Digital Commons Network^™

Edison Elliot And The Midas Files, Brianne Hankes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

High Prevalence Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) And Associated Risk To Humans In Central Illinois, Esther Onuselogu

Masters Theses

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease and a growing health threat in the United States. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas and serve as reservoir hosts for T. cruzi. While T. cruzi is rare in humans and domestic animals in the U.S., it is common in wildlife species, particularly raccoons and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the raccoon population of Central Illinois and evaluate the risk of transmission to humans. …

The Role Of Liver-Specific Transcription Factor Hnf4 In Reprogramming Of Fibroblasts, Mary Odubote

Masters Theses

The mammalian liver, a vital organ with complex functions, relies on a network of transcription factors to regulate gene expression. Fusion of hepatoma cells with fibroblasts often leads to gene extinction, silencing approximately 400 liver-enriched genes, including critical transcription factors such as HNF4. Previous studies revealed that ectopic expression of HNF4 in fibroblasts failed to prevent the extinction of SERPINA1, a liver-specific gene, upon subsequent fusion with hepatoma cells. Here, we sought to investigate the extent to which ectopic expression of HNF4 can reprogram fibroblast cells and prevent gene extinction in hybrid cells.

Using whole-genome expression analysis, we compared RAT1 …

Autophonia: A Memoir In Essays, Amy Blanchard

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Computer And Information Technology Major, Technology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Digital Media Technology Major, Technology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Digital Media Technology Minor, Technology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Opossums And Pathogens: A Survey Of Vector-Borne And Zoonotic Pathogens From Didelphis Virginiana In The Midwest, Usa, Cassandra C. P. Strehl

Masters Theses

Didelphis virginiana are at elevated risk of exposure to many zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens (ZVBP) as a result of their unfastidious diets, large geographic ranges, and diverse habitat types. Didelphis virginiana are synanthropic animals, which is concerning considering the spillover risk of pathogens D. virginiana present as a result. 81 D. virginiana from Ohio and Illinois were screened for Rickettsia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Trypanosoma cruzi, and apicomplexan pathogens. Live D. virginiana were trapped in wire cage traps to perform venipuncture for blood collection. Samples collected as roadkill or from animal control companies were dissected and spleen …

Population Demographics Of Channel Catfish In The Lower Wabash River, Valerie J. Thompson

Masters Theses

Inland fisheries are experiencing increasing demands due to anthropogenic stressors, especially within large river systems that support both recreational and commercial fisheries. Riverine species are sensitive to habitat degradation, species introductions, and exploitation, so continued monitoring and management of these communities are vital to maintain abundance and diversity within these systems. The North American catfish family, Ictaluridae, supports both recreational and commercial fisheries throughout the United States. Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus are heavily studied and managed compared to other sport catfishes in this family because of their economic and ecological significance. One important Channel Catfish fishery exists in the lower …

Acute And Chronic Impacts Of A Biofilm, Activated Sludge, And Ultraviolet Radiation Treatment On The Fathead Minnow, Pimephales Promelas, Julia Fitch

Masters Theses

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a point source of pollution that have potentially damaging effects on downstream fish populations, including reduced growth and survival and reproductive complications. To examine these possible effects, fathead minnows were exposed to effluent of three wastewater treatment processes at the Charleston Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Charleston, Illinois. These three treatments included two secondary treatments, a biofilm treatment and an activated sludge treatment, and one tertiary U.V. treatment. Two trials took place during this project: an acute, two-week exposure trial, and a chronic 119 day exposure trial. Upon completion of each trial, fish were assessed …

Exploring A Medicinal Strain Of White-Rot Fungus For Biofuel Applications, Kortney L. Lucius

Masters Theses

The major limitation to producing biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, such as miscanthus straw, is the difficulty in accessing fermentable carbohydrates encased in lignin. Traditional methods for separating lignin are economically and environmentally costly. Biological pretreatment using white-rot fungi, such as Trametes versicolor, has been demonstrated to potentially reduce the need for harsh chemical and physical pretreatment methods. Despite these efforts, the process of converting lignocellulose to ethanol remains financially challenging. To explore a potential co-product for the process, this study evaluated the efficacy of T. versicolor strain CM-101, known for producing the valuable medicinal macromolecule polysaccharide-K (PSK), as a …

Molecular Investigation Of Tick-Borne Pathogens In Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa) From Seven Us States, Sofiane Aiche

Masters Theses

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been proposed as part of the lifecycles of multiple tickborne pathogens (TBP). This is a result of the increase in feral swine populations and increased tick populations and geographic ranges. Few surveys exist on the TBP relevant to human and wildlife of feral swine in the US. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of 10 TBP: Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Cytauxzoon felis, Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Yersinia pestis, and Rickettsia spp. A total of 87 feral swine blood samples …

November 1, 2023 (Vol. 108, No. 10), Daily Eastern News

Daily Eastern News: 2023-2024

No abstract provided.

Designing For Diversity: Diversifying Course Content, Michael D. Gillespie Ph.D.

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Creating an inclusive learning environment includes consideration of the array of voices and perspectives represented in your course materials. Exposure to diverse content can provide a more comprehensive understanding of your subject matter, increase empathy, improve communication and teamwork skills, and validate your learners’ experiences. This presentation will go over guidelines for faculty who are interested in making course content more diverse, equitable, and inclusive and/or diversifying course content.

October 11, 2023 (Vol. 108, No. 8(, Daily Eastern News

Daily Eastern News: 2023-2024

No abstract provided.

October 4, 2023 (Vol. 108, No. 7), Daily Eastern News

Daily Eastern News: 2023-2024

No abstract provided.

Grounding History Instruction: Engaging Place And Scale Through Iterative Local Inquiry Design, Megan Vangorder

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Teaching local history is often an afterthought in the high school history classroom. It is difficult to find enough instructional time to incorporate local stories and there are often gaps in resource development and approach from a local lens. This article seeks to help teachers articulate a locally driven inquiry approach. Using Illinois as the local framework and the C3 Inquiry Design Model as the tool, teachers can begin to map out how to implement the competing mandates to promote disciplinary skill development, demonstrate content expertise using state mandated units of study, drive student-oriented history, and foster civic competence all …

Fall 2023 Community Program Guide, Academy Of Lifelong Learning

Program Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Eng 1001g-006 College Composition I Critical Reading And Source-Based Writing, Tammy Veach

Fall 2023

No abstract provided.

Eng 5742-600 Studies In Genre For Writers And Teachers, Chris Wixson

Summer 2023

No abstract provided.

The Lumpkin Letter (Spring 2023), Lcbas

Lumpkin College of Business & Technology Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Managing Workforce Diversity In A New Age: The Challenges And Implications Of Ageism, David M. Savino

Journal of the North American Management Society

Managing workforce diversity is one of the major challenges facing human resource professionals today. Key among the many diversity challenges is the reality of dealing with a growing aging workplace population. As a result age discrimination and ageism has been a subtle and covert strategy of many organizations for years. The great recession brought the true realities of ageism to the surface in a distinct way with the number of reduction in force programs that seemed to wrongly target older workers disproportionately as evidenced by the number of age discrimination cases filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) during …

Chs Country Operations’ International Business Strategy, Robert A. Lloyd

Journal of the North American Management Society

In 2012, U.S.-based CHS Country Operations executed their first steps in an international business strategy with the acquisition of Canadian agriculture retail company, DynAgra. In 2014 they purchased more retail locations from CPS and Viterra, and in the time since these international acquisitions, management at CHS has worked to bring the company’s core values and business culture to their new employees, customers, and market. Through a qualitative analysis of the company through interviews with key stakeholders in the acquisition and operation of the Canadian assets, a case study is formed to better understand the overall international business strategy of CHS …

Web-Based Accountability: An Integration Of Extant Knowledge, Research Gaps And Future Directions, Brandi N. Guidry Hollier, Lise Anne D. Slatten

Journal of the North American Management Society

Because Internet-based technologies are readily used by businesses, research scholars have begun to focus on the specific use of such technology by nonprofit organizations for accountability purposes. A central focus of this paper is to review some of the most significant extant literature on web-based accountability, with particular emphasis on conceptual and empirical studies focusing on the nonprofit sector. Much of this research is situated within the public relations literature, as some of the primary elements of online accountability are directly related to establishing relationships and disclosing information to stakeholders. Finally, this paper presents research gaps and future research propositions …

Using General Systems Theory As A Business Application Paradigm, Vincent O'Rourke

Journal of the North American Management Society

General Systems Theory (GST) is reviewed as a paradigm for modeling business applications. The theory has been used and abused for over sixty years, oftentimes the subject of scholarly articles written by authors who felt the need to write, especially as GST was the current ‘flavor of the day’, but who hadn’t reviewed the basic literature to learn what the GST concept actually entailed. The GST concept is reviewed, from its original documents, and the history is explored. A section is devoted to reviewing some of the literature that has been published in scholarly journals or books over the decades, …

Pointing The Finger At Leadership, Richard A. Barker

Journal of the North American Management Society

The word leadership is often used incorrectly to refer to management, supervision, command, and statesmanship. Scholars rarely, if ever, make any distinction among these four different constructs. Most theories of leadership are really theories of supervision, and the words leadership and supervision are used interchangeably. This paper attempts to distinguish between the two.

Centering Anti-Racism And Social Justice, Toward A More Perfect Union: A Conversation With The Authors, Cecil E. Canton And Charles Toombs, Gary Rhoades

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

No abstract provided.

Power Despite Precarity: A Conversation With The Authors, Joe Berry And Helena Worthen, Gary Rhoades

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

In a conversation with Joe Berry and Helena Worthen, authors of the recent book, Power despite precarity, Gary Rhoades explores the basic themes of this historical case study of the California Faculty Association in relation to contingent faculty and the larger contingent faculty labor movement. The conversation, like the book, centers on strategies for the contingent faculty labor movement, as the authors' intent is that it be a "channel of movement knowledge."

January 25, 2023 (Vol. 107, No. 17), Daily Eastern News

Daily Eastern News: 2022-2023

No abstract provided.

2023 Annual Report, Tarble Arts Center

Tarble Arts Center Annual Reports

No abstract provided.