Digital Commons Network^™

Gastroparesis – An Often-Overlooked Sign Of Multiple Sclerosis, Breveenn Kukan, Kaylee Brown, Minh Chung, Steven Veselsky, Joshua Ferrell

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Investor Perspective Of Materiality, Sam Lessinger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Often auditors are asked to adopt the reasonable investor perspective in their materiality evaluations however, there is no consensus regarding what investors deem to be material. This can lead to confusion in the markets. In fact, past studies have shown how taking an investor perspective can backfire and may result in more leniency and fewer misstatements being deemed material by auditors. This leniency can, potentially, result in financial statements that mislead investors. The aim of this paper is to address the reasonable investor perspective to achieve a more complete understanding of an investor’s viewpoint. This study also incorporates the effect …

The Adjustment Of Autistic First-Generation Students To Higher Education, Paris J. Cumba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of the current study is to investigate how first-generation students on the autism spectrum adjust to higher education compared to their continuing generation and neurotypical peers through the lens of intersectionality. Previous research has studied how first-generation students and autistic students transition into college environments, but little research has explored how these identities intersect and affect college adjustment.

For this study, 189 undergraduate students completed a survey that measured different dimensions of college adjustment, such as academic motivation, self-efficacy, and current life satisfaction. ANOVA tests showed that there was no significant interaction between first-generation status and autism status …

Financial Literacy And Inclusion Of Philippine Jeepney And Tricycle Drivers, Bryan N. Bernabe, Jyro B. Triviño

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

The study investigated how the different elements of financial literacy influence the financial inclusion of jeepney and tricycle drivers in Caloocan, Metro Manila. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between financial inclusion and attitude, behavior, knowledge, and skills. Additionally, analysis of variance highlighted that education and age play significant roles in enhancing financial literacy. The linear regression findings also supported the idea that income acts as a positive moderator, augmenting the impact of financial literacy on financial inclusion. The study attempted to disaggregate its financial literacy components to understand their impact on financial inclusion, but its interrelationships also require …

Filipino Teachers’ Grit And Organizational Resilience During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jyro B. Triviño, Moses G. Manalang

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between employee grit and organizational resilience, focusing on perceptions from Filipino teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a quantitative survey, data from 108 teaching faculty from a Southern Luzon university were analyzed using Spearman correlation to identify potential associations between these constructs. Findings reveal significant but weak to moderate correlations between dimensions of grit and facets of organizational resilience. Notably, adaptability to situations emerged as the most substantial grit component linked to organizational resilience, indicating its critical role in fostering organizational adaptability and planning strategies during uncertain times. The results suggest that individuals with high …

The Qualitative Investigation Of The Role Of Nicu-Based Slps, Netanya Tsang

Selected Full-Text Master Theses Collection 2018-

In 2004 that the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) released a position statement pertaining the roles of SLPs in swallowing and feeding disorders, specifically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In the NICU, one of the last criteria for discharge of the neonate is to demonstrate consistent and stable feeding. For NICU-based speech-language pathologists (SLP)s, a primary responsibility is treating the neonate’s ability to feed and swallow. Within this specialized setting over time, the role of the SLP has changed, but there is significant variation across locations and setting; with little formally documented regarding updated responsibilities. Therefore, this …

Aging Out: Life With Autism After School Ends, Emily Katherine Brown

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This thesis examines the challenges autistic individuals face after graduating from the school system, a transition often marked by a sudden loss of structured support. During school aged years, students are guaranteed services such as individualized education programs (IEPs), therapies, and transition planning through age 21 or 22. However, once these protections end, many autistic adults encounter what is commonly referred to as the “service cliff,” where access to essential supports becomes limited, inconsistent, or entirely unavailable.

The absence of adult services creates significant barriers in areas such as employment, housing, healthcare, and community integration. Many individuals who relied on …

Burnout Among Licensed Central Office Administrators In Illinois School Districts: A Quantitative Study, Ivone De Jesus

Dissertations of Practice

Burnout among educational leaders is well documented; however, limited empirical research has focused on central office administrators. This study examined burnout among licensed central office administrators in Illinois school districts, focusing on self-reported levels of burnout and associated organizational stressors. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, burnout was conceptualized as a systemic organizational phenomenon shaped by workplace conditions. A cross-sectional survey was administered to licensed central office administrators across Illinois public school districts. Descriptive analyses assessed burnout prevalence, while correlational analyses examined relationships among burnout, organizational stressors, and coping strategies. Results indicated that burnout was common and multidimensional, with organizational …

Measuring Academic Momentum: A Quantitative Study Of Supplemental Instruction As A Community College Student Support Strategy, Cornelia Slater

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

MEASURING ACADEMIC MOMENTUM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT STRATEGY

Cornelia Vanessa Slater, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Quortne R. Hutchings, Director

Community colleges serve as critical access points to higher education for diverse populations of students where completion rates are an ongoing challenge. Supplemental Instruction have been used as an academic intervention to improve success largely in four-year institutions. This quantitative study, guided by Xueli Wang’s momentum theory analyzed two research questions: (1) how supplemental instruction (SI) participation is associated with student academic success, course retention …

Examining The Association Between Educational Spending In Well-Resourced School Districts And The Academic Performance Of Hispanic Students In Low Socioeconomic Communities, Alicia Cieszykowski

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF HISPANIC STUDENTS IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITIES

Alicia Cieszykowski

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Benjamin Creed, Director

This study examined the relationship between school district expenditure patterns and academic performance for Hispanic students in adequately funded Illinois school districts. Using a quantitative correlational design, the study explored whether overall spending levels and the allocation of financial resources were associated with Hispanic student achievement and Hispanic–White academic disparities in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The sample included Illinois Tier …

We See You! Mentorship Matters: Female Superintendents' Experiences In Illinois, Nicole Maxwell-Aldred

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of the study was to examine female superintendents' lived experiences with mentoring and the impact it had on their trajectory to the position. Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews from a phenomenological lens who are currently women superintendents in the northern portion of Illinois. The results of this study shows the impact of mentorship along the way to the superintendency, once in the role, and the need to pay it forward. Gender dynamics had an impact on women across time. Additionally this research amplified women’s voices, provided deeper understanding of women's experience with mentorship, and added to the body of …

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Public Service Loan Forgiveness Through Critical Pragmatism And Equity, Cathy Davis

Dissertations of Practice

Student loan debt in the United States has surpassed $1.8 trillion, placing substantial financial strain on more than 42 million borrowers. Public service professionals—including teachers, social workers, nurses, and government employees—are among those most affected, as their essential work is often undercompensated. The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program was created to reduce these burdens and strengthen the public service workforce, yet persistent administrative complexity, low approval rates, and inequitable access undermine its intended impact.

Guided by a critical pragmatism framework that integrates the outcome‑oriented inquiry of classical pragmatism with the equity‑centered critique of critical theory, this dissertation evaluates …

Understanding Student Motivation And Engagement: Students’ Perspectives, Kirsten Garrigan

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into middle school students’ perspectives on motivation and engagement to better inform instructional practices. Centering student voice, the study investigated how these learners distinguish genuine engagement from compliance, and how they perceive the connection between classroom instruction and other factors to their own motivation and engagement. The students’ perspectives provide an in-depth, student-centered framework that distinguishes between the external pressures leading to compliance and the authentic, actionable support for true motivation and engagement. The dissertation was completed in three parts. Part one (Chapter 2) is an in-depth literature review on motivation …

Implementing Restorative Practices For Girls In Elementary School Classrooms: A Participatory Action Research Approach, Mellissa Douglas

Dissertations of Practice

This participatory action research study examined how varying approaches to implementing restorative practices, together with teacher collaboration and influence, support resilience, enhance communication, establish healthy boundaries, encourage accountability, and build confidence among elementary school girls ages 8–10. Two third-grade teachers, three fourth-grade teachers, and three fifth-grade teachers in a midwestern elementary school implemented restorative practices through proactive circles or conferences over the course of forty school days. The eight teacher participants recorded the implementation of restorative practices in an action research journal, field notes, and photographs, and they collaborated to discuss strengths, areas in need of support, and next steps. …

Educator Understanding Of Mtss: A Quantitative Descriptive Study, Danielle Valiente

Dissertations of Practice

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) require coordinated implementation across the full educator workforce. This study examined MTSS knowledge and self-reported understanding across the Illinois educator workforce to identify the specific knowledge gaps a targeted professional learning solution would need to address. Using a quantitative descriptive design, 208 Illinois public school educators across 16 job roles and four experience bands completed an online survey consisting of an eleven-item true/false knowledge assessment, a ten-item multiple-choice knowledge assessment, and a 10-item Likert self-report inventory. Data were disaggregated by job role and by years of professional experience. Educators demonstrated strong understanding of MTSS structural …

Korean Wedding Hanbok In The May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, Odette Collins

Department of Anthropology

This report examines a men’s ceremonial hanbok from the May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, attributed to South Korea in the mid-twentieth century. It discusses the garment’s materials, construction, and decorative techniques, as well as its function as wedding attire. The report situates the object within the historical context of Joseon dynasty court dress, particularly dallyeong robes, and analyzes its symbolic motifs, including crane rank badges. It also considers issues of attribution, provenance, and the broader cultural significance of hanbok in relation to class, tradition, and modern production.

Lost In The Language: Data Breaches And The Strategic Fog Of Risk Disclosures, Ling Tuo, Shipeng Han

Accounting Faculty Publications

This study examines whether firms strategically adjust the readability of Item 1A (“Risk Factors”) disclosures following data breaches. Using U.S. firm-year observations from 2006 to 2023, we find that data breaches are associated with a significant decline in Item 1A readability. This decline is not accompanied by a meaningful increase in informational content; instead, post-breach disclosures exhibit higher syntactic complexity, more positive tone, and lower textual similarity to prior and industry peers' filings, consistent with strategic obfuscation rather than transparent reporting. The readability decline is amplified among firms facing higher litigation risk but attenuated among firms with stronger reputations for …

Optimisation Of Laminar Jet Flow Microencapsulation Variables To Enhance The Anthocyanin Retention And Antioxidant Function Of Sohiong, Roshiya Nongmaithem, Raju Sasikumar, Kaviarasu G., Selva Kumar T., Ravikumar Rajarathinam, Paras Sharma, Sheena Haorongbam, Kowsalya T., K. Senthilkumar, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Anthocyanins are valuable dietary elements with biological functions and health-promoting effects. However, there are technological barriers to their use in the food industry, primarily due to their poor stability and susceptibility to environmental factors, such as oxygen, temperature, pH, and light, which can significantly affect the physicochemical characteristics of the final food products. In this study, the microencapsulation of an anthocyanin extract from sohiong fruits was performed using a laminar jet flow vibration nozzle, with calcium chloride as a hardening agent and sodium alginate as a polymer. To produce calcium-alginate microbeads with a high anthocyanin content and favourable morphological characteristics, …

Utilising Dairy And Whisky Manufacture By-Products For Microalgal Lipids Production, Bozena Mccarthy, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Graham O'Neill

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Microalgae are increasingly recognised as a renewable and sustainable source of both unsaturated and saturated fatty acids (SFAs), offering a viable alternative to traditional animal fats and plant oils. By-products of food production, such as whey from cheese production andDSG obtained from whiskey production, were found to be nutrient-dense streams and have potential for valorisation. Both whey and DSG were found to contain varied concentrations of nutrients, especially nitrate, phosphate and sugars and were shown to support microalgal growth and production of various fatty acids. C. vulgaris achieved 4.27 ± 0.31 g/L biomass when grown in whey. It also outperformed …

Exploration Of Best Practice Of Market Surveillance And Type Approval Of Internal Combustion Engines Emissions For Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Examine_Nrmm), Rita Hagan, Eoin Mcgillicuddy, Aoife Donnelly

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study examines market surveillance methods for engines in non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) in selected European Union (EU) Member States and the UK, to inform the development of an Irish NRMM market surveillance process in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628. The research found NRMM market surveillance approaches vary across Europe, with no uniform market surveillance strategy in place. Some countries, including Ireland, are currently developing an approach, while other countries have no set process in place. In countries, with an existing strategy, the process can be proactive, reactive or a combination of both.Findings highlight opportunities for Ireland to design a …

Inorganic Nanoparticle-Bacteria Interaction Systems: Mechanistic, Functional And Agricultural Applications, Gouri Nilakshika Atapattu, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

BackgroundInorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are capable of interacting with bacteria. Due to this interaction, the cell exterior and interior of bacteria maybe altered. As a result, bacterial growth inhibition might occur due to the antimicrobial properties exerted by inorganic nanoparticles. Inorganic nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity have been discussed within the literature under the food, pharmaceutical, biomedicine and agriculture sectors. Currently, nanoparticle-mediated control of plant bacterial pathogens is advancing in agriculture.AimThis review aims to highlight the potential of bacteria-inorganic nanoparticle systems in agriculture and how they may yield agricultural benefits beyond antimicrobial activity.MethodsWe analysed literature published between 2020 and 2024 on how …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy, Safety And Mechanism Of Action Of Flebogamma Dif, Fostamatinib And Romiplostim In Immune Thrombocytopenia, Mary Akinyemi, Kamna Ravi, Furong Tian, Baljit Singh

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction, resulting in a platelet count below 100 × 10⁹/L and an increased risk of bleeding complications that significantly impair quality of life. Despite advances in ITP management, the unpredictable and heterogeneous nature of the disease continues to challenge treatment selection. This review compares the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of Fostamatinib, Flebogamma DIF, and Romiplostim in adult and pediatric ITP patients. Peer-reviewed studies published over the past 20 years, including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and real-world evidence, were screened for relevance, with …

Biochemical Processes, Chemical Compositions, And Nutrient Profiles Of Germinated Barley Grains After Steeping With Thiolated And Aminated Spent Brewer's Yeast Hydrolysates, Elahe Abedi, Brian Gibson, Philip C. Wietstock

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The present study investigated the effect of steeping solution containing a thiol- and amino-functionalization of hydrolyzed brewers' spent yeast hydrolysate (HBSY) on the enzymatic and nutritional profile of germinated barley. Thiol- and amino-functionalized HBSY (GSN) resulted in significantly elevated activities of α-amylase (35.5 U/g), β-amylase (41.2 U/g), protease (29.9 U/g), cysteine protease (12.6 U/g), lipase (4.8 U/g), and phytase (3.4 U/g) compared to control samples germinated in water (GW) (α-amylase: 23.5 U/g; β-amylase: 12.4 U/g; protease: 8.4 U/g; cysteine protease: 2.6 U/g; lipase: 2.1 U/g; phytase: 1.06 U/g). Higher cysteine protease activity was associated with increased β-amylase activity, consistent with …

Volume 14 (2026-2027)

EBLR Masthead Archive

No abstract provided.

Slm With Swarm Intelligence For Efficient Representation Of Medical Claims, Mohamed Ahmed Abo El-Enen, Ravi S. Sharma, Mustafa Abdulrazek, Amril Nazir, Reem Muhammad, Ahmed Talat Sahlol

All Works

Healthcare industry faces significant challenges due to fraudulent medical insurance claims, which result in substantial financial losses. We propose an automated system using domain-specific Small Language Models (SLMs) with a narrower scope and smaller parameter count than general-purpose Large Language Models (LLMs), combined with optimization algorithms to improve fraud detection. Our approach integrates numerical features, such as age and claim amount, with textual descriptions, including diagnoses and procedures, into a unified textual representation for each medical activity. This representation captures complex patterns, enhancing the model’s predictive ability. SLMs fine-tuned on medical corpora transform these textual inputs into fixed-dimensional numerical embeddings, …

Optimized Hybrid Beamforming For Ris-Assisted Multi-User Mimo In 6g Mmwave Networks: A Low-Complexity Approach To Spectral Efficiency And Interference Mitigation, Safiya Nasser Al-Jaradi, Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Nabeel Al-Qirim, Shayla Islam, Thippa Reddy Gadekallu, Hana Mujlid, Hashim Elshafie, Rashid A. Saeed

All Works

The joint optimization of hybrid beamforming and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) phase shifts in multi-user millimeter-wave (mmWave) MIMO systems is a challenging problem, mainly due to high computational complexity and the lack of adaptive interference management. Existing approaches typically rely on fixed Zero-Forcing (ZF) or Maximum-Ratio Transmission (MRT) designs or require iterative optimization with high overhead, limiting their practical use in dense 6G environments. To overcome these challenges, this research proposes a RIS-Aided Adaptive Zero-Forcing and Maximum-Ratio Transmission Hybrid Precoding (RA-ZMHP) framework for 6G mmWave multi-user MIMO systems. The main novelty of the method lies in an adaptive ZF–MRT mixing …

Kidney Dysfunction, Biochemical Changes, Dna Alteration, And Mapks Regulation Following Chronic Exposure To Regular And Occasional Hookah Smoke In Mice, Naserddine Hamadi, Anas Nemmar, Sumaya Beegam, Nur Elena Zaaba, Ozaz Elzaki, Abderrahim Nemmar

All Works

Regular hookah smoking (Reg-HS) has become a major global public health issue, linked to significant health risks, including kidney damage. A less frequent pattern of use, known as occasional hookah smoking (Occ-HS), is also common; however, there has been little progress in understanding the direct impact of Occ-HS on kidneys. To investigate how varying frequencies of HS inhalation affect the kidney, we exposed mice to nose-only HS under two regimens, occasional (30 min once weekly) and regular (30 min five times per week) for a duration of 6 months. This study explored the impact on renal damage, inflammatory responses, oxidative …

Exploring What Parents And Their Twice-Exceptional Children Need From The Mental Health System, Mehrnaz Mirhosseini M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Twice-exceptional (2e) students, defined broadly as those with both high cognitive abilities and disabilities, have unique psychological needs. Many 2e students struggle in school and at home, and their abilities and disabilities tend to mask each other, making it more difficult to diagnose twice-exceptionality (Foley-Nipcon et al., 2013). Additionally, no gold-standard interventions have been identified (Foley-Nicpon & Candler, 2018). These factors and the relative obscurity of twice-exceptionalism can leave parents feeling helpless, confused, and isolated when seeking care for their 2e child. There is no research on which mental health interventions parents believe their 2e children need, as well as …

Synergistic Ph-Shift And Heat Treatment For The Recovery Of Protein Isolates From Ham Processing Brine: Evaluation Of Protein Ingredient Quality, Structure, And Functional Properties, Anim Ujong, Carlos Álvarez, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Shay Hannon, Uma Tiwari

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Ham processing generates significant volumes of brine, a saline wastewater with untapped potential. This study compared three protein recovery methods: direct centrifugation, moderate heat treatment (75 °C), and a combined pH-shift-mild heat (PSMH) approach (65 °C). Both the PSMH method and moderate heat precipitation produced protein concentrates with the highest initial protein contents (62.15%–62.81%), which increased to 91.65%–95.59% purity after desalting, with NaCl levels reduced to <1.5%. Amino acid analysis revealed that PSMH-derived proteins had the highest total amino acid content (96.58 g/100 g). Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed improved recovery of muscle proteins, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that moderate heat treatment reduced the α-helix/β-sheet ratio. Proteins recovered using PSMH exhibited the highest water and fat binding capacities and maintained solubility across a broad pH range. They also exhibited strong foaming ability, although they showed slightly lower foam stability than proteins recovered by other methods, and they demonstrated emulsifying properties that were optimal under mildly alkaline conditions. Overall, PSMH presents a sustainable and efficient strategy for recovering functional proteins from ham brine for use in food and feed applications.

Valorisation Of Barley Straw For Sustainable Nanocellulose Production Via Subcritical Alkaline Hydrolysis And Hdes-Assisted Processing, Dileswar Pradhan, Swarna Jaiswal, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study investigates a sustainable and efficient approach to valorising barley straw by producing nanocellulose via an integrated subcritical alkaline hydrolysis and HDES-assisted processing pathway. Subcritical alkaline pretreatment under best processing conditions (150 bar, 200 °C, 125 min) enabled effective biomass fractionation, achieving average hemicellulose and lignin solubilisation of 57.72% and 82.69%, respectively. Subsequent purification of the pretreated solid fraction yielded cellulose fibres with an average cellulose yield of 41.97% and a purity of 87.87%. Nanocellulose was then obtained using a sequential HDES treatment followed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS), producing a sample (NC-BTW-3) in which 66% of particles exhibited diameters …