TCU Digital Repository (Texas Christian Univ.)
Not a member yet
54550 research outputs found
Sort by
DEFINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND STUDENT SATISFACTION FOR MAXIMAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENTS
No full textPhysical activity (PA) is a significant contributing factor to increasing life satisfaction and decreasing all-cause mortality. Despite the benefits of PA being articulated by healthcare professionals, rates of PA are continuing to decline. PA is often introduced in early education settings; however, these settings are becoming increasingly focused on a student's academic achievement compared to the amount of PA. Researchers have found that both academic achievement and PA are integral pieces of overall student satisfaction. The current study determined the relationship between academic achievement and student satisfaction and its effect on rates of PA. Researchers recruited 200 undergraduate college students to participate in a cross-sectional study. Participants completed five questionnaires to determine their current academic achievement, satisfaction, and rates of PA. It was found that PA was a significant negative predictor of cumulative GPA. The finding provided evidence that moderate to high levels of academic achievement are inversely correlated with higher reported levels of PA
Investigating diet-induced metabolic syndrome in a typical American versus Mediterranean diet model in C57BL/6J mice
No full textMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of concurrent cardiometabolic risk factors, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. The key pathophysiology of MetS is insulin resistance, which disrupts glucose and lipid metabolism primarily in the liver and adipose tissue. The development of insulin resistance is multifaceted, and risk can be mitigated with lifestyle modifications including improved nutrition. There has been a recent interest in developing better rodent diet models that more accurately reflect a comprehensive, human diet. This study directly compared a typical American diet (TAD) to a Mediterranean diet (MD) to investigate MetS development. After three months of diet consumption, male mice on the TAD had elevated serum insulin levels, adiposity, and dyslipidemia, compared to the MD group. Further, these differences were not observed in females, suggesting sex differences in health outcomes
Technological influence on affect and exercise performance among young adults
No full textPhysical inactivity remains a global health crisis, with traditional exercise promotion often neglecting affective barriers. This dissertation explores how technology, virtual reality (VR) and digital mindfulness, modulates affective responses to enhance exercise engagement among young adults. Three studies investigated: (1) VR immersion levels (head-mounted display [HMD], flatscreen, control) during rowing, showing HMDs elicited the most dissociative attention and increased enjoyment; (2) a 4-week digital mindfulness intervention improved emotional regulation and exercise tolerance through nonjudgmental awareness; (3) narrative and trainer-led VR exergames elicited comparable sustained positive affect and RPE, underscoring VR’s inherent immersion as a driver of enjoyment. Grounded in Dual-Mode Theory and Affect-Reflective Theory, findings demonstrate VR’s capacity to dissociate attention from discomfort and mindfulness’s role in reframing exertion. Both approaches enhanced affective valence, critical for adherence. Results advocate integrating immersive technologies and digital mindfulness to transform exercise into a potentially enjoyable practice, potentially addressing global inactivity through affective optimization
Relationships between health behaviors and weight status among Nigerian immigrants in the United States
No full textDue to limited research on how acculturation and lifestyle behaviors impact the health of Nigerian immigrants in the United States (U.S.), this study examined the relationships between demographic factors, health behaviors, and weight status in this group. Data were obtained from 70 participants using the Bioelectric Impedance Analysis, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool. Binomial regression showed no significant association between demographic factors (age, sex, and length of stay), health behaviors (physical activity level, dietary intake, and sleep duration), and body fat percentage. Still, females were found to be twice as likely to be overweight/obese compared to males (OR = 2.06), and individuals with low physical activity level and poor sleep duration had greater odds (OR = 4.25 and OR = 1.54, respectively) of being overweight/obese. These findings provide evidence to inform behavior change interventions for preventing unhealthy weight gain among Nigerian immigrants
Blas Emilio Atehortúa: Research and analysis of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Op. 137
No full textThis document presents research and analysis of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Op. 137 by Colombian composer Blas Emilio Atehortúa, a piece that does not have current research and has not been performed in over thirty years. As part of the research process, I located and consulted a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of this work. The analysis consists of an overview of the entire concerto, followed by an in-depth analysis of the first movement. By doing this, we can better understand the reasons why this work only got performed twice in the nineties and the style used by Atehortúa to compose this concerto. Furthermore, it leaves the door open for future projects, such as a modern edition, a complete analysis of the remaining three movements, and the possibility of other performances of this work
The impact of micronutrient intake on inflammatory cytokines: A community-based diet intervention
No full textThe intersection between diet, immunity and cancer is crucial within cancer research. The purpose of the study was to investigate if changes in micronutrient and antioxidant consumption can modulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines: Interferon-Gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha-Gamma (TNF-α) in a community-based diet intervention for cancer survivors, while investigating the feasibility of cancer survivors utilizing a diet protocol to improve diet quality. Blood markers were collected via venipuncture and finger stick at three timepoints (baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks). Cuisine for Healing supplied participants with 7 meals a week for 12 weeks. Pearson’s Correlation Regression was used to assess the relationship between changes in cytokine levels (IFN- γ and TNF- α) and changes in nutrient intake from baseline to 6 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated by participant compliance with meal collection from Cuisine for Healing. The alpha value was set to <0.05 to define statistical significance. No significant p-values were observed in the study; however, changes in zinc intake were found to be strongly correlated with changes in both IFN-γ (r = 0.893, R2 = 0.797) and TNF-α (r = 0.777, R2 = 0.604). Feasibility of the intervention was supported by the data. Despite the lack of significance, these findings suggest nutrient-cytokine interactions, underscoring the possible role that diet may have in modulating inflammation and immune regulation. Due to the small sample size (n=9), these findings should be interpreted with caution, and further investigation with greater statistical power is necessary
Tuition discounting and its impact on enrollment and net tuition revenue
No full textThis quantitative, longitudinal, correlational study analyzed a decade of tuition pricing behavior, institutional tuition discounting strategies, enrollment patterns, and net tuition revenue (NTR) outcomes among private, not-for-profit, four-year institutions in the United States from 2014 to 2023. Using secondary data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the study examined the relationships among tuition discount rate, enrollment, net tuition revenue, and the effects of utilizing different proportions of funded and unfunded institutional aid. The study revealed that while tuition and fee prices increased substantially in nominal terms, real tuition growth adjusted for inflation was modest. In contrast, institutional discount rates rose nearly nine percentage points over the decade, reaching an average of 43.59% in 2023, indicating a growing reliance on institutional aid with diminishing margins in net tuition revenue. Regression analyses demonstrated that enrollment volume, rather than tuition discount rate, was the dominant driver of net tuition revenue. Institutions enrolling more students generated significantly higher net tuition revenue regardless of average discount rate, while higher discount rates were associated with lower enrollment levels and indirectly with reduced net tuition revenue. Piecewise regression models identified a critical threshold between 35% and 40% discounting, beyond which net tuition revenue declines sharply, signaling measurable financial risk for institutions that discount significantly over that threshold. Moreover, institutions that utilize greater proportions of funded aid exhibited somewhat stronger enrollment and net tuition revenue outcomes, underscoring the strategic advantage of endowment-backed aid. The study emphasizes the urgent need to confront the persistent high price/high aid tuition pricing model in private higher education, a practice that has driven many institutions into financial distress and further eroded the industry’s stability and public reputation
Home runs and hope: The effect of baseball on United States morale in World War II
No full textThis thesis analyzes the effects of baseball during WWII on American’s morale on the home front. It focuses on the cities of New York and Chicago, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), and military members stationed at stateside training bases. It argues that baseball, both as an activity and through the efforts of Major League Baseball (MLB), improved soldier and civilian morale on the home front during WWII. Although living in a time of incredible turmoil, Americans were able to turn to baseball as a way to escape the stresses of daily life, remain connected to their communities, and support the American war effort
Green Cybersecurity: Leveraging AI, ML, and LLMs to Optimize Energy, Threat Detection, and Sustainability Frameworks
No full textThe rapid advancement of digital technologies has significantly increased energy consumption and carbon emissions, raising critical concerns about environmental sustainability. Green cybersecurity, which integrates environmental sustainability goals into security processes, is becoming increasingly vital as AI systems contribute to growing energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. This paper introduces the concept of green cybersecurity by examining how the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Large Language Models (LLMs) can simultaneously enhance cybersecurity practices while reducing their environmental impact. Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature, technical reports, and case studies from 2019 to 2025, we explore the potential of AI and ML to optimize energy usage, minimize electronic waste, and support the development of environmentally sustainable cybersecurity frameworks. Our findings indicate that AI and ML can drive advancements in resource management, predictive threat detection, automated response, and real-time monitoring. To assess these opportunities, we draw upon multiple theoretical frameworks, including the Systems Theory Model, Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Framework, which collectively emphasize the socio-technical and ethical dimensions of AI-powered cybersecurity. We also address key challenges such as high computational demands, integration complexity, lifecycle environmental impacts, and ethical concerns related to data privacy and algorithmic transparency. This study underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop security solutions that are both technologically robust and environmentally responsible
Development of new approach methodologies for evaluating acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, and endocrine disruption
No full textRecent legislation has called for the development and implementation of new approach methodologies that promote the 3Rs of animal research. This project addressed this need in three core areas: 1) the assessment of effluents discharged into marine environments, 2) assessment of endocrine disrupting compounds in freshwater environments, and 3) assessment of endocrine disrupting compounds in marine environments. For the first aim, this study compared marine larval growth and survival (LGS) tests using sheepshead minnow and inland silversides with marine fish embryo toxicity (FET) tests and mysid shrimp tests across multiple chemicals (3,4 dichloroaniline, Ni, phenanthrene, and crude oil spiked with V). Mysid shrimp tests demonstrated comparable or greater sensitivity than LGS tests, while marine FET tests were generally less sensitive. However, incorporating sublethal endpoints, especially hatchability, improved the sensitivity of FET tests. For the second aim, this work validated the REACTIV assay for screening endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), using a suite of chemicals (17β estradiol (E2), testosterone, fadrozole, flutamide, trenbolone (Trb), and saccharin). The REACTIV assay successfully identified pro- and anti-estrogenic compounds while distinguishing inert compounds. For the third aim, the potential of mysid shrimp as a model for assessing vertebrate EDCs (E2 and Trb) was examined in relation to the ecdysteroid, ponasterone A. Neither vertebrate EDC induced effects similar to ponasterone A, but Trn significantly downregulated ecdysteroid-related gene expression. Broader transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes that may serve as biomarkers for assessing invertebrate endocrine disruption. Overall, the findings of this work contribute to the advancement of animal welfare in aquatic toxicity assessments