Digital Commons Network^™

Child Sex Trafficking In Pediatrics: From Screening To Comprehensive Care, Victoria Shwe, Tracy Lin, Nicole M. Leopardi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Child sex trafficking is a significant issue in New Jersey, with minors making up 22% of trafficking victims in 2023. While screening tools exist to identify at-risk youth, there is a major gap in understanding the steps healthcare providers should take after identification to ensure appropriate care, support, and referrals. Current research highlights the lack of data on the use of trafficking screening tools and the absence of standardized post-screening protocols. Most pediatricians rely on referrals to social services or law enforcement, yet limited coordination between healthcare providers and these agencies complicates effective care. The shortage of child abuse pediatric …

Assessing The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Health Literacy In Patients Presenting To A Student-Run Free Clinic, Sabah Iqbal, Kirsten Carlberg, Krisha S. Patel, Ashlyn Mcclelland, Sarah Marotta, Rebecca Moore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Health literacy as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), refers to an individual’s ability to find, understand, and use health information and services1. This definition has evolved with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing emphasis on preventative healthcare. We aimed to observe the impact of the pandemic on the health literacy of patients in a free community clinic run by medical students.

Hypothesis

This study aims to assess the effect of various demographic and socioeconomic factors and the COVID-19 pandemic on health literacy levels estimated by the NVS assessment in the patient population …

Beyond The Label: Understanding And Addressing Occupational Stigma In Psychiatry, Mahesh Vasudevan, Madeeha Sheriff

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction:Stigma is a social classification that devalues individuals or groups, and occupational stigma targets entire professions. Psychiatry is particularly affected, often viewed by the public and medical community as lacking scientific rigor and prestige. This negative perception has far-reaching consequences.

Methods:A narrative literature review was conducted to explore the scope, sources, and impact of occupational stigma toward psychiatrists. Peer-reviewed articles and professional resources published between 2002 and 2023 were selected based on relevance to psychiatric stigma, education, and public perception. Databases searched included PubMed, Google Scholar, and professional association websites using keywords such as “psychiatry stigma” and “psychiatrist …

Photodynamic Therapy Vs. 5-Fluorouracil For Field-Directed Treatment Of Actinic Keratosis: A Comparative Literature Review, Bhumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancerous skin condition arising from chronic UV exposure and often involves field cancerization, where visible lesions coexist with subclinical damage. Effective field-directed treatments are critical for preventing progression to squamous cell carcinoma.

HYPOTHESIS: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) may offer superior efficacy, cosmetic outcomes, and patient adherence compared to topical 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), despite its higher cost and clinical setting requirement.

METHODS: This literature review analyzed peer-reviewed studies from 2015–2025 comparing PDT and 5-FU for field-directed AK treatment. Outcomes assessed included lesion clearance, recurrence, tolerability, adherence, cost, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS: PDT demonstrated high clearance rates …

The Impact Of Food Deserts And Food Insecurity On Cardiovascular Outcomes In New Jersey, Amina Baig, Cheyenne Myklebust, Jack Hennen, Leah Perez, Rhoda Ukenna-Izuwa, Tayyiaba Farooq

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Food deserts - areas with limited access to affordable, healthful food - are increasingly being recognized as risk factors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This review discusses the link between food desert density and cardiovascular disease risk with a special emphasis on New Jersey. A systematic PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase literature review of studies from 2014 through 2024 was conducted, with some relevant older research dating back to 2001. Some of the keywords used in the search included "food desert," "food insecurity," "cardiovascular disease," and "New Jersey." The search was restricted to English-language research conducted within the United States. The literature …

Screening And Prevention Of The Female Athlete Triad, Lia Summer Goldberg, Kate Whelihan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background The Female Athlete Triad—a syndrome of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and decreased bone mineral density—poses a significant risk to female athletes, particularly those in sports emphasizing leanness or endurance. Despite its potential to impair both performance and long-term health, the Triad remains frequently underdiagnosed due to stigma, nonspecific symptoms, and limited screening practices. This review investigates current strategies for screening and preventing the Triad, aiming to identify best practices and areas needing improvement.

Methods A literature review was conducted using PubMed, focusing on studies published after 2005. Keyword searches included “female athlete triad screening,” “prevention,” “education,” and “awareness.” …

Mechanisms Mediating The Protective Effects Of Caffeine On Alzheimer’S Disease Progression, Jessica Ivanov, Malky Bernat, Joshua Drawbaugh, Jeremy Mehta, Namira Rahmani, Saikumar Thellapally

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: This review aims to examine the molecular mechanisms through which caffeine may exert neuroprotective effects against Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Methods: A literature review was done across PubMed and Embase to identify studies between 2000 and 2024, exploring the mechanism behind caffeine’s effects on AD. The criteria focused on peer-reviewed articles involving human or animal models. Information was gathered on study design, participant characteristics, caffeine consumption, proposed mechanisms, and effects on cognition.

Results: The studies support caffeine's potential as a therapeutic, neuromodulator against AD through six mechanisms: inhibition of adenosine A2A receptors, decreased amyloid-beta production and aggregation, promotion of amyloid …

Impact Of Language Barriers On Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Recognition And Response, Kinjal Mody, Sophie Cherfane, Curt Cackovic

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) causes nearly 350,000 deaths annually in the U.S., with survival largely depending on the timely recognition of cardiac arrest and the initiation of bystander CPR by emergency dispatchers. However, English-centric dispatch systems create barriers for individuals with limited English proficiency, potentially delaying critical responses. This study aims to synthesize research on how language differences impact OHCA recognition and CPR initiation in emergency dispatch settings. We hypothesize that language barriers cause significant delays.

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used to identify relevant studies, using search terms like "language barriers," "cardiac arrest," and "CPR." Inclusion …

Assessing The Efficacy Of Prolonged Doxycycline Pep Use In High-Risk Populations For Sti Prevention, Lam Doan, Pearl Joslyn, Lizann Sung, Timothy Breiner, Sarah Marotta, Shikhar Rastogi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

First recommended in October 2022, doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) has been increasingly used as a treatment for multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To evaluate the efficacy of prolonged DoxyPEP use in high risk populations - men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women - for STIs, different sources addressing various aspects of DoxyPEP, its efficacy in STI prevention, and the potential consequences of its widespread use in terms of antimicrobial resistance were examined. Across 9 studies, DoxyPEP was found to decrease the incidence of bacterial STIs, specifically, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea with varying efficacy, especially for gonorrhea. Furthermore, …

Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Examining If Hyperplasia Occurs In Humans In Response To Resistance Exercise, Hitesh Gowda, Scott Dankel, Harshal Parmar, Nicholas Barton

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: It is commonly believed that resistance exercise in humans induces muscle growth primarily via muscle hypertrophy, but there is some debate as to whether muscle hyperplasia occurs. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to quantitively assess whether the presence of muscle hyperplasia occurs in humans performing resistance training.

Methods: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on May 17, 2024. Studies that assessed muscle fiber number pre and post resistance training were included in a three-level random effects model to assess changes in muscle fiber number.

Results: A total of 11 studies met the search criteria, with all …

Her Hideous Progeny: Frankenstein'S Legacy, Adaptability, And Contemporary Prominence To Critical Story Telling, Ryan Penske

English (MA) Theses

This thesis situates the narrative of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley with two contemporary adaptations Get Out (2017) by Jordan Peele and Poor Things (2023) by Yorgos Lanthimos. The original 1818 Frankenstein text is composed of different discourses about race, gender, monstrosity, and what it means to be an abject other. As a text full of critical discourse, it has reached great popular culture legacy and has become adapted numerous times over the past two centuries. This thesis explores and acknowledges instances where the text has been adapted and applied to harmful discourses, such as British Prime Minister George Canning’s use …

Brujería And The Boundaries Of Power: Transgression And Punishment In Fernanda Melchor's Hurricane Season, Cassandra V. Garate

English (MA) Theses

Brujería is frequently invoked as a symbol of resistance for those marginalized by colonial, patriarchal, and gendered violence. However, in Fernanda Melchor’s Hurricane Season, acts of brujería do not offer a clear path to empowerment or freedom. Instead, the novel reveals how brujería is entangled with the very hierarchies it seeks to subvert, rendering it an ambivalent form of resistance. Through the figure of the Young Witch, whose power marks her as both threatening and disposable, the novel illustrates how attempts at subversion remain constrained by systemic violence. Her practice positions her outside normative structures but does not protect …

"Homesick For You:" An Archival Analysis Of Love Letters From World War Ii, Cambria B. Acheson

English (MA) Theses

In this project, I cherish and explore a collection of correspondence exchanged between a married couple during World War II. Applying an embodied research approach that incorporates archival, historical, and cultural studies, I analyze key elements of these letters with special attention for themes of love and family, valuing their insights to touching personal stories that nuance the dominant narratives of history. I contend for the preservation and discussion of these letters and similar artifacts, advocating for their lasting significance within both past and present contexts and their irreplaceable contributions to the cultivation of collective memory and empathy across generations.

Colophon

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Gratitude

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Cannabigerol As A Therapeutic Agent In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Michael J. Viereckl

Master's Theses

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a prolific disease worldwide, with rising incidence and limited treatment options. The disease is progressive, what begins as simple lipid congestion within the cells of the liver eventually leads to incitement of inflammatory reactions and destruction of the liver which can further develop into cancer. Epidemiological data suggests that Cannabis use is associated with reduced incidence of NAFLD, and relatively recent changes in the plants legal status now affords us with the opportunity to investigate unstudied cannabinoids in the context of NAFLD. Further, growing popularity of these bioactive compounds as supplements warrants investigation into …

Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Need For Patient-Focused Care, Sarah M. Clarkson

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an acute auditory condition marked by the rapid onset of hearing loss, often without an identifiable cause, termed idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The estimated incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss is 5 to 20 per 100,000 adults. Anatomy and physiology of the ear highlights the important mechanisms in the ear that are involved in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Including the type of hearing loss, (sensorineural), and the importance of the cochlear blood supply. The anatomy and physiology of the ear is the foundation for understanding the pathophysiology and various potential mechanisms, including vascular compromise, …

Guidelines For Diagnostic Teleaudiology: Screening, Audiometry, And Speech Audiometry, Elizabeth Hanscome

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

By investigating the clinical and technological foundations of teleaudiology, it is possible to capture and relay the capacity to deliver diagnostic audiology services remotely through advancements in telecommunications. A comprehensive analysis of teleaudiology highlights the specialized equipment and knowledge required to conduct these assessments effectively. The need for teleaudiology is ever expanding, granting wider access to care, especially for patients in underserved or rural areas. Teleaudiology has also evolved from its roots in the early 2000s and shows increasing relevance in the field of audiology. The specific technological requirements and protocols necessary for teleaudiology are addressed, with a focus on …

Standardizing Patient Education For Living Kidney Donors, Diana Thompson

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Living kidney donation occurs when a person voluntarily donates a functioning kidney to another individual in need. The kidney donation process is lengthy, complex, and can be overwhelming for many potential donors. A gap was identified in the patient education process at the project site as evidenced by frequent postoperative questions and concerns expressed by living donors and their caregivers. A literature review suggested this was a national problem, yet a standardized education process for living kidney donors has yet to be developed. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a standardized process for living kidney donor education …

An Audiologists Guide To Diagnosing Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Selena Correa

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder characterized by sudden and brief episodes of dizziness triggered by specific head movements. This manuscript provides an exploration of BPPV, including its etiology, clinical presentation within the videonystagmography test battery, and proposed risk factors and preventative measures. To provide a foundational understanding, an overview of both the peripheral and central vestibular systems will be included, as well as content highlighting the vestibular structures affected by this disorder. Additionally, the relationship between the vestibular system and the vestibulo-ocular reflex is explored, emphasizing the dysfunctional response of nystagmus and its diagnostic significance. …

Optimizing Hearing Aids For Music Listening, Rebecca Crowder

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Hearing aid technologies are designed for speech enhancement, which creates challenges for music listening. In 2020, a survey conducted by Greasley, Crook, and Fulford found that 67% of hearing aid users reported difficulties when listening to music. Common issues included problems with pitch perception, a limited dynamic range, lack of vocal clarity, and instances of feedback and distortion. Furthermore, existing hearing aid programs that aim to differentiate between music, speech, and background noise often struggle with accurate categorization and sampling errors in real-world situations.

To address these challenges, there is a pressing need to optimize hearing aids for music listening. …

Development Of A Flowchart-Based Algorithm For Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, And Referral To Treatment In A Womens’ Healthcare Setting, Caitlin Patricia Vasquez

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Alcohol is the most frequently used and misused substance in the United States and is attributable to more deaths each year than the opioid epidemic. Historically, studies have shown that males are more likely than females to drink alcohol and to drink more heavily than females; however, this gender gap is closing, with emerging research showing women are the fastest growing segment of alcohol consumers in the United States. Compared with men, at-risk alcohol use by women has a disproportionate effect on their health and lives including more rapid progression to alcohol related problems and alcohol use disorders, and harms …

Examining Visitor Perceptions Of Wilderness Character Qualities In Parks And Protected Areas: Insights From The White Mountain National Forest, Mark B. Gorman

Master's Theses and Capstones

The increasing use of parks and protected areas by visitors in recent years has necessitated improved management strategies, especially in ecologically sensitive zones such as Congressionally Designated Wilderness Areas. According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, Wilderness Areas must be managed to preserve their natural conditions and unspoiled beauty. The rising popularity and resultant crowding of Wilderness Areas pose significant concerns for natural resource managers. These concerns are due to a fundamental aspect of the wilderness experience being opportunity for solitude, as well as needing to maintain the highest standards of ecological integrity. This study explores visitor perceptions of wilderness …

Deconstructing The Anthony Timberlands Center: Making Preparations For A Building’S End-Of-Life., Sarah Myane

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Based on a speculative future where mass timber has become a normalized structural material, integrated into the building envelope as commonplace, and material reuse and reclamation are standard practice. The Anthony Timberlands Center is slated for deconstruction due to age and necessity for more updated programing. Today in 2025 as the building has not even reached completion, how can its assembly and use influence its purpose after the initial lifespan?

This study is based on principles of design for deconstruction from two different theories: the 6 S’s of a building devised by Stewart Brand, and Philip Crowther's 10 frameworks for …

A Word From The Writing Team (May 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Hemma Murali, Ms

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Two Ways to Fund Open Access Fees
• Mark Your Calendar for the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize Reception & Reading (See Flyer)
• Citation Manager Updates
• Check out the Instructional Design Team’s Podcast, The Learning Curve!
• Looking for Your Next Read?
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools

Becoming Sephardic: Historical Consciousness And Emergent Ethnoreligious Identification In New Mexico, Sarah Leiter

Anthropology ETDs

In recent years, an increasing number of Hispanic Catholic New Mexicans have discovered that they descend from Iberian Jewish victims of the Spanish Inquisition. For some, this new information has prompted them to identify as Jewish in various ways. However, many have faced considerable difficulty in gaining recognition of their newfound ethnoreligious ancestry among family members, normative Jewish communities, and the Spanish and Portuguese governments that offered reparative citizenship to Sephardic (Iberian Jewish) descendants. In this ethnographic context, this dissertation explores how shifting understandings of religious identity and ancestral pasts affect identification practices in the present. Drawing on theoretical analyses …

Eviction Sealing: A Lifeline In The Fight For Housing Justice, Allison M. Freedman

UC Law Journal

In January 2023, the White House released a Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights. The Blueprint called for immediate sealing of eviction case filings to reduce the likelihood that tenants would be locked out of future housing opportunities without the chance to defend themselves. Shortly thereafter, the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a request for public comment on how the use of eviction records and screening algorithms may affect tenant housing opportunities and drive discriminatory outcomes. The eviction crisis, its discriminatory effects, and the idea that sealing eviction records may provide a solution to …

From In-The-Head To In-The-World: Frameworks For Understanding And Applying Computational Thinking, Justin Olmanson, Gretchen K. Larsen, Azadeh Hassani

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In the five decades since Papert coined the term Computational Thinking (CT), it has become a core framework for thinking about learning, problem-solving, design, and creativity. Although CT is most commonly, and initially, associated with the cognitive orientations involved in coding and learning to code, it also includes situated and critical processes related to computational problem solving. Herein we unpack ways researchers in different fields and points in time have organized CT. We include creative coding as a uniquely generative lens for rethinking CT, outlining its potential as an expressive, constructionist, and culturally situated practice. In doing so, we explore …

Connecting The Montessori Philosophy Through Edtech, Olivia Chilvers

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MS) Theses

This thesis explores the evolving landscape of Educational Technology (EdTech) and examines how the Montessori educational philosophy is translated into digital learning environments. The study aims to identify design implications for children’s educational applications (apps) that seek to align with Montessori principles and what aspects of a Montessori-based application excel over a non-Montessori-based application. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using a custom-developed codebook to analyze user reviews posted by guardians of children on the Apple App Store. These reviews pertained to apps identified as Montessori-based, either through explicit labeling or meta-data. In addition to this review analysis, a user …

An Analysis Of Bias Towards Women In Large Language Models Using Likert Scale Evaluations, Sarah T. Fieck

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MS) Theses

Closed-source large language models (LLMs) developed by large technology companies continue to grow in popularity. However, ethical conversations surrounding the safety of model outputs have been a prominent topic of discussion. This project aims to assess three leading closed-source LLMs: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude, to analyze how their outputs perform when treated as a subject of several psychological evaluation scales measuring biased behaviors against women. The Ambivalent Sexism Index, Modern Sexism Scale, and Belief in Sexism Shift evaluations were used to get descriptions of how the LLMs respond to traditional and modern prompts involving sexism and gender …