Digital Commons Network^™

The Group-Basis Of Political Behaviour Among Minoritized Communities: The Case Of Lgbtq+ Linked Fate And Sexual And Gender Minorities, Nathan K. Chan, Gabriele Magni

Political Science and International Relations Faculty Works

LGBTQ+ individuals often display consistent political behaviour despite being internally diverse. We theorize about the importance of group-based heuristics to understand this cohesiveness by proposing the concept of LGBTQ+ linked fate. First, we argue that LGBTQ+ linked fate is stronger among privileged individuals within the LGBTQ+ community (white, cisgender, gays/lesbians) and among those whose life experiences have made their LGBTQ+ identity salient. Then, expanding on social identity theory, we posit that individuals with greater LGBTQ+ linked fate are more likely to hold group-based political attitudes and voice these preferences through electoral participation. We provide support for these claims using a …

Fatalism And Interest In Cancer Screening Among African American Individuals, Timothy J. Williamson, Mckenzie T. Reese

Psychological Science Faculty Works

African American individuals experience disproportionately high cancer mortality compared to White individuals,1 partly due to reduced access to high-quality care, including at early stages of the care continuum (eg, screening).1 These structural barriers may be perceived as beyond individuals’ control and contribute to fatalistic beliefs about cancer, shaping attitudes toward screening. Cancer fatalism is a multidimensional construct that includes cancer mortality salience (associating cancer with death) and occurrence fatalism (perceiving cancer risk as uncontrollable).2,3 Evidence linking fatalism and screening is mixed,3-5 suggesting a need to analyze its distinct components separately.3 Therefore, we used a national dataset to assess how cancer …

How Long? How Many? How Much? Evidence Of Convergent Validity Among Thin-Slice Behavioral Coding Metrics, Nora Murphy, Mollie A. Ruben, Morgan Stosic, Laetitia A. Renier, Katja Schlegel, Judith A. Hall, Marianne Schmid Mast, Brett Marroquín

Psychological Science Faculty Works

Despite the ubiquity of thin-slice coding for behavioral measurement, there exists relatively little systematic research into the convergent validity of thin-slice coding metrics for nonverbal behaviors when using human coders. This study utilized five previous datasets to measure four commonly-measured nonverbal behaviors (gaze, gestures, nods, smiles) using three different coding metrics (duration, frequency, rating) coded in 2 or 3 min slices. Convergent validity was measured by comparing a given behavior coded with at least two different metrics. Meta-analytic assessments across studies, behaviors, and metrics indicated strong convergent validity for various metrics for each behavior. Results provide confidence to researchers on …

Patient-Clinician Discussions On Lung Cancer Screening In The United States Before And After 2021 Guidelines, Timothy J. Williamson Phd, Mph, Whitney M. Brymwitt Ma, Mckenzie T. Reese, Erin A. Hirsch, Lisa Carter-Bawa

Psychological Science Faculty Works

Background Screening for lung cancer via low-dose computed tomography of the chest can promote early detection and reduce mortality. However, since the United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) issued lung cancer screening guidelines in 2013, uptake has been low. The USPSTF revised the guidelines in 2021 to expand eligibility. Purpose To determine whether patient-clinician discussions about lung cancer screening differs from 2017 to 2022 following 2021 revisions to the guidelines for lung cancer screening. Methods Data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey (2017, 2020, and 2022). Community-dwelling US adults (N = 2973) were in the eligible …

The Longitudinal Effects Of Parent–Adolescent Digital Communication On Depression And Anxiety Symptoms, Bradley M. Trager Ph.D., Layla M. Rainosek, Ina M. Koning Ph.D., Suzanne M. Geurts Ph.D., Regina Jjm Van Den Eijden Ph.D., Helen Gm Vossen Ph.D.

Psychological Science Faculty Works

Purpose: Digital communication between parents and adolescents is prevalent. This study explored the overall frequency of digital communication and frequency of exchanging specific content between parents and adolescents as predictors of adolescents' depression and anxiety symptoms. Methods: Participants were 188 mother–adolescent and 137 father–adolescent dyads from the Netherlands. Parents (mothers/fathers: Mage = 46.17 of 48.55) and adolescents (Mage = 13.88) each completed 2 surveys 1 year apart. Results: Results from the study suggest that the nature of the digital communication content rather than its overall frequency plays a crucial role in adolescents' mental health outcomes. Sharing personal experiences with mothers …

Bone Mineral Density In Female Runners, Swimmers, And Water Polo Athletes: Comparisons Across Sports With Different Impacts, Elizabeth M. Krauss, Kayla Stuckenberg, Hawley C. Almstedt

Health and Human Sciences Faculty Works

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a measure of bone health which reflects risk for osteoporosis. Different types of exercise induce divergent impact on the skeleton influencing accrual of BMD. Previous research reported that female collegiate athletes in aquatic sports had lower BMD than other athletes and controls. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to conduct a modern comparison of BMD of athletes in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing sports with normally active controls. METHODS: Height, weight, and calcium intake was assessed in collegiate females (20.0 ± 1.3 years); 39 runners, 9 swimmers, 16 water polo players, and 24 controls. BMD and …

Multitec: A Data-Driven Multimodal Short Video Detection Framework For Healthcare Misinformation On Tiktok, Lanyu Shang, Yang Zhang, Yawen Deng, Dong Wang

Computer Science Faculty Works

With the prevalence of social media and short video sharing platforms (e.g., TikTok, YouTube Shorts), the proliferation of healthcare misinformation has become a widespread and concerning issue that threatens public health and undermines trust in mass media. This paper focuses on an important problem of detecting multimodal healthcare misinformation in short videos on TikTok. Our objective is to accurately identify misleading healthcare information that is jointly conveyed by the visual, audio, and textual content within the TikTok short videos. Three critical challenges exist in solving our problem: i) how to effectively extract information from distractive and manipulated visual content in …

Negotiating Power Relationships In Interprofessional Health Care Groups, Allison L. Noyes

Communication Studies Faculty Works

This chapter examines the communication challenges associated with the hierarchical structure of power relationships among the health professions. It is commonly believed that balancing power relationships is crucial for successful interprofessional collaboration in providing patient care, but because hierarchy is deeply embedded in healthcare organizations, balancing power among health professionals may be an unrealistic ideal. This chapter therefore reframes thinking about professional hierarchy-from a monolithic absolute to a flexible and negotiable social order that can serve multiple purposes at different points in the patient care process. It proposes a communicative framework of interprofessional hierarchy negotiation that can help us to …

“Fixing” Settler Capitalism: Un/Sustainability In The Former Fort Ord, Clare M. Beer, Sara Salazar Hughes

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

California's former Fort Ord Army Base is located on the unceded Indigenous territory of the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation. After seven decades as a training ground for foreign wars, the decommissioning of the base triggered an economic, demographic, and cultural crisis for greater Monterey. The solution to this crisis, the Fort Ord Base Reuse Plan, promised sustainable development in the form of local environmental protection, public higher education, and economic growth. We argue that the Fort Ord Base Reuse Plan illustrates a settler sustainability fix, which the state deploys to secure settler capitalist futurity on the Monterey Peninsula at the …

Immersive And Generative Technology: New Tools For Marketing, New Tools For Consumer Response, David W. Stewart, Gabrielle Pizzi, Shashi Matta, Federica Caboni

Marketing & Business Law Faculty Works

Immersive technologies, including AR, VR, XR, and generative technologies such as Gen‐AI, are reinventing marketing practice and consumer experience. In this article we provide an introductory review of how these technologies are (re)shaping consumer behavior in domains where the physical and digital converge, and consumers' response to them. Our review finds that while immersive technologies enhance engagement through personalization and multisensory feedback, they also raise concerns about accessibility, authenticity, and digital fatigue. Similarly, Gen‐AI, which is transforming many facets of marketing, including customer service, product development, marketing communications, and consumer research, raises new questions related to attribution, co‐creation, authenticity, and …

Development And Evaluation Of Machine Learning Models For Early Pediatric Sepsis Prediction, Ancita M. Andrade

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Sepsis is a leading cause of pediatric mortality, claiming more lives in the United States annually than all childhood cancers combined. Early identification in Emergency Departments (EDs) remains challenging, as the current Phoenix criteria establishes an updated international consensus definition for sepsis, however is not designed for use as a screening tool. This study aimed to develop predictive models identifying pediatric patients at risk of sepsis within 24 hours of admission. Multiple tree-based and deep learning models were trained utilizing clinical and laboratory data from the initial four hours of presentation. Both the LightGBM and LSTM architectures demonstrated superior performance, …

Cellular Mechanisms Of Spinal Motoneuron Hypoexcitability Underlying Dynapenia In Aging, Ibrahim Abdul Halim

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Age-related weakness remains poorly understood as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. While synaptic input and muscular changes have been investigated with age, intrinsic motoneuron excitability alterations are often overlooked. This thesis provides the first direct assessment of intrinsic excitability and ion channel properties of spinal α-MNs from male and female mice across three ages: young, middle aged, and old. Our findings reveal a decline in intrinsic excitability of motoneurons with age in both sexes. Mechanistic analysis shows sex specific differences: female motoneurons exhibit increased dendritic size, hyperpolarized RMP, and SK channel overactivation, whereas males show only SK overactivation with age. …

Wearable Sensor Data Analysis For Machine Learning-Based Detection Of Posture And Autonomic Responses, Chaitanya Vardhini Anumula

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This study investigates how Iyengar yoga postures influence autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity by analyzing multimodal physiological signals collected via wearable sensors. The physiological mechanisms underlying Iyengar yoga’s therapeutic effects remain under-explored at the granular, pose-level. Using data collected from 16 participants, this research evaluates whether machine learning models can distinguish between baseline, parasympathetic-dominant, and sympathetic-dominant states based on wrist-worn sensor data. The goals were to explore whether subtle postural variations elicit measurable autonomic responses and to identify which sensor features most effectively capture these changes. Participants performed a sequence of yoga poses while wearing synchronized sensors measuring electrodermal activity …

The Responses Of Insect Herbivores And Local Food Webs To Invasive Shrubs, Logan W. Huber

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Invasive species cause widespread ecological disruption and economic loss. Invasive plants in particular have the potential to reshape forest food webs from the bottom up. However, the extent to which herbivores colonize and assimilate invasive plants into their diets remains unclear. To address this, I surveyed caterpillar abundance, richness, and herbivory on two invasive shrubs, Lonicera maackii and Elaeagnus umbellata, across regions differing in infestation history. Lonicera maackii supported lower overall caterpillar abundance and richness but hosted a more diverse and abundant caterpillar community in the heavily infested region. E. umbellata supported robust caterpillar communities and experienced herbivory levels comparable …

Subjective Readiness Forecasting Using Supervised Machine Learning And Wearable Device Data, Nathaniel Michael Weiland

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Recent advances in wearable technology allow continuous monitoring of physiological and behavioral data, opening new opportunities for real-time assessments of readiness and well-being. However, creating predictive models that generalize across diverse users remains challenging, especially in high-stakes settings like the military, where preventable injuries, illnesses, and stress-related performance declines are frequent. This research assesses the feasibility of using supervised machine learning models trained on wearable device data to predict subjective readiness indicators—recovery, stress, injury, and illness. Data from over 10,000 users in the OHWS (Optimizing the Human Weapons System) program combined daily check ins with physiological metrics from Garmin, Polar, …

Dataset Generation For Routing Policy Study In Ad Hoc Wireless Networks, Vishnu Vishnu Priya

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Ad Hoc wireless networks, with their decentralized architecture and dynamic topology, present challenges in reliable and energy-efficient routing. While machine learning (ML) and reinforcement learning (RL) offer promising solutions, progress is limited by the lack of realistic, high-fidelity datasets. This research introduces a simulation-based framework for generating four diverse datasets representing combinations of node mobility (mobile vs. static) and spatial distribution (random vs. clustered). Each dataset captures critical metrics such as Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), bottleneck rate, and power consumption across multi-hop paths. A lookahead-based greedy routing algorithm with scenario-aware power control is implemented to emulate practical behavior. Supervised ML models, …

Biosensing Applications Of Thz Rotational Spectroscopy: Sensing And Analysis Of Exogenous And Endogenous Compounds In Exhaled Breath, Daniel J. Tyree

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Exhaled human breath contains a wealth of volatile molecular species which bear an imprint of compounds dissolved in blood. Assessing trace amounts of these species in exhaled breath requires a highly sensitive and selective method. Terahertz (THz) rotational spectroscopy satisfies these needs by detecting numerous and narrow, molecule specific spectral features with feature intensity dependent on the quantity of absorbing molecules, molecular structure, and experimental parameters. Expanding the applicability of THz sensing to biological gases requires systems to measure this spectral data, reliable analysis of the spectra, and demonstration of the utility of biological data extracted from the spectra. To …

Evidence That Ultraviolet B Radiation Generates Systemic Responses Via Microvesicle Particle, Niharika Annapureddy

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Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, ranging from 280–315 nm, has been identified as carcinogenic since 1928 and is known to cause skin cancer. Additionally, UVB exposure triggers inflammatory responses, systemic effects, and organ damage. Recent research has discovered that these adverse outcomes are facilitated by the release of microvesicle particles (MVP) via the inflammatory lipid mediator, Platelet-activating Factor (PAF). We have previously demonstrated that sunburn causes skin keratinocytes to release high levels of MVP by activating the PAF receptor (PAFR). These studies were designed to test if these microvesicles enter the bloodstream and travel to various organs, especially the gut, increasing …

Disengaged And Drowsy: Using An Adaptive System To Detect Suboptimal Learning, William Andrew Stalker

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Instruction is increasingly asynchronous, providing new opportunities but at the cost of losing some guard rails of in-person classes. One such guard rail is an instructor’s ability to detect boredom and learner disengagement. This dissertation explores the development and evaluation of an adaptive training simulator designed to respond to user engagement levels in real-time. The simulator monitors eyeblinks, comparing metrics to individual baselines to detect signs of fatigue and boredom. Participants are exposed to novel information in an audiobook recording of a textbook chapter and later quizzed to assess retention. An adaptive intervention offering periodic brief respite was tested against …

Religiosity And The Gender Violence Crisis: How Religious Affiliation Of Society Impacts Violence Against Women, Sydney Hoffman

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This thesis analyzes the impact that the religious affiliation of a population has on both the prevalence of violence against women, as well as the presence of legislation and other legal frameworks aimed at preventing violence and protecting women. Utilizing data from international organizations and nonpartisan fact tanks, regression analyses are performed with four different models and dependent variables to understand the effect religiosity has on both prevalence and prevention of gender violence. While the results of these models do not indicate a likelihood of real relationships between religiosity and the different outcomes, the thesis overall contributes further to the …

Synthetic Nucleoside Labels For Studying Cell-Free Dna, Dibya Guragai

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Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can arise from dying cells or be actively secreted by living cells, and is found either unbound, within extracellular vesicles, or in other macromolecular complexes. cfDNA plays roles in intercellular communication and immune responses and is clinically used for diagnostics through PCR and DNA sequencing. Interestingly, our lab has detected lesions in cfDNA after treatment with DNA-damaging agents including UVB and cisplatin. These findings prompted further investigation into which DNA lesions and labels can be found in the cell-free space. Importantly, we sought a mechanism of labeling DNA with a synthetic nucleoside to enable robust tracing using …

Systemic Effects Of Varying Degrees Of Thermal Burn Injuries In Young Mice: Role Of Microvesicle Particles And Platelet-Activating Factor, Prince Wilfred

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Thermal burn injuries (TBI) result in local and systemic effects, particularly when a large body surface area is exposed to TBI. This study investigates the systemic effects of varying degrees of TBI in the murine model, focusing on the role of microvesicle particles (MVP) and Platelet-activating Factor (PAF) in mediating bacterial translocation and systemic inflammation. Utilizing the murine model, we analyzed MVP levels in the skin and blood, bacterial translocation in the gut, and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in the major organs at the 2-hour post-burn time point. Our studies revealed that after the two hours’ time point TBI …

Diverse Environments: Refining The Concept Of Remote Work Through A Job Demands-Resources Lens, Riley Schwanz

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Global events such as globalization, technological advancements, and fundamentally new methods for completing work are contributing factors to the mass migration of employees from in-person to more remote work modalities. Researchers have found evidence for advantages (e.g., autonomy) and disadvantages (i.e., lack of teamwork) for employees in more remote modalities. However, there are critical gaps in the literature including a lack of clear definitions, assessments, taxonomies, and application of well-established theories. Beyond focusing on the physical aspects of remote work, I proposed a new concept, degree of remoteness, to capture the psychological experience of working remotely. Further, I proposed that …

Ready, Set, Resistance: A Dual Continuum Approach To Organizational Change Acceptance, Alexandria Bohn

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With organizations operating in increasingly dynamic and competitive landscapes, organizations need to be able to get their employees to adapt to system-wide changes that are needed. However, research has suggested a 70% failure rate for organizational change initiatives (Hughes, 2011). Prior research has produced mixed research results when examining resistance and readiness to organizational change on either a single dimension (e.g., Kaplan, 1972) or two dimensions (e.g., Repovs, Drnovsek, & Kase, 2019). I extended prior research by examining resistance versus readiness as residing on a single continuum and whether effects on outcomes were moderated by change orientations. Research has suggested …

Effects Of Canagliflozin And Pioglitazone On Cardiac Ras And Sirt1 In Db/Db Diabetic Mice, Purab Sanjay Sood

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Type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and nephropathy, largely due to hyperglycemia-induced activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and elevated levels of angiotensin II (Ang II). Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and neprilysin (NEP) mitigate the deleterious effects of Ang II by generating Ang-(1-7), a cardioprotective vasodilator. ACE2 is essential for cardiac function, while its deficiency exacerbates dysfunction. Furthermore, the silent information regulator 1 (SIRTl) promotes ACE2 expression and contributes to cardiovascular protection. Despite the availability of several classes of antidiabetic medications, some cardiovascular complications of diabetes persist, and intensive glycemic control does not always …

Using The Historical Equity Action Lens (Heal) To Identify And Remedy Transportation Inequities From The Akron Innerbelt Project, Olivia Lane

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will utilize the Historical Equity and Action Lens (HEAL) to address transportation inequities in marginalized communities by incorporating historical and cultural insights into data collection and analysis. Specifically, the project will focus on the Akron Innerbelt, an infamous highway project that significantly impacted historically Black neighborhoods. By examining the historical, economic, and social context of the Innerbelt, the project will identify the project's long-term impacts Akron communities. The goal is to use this knowledge to inform improve transportation equity in the affected areas by developing a plan for the Innerbelt since its vacancy in 2016. The project will …

Mobile Weather Satellite Receiver, Luke Datsko, Sam Watts, Jason Do, Adam Bechtler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The "Mobile Weather Satellite Receiver" project aims to create a portable, user-friendly device that receives and displays weather information from geostationary satellites, addressing the limitations of traditional weather sources like the Internet and weather radio, particularly in remote areas. This device will collect and demodulate satellite data, including imagery and Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) forecasts, to provide users with detailed local forecasts and real-time alerts.

Designed with a user-centric approach, the system includes a satellite dish, Software Defined Radio (SDR), a Raspberry Pi, and a custom software interface for ease of use. Its portability and ability to function …

An Improved Method To Protecting Skin Graft Dressings Following Surgery In Severe Burn Patients, Andrew Martin, Matt Flaker, Hailey Essinger

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Severe burns, including deep second- and third-degree burns, affect over 450,000 people annually in the U.S., often requiring skin grafts for treatment. Recovery involves wearing wound dressings covered by bandage wraps for at least two weeks. While wraps are breathable, versatile, and simple, they can be painful to apply, especially for larger patients, and their compression varies based on the person applying them. This poses challenges when untrained caregivers are involved. Additionally, wraps often slip during physical therapy. Burn care units seek a new solution that matches current wraps in breathability and comfort but offers quicker application, controlled compression, and …

The Seating And Standing Arrangements Of Band, Orchestra, And Choir, Sabrina Wolf

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this literature review, I will be looking for scholarly articles that discuss the seating and standing arrangements of band orchestra and choir ensembles. The main goal of this literature review is to find what information is available and discover what positions work to find the best sound that each ensemble can have. After finding the resources, I will annotate each source and summarize the information. I will also reach out to ensemble directors at the University of Akron and interview them to discover what seating and standing arrangements they prefer and why. I will compile this information into a …

An Aphasia Friendly Questionnaire For Post-Stroke Fatigue, Abigail Best

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A stroke is when there is lack of blood flow to part of the brain. It can cause permanent damage, such as paralysis, sensory changes, difficulty with speech and language (such as aphasia), and decreased memory. Within this project, we will discuss individuals post-stroke who are diagnosed with aphasia, which is the inability to understand and express language. Currently, there are minimal resources available to help a healthcare worker define and assess the fatigue level of a patient post-stroke who is also diagnosed with aphasia. The first objective of this research is to discuss stroke and aphasia. The second objective …