Digital Commons Network^™

Restoring Balance: Choctaw Policy And The Environment In New Spain's Eighteenth-Century Frontier, Fior Daliso Garcia Lara

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

During the colonial period, Indigenous peoples in the Lower Mississippi Valley used their deep ecological knowledge to respond to imperial pressures. Eighteenth-century Louisiana was a contested borderland where Spain, France, and England vied for expansion through alliances, warfare, and trade with Native tribes. As European powers vied for control of the region, Native groups devised strategies to assert sovereignty over their territories and livelihoods. My dissertation examines the ecological history of the Choctaw and Spanish Louisiana from 1763 until the United States Indian Removal Act in the 1830s. It argues that imperial disputes over Indigenous lands compelled the Choctaw to …

Analyzing The Impact Of Approximate Arithmetic On Deep Neural Network Predictions, Johnatan Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In recent times, we have seen the use of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. It helps us solve complicated problems. Some of these problems can be large and complex, requiring large models. As models grow in complexity, they require more computations and energy to be trained and tested. The execution of these models relies on floating-point arithmetic, which imposes constraints due to its finite precision. Due to these limitations, many of these computations are not exact. When this happens, computers are forced to round or approximate. We can use several number formats to circumvent this issue. For example, in …

Elucidation Of Nano-Mechanical Property Evolution Of 3d-Printed Zirconia, Diana Hazel Leyva Marquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents an in-depth look at the mechanical behavior, size changes, and process improvement of ceramic and polymer materials made with additive manufacturing (AM). The work consists of four separate but related studies, each tackling important challenges in fabrication, characterization, and predictive modeling. Chapter 1 examines the nano-mechanical property changes of 3D-printed zirconia made using digital light processing (DLP). By employing nanoindentation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of print orientation and sintering on hardness, elastic modulus, and microstructure are revealed. The results indicate that 0°-oriented sintered samples have up to 140% higher hardness compared to preconditioned samples, …

Effects Of Environmental Stressors On Human Tissue-On-A-Chip Platforms, Andie Padilla

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As space exploration begins to extend beyond low earth orbit, it has become increasingly critical to understand the interaction of the extreme environment of space flight with human systems. While it is known that space-travel induces a vast array of complications to cardiac, neural, musculoskeletal, and immune systems, the mechanisms by which these complications occur are poorly understood. Current research to study the effects of microgravity and radiation are limited to ground simulations, which rarely account for the multifactorial stressors experienced during spaceflight, or long duration studies aboard the International Space Station. Similarly, traditional two-dimensional (2D) models lack the ability …

Humboldt County, Dennis Robert Sanchez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Danny Marquez, a police sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department, takes his family on a vacation to Seattle, Washington. On the way, they stop in Humboldt County, and Danny is captivated by the beauty and serenity of this county. He imagines moving his family to Humboldt County and leaving the troubles of big city life behind. He applied for the position of Chief Inspector for the Humboldt Police. By the time he is hired, he loses both his son to Fentanyl and his wife to suicide. He is hired for the position but finds himself alone. He considers suicide. …

Perceptions Of Healthcare Students And Educators On Ai And Ar In Immersive Learning: A Phenomenological Study Of Empathy And Self-Efficacy Development In Palliative And End Of Life Care, Thomas Joseph Soto

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As healthcare education evolves to address emotionally complex scenarios such as palliative and end-of-life care, there is an increasing need to integrate both technical and emotional competencies into training. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR)-enhanced immersive simulations shape healthcare students' empathy and self-efficacy. Grounded in Rogers' Client-Centered Theory and Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, the research investigated the lived experiences of healthcare students and educators who participated in emotionally realistic simulations using AI-driven manikins and auditory AR features. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive coding framework, incorporating in-vivo …

The Moderating Effects Of Motivation And Adhd On The Relationship Between Academic Burnout And Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among College Students With Adhd, Joshua Matthew Villanos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examined whether ADHD symptom severity and motivational orientations moderate relationships between academic burnout and stimulant outcomes in college students with ADHD symptoms. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 180 undergraduate students who screened positive for ADHD symptoms completed measures assessing academic burnout, motivation orientations, ADHD symptomatology, and prescription stimulant misuse behaviors and expectancies. Testing these moderation hypotheses addresses important gaps in understanding risk and protective factors that may influence stimulant misuse risk. Negative binomial regression was employed for stimulant misuse analyses using the full sample (N = 180), while linear regression examined expectancies across all participants. Results revealed one …

Beyond The Bananas: Grief, Grace, & The Groove, Abby L. Asher

Research Papers

The term 'participatory documentary' was first coined by Bill Nichols, a documentary theorist. He describes it as a mode of documentary where the observer interacts with the observed, and the filmmaker becomes a subject of the film. What started as a little documentary about a minor league baseball team's line dance group composed of women over the age of 65, shifted when tragedy hit the 'observer'. It turned out these ladies were now in the right place at the right time to help guide the documentary maker out of her grief. What resulted was a new documentary with a participatory …

Comparative Analysis And Future Trends Of Friction And Regenerative Braking Systems, Madhukar Reddy Janga

Research Papers

The Research provides a full-scale analysis of traditional friction braked systems together with regenerative braking systems with focus on their working methods along with contemporary integration practices and forthcoming technological developments. Friction braking which has been widely used since long ago provides necessary dependable slowing abilities yet leads to substantial heat generation together with the release of harmful particles. Regenative braking systems that power electric and hybrid vehicles retrace vehicle momentum during braking to create stored electrical energy which results in better fuel economy with lower environmental effect. The research performs an in-depth analysis of braking system operational mechanics through …

Broadband Resilience By Zero Trust Community Network Policy Design, Lee W. Mcknight, Danielle Smith

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This paper proposes a Zero Trust framework for broadband policy design to enhance community network resilience. It provides a governance and policy perspective for ensuring secure, equitable broadband access.

Extended Program Notes For A Viola Graduate Recital, Maria Del Mar Anasco Mina

Research Papers

María del Mar Añasco Mina, for the Master of Music degree in Performance, presented on April 10, 2025, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

TITLE: EXTENDED PROGRAMS NOTES FOR A VIOLA GRADUATE RECITAL MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Rossana Cauti.

This research paper is an expanded version of the program notes for the author’s viola graduate recital on December 8, 2024, at the Old Baptist Foundation in Carbondale, Illinois. The paper includes two works originally written for the instrument and two adapted. With Dr. Rossana Cauti’s help, the author chose four works to prepare a viola graduate recital, including works from different countries …

The Lived Experiences Of Navajo Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Stephnie Ann Leeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When COVID-19 was diagnosed on the Navajo Nation, the impact on the people and the healthcare system was not understood. For almost three years, Navajo healthcare workers battled what was known to the Navajo as Dikos Nitsaaígíí Náhást’éíts’áadah, translated as The Big Cough. The Navajo Nation President, Jonathan Nez, referred to it as a Monster, as did many people in the Navajo Nation. Navajo nurses on the frontlines battled the monster daily as they saw friends and relatives succumb to the insidious disease. Much has been written about nurses off the reservations working on the frontline during the pandemic. However, …

Effect Of Fermentation On The Phsyco And Functional Properties Of Red Sorghum Flour (Sorghum Bicolor L.), Elazmanawati Lembong, Endah Wulandari, Putri Widyanti Harlina, Syifa Tsalitsu

Chimica et Natura Acta

Modification of red sorghum flour by fermentation method can improve the physical, chemical, and functional properties of the resulting sorghum flour. The purpose of this study was to determine the fermentation time that can affect the physical and functional characteristics of red sorghum flour fermented spontaneous (TSS) and non-spontaneous (TTS). Results indicated that the best treatment was red sorghum flour fermented at 24 hours both spontaneous and non-spontaneous. TSS at 24 hours had a water absorption capacity of 1.04%, oil binding capacity of 1.04%, swelling volume of 7.47%, solubility of 7.57%, initial gelatinization temperature of 76.56oC, peak viscosity of 2855 …

In-Silico Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (Vegfr-2) Inhibitors Of Seven Bioactive Compounds From Sonneratia Alba, Madyawati Latief, Fitria Melani, Yusnaidar Yusnaidar, Indra Lasmana Tarigan

Chimica et Natura Acta

Cancer is a disorder resulting from genetic changes, abnormal growth, and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer treatment is commonly administered through chemotherapy, which often results in adverse side effects. Therefore, research is essential to identify safer alternative cancer therapies. This study aims to identify potential bioactive compound ligand receptor targets from Sonneratia alba as anticancer candidates in silico by identifying VEGFR target proteins based on their pharmacophores and studying their interactions through the reverse docking method. Docking simulations between the native ligand (Tivozanib) and the receptor yielded promising results, with a free energy value of -12.76 kcal/mol …

The Effect Of Different Synthesis Solvents And Dialysis Processes On The Optical Properties Of Carbon Dots From Spent Coffee Grounds Using The Solvotermal Method, Wahyuni Eka Putri, Ahmad Sjahriza, Sri Sugiarti

Chimica et Natura Acta

The distinctive optical properties of carbon dot (CD) make CD is one of the most widely developed carbon nanomaterials today. CD can be synthesized from materials that high in carbon content, such as spent coffee grounds. The optical properties of synthesized CD are influenced by several factors, including the solvent used to synthesize it and the purification method. The purification process that can be done is dialysis. However, this technique is not always used in several researches to purify CD. This study aims to synthesize CD from spent coffee grounds through solvothermal methods with three different solvents, which are water, …

The Associations Of Childhood Adversities And Mental Disorders With Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors - Results From The World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, Philippe Mortier, Xue Yang, Yasmin Altwaijri, Jacob Holdcraft, Nancy Sampson, Yesica Albor, Ahmad Alhadi, Jordi Alonso, Nouf Al-Saud, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Objective: To investigate the associations of demographic variables, childhood adversities (CAs), and mental disorders (MDx) with onset, transition, and persistence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among first-year university students.

Method: Poisson regression models within a discrete-time survival framework were constructed using web-based self-report survey data from 72,288 incoming university students across 18 countries (response rate=20.9%; median age=19 years, 57.9% female, 1.4% transgender, 21.0% non-heterosexual). These models examined the associations of four demographic variables, five CAs, and eight MDx with STB outcomes.

Results: Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts was 47.0%, 26.0%, and 9.6%, respectively; 12-month estimates were …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Expansive, And Queer+ Client Experiences Discussing Consensual Nonmonogamy In Therapy: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Evan Wendell Engle-Newman

Dissertations

This dissertation presents the findings from an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study on how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender expansive, and queer+ (LGBTGEQ+) clients experience discussing consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) in therapy. This study explored how five individuals made meaning of their experiences discussing CNM with current or prior therapists. The meaning they made of these experiences were situated in the context of social and cultural factors that influenced their discussions of CNM in therapy.

There were three research questions for this study including one primary question and two guiding sub-questions. The primary question was: what are the experiences of LGBTGEQ+ …

Investigating Undergraduate Students’ Statistical Literacy In Media Contexts, Samuel Waters

Dissertations

As the uses of data in society continue to expand, it is vital to prepare students to engage with data in meaningful and critical ways. Undergraduate introductory statistics courses provide an opportunity for students to develop important knowledge and skills for interpreting and questioning statistical information in social contexts. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to use quantitative assessment data and qualitative interview data to investigate the statistical literacy of students in an undergraduate introductory statistics course in media contexts. This study defined statistical literacy using Watson and Callingham’s (2003) six-level construct. Specifically, this study investigated students’ …

From Foster Care To College Graduation: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of College Graduates Who Aged Out Of Foster Care, Antonia Irene Thomas

Dissertations

Students who have spent time in the foster care system encounter a myriad of barriers and challenges to academic success. Among these challenges is attending post-secondary school and completing a college degree. High school academic performance, knowledge of the college application process, and lack of financial support are some factors that act as barriers to post-secondary attendance. Lack of support and difficulty navigating the college experience can negatively impact the ability to complete college. Even in instances of desire and academic ability to attend college, many of these students never attend, or do not complete and obtain a degree. Between …

Revealing The Impacts Of Teachers’ Lived Experiences With Burnout: An Educational Criticism Study, Joanna Laurx

Dissertations

The purpose of this educational criticism study is to describe the experiences of burnout for four teachers in a western state school district. To represent and illustrate these experiences, Eisner’s methodology, educational connoisseurship and criticism, was utilized. Three research questions guided this study; How do teachers describe experiences of burnout?; How do teachers describe the impact of curriculum on burnout?; How do teachers perceive burnout impacts their instruction and interactions with students? Data for this study was collected on the four participants through a one-on-one interview, two focus groups, two classroom observations, and artifacts and analyzed using emotions and values …

Beliefs Of California And Colorado Parents, School Professionals, And School Administrators Around Providing Comprehensive Sexuality Education To School-Aged Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Michelle Aleen Kalos

Dissertations

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are victims of sexual assault at a rate seven times higher than people without IDD (Shapiro, 2018a). “One of the best ways to stop sexual assault is to give people with intellectual disabilities the ability to identify abuse and to know how to develop the healthy relationships they want” (Shapiro, 2018b, p. 1). Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) could be a scientifically accurate, evidence-based, age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and inclusive educational experience for youth with IDD (Koch et al., 2024). However, only around 16% of students with IDD were likely to receive sex education in …

Students’ Ability To Transfer Organic Chemistry Concepts To Metabolic Reactions, Timothy Jones

Dissertations

Bridging foundational knowledge learned in prerequisite courses like organic chemistry to higher-level courses like biochemistry represents a significant challenge in science education, often hindering deeper student understanding and future knowledge application. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate students’ ability to transfer and apply their understanding of organic chemistry when reasoning through metabolic reaction problems often seen in biochemistry courses. The research questions guiding the project were two-fold:

Q1 What are the organic chemistry reaction concepts deemed foundational to understanding metabolism by experts in the field?

Q2 What is the student’s ability to transfer knowledge of organic chemistry reactions …

Internalized Heterosexism Through Intersectionality: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Devon Alexandra Monica Bortfeld

Dissertations

While the impact of LGBQ+ individuals experiencing overt, interpersonal discrimination (i.e., heterosexism) is well-documented, the propensity for stigmatization, invisibilization, and violence to be internalized by LGBQ+ has only recently been examined as a factor contributing to poorer health outcomes. Internalized heterosexism (IH) was defined as the consumption and internalization of negative societal attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs towards homosexuality by LGBQ+ individuals and was linked to multiple forms of psychological distress. However, the methodological and clinical gaps in the research contributed to a clinical utility that was lacking for multiply marginalized LGBQ+ individuals. The purpose of this study aimed to understand …

A Formative Evaluation Of A Combined Reading And Emotional-Behavioral Intervention, Katlyn Fowler Frey

Dissertations

The current study is a formative evaluation of an intervention that combined reading instruction with exposure therapy strategies, with the goal of teaching avoidant readers how to engage with learning through their own volition. The purpose of the current study was to assess the potential efficacy of a reading intervention with an emotional-behavioral adaptation on reading and emotional-behavioral outcomes. Specifically, the researcher sought to determine whether the adapted intervention could improve readers’ reading achievement, reading self-efficacy, and reading-related emotions at a faster rate than treatment as usual. Additionally, teachers of the participating readers were surveyed for social validity purposes. The …

Sensitivity Analysis Of Flexible Pavement For South Carolina Conditions, Shilpa Girish

All Dissertations

The objective of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of various input variables on the flexible pavement design thickness of high-speed, high-traffic routes in South Carolina using the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) by means of the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software using global calibration coefficients with a focus on bottom-up fatigue cracking. The variables considered in this investigation included two-way average annual daily truck traffic (AADTT), asphalt mix type, climate station, subgrade type and resilient modulus, and aggregate base thickness. The study includes comparative analysis using older methods like the AASHTO 1993 method and the South Carolina DOT …

Investigating The Impact Of Adaptive Sports And Recreation Involvement For Veterans, Ashley Bowen

All Dissertations

Adaptive sports and recreation programs offer a promising complementary recreation-based treatment option for veterans with service-connected disabilities and health conditions, and these programs can positively impact veterans’ lives. The many biopsychosocial benefits of veteran adaptive sport and recreation participation have been researched, but studies focused on measuring the broader impact of these programs are new. The Experience Type Framework (ETF) and its associated measures, the Experience Impact Scale (EIS) and Experience Type Scale (ETS), offer options for measuring that broader impact. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of adaptive sports and recreation experiences for veterans, explore …

Impact Flc Report Spring 2025: A Report By The Impact Evaluation Team, Evaluation And Learning Research Center, Impact Evaluation Team

IMPACT Reports

This is the 2025 Spring report of Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation (IMPACT) Week. IMPACT was created in 2010, and is a large collaborative initiative on the Purdue West Lafayette campus involving multiple key partners across campus including the Office of the Provost, Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE), Purdue Online (PO), Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies (Libraries), the Evaluation and Learning Research Center (ELRC), and Institutional Data Analytics and Assessment (IDA+A). IMPACT works with instructors to redesign large enrollment, foundational courses with the aim of engaging students more fully in their learning and creating a more student-centered …

Radiation Induced Vaporization Of Exoskeletal Droplets As Potential X-Ray Acoustic Contrast Agents, Mohamed E. Eldib, William N. Frantz, Mark A. Borden, Ryan Lanning, Moyed Miften, David H. Thomas

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In vivo dosimetry is a crucial component of ensuring accurate and safe radiation therapy (RT) delivery, but many existing techniques face challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which can limit their clinical applicability.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigate a novel contrast agent sensitive to megavoltage (MV) radiation in vitro, ultimately aiming for in vivo dosimetry.

METHODS: Vaporizable exoskeletal droplets were engineered to phase-change into ultrasound-responsive microbubbles upon exposure to MV photon radiation. These droplets comprised a hydrocarbon (HC) exoskeleton doped with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) surrounding a liquid fluorocarbon (FC) core. Radiation absorbed by the GNPs induced localized …

Social Connections And Capital Allocation In Multidivisional Firms, Tomas Jandik, Tatiana Salikhova

Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

The inefficiency of internal capital allocation is considered one source of losses due to diversification. We use a hand-collected sample of divisional managers in S&P 500 industrial conglomerates and find that social connections among divisional managers are associated with capital allocation improvements. Segments' investments become more sensitive to segments' growth opportunities when these segments are led by better-connected managers. For connected managers, the probability of being assigned to a segment with low investment opportunities increases significantly with investment opportunities of connected segments. Firm-level connectedness is associated with higher firm values primarily in firms with high diversity in segment investment opportunities, …

Supporting Autistic Students' Mental Wellness: A Community Readiness Model Approach, Cady Walker

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Autism spectrum disorder or difference (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability, usually identified during childhood. However, many adults miss the opportunity for diagnosis during childhood due to previous misunderstandings about autism presentation, camouflaging behaviors, and misdiagnoses. While current diagnostic tools for assessing autism in children are more robust, similar measures are lacking for adults who were not diagnosed in childhood. This gap poses risks for poor mental health outcomes among adults who missed a timely ASD diagnosis, which can be especially challenging for autistic college students. Although some higher education institutions offer support programs for autistic students, most do not, …