Digital Commons Network^™

Peer Support For Stroke Survivors, Brooke Garfield

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

No abstract provided.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil: A Safety Assessment And Causality Evaluation Of Published Case Reports, Cecile Bascoul

Oxford ICSB

Eucalyptus essential oil (EO) and preparations containing eucalyptus EO have been used in traditional medicine for centuries for the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as cold, influenza and sinus congestion. Research, including clinical trials, has been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of eucalyptus alleviating symptoms of such conditions. However, eucalyptus EO and preparations with eucalyptus EO have also been associated with rare cases of CNS depression and seizures. The case reports reviewed showed evidence of CNS depression and/or seizure in patients from all ages (<1 to 74 year-old) with different doses of eucalyptus EO (0.18 mL to 1000 mL). Most of the adverse events were in children; some of them reacting to small doses (4 drops of EO or about 0.24 mL), ingested, inhaled or after topical application. Most children who developed seizures did not have a history of seizures before the event. The main constituent of eucalyptus EO is 1,8-cineole (about 65% to 84% 1,8 cineole for eucalyptus globulus EO, one of the most commonly used eucalyptus species in commercially available …

Effects Of A Novel Botanical Supplement On Glycemic Variability And Postprandial Glucose Response, Nicole Stevens

Oxford ICSB

Mulberry leaf extract high in the iminosugar 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has been shown in previous studies to inhibit glycosidase enzyme activity. A novel supplement including mulberry leaf extract, berberine and cinnamon extract was evaluated in a two-cohort study using endpoints of glycemic variability, postprandial glucose response, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and safety markers. In the first cohort (n=15), these endpoints were determined over two weeks by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and blood/urine analyses in healthy adults. Approximately half of the participants (n=7) took a dosage of 250 mg prior to each meal, and the other participants (n=8) took 500 mg before …

The Synthesis Of Potential Anti-Fungal Compounds, Evan Walda, Kevin Jantzi

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Fungal infections are very common throughout the world, but there is a lack of effective anti-fungal compounds. New anti-fungal compounds (e.g., D) are being developed to inhibit Methionine Synthase; an enzyme responsible for making the essential amino acid methionine. Previous investigations have shown that compounds containing the Pterin group demonstrated potential anti-fungal activity; however, it is challenging to synthesize these compounds because of insolubility and competition issues. To combat these issues, work is being conducted on adding the Pterin group at the end of the synthesis thereby bypassing the insolubility and competition issues. So far, the Boc Amine group (B) …

Independence In College Golf Scores, Caleb Vanarragon

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Two commonly-studied ideas in sports are the "hot hand" and "cold hand" phenomenon. The "hot hand" is when an athlete performs better than expected after a good outcome. For instance, a basketball player may be more likely to make a shot after making their two previous shots. In contrast, the "cold hand" is when an athlete performs worse than expected after a bad outcome. Both of these phenomena have been studied in a variety of sports including basketball and tennis, but only a couple of studies have examined their relation to golf. In golf, there is a widely-held idea that …

How Art Interpretation Preserves Memory: The Significance Of Historic Responses To A Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte (1884), Olivia Tambrini

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

This paper discusses how art interpretation preserves memory by reflecting upon several different interpretations of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884) by George Seurat. Throughout history, audiences have interpreted La Grande Jatte’s message and preserved its significance in their own way. Still, each memory has centered around and brought forth a feeling of harmony. This paper argues that the timeless, compelling nature and legacy of Seurat’s masterpiece demonstrates a powerful characteristic of our memories—their ability to simultaneously shift, change, and even contrast while still holding the innate emotion and significance embedded in our remembrances. These …

Description Of And Relationships Among Potential Variables Supported For The Diagnosis Of Delayed Ejaculation, Lijana Teague, Sarah Padilla

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The lack of empirically based diagnostic criteria for delayed ejaculation (DE) not only undermines confidence in the reported prevalence rates for this sexual dysfunction, but it has also resulted in a lack of validated patient reported outcomes (PROs) for assessing this condition. The current study was designed to describe and evaluate six face-valid variables previously shown to discriminate between men with and without DE for their utility as diagnostic measures for DE. A sample of 1285 men (mean age = 37.8, SD = 12.7) free of erectile problems and premature ejaculation completed an online sexual health survey that included potential …

The Effect Of Plastic Bags On Decomposition And Necrophagous Fly Composition, Kristi Bugajski, Maranda Powell, Kaylee Huyser

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Forensic entomology uses insects to help estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) based on blow fly colonization. The PMI provides an estimate of the time between death and discovery and is of extreme relevance due to its large role in forensic investigations. Nine fetal pigs were thawed from frozen 24 hours before the start of the experiment. Six fetal pigs were covered with plastic bags: three with thin plastic bags (average bag weight of 5.43 g) and three with thick plastic bags (average bag weight of 11.9 g). The remaining three pigs served as the control group. These pigs were placed …

The Art Of Museum Studies, Brianda Gonzalez

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Includes a brief description of the Collection, a summary of the tasks performed in internship, and photos of some objects and cabinets in the collection.

A Day In The Life Of A Cook County Juvenile Probation Intern!, Heaven Cunningham

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation briefly outlines the responsibilities I held as an intern with Cook County's Juvenile Probation Pre-Trial unit. It also lists some of the other opportunities I was granted as I worked as a case manager and mentor.

One Northside: Sji Presentation, Anna Alexander

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation was about my Social Justice Internship experience with ONE Northside.

Race And The Landscape Of Chicago Evictions, Jonathan Nerenberg

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project is creating a unique database that links all the properties in a landlord’s portfolio to the properties where they have filed evictions, allowing us to measure eviction rates within a landlord’s portfolio and analyze whether they are evicting at different rates in neighborhoods with different racial compositions. Preliminary analysis suggests that landlords with properties across different neighborhoods file more evictions as the percentage of Black residents in the neighborhood increases, and that this racial gap in evictions is more pronounced for landlords with larger portfolios.

The Contribution Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Severity To Nightmare-Based Dreams, Julianna Collazo Vargas

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Although there is minimal research on dream studies regarding people with ADHD, most people with ADHD report sleep problems affecting their daily lives. The lack of consistency in sleep can lead to poor health outcomes. To date, only the Schredl et al. 2016 study has examined nightmare experiences for people with ADHD without taking into consideration the comorbidity of PTSD symptoms. This study examines the influence of ADHD symptom severity on the occurrence of nightmare-based dreams while including PTSD symptoms as a covariate, seeing as nightmares are a part of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Cybersecurity Experiential Scholarship Program, Madeline Moran, Kenneth Hernandez, Erin Robertson, Nathan Farrell, Amy Kuhl

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Loyola University Chicago received a grant for $25,000 from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions, to support the Cybersecurity Experiential Scholars Program within the College of Arts and Sciences. Through this grant, Loyola supported five undergraduate students as they study, perform research, and explore potential careers in cybersecurity with faculty in Loyola’s Department of Computer Science and the Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy. Loyola’s cybersecurity program earned designation in 2020 as a National Security Agency / Department of Homeland Security National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education through 2025. “Cybersecurity is a critical aspect …

Private Enterprise & Peace: Crime & Rehabilitation In Urban Chicago, Michael Clausen

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Efforts to end conflict worldwide have included sustained investments in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR). Nevertheless, while analysts have discussed the factors that contribute to successful DDR programs and the macro conditions that facilitate successful peacebuilding, there is limited information known surrounding the factors that account for successful reintegration at the microlevel. This project considers the impact of private sector investment on peacebuilding through community organizations and focuses on analyzing DDR from an economic perspective. This examination will offer a case study on the various tools that facilitate ex-combatant return to civilian life, from Colombia’s FARC to Chicago gangs.

Hinduism Iskcon, Emily Gahgan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

I went to ISKCON for my engaged learning class and this presentation is a summary of what I learned

Identifying Participant Roles In Cyberbullying Through Hierarchical Attention Networks, Patrick Furman

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Cyberbullying is a widespread form of online harassment with serious negative consequences for victims. In a cyberbullying instance, participants can be classified as harassers, victims, or bystanders. Identifying the roles of participants in cyberbullying instances can facilitate more effective intervention in these instances. We propose a hierarchical attention network to automatically classify the roles of users in cyberbullying conversations on ASKfm, a social media platform where users can ask and answer questions anonymously. Our model combines word, sub-sentence, and sentence-level attention mechanisms to represent the structure of posts on the ASKfm platform and capture relevant features for classification.

Redesigning Transfer Set For Peritoneal Dialysis, Jaad Arafat, Sharf Abutaleb, Chris Castillo, Peter Saba

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Loyola engineering students have developed a new transfer set prototype with the sponsorship of Baxter to aid the over 38 million people worldwide undergoing peritoneal dialysis for end-stage kidney disease. The redesigned prototype has a new clamp that will help elderly patients and those with low dexterity to easily engage and disengage the clamp, improving flow mechanics in the transfer set during treatment.

49th Ward Internship Experience, Zoe Ashcraft

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

In my presentation, I detail my internship in the 49th Ward. In the office, I see a wide range of responsibilities. I primarily work the front desk - answering all the calls that the office gets along with helping anyone who stops by the office in person. Each concern is unique. In the office, we describe it as each concern being a puzzle. We think and adapt to each situation in order to solve it.

Interactions Displayed By Burkholderia Cenocepacia Morphotypes When Grown In Mixed Cultures, Milan Patel

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly forms biofilms in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The bacteria's unique morphotypes, including studded, ruffed spreader, and wrinkly, have been shown to differ in fitness, biofilm production, and other characteristics. However, it is unclear how these different strains interact in mixed cultures. In this study, we aim to assess the interactions between morphologically different B. cenocepacia strains in mixed cultures and determine if they may exhibit a synergistic or antagonistic relationship. Our results may shed light on the interactions that underlying B. cenocepacia morphotypes display when grown in mixed culture.

Simulations Of The Interactions Of Acetaminophen And Various Co-Crystallites, Lauren Thompson

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

To optimize the dissolution of drug molecules, various co-crystallites can be added to the molecule. We studied the interactions between acetaminophen and a variety of co-crystallites that alter the aggregation and dissolution of the crystalline form, specifically the co-crystals of citrate and oxalate. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we observed how these various structures of acetaminophen form in water, as well as how they formed in a vacuum. Furthermore, we placed these molecules in a virtual box and observed how the crystal structure dissolved. We will use this data to predict the interactions and relative dissolution rates of these molecules.

The Influence Of Artificial Turf Increasing Knee Joint Injuries Compared To Natural Grass, Lily Farrell

Academic Festival

Artificial turf increases knee joint injuries in sport at a greater rate than natural grass. Important to consider as artificial turf becomes more popular in sporting facilities due to the reduced cost and maintenance compared to grass. Increase in injury rate is due to surface stiffness and increased shoe-surface traction. Sport injuries affect athletes physical and mental with the financial burden and impacts their perceived quality of life.

Student Athletes And Access To Mental Health Resources On A College Campus, Maria Gambino

Academic Festival

Student athletes are often subjected to a great deal of pressure as they try to carefully balance academic studies with sporting commitments. The transition from high school to college is a stressful time for any student; however, student athletes are confronted with a comparably unique stress as they are expected to succeed in both academic and sport settings with little time for adjustment. To ease this transition for these young adults, college campuses should implement mental health resources that are specifically catered to student athletes. These resources can be used to specifically help student-athletes manage the unique pressures and stress …

Neuromodulation Of The Default Mode Network Enhances Forward Flow: A Three Study Review, Diego Capetillo

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Creative cognition has been correlated, through previous research, with activity of the default mode network and executive control network. Using three multisite and double-blinded studies, we investigated the impact of both transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS) on creativity. Study 1 (N=108) resulted in enhanced forward flow performance in those receiving tDCS to the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) compared to sham stimulation. Study 2 (N=36) found that alpha-tACS to the PCC increased forward flow performance compared to sham stimulation. In Study 3 (N=13), we are attempting to replicate forward flow effects by utilizing tDCS, tACS, and sham stimulation.

Developmental Internship At Misericordia, Kishan Patel

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My synopsis of the experiences I have had throughout my time as an intern and the projects I was able to work on as a result. Additionally, includes my reflection and motivations in pursuing the internship initially. Lastly, my gratitude for the program and the opportunities gained as a result.

The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Supply Chain And Quality Of Botanical Ingredients, Stefan Gafner

Oxford ICSB

Examples from the past show that a supply chain disruption, or a series of such disruptions, generates sudden spikes in consumer demand, and that abrupt, unplanned changes to the supply and demand in botanical materials lead to an increase in adulteration and fraud. When this happens due to simultaneous interruptions of numerous ingredients based on a global pandemic, as in the case of COVID-19, it is predictable that unscrupulous suppliers and sellers of botanical ingredients will attempt to take advantage of supply shortages by manufacturers of herbal medicines and dietary supplements to sell them lower-quality or sometimes adulterated materials.

Among …

Immulina Enhances Host Resilience Against Influenza Virus-Induced Illness In A Prodromal Mouse Model: Part B – Changes In Viral Load And Clinical Signs Of Infection, Kashif Shamim, Tahir Mir

Oxford ICSB

The University of Mississippi Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center is performing research on the potential use of Limnospira (formally Arthrospira) to enhance resilience against influenza viral infection. Limnospira is a cyanobacterium that has been used as a food for centuries and more recently as a popular health supplement. A commercial extract called Immulina has been developed that concentrates the level of immunomodulatory activity due to Braun-type lipoproteins – compounds that activate immune pathways through a toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-dependent mechanism. Although oral ingestion of Immulina has been reported to exhibit a protective effect against subsequent H1N1 influenza A (IfA) …

Blind Fighter – A Video Game For The Visually Impaired, Avery Wayne Harrah

ATU Scholars Symposium

Blind Fighter is a video game made to be playable by anyone, regardless of any visual impairments the player may have. The game relies on auditory queues to allow players to understand what is happening in the game without ever having to see the screen. The project’s goal is to serve as a proof of concept that video games can be made inclusive with a few additions during development, without sacrificing overall quality. To do this, the game features full graphics in addition to testing many strategies for visually impaired players, including direction-based audio, unique sound effects for each game …

Crime Prediction Using Machine Learning: The Case Of The City Of Little Rock, Zurab Sabakhtarishvili, Sijan Panday, Clayton Jensen

ATU Scholars Symposium

Crime is a severe problem in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. In this study, we aim to develop a machine-learning model to predict criminal activities in the city and provide insights into crime patterns. We will analyze publicly available crime datasets from Little Rock Police Department from January 2017 to March 2023 to identify trends and patterns in crime occurrence. We used data cleaning and exploratory data analysis techniques, such as figured-based visualizations, to prepare the data for machine learning. We will employ the Neural Prophet, a time-series machine learning model, to predict daily crime counts. The model will …

Recent Developments In Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Drones, Seyed Mohammad Sanjari Pirmahalleh

ATU Scholars Symposium

Hydrogen fuel cells have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional batteries for powering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. In recent years, there has been a significant amount of research and development in hydrogen fuel cell powered drones, with several successful demonstrations and commercial deployments. This research provides a comprehensive review of the recent developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology for UAVs and the current state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell powered drones. The research first discusses the advantages of using hydrogen fuel cells in drones, such as higher energy density, longer flight time, and lower environmental impact. It …