Digital Commons Network^™

Community-Based Learning Experiences Of Graduate Education Students Within Applied Statistics And Science: Emerging Insights, Carla J. Thompson, Sandra B. Davis

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Integrating community-based learning in graduate education programs is an emerging trend in the United States. This study examined community engagement in graduate educational statistics and science education using four procedures: (1) defining a conceptual framework aligned with National Standards for Community Engagement; (2) examining 10 community-based learning applications from graduate education programs in statistics and science relative to standards; (3) determining specific emerging characteristics of community-based learning; and (4) providing insights for graduate education programs.

Mentoring Incarcerated Youth: A Community-Based Learning Experience, Mitzi Lowe, Nancy Nisbett

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Recognizing the importance of university and community partnerships to address social issues, a mentoring program was implemented on a juvenile justice campus (JJC). A collaborative effort between a regional Hispanic-serving university, the county probation department, and a non-profit agency resulted in the development and implementation of a mentoring program with incarcerated youth. Students assisted in the development and implementation of the mentoring program, which incorporated life skills development, violence prevention, financial planning, parenting groups, needs assessments, and meditation. Student perceptions of their experience were explored using qualitative research methods. Educational benefits, the importance of collaboration, and the relationship between self-efficacy …

A User-Friendly Guide To Intergenerational Service Learning, Denise C. Lewis, Desiree M. Seponski

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article describes and provides a timeline for establishing an intergenerational service learning (ISL) program, the Friendly Visitors Program (FVP). The nationally recognized FVP has grown to about 100 students visiting approximately 200 elders each semester in more than 10 different facilities ranging from an adult day center to a small, rural assisted living facility. This article provides a timeline, textbooks, forms, and journal questions so that other scholars can replicate the FVP with ease.

Community-Based Learning And Social Capital: Exploring Student Attitudes And Perceptions Of Connectedness To Campus And Diverse Communities, August John Hoffman

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community service activities, civic engagement, and volunteer services have been identified as key elements in improving how individuals relate and communicate with each other in society. Social capital also has been described as a highly useful form of social networking that empowers community members to collectively use each other as potential resources. The current study explored how participants from non-traditional backgrounds (i.e., ethnicity, culture, and age) completed a variety of interethnic community service activities. We hypothesized that increased exposure with members of diverse ethnic groups through community service activities would show reductions in ethnocentric attitudes and also show increases in …

Serve At Your Own Risk?: Service-Learning In The Promotion And Tenure Process, Jacquelyn B. Frank, Mark Malaby, Laura Raidonis Bates, Marcie Coulter-Kern, Sheron Fraser-Burgess, J. R. Jamison, Linda Stalker Prokopy, Nathan A. Schaumleffel

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Pre-tenure faculty integrating service-learning into their professional roles are often uncertain about its position in the faculty reward system. This study gathered data from administrators at five institutions of higher education in Indiana to learn if and how service-learning is credited toward tenure and promotion at their institutions. The results point to the need for junior faculty members and administrators to be cautious when implementing and evaluating service-learning initiatives.

Retracted: Idea Density And Grammatical Complexity As Neurocognitive Markers, Diego Iacono, Gloria Feltis

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Language, a uniquely human cognitive faculty, is fundamentally characterized by its capacity for complex thoughts and structured expressions. This review examines two critical measures of linguistic performance: idea density (ID) and grammatical complexity (GC). ID quantifies the richness of information conveyed per unit of language, reflecting semantic efficiency and conceptual processing. GC, conversely, measures the structural sophistication of syntax, indicative of hierarchical organization and rule-based operations. We explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these measures, identifying key brain regions and white matter pathways involved in their generation and comprehension. This includes linking ID to a distributed network of semantic hubs, like …

Engaging The Somali Diaspora: A Case Study Of One Agency’S Community Programming Approach, Farhia Abdi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This case study investigates how a local community agency engages with the Somali diaspora to design and implement culturally responsive services, such as the Settlement and Integration Program. It also explores the potential of fostering meaningful dialogue with community members to inform the development of culturally sensitive programming. The research question guiding this study was developed by findings from previous research, which highlighted the significance of community engagement, sustained dialogue, and the necessity for agencies to design clearly defined programs. These programs should prioritize active participation from community members in both the creation and implementation of tailored initiatives.

A Scoping Review On Childhood Immunization Reminder Strategies Available To Parents In North America, Matilda Anim-Larbi, Vivian Puplampu, Sithokozile Maposa, Akram Mahani, Mary Chipanshi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objective: The scoping review protocol will be used to map out the immunization reminder strategies for parents’ literature to identify the effectiveness of these approaches in improving childhood vaccination uptake.

Introduction: Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to cause morbidity and mortality despite the introduction of childhood immunizations^1,2, with recent media alerts showing a surge of common childhood vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles³. Parents can play a pivotal role in ensuring their children receive vaccinations when due^4,5,6. However, effective immunization reminders could assist parents who forget or miss the immunization schedules for their children.

Inclusion criteria: The review …

Minutes Of Graduate College Committee On Curricula, September 19, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate Curriculum Committee.

Minutes - Graduate Curriculum Committee

Minutes of the committee that oversees the development of the curriculum of the University of Northern Iowa Graduate Studies.

Loneliness, Technology, And Culture: Insights From Older Chinese Immigrants’ Experiences, Shao-Yun Chien, Oleg Zaslavsky, Basia Belza, Annie T. Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Loneliness and social isolation significantly impact the well-being of older adults, particularly immigrants from minority groups. Chinese immigrants are the third-largest immigrant group in the United States and may encounter unique challenges related to loneliness and social isolation due to life transitions. The prevalence of loneliness among older Chinese immigrants is 26%, significantly higher than in the broader aging population. Despite information and communication technology (ICT) interventions developed to address these issues, their effectiveness remains unclear, possibly due to neglecting the subjective nature of loneliness and the diverse backgrounds of participants, including racial and cultural differences.

Research Purpose: This …

Dementia As A Critical Lens On The Role Of Narrative In Medical Training And Practice, Erin Gentry Lamb

Faculty Scholarship

Narrative holds an important place within medicine and medical education, but an uncritical use of narrative can have troubling consequences for the care of patients who have limited or no capacity for self-narration, such as those living with dementia. We argue that the guiding principles in the use of narrative within medicine and medical education must be inclusivity and opportunity. We illustrate how medical training can benefit from a more inclusive definition of narrative, and we present a selection of innovative approaches to narrative coming out of literary studies, narrative gerontology, and medical and health humanities that focus on metaphor, …

Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment (Ema) Tool To Collect Momentary Psychological Data From Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment (Mci): A Feasibility And Acceptability Study., Rose Lin

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

Using a user-centered approach, the specific aim is to develop a feasible and acceptable smartphone-based EMA protocol to collect real-time psychological data, including momentary emotions, perceived stress levels, and environmental stressors from individuals with MCI in their everyday environments. Such a tool is a crucial step that enables testing of the theoretical framework underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in MCI, a significant and prevalent risk factor known to speed up progression to dementia. We will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this tool by examining adherence metrics (completion rate, compliance rate, response latency, number of technical support requests), and conducting qualitative …

Inside Wamh, January 2008, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

West Allis Memorial Hospital, West Allis, WI: Inside WAMH is a monthly newsletter for employees, volunteers, and guests of the hospital. This issue has a feature on Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE).

Inside Awamc, September 2009, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Aurora West Allis Medical Center, West Allis, WI: Inside AWAMC is a monthly newsletter for employees, volunteers, and guests of the hospital. This issue announces the hospital was recognized by Press Ganey Associates for patient loyalty.

Human Origin Probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Hl-200 To Reduce Leaky Gut By Metabolizing Ethanolamine, Hariom Yadav, Shalini Jain, Sidharth Mishra

USF Patents

The present disclosure provides for a method of treating increased gut permeability, including administering a therapeutically effective amount of a human-derived probiotic to a patient in need thereof. Further provided herein is a method of increasing a patient's metabolism of ethanolamine, including administering a therapeutically effective amount of human derived probiotics to the patient in need thereof. Also provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition, including a first strain of Lactobacillus and a second probiotic strain. The present disclosure also provides for a pharmaceutical composition, including Lactobacillus and an antidiabetic drug. Additionally, provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition, including Lactobacillus and …

Budget Tradeoffs Shape Food Insecurity Among U.S. Older Adults, Madonna Harrington Meyer, Colleen M. Heflin

Population Health Research Brief Series

For low-income older adults, it may be difficult to meet basic needs on a fixed monthly income. Stretching resources can be difficult, especially if unexpected expenses arise, leading many older adults to face difficult budget tradeoffs. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief summarizes how budget tradeoffs between food and other essential expenses—housing, utilities, medical care, transportation, and personal and cleaning supplies—shape food insecurity among older adults.

Increasing Access To Substance Use Disorder Treatment Through Interdisciplinary Education, Noah Weatherton, Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, Natalie Hoge, Batoul Abdulsater

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The opioid and SUD epidemic drives a need to dramatically increase treatment opportunities, yet there is a dearth of practitioners who feel comfortable and competent in this area. And there are not enough specialists. To address this, we have developed an elective, online, asynchronous course for Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, Social Work, and Public Health housed within a DNP program at UW School of Nursing. Course content includes concepts of trauma-informed practice (and education), stigma, etc., and are woven throughout the course. Use of telehealth simulation scenarios served to prepare students for therapeutic patient interactions and to practice skills of motivational …

Managing Dementia Behavioral Symptoms: Informal Caregivers’ Experience And Needs, Modupe Adewuyi, Xinyue Zhang, Lota Iwuagwu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Eighty-three percent of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (Pw-ADRD) rely on informal caregivers—mainly family and friends—for at-home care. In 2023, over 11 million dementia caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at $346.6 billion [1]. Although there is a wealth of literature on the roles of dementia informal caregivers, there is little data on their ability to manage the behavioral symptoms experienced by approximately 90% of Pw-ADRD [1], as well as the resources they utilize for support [2]. These symptoms have been positively correlated with functional and cognitive impairment leading to earlier placement …

A Dual-Layered Pythagorean Neutrosophic And Partial Locality Framework For Emotionally Adaptive Furniture Product Design Based On Elderly User Perception, Mingyan Yang

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Storytelling On Nursing Student Engagement And Patient Perceived Empathy, Catherine Quay

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Evidence has shown that engaging, immersive learning experiences that promote the understanding of another person are most effective at improving empathy in nursing students (Bas-Sarmiento et al., 2020; Cho & Kim, 2024; Levett-Jones et al., 2019). There is a lack of evidence, though, related to the clinical significance of these learning experiences on patient perception of empathy. This study examined the effect of storytelling through an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention on nursing student engagement and patient-perceived empathy.

Methods: Guided by Transportation Theory (Green & Brock, 2000), a quasi-experimental comparison group, posttest design was used. Participants included 60 second-degree, …

Severe Hyponatremia Presenting With Mild Symptoms And Multifactorial Etiology, Nathaniel Lin, Muhammad Cheema, Usman Fahim, Abdullah Ali, Andrew Weber

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance; however, serum sodium level of 99 mEq/L without severe symptoms or known duration is rare and noteworthy. We report a case of an 87-year-old female who presented with fatigue, decreased appetite, and mild emesis for the past 2 days in which blood work revealed a serum sodium level 99 mEq/L. The etiology of hyponatremia in an elderly patient may be complex due to higher likelihood of co-morbid medical conditions. Additionally, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can pose a diagnostic challenge as fewer than 50% of patients have typical lab results that confirm the …

2025 September 12 - Academic, Research And Student Success Committee Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Divorced After Age 50: What Gray Divorced Women Can Do To Move Forward, Sheri Duvall

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Intergenerational Programs: Reducing Loneliness Of Older Adults In Congregate Care Settings, Rachel Elaine Bagley, Yolanda Rodriguez, Jacelyn Tappert

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Loneliness is an increasingly recognized public health issue, especially among the elderly, where it contributes to the decline in both physical and mental health (WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2024). In the geriatric population, loneliness is associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, falls, and overall mortality (Holt-Lunstad, et al. 2015; Millett et al., 2024; National Institute on Ageing, 2019). Loneliness in congregate care settings is often exacerbated by residents' loss of physical mobility, death of spouses, removal of the individual from their neighborhood and community, and reduced autonomy. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these issues, reducing …

Policy Recommendations To Reduce Old Age Food Insecurity In The United States, Colleen M. Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Center for Policy Research

In 2023, 7.4 million adults ages 60 and over in the United States were food insecure. As the number of older people at risk of food insecurity in the U.S. continues to rise, effective policy responses are critical. The current policy responses to old age food insecurity are complex, costly, and not nearly effective enough.

Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief summarizes five policy recommendations to improve food insecurity among U.S. older adults. The authors recommend measuring food security in multidimensional ways, treating food insecurity as a health issue, adopting SNAP …

Longitudinal Associations Of Epigenetic Aging With Cognitive Aging In Hispanic/Latino Adults From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Myriam Fornage, Wassim Tarraf, Rui Xia, Adriana Ordonez, Tamar Sofer, Freddie Márquez, Bharat Thyagarajan, Gregory A Talavera, Linda C Gallo, Charles Decarli, Hector M González

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Due to the paucity of longitudinal DNA methylation data (DNAm), especially among Hispanic/Latino adults, the association between changes in epigenetic clocks over time and cognitive aging phenotypes has not been investigated. This longitudinal study included 2671 Hispanic/Latino adults (57 years; 66% women) with blood DNAm data and neurocognitive function assessed at two visits ~7 years apart. We evaluated the associations of 5 epigenetic clocks and their between-visit change with multiple measures of cognitive aging that included a global and domain-specific cognitive function score at each visit, between-visit change in global and domain-specific cognitive function score, and MCI diagnosis at visit …

Leveraging Resources For A Safety Net Hospital Through Academic Practice Partnerships, Sharon Stahl Wexler, Kathleen Karsten, Susan Iovino, Lin J. Drury, Vivekanand Singh, Robert Pryce

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This project describes the collaboration of a safety net hospital with two academic partners (a private University and a Community College). Safety net hospitals strive to provide high quality care and achieve positive patient outcomes in a resource constrained environment.

This innovative model, based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing/American Organization of Nurse Leaders statement on Academic Practice Partnerships assists in achieving this goal. Nurse scientists are registered nurses with advanced education and expertise in nursing research, who advance nursing practice. Two PhD prepared Nurse Scientists, who are employed by both the hospital and their respective universities, collaborate …

How Is Food Insecurity Measured In The United States And What Share Of Older Adults Are Food Insecure?, Colleen M. Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Population Health Research Brief Series

The U.S. Department of Agriculture measures food insecurity based on whether households had problems affording food during the last twelve months. Based on the current definition, in 2023 9.2% of households with adults ages 60 and older were food insecure. But there are many problems with the existing definition for accurately capturing food insecurity among older adults.

Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief summarizes those limitations, noting that existing measures do not account for barriers that are common among older adults, such as mobility, physical distance, and transportation barriers.

Identifying Barriers And Place-Based Solutions To Physical Activity For Older Adults In East Tennessee, Lydia Hoskins, Jodi Southerland

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Older adults in East Tennessee (TN), the fastest growing demographic, face significant health challenges, with 44% reporting four or more chronic conditions. The state ranks 45th in physical inactivity among older adults, exacerbating chronic disease risks, fall-related injuries, and mental health issues. Urban-rural disparities in East TN further complicate efforts to promote active living, particularly for rural residents.

Purpose: This qualitative study explored socioecological barriers and solutions to increase physical activity (PA).

Methods: In April 2024, two focus group were conducted in East TN, with a total of 11 participants composed of six community partners and five older adults. …

The Influence Of Social Determinants Of Health And Diet Quality On Symptom Experiences In Patients With Colorectal Cancer, Youran Lee

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

This study aimed to:

1. Identify subgroups in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with distinct symptom profiles,
2. Examine the association between SDOH characteristics and distinct symptom profiles in patients with colorectal cancer, and
3. Determine if diet quality acts as a mediator between social determinants of health variables and distinct symptom profiles.