Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of A Patient-Centered Outcome Tool For Blepharospasm: A Stepwise Modified Delphi Study, Brian D Berman, Fares Qeadan, Amanda D Henderson, Andrew R Harrison, Giovanni Defazio, Mark Hallett, Gamze Kilic-Berkmen, Laura Wright, Samantha Pentecost, Paul Reyes, Anna Tingin, Joseph Jankovic, Jane Boyd, Charlene Hudgins, Janet Hieshetter, Joel S Perlmutter, Hyder A Jinnah, Sarah Pirio Richardson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Blepharospasm (BSP) is characterized by excessive orbicularis oculi muscle activity leading to abnormal blinking and involuntary eyelid closure. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections are the main treatment for BSP, but they only partially and transiently relieve symptoms, leading to a waxing and waning therapeutic response. A patient-centered outcome (PCO) tool that measures BSP symptoms in a simple and efficient way could inform the development of better treatments. Using a stepwise modified Delphi approach, potential PCO items were first identified using the Dystonia Coalition Database with data from over 200 individuals with BSP who had provided responses to existing clinical assessment scales. …

Developing Workflows For Passive Acoustic Detection Of Bedload Transport, Quinn Morgan

Dissertations and Theses

Bedload transport is defined as the amount of sediment, including gravel and rocks, traveling down stream. Monitoring bedload transport is important for river safety, hydrological studies and conservation efforts. Existing methods of directly measuring bedload transport (or bedload flux) involve lowering a collection device into a river and measuring the sediment collected; which can be expensive and time consuming. Hydroacoustic sensors, such as hydrophones, have had success tracking bedload flux remotely. This works by measuring the relatively high frequency of sediment impacts to map onto total bedload transported. No perfected method for detection of sediment generated noise (SGN) currently exists. …

Barriers Beyond Bars: Examining Experiences Of Students With Criminal Records, Anakin Rivera Ramirez

Dissertations and Theses

As educational opportunities, particularly prison education programs, continue to expand for incarcerated individuals, this study, which included two participants, one formerly incarcerated and one who pleaded guilty to avoid incarceration, suggests that those who plead guilty to avoid prison may enter college without the structured reintegration resources available to their incarcerated peers. While substantial research has explored the school-to-prison pipeline phenomenon in K-12 settings, fewer studies have examined its impact on students with criminal records navigating higher education. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT) in education, this study seeks to understand the experiences of carceral system-impacted students of color in …

Uc Transcript 2025-09-10, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Uc Agenda 2025-09-10, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Paternalistic Approaches To Care In Intensive Care And Its Potential Effects On Securing Consent For Organ Donation, Brian Tierney, Matt Carey

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Organ Donation saved the lives of 1510 transplant recipients in the United Kingdom (UK) last year (NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), 2024. Although over 28 million people in the UK have registered a decision to ‘opt-In’ on the Organ Donor Register (ODR) (NHSBT, 2024), and a soft opt-out system has been adopted across all parts of the UK, securing next of kin agreement remains essential to proceed with organ donation (Rees et. al., 2024).Research Aims: Data from the UK’s Potential Donor Audit continues to highlight instances of limited engagement with organ donation services teams (O’Neill et al, 2024; NHSBT, …

Bypassing Bamd Essentiality By Mutations In A Non-Essential Substrate, Santosh Kumar, Anna Konovalova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The β-barrel assembly machinery (Bam) is essential for assembling all transmembrane β-barrel outer membrane proteins in gram-negative bacteria. The Bam complex consists of the central β-barrel protein BamA and accessory Bam lipoproteins, including the widely conserved and essential BamD. BamD is assumed to be an essential regulator of OMP assembly, as its absence causes a global defect in OMP biogenesis. Here, we challenge this view by demonstrating that BamD essentiality is both conditional and substrate specific. In Escherichia coli, its function can be bypassed by preventing BamA jamming by a single, non-essential substrate RcsF. Our findings suggest that BamD …

Harnessing Ai And Iot For Advancing Sustainable Development Methods, Najm A. Aleessawi, Soud Elmaskali

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer transformative potential for advancing sustainable development, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of 72 peer-reviewed studies (2019–2025) to explore innovative models, methods, and applications of AI-IoT in promoting sustainability. Grounded in systems theory, socio-technical systems, and sustainability science, the findings highlight prevalent models, such as smart cities and precision agriculture, as well as advanced methods like machine learning and edge AI, with applications across energy, agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and water management. Key outcomes include 15–25% …

دور الجامعات الفلسطينية في تعزيز منظومة القيم لدى طلبتها من وجهة نظرهم, Mona Abdulrazzq Abu Holy, Mohyeldin Abdallah Ibrahim.

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة إلى التعرف على دور الجامعات الفلسطينية في تعزيز منظومة القيم لدى طلبتها من وجهة نظرهم، واعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وتكون مجتمع الدراسة من جميع طلبة الجامعات الفلسطينية الثلاثة وهي (جامعة الأقصى، الجامعة الإسلامية، جامعة الأزهر)، في الفصل الدراسي الأول خلال عام 2022م– 2023م، وتم اختيار عينةً عشوائيةً طبقيةً من مجتمع الدراسة، حيث بلغت عينة الدراسة (375) طالباً وطالبةً، وتمثلت أداة الدراسة في استبانة دور الجامعات الفلسطينية في تعزيز منظومة القيم لدى طلبتها، وأظهرت نتائج الدراسة: أن دور الجامعات الفلسطينية في تعزيز القيم لدى الطلبة جاء بدرجة كبيرة وبمتوسط (48.3%) وبنسبة مئوية (69.5%). عدم وجود فروق ذات …

فعالية برنامج رياضي لتنمية المهارات الاجتماعية لدى الصم, Nashwan Abdullah Nashwan, Hani Sulaiman Alkhaledi, Ayat J. Nashwan

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن فعالية برنامج رياضي لتنمية المهارات الاجتماعية لدى الصم، وقد تألف مجتمع الدراسة من (60) أصماً في محافظة الزرقاء، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (20) أصماً من طلبة الصف التاسع الأساسي ضمن الفئة العمرية 14 عاماً، وتم اختيار عينة الدراسة بطريقة عشوائية تم تقسيمها الى مجموعة تجريبية تتكون من عشرة أصماء، وأخرى ضابطة تتكون من عشرة أصماء، واستخدم الباحثون المنهج شبه التجريبي، وتم تصميم مقياس المهارات الاجتماعية لدى الصم، وحصل المقياس على درجات جيدة من الصدق والثبات، وأظهرت النتائج بعد تطبيق البرنامج فعالية البرنامج لتنمية المهارات الاجتماعية لدى الصم، وتم تقديم عدد من المقترحات لمساعدة هذه الفئة …

مستوى الإبداع الحركي لدى طلبة مساقات ألعاب القوى في كليات التربية الرياضية بجامعتي اليرموك والهاشمية, Amal Suleiman Saleh Alzoubi

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال التعرف إلى مستوى الإبداع الحركي لدى طلبة مساقات ألعاب القوى في كليات التربية الرياضية بجامعتي اليرموك والهاشمية، وكذلك معرفة الفروق الدالة الإحصائياً في مستوى الإبداع بين الطلبة بناءً على متغيري الجامعة والجنس. تكونت عينة الدراسة من (146) طالباً وطالبة، منهم 78 من جامعة اليرموك و68 من الجامعة الهاشمية، إذ بلغ عدد الذكور 91 والإناث 55 تم اختيارهم بالطريقة العمدية. اعتمدت الباحثة على المنهج المسحي لملاءمته وطبيعة الدراسة، واستخدمت الاستبانة كأداة لجمع البيانات، ولتحليل البيانات، تم استخدام برنامج التحليل الإحصائي (SPSS) لاستخراج المتوسطات الحسابية والانحراف المعياري واختبار (T-test) للفروق، أظهرت النتائج أن مستوى الإبداع لدى أفراد عينة الدراسة جاء …

Efek Program Pendampingan Umkm Terhadap Performa Ketahanan Pendapatan Dan Penyerapan Tenaga Kerja Umkm : Studi Kasus Program Jakpreneur Dki Jakarta, Farah Khoirur Fadhila, Muhammad Hanri

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

This study discusses the effects of assistance program with business digitalization features, on the income resilience and labor absorption of the assisted MSMEs, case study of DKI Jakarta’s JakPreneur Program. Observation data from 2017-2021 tested business resilience under time and economic crisis challenge, cause of pandemic. Treatment group is 31 respondents of JakPreneur members who had participated since 2017 or 2018. Control group is SAKERNAS data from 2017-2021. The result shows that treatment groups had lower incomes but were able to retain workers compared to control groups. Their low income is due to limitations in implementing business digitalization and accounting.

Psychometric Evaluation Of Nursing Perceptions In Caring For Patients With Delirium Scale, Yunchuan Zhao, Elena Jacobs, Brittany Kelley, Anna C. Quon, Laura J. Tivis

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Delirium is a serious and often under-recognized condition in hospitalized patients, particularly in critical and acute care settings. Nurses play a key role in delirium prevention, screening, and management.1 However, nurses may not consistently use evidence-based practices when caring for patients with delirium.2,3 Research shows that nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards delirium can significantly affect the quality of delirium care.4,5 It is important to identify and understand nursing perceptions of delirium to address barriers in delirium prevention and management. Currently, there is no valid instrument to assess nursing perceptions when caring for patients with delirium. The study aimed to …

Physical Activity Level Associates With Long Covid Symptoms And Quality Of Life, Chia-Huei Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Long COVID has emerged as a significant global health concern, leading to functional impairments, sleep disturbances, and a reduced quality of life (QoL). Moderate-to-high levels of physical activity (PA) have been shown to reduce the risk of health complications, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance patient-reported outcomes in chronic diseases. However, limited evidence exists regarding its impact on long COVID symptoms, sleep quality, and QoL in individuals with long COVID.

Objective: To investigate whether a moderate-to-high level of PA level associates with long COVID symptoms, sleep quality, and QoL in individuals with long COVID.

Methods: A cross-sectional …

Bridging Theory-Practice Gaps: Military Nurses' Combat Palliative Praxis And Care Competency, Deborah Kenny, Sean Reed

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Evidence-based national guidelines establish traditional palliative care standards, yet there are gaps in applying competencies amidst combat nursing complexity, frontline fluctuations, and mass casualties. During the most recent wars, nurses related reluctance in triaging and not knowing how to care for severely ill and dying young service members (Kenny & Kelley, 2019; Kelley, Kenny, & Donley, 2017). Relevant nursing theory integration is lacking to guide this distinctly difficult context marked by severity and suffering, requiring theoretical nursing models attuned to combat conditions.

Aims/Outcomes: This presentation aims to describe an ongoing study using an adapted unitary caring science model (Reed …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Implementing A Novel Pediatric Nurse Preceptor Program In Malawi, Brittney Van De Water, Kelsey Renning, Olivia Yang, Ijaabo Ali, Blessings Chiluzi, Chimwemwe Mula, Julie Mann, Netsayi Gowero, Ando Nyondo, Lignet Chepuka

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Examine barriers and facilitators to implementation of a novel pediatric critical care preceptor program in Malawi.

Background: Malawi is a low-middle income country in sub-Saharan Africa with significant gaps in the availability of pediatric critical care nurses. We conducted a needs assessment in 2022 and developed a novel preceptor program to address these shortages.^1,2 The program was found to be effective;³ however, to understand barriers and facilitators to the implementation of this preceptor program in Malawi, we conducted followed-up interviews with participants.

Methods: Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), interviews were conducted …

Ethics In Practice: Exploring Ethics And Values With Newly Licensed Nurses, Kimberly Hodges, Kayla Dunagan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Exploring ethics and moral values with newly licensed nurses (NLN) is a novel approach to addressing the application of healthcare ethics in ethical dilemmas across healthcare environments. Recent data trends and the literature indicates ethical and moral distress impacts the profession’s emotional stability (Berhie et al., 2020).

Background & Significance: Historically, the organization’s Registered Nurse Residency program covered ethics content during one session. An objective of the project was to increase opportunities for NLNs to explore their role in ethical dilemmas (American Nurses Association, 2015). A gap analysis including previous evaluation data revealed a need for frequent ethics discussions. …

Investigation Of The Influences Of Planned Exercise On Food Choices In School-Age Children, Carol Frances Holt, Dan Cooper, Gwen Van Servellen, Lynn Doering, Andria Pontello

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This investigation explored the influence of a single bout of planned intense exercise on food choices (calories and macronutrients) in a controlled laboratory setting, in normal-weight school-age children. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022) reports that 1 in 5 children have obesity. Yet, research on the effect of exercise on children is limited. Studies often lack controls for environmental, social, or behavioral influences that may impact food choices. Also, studies often provide limited food options to identify macronutrient choices. (Donnelley et al., 2014) (Fearnbach, et al., 2016) (Kristina, et al., 2021) (Noll, et al., 2017).

A quasi-experimental …

Losing All Faith In Women’S Healthcare: Women’S Experience With Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Pain, Sarah E. Patel, Sarah Mary George, Mercedez Dowah Boateng, Mei R. Fu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is an underdiagnosed cause of chronic pelvic pain, which accounts for nearly 30% of gynecological visits. Chronic pelvic pain due to PCS is often exacerbated from long periods of standing or walking, sexual intercourse, and menstruation. Research on PCS mainly uses quantitative approaches that focused on evaluating the effects of pharmacological or medical procedures for PCS and associated pain and symptoms. There is limited evidence that provides deep understanding of the experiences of chronic pelvic pain from the women’s perspectives. Using a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological design, the purpose of this study was to describe …

Experience Of Bowel Dysfunction In Rectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review And Mmeta-Synthesis, Min Jeong Kim, Eun Young Kim, Young Man Kim

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a common and distressing outcome for many rectal cancer patients following low anterior resection (LAR), significantly affecting their quality of life. Numerous studies have explored patient experiences with bowel dysfunction; however, due to varying results, there are limitations to understanding these experiences comprehensively. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize diverse qualitative research findings to reveal a more comprehensive perspective.

Methods: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies was performed through a rigorous and thorough systematic review, encompassing databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Additional studies were identified …

Primary Care Dietary Program To Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk In South Asian Americans, Saranya Elena Wallooppillai, Amy Giles

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: South Asian Americans (SAAs) living in the United States face a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)-related events compared to their European counterparts due to genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle factors. While community-level lifestyle and dietary interventions show promise in ASCVD risk reduction, specific dietary guidelines for SAAs are not established in primary care settings. This quality improvement project aimed to assess the impact of SAA-specific dietary counseling on weight and self-perceptions of diet and health quality, with the goal of improving eating habits and lowering ASCVD risk.

Methodology: Data were collected pre- and post-intervention through surveys and physical …

Temporal Landscapes: Prairie, People, And Place, Eric Castle

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

Matrescence, Erin Kunz

The Cicadian

Kunz reflects on her transformation into motherhood, describing the physical, emotional, and psychological shifts that accompany the process known as matrescence. Through vivid memories of childhood and early parenting, she explores the complexities of maternal love, especially for women who did not receive unconditional love themselves. Her rocking chair becomes a symbol of nurturing and endurance, where she gave everything to her children while grappling with her own identity. Erin also highlights the supportive role of her partner, challenging traditional gender norms and celebrating shared caregiving. As her children grow, she mourns the environmental changes that have altered the …

Flowing Knowledge: Connecting Education, Watersheds, And Our World, Taylor Lemieux

The Cicadian

The main theme of Taylor Lemieux’s story is the transformative power of experiential environmental education. Through personal memories and professional experiences, she illustrates how hands-on learning in nature fosters curiosity, resilience, and a deep sense of stewardship. Her journey emphasizes that meaningful education goes beyond textbooks—it connects learners to the world around them.

Gardens As Pathways To Environmental Education For All Ages, Lacey Anderson

The Cicadian

Gardens provide hands-on opportunities for environmental education that extend beyond food production, encompassing ecological literacy, sustainability practices, experiential learning, and community engagement. This article uses a creative nonfiction approach to examine the author’s personal journey from reluctant gardener to advocate for learning gardens. Through narrative reflection of her own family’s gardening experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the author illustrates how gardening fosters intergenerational learning, socio-emotional development, and curiosity-driven exploration of ecological systems. The article highlights how gardens function as accessible entry points for lifelong learners of all ages, demonstrating that environmental literacy can emerge outside of traditional scientific expertise. Ultimately, …

“Grow Your Plants, But Most Importantly, Grow Yourself”: Women, Resilience, And Cultural Continuity In Jamaican And Diaspora Gardens, Giovanni Whyte

The Cicadian

This essay explores the cultural, personal, and transformative power of gardening through the stories of four women—Brenda, Linda, Keisha, and Janice—whose lives span Jamaica and its diaspora. Their narratives reveal gardening as more than food cultivation but the practice of resilience, healing, and cultural continuity. Brenda honors her ancestral legacy in St. Elizabeth; Linda finds solace after loss; Keisha fosters socioemotional growth among urban students; and Janice embraces sustainability in suburban America. Together, their experiences illustrate how gardening nurtures identity, strengthens communities, and connects people to land, memory, and future generations.

Where The Earth Meets The Sky, Ashlyn Ed Herron

The Cicadian

A reflection of finding one's place in an ecosystem that raised them, and a long overdue love-letter to the prairies

Introduction To Our Inaugural Issue, Lacey Anderson, Mary Moroney-Fernandez, Giovanni E. Whyte

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of A Kn95 Mask On High-Intensity Interval Training Performance, Physiological Response, And Perception, David Kenny, Payton Stanziani, Holly Chambers, Madison Vinovrski, Isabel Allocco, Jack Fisher, Morgan Raley, Kyle S. Beyer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 984-994, 2025. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a KN95 mask on the performance, physiological response, and perception of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Twenty college-aged participants (Male: 10, Female: 10) completed a two-visit, crossover, counterbalanced study. The HIIT workout included four 1-minute “all-out” intervals at 3.5% of body mass with 4-minute rest intervals, performed with or without a KN95 mask. Following HIIT, participants remained on the cycle ergometer for a 15-minute recovery period. For each interval, peak power and average power were recorded. Throughout the HIIT workout and recovery, …

Fine-Tuning A Domain-Specific Language Model For Truss Structural Analysis, Rajon Dey, Weidong Wu, Yu Liang, Joseph Owino, Ignatius Fomunung, Mbakisya A. Onyango

UTC Spring Research and Arts Conference

This research investigates the feasibility of fine-tuning a domain-specific language model (LLM) to enhance the accuracy and accessibility of truss structural analysis. General-purpose AI models, such as ChatGPT, often struggle with engineering-specific problems due to insufficient domain knowledge. To address this, we propose fine-tuning a small LLM tailored for structural engineering tasks, with truss analysis using the stiffness method as a case study. The project leverages a curated dataset of textual and diagrammatic inputs from engineering textbooks, manuals, and solved examples. Image-to-text tools will translate structural diagrams into machine-readable formats, reducing data preparation costs while maintaining numerical precision. Fine-tuning involves …