Belmont University

This study examines the association between workers’ remittances and food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean using data from a Coronavirus survey covering over 100,000 individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that receipt of remittances is associated with an 8.8% decrease (2.5% points) in overall food insecurity. Heterogeneous effects are observed among females, individuals in Latin America, and households with children. Remittances from the USA exhibit a stronger influence on reducing food insecurity. The findings underscore the potential importance of remittances in improving food security at both extensive and intensive margins. Policy issues are also discussed.

Empathy is an under-researched yet vital communication skill. This mixed-methods study examined undergraduate communication students’ understanding of empathy in education and work. Using a survey to measure empathy levels and interviews to examine students’ understanding, the results demonstrated that students were generally empathetic, although men scored lower. Most defined empathy with either cognitive or affective components, rarely both, and described its value for relationships and communication careers, especially in understanding audiences, but noted risks like burnout. These findings give educators a starting point for understanding students’ empathy, and gaps in understanding demonstrate a need to integrate empathy into curricula.

Nurse practitioners can help fill needs for primary care providers but first must successfully transition from registered nurse through graduate education, which presents challenges and opportunities for growth. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of nurses during the first semester of graduate school. Reflections of 23 students were analyzed by nursing faculty using qualitative descriptive methods. Five main concepts were identified by students: Academic performance, Challenges, Emotions, Linking coursework to future role, and Support. Reflective journaling may help students process and adapt to challenges of graduate school.

Diet plays a central role in shaping the composition and metabolic activity of the oral microbiota, thereby influencing both oral and systemic health. Disturbances in this delicate host–microbe balance, triggered by dietary factors, smoking, poor oral hygiene, or antibiotic use, can lead to microbial dysbiosis and increase the risk of oral diseases such as periodontitis, as well as chronic systemic disorders including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers. Among dietary contaminants, exposure to toxic heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and arsenic (As) represents an underrecognized modifier of the oral microbial ecosystem. Even at low concentrations, these elements can disrupt microbial diversity, promote inflammation, and impair metabolic homeostasis. Saliva has recently emerged as a promising, non-invasive biofluid for monitoring nutritional status and early metabolic alterations induced by diet and environmental exposures. Salivary biomarkers, including metabolites, trace elements, and microbial signatures, offer potential for assessing the combined effects of diet, microbiota, and toxicant exposure. This review synthesizes current evidence on how diet influences the oral microbiota and modulates susceptibility to heavy metal toxicity. It also examines the potential of salivary biomarkers as integrative indicators of nutritional status and metabolic health, highlights methodological challenges limiting their validation, and outlines future research directions for developing saliva-based tools in personalized nutrition and precision health.

Abstract Disparities in formal bioinformatics training exacerbate the global skills gap, impeding the democratized application of advanced genomic technologies. To bridge this divide, we introduce a scalable, hybrid training framework designed to rapidly accelerate regional bioinformatics capacity. We exemplify this approach through the Eastern European Bioinformatics and Genomics (EEBG) workshop series — a cross-disciplinary initiative that pairs international faculty with local institutions to deliver modular, hands-on curricula. Functioning as a structured knowledge-transfer pipeline, the series has catalyzed a sustainable educational ecosystem, evidenced by the establishment of multiple independent summer schools across the region. The assessment of the 2025 EEBG workshop in Kraków, Poland, validates the model’s viability; participant metrics confirm high efficacy in skill acquisition (mean satisfaction: 4.4/5.0) and community building. Crucially, the hybrid delivery mode dismantled geographic barriers, serving as a vital mechanism for maintaining scientific continuity for researchers facing displacement and crisis. Synthesizing these outcomes, we define the core features of a replicable blueprint for scientific readiness in resource-constrained environments. We conclude by presenting a strategic roadmap — organized around infrastructure standardization, governance sustainability, and geographical expansion — for adapting this regional proof-of-concept into a global export-ready model, offering a critical path toward ensuring universal access to genomic innovation.

PurposeWormian bones (WB) are accessory ossicles that develop within cranial sutures. While typically benign, their presence in large numbers has been associated with various genetic and developmental disorders. This study aims to characterize the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and clinical associations of WB in a pediatric population undergoing cranial CT imaging.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Pediatric patients aged 0 to 18 years who underwent cranial CT imaging for any clinical indication were included. WB were radiologically confirmed, and demographic data, cephalic index, and comorbidities were collected and analyzed.ResultsAmong the 13,519 patients who underwent cranial CT imaging, 77 (0.57%) had radiologically confirmed WB, totaling 476 ossicles. The prevalence increased to 2.1% when examining our clinic cohort over a 5-year period. The lambdoid suture was the most common site (343/476, 72.1%), followed by the posterior fontanelle (53/476, 11.1%). Multiple WB (≥ 2) represented the most common phenotype (52/77, 67.5% of cases), and 13 patients (16.8%) had at least one associated skeletal or craniofacial condition, most commonly craniosynostosis (10/13, 76.9%). Cephalic index analysis demonstrated a predominance of brachycephaly (54/77, 70.1%).ConclusionThis study presents a comprehensive evaluation of WB in a large pediatric cohort. WB may co-exist with craniosynostosis or other skeletal conditions such as osteogenesis imperfecta. Given the greater prevalence of WB compared to craniosynostosis (2.1%: clinic cohort & 0.57%: institutional cohort vs. 0.05%), clinicians should consider WB in the differential diagnosis of abnormal head shape in infancy, particularly in a subspecialist practice.

Background:Hypertension disparities persist across communities, driven by interactions between social determinants of health (SDOH) and behavioral factors. This study examines geographic and demographic patterns of hypertension in Nashville, Tennessee, to assess how socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors contribute to inequities in prevalence, treatment, and control. Granular ZIP code-level analyses highlight community-specific drivers and the need for policy reforms to advance health equity.Methods and Results:Using 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and CDC PLACES, we analyzed 199 Nashville ZIP codes. K-means clustering identified five population clusters. Lower-income clusters (e.g., Hardship Heartland: 37.2% hypertension prevalence; Urban Renters: 33.7%) exhibited elevated physical inactivity (30.9%), insufficient sleep (38.9%), smoking (22.6%), alongside limited healthcare access. Affluent clusters (Elite Enclaves: 30.8%) demonstrated better cardiovascular health. Non-Hispanic Black residents in urban cores faced disproportionately higher hypertension rates (35.4%) compared to non-Hispanic white residents in the same clusters (e.g., 43.8% white residents in Urban Renters).Conclusions:Structural inequities—poverty, housing instability, and unequal healthcare access—drive hypertension disparities. Multi-sector interventions targeting upstream SDOH (e.g., affordable housing, equitable healthcare, and community wellness programs) are critical to reduce cardiovascular risk. Policy reforms prioritizing place based strategies in high-burden communities could mitigate disparities and improve population health.

Background: A national poll in 2023 reported that 34% of older adults in the United States felt socially isolated, and a 2024 meta-analysis found that 38% of North Americans reported loneliness. Feelings of isolation and loneliness in the older adult population have been associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of a group aquatic exercise program on feelings of loneliness and social isolation within the older adult population. Methods: Sixteen participants between the ages of 63 and 83 attended a 4-week program consisting of eight 1-hour group aquatic-aerobic exercise sessions with students from a local university. Participants completed the Steptoe Social Isolation Index, the 100 Million Lives Well-Being Assessment, and a short mixed quantitative–qualitative survey both before and after the 4-week program. Results: Improvement was seen for all 8 categories in the 100 Million Lives Well-Being assessment with 1, Community and Social Support, showing a statistically significant change ( P =.04). When looking at individual questions, there were statistically significant improvements for 7 items, among them: Physical Health ( P = .008, Cohen’s d = 0.657), Sense of Belonging to Community ( P = .044; Cohen’s d = 0.7314), and Friendships and Relationships ( P = .022, and Cohen’s d = 0.4804). There were no significant changes found on pre–post testing for the Steptoe Social Isolation Index. For the qualitative questions, common preprogram themes were discomfort, socialization, loneliness, introversion, and friendship. Common posttest themes included: enjoyment, socialization, health, friendship, and togetherness. Conclusion: The participants in this study reported a decrease in feelings of loneliness and social isolation after attending this program when compared to before. These results support that the use of group aquatic exercise as an effective way to encourage participation and engage older adults. More research with a larger sample, however, is recommended.

BackgroundPelvic venous compression syndromes (PVCS) are often underdiagnosed causes of chronic venous disease and deep vein thrombosis. This study evaluates whether duplex ultrasound and venography predict significant pelvic vein compression confirmed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).MethodRetrospective cohort of 237 adults with lower extremity symptoms undergoing duplex ultrasound including continuous spectral doppler waveform identification without volumetric flow, venography, and IVUS. Patients were classified by presence of ≥50% stenosis on IVUS. Logistic regression identified predictors.ResultReduced compressibility of the common femoral vein predicted ≥50% stenosis on venography bilaterally (left p = .025; right p = .014). The presence of thrombosis predicted ≥50% stenosis bilaterally (left p = .015; right p = .009), and abnormal spontaneity on the right also predicted ≥50% stenosis (p = .033). On duplex ultrasound, the absence of reflux (p = .008) and normal valvular competency (p = .008) on the left were associated with ≥50% stenosis on IVUS. Conversely, continuous phasicity (p = .036) and continuous flow (p = .035) on the left predicted <50% stenosis on IVUS.ConclusionCertain duplex ultrasound features may serve as early noninvasive markers of PVCS, aiding timely IVUS referral and intervention. Prospective studies are warranted.