Pharmacogenetic Testing In Mood Disorders: A Narrative Review Of Clinical Efficacy And Real-World Utility, William M. Spence

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective:

Pharmacogenetic-guided treatment is a recent innovation which attempts to improve the variability in individual response to pharmacological treatment. In patients with MDD, pharmacogenetic-guided treatment was evaluated for improvements in remission, symptom reduction, and drug side effect rates compared to the standard of care.

Methods:

A structured literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and Research Rabbit. Studies published within the past 10 years evaluating pharmacogenetic-guided treatment in major depressive disorder and reporting remission, symptom improvement, or adverse effects were included. Eligible studies were qualitatively synthesized to assess the clinical utility of pharmacogenetic-guided antidepressant treatment.

Results:

Three randomized controlled trials …

The Influence Of Prenatal Exercise On Pregnancy Outcomes, Nadhia M. Manthuruthil

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: To evaluate the effects of prenatal exercise among pregnant individuals on pregnancy complications and to determine whether exercise modality influences pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using Research Rabbit and PubMed to identify studies examining exercise during pregnancy and associated maternal and fetal outcomes. Eligible studies included English-language, full-text, peer-reviewed articles and systematic reviews published after 2020 involving healthy pregnant patients, with pregnancy outcomes as the primary outcome measure. Studies without measurable outcomes or involving pre-existing comorbidities were excluded.

Results: Prenatal exercise was consistently found to be safe and associated with improved maternal outcomes. Four studies …

Oxybenzone In Sunscreen: Examining Human Health Implications, Madelyn Landsteiner

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the current evidence regarding the human health effects associated with exposure to oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) containing sunscreen in individuals using sunscreen products. This review examined outcomes, including systemic absorption, endocrine function, and reproductive health, while considering established benefits of sunscreen for skin cancer prevention.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed publications identified through PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Valparaiso University library database. Selected studies included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, pharmacokinetic studies, observational studies, and toxicological research. Literature evaluating systemic absorption, endocrine disruption, reproductive health effects, biomonitoring data, and regulatory safety …

Neurokinin-3 Receptor Antagonists: A Non-Hormone Alternative For Vasomotor Symptoms Of Menopause, Trisha Elizabeth Abu

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the class of Neurokinin -3 Receptor Antagonists (NK3) are efficacious in managing vasomotor symptoms in women who have contraindications to the gold standard treatment of hormone therapy. This research specifically includes menopausal or perimenopausal women experiencing vasomotor symptoms and compares NK-3 Antagonists to placebo, non-HRT medications, and HRT. The primary endpoints of the research include impact on VMS frequency and severity.

Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCO to identify studies evaluating NK-3 antagonists as nonhormonal treatments for menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Studies involving peri- …

Food For Thought: Evaluating The Mind Diet’S Impact On Cognitive Decline, Alayna Pleckham

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: 

This paper aims to analyze current research and outcomes of the MIND diet on preventing and slowing neurocognitive decline in adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A literature review was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the MIND diet and slowed neurodegenerative disease through structural change, transcriptomics, biomarkers, and cognitive function testing.

Methods:

A narrative literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and JAMA to identify studies published between 2020 and 2025 examining the MIND diet and cognitive outcomes in adults with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Studies using validated cognitive assessments and comparison groups were included, while studies …

The Therapeutic Effects Of Bee Venom And Its Implication For Future Practice, Anna Speckhard

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used in Asia for its anti-inflammatory effects for hundreds of years, and recently it has proposed anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of bee venom to determine its use in future medical practice.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed and Google Scholar with search terms including bee venom therapy, BVA, pain, cancer, and melittin. Inclusion criteria were studies investigating bee venom in the context of pain or cancer. Exclusion criteria were studies with no evaluation of bee venom and endpoints …

From Movement To Metabolism: The Role Of Exercise In Pcos, Dalilah J. Garcia-Rojas

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of aerobic exercise compared with resistance training in improving metabolic and reproductive outcomes in adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Primary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, and menstrual regularity.

Method: A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, the National Institutes of Health database, and ScienceDirect. Studies published from 2020 onward involving adult women diagnosed with PCOS were included. Adolescent populations or studies published before 2020 were excluded. Five studies met inclusion criteria, consisting of three systematic reviews with meta-analyses, one randomized controlled trial, and one retrospective secondary analysis.

Results: Both …

Broadening The Integration Of Regional Citrate Anticoagulation In Icu Patients On Crrt, Joshua R. Sylvester

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: To evaluate whether alternative approaches to regional citrate anticoagulation implementation may be more broadly integrated into continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for critically ill intensive care unit patients compared to systemic heparin or no anticoagulation by assessing mortality, filter lifespan, electrolyte and metabolic complications, and monitoring intensity.

Methods: A narrative literature review was performed including studies from PubMed, Google Scholar, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Studies were included if they involved adults in the intensive care unit (ICU), patients undergoing CRRT or continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVHF), and evaluated anticoagulation strategies such as RCA, unfractionated heparin, or no …

“Beyond Weight Loss: Evaluating The Anti-Inflammatory Potential Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists In Hidradenitis Suppurativa”, Lindsey Roos

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this narrative literature review was to evaluate the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) as adjunctive therapy in adults with moderate-to-severe Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The clinical question explored whether GLP-1 RAs improve disease severity, flare frequency, quality of life, and metabolic outcomes in patients with obesity or metabolic dysfunction.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Christopher Center Library, NIH resources, Research Rabbit, and JAMA Dermatology. Studies published from 2019 to 2025 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included adults with clinically confirmed moderate-to-severe HS (Hurley stage II–III), measurable baseline disease severity, …

Epidural Analgesia And Postpartum Depression: Is There An Association?, Hannah E. Schoner

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 1 in 8 women with only 50% diagnosed by a medical professional. Epidural analgesia use during the intrapartum period has been found to have a possible effect on decreasing the risk of PPD. This paper aims to answer the question of if epidural use has a negative association with PPD. A narrative literature review was conducted to evaluate the association between epidural analgesia and PPD. A comprehensive search of Google Scholar and UpToDate was performed using relevant keywords with studies included if they compared PPD outcomes in antepartum women undergoing normal spontaneous vaginal delivery with and …

Cognitive Impairment In Heart Failure: Implications For Clinical Practice And Patient Care, Shiya Kamra

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate whether adults with heart failure, compared with adults without heart failure, have an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Methods: A narrative literature review used Google Scholar to identify studies evaluating cognitive outcomes in adults with congestive heart failure. Inclusion criteria: English-language full-text articles published since 2020, with one 2018 longitudinal study also selected due to its strong methodology. Studies involving pediatric populations or lacking cognitive outcomes were excluded. Five studies met the inclusion criteria.

Results: The review included three systematic reviews/meta-analyses, one cross-sectional study, and one longitudinal cohort …

Artificial Intelligence Meets The Dermatologist Eye: A New Approach To Melanoma Detection, Sandra Marinceski

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Abstract

Objective: Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and early detection significantly improves survival. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted dermoscopy compared with clinician assessment for melanoma detection among adults with suspicious pigmented skin lesions. Biopsy-confirmed diagnosis served as the reference standard.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, EBSCO, Research Rabbit, and Google Scholar. Studies published from 2020 to 2025 involving adults with suspicious pigmented skin lesions were included if they compared AI-assisted dermoscopic analysis with clinician interpretation using biopsy-confirmed diagnosis and reported sensitivity and …

Evaluating Academic Outcomes In Healthcare Students: Hybrid Learning Compared To Traditional Instruction, Amanda Willy

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective

The goal of this study was to evaluate academic performance of students in professional healthcare programs utilizing hybrid learning compared to traditional in-person instruction.

Methods

A narrative literature review using Google Scholar was conducted to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria consisted of publication since 2019, English full text, and a focus on students in healthcare education programs participating in hybrid or distance learning models. The primary outcomes were measures of academic performance including test scores and board examination pass rates.

Results

Data regarding board pass rates were significantly limited by a lack of statistical analysis. Raw data on hybrid …

Navigating Topical & Biologic Therapies In Pediatric Patients With Lamellar Ichthyosis, Eileen E. Uthuppan

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective:

The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topical retinoid and biological therapies for pediatric patients with Lamellar Ichthyosis. These therapies were compared with standard keratolytic and emollient treatments in improving scaling severity, dryness, pain, pruritus, quality of life, while minimizing infection rates and adverse effects.

Methods:

A narrative literature review was completed using PubMed, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Research Rabbit Al. Studies in English, within five years, were included if they evaluated pediatric patients with autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis and had full-text availability. Studies involving adults, non-hereditary ichthyosis, or patients with comorbidities …

Spectral Analysis Of Silicate Dust Models In Planetary Nebulae, Victoria Kelly, Ben Howard, Angela Webber

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Planetary nebulae (PNe) contain either carbon-based or oxygen-based dust or a combination of the two, though the exact molecular composition remains unknown. Here we analyze oxygen-rich PNe, whose dust is suspected to include silicate (SiO₂)_n clusters. We use methods of computational quantum mechanics to determine the equilibrium structures of (SiO₂)_n clusters for n=12−24 and analyze their stability and structural features. We then calculate the binding energy and the infrared (IR) spectra of the most stable silicate structures for each value of n. By comparing these spectra to observed spectra of oxygen-rich PNe, we hope …

Thermodynamic Studies To Determine The Impact Of Cooa Heme On Its Structure And Function, Micah C. Israel, Robert Clark

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

This project builds upon the Clark research team's goal of understanding how the transcription factor CooA (carbon monoxide oxidation activator) activates its DNA-binding function upon changes at its heme domain (i.e., an iron porphyrin complex) when bound to carbon monoxide (CO). This research has broader implications, as analogous gas-sensing proteins are potential drug targets. Previous work showed that replacing heme with a different metalloporphyrin activated DNA-binding even without carbon monoxide. However, it is poorly understood how these changes at the heme domain activate DNA-binding, which takes place remotely. This study will investigate  how the heme group affects CooA's structure by …

Nasal Spray Vs Needle: Rethinking Epinephrine Delivery In Anaphylaxis, Kylie L. Holland

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

The objective of this research is to determine whether intranasal epinephrine is as effective as intramuscular epinephrine for treating anaphylaxis by comparing pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety outcomes in adult and pediatric populations. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, including randomized crossover trials, phase 1 clinical studies, and a narrative review comparing intranasal and intramuscular epinephrine. These studies evaluated pharmacokinetic outcomes, including maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax), and area under the curve (AUC), as well as pharmacodynamic outcomes such as changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Most studies …

Calibration Of Xl3t Xrf Analyzer Via Analysis Of Micromatter® Standards, Cooper Rr Scroggin

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Before Fall 2025, Dr. Iceman’s research students utilized Argonne National Labs’ Beamline to determine the contents of air samples for a wider air quality study.  The research cohort’s use of the beamline ceased, following scheduling and fiscal concerns, and with it the research on air quality.  Valparaiso University is in possession of an XL3t XRF Analyzer, which can be used to quantitatively measure the concentration of a range of elements in a sample.  For proper use, the instrument must be calibrated in such a way that the user knows the accuracy and precision of its readings.  Sets of vapor-deposited standards …

Equivocation Analysis Across Continuous And Discrete Memoryless Channels, Md Munibun Billah

Theses and Dissertations

Physical-layer security uses the noise already present in the channel to keep a message secret without making any assumption about the eavesdropper's computing power. In Wyner's wiretap channel model, coset coding uses randomness to map the message to many codewords and protects against information leakage from an active eavesdropper. The secrecy provided by such codes is measured by their equivocation, which is the eavesdropper's remaining uncertainty about the message after she observes her channel. So computing equivocation is an important aspect of analyzing the wiretap channel model. Many channels of practical interest have no closed-form expression for equivocation, and exact …

Upright: Zheng 正 And The Semantics Of Political Legitimacy, Kaz Wegmuller

Open Educational Resources

This article examines the semantic structure of the left-right political binary in contemporary Anglophone discourse. It argues that the fusion of “right” as directional orientation with “right” as moral correctness produces a form of semantic over-determination that complicates the articulation of democratic legitimacy in periods of political crisis. The claim is not that directional metaphors determine political outcomes, but that they furnish a discursive resource that can be mobilized in struggles over authority, order, and rectitude. To illuminate the contingency of this fusion, the article turns to the East Asian concept of zheng 正 (uprightness), whose semantic independence from handedness …

Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Desire, And Convergence, Kyle Scott

Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship ecosystem research explains convergence through mechanisms such as informational cascades, institutional isomorphism, herding, clustering, and knowledge spillovers. While these perspectives account for how convergence occurs, they provide a more limited explanation of why entrepreneurs, investors, and other ecosystem participants come to pursue the same ventures, industries, and measures of success. This paper argues that convergence reflects the social mediation of desire. Drawing on René Girard's theory of mimetic desire, it develops a conceptual framework explaining how entrepreneurial desire becomes aligned within shared evaluative environments. The paper advances three propositions. First, ecosystems characterized by evaluative monism are more likely to …

Reengineering A Thermostable Keratinase Past The Boiling Point., Francis Jenney

PCOM Scholarly Works

Millions of tons of keratin-rich waste are disposed of annually, which could be revalorized, mitigating greenhouse emissions and pollution. Microbial keratinases offer tools for keratin waste valorization, yet they lack robustness for industrial use. In an Applied and Environmental Microbiology article, Y. Yang, Y. Luo, Y. Ding, Y. Yao, et al. (92:e01860-25, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01860-25) integrated machine learning, rational design, and empirical screening to produce boiling-resistant variants that were reusable and highly effective at keratin degradation, demonstrating the promise of deep-learning-guided enzyme engineering.

Bridging The Gap: Using A Regional Pediatric Intensive To Improve Rural Nursing Students’ Self-Efficacy, Hannah J. Sasser, Will Brewer

Theses

Abstract

Introduction: Valuable clinical learning opportunities is essential, yet often an unmet goal in nursing education, especially within rural associate degree nursing (ADN) programs, where access to high-acuity and diverse clinical experiences is limited.

Background: Nursing students in geographically isolated areas face limited access to specialty clinicals, including pediatrics, creating inadequacies in clinical learning and preparedness (Institute of Pediatric Nursing, 2021).

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effect of a two-day pediatric intensive, incorporating simulation scenarios and micro-learning activities, on the self-efficacy and satisfaction with learning of students in a rural ADN program. …

Night To Light Revive Before You Drive, Imelda S. Oca, Grace Marie Delgado, Mary Ann Sison, Armie Poralan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

At times, night shift nurses had little or no recollection of their commute home emphasizing the exhaustion experienced after working an overnight shift. Night To Light Revive Before You Drive is a project aimed to increase safety awareness to combat drowsy driving among night shift nurses through targeted interventions promoting wellness and safety. This in turn, positively enhanced the work environment, decreased the job burnout scores and lowered the night shift RN Vacancy and Turnover rates.

The Night to Light Revive Before You Drive is a pre-post interventional study design with an implementation timeline of twelve months focused on awareness …

Predicting The Unpredictable: Nursing Innovation For Early Identification Of Violence Risk, Heather Lynn Watson, Carol B. Thompson, Jihane Frangieh, Medeleine Whalen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Workplace violence (WPV), including verbal threats and physical assaults, toward healthcare professionals is an escalating threat to workforce safety, well-being, and retention. Although structured tools exist to assess aggression risk, most have been developed for psychiatric or emergency settings, and evidence supporting their validity or consistent use in general inpatient care remains limited. The Violence Risk Assessment (ViRA) is a proactive, nurse-administered, electronic health record (EHR) embedded tool designed to detect early behavioral and historical precursors of verbal or physical violence.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and predictive validity of the 9-item ViRA across diverse inpatient and …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Nurse Well-Being Among Clinical Nurses In The Inpatient Setting, Annabelle Arnston, Ora Asheton, Malorie Brooks, Julie Van Orne

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nurse well-being is a critical factor influencing patient safety and the sustainability of the nursing profession. Organizations that foster nurse well-being report improved staff retention, satisfaction, and engagement. Low nurse well-being can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover. A nursing evidence-based practice and research council at a pediatric hospital conducted a concept analysis of nurse well-being, which guided the development of a mixed-methods study protocol to examine and enhance nurse well-being. This study explores the lived experiences of clinical nurses regarding wellness in an inpatient pediatric hospital, with the aim of informing the development of …

Innovations In Educational Leadership To Improve Nursing Student Attendance And Engagement, Ritin Santiago Fernandez, Eleni Kata

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nurse education is adapting to an evolving healthcare landscape marked by technological advances, resource constraints, and shifting patient demographics (1) Absenteeism among nursing students in classroom and clinical settings poses significant challenges to academic performance, clinical competency, and program completion (2,3). Effective leadership and advances in education are essential to identify underlying causes and implement strategies that foster students’ engagement to improve their learning outcomes thus preparing a competent healthcare workforce (4).

Aim: This scoping review aimed to map the literature on absenteeism among undergraduate nursing students, highlighting leadership and advances in education. Objectives included: (a) identifying factors contributing …

Enhancing Resilience For Well-Being To Reduce Health Inequity In Global Nursing Professionals, Fiona Yu, Deborah Raphael, Lisa Mackay, Melody Smith, Ritin Santiago Fernandez

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurses, as the largest population in the healthcare service, play a critical role in achieving global health equity to sustain the health of the entire population (1). They are key when providing care in health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation across diverse populations and clinical settings (2). However, nurses face significant challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated their situations. Specifically, nursing shortages have a significant impact on frontline nurses, contributing to a heavy workload and unsafe practice, and placing them at a high risk of burnout, stress, fatigue, and ill health, thereby increasing turnover (3, 4).

Research shows …

Developing The “Cicare Rainbow Communication” Microlearning System For Lgbtq+ Nursing Education, Mei-Chen Su, Pei-Yun Tseng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: A critical gap persists in global nursing education concerning practical training for communication with gender-diverse individuals. Insufficient preparation contributes to discomfort and miscommunication in clinical interactions, compromising culturally safe and equitable patient care. Addressing this gap requires innovative, evidence-based, and inclusive educational solutions.

Objectives: This study describes the systematic development and initial validation of the CICARE Rainbow Communication system—a digital microlearning intervention designed to enhance nursing students’ competence in communicating with gender-diverse patients.

Design: A multi-phase developmental research design was adopted, encompassing a qualitative needs analysis, system design and development, and expert content validation.

Methods: An initial qualitative study …

Modeling Cognitive Function With Functional Fitness And Daily Function: A Pls-Sem Approach, Kuei-Min Chen, Hsiao-Ting Tung

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Cognitive decline is a clinically significant issue among older adults with dementia, often compromising their functional independence and quality of life. However, limited research has explored how functional fitness and daily function contribute to cognitive performance in this population. This study aimed to validate a structural model of cognitive function among older adults with dementia, focusing on the roles of functional fitness and daily function as key influencing factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 258 older adults with dementia recruited from adult daycare centers. Participants were identified either through a physician’s clinical diagnosis of dementia or by …