15133 research outputs found
Sort by
Graph Codes
Get PDFThe concept of graph codes, introduced in recent work by Alon, applies coding theory to graphs by defining codewords as graphs and measuring distances between them through structural differences. In ordinary coding theory, the distance between two words is the number of positions in which the two words differ. In graph codes, each word is a graph and the distance between two graphs is measured by structural properties of their difference. For a fixed graph H, an H-code is a collection F of graphs on vertex set [n] = {1, 2, . . . , n} such that the symmetric difference of any two graphs in F is not a copy of H. Alon conjectured that whenever H has an even number of edges, any H-code must be a negligible fraction of the set of all graphs on [n]. He proved this conjecture for all H of a certain type. In this thesis, we extend the notion of graph codes to hypergraphs and directed graphs and prove analogs of Alon’s result in these settings
Does understanding of leadership post-college college affect motivation to lead post-college?
No full textThe purpose of this research was to find if the understanding of leadership of college students affected their motivation to lead post-college using a secondary database. Wielkiewicz’s LABS scale was used to understand the views of leadership, and Chan & Drasgow scale was used to understand Motivation to Lead. Seventy-three students from five different colleges and universities were contacted and included in the study. The LABS and MTL scales were used to measure each respective area, and a secondary database (L-001529) was also used to use the collected data from the students. The study found an association between Systemic Thinking and Social Normative MTL. Findings suggest that students who understand leadership as systemic are more likely to be motivated to lead when asked to be the leader by others
Improving the U.S. Federal Prison System: Lessons from Norway
No full textThe American criminal justice system emphasizes punishment rather than rehabilitation. This has contributed to overcrowded prisons. Courts have found that overcrowding and deliberate failure to provide medical care violate the Eighth Amendment. Such conditions can also lead to mental health issues which may make it difficult to reintegrate prisoners into society. America also has the highest recidivism rate in the world. Prisons in Norway, however, emphasize rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. Should the United States consider incorporating aspects of the Norwegian prison system to improve the American prison system? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research. From September 2024 through March 2025, using qualitative research, I analyzed sources from law and psychology, including court opinions and scholarly articles. After identifying conflicting insights, I found common ground between them (e.g., law and psychology have a common goal, i.e., the safety and well-being of a prisoner while incarcerated and of society once an inmate has been released), and integrated them, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That understanding leads to suggested answers to the research question. I conclude that a prison system geared toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society may reduce the American rate of recidivism and prison overcrowding, and release prisoners better prepared to be reintegrated into society. The United States should conduct a study of the Norwegian prison system and consider whether adopting its approach would be appropriate to improve the current American prison system
Analysis of molecular switches through computational modeling
No full textFluorescent sensors can generate or quench a fluorescence signal in the presence of an analyte such as metal ions and protons. This project focuses on sensors that use photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between a chromophore and a receptor to manipulate the fluorescence signal. They act as molecular switches by generating (off-on) or quenching (on-off) fluorescence due to one or several PET processes. The purpose of this project is to model the PET processes of the sensors using computational chemistry programs that utilize dense functional theory (DFT). The energy levels of the molecular orbitals will be calculated to evaluate whether the PET processes are energetically favorable and our results will be compared with experimental data
Corruption within the American judiciary: The unspoken crime
No full textAmerican history is full of stories of corruption in the executive and legislative branches of government. Only occasionally, however, is there a story about a corrupt judge. Bribes, extortion, lies, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power are forms of judicial corruption. Judicial corruption erodes public trust in the justice system and respect for the rule of law, it can deny litigants their right to a fair trial, it can upend business dealings, and it can allow the guilty to go free. Despite ongoing efforts to end judicial corruption, it remains a continuing problem. What can and should be done to eliminate judicial corruption in the United States?This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding. Using qualitative research methodology, (textual analysis), I analyzed relevant sources from the disciplines of law and psychology. I identified conflicting insights, found common ground between them, and through integration, achieved a more comprehensive understanding of the problem which allows me to suggest solutions to the problem. My research is not yet complete. However, I conclude that judicial corruption will not be eliminated without significant changes in how it is addressed. The method of selecting judges needs to be transparent and free from the influence of money. Laws governing the conduct of current and former judges need to be strictly enforced. There needs to be more publicity about judicial corruption when it occurs. Those who report alleged judicial misconduct must be protected against retaliation of any kind
Emotional dysregulation and its relationship to peer victimization and aggression among neurodiverse youth
No full textEmotion dysregulation (ED) involves difficulty modulating emotions, including both mood-based (dysphoria) and behavioral (reactivity) responses to environmental triggers (Mazefsky et al., 2021). Relational aggression/victimization involves behaviors aimed at harming one’s social relationships, and overt aggression/victimization involves direct acts of physical and verbal victimization (Doyle & Sullivan, 2017). While prior research links peer aggression and victimization to elevated ED (McLaughlin et al., 2009), whether ED predicts peer victimization and aggression remains underexplored, particularly for neurodivergent youth who are at risk for negative peer experiences. Twenty neurodiverse youth (Mage=12.95, SDage=1.76, 45% male; 70% White, 15% Asian/SouthAsian/MENA, 5% Multiracial; 9 Autistic) completed measures of peer victimization and aggression (Revised Peer Experiences Questionnaire; Prinstein et al., 2001). Their parents completed measures of ED (Emotion Dysregulation Index; Mazefsky et al., 2021). Overt and relational aspects of peer victimization and aggression showed specific associations with ED: Relational victimization was associated with both ED reactivity (r=.532, p\u3c.05) and dysphoria (r=.535, p\u3c.05), while overt victimization was not correlated with ED. Conversely, overt aggression was significantly correlated with both ED reactivity (r=.556, p\u3c.05) and dysphoria (r=.488, p\u3c.05), whereas relational aggression was not correlated with ED. Findings suggest that individual emotional vulnerabilities (i.e., difficulties in regulating emotions) may play an important role in peer experiences, particularly in relational victimization and overt aggression. Future research can continue to explore the effects of both ED dysphoria and reactivity on peers’ experiences, which in turn can aid in identifying effective intervention strategies for youth (Memba et al., 2023)
Preparation and characterization of PEDOT:PS/CNT blends for light addressable electrochemical sensing
No full textIn the nervous system, cells communicate by passing small molecules between adjacent cells. Measuring these molecules as they pass from one cell to another is a pathway for a deeper understanding of cellular communication. Most of the research done on neurotransmitter sensing uses carbon fiber electrodes. Our group has been exploring the use of light addressable electrochemical (LAE) sensors for applications in biological and chemical sensing. LAE sensor utilizes light to initiate an electrochemical reaction at the surface of semiconducting photoelectrode. To date, we have not been successful in preparing LAE sensors with carbon electrodes. Here, we prepare LAE sensors with PEDOT:PSS/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites on n-Si. PEDOT:PSS is a conductive polymer blend that’s widely used in organic solar cell research. We hypothesized that adding CNTs to the PEDOT:PSS would enable sensitive measurements of dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter. We explored how the amount of CNT influences the response of our electrode. Our study focused on observing the transformations in electrode characteristics following cyclic exposure to certain buffers. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of various spinning parameters on our electrode properties. The characteristics of our electrode were analyzed using various techniques: cyclic voltammetry in dark and under illumination, mott-schottky analysis, four-point probe conductivity analysis, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Our investigations have yielded valuable insights, which we believe will contribute to enhancing our understanding of dopamine sensing in the future
Leadership self-efficacy development during college and early career
No full textIn this longitudinal study, we explored the relationship between the amount of leader self-efficacy at the beginning of college and LSE developmental trajectories during college (freshman year and senior year) as well as 2 years post-college. To determine how leader self-efficacy (LSE) changed over time, we conducted repeated measures ANOVAs and found that LSE stayed the same across all three time points. However, when the amount of leader self-efficacy at the beginning of college was taken into account, we found curvilinear relationships: for those entering college with higher self-efficacy, LSE decreased during college and rebounded to a higher level post-college. Those with lower LSE to start had the opposite curvilinear relationship
Comparison of pitching styles causing UCL tears: A critically appraise topic
No full textThis critically appraised topic aims to evaluate pitching techniques to determine whether certain styles are more probable to cause an ulnar collateral ligament tear. The purpose of this critical appraisal is to identify if a pitching style is more prone to UCL injuries. The ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow injuries are the second most common injury in baseball pitchers. UCL surgeries lead to an average postoperative follow up of 35.1 months. This appraisal will analyze data from multiple research studies, comparing different pitching techniques and their potential interaction with UCL tears. A literary search was conducted using the PubMed database, using keywords “UCL tears pitchers”, “pitcher techniques UCL injuries”, and “UCL pathology in pitchers”. The inclusion criteria required were free full-text PDFs and published within the last five years. PEDro scale was utilized to assess the quality and validity of the selected articles, only articles with a grade of “fair” to “excellent” were included. The appraisal indicated that reviewing the literature, pitching style appears to have minimal impact on UCL injuries. Instead, valgus force places stress on the UCL, leading to these injuries. The primary contributing factors to UCL injuries include high pitch counts, inadequate recovery time, repeated trauma, and overuse. Based on data comparing pitching styles and UCL tears, pitching techniques play a minimal role in UCL injuries. The most common causes of UCL injuries are high pitch counts, inadequate recovery time, repeated trauma, and overuse; demonstrating that the ligament is not directly affected by pitching styles
Investigation of binding parameters for arthrobacter phage
No full textBacteriophage are viruses which infect bacterial hosts. Since their initial discovery, phage have been vital model organisms for biological research. Phage research has led to important insights from discovering that DNA is the hereditary molecule to uncovering the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. This project will aim to shed light on two bacteriophages that were recently discovered at Montclair State University. In particular, the parameters that govern their adhesion to their bacterial host will be investigated. The two phages are Linus and Inked –they infect Arthrobacter sp. This bacteria is a prominent member of soil communities and is commercially important with uses in bioremediation and food production. Early data has shown that Linus and Inked adhere to Arthrobacter at differing rates with Linus possibly adhering to Arthrobacter quicker than Inked. Additional data has shown that as time increases so does the total number of phages that adhere to Arthrobacter. It’s possible that structural/genetic differences between the two phage are responsible for this gap although the exact differences responsible for said gap remains to be understood. Preliminary data in which a fixed number of phage are added to decreasing concentrations of bacteria is beginning to reveal the total number of phage that can adhere to a bacterial cell which in turn elucidates the potential number of receptor sites a single bacterium has. Once binding parameters such as temperature and pH are more clearly delineated, we will work towards identifying the specific receptors targeted by these phages and elucidating the mechanism of binding