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Dipl 3450 Comparative Homeland Security, Brendan J. Balestrieri Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course will introduce students to homeland security analysis and a survey of how different countries address internal security issues. Homeland security is a uniquely structured American concept, so fitting other nations’ policies and practices squarely into the U.S. model would not succeed. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States embarked on a wholesale reorganization of its internal security and border protection institutions. In parallel, European, and other countries largely preferred to stay with and work within their existing institutional architectures to combat terrorism and respond to other security challenges and disasters, both natural and man-made. …

Dipl 2120 International Conflict And Security, Brendan J. Balestrieri Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

The first part of this course serves as a general introduction to the study of international security, a field primarily concerned with the threat and use of force by state and non-state actors. Topics examined include the origins of major power wars, regional conflicts, terrorism, military intervention, and alliances. The second part of this course will use alliances as a lens through which to better understanding international conflict and security and will focus predominantly on the US system of Alliances in the Asia-Pacific.

Understanding Digital Communication Gaps With Hispanic Families In A Charter School In South Texas, Ruby Cabrera Aguilar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Now that access to technology is prevalent, digital communication in school districts and between schools and parents should be of high priority. Since schools do not emphasize digital communication policies and practices, a problem seen is a lack of communication across districts involving school staff, parents, and students. Determining school leaders’ roles in closing digital communication gaps through policies and procedures deserves further study because effective communication leads to awareness, involvement, relationship building, and student success. In this study, the knowledge gap theory and qualitative action research through reports and interviews assisted in understanding the perspectives of six school staff …

Advancing Medical Education With Lifestyle Medicine: A Comprehensive Program Evaluation Using The Kirkpatrick Framework, Shanna L. Mello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined how a U.S. national lifestyle medicine residency curriculum influenced resident learning and practice using a program evaluation paradigm with a convergent mixed methods design guided by Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model. The problem addressed was the persistent gap between evidence for lifestyle interventions and the limited preparation residents receive to deliver lifestyle counseling in routine care. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in residents’ reactions, learning, and clinical behaviors and to identify early patient-level signals and the implementation conditions that enabled or constrained behavior change. Quantitative methods analyzed archived pre- and posttraining surveys from 148 …

Closing The Graduation Gap: Factors That Impact The Graduation And Enrollment Rates Of First Generation African American Male Students At Predominantly White Christian Universities, Byron C. Johnson Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation African American male students encounter unique challenges on their journey through higher education. These challenges include inadequate academic preparation, limited family support, financial hardships, and difficulties in finding a sense of belonging. Additionally, factors such as race and religion present significant barriers that hinder their ability to persist in and graduate from colleges and universities without institutional support. Strategic initiatives, programs, and services that address the specific needs of these students are crucial for promoting their academic and social integration, ultimately influencing their success in higher education. This study focused on the experiences of successful first-generation African American students …

Rethinking Teaching Evaluation Reports: Designing Ai-Transformed Student Feedback For Instructor Engagement, Ruoxi Shang, Keri Mallari, Au Wei Bin Yeong, Ken Yasuhara, Anthony Tang, Gary Hsieh

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Student feedback is critical for improving teaching, yet instructors often avoid reading evaluations due to emotional burden and information overload. We present a systematic exploration of how language models can distill and transform student evaluations into adaptive, actionable insights. Through a systematic design space exploration combining 4 feedback strategies (removing harmful content, paraphrasing criticism, sandwiching negatives, adding constructive suggestions) with 4 presentation formats (themes, cards, letters, chatbots), we created six AI-augmented prototypes of teaching evaluations. Interviews with 16 post-secondary instructors revealed that effective use of AI in feedback processing should: (1) support action formation through focused views and divergent thinking, …

Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, And Experiential Avoidance In Adults With Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) And Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder, Valerie S. Swisher, Emily J. Ricketts, Tara S. Peris, Grant Jones, Erin Dunning, Stephanie Valle, Elizabeth Cavic, Christine Lochner, Dan J. Stein, Darin D. Dougherty, Joseph O'Neill, Douglas W. Woods, Jon E. Grant, John Piacentini, Nancy J. Keuthen

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Trichotillomania (TTM) and skin-picking disorder (SPD) are body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBDs) associated with deficits in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and experiential avoidance. Their differential relations to TTM, SPD, and their comorbidity, and relative importance in predicting BFRBD outcomes is unclear. Therefore, this study compared these constructs in adults (n = 311) diagnosed with TTM (n = 112), SPD (n = 87), comorbid TTM and SPD (n = 40), and healthy controls (n = 72), and examined their relative importance in association with BFRBD outcomes. Participants completed questionnaires assessing BFRBD severity and impairment, functional disability, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, experiential …

Volumetric Differences Of Thalamic Nuclei Are Associated With Posttrauma Psychopathology, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Previous investigations of whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei volumes in posttrauma psychopathology have been sparse and limited in scope and have yielded inconsistent results. To address this, volumetric estimates of whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei were obtained from structural brain magnetic resonance imaging scans from 2058 participants across 20 worldwide sites in the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) working group.

Methods

Thalamic volumes were compared in trauma-exposed participants with PTSD (n = 238), major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 184), and comorbid PTSD+MDD (n = 618) and in trauma-exposed …

The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Data-Driven Marketing: Enhancing Marketing Efficiency, Customer Engagement, And Business Performance In Smes, Abdelrehim Awad

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Marketing applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have revolutionized business strategy providing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with superior customer engagement tools, strategic segmentation, and performance improvement. This study investigates the impact of marketing practices that are AI-based, like customer segmentation, predictive analytics, and marketing automation, on marketing efficacy, customer engagement, and on overall business performance in Egyptian small and SMEs. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, which means the integration of both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) data analyzed with various methodological paradigms. The study consisted of structured surveys to 100 marketing professionals across several Egyptian SMEs and 30 executive interviews. Quantitative …

The Role Of Organizational Behavior Dimensions In Achieving Organizational Sustainability: The Moderating Impact Of Human Resource Development In The Iraqi Construction Sector, Ibraheem Ali Saadi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This empirical research aims to examine the relationship between three core dimensions of Organizational Behavior (OB), namely, Organizational Commitment (ORC), Organizational Structure (OST), Employee Engagement (EME), and Organizational Sustainability (OS) within medium and large-scale construction firms operating in Iraq. In addition, the study explores the moderating role of Human Resource Development (HRD) on the interactions between these OB elements and OS. A structured questionnaire was administered to 216 senior executives, including CEOs and senior managers, yielding 161 valid responses that were analyzed using SPSS. The findings confirm that ORC, OST, and EME are all significantly associated with OS. However, HRD …

Everyday Norms Have Become More Permissive Over Time And Vary Across Cultures, K. Eriksson, P. Strimling, I. Vartanova, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Every social situation that people encounter in their daily lives comes with a set of unwritten rules about what behavior is considered appropriate or inappropriate. These everyday norms can vary across societies: some societies may have more permissive norms in general or for certain behaviors, or for certain behaviors in specific situations. In a preregistered survey of 25,422 participants across 90 societies, we map societal differences in 150 everyday norms and show that they can be explained by how societies prioritize individualizing moral foundations such as care and liberty versus binding moral foundations such as purity. Specifically, societies with more …

Through His Eyes: The Life Of American Pows In Germany And Ben Phelper’S Diary, Bianca Shah

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

This paper aims to examine the treatment American prisoners of war experienced at the hands of their German captors during World War II. Ben Phelper, a US Airman who was taken captive by the Germans from 1943-1945, wrote a diary detailing his daily life while living in the stalags. This research uses Phelper’s diary to understand what life was like for Americans in German POW camps and compares Phelper’s experience to existing literature on how Germans treated their American POWs. This paper specifically focuses on four aspects of Phelper’s life in relation to the provisions of the Geneva Convention, the …

Decoding Influence: Cosmetic Industry Strategies, Media Beauty Standards, And Their Mental Health Impact On Generation Z Consumers, Tatiana Avila Velasquez

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research explores the complex relationship between cosmetic industry marketing strategies, media-driven beauty standards, and the mental health of Generation Z consumers. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study examines how frequent exposure to curated beauty ideals and persuasive advertising shapes self-esteem, confidence, and personal identity among young adults. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, the research highlights the evolving nature of cosmetic use, revealing how early engagement with beauty products often stems from social conditioning and personal insecurities. Participants describe a shift from using cosmetics as a means of concealment to embracing them for creative expression and self-care. However, …

Creative Development And The Repertory Grid Method: Investigating How A Team Of Theater Teaching Artists Describe And Assess The Formative Creative Skills And Dispositions Of Students, Mark Andrew Onuscheck

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This mixed-methods study explores how a team of theater teaching artists describes and assesses the formative creative skills and dispositions of students participating in an after-school theater arts program, and it explores how repertory grid methods may support curricular, instructional, assessment, and feedback practices within such programs. Rooted in personal construct theory and curriculum studies, this research investigates how creative development—often viewed as elusive—is revealed through educators’ language, perceptions, and evaluative choices.   Using repertory grid interviewing and statistical rating protocols, the study identifies how participating teaching artists articulate the “language of learning” related to creative performance, uncovering 68 formative creative …

Changes In Alcohol Consequences And Food Addiction Symptoms Over Time In A Diverse Sample Of Emerging Adults With Histories Of Heavy Drinking, Mary Takgbajouah

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

During Emerging Adulthood (EA; 18-29), alcohol use (AU) peaks and eating disorders tends to have their onset. While AU typically decreases by the end of EA, this can be a time of increased isolation and lead to problematic, ongoing use with significant, negative consequences, such as depression, anxiety, or poor sleep. Research has noted similarities between disordered overeating and substance use, resulting in the conceptualization of food addiction (FA). Less is known about trajectories of FA, particularly during EA. Trait impulsivity, a tendency to act without planning or thinking of potential consequences, is associated with problematic AU and FA. Research …

Decomposition And Excavation Of War Memories And Massacres In Na Hong-Jin’S The Wailing, Grace Jung

BCES: Faculty Publications

This chapter examines Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing (2016) as an allegory of South Korea’s unresolved colonial and Cold War traumas, arguing that the film’s deliberate ambiguity, cacophony, and generic instability reflect the difficulty of recovering histories of violence that have been suppressed, erased, or inadequately mourned. While scholarship on South Korean zombie cinema has frequently interpreted the zombie through neoliberal capitalism, economic crisis, contagion, and social alienation, this chapter locates the Korean zombie within a longer history of civil war, massacres, sexual violence, and authoritarian state repression. Drawing on Heonik Kwon’s concept of Cold War “decomposition,” the zombie …

From Nociception In Aneural Animals To Human Suffering: Toward A Comparative Biology Of Pain, Edgar T Walters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pain is a core feature of human life, but systematic comparisons of this biological trait across taxa have been rare. A broadly accepted definition based on human experience emphasizes dual features of pain: a sensory (discriminative) component for sensing and monitoring tissue injury, and an affective (emotional) component to motivate avoidance of tissue distress. Conscious pain is coupled to unconscious nociception (detection of incipient or existing injury). This Review considers nociception and pain across phyla within a comparative framework, addressing basic questions about evolutionary origins, mechanisms and functions of pain. The occurrence of adaptive cellular responses to injury in virtually …

Better Digital Contracts With Prosocial Friction-In-Design, Brett Frischmann, Moshe Y. Vardi

Faculty Publications

Contract law is supposed to enable people to reach genuine agreements and cooperate. If this ideal was ever a reality, the rise of mass market contracts and boil­erplate rendered it pure fiction. Modern consumer contracts are incomprehensible to most people. No one reads them anyway.

Digital contracting involves design features that amplify traditional boilerplate harms and create others. For example, digital contracting is too cheap; low marginal costs lead to overexpansion in scale and scope. To make matters worse, the loss of autonomy from repeat engagement with digital contracting systems is pernicious. People become increasingly predictable and programmable as digital …

Epidemiology Of Lower Extremity Amputations In The United States: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database From 1990 To 2019., Peter B Spencer, Cameron J Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Taylor J Manes, Phillip C Mckegg, Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Ayah Ibrahim, Jack Weick

Surgery Articles

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. The objective of our study was to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences of unilateral and bilateral LEAs across the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for LEAs in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From 1990 to …

Alterations In Region-Specific Gray Matter Volume Underlying Callous Unemotional Traits In Adolescents, Johannah Bashford-Largo, Ru Zhang, R James R Blair, Karina S Blair, Jaimie Elowsky, Matthew Dobbertin, Ahria J Dominguez, Melissa Hatch, Tyler Patrick, Sahil Bajaj

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Callous-unemotional (CU) traits during adolescence, for example, shallow affect or lack of remorse, have been shown to be a risk marker for antisocial behavior. Only a few studies have investigated structural brain alterations underlying CU traits, and findings are inconclusive. The study examines CU symptomatology and gray matter volume (GMV) associations.

Methods: Structural brain MRI data were collected from a sample of 578 adolescents (60% male) with a mean age of 14.85 years (SD = 2.30; range = 10-19 years). CU traits were indexed via the Inventory for Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU). Region-wise volumetric parameters were obtained following parcellation …

Identifying Signatures Of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Through Structured Analytic Techniques, Joshua S. Pierson, Ms, Dss

Journal of Strategic Security

Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) penetrate sovereign airspace and sea space with such proliferation that often national security entities are left baffled with how to detect, identify, and respond to such actions. Since World War II, these phenomena were reported to pace aircraft, maneuver at high speeds in an erratic fashion and increase speed to hypersonic velocity when starting from stasis. The study of UAP is shrouded in stigma, perplexing government mishaps, and academic inquiry focusing on the material aspects of UAP, leaving a gap in determining the exhibited capability and intent of these phenomena. The use of structured analytic techniques …

Subterranean Warfare’S Strategic Coming Of Age: The Israel-Hamas War Of 2023-Present, Nadav Morag

Journal of Strategic Security

This article posits the question as to whether subterranean warfare, which has been a tactic used in warfare since ancient times, has evolved to being an operational tactic in some contexts (such as in the Vietnam War and some Israeli-Hamas clashes in Gaza prior to 2023) and has now, for the first time, has “come of age” to the strategic level in the Israel-Hamas war that broke out in October 2023. The article argues that the current war in Gaza is one in which subterranean warfare has become strategic because the outcomes of this form of warfare in this context …

Sofs And Pmscs: Factors Of Stability And Change, Mirko Tasic

Journal of Strategic Security

The legitimacy of special operations forces (SOFs) and private military and security companies (PMSCs) often resides in a legal gray area, especially for those operating under the patronage of states that deviate from neoliberal standards and are sometimes labeled as criminal groups or terrorist organizations. This study aimed to develop a framework for categorizing the organizational and operational models of such SOFs and PMSCs. The three primary categories used were: mercantilistic, ideological, and ideological-mercantilistic. A comparative analysis of Iran’s Quds Force, Russia’s Wagner Group, and FR Yugoslavia’s JSO was conducted to better understand the impact of these and similar actors …

Ai-Enabled Terrorism: A Strategic Analysis Of Emerging Threats And Countermeasures In Global Security, Shai Farber

Journal of Strategic Security

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming terrorist methods and counter-terrorism strategies, with far-reaching effects on global security. This paper examines how terrorists use AI for new attack tactics, propaganda, and coordination, while also evaluating the ethical, legal, and strategic challenges AI introduces into counter-terrorism. Through a systematic literature review and qualitative analysis, the study identifies key trends in AI's impact on security dynamics, highlighting its role in blurring the lines between peace and conflict. An analytical framework is proposed to navigate the complex landscape of AI-driven asymmetric warfare, providing practical insights for policymakers and researchers. The study …

Strategic Leadership In Security Media: Enhancing Community Safety Against Drug Abuse In Oman, Raed Awashreh, Saif Alshuhoomi,, Viola Gjylbegaj

Journal of Strategic Security

Rapid global development has led to increased security challenges, particularly regarding drug-related crimes. This study examines the role of strategic leadership in security media to enhance community security, focusing on drug abuse in Oman. Despite ongoing efforts to combat drug-related offenses, these crimes remain a significant threat to societal stability. The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 14 decision-makers, including 7 experts from Oman’s security media, police, and related institutions. It explores the effectiveness of security media campaigns in raising awareness and reducing drug use. Thematic analysis of the data revealed key challenges, including limited resources, outdated technologies, and insufficient …

Redbird Scholar, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Fall 2025), Illinois State University, Office Of The Vice President For Research And Graduate Studies

Redbird Scholar

No abstract provided.

Tirzepatide For The Maintenance Of Body Weight Reduction: Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics Of Surmount-Maintain, Deborah B Horn, Louis J Aronne, Sean Wharton, Harold E Bays, Elisa Gomez-Valderas, Avigdor D Arad, Palash Sharma, Julia P Dunn, Cagri Senyucel, Clare J Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reducing the tirzepatide dose and/or continuing the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) versus placebo in maintaining body weight (BW) reduction achieved with tirzepatide MTD.

Methods: This Phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, parallel-arm, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 52-week clinical trial is in progress comparing treatment with once weekly tirzepatide (5 mg and/or MTD of 15 mg or 10 mg) versus placebo in achieving BW reduction maintenance from the initial 60-week open-label weight-loss period on tirzepatide MTD, in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 or ≥ 27 kg/m2 with ≥ 1 obesity-related comorbidity, excluding type …

Family History Of Substance Use And Stressful Life Events Impact Adolescent Maturation Of Cerebral White Matter, Yizhou Ma, Ashley Acheson, Corneliu Bolbocean, Mustafa N Mithaiwala, Si Gao, Neda Jahanshad, Paul M Thompson, Bhim M Adhikari, Xiaoming Du, A Ankeeta, Alia Warner, Antonio F Pagán, L Elliot Hong, Peter Kochunov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Family history (FH) of substance use disorders (SUDs) and stressful life events (SLEs) are known risk factors for SUDs in adolescents and young adults. Cross‐sectional studies suggest that FH and SLEs affect adolescent white matter (WM) development and form abnormal WM patterns. Here, we examined the effects of FH, SLEs and their interaction on WM integrity in youths in the Adolescent Cognitive Brain Development (ABCD) study at baseline and 2‐ and 4‐year follow‐ups. ABCD youths (N = 8939, age ± SD = 9.9 ± 0.6 years, 4302 female) completed baseline diffusion tensor imaging, of which 5661 repeated the scan …

Tracking Change: A Follow-Up On The Culturally Adapted ¡Iniciando! La Adultez Program, Antonio F Pagán, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Research on interventions for Latino young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families often faces challenges in long-term engagement. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the culturally adapted ¡Iniciando! La Adultez program through a long-term follow-up.

Methods: A cohort of Latino young adults with ASD and their families who participated in the ¡Iniciando! La Adultez program were followed for six months post-intervention. Participants were assessed at three and six months to evaluate continued engagement and outcomes. Retention rates at each follow-up point were calculated.

Results: The study demonstrated high retention rates, with 48 …

Community Firearm Violence And Dental Care Use In Middle Adulthood, Alexander Testa, Luis Mijares, Daniel Semenza, Richard Stansfield, Ian Silver, Dylan B Jackson, Ana Neumann, Jeff R Temple, Rahma Mungia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prior research links violence inside the home to reduced dental care utilization, yet little is known about how community firearm violence affects dental care behaviors. The current study used data from wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), linked to census tract-level fatal and nonfatal shooting data from the American Violence Project for the 100 largest cities in the United States. The analytic sample included 1925 respondents aged 33-42. The primary outcome was self-reported dental care use in the past year. Firearm violence exposure was categorized as 0, 1, or 2 + …