Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
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Knowing digital bodies: exploring digital health subjectivities through online collaboration
No full textThis dissertation explores the linked questions: how does digital communication in online communities influence our understanding of health, and how does the notion of the healthy body affect how we communicate in digital communities? In order to conduct this exploration, I draw upon three distinct cases. I first explore the users of body tracking devices, and their beliefs about the privacy of the data they generate while using them. I next investigate a group of citizen scientists who go online to generate informal knowledge around using hallucinogenic mushrooms to treat cluster headache, a rare and poorly understood pain disorder. Finally, I explore the discourse around neurodiversity and the brain among activist bloggers on Tumblr. These three cases present three distinct, yet overlapping, ways in which digital bodies become objects of discourse, contestation, and optimization. I conclude by drawing inferences for productive avenues for future research within these areas.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Framework of interpretable biometrics to assess internal psychophysiological states of distress in autism and the general population
No full textStudies of human behavior often do not consider underlying physiological processes which can reveal pertinent information about internal cognitive and emotional states. Assessments of behavior have relied primarily on observation and discretized approaches without considering the continuous flow of biorhythmic activity underlying it. With the advent of wearable sensing technologies and computer vision algorithms that allow for video-based motion capture, we can now harness continuous biorhythmic outputs with the goal of closing the existing gap between cognitive, emotional, and behavioral states. This work aims to characterize the internal psychophysiology underlying human behavior by analyzing a variety of biorhythmic signals – from cardiac activity and bodily movements to eye gaze and facial expressivity – in neurotypical and autistic individuals. We first explore such biorhythmic signals in response to pain and related stress/anxiety. Pain is a distressing sensation that often goes undetected and undertreated in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have trouble communicating their internal emotions and mental states. The proposed project aims to explore the different branches of the peripheral nervous system (somatic and autonomic) using a unified analytical approach to better understand and characterize such internal psychophysiological states. Our multi-method approach is designed to evaluate the interplay between physiological, motor, and affective responses to pain and related distress to develop objective biomarkers that can complement current self-report assessments. Exploring continuous physiological signals with the goal of stratifying the population ultimately allows us to develop digitized assessment approaches that can be scaled and used outside of laboratory settings. This work has several implications in developing a clearer neurophysiological understanding of internal states of pain and distress and in the development of pain detection technologies that can lead to early intervention and diagnosis to ultimately mitigate distress and improve the quality of life of neurotypical and autistic individuals across the globe.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
From the ethical state to progressive income taxation: the influence of ideas on institutional change in Germany, Britain, and the United States, 1807-1913
No full textOver the last forty years, the state has been a major subject of research by historians of political thought and comparative political scientists. Less attention, however, has been paid to the relationship between normative theories about the nature and purpose of the state and the development of state institutions. Building on scholarship on how ideas matter to institutional development, this study argues that theories about the nature of the state co-determine the development of state institutions. I pursue my argument by examining the development of a particular conception of the state, which I call ethico-organic, whose basic features are first identifiable in the work of the German philosopher, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831). I trace the development of this conception in Germany, Britain, and the United States through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, examining how this theory was transmitted by interpreters of Hegel and the students of these interpreters. I set the relevance of the theory against the backdrop against increasing concerns over societal fragmentation as a consequence of class conflict caused by industrial capitalism, imperialist expansion and nationalism, and the expansion of democracy. I conclude with a comparative case study of the emergence of progressive income taxation in Prussia, Britain, and the United States. I demonstrate that the introduction of progressive income taxation was the result of the influence of proponents of the ethico-organic theory of the state and elite fears of growing working-class mobilization as well as their capacity to shift the burden of taxation to politically weaker elites.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
On electromechanical-fluid-elastic coupled modeling: application to mechanism-free ornithopters and moored submerged ducted turbines
No full textElectromechanical-fluid-elastic systems involve fluid-structure interactions and electromechanical coupling between structural, fluid, and electrical domains. The applications of electromechanical-fluid-elastic systems are ubiquitous, e.g., the piezoelectric material-based mechanism-free ornithopters in air and moored-submerged hydrokinetic turbines in tidal/riverine flows.
This dissertation develops a systematic framework for deriving physics-based models for electromechanical-fluid-elastic systems to promote the understanding of coupling and dynamics of electromechanical systems and improve the system design and control performance. The framework addresses the deficiency of accurate and computationally efficient models. The physics-based models preserve physical insights and interpretations of the systems. To demonstrate the utility of the framework, the methods in the proposed framework are employed for unique applications. Various conceptualization, modeling, system identification, solution, and analysis methods are applied to a novel mechanism-free ornithopter concept, and a novel moored-submerged hydrokinetic turbine concept.
A so-called solid-state (i.e., mechanism-free) ornithopter can be achieved by induced-strain actuators such as piezoelectric material-based devices – more specifically piezo composite devices. Such ornithopters with induced-strain actuated wings eliminate the need for electromagnetic motors and conventional power transmission mechanisms, potentially saving weight and energy consumption, improving durability, and reducing overall mechanical complexity. In this work, a novel mechanism-free ornithopter model is derived considering (1) two-way fluid-structure interaction, (2) body-wing coupling, (3) wing bend-twist coupling, and (4) electromechanical coupling. The piezoelectric material-based mechanism-free ornithopter concept is idealized by a rigid ornithopter body and piezocomposite wings. The surge, heave, and pitch degrees of freedom are considered. The structural, fluid, and circuit domains are modeled by the Rayleigh-Ritz method, empirical state space Theodorsen function, and transformer representation, respectively. The piezocomposite wing assumed shapes in the Rayleigh-Ritz method are coupled to the state space fluid domain representation. The fully coupled system model is in state space form, which facilitates the application of parametric analyses in the preliminary design stage, multi-disciplinary design optimization, and the analyses of stability and controllability. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed model, parametric analyses are presented that show the effects of critical design variables, including ornithopter body inertia, piezocomposite device positions and orientations, excitation voltage frequency, etc.
Hydrokinetic energy is largely untapped since the expense to install, operate, monitor, maintain, repair, and recover hydrokinetic turbines in aquatic environments leads to a high levelized cost of energy. The multi-disciplinary design methods based on coupled aerodynamics/hydrodynamics, structural dynamics, control systems, power electronics, etc., are proposed to reduce the levelized cost of energy. The so-called moored-submerged hydrokinetic turbine consists of a ducted turbine array, mooring cable, and electrical load. The ducted turbine array, mooring cable, and generators are modeled by rigid body kinetics, finite element method, and first-order permanent magnet synchronous generator model, respectively. The hydrodynamics of the ducted turbine unit is modeled by the equivalent circuit-axial-momentum theory-blade element momentum method. The lumped-parameter multi-physics model is analytical, which keeps the physical insight. The physical parameters are identified from high-fidelity simulations or experiments. Compared to high-fidelity (e.g., finite element or distributed parameter) approaches, the lumped parameter model is computationally low-cost, which allows for rapid design optimization within a very large multi-physics design domain. The model also facilitates parametric investigations for preliminary design and sensitivity analysis, control synthesis to enhance power extraction and dynamic stability, and rotor design. Case studies, parametric investigations, control for enhancing power extraction, and dynamic stability are discussed to illustrate the utility of the proposed model.
The models and the unified framework presented in this dissertation provide a fundamental understanding of the design space through parametric investigations. Design optimizations, performance and control analyses are demonstrated for all critical operating points.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Integrating controls and CFD for the satellite sloshing problem
No full textSpacecraft dynamics and controls is a vast field with a great deal of invested research and resources. Computational engineering provides an unparalleled tool for design when experimental data is difficult to obtain and analytical solutions do not yet exist. One application of this is novel spacecraft and mission design. Two broad areas of study that have benefited from the use of computational resources are control theory and fluid mechanics. Through the development of a computational tool, a higher fidelity model for spacecraft dynamics and controls can be produced. The problem of interest is the satellite sloshing problem, and it is shown that the knowledge from analysis greatly enhances the understanding of the spacecraft dynamics and controls. The primary goal is to combine control theory and computational fluid dynamics in a cohesive manner without neglecting the extensive research done for either.M.S.Includes bibliographical reference
Birth centers in New Jersey: a qualitative and policy analysis of barriers to equitable birth center access
No full textMaternal deaths and complications are at crisis level and getting worse in the United States, with racial disparities in New Jersey being some of the worst in the country. Birth centers are a high-value but underutilized model of care, offering midwifery care to low-risk pregnant people, but are accessible to few people in New Jersey. Financial, systemic and policy barriers to access exist at the organizational level, preventing the expanded accessibility of the birth center model. My research explores and describes the facilitators and barriers to expanding freestanding birth center access to more people of color and low-income people in New Jersey, including geographic, financial, policy, and practice. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, I identified a total of eight financial barriers and barriers to health system–birth center integration, based on the perspectives of birth center leadership and administration, state policymakers, health care systems and insurance providers. One of the primary barriers identified was the inadequate Medicaid facility reimbursement rate for birth centers. I addressed this through a cross-sectional policy analysis of Medicaid reimbursement rates for birth centers in a nine-state sample, identifying policy that shapes the equitable service and operations of birth centers. Using a three-article dissertation format, this culminating research integrates learning from my coursework and demonstrates the need for expanded birth center access and better integration in New Jersey’s birth ecosystem. My research contributes to growing awareness of gaps in clinical perinatal care for low-risk and low-income pregnant people and those of color that birth centers can fill and clears a path for systemic improvements in both policy and practice.Dr.P.H.Includes bibliographical reference
Identifying risk factors for depressive symptoms in adult immigrants to the United States from Latin America: a systematic review
No full textPurpose of Project: Depressive disorders are a pervasive public health concern in the U.S., with an especially high incidence rate noted among immigrants from Latin American countries. Untreated depressive disorders may lead to a plethora of untoward outcomes, including reduced quality of life, compromised physical and mental well-being, increased economic burden, and even suicide. Early identification of risk factors for such disorders may facilitate the development of targeted interventions, which, in turn, can help mitigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population.The present systematic review was performed to synthesize the currently available empirical data pertaining to the risk factors associated with depressive disorders in adult immigrants from Latin America who have migrated to the United States (U.S.).
Methodology: The search strategy was aimed to identify both published and unpublished studies. Several databases were searched, including MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertation & Theses using Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) three step strategy. All identified studies were assessed to determine if they met inclusion criteria and were further assessed for methodological quality using JBI standards. Data pertaining to the exposure variables (risk factors) and the outcomes (depressive symptoms and disorders) were extracted and synthesized in a narrative form.
Results: Eleven scholarly articles that met the inclusion criteria and the methodological quality set in the protocol were included in the review. The extracted data was synthesized into categories of major risk factors. The findings of these articles allowed the writers to determine that Latino immigrants in the US who report perceived discrimination, who do not have sufficient family or social support, or who are poorly acculturated/experience acculturative stress are more likely to experience depressive symptoms.
Implications for Practice: The findings of the present review may be utilized to create an educational plan for healthcare professionals Ito inform on risk factors for depressive symptoms in immigrants to the U.S. from Latin America.D.N.P.Includes bibliographical reference
Experiences of stigma among family members of persons living with schizophrenia: a systematic review
No full textPurpose of Project: Schizophrenia affects 24 million individuals or one in 300 people (0.32%) worldwide and is the leading debilitating mental disorder among young adults, affecting one in 222 (0.45%) of the population. Schizophrenia has far-reaching social, health, and economic effects. Family involvement can aid recovery, but loved ones often face stigma. This global challenge must be addressed to support those diagnosed and their associates.The project aimed to expound on the existing evidence on the stigma faced by families of individuals with schizophrenia and describe the key factors that influence the stigma, the coping mechanisms, and strategies to minimize or alleviate the negative effects of stigma through a systematic review.
Methodology: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute approach for qualitative systematic reviews. Studies included in the search were those published in full text, English, between 1963, when Erving Goffman published his major work on stigma, and May 2023. The databases searched for published and unpublished studies included Academic Search Premier, CINAHL(Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), Health Star, JSTOR(Journal Storage), MEDLINE (medical literature on-line), PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Sociology Abstracts Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Virginia Henderson Nursing Library, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research and Publications, and Health Resources and Services Administration Special Projects of National Significance.
Results: Thirty-eight papers, representing studies conducted in 20 countries and involving 712 family members, met the criteria for inclusion. From these, a total of 134 findings were extracted and combined to form 17 categories based on similarity in meaning. Four final syntheses were derived: i) Held hostage by stigma hiding the secret: ii) Isolated and constrained by stigma imposed by others: iii) Family carries the burden with little support: iv) What do I need?
Implication for practice: The findings highlight the importance of implementing intervention and support programs to alleviate the negative impact of stigma on family members. Healthcare organizations should take steps to counteract the harmful effects of stigma by a) collecting data on the health, well-being, and satisfaction outcomes of individuals with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses; b) establishing policies and protocols to involve families in the care plan; and c) adopting policies and practices that decrease stigma and discrimination in healthcare.D.N.P.Includes bibliographical reference
High stakes: a quantitative analysis of local cannabis policies and residential property sale prices in New Jersey
No full textIt is still unclear if there is an overall net economic benefit following the enactment of recreational cannabis laws in the United States. Supporters anticipate social equity and economic gains, while opponents’ express concerns about public health and safety. Public policy researchers often gauge the overall impact of cannabis legalization by studying changes in property values, yet previous studies yield mixed results, possibly due to local contextual variations. This is the first study to focus on New Jersey's cannabis legalization, where over 40% of municipalities opted to allow cannabis-related businesses starting in the fall of 2021. The research aims to answer two key research questions: factors influencing municipalities' decisions to allow or ban cannabis businesses and the effect on residential home sale prices. Our study finds that more populated, less affluent, and more liberal municipalities are more likely to permit cannabis businesses. We also find that municipalities are more likely to permit these businesses if neighboring towns do the same. Using a differences-in-differences approach, the study finds a positive association between allowing cannabis businesses and home sale prices, with a 2.7% average increase, equivalent to a $10,343 rise for the average home sale price. The findings underscore the economic impact and social considerations surrounding cannabis legalization, offering valuable insights for
policymakers.This work was accepted to the annual Graduate Research and Creative Works Symposium while the author was a graduate student at Rutgers University-Camden
Slashing history: reshaping a cultural understanding of indigenous communities in America
No full textThere is a problem with teaching the History of Indigenous communities in America at the high school level. Despite the efforts of contemporary curriculum teams to incorporate non-Western perspectives into History and Literature classes, many school districts throughout the country do not teach colonialism or Native American History. This problem has negatively impacted the importance of learning about the period before Western colonists arrived in America (pre-1493), as well as how Indigenous culture was challenged by the hegemonic powers of Western authorities. A possible cause of this problem is high school core curriculum standards do not always implement changes recommended on the national level, or the teachers do not want to adapt to change. Perhaps a study that investigates a way to approach Indigenous studies by providing a curriculum guide for teaching contemporary Native American Literature could remedy this problem.This work was accepted to the annual Graduate Research and Creative Works Symposium while the author was a graduate student at Rutgers University-Camden