Digital Commons Network^™

Street Outreach And Reentry: The Role Of Community Violence Intervention In The Reintegration Of Returning Citizens, Hilary Jackl

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Amidst ongoing efforts to reduce the nation’s prison population, as well as calls to defund the police and invest in civilianized public safety strategies following the murder of George Floyd, community-based violence intervention (CVI) strategies have been increasingly recognized as a critical means by which to ameliorate the United States’ enduring gun violence problem without exacerbating the harms of overpolicing and mass incarceration. However, most contemporary CVI research has assessed program impacts on neighborhood rates of gun violence and has produced conflicting findings, leading scholars to call for the need to examine a wider range of program-related functions and outcomes. …

Nat10 Stabilizes Immune Response Factors Aiding With Cellular Immune Response To Zika Virus Infection, Shawn Gianola

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Zika virus (ZIKV) remains a significant public health concern due to major gaps in our understanding of its infection mechanisms and immune evasion strategies. Despite its link to severe complications such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), no vaccine or targeted antiviral therapies exist. Compounding this concern is the expanding habitat of ZIKV-carrying mosquito vectors, driven by climate change, which increases the risk of future outbreaks in previously unaffected regions.

One promising area of investigation involves post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) chemical alterations to RNA that influence its stability, translation, and function. Although over 170 PTMs have been identified, their roles remain …

Author-Centered Approaches In Ela Instruction: A Multiple Case Study Of Secondary English Teachers, Jennifer M. Lockhart Mchugh

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Literary authors are often neglected in secondary ELA (English Language Arts) literary instruction. Teachers are unsure how to teach about the author and how much time to spend on establishing the context for the text when the goal is to “cover” a variety of literary texts as part of a planned curriculum during the school year. Acknowledging the role of authors’ intentions as well as their experiences and aesthetic decisions in the production of literature may provide new entry points into literary texts for students. This multiple-case study of secondary English teachers and their high school students in a “bounded …

Determining Essential Regulatory Factors In Extravillous-Trophoblast Differentiation And Splice Variants Associated With The Development Of Preeclampsia, Brandt Hugh Beck

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Preeclampsia is a common condition affecting mothers across the world. Rates for preeclampsia have been rising in the past years due to factors such as obesity and diabetes. Since this condition has been more prevalent, a better understanding of the factors surrounding the preeclamptic state are needed. Core cell types and biological functions of placenta development are known but the cause behind the preeclamptic environment is not well understood. This research aims to investigate the potential causes behind preeclampsia by first reviewing Extravillous-Trophoblast differentiation factors in the context of differential gene expression and alternative splicing then evaluate towards preeclamptic tissue. …

Analysis Of Cytokine Data In A Case-Control Study Of Me/Cfs, Navya Amaratunga

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study investigated the role of cytokines in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a debilitating multi-system disease with unknown etiology. Using data from a case-control study (60 cases, 61 controls) previously collected by Dr. Roxana Moslehi’s lab, serum levels of 48 cytokines were analyzed. Statistical analyses, including T-tests, Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests, and logistic regression (unadjusted and adjusted for medication use), were performed to identify differences between cases and controls.

Results revealed a statistically significant difference in mean Fractalkine levels between cases and controls (p=0.031). Borderline significant differences were also observed for IL-6 (p=0.046) and MIP-1α (p=0.046). Unadjusted logistic regression …

The Association Of Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) With Cancer Risk: An Updated Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Case-Control Studies (2013-2024), Hajar Heidari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract:

Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. Among these, the metabolism of homocysteine (HCY), a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from dietary methionine, has attracted growing attention due to its involvement in one-carbon metabolism and its potential link to cancer. Elevated HCY levels, a condition known as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY), have been shown to disrupt crucial cellular processes such as DNA methylation and promote oxidative stress (OS)—both of which contribute to genomic instability and cancer progression. Disruptions in the folate and methionine cycles, …

The Effects Of Mindfulness On Chronic Pain In Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Sophie Parks

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions have become increasingly popular in recent years. Typically, mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on mental health and/or adult populations have been explored in the literature. Limited research has been completed looking at mindfulness’ impacts on other facets, including chronic pain symptoms. Additionally, some research has been conducted to analyze mindfulness and its effects on school aged children and their day-to-day functioning with promising results. In this systematic literature review, mindfulness interventions and their effects on children and adolescents who experience chronic pain were explored. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was …

Characterization Of Adaptive Quorum Sensing In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Kayla Simanek

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is highly antibiotic resistant and causes tens of thousands of infections each year. It persists in hospitals by forming biofilms on medical equipment like ventilators and catheters, making it difficult to eradicate. Biofilm formation, among other virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, is regulated through quorum sensing, a mechanism of bacterial communication. Quorum sensing is primarily coordinated through LuxI-R type systems comprised of an autoinducer synthase and receptor, respectively. Canonically, the first system to be expressed is LasI-R, and LasR upregulates the second arm of the quorum sensing network, the RhlI-R system. Research …

Weaving A Tapestry Of Community Based Child Trafficking Interventions In High-Trafficking Incidence Areas In Ghana, Crispin Mbamba

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: This dissertation addresses the urgent issue of child trafficking in high-incidence areas of Ghana, where sociocultural, economic, and structural factors sustain and exacerbate this complex social challenge. The rationale for the study is grounded in the need for a holistic understanding of child trafficking beyond traditional justice-based approaches. The research emphasizes the necessity of community-led interventions informed by local cultural norms and protective values that have been largely unexplored in the Ghanaian context. Specifically, this dissertation applies an integrative approach, rooted in the Ubuntu philosophy, to explore community interdependence as a central component of sustainable anti-trafficking interventions.

Methods: …

Effects Of Actualized Language Policy On Ukrainian Stability, 1989-2022, Dawn Hersey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation seeks to generate a new perspective of the complicated relationship between actualized policy and stability through looking at Ukraine’s language policies and stability in a mixed manner approach that includes both primary and secondary sources. Russia justified its irridentist activities through claiming to protect Russian nationals within Ukraine’s borders: language policies within Ukraine appear to be a trigger for Russian antagonism. Neither Russian irridentism nor Ukrainian nationalism are being considered as right or wrong in this dissertation: the intent is to highlight trends, patterns, and perceptions in alignment with Ukrainian language policy. This dissertation does not present a …

The Dynamics Of Mystical Experiences: Interaction Effects And Distinct Contributions Of Meq-30 Factors, Genevieve Falabella

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Many participants in clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) report mystical experiences. Researchers often use the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) to measure mystical experiences. Several studies have validated a four-factor structure of the MEQ-30, but only as a subset of items within broader versions of the scale (e.g., MEQ-43). As such, the factor structure of the standalone MEQ-30 remains unvalidated in English. Additionally, some data suggest that certain factors might be more strongly associated with psychedelic-associated outcomes than others, which could provide insight to enhance the therapeutic potential of PAT. The aim of this study was to examine the …

On The Application Of The Diaconis-Holmes-Neal Sampler To Unimodal Underlying Probabilities, Christopher J. Lange

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Upon the introduction of the Metropolis et. al (1953) [6] algorithm, the question of how many steps in the Markov chain were needed to achieve convergence to stationarity became apparent. Eventually it was found that the convergence was rather slow, i.e. for a process on n states the number of steps needed to achieve convergence to stationarity was found to be on the order of n². [8]

The obvious problem with Metropolis et. al (1953) is that the Markov chain is reversible. [6] In other words, for any state j we can move from j to j + …

Advancing 4h-Silicon Carbide Power Device Technology Through Improved Device Design, Performance And Reliability, Stephen A. Mancini

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The work presented in this document focuses on advancing the overall design, performance, and reliability of 4H-SiC power devices through various design architectures and processing strategies. Power devices serve as an efficient way to control the flow of power and thus are utilized throughout a vast number of different systems. These systems accommodate various current and voltage ratings to support applications such as personal electronics, electric vehicle components, fast chargers, renewable energy solutions, and energy storage systems. As the demand for these applications grows alongside global electrification and sustainability efforts, minimizing power losses becomes increasingly important. Therefore, developing efficient and …

Epitaxial Quantum Dot Scintillators With Monolithic Photodetector Integration: Physics, Fabrication And Characterization Of Materials And Devices, Allan Oreave Minns

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation discloses the physics, fabrication, and characterization of high-performance scintillator detectors based on epitaxial InAs quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs. The detector crystals grown include monolithically integrated In_0.35GaAs photodetectors with Al_0.92-0.6In_0.03-0.35Ga_0.05As metamorphic buffer layers (MBL). A device fabrication process was developed for the lithographic patterning, chemical etching, contact metallization and readout integration of materials grown by means of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on 3-inch GaAs (001) wafers. Low capacitance integration with readout electronics was achieved through wire bonds to custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) with commercial components.

The relationship between device …

Relational Mechanisms In Residential Eating Disorder Treatment: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Bethany Ah Crawford

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background. Eating Disorders (ED), previously described as a “disease of disconnection,” appear to have differing trajectories of treatment and behavior change based, in part, on feelings of connectedness to others during and outside of treatment. Patient experience of Relational Connectedness is not well-explored in ED treatment compared to other diagnoses but may be a valuable mechanism of change. Interpersonal problems are also known to impact outcome trajectories. Patients high in interpersonal and relational difficulties exhibit negative compensatory behaviors such as avoidance and hostility, which can deleteriously affect building a trusting relationship. Individual difference variables likely play a role in relationship-outcome …

Risk Factors For Executive Functioning Development In Preschool Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Victoria L. Ledsham

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Links between Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and decreased cognitive functioning in children are well documented, but research on executive functioning (EF) in this population is more limited. Multiple T1D-related risk factors (e.g., hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glycemic variability, diabetic ketoacidosis) for EF have been established throughout the literature, but their individual effects have been difficult to determine given their interrelated nature. In result, cumulative risk has been proposed as a more robust predictor of EF differences in children with T1D. Moreover, despite the importance of early T1D onset as a risk factor for EF impairment, no studies have previously investigated EF in …

Transcriptome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis Of Skeletal Muscles Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mouse Models And Patients, Olivia N. Ransiear

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive muscle degenerative disease that frequently proves fatal by age 30. It primarily affects adolescent males with symptoms appearing as early as age 6. Patients quickly lose their ability to walk due to muscle weakness and are confined to wheelchairs for the remainder of their lives. DMD is caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Without dystrophin, mechanical stress, injury, or shock takes a drastic toll on muscle tissue and muscle stem cells, rendering them unable to regenerate or be repaired. This results in a rapid loss of muscular strength and muscle …

Fast Times At Buckley High: The Assault On 1980s Nostalgia In Bret Easton Ellis’S The Shards, M. Keith Booker

English Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bret Easton Ellis, in novels such as Less Than Zero (1985) and American Psycho (1991), has vividly chronicled some of the darkest aspects of American society in the 1980s. It is thus no surprise that his return to writing about the 1980s in The Shards (2023), published amid a wave of nostalgia for the 1980s in American culture, goes strongly against that wave. The novel is set in the fall of 1981, when its narrator/protagonist—one “Bret Ellis”—is a high school senior in Los Angeles. This character (presumably a younger version of the author) goes out of his way to present …

Is The Light Triad Really That Light?: The Light Triad's Role In Relationship Savior Complex, Skylar Robinson, Gary Lewandowski

Modern Psychological Studies

Light triad traits, such as optimism, empathy, and compassion, are theorized to be three main components of a prosocial and compassionate orientation. However, in romantic relationships, those qualities may encourage a “savior complex” in which one partner attempts to help, fix, or change their partner’s less ideal components. To study this, 106 participants ranging in age from 18 to 24 years old were surveyed about their light triad traits, helping/savior complex behavior, confidence as a romantic partner (i.e., self-efficacy), closeness with their partner (i.e., inclusion of other in the self), and perceived responsiveness toward their partner. As hypothesized, those who …

More Than An Athlete: Exploring Mental Health Concerns Among Student-Athletes, Callista Rochon-Baker, Hillary Wehe

Modern Psychological Studies

Within the United States, student-athletes experience the psychological and physiological effects of collegiate sports; however, student-athletes may not feel comfortable accessing mental health care resources or there may be inadequate resources available. This study sought to assess personal and environmental deterrents to the well-being and athletic performance of collegiate athletes. Through a series of qualitative interviews with 11 student-athletes from a small, Midwestern university, researchers investigated mental health stigmas in athletics, barriers to psychological resources, and the necessity for sports psychology interventions on-campus. The interview questions focused on student athletes’ level of perceived mental health support from campus and coaches. …

Pacific Islander Mental Health: A Literature Review, Shawn I. Dobberfuhl

Modern Psychological Studies

Mental health among Pacific Islanders remains an underexplored area in research. This review aims to synthesize existing research on the mental health status of Pacific Islanders, focusing on mental health risk factors and mental health service utilization. A systematic search across APA PsychInfo spanning from 2015 to 2024 yielded 11 relevant articles, which were subsequently analyzed and synthesized. Findings suggest that Pacific Islanders experience unique stressors, including, racial discrimination, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural stigma surrounding mental health. However, there is a disparity in culturally sensitive assessment tools and interventions tailored specifically to this population. Future research should prioritize phenomenological methods, …

Is My Parent Narcissistic? Retrospective Perceptions Of The Adult Child On Their Parent’S Narcissistic Tendencies, Amy Palumbo, Ashley Hansen-Brown Dr.

Modern Psychological Studies

Narcissism development in children has been a widely studied subject; however, little research has examined parental narcissism. Previous researchers found that parental narcissism is related to non-ideal parent-child bonds, which often results in parents having low senses of well-being and satisfaction with their bond (Hart et al., 2017; Horton, 2021). For each of our studies, we explored how aspects of an individual’s growth and development are linked with parental narcissism as recalled by adult children. In Study 1, we investigated the link between both recalled grandiose and vulnerable parental narcissism and the mental well-being and self-esteem of our participants. In …

Study Of The Relationship Between Interoceptive Sensibility And Distress Tolerance In Community And College Samples, William W. Moore, Ashley Howell

Modern Psychological Studies

Interoceptive sensibility involves the detection, integration, and interpretation of internal bodily signals, primarily from cardiovascular, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal systems. Dysfunction in interoceptive processing has been increasingly recognized as a clinically relevant factor in numerous neurological, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and distress tolerance, hypothesizing that individuals with heightened interoceptive sensibility may report poorer distress tolerance. This relationship could help identify patterns between interoceptive sensibility and tendencies toward maladaptive coping strategies or emotional dysregulation. To explore these relationships, two studies were conducted utilizing self-report measures of interoceptive sensibility and distress tolerance in …

Born To Be Kind: The Evolutionary Significance Of Prosocial Behaviors In Humans, Yijia Xu

Modern Psychological Studies

Humans prefer kind romantic partners. Worldwide surveys have identified kindness as the defining feature of an ideal long-term partner, often explained as a signal for evolutionary fitness, demonstrating the ability to provide resources and ensure survival. Instead, we propose an alternative explanation: human preference for prosociality stems from an innate desire to be treated well. To test this, we asked participants whether they preferred kindness directed towards them or kindness exhibited more generally. Results indicate that participants were significantly more attracted to people who were kind to them personally than to people who were broadly kind to others. Interestingly, participants …

Escapism: The Presence Of Escapist Tendencies In Depressed Gamers, Hannah K. Weberg, Emily Pica

Modern Psychological Studies

Escapism, a coping mechanism used to relieve stress, uniquely characterized by removing one’s conscious self from reality, can be utilized by video gamers with depression to escape from their own realities. The implications of this phenomenon could allow researchers to better understand how escapism affects this community. It was predicted that there would be a positive relationship between escapist gaming motivations and depressive symptoms. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative survey methods drawing from undergraduate students at Austin Peay State University (n = 113) and correlational analyses, our hypotheses were supported. A significant positive relationship was found between escapist …

The Influence Of Media Exposure On Perceptions Of Police, Izabella Leblanc, Emily Pica

Modern Psychological Studies

The current literature suggests that People of Color (POC) often hold more negative perceptions of law enforcement compared to White individuals. These perceptions are influenced by various factors, including environment, exposure to media depictions of police brutality, and personal experiences. Since flawed portrayals of police procedures in television programs have been found to erode public trust in police legitimacy, the study analyzes how perceptions change through media portrayals of law enforcement interactions. We investigate how the media influences perceptions of law enforcement by presenting participants (n = 245) with mock news articles depicting various law enforcement interactions. Additionally, we consider …

Pathways To Lgbtq+ Self-Acceptance: A Qualitative Study Of Religious, Spiritual, And Mystical Experiences, Makayla Hall, Ruth Walker

Modern Psychological Studies

For the LGBTQ+ community, self-acceptance often involves embracing one’s identity while confronting internalized stigma, hardships, and religious or societal pressures (Lassiter et al., 2019; Schuck & Liddle, 2001; Stern & Wright, 2017). Prior researchers have highlighted both positive and negative effects of religious and spiritual beliefs for LGBTQ+ individuals, with spirituality often fostering resilience and social support (Lassiter et al., 2019) and religious institutions sometimes contributing to feelings of alienation (Schuck & Liddle, 2001). The purpose of this study was to explore how religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences influence self-acceptance in LGBTQ+ adults. We used reflexive thematic analysis to explore …

Patriarch Kirill Of Moscow And All Russia: A True Patriarch Or A False One, A Senior Cleric Or A Senior Politician Of The Russian Federation? The Russian Patriarch And The War In Ukraine, Dilyan Nikolchev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper focuses on the behavior of the current Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) in the context of the Russia’s military aggression against sovereign Ukraine – a religious leader who fully supports the war policy of the Kremlin. The pro-war and pro-Putin views and messages of Patriarch Kirill proved him in the eyes of the Orthodox world more as a false Patriarch and a politician than as the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. To a large extent, the Russian political narratives and ideology of the “Russian Peace” and “Holy Rus” doctrine are a product of the senior leadership of …

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 …

Liner Notes On Black Trans Girlhood: Afrofuturist Affect & Black Popular Music As A Praxis Of Self-Fashioning, Shawn J. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Liner Notes on Black Trans Girlhood: Afrofuturist Affect & Black Popular Music as a Praxis of Self-Fashioning interprets Black musical performance in identity-making, with a focus on how music and Black trans identity intersect and informs Black trans girlhood. As such, Black trans girls render ourselves legible, i.e. understood without shame or judgment, by constructing our identities through the music by Black women we listen and dance to, or watch and sing. These musical connections affirm the possibilities of Black femme expression. This expression of Black femininity is due to what I call an Afrofuturist affect, by which I refer …