Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Effects Of High- And Low-Load Resistance Training On Tendon Size, Muscle Growth, And Strength Adaptations, William Blake Hammert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To examine the effects of resistance training load and a single bout of maximal strength testing on skeletal muscle growth, distal biceps brachii tendon thickness, and task-specific and non-specific strength outcomes relative to a time-matched non-exercise control group. Methods: 216 young (~21 years), non-resistance trained adults (125 females) were enrolled, with 201 (118 females) included in the final analyses. Participants were randomized to: High-Load (n=45), Low-Load (n=48), Mid-Point (n=54), or Control (n=54). High- and Low-Load completed 6 weeks of unilateral elbow flexion resistance training to task failure, Mid-Point completed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) elbow flexion test at 3-weeks, and …

Adversarial Llm-Gans For Robust Synthetic Pharmaceutical Data In Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems, Samiul Islam Niloy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The formulation of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) represents a pivotal advancement in improving the oral bio-availability of poorly water-soluble pharmaceutical compounds, yet traditional development is heavily hindered by limited experimental datasets and the complexity of predicting key quality attributes like nanoparticle size and drug release profiles. Because empirical methodologies struggle to balance formulation constraints with predictive accuracy, this research introduces a comprehensive framework that leverages state-of-the-art generative artificial intelligence to synthesize realistic, constraint-compliant SEDDS datasets. The study proposes two primary methodologies to overcome data scarcity: a novel Drug Formulation Agent (DFA) powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and a …

Customizable Acoustic Array Processor Using System-On-Chip Device, Aidan Stanford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, a number of System-On-Chip (SoC) devices have been released that combine conventional microprocessors with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in the same package. While these devices have had success in other scientific fields, there is still much to explore regarding their applications to acoustics. Their flexibility in configuration may prove very useful in cases where upstream audio acquisition hardware must be changed on the fly, or when a scientist may decide to change parameters of their processing task. To explore the application of these devices to acoustic sensing, we investigate the use of a Xilinx SoC device to implement …

A Framing Analysis Of The Uvalde School Shooting In Two National Newspapers, S M Shams Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the media framing of the May 24, 2022, shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by comparing the coverage of two national newspapers, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Using the spatial-temporal scheme provided by Chyi & McCombs (2004), this study conducted a quantitative content analysis of 241 samples from a month’s coverage of the event in the two newspapers. The study attempted to identify whether there was any difference in the use of spatial, temporal, and spatial-temporal combination frames between the two newspapers, and whether there were any significant frame-changing patterns in …

Iterative Decoding For Sccpm With Markov And Hidden Markov Sources, Zhijie Guo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Continuous Phase Modulation (CPM) is an excellent digital modulation scheme recognized for its constant envelope property, continuous phase transitions, and inherent memory. These characteristics enable excellent spectral and power efficiency, allow compatibility with nonlinear amplifiers, and make CPM particularly attractive for power- and bandwidth-constrained applications such as satellite and deep space communications. Serially Concatenated Continuous Phase Modulation (SCCPM) with iterative decoding further improves error performance, and its flexibility enables it to evolve alongside state-of-the-art channel coding technologies and show significant potential for performance enhancement.

This dissertation investigates SCCPM systems with binary Markov and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) data sources and …

Development And Evaluation Of Ros-Responsive Thioketal-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles For Dual Drug Delivery Of Moxifloxacin And Curcumin In Wound Healing, Saiganesh Pothuraju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic infected wounds remain a major clinical challenge because elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the wound microenvironment sustain inflammation, damage regenerating tissue, and limit the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy. To address this problem, this study aimed to develop ROS-responsive thioketal-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TK-MSNs) for the dual delivery of moxifloxacin (MOX) and curcumin (CUR) to support the management of infected wounds. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesised using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), followed by template removal, amino-functionalization with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and sequential loading of MOX and CUR. ROS-responsive capping was then achieved using …

Predicting Future Positions Based On Spatiotemporal Data, Andrew John Heskett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how different multi-agent prediction architectures perform when forecasting future player positions in soccer using only ball and player coordinate data, with-out relying on pretrained knowledge of soccer rules or tactical concepts. Spatial positioning is a fundamental part of soccer and is often a defining characteristic of high-level players. However, there is still no fully deterministic method for evaluating how effectively a player uses space. As multi-agent trajectory prediction methods have improved over the last decade, it has become increasingly feasible to develop systems that can analyze and eventually grade player movement. A necessary first step toward that …

With Equity And Inclusivity For All: Self-Reported Preparedness Of Band Directors To Teach Students With Exceptional Needs, Kendra Jenkins Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional memory theory of personal identity relies on an implicit storage model of memory to explain how the self persists over time. This model assumes that memories endure as stable representations that can be accurately retrieved, and that such representational continuity grounds diachronic identity. However, contemporary cognitive science demonstrates that remembering is an active and reconstructive process. Each act of recall reorganizes and transforms prior experience during the window of ecphory. This reconstructive reality poses a significant philosophical challenge. If memory is inherently unstable and transformable, it cannot straightforwardly ground the kind of continuity the theory requires.

In this …

Hereditary Transmission Of Drumming Among The Anlo-Ewe: The Case Of Agbodo/Amuzu Family Of Hatsukorfe, Denu, Volta Region, Ghana, Ernest Elikplim Kwabla Adonoo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the hereditary transmission of drumming among the Anlo-Ewe of southeastern Ghana, focusing on the Agbodo/Amuzu family of Hatsuk?ƒe in the Volta Region. Situated within ethnomusicological discourse on traditional Anlo-Ewe musical practices and the specialized roles of the researched family, who are drummers of the exclusive Ye?e religious tradition, this research argues that drumming in this context is not merely a musical activity but a complex system of communication, identity, ritual authority, and cultural continuity. The study fills and addresses a significant gap in existing scholarship on the Anlo-Ewe music, which has largely emphasized community dance-drumming and institutional …

Physicochemical Interactions At The Ionic Liquid-Polymer-Biological Nanointerface, Sara Xuan Edgecomb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Treatment of central nervous systems (CNS) disorders remains a critical challenge in drug delivery. The blood brain barrier (BBB) is an obstacle preventing targeted delivery. Small and large drug molecules are unable to cross the BBB, highly limiting drug therapies. Only invasive techniques and symptom care are currently employed for neurological diseases.

This demands an innovative drug delivery approach to improve efficiency of targeted delivery to the brain, hence polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) being a promising solution. With their advantageous tunability, they can encapsulate various biomolecules and perform specific targeting. Ionic liquids (ILs) have become a novel surface modification of NPs …

The “Meta-Country” Of Morgan Wallen: Authenticity Signaling In Contemporary Country Music, Ryley Fallon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Country music artist Morgan Wallen has dominated sales charts and streaming numbers on digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Wallen has also crafted his own image of what it means to be “country,” distilling it into the usual, hyper-recognizable motifs of whiskey and trucks while transitioning them onto new media platforms. In addition, Wallen maintains his small-town Tennessee boy image despite conquering massive digital landscapes. This thesis argues that Morgan Wallen exemplifies a new phase of country music, “metacountry.” “Meta-country,” as detailed in this thesis, refers to the continuation of country music’s commercialization into the digital space in …

The Unreliable Narrator: Mnemic Causation And The Reconstructive Self, Phuong Le

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate secondary-level band directors’ perception of preparedness to teach learners with exceptional needs in Mississippi. The study examined college and university music curricula to identify the number of courses that prepare future music educators to teach learners with exceptional needs. The researcher developed a survey that included questions about respondents' years and types of teaching experience, educational preparation in exceptional education, the level of instructional support available for accommodating students in band classes, and the impact disabilities have on learning and performance in instrumental music. Findings provided insight into how well pre-service and …

Open For Victims, Sorry We're Dead, Sela Ricketts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a documentary exploration of paranormal tourism in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. As of completing this project, paranormal tourism is relatively new to the city, starting in earnest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This niche industry has woven itself into the larger New Orleans tourism industry and drastically changed the landscape and popular identity of the French Quarter. The photos give a personal perspective of how the industry manifested within the city.

The throughline of this project is a feedback loop I identified- a cycle of influences that has ultimately made the French …

Foundations And Scope Of Moral Standing, Vikas Beniwal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the foundational grounds of moral standing. I contend that sentience, while frequently cited as the primary criterion, lacks sufficient justification when asserted as a necessary condition. I propose an alternate feature as sufficient grounds of moral standing.

Occupy Your Life: Increasing Independence After Intimate Partner Violence, Jovianna E. Bagaglio

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an ongoing public health crisis that significantly disrupts survivors' physical health, mental well-being, and participation in everyday occupations. This project, Occupy Your Life, developed and implemented a six-week, individualized telehealth occupational therapy program for IPV survivors in collaboration with Inner Balance Psychotherapy in Rhode Island. Grounded in trauma-informed care and Social Cognitive Theory, the program aimed to increase participants' self-efficacy, independence, and occupational participation through tailored virtual sessions addressing coping strategies, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and daily functioning. A mixed-methods design incorporating the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and open- and closed-ended survey questions was used to …

Connecting Minds: A Stroke Survivor Support Group To Promote Mental Health And Improve Quality Of Life, Anna Collier, Alexis M.F. Morin

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

To meet an individual’s needs in healthcare, all aspects of their challenges and strengths must be considered. This project titled Connecting Minds: A Stroke Survivor Support Group to Promote Mental Health and Quality of Life, will discuss the outcomes of a 6-week educational support group. The American Stroke Association (2024), states that 30% of stroke survivors develop post-stroke depression. If left untreated, it can affect quality of life, intervene with recovery, and can be underdiagnosed if not detected early on. Stroke survivors receive minimal support and consideration for mental health post-stroke. When an individual experiences a stroke, an interruption …

Flowing Forward: Adaptive Aquatic Recreation Program Empowering Individuals Living With Neurodegenerative Conditions, Katharine Buchanan, Alexis M.F. Morin, Jenna Digirolamo

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Neurodegenerative conditions are characterized by progressive dysfunction and degeneration of the nervous system, often resulting in a combination of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges that significantly impact quality of life. Common examples include Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), both of which present with complex and variable symptom profiles. Despite advances in pharmacological management, there remains a critical gap in interventions that address mental health, social participation, and overall well-being for individuals living with these conditions. This capstone project, Flowing Forward, was developed as a community-based adaptive aquatic recreation program aimed at addressing these gaps through participation in meaningful, …

Preventing And Reducing Substance Use Disorders In The Foster Youth Population: An Educational Program For Residential Staff, Allyson E. Ferraro, Alexis M.F. Morin

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Foster youth encounter various challenges such as adverse childhood experiences (ACES), which increase their prevalence of developing substance use disorders (SUDs). The importance of implementing trauma-informed care techniques and harm reduction approaches in residential settings for foster youth will be highlighted. The literature emphasizes a clear need for residential staff and care partners to understand and apply trauma-informed strategies and harm reduction approaches. Implementing these evidence-based strategies while also enhancing foster youth’s protective factors can strengthen resiliency among foster youth, ultimately improving their overall well-being and life outcomes. Additionally, the impact of stress and burnout among residential staff and care …

The Emerging Practice Of Canine Assisted Therapy (Cat) Benefiting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Amanda Chaves

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

This project explores the impact of Canine-Assisted Therapy (CAT) on meaningful occupational participation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In previous literature, CAT has been found to support the development of social and communication skills, emotional regulation, behavioral management, and self-care abilities, promoting growth in critical developmental areas. By integrating CAT into occupational therapy (OT), this study highlighted the potential of personalized, engaging interventions to empower children with ASD, promoting greater independence, community engagement, and an improved quality of life for both children and their families. Done through a qualitative case study consisting of interviews and observations, the research …

Art-Based Emotional Regulation Through An Occupational Lens, Lucas M. Totoro

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Emotional dysregulation is common among children in outpatient therapy, affecting up to 20% of youth ages 0–19, with prevalence increasing to 33% in outpatient settings and 67% in mental health settings (Baroud, 2024; Haeyen, 2020). Contributing factors include adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, trauma, and symptoms of mental health and developmental disorders (Beiderman, 2019; Moehler, 2022; Paulus, 2021). This project aims to address gaps in literature by identifying effective art-based interventions for emotional regulation. It does so through a program designed to educate outpatient pediatric clinicians and explore practical strategies to support clients experiencing emotional dysregulation. Overall, this study synthesizes the …

2026 Commencement Program, Columbia College Chicago

Commencement Programs

The commencement program of the 2026 Columbia College Chicago graduation ceremonies.

Optimizing Citriculture In South Texas With Endemic Hlb, Ruth Lilia Galan

Theses and Dissertations

The Texas citrus industry has a long history of resilience, rebounding from environmental and economic disasters. Over the last decade it has endured several hurricanes, freezes, pests and diseases. Huanglongbing (HLB), a graft-transmissible disease caused by Gram-negative bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus which is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), is an endemic citrus disease posing serious threat to the long-term viability of the industry. Rapid production of high quality nursery trees and effective protection of young citrus transplants from HLB are critical for long term sustainability of citriculture in this region. Studies were performed to improve …

Learning Adaptive Control For Safe Collaborative Autonomous Driving, Fabian Alexis Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Connected autonomous vehicles improve urban driving through collaborative perception via Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication. Frameworks such as V2Xverse leverage this collaboration for planning and perception, yet their controllers rely on fixed parameters that cannot adapt to varying traffic. Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) enforce safety by constraining actions within a safe set, but a fixed barrier gain imposes a single operating point: conservative settings reduce throughput while permissive settings under-react to hazards.

This research proposes an adaptive CBF framework that learns state-dependent, class-specific barrier gains via constrained Reinforcement Learning (RL). A compact policy outputs separate gains for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, parameterizing …

Combinatorial Statistics Witnessing An Infinite Family Of Congruences For A Sum Of Partition Functions, Jena M. Gregory

Theses and Dissertations

In 2007, Kronholm established The Interval Theorem, infinite families of congruences in arithmetic progression, modulo any prime ��, for ��(��, ��), the function enumerating the partitions of �� into parts whose sizes come from the set {1, 2, … , ��}. In 2022, Eichhorn, Kronholm, and Larsen proved there are combinatorial statistics described in terms of the multiplicities of the part sizes that witness Kronholm’s Interval Theorem. Here, “witness" means given a congruence of the form ��(��, ��) ≡ 0 (mod ��), we can use these statistics to classify the set of partitions of �� into �� equally sized subsets …

From Homeland To The Foreign Classroom: The Salaysay Of Filipina Immigrant Teachers In Texas, Shanna Cui Miranda

Theses and Dissertations

Filipina immigrant teachers are a growing presence in Texas schools, especially as districts respond to teacher shortages by recruiting internationally trained educators. This narrative study explores the salaysay of Filipina immigrant teachers in Texas and examines how their funds of knowledge inform their teaching practice. Guided by the research question, What are the salaysay of Filipina immigrant teachers in Texas, and how do their funds of knowledge inform their teaching? The study uses Funds of Knowledge (Moll et al., 1992) as the central framework and resizes it to focus on teachers as holders of culturally developed knowledge. The resized framework …

General Chemistry Students' Perceptions Of How Various Course Resources Affect Their Learning And Exam Preparation, Jennifer Scoggin Cortez

Theses and Dissertations

The tertiary-level first-semester general chemistry course has a large range of material with different complexities that can be difficult for students to master within one semester. In the general chemistry I course under study here, students were provided with a variety of resources to help with their learning and understanding, with various components of the course, including the lecture, online textbook, Peer-Led-Team-Learning (PLTL) study sessions, and exams, having associated resources. This study aims to analyze students’ experiences with these various resources. Students were given semi-structured interviews where they talked about their experiences with the resources and provided insight into more …

Chatbots In The Classroom: Understanding The Impact Of Chatbot Integration In Writer’S Workshops On High School Students’ Writing, Gabriel Cerda

Theses and Dissertations

Writing is a complex developmental skill, and much research has been conducted to understand in which ways to best close the gaps that national data indicates exist for students in K-12 education. This quasi-experimental study explored how integrating chatbots as dialogue agents within a writer’s workshop framework influences the quality of written compositions among Grade 12 students. The research was grounded in the Direct and Indirect Effect Model of Writing (DIEW) and the Writer(s)-Within-Community (WWC) model, which emphasize both the cognitive and social-emotional dimensions of the writing process.

Participants received real-time, individualized feedback, with pre- and post-test essays evaluated using …

Assessing Water Quality And Nitrogen Dynamics In Bahia Grande, Texas Using Field And Remote Sensing Data, Sk Taufiqul Islam

Theses and Dissertations

An 8,220-acre estuary in South Texas, Bahia Grande has recently been restored from a disconnected hypersaline basin to a tidal estuary. A spatially explicit water quality index (WQI) was developed and in situ physicochemical data coupled with remote sensing data from Sentinel-2 were used to determine ecological integrity. A WQI from 29.45-53.20 yielded a spatial distribution of water quality that displayed a non-linear spatial trend throughout the estuary. Water quality close to the Brownsville Ship Channel inlet yielded values of 'Moderate/Stressed' water quality (> 50). These areas represent local zones of disturbance where ammonium concentrations were more than 11 µmol/L. …

Bayesian Change-Point Detection In Stock And Cryptocurrency Markets Using Shrinkage Priors, Yosalin Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Financial markets often undergo abrupt structural changes driven by political, economic, and geopolitical events, leading to substantial volatility. Detecting such change-points is crucial for identifying structural breaks, improving risk management, and enhancing forecasting performance in financial time series. This study proposes a Bayesian change-point detection framework that incorporates both the t-shrinkage prior and the Horseshoe shrinkage prior. These priors enforce strong regularization on successive differences in mean parameters, enabling the identification of piecewise constant structures in time series data. Posterior inference is conducted using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, specifically a Gibbs sampling algorithm, which iteratively samples from the …

Essays On Ai-Driven Analytics For Enhanced Healthcare Delivery: From Onset To Outcomes In Neurological Diseases Management, Gabriel Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs), pose mounting global healthcare burdens. Despite advances in AI and health information technologies, early detection, precise diagnosis, and effective caregiver support remain elusive. This dissertation proposes innovative AI-enabled analytical frameworks to address these challenges across the full ADRD continuum.

The first essay designs an explainable AI-enabled clinical decision support system (CDSS) using a graph neural network for early AD identification, evaluated through usability studies demonstrating improved risk awareness and clinical engagement. The second essay introduces MADT-RNN, a multi-level attention-based deep transfer recurrent neural network that fuses convolutional and recurrent architectures …