Digital Commons Network^™

Building Brains And Relationships Beginning From Birth: Exploring Multilingual Parents' Experiences With A Babies Initiative Family-School Partnership, Diane D. Joyce

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined multilingual families’ experiences in a family-school early literacy program during the critical period of brain development, the Phlournoy Babies Initiative (PBI). Participants included five multilingual (ML) and immigrant families who have participated in this program for multiple years. In addition, this study probed how families were applying the strategies shared during PBI sessions within the context of their culture and home environment. Sociocultural, ecological systems, and culturally responsive teaching theories formed the framework of this study. A narrative inquiry approach was applied, which provided the researcher the opportunity to share the stories and experiences of the participants. …

First Generation Graduate Student Experiences, Andrew Torres

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to gain a better understanding of the experiences, inspiration, motivations, and varying aspects of what it is to be a first- generation master’s level student. Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, I conducted interviews with three first-generation undergraduate students, three first-generation graduate students, and two first-generation postgraduate professionals at a single university to understand how their higher education experiences were similar and different. I pursued this research topic to understand further what resources graduate students used and which were lacking for their needs. The pursuit motivated me to discover why there was such …

Lock And Roll, Varun Mangla, Zachary Common, Gaby Gamarro-Gomez

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

As electronic bikes continue to increase in popularity, cycling has become a means of daily travel for more and more people. However, as the price and quantity of these consumer bicycles increase in public areas, so does the probability of their theft. Newer bikes, especially those with onboard electronics, are a priority target for thieves.

Lock and Roll, therefore, is an advanced smart bike wheel lock that aims to address the growing demands for increased bike security. By providing a variety of security features, such as GPS positioning, a gyroscopic alarm system, and remote monitoring, Lock and Roll represents a …

Emg Vocal Translations, Lucas Amlicke, Raphael Kusuma, Cole Heider, Kayleigh Vu, Monica Sommer

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

In this paper, we propose a novel augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) framework for silent speech. Many individuals with speech impairments are unable to vocalize effectively due to various conditions that affect the vocal cords. To engage in social activities, many rely on AAC devices that often lack flexibility and expressiveness. Users may still find self-expression and spontaneity difficult with such devices. This project presents a novel approach to developing a silent speech interface (SSI), providing a more adaptable and user-centered solution to give the vocally impaired a voice. Using surface electromyography (sEMG) alongside machine learning techniques, we aim to …

Family-Based Support As A Social Determinant Of Health-Protective Factor For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bisola Duyile, Naomi J. Wheeler

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate resilience and resourcefulness in managing the demands of caregiving. This study highlights the critical role of family based support as a social determinant of health-protective factor (SDHPF) that enhances the well-being of parents, helping to mitigate depressive symptoms. Using a secondary dataset of 199 parents/ caregivers of children with ASD, this study examines how family based support, child symptom severity, and financial resources (income) influence parental mental health. The findings show that strong family support is positively associated with lower levels of depression, underscoring the strength of social networks in enhancing …

Hidden In Plain Sight: Community-Based Human Trafficking Prevention During Major International Events, Jordan Leeds

Criminology and Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

Human trafficking is a pervasive and persistent global problem, affecting almost every nation. The United Nations developed a standard known as the Palermo Protocol that provides a comprehensive definition and international strategy for criminalizing and punishing trafficking offenders. This protocol defines human trafficking in terms of its act, means, and purpose. Human trafficking can take on many contexts, such as sex, labor, or servitude, but is uniformly concerned with exploiting individuals, usually from vulnerable populations, for personal profit. The unique characteristics of international sporting events, including increased demand for services, time-sensitive labor needs, and reduced oversight, create conditions for human …

Neuroscientist Awarded $413k To Study Brain Disorders, Mentor Student Research, Dave Larsen

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

The NIH funding will support one doctoral student and seven undergraduate students.

Ralph Lauren Corp V. Factory Mutual Insurance Co

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Developing Indicators For Comprehensive Evaluation Of Equity In Transportation Systems, Ruqaya Emad Alfaris

Theses and Dissertations

Achieving transportation equity is essential for social inclusion, access to opportunities, and reducing disparities. However, traditional evaluation methods are often fragmented and fail to capture equity’s multidimensional nature. This dissertation develops a comprehensive framework for creating indicators to evaluate transportation equity effectively. It begins with a literature review to comprehend the theoretical background, followed by expert interviews highlight gaps in current evaluation practices. Statistical modeling and machine learning analysis was conducted to first explore indicators’ impact on transportation equity, and then investigate transportation safety disparities in underserved communities. Findings from literature review, interview with professionals, and analysis results are used …

Week Of June 9, 2025, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your summer hub for events, resources and updates.

Creativity And Crisis. Case Studies Of Bureaucracy Under Pressure – Determining Factors Affecting Creativity, Andrew Lee Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

I studied creativity and how it interacts with the crisis environment to devise a way of determining if future situations are amenable to creativity. Through studying creativity theories and crisis responses, I developed a framework and instrument that answers the following questions, semi-quantitatively and qualitatively: 1) Is the future situation or problem amenable to creativity? 2) How much “energy” needs to be expended in solving the problem or situation? 3) Where best can I use creative energy as it relates to the subject matter or process of the situation? I studied situations ranging from personal (pursuit of this PhD), critical …

The Role Full-Time Faculty Play In Retaining Students With New Initiatives Implemented By The Administration: A Qualitative Case Study, Kenyatta Collins

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the role full-time faculty play in supporting student retention within the context of new administrative initiatives at a New Jersey community college. Grounded in the framework of faculty as institutional agents, the research investigated how faculty understood their role, engaged with retention efforts, and perceived their alignment with institutional goals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with full-time faculty involved in or impacted by retention initiatives. Thematic analysis revealed that while faculty were committed to student success, they experienced limited involvement in the development and communication of these initiatives. Participants expressed a need for consistent communication, …

Bereavement Needs Of Parent-Child Dyads Following Sibling Death, Shannon V. D'Alton

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, nearly 62,000 children and adolescents experience the death of a sibling each year and sibling bereavement is one of the most distressing life events during childhood; however, it has received less attention in research compared to other forms of childhood loss. Bereaved siblings and parents are at increased risk for negative physical and psychological outcomes, yet little is known about their support and resource needs during the early years following the death. A limitation in understanding sibling bereavement is the methodological and ethical challenges of researching this vulnerable population. Consequently, the bereavement needs of surviving siblings …

Association Of Fentanyl Test Strip Results And Change In Drug Use Behaviors, Kitty H Gelberg, Nabila El-Bassel, Denise C Babineau, Rachel A Vickers-Smith, Laura C Fanucchi, Janet E Childerhose, Megan E Hall, Megan E Dzurec, Jennifer Villani, Mary R Russo, Patricia Lebaron, Katherine R Marks, Kathyrn E Lancaster, Louisa Gilbert, James L David, Barry S Eggleston, Carter A Roeber, Emmanuel A Oga, Redonna K Chandler, Sharon L Walsh

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Stay Safe Study, conducted between May and December 2023 in the United States, investigated the association between fentanyl test strip (FTS) use and risk reduction behaviors. This paper examines the association between self-reported FTS results and change in drug use behaviors.

METHODS: We solicited self-reported drug and FTS use among people who use drugs (PWUD), with a baseline and four weekly surveys over a 28-day observation period in three states (Kentucky, New York and Ohio). For each day participants reported drug use, they were asked types of drugs used, use of FTS, FTS results, and 12 drug use …

June 9 Elections, Census & Redistricting Update, Jeffrey M. Wice

Elections, Census & Redistricting Updates

No abstract provided.

Indigenous Science Network Bulletin - June 2025

Indigenous Science Network

The editorial for this issue of the indigenous Science Network Bulletin has been provided by Woppaburra Elder Bob Muir, who works with the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Bob explores his journey in promoting Indigenous cultural perspectives and working closely with communities when monitoring and supporting the health and long-term future of sea country.

Hector Huertas V. Gina Clark

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Neural Representations Of Valence And Arousal In Kung Fury, Jason A. Davis

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

Emotions are a core component of human experience and behavior, yet after decades of scientific research, it is still difficult to uncover the neural substrates related to emotion. Recent advances in neuroscience have examined how we interpret emotional signals from static images of facial expressions, but less work has sought to understand how the brain constructs our emotional experiences (Chen, 2020). To investigate such idiosyncratic experiences across participants, we employed naturalistic stimuli to model the real-time, reliable changes in activity that correspond to changes in emotional experience. A primary element of emotional experience is core affect, defined as the mental …

Navigating The Transition: Experiences Of Former Collegiate Softball Athletes, Breanna Alleen Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to explore the different ways former female collegiate athletes transitioned out of playing their sport. Through qualitative interviews, the research aimed to understand the challenges these athletes faced, such as loss of identity, emotional distress, the absence of structure and support after leaving their teams. It also examined how unprepared these athletes were while going through the transition. The participants in this research study are all former division three college softball players who have just graduated college or have been out for a maximum of ten years. The most significant findings were these …

Mechanisms Underlying Estrous Cycle-Dependent Changes In Incubated Cocaine Craving, Erin Elizabeth Wannen

Theses and Dissertations

Cues associated with cocaine use are one of the most common relapse triggers and understanding what promotes cue-induced cocaine craving and relapse is a critical question in the field. Human studies have shown that these measures are impacted by fluctuations in ovarian hormone levels, as higher levels of estradiol promote cue-induced cocaine craving in women while higher levels of progesterone reduce craving in both sexes. Enhanced or incubated cue-induced cocaine seeking or craving also changes across the rodent reproductive (estrous) cycle as levels of estradiol and progesterone fluctuate, with enhanced seeking behavior observed during the estrus stage of the cycle. …

Se Quema: Burnout In Undergraduate Latiné Students, Shirley Victoria Celi-Landeo

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past five years, Latiné students have contributed most of the nation’s increase in college degrees earned. But even with more people enrolling in college, undergraduate retention remains a concern, raising critical questions about equity in higher education (The Pell Institute, 2023). This thesis examines burnout among Latiné undergraduates, who face financial strain, familial responsibilities, and lack of representation in resources, contributing to their underrepresentation in graduation rates. The study emphasizes the need to understand and address these stressors to support the success of Latiné students, who are under-represented in graduation rates compared to their counterparts (Excelencia in Education, …

Engineered Peptide Biomaterials And Synthetic Transmembrane Receptors For Native And Programmable Cell Interactions, Matthias Recktenwald

Theses and Dissertations

Peptide-functionalized biomaterials enable cell-material interactions through peptide-induced activation of native and synthetic receptors. This dissertation expands the clinical potential of biomaterials by harnessing native and synthetic receptor-peptide interactions. Key advancements include: (1) developing a novel method to functionalize rigid biomaterials with peptides, (2) designing antimicrobial peptide-modified hydrogels and plastics, (3) functionalizing hydrogels with N-cadherin peptides to improve stem cell manufacturing, and (4) engineering synthetic mammalian transmembrane receptors that initiate non-native intracellular responses to peptide-ligands. Using thiol-norbornene click chemistry, we functionalized rigid plastics and soft hydrogels using therapeutic peptides with spatial and temporal control. While advances in synthetic biology have enabled …

Adolescent Scoliosis In Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is It Idiopathic Or Syndromic??, Ravi Rajendra, Matthew B. Bratton, Claudia Leonardi, R. Carter Clement

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: Minimal data exists on whether adolescents with both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and scoliosis exhibit distinct curve types or require varying surgical management compared to neurotypical adolescents. Our study at a high-volume scoliosis center compares patterns of scoliosis in ASD patients with those of neurotypical patients. We hypothesized adolescents with ASD would present with atypical scoliosis curve characteristics compared to neurotypical adolescents. Methods: Using ICD-10 codes, we constructed an electronic database of adolescents aged 10 to 18 with diagnoses of both scoliosis and ASD. To avoid confounding with syndromic conditions, adolescents with a syndrome independently associated with scoliosis were …

Childhood Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Comprehensive Review Of Disease, Diagnosis, And Therapeutic Management, Daniyal Raza, Farhan Mohiuddin, Muhammad Haris Khan, Maheen Fawad, Syed Musa Raza

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects both adults and children, although the symptoms differ significantly between these groups. While adults typically experience heartburn and regurgitation, children may present with more subtle signs, such as failure to thrive, chronic cough, wheezing, and Sandifer syndrome. Diagnosing GERD in children necessitates a multifaceted approach due to the diverse symptomatology and challenges in communication. Clinical assessment serves as the cornerstone of diagnosis, supported by tools like pH monitoring, esophageal impedance testing, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Imaging studies, such as barium swallow, can also provide valuable insights into anatomical abnormalities and the extent of reflux. Treatment …

Identifying The Drivers Behind The Decline Of Douglas-Fir And True Fir Species In Sw Oregon, Alexander Bryant Bentley

Dissertations and Theses

Increased levels of Pseudotsuga menziesii (DF) and Abies species (TF) decline throughout dry forests in the Klamath Mountains and Western Cascades ecoregions have been recorded in recent years, with preliminary evidence suggesting that factors influenced by changing climatic conditions and encroachment from fire suppression policies are primarily to blame. Yet, the physiological and environmental mechanisms of drought-driven tree decline are poorly understood across biophysical and spatial gradients. Given the complex relations that drive decline, determining the degree of influence of specific drivers is difficult, creating unique challenges for modern forest management. To elucidate the most important factors driving DF and …

Support Beyond Services: Examining The Role Of Neighbor Relationships, Housing Staff, And Place In Mental Health Recovery, Kenna Estell Dickard

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation explores the role of non-clinical support for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Through three interconnected manuscripts, this dissertation highlights the importance of housing staff support, places in the community, and neighbor relationships in fostering recovery for individuals with SMI. The first manuscript analyzes how housing staff support influences residents' well-being through an ecological lens. This study found that staff support is associated with reduced loneliness, higher residential satisfaction, and increased sense of community. This study also considers the role of self-determination as a moderator, demonstrating the importance of resident agency in maximizing well-being outcomes. The second manuscript …

Reproductive Rights At Work: The Role Of Organizations In Menstrual Support, Emily Julia Ready

Dissertations and Theses

Painful menstrual symptoms affect up to 90% of people with uteruses globally. These symptoms can result in lost productivity at work and absenteeism for working individuals. Normative work structures have not been designed with accessibility and inclusivity for those with uteruses in mind. Therefore, women and those with uteruses have often had to work through barriers with no accommodations or systematic change. Currently, there is no published research in the United States on the nuances of the relationship between menstruation and work with the intention of exploring effective solutions. There has been discussion related to menstrual supportive policies, but there …

Boys In A Box: A Mixed Methods Study Examining The Masculinity Of Boys In A Private School, Shavar Ryan Bernier

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

My name is Shavar Bernier, and the title of my thesis is Boys in a box: mixed methods study examining boys' masculinity in a private boarding school. I wrote the paper with guidance from my advisors and readers at Dartmouth, Mary Turco, Andrew Garrod, and Douglas Moody.

This mixed-methods study examined masculinity and how it was displayed at a private boarding school in Watertown, Connecticut. The purpose of the study was to use the experiences of students and teaching faculty to understand how masculinity was evident on Taft’s campus. The study participants consisted of 15 former students and forty-five teaching …

New Student Orientation Programs: Understanding The Perceptions And Experiences Of First-Generation Community College Students, April J. Catching

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines first-generation community college students' perceptions of New Student Orientation programs. The research questions focus on specific aspects of students' experiences and transitions to gain an understanding of their perspectives. The objective is to see if there is a connection between what researchers ascertain are the most valuable experiences for new students and what students feel and perceive while enrolled in their first semester of college. Qualitative data was collected to provide targeted insights for improving orientation programs and practices. The research questions focused on understanding specific aspects of students’ orientation experiences and their impact on their college …

Can Social And Emotional Lessons Improve Student Behavior In A First Grade Classroom? A Program Evaluation, Tara Freeman Mozee

Theses and Dissertations

This program evaluation discusses how using a social and emotional (SEL) curriculum taught first-grade students how to manage and regulate their behavior in a first-grade classroom. The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate if the SEL curriculum helped first-grade students manage and regulate their behavior in the classroom so the teacher would create fewer behavior management plans and spend more time on classroom instruction. The methodology used in this program evaluation was a logic model. This model presented the inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of the program evaluation. The implications of this program evaluation are based on the …