Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Depressive Patterns In Italian Discourse: Insights From Natural Language Processing, Annapia Borraccino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Depression does not always speak in obvious ways. It often hides in silence, in brief pauses, and in the quiet texture of language. While the prosodic and linguistic characteristics of depression have been extensively studied in English and other languages, they remain underexplored in Italian, with this being a first focused analysis. This study investigates how depression manifests in the speech of Italian speakers, using transcriptions from a clinical corpus. Drawing on emotional, structural, and cognitive-linguistic features, including first person verb use, sentence complexity, verb tense, and negation, the study evaluates how these markers differ between individuals with and without …

Exploring The Enstatite Chondrites: Modal Abundances, Metamorphic History, And Volatile Challenges, Mabel Gray

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis investigates the formation conditions, thermal histories, and volatile inventories of enstatite chondrites (ECs). A diverse set of ECs is analyzed to capture the broad variability within this meteorite class. Chapter 1 presents a comparative analysis of mineral abundances using automated point counting, X-ray diffraction analysis, and XMapTools-based phase mapping. The results reveal significant variations in silicate and sulfide abundances across EC groups, challenging the conventional binary classification and suggesting distinct formation conditions. Chapter 2 explores the thermal histories of two highly equilibrated EH chondrites, proposing a novel formation mechanism on the parent asteroid: contact metamorphism driven by an …

Diversity Initiatives In Higher Education: Understanding The Experiences Of Black Males In Cuny’S Nyc Men Teach, Fatima Sherif

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This qualitative study examines the experiences of Black males in New York City Men Teach (NYCMT), a diversity initiative designed to increase the representation of Black male educators. Despite efforts, Black men remain underrepresented in education. Drawing from narrative-inquiry and guided by Critical Race theory and the Radical Care framework, this research explores how participants experience NYCMT and what their stories reveal about the effectiveness of diversity initiatives. Data from Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing five key themes: community, financial benefits, mentoring, professional development, and challenges. Findings show that while NYCMT offers critical emotional, financial, and structural …

Hope By A Thousand Cuts: Fashion Ethics From Cutting Fabric To Cutting A Fashion Film, Sarah G. Porterfield

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

I conducted an experiment during which I learned to sew, created a clothing collection, and wore nothing but my collection for a month. Additionally, I documented my collection and the process in a fashion film. The goal of my experiment was to investigate fashion ethics. To gain a greater understanding of the underlying theories that fashion materializes and to grasp their ethical implications better, I studied the texts of fashion theorists such as Marx, Barthes, Derrida, Deleuze and Guattari, Butler, Benjamin, and Merleau-Ponty throughout my experiment. Therefore, I gained insight into many aspects of fashion ethics, from the beginning stages …

Menstrual Math: The Price Of Bleeding, Gabrielle Langston

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project examines the landscape of menstrual equity in the United States through a data storytelling lens, focusing on state-level policies regarding taxation and access to menstrual products. The analysis explores which states impose sales tax on menstrual products, if state schools provide free menstrual products, and which states ensure access for incarcerated individuals using publicly available datasets from advocacy groups. Additionally, there is an investigation into potential correlations between the gender wage gap and states that tax menstrual products, shedding light on economic and policy disparities.

Through its data visualizations, this project aims to provide a clear, although not …

Beyond Country: Southern Language And Identity In North Mississippi, Meredith Hilliard

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is about the language of the US South and the identities of the people who inhabit it. Its purpose is twofold: (1) to explain, on micro- and macro-levels, the processes of enregisterment (Agha 2003) of Southern US English, drawing conclusions about the phenomenon of enregisterment more generally; and (2) to articulate the relationship of Southern redneck identity to this process of enregisterment. It uses a mixed-methods approach that relies primarily on a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) methodology, adopting a stancetaking approach (Du Bois 2007) and an enregisterment approach to language and identity, with some quantitative elements, to analyze …

Localization Of Music In Perceived Motion In Cochlear Implant Users, Madeleine Beyer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Spatial perception contributes to music perception and enjoyment, yet it remains understudied in cochlear implant (CI) users. Spatial effects in music are often achieved through panning, a tool which redistributes an audio signal level between or among several outputs, creating a perceived sound localization. CI users typically perform worse than normal hearing (NH) listeners on tasks of horizontal localization and music perception when manipulating the actual location of the sound. However, despite the common use of panning in daily use and consumption of music, no previous studies were conducted to examine how panning impacts the listening experience for CI users. …

Memory Interference In The Lateral Entorhinal Cortex, Omar Ghazy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Memory interference occurs when previously formed memories disrupt the acquisition or retrieval of new information. A prominent example of proactive interference is latent inhibition (LI), defined as a reduced ability to form or express Pavlovian associations with a stimulus following non-reinforced exposure. The interference-based model suggests that LI arises because the memory that the pre-exposed stimulus is inconsequential interferes with the memory that it predicts a reinforcer.

Because interference increases with age, identifying its neural basis may help prevent or slow cognitive decline. Prior studies using the LI paradigm implicate the entorhinal cortex (EC) in retrieving the memory that a …

Single Mother Poverty In A Global City, Gregory Cala

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The thesis explores how New York City's emergence as a "Global City" and welfare reform uniquely impacted single mothers’ lives on the matter of labor, housing, cost of living and more. New York City’s recovery from near bankruptcy in the 1970s began after cutting social programs and luring corporate firms with financial incentives. As firms moved to the city, so did their workforce of employees with skills in specialized service roles. Concurrently, the need for cheap, part-time, and temporary services emerged. By the 1990s, the growth of these less specialized service jobs outpaced all others, all while calls for work …

Survey Of The Diagnostic, Rehabilitative, Educational, And Inter-Professional Changes In The Profession Of Audiology, Leah Joshowitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: The profession of audiology has undergone dramatic changes since its inception. A survey of audiologists working in a variety of settings was conducted to gain insight into their perspective on how the scope of audiology practice has changed overtime. Participants responded to an open-ended questionnaire with questions ranging from queries about the expansion of knowledge base in topics such as advanced diagnostics, technological advances, national regulations, educational requirements, and inter-professional collaborations. The implications of the findings regarding the evolution of the current scope of practice and how it can be altered are discussed below.

Methods: An open-ended questionnaire was …

The Ethnobotany And Pharmacology Of Medicinal Plants For Caribbean Women’S Health, Ella Thomas Vardeman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Approximately 55% of the world’s population lives in cities, and the United Nations estimates that this number will rise to 68% by 2050. Urban ethnobotany, the study of people’s traditional knowledge and use of plants in cities, is increasingly important as people adapt their cultural traditions to changing environments. In New York City (NYC), there have been several urban ethnobotany investigations in collaboration with Caribbean immigrant groups. However, there has yet to be an ethnobotanical survey that documents and botanically authenticates the medicinal plants used in the Haitian community. Previous collaborative research with women from the Caribbean in NYC has …

Parametrization Of Formal Norm Compatible Sequences, Joseph Dicapua

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

We give a classification of power series parametrizing Lubin-Tate trace compatible sequences. This proof answers a question posed in the literature by Berger and Fourquaux. Lubin-Tate trace compatible sequences are a generalization of norm compatible sequences, which arise in Iwasawa theory and local class field theory. The result we prove generalizes the interpolation theorem proved by Coleman in the classical norm compatible sequence case. We also, jointly with Victor Kolyvagin, give a method for finding such series explicitly in certain special cases.

Elucidating The Roles Of Eukaryotic Initiation Factors Involved In Dap5 Mediated Translation, Jacob Nk Quartey

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Translation initiation in eukaryotes is a highly regulated process essential for accurate protein synthesis. It is a dynamic process that involves a complex interplay between messenger RNAs (mRNAs), ribosomal subunits, and a host of initiation factors, ensuring precise start codon selection and the subsequent assembly of the translation machinery. This process has well been known to be mediated by the eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF4F), which consists of the cap binding protein eIF4E, the scaffolding protein eIF4GI, and the helicase factor eIF4A.The recognition and binding of eIF4E to the m⁷G cap structure of the mRNA is essential for the …

Energy Conversion Materials: Computational Design Of Electrocatalysts Toward Sustainable Energy Applications, Courtney M. Brea

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As the global-scale need for sustainable energy technologies emerges due to anthropogenic climate change, electrocatalysis plays a crucial role in facilitating many sustainable processes. Several heterogenous cathode materials can perform different electrochemical activities using water, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide to deliver renewable electricity and value-added chemicals. By using the density functional theory method, it is possible to explore the structural and electronic properties that govern a catalysts’ activity and selectivity. In this thesis, we start by exploring 48 reconstructed transition metal dichalcogenides edges (MX₂, M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te) for carbon dioxide reduction reaction …

Glacial Lakes Segmentation Using Multispectral Remote Sensing Data And Deep Learning Models, Debankan Das

Master’s Dissertations

The identification and delineation of glacial lakes through segmentation is crucial for tracking glacial changes and evaluating potential dangers from sudden flood events (GLOFs). These floods can severely impact populated areas and man-made structures downstream. Recent advances in high-quality satellite imagery have sparked increased attention toward using advanced machine learning methods, particularly deep learning, to enable precise and automated glacial lake detection. In this study, we explore the effectiveness of deep learning-based pointwise semantic segmentation for glacial lake mapping using multisource remote sensing imagery, including both optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. We experiment with a novel stack combination …

Analyzing Copyrightability Of Ai-Generated And Assisted Works Under A New Theory Of Authorship, Katherine Lu

Journalism

While pending cases like the New York Times’ case against OpenAI will be the first test for artificial intelligence (AI) in the copyright space, current copyright legislation inadequately answers questions regarding grey-area uses of generative AI in the creation of journalistic, creative, or academic works. The Copyright Office has established that copyright requires human authorship, but current legal definitions of authorship may include simple prompt writing as a form of authorship. This paper addresses the inadequacies of the current definitions of authorship, and proposes a new one that encompasses traditional definitions, the Copyright Office’s new motions addressing AI, and Christopher …

Automation Of Post Fermentation Must Removal, Grace Hurley, Jakob Spink, Ariel Metscher

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The Harvest Haulers project addresses a critical operational inefficiency at Saucelito Canyon Winery, where post-fermentation must removal from wine barrels was labor-intensive and potentially hazardous. This project aimed to develop a custom forklift attachment that could securely handle Bordeaux and Burgundy barrels, streamline the dumping process, and improve worker safety.

The resulting solution is a forklift-compatible fixture designed to lift, secure, and tilt barrels using a robust combination of a modified aluminum pallet, padded hoop, ratchet straps, and a custom hinge mechanism. The design meets all engineering requirements, including a 600 lb. load capacity, 135° tilt, and a single-operator setup …

Chemical Recycling Of Pet Plastic Waste, Charlie Parker, Benjamin Puga, Jake Verschoor

Materials Engineering

The growing accumulation of plastic waste, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has driven the need for more efficient and scalable chemical recycling methods. This study investigated the methanolysis of PET using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as a catalyst and tetrabutylammonium chloride (NBu₄Cl) as an ionic liquid, aiming to reduce methanol consumption while achieving high PET conversion efficiency. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via wet chemistry and characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), which showed an average particle size of 13.5 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.1556, indicating a moderately-high monodisperse distribution of particles sufficient for reactions. The main conversion product, dimethyl …

25 Conference Program - Polymer Reaction Engineering Xii, Ivan Konstantinov, Piet Iedema, Mike Grady

Polymer Reaction Engineering XII

No abstract provided.

Spectrum Of Demyelinating Diseases In Pakistan: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study, Zainab Aslam Saeed Memon, Safia Awan, Haris Majid Rajput, Qamar Un Nisa, Muhammad Subhan, Lal Chand, Muhammad Wazir Ali Khan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective: Demyelinating diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Data from South Asia remain scarce, despite potential regional variations in disease spectrum and outcomes. The objective of this study was to characterize the demographic, clinical, and disability profile of patients with demyelinating disorders across Pakistan.

Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2017 and December 2019 across 39 neurology centers in Pakistan. Adult patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with demyelinating disorders using standardized criteria were included. Data on …

Comparison Of Conventional And Neutrosophic Methods For Statistical Power Analysis And Effect Size In Clinical Research, Vennila J, Basker P, Kripa Josten, Prakash P, Keerthi Vijayan, Menaka B, Prabu G. Raja

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of China's Middle School Physical Education Academic Proficiency Examination Under The Background Of New Era Education Reform: Neutrosophic Archimedean T-Norm, Pengfei Luo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Integrating High Throughput Phenotyping Approaches To Characterize Plant Traits And Support Nutrient Management Research, Katie J. Bathke

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Over the past decade, considerable research has addressed the social, economic, and agronomic challenges posed by imbalanced nutrient applications, particularly nitrogen and, more recently, sulfur. In response, high throughput plant phenotyping, as one of the latest approaches, has contributed to the development of innovative techniques for assessing key plant phenotypes under stress over time in both field and greenhouse environments. However, there is a limited number of studies applying these techniques for nutrient management, particularly in scenarios where two abiotic stressors coexist, such as the combination of water stress and nitrogen deficiency, or concurrent nitrogen and sulfur deficiencies.

In chapter …

An Ethnomusicological Approach To Culture In Culturally Relevant Pedagogies And Curricula, Andrés R. Amado

School of Music Faculty Publications

Although the frameworks of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Culturally Responsive Curriculum tend to reduce educational disparities, pedagogical approaches focused on minoritized populations now draw controversy. This chapter exam ines the essentializing potential of historical notions of “culture” used in these frameworks and proposes instead an ethnomusicological definition that conceives culture as a malleable collection of habits shared by different individuals and groups. This definition avoids equating culture with specific traits of minoritized people and helps valorize collaborative teaching and learning. After situating Culturally Relevant Pedagogy within the intellectual history of “culture,” and overviewing the field of ethnomusicology …

The Crime Victims' Rights Movement: Historical Foundations, Modern Ascendancy, And Future Aspirations, Paul G. Cassell

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Digital Resurrection Of Thonis-Heracleion: Technological Advances In Underwater Archaeology And A Speculative Ai-Driven Reconstruction Methodology, James Hutson, Passent Chahine

Faculty Scholarship

This article synthesizes past archaeological research on the submerged Egyptian city of Thonis-Heracleion, critically reviewing excavations and technological interventions deployed since its rediscovery by Franck Goddio and the IEASM team. Situated approximately 10 meters beneath Aboukir Bay near Alexandria, the city represents a significant nexus of Greek and Egyptian cultural heritage, vividly documented in classical sources such as Herodotus and Strabo. Prior excavations have recovered temple complexes, colossal statues, ritual artifacts, and an extensive array of ancient shipwrecks, mapping only a fraction of the extensive site. These investigations utilized pioneering geophysical methods, including multibeam sonar, side-scan sonar, and photogrammetry, establishing …

A History Of State Documents Classifications, Christopher Straughn

Library Faculty Publications

This paper identifies twenty-seven state documents classification schemes. To fully understand how and why so many state documents classifications were created, we need to examine the history of classification systems in the United States, as well as trends in library history and their relationships with external events. This paper divides this history into three eras: the birth of American library science, wartime, and, finally, the state documents era, with special attention paid to the events of the 1970s and beyond.

Coda: A Digital System For Generation Of Piano Practice Exercises From Symbolic Music Notation, Annie Tang

Computer Science Senior Theses

Effective practice remains one of the greatest challenges in music education, yet cur- rent digital music tools primarily support only passage engagement or surface-level feedback, failing to provide proactive guidance for overcoming technical challenges within piano repertoire. This thesis presents Coda, a digital system that generates custom piano practice exercises from symbolic music notation based on established piano pedagogy principles that have historically been taught orally.

Unlike existing tools that only provide a viewable symbolic music notation display or only an interface to take notes and record a practice session, Coda uses rule- based algorithmic transformations rooted in pedagogical logic …

A Toda Bracket Convergence Theorem For Multiplicative Spectral Sequences, Eva Belmont

Faculty Scholarship

Moss’ theorem, which relates Massey products in the -page of the classical Adams spectral sequence to Toda brackets of homotopy groups, is one of the main tools for calculating Adams differentials. Working in an arbitrary symmetric monoidal stable simplicial model category, we prove a general version of Moss’ theorem which applies to spectral sequences that arise from filtrations compatible with the monoidal structure. This involves the study of Massey products and Toda brackets in a non-strictly associative context. The theorem has broad applications, e.g., to the computation of the motivic slice spectral sequence and other colocalization towers.

Exploring The Impact Of Mitoquinone Supplementation On Glycan Profiles In A Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Mouse Model, Mona Goli, Akeem Sanni, Sakshi Gautam, Khalil Mallah, W. Brad Hubbard, Mohammad Reslan, Muhammad Ali Haidar, Karim Halabi, Joseph Walker, Stefania Mondello, Firas Kobeissy, Yehia Mechref

Physiology Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant cause of injury-related deaths and disabilities. Repeated exposure to mechanical impact can lead to metabolic and ionic imbalance, which can cause oxidative stress and worsen the cellular dysfunction initiated by the initial mild TBI (mTBI). Currently, no FDA-approved drug targets repeated mTBI (rmTBI) and its potential sequelae. Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is a mitochondrion-targeted drug that has proven beneficial in different brain-related diseases. We have previously demonstrated the neurotherapeutic effects of MitoQ at a 30-day chronic time point in a similar rmTBI mouse model, where we observed decreased neuroinflammation, enhanced behavioral outcomes, and diminished oxidation. …