Digital Commons Network^™

Integrated Biotechnological Strategies For Planetary Health And Ecosystem Restoration, Duygu T. Yildirim, A. Baki Yildirim, Donald Martin, Tommaso Beccari, Oscar Vicente, Iza Radecka, Fideline Tchuenbou-Magaia, Robert Marks, Ratnesh Lal, Satya Prakash, Adam Mechler, Mario Petrov Milkov, Svetlana Fotkova Georgieva, Ilia Iliev, Radka Kaneva, Nuriye Gokce, Galina Aleksieva Yaneva, Nadya Vasileva Agova, Nikoleta Dobromirova Ivanova, Izem Olcay Sahin, Mariya Kiryakova Tsvetkova, Ivelin Rosenov Iliev, Michel Salzet, Kisung Ko, Michele Maffia, Matteo Bertelli, Isabelle Fournier, Lejla Pojskic, Qun Sun, Lembit Nei, Reynir Armgrisson

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The escalation of ecological degradation, marked by climatic instability, precipitous biodiversity loss, and systemic chemical infiltration, necessitates a shift toward integrated biotechnological intervention. This analysis considers how the trajectory of diverse advanced methodologies, including environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance, CRISPR-based genetic restitution, and synthetic biology-driven bioremediation, might be synthesized into a unified Planetary Health Framework. By exploring the convergence of high-precision genomic engineering, AI-augmented bioinformatic modeling, and the tenets of a circular bio-economy, we examine the capacity of technological intervention to ameliorate ecological stressors and restore critical ecosystems. Moving beyond the constraints of conventional conservation, this discourse explores frontier solutions in …

Impact Of In Situ Observations From Three Torus Cases On Model Analyses And Forecasts Of Severe Convection, Robert M. Szot

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The quality of forecasts of severe deep convection in high-resolution numerical weather prediction is dependent on the representativeness of the model initial conditions. This representativeness may be negatively impacted by limited observation availability and by the presence of mesoscale heterogeneities that were not detected by conventional observations assimilated into convection-allowing models. By assimilating storm-scale observations from the Targeted Observation by Radars and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) of Supercells (TORUS) campaign into an ensemble styled after the Warn-on-Forecast System, this study aims to investigate if data from field work platforms can improve the quality of initial conditions in the ensemble, potentially …

Workplace Identity Disclosure: A Systematic Review And Psychometric Meta-Analysis Of Measurement And Correlates, Daniel Ryan Charles

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Workplace identity disclosure (WID) is a central process through which employees manage concealable stigmatized identities at work, yet the empirical literature is fragmented by inconsistent construct labels, varied measures, and uneven coverage across identity domains. This dissertation conducted a systematic review and psychometric meta-analysis of quantitative studies examining WID and related constructs. WID was defined as an umbrella construct encompassing disclosure-related behaviors through which employees make a concealable stigmatized identity known, more visible, or less hidden at work. The final review included 37 reports and 38 independent samples. Corrected bivariate associations were estimated for construct pairs represented by at least …

Exploring The Roles Of Grit And Health Anxiety In The Relationship Between Discrimination And Pain-Coping Among Adolescents And Young Adults, Giselle Mcpherson Isbell

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Chronic pain is a complex and highly prevalent concern that can significantly disrupt functioning during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Pain during this developmental period may interfere with academic engagement, social relationships, emotional functioning, and the transition toward independence. Psychosocial stressors such as discrimination and heightened health anxiety may negatively influence pain experiences and coping, whereas protective psychological characteristics such as grit may buffer these effects. The present study examined the relationships between discrimination, health anxiety, grit, pain outcomes, and coping strategies in emerging adults with chronic pain. Participants completed self-report measures assessing discrimination, health anxiety, grit, pain intensity and frequency, …

Explainable Artificial Intelligence In The Image Domain And Its Applications To The Medical Field, Mirtha Lucas

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This dissertation investigates the development of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods for deep learning models in the image domain, with a particular focus on medical imaging applications. Although neural networks achieve high predictive performance, their lack of interpretability limits their adoption in critical domains such as healthcare, where transparency and trust are essential. This work addresses this challenge by proposing novel approaches that improve the interpretability and reliability of model predictions.   A primary contribution is the introduction of Riemann–Stieltjes Integrated Grad-CAM (RSI Grad-CAM), a gradient-based attribution method that generates more relevant and spatially localized saliency maps. The method is evaluated …

Continuum Observations Of Water Maser Sites, Aman Khan

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Stars form in cores deep within cold (10 K) clouds of hydrogen gas. As material is accreted onto the central object inside these cores (the protostar), powerful outflows that channel mass away from the protostar are also launched. The launching mechanism for these outflows is still not fully understood. This thesis presents observations of the 22 GHz continuum emission from two star-forming regions, NGC 7129 FIRS2 and IC 1396-n. The immediate aim of these observations is to find where this continuum emission is coming from, particularly if it is free-free emission from a jet or outflow, and the long term …

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

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

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

“Affirming Minds, Lives, And Bodies”: Secondary English Teachers’ Perceptions Of Critical And Humanizing Antiracist Pedagogy In Urban Schools, Jennifer Leigh Ankerberg

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This qualitative study explores how White secondary English teachers perceive and enact antiracist approaches when teaching a prescribed, canon-based curriculum to students of color. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with four teachers in a large Midwestern urban district, the study finds that the participants, aligned with their district’s stated philosophies and experiencing significant instructional autonomy, leveraged professional and contextual knowledge to adapt and supplement mandated curriculum. Guided by critical pedagogy and critical literacy frameworks, the analysis reveals how teachers’ values, beliefs, and dispositions grounded an assemblage of embodied antiracist, critical, and humanizing pedagogies. The participants’ curricular and instructional choices reflected …

Socio-Informed Policing: Applying Bourdieu To Mandatory Police Reform Training, Neil T. Shelton El

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Contemporary U.S. police reform policies rely on officer training as a primary mechanism to address issues of law enforcement legitimacy and accountability. Yet, despite legitimacy-based curricula such as procedural justice, research indicates that this training struggles to produce durable changes in police practice. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to examine officers’ perceptions of mandated reform-oriented training. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice, the study conceptualized police training as a sociological process shaped by habitus, forms of capital, and the policing field. Data were collected from six officers in a large urban police department to examine how they internalize, …

The Relationship Between Culturally Based Mentoring And Academic Persistence In African-American And Latino Male Community College Students, Corey M. Williams

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Men of color, particularly African American and Latino males, continue to experience disproportionately low rates of persistence and degree completion in community colleges. While prior research has often focused on individual deficits, less attention has been given to the institutional conditions and relational supports that shape student success. This study examines how culturally grounded mentoring influences persistence, student involvement, and overall student success among men of color in a community college context. Grounded in Tinto’s theory of student persistence and Astin’s theory of student involvement, this qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of participants engaged in a structured mentoring …

The Impact Of Leadership Of International Baccalaureate Schools In Low Socio-Economic Communities, Sheena Wallker-Carruthers

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The International Baccalaureate (IB) has expanded rapidly into schools serving low socioeconomic status (SES) communities in the United States as part of broader efforts to increase access to rigorous, internationally recognized academic programming. While research has documented positive student outcomes associated with IB participation, less is known about the leadership conditions that support the long-term sustainability of IB programs in under resourced contexts. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examines IB leaders’ perceptions of implementation and sustainability challenges in low-SES school settings, the relationship between those challenges and perceived leadership effectiveness and program outcomes, and the adaptive strategies leaders identify as essential …

Illinois State Magazine, Spring 2026, University Marketing And Communications, Illinois State University

Illinois State Magazine (1999-present)

Illinois State University alumni magazine

University Oral Hygiene Behaviors Compared To The National Population, Noura Naami, Jordan Monteiro, Trisha Jois

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for preventing dental caries, periodontal disease, and systemic complications. However, the combined effects of brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, which are common oral practices, remain incompletely understood. While each practice has been studied individually, there is limited data existing that evaluates how different brands and the frequency of use interact to influence the oral environment. In this study, we use a cohort of 40 university aged individuals to examine oral hygiene behaviors compared to the general U.S. population. In regard to flossing, national data suggests that this behavior is the least consistently utilized method of …

The Effects Of Gender Crime Congruency On Jurors' Decisions And Confidence, Elizabeth Avila

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A basic principle of the U.S. court system is that every individual has the right to a fair and unbiased trial. While this is the ideal, it is not always reality. Jurors come in with their own beliefs and attitudes before the trial starts. These preconceived beliefs can jeopardize the integrity of the trial. An example of these beliefs is gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes can influence a juror's attitude towards a defendant, to either have a more negative or positive view on whether the defendant's gender matched the nature of their crime. This is called gender crime congruency. In this …

The Effects Of Parental Psychological Control On Adolescent Social Behavior And Outcomes: A Moderation Mediation Model, Bailee Hill

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Adolescence is a salient developmental period in which family and peer contexts jointly shape youths’ social behavior and adjustment. One family process that has received sustained attention is parental psychological control, a form of intrusive parenting characterized by guilt induction, love withdrawal, and autonomy suppression (Barber, 1996). Although prior research consistently links psychological control to adolescents’ maladaptive emotional and behavioral outcomes, less is known about the mechanisms through which these parenting practices extend beyond the home to influence adolescents’ social behaviors and social standing within school contexts.   Social behaviors within peer groups, particularly relational aggression and prosocial behavior, represent key …

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

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

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

Regional Price Index 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Statistics

The 2025 Regional Price Index (RPI) is the 12th State Government index comparing the cost of a common basket of goods and services in regional Western Australia to the Perth metropolitan area.

Reducing Unplanned Copd Readmissions Through Utilization Of A Nursing Discharge Checklist, Rachael Mcallister

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

The quality improvement (QI) project aimed to decrease readmission rates at the project site through implementation of a nurse-driven disease-specific discharge checklist when compared to the same timeframe the year prior.

BACKGROUND

The project site’s 2024 national ranking declined due to unplanned chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) readmissions. COPD readmissions remained at national average and was not nationally competitive. This metric increased cost to the hospital and contributed to worse quality outcomes for the patient.

METHODOLOGY

Project design used the IOWA Model Revised framework and supported with an evidence-based review of the literature. PDSA cycles were conducted during implementation. …

Optimizing Vbac Outcomes Through A Structured Tolac Pathway, Alexandra E. Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Evaluate whether implementing a structured TOLAC clinical pathway improves VBAC success, increases TOLAC attempts among eligible patients, and improves maternal and neonatal outcomes. The project was conducted at a Southeast hospital in Houston, Texas. 

Women with a prior cesarean often have limited labor options because many hospitals default to repeat cesarean delivery. TOLAC remains underutilized due to safety concerns, limited provider education, and lack of standardized protocols. Evidence shows that appropriate counseling, standardized management, and close maternal–fetal monitoring can support safe vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

A pre–post implementation design guided by the RE-AIM framework was used. Eligible participants included …

Streamlining Patient Workflow: Enhancing The Screening Process For Social Determinants Of Health To Ensure Consistent Patient Intake In A Medical Clinic, Candice L. Bruce

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase social determinants of health (SDOH) screening rates by incorporating an enhanced patient history form into the patient intake process in a women’s health clinic.

Background: The project was implemented in a small, rural clinic led by advanced practice providers that is affiliated with a large academic healthcare institution in southeast Texas. Addressing SDOH is essential for improving health outcomes and supporting value-based care initiatives, yet screening is often inconsistent in outpatient settings.

Methodology: The Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework was used for implementation. A brief SDOH screening tool was embedded …

Gynecological Effects Of Sex Trafficking, Tracey Sylvester

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Consequences Of Sex Trafficking, Brenda Myers-Powell

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Adultification Of Black Girls, Melanie Thompson

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Call To Action Against Sex Trafficking Of Black Women And Girls, Stephany Powell, Tracey Sylvester, Brenda Myers-Powell, Audrey Morrissey, Melanie Thompson

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Closing Remarks: Eyes Wide Shut, Sex Trafficking Of Women And Girls In The Black Community, Stephany Powell

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

National Fund For Children In Kazakhstan: Vision And Purpose, Askhat Aimagambetov

Center for Social Development Research

This Perspective presents the address given by Askhat Aimagambetov, honorable member of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the occasion of “The National Fund for Children of Kazakhstan: Policy Innovation and Potential for Global Impacts,” an international symposium held at Maqsut Narikbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, on October 30, 2025. The Center for Social Development is honored to publish his remarks.

Edu 26 Human Relations In Urban Schools, Elise Langan

Open Educational Resources

The syllabus for EDU 26 contains a course description, course objectives, course readings divided by week and a links to ZTC resources.

Edu 31 Introduction To Learning Disabilities And Inclusive Education Syllabus, Moet Bolden

Open Educational Resources

The syllabus for EDU 31 contains a course description, course objectives, course readings divided by week and links to ZTC readings.

The Lithic Assemblage From The 700,000-Year-Old Butchery Site Of Kalinga (Luzon Island, Philippines): New Insights Into Technological Variability In The Early Paleolithic In Island Southeast Asia, Alfred Pawlik, Justin Guibert, Jean-Baptiste Lambard, Gerald John Palaya, Jackie Despriée, Xavier Gallet, John De Vos, Andrea Dominique Cosalan, Paul C.H. Albers, M. Gema Chacón, Thomas Ingicco, Marian C. Reyes

Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications

Abstract

Not Just A Castle In The Sky: A Legal Remedy For Race-Based Takings In Virginia, Michaela R. Hill

William & Mary Law Review

Part I will address federal and state statutes and case law surrounding physical takings and the eminent domain power. Part I will also discuss Virginia’s history of racial discrimination in housing, the Shoe Lane Community in Newport News, and CNU’s expansion into the neighborhood for the elimination of blight. Part II will present the first prong of this Note’s three-pronged approach to correcting Virginia’s abuse of its eminent domain power to take residential properties: adopting stricter statutory blight standards. Part III will present the second prong: a new formula for calculating increased just compensation. Part IV will outline the third …