Digital Commons Network^™

Painless Leg Weakness Revealing A Falcine Meningioma In The Postpartum Period, Brent A. Spiteri, John Capodilupo, David Spiteri

Student Publications

Low back pain is among the leading causes of disability worldwide and is common in pregnancy, which can lead a clinician to a musculoskeletal diagnosis. We describe a 41-year-old postpartum woman who presented to an outpatient office with mechanical low back pain and painless weakness of the left lower extremity that had caused three falls. A thorough history established that the weakness was non-radicular and unaccompanied by sensory loss, and the neurologic examination localized the deficit to the upper motor neuron rather than to a lumbar root or peripheral nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a large extra-axial …

Cytomegalovirus Immune Responses And Cognitive Impairment In People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Lakshmi Chauhan, Debashis Ghosh, Beau Ances, Katherine Tassiopoulos, Kunling Wu, Adriana Weinberg, Kristine M Erlandson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an earlier occurrence of aging complications, including cognitive impairment (CI). Chronic immune activation from cytomegalovirus (CMV) may contribute to increased inflammation and CI. We explored this association using several measures of CMV immune response among people with HIV (PWH). In a case-control design, we compared CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG), enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot), and flow cytometry between cases (subsequent CI) and controls (no CI). Baseline CMV IgG, CMV ELISpot, or flow measures were not associated with subsequent CI. This exploratory analysis supports larger studies using more nuanced immunophenotyping to clarify relationship between CMV and …

Modern Tribulations Of Modern Trials: Ai-Generated Content Of Deceased Victims At Sentencing And Family Law’S Cure From Ho’Oponopono & Restorative Justice, Ethan Michael Knoll

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Click To Sue: Defining Receipt Of Eeoc Notices In The Digital Age, Robert J. Toth Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Federal employment discrimination statutes condition a claimant’s right to sue on timely receipt of a “right-to-sue” notice from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Courts have historically treated certified mail slips as sufficient to trigger a claimant’s ninety-day filing window, regardless of when the claimant opened or retrieved the letter.  In the digital era, the EEOC increasingly issues notices through email and its online Public Portal, raising questions about when electronic notice constitutes “receipt.”

This Article examines recent federal appellate court decisions—Lax v. Mayorkas, McDonald v. St. Louis University, and García-Gesualdo v. Honeywell Aerospace of Puerto Rico, …

Safety And Resilience In Disaster Debris Removal And Clean-Up Operations: A Field And Training Guide For Resilience Workers In Disaster Debris Removal And Cleanup, Mohsen Shahandashti, Ph.D, P.E., Abhijit Roy, Ph.D, Zhe Yin, Ph.D, P.E., Pmp, Leed Ap, Antonio Balderrama, Ph.D, P.E., Sandesh Adhikari, Santosh Acharya

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources

A practical safety guide for the people who clear debris after disasters, and for the trainers who prepare them. Built for crews of every experience level--from seasoned operators to first-time volunteers--it teaches how to read a damaged site, recognize hidden and shifting hazards, work safely around heavy equipment and hazardous materials, and make sound decisions under pressure. Every chapter pairs clear guidance with a one-page field job aid, facilitator notes for trainers, and a real-world scenario, all grounded in OSHA, FEMA, EPA, and NIOSH guidance.

Safety and Resilience in Disaster Debris Removal and Clean-Up Operations Copyright © 2026 by Mohsen …

Distribution Modeling Predicts Pacific Newt (Genus Taricha) Road Mortality Near Remote Lakes In Santa Clara County, California, Anna Petrosky

Master's Theses

The California newt (Taricha torosa) is listed as a State Species of Special Concern across its southern range due to habitat degradation and loss, and limited studies indicate it may be experiencing these threats in its northern range as well. This project assesses where the California newt may be encountering roads as migration barriers and experiencing high mortality in western Santa Clara County, California, in an effort to inform future conservation efforts. I conducted surveys of California newt roadkill on roads bordering two reservoirs used as breeding habitat and accessed roadkill data collected by the Lexington Reservoir Newt Patrol. Roadkill …

Relationship Between High-Risk Cytogenetic Abnormalities And Tent5 Mutations And Disease Outcomes Of Multiple Myeloma Patients, Erica Lea Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients have the lowest 5-year cancer survival rates due, in part, to the time it takes for symptoms to develop and the presence of one to four high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCA). The Terminal Nucleotidyltransferases 5 (TENT5) subfamily, which regulates myeloma cell migration and tumorigenesis, may also increase the risk for developing MM and impact survival rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the number of HRCA and TENT5 mutation hits with disease outcomes in MM patients while controlling for the stage of the disease (i.e., I, II, or III) at diagnosis. The …

From Conflict To Clarity: Drafting Parenting Plans Grounded In Practicality And Precision, Ariana D. Meyers

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Legal Orphans: Defining Who Is The Mother In Gestational Surrogacy Agreements, Emma Savoie

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Legal Gaps Of Financial Sextortion In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: Why The Take It Down Act Is Not Enough To Protect Children, Andrea Toussaint

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Fs Steering Committee Minutes 2026-09-23, Northern Illinois University

Faculty Senate Archives

No abstract provided.

Embedding The Sdgs In Graduate Nursing Curricula: Experiential Learning With Reallives Simulation, Modupe Akintomide, Monica Nandan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form a universal framework of 17 interconnected goals designed to address global challenges and achieve a sustainable future by 2030 [1]. For nursing education, these goals are relevant, emphasizing health, equity, and social justice domains central to the profession [2]. Graduate nursing programs face challenges in embedding SDGs into curricula through approaches that extend beyond traditional didactic methods [2-3]. Innovative strategies are needed to ensure nursing graduates develop the critical thinking, empathy, and reflective skills required to engage with these priorities.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of using the RealLives simulation in …

Spectrum, Volume 57, Issue 2, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include:  Building the Future -- Pouring on Park Ave! --  The RD Is In -- College is More Than Classes -- Family Weekend Schedule -- Rowing Revamp from Bow to Stern

Clinicians’ Perceptions Of Mental Health Care Access For Middle-Aged, Black Women Post-Sexual Assault, Monica Latrice Bolton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Winonan, Winona State University

The Winonan - 2020s

This issue of the Winonan, the Winona State University student newspaper, was published on September 23, 2026.

Enviromental Burden And Financial Performance Of Manufacturing Companies On Borsa Istanbul: An Exploratory Circular-Economy-Aligned Assessment Using The Aroman Method, Sibel Fettahoglu, Ejder Ayçin, Büşra Karslı Günay

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Türkiye's 2053 net-zero emissions target and the critical role of the manufacturing sector in this process necessitate an urgent examination of the financial impacts of circular economy (CE) practices. This study provides an exploratory analysis of the relationship between environmental burden and financial performance using 2023 data from 26 manufacturing companies in Borsa Istanbul. Given the difficulty of measuring holistic circularity at the company level, this study operationalizes the environmental dimension of circular economy performance using selected environmental burden indicators, including energy and water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. The study uses the alternative ranking order method accounting …

Uc Resources Space And Budget Committee Agenda 2026-09-23, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Uc Resources Space And Budget Committee Minutes 2026-09-23, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Empathy As Activism: Empathy Fostering Tactics Of Minoritized Contemporary Artists, Nicole J. Rudolph-Vallerga

Master's Theses

In the 1980s to 1990s, movements emerged such as the U.S Multiculturalism Movement which responded to the Reagan era’s (1981-1989) conservate wave in the United States. Alongside these movements, many artists of minoritized identities (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, disabled, etc.) were under attack and made art designed to inspire an empathetic response in the viewer as a form of defensive activism. These artists created art designed to protect themselves and their marginalized communities by provoking an empathetic connection between the viewer and the artist’s minoritized community to combat internalized stereotypes. I apply Heidi Maibom’s theory of “moral imagination” to activist art …

Prospective Chest Ct Cohort With Opportunistic Multidimensional Phenotype Capture In Routine Care At A Tertiary Hospital In Western China: Protocol, Heng Zhang, Caipan Gong, Chunfeng Xiang, Shucai Wu, Xifeng Liang, Huazhang Song, Yanhan Xiang, Shuang Liang, Xiaoling Peng, Xiaogang Ren, Yang Li, Hongyan Li, Jing Song, Yuanhua Cheng, Yingchun Xiang, Zhiwei Wu, Chungang Zhao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Routine chest CT contains clinically relevant multidomain information beyond the immediate examination indication, but translation into routine care requires more than identifying individual biomarkers. This protocol describes a prospective observational cohort designed to evaluate whether technical assessability, standardised multidomain research phenotyping, routine radiology reporting and documented care can be linked reproducibly within routine clinical chest CT at a tertiary hospital in western China.

Methods and Analysis: This is a single-centre, prospective, consecutive-enrolment observational imaging cohort embedded in routine outpatient and inpatient chest CT practice rather than a dedicated screening programme. The study is organised around a scan-to-phenotype-to-report-to-care framework while …

Relationship Between Language, Culture, And Thinking Of The Kajang Community From The Perspective Of Anthropological Linguistics, Harlinah Sahib, Jumardin Muchtar, Herawati Abbas, Ferawaty Syam

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

In terms of anthropological linguistics, the study aims to explore the interaction of language, culture and cognitive tendencies in the community of Kajang. It particularly looks into the traditional oral expressions (kelong) of the community, including Kelong Basing Rikong, Lok-lok, and Ati-ati Raja, as their understandings of life, death, spirituality, and social values are expressed. A qualitative ethnolinguistic approach, informed by anthropological linguistics, was used in this study. Data collection methods included field observations, in-depth interviews with traditional leaders (Ammatoa), cultural practitioners and community elders, and a documentary analysis of oral texts, especially Kelong. …

Staff Education To Improve Sleep Hygiene Knowledge And Competency Among Nursing Staff On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Jennings Ubadi Mekoba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed the gap in standardized knowledge and implementation of evidence-based sleep hygiene interventions among nursing staff on an inpatient behavioral health unit. Sleep disturbances affect 80%–90% of psychiatric patients and directly impact treatment outcomes and recovery. I developed the practice-focused question to consider whether an evidence-based sleep hygiene education program would enhance the awareness, knowledge, and practices of the nursing staff regarding sleep hygiene interventions. A thorough literature review of 23 high-quality sources formed the background for the development of a structured educational intervention that encompassed assessment methodologies, nonpharmacological interventions, environmental interventions, and patient education interventions. …

Effective Cybersecurity Strategies To Implement Policies That Prevent Data Breaches And Maintain Patient Trust, Sabina Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective cybersecurity strategies can increase the risk of healthcare data breaches and negatively affect patient trust. Healthcare information technology (IT) managers, healthcare organizations, and patients are concerned with ineffective cybersecurity strategies because data breaches can compromise sensitive patient information and diminish trust in healthcare organizations. Guided by protection motivation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective cybersecurity strategies that healthcare IT managers use to implement policies that prevent data breaches and maintain patient trust. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six healthcare IT managers and a review of publicly available …

Lindenwood Digest, September 23, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

• Event & Date: The Lindenwood University Employee Digest was published on September 23, 2026.

• Geographic Grounding: Documented campus proceedings are situated across Harmon Hall, the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, and the Library and Academic Resources Center (LARC) at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

• Key Honorees/Awards: Recognized personnel include inaugural Leadership Institute cohort members Sara Wiedman, Kevin Manley, Jameson Adams, Jennifer Hennings, and Danyelle Marshall; guest speaker Yeonmi Park, designated one of the BBC's "Top 100 Global Women"; and Q2 Moments employee honorees Clayton Janvrin, Carrie Ponder, Miranda Zuk, and Jared Nelson.

• Institutional Context: The record marks the …

A Deep Learning-Based Approach For Mapping Shrubs In Arctic Tundra From Very High-Resolution Imagery, Darko Radakovic, Mark Chopping, Bruce Cook, Aparna S. Varde, Stefan A. Robila

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Arctic shrub expansion is accelerating due to climate warming, but accurately mapping it at fine spatial scales remains challenging due to spectral overlap between shrubs and surrounding vegetation, heterogeneous tundra landscapes, and limited availability of very high-resolution imagery. This study presents a novel mapping and validation approach that integrates very high-resolution (< 1 m) QuickBird (QB) and WorldView (WV) satellite imagery across 12 North Slope sites, using deep learning architectures to map changes in shrub cover from 2002 to 2022. Deep learning models, including Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), ResNet, VGG, U-Net, and Vision Transformer, were trained on 4,100 3-channel pansharpened multispectral images (200×200 m). Two traditional machine learning models (Random Forest and Support Vector Machine) served as a control group. Leave-one-site-out cross-validation showed that all models performed well (AUC-ROC of 0.78–0.86, F1 at validation of 0.33-0.46) and had a moderate to strong agreement with field reference data (R2 = 0.76–0.87). The pretrained VGG and ResNet models achieved the strongest field-reference alignments for shrub cover prediction, while the difference with traditional models was small. Temporal trend analyses for July and August demonstrate a cover change of 0.06–0.45% yr-1 with unweighted mean area slopes and 0.01–0.92% yr-1 inverse-variance weighting. Growth rates were found to depend on the analytical design. Furthermore, the limiting factor in mapping shrub cover was not model complexity but the quality of the training data labels (annotation method explained ∼26% of the error variance). Per-scene cover error was seen across architectures (ρ = 0.67). Comparison with NASA Goddard's LiDAR, Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT)-derived Canopy Height Models revealed a weak-to-moderate relationship (R2 = 0.04–0.77), suggesting horizontal cover and vertical canopy structure capture complementary aspects of shrub abundance. These results demonstrate the potential of deep learning to map decadal shrub expansion at sub-meter resolution.

Comprehensive Evaluation Of At(N) Imaging Biomarkers For Predicting Cognitive Decline, Tom Earnest, Braden Yang, Deydeep Kothapalli, Aristeidis Sotiras, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have investigated how different Alzheimer's disease biomarker definitions affect predictions of cognitive decline.

METHODS: We predicted cognitive decline using 42 biomarker definitions spanning amyloid beta, tau, and neurodegeneration in 383 ADNI participants with baseline neuroimaging and longitudinal cognitive assessments. We identified optimal predictors for each pathology and variable type (continuous, binary, non-binary categorical) using nested cross-validation. Models were compared against support vector machines (SVMs) incorporating brain-wide pathology. In a subsample, we compared imaging-based biomarkers with biofluids (cerebrospinal fluid and plasma).

RESULTS: We observed substantial variability in accuracy, even for measures of the same pathology. Tau biomarkers were …

Legal Shifts And Judicial Inconsistencies In Strict Liability After The Omnibus Law: A Critical Analysis Of Indonesian Environmental Law For Responsible Mining And Esg Compliance, Nurul Listiyani, Khenza Atthaya Namira Yulianto

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The legal significance of strict liability in mining arises from the sector’s capacity to generate technically complex, diffuse, and long-latency environmental harm that is difficult to address through fault-based litigation alone. This study aims to evaluate how the post-Omnibus Law reformulation of Article 88 of Law No. 32 of 2009 has affected the doctrinal autonomy, judicial consistency, and practical enforcement of strict liability in Indonesian environmental law. The research used normative doctrinal legal research including statutory, case-law, conceptual, comparative, and evaluative analyses. The data cover the 2009–2025 period and consist of two core statutory formulations of Article 88, the Job …

K 1-6 Is A Photoionised Interstellar Medium Nebula Shaped By A Fast-Moving Hot White Dwarf In A Triple System, Jaroslav Merc, David Jones, Ana Escorza, Henri M. J. Boffin, Nicole Reindl, Michael Abdul-Masih, Thomas Masseron, Paulina Sowicka, Jan Kára, Jorge Jorge García-Rojas

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Aims. K 1-6 has long been classified as a planetary nebula (PN) hosting a binary central star; however, it has remained poorly studied due to its faintness. The central star exhibits pronounced photometric variability whose origin is still unclear. We present a comprehensive characterisation of the K 1-6 system, including the physical properties of its stellar components and the nature of the surrounding nebulosity.

Methods. We conducted a multi-wavelength analysis combining optical and UV spectroscopy obtained with the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, the Nordic Optical Telescope, and the Hubble Space Telescope. We also present long-term multi-band ground- …

Fs Steering Committee Agenda 2026-09-23, Northern Illinois University

Faculty Senate Archives

No abstract provided.

Conflicted Investment Advice And "Free Lunches", Dana M. Muir, Norman P. Stein, James A. Wooten

Journal Articles

This article critically examines the consequences of conflicted investment advice given on retirement savings. It briefly traces the evolution of advice regulation under federal and state law and assesses the litigation that the regulation has spawned. The article highlights the tension between industry entities’ public claims of trustworthiness and those entities’ resistance to accepting fiduciary responsibility for investment advice. It identifies four transformational shifts that began during the 1990s, which made it imperative that retirement savers receive unconflicted investment advice.

The article explains why the current landscape of investment advice for retirement savers is fraught with conflicts of interest that …