Digital Commons Network^™

Presenting Issue Agreement And The Therapeutic Alliance In Family Therapy, Emilee Oldroyd

Theses and Dissertations

Research has consistently shown a positive association between the therapeutic alliance and family therapy outcome. Theory and preliminary research suggest that parent and adolescent agreement on the presenting problem would be a significant predictor of the therapeutic alliance in family therapy. This study used de-identified data from the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network. The presenting problem was assessed at the first session, and agreement in presenting problems was determined by matching the responses between the parents and adolescents. The within-system alliance item of the Intersession Alliance Measures-Family (IAM-F), assessed at the fourth session, was used to measure the …

Emotion Regulation Difficulties And Couple Relationship Quality Across Eight Sessions: A Dyadic Analysis With Latent Growth Curve Modeling, Min Xu

Theses and Dissertations

While previous studies have demonstrated significant associations between partners' emotion regulation and overall well-being, few studies provide knowledge on emotion regulation in clinical couples, especially across couple therapy sessions. With 168 heterosexual couples who attended at least the initial eight sessions of couple therapy, the current study was designed to examine the intra- and inter-personal effects of emotion regulation difficulties (i.e., lack of awareness, nonacceptance, limited strategies, and impulsivity) on the development of relationship quality over the course of couple therapy. The results of the current study provide a few important findings. First, gender differences exist in emotion regulation and …

The Effects Of Pain Levels On Static And Dynamic Postural Control And Visual Reliance In Chronic Ankle Instability Individuals, Minsub Oh

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) individuals experience residual symptoms including pain, swelling, ankle instability, etc. A small majority of CAI individuals report ankle pain during daily or physical activity. Despite the known negative effects of chronic pain on neuromuscular control, there is a paucity of research exploring the specific impact of chronic pain mechanisms on altered neuromuscular control in CAI individuals. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of pain levels on static and dynamic postural control and visual reliance in CAI individuals. Methods: A total of 60 participants were recruited, consisting of 20 CAI individuals …

Impact Of Mental Wellness Courses On Student Mental Health, Joshua W. Pinson

Theses and Dissertations

A large portion of college students have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and that number is climbing. Most of these students are not receiving treatment, and university counseling centers are unable to meet the increasing demands. The purpose of this study is to fill gaps in this literature by doing an early analysis of a larger, multi-year quasi-experimental study to assess the impact of college mental wellness courses on self-health measures and mental health resource utilization rates. The validated instruments used for evaluating self-health measures and mental health resource utilization were the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) Counseling …

Studies Of Intracellular Trafficking Of Phospholipids Triggered By Osh6, Ilham Hassoon Kadhim

Theses and Dissertations

Yeast vacuoles (mammalian lysosomes) and their closely related organelle late endosomes (LE) play a central role in anti-aging processes since they host the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). A recent study showed that the vacuolar TORC1 stimulates protein synthesis and cell growth while the late endosomal TORC1 inhibits autophagy, an anti-aging process. This raises a question as to which membrane trafficking pathways toward LE/vacuoles are critical in controlling endosomal TORC1 and anti-aging processes. Members of the family of oxysterol-binding proteins mediate non-vesicular lipid transport between membranes and contribute to longevity in different manners. We previously found that a 2-fold …

Nasa Weather Data Based Neural Network Grid Connected Pv System Maximum Power Point Tracking, Oluwatobiloba Mausi Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Research and development for alternative energy sources that are cleaner, renewable, and have little to no environmental impact have been pushed by the ongoing rise in energy demand, the possibility of a decline in the use of conventional petroleum fuels, and concerns about environmental degradation. Electricity from photovoltaic (PV) systems is significantly better regarded among these alternative sources as a renewable energy source such as wind power, bioenergy, tidal energy, and hydroelectric with a wide application range because it is clean, accessible, and abundant with little to no environmental effect. However, solar energy usage is significantly impacted by the landscape, …

Remembering Martyrdom: Delacroix's Massacre Of Chios As A Site Of Collective Memory, Colette Burton

Theses and Dissertations

The Massacre of Chios (1824) by Eugéne Delacroix illustrates the titular genocide from the Greek War of Independence. This genocide was a veritable razing of the entire island by Ottoman Turks in 1822. Today, a replica of Delacroix's painting resides on the island inside the entrance of the Chios Byzantine Museum, located in a converted mosque built on the ruins of a Christian church. This site is a case for the existence of non-Western temporalities, including liturgical and Aegean temporalities, as they pertain to the commemoration of the massacre through interaction with the replica. These temporalities are not causal or …

Effective K– 6 Mathematics Teachers’ Mathematical And Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy, Instructional Beliefs, And Use Of Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices, Amy E. Roehrig

Theses and Dissertations

The use of student-centered practices is influenced by several factors (Peterson et al., 1989). Specifically self-efficacy has been shown to influence teachers’ self-reported teaching practices (Hadley & Dorward, 2011; Peterson et al., 1989; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2007). The purpose of this study was to determine possible relationships among effective teachers’ mathematical and mathematics teaching self-efficacy, instructional beliefs, and the enacted use of effective practices in mathematics. The study involved two K–6 mathematics teachers who were identified as effective by recommendations from highly regarded mathematics teacher educators or administrators. To determine teachers’ level of self-efficacies, instructional beliefs, and enacted teaching practices, …

Exploring The Digital Divide In Educational Technology Across Illinois School Districts: A Focus On Business Education In Urban, Suburban, And Rural Schools, Zahra Syedah Kazmi

Theses and Dissertations

This research study examines the extent of the digital divide in educational technologies among K-12 Illinois public schools, with a specific focus on business education. The study investigates the disparities in access and usage of educational technologies across urban, suburban, and rural schools in Illinois, aiming to identify the challenges and opportunities for promoting equitable access to technology in education. The research findings indicate significant differences in access and usage of educational technologies among the different types of schools. While all schools experience the digital divide to some extent, rural schools face more pronounced challenges in accessing and utilizing educational …

Temporal And Spatial Profiling Of Priority Soil Pollutants Using Filter Cone Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry ( Fcsi-Ms ), Rosemary Addo

Theses and Dissertations

Long-term monitoring (LTM) of environmental matrices can assist in detecting the onset or changes in chemical contaminant plumes and evaluating subsequent remediation efforts, but bears extreme cost, with significant funds going towards shipping costs of field-collected samples for off-site processing via hyphenated MS methods. To this end, portable technologies that offer both direct sampling capability and high throughput operation are appealing. We report and characterize the use of filter cone spray ionization-mass spectrometry (FCSI-MS) towards the temporal and spatial profiling of pollutants from unprepared soil sample and demonstrate its utility on portable and commercial MS systems alike. MS systems employed …

Did Covid Change Everything Or Nothing At All? Canadian Family Life During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carlee Guenther Dynes

Theses and Dissertations

In March of 2020, Canada, along with the rest of the world, declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency and responded with society-wide lockdowns, granting exceptions only for essential workers. Canadians across all demographic categories were significantly impacted, and many parents of children under 18 faced the difficult task of caring for their children while simultaneously meeting their work obligations. Using novel in-depth interview data from 30 Canadian parents (in 15 couples) collected between April 2022 and May 2023, I explore three main changes to family life resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic: expanded family-friendly work practices, increased time with nuclear …

The Effect Of Therapeutic Alliance Quality On Relationship Quality, With Latino Ethnicity As A Moderator: An Exploratory Study, Ivana Elisa Borba Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

A strong therapeutic alliance is consistently related to successful outcomes in couple therapy. However, most of the research done on therapeutic alliance has been done among non-Latino White individuals and couples, failing to account for other ethnic minorities like Latinos. Latinos tend to share certain commonalities as opposed to non-Latino clients that may alter the relationship between alliance quality and relationship quality. This exploratory study was designed to understand whether Latino clients have higher initial levels of alliance and a stronger alliance-outcome relationship in couple therapy when compared to non-Latino White couples. The sample consisted of 567 couples seeking therapy …

From Waste To Energy: The Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 Using Recycled Nanostructured Catalysts, Ibrahim Badawy

Theses and Dissertations

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) using electrochemistry is a promising solution for the burgeoning global energy crisis. The overall vision of its implementation relies on renewable energy sources to power the reaction creating carbon neutral products and effectively closing the carbon cycle. Research in this field has come a long way since its inception in the mid-1900s. However, there remain significant hurdles and important considerations to overcome in order to reach full commercialization. Most electrocatalysts tested for CO₂RR have been designed solely for maximum performance while ignoring the environmental consequences if such a material were …

Tunable Sns-Imine Ligated Complexes Of Copper And Nickel: Apllication In Photocatalytic Water Remediation, Temitayo Oluwayinka Falola

Theses and Dissertations

Water is an essential natural resource for life; its importance cuts across most of humanity’s needs. However, the growing need for industrialization with the subsequent discharge of effluents has led to an urgent need to remove pollutants found in all bodies of water. These polluted waters are a danger to the Earth’s ecosystems. Therefore, meeting and maintaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 6, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” is important. To this end, we synthesized a series of imine-ligated nickel and copper catalysts for use in the photocatalytic remediation of water containing …

Investigating The Longitudinal Relationship Between Social Motivation And Depression In Autistic Adults, Robyn H. Himelstein

Theses and Dissertations

Autism affects individuals across the lifespan, yet there tends to be limited research and services for autistic adults. This is especially concerning given that autistic adults have high mental health needs, with depression being one of the most common and clinically significant co-occurring conditions. We explored the longitudinal relationships between social motivation, social access (i.e., having opportunities for meaningful social interactions), loneliness, and depression in N=303 autistic adults ages 18-65. Participants completed online surveys about social behavior and wellbeing three times over 3–4 months. We hypothesized that an interaction between higher social motivation and lower social access at Time 1 …

Impact Of High School Career And Technical Education On Graduation Rates, Outcomes, And The Skills Gap In The Midwestern United States, Amy Tague

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between high school graduation requirements, electives, and career and technical education (CTE) requirements in the Midwestern United States. Data on overall high school graduation rates, high school CTE-concentrator graduation rates, and post-high school graduation workforce postsecondary enrollment rates were analyzed for several Midwestern states. The findings indicate variability in the number of electives allowed across these states, with some states showing a positive correlation between higher elective allowance and CTE concentrator graduation rates. Post-high school graduation workforce entry rates varied among these states, with Illinois exhibiting the highest rate above the national average. However, the …

The Effects Of Ketones On Brain Metabolism And Cognition, Erin Reiko Saito

Theses and Dissertations

The brain is one of the most energetically demanding organs within the human body and is cognitively susceptible to energetic deficits such that the rise in obesity, insulin resistance, and Alzheimer’s disease in recent decades pose a substantial threat to cognitive longevity. The therapeutic efficacy of ketones are well-established in epilepsy and are currently being applied to other disease states. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by impairments in brain glucose uptake and metabolism in regions relevant to learning, memory, and cognition that progress with the disease. While brain glucose uptake is impaired, ketone uptake is unaltered, potentially enabling ketones to fuel …

Relationships Between Running Biomechanics And Femoral Articular Cartilage Thickness And Composition In Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Patients, Hyunwook Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have demonstrated morphological and compositional changes in femoral articular cartilage. However, it is unclear how running biomechanics are associated with femoral cartilage thickness and composition for both ACLR patients and controls. Objectives: (1) to compare measures of femoral cartilage thickness and composition between ACLR patients and matched non-ACLR controls at resting, (2) to investigate how 30 minutes of running influences the aforementioned measures for ACLR patients and controls, and (3) to investigate relationships between running biomechanics and knee cartilage thickness and composition in ACLR patients and controls. Methods: Twenty ACLR patients (age: …

Individualized Therapeutic Composition As A Method Of Improving Sleep Quality In College Students, Nicholas Lanz

Theses and Dissertations

The life of a college student is often bombarded with circumstances, emotions, and decisions that produce stress and anxiety, affecting sleep quality and daily function. Listening to music designed for relaxation has the potential to decrease stress and improve factors of healthy sleep quality. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of listening to music uniquely composed for each individual on stress relief and sleep quality in college students. The music therapy intervention utilized in this study was individual composition sessions. The researcher met with each participant individually to compose an instrumental piece of music that was …

The Historical Evolution Of State Capacity And Its Effect On Democratization: A Case Study Of Egypt, Ashley Elizabeth Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Why are some states able to democratize while others are not? This thesis examines the connection between state capacity and democratization utilizing a case study of Egypt and a controlled comparison with Tunisia. Via process tracing, I determine that Egypt has a deeply institutionalized, strong coercive state capacity and a weak administrative capacity. These iterations of state capacity developed during Egyptian state formation from 1805-1840 and were further institutionalized at two critical junctures: early British occupation from 1883-1907, and Nasser’s presidency from 1952-1967. Path dependency makes successful democratization unlikely because of the significant legacy left in Egypt during these critical …

You Ca N’T Police Your Way Out Of These Problems: Disregarding The Structural Components Of Community Problems, Kian Spencer Gaines

Theses and Dissertations

Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) emerged in response to longstanding criticisms revolving around police accountability and effectiveness. It emphasizes civilian participation in crime-prevention and problem-solving efforts to build trust between the police and minoritized communities with whom they have had an antagonistic relationship. Traditional policing is reactive in nature, with officers acting only after crime has been committed or a call for service has been made; it enforces the law; “legitimizes” use of violence; and emulates military structure and tactics. In this study I describe it as “enforcement” or “crime-fighting policing.” COPS programs are embedded within this structure. Unlike traditional policing, …

Investigating The Antibiotic Potentiating Effects Of A Novel Reactive Oxidant Species-Generating Antimicrobial., Gracious Yoofi Boafo Donkor

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the rise in antimicrobic resistance and the decline in antibiotic discovery, drug development has expanded into alternative antimicrobial compounds, such as silver. Silver-containing compounds have emerged as a promising alternative due to their multi-specific effects on inhibiting bacterial growth. Our work focuses on the antimicrobial effects of AGXX, a novel antimicrobial which has been shown to exert its broad-spectrum effects through the production of highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although preliminary studies have demonstrated the potency of AGXX in gram-positive pathogens, its effects on gram-negative pathogens remain largely unknown. The goal of my thesis was to examine …

The Use Of Functional Assessment To Promote Maintenance And Institutionalization Of A Performance Management Intervention For Behavior Technicians, Daniel John Cymbal

Theses and Dissertations

In Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), any intervention is judged by its immediate effects, the long-term impact on the targeted performance, and the likelihood that the organization and/or its constituents will adopt the intervention (Sigurdsson & Austin, 2006). However, maintenance and adoption of procedures is rarely measured (Redmon, 1991). A core tenant of behavior analysis is the role of environmental stimuli in maintaining behavior, but most tactics to promote durability are not examined in this fashion (e.g., Conard et al., 2016; Johnston, 1979). A logical, but under investigated, avenue is to examine the role of functional assessment in producing durable change. …

Magnetic Softness Tuned Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles For Highly Efficient Cancer Theranostics, Jie Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided magnetic nanofluid hyperthermia (MNFH) using iron oxide based superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPNPs) has recently attracted considerable attention as a treatment modality for cancer theranostics, because MRI-guided MNFH can allow for diagnosis, therapeutics, and prognosis simultaneously using the same administrated magnetic nanofluid agent. However, several primary limiting factors: (1) insufficient AC magnetic heating induction (specific loss power/intrinsic loss power, SLP/ILP) at the biologically safe and physically tolerable range of AC magnetic field (H_AC,safe: f_appl × H_appl < 3.0 ~ 5.0×10⁹ A·m^-1·s^-1), (2) low _r2- relaxivity directly related to the low resolution of …

An Exploration Of Racial Trauma And Protective Factors In Black Youth, Daria Chantal Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Black students’ experiences in school can vary due to racism and discrimination within and outside of the classroom, which can impact their academic progress and overall well-being. In this three-part study, the impact of discrimination is observed to determine if there is a long-term effect of these situations and, if so, determine if there is utility to implement school-based resources to decrease these negative effects. The first study examined whether ethnic-racial socialization in childhood could moderate against symptoms of trauma in young adulthood that were potentially caused by discrimination from peers and teachers in childhood through hierarchical regressions. The second …

Exploration Of The Association Between Obesogenic Environments And Childhood Overweight/Obesity Rates In Rural Counties In The United States, Kara Lea Ferguson Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Rising obesity rates, particularly among children, pose a significant public health concern. Of particular concern is the prevalence of childhood obesity in rural communities, with up to 38% of rural children classified as overweight or obese, compared to 30% of urban children. Rural communities often lack the typical built environment characteristics associated with increased physical activity rates and healthy eating behaviors. Further, research on obesogenic environments within rural areas is limited. This study aimed to address this research gap by examining the association between obesogenic environment features and childhood overweight/obesity rates across the urban-rural continuum.

Simple and multiple linear regression …

Cardiac Imaging In Mice With Micro-Computed Tomography: An Assessment, Kyle Porter Stegmann

Theses and Dissertations

While echocardiography continues to be a renowned imaging approach to study LV function and geometry in mice, contrast enhanced micro-CT has recently gained popularity because of the high-resolution three-dimensional images produced. However, comparative analyses between echocardiography and micro-CT are limited and conflicting. Therefore, to demonstrate the validity of micro-CT against echocardiography, this study aimed to compare identical measurements of LV function and geometry in wildtype and genetically modified mice in which confounding parameters such as time and anesthetic conditions were taken into consideration. Globally deleted FAP knockout mice (n=12) and age-matched wild type mice (n=14) were included in this study. …

Laboratory Management Models In Core Facilities, Karmen Michael Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Core biotechnology facilities are often defined as laboratories that house shared resources for research. These laboratories are of great importance to research communities because a large portion of scientific research data is generated at these facilities. Different investigators can use core facilities to help further their research. In a university setting, there are several management strategies from small cores that house a specific type of instrument, to large cores that house many different technologies. Funding strategies also differ significantly, from those that are funded by a small group of well-funded investigators, to cores managed by a specific department or school, …

Shakespeare In Virtual Reality: Social Presence Of Students In A Virtual Reality Book Club, John Funchess Ott Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to implement and evaluate the impact of a virtual reality book club on the social presence of students. This research examined participants using virtual reality headsets to study the works of William Shakespeare. This study examined two research questions: 1) How does the implementation of a virtual reality technological innovation affect students’ knowledge of Shakespearean works? 2) How does the implementation of a virtual reality technological innovation affect social presence in students? Participants interacted within virtual worlds with one another and the researcher. Data was collected using a pre-post assessment test, writing …

Parent Facilitation Of Child Emotion Regulation In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aimee K. Rovane

Theses and Dissertations

Parents play a substantial role in their children's emotional regulation (ER) abilities, promoting both adaptive and maladaptive development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties regulating their emotions, manifesting in externalizing behavioral issues (Mazefsky & White 2014). Though there are many similarities to parents of typically developing (TD) children, parents of children with ASD facilitate their children's ER development (i.e., emotion socialization) in response to unique challenges, often developing resiliency but other times contributing to their children’s dysregulation and behavioral challenges. Using Morris et al.'s (2007) Tripartite Model of Family Impact of Children's Emotion Regulation and Adjustment as …