Digital Commons Network^™

The Moderating Effect Of Gender And Humor On Leader Evaluation, Russell John Marshall

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

There has been much discourse in the popular press, political, and professional spheres about the humor used by leaders and aspiring leaders. Although humor is seen as mostly positive in the workplace, there have been significant findings that humor’s impact is influenced by gender/sex. Male humor use is often seen as functional, while female humor use is seen as disruptive (Evans et al., 2019). This study examines how humor and gender/sex affects likeability and professional respect for leaders. It was predicted that humor use would increase male leaders likeability and professional respect while decreasing these rating for female leaders. Participants …

The Perceptions Of Early Adolescents: Academic Stressors Within Under-Resourced Schools, Problem Solving, And Important Adults, Aliyah White

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Early adolescence is marked by increasing academic demands and the growing need for effective coping strategies. The present study examined early adolescents’ perceptions of academic stressors, use of primary control coping mechanisms, and identification of important related and unrelated adults within their lives. Participants included 96 youth ages 10-14 recruited from Chicago Public Schools in under-resourced South Side communities. Results indicated that youth reported substantial exposure to academic stressors, including teachers yelling, difficulties understanding coursework, and pressure to perform well academically. Findings revealed a significant decrease in the use of primary control coping strategies over time, despite increasing academic stress. …

Social Capital In The Puerto Rican Deaf Community, Javier Figueroa Quintana

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

There is limited literature regarding the social capital of deaf individuals in the United States (U.S.). There are few studies on deaf individuals in Puerto Rico (P.R.), and none explicitly examines deaf Puerto Ricans’ social capital. This qualitative study aimed to understand and capture the experiences of the deaf Puerto Rican community by focusing on how deaf Puerto Ricans utilize social capital to achieve success. The two main research questions guiding this study are: How have deaf Puerto Ricans utilized social capital to achieve success? What are deaf Puerto Ricans' perceptions of success? This study centers around Yosso's (2005) Community …

Hemispheric Processing Of Conspiracy Theories: The Role Of Inference Constraint And Individual Differences, Abigail Van Nuland

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study explored how textual constraint and individual differences influence the hemispheric processing of inferences as individuals read about conspiracy theories. In Study 1, participants judged the likelihood of a conspiracy after reading either a clear cause (i.e., strongly constrained text), a vague cause (i.e., weakly constrained text), or neutral text about a historical event. In addition, several individual difference measures were administered to participants. It was found that participants were more likely to report that official explanations were not accurate (i.e., indicating a possible conspiracy) after reading a vague text compared to a clear text. However, participants who scored …

Mapping The Landscape Of Occupational Health Psychology Research On Immigrant Workers: A Systematic Review, Himali Bhandari

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Research on immigrant populations covers a wide range of topics including immigrationpatterns, demographics, working conditions, and occupational health. Nevertheless, studies specifically on immigrant workers within occupational health psychology (OHP) are scattered. To address this inconsistency, this systematic review analyzed OHP research focusing on immigrant workers, highlighting key immigrant characteristics and the psychological theories and frameworks used to explain why and how immigrant workers face high occupational health and safety risks. Peer-reviewed empirical articles were retrieved from APA PsycINFO, APA PsycArticles, and Academic Search Complete using a predefined set of search terms. Qualitative analysis of the included studies (N = 44), …

The Youth Multidimensional Group Fidelity Scale (Y-Mgfs): Psychometric Properties And Implementation Determinants And Outcomes, Paulina Paredes Cienega

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Youth mental health intervention outcomes in school settings can be improved via feasible and psychometrically sound program fidelity measures. Client self-report measures offer a practical, cost-effective approach, and multidimensional measures of program fidelity are needed to better delineate components of effective program delivery. The present study evaluated the structure and validity of the Youth Multidimensional Group Fidelity Scale (Y-MGFS) and examined implementation determinants and outcomes associated with program fidelity. Participants included 1,352 predominantly ethnic minority youth (Mage = 11.9; SD = 1.2; 62.1% female) across 282 therapy groups from 116 Chicago Public Schools, whose providers delivered a manualized video-guided coping …

Factors Associated With Objective Neuropsychological Performance In Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kailyn Marie Bare

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Adults are expected to recover from cognitive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) within three months; however, a subset report persistent symptoms. Previous meta-analyses have found that these symptoms are due to factors aside from the mTBI itself, and additional research is needed to determine what factors may contribute to objective cognitive functioning in the chronic stage of mTBI. This review examined biopsychosocial and injury-related correlates of objective cognitive functioning in adults with a history of mTBI. A systematic search was conducted in APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus to identify studies published since 2015 examining associations …

Mentoring Relationship Quality: An Evaluation Of Environmental Risk And Protective Factor Predictors For Urban Black Youth, Brittanie Nicole Gage

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Mentoring programs are an important intervention promoting positive developmental outcomes among youth exposed to chronic environmental stressors, particularly Black youth living in underinvested communities. Research has demonstrated moderate positive effects of mentoring on youth outcomes however, less is known about factors influencing mentoring effectiveness. Mentoring relationship quality (MRQ) has emerged as a key component of mentoring effectiveness, suggesting that perceived closeness and support within the relationship can enhance youth outcomes. Less is known regarding the environmental risks and protective factors shaping youths’ ability to engage meaningfully in mentoring relationships. Parent–child relationship quality, exposure to violent stressors, and adaptive and maladaptive …

Neutrophil-Microglia Interaction Drives Motor Dysfunction In A Neuromyelitis Optica Model Induced By Subarachnoid Aqp4-Igg, Fangfang Qi, Vanda A Lennon, Shunyi Zhao, Yong Guo, Husheng Ding, Caiyun Liu, Whitney M Bartley, Tingjun Chen, Claudia F Lucchinetti, Long-Jun Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to early neuromyelitis optica (NMO) histopathology initiated by IgG targeting astrocytic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels. Yet, the mechanisms underlying neutrophil recruitment and their pathogenic roles in disease progression remain unclear. To investigate molecular-cellular events preceding classical complement cascade activation in a mouse NMO model, we continuously infused, via spinal subarachnoid route, a non-complement-activating mouse monoclonal AQP4-IgG. Parenchymal infiltration of netting neutrophils containing C5a ensued with microglial activation and motor impairment but no blood-brain barrier leakage. Motor impairment and neuronal dysfunction both reversed when AQP4-IgG infusion stopped. Two-photon microscopy and electron microscopy-based reconstructions revealed …

Structural Silence: When Ai Infrastructure Fails Speakers Of Underrepresented Languages, Avijit Roy, Proma Roy

Publications and Research

Artificial intelligence tools for education and language support are increasingly framed as scalable responses to access gaps in under-resourced communities. Yet the infrastructure underlying these tools—training corpora, tokenization schemes, evaluation benchmarks, and deployment architectures—encodes a set of assumptions that systematically disadvantages speakers of underrepresented languages before a single model is trained. This paper examines those assumptions through the lens of Bengali, one of the world’s most widely spoken languages with roughly 285 million speakers (Ethnologue, 2025; International Communication and Leadership School, 2026), and the structural barriers that emerge when attempting to build AI-assisted educational tools for Bengali-speaking learners in low-connectivity …

Milner Library Technical Services Department 2025 Annual Report, Milner Library

Reports and White Papers - Milner Library

Annual Report for the Technical Services Department of Milner Library, Illinois State University, for calendar year 2025.

Consumer Insights About Art Workshop And Art Boutique Preferences, Lucia M. Johnson, Richard Kaminski, Megan E. Marlin, Craig B. Joyner

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This research explores customer preferences, the effects of local demographics, purchasing habits, and the impact of social media platforms in driving customer engagement and loyalty. By surveying consumers, the study identifies the key qualities necessary to further engage potential and return customers, including pricing, location, and accessibility. The findings suggest a deep appreciation for creating artwork rather than buying artwork, distinct social media opportunities through the utilization of apps such as Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, as well as focusing their current offerings while broadening and segmenting their marketing initiatives. However, the study also notes limitations such as a convenience-based sample …

Small Jellyfish, Large Consequences: The Overlooked Predatory Role Of Hydromedusae In Subtropical Estuarine Ecosystems, Guilherme M. Von Montfort, Kelly R. Sutherland, Sean Colin, John H. Costello, Renato M. Nagata

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Hydromedusae are often overlooked in pelagic trophic ecology compared to large scyphozoans. We investigated the diet, prey selectivity, ingestion rates, digestion times, and predation impacts of the native Liriope tetraphylla and non-indigenous species Cnidostoma fallax and Moerisia inkermanica in a subtropical estuary of the southwestern Atlantic. While all three species predominantly consumed copepods, L. tetraphylla exhibited the broadest diet and highest number of preys in gut content (up to 13). Digestion time for L. tetraphylla decreased significantly with increasing temperature, from 94 min at 18°C to 64 min at 28°C, with Q10 values showing that digestion rates roughly double with …

Transactional Platforms Under Goal Duality: Managing Tensions With Coordination Strategies, Nikolina Koporcic, Vesna Damnjanovic, Johan Frishammar, Vinit Parida

AMTP Proceedings 2026

While traditional transaction platforms like Airbnb emphasize economic value creation, some emerging platforms increasingly strive to pursue both economic and social goals. Balancing these dual goals creates tensions, especially in resource-constrained contexts, requiring innovative coordination strategies. Drawing on collective action theory and platform literature, we investigate how four start-up platforms pursuing dual goals manage these tensions. Using case study data from 64 interviews and extensive secondary sources, we identify six core tensions related to mission, user inclusion, scalability, operational control, community engagement, and stakeholder communication. We demonstrate how three key coordination strategies—framing, convening, and multivocality—help alleviate these tensions. Our study …

Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Plexiform Neurofibromas: Integrating Treatment Across Pediatric And Adult Populations, Amy E Armstrong, Andrea M Gross, Laura J Klesse, Steven D Rhodes, Shivani Ahlawat, Verena Staedtke, Camilo A Molina, Angela C Hirbe

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are a hallmark of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), affecting ∼50% of individuals with the condition. Originating from Schwann cells and other peripheral nerve sheath components, these tumors can cause significant morbidity, including functional impairment, diminished health-related quality of life, chronic pain, and malignant transformation. Managing NF1-PNs is challenging because of disease variability, differing growth rates, and age-related differences in clinical presentation and treatment tolerability. This review examines current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, medical therapies, and emerging treatments, emphasizing individualized care. Highlighted here is the need for age-specific treatment planning, particularly as disease progression, comorbidities, and side-effect profiles …

Exploring Early Antifungal Activity Of Rezafungin As A Stepping-Stone For Shorter Treatment Duration For Candidemia: Pooled Analysis Of 2 Randomized Trials, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Jalal A Aram, Mark Redell, George R Thompson, Oliver A Cornely, James A Mckinnell, Andrej Spec, Peter G Pappas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend ≥2 weeks of antifungal therapy after candidemia clearance and for invasive candidiasis (IC). This post-hoc analysis evaluates Day 7 pooled data from the phase 2 STRIVE and phase 3 ReSTORE trials to explore early antifungal activity.

METHODS: Adults with candidemia and/or IC received weekly rezafungin 400/200 mg or daily caspofungin 70/50 mg for ≤4 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated in the modified intent-to-treat population via all-cause mortality (ACM; primary endpoint; 20% noninferiority margin), mycological eradication, and time to negative blood culture (TTNBC) at days 7, 14, and 30 (TTNBC assessed only in patients with candidemia). Day 7 safety …

Dna Methylation Of Slc6a4 And Nr3c1 In Term And Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study Of Nicu-Associated Stress, Kathryn J. Malin, Yvette P. Conley, Aleigha Barry, Rosemary White-Traut

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Preterm infants requiring prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are often exposed to early-life stress, which may contribute to long-term health consequences. Epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm) of stress-related genes such as SLC6A4 and NR3C1, have been identified as potential biomarkers of early-life stress. Limited research has compared DNAm patterns between term and preterm infants or examined associations between NICU-related stress and DNAm in preterm populations. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to (1) compare DNAm patterns between preterm and term infants, (2) examine relationships between NICU-related stress and DNAm alterations in preterm infants, and …

Predictors Of Opioid Misuse And Abuse Among Pregnant Women In The Us, Henry Ofori Duah, Diane Von Ah, Ethan Morgan

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Opioid misuse and abuse during pregnancy can adversely affect maternal and infant outcomes. Factors that drive the burden of opioid misuse and abuse are multifaceted and understudied. This study sought to explore predictors of opioid misuse and abuse among pregnant women in the United States.

Methods

Secondary data analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data from 2015-2019 was performed. The primary outcomes were past-year opioid misuse, past-month misuse, and past-year opioid abuse. Data analysis included weight-adjusted univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The pooled weighted sample comprised 2,258,599 pregnant women. The prevalence of …

A Descriptive Survey Of Reef Fish Biodiversity At The Erojacks Artificial Reef, Dania Beach, Florida, Daniella Michelle Acosta Reyes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

South Florida has one of the highest biodiversity's of reef-associated fish species in the United States. Reef systems play a crucial role in sustaining regional biodiversity. Ongoing declines in natural coral reef systems caused by climate change, coastal development, and other anthropogenic factors have increased the reliance on artificial reefs as alternative structures for coral and fish communities to aggregate. Artificial reefs play an important role in maintaining marine biodiversity and provide habitat for reef-associated fishes. The Erojacks Reef, an artificial reef system located off the coast of Dania Beach, South Florida acts as a gathering site for reef fishes. …

A Review Of Reproductive Cycling In Batoid Dentition Morphology With New Data On Two Dasyatid Stingrays From The Western North Atlantic, Lacey Adamik

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Elasmobranchs continuously replace their teeth throughout their lifespan, allowing changes in tooth morphology associated with feeding and reproduction to occur. In many batoid species, males will bite females during pre-copulatory behavior, placing male dentition under selective pressure to meet the demands of both diet and grasping of females. Previous research has documented sexual dimorphism and seasonal dentition changes in several species of batoids, suggesting that this phenomenon is widespread. Much of this research is observation-based, and quantitative studies of dentition are limited, particularly in pelagic species. Pelagic Stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) specimens were previously collected by commercial fishermen, and …

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Substance Use Disorder, Sarah Defrant

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This review evaluates transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a supplemental intervention for decreasing substance use disorder (SUD) relapse rates by synthesizing understandings of neurobiological mechanisms and clinical outcomes. TMS stimulates the activity of neural cells in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a small portion of the prefrontal cortex that houses impulse control and decision-making skills. This leads to improved neuroplasticity and dopamine regulation, both of which are disrupted by unregulated substance use. Although TMS is not FDA-approved for substance use disorder, the neurobiological similarities between SUD and its comorbidities like major depressive disorder or anxiety highlight TMS's theoretical potential to …

Disease-Modifying Therapies Targeting Neuroinflammation In Alzheimer's Disease: Evaluation Of Ongoing Clinical Trials, Shree Diora, Reagan Colavita, Christa Torchia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and behavioral changes. While traditionally associated with amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles, growing evidence implicates neuroinflammation as a key driver of disease progression. Microglial, astrocytic, and mast cell activation, along with elevated pro-inflammatory mediators, contribute to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss. Targeting these pathways offers promising therapeutic avenues beyond amyloid and tau-centric strategies. This study evaluates the emerging disease-modifying therapies in clinical trials that target neuroinflammation in AD, focusing on mechanisms, trial phases, and emerging clinical findings. The clinical trial website was accessed to find drug therapies under …

Bone Mineral Density, Mechanical Loading, And Mediterranean Diet Adherence In University Runners: A Pilot Study, Sathvi Gandra, Kiana Medina, Auston Hsieh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bone mineral density (BMD) is influenced by both mechanical loading and dietary patterns and is a determinant of skeletal health in distance runners. This exploratory study examined descriptive relationships among Mediterranean diet adherence, running biomechanics, and BMD in a pilot sample of competitive distance runners. Seven university runners, (18-21 years; 5 female, 2 male) completed dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess total and segmental BMD, and a running biomechanical analysis on an instrumented treadmill. Biomechanical variables included peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), hip and knee joint reaction forces (JRF), ground contact time (GCT), and vertical stiffness(kvert). Dietary patterns …

Time-Lapse Microscopy To Characterize Astrocyte Precursor Cells Migration Using A Double Reporter Mouse Line, Megan Hilliard, Sravika Chirla, Maria Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Astrocytes, the most abundant non-neuronal cell type in the brain, are a diverse population of cells that play a central role in regulating synaptic activity, supporting neuronal energy demands, and modulating interactions among neurons, glia, and blood vessels. Astrocytes originate from astrocyte precursor cells (APCs) in the subventricular zone, from where they migrate to the cortex postnatally. Once in the cortex, APCs continue to proliferate and then undergo morphological and functional maturation. Using a double reporter mouse line engineered to express enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the entire glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) gene and tdTomato (tdT) …

Epigenetic Upregulation Of P21 Via Mdm2 And Dnmt Inhibition Induces Cell Death In Neuroblastoma Cells, Helen Le, Sruthika Talanki, Shyam Jaganathan, Umamaheswari Natarajan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that primarily impacts children, mostly under five years of age, that originates from neuroblast cells. It's located in the adrenal glands, neck, or thorax. Experimental evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications influencing cell cycle arrest and programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, may provide an effective treatment strategy for enhancing neuroblastoma that is resistant to conventional therapies. This study explored MDM2 and DNMT pathways that might suppress DNA methylation leading to the upregulation of TET enzymes and p21, which trigger cell cycle arrest and apoptotic in IMR-32 cells were treated with RG-7388, CM-272, and SGI-1027 for …

Does A Competitive Season Alter Elastic Bounce Mechanics In University Distance Runners?, Marcus Marek Tortorella

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The spring-mass model (SMM) describes the body's center of mass oscillation during running as a bouncing system, where energy is absorbed and released, producing two asymmetries that represent muscle-tendon elastic function: (1) landing-takeoff (LTO; % relative difference propulsion to braking time), and (2) rebound (REB; % relative difference effective aerial to contact time). Additional SMM-derived variables, such as vertical stiffness(kvert) and step frequency (SF) may provide insight into the influence of a competitive season on running elastic bounce mechanics in university distance runners. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a competitive cross-country season …

Genetic Diversity Of Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphens In Florida Compared To Native Gallinules, Monica Maurer

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Invasive species outcompete native ones and threaten ecosystem stability. The grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus), established in southeast Florida since 1996, continues to expand into the northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee despite prior eradication attempts. This study is comparing the genetic diversity of invasive grey-headed swamphens to the genetic diversity of native purple (P. martinica) and common (Gallinula galeata) gallinules to better understand invasion history, competitive potential, and ecosystem impacts. Muscle tissue samples of P. porphyrio collected by the Florida Museum of Natural History from 1999-2023 and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) …

Implementing Video Analysis And Titleist Performance Institute Level 1 Screening To Assess Sway In Collegiate Golfers, Sydney Mazur

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Golf swing mechanics are fundamental for proper performance and sustainability in the sport. Understanding the complexities of the golf swing as well are crucial in proper performance and prevent injury. Sway is a common swing fault that occurs in golfers because of improper swing fundamental mechanics. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 screen is used in conjunction with video analyses to better understand swing mechanics. The purpose of this study is to better understand these specific components of the golf swing mechanics to prevent injury and improve performance for collegiate golfers. A total of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association …

What Genograms Can Tell Us About Family Dynamics That Quantitative Data Cannot, Connor Mccarville, Jessica Frye, Maegan Mcdonough

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Genograms are an important clinical tool that is used to visually represent family relationships and their dynamics, but their effectiveness in empirical research remains limited. This mix-methods study examined the alignment between qualitative genogram visualizations and quantitative assessments of family dysfunctionality among individuals who exhibited high levels of risky sexual behavior. Based on preliminary data, currently with seven individuals with a high level of risky sexual behavior, we created genograms through interviews with young adult participants who described the emotional quality of each family relationship. Quantitative data on risky sexual behavior and whole family functioning were collected using the Family …

Tissue-Specific Stable Isotope Fractionation In Subarctic Pinniped Species, Morgan Michalek

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope ratios are widely used to evaluate marine mammal diet, trophic position, and nutrient assimilation. However, interpretation is often confounded by tissue-specific isotopic discrimination, which alters isotope ratios during nutrient assimilation and tissue synthesis. Quantifying these offsets is essential for ensuring accurate trophic reconstructions across multiple tissues with different biochemical compositions. This study measured δ¹³ and δ¹⁵N values in muscle, blood, blubber, brain, collagen, kidney, liver, skin, fur, and vibrissae of Steller sea lions (Eumentopias jubatus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and northern fur …