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EFFICACY OF PREDATOR CONTROL AS A MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS RACCOONS
No full textRaccoons (Procyon lotor) are an opportunistic and highly adaptable mesopredator that negatively impact several vulnerable avian and reptilian species. While predator removal has been used for decades, wildlife managers require more information about the efficacy and long-term feasibility of using predator removal to control raccoon populations. I determined the efficacy of raccoon removal within an urban-rural gradient by placing 109 camera traps (n=204 unique camera trap placements) across 6 study sites during February-August 2022-2024 to monitor raccoon occupancy before, during, and after trapping efforts were performed. During April-June 2022-2024, collaborators removed raccoons (n=771). Based on pre-removal abundance estimates, collaborators removed 81-100%, 38-100%, and 57-100% of raccoons from each study site from 2022-2024, respectively. Each year, 4 out of the 5 removal sites exhibited a decrease in raccoon detections directly after removal and remained below the estimates observed prior to removal for the rest of each camera trapping season (i.e., for 2-3 months). However, each subsequent year displayed abundance and raccoon detection estimates that returned closer to pre-removal levels for each study site (i.e., 10 to 12 months following removal). Each year, single-season occupancy models indicated detection and occupancy probabilities were highest before removal and decreased after removal for the following 2 to 3 months. From 2023 to 2024, multi-season occupancy models indicated colonization rates decreased across all removal sites from 49 to 8% and extinction rates increased by 9%. In 2023 and 2024, the control site had extinction rates close to zero and colonization rates that increased to 80% by 2024. My results were generally similar across all removal sites for all years, suggesting that the observed results were not influenced by site-specific factors and thus generalizable across larger landscapes. These findings demonstrated a successful short-term population reduction, and provided evidence for long-term feasibility, as indicated by a decrease in colonization and an increase in extinction at the removal sites. Establishing a long-term trapping program (i.e., 5 to 10 years) with bi-annual or multiple trapping periods per year could benefit long-term reductions in raccoon populations. When possible, sites should expand their effective trapping area to cover the entire study site, especially in regions of concern for vulnerable populations. Expanding the effective trapping areas could help minimize raccoon colonization within the study site and from neighboring areas by covering a larger region
UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF FACULTY SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
No full textCollege is a big adjustment for students, and it doesn\u27t come without its challenges, including being in a new place with new responsibilities. This is a stressful time that presents new obstacles and frustrations that can lead to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges that may cause faculty to engage and support undergraduate students with mental health challenges. As students adjust and transition to college, it is vital for university faculty to feel confident and comfortable supporting students from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of distress. By interviewing faculty, a better understanding of their lived experiences and perceptions can be accounted for when interacting with students facing mental health challenges. In this hermeneutical phenomenological study, 12 participants were interviewed to learn about their lived experiences with students facing mental health challenges. Using Social Change Theory, data from the interviews considers how systemic changes such as policies or long-term outcomes may be relevant to address the themes that are identified within the study. Through this study, faculty mentorship and institutional resources such as a cheat sheet for emergencies and scenario-based, practical application training would enhance the level of comfort for faculty responding to students facing mental health challenges
Instilling Primary-Source Research Confidence in Undergraduate History Majors: Insight into Instructional Impact and Student Preferences
No full textInformation literacy and critical thinking are arguably the most important and transferable skills undergraduate history majors develop in the course of their studies. A primary-source-based research paper is often an undergraduate history major’s capstone assignment toward graduation. Yet they often face these assignments having little or no prior experience with archival research and lack confidence in finding and using primary sources. This article reports on a study conducted during the 2022 and 2023 spring semesters at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) involving archival literacy instruction for undergraduate history majors enrolled in HIST 392 Historical Research and Writing. It examined the extent to which the instruction topics, delivered via a “one-shot” session, enhanced students’ research skills and instilled confidence for completing their primary-source-based research paper. The questions guiding the study included: What archival literacy topics are most relevant and useful for students for completing their assignment? What research competencies should be prioritized in future lectures to craft the most impactful instruction in the limited time of one or two classes? How can the instruction be improved for future students? The author found that the instruction topics presumed to be most useful to students were indeed valued and positively impacted knowledge and confidence for completing the research paper. The areas for improvement regarded instruction delivery
TOWARDS AUTOMATED QUALITY ASSURANCE IN INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY: INSTANCE SEGMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF IMAGE QUALITY INDICATORS AND POROSITY
No full textThis dissertation presents approaches for performing tasks related to quality assurance in industrial radiography. The research emphasizes the importance of high-quality industrial radiography for effective component inspection and addresses the critical need for improvements to methodologies involving the use of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) for quality assurance. The objectives of the work include the development of image processing and analysis techniques to assist human inspectors that reduce the human subjectivity inherent to these tasks in quality assurance. The aim of these improvements is to enhance the reliability and interpretability of decision-making processes that rely on these tasks. Current standards for determining image quality from image quality indicators (IQIs), as well as porosity in production castings from reference standards, involve a high degree of human subjectivity. The use of algorithms can reduce human subjectivity in these analyses; however, it introduces new problems such as the reliability, interpretability, and explainability of the algorithm. The paradigm of Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in modern life, and there is a burgeoning conversation around how to, if at all, properly use ANI in high-stakes decision-making processes. ANI, in the context of this dissertation discussion, encompasses concepts within machine learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL). These concepts have produced algorithms that perform well on the tasks described in the opening sentence of this paragraph, however, these algorithms are often used as a “black box,” which does not lend well to the levels of scrutiny necessary for high-stakes decision-making. This research work explores how ANI and traditional image processing can be applied to perform certain quality assurance processes using radiography. The automated style approach involves the segmentation of plaque hole type Image Quality Indicators (IQIs) from digital radiographs and the subsequent analysis of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) of their holes. A deep artificial neural network architecture (DANNA) is used first to segment the IQI instances. These segmented instances are then processed through a pipeline of traditional image processing and analysis methods that generate the CNR calculations. The assisted style approach leverages (1) a linear curve fit of porosity versus mean image intensity, and (2) a bandit algorithm to optimize multiple image segmentation methods. The bandit algorithms reward involves components that are aimed at selecting segmentation hyperparameters that produce masks whose components reflect size and frequency trends that directly match the severity assignment of ASTM reference radiographs for ¼” thick cast aluminum plates and the measured porosity of 3/10” thick additively manufactured aluminum plates. The results of this research work highlight the critical role in which data quality, algorithm, feature, and parameter selection play in achieving reliable outcomes that can be adapted to new data. The content of this dissertation provides a valuable example of how automated and assisted solutions might be implemented towards IQI processing and analysis of porosity in industrial radiography; ultimately reducing the human subjectivity currently inherent to these tasks. The research involves the detection, segmentation, processing, and analysis of features within digital imagery, which are ubiquitous tasks within the world of NDE. Approaches for automatically accomplishing these tasks are highly sought after for the potential savings in time and effort put forth by human inspectors
Current gender-affirming neuropsychological assessment practices of pediatric neuropsychologists
No full textThere are currently no practice guidelines for conducting pediatric neuropsychological assessments with gender-diverse youth. There are many challenges to conducting affirming, ethical, and evidence-based neuropsychological assessments for gender-diverse youth. Previous researchers have made several recommendations for affirming neuropsychological assessments in gender-diverse populations. However, these recommendations have been made primarily for adult populations without explicit consideration of the unique difficulties of conducting these assessments in children and adolescents. Further, previous research has not investigated the current practices or attitudes towards suggested practice with neuropsychologists who work with pediatric populations specifically. Hence, this study was conducted in order to understand the current neuropsychological assessment practices of pediatric neuropsychologists, as well as to ascertain the perceived acceptability of proposed practices for pediatric populations. Data were obtained by surveying neuropsychologists who assess pediatric patients on their current practices and attitudes towards proposed affirming care practices. Results indicated that although the majority of the proposed affirming practices are rated as very acceptable by most neuropsychologists, fewer neuropsychologists indicated engaging in affirmative practices currently. Future research should continue to examine how to facilitate and encourage pediatric neuropsychologists and the professional spaces in which they work to implement gender-affirming care practices
SUSTAINABLE COVER CROP MANAGEMENT IN SWEET CORN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
No full textSustainable sweet corn (Zea mays L.) production in southern Illinois requires practices that maintain sweet corn yield and profitability while improving soil health and reducing environmental impacts. Winter cereal cover crops including cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) are widely recognized for their capacity to improve soil structure, enhance nutrient cycling, and reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus losses. However, the adoption of winter cereal cover crops is still limited in specialty crop production systems due to high seed costs, management challenges, and concerns about N immobilization and yield reduction.This dissertation explored practical and economically feasible cover crop management strategies to overcome these limitations and support sustainable sweet corn production. Field experiments were carried out between 2021 and 2023 at the Agronomy Research Center (ARC) in Carbondale and the Belleville Research Center (BRC) in Belleville, Illinois. The research focused on evaluating six management approaches to cover cropping: (1) solid planted cereal rye; (2) precision planting of cereal rye; (3) solid planted crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.); (4) precision planting of crimson clover; (5) use of a cereal rye-crimson clover mixture; and (6) no cover crop. Each was evaluated to assess its ability to improve the performance and sustainability of sweet corn production systems. Precision planting was designed to skip cover crop seeding into future sweet corn rows to lower seed costs and reduce competition between the cover crop and the cash crop. Crimson clover is a legume that fixes N, has low C:N in its tissues, and thus does not cause N immobilization. The mixture combined cereal rye and crimson clover to balance biomass production with N supply, drawing on the complementary benefits of each species. These treatments were compared to a no cover crop control that represented the typical southern Illinois sweet corn cropping system. Results indicated that precision planting of both rye and clover produced biomass, N uptake, and sweet corn yields comparable to those of the solid planting method, while reducing establishment costs by as much as 25%. The mixture of cereal rye and crimson clover had the greatest cover crop biomass and N uptake, resulting in the highest sweet corn yield and net profit. Across treatments, sweet corn sweetness (Brix) and soil moisture were consistent, while soil temperature declined slightly under cover crops, suggesting a more stable soil condition for sweet corn growth. Overall, the study shows that precision planting and cover crop mixtures were most effective in improving sweet corn production and farm profit. Adopting these strategies into sweet corn production systems can help farmers reduce cover crop seed cost, sustain or improve yields, and enhance soil health
Echo’s Repertoire: Performing Science Fiction and Trans Care Models
No full textEcho’s Repertoire is a mixture of a passion piece and a call for more work with performing science fiction. It focuses on interpersonal communication within trans studies and the experiences of transgender individuals and myself. Echo’s Repertoire is also an example of the Lyrical Model proposed by Awkward-Rich as a new model for trans affirming speech. The show is laid out non-linearly and follows along with Echo as he starts to build new relationships with the advice of his spaceship ai, Eep, who is a previous version of himself prior to transformation (transition)
DEVELOPMENT OF A 3D-PRINTED CLINOSTAT FOR THE STUDY OF MICROGRAVITY ON HUMAN CELL MODELS
No full textMicrogravity profoundly influences human physiology by altering cytoskeletal organization, cell morphology, and mechanotransduction. Because direct experimentation in space is costly and limited, ground-based simulated microgravity (SMG) systems are essential. Clinostats, which randomize the gravity vector through rotation, provide a practical approach but often suffer from high cost, mechanical instability, or unintended shear stress. This study presents the design, fabrication, and validation of a low-cost, 3D-printed 3D clinostat optimized for human cell culture applications. The clinostat was modeled in Autodesk Fusion 360, fabricated with ABS material, and equipped with dual brushless DC motors controlled by a Raspberry Pi microcontroller. Design iterations emphasized rigidity and vibration reduction, with structural simulations guiding reinforcement of load-bearing regions. Verification of the SMG effect employed a six-axis inertial measurement unit, which confirmed a time-averaged reduction of gravity to 0.08 g within minutes of operation. Vibration testing demonstrated that counterbalancing, stainless-steel bearings, and base support effectively minimized oscillatory artifacts. Biological validation was performed with HEK 293T cells, exposed to three hours of simulated microgravity at two time points (24 and 36-hours post-seeding). Morphological assays quantified six parameters—aspect ratio, roundness, solidity, circularity, area, and Feret ii diameter—using ImageJ. Population averages revealed no significant differences compared to controls, confirming the system’s mechanical neutrality. However, individual-cell analysis indicated transient increases in roundness and aspect ratio, alongside persistent increases in solidity, area, and Feret diameter. These results suggest that short-term SMG induces both reversible and sustained cytoskeletal remodeling, while maintaining stability in circularity. This work demonstrates that a 3D-printed clinostat can provide a reproducible, affordable, and modular platform for microgravity research. By lowering costs and enabling open-source design adaptation, the system expands access to mechanobiology and space medicine studies, supporting future investigations into cellular adaptation under reduced gravity
EFFECT OF WATER-DEFICIT STRESS ON CANNABIS SATIVA PRODUCTION AND SECONDARY METABOLITE LEVELS
No full textCannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging high-value crop that belongs to the Cannabaceae family and the genus Cannabis, which is known to produce more than 200 cannabinoids. Although genetic variation is the main factor in cannabinoid production, water-deficit stress is believed to induce its production. The objective of this master’s thesis was to determine the effects of water-deficit stress frequencies and timing on growth, physiology, yield, and cannabinoid concentration in cannabis. Heidi cultivars were planted in a controlled environmental growth unit. One period of water-deficit stress was found to produce the lowest concentration of total CBD and THC. In contrast, three periods of water-deficit stress produced the highest total CBD and THC concentrations, which were not significantly different from the control. Both increased water-deficit stress frequencies and the timing of water-deficit stress at different flowering stages of the plant resulted in reduced total plant biomass and inflorescence yield. Water-deficit stress at different flowering stages did not significantly affect the secondary metabolites of a plant. These findings suggest that it is possible to maximize secondary metabolites of cannabis under increased water-deficit stress intensity while reducing water use which may depend on cultivars. This can lead to increased sustainability in terms of cannabis production systems. Ultimately, optimizing stress scheduling, intensity, assessment methods, application techniques, and fertigation practices is essential for achieving a balance between biomass yield, water-use efficiency, and cannabinoid accumulation in controlled environmental systems. Induced water-deficit stress may be an effective strategy to maximize cannabinoid concentration, although results may differ by cannabis cultivar or chemotype
