Digital Commons Network^™

The Bare Truth Behind A Sore Throat, Jennifer W. Glusman Do, Jamel Mansur Md, Martin E. Anderson, Mallory Logsdon Do

Advocate GME

Introduction/Background: A fully vaccinated 16-year-old female from Mexico with PMH of sinusitis requiring surgery, presented with a three-month history of chronic pharyngitis despite multiple courses of antibiotics, difficulty swallowing, voice changes, fevers, chills, and a 30-pound weight loss. ROS revealed acute-onset worsening throat pain, right-sided headache, ear pain, cough, and biliteral lacrimation. On exam, she was non-toxic, visibly uncomfortable. She had a severely muffled voice, lacrimation, bilateral tonsillar hypertrophy, pseudomembranes on right tonsil/pharynx, and difficulty swallowing thick secretions. Her neck was supple with normal ROM and no tenderness. She saturated well on room air but was tachycardic, had mild hepatosplenomegaly, …

The Expungement Process: Survey Evidence On Applicant Experiences, Mira Edmonds, J.J. Prescott, Sonja Starr, German Marquez Alcala

Articles

Tens of millions of Americans with publicly accessible criminal convictions face significant collateral consequences that affect their employment, housing, and family life, which not only harm these individuals but also limit society’s access to their skills, productivity, and participation. In response, policymakers have enlarged the scope and enhanced the accessibility of criminal-record expungement laws. Little is known, however, about how individuals perceive, navigate, and take advantage of these new, broader laws. This Article presents findings from a large-scale survey of 1,439 expungement applicants and recipients in Detroit, conducted in partnership with Project Clean Slate (PCS), a city initiative assisting residents …

Examining Relationships Between Us Children's Physical Activity Levels During Recess, School Days, And Weekend Days, Christopher M. Murphy, Erin K. Howie, Matthew J. Barenie, Kari A. Weber, Michael R. Thomsen

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: Physical activity opportunities, such as recess, in educational settings are vital yet only a handful of states have policies in place to ensure daily minimum recess allotment. We aim to investigate associations between physical activity during recess and other time periods to better understand the extent to which recess physical activity is related to physical activity throughout the week. Methods: Children K-5th grade were from four schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Children wore accelerometers on their waist to assess physical activity across the week. Chi-square and t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and multi-level mixed effects generalized linear regression were …

Midwifery Students' Evaluation Of Midwifery Practice Experiences In Australia: A National Survey, F. Bogossian, A. Hyun, D. Bloxsome, A. Brown, S. Cooper, S. Hunter, L. Kearney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To report the findings of the first 12 months of a national survey of midwifery students’ evaluation of midwifery practice experiences in Australia. Background: Accreditation standards for midwifery programs globally and in Australia, require evidence of monitoring and evaluation of student midwifery practice experiences. In 2022 the National Placement Evaluation Centre was commissioned to measure and enhance the quality of nursing and midwifery practice experiences. Design: Survey Methods: A national survey of midwifery students who completed midwifery practice experience in Australia between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. Results: Midwifery practice experiences (n = 871) were evaluated; most …

The Artichoke Model: A Conceptual Framework For Positive Food Environments In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) Settings, Ros Sambell, Audrey Elford, Tori Overstone, Rebecca Byrne, Kirsty Elliott, Sandra Vale, Penelope Love, Lisa Vincze, Leanne Elliston, Fiona Nave, Janny Goris, Emma Esdaile, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Artichoke Model is a conceptual framework developed to support the understanding of the breadth and influence of food environments in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings. It identifies twelve interrelated components spanning food provision, mealtime practices, curriculum integration, staff capacity, family engagement, and systemic enablers such as policy, equity, and environmental sustainability. Represented visually as an artichoke with the child at its centre, the model encourages holistic analysis, recognising that sustainable change requires the interconnected operation of all components, rather than isolated interventions. The Artichoke Model is intended as a tool for researchers, policymakers, and advocates to guide …

Breast And Prostate Cancer Survivors’ Understanding Of Risk And Management Of Cardiovascular And Musculoskeletal Side Effects Of Treatment: Findings From Focus Groups, Jack Dalla Via, Chris R. Andrew, Brenton J. Baguley, Nina Stewart, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Mandy Stanley, Mary A. Kennedy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Survival after a cancer diagnosis is improving, increasing the importance of understanding and managing long-term treatment-related adverse effects. This study aimed to understand breast and prostate cancer survivors’ understanding of how cancer treatment may affect cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health. Methods: Australian breast and prostate cancer survivors treated with therapies with known cardiovascular adverse effects were recruited via a private cancer care provider. Participants completed an online background questionnaire, then participated in a focus group. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: In total, 26 cancer survivors (15 breast, 11 prostate; mean age 67 years) …

Aiding Depth Perception In Initial Drone Training: Evidence From Camera-Assisted Distance Estimation, John Murray, Steven Richardson, Keith Joiner, Graham Wild

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots frequently experience difficulties with depth perception, particularly when estimating distances between the drone and environmental obstacles. This study evaluates whether the use of onboard camera imagery can improve exocentric distance estimation accuracy among ab initio drone pilots operating under visual line-of-sight (VLOS) conditions. Two groups of undergraduate students performed distance estimation tasks at 20 and 50 m. One group used direct observation only to estimate the exocentric distance between the drone and an obstacle. The second group, as well as direct observation, had access to a live video feed from the drone’s onboard camera via …

The Challenges Of Using Ultrasound To Measure The Trachea: A Brief Report, Helen Newman, Jodi Allen, Madan Narayanan, Nchafatso Obonyo, Nur Syahrunnizar, Karen Hammet, David Parry, Sarah Wallace, Anna-Liisa Sutt, Joseph Osterwalder, Daniel Martin

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is a common procedure in intensive care medicine, involving the insertion of an artificial airway through the front of the neck into the trachea. The size of tracheostomy tube in relation to the trachea is important, influencing clinical outcomes and patient experience. Ultrasound is readily available at the bedside and airway applications have been reported, including airway measurement. However, the presence of air within airway lumina presents challenges to ultrasound and causes artefact. Guidance is lacking on tracheal sonography and measurement.

AIM: to characterize the sonoanatomy of the inner tracheal wall and determine reference points for measuring tracheal …

Examining Equitable Participation With K-12 Teacher Leaders, Eva Thanheiser, Kathryn Elizabeth Roman, Ruth Heaton

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many organizations and researchers in mathematics education call for antibias practices, but addressing hidden biases remains challenging. Equity QUantified In Participation (EQUIP), a quantitative tool designed to analyze classroom participation patterns by social markers, helps teachers identify these subtle inequities. This paper describes a professional development (PD) intervention introducing EQUIP to five teacher leaders (TLs) and three coaches in a predominantly Latine district, focusing on setting up EQUIP to identify and address participation inequities in their classrooms. The TLs implemented EQUIP in their classroom and gathered participation data twice. Findings revealed that TLs took up EQUIP in different ways and …

Pollination And Essential Oil Production Of Lavandula Angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae), Riley B. Jackson, Tyler M. Wilson, Joseph S. Wilson, Zabrina Ruggles, Lindsey Topham Wilson, Chris Packer, Jacob G. Young, Christopher R. Bowerbank, Richard E. Carlson

Biology Faculty Publications

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., lavender, is an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family. Lavender, which is native to the Mediterranean region but cultivated throughout the world, is an important economic plant. Several studies have investigated two aspects of this aromatic plant: (1) which pollinators, particularly bees, pollinate lavender, and (2) the composition of lavender essential oil. However, little research has been conducted to investigate how pollination affects either the yield or phytochemistry of lavender. The current study, which was conducted in North America, investigates which bee species visit lavender and how pollination affects plant chemistry, specifically the essential oil produced by …

A New Exceptionally Preserved Phosphatocopid Crustacean From The Furongian Of Laurentia And A Synthesis Of Cambrian Phosphatocopid Distribution Patterns, Rhicert Reynolds, Thomas Wong-Hearing, Mark Williams, Thomas Harvey, Ayari Yanagihara, Duncan Murdock, Repetski John, James Loch, Daniel Lunt, Neil Gostling

Faculty of Science and Engineering Datasets

CT scan TIFF Files and STL files of Planamandibulus nevadensis (Arthropoda:Phosphatocopidia). Cambrian Arthropod.

Visualizing Seascapes As A Method For Engaging Stakeholders In Discussions About Resilience, Dominica Williamson, Louisa Evans, Mark Bryant, Caroline Hattam, Tara Hooper, Andy Hughes, Timur Jack-Kadioglu, Fazlun Khalid, John Martin, Celine Miternique, Karyn Morrissey, Lorna Slade, Ali Thani, Kathy Young

Professional Services

Coastal communities have complex bodies of knowledge around environmental change, resilience, and sustainability, which extractive forms of research are not well suited to understand. This paper outlines an arts-based action research pilot project to understand social-ecological resilience in the Western Indian Ocean. Our project used visual, artistic, and participatory approaches to foster co-learning and action research on: (1) the arts-based methods themselves and (2) resilience building in coastal communities and ecosystems. This paper focuses on the former elements. We present our inherently phenomenological approach as a research assemblage that can be used to bring together different communities and stakeholders, disciplines, …

Volume 34, Number 2, Summer/Fall 2025, Office Of Communications, Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine, 2018-present

VOLUME 34 | NUMBER 2 | Summer/Fall 2025

ON OUR COVER:

The Illinois Wesleyan University archives, housed on the fourth floor of The Ames Library, holds many artifacts of IWU history, including the original university charter and a gold medal awarded to John Marden, clas of 1909, for his breakthrough work in atomic science and engineering.

18 175 Years of Illinois Wesleyan University. Celebrate IWU's history with a timeline of the last 175 years of our community's milestones.

26 Alumni Award Winners. Meet our Award Winners John Camardella '03, Natalie Lalagos '12, and Carol Willis '68.

Student Imaginaries: The Role Of Universities In Addressing The Polycrisis, Susana Maria Ruiz Sors

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores graduate student perceptions from the Public Affairs and Security Studies (PASS) program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) regarding the role of universities in addressing interconnected environmental, economic, political, and social challenges, described here as a “polycrisis” (Lawrence et al., 2024). Using a mixed-methods approach, the study surveyed 42 students through Likert-scale questions and open-ended prompts. Results show students view economic inequality, political instability, and threats to democracy as the most pressing societal issues. While environmental issues were seen as important, they ranked lower in urgency. Students expect universities to address these challenges through …

Carbohydrate Metabolism In The Intercaruncular Endometrium Is Affected By Form Of Supplemental Selenium At Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy In Beef Heifers, Sarah N. Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Kwangwon Son, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils result in Se-deficient forages that do not meet the nutritional requirement for this trace mineral in grazing cattle. Supplementation of Se conventionally occurs through a basal vitamin/mineral mix containing Se in an inorganic form (ISe), although organic Se (OSe) is available when cattle graze on forage. We previously reported that the provision of supplemental Se as a 1:1 mixture of ISe:OSe (MIX), in contrast to the industry standard of ISe alone, increases early luteal phase concentrations of systemic progesterone (P4) and increases the length of the conceptus at day 17 of pregnancy. The objectives herein were to …

An Investigation Of Preservice And Novice Elementary Education Graduate Students’ Self-Efficacy Toward Teaching Engineering Design, Victoria Harkins Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how an experiential learning–based pedagogical approach influenced the development of teaching engineering self-efficacy in preservice and novice elementary education graduate students. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, the study examined the impact of mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and affective states on shaping participants’ instructional self-efficacy. Data were collected using the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale (TESS), written reflections, and a focus group. Engineering pedagogical content knowledge was the only TESS construct to show statistically significant gains, while qualitative findings indicated broader growth in self-efficacy and emotional readiness. The study’s …

Investigating The Role Of Metallothioneins In Fungal Iron Homeostasis, David Eap

Theses and Dissertations

The pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus requires metals to survive and infect humans, but metal overload can be detrimental. Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins that alleviate metal toxicity by binding excess metals (typically Zn or Cu) for storage or delivery. A recent report indicates that the Fe-S cluster binding glutaredoxin GrxD and the putative Cu-MT CmtA were interacting under high iron conditions in A. fumigatus. We hypothesize that this MT may have a role in binding iron or Fe-S clusters under iron overload conditions to prevent iron toxicity. We also aim to characterize this new MT by determining its …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On The Sport Industry: Trademark Challenges And Legal Issues For Sport Brands, Suji Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and trademark law, focusing on the implications of AI-driven brand management in the sport industry. As AI technologies increasingly shape marketing strategies, particularly through fan engagement and content creation, they present new legal challenges, especially concerning trademark infringement, false endorsement, and the protection of athletes’ Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The study analyzes key legal issues arising from AI’s role as both a tool and a potential legal actor in brand management, emphasizing the evolving definitions of “use in commerce” and the liability of sport organizations and third-party platforms.

Through …

Relative Hazard Losses Along The Atlantic And Gulf Coasts, Erin Kemp

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal areas face a variety of natural hazards, many of which are increasing in frequency or severity due to climate change. Continued coastal development emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the impact of these hazards on coastal communities. This study aims to improve this understanding by investigating temporal, spatial, and causal patterns in county-level relative losses (RL) from hazards along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from 2001 to 2021. Three research questions are addressed: 1) Are relative losses increasing over time in coastal counties? 2) Where are the highest relative losses among coastal counties? and 3) Which hazards …

Satellite Radar Imagery Analysis For Ground Hazard Risk Monitoring In Railway Tracks And Slopes, Sumanth Varma Byrraju

Theses and Dissertations

Railway transportation is essential to national economies globally, and disruptions from geohazards can result in significant operational delays and considerable economic consequences. Satellite radar technologies, including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), offer an effective means to monitor geohazard risks across extensive railway networks. This thesis employs Multi-Temporal InSAR (MTInSAR) techniques, including Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSInSAR) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS), to identify high-risk areas along railway rights of way (ROW) prior to geohazard occurrences. However, the efficiency of these MT-InSAR and, consequently, the caliber of the data generated may be restricted by elements like topographical profile, vegetation, and surface soil …

An Efficient Detection And Deep Clustering Based Pipeline For Reliable Rodent Ultrasonic Vocalization Analysis, Sabah S. Anis

Theses and Dissertations

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are critical for understanding rodents' emotional states and social behaviors. However, manual analysis of USVs is time-consuming, subjective, and prone to errors. This thesis presents an automated pipeline that addresses these challenges by performing efficient USV detection and clustering. The proposed approach significantly reduces the time and effort needed to analyze USV data while improving accuracy and reproducibility.

To address this gap, we introduce ContourUSV, a five-step pipeline for USV detection. First, it begins with generating spectrograms from audio recordings, which are then pre-processed to enhance the contrast between USVs and background noise. Key steps include median …

Exploring Cultural Capital And Literacy Practices In Chinese Immigrant Families: A Critical Ethnographic Case Study, Yuechen Sun

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the cultural capital and literacy practices of Chinese immigrant families residing in a Southeastern U.S. city. Using an ethnographic case study approach, the research examines two groups of Chinese immigrant parents: those with higher educational backgrounds and those who are restaurant owners. The study investigates how parents’ educational and cultural backgrounds influence their perceptions of and commitments to their children’s education, as well as their home literacy practices. It also explores their understanding of the model minority stereotype and their views on educational equity in the U.S. The findings reveal that both groups of parents value education …

Professional Learning Communities And Digital Literacy: A Framework For Elementary Education, Lauren Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

As digital technologies redefine the definition of literacy, elementary teachers face the challenge of effectively integrating digital literacies into their classroom spaces. This dissertation examines how professional development can enhance teachers’ understanding and implementation of high-quality digital literacy practices. Grounded in the New Literacies framework, the study identifies key characteristics of effective digital literacy instruction and explores how professional development that is contextualized, meaningful, and sustained can foster these practices. Using data from classroom observations, professional learning communities, and teacher interviews, the research highlights how individualized coaching and collaboration empower teachers to create authentic, engaging, and critical digital literacy experiences. …

Post-Selection Inference In Regression Models, Qinyan Shen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops new methodology for valid statistical inference following model selection in various regression settings. We first consider the logistic regression model for a binary response that can only be observed at the group level, as in group testing, and is subject to testing error. With the true responses only partially observed, we employ the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to account for missing information in the response data and simultaneously conduct variable selection using the LASSO-penalized log-likelihood function. After variable selection, we extend an existing post-selection inference method based on the polyhedral lemma \parencite{lee2016exact} to make inferences on selected covariates, …

Exploring Technology Use And Loneliness Among African American Older Adults, Sarah Pace

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness among African American older adults is a pressing public health concern, affecting more than one-quarter of this population and increasing the risk of premature death. This study explores the experiences of loneliness among African American older adults and examines the technologies they use, the purposes they serve, and their perceived role in mitigating loneliness. It also investigates barriers and facilitators to technology use for promoting social connection. Guided by the Social Support Theory and Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM3), the study centers the perspectives of an underrepresented population.

Fifteen African American women aged 67–82 participated in semi-structured interviews between …

Methods And Applications For Bayesian Semiparametric Survival Analysis, Zile Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Survival analysis is a cornerstone of biomedical and clinical research and plays an important role in fields as diverse as engineering, actuarial science, and sociology. In this dissertation, we develop new semiparametric Bayesian methodology for three problems from survival analysis: 1) adjustment for treatment crossover in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 2) multilevel modeling of clustered survival outcomes when the cluster size is also informative, and 3) divide-and-conquer Bayesian inference for massive survival data. Our methods are semiparametric in the sense that we assume the covariates have a linear effect with regard to the log-hazard or the log- survival time; however, …

The Moderating Effects Of Religious Support And Family Support Between Racial Discrimination And Psychological Health Outcomes Among Black Adolescents, Tiera Cleveland

Theses and Dissertations

Racial discrimination is a common experience for Black adolescents. This study aimed to examine family support and religious support as a moderating variable between discrimination and mental health among Black adolescents. This study utilized data from an existing data set, the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent (NSAL-A). The NSAL-A included 1170 adolescents: 810 African American¹ and 360 Black Caribbean². The sample contained an equal amount of female (n = 608) and male (n = 562) Black adolescents³, who range in age from 13 to 17 years. Significant findings suggest that family support moderates the impact …

Contemporary Anaylsis Of Black Male Experience Through Photovoice: A Second-Year Exploration, Ashley Dillahunt Dantzler

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the second-year experiences of successful Black males at predominantly White institutions (PWIs), focusing on the University of South Carolina. While the second-year experience has gained attention in higher education research, specific insights into the challenges and successes faced by African American male students remain limited. This study highlights the critical issues surrounding sophomore retention, emphasizing that while universities often concentrate on first and final-year experiences, the second year is pivotal for academic success and continuation. Through qualitative methods, the research captures the narratives of ten participants, revealing common themes related to belonging, cultural understanding, and the impact …

The Mystery Of Narrative Structure: How Scooby-Doo Challenges Episodic Conventions, Evrie Joy Pruitt

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the Scooby-Doo franchise employs narrative complexity within an episodic formula, balancing accessibility with layered storytelling. Analyzing two pivotal iterations, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969) and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010), the research challenges the perception that episodic animation is inherently simplistic.

While the original series established a consistent mystery-of-the-week format, characterized by predictable structures and comedic relief, it also demonstrated narrative ingenuity through character dynamics and tonal balance. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! navigated the industrial constraints of Saturday morning cartoons, designed for syndication and commercial viability, by embedding recurring character dynamics, atmospheric tension, and iterative mystery tropes …

Quinone-Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer In Escherichia Coli During Glucose Oxidation Metabolism, Megan Danielle Whisonant

Theses and Dissertations

The growing global demand for energy, ongoing reliance on fossil fuels, and increasing water pollution from industrial and anthropogenic sources present significant environmental challenges. In response to these issues, renewable and sustainable energy sources offer substantial potential for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring access to clean water. Microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) have emerged as promising, eco-friendly solutions for energy-efficient wastewater treatment and bioremediation. A key challenge in MESs development is facilitating effective electron transfer between microorganisms and electrode surfaces. The first chapter of this thesis discusses the fundamentals of MES types, explains mechanisms of extracellular electron transfer, and …