Digital Commons Network^™

A Daughter’S Inheritance: The Construction Of Motherhood Through Death, Michaela George

Doctoral Dissertations

Mother-daughter relationships have been of feminist interest for decades as this relationship shifts narrative focus to underrepresented characters. In literature their relationship illustrates and complicates what it means to be ‘woman’ and provides access to educational theories, political understanding, and familial ideologies. Further, examining how these relationships shift and alter through eras of narratives offers tangible patterns for study. My dissertation examines the mother-daughter relationships in late eighteenth-century, early nineteenth-century prose by investigating how social constructions of gender are complicated, critiqued, shaped, and altered as they are passed from parent to child in deathbed scenes. I engage with medical humanities …

Charting Reciprocity: The Mapping Of Knowledge Production In Collaborative Community Networks, Nicole Cunningham-Frisbey

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation reconceptualizes community-based literacy and writing practices as dynamic processes of reciprocal textual production grounded in feminist and Indigenous methodologies. It challenges traditional hierarchical structures by foregrounding community-generated epistemologies, emphasizing relational accountability, iterative reflexivity, and sustained ethical engagement. Using qualitative methods—including practitioner-created knowledge and social network maps and an analytical mapping method—the study explores how community practitioners strategically leverage their cultural identities and epistemological frameworks within collaborative writing and advocacy.Empirical case studies illustrate reciprocal knowledge production in action, showcasing intentional approaches such as oral storytelling, collaborative writing, and policy advocacy. Findings demonstrate how textual artifacts from reciprocal frameworks …

Improving Quality Of Experience With Http/3 And Extensible Prioritization Scheme, Abhinav Gupta

Doctoral Dissertations

The internet is an indispensable part of modern life, with billions of users accessing countless web pages daily. While loading speed is crucial, the overall Quality of Experience (QoE) significantly influences user satisfaction and engagement with websites. Incomplete or delayed page loading can lead to frustration, reduced site visits, and financial losses. In our preliminary study, we examined how network protocols like HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 impact both Quality of Service (QoS) and QoE by assessing throughput and six Lighthouse performance metrics. Our findings highlight the relationship between QoS and QoE, emphasizing the need for efficient resource scheduling and prioritization to …

Static Risk Sensitive Reinforcement Learning, Jia Lin Hau

Doctoral Dissertations

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a core area of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables systems to make decisions in complex environments. RL algorithms have shown promise in various domains, including resource management, robotics, and games. However, most existing RL approaches fail to account for the risks associated with decision-making. This oversight becomes particularly critical in high-stakes settings, such as healthcare, finance, criminal justice, and autonomous driving, where poor decisions can have significant consequences.

To address risk in decision-making, another line of research explores the properties (axioms) of "desirable" risk measures. This desirability is defined as the ability to quantify the capital …

Consumptive And Energetic Responses Of Fishes Under Pressure Of Climate Change, Nathan Thomas Hermann

Doctoral Dissertations

Marine organisms are confronted with warming waters due to climate change requiring species to exhibit responses to persist. For many fish, these responses have included range shifts to cooler waters, but are species-specific which may create further disruption through trophic mismatches. To identify potential mismatches and estimate their implications for the quality of consumption within major predators, analyses of predator stomach contents were integrated with reviews of organismal energetics and physiological parameter values. The energy density of prey that is consumed dictates the consequences of consumption, so having data expands general understanding of diet. To that end, published records (n …

Dimensions Of Green Crabs, Carcinus Maenas (Linnaeus 1785), And Oysters, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin 1791), In Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, Kelsey Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations

Invasive species may alter how an ecosystem functions, such as the Great Bay Estuary (GBE) inNew Hampshire. In GBE, an invasive species of particular interest is the green cab (Carcinus maenas) because historically (and currently) there are no mitigation or eradication plans that have been implemented. It is not well-known how green crabs are interacting with oysters in GBE, whether that be wild, restored, or aquacultured. The aim of this dissertation was to document NH oyster growers’ perspectives on the issue of green crabs and oyster predation, understand their abundance, distribution and diet among natural/restored oyster areas and oyster farms …

Double Segregated Districts And The Persistence Of The Education Debt: A Study In Three Research Essays – Desegregation, The Education Debt, And Brown To Brownsville: A Case Study., Shantel Palacio

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the persistence of double segregation—the racial and socioeconomic isolation of students—in New York City public schools. Using a three-article, mixed-methods design grounded in Gloria Ladson-Billings’ education debt framework, it explores how legal precedent, school-level demographics, and community perspectives interact to sustain unequal educational opportunity.The first article provides a legal-historical analysis tracing desegregation efforts from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) to IntegrateNYC v. State of New York (2024). Using the IRAC method, it examines how federal courts shifted from enforcing desegregation to limiting race-conscious remedies, leading advocates to pursue equity through state-based legal strategies. The article highlights the increasing …

Adapting To Climate Change: Outdoor Recreation Impacts In New Hampshire, Visitor Coping Behaviors, & Provider Management Strategies, Madeleine Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

As of 2023, outdoor recreation participation in the United States (U.S.) reached a 15-year high, generating $1.2 trillion in economic output and supporting 5 million jobs. Concurrently, the contiguous U.S. experienced earth surface temperatures averaging above the 20th-century norm for the 27th consecutive year. Climate change presents increasing challenges for outdoor recreation, particularly in the Northeast and North Central U.S., where seasonal shifts, extreme weather events, and resource degradation are projected to acutely impact recreation patterns and management needs. New Hampshire (NH), where nearly 30% of the state is safeguarded for public use, relies heavily on outdoor recreation. As of …

Analysis And Procedures For Conducting Laboratory And Field Dielectric Measurements For Asphalt Pavement Density Evaluation, Anh Tran

Doctoral Dissertations

Achieving proper asphalt concrete pavement density, through combination of rigorous field and laboratory practices, is one of the top priorities of state agencies and contractors due to its significant impact on pavement performance and longevity. The field and laboratory traditional methods have limitations and pose challenges in terms of equipment and measurements which can influence the accuracy and efficiency of pavement density evaluation. In the field, various methods such as field coring, nuclear and non-nuclear density gauges are costly, time-consuming and only provide limited coverage of density assessment. In the lab, methods for evaluating the bulk specific gravity (Gmb) of …

Age Distribution Of Minors Portrayed In Image-Based Sexual Abuse And Child Sexual Abuse Material, Samantha Jean Sutton

Doctoral Dissertations

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) poses a significant threat, especially in the current technological age. A better understanding of victim characteristics is needed to direct investigation and prevention efforts properly. However, determining the age distribution of children in CSAM has been difficult due to numerous factors, including differing laws governing CSAM, the priority placed on investigating younger victims, and the difficulty of determining from images alone the age of young people. This meta-analysis sought to understand the proportion of image abuse victims who are under the age of 13 compared to those who are 13 years or older and whether …

Probing Neutron Star Interiors: Insights Into Asymmetric Dark Matter, Dark Energy, And The Cold Dense Matter Equation Of State, Nathan Rutherford

Doctoral Dissertations

The combination of derived neutron star mass-radius measurements from NASA's Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) mission, constraints from chiral effective field theory (chiEFT), and mass-tidal deformability constraints from gravitational waves has led to significant improvements in the understanding of the cold dense matter equation of state (EoS) of neutron stars. Interestingly, asymmetric dark matter (ADM) and dark energy may also be present within neutron star interiors, potentially impacting their global properties. Taking these effects into account, neutron star measurements can not only offer new insights into the dense matter EoS, but also serve as a hunting ground for dark …

Responding To Range Expansion: Assessing Insect Communities, Tree Decline Symptoms, And Tree Mortality Risk As The Southern Pine Beetle Moves North, Caroline Rachel Kanaskie

Doctoral Dissertations

Climate change is shifting species distributions. In New England, warmer winters allow southern species to survive further north. The northward range expansion of the tree-killing southern pine beetle is the focus of this dissertation. Outbreaks of this beetle cause both ecological and economic damage, which threaten the globally rare pine barrens ecosystem. I used an interdisciplinary approach to study this insect: 1) I synthesized literature on the beetle’s natural enemies; 2) I used a suite of chemical attractants to investigate the insect community attracted to the beetle’s pheromones and assessed the diversity and abundance of its potential predators; 3) I …

Molecular Simulation Studies Of Peptide Transport Across The Mitochondrial Membrane, Son Nguyen

Doctoral Dissertations

Molecular transport across membranes is an important biophysical process. Designing molecules capable of crossing cell membranes and targeting specific organelle is becoming necessary in treating many diseases and disorders. In recent decades, cell-penetrating peptides have been studied and utilized to deliver a variety of cargoes. My dissertation work focuses on studying the molecular details of the peptide translocation process across a cell membrane. Specifically, I investigated the dynamics of mitochondrial-targeting peptides and their mechanisms of translocation across the mitomembrane. I conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of model mitochondrial-targeting peptides with distinct physical and chemical properties such as sequence lengths, functional …

The Castle Is Still Here, And Yes, It's Still Scary: Reconstructing The Gothic Through Contemporary Short Story, Alyssa Kilroy

Undergraduate Theses

Since Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto published in 1764, the literary Gothic has grown and spread to include a multitude of subgenres in a variety of formats. Gothic literature has served as both a product and a showcase of its contextual influences, providing a deeper look at humanity's deepest flaws, fears, and passions that shape our societies. While the Gothic's historically fluid identity allows Frankenstein to exist in a literary realm alongside Wuthering Heights, something consistent in its core continues to appeal to modern audiences and remains relevant in contemporary literature and other media. This project offers a …

Patient Education And Health Literacy Effects On Statin Use And Adherence, Ian M. Smith, Richard G. Olarsch, Alison M. Mancuso

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: While the use of statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) plays a significant role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, it is estimated approximately 60% of patients who would benefit from a statin are receiving these medications. Current research suggests that a preference for life-style intervention over medical management, concern over medical adverse reactions, and a lower perceived risk of cardiovascular events is associated with statin non-adherence.

Methods: An IRB-approved paper survey was administered to patients aged 18 to 89 at an ambulatory primary care clinic for non-acute visits. Qualtrics was utilized to collect, store, and process data. Information elicited from …

The Ancient Remedy For Modern Ailments: Analysis Of Manual, Laser, And Electro-Acupuncture Therapy Usage On Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Yue Chen, Austin J. Wong, Alexander King

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In the United States, while acupuncture is still primarily used as a complementary therapy, consumer interest and usage are steadily increasing. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a condition where the median nerve is compressed in the wrist, can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness in fingers, and thus impaired hand function, possessing significant burdens to patients suffering from this chronic disease. Multiple acupuncture applications exist such as electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture, laser acupuncture, moxibustion, and acupressure; very few comprehensive studies have been done in comparing their effectiveness in treating CTS.

In this study, we aim to conduct a literature review with the primary …

Scoping Literature Review: The Role Of Leptin In Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) And Associated Obesity, Diana B. Riestra, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) are significant concerns among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet the underlying causes remain unclear. Emerging evidence points to metabolic and hormonal factors—particularly leptin, a hormone involved in appetite regulation—as potential contributors. This scoping review examined five key studies from 2003 to 2024 that investigated the relationship between leptin and ASD in overweight populations. Across studies, individuals with ASD consistently exhibited elevated leptin levels compared to controls. While some findings also noted changes in other adipokines, such as lower resistin or progranulin, leptin was the most consistently dysregulated. These patterns suggest systemic alterations in energy …

Barriers To Care For Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome In Southern New Jersey, Gabriela Taslitsky, Hijab Zaidi, Nafisa Zalil

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a spectrum of clinical manifestations seen in newborns due to withdrawal secondary to intrauterine illicit and/or prescription drug exposure. Newborns with NAS present with common signs of withdrawal such as poor feeding, irritability, seizures, hypertonicity, low birth weight, loose stool, and premature birth. Maternal opioid use is the most common cause of NAS and with the increase in opioid use in the past decade the cases of NAS have also increased. This study examines the prevalence and challenges associated with NAS in Southern New Jersey. Our analysis reveals that Atlantic and Gloucester counties reported the …

Case Report: Ruptured Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Jenna Rapone

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency with high mortality rates. We report a case of a 79-year-old male with no reported past medical history but a significant lifelong smoking history who presented to the emergency department with generalized weakness, lower abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and a reported syncopal episode. Emergency medical services (EMS) found the patient at home during a welfare check, appearing pale and weak. Upon movement from his bed to a stretcher, he experienced a syncopal episode, became tachycardic, and was transiently hypoxic. Initial laboratory studies revealed a hemoglobin of 13 g/dL, hematocrit …

Anabolic Steroid Induced Cardiomyopathy, Oluwatomi Alade

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anabolic steroids including testosterone are commonly used as performance-enhancing agents. Its use is predominantly seen in young and middle-aged males. Endogenous testosterone is necessary for cardiac health; however, synthetic anabolic steroids are more potent and associated with adverse effects. These adverse effects include cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. The cardiomyopathy, however, can be reversible with discontinuation of the anabolic steroids. This case describes a middle-aged male who had new onset cardiomyopathy and ultimately went into cardiogenic shock secondary to anabolic steroid use.

Open Repository @ Binghamton Monthly Additions And Top Downloads - April 2025, Caitlin Holton

Library Created Resources

Newly added work in the Open Repository @ Binghamton (ORB) from 4/1/2025-4/30/2025. Top downloads from same time frame.

The Founders’ Common Law And Bruen’S Text, History, And Tradition Test: From History ‘Lite’ To History Right, Saul Cornell

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Meaning Of Lawful Self-Defense: State Criminal Law And The Scope Of The Second Amendment, Shira Feldman, Tess Fardon

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

In Keeping With Heller, Kevin Schascheck

Buffalo Law Review

Evaluating the constitutionality of modern firearm regulations under the Second Amendment requires recourse to historical evidence under Bruen v. New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. Generally, the government bears the burden to demonstrate that modern firearm regulations are consistent with the nation’s historical traditions. But the Supreme Court’s earlier opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller stated that certain categories of firearm restrictions are longstanding and thus presumptively lawful. And yet, litigants are inviting courts to reject this presumption, arguing that presumptively lawful regulations should be subject to the same historical test as presumptively unlawful regulations.

Courts should reject …

Gun Regulation After Loper Bright: The Statutory Interpretation/Policymaking Continuum, William D. Araiza

Buffalo Law Review

The Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, rejecting “Chevron deference” to administrative agency interpretations of their organic statutes, has caused great uncertainty about the fate of federal regulation. This Essay considers that question in the context of federal gun regulation. Using examples of regulatory actions taken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, it illustrates the wide range of functions reflected in agency actions—in particular, how those actions can span the spectrum from pure statutory interpretation to pure policymaking, with hybrid way stations between those two extremes.

The variety of functions agencies perform suggests …

How The Industry Changed Video: Understanding The Shift In Video Content And Distribution, Erica Pellin

Theses

This project will investigate the way that digital video content is created and distributed with the creation of social media, and how it can be used for marketing. The final deliverable is a website broken down into many different topics to support the thesis statement. The website will include video content and photographs, in addition to written information, to provide readers with visual examples.

Horror Films And Why We Enjoy The Genre, Jessica Thomason

Theses

This project focuses on the research of horror films and why certain individuals enjoy the genre despite having taboo subjects. The primary focus is to find the answer to the research question “why do some individuals enjoy horror?”. The aim of this research was to identify a connection between why individuals enjoy horror through the content. The research then informed the creative process behind the painting series that accompanies this project.

Unveiling: The Exploration Of The Self And Ego Dissolution, Joseph Gonzales

Theses

This project explores self and ego dissolution through painting, engaging with Buddhist notions of no-self (Anatta), Christian Mystical union, and Jungian psychology to challenge the idea of a fixed identity. Through portraiture and figurative representation, the work visually explores impermanence and the tension between the individual and the collective consciousness, utilizing transparency, multiplicity, and symbolism. This research is grounded in a multidisciplinary approach, synthesizing visual art, philosophy, and psychology. By integrating Eastern and Western philosophies, this work expands the discourse on identity in contemporary art, contributing to broader conversations on the self and the ego within wisdom traditions and psychology. …

Definitively Unfinished: Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción, Disability Aesthetics, And Crip Materiality, Benjamin Brobst-Renaud

Theses

Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción project is the sculptural manifestation of an approach to artmaking rooted in the self-built and continually evolving forms of the neighborhood where Cruzvillegas grew up (Colonia Ajusco near Mexico City). While it might seem surprising to draw a comparison between the forms of Autoconstrucción and Disability Studies, and while Cruzvillegas does not literally depict the disabled human form, Autoconstrucción resonates deeply with this critical space. Disability Aesthetics, in Tobin Siebers’ formulation, is “an attempt to theorize the representation of disability in modern art and visual culture.” Similarly, Jessica Cooley’s Crip Materiality is a methodology that “locates disability …

Knot Alone: A 24/7 Live Chat App For Sewing Enthusiasts, Erica Frankenhoff

Theses

Knot Alone innovates support in the sewing industry by providing a 24/7 chat experience driven by community engagement. Unlike other forums or workshops with time limits, this platform guarantees interactive, personalized, and immediate guidance. Regardless of whether it’s a new beginner sewer learning how to thread a sewing machine, or a sewing enthusiast who is more advanced and is just figuring out issues with fabric tension, Knot Alone users can, at any hour, seek out professional advice. Professional advice will be provided by sewing educators and instructors, post graduate fashion students, and established sewing bloggers and influencers. By joining together …