Digital Commons Network^™

Mount Laurel’S Fourth-Round Affordable Housing Obligations: Do The Recent Obligations Pass The Constitutional Muster Of The Takings Clause?, Agnieszka Karkoszka

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Faith Under The Führer: Protestant Pastors In Nazi Germany, Katie Cassady

Senior Honors Theses

This research examines Protestant churches in Nazi Germany and their varied reactions to Hitler’s Third Reich, tracing the Nazi rise to power, the Kirchenkampf (Church Struggle), the Confessing Church’s resistance, and figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Niemoller, and Karl Barth. Hitler campaigned on a platform purporting to support religious freedom, but the state-sponsored persecution of Christian churches later revealed such promises as a facade. The Kirchenkampf exemplifies the reactions of Protestant German churches to Hitler’s rule: The German Christian Movement (GCM) endorsed Hitler’s radical racial theories, while the Confessing Church confronted the unbiblical rhetoric used by the GCM.

A Machine Learning-Based Apogee Prediction Methodology For Experimental Student Rockets, Price Hamilton Drawdy

Senior Honors Theses

The ability to predict the maximum altitude of a rocket (apogee) in real-time is incredibly useful for collegiate-level competition rockets. This project creates a machine learning-based real-time apogee prediction methodology. Three model types were tested: linear regression, random forest, and a 3-layer multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network. These models were trained on a large dataset of simulated flights. All models performed well on simulated test flights, with the linear regression model showing most promise for use on edge compute. More development and real-world testing are necessary to determine how applicable this method is for real-time operation. Nevertheless, this methodology provides …

Addressing The Problem Of Erotica In Fiction From A Christian Standpoint, Elizabeth Burgess

Senior Honors Theses

The body of erotic content embedded in mainstream literature grows by the day, and based on an investigation of its similarities to pornography—which has many documented negative effects—this content warrants caution before interaction. Christian writers and editors are faced with a multifaceted problem when it comes to erotica: they must weigh the risk of harming consumers by participating in its production, and they must discern whether it aligns with the moral demands of the Christian faith when it comes to sexuality. The analysis of biblical frameworks for sexuality, the present literature documenting the negative effects of pornography, and the purpose …

Re-Formation: Countering Moralistic Therapeutic Deism Among Churched American Youth With Habitual Dependence, Eden J. Wood

Senior Honors Theses

This paper engages with the culture of American youth to discover how American churches can intentionally form teenagers toward love of God rather than self. The diagnostic research for this paper is primarily founded on the National Study of Youth and Religion conducted by a team of sociologists led by Christian Smith. The strategy for interactions with teenagers themselves is taken from Joshua Chatraw and Mark Allen’s Inside Out method of apologetics. The premise of habit formation stems from the works of Charles Duhigg, James K.A. Smith, and Saint Augustine. It is the contention of this paper that liturgical confessional …

The Trouble Of Energy: Theoretical Foundations Of Loop Quantum Gravity, Hallie Gift

Senior Honors Theses

While general relativity and quantum mechanics have proved to be successful theories with elegant explanations of special cases, an underlying theory is needed to harmonize their copious discrepancies. Popular theories to reconcile the two are broadly termed “quantum gravity,” which refers to theories that introduce a discretized component of gravity either by directly suggesting gravitational quanta or attempting to discretize spacetime geometry. Loop quantum gravity falls under the latter category; it respects the background independence intrinsic to general relativity while attempting to provide an explanation of underlying quantum behavior via Planck-scale-level geometrical discretization. This thesis aims to provide a primer …

Risks And Resilience In Transportation Construction Projects: Insights From The Pandemic Disruption, Muhammad Rauf Shaker

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

Construction projects are inherently complex and subject to significant uncertainty, making effective risk management essential for successful delivery. Risk identification is a critical first step, enabling proactive planning and informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. While risk management is widely practiced by transportation agencies, limited research has focused on risks encountered during the construction execution phase. This dissertation examines risk factors and management practices across public sector construction projects, with a primary focus on transportation infrastructure and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis of 146 Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) projects identified nine major categories of construction risks, …

Pretrial Detention, Case Outcomes, And Pretrial Recidivism Before And After The Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Natural Experiment, Tianyin Yu

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

This study examined the predictors of pretrial detention, its effects on case outcomes, and the determinants of pretrial failure in the federal criminal justice system, with particular attention given to changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Using administrative data from a federal district court in Connecticut, the study leveraged the pandemic as a natural experiment to assess shifts in pretrial practices and their consequences. The study addressed four primary research areas: (1) factors predicting pretrial detention, (2) factors predicting case outcomes, (3) the effect of pretrial detention (measured as release at any time, immediate release, and detention length) on case …

Volume 17, Christian O’Neill, Kyara Greene, Savva Sidorov, Laura Bisaillon, Luke Clemmer, Hannah Gordon, Kitt Benson, Taylor Blount, Rachel Danzitz, Nicholas Duellman, Chase Gionis, Hima Fernando, Seth Franzyshen, Onyx Gonzalez, Bryan Lin, Samantha Start, Ysabel Wells, Maggie Duncan

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Cover Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Yulia Uryadova

Ukrainian Resistance in the Face of Russification: Nestor Makhno and Anarchism

by Christian O’Neill

Life Vest by Kyara Greene

Isolation and 16S rRNA Identification of Bacteria from Fire Department Connection Pipe by Savva Sidorov

The Effectiveness of Planned Exercise in Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Children by Laura Bisaillon & Luke Clemmer

Linguistic Analysis on Confidence and Communication Strategies with Disparities Between Sign Fluency and Hearing Impairment by Hannah Gordon

Freedmen in Indian Territory by Kitt …

Analyzing The Evolution Of Science: Topological Cycles And Community Detection In Knowledge Networks, Frances C. Mcconnell

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

How scientific knowledge grows and organizes itself is a central question in the study of science. This thesis uses tools from topology and network science to detect and characterize knowledge gaps—places in a field’s literature where related concepts do not co-occur. We develop a metric to quantify the degree of interdisciplinarity of each gap, using the community structure of the underlying network as a proxy for subfields. Across a wide range of fields, gaps reliably span multiple subfields and evolve in recognizable temporal patterns, highlighting new insights into how scientific fields are structured and their stage of development.

Understanding Delays In Emergency Department Care: A National Analysis Of Wait Times, Gregory Forsberg

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

Emergency department (ED) wait times remain a persistent bottleneck in the United States healthcare system, impacting patient outcomes, hospital efficiency, and equitable access to care. This study analyzes nationally representative data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a complex, multi-stage probability sample. Using survey-weighted analyses and predictive modeling, we examine the effects of patient characteristics, triage acuity, and visit timing. Results indicate that operational and system-level factors, including hospital capacity, geographic region, and temporal variation, are among the most influential predictors of ED wait times

Avoiding White Elephants: An Empirical Assessment On The Failure Of Airport Capacity To Drive Tourism Receipts, Somanithel Kheang

Theses

This study investigates the relationship between airport infrastructure capacity and international tourism receipts across 12 major Asian and European economies from 2000 to 2019. Using a Panel Fixed Effects framework, the analysis tests the "Supply-Led Growth" hypothesis to determine if physical infrastructure expansion independently drives tourism revenue. To address potential endogeneity and reverse causality, the study employs specification where all independent variables are lagged by one year.The empirical results yield a robust null finding: airport capacity does not exhibit a statistically significant impact on tourism receipts. Conversely, government consumption is identified as a potent driver of tourism performance, with a …

Resurrecting The Lost City Of Kaskaskia: An Archival, Gis, And Archaeological Investigation Of Illinois’ First Capital, Rebecca Ramey

Theses

This thesis centers around the question of how much remains of historical Kaskaskia, Illinois in the archaeological context, and examines the common historical narrative and its lack of inclusion of non-white voices. Kaskaskia was a vibrant, diasporic community that shaped the founding of Illinois. Through archival research, ArcGIS, geophysical surveys, and an archaeological investigation, this thesis proves that it is possible to bring those voices back through the archaeological record. Kaskaskia has long been ignored by the broader research community, and this thesis aims to show just how much potential Kaskaskia has at contributing to our understanding of the founding …

Linking Urban Forest Ecosystem Services With The Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric And Thematic Synthesis (2008–2022), Whisnu Febry Afrianto, Muhammad Ilham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Despite growing recognition of urban forests as vital providers of ecosystem services (ES) that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing scientific literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses that gap through a systematic bibliometric analysis of global research on urban forestry ecosystem services published between 2008 and 2022, encompassing 229 articles. The analysis examined the three main classifications of ecosystem services and all 17 SDGs. Publications on urban forestry ecosystem services have shown a steady increase since 2008, peaking between 2018 and 2022, while citation counts reached their highest point in 2012 and gradually declined …

Species Distribution Modeling Of Parasitic Corpse Flower Rafflesia Arnoldii Var. Arnoldii R. Br Related To Host’S Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation In Tanggamus, Sumatra, Indonesia, Andriwibowo Andriwibowo, Suyud Utomo

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Corpse flower, or scientifically known as Rafflesia arnoldii var. arnoldii R.Br, is one of the species that is endemic to Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java Island. As a parasitic plant, this species depends on its tree host species. While the host species depends on environmental variables include Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), forest covers, and elevation for its growth. Then those variables were important to develop the Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) of R. arnoldii using the MaxEnt technique. One of the important regions for R. arnoldii in Sumatra is Tanggamus in Lampung, and currently, information about suitable habitats for R. arnoldii …

The Status Of The Endangered Rafflesia And Conservation Efforts In Java Island, Indonesia, Bahana Aditya Adnan, Purnomo Purnomo, Suwarno Hadisusanto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Rafflesia species (Rafflesiaceae) is a small endo-holoparasitic South-East Asian plant genus known for its exceptionally large flowers, rare species, and high island endemism. Three species of Rafflesia, i.e. R. patma, R. rochussenii, and R. zollingeriana, are known from Java, Indonesia. All three species are threatened with extinction due to human activities that cause habitat loss and fragmentation. Our literature review revealed that currently, factors influencing the existence of this genus, including its life cycle and environmental factors that support its life, are still not well understood. In particular, studies of the distribution and population of Rafflesia on the …

Influence Of Pruning And Organic Fertiliser On 9-Month-Old Ginger Productivity In An Acacia Auriculiformis Agroforestry, Yuda Vatra Erlangga, Arom Figyantika, Cintya Nurul Apsari, Rizki Bagus Indratmoko, Muhammad Syahru Ramadhan, Anastasya Clara Srinila Tampubolon, Fanny Elisabeth Panjaitan

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Acacia auriculiformis (formis) offers various advantages that can be integrated with agricultural crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) through agroforestry systems. Pruning and fertilisation are potential strategies to optimise this approach. However, existing research remains limited. Further quantification and analysis are required to elucidate the effects of pruning on the growth of 7-year-old formis trees 11 months after treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine the combined effects of pruning and organic fertiliser on the growth, productivity, and gingerol content of 9-month-old ginger plants. This research employed a Split-Plot Randomised Complete Block Design, examining the …

Species Diversity And Estimation Of Aboveground Carbon Stocks In Sugar Palm Forest And Lowland Forest In Negeri Hatusua, Maluku, Irwanto Irwanto, Andjela Sahupala, Febian Tetelay, Yulianus Komul

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Tropical forests are essential for climate change mitigation, but limited data on species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in Indonesia constrain evidence-based forest management. This study aims to assess species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in sugar palm forests and lowland forests in Negeri Hatusua, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Vegetation analysis was employed to determine species structure and diversity, while carbon stock measurement and calculation followed the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7724:2019) for land-based carbon assessment, with certain modifications. The results indicated that the species diversity index in the sugar palm forest was 2.21 for trees, 1.95 for poles, 2.26 for …

Sustainability Of Peatland Area Management With Peat Drainability Assessment At Various Depths, Aulia Bahadhori Mukti, Heru Bagus Pulunggono, Yuli Suharnoto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

This study aims to analyze the distribution of drainability assessment components, including Peat Basal Contact (PBC) and Natural Drainage Limit (NDL) elevations, Drainage Limit Time (DLT), and volume loss, as well as their relationship with peat thickness, subsidence, and groundwater level (GWL) in peatlands. The assessment is conducted to estimate the potential productive lifespan of oil palm plantations by determining the natural drainage limit (NDL) and predicting the time required to reach the drainage threshold, considering subsidence rates across different peat thickness classes. The analysis and calculations were performed using the drainage assessment formulas and procedures outlined by the Roundtable …

Site Characterization And Integrated Irrigation-Forestry Solutions For Mangrove Restoration In The Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, Manh Quy Do, Huy Quoc Nguyen, Minh Duc Nguyen, My Tra Ha, Tuan Anh Le, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Tu Ngoc Pham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

The research was conducted in 2023 in a degraded mangrove forest area in Giao Hoa commune, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. This area is part of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve (RRDBR), which was recognised by UNESCO in 2004. The study employed methods such as surveying topographical features, assessing soil and water characteristics, and evaluating the status of the mangrove forest. It also used GIS and The Analytic Hierarchy Process method to analyse and evaluate the current condition of the forest and its site characteristics. The research results show that, regarding the topographical features of the degraded mangrove area, it …

Urban Bird Community Interaction With Ficus And Non-Ficus Tree, Eka Alifikri, Yeni Aryati Mulyani, Ani Mardiastuti

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Ficus trees are recognised as keystone species in forest ecosystems and are crucial for urban wildlife, especially birds. IPB Darmaga Campus, a biodiversity-rich urban area, hosts a variety of plant species, including Ficus and non-Ficus tree species, along with diverse bird species. This study aimed to compare the utilisation of Ficus and non-Ficus plants by birds in the area. Observations were conducted on 5 Ficus benjamina, 5 Ficus microcarpa, and 10 non-Ficus tree individuals. Ficus trees were used by 15 bird species from 12 families, with 1700 recorded interactions. In contrast, non-Ficus trees were …

Addressing Socioeconomic Factors Related To Health Disparities In Predominantly Hispanic Texas Communities, Gabriela M. Gomez

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the socioeconomic factors that influenced health outcomes in predominantly Hispanic Texas communities in San Antonio, Texas. Few studies have been conducted that address how socioeconomic conditions have shaped the lives of the Hispanic population in Texas, indicating a significant gap in the research. The research question guiding this study asked: How do Hispanic individuals between the ages of 26 and 64 who live in predominantly Hispanic communities describe health disparities in San Antonio, Texas? To address the research question, a qualitative inquiry was conducted using semi-structured in-person interviews with participants who met the inclusion criteria. A …

Exploring The Transformative Effects Of Executive Coaching On Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Dwayne Norman

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examines the transformative effects of executive coaching on leaders’ development, personal growth, decision-making, and overall effectiveness across varied organizational contexts. Grounded in authentic leadership theory and employing a generic qualitative inquiry design, the study investigated how leaders who completed executive coaching describe changes in their behavior and mindset. Eleven experienced leaders participated in semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis, guided by the cyclical and inductive coding methods of Saldana (2021), generated 187 initial codes, which were distilled into 72 final codes. These final codes were then further refined into twelve categories and four overarching themes: …

A Case Study Of Doctoral Students' Perspectives Of The Drastic Move From An In-Person To Virtual Environment During Covid-19, Martha Patricia Cias

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case research study investigated the students’ perspectives during the drastic transition from an in-person to a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) at the doctoral level. The findings were grouped into six themes and revealed (a) the loss of structure and increased isolation, (b) development of online literacy and increased flexibility, (c) social movements stress and peer/professor support, (d) emotional resilience and resource use, (e) recognition of hybrid and mentorship models, and (f) the need for institutional preparedness considering students as stakeholders/customers. Concluding with the acknowledgement of the capacity of doctoral students to adapt in an unforeseen …

The Faculty's Perception Of The Role Of Equity In The Formation Of Cooperative Learning Groups In University Classrooms: A Qualitative Inquiry, Ethel Nwogu

Theses & Dissertations

THE FACULTY’S PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF EQUITY IN THE FORMATION OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING GROUPS IN UNIVERSITY CLASSROOMS: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY

Submitted by Ethel K. Nwogu A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas December 2025

This study investigates how university faculty perceive and apply equity in the formation of cooperative learning groups. It examines the beliefs guiding instructional decisions and the practical strategies used to ensure fairness and inclusion. The central purpose is to understand how equitable group formation practices influence student …

Where Springs Not Fail, Hannah Guo

Graduate Thesis Collection

Where Springs Not Fail is a 23-minute multimovement work for mixed choir, mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, and a chamber instrumental ensemble. Drawing texts from Gerard Manley Hopkins and Rabindranath Tagore, the composition explores themes of spiritual darkness, anxiety, and a profound yearning for hope—shared human experiences that are often under-acknowledged. The work aims to reside between sacred and secular expressions, offering a space of vulnerability, reflection, and honesty for performers and listeners alike.

The composition engages a wide range of stylistic influences, including serial and minimalist techniques, chant-like melodic writing, modal language, and motivic symbolism. Structured as an arch form, …

Moral Injury Among Healthcare Chaplains: Responding To Systemic Racism Through Ethical Advocacy And Spiritual Care, Stephanie Drew

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Systemic racism against minorities has woven its way into every facet of everyday existence, especially for Black Americans, and Healthcare is no exception. There are numerous proven instances of unfair and inequitable treatment of marginalized patients throughout the Healthcare system, and some have even caused Black patients to lose their lives. The mistreatment of Black and Brown people during perhaps one of the most vulnerable times of their lives is well documented dating back centuries. There are massive cuts to Medicaid, and insurance premiums are steadily going up making it very cumbersome for the poor and disenfranchised to navigate the …

Effect Of Obsessive Thoughts On The Stigma Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Thoughts Of Harm And Sex About Oneself Or Other People, Emma L. Podvorec

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study investigated how obsession content (sexual vs. violent) and target (self vs. others) influence OCD stigma. Using a 3×3 factorial design, 152 participants read vignettes describing an individual experiencing either sexual or violent obsessions directed at either themself or other people, or a control condition describing an individual not experiencing obsessions at all. Participants then rated their desired social distance – a measure of stigma – from the individual described in the vignette. After controlling for participants' own OCD symptoms, a significant main effect for obsession content (p < .001, ηp2 = .14) emerged. Both sexual and violent obsessions elicited significantly higher stigma than the control, though the experimental conditions did not differ from each other. Conversely, the obsession target and the interaction between content and target were non-significant (p’s>.05). These results suggest that the "taboo" nature of an obsession …

A New Generation Of Inhaled Vaccines, Clark Chapman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Vaccines have stood the test of time as being one of the greatest developments in health history. Delivery of these life-saving vaccines has primarily remained reliant on intramuscular administration, which has its own collection of shortcomings. When considering what vaccine formulation is best suited to be a widely accessible and effective tool in the fight against respiratory pathogens, current data and science points to a number of improvements available to us. These improvements include:

• An inhaled formulation, uniquely stimulating mucosal immunity

• A dry powder formulation to improve long-term stability

• A live attenuated vaccine to increase immunogenic response …

The Role And Impact Of Servant Leaders In The Clinical Physical Therapy Space, Amelia Moor

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Servant leadership is an approach that is committed to improving the lives of others. The patient-centered model, commonly taught in healthcare courses, follows a structure that resembles the practice of servant leadership. Through this study, the clinical application of servant leadership was explored further. Physical therapy was the primary focus of understanding servant leadership in healthcare settings. Qualitative research was conducted using a phronetic iterative approach. Results displayed a recognition and usage of the servant leadership model in physical therapy settings, despite administrative and structural barriers.