Digital Commons Network^™

Eng 3005-001 Technical Communication, Ashley Spear

Spring 2024

No abstract provided.

Obit - Norma Jean Winkleblack, Journal-Gazette Times-Courier

EIU in the News

No abstract provided.

January 10, 2024 (Vol. 108, No. 15), Daily Eastern News

Daily Eastern News: 2023-2024

Should be Vol. 108, No. 14

Obit - Jerry W. Ellis, Journal-Gazette Times-Courier

EIU in the News

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Insecticide Resistance Gene In Aedes Albopictus Population In Illinois Regions, Merylann Ochieng

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Mosquitoes are vectors known to transmit many pathogens and parasites that cause serious human diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, Yellow and Chikungunya fever, Encephalitis, and Filariasis (Becker et al., 2010) (Franklinos et al., 2019). Aedes albopictus specie transmits Zika, Chikungunya, yellow Fever and Rift valley fever viruses (Leta et al., 2018). Aedes species are geographically invading new areas due to globalization and environmental changes (Lwande et al., 2020). Temperature increase, severe rainfall, and high humidity encourage diseases to spread to new areas where new vectors may act as carriers (Näslund et al., 2021). Aedes albopictus are expanding further along the …

Cold War Fears And Algerian Independence: American Public Opinion On An Independent Algeria, 1954-1962, Shayla Taylor

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

The Algerian War of Independence was a struggle by the Algerians for autonomy from their long-time colonizer and ally of the United States, France. While the independence movement is said to have started during the First World War, the war did not break out until late in 1954.1 The conflict came not even a decade after World War II, in the thick of the Cold War in which the Soviet Union and the United States competed on an international stage, and in an era in which many groups of people within Western powers held mixed feelings about decolonization. Maintaining order …

Polygamy: Mormon Women’S Influence Throughout The Late 19th And Early 20th Century, Kaylan Finley

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Mormon religion has been perceived as an outsider due to various beliefs that are followed within its church. The belief that truly separated Mormons from the rest of the world is their practice of polygamy. This belief, which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced throughout the 19th century until its banishment in the early 20th century, is not looked at through a clear lense. When a large portion of writers and historians think of polygamy, they tend to think of the husband and his point of view. In this paper, Mormon women and their perspectives …

An Analysis Of Themes In East German Films Between 1946 And 1974, Audrey Hopper

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Historians have studied the history of the divided Germany. Many of these historians have studied the nuances that appear when comparing the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. Historians have debated on which of the Cold War era Germanys created the best response to the Nazi past during World War II. Philosopher Sarah Neiman weighs in on the debate and takes her spin on the topic. Her book focuses on the concept that countries like the United States should learn from Germany, as the country has been reconciling its past on a national level, which is something …

Did The Change In Snap Ebt Benefits In Response To Covid-19 Affect Poverty, Snap Participation, And Food Insecurity Rates?, Paige Thing

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is one of the most important welfare programs the United States government offers. In fiscal year 2015, one in every seven Americans received SNAP assistance. Previously called food stamps as they were first introduced with the passing of the Food and Agriculture Act in 1977, this program has been helping individuals struggling with food insecurity for decades (Ziliak 2016). Benefits are no longer dispersed with physical stamps, restricting what households can and cannot buy. Now benefits are distributed via a debit card-type system. This is where the EBT gets added to the program …

Community Group Influence On Political Involvement, Courtney Klaers

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Humans are creatures who seek connection. However, it can be difficult to get large groups of people engaged. In order for community and political centered groups to function properly, it is essential that people get involved. And, by extension, it is essential that the public is engaged in order for the USA government to work as it should. I wish to study the possible connection between community and political groups and involvement. To explore these ideas, people can apply knowledge and theories pertaining to topics such as political socialization, sociotropic interests, social capital, and political involvement. These theories explore how …

The Influence Of Vitamin D On The Severity Of Depressive Symptoms In Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Haley Flanagan

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

This review aims to investigate the influence vitamin D has on the severity of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Current studies have shown the potential role of vitamin D on mental health in adults, but results have been inconclusive among children. Using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL Complete, studies were selected by searching the terms “Vitamin D, depression, children and adolescents.” The inclusion criteria consisted of data over the last five years, presenting vitamin D intake or status in subjects between the ages of 2-17, and a diagnosis of depression. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. Nine of the studies …

The Berlin Airlift And Its Humanitarian And The Pr Aspect, Madalyn Stead

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

The Berlin Airlift, or die Berliner Luftbrücke, was one of the most dramatic events of the Cold War. While the Cold War lasted forty-five years, from 1947 to 1991, the Berlin Airlift took place at the very beginning, from 1948-1949. It was a great humanitarian effort, and is respected as one of the United States’ “finest hours,” as author Andrei Cherney titled it. It was presented as such through media, the news, and even pop culture. Curating it to look good was a carefully done job, but that should not always take away from the people who are involved in …

The Impact Of Fish Intake (Primarily The Omega-3 Fatty Acid Concentration) On Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review, Emma Martin

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

The purpose of this systematic review is to explore the effect of fish intake on cognitive decline. Previous studies on fish intake and cognitive decline have produced both supportive results and results that yield ineffectiveness. This review focuses primarily on omega 3 concentration from fish intake and its influence on mild cognitive impairment. Using several search engines, studies were selected by searching “fish intake and cognitive decline”. Inclusion criteria consisted of individuals diagnosed with MCI, intervention of fish intake, and omega 3 fatty acid concentration and cognitive function exams conducted at baseline and throughout the study. Nine out of the …

Jou 2000 : Fundamentals Of News Gathering, Communication And Journalism

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

From Screen To Classroom: The Role Of Televised Narratives In Enhancing Educational Belongingness For Black American Students, Feyi Oshinyemi

Masters Theses

This creative thesis examines the influence of televised narratives on shaping the educational experiences of Black American students, exploring the interplay between media representation and educational belonging. It proposes how televisual narratives can better reflect and support the educational identities of Black American students, aiming to foster a greater sense of belonging and representation in educational media. This document serves as an accompaniment to the center of this work, a twelve minute pilot episode that explores the challenges and triumphs of students navigating their educational journeys. This work not only provides a detailed breakdown of the episode's narrative and production …

“What Planet Are You On” - Making Meaning Of Sustainability Through Storytelling, Nancy T. Ladeinde

Masters Theses

The term “Sustainability” has come to stay as it is deeply integrated into our everyday life, although it seems complex to understand and engage with. The purpose of this thesis is to know how Unilever, a global consumer goods organization, makes meaning of its sustainability efforts. The method used to achieve this is a thematic analysis of Unilever’s campaign “What Planet Are You On?” a brand campaign documenting their sustainability efforts. Building on storytelling as a theoretical framework, it delves into the strategic use of stories as a communication tool for sustainability efforts, emphasizing its impact on brand narrative, stakeholder …

Estimating Daily Growth Of Age-0 Channel Catfish In A Free-Flowing, Commercially Exploited Midwestern River, Kaleb B. Wood

Masters Theses

The larval stage in fishes is an important stage in the life history, as their survival dictates the ability of the population to sustain itself as an adult population. While there is a plethora of information available for juvenile and adult life stages of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), very little is understood about their larval life stage. This study sought to determine overall density, growth rates, and size structure of cohorts of age-0 Channel Catfish during a study year on the Wabash River. In 2018, I sampled age-0 Channel Catfish using a benthic trawl from May to September. …

Influence Of Seeding Strategy On Insect Communities Within Utility Lands, Kylee E. Nissen

Masters Theses

Pollinator populations are in decline globally due to anthropogenic changes, particularly in areas affected by agricultural expansion and urbanization. Utility lands - managed to prevent tall vegetation encroachment - represent an opportunity to establish native grasslands and support pollinator communities. This study investigates how different seeding strategies used by utility companies influence pollinator community composition within a 15-acre electric right-of-way (ROW) outside St. Louis, Illinois. Despite the logical benefits of native seeding to pollinators, utility companies are often hesitant to do this, often favoring seeding to turf. Seeded in late 2021, the site incorporates randomized plots with turfgrass seeding (no …

Covid-19 Pandemic And College Students’ Mental Health: Vulnerability And Resilience Factors, Jensyn Morrison

Masters Theses

The world became quickly and suddenly consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. Topics such as stay-at-home orders, isolation from society, and social distancing became trending discussion themes in news coverage and daily conversations. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of college students. Specifically, a total of 123 students from a rural Midwest university and an urban Southeast university in the United States participated in an online survey that assessed COVID-19-related vulnerability and resilience factors (e.g., employment status, living situation, religious beliefs, previous diagnosis, and vaccination status of individuals) …

Using Community Science To Monitor Eastern Box Turtles And Engage Public In Conservation, Sarah Zoppa

Masters Theses

The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina; EBT) is a charismatic species with populations in decline due to habitat loss, disease, and other anthropogenic factors. However, due to their cryptic nature, studying an EBT population can be a difficult and intensive process. To investigate EBT populations in Coles County, Illinois, we used a combination of community science and computer-based pattern analysis to develop an approach to tracking individual turtles. Citizen volunteers submitted photos of encountered eastern box turtle carapaces for shell pattern analysis along with GPS coordinates of the encounter. We have received 220 submissions from 47 community volunteers. …

Investigating Morphological And Molecular Identifiers For Culex Restuans And Culex Pipiens From Central Illinois, Savannah L. Ettien

Masters Theses

Some of the most prominent vectors for West Nile Virus are mosquitoes of the genus Culex. As a result, efforts have been made to monitor the spread of Culex species as climate change has allowed them to travel to places that they never inhabited before. Since Cx. restuans is a less prevalent vector, most studies for prevention focus on Cx. pipiens, which is the primary vector for the spread of West Nile Virus in the Midwestern United States, especially in the late summer and early fall seasons. As both species share many morphological characteristics and are present at …

Effects Of Hemp Fibers On The Mechanical Performance Of Concrete, Hamida Baassou

Masters Theses

The construction industry is known to be globally the number one contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and energy consumption. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential use of hemp as a concrete reinforcement, its mechanical properties and strength, its environmental and socio-economic advantages, and its limitations. To examine the mechanical performance of hemp fiber, 54 specimens will be tested for compressive, tensile, and flexural strength. This was done in two parts. In the first part hemp fibers in two different ratios (0.5v% and 1v%), and two different treatments (water and 5% sodium hydroxide) were added to …

A Reflective Study Of Textbook-Centered Ela Curricular Resources, Autumn Frykholm Damann

Masters Theses

It is essential for English Language Arts educators to understand the multiple ways in which they can make the classroom an inclusive environment for all students. This study examines the racist ideas deeply ingrained within texts taught in an American literature-centered secondary English Language Arts course and explains one way for teachers and professional learning communities (PLCs) to survey and closely scrutinize one’s text choices for racist and overall biased messaging. Using qualitative content analysis of the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Collections textbook for Grade 11, I analyze the texts from the first two units I taught as a first-year teacher …

Examining Bigheaded Carp Ichthyoplankton Drift In Tributary And Mainstem River Systems Of Two Midwestern Rivers, Adam Landry

Masters Theses

The bigheaded carp invasion in North America continues to negatively impact ecosystems making it essential to understand their reproductive dynamics at various spatial scales. Previous studies have highlighted the suitability of tributaries of large rivers for bigheaded carp reproduction, and the importance of tributaries for ichthyoplankton drift to mainstem rivers. This study investigated patterns in tributary-mainstem ichthyoplankton drift dynamics in two invaded river systems of the Midwestern United States, with distinct hydrology, the Illinois and Wabash Rivers. From May-September 2021, I sampled ichthyoplankton from three tributaries and three mainstem sites in each river basin. I analyzed bigheaded carp egg and …

Edison Elliot And The Midas Files, Brianne Hankes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Interparental Conflict And Maternal Attachment On College Students’ Social Anxiety And Emotional Regulation, Kendra Ostermeier

Masters Theses

The potential impact that interparental conflict experienced during adolescence can have subsequently on college students was examined. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between interparental conflict and emotional dysregulation (Schwarz et al., 2012) and social anxiety (Adare et al., 2021). Maternal attachment was examined as a mediator of this relationship, as El-Sherkiah and Elmore-Staton (2004) identified it as a mediator between martial conflict and negative child outcomes. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between interparental conflict with social anxiety and emotional dysregulation. Additionally, this study examined maternal attachment as a mediator of those relationships. Interparental conflict was correlated positively …

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.

Jou 4770, Clas

Executive Actions

No abstract provided.

Las 2501g : Introduction To Latinx Studies, World Languages & Cultures

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.