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Uc Agenda 2025-01-29, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Assessing Water Quantity And Quality In The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer And Coastal Louisiana Through Integrated Airborne Electromagnetic And Borehole Data, Michael George Henin Attia Khalil

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Numerical modeling has contributed significantly to the understanding of groundwater systems. Many challenges are associated with constructing groundwater models which include an accurate understanding of the geology and aquifer parameters estimation. Traditionally boreholes are a successful way to capture geological features, however, boreholes often have sparse data. Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data allows for efficient and cost-effective surveying of large areas, providing valuable information about the subsurface electrical resistivity. By bridging the gap between boreholes, AEM data offers a broader view of the aquifer system's structure and heterogeneity. However, interpreting geophysical AEM data has uncertainties. Developing a framework to apply the …

Exploring Enablers Of And Barriers To A Fruit And Vegetable Voucher Scheme In England:: Insights From The Fresh Street Community Feasibility Study, Jiang Pan, Clare Relton, Lisa Howard, Paridhi Garg, Manik Puranik, Michelle Thomas, Jane Bradbeer, Rachel Sutton, Carol Wagstaff, Clare Pettinger

School of Health Professions

Background/Objectives: Many deprived communities in the UK have low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, leading to poor health outcomes. Fresh Street is a place-based voucher approach that enables households to buy FV from local independent suppliers. Fresh Street Community embeds this approach within community hubs, thus enabling households to use vouchers to purchase FV from community centres. This paper explores the enablers and barriers influencing the uptake of Fresh Street Community in two UK urban areas of high deprivation. Methods: This three-phase exploratory qualitative study was informed by ‘co-production’ with community researchers at both sites: (1) literature review and observations …

Dog Skull Shape Challenges Assumptions Of Performance Specialization From Selective Breeding, Nicholas Hebdon, Alexa Ortega, Alexander Orlove, Nichole Wheeler, Mia Pham, Vivian Nguyen, Justin Gladman, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Through selective breeding, humans have driven exceptional morphological diversity in domestic dogs, creating more than 200 recognized breeds developed for specialized functional tasks such as herding, protection, and hunting. Here, we use three-dimensional reconstructions of dog skulls to ask whether these function-oriented kennel-club groups reflect differences in morphology that correspond to those functions. We analyzed 117 canid skulls, representing 40 domestic dog breeds and 18 wild subspecies, using geometric morphometric techniques and k-means clustering. Results show near-full overlap in kennel-club groups and with natural species, except for companion dogs having extreme snout shape. When categorized by task-specific historic function …

Business Management Strategies To Address Retail Theft, Mattie Sena Barcon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Theft and fraud in the retail sector contribute to significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and reduced employee morale. Retail leaders are particularly concerned about these deviant behaviors, as they threaten profitability, business sustainability, and long-term workforce stability. Grounded in the retaillance conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies leaders used to mitigate shoplifting and fraud. The participants were six retail loss prevention professionals who had successfully mitigated retail crime. Data sources consisted of semistructured interviews and public records. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) team dynamics, (b) organizational training and policies, (c) …

Business Management Strategies To Address Retail Theft, Mattie Sena Barcon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Theft and fraud in the retail sector contribute to significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and reduced employee morale. Retail leaders are particularly concerned about these deviant behaviors, as they threaten profitability, business sustainability, and long-term workforce stability. Grounded in the retaillance conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies leaders used to mitigate shoplifting and fraud. The participants were six retail loss prevention professionals who had successfully mitigated retail crime. Data sources consisted of semistructured interviews and public records. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) team dynamics, (b) organizational training and policies, (c) …

Evaluation Of Age-Related Spermatozoa Morphological Section Lengths In Gloster Canary Spermatozoa Using Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (Casa) System, Arda Onur Özkök, Burcu Esi̇n, Cumali̇ Kaya

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The canary is a small passerine bird of the finch family. Canary spermatozoa are also morphologically similar to many other songbird species. In this study, the morphological characteristics of Gloster canary spermatozoa of different age ranges were examined, and the length values of the parts forming the spermatozoa were compared. The study used ten active Gloster canaries between the ages of 3 (Trial-1) and four years (Trial-2). Semen samples from 3-year-old canaries in the study were evaluated, and morphological segment lengths were recorded. In the study, to avoid individual differences and make homogeneous measurements, semen samples were retaken from the …

Antimicrobial Peptides: Could It Be An Alternative To Antibiotics In Boar Semen Extender?, Krittika Keeratikunakorn, Panida Chanapiwat, Kampon Kaeoket

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Since antimicrobial resistance is a major global issue, “One Health” approaches such as the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) was developed as an alternative antimicrobial agent which might be used in pig farms to reduce or replace non-rationale antibiotics usage. Although AMPs showed several effects on antimicrobial agents, including against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, as well as effects on host immunity, their most notable property is their ability to kill bacteria without causing damage to the host cell. Two major mechanisms of action of AMPs include membrane-active and intracellular-active. During the past decade, many AMPs have been tested for …

The Survey Of The Prevalence Of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (Egus) In Non-Racing Thoroughbred Horses In Thailand, Teerapol Tum Chinkangsadarn, Sangtawan Tubkleaw, Ananya Rungjarusub, Jitsupa Trangkatarn, Kawinthida Thaworn, Parichart Tesena

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and risk factors of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) in non-racing Thoroughbred horses in Thailand. A total of 56 Thoroughbreds, aged 5 to 22 years (mean age: 12.43 ± 4.65 years), were included. Before sedation, a comprehensive history and physical examination were conducted. Gastroscopy was performed to identify gastric ulcers, using the Equine Gastric Ulcer Council 0–4 scoring system for non-glandular ulcers, while glandular ulcers were assessed as present or absent. Data on breed, age, sex, activity status, behavior, appetite, and medical rehistory were collected. The overall prevalence of gastric ulcers was …

Above The Ground, Beyond The Job, Jacob Howell

Night Flight: Online Literary Journal

Tom, a former tower technician, experiences the physical and emotional toll of working in high-risk conditions. After a life-threatening incident on the job, he decides to transition into project management, seeking stability and purpose. As a project manager overseeing a crane operation, Tom faces a dangerous situation when a crane accidentally hits power lines, causing a potential disaster. Through calm and decisive action, Tom prevents harm and uncovers an insurance fraud scheme orchestrated by the crane company. This experience shapes his growth as a leader, reinforcing his commitment to safety and honesty. Ultimately, Tom finds fulfillment in his new career, …

Ai-Integrated Cross-Disciplinary Liberal Arts Colloquium, Diana S. Perdue, Niloofar Gholamrezaei, Jennifer Krusinger, Shannon Hogan

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

What began organically as an AI-focused collaboration between faculty in different disciplines along with researchers in the college’s Center for Instructional Innovation, has evolved into college-wide pedagogical workshops and the development of a studio model that affects courses, programs, and paradigms for faculty scholarship.

Lessons from these collaborations inform understandings of how key features of liberal arts education can be supported through intentional AI-integration within a Cross-Disciplinary Liberal Arts Colloquium. More specifically, this colloquium offers recommendations on adapting a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and reflective studio model to in-person, online, and hybrid educational environments facilitated through a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) …

The Rider (2025-01-27), Rebeca Salinas

The Rider Archives

Vol.10 No.16

Cultural Capital Skill Development In Undergraduate Kinesiology Curriculum, Jenica Alvarez, Sabrina R. Fordham, Elizabeth M. Harrison, Blake Podsen, Jason C. Casey, Rich Pruett

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 2, 2025. Specialization within Kinesiology and related fields over the past 20 years has led to the prioritization of technical skill development. This specialization leaves limited availability of resources for the development of Cultural Capital (CC) skills in undergraduate kinesiology and kinesiology-related curricula. The purpose of this study was to examine how seven Experiential Learning Activities (ELAs) influence CC skill development in an undergraduate kinesiology practicum course. An interpretive qualitative action research design was applied to investigate five senior undergraduate kinesiology students’ experiences. The study concluded: (a) six of …

Metabolic Effects Of R-1,3-Butanediol (Ketone-Iq) During Aerobic And Anaerobic Exercise Bouts, Mathew C. Soto, Andrew J. Jakiel, Latt Mansor, Jenica D. Alvarez, Ashley M. Bruce, Blake Podsen, Sabrina R. Fordham, Parker N. Hyde

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 1, 2025. BACKGROUND: Current evidence demonstrates the efficacy of low carbohydrate/high fat ketogenic diets as it related to exercise. Exogenous ketone supplements have made it possible to ingest ketone molecules, elevating blood b-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) despite consuming carbohydrates (CHO). The purpose of this investigation was to determine both metabolic and performance effects of R-1,3-butanediol (BDO). METHODS: A randomized repeated measures placebo-controlled design was used to compare BDO and placebo (PLA). Each phase of testing utilized two primary testing days: 1) a dose exposure day designed to determine blood metabolite changes …

Uncovering Acoustic Biomarkers To Classify Parkinson Disease Through Machine Learning, Felix Yeboah

Data Science and Data Mining

The early detection of diseases profoundly influences treatment efficacy, and accurate classification methodologies are essential for effective disease identification. In this project, we examined fve different classifers—Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naive Bayes, K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Support Vector Machines—and evaluated their performance in detecting Parkinson’s disease (PD) based on voice features. The study aims to identify the best classifier for detecting PD. XGBoost performed the best, with an accuracy of 91% on the full dataset. After variable selection, KNN had the best performance with an accuracy of 91%. These findings suggest that Machine learning algorithms(classifiers) can …

Evaluation Of Variable Selection Techniques On The Genetic Architecture Of Flowering Time In Maize, Felix Yeboah

Data Science and Data Mining

In this project, we investigate several variable selection procedures to give an overview of how well they perform on a genomic dataset using three different penalized regression approaches. Comparisons between different methods were performed. These methods include Ridge, lasso, and Elastic Net. We utilized 4494 observations with 7389 SNPs gene scores to predict time to male flowering (dtoa). We assessed the performance of these three models in terms of mean square error. Not surprisingly, Lasso and Elastic Net perform better than Ridge Regression. Overall, Elastic Net performed better in predicting the time of male flowering (dtoa).

Exploration Of Running In Minimal And Conventional Footwear On Tibial Stress Fracture Probability In Habitual And Non-Habitual Minimal Users, Jonathan K. Sinclair, Paul J. Taylor

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

This research sought to investigate the impact of minimal and conventional footwear on the likelihood of tibial stress fractures among individuals who habitually and do not habitually use minimal footwear. Ten males who habitually ran in minimal footwear and ten males who habitually ran in conventional footwear, took part in this investigation. Kinematic information during overground running were gathered using an eight-camera motion-capture system, and ground reaction forces were recorded using a force plate. Tibial strains were assessed through finite element modelling, while the likelihood of stress fractures was determined through probabilistic modelling across a 100-day running period. Medial tibial …

Bridging The Gap: Understanding And Mitigating Csrf Threats In Service Worker Environments, Sivakanesan Dhanushkanda, Mustafa A. Ibrahim

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are gaining popularity due to their rich features. Service Workers (SWs), one of its integral components, make this possible by providing users with offline functionality, improved performance, and effective caching techniques. SWs act as proxies positioned between the client browser and the web server, capable of intercepting requests and responses. Recent research has revealed that, despite being designed with security in mind, there are ways to circumvent these security precautions and launch various attacks.

Sensitive functions in JavaScript are functions that can introduce security vulnerabilities if not properly coded or validated. These functions can manipulate the …

Improving Ilss Properties Of Uhmwpe

Defensive Publications Series

An aspect of the disclosure is related to using a polyethylene, for example, a low-density, high-density or linear low-density polyethylene, which is modified with a maleated-polyethylene coupling agent to enhance tie-layer bonding. Parts would subsequently be formed and then e-beam cross-linked after forming to enhance overall strength of the parts.

Solid-State Fmcw Depth Sensing For Remote Eye Tracking

Defensive Publications Series

An aspect of the disclosure is related to an apparatus including a number of pixels, each pixel comprising a first path for illumination of a single spot in an eye cornea, and a second path for detection of a reflected light from the single spot. The first path and the second path are implemented using waveguides, and the first path and the second path are coupled to a processor that implements an FMCW depth sensing of the eye cornea for remote eye tracking.

Implementation Of Endometriosis Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Nurse Practitioners’ Knowledge And Management, Hasbun Rachel

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis, characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial-like tissue, affects approximately 11% of reproductive-aged women in the United States. Diagnosing endometriosis is challenging due to its diverse clinical presentations, reliance on laparoscopic procedures, absence of biomarkers, and limited awareness among healthcare providers and patients.

Local Problem: The diagnostic complexity of endometriosis, compounded by reduced provider awareness and a lack of comprehensive resources, leads to delayed and suboptimal care for affected women.

Methods: This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project aimed to enhance nurse practitioners’ (NPs) knowledge and management of endometriosis through a 1-hour educational session at the …

January 28, 2025, Council On Graduate Studies

Minutes

No abstract provided.

No. 33: Living Through The Covid-19 Pandemic As A Refugee In Secondary Cities In Canada: The Intersectionality Of Immobility, Gender And Food Insecurity, Zhenzhong Si, Zack Ahmed, Sujata Ramachandran, Neil Arya, Jonathan Crush

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated the vulnerabilities of migrants and refugees in secondary cities in Canada, where the restrictive food environment and limited resources heightened challenges related to food security. This study investigates how the intersectionality of immobility, gender, and food insecurity shaped the lived experiences of recently resettled Syrian, Somali and Afghanistan refugees in the Waterloo Region, Canada, during the pandemic. The mixed methods research approach integrates survey and in-depth interview data to examine refugees’ motivations for migration, economic conditions, challenges in accessing culturally appropriate food, and the impact of gender roles. Findings reveal that structural barriers within …

Where The Leaves Fall, Beatrice Shackelford

Student Work

"My Father in heaven wept the first tears for this world. He has and is working toward the redemption and restoration of His good creation."

Posting about experiencing awe in God's world from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Where the Leaves Fall

Programs Agenda 1-28-25, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

02. Probability Ii, Gerhard Müller

Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics (2025)

Part two of course materials for Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics (Physics 626), taught by Gerhard Müller at the University of Rhode Island. The available PDF includes both the lecture notes, additional materials, and exercises without solutions.

Senate Bill 2025-01, Van Fasbender

Approved Senate Bills, Resolutions, and Documents

Bill to appropriate Student Government funds to contribute to the on-campus sand volleyball construction project, beginning in 2025.

Quicche Cpies Data Report, Maureen Kennelly, Kathleen A. Donohue

Physical Oceanography Technical Reports

The goal of QUantifying Interocean fluxes in the Cape Cauldron Hotspot of Eddy kinetic energy (QUICCHE) was to observe mixing and stirring in the Cape Basin in the southeast Atlantic Ocean across time and space scales ranging from seconds to months and from centimeters to tens of kilometers using a variety of sensors and platforms. As part of QUICCHE, two inverted echo sounders equipped with bottom pressure gauges and current meters (CPIES) were deployed at sites designated CP01 and CP02 at 4676 and 4895 m depth respectively, from March 2023 to April 2024. This report documents the processing of data …

Re: Butte Mine Flooding Operable Unit Berkeley Pit And Discharge Pilot Project – December 2024 Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report, Mark Thompson, Dave Griffis

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Iterative Refinement Of Arbitrary Micro-Optical Surfaces, Megan Plummer, Stephen Taylor, Matthew Marshall, David Brown, Robert Leonard, Seth Hyra, Spencer E. Olson

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

We introduce an adaptive optical refinement method enabling ultra-precise micro-milling of arbitrary surfaces. Through repeated iteration, our method reduces surface error without requiring significant specific surface engineering. This remediates the long sample preparation times and lack of refinement capability that previously reported methods suffer from. The iterative refinement milling method was used to produce spherical mirrors with small radii of curvature and low surface roughness for use in micro Fabry-Perot cavities. We demonstrate the use of this adaptive process to produce a variety of arbitrary surface geometries on both optical fiber tips as well as optical flats. We additionally discuss …