Digital Commons Network^™

From Trans Health To Vaccines: A Theoretically Driven Model Exploring Factors Related To Susceptibility To Medical Misinformation, Catherine Wall

Theses and Dissertations

Medical misinformation represents a significant threat to both individual and public health. While some consequences of this form of misinformation are relatively benign, there can be serious consequences ranging from a decreased trust in healthcare systems to an increased likelihood of epidemic outbreak and death. One such consequence can be seen in the recent legislative actions taken regarding access to transgender healthcare in the United States. Gender affirming care has been shown to benefit the mental well-being of transgender youth and adults; however, the demonstrably false information that underlies these legislative efforts can and has yielded significant harm. But what …

Beliefs Related To Diagnosing Bpd And Complex Ptsd, Bailey Pascuzzi

Theses and Dissertations

There has been speculation that Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (Complex PTSD) are the same disorder or represent separate disorders on a broader trauma spectrum (Frost et al., 2020; Lewis & Grenyer, 2009). BPD and Complex PTSD share several symptoms but differ in their presentation (Ford & Courtis, 2021). Because the two disorders present so similarly, it could be that clinicians have difficulty differentiating them, leading to misdiagnosis (Miller, 2014). This study examined clinicians’ diagnostic decision-making and stigma toward BPD and Complex PTSD. Participants (N = 426) completed an online survey where they diagnosed a written …

“Some Vague Utopia”: Searching For Urania, Moira L. Neve

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the global pendulum swing of gender trouble marked by the United States’ President’s declaration that there are only two sexes, activists have been rejecting assimilation (ie. defining equality as gay marriage or queer people in the military) within queer studies long before 2025. In the first half of the 20th century, a journal by the name of Urania (1916-1940), privately published and circulated to their home base in the United Kingdom and beyond, five editors (Esther Roper, Eva Gore-Booth, Jessey Wade, Dorothy Cornish, and Irene Clyde/Thomas Baty), challenged the gender binary and the resulting assumptions of heterosexual marriage. This …

The General Movement Optimality Score-Revised (Gmos-R): An Early Biomarker For Developmental Delays, Shaaron E. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The General Movement optimality score may provide insight into the relationship of term age General Movements and future neurodevelopmental disabilities and could be an early biomarker. This dissertation aimed to determine the relationship between term age neurologic function, measured by the optimality score of the General Movements, and postural control at term and three months (Chapter 2), and the relationship between neurologic function, at term and three months, and 12 month cognitive and motor outcomes (Chapter 3) and the impact of intervention on neurologic function and postural control at three months and on 12 month cognitive and motor outcomes in …

Exploring Prenatal Cannabis Use Among Young Pregnant Bisexual Individuals: A Mixed Methods Study, Nicole Boss

Theses and Dissertations

The perinatal period is a critical time for health behaviors with outcomes that have short- and long-term effects for both childbearing person and child. Research indicates that young bisexual people are at greater risk of unintended pregnancy, experience psychosocial health disparities, and may be more likely to use cannabis during pregnancy. Few studies have examined this phenomenon. This study is a secondary analysis of mixed methods data from a longitudinal cohort study. Thematic analysis of qualitative data (n=12) revealed the contextual adaptivity of cannabis use, with participants explaining the situations and rationales which motivated their cannabis use changed over time. …

Establishing A Conventional Linac-Based Electron Flash Beam, Justin Defrancisco

Theses and Dissertations

Problems: A rediscovered radiotherapy technique, FLASH, involves increasing the dose rate to >40 Gy/s. For a given dose, FLASH is shown to decrease the normal tissue complication probability without affecting the tumor control probability. More preclinical studies are necessary to confirm and enable these desirable properties on humans. Current preclinical investigations have diverse constraints, requiring FLASH apparatuses with flexible parameters and accurate control. However, there are limited FLASH platforms available, the existing ones are costly. Our institution is not in possession of any such infrastructure. Even if available, dosimetry and beam control in FLASH are extremely lacking. There is …

Social Support, Tobacco Attitudes/Perceptions Of Harm, And Asthma Status As Moderators In The Association Between Tobacco Exposure And Cotinine Levels, Rachel L. Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco use and exposure are linked to adverse health outcomes (e.g., respiratory conditions) and increased healthcare utilization (e.g., emergency room visits). This study examined the moderating role of social support, tobacco attitudes/perceptions of harm, and asthma status on associations between tobacco use (e.g., combustible product use) and exposure (e.g., secondhand smoke) and cotinine levels among individuals in Richmond, Virginia. We also explored differences in tobacco-related variables by asthma status and associations among tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, cotinine levels, and asthma control. Youth (n = 201) and adults (n = 209) (95.7% Black/African American; 60.6% female; 65.8% non-tobacco users; 21% …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Kynurenine-Mediated Lifespan Regulation In Yeast, Ryan E. Counterman Jobb

Theses and Dissertations

The kynurenine pathway is a highly conserved pathway that acts as the primary pathway for tryptophan catabolism and has been found to be involved in lifespan regulation across many diverse organisms. Caloric restriction (CR) is the only known dietary intervention to date that both increases the mean lifespan and the health span of multiple organisms, although the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. There are known and sometimes contradictory relationships between the kynurenine pathway activity and the life- extending effect of CR but the crosstalk between the two is not well characterized. Understanding these relationships could lead …

Group Flow Perceptions And Dynamics As Compared To Taxonomy And Integrative Group Flow Theory, Karen E. Wirick

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated group flow through a team-building exercise with 18 professionals, examining participants’ and an observer’s perceptions of flow in social contexts. Analysis of interviews and observer notes identified eight themes: Sensory Network of Shared Experience, Adaptive Group Identity and Performance, Goal-Skill-Motivation Alignment, Essential Social Dynamics, Calm Intensity, Synchrony and Engagement Patterns, Spontaneous Collective Celebration, and Observer Integration. These themes revealed that flow in groups manifests as dynamic forces in constant motion. When compared to an emergent Taxonomy and the Integrative Group Flow Theory (IGFT), findings aligned more closely with IGFT's conceptualization of flow as a holistic balancing …

Human Factors Matter: The Intersection Of Cybersecurity Governance, And Culture In Risk Management Of Critical Infrastructure, Prince Abubakari

Theses and Dissertations

In the 21st century, cybersecurity threats have evolved into pressing socio-technical issues, with significant implications for the safety and stability of global critical infrastructure. This dissertation explores the intersection of cybersecurity governance and culture in risk management of national critical infrastructures, defined as essential systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, that are vital to the security, public health, safety, economy, or any combination thereof, and the disruption of which would have a debilitating impact on a nation. The study delves into how human factors like organizational culture and governance mechanisms interplay to influence cybersecurity outcomes. The research adopts a …

Obstacles And Supports As Experienced By Foster Youth In Higher Education: Ventura County Community College District, Breanna Webb

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study assesses the obstacles faced by foster youth and the support available to them while attending the Ventura County Community College District. As it currently stands, about four and a half percent of foster youth in the United States go on to earn a college degree. Very little research has been done to explore the effectiveness and outcomes of the support offered to foster youth. Data for this research study was collected using the General Self-efficacy scale and structured interviews. Each of the ten participants was given a demographics survey and a Self-Efficacy scale survey and …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Silicon-Containing Ternary Transition Metal Borides For High Performance Applications, Godswill Ngige

Theses and Dissertations

Binary borides are well known for their exceptional mechanical and thermal properties, including high strength, high melting points, outstanding hardness, and excellent chemical stability, making them suitable for high-temperature structural applications such as components in hypersonic vehicles, jet engines, nose cones, and the leading edges of aircraft. Despite these advantages, they are inherently brittle and suffer from low fracture toughness, limiting their ability to absorb impact or resist crack propagation.

To this end, attention shifted to ternary transition metal borides which are materials composed of a transition metal, boron, and a third element. These ternary compounds exhibit a broader range …

Advancing Human-Computer Interaction Systems Through Explainable And Secure Ai Integration, Ifiok Udoidiok

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly shape how humans interact with digital environments, the need for transparency, security, and robustness in intelligent decision making has become critical. This thesis explores how explainable and secure AI techniques can be integrated into modern human-computer interaction (HCI) systems to enhance trust, resilience, and alignment with human operators.

We present three related studies, each addressing a distinct challenge in the design of human-centered AI. First, we apply XAI methods, specifically Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), to deep learning (DL) based CAPTCHA solvers. By interpreting model attention patterns, we uncover exploitable weaknesses in text CAPTCHA …

Inorganic Arsenite [I-As (Iii)] Represses Human Renal Progenitor Cell Characteristics And Induces Neoplastic-Like Transformation, Md Ehsanul Haque

Theses and Dissertations

Studies on populations exposed to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have shown an association between this particular exposure and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, there are few studies addressing how acute exposure of the human kidney to iAs might lead to long-term alterations that might lead to CKD or RCC. This study’s hypothesis is that renal exposure to iAs might alter the renal cells responsible for the repair and regeneration of nephrons damaged by iAs exposure or other renal toxicants. The kidney possesses a minority epithelial cell population that co-express PROM1 and CD24 that …

Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity And Adaptive Responses In Renal Progenitor Cells: Molecular Insights From Transcriptomic And Proteomic Analyses, Eloho Ighofose

Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent known for its efficacy against various solid tumors, but its clinical utility is limited by dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. The renal proximal tubule, particularly its epithelial cell population, is highly susceptible to cisplatin-induced injury due to its role in solute transport and high metabolic activity. Recent advances suggest that renal progenitor cells play a key role in epithelial repair following nephrotoxic injury; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their response to cisplatin remain poorly understood.This study investigates the impact of both acute and chronic cisplatin exposure on immortalized human renal progenitor cells (HRTPT, CD24⁺/CD133⁺) using a …

The Future Of Democracy Is At Risk As Declining Local Media Erodes Voter Turnout, Melissa Boehning Libert

Theses and Dissertations

The loss of local news sources has social and political consequences. The effects of media decline have been studied extensively at the national level and less so at the state level. However, this is only the second attempt to examine the effects of local media decline. This thesis argues that local media is in crisis, and its decline is correlated with another crisis: diminishing municipal voter turnout. This research examines losses in local newspapers in 45 Illinois counties and how that decline has affected voter turnout in municipal elections held from 2005 to 2023. Regression results suggest that voter turnout …

The Impact Of Selected Winter Cover Crops On Soybean And Corn Yield, Seed Quality, And Economic Returns, Ashley Stockmaster

Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops are being used to reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural fields and to mitigate climate change. However, cover crops may reduce summer cash crop yields and affect seed quality early in adoption. Therefore, this study evaluated soybean and corn yield, seed quality, and a cost-benefit analysis following cover crops.

This study was conducted at the Illinois State University Research Farm and the Western Illinois University Research Farm to evaluate the impact of selected cover crops on soybean and corn yields and seed quality. The experimental design was a randomized block design replicated four times. Cover crop treatments consisted of …

Predictive Modeling For Healthcare Data Using Nonlinear Bayesian Methods, Prince Kofi Asare

Theses and Dissertations

Unplanned hospital readmissions represent a significant challenge for healthcare systems, contributing to substantial financial burdens and highlighting gaps in patient care coordination. In the U.S., approximately 20% of Medicare beneficiaries are readmitted within 30 days, costing billions annually. Social determinants of health, such as income, housing stability, and social support, account for up to 80% of health outcomes, yet their integration into predictive models remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel Bayesian framework for predicting 30-day readmission risk, combining Gaussian Process models with spike-and-slab priors and Bayesian Lasso regression with Laplace priors. Utilizing Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, the approach …

Making Monsters: The Intersection Of Black And Queer Characters In Vampire Fiction, Jalissa Jones

Theses and Dissertations

For centuries we have looked at the vampire as a monster, one that skirts the line into acceptability not only because of the vampire's motivations, but more importantly because our depictions of vampires make them desirable to us. This thesis explores the vampire archive, and the question of how the monstrosity of the vampire interacts with race, sexuality, and gender to further uphold notions of white supremacy. This thesis will look at the classic vampire canon set forth by Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu and two contemporary black vampire narratives: The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez …

Meeting Athletes Where They Are At: Mental Performance Consultants' Perspectives Of Developmentally Appropriate Consulting, Eleanor R. Cain

Theses and Dissertations

Mental performance consulting (MPC) involves using techniques and strategies designed to teach or enhance psychological skills that facilitate performance and a positive approach to sport competition (Vealey, 2024). MPC can be particularly valuable during adolescence as youth experience cognitive, social, and emotional changes. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding how to uniquely and effectively utilize MPC to help young athletes enhance their wellbeing, long-term development, and performance (Thrower et al., 2023). The purpose of this study was to gather mental performance consultants’ perspectives of the developmental considerations involved in mental performance consulting with adolescent athletes. Participants included 17 …

Transformative Social Emotional Learning Practices And Instructional Engagement In The Kindergarten Classroom, Lisa Skelly

Theses and Dissertations

The kindergarten teachers at Catalina Elementary School have identified a crucial issue: their students' inability to self-regulate is impeding their learning and classroom engagement. The kindergarten team engages in ongoing professional learning with a focus on transformative social emotional learning. The teacher team explores whether on-going professional learning based in transformative social emotional core competencies impacts their direct instruction of transformative social emotional standards. Teachers further support implementation of the transformative social emotional core competencies using structured play-based activities. Following the on-going professional learning sessions, the teacher team would craft a whole group lesson and select an activity to embed …

Stress And Behavior In Beef Calves During Weaning, Kathleen E. Tierney

Theses and Dissertations

Animal welfare in commercial livestock operations has been an increasing topic of concern. It is well known that stress can have significant behavioral and physiological repercussions. It is especially important in commercial operations to reduce stress, as animal efficiency is the leading priority. In an effort to reduce stress on animals and improve welfare in livestock operations, several studies have evaluated common husbandry practices. One of the most widely studied practices is weaning, which encapsulates the process of removing the young from the dam. Several studies have evaluated the effects of weaning on beef cattle through a variety of behavioral …

The Effects Of Training And Peer Coaching On The Fidelity Of Explicit Instruction On Social-Emotional Learning In Early Childhood Education, Ashley A. Strausbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated how training and peer coaching could improve fidelity of explicit instruction practices in early education teachers for social-emotional learning. Three teams of preschool teachers were trained in the use of explicit instructional practices and paired up to provide coaching in these practices during the intervention. The training and coaching were based on the model by Dunst et al. (2019), which identifies that providing training that includes elements of information, demonstration, practice opportunities, coaching and feedback increases the likelihood of moving knowledge to practice. A multiple baseline design was used to investigate fidelity of explicit instruction for …

The Relationship Between Cardiac Patient Beliefs And Experiences With Insurability And Their Decisions On Whether Or Not To Pursue Genetic Testing, Julia Schoeni

Theses and Dissertations

Since the enactment of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) in 2008, genetics providers have been incorporating conversations about GINA in pre-test counseling. There is currently limited evidence of the effects of personal or family histories of cardiomyopathy or aortopathy and associated genetic testing on patients seeking insurance policies not protected by GINA, including life, long term care, and disability insurance. This study aimed to determine whether individuals with a personal or family history of cardiomyopathy or aortopathy are having conversations about future insurability with their healthcare providers and how they perceive their ability to get these insurances when deciding …

Knowledge And Ontology Enhanced Approach To Natural Language Understanding (Koe-Nlu) In Computational Social Media And Healthcare, Naga Usha Gayathri Lokala

Theses and Dissertations

Natural Language Understanding (NLU) faces both opportunities and challenges as the amount of social media and healthcare data grows. This is particularly evident in context-sensitive applications such as evaluating cognitive health, identifying mental health symptoms, and monitoring drug abuse. Even though traditional NLU models work well for processing language in a wide range of areas, they often lack the ability to understand language in a specific domain, reason in context, and incorporate structured external knowledge. This dissertation talks about the Knowledge and Ontology Enhanced Approach to Natural Language Understanding (KOE-NLU), a new framework that is meant to make NLU systems …

Factors Influencing Adherence To Surveillance Guidelines In Individuals With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Kashish Khanna

Theses and Dissertations

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a genetic condition that is caused by pathogenic changes in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene and is characterized by multiple benign tumors, otherwise known as hamartomas, in various organs such as the brain, skin, lungs, and kidneys. Because of the many different clinical manifestations of TSC, extensive surveillance guidelines are recommended for individuals with TSC. Past studies have shown that there has been a gap in knowledge of these surveillance guidelines. These studies also suggest projects that measure adherence to surveillance guidelines and address specific challenges hindering surveillance guideline adherence. This study aims to …

“Digital Shame Shift”: From Telling The Pain To Recording The Truth — Black Maternal Health And Digital Counter-Narrative Storytelling On Tiktok, Odera Covenant Ezenna

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how digital storytelling on TikTok is used to challenge medical racism, with a particular focus on Black maternal health. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis (CTDA), the study examines how TikTok users—ranging from Black mothers to healthcare professionals—create and circulate counter-narratives through two prominent campaigns: #BlackMaternalHealthWeek and #BlackMamasMatter. These digital stories serve as acts of resistance, disrupting dominant medical discourse and amplifying the lived experiences of Black birthing individuals. The research analyzes over 2900 TikTok videos posted between 2021 and 2024, identifying key themes, storytelling strategies, and rhetorical shifts over time. The …

Mental Silence For Emotional Intelligence Development, Mina N. Nandwani

Theses and Dissertations

While emotional intelligence is considered key for effective leadership, and perhaps the most vital competency for current and emerging leaders to cultivate, there appears to be uncertainty on how to develop it. This study examined how the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM) influences the development of emotional intelligence and contributes to the advancement of global leadership capacities, addressing a gap in the current literature. The conceptual frameworks of SYM, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Model, and the literature on global leadership, particularly Jeffrey Sachs’ Ages of Globalization, guided the research question. By implementing a qualitative phenomenological research approach, ten long-time …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of Sexual Assault Investigations In Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Caitlyn Marie Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide further insight into sexual assault investigations and response from the lived experiences of Sexual Assault Response Team and Task Force criminal justice professionals. There has been limited research on Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), and Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) units, specifically encompassing the lived experiences of their members. This interpretative phenomenological study sought to explore these collaborative multidisciplinary teams from the lived experiences of the criminal justice professionals who represent them and to analyze the factors of sexual assault investigations and response that these members find significant.

In this …

Sulfate Sources In Groundwater From An Agricultural Area Central Illinois, Christabel I. Obi

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing sulfate (SO₄^2-) concentrations in the water environment, corresponding with increases in urbanization and industrialization, are a rising global concern. Over 250 mg/L, sulfate threatens human health and ecosystems. Elevated concentrations influence carbonate rock weathering, contributing to the evolution of the global carbon cycle. Knowledge of sulfate sources, whether natural or anthropogenic, is essential for understanding sulfate transport and fate in groundwater. This study investigates SO₄^2- origin and transport in groundwater in an area dominated by agricultural land use in Mclean County, Illinois. Specifically, we explored these questions: 1) Do sulfate concentrations change with groundwater …