Digital Commons Network^™

Utilizing Programmable Spatial Light Modulators For Beam Shaping And Spectral Synthesis, Shree Ram Thapa

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Programmable spatial light modulators (SLMs) built on Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology enable precise control of multiple degrees of freedom of light, such as amplitude, phase, frequency, polarization, and time. We demonstrate applications of SLM technology that go beyond the conventional 4-f ultrafast pulse shaping approach. By developing a dual-oscillator power amplifier (DOPA), we show that nonlinear wave interactions inside optical fibers can be managed through the spectral phase adjustment of optical frequency combs produced by non-degenerate, cascaded four-wave mixing (CFWM). Our approach utilizes a programmable spectral phase profile, which allows precise regulation of an optical comb’s spectral content. …

Advancements In Slow-Wave Thin Film Lithium Niobate For Opto-Electronic Communications, Joseph W. Haefner

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The views expressed in this dissertation are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

The explosive growth of human connectedness over the previous decades has, and will continue to strain the communication infrastructure under-girding modern economies, and society. The continuous expansion of data-centers, advanced artificial intelligence models, and remote data storage will require novel high bandwidth solutions for both long haul and local inter-connects. Current solutions seek to expand link bandwidth through the use of complex high baud rate constellations, in …

You And Me: Imagination As A Coping Mechanism For Childhood Trauma, Rachel B. Sacks

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

You and Me is a two-dimensional (2D) animated short film about a young girl who suffers from an unknown illness. As she tries to rest, two otherworldly monsters transform her room into an unsettling nightmare. These monsters stem from her own distorted perceptions of the doctor and nurse caring for her. You and Me focuses on the difficulties that children navigating medical challenges face in communicating their fears with their caretakers. It is a film rooted staunchly in the subjective world of its protagonist. The art style deliberately combines conventionally appealing character design with surrealist imagery and evocative, unsettling lighting …

Leyendo "Pasión De Historia" Desde Una Mirada Poscolonial, Erika Maribel Heredia

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The short story “Pasión de historia” by Ana Lydia Vega can be interpreted as a sharp reflection on Latin American postmodernity, immersed in a cultural reality shaped by colonialism. This context raises questions of identity in the face of a globalized economy, making the story a text with a complex framework and multiple levels of interpretation. Among these, postcolonialism stands out as the central axis of the analysis presented in this essay.

The frequent references to the Puerto Rican nation and its independence struggle, the depiction of gastronomy as a unifying national element, the use of popular language infused with …

Gothic Girlhood Horrors, Nina M. Lopez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Gothic Girlhood Horrors is a collection of creative nonfiction examining the formative experiences of girlhood. Through experimental essays, short stories, and other forms of prose, it investigates how universal and personal a young woman’s experiences can be. Part I, “HOW TO BECOME A GIRL,” opens with a coming-of-age story. “GIRL CRAZY” takes inspiration from memoirist Elissa Washuta’s “Sexually Based Offenses,” with the narrator engaging in a hypothetical conversation. Some essays explore the narrator’s relationship with motherhood; others delve into the complex relationship with her own mother. Key moments of girlhood are highlighted, such as dying hair (“let down your hair”) …

Breaking Barriers: Women's Struggle For The Vote In Jacksonville, Brett M. Nystrom

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

During the first half of the twentieth century, women in Jacksonville brought women’s suffrage to the forefront of the city’s discourse through increased engagement in the public sphere. By forming women’s organizations such as the Woman’s Club of Jacksonville, the Florida Equal Franchise League, and the Duval County League of Women Voters, White women addressed concerns regarding women’s voting rights. However, these White women’s organizations and Jacksonville’s White, male-dominated authority excluded African American women from participating in the public sphere. Therefore, African American women in Jacksonville established the City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, which served as a platform for …

Utilizing Recommendation Systems To Achieve More Personalized Themed Experiences, Bryan P. Mcgowan

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Digital platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, and YouTube demonstrate the effectiveness of recommendation systems to personalize content and drive revenue, yet themed attractions have historically offered limited personalization. This thesis explores how recommendation systems can enhance adaptive themed experiences, focusing on branching narratives and dynamic environments that respond to guest behavior. Research from literature relevant to recommendation systems, along with analyses of successful attractions and digital experiences, informed the creative solutions developed for The Nexus. In this immersive walkthrough attraction, guests pass through a magical portal into a multiverse that adapts to their preferences and actions. This research shows how …

The Marginalization Of The Malgre Nous In French Society From Its Roots To The 1960s, Marie Oury

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines how young Alsatians found themselves on the margins of postwar France. The illegal annexation of their region by Germany in 1940 led them into a bitter paradox: within months, they had to support their enemy's war effort. The National Socialist (Nazi) regime's coercion reached its height between 1942 and 1945, when 130,000 young men and women from Alsace and Moselle were conscripted into the German army against their will. After the war, this generation bore the weight of that history, struggling to reintegrate into France, a nation that sought to avoid grappling with the complex experiences of …

Digitally-Mediated Nature-Connectedness?: Listeners’ Emotional Responses To And Perception Of Digitized Nature Sounds, Marissa Salas

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

• Faced with the potential closure or privatization of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), it is important to reflect on the conservation efforts using soundscapes. This dissertation explores the gap between experts and lay listeners in listening to soundscapes through the digitally-mediated spaces (e.g. YouTube). In a pilot project conducted in 2024 that used facial emotional recognition software and a talk-aloud protocol, data on emotions was collected. Using NPS video recordings on its webpages, social media accounts and via other digital channels (YouTube, etc.) created by NPS experts, this project employed an innovative, interdisciplinary, mixed-methods experimental design to investigate …

Analysis Of Queerness And Race In Black Lightning And Dctv Femslash, Rachel Marks

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In this dissertation, I research issues of queer representation and race in the CW network’s DC television (DCTV) shows’ fandom by investigating femslash ships, or the fan pairing of female characters. To do this, I compare the femslash ship of the characters Anissa Pierce and Grace Choi (ThunderGrace), a canon multiracial couple from the CW television show Black Lightning, to three other DCTV femslash pairings: the characters Sara Lance and Ava Sharpe (Avalance), a canon white couple from the television show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, the characters Alex Danvers and Kelly Olsen (Dansen), a canon multiracial couple from …

Expanding The World Of Themed Entertainment Through Choice-Based Narratives: How Video Game Design Principles Inspire Immersion In Attractions, Layla R. Mccarthy

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Within most traditional theme park attractions, guest interaction does not directly impact the unfolding of the narrative. While there are many examples of encouraged interaction, guests still lack agency. Within this research, the goal is to develop a hypothetical theme park attraction (titled The Library of Worlds) where guests will be met with various choices that influence the trajectory of the story. Drawing inspiration from non-linear storytelling and interactive gaming, this study explores integration of choice-based narratives into themed entertainment, questioning the ways in which agency can enhance immersion and connection within attractions – as well as what elements …

Live Content: Turning Guests Into Co-Creators Of Gamified Attractions, Brittany Mcchesney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Based on an in-depth exploratory literature review, this thesis proposes to assess how a live content team might interact with the lifecycle of a gamified theme park attraction. To offer unique and memorable experiences to Guests, there has been an increase in the development of theme park attractions that are “gamified,” in that Guests can interface with some interactive game element or experience. This is especially pertinent with the development of video-game-focused lands and attractions, such as Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, Hollywood, and soon to be Epic Universe in Orlando, FL. Attractions can incorporate gamification in a …

Macabre Therapeutics: An Exploration Into The Cathartic Nature Of Splatter Utilizing The Saw Franchise As Corpus, Rosalind E. Rohrbaugh

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This project positions splatter (a subgenre of horror films that centralizes gore) as applicable for sociopolitical critique and emotional catharsis, disrupting the narrative of splatter as a solely shock-based enterprise. The project utilizes the Saw franchise as a corpus, which reignited audience interest in extreme horror in 2004, rejuvenating splatter film releases since their stagnancy throughout the 1990s. This research seeks to answer why Saw captured the attention of audiences and returned the splatter subgenre to the 21st century, utilizing psychoanalytical film analysis, sociopolitical analysis, semiotics, content analysis, and archival research as methodology and drawing on Aristotle’s Catharsis and Rhetorical …

Under Control, Eric Tegethoff

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Under Control is a collection of six short stories focused on masculinity. The stories explore family, climate change, nationalism, and the nature of work. “A Survey of Man” and “Snake Pit” dive into the corrosive effects of capitalism on men in society. In “The Art of War,” the narrator finds the cost of pursuing healing outside of society’s prescribed norms. Society’s norms also act on the characters in “My Country, My Cybertruck” and “Bad Reporting.” The collection ends with “Virtual Idaho,” a short story that scrutinizes the masculine barriers to properly grieving for a loved one.

Of Fate And Fear: An Interactive Narrative Approach To Experiential Horror, David A. Brescia

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the nature of guest interactivity in themed entertainment, considering best practices when approaching the creation of an interactive theme park offering with the belief that narrative interactivity and guest agency increases the potential for meaningful, memorable, and engaging entertainment experiences. Taking both established literature and existing offerings into consideration, this thesis presents an original creative narrative design concept for a Halloween haunt event overlay, titled Fear the Unknown, that enhances the guest experience with an emphasis on interactivity and agency. This creative work is presented specifically from the point of view of the show writing discipline, consisting …

Millennials And Generation Z Customers' Service Recovery Evaluation From A Self-Esteem Perspective, Megan Mcdade

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

While a significant amount of research has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of service recovery based on various factors, there is limited research on emerging customer segments, specifically Generation Z and Millennials. Justice theory has been predominant in service recovery literature, however, recent studies suggest that self-esteem can provide valuable insight into understanding customers’ evaluations of service recovery. This research focuses on how Generation Z and Millennial customers evaluate service recovery efforts in the context of restaurants. The main objective of this study is to examine how these customers perceive economic (compensation) and psychological (apology) service recovery strategies, considering …

Investing In Digital Solutions For Firm Value, Mahala Geronasso

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Digital investments have become integral to the strategies of hospitality firms, enabling data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and financial growth. This dissertation examines the impact of digital investments, specifically IT investment (CAPEX), research and development (R&D) intensity, and digital marketing intensity, on operational and financial performance within hospitality firms, guided by Innovation Diffusion Theory and Agency Theory. A comprehensive empirical analysis utilized financial data from publicly traded U.S. hospitality firms (2013–2023). Advanced econometric methods, including ARIMA, GARCH, and structured panel regressions, were rigorously assessed to evaluate performance dynamics. Findings reveal IT investments significantly enhance operational efficiency, profitability, and liquidity, despite causing …

Influencing Sustainability: The Impact Of Digital Influencers On Sustainable Tourism Behaviors, Karen C. N. Tavares

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates how digital influencers shape sustainable tourism communication and behavioral intentions through a multi-method research approach. As influencer marketing increasingly drives destination visibility and traveler decision-making, understanding its role in advancing sustainability is essential for aligning economic growth with environmental and social responsibility. To address this gap, two complementary studies were conducted.

Study 1 applied social media content analysis to examine sustainable tourism discourse, identifying trends in topics, message framing and content. The analysis revealed a largely positive and gain-framed conversation, emphasizing lifestyle identity, collective values, and all three pillars of sustainability. Influencer analysis showed that while institutional …

Inhibition Of Activin A Signaling Slows The Progression Of Barrett's Esophagus Induced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Lily A. Giardino

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In 2020, approximately 1.03 billion cases of Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) were reported worldwide, representing a significant global health burden. Chronic GERD is a potent initiator of Barrett’s Esophagus (BE), a precancerous condition in which the squamous epithelium is converted into columnar-like epithelium in the distal esophagus in response to reflux injury. Barrett’s Esophagus is the only known precursor to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC), a disease with a five-year survival rate of 21%. First line treatments focus on acid suppression and endoscopic mucosal resection but did not result in a decrease of EAC incidence highlighting the importance of new therapeutics. Previous …

Multi-Omics Analysis Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotype 3 Using A Murine Infection Model, Jash Kamlesh Trivedi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN), a gram-positive encapsulated pathogen, inhabits the human nasopharynx asymptomatically but can cause severe infections, including invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD). Although targeted by vaccines, serotype 3 (ST3) remains highly prevalent within the United States and globally. Sequence type 180 lineage within Clonal Complex (CC)180 is the predominant lineage of serotype 3 globally. Genetically, Clonal Complex 180 is divided into clade I and II, with clade II recently surpassing clade I in prevalence. However, the molecular mechanisms driving this shift remain poorly understood. Here, we employ a multi-omics approach, combining pangenome analysis and dual-RNA sequencing, to investigate genetic factors …

Characterizing Conditioned Pain Modulation And Quadriceps Motor Unit Recruitment Among Older Adults With Chronic Knee Pain, Emily J. Parsowith

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

BACKGROUND: Over 25% of U.S. older adults experience chronic knee pain, which worsens with inactivity, creating a cycle of pain, disability, and sedentary behavior. However, a limited understanding of its underlying mechanisms hinders the development of effective treatments. PURPOSE: This study integrated assessments of Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) and motor unit control to elucidate the role of pain sensitization and neuromuscular impairments specific to chronic knee pain. METHODS: Seventy-five participants were divided into three groups: young adults (n=25), older adults without pain (n=30), and older adults with chronic pain (n=20). CPM efficiency was evaluated using heat and pressure test stimuli …

Understanding Pre-Service Teachers’ Engagement, Application And Perception Of Instructor Feedback In An Online Teacher Education Course: An Action Research Study, Iram Khan

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Teachers should prioritize continuous professional development through shared experiences and reflective teaching to remain competitive in the global education system and become better teachers to assist language learners in achieving their goals (Vadivel et al., 2021). Professional development courses are crucial for enhancing teaching skills; however, there is a concern that such initiatives seem ineffective in promoting change in teaching practices (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; Gore et al., 2017). Implementing effective instructional approaches in teacher education courses, such as feedback and reflection, is crucial for aspiring teachers to enhance their knowledge and professional growth (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; Pharis et …

Multilevel Network Governance For United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: The Role Of European Subnational Entities In Urban Resilience, Hasan Isgandar

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates the role of subnational actors in European Union (EU) multilevel governance networks focused on reducing urban poverty and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Focusing on the SDG #1 (No Poverty), SDG #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG #17 (Partnerships for the Goals) it examines the participation and impact of subnational actors in two case studies: Naples, Italy and Krakow, Poland. Using Social Network Analysis (SNA), the research investigates the configuration and performance of the networks created within the framework of the URBinclusion projects, which are part of the URBACT and Urban Innovative Actions …

Health Behavior In A Culture-Driven Society: Using Mixed Methods Research To Examine Medical Pluralism In Zimbabwe, Stephen Mhere

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation examined the role of cultural influences on health-seeking behaviors and healthcare choices among Zimbabweans, focusing on medical pluralism – where individuals simultaneously access traditional, faith-based, and allopathic medical systems. It applied the PEN-3 Cultural Model to examine Cultural Identity, Relationships and Expectations, and Cultural Empowerment. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected via a Shona-language survey on WhatsApp. Multiple choice, closed-ended, and open-ended survey questions were texted to participants, and they responded by text or audio messages. Response data were collected from 137 study participants. Multinomial logistic regression was used for quantitative data analysis, while deductive …

Fluidity In Structure: Balancing Form And Freedom, Tyler Stevens

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In our postmodern society, there is a natural urge to want to decentralize the metanarratives that make up the standards and structures of defined aesthetics within the theatre landscape. This urge poses a potential threat to the authenticity of the dramatic context, encouraging performers to create narratives outside of the text. This led me to investigate how theatre artists can strike a balance between creative exploration and authenticity of context, of form and freedom. In seeking a way to engage with the effects of postmodernism in the theatre, I follow Hans-Theis Lehmann’s Postdramatic Theatre to a dead end and must …

The Multifaceted Roles Of Propionic Acid In Autism Spectrum Disorder And Crohn’S Disease, Piotr P. Lagod

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including propionic (PPA) and butyric (BA) acid, exert a variable and organ-specific effect on the body. They are by-products of human microbiota metabolism and are often used as a food preservative. Studies have shown that PPA and its producers are elevated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and their mothers. Our lab previously demonstrated that PPA alters neural stem cell differentiation in favor of glia. In this work, we utilized an in vivo mice model, in which dams and their offspring were fed a PPA-rich diet. In the brain, we observed a significant increase in …

Ethical Concerns And Consumer Perceptions Of Fairness In Gamified Customer Loyalty Programs, Shelley Maccini

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Business organizations use customer loyalty programs as marketing tools by providing incentives for consumer behaviors, which generate customer engagement value for the business. Customer loyalty programs typically use game mechanics common to digital gaming in order to motivate behavior, often referred to as gamification. While studies of gamified programs used for education and training purposes appear frequently in the literature, a gap exists in exploring gamified programs used in a marketing context. This dissertation seeks to understand how consumers view the use of gamified customer loyalty programs as fair under the frameworks of justice. This exploratory study employed a mixed …

Molecular Basis For The Disaggregase Activity Of Protein Disulfide Isomerase, Antonio Mele

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an essential, multifunctional, and promiscuous protein with a modular abb’xa’c domain arrangement. Conformational flexibility and the independent, yet coordinated, functionality of PDI domains facilitate protein folding, redox regulation, and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Previous investigations have shown that PDI can inhibit amyloid β peptide aggregation, associated with Alzheimer's disease, and is required for cholera toxin disassembly, the rate-limiting step in Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis. However, the precise mechanistic details underlying these interactions remain to be elucidated. Using molecular and biophysical approaches, this study has begun to establish substrate-induced unfolding, or conditional disorder, of PDI as …

Designing Immersive Educational Experiences: An Exploration Of Animal Attractions And Exhibits To Create A National Park Themed Experience, Sarah G. Merrill

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis analyzes the disconnect between immersive environmental storytelling and conservation education at animal attractions. How can designers create immersive educational experiences that engage audiences? Can environmental narrative practices be applied in a new way to develop effective conservation and wildlife education? A literature review assists in defining immersion, discovering the evolution of Modern Zoo design as an immersive experience, and evaluating conversation education in animal facilities. When combined with educational techniques, immersive habitat design improves guest engagement and informal conservation learning outcomes in zoos and animal-related experiences. Using Scott Lukas’ theming and immersion modes, three attractions are analyzed as …

Exploring The Role Of Geofencing, Geolocation, And Audio Descriptions In Enhancing Mobility And Inclusion For Individuals With Blindness And Visual Impairments In Museums And Indoor Spaces, Javier Enrique Molinares

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation explores the challenges individuals with blindness and visual impairments face in navigating cultural spaces, explicitly focusing on museums, and emphasizes the importance of inclusion. The study explores how conventional accessibility solutions can accidentally establish obstacles which restrict autonomy and diminish chances for meaningful participation. Accessibility challenges were identified through qualitative observations at the Gateway Museum, located within the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Additionally, interviews and a participatory co-design methodology involving five participants with blindness and visual impairments were conducted. These methods led to the development of a mobility application that combines geolocation technology, …