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The Little Things Don\u27t Go Unnoticed
No full textThis is an image of a glacial stream near Kverkfjöll Volcano in Iceland, where I participated in a geological research field school. The bright green moss grows around the creeks in this area and is hydrophobic, therefore water droplets rest on top of the plant. I passed this stream every day on my way to hike the mountain to our research location. It is a reminder that amongst all the gray and black tones of basalts and andesites lies bright colors similar to the safety vest of my peer.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/ior2025/1012/thumbnail.jp
CSD Students of Color Navigating the Graduate School Admissions Process: A Gauntlet
Full text linkRegardless of entry point, nearly all potential speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States (US) share the experience of navigating the arduous application process for graduate school. For students of color, especially first-generation students, this application process can serve to cause them to question whether they belong in the field. This may be one of the key factors that manifests itself in the lack of diversity within the profession. This study followed nine undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) students across nine months from application cycle through post-baccalaureate life as they shared their experiences about deciding whether to apply for graduate school and how they navigated the process, as well as how they felt as they transitioned into their post-baccalaureate lives. Using testimonio (Delgado, 2012) as a methodology, students shared their experience as they attempted to compete for the limited seats available in graduate school. This study contributed a real-time voice from students as they navigated the graduate school application process. Many students felt unsupported in the process, a fact that kept some students from applying at all. With a need for more diverse professionals in the field, this study contributes to an understanding of what factors may serve as barriers for students of color as they consider graduate school
Using Mind Maps to Make Student Knowledge Visible in an AAC Course
Full text linkConcept maps make students’ knowledge visible. Creating a mind map gives students an opportunity to organize their knowledge and allows instructors to visualize and assess it. When students create mind maps at multiple time points, instructors can compare the maps and use the themes, patterns, and gaps that emerge to reflect on their teaching and take action. The purpose of this study was to use concept maps in an AAC course to uncover students’ knowledge. A total of 61 graduate students created a mind map with AAC as the central concept at the beginning and end of the term in a graduate-level AAC course. The researchers calculated frequency counts of concepts and connections on each map and completed categorical analyses. Analysis revealed an increase in students’ breadth and depth of knowledge of AAC and related concepts. Concepts related to populations of AAC users, access methods, collaboration, and high tech and no tech AAC systems appeared most frequently on participants’ mind maps. Assessment, intervention, and funding concepts appeared less frequently. Benefits and challenges to implementing concept maps are discussed so educators can consider how concept mapping may be useful in their contexts
Structured Activities to Introduce Management Research to Undergraduate Business Students
Full text linkFollowing the frameworks for research and inquiry-based learning, this paper describes a series of activities which can be used in undergraduate management classrooms to expose students to management research. The focus of these activities on finding reputable article summaries allows instructors to introduce management research, explain how to evaluate it, and discuss the key implications of research without overwhelming students with the prose and technicalities presented in full research articles. The activities presented in this paper are intended to help students become informed seekers and consumers of research about organizational behavior and human resource management topics. Through bounded exploration in these activities, students are encouraged to think about workplace topics that interest them, find research summaries about this topic, and create their own hypotheses about people at work. These small activities can help to bridge the gap between research and practice by making research consumption more accessible to today\u27s students and tomorrow\u27s managers
Enhancing Data Wrangling Efficiency Using AI
Full text linkData wrangling is an important step in transforming raw data into the right format for the right analysis. Unfortunately, using the manual method can be drudgery and unreliable, not to mention error prone, especially with complex data sets. This study examines the role of AI in planning and organizing data wrangling tasks in the form of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) using an AI prioritizing tool. The research looks at how well and with how much breadth and flexibility the approach performs to deliver WBS prioritized tasks compared to a manually generated WBS prioritized tasks and deploy and test a few scenarios. Three scenarios are looked at, which are general wrangling tasks, specific analytical needs and domain-specific problems. As per the results, the approach can provide WBS prioritized tasks in a timely sequence and AI can come up fast and in structured way all this is same as the case generated manually but it is yet dependent on humans for domain wise details. This study emphasizes the improvement of data preparation when combined the human creativity with the fleeter and systematic pace of automation
Game or no Game: Navigating Office Politics and Female Leaders Success through the ‘Labyrinth’ Metaphor Lens
Full text linkThe examination of women and leadership has always focused on power dynamics, biases, and identity inside organizations, particularly with the challenges women encounter in the workplace. This study presents the concept of office politics as it pertains to women’s career advancement and its impact on female leaders in the workplace. The objective of the study is to examine how women in organizations navigate office politics, dealing with it as a barrier to career progression. The labyrinth metaphor proposed by Eagly and Carli (2007) served as the conceptual framework to illustrate the challenges women encounter in organizations while pursuing leadership roles. Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory was utilized to demonstrate how office politics in the workplace can result in the formation of in-group and out-group members. A semi-structured interview was conducted via Zoom videoconferencing platform with fifteen (15) female leaders from various organizations in the United States. The data collected was analyzed using Braun and Clarke\u27s (2006) thematic analysis guide, resulting in the identification of four overarching themes. This study’s findings indicate that women typically view office politics negatively, as they feel it results in their exclusion from significant decision-making in their organizations, which reflects biases and stereotypes. Female leaders also build networks and strategic alliances to navigate office politics
Neural Network Algorithm and Analysis for Multi-Label ECG Data Classification
Full text linkElectrocardiogram (ECG) analysis is a fundamental diagnostic tool in cardiology, providing critical insights into cardiac function that directly impact patient care decisions and treatment outcomes. As healthcare systems face increasing demands, automated ECG interpretation using artificial intelligence offers promising solutions to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce physicians workload, and enhance early detection of life threatening conditions.
This thesis compares two advanced deep learning architectures, CNN-GRU and Wide and Deep Transformer, for multi-label classification of 12-lead ECG data. Using data from the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2020, I evaluated both architectures across 27 different cardiac abnormalities. Results demonstrated that CNN-GRU architecture consistently outperformed Transformer models, achieving a validation AUC of 0.9169 compared to 0.8918 for the Transformer. The performance gap was most obvious for rare cardiac conditions, where CNN-GRU models successfully detected important abnormalities that Transformer models completely missed. Error analysis revealed both architectures struggled with signal quality variations and complex multi-label interactions, though CNN-GRU showed greater robustness overall.
This research provides insights into the strengths and limitations of different deep learning approaches for ECG analysis, establishing that combined convolutional-recurrent architectures are currently more effective than Transformer-based models for comprehensive cardiac abnormality detection. Future work should focus on developing hybrid architectures that addresses class imbalance issues and conduct more extensive validation across diverse patient populations. The findings have important implications for developing reliable clinical decision support systems for automated ECG interpretation that can improve cardiac care delivery
Nutrient Transport and Transformation in Anaerobic Co-digestion of Crop Residues and Swine Manure
Full text linkCover crops may improve soil quality, water quality, soil health, reduce soil fertilizer use, and increase nutrient availability to cash crops. The benefits of cover crops are discussed due to the below ground presence of cover crops, but the aboveground biomass can serve as a source of sustainable energy through anerobic digestion. The nutrients in the above ground biomass can also be recycled and reused through land application of digestion effluent. We have tested anaerobic co-digestion of different biomass feedstocks: cover crops, soybean stalk, and corn stover with swine manure using both small and pilot scale digesters. Nutrients, specifically NPK, were analyzed in different forms and their distributions. It was observed that co-digestion improved biogas production of all feedstocks.
Soybean biomass that was co-digested with swine manure a 60:40 mixing ratio was observed and this system yielded 271.10 L/kg-VS of methane. The liquid fraction of the digestion effluent contained about the same amount of the ammonium nitrogen and organic nitrogen, and about 60-80% of the potassium, while the solid fraction of the digestion affluent contained more organic nitrogen than the ammonium nitrogen. Overall, 94% nitrogen, 94% phosphorus, and 85% potassium recovered in the digestion effluent from the 60:40 soybean-swine manure mixing conditions.
Cover crops including cereal rye, annual ryegrass, and pea, clover, radish, oat (PCRO) mix were also tested in anerobic digesters for energy production and nutrient cycling. It was observed that co-digestion also improves biogas production with the cereal rye yielding 387.21L/kg-VS, annual ryegrass yielding 349.27L/kg-VS, and the PCRO mix yielding 306.92L/kg-VS of methane. An 80:20 cover crop-swine manure mixing conditions was observed for the pilot scale experiment. Nutrients recovered from the cereal rye pilot scale digestion effluent include 95% nitrogen, 94% phosphorus, and 105% potassium. The nutrients recovered in the annual ryegrass pilot scale experiment were 95% nitrogen, 105% phosphorus, and 97% potassium. Nutrients recovered in the PCRO mix pilot scale experiment includes 97% nitrogen, 103% phosphorus, and 94% potassium.
Corn stover was also co-digested with swine manure at a mixing ratio of 80:20 biomass-swine manure. It was observed that co-digestion at a mixing ratio of 40:60 swine manure to corn stover improves biogas production with a yielding 304.64L/kg-VS of methane. Nutrients recovered from the pilot scale digestion effluent include 93% nitrogen, 88% phosphorus, and 102% potassium. The modified Gompertz model was used to evaluate the theoretical methane yield, maximin daily yield, and lag phase of the methane yields from the pilot scale reactors.
A pretreatment experiment was also tested on each of the biomasses. Soybean biomass was pretreated with Sodium hydroxide pellets and the other four biomasses were treated with a Calcium hydroxide powder. For all biomass types a 0%, 5% and 8% concentrations were observed. The only biomass that proved to be statistically significant was the soybean biomass. All other biomass types the results from the ensiling test were not statistically different than the control.
Based on the measured results, we estimated that co-digestion of swine manure with biomass harvested from one acre of land within a three-crop rotation (soybean-cover crop-corn) can produce 5,461–6,823 m3 of methane, and provide 160–211 kg of N, 29-37 kg of P, and 254–288 kg of K. This presents significant economic potential of co-digesting crop residues with swine manure
A Phenomenological Look at Mental Blocks in Artistic Gymnastics
Full text linkMental blocks are a poorly understood but pervasive and challenging phenomenon in artistic gymnastics that are characterized by a disconnect between the mind and body and an interference with athletes’ ability to physically perform previously automatic skills. This study used interpretive phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences of female D-I collegiate gymnasts in the United States who have struggled with mental blocks, examining the characteristics, causes, and management strategies through semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that mental blocks are best understood on a spectrum and are difficult to attribute to a single cause as they often stem from a combination of factors such as injuries, fear, pressure, and negative environments. Beam was the most affected event, making up 39% of all reported mental blocks. Characteristics of mental blocks included a mind and body disconnect, loss of bodily awareness, and an inability to control the body. Strategies for management included understanding the cause, positive mindsets, supportive coaching, revisiting basics, and mental health resources. A lack of knowledge and awareness within the sport and mental health resources was noted, which may explain why current coaching strategies and interventions are insufficient in addressing the phenomenon. Integrating mindset training into coaching could help gymnasts build confidence to navigate mental blocks and prevent mental blocks from occurring
Celebrando Éxito: Culturally Affirming Practices for Latine Students at Selected Hispanic-Serving Institutions
No full textDespite the significant representation of Latine students in U.S. higher education, degree completion rates remain disproportionately low. This study explores culturally affirming enrollment practices that enhance student retention at three four-year private Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in Illinois through an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) framework. Rather than focusing on assimilative approaches, AI guided the identification of a positive core of culturally affirming practices. Data from qualitative interviews with six enrollment professionals revealed five key themes: abrazar (embrace), atrévete (bravery and boldness), apoyo (support), alcanzar (attainment), and ¡adelante! (forward momentum). These themes informed the development of two new models: the CIELO (Celebrando Intentional Éxito for Latine Outcomes) for Culturally Affirming Practices and the CODE (Conocimiento, Oportunidades, Dignidad, and Equidad) for Elevating Latine Culture and Language. This research provides critical insights into HSIs and emerging HSIs (eHSIs), contributing a counter-narrative to deficit-based perspectives on Latine student success. The findings have broad implications for all institution types, offering a model for fostering culturally inclusive enrollment strategies that affirm Latine identity, culture, and language