Digital Commons Network^™

Court Reform And State Constitutions, Bryna Godar, Miriam Seifter

Northwestern University Law Review

State legislatures regularly propose and enact laws that seek to shape the substantive outcomes of state courts. These maneuvers, including court-packing, jurisdiction-stripping, and more creative changes to judicial selection or authority, would amount to legal earthquakes at the federal level. At the state level, these efforts often receive virtually no attention.

This Essay brings the potent category of outcome-shaping state court reform measures into focus and evaluates it as a question of state constitutional law. We argue that state constitutions, organized around principles of popular sovereignty, do not bar measures that align state courts with popular preferences or the public’s …

Textual (In)Difference In State Search-And-Seizure Provisions, Quinn Yeargain

Northwestern University Law Review

Over the past 250 years, state constitutional drafters have refined the scope of rights and liberties protected by their constitutions’ texts. Today, all state constitutions include a search-and-seizure provision—and though only a minority follow the layout, text, and context of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, most of them bear a striking resemblance to it. However, textual variations abound. Some of them may seem minor, like using the word “possessions” instead of “effects,” or mandating that warrants describe their intended targets “as nearly as may be” instead of requiring that they “particularly describ[e]” them. But others, like the addition …

Geduldig's Footnote: Five-Plus Decades Of State Courts Reckoning With Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Doctrine, Martha F. Davis

Northwestern University Law Review

In Geduldig v. Aiello (1974), the U.S. Supreme Court held that pregnancy discrimination does not constitute sex discrimination. The decision’s constitutional logic has recently been applied in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and United States v. Skrmetti. Yet over five decades, state courts have overwhelmingly rejected Geduldig’s rationale—both in construing state employment discrimination statutes and in interpreting state constitutional equality provisions. Courts in at least sixteen states have rejected Geduldig’s rationale in construing state employment discrimination laws, while only four states have followed it. Of the ten states with Equal Rights Amendments that have addressed whether …

State Constitutionalism's Fragile Wall, Adam B. Sopko

Northwestern University Law Review

The adequate and independent state grounds (AISG) doctrine has long demarcated the perimeter of the U.S. Supreme Court’s authority to review state court decisions, limiting review to questions of federal law. AISG maintains the Court’s primacy over federal law and state courts’ supremacy over state law. A comprehensive review of all filings on the Court’s docket from state courts over the last twenty years reveals that recent applications of AISG consist of subtle but significant departures from existing norms that, together, suggest a reformulation of the Court’s power over state courts that threatens their sovereign law development role. This Essay …

State Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosure Laws And The Dormant Commerce Clause: Leveraging The State Interest In Protecting Residents From Deception To Pass The Pike Balancing Test, Matthew Macphail

Northwestern University Law Review

Misleading corporate claims about greenhouse gas emissions pose a high risk of consumer deception, as there is currently no uniform federal standard governing how companies must measure or disclose those emissions. Without a national regulatory scheme, firms can selectively report, use inconsistent methodologies, or market vague “carbon neutral” claims, making it difficult for consumers to assess accuracy or compare companies’ representations.

In 2023, California introduced legislation requiring companies doing business in the state to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to bring transparency to this area. But such state-level mandates face a constitutional obstacle: the Dormant Commerce Clause, …

Alport Syndrome In Children: Bridging Genetic Insights To Clinical Management—A Narrative Review, Shawn Iqbal, Halima Saadia Janjua

Student Publications

Background and Objective: Alport syndrome is a hereditary disorder of type IV collagen that commonly presents in childhood with persistent hematuria and carries a lifelong risk of progressive kidney disease and extrarenal complications. Despite advances in genetic diagnostics, important gaps remain in early risk stratification, variant interpretation, and recognition of expanding phenotypes. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the genetic architecture, clinical spectrum, and management of pediatric Alport syndrome, with a focus on early diagnosis and disease-modifying interventions.

Methods: A targeted literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE to identify English-language human studies published between January 2000 and …

Health Promotion In Tertiary Music Institutions: A Position Paper, Raluca Matei, B. Ackermann, J. Allen, U. Alpagut, K. Ananda-Owens, L. S. Araújo, R. Arnold, K. Árnason, T. Babyak, M. Baroody, F. Barreto Kochem, S. Bastepe-Gray, K. Behel, K. R. Beuschau, M. Bidlack, C. Blouin, A. Bull, A. Bush, S. Callan-Harris, K. Chesky, J-Y. Chi, R. Chiu, V. Cornett, M. Cortesi, S. Couth, A. Détári, U. Devadas, M. Doğantan-Dack, S. Dunbar, G. Ege

School of Health Professions

Health promotion in tertiary music education lacks shared guidance despite rising concern for musicians’ well-being. This position paper addresses that gap with a consensus-based, evidence-informed framework developed by 122 contributors across six continents and a variety of disciplines, including musicians and student representatives. It advances a broad understanding of health—physical, psychological, social, cultural, and occupational—and positions health promotion as integral to musicking rather than an add-on. We offer seven adaptable recommendations for institutions: (1) Reframe musicianship through health-informed cultural transformation; (2) Transform institutional culture and governance; (3) Collaborate across disciplines and expertise; (4) Equip educators, leaders, and staff to promote …

Analysis Of The Determinants Of Buy-Now-Pay-Later Payment Mode Among Malaysians In Klang Valley, Wai Zhi Tay, Chi Hau Tan

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service has become increasingly popular in Malaysia in recent years, especially in the Klang Valley. The BNPL service offers consumers a more convenient payment method and access to credit, raising concerns about increased household debt and financial vulnerability. In this study, this paper used financial literacy, perceived risk, credit attitude, and economic vulnerability to examine which factors influence the intention to use the BNPL payment mode. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is used to explain the factors influencing consumers’ intention to use BNPL services. This study adopts a quantitative research design and collects …

Dividend Yield Modelling And Forecasting Under The Wilkie Investment Model With Inflation Effects: Evidence From Malaysia, Ilya Adlina Abd Halim, Norizarina Ishak, Siti Raihana Hamzah, Ahmad Fadly Nurullah Rasedee

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study uses the Wilkie Investment Model in the context of the Malaysian stock exchange, incorporating inflation as a significant factor in explaining investment behavior in line with local economic conditions. Although the Wilkie model is broadly utilised in actuarial science and has been assessed in many developed countries, its use in emerging markets such as Malaysia is still limited. Based on historical data from Malaysia, both the dividend yield and inflation series were revealed to be stationary using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test. Therefore, the series is applicable for time series analysis. The study used Malaysian data to estimate …

Non-State Actors And The Due Diligence Obligation To Protect Healthcare Facilities In Cyberspace: Is The World Prepared For The Next Pandemic?, Dr. Ardit Memeti

Pace International Law Review

This article presents a novel approach by developing a lex specialis due diligence framework based on the elements identified in the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, which by analogy, establishes sector-specific elements to protect healthcare facilities from cyberattacks by Non-State Actors (NSAs). Cyberattacks by NSAs during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks, including the disruption of essential healthcare services and hindrance of positive obligations to ensure the rights to health, life, and privacy, among others. Existing instruments, including the Budapest Convention, the Tallinn Manuals, and the Oxford Statements, offer an important but incomplete framework. Meanwhile, the recent UN Convention …

The Influence Of Garden Interventions On Consumer Survivors' Food Security: An Integrative Review, Robin D. Coatsworth-Puspoky, Elsabeth Jensen, Betty Edwards, Mabeth Placido, Robbie-Lynn Coatsworth Puspoky, Rae-Anna Puspoky

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Psychiatric consumer/survivors (PC/Ss) are at risk of not having access to enough food and food of sufficient quality due to being on low and fixed incomes (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2023). Adequate amounts of nutritious foods are necessary for health and well-being (Smith et al., 2023). Gardening may be used by PC/S organizations to improve access to and quality of food, health, and healing.

Purpose: To synthesize and evaluate primary empirical evidence related to PC/Ss experiences with garden interventions and how strategies influence health and well-being.

Research Design: An integrative review methodology (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005) will be …

Effects Of A Resilience-Focused Parenting Program In Childhood Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Yuna Shao, Ting Zhong, Aaron Wan Jia He, William Ho Cheung Li, Li Zhou, Ziqin Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Caring for a child with cancer significantly impacts parents' psychological well-being [1]. Following diagnosis, parents face substantial adjustment challenges with high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress [2]. Although parents report extensive unmet supportive care needs, few effective approaches exist. Parental resilience, a modifiable determinant, can improve parental psychological well-being, parenting, and indirectly, child outcomes [3]. However, no rigorously developed, theory-based intervention targeting parental resilience exists in mainland China.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a parent-focused, resilience-based intervention (face-to-face or online) for Chinese parents of children aged 7-14 years newly diagnosed with childhood cancer, guided by the UK …

Validation And Expansion Of The Hiv Care Adherence Journey Model: A Mixed Methods Research, Ryan Quintero De Torres, Floreliz V. Ngaya-An, Don Operario, Susan Cu-Uvin, Laurence Lloyd Parial, Josefina A. Tuazon

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Previous models examined the cause-and-effect relationships of select constructs affecting HIV care and treatment adherence,^1,2 which may not reflect the complex, multidimensional nature of persons with HIV’s (PWH) care adherence in real-world settings, especially in the Philippines, with one of the highest rates of HIV and AIDS cases globally.³ The HIV Care Adherence Journey (HCAJ) Model⁴ presents four domains on PWH’s care adherence in relation to individual, social, and healthcare system characteristics. The present study aimed to validate this model by describing and comparing PWH’s perceived care adherence journey and adherence behaviors, and examining patterns in PWH’s …

Ngo & Us/Kenyan Academic Multidisciplinary Teams Mitigate Climate Health Impacts For Hiv+ Women, Laura L. Van Auker, Stephen J. Cavanagh, Janet Meda, Charleen Singh, Miriam Carole Atieno Wagoro, Mariana Omenda

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This reports a 25-year case demonstration of a Kenyan-based NGO founded by an American RN in response to the life-threats for HIV+ widows and their children in Kenya. Initially providing AIDS medication, food, shelter and structured skills training for economic development and support for keeping their children in school, the program now provides interdisciplinary care by the program primary physician and social worker, agronomist and community support from program graduates. Long-standing academic partnership with a US University models APRN team-based care medical volunteers, later adding Kenyan University nursing faculty and students for mobile medical camps. Health data collection/analytics supports improved …

Facilitators And Barriers To Alarm Management In Icu: A Qualitative Systematic Review Using Cfir, Jiayi Wang, Yitong Mao, Zhiting Guo, Yuping Zhang, Jingfen Jin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

A literature search of four English-language databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library) and three Chinese-language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, VIP Database). Studies from inception to October 1 2025 published in English or Chinese using qualitative or mixed methods to explore alarm management practices in intensive care units were included. Based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) 1, data were synthesized by classifying influencing factors into the five domains and 48 constructs. Key domains and factors were identified through frequency analysis across and within domains. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment was used …

Nursing De-Escalation Interventions And Aggression Outcomes Using Dasa-Iv In Medical–Surgical Units, Suzanne Gervase, Heather A. Shirk, Felicia Markwordt, Theodore Bell, Bruno Saconi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study evaluated whether nursing de-escalation interventions implemented during routine care reduce subsequent aggression risk and aggressive behaviors among hospitalized adults on medical-surgical units.
Background: Violence toward healthcare personnel is increasingly common beyond traditional high-risk settings. Guidance encourages pairing validated aggression-risk assessments with risk-responsive, evidence-based interventions. However, evidence supporting such approaches in medical-surgical units remain limited, despite rising global attention to workforce safety.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 277,221 Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) assessments from six hospitals collected between March and December 2024. Descriptive statistics characterized intervention use across DASA-IV risk levels. Time-lagged linear mixed-effects …

Patterns Of Maternal Role Adaptation Among Chinese Postpartum Women: A Latent Profiles Approach, Feiyan Yi, Liping Ren, Sukhee Ahn, Xinxiang Dong, Guijun Liu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Becoming a mother is a major developmental transition involving psychological, social, and behavioral adaptation, marking both identity reconstruction and changes in family dynamics [1-2], also influences infant development [3]. Existing studies in China mainly examine associations between Maternal role adaptation (MRA) and related variables, with limited attention to intra-group heterogeneity. This study applied latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify distinct MRA patterns and influencing factors among postpartum women.

Purpose: To explore latent subgroups of maternal role adaptation among Chinese postpartum women and identify associated sociodemographic, psychological, and social determinants.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 500 postpartum women (4–6 months …

Exploring Nurse Managers' Experiences In Integrating Internationally Educated Nurses In Ontario, Naseem Issani, Sue Bookey-Bassett, Sherry Espin, Alyssa Indar, Elaine Santa Mina

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) reported significant growth in 2025, with IENs now comprising over 53% of all new Registered Nurses (RNs) registrations. As successful IEN integration is complex and influenced by managerial actions, this study is grounded in the understanding that integration must be a two-way process, requiring adaptation from both the IEN and the receiving organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore nurse managers' experiences in integrating IENs into acute care settings in Ontario.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of 20 nurse managers in Ontario acute care settings regarding …

Co-Design The “Foryou” Mhealth Survivorship Program With Colorectal Cancer Survivors, Do Pham Nhat Vi, Nguyen Thi Que Tran, Hoang Thi Xuan Huong, Zhou Shishuang, Wong Cho Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Despite advancements in early detection and treatment that have improved colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates, post-treatment experiences often leave unmet needs that affect health-related quality of life. There is a pressing need for scalable approaches to provide care support for survivors who have completed primary treatment. This study aimed to involve CRC survivors and healthcare professionals in designing a mobile app named FORYOU. The co-design methodology employed a collaborative, user-centred approach to app development. Over 8 weeks, four user-centred design (UCD) sessions were conducted with five CRC survivors (end-users), four survivorship professionals, and one IT expert. Four essential design features …

Advancing Nursing Student Competence In Health Equity Through Global And Community-Based Learning, Catherine Quay, Shirley Etienne, Lori Hubbard, Jeanmarie Rampolla Koonts, Cyra Kussman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of this project was to revise and evaluate a scaffolded nursing curriculum designed to build health equity competence in prelicensure students. Responding to nursing education priorities, the curriculum prepares learners to address persistent health disparities within increasingly interconnected global and local systems. Guided by the AACN Essentials framework, the model integrates didactic coursework, community-engaged learning, and global experiential opportunities to deepen understanding of social and structural determinants of health, population health principles, and culturally responsive practice.

The introductory course develops foundational competence through critical self-reflection on cultural identity, implicit bias, and the influence of personal assumptions on care. …

Trends And Disparities In Peripartum Cardiomyopathy-Associated Mortality In The Us, 2018–2023, Essi M. Havor, Alexis E. Hayes, Setor K. Sorkpor, Jerry John Ouner, Osaro Mgbere

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare yet life-threatening form of heart failure that occurs late in pregnancy or within five months postpartum, in the absence of other identified causes [1]. The causes of PPCM remain poorly understood. PPCM can result in severe maternal complications including death [1,2]. This study examined trends in with PPCM-associated mortality in the U.S. from 2018 to 2023, with a focus on differences by age group, race and ethnicity.
This serial cross-sectional study used death certificates data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Deaths from 2018 …

Building Resilience In Public Health Centers: Outcomes Of An Enp-Led Disaster Program, Po-Hsi Su, Jun-Dai Lin, Yi-Hui Lee, Shun-Shiang Yu, Yi-Fen Liang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Taiwan, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent earthquakes and typhoons while also facing geopolitical tension. Strengthening community resilience has therefore become essential. Public health centers serve as frontline agencies in disaster response, yet staff often lack formal training beyond infectious disease control. This study evaluated a disaster preparedness program developed and delivered by an emergency medicine nurse practitioner (ENP) for public health center personnel in central Taiwan.

From October 29 to November 22, 2024, five of 13 health centers in Nantou County participated. Centers selected staff expected to support post-disaster medical station operations. Participants represented six occupational …

Teaching Through Tension: Strategies For Navigating Sociopolitical Challenges In Nursing Education, Anthony Carney, Sharon Ann Taylor-Smalls, Stacia Birdsall, Donna Cill, Richard Dorritie

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nursing education is shaped by complex sociopolitical forces that challenge faculty as they teach essential yet often contested topics, including LGBTQ+ health, racism and structural inequities, reproductive care, and social determinants of health, for example. As public discourse, regulatory pressures, and cultural tensions intensify, faculty must navigate how to uphold ethical, evidence-informed teaching while cultivating psychological safety, academic rigor, and meaningful learner engagement. Guided by the Access, Community, and Engagement (ACE) priorities at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, this workshop offers a globally adaptable, case-based approach for ethically and effectively facilitating sensitive or politicized content.

The session begins with …

Can One Learn From Dreams?, Anastasia Lavrenyuk

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This reflective essay explores the educational significance of dream-based and intuitive knowledge through the lens of a field experience in the Peruvian Amazon. While participating in a course on sustainability and Indigenous knowledge, I encountered a member of the Ese Eja community who described how medicinal plant wisdom once came through dreams—through spiritual connection with the forest. This moment prompted a personal and scholarly inquiry into how non-rational, subjective ways of knowing have historically shaped both scientific and cultural breakthroughs, from the structure of chemical element benzene to Indigenous learning systems. Drawing on examples from physics, neuroscience, and Indigenous epistemologies, …

In The Problem Lies The Solution: How Digital Mindfulness Can Address The College Students’ Mental Health Crisis And Support Holistic Education, Steve Haberlin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

The mental health of today’s college students remains a serious concern. The alarming trend of greater psychological distress among undergraduates shows no signs of slowing. Excessive smartphone usage, screen time, and social media have been attributed as partial factors. However, what if forms of digital mindfulness and technology-assisted contemplative practices are the key to assisting students with stress, anxiety, depression and other problems? In this article, the author posits that innovations, such as neurofeedback-loop meditation platforms that dramatically increase focus, virtual reality platforms featuring in depth-meditation instruction, and Artificial Intelligence have the potential to address the crisis, establishing a refreshed …

International Students And Spiritual Capital: Meditation As A Tool To Support Student Well-Being, Anna Grigoreva, Anna Lytkina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

In a new academic environment, international students often face more than just academic challenges, as they also navigate cultural adjustment, identity shifts, digital overload and emotional stress. These multidimensional challenges are further intensified by performance pressures and rapidly evolving educational technologies. This article explores the role of meditation as a contemplative practice that may support international students’ adaptation within the American higher education system. The article focuses on how international students draw upon inner strength, purpose, and resilience to navigate and sustain themselves through periods of transition and difficulty. Using autoethnography as a primary methodological approach, the authors analyze their …

Nurturing The Spiritual Core In Teachers Within The Nexus Of Science And Spirituality, Sarina C. Molina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This reflective essay explores the intersection of science and spirituality in nurturing teachers’ inner lives as a foundation for supporting student well-being. Against the backdrop of a global mental health crisis, it integrates insights from neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom traditions, and values-based education to advocate for a holistic mind–body–nature connection. Emerging research on neuroplasticity, heart–brain coherence, and self-transcendence has shown the physiological and psychological benefits of spiritual cultivation for educators. Drawing on Indigenous epistemologies, this essay highlights contemplative and heart-centered practices that foster self-transformation, resilience, and authentic relationality. Practical applications for teacher education, curriculum design, and community engagement illustrate how spiritual …

Ancient Wisdom & Its Cultural Relevance: Reimagining Deeper Learning In Science Classrooms Through The Lens Of Yoga And Vedānta, Raaghav Pandya

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Contemporary calls to reconceptualize how science is taught and understood have brought deeper learning to the forefront of education at-large for its emphasis on critical perspectives, creativity, and student-centered inquiry. Yet this paper argues that its prevailing framework remains constrained by Cartesian dualism, a materialist foundation that disassociates the individual from self, other, and nature, and falls short of addressing the mental health, environmental, and cultural challenges facing youth today. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a complementary convergence between deeper learning and the contemplative traditions of Yoga and Vedānta, whose ancient paradigms of self-inquiry, interconnectedness, and well-being offer …

Bridging The Abyss: Reclaiming Spirituality In Academic Knowledge Production, Neil Boland

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Over recent decades, Western academia has shown a growing interest in spirituality, accompanied by methodological innovations and epistemological expansion. Nevertheless, spiritual inquiry continues to be subtly subordinated to scientific rationalism, with Western science often presiding as gatekeeper over what is considered legitimate knowledge. Drawing on Boaventura de Sousa Santos’ concept of abyssal thinking, this article argues that spiritual and experiential forms of knowing remain largely relegated to the far side of an epistemic divide, valued only insofar as they can be reframed within scientific norms. Despite increasing institutional recognition of spirituality in fields such as education, psychology, and medicine, …

Editors’ Introduction, Kathleen R. Kesson Dr., Susan H. Edgerton, Jing Lin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This is the introduction to the Special Issue