Digital Commons Network^™

Prospective Effects Of Positive Resilience Resources During Young Adulthood: Predicting Daily Stress Responses Three Years Later Amidst A Changing World, Melissa Elwin, Bep Uink, Rachel Delahaye, Alana Battel, Jasmine Powell, Stefano Occhipinti, Jacqueline Allen, Kathryn L. Modecki

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: With young adults' rates of mental health problems alarmingly high, understanding resilience characteristics that help young people adapt, adjust, and even thrive in the face of stress is a pressing need. This study takes a daily diary approach, examining four resilience factors, measured a priori, covering multiple domains. Young adults' daily stress responses (reactivity, recovery, inertia) during the globally stressful lockdown period three years later were then explored as key outcomes. Methods: Leveraging two waves of data, young adults (ages 17–25, N = 108) completed demographic and psychometric measures at Wave 1. Resilience factors were operationalized using residualized scores …

Exploring The Impact Of An Ethnic Studies Course On Latiné High School Students’ Social-Emotional Health And Identity Development, Xitlalli G. Najera

Doctoral Dissertations

Prior research demonstrates that culturally relevant pedagogies can enhance students’ academic engagement, critical thinking, and sense of belonging, while also buffering against the negative effects of discrimination and marginalization. Research on ethnic studies (ES) courses has shown positive impacts on students’ graduation rates, GPA average, and motivation to be involved with their community. Related studies on the impacts of ES curricula show socio-emotional benefits such as an increase in self-esteem, improved perceptions of self-agency, and fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of an ethnic studies course on Latiné high school students’ …

The Role Of Reassurance Messages In Pediatric Oncology, Isabelle Faller

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite decreasing mortality rates, the high prevalence and incidence of pediatric cancer necessitate the need for advancements in the treatment of psychological concerns, specifically the reduction of patient distress and anxiety. A more comprehensive understanding of current reassurance messages in clinical practice can aid in developing a standardized framework for providing reassurance in pediatric oncology. Qualitative Content Analysis was employed to examine the types of messages nurses use to reassure patients (to reduce their anxiety about a future health-related event) and how effective nurses perceive these messages to be in relieving patients' anxiety. The adult participants, located at hospitals throughout …

Host-Pathogen Dynamics Underpinning Staphylococcus Aureus Growth During Intracellular Osteoclast Infection, Luke D. O'Connor

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Bone infection is most commonly caused by the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. It has myriad ways in which it can circumvent or subvert killing by the host or antibiotics. Intracellular infection is one such niche that is protective from immune and antibiotic attack. In 2019, Krauss and colleagues discovered that infected osteoclasts (OCs) allow S. aureus to replicate intracellularly. There they found that the ability of S. aureus to grow inside the cell was tied to OC differentiation. The magnitude of overnight bacterial expansion positively correlated with OC maturity and duration cultured with the osteoclastogenic factor RANK ligand (RANKL). Bacterial …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Black Students In Criminal Justice Programs And Its Implications On Social Justice, Demetrius C. Dacres

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the experiences of Black students who graduated with degrees in criminal justice within the last five years, as well as professors serving criminal justice programs. In this study, Black students are defined as those who identify as Black or African American, and the research focused on a criminal justice higher education institution’s educational program in the Northeast. This qualitative phenomenological study drew on Lent’s Social Cognitive Career Theory and Tinto’s Student Integration Model to investigate how Black students experienced criminal justice programs and the resources and strategies they utilized to navigate and adapt. The study addressed a …

Editorial, Niveditha K. Prasad

Socio-Legal Review

No abstract provided.

Integrative Rna-Seq Analysis Reveals Stress Type-Dependent Lncrna-Centered Co-Expression Networks Across Human Cellular Stress Contexts, Christina Anastasiadi, Aggeliki Kasapi, Ioannis Sentementes, Vasileios Gouzouasis, Margaritis Tsifintaris, Antonis Giannakakis

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cellular adaptation to environmental and molecular stress, but the extent to which their responses remain reproducible and stress-type-dependent across human stress conditions remains unclear. Here, we performed an integrative transcriptomic meta-analysis of human stress-response datasets from ASTRA and GEO, focusing on normal, non-cancerous, wild-type human cell lines exposed to oxidative stress (H2O2), hypoxia, heat stress, or UV-induced DNA damage. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed (DE) protein-coding mRNAs confirmed that the resulting stress-stratified comparison captured biologically coherent transcriptional programmes to oxidative stress signaling, hypoxic and metabolic adaptation, heat-induced …

Construction, Curation, And Customization Of Digital Collection For Lis Journals With Greenstone, Partha Sarathi Mandal, Sukumar Mandal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The digital age has not just revolutionized but transformed academic publishing, fundamentally altering how information is stored, accessed, and shared. This seismic shift, far from leaving professional librarians uncertain, presents an urgent and exciting opportunity to redefine the operations and procedures required for proper functioning. This paper aims to provide step-by-step guidance for constructing digital libraries, including software installation processes. Library data becomes visible on the World Wide Web by using a combination of Apache, PERL, and GSDL software. Through Dublin Core Metadata, users can describe their resources for discovery within distributed systems. Combining these methods allows libraries to create …

Hiking For All: An Adaptive Hiking Program For Disabled Individuals, Anna Grigg

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Hiking is a valued activity in the lives of many people. Possessing or acquiring a disability should not prevent or limit someone from participating in hiking; however, many disabled individuals will avoid hiking due to the lack of hiking trails that are accessible to them or the lack of adaptive hiking skills that they have. The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone project was to promote occupational engagement in hiking for disabled individuals, advocate for increased access to hiking resources and information, and facilitate safety during adaptive hiking.

Epilepsy Simulation: Educating Occupational Therapy Students On Epilepsy And Community Resources, Cambria Grissom Tolar

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting every 1 in 26 individuals during their lifetime. Individuals with epilepsy frequently experience barriers to employment, transportation, healthcare access, social participation, and more that influences occupational participation and quality of life. Despite the fact these factors fall under occupational therapy’s role and scope, many OT students do not receive adequate education about epilepsy, how to treat someone with epilepsy, and how to navigate community resources. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement an epilepsy simulation that allows OT students to experience the everyday challenges faced by …

Sipping With A Purpose: Empowering Adults Of All Abilities Through Job Training And Work Skills While Enhancing Social Participation, Shelby Russell

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The "Sipping with a Purpose" doctoral capstone project addresses an urgent societal need by bridging the employment gap for adults with IDD, a demographic experiencing an over 80% unemployment rate. Out of 41 local day center participants at The Learning Center (TLC) in Northeast Arkansas, only four are currently employed. This reveals a critical deficit in opportunities for local adults to build the work skills, independence, and self esteem that they desire far beyond a paycheck. To address primary employment barriers such as a lack of vocational skills and fears about disability benefit loss, this functional business provides simulated and …

Beyond The Birth: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Postpartum Support And Advocacy, Ashlei Aweis

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this capstone was to address identified gaps in maternal healthcare through the development of three occupational therapy resources: a postpartum wellness workshop, the Occupational Balance Screening Tool, and the “It’s Beyond Birth” educational podcast series. Together, these deliverables were designed to promote maternal health education, support occupational balance, and provide practical strategies that help mothers successfully navigate the transition into motherhood.

Advocating For Access: Empowering Children With Disabilities Through Meaningful Connections To Durable Medical Equipment (Dme), Maddyson Lamb

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Access to appropriate DME is vital; without it, children face severe occupational deprivation – the prolonged restriction from participating in meaningful daily activities. Furthermore, when families struggle to secure equipment due to high costs, it deepens the occupational deprivation across the entire family. Ultimately, managing these ongoing needs along a continuum is crucial to long-term health. However, families frequently face severe funding delays and systemic barriers when trying to acquire these vital resources. The purpose of the doctoral capstone was to utilize the PEO model to identify environmental restrictions and advocate for the necessary DME by having developed a multifaceted …

Melodies & Memories: An Occupational Therapy-Based Music Program For Individuals With Dementia, Adrianna Mcentire

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone experience was to develop and implement Melodies & Memories to use music interventions to improve quality of life, social participation, cognitive functioning, emotional and behavioral regulation, and physical functioning while providing personalized, client centered care through the use of music.

Empowering Middle School Students Through A Life Skills Enrichment Program, Kaitlyn Peavy

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to support this development through occupation-based opportunities that foster meaningful participation and functional independence. The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to develop an evidence-informed, occupation-based life skills enrichment program that promotes independence, occupational participation, and future readiness for middle school students through structured, hands-on learning experiences.

Occupational Therapy's Role In Burn Rehabilitation, Hallie Poff

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Current literature identifies the need for enhanced burn-specific competencies and standardized, patient-friendly discharge resources to improve long-term functional outcomes and occupational participation beyond the hospital setting. Together, these findings highlight the need to advance burn-specific clinical skills while improving the consistency and accessibility of patient resources and education.

Nci Research Impact And Expertise With Bibliometric Data, Senay Purzer, Wei Zakharov, Carla B. Zoltowski

Supplementary Content for Stewards of Data: A Practical Handbook for Undergraduate Researchers in Engineering and Applied Sciences

This poster explores NCI research impact and expertise with bibliometric data. This book was published by the Purdue University Press. Copyright 2026. Permission: Courtesy of Colin Roberson, Lonnie Schwartz, Vineeth Narra, and Pete E. Pascuzzi.

Undergraduate Student Perceptions Of Student-Faculty Interactions In Relation To Academic Anxiety In An Online Learning Environment, Alexandria Ward

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The expansion of online learning in higher education, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly reshaped student experiences and communication practices. While existing research has explored online learning environments, student engagement, and mental health, there remains a gap in understanding how undergraduate students perceive student-faculty interactions in online learning environments and how these interactions impact academic anxiety. Guided by Transactional Distance Theory, which emphasizes dialogue, structure, and learner autonomy, this qualitative phenomenological study addressed three research questions: how students describe their experiences with faculty interactions in online learning environments in relation to academic anxiety, what aspects of communication contribute to …

Plasma-Generated Ozone For Odor Removal, Jordan Marot

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Ozone (O₃) is gaining popularity for its use in industrial and environmental applications, including water treatment, air purification, disinfection, and odor remediation. As a powerful oxidizing agent, ozone is highly effective in destroying harmful bacteria and degrading hazardous gas pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors are widely used for commercial ozone production under atmospheric-pressure conditions. However, ozone yield and selectivity are strongly influenced by operating parameters, particularly gas flow rate, which affects residence time, energy transfer, and competing byproduct chemistry.

This study explores the influence of the air flow rate on …

Exploring Special Education Teacher Perceptions Regarding Their Role In Promoting Self-Regulation Among K-8th Grade Students, Emily Keyes

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Existing research explores self-regulation in the field of special education, however there has yet to be a body of research that relates specifically to special education teachers’ perceptions of their role in fostering self-regulating students in grades K-8. This narrative qualitative study utilized interviews and observations to extract data from each of the 15 total participants across 9 suburban New Jersey public school districts. Common perceptions of participants included a lack of, or unclear, district vision regarding self-regulation, as well as an absence of explicit professional development. The key findings in this study revealed that self-regulation skills are fostered by …

From Silence To Story: Reconstructing Narratives Of Mental Illness, Family, And Self Among U.S. Adult Children Of Parents With Mental Illness, Mallory M. Mccorkle

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The existing literature on children of parents with mental illness has largely focused on developmental risks and psychological outcomes, with limited attention to how these individuals construct narratives of mental illness, family, and self within broader sociocultural contexts. Guided by social constructionism, symbolic interactionism, and the master narrative framework, this qualitative study explored how adult children of parents with mental illness make meaning of their experiences within the sociocultural context of the United States. Utilizing narrative analysis within a critical paradigm, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 adult children who grew up with at least one parent with a mental …

Expression Profiling And Bioinformatic Characterization Of Depalmitoylation-Associated Genes During Sh-Sy5y Neuronal Differentiation, Ayesha Lodhi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Palmitoylation is a reversible post-translational modification involving covalent attachment of palmitoyl groups to cysteine residues. Till date, 23 members of this family have been identified in mammals, located in Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum and nearly 40% of synaptic proteins are estimated undergo palmitoylation. These proteins include vesicle fusion proteins (SNARE), signaling molecules, ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors such as gamma-aminobutyric acidreceptors, kainate receptors and glutamate receptors. While its role in neuronal function has been widely recognized, comparatively little is known about how depalmitoylation-associated enzymes are regulated during neuronal differentiation. The present study aimed to characterize changes in depalmitoylation-associated gene …

Security Personnel Knowledge And Opinions Of Applied Behavior Analysis, Johnny Desrosiers

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In an educational setting, school security personnel are a group of stakeholders whose responsibility is to help provide and maintain a safe and orderly environment. Their training opportunities are often limited to observation, and reactive interventions to problem behavior. School security personnel employed in New Jersey public schools were asked to participate in a survey that aimed to assess school security personnel’s knowledge of basic applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles as well as their opinions of ABA and whether they believe training in ABA principles would be useful in executing their job duties. 35 out of 36 respondents completed the …

Examining The Impact Of Social-Emotional Learning On Academic Achievement In African American Middle School Girls, Rebekah Solomon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Examining the Impact of Social-Emotional Learning on Academic Achievement in African American Middle School Girls

Rebekah Solomon Ed.S

African American girls enrolled in middle school today face an education system that is impacted by overlapping factors such as their race, sex, teacher discipline systems, and insufficient encouragement of Black culture (Crenshaw, Ocen, & Nanda, 2015; Couvson, 2016). While numerous studies show that implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can increase academic performance and support emotional self-regulation, much of the research does not examine data from subgroups of learners, such as African American females. There is also considerable evidence to support that …

Mineral Composition-Driven Competitive Adsorption Behavior Of Superplasticizer In Recycled Concrete Powder-Cement Pastes: Quantification And Validation, Junpeng Du, Tongsheng Zhang, Hongyan Ma, Peiliang Shen, Yiqun Guo, Siqing Zeng, Jiangxiong Wei, Qijun Yu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recycled concrete powder (RCP) exhibits pronounced variability in mineral component contents, which leads to competitive adsorption of superplasticizers in RCP-Portland cement (PC) pastes and consequently to mineral composition-dependent deviations in rheological properties. In this study, limestone powder (LSP), quartz powder (QZP), and hardened paste powder (HPP) were used to simulate the main components of RCP. Effects of RCPs with target components on the rheological properties of blended cement paste were investigated, and a competitive-adsorption coefficient (CC) was proposed to quantify the competitive adsorption of superplasticizer. Results showed that increasing LSP-enriched RCP content reduced the yield stress of cement paste, primarily …

The Moderating Effect Of Facial Recognition Ability On The Post-Identification Feedback Effect, Benjamin Martell

Student Theses

Abstract

Researchers have long understood the contaminating impact that feedback given to an eyewitness regarding their lineup identification has on a host of testimony-relevant retrospective judgments (Steblay et al., 2014; Wells & Bradfield, 1998). This phenomenon-the Post Identification Feedback Effect- has been influential in informing policy that seeks to reduce the number of false identifications and subsequent miscarriages of justice (Dysart et al., 2012). The present study aims to further our understanding and application of the post-identification feedback effect by investigating how a factor specific to the eyewitness, facial recognition ability, may moderate this effect. The present study failed to …

Variability In Eligibility And Outcomes: A Cross-Comparison Of New York City Mental Health Courts, Caitlin Sanders

Student Theses

Mental health courts (MHCs) represent a critical diversion mechanism for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), yet substantial variability in eligibility criteria, assessment practices, and program structure limits our understanding of how court-level policies shape participant access and outcomes. This exploratory study provides the first systematic cross-borough comparison of all five New York City MHCs, achieving a 100% response rate across courts. Using an adapted version of a statewide MHC survey instrument, data were collected from court representatives via structured survey administration and supplemental interviews. Findings indicate significant variation across courts in legal and clinical eligibility criteria, assessment personnel …

Exploring Knowledge And Sources Of Information On Augmentative And Alternative Communication Among Board-Certified Behavior Analysts, Alyssa Roylance, Sophia R. D'Agostino, Avery Briggs, Naima Bhana-Lopez

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Student Research

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is often recommended to help autistic individuals develop needed skills, and as such, Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) should be prepared to assist minimally verbal individuals to learn how to communicate. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can be a helpful tool to assist communication for these individuals. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, including a survey with Likert-type and open-answer questions and a semi-structured interview, was conducted to learn if BCBAs are receiving training on AAC systems and where they are obtaining AAC-related professional development. The survey and interview also inquired about collaboration with other professionals regarding the …

Deacon Earnest James "Buck" Lee

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Participation: Developing An Evidence-Based Farm-Based Sensory Integration Protocol For A Pediatric Occupational Therapy Clinic, Katelyn Childers

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed farm-based sensory integration framework that translates current evidence into practical clinical resources to support therapist education, caregiver engagement, and consistent implementation of occupation centered intervention at Zion Therapy Services.