Quality of Life in Rural Illinois: Housing and Access to Health Care

Miller, Cristina Danielle Marie University of Illinois at Chicago 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation focuses on two measures of rural quality of life in Illinois: housing values and health care access. Through estimating housing price trends, evaluating policy impacts on rural hospital structures, and valuing rural hospitals as local amenities, rural quality of life in Illinois can be better understood. Using sales transaction data from the Illinois Department of Revenue, the first essay compares the median and Case-Shiller housing price capabilities to measure housing price appreciation and depreciation in Illinois between 2000 and 2009. The Case-Shiller method captured the housing bubble in metro (excluding Chicago), micro and rural areas in Illinois. While rural areas in Illinois did not experience housing price fluctuations as large as Chicago, the Case-Shiller method corrects the assertion that rural America did not experience a housing bubble. The second essay details the changes in rural Illinois hospital structures resulting from the 1997 Balanced Budget Act and the 1999 Balanced Budget Recovery Act. These acts created a Critical Access Hospital certification aimed at slowing the rate of hospital closures across the United States. The results show that CAH certification appears to have aided in maintaining health care in rural areas. Using hedonic estimation, the third essay focuses on the impact of a CAH compared to that of a full-service hospital on housing values. This essay compares the effect of Crawford Memorial Hospital (a CAH) on Crawford county housing values to the effect of McDonough District Hospital on McDonough county housing values. Crawford is a rural county with a small Critical Access Hospital. McDonough is, according to USDA's Urban Influence Codes, considered a micro county. The results suggest that a Critical Access Hospital has similar effects on housing values as the full-service hospital. Therefore, the results of this paper support the hypothesis that preserving a Critical Access Hospital is as useful as preserving a full-service hospital, in terms of the benefits to the local housing values.

Fundamentalism and American urban culture: Community and religious identity in Dwight L. Moody's Chicago, 1864--1914 (Illinois)

Dobschuetz, Barbara Louise University of Illinois at Chicago 2002 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation locates the rise of urban fundamentalism in nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century America. As a cathedral of fundamentalism with world-wide influence, the Moody Church shaped fundamentalism in areas of church organization, sacred practice, cultural and religious identity, and fostered sub-cultural boundaries necessary for Protestant fundamentalism to thrive within urban America. By de-centering Dwight L. Moody, this treatment of the Moody community examines its growth from that of a small mission church to a cathedral community which included a training institute, church, and large Sunday school. Its religious space within a secular and cosmopolitan community was shaped by choices of location, interior design, and exterior space—all contributing to a public image that endorsed modern consumer culture and at times was seen as counter-cultural. The Moody Church distinguished itself from other denominational groups to become independent, revivalist centered, and with a variety of programs that reached a broad ethnic and class cross section of Chicago. It related and reacted to other groups and individuals who were vying for ascendancy within the larger political, social, and cosmopolitan landscape during the Progressive Era. These included individuals such as Jane Addams, Frances Willard, Graham Taylor, industrialists, and labor leaders; organizations such as the YMCA, the City Club of Chicago and the Chicago Woman's Club; academics at the University of Chicago and various settlements including Hull-House. The Moody community's world-wide influence coincided with their leadership within such transnational groups as Keswick Holiness Conferences, the Bible Prophecy Movement, and the Student Volunteer Mission Movement during a period when the United States extended its imperialistic claims abroad. Both the rhetoric of racialized imperialism and anti-modernism were enmeshed with an urgent calling to share the Gospel with the unchurched masses as Moody leaders R. A. Torrey launched his world-wide revival in 1901 and A. C. Dixon edited in 1910 <italic>The Fundamentals</italic>. These seminal leaders and events solidified the Moody community's fundamentalist religious identity and established it as a cathedral of fundamentalism and as a seminal institution in the history of the nondenominational church and the eventual rise of neo-evangelicalism in America.

Impact assessment of gentrification on federally qualified health centers in Chicago: 1990--2003 (Illinois)

Al-Kodmany, Ahlam University of Illinois at Chicago 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

Gentrification has influenced numerous aspects of urban life, and there has been a wealth of research that addresses its impact including the social, economic, physical, health, and political aspects. However, there has been little or no study of the impact of gentrification on Federally Qualified Healthcare Clinics (FQHCs) or Community Health Clinics. FQHCs and CHCs are the prime providers of heath services to the poor in under-served communities across America. The importance of FQHCs as front-line providers has increased as more and more of Chicago's working poor are employed in jobs without health benefits. Since gentrification influences community demographics, lives and social characteristics, it is likely that gentrification has affected the operations and clientele of FQHCs. Nevertheless, how gentrification impacts FQHCs remains unknown. This study seeks to understand the relationship between gentrification and FQHC operations in communities undergoing gentrification. The state of FQHCs in gentrifying and non-gentrifying communities of Chicago between 1990 and 2003---a period that represented a gentrification peak in Chicago was examined. The analyses was two-fold. The first looks at utilization rates and the second was through interviews of FQHCs' Chief Executive Officers. The comparison focused on four characteristics of FQHCs: (1) the socio-economic status (SES) of FQHCs patients and communities, (2) levels of utilization, (3) provision of services, (4) federal funding levels. Interviews were conducted to determine if and how FQHCs are strategically and organizationally adapting in light of gentrification using the Miles and Snow Typology. Findings of the quantitative analyses measuring the average utilization in 1996, 2000 and 2003 shows that although gentrification is increasing in many census tracts and communities across Chicago, the rate of utilization continues to increase. In addition, interviews show that some FQHCs are fully aware of demographic and socio-economic changes related to gentrification and have consequently taken steps to adapt. Others are aware and do not see any urgency in making plans regarding gentrification. This in part is due to the belief that it is not at their doorstep, nor will it be for at least a decade or two.

Development of a Jet A Chemical Surrogate Model Using High Pressure Shock Tube Speciation Data

Malewicki, Tomasz University of Illinois at Chicago 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

A proposed solution to the challenge of coupling CFD codes with chemical kinetic models for jet fuels is to develop a reasonable model of the actual fuel through the use of a surrogate fuel, a representative of the real fuel. In the present work a detailed chemical kinetic model for the n-dodecane/iso-octane/n-propylbenzene/1,3,5-trimethylbenzene “2<super> nd</super> Generation” surrogate has been developed and validated against experimental data conducted for this study and from literature. The experimental work was conducted in the High Pressure Single Pulse Shock Tube at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The experiments on the paraffin components, surrogate fuels and the real fuel were conducted at two nominal pressures of 25 and 50 atm, at equivalence ratios from 0.46 to 2.05 and ∞, and at temperatures between 835 and 1757 K. The stable intermediates species were quantified using a GC and a GC/MS apparatus connected directly to the endwall of the shock tube. A comparison between the measured intermediate species and oxygen from the real fuel and the proposed 2<super>nd</super> Generation Surrogate developed by the co-investigators at the group at Princeton University determined the validity of the methodology for the formulation of surrogate fuels. Experimentally, the oxidation of the single component fuels showed that the fuels decay through pyrolytic decomposition at conditions studied; therefore, indicating the importance of studying fuel pyrolysis and the development of models using pyrolytic experimental data. Experimental data from single component fuels were used to validate and revise a recently published surrogate model. This revised surrogate model led to the development of the 2<super>nd</super> Generation Surrogate model using the aromatic models developed by another researcher at HPST laboratory. The developed 2<super>nd</super> Generation Surrogate model showed excellent simulation of fuel and oxygen decay and the formation/consumption of the major and minor species when compared to experimental data. The present study makes available a detailed high temperature chemical kinetic model for the 2<super>nd</super> Generation Surrogate and an experimental speciation database for the paraffin surrogate fuel components, surrogate fuels, and Jet A POSF 4658.

A Search for Long-Lived Charged Particles in Cosmic Rays

Camuyrano, Mario University of Illinois at Chicago 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

A search for a new long-lived elementary particle produced in cosmic ray air showers is presented. This measurement is based on data recorded from November 2009 to December 2010 in a plastic scintillation detector developed and housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago. No evidence of a new particle was observed in the decay spectrum of stopped charged particles. A 95% confidence level upper limits of production over a broad range of lifetime hypotheses from 5µs to 0.3s, are given relative to the observed muon decay rate. In the most sensitive region around a lifetime of 30µs, new particle production is excluded above 0.0002 of the stopping muon decay rate.

Ella Flagg Young's intellectual legacy: Theory and practice in Chicago's schools, 1862--1917 (Illinois)

Goddard, Constance Heaton University of Illinois at Chicago 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

Through analyzing the academic writings of educational stateswoman Ella Flagg Young (1845--1918), this work argues that she was a substantial theorist who developed a coherent system of thought about the school's role in releasing the innate talents of individuals and in fostering a democratic society. Though widely noted as the decisive and humane superintendent of the nation s second largest school system (1909--1915)---that of Chicago---and as the first woman elected to head the National Education Association (1910--1911), Young is less known as a writer or theorist. Distinguishing her work is that it developed not only from wide reading but from decades of practice as a teacher, principal, and administrator. Her career spanned nearly six decades of change, beginning when the district based common school was still standard and continuing until Chicago had developed an urban system that employed thousands of teachers and served several hundred thousand pupils (1860--1917). A student and then colleague of John Dewey at the University of Chicago, Young provided practical implications for his theorizing while he provided her with philosophical bearings for her broad experience. Young's ample but little known body of work articulates a theory of the interrelationships between teacher education and school management, curriculum and democracy, students and their potential as citizens. Attributes of this theory are profound respect for democratic institutions, for the essential equality and significance of every individual human being, and for the public school's ability to create unity from diversity without resorting to regimentation. Young's work consists of extended essays published by the University of Chicago Press (1901--1903), numerous presentations to the National Education Association (1887--1917), plus contributions to several periodicals (1902--1916). It evolved from practical advice to fellow teachers to increasingly theoretical essays about scientific method, teacher preparation, school administration, and education s role in a democratic society. This analysis of Young's intellectual contributions sets her articles in the context of their time and suggests they merit wide dissemination for their insight into contemporary challenges facing urban schools.

Development of a Barriers To Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments

Vasudevan, Vijay University of Illinois at Chicago 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire that measures barriers to physical activity for people with mobility disabilities that incorporated items from an ecological perspective and that used Item Response and Classical Test theories. By incorporating an ecological perspective, researchers can have a better understanding of the complex relationship across domains. Using a combination of classical and item response theories provides researchers an opportunity to understand barriers both at the item level and at a subscale level. There are four phases to the development of the questionnaire: item development, item refinement, field testing, and psychometric analysis. A Delphi panel and cognitive interviews were conducted to develop and refine the questionnaire items. Delphi panelists had experience with physical activity promotion for people with disabilities or developing barrier questionnaires for people with disabilities. The purpose of the Delphi panel was to identify missing items, combine similar items, and remove unnecessary items. Panelists identified a total of 115 items with near-equal weight across the four domains. The purpose of cognitive interviews was to identify items that needed rewording and to remove unnecessary items. Cognitive interview participants were primarily African American females. Participants stated that they wanted further clarifications on items by providing examples. One-hundred fifty field test participants were recruited from a large, metropolitan independent living center, a universally-accessible fitness center, and an outpatient clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Participants completed the Physical Activity and Disability Survey, Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ), and demographic variables were collected through in-person interviews. A random sample of 30 out of the 150 field test participants completed the BPAQ twice over a seven to ten day period to calculate test-retest reliability. Field test participants were mostly African American females. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the BPAQ was comprised of eight subscales or factors. The underlying factors were health, beliefs and attitudes, family, friends, fitness center built environment, staff and policy, community built environment, and safety. The health subscale had the highest mean. The BPAQ demonstrated moderate to very good reliability and validity. The BPAQ showed significant associations with physical activity levels. Item Response Theory analysis revealed that the health factor had the most "difficult" items. Other subscales had items that ranged from very easy to difficult. Some items behaved differently for people of certain demographic variables. For example, some items were more difficult if the participant has a particular disability diagnosis, such as lymphedema. The BPAQ has the potential to assist researchers in understanding the complex relationship between barriers and ultimately develop physical activity interventions that address these barriers.

The Changing Nature of Governance in the Public Research University: Untangling the Web of Faculty Roles

Yudt, Angela Lynn University of Illinois at Chicago 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

Public research universities continue to be challenged on a number of fronts—declining state revenues, increasing enrollment, calls for accountability and transparency from the public, and increasing scrutiny by governing boards. In addition, the composition of faculty at public research universities is changing. Understanding the impact that these changes have on how public research universities function at both an organizational level and individual level is of critical importance if public research universities are to adapt and thrive. This dissertation focuses on the study of faculty roles and governance in public research universities. It considers the impact of both fiscal pressures and stress caused by the external environment as well as the influence of internal and external stakeholders on how public research universities are adapting institutionally—from a governance perspective, and individually—from a role perspective. It considers the structures, processes, and role demands that impact academic governance utilizing organizational theory, higher education governance theory, and role theory. It considers the critical importance of the organizational context of the public research university vis-à-vis society focusing on key aspects of the university as an organization and the importance of dimensionality of role. Six hypotheses will be tested using two data sets. Data from the Integrated Post- Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) of the National Center for Education Statistics for the period between 1987 and 2007 will be utilized to identify trends regarding faculty hiring (tenure system, non-tenure system, and part-time). A second data set from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA’s Cooperative Institutional Research Program for the period between 1989 and 2004 will be used to identify trends regarding faculty roles, stress, and satisfaction. Based on the empirical findings, a discussion of the implications for public research universities related to these changes will follow, including evolving structures, processes, and roles in governance. Future research will be proposed that is aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between the role of the institution in society and the role of the individual within public research universities.

COVID-19 Surveillance and Vaccination Among Non-Healthcare, Non-Congregate Workers in Chicago

Lendacki, Frances Rose University of Illinois at Chicago ProQuest Dissert 2023 해외박사(DDOD)

BACKGROUNDOccupation has been defined as a primary risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, but utility of surveillance practices among non-healthcare, non-congregate workplaces (NHNCW) have not been well-described. Definitions of workers at disproportionate COVID-19 risk and barriers to their vaccination are needed, to inform public health guidance and interventions. METHODSCOVID-19 workplace clusters and outbreaks investigated by the Chicago Department of Public Health (March 2020 - May 2022) were described by workplace type, investigation size, and method of identification over time. Logistic regression assessed associations between occupational COVID-19 risk and vaccination status among NHNCW cases reported June 2021-2022, stratified by Pre-and Post-Omicron periods. A survey of Workplace Encouragement for COVID-19 Vaccination in Chicago (WEVax) was administered to workplaces (July - September 2022). Workplace characteristics, coverage rates and barriers to vaccination among employees were described. Frequencies of vaccination encouragement strategies were compared among high vs. lower-coverage workplaces. RESULTSIn total, 496 COVID-19 investigations identified 442 clusters (89%) and 54 outbreaks (11%). Frontline essential workplaces comprised 36% before, versus 15% after vaccine eligibility. Case interviewing identified 84% Pre-Omicron, versus 10% Post-Omicron. Over time, offices, bars and restaurants, and less vulnerable city regions became overrepresented. Among 3,763 NHNCW cases, 18-29-year-olds, Latinx and Black-non-Latinx workers were over-represented among higher-risk occupations and unvaccinated Chicagoans. Among 18-29-year-old Pre-Omicron cases, those in higher-risk occupations had 1.5 times the odds of being unvaccinated (95% CI 1.10-2.14). Among 49 WEVax survey respondents, 59% reported coverage rates ≥ 75%; 75% of lower coverage workplaces were in manufacturing and had ˂ 100 employees. Coverage was higher among workplaces requiring vaccination (93% vs. 49%, p=0.03) or verifying vaccination (84% vs. 38%, p=0.07). Businesses reported using strategies to make vaccinations convenient. Concerns about safety, side effects, and other skepticism remain barriers to uptake.CONCLUSIONS Vaccine prioritization reduced COVID-19 burden among highest-risk workplaces, but surveillance methods became less representative. Vaccine promotion among workers in high-risk environments may increase coverage among under-vaccinated demographic groups in Chicago. Vaccine requirement, verification and addressing low vaccine confidence may improve coverage among NHNCW. Future studies should include low-coverage businesses and assess vaccination motivators (not only barriers) among employees.

Urban Renewal in the Interwar Era: The Remaking of Chicago's Loop, 1918 to 1942

Guarino, Jean L University of Illinois at Chicago 2015 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation argues that the quarter-century period between the two World Wars was a period of ongoing renewal that coincided with shifts in Chicago's economic geography. This is in contrast to older writings on the city's architecture and urbanism, which tend to feature a boom-and-bust narrative. Redevelopment of the 1920s cleared hundreds of older, loft industrial buildings, walk-up office blocks, and ornate yet small-scale theaters and hotels from the Loops peripheral streets, while a host of substantial twelve- to fourteen-story elevator buildings on LaSalle Street fell as if along a fault line. Their replacement by high-rise garages, widened and double-decked thoroughfares, luxurious skyscrapers, massive business hotels, and dazzling movie palaces signaled the start of the Loops gentrification to a high-end office, retail and entertainment district aimed to attract and retain upper-income customers and tenants during a period of rapid decentralization. Such private- and publicly-funded urban interventions pushed out low-end businesses and light-industrial uses considered incompatible with the downtown elites vision of a modern, efficient business district. The 1930s featured widespread demolition of all buildings types for parking lots, creating large swaths of open space where previously none had existed. The simultaneous and universal embrace of Depression-era downtown building modernization also served to "renew" the urban landscape while showing confidence in downtown through reinvestment. The large-scale removal of older and unprofitable buildings during the interwar era served as a prelude to the redevelopment that occurred after World War II, a period more commonly associated with urban renewal.