Digital Commons Network^™

Structured Exposure In An Unstructured Setting: Case Study Of Parental Exposure Intervention To Increase Parental Mastery Of Medical Care During Inpatient Hospitalization, Dana Albright, Kristin A. Kullgren, Melissa N. Andersen

Health Services and Informatics Research

Objective:

Method:

Multi-Factor Disturbance Regimes Drive Soil Fungal Community Composition Across A Southwestern Us Riparian Cottonwood Landscape, Rich Wagner

Biology ETDs

In southwestern US riparian cottonwood forests, anthropogenic changes have replaced the structuring force of seasonal flooding with novel multi-factor disturbance regimes, driving these ecosystems to new states. While the impetus for restoration is high, little attention has been paid to understanding belowground feedbacks from these new drivers. Using high-throughput sequencing of environmental DNA, we compared the impacts of fires, exotic plants, restoration practices and lower levels of disturbance on soil fungal community composition and diversity across a riparian cottonwood landscape in New Mexico. We focused on mycorrhizal fungi for the benefits they may confer upon cottonwoods. We found that along …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Stem Cell Function In The Drosophila Central Nervous System, Amalia S. Parra

Biology ETDs

Development of multicellular organisms depends on coordination of various molecular mechanisms to ensure proper tissue size and structure. This is accomplished through intrinsic and extrinsic cues that regulate cell growth and proliferation both spatially and temporally. These well-coordinated signals are present from early developmental stages and remain active throughout development to ensure tissue structure is appropriate for function. This is particularly important in early cell types that form specialized lineages such as stem cells or those found throughout the body such as epithelia. While much progress has been made in understanding growth regulatory mechanisms, several fundamental aspects remain unknown. This …

The Use Of Digitalization And Internet Of Things To Help Alleviate Traffic Congestion In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nujuma Ibrahim

Theses

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, has a population of just over 5 million people in 2021. This is 4.4% more than the population in 2020, and 8.8% more than the population in 2019 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Metro Area population 1950-2021). With rapid urbanization and economic growth Addis Ababa’s transportation infrastructure is unable to meet the demands of the population. As a result, the city is facing high rates of traffic congestion. Based on the research conducted by Wondwossen Taddesse for his paper on ‘Assessing & quantifying the level of traffic congestion at major intersections, the average traffic congestion …

Embedded Solar Tracker Design Utilizing Solar Position Calculation With Sensor Correction, Austin Martinez

Theses

As renewable energy becomes more accessible, affordable optimization solutions have become a larger part of at home systems. Solar energy is one of the most common clean energy applications used by homeowners because of its increasing affordability. While many photovoltaic systems are statically mounted on roofs or in yards, many systems also employ some kind of solar tracking. Both single axis and dual axis solar tracking systems have been implemented and tested with multiple kinds of tracking methods. Two of the most accurate tracking strategies are utilizing light dependent resistors or using some kind of solar position calculation. This paper …

A Study Of Large-Scale Structure Evolution Through Sunyaev-Zel’Dovich Corrections In Massive Clusters, Victoria Butler

Theses

The evolution of large-scale structure is traced by galaxy clusters, which are groups of galaxies gravitationally bound by a shared envelope of dark matter on scales of 1-10 Mpc. They are filled with an intra-cluster medium (ICM) consisting of a diffuse hot plasma with characteristic temperature $10^7K. While ICM models match reasonably well with observations, smaller-scale astrophysical processes in clusters can complicate interpretations of derived thermodynamic properties. These can include cluster-cluster mergers, feedback from active black holes, and accretion, among several others. The complex relationship between these processes and the properties of the ICM must be understood to use clusters …

Machine Learning Based Framework For Smart Contract Vulnerability Detection In Ethereum Blockchain, Qusai Omar Mustafa Hasan

Theses

Abstract

Blockchain technology is a disruptive technology that revolutionized digital payments and transactions of digital assets. Blockchain transactions operate using smart contracts which are automated software code that facilitates transactions between parties without the need for intermediary systems. Smart contracts have become an increasingly popular means of conducting transactions and executing code in a decentralized manner. As it can be written in various languages which have their flaws in terms of logic and vulnerabilities, also the immutability and autonomy of smart contracts also make them vulnerable to various security threats. Security for smart contracts is essential as exploiting bad logic …

Think Of Rivers, Nell Pittman

Theses

Think of Rivers searches for the presence of my parents in the landscape. My dad through the landscape where his ashes now lie, and my mom in the ways she taught my sister and me how to live. These photographs are autobiographical, encapsulating cycles of life and death. They are about my familial experiences and my drive to make sense of my experiences through subjects of landscape, specifically in Rochester, NY where my mom grew up. Making these pictures helps me to make sense of my childhood and my mom’s grief, which turns me towards her. Think of Rivers reflects …

The Automation Of Translation Between Sign Language Variants Through Artificial Intelligence, Mohammad Sultan Buafra

Theses

Language is the method of communication between individuals and communities through either sounds, written symbols, or visual gestures. There is a variety of languages around the world. One significant language that is made up of hand gestures is sign language and it is the main method of communication between and with deaf people. Translation between languages is a practice that has been automated with the advancement of artificial intelligence, this has also allowed for the translation of sign language into written language. However, there remains a certain gap in translating between regional variants of sign language. The purpose of this …

Optimizing Voronoi Tessellation Façade’S Capability For Pollution Removal And Interior Daylighting In An Urban Environment, Simon Bai

Theses

Air pollutants are a major health concern in urban zones worldwide, and these unnoticeable air particulates and gases are detrimental to the individuals’ respiratory and cardiovascular wellbeing. Since buildings are the most abundant structure within these built environments, this study focuses on how to utilize the façade of these structures in an attempt to solve the escalating air pollution problem. In this case, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is introduced to give building façades the capability to deal with air pollution in addition to being inexpensive and chemically stable. A TiO2 surface makes use of photocatalysis under ultraviolet (UV) light to decompose …

End-To-End Network Slicing Using Hypergraph Theory, Omar Abdul-Latif

Theses

Network slicing is the practice of implementing multiple virtualized and independent architectures on a single physical network infrastructure, in a way that allows for multiplexing and efficient use of resources. Network slicing is based on the concept of network virtualization and, when it reaches maturity, is expected to result in complete softwarization of 5G, Beyond-5G (B5G) and 6G networks. This means that future networks will only need minimal physical infrastructure upgrades (mostly in the frontend of the network). Network slicing is identified as one of the key enablers of next generation wireless mobile networks due to its ability to multiplex …

Improved Grover’S Implementation Of Quantum Binary Neural Networks, Brody A. Wrighter

Theses

Binary Neural Networks (BNNs) are the result of a simplification of network parameters in Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The computational complexity of training ANNs increases significantly as the size of the network increases. This complexity can be greatly reduced if the parameters of the network are binarized. Binarization, which is a one bit quantization, can also come with complications including quantization error and information loss. The implementation of BNNs on quantum hardware could potentially provide a computational advantage over its classical counterpart. This is due to the fact that binarized parameters fit nicely to the nature of quantum hardware. Quantum …

Hardware Accelerators And Their Use In Computer Vision, Cameron Villone

Theses

The evolution of technology is impressive. Before digital, there was analog; before software, there needed hardware. This evolution is natural as we try and optimize technology for our needs. The shift to digital was fueled by the space saved from using digital systems compared to analog. When it came to software, the ability to use generic hardware in the forms of cen- tral processing units; CPUs, Graphics Processing Units; GPUs, and Random Access Memory; RAM allowed for complex software solutions to be able to run on many different devices with- out much need for translations. With software development getting so …

Redi Report, May 2023, School Of Music

REDI (Representing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Report

Report from the Illinois State University School of Music REDI (Representing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee.

School Of Music Faculty/Staff Newsletter, May 2023, School Of Music

School of Music Faculty/Staff Newsletter

Accomplishments and news from the faculty and staff of the School of Music at Illinois State University.

God’S Favorite: Hollywood Archivists And Peddlers, Daniela Farfan

Comm-entary

In his exhibition, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Photographer David LaChapelle features well-known celebrities that are sometimes revered as God’s favorites. The mirage of Hollywood is glamorous and beautiful. Hollywood is a place of dreams congruent with limitless imagination and youth. LaChapelle’s photographs feature celebrities who sacrifice themselves to achieve and exemplify the ideals of show business and celebrity. LaChapelle’s portraits offer insight into the fantasy and truth behind celebrity.

The Role Of Epistemics In Storytelling, Ashley Kayla White

Comm-entary

Epistemics play a vital role in storytelling sequences. In fact, laying the necessary epistemic groundwork before engaging in a storytelling sequence may make the difference between successful and unsuccessful story receptions. Taking a conversation analytic approach and drawing from one story-rich recording, this paper aims to explore the role of epistemics in storytelling sequences captured in day-to-day interaction. To achieve this, several critical conversation analytical concepts are employed. These include repair, expansion, physical gesturing, preference organization, reference, delicate formulations, assessments, and more. This paper adds to a framework of conversation analysis scholarship by drawing explicit connections between two distinct concepts …

Framing Radical Care And Radical Empathy In The #Blacklivesmatter Movement, Ashley White

Comm-entary

This thesis looks at the ongoing media framing of the #BlackLivesMatter movement (primarily in the realm of journalism) to argue that incorporating elements of radical care and radical empathy in how we communicate stories can lead to transformative change. The paper looks at the history of the movement, with attention paid to the major cases that have sparked outrage, protests, and policy changes in the United States in the last decade. Attention is also paid to the #SayHerName movement and the role of intersectionality in whether some stories reach prominence or not. Following this, a comprehensive explanation of the concepts …

Comm-Entary 43rd Edition, 2022-2023 - Full Issue

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Creating An Occupational Therapy Based Preschool Curriculum, Taelor Gartman

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project is geared toward creating and implementing an occupational therapy-based therapy program for the preschool population at Kids-A-Cat-A-Me daycare in Trumann, Arkansas. The goal of the project was to implement key principals from occupational therapy to children in early childhood development. Exposing the children to fine motor skills, gross motor skills, handwriting skills, and play skills on a daily basis allows them to practice and master age-appropriate skills. Exposure to the developmental skills aims to prevent maladaptive behaviors, while promoting growth and development.

Leaders Create Leaders: A Transformational Perspective, Kyra Wright

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The doctoral capstone experience aims to assess and facilitate new hires' professional and clinical reasoning skills to ensure they provide high-quality care and succeed within the organization. Participants will understand transformational leadership theory and how it aligns with occupational therapy. Participants will understand how transformational leadership principles can be applied to leadership roles. Participants will be able to understand the implications of fostering transformational leadership within the workplace.

Health Management Program For Homeless Veterans, Rileigh Smith Daniels

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

In the United States, it's clear that homelessness within the veteran population is rampant, with programs only slowing the growing number, not decreasing it. The inclusion of health management skills within the homeless veteran community can help reduce homelessness and prolong life satisfaction within this population. Access to health care, nutrition management skills, and social promotion and maintenance can help decrease homelessness within the homeless veteran population by providing the health management skills needed to obtain occupational balance. By implementing occupational therapy’s role and scope within health management skills, the hope is that homelessness within the veteran community will decrease …

Leap 2.0: Theatre As A Therapeutic Modality For Adults With Special Needs, Sydnie Walker

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the multi-week theatre workshop is to help adults with special needs experience increased quality of life and daily functioning by facilitating the development of skills in social participation, leisure participation, and community engagement through the collaborative theatre process.

Developing Meaningful Leisure Activities For Residents In An Assisted-Living Facility, Mabry Watson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Ultimately, residents’ engagement in leisure activities within assisted living facilities are crucial to increase their overall quality of life, self-esteem, and longevity. The lack of activity coordinators not providing resident-centered activities promotes the need for meaningful leisure activity programs to decrease occupational deprivation. Occupational therapists’ primary obligation is to promote independence within assisted-living facilities and any client they are presented with. OTs determine what their clients identify as meaningful to them in their daily occupations. They have a unique perspective on health and wellness, allowing them to design programs that focus on the benefits of providing meaningful and productive occupations …

Suicide Prevention In The Adolescent And Young Adult Population, Marlee June Stepp

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Suicide is a complex topic and requires a multi-discplinary approach. Various health professionals need to be involved in the training and care of suicide prevention. There is a lack of standardized approach in medical schools to properly train students in suicide prevention. Advocacy, awareness, and evidence-based training are needed.

Educating Healthcare Professionals On Burnout Risk Factors, Effects, & Interventions, Rian Thomas

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Purpose: Address the occupational phenomena of burnout through the intervention of education by making aware the risk factors of obtaining it, its effects on an individual, and interventions that can combat it. Program Development: Utilized evidence based resources to create an educational module to present to the staff and healthcare workers of the site. The module included risk factors that increase the chances of obtaining burnout, the effects of burnout on an individual, and interventions that have been proven to have positive effects on combating burnout.

Improving Health Outcomes Of Families: An Agency-Wide Database To Support Parental Education, Savannah Williams

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project was to increase access to parent and child education in order to improve the health outcomes of families in Arkansas. The agency-wide database is a program that provides access to educational and informative resources to be utilized when working with families. A quality improvement evaluation, paired with critical review of a SWOT analysis, was conducted to enhance understanding of the site’s current resources. Resources within the database were modified, acquired from outside sources, or created utilizing evidence to support content.

Nurturing Neonates: Navigating The Nicu, Paige Lunceford

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Nurturing Neonates is a caregiver education program designed to provide occupation-based, health literate, and multi-modal education to caregivers of infants in the NICU. The program is designed to occur in conjunction with hospitals housing Level I-IV NICUs, serving as an extension of care to neonates through education of their caregivers to facilitate safe and developmentally-appropriate care following the transition to home.

Implications Of Pelvic Floor Health For Postpartum Women Within A Crossfit Setting, Chamy D. Keough

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the capstone was to gain valuable experience in an emerging practice area and create a comprehensive pelvic health program to increase social and emotional support perceived by new mothers, address new physical limitations experienced and advocate for new mothers within a CrossFit setting.

Developing Activities That Promote Social Participation For Dementia Residents Residing In Assisted Living Facilities, Rebecca Northcutt

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to create and implement a social participation program of activities to address and enhance the health and wellness and social needs of the dementia residents residing in the Liberty Park assisted living facility.