated shoes compared to non plated shoes in NCAA Division 1 male cross country/track athletes. Carbon-plated shoes, like the Nike Vaporfly 3 (NVF3), have become popular, but it’s important to understand how they impact oxygen use (VO2) and running efficiency.

Methods: Ten NCAA Division 1 male cross-country runners (n = 10) participated in two treadmill tests using indirect calorimetry to measure oxygen consumption. Each runner completed a 1 mile jog warm up followed by appropriate dynamic stretching. Each runner completed a 6-minute run at 10 mph (6:00 per mile) in …

Exploring The Effects Of Indoor Plants On Executive Function, Jose Romero

Student Scholar Symposium

The link between greenery in schools and cognitive performance is underexplored, even with evidence of its benefits in other settings. Research indicates that adding green plants to an office can improve mood and lower stress (Bergefurts et al., 2021). This study explored the factors behind the psychological benefits of indoor plants on executive function in college students. The study proposed two competing hypotheses based on Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Enrichment Theory. The study is a 2x2 between-subjects factorial design, in which participants were exposed to environments with or without plants and with or without organizational enrichment. Participants were undergraduate …

Predicting Religious Doubt And Psychological Well-Being Using Religious Orientation, Religious Coping, Prosperity Gospel Orientation, And Life Stress, Haley Wills, Joanna Jernigan, Ellie Stork, Grace Henry, Josephine Magar, Rachel Russel, Peyton Smith, Jonathan Miller

Student Scholar Symposium

Subjective measures of psychological well-being (PWB) such as life satisfaction (LS) and positive affectivity (PA) have been related to religious orientation (RO), religious coping (RC), religious doubt (RD), and stressful life events (Stress). A recent construct, prosperity gospel beliefs (PGB), posits that God rewards the faithful with health and financial success. A PGB scale has been created and shown to have relationships with RO, prayer, attachment to God, materialism, and greed. This study explores how PGB predicts RD and PWB beyond RO, RC, and Stress. Participants (n = 79, Mage = 19.51; 74.7% female; 100% Christian) were recruited from psychology …

Animal Man: Morrison's Reflection On The Author, Ellie Harwood

Student Scholar Symposium

Grant Morrison’s Animal Man debuted in DC Comics in 1988. For seven years as its author, Morrison explored themes of animal rights, conservationism, postmodernism, existentialism, and even free will all through their careful deconstruction of the superhero genre. In “Animal Man: Morrison’s Reflection on the author”, Ellie Harwood analyzes major portions of Morrison’s comic to identify their commentary on the relationship between people, animals, and fictional characters, and the moral ramifications of those relationships. Harwood achieves this through identifying the similarities between how Morrison portrays animals in the comic, as well as how they portray their own characters on a …

Intersecting Physics And Medicine Through Computed Tomography, Christopher Wengert, Madouna Barsoum, Dominick Dingus

Student Scholar Symposium

Computed Tomography (CT) imaging is a cornerstone of modern medicine. Enabling detailed internal imaging for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This project explores the physics underlying CT imaging, highlighting how fundamental principles of physics integrate seamlessly with medical advancements. We will examine X-Ray generation, attenuation, and image reconstruction, demonstrating how varying tissue densities influence scan results. The role of mathematical algorithms, such as filtered back protection and iterative reconstruction, will be discussed in relation to image clarity and radiation does optimization.

Additionally, we will address the balance between image resolution and patient safety, emphasizing the importance of minimizing radiation exposure while …

Using Feynman's Technique To Evaluate Non-Elementary Integrals Used In Physics, Dominick Dingus, Christopher Wengert, Madouna Barsoum

Student Scholar Symposium

In numerous physical applications, such as those in the fields of optics and thermodynamics, the quantitative description of various phenomena requires evaluating certain definite integrals whose antiderivatives cannot be expressed using elementary functions. As a result, these integrals are typically evaluated numerically using a suitable program. However, it is possible to evaluate some of these types of integrals using a strategy known as Feynman’s Technique, an approach named after Richard Feynman, the American physicist who popularized the method during the mid-20th century. This project aims to highlight the usage of Feynman’s Technique for evaluating some of these integrals while applying …

Archival Fashion: Commodification, Education, And The History Of Halston, Arianna Miller, Kayna Bowman

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Variations In Flexibility Across Menstrual Cycle Phases In Female College Students, Libby Steinhart, Avery Cox, Allyson Stallworth, Paige Archbold, Bella Vinson

Student Scholar Symposium

Testing flexibility in female college students throughout menstrual cycle; Exercise Science

Innovation In Circular Products For Healthy People, Planet, And Profit, Allison Golata, Misty Newby, Audrey Roberts, Dodd Galbreath

Student Scholar Symposium

Innovation in Circular Products for Healthy People, Planet, and Profit In our consumer-driven economy, companies tend to prioritize manufacturing efficiency to keep up with demand. While current practices can create short-term profits, there are financial and non-financial impacts on people, the planet, and profit. Innovation in circular products can create a win-win for businesses and consumers while meeting the needs of today and promoting future success. In this session, we will discuss the impact of current business processes and consumer practices on people, planet, and profit; explore how circular products can create long-term, sustainable value for business by designing products …

Utilizing Hot Water Treatment Methods On Shallow Rooted Herbaceous Invasive Species In Temperate Deciduous Forests, Ana Manning

Student Scholar Symposium

Abstract

People have been searching for new and innovative ways to control

invasive plant species for centuries. These methods have been categorized into three sections: mechanical,

biological, and chemical. The changing landscape of invasive plant management requires industry professionals to consider innovative technologies when developing their integrated pest management plans. The hypothesis of this research is that utilizing hot water treatment methods on shallow-rooted herbaceous invasive species in temperate deciduous forests will produce equal or better results than traditional integrated pest management methodologies. Six research plots in two locations were developed to test the Heatweed® hot water treatment tool on …

Have You Had Your Vitamins Today? Development Of An Lc-Ms/Ms Method With A 100% Aqueous Gradient To Simultaneously Measure B Vitamins In Plasma From Study Participants In A “Greens” Nutritional Supplement Clinical Trial, Kennedy Brothers, Abigail Davis, Anna Losher, Yusra Ahmed, Sora Ghanem, Matthew J. Vergne

Student Scholar Symposium

This study assessed the absorption of key micronutrients from the multi-ingredient supplement using a novel developed LC-MS/MS method capable of analyzing B vitamins in a single run.

The study a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 16 healthy participants (8 males, 8 females) to measure plasma nutrient appearance over 8 hours after supplement consumption. Serial blood samples were collected pre-consumption and at specified intervals post-ingestion. The novel LC-MS/MS method simultaneously quantified biotin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamin in blood samples.

Results:The LC-MS/MS method had a range of 0.1 ng/mL to 1000 ng/mL and it proved to be robust and …

Have You Had Your Vitamins Today? An Lc-Ms/Ms Method To Simultaneously Measure B Vitamins In Plasma From Study Participants In A “Greens” Nutritional Supplement Clinical Trial., Katelyn Covington, Joanna Cravens, Matthew Vergne, Scott Akers

Student Scholar Symposium

Objectives: This study assessed the absorption of key vitamins and other nutrients from amulti- ingredient “greens” nutritional supplement using a newly developed LC-MS/MS method capable of analyzing B vitamins in a single run.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with a number of healthy participants to measure plasma nutrient appearance over 8 hours after supplement consumption. Participants consumed either the nutritional supplement (13g) or placebo after a 10-hour fast, with treatments separated by a one-week. Serial blood samples were collected pre-consumption and at specified intervals post-ingestion. Our novel LC-MS/MS method simultaneously quantified biotin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and …

Harmony Of The Swine: An Analysis Of Circe In Homer’S The Odyssey, Layla Al Sadoon

Student Scholar Symposium

Homer’s The Odyssey has remained significant for readers in dissecting the introspective attributes of Odysseus and the characters he meets throughout his journey. One character in particular has sparked much conversation in exploring the symbol of the woman in mythology. Circe, the enchantress who infamously turns Odysseus’ men into swine, has faced thousands of years under the microscope as scholars have questioned her role in the myth and the importance of her character. Circe’s actions directly derive from her goddess background; however, that is often overlooked when scholars discuss the progression of the myth after Circe’s episode, focusing instead on …

Visualizing Religion In American Culture: Comics As Tools For Deep Learning In The Lipscomb Life Program, Robbie Spivey, Josh Fleer, Kynnedy Gilbert, Sierra Chagnon French, Cindy Valentine

Student Scholar Symposium

This session explores how visual learning is used in the course Religion in American Culture (HI 4013), part of the Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) Program, which provides higher education for incarcerated students. The program follows the Inside-Out model, bringing together Lipscomb University students and incarcerated students in a shared learning space. Instead of a traditional research project, this session highlights how the LIFE Program creates a unique learning community where all students engage deeply with course topics. A panel of students and professors will share how the class's creative assignment—drawing comics to illustrate key themes from each course unit—puts …

When It Calls You, Layla Al Sadoon

Student Scholar Symposium

Layla Al-Sadoon’s collection “when it calls you” explores the intersection of religion and womanhood. Al-Sadoon’s speaker compares the ambiguous relationship of her body and the earth, even when she is unaware of the positive and negative movements between both. “when it calls you” situates itself in a wilderness that carries the both speaker and audience into a feeling of isolation and a demystification of romance and wildness. The speaker grapples with her identity as she encounters the unknown within herself, and the representations of femininity she recognized and fears.

Investigating Carnitine-Dependent Mechanisms Of Valerobetaine In Breast Cancer Migration Inhibition, Audrey Birdwell

Student Scholar Symposium

Breast cancer accounts for approximately 297,500 cases annually in the United States, leading to over 43,000 fatalities. These deaths occur due to cancer's ability to bypass the normal cell cycle, proliferating uncontrollably and metastasizing throughout the body. Notably, over 75% of breast cancer-related deaths are attributed to metastases. The hallmark of altered cellular metabolism enables cancer cells to enhance fat metabolism alongside glycolysis, driving increased tumor aggressiveness and higher metastatic rates. Currently, no FDA-approved drugs directly target metastases or prevent migrating cancer cells. Consequently, inhibiting fat metabolism presents a potential strategy to reduce metastases and cancer cell migration; however, existing …

Stretching The Limit: A Comparative Study On The Various Stretching Modes And Their Effects On Hip Mobility, James Wheeler, Michelle Wolford, Ashlyn Pollock, Kaitlyn Elllis

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Middle Tennessee Rhetoric About Immigration, Rachael Ferguson

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville is home to a growing and diverse immigrant population, contributing significantly to the city’s cultural, social, and economic landscape. Despite this, immigrants in Nashville often face systemic undervaluation, as reflected in policies prevailing public rhetoric. For example, recent proposals suggest that undocumented students may lose access to public education, even while many immigrant students already face barriers to receiving specialized support due to language differences. These issues are not isolated but part of a broader context of anti-immigrant sentiment, which has far-reaching implications for educational equity and public policy. Words shape beliefs, and beliefs influence actions. The rhetoric used …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Mebendazole On C. Elegans: Implications For Anthelmintic Drug Development, Brooke Brewer, Saja Al-Saweily

Student Scholar Symposium

About 1.5 billion people in the world are infected with soil-transmitted helminths, especially those who live in high poverty areas. These infections affect communities with poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in tropical and subtropical areas, keeping them in a state of poverty. Our research focuses on drugs that target the parasitic worms currently approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO currently only has 4 approved drugs for Mass Drug Administration, due to low profit margins, complex parasite life cycles, and rising drug resistance (World Health Organization 2023). While Mebendazole is effective against many common parasitic …

Little Women Dramaturgical Research Packet, Elanah Bruce

Student Scholar Symposium

This will be an oral presentation reviewing a student's dramaturgical research for Lipscomb University Theatre's production of Little Women, including research collected, personal connection to the research, and production photos from the performances.

Jesus Music Movement, Gabby Armitage

Student Scholar Symposium

Jesus Music and how it has influenced Christian Contemporary Music today.

Structural Basis Of A Class Ii Ribonucleotide Reductase Found If Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Leah Jacob

Student Scholar Symposium

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a leading global health challenge, particularly due to its ability to enter a dormant, drug-tolerant state that enables long-term persistence within the host. Just before dormancy, Mtb replicates its entire genome creating DNA precursors for when the infection reactivates. Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) play a critical role in bacterial survival by catalyzing the conversion of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides, a necessary step for DNA replication and repair. The class II RNR, NrdZ, has been implicated in facilitating Mtb persistence under hypoxic stress conditions, yet its structural and mechanistic function remains largely uncharacterized. …