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Illinois State University, One Hundred And Sixty-Fifth Annual Commencement, May 2024, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University
One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth Annual Commencement
May 2024

The Effects Of Demographic And School Related Factors On Academic Distinctions Of Secondary Schools, Kourtney Hines

Dissertations (2016-Present)

The purpose of this correlational study is to determine the nature of the relationship between school and demographic factors and student achievement using data from the individual schools reported by an independent school district in North Texas. Answers to the following questions were sought: Do the teacher demographic factors (years of experience, gender, ethnicity, degree held) have a significant impact on the student achievement on the English I and II STAAR exam? Do the school-related factors (size of school, attendance, average class size) have a significant impact on student achievement on the English I and II STAAR exam? In this …

Trend Analysis Of Selected Special Education Transition Factors On The Post-School Outcomes Of Former High School Students With Individual Education Plans For School Years 2017 - 2020, Dorliza Monique Jones

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Transitioning away from high school to postsecondary life can be a complicated process for any young person. This process can be made more difficult for students with disabilities if options are not put in place before they leave high school. This is where the transition process becomes an important development to help guide students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) into postsecondary opportunities once they exit high school. The purpose(s) of this study was to examine selected post-school transition factors of former students with disabilities who had an IEP in high school. Additionally, this study aimed to provide descriptive data on …

Black Girls Deserve To Be Girls: A Comparison Of School-Based Social And Emotional Practices On The Impact Of Discipline Rates Of African American Middle School Girls, Kristi Nicole Morale

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Historically, Black women have been known as the backbone of education in their communities; however, Black Girls today still face significant barriers to educational achievement. Stereotypes placed on Black Girls at school have led to disproportionate reprimands and disciplinary infractions. The negative perspectives of those in authority create barriers to success for Black Girls in schools. This study sought to identify the effect of social and emotional learning on the impact of discipline rates of African-American middle school girls. A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was used in which the researcher analyzed the effect of social and emotional learning practices …

The Predictability Of Selected Academic, Demographic, And Job-Related Factors On The Job Satisfaction Of Faculty Members Employed At A Historically Black University, Lashea Phillips

Dissertations (2016-Present)

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of selected academic, demographic, and job-related factors on the job satisfaction of faculty members employed at a Historically Black University. Specifically, this study was concerned with the relationship between academic (tenure status, academic discipline, and professional development), demographic (gender, ethnicity, and years of experience), and job-related interaction with faculty interaction with faculty and staff and interaction with students) factors and the overall job satisfaction among faculty members. A predictive correlational research design was employed in the present study. One hundred two (102) faculty members employed at an Urban Historically Black …

Challenges That Impact The Development Of A Multi-Generational Low-Carbon Passive House In A Small City, Hanan Wehbi, Tahar Messadi

Architecture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The impact of the building and construction sector on climate change is becoming more important and recognized. Multiple initiatives around the globe have been utilized to design and develop residential structures, aiming to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions; yet, there are several barriers to effective construction processes. This research outlines the gaps and barriers encountered by key stakeholders that were engaged during the preconstruction phase of a three-story multi-generational low-impact Passive House in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Through direct observation and open-ended interviews, the primary data are collected, and secondary data from a comprehensive literature review are detailed to capture the …

Bottling Automation System, Dylanie Tippit

Honors College Theses

This report details the complete design of an automated bottling system. Each bottle is 5.97 centimeters tall and has an outer diameter of 3.81 centimeters. The goal of the project is to successfully fill and cap twelve bottles in under three and a half minutes. The system will have two conveyors in series, a water dispenser, an electrolyte dispenser, capping station, Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Allen Bradley programmable logic controller (PLC). The water and electrolyte dispenser will have two ball valves in series, with the desired amount of volume to dispense the designated liquid. The capping station will be …

Comparative Evaluation Of Clinical Presentation And Management Of Equine Asthma By Climate Region, Tacey Davis

Honors College Theses

Equine asthma, including both mild and severe forms, is a prominent respiratory disease impacting the health and performance levels of affected horses. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a broad equine population, analyzing various disease aspects in relation to prevalence and severity across the nine climate regions in the United States. The methodology followed a survey-based research design, utilizing convenience and voluntary response sampling methods. Data collection involved 86 respondents across these regions. Quantitative and qualitative questions explored prevalence rates, diseases manifestation, risk factor of age, seasonality components, and diagnostic and management strategies from …

High-Altitude Ballooning And Payload Design, Matthew Smith

Honors College Theses

The Icarus project began in 2017 where a team performs high-altitude balloon (HAB) launches to conduct atmospheric and payload design research. The project involves sending a data-collecting payload containing recording equipment to high altitudes (~100,000 feet). This paper outlines the Icarus project as well as the efforts to design a payload that will remain stable throughout flight while also protecting the equipment housed within the payload shell. SOLIDWORKS computer-aided design (CAD) software was used to design a unique payload system. The payload parts were manufactured with PLA filament using a Prusa MK4 3D printer. The secondary goal of this thesis …

Incorporating Aac Training In Nursing Education Programs To Enhance Understanding Of Caring For Patients With Complex Communication Needs, Tessa Bradley

Honors College Theses

As healthcare professionals, nurses must be able to effectively communicate with their patients to ensure their health, safety, and comfort. However, this can be particularly challenging when it comes to patients with complex communication needs (CCN), where communication breakdowns can lead to sentinel events. Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) can help those with CCN improve communication across various settings, including in healthcare. Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of training for nurses when it comes to communicating with patients with CCN and the use of AAC. Webb et al. (2024) investigated the effectiveness of a combined synchronous and asynchronous training …

Time Resolved X-Ray Spectroscopy Of Highly Charged Ar, Nd, And Pr, Timothy Burke

All Dissertations

Highly Charged Ions (HCIs) may be considered ideal mini-laboratory in which one can study the physics of matter and light in an environment of high internal electric field that can not be recreated with standard lab equipment. The remaining electron(s) exist in the extremely large electric field of the nucleus and therefore measurements of electronic transitions in these systems provide stringent tests of our understanding of physics in extreme conditions. Quantum electrodynamics (QED) despite being a powerful theory exhibits large discrepancies for systems under extreme conditions. The work here investigates the atomic properties within non-Maxwellian plasmas. The HCI plasmas studied …

Crystalline Colloidal Arrays: Exploring Light-Matter Interactions, Haley W. Jones

All Dissertations

Understanding and manipulating quantum light-matter interactions, especially in the context of nanostructured environments, is highly critical for technological progress and inventive solutions in the fields of telecommunications, energy-efficient lighting, and cutting-edge quantum computing technologies. The fundamental interactions of photons with a surrounding environment directly impact the performance and efficiency of devices such as lasers, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and quantum computing elements, which leverage the unique properties of confined structured environments. Since the late 1980s, the connection between a structured environment and the decay kinetics of an embedded fluorophore has been a highly debated and unresolved topic in the literature. More …

Loss Of Tsc2 Results In Abnormal Postnatal Neurogenesis And Striatal Hamartomas, Victoria Riley

All Dissertations

Billions of years of evolution have culminated in the most complex organ in all of biology: the brain. Its capacity to sense, store, and predict information uniquely bestows humans with the capability to generate art, music, language, and math and sets humans apart from other species. It is therefore prudent and worthwhile to study the brain and its development. A critical aspect of brain development is neurogenesis, or the production of neurons. Neurogenesis is facilitated by neural stem cells (NSCs) and is influenced by the mTORC1 signaling pathway. For NSCs to differentiate and become committed to a neuronal cell fate, …

The Relationship Between Wisdom As Self-Transcendence And Employee Adaptive Performance: The Mediating Role Of Openness, Saeed Andaji Garmaroudi

All Dissertations

This dissertation delves into the exploration of wisdom as self-transcendence within organizational contexts. Self-transcendence is characterized by qualities such as a sense of connectedness with others and the world, moral maturity, the experience of emotions such as peace and awe, and a sense of life's meaningfulness. While self-transcendence is shown to be generally associated with positive outcomes, this dissertation takes a specific focus, aiming to empirically investigate whether these positive consequences of self-transcendence extend to organizational settings to positively impact organizationally-desired outcomes. Specifically, the study seeks to investigate the relationship between employees’ wisdom as self-transcendence and their adaptive performance. Given …

Identifying Temporomandibular Disorder Morphological Risk Factors Via Explainable Deep Learning And Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling, Shuchun Sun

All Dissertations

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis and development of targeted prevention and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analysis of disease datasets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and …

Novel Nucleus Pulposus Biomaterial Development And Low Field Mri Assessment For Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Mario Krussig

All Dissertations

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prominent pathology in the modern world that causes debilitating pain for many patients. The onset of IVDD occurs in the nucleus pulposus (NP). NP biomaterials will play a vital role in mitigating the progression of IVDD. Within this work, we sought to synthesize a solubilized extracellular matrix (ECM)-based NP biomaterial. Utilizing pepsin or urea extraction, bovine NP ECM was successfully solubilized (SBNPs). SBNP formulations were characterized biochemically, evaluated for cytotoxicity, and down-selected for front-running formulations. Leading candidate SBNPs were incorporated into an alginate bead biomaterial model to determine the potential bioactivity with human adipose-derived …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Advanced High-Power Single-Mode 9xxnm Semiconductor Lasers, Xiaolei Zhao

All Dissertations

This thesis presents the comprehensive design, fabrication, and demonstration of advanced high-power, high-efficiency single-mode semiconductor lasers operating at a wavelength of 9xxnm. We begin with the design of the laser epitaxial structure, serving as the cornerstone for achieving high-power high-efficiency lasers. Our methodology integrates a semi-analytical calculation model, which accounts for Longitudinal Spatial Hole Burning (LSHB) and Two-Photon Absorption (TPA) effects, facilitating a thorough exploration of how design parameters influence output power and conversion efficiency. This approach offers an effective and time-efficient epitaxial structure optimization strategy compared to conventional full 3D simulation models.

Subsequently, we demonstrate high-power, high-efficiency ridge waveguide …

Development And Application Of Discrete Element Models For Granular Materials - From Rigid Spheres To Complex-Shaped Flexible Particles With Breakage, Zakia Tasnim

All Dissertations

Granular materials, which can range from nanometers to centimeters, are widely encountered as particles or powders in nature and in engineered systems. Some examples of granular materials include sands, gravels, biomass feedstocks, rice grains, pharmaceutical pills, glass beads, and lunar or martian regolith simulants. The attributes of and the interactions between constituent particles dictate the bulk mechanical properties and behavior of granular materials. The discrete element method (DEM), a particle-based modeling technique, has become a useful numerical tool for modeling the bulk behavior (such as mechanical, flow, and breakage behavior) of granular materials, where interactions between the granular materials' individual …

Engineering Multifunctional Silicon Nanostructures From Biorenewable Cellulose Nanocrystals, Nancy Chen

All Dissertations

The imperative search for alternative materials to address the pressing demand for advance energy storage is underscored by the escalating environmental predicaments. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with graphite anodes have become the benchmark in energy storage; however, they are approaching a saturation point in terms of energy density. Silicon emerges as a promising contender to supplant graphite, owing to its profuse availability, cost-effectiveness, and impressive specific capacity of 4200 mAh g^-1. By integrating silicon anodes, LIBs stand to undergo a radical transformation, markedly diminishing in weight and size, thus heralding a novel wave of compact, lightweight energy storage systems. …

Process-Structure-Property-Performance Modeling For Semicrystalline Thermoplastics And Composites, Tatiana Stepanova

All Dissertations

With a growing focus on reducing the adverse effects of transportation on the environment, industries are seeking fuel-efficient and sustainable solutions. Fuel efficiency can be improved in several ways, but structural lightweighting has demonstrated overall effectiveness. In this regard, thermoplastic composites and additive manufacturing (AM) thermoplastics have become viable candidates for use in the automotive industry, given the need for weight reduction and efficiency improvement.

The advantages of AM include simplifying supply chains, simplifying part geometry, and enabling mass customization. In order to design high-performance AM structures, extensive modeling and simulation are required. AM thermoplastics are similar to conventional manufacturing …

A Manufacturing-To-Response Pathway For Manufacturing Optimization Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Structures, Madhura Limaye

All Dissertations

Over the past decade, there has been an increased adoption of thermoplastic and thermoset based continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites for structural applications in several industries. Among the different manufacturing methods, thermoforming process for thermoplastic based continuous CFRP’s offer a major advantage in reducing cycle times for large scale productions. Similarly, out-of-autoclave curing process for thermoset based continuous CFRP’s using heated tooling enables production of large composite structures. However, these manufacturing processes can have a significant impact on the structural performance of parts by inducing undesirable effects. These effects include inhomogeneous fiber orientations, thickness variations, and residual stresses …

To The Torus And Beyond: An X-Ray Study Of Agn Tori Morphology, Andrealuna Pizzetti

All Dissertations

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are among the Universe's most energetic and powerful objects, fueled by an accreting supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the host galaxy's center, surrounded by a toroidal structure of dusty gas. Ultraviolet photons arising from the accretion disk get up-scattered to X-rays via inverse Compton scattering by hot electrons close to the accretion disk. Being produced in the very center of the AGN, X-ray photons are powerful messengers that probe the physics of the accretion system and the matter in the surroundings. The torus, formerly considered homogeneous, appears to be a more complex structure of clouds with …

The Impact Of Mixed-Reality Simulation On The Knowledge And Practice Of Collaboration Skills Of Preservice Special Education Teachers, Samantha Scott

All Dissertations

Collaboration is an essential skill for a special education teacher's (SETs) success in developing individualized education programs (IEPs) to ensure that students with disabilities have access to equal educational opportunities. Collaboration occurs when members of an inclusive learning community work together as equals to meet a student’s individual needs. Unfortunately, preservice SETs are often provided with little instruction during their coursework and are not given the opportunity to attend IEP meetings in field placements. Many teacher education programs provide only a select number of opportunities for preservice SETs to practice and apply collaboration skills, leaving teacher candidates feeling underprepared to …

Selected Topics On Sequential Designs For Decision Making, Caroline Kerfonta

All Dissertations

This dissertation is comprised of three parts. The first proposes a sequential approach to determine the experimental setting with the minimum variance (Kerfonta et al., 2024). Two acquisition functions are developed to assist developing the approach. Theoretical results along with a case study using data from crystallization experiments is conducted to show the ability of the proposed method to correctly select the experiment with the minimum variance. The second and third parts propose adaptations to the Bayesian optimization algorithm using transformed additive Gaussian processes (TAG) as the surrogate model. The goal of using the TAG framework is to decompose the …

Leaders In Science Education Communities, Jennifer Bateman

All Dissertations

This three paper dissertation investigates the role of the District Science Coordinator (DSC). Due to the lack of research, District Science Coordinators (DSCs) are frequently misidentified as Science Teacher Leaders (STLs). It is important to establish a clear distinction between the roles. This first paper explores the salient similarities and differences between STLs and DSCs, while also attending to their individual roles, responsibilities, and professional support.

This second paper examines how a synchronous, online professional learning (PL) experience resulted in the creation of a community of practice (CoP) among two different groups of participating district science coordinators (DSCs) and how …

Understanding The Experiences Of Para-Collegiate Student- Athletes: A Mixed Methods Study, Derek Whaley

All Dissertations

Experiences are the impressions developed through gaining, using, fostering, and sometimes disposing of a service or product. Recent years have shown an ongoing emphasis placed on experiences and their impacts; one of particular interest for this study are the experiences of para-collegiate student-athletes. Using the Experience Type Framework (ETF) and the Extraordinary Impact Scale (EIS), the purpose of this study was to understand the experience of involvement in intercollegiate sports among adaptive student-athletes. This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, using quantitative and qualitative data to understand the adaptive student-athlete experience. Phase I (n = 30) used the …

Oscillations Of Capillary Surfaces With Volume And Edge Effects, Dingqian Ding

All Dissertations

Capillary surfaces are defined by an interface endowed with surface tension that is partially supported by a solid substrate and are susceptible to oscillations reflecting a balance between fluid inertia and the restorative force of surface tension. The wave dynamics strongly depend upon volume change within the domain and edge effects through the boundary conditions applied at the contact-line formed at the liquid-gas-solid interface, while the spatial wave structure conforms to the geometry of the capillary surface. This dissertation develops mathematical models to address these effects for several canonical capillary surfaces, which are organized into two parts that are focused …

Design And Application Of Smart Systems To Address Analytical Problems, Lucas B. Ayres

All Dissertations

This dissertation is a multidisciplinary effort that integrates low-cost analytical instrumentation, redox chemistry, and artificial intelligence to overcome existing limitations in the fields of wearable sensing technology, Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES), and antioxidant chemistry. The overall goal behind each implemented strategy is to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of analytical processes and technologies. A general overview of the thesis, along with the research outcomes is included in Chapter One. The theoretical framework of this dissertation is presented in Chapter Two. Chapter Three describes the development of a wearable platform (sensor and instrumentation) to rapidly detect (~20 minutes) S. aureus …

Structure-Property Relationship Studies Of Electrically Conductive Metal-Organic Framework Materials, Shiyu Zhang

All Dissertations

Electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks (EC-MOFs) are among the most promising materials due to their tunable structures, properties, and diverse functions. However, the lack of comprehensive understanding of their structure-property relationship hinders the development of EC-MOFs. My dissertation focuses on the design, construction, and structure-property relationship studies of EC-MOFs.

Chapter 1 describes how MOFs' structural features and compositions affect the electronic properties and demonstrates conductive mechanisms and the corresponding design strategies to develop EC-MOFs.

Chapter 2 describes the synthesis, characterization, electronic and optical properties of four novel alkali-metal-based (Na, K, Rb, and Cs) 3D-MOFs with continuous tetrathiafulvalene tetracarboxylate (TTFTC) π-stacks, systematicly …

Efficient Fully Bayesian Approaches To Brain Activity Mapping With Complex-Valued Fmri Data: Analysis Of Real And Imaginary Components In A Cartesian Model And Extension To Magnitude And Phase In A Polar Model, Zhengxin Wang

All Dissertations

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) plays a crucial role in neuroimaging, enabling the exploration of brain activity through complex-valued signals. Traditional fMRI analyses have largely focused on magnitude information, often overlooking the potential insights offered by phase data, and therefore, lead to underutilization of available data and flawed statistical assumptions. This dissertation proposes two efficient, fully Bayesian approaches for the analysis of complex-valued functional magnetic resonance imaging (cv-fMRI) time series.

Chapter 2 introduces the model, referred to as CV-sSGLMM, using the real and imaginary components of cv-fMRI data and sparse spatial generalized linear mixed model prior. This model extends the …