Digital Commons Network^™

Informing Cold Spray Via High Strain Rate Particle Impacts Captured Using Ultra-High-Speed Videography, Elias Timmons

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this research is to provide insight into high strain rate deformation behavior of particles in cold spray-like impacts for the purposes of material vetting and optimization of spray parameters for deposition quality and efficiency. A light gas gun and ultra-high-speed videography techniques were engineered, built, and used for millimeter particle impact experiments and adapted to launch micron scale particles at controlled velocities and particle/substrate temperatures representative of cold spray conditions. Analytical techniques employed for understanding impact mechanics focused on characterization of impact behavior and presence of features related to cold spray particle bonding. This research demonstrates …

Transitioning From Microfluidic-Based To Bioprinted Decellularized Extracellular Matrix In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Models, Connor O. Mowen

Theses and Dissertations

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) regulates transport between the vasculature and central nervous system but limits therapeutic delivery. In vitro BBB models are essential for studying barrier function, disease mechanisms, and drug transport, yet traditional systems often lack biological relevance. This thesis aimed to improve model fidelity and scalability by refining a PDMS-based microfluidic fabrication protocol and developing a spinal cord-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) bioink for bioprinting applications. A multi-step protocol was optimized to decellularize bovine spinal cord tissue, followed by enzymatic digestion to generate a printable dECM solution. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed protein retention, and DNA quantification revealed residual nucleic …

The Future Is Inclusive, Victoria Mcclendon

Theses and Dissertations

Victoria McClendon THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE 2024-2025 Stephanie Lezotte, Ph.D. Master of Arts in Higher Education This research explores the role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, specifically focusing on the impact of inclusion through Rowan University’s Unified Sports program. DEI programs are designed to support historically underrepresented groups, including students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and other marginalized communities. This study examines the importance of DEI in fostering inclusive educational environments and investigates the consequences of removing such programs. A qualitative case study approach is employed, involving group interviews with students and faculty …

When Words Fail: Why Ai-Driven Context Beats Word Error Rate For Safety-Critical Air Traffic Control, Muhammad Maaz

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate speech-to-text transcription is critical for Air Traffic Control (ATC) to en- sure safety and operational efficiency. However, existing Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems struggle with domain-specific phraseology, high noise levels, and real-time constraints. This work explores domain adaptation strategies of OpenAI’s Whisper ASR model, applying Transfer Learning and Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) on ATC benchmark and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) corpus. Experimental results show that fine- tuning significantly reduces Word Error Rate (WER) from 55.2% to 6.8%, yet WER alone fails to capture safety-critical transcription errors. To address WER’s limitations, we introduce the Contextual Error Rate (CER), a novel …

Tell Me How You Really Feel: A Case Study On Restorative Practices, Marissa Santiago

Theses and Dissertations

Restorative Practices are gaining popularity as the primary form of handling student discipline. In the past, school districts have heavily relied on exclusionary practices, such as suspension and expulsions. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore and understand how educators make sense of restorative practices in an urban intermediate school serving students in fourth to sixth grade. The guiding framework for this study was Sensemaking Theory. Sensemaking theory helps researchers to understand how participants make sense of their experiences. Ten teachers, from an urban intermediate school, participated in this study through semi-guided interviews, observations, and document collection. …

Simulations Of Single Metallic Particle Impacts Onto Polymeric Substrates For Insights Into Cold Spray Adhesion At Composite Material Interfaces, Saidur Rahman Shoaib

Theses and Dissertations

Metallization of polymer-based composites finds applications in a variety of industries in which addressing challenges such as electrical discharge mitigation or surface erosion can be vital. Cold spray additive manufacturing is emerging as a cutting-edge technology for polymer/composite metallization, offering a transformative approach to achieving desired material enhancements. This study employs finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the adhesive “bonding” strength (i.e., extraction force under impulsive dynamic loading) between single 20-micron diameter spherical metal (copper) particles and polymer (polyetheretherketone) substrates under cold spray-relevant impact conditions. Analysis of FEA simulations centers on initial impact processes parameterized by particle impact velocity and …

Effects Of Stressor Exposure And Locus Coeruleus Opioid Signaling On Coping And Anxiety-Like Behavior In Rats, John Arthur Tkaczynski

Theses and Dissertations

Stress is a physiological state of altered neuroendocrine signaling and heightened indices of behavioral vigilance and arousal in response to threatening stimuli. This project aimed to investigate the adaptations to stress that occur in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) and how these changes affect stress coping behavior. We began by investigating how adolescent restraint and predator odor stress affects coping when presented with a secondary noxious stimulus in the defensive shock probe burying task one week following stressor exposure, finding that stressed male rats demonstrate a more active coping response and stressed female rats demonstrate a more passive coping response, …

Waterpod: Evaluating Learner Engagement And Conceptual Understanding Through Gamified Virtual Reality, Leeza Eimeria Duller

Theses and Dissertations

The water and wastewater industry faces a growing workforce crisis due to high retirement rates, limited public awareness, and underrepresentation of technical talent. Traditional outreach methods have struggled to engage students or convey the complexity of water systems. This study evaluates WaterPOD, an interactive virtual reality (VR) simulation designed to introduce users to wastewater treatment processes and careers through immersive learning. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), and Constructivist Learning Theory (ConLT), the study examined how VR influences conceptual understanding and career perceptions. A mixed-methods study with 138 college students measured SCCT constructs, CLT- and …

Compact Space-Folded Multi-Resonator Duct Silencer With Broadband Noise Reduction And Minimal Flow Disturbance, Joshua Lloyd

Theses and Dissertations

Control and reduction of unwanted noise is a significant concern in many residential, commercial, and industrial fields. Specifically, ducted noise control is of increasing importance due to the complex challenges of ventilation requirements imposed on the system. This research presents a compact, space-folded silencer which achieves broadband attenuation of noise in ducted applications. Making use of axial arrays of side- loaded resonators, this structure allows for unobstructed fluid-flow through its center, resulting in a static fluid pressure drop across the device of only 14.5 Pa. In addition, due to the silencer’s configurable nature, the geometry can be tuned to meet …

Mapping The Path To The Presidency: A Case Study Analysis Of New Jersey Four Year Institutions, Robert Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the career trajectories of university presidents at New Jersey’s four-year public and private institutions. Utilizing a qualitative case study design, presidential biographies and CVs were analyzed to identify the professional patterns and pathways leading to the presidential role. Findings revealed that there is a predominance of traditional academic pathways, an increase in non-traditional routes, and distinct differences between the public and private institutions. This study offers implications for leadership development, hiring practices for the senior leadership roles, and for future research on the development of careers leading to senior leadership and …

Design And Control Of A Versatile Modular Soft Robotic System With Integrated Resource Sharing And Self-Reconfiguration Capabilities, Joshua Knospler

Theses and Dissertations

Modular, self‑reconfigurable soft robots promise unprecedented versatility by combining the compliance of soft materials with the adaptability of modular architectures. This thesis presents an integrated system of pneumatic, bending-type soft actuator modules. Modules are compact and fully equipped with tunable magnetic and electromechanical connections for low‑power attachment and detachment and a novel power-air-communication (PAC) connector for seamless sharing of electricity, compressed air, and digital signals. This work examines two representative assemblies: ManusBot, a pinching gripper, and TendrilBot, a versatile linear configuration for various tasks. Their grasping performance, variable stiffness, and radial support capabilities are characterized. A magnetic interlock and an …

Adapting A Personalized Normative Feedback Intervention For Graduate Student Drinkers, Faith Shank

Theses and Dissertations

On average, graduate students consume eight drinks per week, meeting criteria for heavy drinking and highlighting the need for a cost-effective intervention. The current study examined the efficacy of personalized normative feedback (PNF) for reducing heavy drinking in graduate students. Study 1 examined the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention content to inform a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the intervention. Results from qualitative interviews with 13 graduate students who interacted with the intervention content preferred to receive feedback about peers enrolled in the same type of degree program. Study 2 was an RCT using PNF from peers with the …

Monitoring And Mitigation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Urban Stormwater Runoff, Mustafizur Rahaman

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants known for their persistence with widespread environmental and health concerns. Urban stormwater runoff could be a non-point pollution source that transports PFAS to receiving water bodies. This study analyzed types and concentrations of PFAS in stormwater runoff from Trenton and Glassboro, New Jersey, with samples collected from high- and low-traffic areas during precipitation events in February, June, July, and August 2024. Significantly higher concentrations of PFAS were identified in high-traffic areas than low-traffic areas (p< 0.05) in both cities for most sampling events, confirming the role of traffic in PFAS dispersal. To address PFAS contamination in stormwater runoff, this study evaluated the removal of six U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-regulated PFAS compounds from synthetic stormwater runoff using aluminum-based water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs, by-products of the drinking water treatment process). The findings demonstrated that Al-WTRs exhibited high sorption capacities and low desorption rates for PFAS, particularly for long-chain PFAS compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), supporting their potential as an economical and effective sorbent for stormwater PFAS management. Furthermore, the durability and sustained performance of Al-WTRs indicated their feasibility for future field-scale applications.

From Differentiation To Disease: Cyclin C Directly Coordinates Transcription And Mitochondrial Dynamics, Alicia Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Organelle crosstalk is essential for coordinating cellular responses to various external cues, including stress and differentiation. Two key organelles, the nucleus and mitochondria, engage in extensive crosstalk to manage responses to a range of environmental and developmental signals. Complex processes such as stem cell differentiation and neuronal development rely on organelle crosstalk. Both processes integrate changes in gene expression with cytosolic and organellar remodeling. However, it remains unclear how these two complex processes are coordinated to achieve the desired outcome. This project concentrates on cyclin C (CCNC), a component of the Mediator Kinase Module (MKM), and its role in directly …

Integration Of Mechanism-Driven Computational Modeling And Public Data Resources For Chemical Toxicity Assessment, Elena Chung

Theses and Dissertations

Regulatory toxicology depends primarily on animal testing, which limits throughput, mechanistic interpretability, and applicability to human-relevant endpoints. This dissertation presents computational approaches that integrate publicly available bioactivity data with machine learning to support chemical safety evaluation. Oral carcinogenicity was modeled using curated chemicals from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and activity data from over 1,900 PubChem assays. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models trained on statistically prioritized assays demonstrated strong predictive performance and were applied to rank the carcinogenic potential of more than 16,000 compounds. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a hybrid modeling approach that combined structural …

Breaking Barriers Exploring Guardianship & Public Administration Challenges Facing Egyptian Widows, Caroline Maher

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the influence of guardianship policies and the administrative infrastructure on the well-being of widows' families in Egypt. Widows in Egypt encounter significant challenges in exercising their guardianship rights due to patriarchal norms, bureaucratic hurdles, inefficient systems, and limited access to information. These obstacles can negatively impact their children's well-being, as well as economic and social stability. Despite social media activism, calls for administrative reforms, and legislative debates, no changes have occurred. This study aims to conduct in-depth exploratory qualitative research to analyze the challenges and limitations of current guardianship policies and administrative systems affecting widows’ families in …

Development Of Biodegradable Mg-1zn-0.5sc Alloy & Surface Treatment Through Laser Shock Peening And Evaluation Of Microstructure & Property Correlation For Orthopedic Implants, Parameshwari R

Theses and Dissertations

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are of much interest as promising third-generation bio-materials for bone implant applications; however, challenges remain for the alloy's mechanical integrity and bio-corrosion behaviour. Therefore, appropriate alloying elements and surface-modification techniques are required to overcome these limitations. Zinc (Zn) and Scandium (Sc) elements were found to have good biocompatibility and biodegradability; hence, they were selected as suitable alloying elements for magnesium.

This research work aims to enhance the mechanical integrity and bio-corrosion resistance behaviour of a novel Mg-1wt% Zn-0.5wt% Sc cast alloy by laser shock peening surface treatment with multiple passes (LSP-2 Pass and LSP-3 Pass). …

Directivity And Sound Radiation Of Percussion Instruments And Harmonic Analysis Of The Alto Saxophone, Hanna Michelle Pavill

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how musical instruments radiate sound, with a focus on directional behavior under realistic performance conditions. High-resolution measurements using a rotating microphone array were used to study percussion and woodwind instruments, providing new insight into how design, excitation, and frequency content shape acoustic output. The first set of experiments analyzed the directivity of the bass drum, triangle, and open snare. Each instrument exhibited unique radiation patterns reflecting its structure and playing method. The bass drum showed dipole-like behavior at low frequencies, transitioning to omnidirectional spreading at mid frequencies, and increasingly irregular patterns at higher frequencies. The triangle, due …

Development Of Fiber Composite Joints To Improve Folding Of Deployable Arrays, Luke Q. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

An origami-inspired deployable array, despite being commonly made from rigid materials, must be able to fold into its stowed configuration. This necessitates the employment of discontinuities between the panels of the array and the use of specialized joints to connect them. Compliant joints, with all their typical advantages, are useful in this application. Membrane hinges and lamina-emergent torsional (LET) arrays are two classes of compliant joints, or surrogate folds, which each feature unique benefits and drawbacks. Membrane hinges in principle are simple and flexible, providing a wide range of motion while experiencing little stress. However, perhaps their most robust variation, …

Videos As Video Game Preservation, Scott Tyler Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Video games have become culturally significant in society and are deserving of being preserved. There are many ways to preserve video games such as emulation, migration, and reissue. But recordings of video games have the special designation of being able to faithfully depict a game, which is an advantage it has over other preservation methods. This paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of various preservation methods while putting recordings forward as an equal method that can assist in its own way. Furthermore the concept of documentary style videos for video games is explored with input by archivists as well as …

No Longer At War With My Words: Finding Healing Through Therapeutic Writing, Marlo Degaetano Kreitzinger

Theses and Dissertations

While living in Dallas, Texas, I had the incredible opportunity to work with women transitioning out of homelessness, addiction, prison, or other life traumas. During my four years of facilitating life skills and job readiness classes, I witnessed a desperate need for healing. Many of the women I served were stuck in the repetitive cycle of their unprocessed emotional trauma. These women were often victims of the unprecedented mental health crisis plaguing our world and had little to no access to mental health resources. My initial introduction into therapeutic writing helped me to accept my own mental health crisis and …

Fantasy Novels, Romance, And Book Boyfriends: Romantic Views And Expectations Of Young Adult Women, Kennedy Dawn Morris

Theses and Dissertations

Despite its drop in popularity, reading is a pastime that is enjoyed by many. As with other forms of media, there is the question of how consuming literature impacts individuals. This research study examines how reading fantasy novels impacts the romantic views and expectations of women in emerging adulthood. Social comparison theory and parasocial relationships were utilized in order to examine how young adult women compare their relationships and relationship ideals to those of fictional characters, as well as how young adult women decide which fictional relationships and/or characters are worth their admiration. The findings of this study suggest that …

Who's At Home?: Individual-And Family-Level Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated With Stay-At-Home Motherhood, Deegan Minchey

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I assess the relationship between various types of demographic variables, including individual, partner, and family-level information, and the likelihood of mothers staying at home. Using nationally representative data from the 2019,2021, and 2023 waves of the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey to account for differences across the COVID-19 pandemic, this analysis examines the likelihood of becoming a stay-at-home mother (SAHM) across three separate regression models. From the variables analyzed, I find that various individual, family, and partner demographic characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of becoming a SAHM. These results …

The Use Of Culturally Responsive Mentor Texts For Literacy Development In An Elementary Classroom, Ashley Vernon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Culturally Responsive Mentor Text in literacy development in an elementary classroom. Students in this study demonstrated increases in overall literacy development in the areas of comprehension and verbal discourse when paired with Culturally Diverse texts throughout the study. This study revealed that students were able to make more connections with texts and increase discussion when recognizing unfairness and overcoming struggles.

Unifying Explainability And Machine Learning: Towards Trustworthy And Plausible Explanations Without Post-Hoc Manipulations, Ian E. Nielsen

Theses and Dissertations

The deployment of machine learning (ML) in safety-critical domains is impeded by the black-box nature of deep learning models. Although these models excel at discerning complex patterns, their opacity undermines trust, limiting their use for high-stakes tasks. This thesis advances the field of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) by introducing novel methods to evaluate and enhance model interpretability, ensuring explanations are both faithful (accurate to the model’s reasoning) and plausible (intelligible to human users). A key challenge in XAI is the unreliability of post-hoc explanation methods. To address this, we propose (1) quantitative evaluation metrics for assessing the faithfulness of local …

The Impact Of Latino Faculty On Latino Students, Sarai Aleida Noriega

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study examined the relationship between Latino faculty representation and the academic experiences, sense of belonging, and personal and professional success of Latino students. I used a qualitative case study research method where data was collected through semi structured interviews with self-identified Latino students enrolled in Rowan University Higher Education Administration Program. Participants were prompted to reflect on their collegiate experiences and inspect the role of Latino faculty representation on their educational journey, and the challenges of maneuvering predominantly White academic spaces. The findings revealed that the presence of Latino faculty had a direct impact on students’ feelings of …

Martingale Methods For Structural Change Detection And Feature Attribution In Dynamic Networks, Izhar Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic networks undergo structural changes when their generative process shifts at a change-point. We need to detect this change-point with minimal delay while identifying its underlying causes. This is an optimization problem of minimizing the expected detection delay while controlling the false alarm probability below a threshold---leading to three critical challenges: non-parametric detection without distributional assumptions, exact feature attribution, and early detection with rigorous false alarm control. We construct additive martingale statistics from multiple graph features using conformal prediction, providing false alarm guarantees via Ville's inequality. Our key theoretical contribution proves the Martingale-Shapley equivalence: each feature's martingale value equals its …

An Implementation Study Of A Brief, Online Sexual Mindfulness Intervention At The Individual Partner Level: The Impact Of Prompting Practice On Implementation, Alexyss Lange

Theses and Dissertations

Prior research suggests frequent, scheduled, non-interactive text support enhances psychological outcomes and increases adherence to psychological interventions (Agyapong et al., 2020; Shalaby et al., 2022; Shim et al., 2017). Using a hybrid III implementation model, we recruited individuals in romantic relationships to test whether weekly reminders improved engagement with a sexual mindfulness intervention. We found no evidence that additional support increased intervention implementation. Although we aimed to assess acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and feasibility as separate implementation outcomes, factor analysis indicated these variables cluster into two broader constructs: Readiness and motivation and discomfort and uncertainty. These factors did not differ between …

Contaminant Removal Of Printed 7xxx Aluminum Using The Additive Friction Stir Deposition Process, Jacob Jason Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

The development of contaminant-free additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) using 7xxx series aluminum alloys represents a significant advancement in solid-state additive manufacturing. The removal of graphite and other contaminants allows AFSD to more effectively move forward into the production space. This work demonstrates how contaminant-free depositions were made more feasible. This was accomplished via novel tool designs. These novel designs reduced process forces sufficiently that 7xxx aluminum alloys were able to be printed on commercial and research AFSD machines. Internal features such as draft angles and diffusers/chamfers help to significantly reduce actuator forces. This work also demonstrates how external tool …

Low Surface Brightness Features Of Edge-On Galaxies In Deep Sky Surveys, Kyle R. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we present a comprehensive visual analysis of low surface brightness (LSB) structures in edge-on galaxies using two statistically complete samples: 838 galaxies from the SDSS Stripe 82 region (ES82) and 5,745 galaxies from the Edge-on Galaxies in SDSS (EGIS) catalog, both containing galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts out to 𝑧 ∼ 0.2. Using deep imaging data from the SDSS, SDSS Stripe 82, DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, and the HSC-SSP, we construct RGB and coadded images for comparison and to improve feature detection. Average limiting photometric depth for each survey in the 𝑟 band for the surveys analyzed in …