Digital Commons Network^™

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adolescents’ Sense Of Self Outcomes: The Moderating Role Of Student-Teacher Relationships, Meredith Spraggon

Theses and Dissertations

This study delves into the intricate interplay between adverse childhood experiences (ACES), sense of self outcomes, and student-teacher relationships (STR). Utilizing a sample of 271 undergraduate students from a Mid-Western state, the research investigates the associations between ACES, self-esteem, social self-efficacy, and the role of STR as potential buffers against adverse outcomes. The findings revealed a high prevalence of reported ACES among participants, emphasizing the urgency to understand mitigating factors such as teacher relationships. Consistent with existing literature, ACES exhibited negative correlations with both self-esteem and social self-efficacy, underlining their detrimental impact on psychological well-being. Additionally, the study unveils a …

Applying Mathematical Modeling To The Study Of Family Systems, Dahlia Maxwell

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematical modeling provides a powerful framework for insight into current scientific theories as well as hypothesis generation for further research. Despite its undeniable potential to enrich scientific advancement, the application of mathematical modeling remains conspicuously scarce in the field of family science. The complexity inherent in family dynamics, coupled with the intricate interplay of emotions in the individual, underscores the necessity of a robust analytical approach. Addressing this critical gap in the literature, this thesis introduces a sophisticated mathematical model of family dynamics integrating essential elements from family systems theory, emotion dynamics, and appraisal theory. The model is implemented as …

Advancing Single-Cell Proteomics Through Innovations In Liquid Chromatography And Mass Spectrometry, Kei Grant Isaac Webber

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional proteomics studies can measure many protein biomarkers simultaneously from a single patient-derived sample, promising the possibility of syndromic diagnoses of multiple diseases sharing common symptoms. However, precious cellular-level information is lost in conventional bulk-scale studies that measure tissues comprising many types of cells. As single cells are the building blocks of organisms and are easier to biopsy than traditional bulk samples, performing proteomics on a single-cell level would benefit clinicians and patients. Single-cell proteomics, combined with mass spectrometry imaging, can be used to analyze cells in their microenvironment, preserving spatial information. We have previously used laser-capture microdissection to isolate …

Mechanistic Empirical Design Of Flexible Pavements For Biopolymer Treated Soils, Vishweshwaran M

Theses and Dissertations

Cognizing the contamination effects of chemical soil modifiers on soil and groundwater, the assessment of the ability of biopolymers to improve the engineering properties of soils has gained attention in the last decade. As a soil additive, biopolymers have the potential to solve the trilemma of sustainability, price and soil suitability. Two polysaccharides and two protein biopolymers have been adopted in this study to enhance the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soils.

Design thickness catalogues were developed for a three-layered flexible pavement using 3D finite element analysis (FEA) and layered elastic analysis. The catalogue aims to provide structurally reliable thickness values …

A Community Centered Culturally Responsive Evaluation Of Our Behavioral Health Team Using Program Theory, Debra Ann Fritz-Fanning

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to conduct a culturally responsive evaluation of our behavioral health team using program theory. This team consists of both school-based employees and community partners. The goal of this project was to evaluate our current behavioral health team practices to determine if we are improving the mental health of students at our school by intentionally connecting them with services. Program theory was used to design the evaluation, and members of the team engaged in six focus groups to create and evaluate the program. The team evaluated three areas of our work: organizational structures, resources, and …

O-Alkylated Carbinolamides: Mechanistic Imperatives For A Motif Lacking Labile Protons, Thomas Christopher Arndt

Theses and Dissertations

Synthesis and mechanistic studies of the breakdown of aromatic substituted N-(α-alkoxybenzyl)amide compounds as a function of pH will be performed to gain an understanding of the unique reactivity of the biologically important O-alkyl carbinolamide functionality.

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 …

Examining The Perception Of Fresh Produce Growers On Agricultural Sustainability And Diversification, Randy Ackah

Theses and Dissertations

To meet the increasing food demand of a growing population, adopting sustainable practices should be considered a need rather than a preference. Despite the economic benefits of agricultural production, some activities performed have been identified to have detrimental effects, especially on the environment. Most of the environmental impact of agriculture usually stems from the management practices and input materials used. One way of ensuring sustainable agriculture has been identified to be agricultural diversification. Available evidence indicates that horticultural crops such as fruits and vegetables play an important role in agricultural diversification. For the fruit and vegetable industry to achieve its …

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 …

Development Of 3d Printed Anatomically Equivalent Thermoplastic Polyurethane Conduits For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Allen Zennifer M

Theses and Dissertations

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging tool for creating patient-specific tissue constructs analogous to the native tissue microarchitecture. In this study, anatomically equivalent 3D nerve conduits were developed using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by combining reverse engineering and material extrusion (i.e., fused deposition modelling) technique.

Printing parameters were optimized to fabricate nerve-equivalent TPU constructs. The TPU constructs printed with different infill densities supported the adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression of neuronal cells. Subcutaneous implantation of the TPU constructs for three months in rats showed neovascularization with negligible local tissue inflammatory reactions and was classified as a non-irritant biomaterial as per ISO …

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 …

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 …

The Impact Of Online Orientation Activities In A Blended New-Student Orientation Modality On Social Connectedness, Pamela Potoma Smalley

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning from high school to college has been a challenge for most students. The inability to make successful transitions has affected students' ability to integrate and graduate from college. Higher educational institutions look to programs such as new-student orientations to support students as they learn to navigate their new academic (and for many, new living) environments. The COVID-19 pandemic changed how new-student orientation worked as all traditional institutions switched completely to online orientation activities from completely in-person activities. As institutions emerged from the aftermath of the pandemic, they implemented blended new-student orientation modalities consisting of both online and in-person activities. …

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 …

The Influence Of Tile Flow On The Transport-Fate Of Nitrate In The Vadose Zone Of A Saturated Riparian Buffer: A Case Study At The T3 Site In Mclean County, Central Illinois, Benedicta Karl Akrofi

Theses and Dissertations

The Midwest states have highly fertile soils representing one of the world's most intense agricultural production areas. The agricultural lands in the Midwest, including Illinois, are drained using tiles to improve the soil conditions for high productivity. However, the discharge of the tile waters directly into streams short-circuits the soil’s role in nutrient cycling (plant uptake, denitrification, microbial immobilization) and contributes to elevated nitrate as nitrogen (NO3--N) concentrations in surface waters, causing algae blooms which impairs surface waters and degrade water quality. Most NO3--N exports from tile-drained watersheds in the Midwest occur from January to June, corresponding to periods of …

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 …

Decoding The Past: Evolutionary History Of North American Deer Mouse Populations On The Gulf Islands, Rachel Ann Berg

Theses and Dissertations

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is increasing the number of small and isolated organismal populations, and the long-term effects of these recent isolations are not well understood. Small populations are at increased risk of extinction thus it is essential to identify populations that have been isolated over long time periods to use as model systems to study consequences of isolation. Besides understanding genetic consequences, isolated populations may also serve as natural systems to study morphological changes in populations that have independent evolutionary trajectories. Investigating island populations may help in the discovery of long-term isolated populations that may be experiencing morphological changes as …

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, …

“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 …

No Such Thing As Nappy, Alan Roosevelt Atkins

Theses and Dissertations

This supportive statement examines how my upbringings influenced my cultural and societal perspectives and how I strive to challenge perceptions of race, history, and culture through my artwork. I include representations of people from various diasporas in drawings, prints, and animations to speak to the global reach of colorism and Eurocentrism. Influenced by the DIY nature of punk art and the urgency of protest art, I utilize materials such as Sharpies, fabric markers, collage, and cardboard. Use of cardboard suggests commercial exchange and the physical movement of goods from one place to another, as well as modern throw-away culture. Parallels …

Dragging Us Together: Exploring Media Representations Of Drag As Coalition Building And Queer Resistance In We’Re Here, Grace Elizabeth Pizzini

Theses and Dissertations

After decades of being either silenced or portrayed in a villainous perspective, LGBTQ+ individuals are beginning to see more representation on television including shows that feature drag performers. While previous shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dragula have been released for several years, We’re Here offers a new and unique approach to portrayals of drag on television by omitting the competitive aspect of the prior two shows. Analysis reveals that We’re Here highlights drag as a political tool that can both resist hegemonic standards and create community amongst participants and audience members. A critical lens reveals implications for racialized …

Who Will Save Diversity? Ethics And Effectiveness In Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion Implementation, Ebuka Okoli

Theses and Dissertations

The Supreme Court of the United States decision on race-based affirmative action policies in higher education has impacted equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) programs in higher education institutions (Gonzales, 2023; Singh, 2023; Opie & Washington, 2023). This study explores the challenges higher education institutions face when communicating and implementing EDI programs. Other studies have shown that diversity programs can be developed using ethical frameworks (van Dijk et al., 2012; Gotsis & Kortezi, 2013; Wallace et al., 2014). This study examined if ethical frameworks like deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and ethics of care are adopted in diversity programs of higher education …

Identification Of A Novel Target For Declustering Supernumerary Centrosomes In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Priyanga J

Theses and Dissertations

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) confers considerable interventional challenge owing to its massive heterogeneity, aggression and metastatic prowess. These facets are attributed to chromosomal instability (CIN), a feature consequent to TNBC cell’s ability to harbor more than two centrosomes (supernumerary centrosomes; SNCs).

In principle, if a normal cell possesses SNCs, uneven pull forces are generated consequent to multipolar spindle, which activates cellular surveillance. This ensures error-free mitosis by either repairing the error or, in an irreparable condition, driving cells to death. This averts the possibility of aneuploidy (fundamental to tumorigenesis).

Unfortunately, TNBC cells, despite harboring SNCs, have devised a survival strategy …

Preventing Orthopedic Implant Associated Biofilm Infections Using Transition Metal Complex Laminated Bioactive Implants, Sowndarya J

Theses and Dissertations

Orthopedic implants are medical devices employed to repair the damaged structure and function of an injured musculoskeletal system. It helps millions of people suffering from bone fractures and arthroplasty. The increased use of orthopedic implants has given rise to implant-associated biofilm infections. Biofilm-mediated Implant-associated osteomyelitis (IAO) is a major concern in the medical field, wherein the treatment involves debridement, administration of antibiotics and removal of implants leading to increased cost of treatment.

The keystone bacterial pathogens involved in orthopedic implant-associated infections are Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii which are members of the ESKAPE pathogens. A. baumannii has gained resistance against …

Effects Of Individual Quality On Reproduction: Investigating Double Brooding And Egg Pigmentation In House Wrens ( Troglodytes Aedon ), Lauren Marie Leischner

Theses and Dissertations

Some species produce two broods in a season to maximize reproductive success; however, in species such as the house wren (Troglodytes aedon), not all individuals produce a second brood. We completed a cross-fostering experiment and examined the effects of individual characteristics on the probability of producing a second brood using breeding records from a long-term dataset. There was little evidence that the individual traits we examined affected the production of a second brood. However, the production of a second brood was significantly repeatable, indicating that individual characteristics have a substantial effect on the likelihood of producing a second brood. Eggshell …

The Effects Of Diesel Exhaust Particle Exposure On Adipos Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Inflammation, Cali Elizabeth Warren

Theses and Dissertations

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) constitutes a significant component of ambient air pollution that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Among PM2.5 constituents, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are prevalent particulates that infiltrate the bloodstream to drive systemic pathologies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the metabolic response of adipose tissue to DEP. We aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding by exploring mitochondrial bioenergetics, characterizing the inflammatory marker profile, including adipokines, and conducting a detailed histological analysis of adipocytes to provide valuable insights to the evolving understanding of the intricate …

A Woman Alone: Aphra Behn And The Symbolic Power Of Widowhood, Gillian Kathleen Genardo

Theses and Dissertations

Seventeenth century playwright, Aphra Behn, is often considered one of theatre’s “greats,” as her plays are still widely discussed and produced. Interestingly, all contemporary scholars really know about Behn is her career, for her early life still remains a patchwork of possible theories. One such theory is that she never actually married. Instead, she may have invented a husband and faked his death in order to use the benefits of widowhood to build herself a respectable life as a “woman alone.” This research project is interested in Behn’s potential subterfuge. In what way might Aphra Behn have felt about widowhood …

Traveling Wave Fronts Of Reaction Diffusion Differential Equations With Diffusive Delay In Biological And Chemical Models, William Barker

Theses and Dissertations

Functional differential equations (FDE) incorporate past states and or rates in the modeling of physical phenomena. Unlike ordinary and even some partial differential equations there is no method to find solutions of general FDE explicitly. Therefore, in order to study solutions of FDE, iterative techniques are often employed. Reaction diffusion equations are a specific type of partial differential equations that model diffusive spread, the rate of spread of due to a reaction term of some quantity. These equations arise naturally in fields such as biology, ecology and chemistry. In terms of studying dynamics of populations, previous states and even rates …