Digital Commons Network^™

Drug Modification Of Synaptic Plasticity At The Inhibitory Synapses Involving Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area, Jie Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorders (SUDs) involve complex alterations in synaptic plasticity within the mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly within the ventral tegmental area (VTA). While dopamine neurons in the VTA are extensively studied in addiction research, less attention has been given to the plasticity exhibited by VTA GABAergic neurons, despite their established regulatory role in modulating dopamine cell activity. Building upon the ground-breaking work of Bocklisch et al. (2013), we investigated the plasticity at the GABAergic to VTA GABA neuron (VTA GABA-to-GABA) synapse utilizing whole-cell electrophysiology in GAD67 GFP knock-in mice. Our findings revealed an exceptionally rare duo-plasticity …

The Epistemological Politics Of"False Memory Syndrome", Michele Blatzheim

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1990s the psy-disciplines found themselves embroiled in one of the most acrimonious conflicts these fields have ever experienced. Often called the “Memory Wars”, this conflict emerged from the growing number of people, overwhelmingly women, alleging that a parent, overwhelmingly fathers, had sexually abused them in childhood based on previously inaccessible memories. The conflict was roughly split between clinicians who saw such delayed recall as relatively common among trauma survivors and a group of experimental psychologists who were skeptical of the veracity of such memories. The latter group would eventually ally themselves to an advocacy organization, the False Memory …

Two Sides Of The Same Coin Or Two Different Coins? The Differential Predictors Of Casual And Committed Sex, Carson R. Dover

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to analyze potential predictors of accumulating casual vs. committed sexual partners in emerging adulthood. Using a large, national sample of emerging adults in the United States, I examined how alcohol use and attachment orientation differentially predicted accumulating casual and committed sexual partners. I found that higher anxious attachment positively predicted the number of committed sexual partners, while higher avoidant attachment negatively predicted the number of casual sexual partners. I also found that alcohol use positively predicted both the number of casual and committed sexual partners emerging adults accumulated. Further, I tested the strength of …

Post-High School Trajectories Of Filipino American Students: The Role Of Communication, Kathryn Anne Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

This study actively explores the intricate influences shaping the educational and career trajectories of Filipino American students post-high school. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, it unveils the intricate web of familial expectations, financial constraints, personal values, and external pressures shaping their educational and career pathways. By actively addressing research questions concerning the factors informing choices and the process of weighing competing messages, this research offers nuanced insights. It illuminates the dynamic decision-making processes within the Filipino American community, emphasizing the necessity for tailored interventions and support mechanisms. By actively engaging with these findings, this study contributes to enhancing the …

Mothers With Disabilities As Health Navigators: Narratives Of Pregnancy, Postpartum Depression, And Parenting, Agnes Amoakwa

Theses and Dissertations

Scholars have focused on factors that affect pregnancy decisions, linking it to internal factors such as physical attachment and love towards children and feasibility of external factors, among others, while others have focused on experience with health professionals and accessibility of healthcare facilities and equipment during access to maternal care. While these studies are important, fewer focus has been placed on how women with disabilities navigate the postpartum phase of motherhood and the support needed to navigate through this experience. I employed the communicated narrative sense-making theory to explore the meanings of stories shared by mothers with disabilities about their …

Peer Cybervictimization ( Pcv ) Among University Students In Bangladesh And Institutional Disciplinary Body ( Idb ) Under Routine Activity Theory ( Rat ), Selimul Quader

Theses and Dissertations

Research on cybervictimization of Bangladeshi students is scarce, but the research that does exist suggests a high prevalence of victimization followed by low extent of reporting. None of the extant research exclusively studied peer cybervictimization (PCV) in relation to students’ knowledge of the university authority, hereinafter the institutional disciplinary body or IDB. As per the added propositions of Routine Activity Theory (RAT) (Felson, 1995), the IDB can potentially contribute to guardianship building by alerting students about handlers-managers in the university premises and thereby reduce PCV among students. Thus, the knowledge of (the presence of) the IDB can respond to the …

From Eighty Acres And A Mule To Two Thousand Acres And Twenty-Four Row Planters: Anxieties Of Growth In The Agriculture Sector From Family Farms, Riley Marie Francis

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the evolution of the family farm between the 1940s until the 2020s, and how the family farm may continue to evolve in future generations. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the changing reality of agriculture and how farmers think about themselves. In the early days of the United States republic, farms were a means of providing a family or localized community with food and resources. These farms participated in an economic exchange that was an early form of capitalism, characterized by meeting needs but not accruing egregious excess. Today’s agricultural system is …

Outcomes For Individuals Born Outside Of Marriage, Kathryn Dawn Keithley

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the effect of being born outside of marriage (BOOM) on the future outcomes of individuals. I use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) individual-level data to follow individuals from birth to age 30 and analyze the effect of being born outside of marriage on future marital status, education level, and poverty status. I find statistically significant impacts of BOOM on future outcomes, though additional childhood controls lessen the effect. I then use arguably exogenous variation from the marital status of an individual’s grandmother at the time of their mother’s birth to instrument for external factors that …

Acculturation Strategy Of The First-Generation Immigrants: A Study On The Muslim Parents In The United States, Eshrat Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the acculturation strategy of the first-generation immigrant Muslim parents in the US. This study is guided by segmented assimilation theory and data for the study was collected by employing qualitative research method. I conducted in-depth interview with twelve first-generation Muslim immigrant parents in the McLean County, Illinois to collect data for the study. The participants responded to a number of open-ended questions relating their cultural and Muslim identity, practice of their Islamic faith in your family and outside and raising their children in a different cultural environment. The finding of this study shows that the …

Navigating Democracy: Perspectives On Western-Style Democracy In Africa, Matthew Edor

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the compatibility of Western-style democracy with the socio-cultural landscapes of Africa. Utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) within Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework and incorporating Afrocentric perspectives, the study highlights how language, power dynamics, and sociocultural practices shape the discourse on democracy in Africa. Pan-Africanism and (neo)colonialism emphasize the quest for African self-determination and the need for indigenous governance structures. The study suggests a Pan-African government structure rooted in collective values and cultural autonomy as a potential alternative to Western-style democracy. While acknowledging the limitations and challenges, the study underscores the significance of contextualizing democracy within African realities and calls …

S ( M ) Othering: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Republican Motherhood, Caroline King

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines seven Republican rhetors who utilize motherhood as a rhetorical strategy in speeches between the years of 1972 and 2020. Specifically, speeches, newsletters, and debate transcripts are analyzed using four theoretical lenses to curate an archetype of the “Republican Mother” – a concept constructed of an amalgamation of the historic “mother of the republic” from the nation’s conception and the ideological values assigned to women within the Republican party, such as traditional gender and spousal roles. I argue that it is the unique combination of womanhood, motherhood, and Republicanism that creates a unique rhetorical strategy seen in these …

Digital Safe Spaces: Nonbinary Community Building On Tiktok, Xan Daggett

Theses and Dissertations

Queer and trans individuals have long relied on the Internet for community building and support; however, with the introduction of more than 700 anti-trans bills since the beginning of 2023 (Trans Legislation Tracker, 2024), conservatives’ consistent mocking and dehumanization of gender nonconforming people (ADL, 2023; Berg-Brousseau, 2022), and a record increase in violence specifically against nonbinary individuals (Astor, 2023), trans and nonbinary people are turning to online spaces more than ever as they endure this hostile social and political climate. While nonbinary people make up over 60% of trans adults in the U.S. (Kirzinger et al., 2023), there is very …

Prosodic Speech Rate, Utterance Duration, Interruption Rate, And Turn-Taking Latency In Autistic And Neurotypical Adults, Grace Madeline Bell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the following prosodic elements: speech rate, turn-taking latency, number of interruptions, and utterance duration across two groups' neurotypical and autistic young adults. Furthermore, the end goal of this study is to help provide a baseline and clinical application of prosodic differences between autistic and neurotypical adults. Speech samples were collected from 11 neurotypical and 11 autistic young adults from the ages of 18-26. Speech samples were recorded responses from a 10-minute interview between two research assistants and the autistic or neurotypical individual. Using Praat software, speech samples were analyzed and used to …

Commodifying The American Funeral: Impacts On Our Rituals, Grief And Values, Reilly Card

Theses and Dissertations

COMMODIFYING THE AMERICAN FUNERAL: IMPACTS ON OUR RITUALS, GRIEF, AND VALUES

REILLY CARD

63 Pages

Death is a universal experience. Everyone will die. With death comes the need to care for the deceased, and the modern solution to caring for the dead is to outsource the work. Today in America the dead are cared for by funeral homes and funeral directors. This study looks at the role commodification plays in the American funeral experiences and, in turn, how that process of commodification impacts the cultural values of the funeral. This study first examines the literature around funerals, rituals, grief and …

Courtesy Stigma And Mental Health: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of The Mothers Of Registered Sex Offenders, Kimberly Ann Ingold

Theses and Dissertations

While there is a plethora of research exploring how registered sex offenders are negatively affected by the registry, little research has examined how the consequences of the registry affect their family members. More specifically, the mothers of registrants have received even less study even though mothers typically receive blame for their child’s outcomes - including delinquency and criminality. The current paper examines if, and how, the mothers of registrants experience courtesy stigmatization from their child’s arrest and conviction along with how that affects their personal relationships, finances, and mental health. The study utilizes a mixed-methods research design, as 178 women’s …

Digital Performance Management: An Evaluation Of Manufacturing Performance Management Andmeasurement Strategies In An Industry 4.0 Context, Nathaniel David Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing management and operations place heavy emphasis on monitoring and improving production performance. This supervision is accomplished through strategies of manufacturing performance management, a set of measurements and methods used to monitor production conditions. Over the last thirty years the most prevalent measurement of traditional performance management has been overall equipment effectiveness, a percentile summary metric of a machine's utilization. The technologies encapsulated by Industry 4.0 have expanded the ability to gather, process, and store vast quantities of data, creating opportunity to innovate on how performance is measured. A new method of managing manufacturing performance utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies has …

Potential For Climate-Based Financing Of Watershed Management To Restore Streams And Improve Water Quality Following A Wildfire: A Case Study Of The Provo River Watershed, Braxton Wayne Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Following wildfires, water quality in forested watersheds is prone to degradation, impacting drinking water treatment and causing increased emissions due to additional energy consumption. We explore the potential for climate-based financing to support wildfire mitigation and watershed restoration and thereby reduce potential water treatment energy demand within the Provo River watershed of Utah, USA. Pre- and post-wildfire erosion and water quality in the Provo River is modeled using GeoWEPP. Energy data from the Don A. Christiansen drinking water treatment plant in the watershed and related literature data are used to estimate the increase in energy use for treating degraded water. …

Online Vs. In-Person Delivery Of Social Skills Group Intervention For Autistic Adolescents: Comparison Of Social Behavior Outcomes, Miiko Lyne Masse

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic quarantine guidelines made finding quality telehealth services for autistic individuals a vital pursuit. Before the worldwide shift to widespread adoption of telehealth services, however, rural and underserved areas were already using telehealth options to access services, but not yet in the realm of social skills interventions because of the preference for in-person groups and lack of data regarding effectiveness of social skills in a telehealth environment. This study compared effectiveness of an adaptation of Laugeson and Frankel's Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) social skills curriculum for adolescents in a live synchronous online …

#Bicultural: Social Media Use, Needs Satisfaction, And Well-Being Of Immigrants, Rachel Juliane Hecke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between immigrant's bicultural social media use (BSM), general psychological needs satisfaction (GNS), bicultural needs satisfaction (BNS), and well-being outcomes of life satisfaction (LS) and bicultural identity integration (BII). Participants included 223 individuals who use social media and identified as bicultural (many of whom were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants, 60%). Participants completed online surveys. Results from correlations, SEM, and path analyses indicated that there were correlations between the variables of GNS, BNS, LS, and BII. BSM was correlated solely with BNS. Additionally, BNS fully mediated the association between BSM and …

Back In The Ring: A Survey Of The Communist Party Of The United States: 1956-1976, Zachary Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

The Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) suffered greatly under McCarthyism and by 1956 was no longer considered a viable political party by contemporary historians. Therefore, contemporary historians ignore the efforts of the CPUSA after this date. Failure to engage with the CPUSA post 1956 ignores their activity and contribution to the political and social landscape of the United States during the New Left, Civil Rights Movement, and Anti-War Movement. The CPUSA remained an influential political party and organizing power during the post-McCarty years. This survey exemplifies the methods used and spaces occupied by the CPUSA that allowed them …

Building Community Support: A Multi-Scalar Archaeological Analysis Of Sewage Infrastructure In Central Illinois, Anastasia Leigh Ervin

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1920s and 1930s in Central Illinois, urban areas implemented sewage infrastructure consisting of underground sewers and sanitation plants. These sanitary districts soon became an essential service provided within the community and the established infrastructure has undergone expansion and technological updates in the decades since. I use methods and concepts of landscape archaeology in combination with 1940 Census socio-economic demographics, GIS viewshed and smellshed (buffer) analysis, and visual spatial analysis to examine the case studies of three sanitary districts in Central Illinois: Bloomington-Normal, Urbana-Champaign, and Sangamon County to evaluate how these infrastructures shaped their landscapes, or sewagescapes. Sewagescapes have …

A Network Meta-Analysis Comparing Traditional Acupuncture Points And Ashi-Points: Dealyed Onset Muscle Soreness, Yufang Shao

Theses and Dissertations

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a type of muscle injury that can occur following moderate-to-high intensity physical activity. More recently, acupuncture has been considered as an alternative treatment method for muscle injury, which includes DOMS. However, there have been no specific investigations into potential differences when using traditional acupuncture (points based on traditional Chinese medicine theory), Ashi-acupuncture (points not on Chinese meridian, also known as tender points), or sham-acupuncture (superficial points, or points neither on the Chinese meridian nor the tender points) for treatment of DOMS. PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment with traditional acupoints, Ashi points, …

Tell Me A Story: An Investigation Into Culturally Sensitive Activities To Support Latinos' Help-Seeking Behavior, Estrella Jaqueline Gomez Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Despite Latinos continuing to have low rates of going to mental health services within the United States, there remains scarce research on possible interventions. This study aimed to utilize culturally sensitive activities using storytelling to help overcome the stigma related to help-seeking behaviors and mental health within the Latino community. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether utilizing such activities can impact Latinos’ help-seeking behaviors. This qualitative study describes the results of 19 participants in five focus groups within a University campus. Based on thematic analysis, this study’s results suggest that culturally sensitive activities may be a starting …

“Drink The Kool-Aid, She Said ”: Female Villiany And Agency In Peoples Temple, Courtney Paige Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The responsibility for several hundred people drinking the Kool-Aid in Jonestown, Guyana, has typically been solely attributed to Jim Jones, the co-founder of the Peoples Temple movement. However, recent documentaries have shifted this representation to focus on all involved in the Peoples Temple. In this thesis, I use rhetorical analyses tactics through a critical feminist lens to examine the agency and villainy present in these mediated depictions of women in Peoples Temple. Mediated texts of the Peoples Temple included the 2018 Hulu documentary Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre, the 2018 AMC docuseries Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, In Defense …

Performance Of Pennycress In Some Illinois Cropping Systems, Rashmi Dangol

Theses and Dissertations

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), a member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family, is an emerging winter oilseed crop being developed as a cash cover crop in summer annual row cropping systems. This crop can be grown in the Corn Belt, sandwiched between corn and soybean crops without causing a yield or ecosystem penalty, and pennycress has the potential to produce biofuel. Although it can be used as a feedstock and to produce biodiesel, little is known about the best agronomic management practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and performance of pennycress in rotation systems when this …

Analysis And Critique Of Character Creators In Role-Playing Video Games Towards A More Inclusive Gaming Environment, Ellie Parvin

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the social progress seen across the United States, video games still cater to white cisgender men ages 18-34 (Entertainment Software Association). Since the release of Ultima I and Wizardry, the first games that popularized role-playing video games (RPVGs) (“History of Western Role-Playing Video Games”), in 1981 (“Ultima (Series)”) (“Wizardry”), the genders players have to choose from are typically limited to the extremes of the gender spectrum, man and woman. The first RPVG to include a character creator with options outside the gender spectrum extremes was 7th Dragon III Code: VFD (Shaw, “Gender in 7th Dragon III Code: VFD”), an …

Cyberbullying Among College Students, Gifty Yaa Asiamah

Theses and Dissertations

There is an epidemic of cyberbullying in higher education, impacting college students. The purpose of this study is to examine cyberbullying among college students. The incidence and awareness of cyberbullying in a college sample shed further light on the issue and explored college students' experiences with the phenomenon. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted on 278 college students from Illinois State University. Results showed that 44.8% of students had experienced cyberbullying, with females being more likely to be victims, international students, and those of sexual orientation being more likely to experience cyberbullying. According to the data, the most prevalent social media …

Self-Objectification And Disordered Eating: The Role Of Fathers, Aleena E. Mangold

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the links between disordered eating and body/weight related comments and messages from fathers through the lens of objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). The specific role of fathers in shaping their daughter’s disordered eating behaviors has not been examined sufficiently. I hypothesized that self-objectification would be associated with messages from fathers about dieting and appearance. I also hypothesized that the relationship between fathers’ messages and their daughter’s disordered eating behaviors would be mediated by self-objectification. Participants completed an online survey which measured perceived messages/pressures from fathers, self-objectification, and disordered eating behaviors. …

Migration And The Life Course: A Case Study Of African Female International Graduate Students At Illinois State University., Vivian Yawson

Theses and Dissertations

The number of graduate and undergraduate students from Africa in the United States (US) is rapidly increasing as Sub-Saharan Africans are among the fastest-growing foreign-born population in the US. Migration represents a significant turning point in individuals’ lives. Despite the growing body of research on international students in the US, there remains a gap in understanding the educational experiences of African students from a life course perspective. This study seeks to address this gap by examining student migration through the lens of the life course framework, leveraging current trends and patterns in international migration. Drawing on qualitative techniques, specifically narrative …

School Psychologist's Tiered Social-Emotional Recommendations In Response To Data Gathered From Social-Emotional Screening, Audrey Anita Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

Universal school-wide social-emotional screeners identify at-risk students with social-emotional behavior problems (Romer et al., 2020). Identifying such students alone cannot prevent these social, emotional, and behavioral concerns from becoming problematic. However, data gathered from social-emotional screening can guide the development of strategies, supports, interventions, and progress monitoring students at risk across all tiers (Yates et al., 2008), leading to the prevention of social-emotional and behavioral problems from turning maladaptive (Humphrey & Wigelsworth, 2016; Walker et al., 2004). A school district in the Mountain West area of the United States developed a screening survey that addresses school climate, culture, and connectedness …