Digital Commons Network^™

Dining Experiences Across Hearing Profiles: The Influence Of Noise And Environmental Factors In Restaurants, Lorin M. Kmieciak

Theses and Dissertations

Dining out is a popular activity worldwide that is rooted in sensory and emotional engagement. How an individual experiences the sensory conditions in restaurants varies widely, highlighting the importance of designing dining environments that accommodate diverse perceptual needs and abilities. The purpose of this study is to address how existing dining environments overlook inclusive and accessibility-centered design by examining how hearing loss intersects with the acoustic, sensory, and social dimensions of dining environments. This study employed a mixed method, exploratory approach by gathering quantitative data through a survey and qualitative data through follow-up interviews to generate a holistic and data-driven …

Health And Nutrition In The First 1000 Days Of Life, Yaojiang Shi, Qi Zhang, Yiliang Zhu, Jingchun Nie

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Malnutrition and health issues remain persistent global crises, with developing regions bearing the brunt of the burden. According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of under-five deaths in low-and middle-income countries are linked to malnutrition, while stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies impair the development of millions of children annually. The studies in this special issue focus on countries facing distinct yet interconnected challenges: Sub-Saharan African nations grapple with high rates of stunting and maternal high-risk fertility behaviors; China confronts rural-urban disparities in dietary diversity and grandparenting practices; Colombia struggles with intersectional inequalities driving infant mortality; and Zambia faces unique …

Advancing Food Equity Through Explainable Ai (Xai): Identifying Place-Based Factors And Conditions Of Food Security, Leslie Hoglund, Hyoshin Park

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Food behaviors, food security, and their association with socioeconomic factors constitute a critical area of study with implications for public health, economic stability, and social equity. Understanding these relationships are essential for developing effective policies and interventions that promote sustainable, healthy food systems and greater food equity. This paper employs explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods to identify key features influencing household food behaviors. The insights gained from the XAI analysis are further utilized in conjunction with inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) to examine expert behaviors related to eating habits satisfaction. The XAI results reveal that household health conditions, spending patterns, and …

Large Language Model-Assisted Research Question Development In Public Health: A Case Study In The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Qi Zhang, Bidusha Neupane, Priyanka Patel, Futun N. Alkhalifah, Yi He, Leslie Hodges

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Objective:

To assess the feasibility of using large language models (LLMs) to develop research questions about changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages.

Design:

We conducted a controlled experiment using ChatGPT-4 and its plugin, MixerBox Scholarly, to generate research questions based on a section of the USDA summary of the final public comments on the WIC revision. Five questions weekly for three weeks were generated using LLMs under two conditions: fed with or without relevant literature. The experiment generated 90 questions, which were evaluated using the FINER criteria (Feasibility, Innovation, Novelty, Ethics, …

Niu Working Papers 2025 - 2026, Northern Illinois University

Working Papers

No abstract provided.

Recognizing Excellence: Key Traits, Qualities, And Behaviors Of The Exceptional Fieldwork Educator In Occupational Therapy, Piper Hansen, Lydia H. Schallenberg, Jayde M. Kahn, Jacqueline Rizzi, Ariel Torres

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

All students of occupational therapy enrolled in accredited programs are required to complete Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences. A critical factor in shaping successful fieldwork experiences is the fieldwork educator, who guides clinical learning, models professional behaviors, and supports skill development for practice readiness. Despite the importance of the fieldwork experience, the fieldwork educator, and the impact of the supervisory relationship, there is limited understanding of the unique attributes and strategies that distinguish exceptional occupational therapy fieldwork educators. This study sought to investigate the key traits, qualities, and behaviors of the exceptional fieldwork educator in occupational therapy and …

Association Between A Lifestyle Medicine Score And Stroke In U.S. Adults With Hyperglycemia: 2007- 2010 Nhanes, Swarnima Naithani

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between glycemic control and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well- established, however, lifestyle modifications to prevent CVD warrant further investigation. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the six lifestyle medicine pillars promoted by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and stroke in U.S. adults with hyperglycemia. A lifestyle medicine composite score (LMS) was developed to quantify adherence with the hypothesis that a higher LMS (greater adherence to lifestyle recommendations) correlates with lower odds of stroke in adults with hyperglycemia. Methods: The study sample (n=2,079) included adult (≥ 40 years of age) participants in the …

Stress Dynamics Between Clinical Supervisors And Allied Health Students: A Scoping Review, Piao Wang, Laurie Peebles, Aine O'Connor, Xinrong Li, Yongsheng Wang

Funded Scholarship

Stress within clinical supervision in allied health education functions as a reciprocal and relational process that shapes both learning and professional development. This scoping review synthesizes findings from 54 studies published between 1980 and 2024 to examine how stress is experienced, transmitted, and managed between students and clinical supervisors. Four interconnected domains were identified through the synthesis: the supervisory relationship, systemic and contextual pressures, personal factors, and the placement environment. Together these domains illustrate how organizational demands and supervisory strain influence student engagement, feedback processes, and educational outcomes. The literature provides valuable descriptive insight but remains fragmented, methodologically inconsistent, and …

The Transforming Image | Wintersession 2026 Syllabus, Hunter Whitaker-Morrow, Movement Lab

Course Materials

This studio course engages the contemporary digital moving (and sounding) image as a medium undergoing rapid development. Advancing the exploratory ethos of early video art, participants will probe new possibilities for experimentation against the contemporary backdrop of ubiquitous access to smartphones and production capabilities as well as the proliferation of tools for digital signal manipulation, media recycling, and image sequencing.

Coursework will center on a variety of hands-on creative exercises that challenge predominant conceptions of the moving image and engage with medium-specific approaches including video installation, desktop performance, generative cinematics, recycling media, realtime audio-visual performance, and notions of digital materiality. …

Advancing Interprofessional Communication: Preliminary Outcomes Of A Novel Collaboration Framework In A Student Head Injury Clinic, Natalia Noce, Kelly Ann Pena, Susan Paparella, Andrew Lynch, Erin Keller, Aaron Dallman, Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

When healthcare providers practice interprofessional practice, care improves, and medical errors are reduced. Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) principles and the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Patient Performance and Safety (TeamSTEPPS®) frameworks are utilized in healthcare education to develop interprofessional collaborative practice skills, but there is little understanding of how these skills change over time. We sought to evaluate the development of interprofessional collaborative practice skills by examining graduate occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students' first-hand reports of their experiences over time in an interprofessional head injury clinic. We employed an applied interpretive qualitative research approach longitudinally collecting …

Change In Perception Of Cultural Self-Efficacy Among Graduate Students In An Occupational Therapy Academic Program, Emma Edwards, Selena E. Washington, Zidong Zhang

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Culturally responsive care is essential to improving healthcare access and outcomes; however, the extent to which occupational therapy students are prepared to deliver such care remains unclear. Experiential learning embedded within occupational therapy curricula, including fieldwork, is considered a key pathway for developing cultural self-efficacy. This quantitative study examined changes in cultural self-efficacy among graduate occupational therapy students across didactic and experiential learning experiences within a Master of Occupational Therapy program. Using the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Provider version of the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool, perceived self-efficacy across the cognitive, practical, and affective domains was assessed across three cohort-based administration periods aligned with …

Interprofessional Simulation Improves Confidence For Fieldwork In Acute Care Settings, Valley Mccurry, Tara S. Pearce, Chris Eidson, Patricia Perez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Preparing occupational therapy students for fieldwork in acute care settings presents logistical and educational challenges, and students often report limited confidence in their readiness for this environment. Simulation-based learning is a safe, structured approach for developing clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork skills prior to Level II fieldwork. This study examined the impact of an extended time, multiple patient interprofessional acute care simulation. Students rotated through a series of increasingly complex patient cases across multiple units in a simulated acute care hospital, interacting with authentic and simulated hospital equipment, a simulated electronic health record, and structured debriefing. Three independent cohorts of …

Examining The Factor Structure And Subgroup Invariance Of The Deliberate Denial Of Disordered Eating Behaviors Scale, Lindsay Howard, Sage Hawn, Kayla D. Pitchford, Riley Mcgrath, Aubri Farniok, Arturo Sesma, Kristin E. Heron

Psychology Faculty Publications

The denial, concealment, or omission of disordered eating behaviors has received limited attention in the eating disorder literature, partly due to the lack of reliable and valid measures. This study re-examined the factor structure of the Denial of Disordered Eating Behaviors Scale (DDEBS-12) and tested measurement invariance across gender identity, racial identity, and levels of disordered eating in a non-clinical undergraduate sample (N = 3285). Confirmatory factor analyses did not support the original unidimensional structure. Instead, a seven-item model assessing denial of dietary restriction demonstrated the best fit and was renamed the DDEBS-restriction. The revised scale showed good internal consistency …

Best Practices For Using Biological Data In Psychological Research, Sage E. Hawn, Sinead M. Sinnott, Alicia K. Smith, Kyle Bourassa, Leslie Brick, Sian Hemmings, Soraya Seedat, Arash Javanbakht, Lauren Smith, Antonia V. Seligowski, Nathan A. Kimbrel, Divya Mehta, Hossein Abbasi, Erika Wolf

Psychology Faculty Publications

Advances in statistical techniques for analyzing biological data have driven the need for larger sample sizes, which are ultimately made possible through team science efforts. Findings from these efforts have led to a significant shift in approaches to biological data collection over the past decade, from traditional approaches relying on single measures or assays collected by individual investigators in small lab-based studies to high-dimensional methodologies embedded within large cohorts or multi-site studies. These recent large scale consortium efforts necessitate careful consideration across the full data pipeline, from pre-data generation and sample collection to processing and statistical analysis, while addressing challenges …

Hiv Testing In African American Churches: Results From The Taking It To The Pews Cluster-Randomized Trial., Jannette Berkley-Patton, Carole Bowe Thompson, Alexandria G. Bauer, Marcie Berman, Kelsey Christensen, Andrea Bradley-Ewing, Kathy Goggin, Delwyn Catley, Eric Williams, Cassandra Wainright, Kathryn P. Derose, Alex Geyer, Frank Thompson, Lesha Dennis, Stephen Smith, Jenifer E. Allsworth

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

To examine effects of a multilevel, religiously-tailored HIV testing intervention, Taking It to the Pews (TIPS), on receipt of HIV testing with African American church-affiliated populations, 14 African American churches (N = 1,491) were randomized to TIPS or a multilevel, non-tailored HIV education attention-control arm in a cluster-randomized trial (Kansas City urban area, 2013 to 2019). Receipt of an HIV test was examined using objective data and participant self-reports (last 12 months), including self-reported exposure to intervention components. Overall, 471 HIV tests were completed; TIPS intervention churches conducted significantly more tests than controls (339 versus 132, p = 0.003). Also, …

Efficacy Of Endophytic Fungi In The Management Of Spoladea Recurvalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) On Amaranth (Amaranthus Dubius), Druscilla Obonyo Nyamamba

All Master’s Theses

Amaranth is a Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) that in recent years has gained global popularity due to its exceptional nutritional, medicinal and economic attributes. However, its production is significantly limited by insect pest infestations, mainly lepidopteran defoliators. Spoladea recurvalis, commonly known as Hawaiian beet webworm has been reported as the major pest that feeds voraciously on the leaves leading to substantial yield losses of up to 100% under severe pest infestation. Chemical control remains a widely used method for the management of S. recurvalis. The use of fungal endophytes has emerged as a promising, sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to …

Differing Circulating Microrna Profiles Of Long-Lived Polish Populations, Fabrizzio Lijeron-Herrera

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Exceptional longevity, defined as a lower biological age relative to chronological age and maintenance of functional capacity or a slowing of functional decline, is a phenotype most readily observed in centenarians and nonagenarians. These individuals exhibit a phenomenon known as compressed morbidity, spending substantially less time in poor health compared to younger elderly populations, thus representing a unique human model of delayed aging. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), potent post-transcriptional regulators of molecular pathways, have emerged as important modulators of aging-related pathways; however, no study has comprehensively profiled miRNAs from serum in long-lived individuals from Central Europe. In particular, Polish populations present …

Howell Thomas Heflin Collection, University Of Alabama School Of Law

Manuscript Collections

The Howell Thomas Heflin Collection documents Heflin's years as legal reformer and Alabama State Supreme Court Chief Justice, as well as his tenure as United States Senator through press clippings, scrapbooks, speech files, audiotapes, videotapes, press releases and statements, newsletters and various printed materials, photographs, negatives, campaign materials, and memorabilia.

Perceived Barriers To Physical Activity And Campus Recreation Facility Usage In College Students Referred Or Not Referred To An Exercise Is Medicine® On Campus Program, Benjamin M. Colbert

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 36-50% of college students are inactive and report numerous barriers to being physically active. Physical activity (PA) barriers are any obstacle an individual believes affects their PA participation. Individuals who perceive more barriers are less likely to participate in PA and as such, interventions that target barriers may increase PA participation. Exercise is Medicine^® on Campus (EIM-OC) is one intervention that may improve PA levels on college campuses by reducing barriers. The purpose of this study was to document PA and campus recreation facility barriers in university students and examine the influence of an individualized EIM-OC intervention …

Effect Of Substrate Dispersion Method And Particle Size On In Vitro Digestibility, Gas Production Kinetics And Composition, And Fermentation Characteristics In Different Feed Types, Luiz C. O. Sousa, Ellem M. A. Matos, Ronald J. Trotta, Edenio Detmann, David L. Harmon

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Our objective was to evaluate the influence of substrate dispersion method and particle size on in vitro digestibility, gas production kinetics and composition, and fermentation characteristics of different feed types. Alfalfa hay, tall fescue hay, ground corn, soybean meal, and a total mixed ration (TMR) were used as substrates. Treatments were designed according to a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial arrangement: two substrate dispersion methods (loose substrate and in filter bags), two particle sizes (1 mm and 2 mm), and five feeds. Filter bags decreased (P ≤ 0.001) digestibility and gas production compared with loose samples. Filter bags decreased …

Soybean Meal Mitigates Vasoconstriction And Serotonin Suppression During Fescue Toxicosis In Beef Cattle, Luiz C.O. Sousa, Brittany E. Davis, David L. Harmon, Ronald J. Trotta

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Legume supplementation has been shown to mitigate fescue toxicosis in beef cattle. However, no studies have directly compared the use of soybean-based feeds to alleviate symptoms of fescue toxicosis under controlled environmental heat and equalized feed intake. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of soybean hulls, whole soybeans, or soybean meal (SBM) supplementation on the mitigation of vasoconstriction, heat stress, and inflammatory responses in beef cattle during fescue toxicosis. Ten ruminally-cannulated Angus × Holstein steers were used in a 5 × 10 Latin rectangle design. Five treatments were evaluated: 1) non-toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue seed (NTE), 2) toxic endophyte-infected …

Daily Rhythms In Psychosocial Stress, Sleep, And Mood: A Multimethod Approach To Transdiagnostic Psychopathology Risk And Intervention, Gabriel Gilmore

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Rhythms are central to nearly every core physiological and psychological process and have profound influences on overall health and well-being, particularly in the context of mood disorders. This dissertation emphasizes a rhythm-centered framework for understanding transdiagnostic psychopathology, proposing that the temporal organization of psychosocial stress, sleep, and mood provides crucial information for the development and treatment of mood disorder symptomology. Current literature relies primarily on mean symptom levels, overlooking day-to-day patterns in psychosocial experiences. To address this key methodological gap, three studies are examined. Study 1 develops and validates the Psychosocial Stress Regularity Measure (PSRM), a brief single-item measure of …

Relative Utility Governs Working Memory For Drug-Associated Stimuli In A Novel Translational Paradigm, Maxwell E. Boileau

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorder (SUD) remains a prevalent health concern, partially characterized by continued drug use despite aversive consequences. Contrary to accounts emphasizing cognitive deficits, drug versus non-drug choice data reflect sensitivity to reinforcement dimensions, with preference shifting systematically as a function of magnitude and probability. The present study tested whether another cognitive system, working memory, is similarly affected by relative utility. Preclinical studies have demonstrated sensitivity of working memory to reinforcement dimensions, but these are often attributed to the differential outcomes effect. Generalized matching models were fit to allomorphic choice data, allowing estimation of exchange rate parameters. A concurrent solid- …

A Mixed Method Investigation On The Effects Of Information And Motivation On Self-Regulation Skills And Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Kristen Buford

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Introduction: The purpose of this research study is to understand the interplay between health information and health motivation on eating behaviors in African American emerging adults. Greater knowledge of nutrition is linked to healthier eating outcomes, but the motivations that individuals possess about their ability to improve their health also play a pivotal role. However, the joint effect of such constructs (i.e., information and motivation) on eating behaviors is unknown. Emerging adults are still developing their capacities to exercise their health autonomy, and this developmental period represents an opportunity to intervene before the onset of age-related chronic diseases in middle …

Promoting Occupational Harmony With High School Students Transitioning To College, Megan Maekawa

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

Background: Many students struggle to balance their occupations, especially in their first year of college. One reason they struggle may be that they are unprepared for the demands of college life as they transition out of high school. They may struggle with adjusting to different academic standards, adapting to their new social life, transitioning to a new environment or living situation, and managing their mental health. Occupational therapists support high school students in learning and implementing occupational harmony. Occupational therapists can support pre-college students in a summer bridge program as students learn to balance their academics, manage their social …

Duodenal Switch Vs Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: Comparison Of Outcomes And Cost With Medical Management, Rachel E. Burke, Christian M. Simon, Husain Abbas

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Biphasic Calcium Disturbance In Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report Of Recovery Phase Severe Hypercalcemia, Maham Shahid, Jean C. Ramos-Cardona, Maria Toustsoglou, Gunjan Y. Gandhi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Protocols: A Systematic Review, Ian P. Winter, Paul Sarac, Patrick B. Wilson

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Sodium bicarbonate positively impacts performance, but its associated gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) may limit use. This systematic review synthesized literature that has evaluated GIS with sodium bicarbonate supplementation. Literature searches were performed from February 2024-March 2026. Eligible studies provided ≥ 5 g of sodium bicarbonate within a 24-h period or, if a multi-day protocol, at least one day involving ≥ 5 g. Included studies had a placebo group/condition or a comparison group/condition that created a contrast related to delivery method, form, or dose. In total, 101 investigations were summarized in six categories: acute single dosing (n = 35); acute spread dosing …

Robotic Assisted Duodenojejunostomy In The Treatment Of Adult Annular Pancreas, Anthony Sciuva, Denise Vera Nemeth, Riley Burgon, Noaman Ali

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Calciphylaxis Initially Managed As Cellulitis, Karan Rajalingam, Benjamin R. Cooper, Angelia Stepien

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.