Digital Commons Network^™

Dei Initiatives Through The Eyes Of Young Consumers: Analyzing Gen Z And Gen Alpha Brand Perceptions, Rachel Stephany

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

How Do Documentaries Depict The Experiences Of Juveniles In Correctional Facilities?, Emma Decker

Honors Program Theses

The juvenile justice system is an entity that is separate from the criminal justice system, with the intended purpose of accommodating the unique needs of juveniles. This system has the primary goals of rehabilitation and punishment, with an emphasis on rehabilitation. Most of the general population has had little to no contact with the juvenile justice system.. In order to fill this gap, a great portion of the public relies on media representation to build up a foundation of knowledge. This can include gaining information from news sources as well as crime based tv shows and documentaries. Little research has …

Attitudes Toward Juvenile Offenders: How Juvenile Justice Personnel Perceive Juvenile Recidivism, Morgan Barnette

Honors Program Theses

This study examined the relationship between juvenile justice personnel and the predictive factors of juvenile recidivism. With rising juvenile crime rates across the country, investigation into the causes of juvenile recidivism has also risen. However, not much research has been dedicated to the way juvenile justice personnel view juvenile recidivism. This study surveyed a sample of six juvenile justice personnel including judges, a lawyer, a probation officer, and a detention officer. The survey explored the types of crimes juveniles are perceived to be committing, the frequency of interactions with repeat offenders juvenile justice personnel are having in their respective professions, …

Inked Narratives: Exploring The Motivations Behind Tattoo Culture, Katelyn Bakker

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the motivations behind tattoo acquisition and the meanings individuals attribute to their tattoos, with a focus on a college-aged population in the Midwest. Using an online survey, I gathered responses from 649 participants to understand the cultural, social, and personal factors influencing tattoo decisions. The results show that tattoos are increasingly viewed as a form of self-expression, with significant differences in motivations between genders. Key motivations for obtaining tattoos include honoring relationships, personal expression, and commemorating life events. Additionally, the study highlights the role of peer influence in tattoo acquisition, suggesting that exposure to tattooed friends is …

Who Owns The Dead: The Unequal Access To Repatriation In Us Law, Sydney Blum

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Building Better: Lean Construction Vs. Traditional Methods, Payton Olson

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

It’S A Bird! It’S A Plane! No It’S A Teacher: How Teachers Are Exemplified As Superheroes As A Method Of Control, Charis Crozier

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

One, Two, Unemployment’S Coming For You: How Slasher Films Reflect Societal Fears, Arwen G. Hansen

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Developing A True North For Regulating At: The Importance Of Protecting Consumers And Promoting Innovation, Phil Weiser

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Who Owns The Digital Athlete?, Kevin Nguyen

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Multimodal Imaging Of Protein-Based Biomaterials For Delivering Chemo-Agent Cargo For Glioblastoma Treatment In A Murine Model, Orin Mishkit

Dissertations and Theses

Protein-based self-assembling biomaterials, known as Thermo-Responsive Assembled Proteins (TRAP), present meaningful potential as drug delivery carriers. These materials enable the controlled, slow release of poorly soluble chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin (Dox), while potentially reducing systemic off-target effects. In collaboration with multiple NYU labs, this study evaluated the efficacy of two TRAP variants—TRAP and F-TRAP—as drug delivery carriers in a xenograft mouse model of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of TRAP-loaded Dox (TRAP-DOX) to free Dox in achieving tumor extravasation and accumulation, facilitating sustained drug release. We hypothesized that the leaky vasculature of GBM …

The Impact And Influence Of Sexual Interpersonal Violence And Beliefs On Barriers In Help-Seeking For College Students, Caitlin N. Bedard

Dissertations and Theses

Sexual interpersonal violence (SIPV) has significant negative impacts on college students yet there is frequent underuse of formal support resources. Consequently, understanding help-seeking for this population is vital. Current research has examined SIPV experiences, rape myth beliefs, and help-seeking barriers in isolation. However, understanding how these factors interact is crucial to understanding how to improve resources for survivors. The present study investigated the relationship among these three constructs in 89 college students who experienced unwanted sexual events after age 18. SIPV experiences, rape myth endorsement, and help-seeking barriers were all positively associated. Regression analysis revealed that four types of SIPV …

Adaptation Of The Biodent For Spherical Microindentation To Determine Elastic Modulus In Small Rodent Bones, Mixame E. Jerome

Dissertations and Theses

Mechanical and material properties of bone are essential for understanding both normal skeletal function and the progression of bone-related diseases. Microindentation has become a widely used method for evaluating tissue mechanical properties of bone, as it samples the contributions of microarchitecture and composition. Microindentation using a standard pointed tip inherently introduces both elastic and plastic deformation into the material. In contrast, indentation with a spherical tip can be operated entirely in the elastic range, providing for a non-damaging test that has significant advantages over sharp indentation techniques. Moreover, a key advantage of using spherical indentation lies in its operation under …

Explorations Of Dna-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Interactions To Develop Multiplexed Molecularly Specific Biosensors For Inflammation, Amelia K. Ryan

Dissertations and Theses

Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) are central regulators of immune signaling and key biomarkers of disease, yet existing assays for their detection remain slow, invasive, and lack multiplexing ability. This dissertation advances the development of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) optical nanosensors capable of real-time, multiplexed, and molecularly specific cytokine detection through innovative use of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) interfaces.

First, an IL-6-specific DNA aptamer was employed as both a dispersing agent and recognition probe for SWCNT fluorescence sensing. Sequence modifications, including anchor domains, truncations, and thermally induced refolding, were systematically tested to optimize sensitivity and selectivity. The …

Wearable Disposable Elecetrotherapy, Mohamad Fallahrad

Dissertations and Theses

Non-invasive electrotherapies offer promising treatments for a wide range of conditions such as pain, headaches, depression, addiction, cognitive decline, wound healing, and drug delivery. However, patient compliance remains low due to the high initial cost, cumbersomeness and inconvenience of existing technology compared to pharmaceuticals. Current electrotherapy devices are often bulky and require users to connect disposable electrodes, initiate programs, and manage charging cycles, which hinders widespread adoption.

We address these challenges by designing and validating a novel electrotherapy platform that is single-use, disposable, low-cost, and wearable. Activated automatically upon skin contact, the device delivers a preset dose of controlled electrical …

Characterization Of The Intrinsic Neural Timescale Indices As A Reliable Fingerprint Of Brain Dynamics, Helya Honarpisheh

Dissertations and Theses

Intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) characterize the persistence of neural activity over time and offer insight into the brain’s temporal hierarchy. This thesis evaluates and compares six autocorrelation-based INT metrics—AR(1) Coefficient (Autoregressive Coefficient at 1), First Zero Lag, Lag at ACF = 1/e, Sum of Positive ACFs, ACF at Half Lag, Exponential Decay Constant (τ)— using resting-state fMRI data from 400 cortical regions across a large, lifespan sample (ages 6– 85) from the NKI-Rockland dataset. A discriminability analysis revealed that the AR(1) coefficient provided the highest test-retest reliability and individual specificity across repeated scans, establishing it as the most reliable INT …

Data Driven Bridge Deck Deterioration Modeling And Maintenance Intervention Scheduling, Deepak Kumar

Dissertations and Theses

Majority of over 617,000 bridges across the United States are significantly impacted by environmental factors, aging materials, and heavy traffic loads. According to the 2021 Infrastructure Report, nearly 231,000 bridges require repair or preservation work, with 46,154 (7.5%) being classified as structurally deficient, thereby posing risks for mor than 178 million daily trips across these bridges. Despite recent improvements, 42% of U.S. bridges are at least 50 years old, underscoring an urgent need for increased investment to meet repair demands. The nation’s backlog of bridge repairs is estimated at $125 billion, with a 58% increase in annual spending required to …

Generation And Characterization Of Human Blood-Brain Barrier Models For Investigating Neuropsychiatric Disorders And Tumor Metastasis, Yunfei Li

Dissertations and Theses

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is important in the normal function of the central nervous system (CNS). An altered BBB has been described in various neuropsychiatric disorders. The brain-specific microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) is an essential structural component of the BBB. To test if integrity of the BBB formed by BMECs is compromised in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (also called DiGeorge syndrome), which is one of the validated genetic risk factors for schizophrenia, a 2D iBBB (induced BBB) on a Transwell filter was generated from human microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) derived from the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) out of patients with …

Deep Learning Architectures For Improving Weather Research And Forecasting (Wrf) Precipitation Estimates And Landslide Susceptibility Mapping: A Case Study Of Puerto Rico, Said A. Mejia Manrique

Dissertations and Theses

Precipitation is a critical factor in the Earth’s hydrological cycle and has a profound impact on various environmental and socioeconomic systems, including management of water resources, flood forecasting, and the evaluation of natural hazards, particularly those associated with rainfall-induced landslides. For the latter, obtaining precise precipitation estimates is essential, as intense rainfall events can trigger landslides that pose significant risks to human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems, particularly in mountainous regions. Puerto Rico (PR), with its mountainous terrain, tropical climate, and vulnerability to hurricanes, provides a unique environment for studying precipitation patterns and the need for accurate rainfall estimates. The complex …

An Exploration Of Object Representations And Defense Mechanisms In Caregiver-Child Dyads On The Thematic Apperception Test, Hannah L. Bloom

Dissertations and Theses

Caregiver-child interactions, beginning in infancy, are essential for socio-emotional development. Through these exchanges, caregivers impart fantasies, fears, and beliefs—both consciously and unconsciously—that shape the child’s internal models of self and others (object representations) and strategies for managing intense emotions (defense mechanisms). Historically, projective tests, such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), have been used to explore these constructs. In the TAT, participants craft narratives based on images that portray characters in different emotional states and interpersonal situations. Through their responses, participants project elements of their own internal world into the stories they create. Despite the TAT’s success in differentiating diagnostic …

A Message From The President

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

A regular column from the president of the Ninth District of New York bringing the latest news to the membership.

A Message From The President

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

A regular column from the president of the Ninth District of New York bringing the latest news to the membership.

Antibiotic-Resistant Nontyphoidal Salmonella And Campylobacter Isolates Associated With International Travel, Connecticut 2010 – 2023, Shilpa Mudumbe

Public Health Theses

Antibiotics are helpful for limiting duration and complications of Salmonella andCampylobacter isolates in selected age groups and people who are immunosuppressed. However, antibiotic-resistant (AR) foodborne pathogens have been on the rise in the United States over the past 10 years and are often linked to international travel (IT). Long-term trends on AR have not been examined in Connecticut (CT). This study evaluates trends in AR among nontyphoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates in CT from 2010 to 2023 and examines the association between AR and IT. Data from submission of annual systematic samples of CT Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates to the …

Message From The Ada President - Standing Up For Community Water Fluoridation, Brett Kessler

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

A message from ADA President Brett Kessler, D.D.S., regarding the importance of community water fluoridation.

A Hierarchical Bayesian Meta-Regression Model For Incorporating Exposure Range Variability, Xiaotong Xu

Public Health Theses

Accurately synthesizing evidence from epidemiologic studies is essential for understanding complex environmental risk relationships and establishing causal relationships. However, the majority of meta-analyses in this area ignore the possibility of variability in risk due to differences in study-specific exposure levels while typical dose-response statistical methods assume a single dose amount per study and not a distribution or range of doses (i.e., exposures). We develop a novel hierarchical Bayesian meta-regression framework that incorporates functional averaging over study-specific exposure ranges and models the underlying exposure-response relationship using a flexible Gaussian process. Using a low-rank predictive process formulation, our approach efficiently projects functional …

Enhancing Dengue Forecasting With Remotely Sensing-Derived Vector Proxies And Random Forest Models: A Case Study For Sri Lanka, Shuyu Ye

Public Health Theses

Dengue fever is a growing global public health threat, especially in tropical and subtropical regions such as Sri Lanka, where seasonal outbreaks impose recurring burdens on health systems. Accurate and timely forecasting of dengue incidence is essential for public health preparedness, yet most existing models suffer from key limitations: they rely on historical case trends without accounting for real-time ecological dynamics, and often require entomological surveillance data that is not consistently available. This thesis addresses these gaps by proposing a machine learning forecasting framework that integrates remote sensing-derived environmental proxies to estimate latent mosquito vector abundance.Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), …

Economic Burden Of Medically Attended Respiratory Syncytial Virus Illness Among Older Adults, Shirley Zhu

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory pathogen that causes a large burden of disease among older adults. Though there are interventions, the impact and cost-effectiveness of recently licensed RSV vaccines in the United States is not well understood for this population. Thus, reliable estimates on the economic burden of RSV among older adults are needed for future economic analyses.

Objective: The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the cost of medically attended RSV among older adults in the United States.

Methods: Medicare claims data were used to determine average cost per visit for outpatient, inpatient, emergency …

Factors Associated With Non-Transport For Ems Incidents Of Pediatric Head Injuries, Margaret Zhang

Public Health Theses

Background/Purpose:Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a valuable resource for evaluating, treating, and coordinating care for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Among adults with a TBI, there is frequent refusal of EMS transport. This raises a public health concern because it can put a burden on resource utilization and reveal misperceptions regarding risk following head injuries. Less is known about whether similar patterns of non-transport exist among children with TBIs. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiology of pediatric head injuries attended by EMS and to identify factors associated with non-transport for these patients. …

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (Pdufa): The Design, Evolution, And Challenges Of User Fees And The Reauthorization Process, Therese Ziaks

Public Health Theses

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) has had a critical role in funding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the form of industry user fees since 1992 with user fees comprising 48% of the FDA’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget. As the FDA faced pressure from Congress and the pharmaceutical industry to reduce drug application review times, the legislation was enacted to provide a funding source in addition to Congressional appropriations so the agency could meet proposed review time goals. As the FDA began to hire additional review staff, reduce application review times, and increase the number of pharmaceuticals …

Nativity Status And Tobacco Use Among Hispanic Adults In The Us, Siyan Zhou

Public Health Theses

Background: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable mortality. Understanding the consumption patterns of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, two of the most prevalent and harmful tobacco products, is important for population health. Furthermore, as the nation's largest racial or ethnic minority group, the Hispanic population faces tobacco-related disparities despite overall low prevalence of tobacco use. Since the Hispanic population is not homogeneous, it is important to disaggregate it by ancestry and nativity status to better guide policy and targeted interventions.

Methods: The 2022 September Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) included 37,540 participants in the US. Rao-Scott …