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Parasite Communities Of Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales Notatus) From Several Creeks In East Central Illinois, Md Rowshan Alam Jan 2025

Parasite Communities Of Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales Notatus) From Several Creeks In East Central Illinois, Md Rowshan Alam

Masters Theses

Parasites of freshwater fish play a vital functional role in aquatic ecosystems, but the spatial and ecological determinants of their prevalence and characteristics are still poorly understood. The current study quantified the diversity, prevalence, and environmental determinants of whole parasite burdens in bluntnose minnows across multiple creeks in central Illinois. Fish sampling and the collection of stream habitat data were conducted during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Fish were examined for parasites using necropsy and histology. A total of 20,817 parasites, predominantly trematodes (Posthodiplostomum spp.), cestodes (Proteocephalus spp), and protozoans, were identified. The most prevalent and abundant …


Assessing The Role Of Daily Thermal Fluctuations In The Performance Of Mitochondrial Energy Transduction Of The Centrarchid, Lepomis Cyanellus, Grayson Hofmann Jan 2025

Assessing The Role Of Daily Thermal Fluctuations In The Performance Of Mitochondrial Energy Transduction Of The Centrarchid, Lepomis Cyanellus, Grayson Hofmann

Masters Theses

Freshwater systems are affected by current climate extremes, forcing species found in these systems to withstand drastic changes in temperature. Temperature changes affect these organisms by altering their metabolic rate and energy balance. Increases in temperature can lead to an increase in oxygen consumption, which ultimately increases the need for more energy production. Mitochondrial energy transduction of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) and many other fish species after a thermal insult, has hardly been explored. This study complements the limited research available on mitochondrial function in similar species, as they ignore the possibility of consecutive thermal events, which are …


The Relationships Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, And Alexithymia On University Students’ Experiences Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress, Vanessa Watterson Jan 2025

The Relationships Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, And Alexithymia On University Students’ Experiences Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress, Vanessa Watterson

Masters Theses

Undergraduates’ mental health has seen a significant decline over the past several decades. Past research has identified significant correlations between specific cognitive vulnerabilities and experiences of psychological distress. The current study reviewed the literature on relationships between three cognitive vulnerabilities (anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and alexithymia) and individuals’ experiences of depression, anxiety, and stress. Further, this study utilized a hierarchical regression model to examine the predictive abilities of anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and alexithymia on depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The findings indicated that all three cognitive vulnerabilities had significant and unique contributions to depression, anxiety, and stress …


Experiences Of Qpoc College Students: The Complexities Of Navigating Multiple Minoritized Identities, Attainea S. Toulon Jan 2025

Experiences Of Qpoc College Students: The Complexities Of Navigating Multiple Minoritized Identities, Attainea S. Toulon

Masters Theses

Queer People of Color (QPOC) experience unique challenges within higher education as they navigate the intersections of race, sexuality, and gender at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). This qualitative narrative study explored the lived experiences of three QPOC college students at a mid-sized public university in the Midwest. Through semi-structured interviews, participants shared how their intersecting identities shaped their sense of belonging, access to support systems, and overall university experiences. Findings revealed that while participants found affirmation through cultural organizations, staff mentors, and chosen family, they also encountered racialized exclusion within LGBTQ+ spaces and heteronormative expectations within racialized spaces.The narratives illustrated …


Disease Diagnosis Using Natural Language Processing And Deep Learning, Manas Kumar Sherla Jan 2025

Disease Diagnosis Using Natural Language Processing And Deep Learning, Manas Kumar Sherla

Masters Theses

This research presents an automated disease diagnosis framework that leverages natural language processing and deep learning to predict diagnosis codes from unstructured electronic health record (EHR) clinical notes. Using the MIMIC-III critical care dataset, clinical narratives such as discharge summaries and physician notes are extracted, validated, and preprocessed to construct a labeled corpus aligned with ICD-9 diagnoses. The study implements a pipeline comprising text cleaning, feature extraction, and supervised learning, and compares traditional models such as Logistic Regression and Bi-LSTM with transformer-based architectures built on BERT. Models are trained and evaluated with categorical cross-entropy loss and standard multi-class metrics, including …


The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On College Sport Communications, Will Barnhart Jan 2025

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On College Sport Communications, Will Barnhart

Masters Theses

As Artificial Intelligence technology (AI) becomes increasingly accessible, the importance of understanding its impact on peoples’ work lives is also increasing. One field that has received very little attention in relation to this subject is college sport communications. Prior research has focused on AI within the closely related fields of journalism and public relations, but no previous studies have been conducted on AI and college sport communicators specifically. To address that knowledge gap, this study surveyed members of the College Sport Communicators (CSC) on their attitudes toward AI and their usage of such technology. The data analysis showed that while …


Childhood Maltreatment And Social Anxiety In College Students: Examining The Role Of Distress Tolerance, Alexa N. Matthies Jan 2025

Childhood Maltreatment And Social Anxiety In College Students: Examining The Role Of Distress Tolerance, Alexa N. Matthies

Masters Theses

This study examines the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment and social anxiety, with a focus on the mediating role of distress tolerance. Emotional maltreatment has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes, yet its specific contribution to social anxiety symptoms requires further exploration. Using a sample of 94 participants aged 18 to 24, this research employs validated instruments, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, to assess the prevalence and impacts of emotional abuse and neglect. Findings reveal significant correlations between emotional abuse, neglect, and elevated social anxiety symptoms. Distress tolerance emerged as a key mediator, partially …


Habitat Use And Selection Of Silver Carp In The Lower Wabash River System, Coy B. Blair Jan 2025

Habitat Use And Selection Of Silver Carp In The Lower Wabash River System, Coy B. Blair

Masters Theses

The spatial ecology of non-native species in invaded systems remains relatively poorly understood despite the importance of suitable habitat in the success of invasion. Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix are a highly invasive non-native species with established populations throughout the Midwestern United States. Much research has focused on habitat use of bigheaded carp in large river systems, though invasion risk remains high in smaller systems, such as tributaries of the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. The Wabash River, a unique system in the Midwest, remains largely un-impounded and is comparable to many of the smaller riverine systems at risk of …


Domestic Student Engagement With International Peers: Local Insights, Global Connections, Alissa Sutton Jan 2025

Domestic Student Engagement With International Peers: Local Insights, Global Connections, Alissa Sutton

Masters Theses

As competition to recruit international students grows, institutions must prioritize fostering a sense of belonging that supports their retention and success. Central to this is the quality of interactions between international and domestic students, which shape both groups’ social and academic experiences. This study examines the barriers and facilitators influencing domestic students’ engagement with international peers and the role of institutional support in promoting meaningful cross-cultural connections. Findings reveal that domestic students recognize the importance of engaging with international peers but they often encounter challenges such as lack of awareness, uncertainty about how to connect, and limited institutional opportunities. Support …


Women Spinning On The Edge: Finding And Redefining The “Spinster” In The Witches Of Discworld, Kathryn Ann Fitzmaurice Jan 2025

Women Spinning On The Edge: Finding And Redefining The “Spinster” In The Witches Of Discworld, Kathryn Ann Fitzmaurice

Masters Theses

The word “spinster” has undergone a series of evolutions over the past seven hundred years, first coined to describe the occupation of women engaged in the spinning of plant and animal fibers into thread and yarn in the Middle Ages and later a legal marital status designation used until the 21st century. The connotation associated in social contexts became pejorative. This project’s tracing of the word spinster is used to set up the broader scope looking at how the spinster can be viewed as an archetype, what we can learn through the lenses of gender and feminist theory, and …


The Influence Of Family-School Communication On Junior High School Students’ Academic Success, Stephen Junior Amoah Jan 2025

The Influence Of Family-School Communication On Junior High School Students’ Academic Success, Stephen Junior Amoah

Masters Theses

This study examines the influence of family-school communication on students' academic success in the context of Ghana, with a particular focus on Junior High School (JHS) students. While existing research emphasizes the importance of family involvement in educational outcomes, limited studies explore how family-school communication directly affects academic success in Ghana. By using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection. The quantitative component includes an online survey distributed to JHS graduates, assessing the frequency, impact, methods, and barriers of communication between families and schools, as well as their perceived effect on academic performance. The survey includes …


Swk 3800 : Social Work Practice: Individuals And Families, Human Services Jan 2025

Swk 3800 : Social Work Practice: Individuals And Families, Human Services

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.


Bs Public Health Community Health, Public Health Jan 2025

Bs Public Health Community Health, Public Health

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.


Cls 4080 : Urinalysis, Biological Sciences Jan 2025

Cls 4080 : Urinalysis, Biological Sciences

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.


Bsn Direct Entry, Nursing Jan 2025

Bsn Direct Entry, Nursing

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.


Exercise Science Physical Therapy, Ksr Jan 2025

Exercise Science Physical Therapy, Ksr

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.


Exercise Science Pre-Athletic Training, Exer Jan 2025

Exercise Science Pre-Athletic Training, Exer

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.


Bs Clinical Laboratory Science, Biological Sciences Jan 2025

Bs Clinical Laboratory Science, Biological Sciences

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.


Mat 1320g : Mathematical Modeling, Mathematics And Computer Science Jan 2025

Mat 1320g : Mathematical Modeling, Mathematics And Computer Science

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.


Swk 4570 : Social Work Practicum I, Human Services Jan 2025

Swk 4570 : Social Work Practicum I, Human Services

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.


Prevalence Of Insecticide Resistance Gene In Aedes Albopictus Populations Of Central Illinois, Merylann Akinyi Ochieng Jan 2025

Prevalence Of Insecticide Resistance Gene In Aedes Albopictus Populations Of Central Illinois, Merylann Akinyi Ochieng

Masters Theses

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a significant vector for diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. Its increasing resistance to insecticides poses a critical challenge for vector control efforts. This study investigates knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) genes, specifically V1016G and F1534C, which are associated with pyrethroid resistance. Aedes albopictus populations from Central Illinois were analyzed using allele-specific PCR techniques to address three primary objectives: (1) determining whether V1016G and F1534C mutations are present in these populations, (2) determining which mutation is more widespread, and (3) investigating how resistance gene …


Time To Reassess: Campus Programming In The First Six Weeks And Its Impact On Belonging For First-Time Students, Joe Smith Jan 2025

Time To Reassess: Campus Programming In The First Six Weeks And Its Impact On Belonging For First-Time Students, Joe Smith

Masters Theses

Research has shown that a student’s first six weeks of college have a strong impact on the rest of their college experience. Because of this, institutions concentrate programming efforts in the first six weeks of the academic year to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for their first-time students. However, little research has been done on this topic in recent years. This quantitative study sought to examine first-time student event attendance in the first six weeks of the academic year and its impact on sense of belonging, which has been shown to be an important factor of the college experience. …


Enhancing Sunflower Regeneration: Molecular And Genetic Insights From Helianthus Eggertii, Owen West Jan 2025

Enhancing Sunflower Regeneration: Molecular And Genetic Insights From Helianthus Eggertii, Owen West

Masters Theses

In vitro plant regeneration, particularly through organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis, is essential for plant transformation and crop improvement, especially in recalcitrant species like sunflower. In this study, we explore the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration in Helianthus eggertii, a wild sunflower species with high regeneration potential. Global gene expression profiling, conducted using Oxford Nanopore sequencing across multiple time points and genotypes, identified sixty-three core differentially expressed genes (DEGs) critical to regeneration. These DEGs are associated with critical biological processes such as cell proliferation, transcriptional regulation, and photosynthesis. Among them, a sunflower WUSCHEL-related homeobox transcription factor (WOX4) showed preferential expression …


Thermal Thresholds Of The Green Sunfish Lepomis Cyanellus: Insights Into Fish Vulnerability To Changes In Environmental Temperature, Noah W. Wright Jan 2025

Thermal Thresholds Of The Green Sunfish Lepomis Cyanellus: Insights Into Fish Vulnerability To Changes In Environmental Temperature, Noah W. Wright

Masters Theses

As global temperatures continue to rise, understanding the physiological responses of aquatic organisms becomes increasingly important. Elevated temperatures can significantly impact behavior, metabolism, and other essential survival processes. One species of particular interest is the Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), a member of the Centrarchidae family known for its relative thermal resilience compared to other congeners across the Midwest, a region already experiencing rapid warming due to climate change. L. cyanellus are not invulnerable to thermal stress, and recent evidence suggests that both performance and thermal tolerance decline under sustained temperature increases. In this context, evaluating their response to …


Spatiotemporal Variability In Invasive Carp Spawning Activity In Two Midwestern River Basins, Braden A. Whisler Jan 2025

Spatiotemporal Variability In Invasive Carp Spawning Activity In Two Midwestern River Basins, Braden A. Whisler

Masters Theses

Across the United States, fisheries managers and agencies continue to battle the spread of invasive bigheaded carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.). Although previous research has identified environmental parameters such as temperature and flow to be triggers of spawning activity, many of these studies focus on larger rivers, rarely focusing on the specific thresholds or timing of when a spawning event takes place. I utilized the differing hydrology of the Illinois and Wabash Rivers and their tributaries to examine the differences in environmental parameters needed to trigger bigheaded carp reproduction. Three mainstem sites and three tributaries of both basins were sampled …


Assessing Ecological And Food Web Responses To Small-Scale Stream Restorations In Urban And Agricultural Streams, Sydney Mcandrews Jan 2025

Assessing Ecological And Food Web Responses To Small-Scale Stream Restorations In Urban And Agricultural Streams, Sydney Mcandrews

Masters Theses

Urban and agricultural streams across the Midwestern United States are vulnerable to elevated pollution, eutrophication, habitat simplification, and losses of sensitive species. Instream habitat restoration is increasingly used to mitigate the impacts of rapid land-use change. This study synthesizes habitat and biological responses from a 2020 urban stream restoration in the Saline Branch (Urbana, Illinois) and evaluates food web responses from both the Saline Branch and a 2010 restoration in Kickapoo Creek (Charleston, Illinois), an agricultural stream. In the Saline Branch, four years of fish and three years of habitat and macroinvertebrate pre-restoration surveys were compared to three years of …


For Her Horror: Sociopsychological Gratifications Obtained By Fem Fans Of The Slasher, Brooke Eaglesong Wilson Jan 2025

For Her Horror: Sociopsychological Gratifications Obtained By Fem Fans Of The Slasher, Brooke Eaglesong Wilson

Masters Theses

Those who side with the unjustified killer in slasher films are doing so to fulfill sociopsychological needs that are not being met in social reality. There were three main findings found in this study. First, participants sided with the unjustified killer in slasher films to gratify needs that were not being fulfilled in their careers such as the need to perform without having to consult mentors, not unlike how the unjustified killer murders victims without discussing with others. Second, participants sided with the unjustified killer in slasher films to gratify needs in their romantic relationships such as the need to …


Evaluation Of Blue Catfish Populations In Four Midwestern Power Cooling Reservoirs, Tyler Joseph Murray Jan 2025

Evaluation Of Blue Catfish Populations In Four Midwestern Power Cooling Reservoirs, Tyler Joseph Murray

Masters Theses

Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are the largest catfish in North America and as such angler desire for trophy fisheries have grown in addition to harvest fisheries. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has stocked Blue Catfish into several reservoirs in the state including four that have powerplants that utilize the water for cooling and discharge it back into the reservoir at increased temperatures. This study explored the potential impacts of these warm water effluents on Blue Catfish population demographics, as well as whether management changes need to be implemented in these systems. I sampled Powerton, LaSalle, Springfield, …


A Multitude In The In-Between: The Impact Of Perceived Social Support On Resilience For Neurodivergent And Gsd Identities, Along With Barriers To Receiving Support, Theo Edwards Jan 2025

A Multitude In The In-Between: The Impact Of Perceived Social Support On Resilience For Neurodivergent And Gsd Identities, Along With Barriers To Receiving Support, Theo Edwards

Masters Theses

This study used intersectionality theory to examine how overlapping minority identities impact receiving social support and the cultivation of resiliency. Individuals who identify as in the Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD) community or the neurodivergent (ND) community may experience unique stressors due to various barriers to support. Overlap of GSD and ND identities can present added struggles. Information from 46 GSD and/or ND college students was collected through self-report scales and recorded interviews to examine the effects of perceived social support on resiliency. Also assessed were common values in social support like having someone to talk to and being understood, …


Soils From Different Solidago Altissima Clones Mediate Intraspecific Interactions In Schizachyrium Scoparium, Sarah Alharbi Jan 2025

Soils From Different Solidago Altissima Clones Mediate Intraspecific Interactions In Schizachyrium Scoparium, Sarah Alharbi

Masters Theses

While previous studies have examined plant intraspecific competition and soil microbial effects separately, fewer studies have investigated how these factors interact, particularly in the context of genotype-specific soil conditioning effects. Plant-soil feedbacks can significantly alter interspecific competitive outcomes, yet few studies have examined how local variation in soil conditioning influences plant responses to density-dependent competition. I investigated how soil inocula derived from four Solidago altissima clones that were previously shown to differ in their soil conditioning effects (Foster et al., 2022) affected the growth and root traits of Schizachyrium scoparium across a gradient of intraspecific competition (1, 2, or 4 …