Digital Commons Network^™

Ethical Implications Of Brain-Computer Interfaces: A Comparison Of Public And Provider Perceptions, Maya Roytman

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are computer-based systems that enable communication between the brain and a device. BCIs hold promise for improving the lives of people with neurotrauma and cognitive and movement disorders, either directly or in conjunction with assistive and rehabilitation technologies. As knowledge regarding computational modeling of brain function advances, BCIs will continue to become more prevalent in clinical therapeutics.

Given BCI technology is an “iterative, goal-directed intervention in the nervous system,” BCIs raise ethical concerns regarding who (i.e. clinicians, patients, etc.) controls the device. While individual perceptions on BCIs and technical expectations have been explored, limited data comparing perspectives …

Cook County Community Survey: Medical Discrimination At The Intersection Of Race And Body Mass Index, Emma O'Driscoll

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My research addresses whether Black and Latine respondents in the overweight or obese BMI categories experience higher levels of medical discrimination and avoidance than white respondents in the overweight and obese categories. My findings show that Black and Latine respondents experience higher levels of medical discrimination regardless of BMI than white respondents, and that white and Latine respondents who are obese experience comparable levels of medical avoidance.

Loyola Lakeshore Campus Food Forest Proposal, Molly Bittner, Nina Connor

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of growing a food forest on Loyola’s lakeshore campus to serve both as an experiment in sustainable agriculture, and to raise awareness to the rest of the Loyola and surrounding non-Loyola community about the importance of sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty. A food forest is a low-maintenance, perennial, and sustainable agroforestry system aimed at plant-based food production. It is based on a woodland ecosystem with layers including underground/fungal, groundcover, herbaceous, shrub, mid canopy, and full canopy layers. A food forest provides a sustainable and efficient way of restoring soil and …

An Analysis Of Covid-19 And Poverty In The United States, Trevor Haakon Tormoen, Anthony F. Campana, Matthew R. Driscoll, Patrick J. Monnin

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The COVID-19 pandemic has left no corner of the United States untouched. In order to be better prepared for the reminder of the pandemic (as well as for any future pandemics) and ensure that healthcare resources are equitably allocated, epidemiologists and public health officials must work to further their understanding of who viral pandemics hit the hardest. Here, we report on descriptive and exploratory research on the impact of poverty rates and population densities of Illinois counties and counties nationwide on those counties’ COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita or per 1,000 residents (depending on the kind of analysis used). …

Readability Of Online Patient Education Materials For Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Catherine Nguyen, Yue Zhang

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The Internet is a significant source of information for patients learning about their health; however, the quality of resources varies widely. The National Institutes of Health recommends that reading material is at or below an eighth-grade level. Our study examines the patient education materials (PEMs) of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer. The population most affected by the disease is also the least proficient in health literacy. We analyzed the readability of PEM websites on MCC online and found that most MCC PEMs have not reached an appropriate reading level for patients.

United Health Group Stock Pitch, David Venkatesan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Issuing a buy recommendation for shares of UnitedHealth Group due to the rising demand for healthcare as well as the growth in the Optum business.

Quality Of Maternity Care At Federally Qualified Health Centers (Fqhcs), Artena Collins

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project focuses on the quality of prenatal and postpartum care and the importance of quality care for all birthing patients. Quality of care for birthing persons is highly important due to there being an imbalance in the the health outcomes for different birthing persons. If we can determine the differences in the quality of the care being received then changes can be made so that all birthing persons receive the same level of quality care. A secondary data analysis of clinic level data for birthing patients that recieved care in FQHCs was the research method used.

Disrupt Disparities 2.0, Ashia Walker, Christine George, Lillian Platten, Diane Williams, Ariel Fleenary

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This report focuses on the racial disparities in skilled nursing facilities experienced by adults 50 years of age or older in Illinois, Chicago, and suburban Cook County.

Evaluation Of Dape Inhibitors Utilizing The Dape Ninhydrin And Thermal Shift Assays Toward The Discovery Of Novel Antibiotics, Megan Beulke

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

An ongoing effort continues against the rising tide of antibiotic resistant bacteria, underscoring the urgent need to discover antibiotics with a novel mechanism of action. To this end, we have focused on the inhibition of the bacterial enzyme N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE). Guided by docking with the computational suite Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) and lead molecules obtained through a HiTS (High Throughput Screening) assay, several lead molecules and analogs were identified, synthesized, and optimized by our research group. These potential new inhibitors are tested in our recently described and updated biochemical DapE ninhydrin assay, with IC50 data obtained for inhibitors …

Catholic Seminaries In Italy And Vietnam, Emma Mitchell

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The Ricci Program invites students to compare "East and West" in a year-long research project in which they examine Italy and Vietnam in a topic of their choosing. This project examines the development and current operation of Catholic seminaries, hoping to offer new insights by presenting a comparison that has not been previously examined. Specifically, there is an examination of how different environments and challenges may present difference obstacles or opportunities for the potential reform of seminaries that many in the Catholic world call for today.

This project is a religious studies student's first attempt at a research project, and …

Covid-19 Experiences Within The Suburban Cook County Hispanic/Latino Community, Farah Elhoumaidi

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

After one year of disseminating surveys and holding focus groups intended to examine the effect of immigration status on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs around COVID-19 within the suburban Cook County Hispanic/Latino community, the collected data reveal the significant adversities and hardships these individuals have faced in dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I would like my research to grow and focus more specifically on the effect of undocumented status on Hispanic/Latino COVID-19 experiences. This proposal aims to transfer the knowledge gained regarding vaccine hesitancy and experiences during the pandemic and link identified existing resources with participants and community stakeholders.

The Geo Group Investment Report, Andi Lutolli

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation is an investment report I did for FINC 356. The goal was to look for and write about an attractive investment opportunity.

The Hormone Project: Oral Hormonal Contraceptives & The Human Gut Microbiome, Sri Contractor

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

There are tentative reports in the literature that oral hormonal contraceptives alter the gut microbiome in a way that is associated with inflammatory disease. However, the mechanism is unclear. In this project, our goal is to investigate the interactions between drugs and gut microbiota. We hypothesize that the hormones present in the active pills of oral contraceptives have an impact on the taxonomic makeup of gut microbial communities. Additionally, we predict that microbial community members can metabolize the contraceptive hormones administered in the most common prescriptions. Many progestins used in hormonal contraceptives are prodrugs that must be metabolically activated by …

Stop Sexual Assault Bit By Bit, Christina Paskon

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

I will propose an improved, research-backed plan to better inform students of sexual assault and prevention methods through a mandated University curriculum. This educational programming will center around the notion of Bystander Intervention Training (BIT) which educates the average student on how to appropriately step into risky situations they see on or off-campus that could lead to an assault. By creating an invisible police force of trained students, we can prevent sexual assault on college campuses by empowering those who want to see this changed the most.

Body Map, Cara Ferro

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

Mind and Body

This piece focuses on the connection of the mind and body. Neither is separate and both affect each other. Physical health can affect your mental health and vice versa, as the body is a connected system inside and out. As someone who suffers from chronic physical pains as well as diagnosed anxiety that feels like an unbearable mental pain, this artwork incases the feeling of being overloaded by the painful sensations. Sometimes, a bad mental state can cause physical damage and bad physical health can negatively affect your mental health. With that, I have learned that when …

Citizens United And Campaign Finance: History, Issues, And Efforts To Modify, Shannon O'Connor

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

The Power Of The Individual: Tackling Climate Destruction, Jared Gardner

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Disabled Lives And Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity

Occasional Paper Series

The idea for Carol Rogers-Shaw’s essay began in April 2020, six weeks into the initial COVID lockdown, at her Zoom-based PhD dissertation defense. Carol’s dissertation brought together a narration of her life as a person with a disability and her work as a high school teacher of students with identified disabilities, conceptualized and reconceptualized through the lens of critical disability studies.

Is There A Lesson From Comparing The Covid-19 Pandemic To The Experience Of Disability? A Response To Carol Rogers-Shaw’S “Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity”, Tonette Rocco, Debaro Huyler

Occasional Paper Series

In “Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories of Human Precarity,” Carol Rogers-Shaw narrates several stories that convey the anguish, trauma, loss, and horror experienced by many during the pandemic. Through storytelling, she demonstrates that “the pandemic experiences we shared might provide a foundation to build … parallels between living with a disability and living in a pandemic.” Even so, Rogers-Shaw cautions us not to get distracted by pandemic-related issues or inspirational stories. Instead, she correctly points out that COVID-19 pandemic experiences mirror the unpleasant aspects of daily life for people with disabilities.

Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity, Carol Rogers-Shaw

Occasional Paper Series

In this article, I pay particular attention to four concerns that have come to the fore in startling ways for people worldwide during the pandemic. These include building empathy and community through the struggle to manage the fear of death, acceptance of disappointment and frustration, recognition the importance of being in tune with one’s body, and living with chronic grief. Drawing on stories from my life as a teacher and as a person with a disability, I hope to provide readers with both a way to reflect on the ongoing existential and practical concerns raised by the pandemic, and to …

On Turning Tables, Hubris, And Humility: Reflecting Upon Carol Rogers-Shaw’S “Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity”, David J. Connor

Occasional Paper Series

What can be learned about the pandemic through the lens of disability, and conversely, what can we come to know about disability through the Covid-19 pandemic? Rogers-Shaw contemplates these reciprocal questions in a highly original essay that is wide in scope. After thinking about how to best describe the experience of reading her work, the word “wondrous” came to mind, as the essay is both delightful and powerful. Why? Because she examines and explores what has recently concerned many of us in education, that is, the pandemic’s impact upon the lives of both teachers and students with and without disabilities. …

Introduction To Carol Rogers-Shaw’S “Disabled Lives And Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity”, Gail M. Boldt

Occasional Paper Series

The idea for Carol Rogers-Shaw’s essay began in April 2020, six weeks into the initial COVID lockdown, at her Zoom-based PhD dissertation defense. Carol’s dissertation brought together a narration of her life as a person with a disability and her work as a high school teacher of students with identified disabilities, conceptualized and reconceptualized through the lens of critical disability studies.

Retention Of Physician Assistants Within A Specialty After Completion Of A Postgraduate Training Program, John Ansiaux Pa-C, Carly Farrell Pa-C, Kathryn Hess Pa-C, Aubrey White Pa-C, Charlotte Peeters Pa-C, Jill Schulten Pa-C, Ryan Krasnosky Mpas, Pa-C, Dfaapa, Drph

Journal of Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership in Quality & Safety

Background: The advantages of a specialized training program have led to over 84 postgraduate training programs for Physician Assistants (PAs) covering over 25 specialties. Employee lateral mobility is more prevalent within the PA profession, which allows PA providers to switch between medical specialties. The versatility of PAs promotes higher turnover rates compared to physician counterparts. These high turnover rates can result in increased institutional burden. Postgraduate PA programs provide pre-employment exposure to more in-depth medical training, enabling a well-rounded knowledge base of the PA’s roles and responsibilities, minimizing turnover rates.

Purpose: The goal of this survey study is to identify …

Exploring Substance Use For Undergraduate Nursing Students Within Their College Experience, Gabrielle Borkorm, Cynthia Paidipati

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Substance use is a disease, which often develops during the undergraduate years. Nursing undergraduate students who typically endorsed high levels of stress exhibited higher rates of substance abuse and in this study, this is explored. This study is a sequential mixed methods study that consists of quantitative and qualitative data that was collected via online surveys (April 2019) and interviews that took place (June 2019-February 2020). The data refers to 679 undergraduate students aged 18-57 years old who were recruited by the National Student Nurses Association, and were enrolled in nursing courses at the junior or senior level.

Human Services Professionals Perceptions On The Trauma, Stigma, And Mental Health On The Wellbeing Of Latine And Hispanic Undocumented Immigrants, Christobal Dominguez

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Census data shows the United States becoming more diverse. In 2019 more than half of the youth population under the age of 16 has identified as part of an ethnic or racial minority. One of the fastest growing ethnic and racial groups in the United States are Latinos and Hispanics. This growth within the Latine and Hispanic populations presents challenges when looking at healthcare utilization, particularly in families with undocumented members. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, forty-six percent of undocumented immigrants were uninsured, and twenty-five percent of lawfully present immigrants were uninsured in 2019. The act alone of seeking basic …

Environmental Intern For Chicago's Department Of Aviation, Christopher Simpkins

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation demonstrates the knowledge and experience accumulated from my internship with the Office of Environment & Planning within Chicago's Department of Aviation. The internship is an academic-long, hands-on experience, where I work alongside environmental engineers, sustainability associates, and GIS specialists to tackle environmental compliance and sustainability issues that arise at O'Hare or Midway airports. In this presentation, I reflect on my engaged learning course and my given assignment to conduct research on a relevant topic pertaining to my internship provider. My research paper entails the creation of a feasibility study surrounding the implementation of an anaerobic digestion system onto …

Clean Air Is Everyone's Right, Georgia Baker

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation outlines how elevated levels of cadmium and arsenic caused by Bullseye Glass Company in Portland, Oregon kickstarted the state's action taken to help mitigate further air pollution. As a result of this case, the Cleaner Air Oregon initiation was enacted and this helped to create new standards for the air quality, for all of Oregon’s residents.

An Exploratory Analysis Of Stress, Burnout, And Depression In The Iecmh Workforce, Thomas Boyer, Jessica Pooter-Rodriguez Ms., Hannah Winston Ms., Diana Morelen Dr.

Appalachian Student Research Forum

A growing trend in the psychological literature has consistently found a strong association between stress, burnout, and depression, especially in populations who are exposed to a high amount of occupational stress. And, while the relationship between stress and burnout has been distinct and strong, the same cannot be said for burnout and depression. Historically, burnout and depression have shared such a strong conceptual relationship that the literature disagreed as to whether they were truly separate mechanisms. However, while the two constructs do present behavioral similarities the underlying mechanisms which direct their presentation are subtly different. Depression is defined as a …

Cost-Related Suboptimal Insulin Use, Tess Willcoxon, Thomas Brewster, Iris Kamgue, Payton Tipton, Richard Hess

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Insulin is a necessary, life-changing medication for patients living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Yet, a recent study at an endocrinology clinic in New England indicated that one quarter of patients experienced cost-related suboptimal insulin use. A new study based out of a primary care clinic in the Appalachian region looked at the prevalence of cost-related suboptimal insulin use within this region. The hypothesis is cost-related insulin suboptimal use is higher in the Appalachian region than as reported in the New England area. Surveys were administered to patients who were 18 years of age or older, diagnosed …

Stigma Related To Medication Assisted Treatment In Rural Appalachia, William Miller, Ahmed Elgazzar

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a disease that continues to affect the lives of millions of Americans. Access to adequate treatment also continues to be a challenge for many of those suffering from substance use disorder. To better understand the barriers to treatment as well as the social challenges people face in seeking care for their substance use, we designed an observational study to capture demographic data, perceptions of stigma, and self esteem levels at a medication assisted treatment (MAT) facility in Northeast Tennessee. A robust survey was administered to patients at the MAT facility to quantify and analyze these …