Digital Commons Network^™

Ambient Environment Effect On Color Perception, Eddie Pei

Theses

The ambient environment—including both background and surround conditions—is a critical factor influencing color perception. It affects not only how we perceive colors but also how we interpret complex visual scenes, impacting both sensory processing and cognitive interpretation. This thesis focuses on three major perceptual phenomena: simultaneous contrast, mixed chromatic adaptation, and color preference. First, the effects of simultaneous contrast on hue, chroma, and lightness in traditional displays were explored. This study was extended to a dual-display augmented reality (AR) environment that introduces layered perception. An extension to the CIECAM16 color appearance model is proposed to incorporate this effect. Second, the …

A Place To Pause: Designing Ritual Space In The Domestic Realm, Elise Miller

Theses

Modern society in Western developed countries is focused on the rush and go, often leaving people feeling discombobulated from constant running around, task-oriented days and switching of roles one must play in different areas of their life, such as at home, work, socializing, parenting, etc. How can ritual bring a sense of calmness and order to lives of those on the go? Ritual studies are often only categorized under psychology, sociology, or religious studies. However, as industrial design encompasses human interaction with objects, often with an emotional quality, ritual can be studied more wholesomely with the added lens of industrial …

Digital Biophilia In Web Interface Design For Accessibility And User Well-Being, Bryana Michelle Peifer

Theses

This interdisciplinary study explores the intersection between horticultural therapy and web design, focusing on the impact of biophilic design principles in shaping contemporary practices within digital interface design. This exploration addresses the multifaceted relationship between humanity and the natural world, particularly how this connection serves as a source for the emergence of nature-inspired elements in digital expressions and their subsequent integration into modern web design for accessibility and well-being. As digital environments increasingly dominate daily experiences, the need for digital wellness through nature integration has become critical, especially for individuals who have physical disabilities, limited mobility, or limited access to …

Model Explainability: From Post-Hoc To Self-Explainable, Xin Miao Lin

Theses

Deep learning models have achieved remarkable success across diverse domains, yet their ``black-box" nature poses significant challenges to trust and adoption, particularly in high-stakes applications. This dissertation addresses the critical need for explainable artificial intelligence by advancing model interpretability through three complementary approaches: improved post-hoc explanation methods, internal mechanism understanding, and inherently interpretable architectures. First, we tackle the challenge of explaining video understanding models by proposing Frequency-based Extremal Perturbation (F-EP), which generates spatiotemporally consistent explanations for video classification. By leveraging frequency domain analysis and extending perturbation-based methods to the temporal dimension, F-EP achieves superior spatiotemporal consistency while maintaining high classification …

Global Trail: Interactive Travel Memory System For Unesco Sites, Anne Sophie Beatrice Min Fa

Theses

Global Trail is an interactive mobile app designed for travellers or culture seekers to reimagine how they discover new places, engage with cultural sites and remember their travel experiences. In this digital world, photos get easily lost in phone galleries and sometimes lack an organized way to find specific memories to places visited. Through design, the app experience addresses three core objectives: Discover — users explore Unesco sites represented by badges through an interactive world map; Engage — they unlock and earn those badges when they visit those sites where they can post their memories on a community platform; and …

Haunted Echoes, Stuti Kasat

Theses

Haunted Echoes explores the narrative and emotional possibilities of interactive digital fiction by creating a room-based haunted experience. By placing the users within a haunted manor the project encourages emotional discovery through narrative exploration. As a room-based exploratory experience, users get to navigate a dollhouse-style 3D interface, interacting with objects to reveal layered micro-stories and uncover the manor’s haunted past. The experience turns spatial exploration into emotional discovery, drawing inspiration from immersive theater, point-and-click adventures, and environmental storytelling in video games. The thesis examines the intersection and overlap of interactive storytelling, visual communication, and emotional immersion, integrating 3D modeling (Blender/Cinema …

On The Adaptation Of Latent Dynamics Models, Ryan Missel

Theses

Predicting future states of high-dimensional, partially observed dynamical systems - such as cardiac electrical propagation - is crucial for advancing fields like healthcare and physics. While univariate time-series forecasting is well-explored, high-dimensional time-series forecasting presents unresolved challenges. These challenges include the computational burden of processing high-dimensional data and the difficulty of accessing the system’s underlying dynamics directly. Classical optimization and analytical approaches become impractical as the dimensionality increases, leading to a growing interest in data-driven deep learning models, particularly those based on latent dynamics functions. Latent dynamics models provide an efficient way to map high-dimensional observations into lower-dimensional latent spaces, …

Meta-Learning Coordinated Eye–Hand Dynamics, Chengkuan Zhao

Theses

The analysis of fine-grained behavioral time-series, such as eye-hand coordination, offers a powerful lens for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Traditional assessments often miss subtle dynamic patterns that are critical for characterizing individual differences. This thesis investigates the temporal dynamics of coordinated eye and hand behavior in adolescents with and without ASD during a structured ”maze painting” tablet task. The goal is not to propose a new predictive model, but to use a state-of-the-art meta-learning framework based on latent Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs) as a ”computational microscope” to explore how these behavioral dynamics vary within …

Evaluating Ai-Powered Predictive Analytics For Public Transport Demand In Dubai, Sara Ismail Dhalam

Theses

This thesis examines the application of AI-driven predictive analytics to model demand for metro and tram rides in Dubai, utilizing machine learning models in SAS Viya, as Dubai advances its innovative city initiatives. Research focuses on how seasonal variations, the use of metro lines, and types of communities affect trends in passenger flow. Gradient Boosting emerged as the most reliable predictive model, achieving the highest KS values in all scenarios. It effectively captured the increase in ridership during winter on the Red Metro Line and identified summer declines on the Green Line. The findings highlight significant seasonal fluctuations in residential …

Impacts Of Permafrost Thaw And Methane Cycling In A Northern Peatland, Hannah Defelice

Theses

Climate change is disproportionately impacting high latitude regions, resulting in thawing permafrost, changes in vegetation, hydrology and greenhouse gas emissions. As permafrost thaws in peatlands, ground subsidence occurs, resulting in a transition from elevated palsa to lower, wetter bogs and fens. Changes in vegetation and hydrology with thaw result in increased methane (CH4) fluxes and distinctive shifts in the carbon isotope signature of porewater and emitted CH4. Previous research has established the differences between these landcover classes; however, we know little about how CH4 cycling processes change during land class transitions. To address this gap, we compared recently formed bogs …

Zoo Visitors Learn By Observing Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis) Participate In Cognitive Research Or Engage In Natural Behaviors, Anna Sofia Hege

Theses

I conducted two experiments at the baboon exhibit at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York to measure attitudes and actual knowledge in children and adults, as well as perceived learning in adults. I also recorded caregiver-child conversations in the presence and absence of live research. Experiment 1 included 150 adult participants, and Experiment 2 included 18 caregiver-child dyads. In each experiment, the research on-scientist present and research on-scientist absent group watched the baboons engage with live cognitive research while the research off-scientist present and research off-scientist absent group watched the baboons carry out their natural behaviors. A scientist …

How Do You Know? Parsing The Infocalypse Using Art-Based Data Visualization, Michelle Sylvia Weintraub

Theses

Since the advent of the World Wide Web, vast interconnected digital networks have increasingly provided access to diverse data sources for Internet users. Towards the turn of the 21st century, social media sites opened opportunities to produce and consume (i.e., prosume) data, empowering users to publish their own content online (Manovich, 2009). The ability to publish user-generated content results in more voices being heard, creating more seats at the proverbial table. However, more recently, persuasive media has increasingly been weaponized to disseminate misinformation and disinformation online (Howard, 2020). Consequently, the agency exercised by Internet and social media users is diminished. …

Engraving Goddesses: Hendrick Goltzius’S Mannerist Prints, Emily Seils

Theses

This project analyzes the reception of Hendrick Goltzius’s (1558-1617) prints within the court of Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612), specifically how his technical expertise in his mythological compositions presented bodily transformation as an alchemical act. He produced images that were intellectually coded for a sophisticated audience while simultaneously capturing the viewer’s gaze and emotions. In doing so he created, alongside his contemporaries, a niche market of high demand art and enabled the "viral" circulation of collectable prints among Northern European elites. Three main topics structured my approach. First, the distinctive development of Rudolf II of Prague’s prestigious art collection, the Kunstkammer, …

The Evolution Of Agriculture Marketing: Harnessing Data Analytics To Understand Generational Shifts And Influencer Trends, Lexi Schweigert

Theses

The findings reveal that data analytics plays a crucial role in shaping marketing strategies in agriculture. Generational shifts, particularly among Gen Z and Alpha, are driving changes in consumer preferences and expectations. Influencers are also playing an increasingly important role in shaping the perception of agriculture and food among these generations.

Unique Architecture: In Praise Of Paradox Persistence, Odaly Plancarte

Theses

This thesis explores how bold and unconventional architectural designs are first rejected and later embraced by the public. Through a comparative study of the Sydney Opera House, the Louvre Pyramid, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, it examines how public opinion shifts over time. Using media reports, interviews, and public comments, the study tracks emotional responses (positive, neutral, or negative) assigned a score to measure change over the years. The research applies Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory to explain this shift in five stages: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation. Each building faced early backlash, but eventually became a …

An Investigation Of Water-Based Cutting Fluids: Choline Amino Acid Protic Ionic Liquids As A Potential Sustainable Additive, Moni I. Chavez-Padilla

Theses

This comprehensive investigation examines the use of choline amino acid protic ionic liquids (CHAAPILs) as environmentally friendly additives for water-based cutting fluids (WBCFs) and showed a significant improvement in both friction and wear compared to traditional cutting fluids. Notably, water alone is ineffective as a boundary lubricant for aluminum machining promoting cyclic hydrolysis that generates brittle Al(OH)3 films while generating friction above dry sliding. As traditional petroleum-based lubricants are increasingly recognized for their detrimental environmental impact, the development of sustainable alternatives has become essential in the tribology community. CHAAPILs derived from renewable amino acids and choline sources were specifically formulated …

Identification Of Strategies To Improve Milking Parlour Efficiency: Insights From Empirical Data And Simulation Analysis, Ryan Prendergast

Theses

The abolishment of European Union milk quotas in 2015 has increased the strain on dairy farm infrastructure and labour availability. For both pasture and confinement-based production  systems, the milking process requires the largest annual labour input. Hence, this area  represents an opportunity for achieving gains in labour efficiency. The aims of this thesis were to 1) document and quantify factors that affect milking process efficiency and 2) develop models that can simulate milking parlour efficiency with respect to these factors. Data were collected from a sample of commercial, pasture-based Irish dairy farms across the Republic of Ireland that used herringbone …

Measurement, Modelling And Optimisation Of Renewable Technologies And Energy Storage Systems On Dairy Farms, Fergal Buckley

Theses

Advancing the economic and environmental performance of dairy farms requires a comprehensive assessment of renewable energy systems (RES), energy storage technologies, and demand side management (DSM) techniques. This thesis aimed to address these needs by conducting a thorough assessment of RES, DSM techniques, and energy storage systems on dairy farms, through the development of a state-of-the-art simulation tool, trained and validated using modern energy data collected from a range of commercial dairy farms as part of this project. The research was conducted in three stages. Firstly, extensive data collection was undertaken across 26 commercial dairy farms employing herringbone and rotary …

Crispr-Dcas9 Genomic Engineering For Boosting The Therapeutic Potential Of Extracellular Vesicles, Iker Martinez Zalbidea

Theses

Degenerative disc disease is a major contributor to low back pain, characterized by inflammation of the intervertebral disc (IVD), degradation of the extracellular matrix, loss of hydration, and cell death. Current therapies fail to address these underlying mechanisms, underscoring the need for regenerative strategies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit immunomodulatory and regenerative potential, but their efficacy is hampered by the harsh microenvironment of the degenerated IVD. Acellular MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown therapeutic potential and offer a promising alternative for IVD regeneration. Here, we explore CRISPR-dCas9 mediated activation of TSG6 and STEAP3 to boost the therapeutic potency and biogenesis …

Modeling Femtosecond Laser Interaction With Glass For Optical Fabrication, Nathan Klein

Theses

The fabrication of precision optics is critical for a wide range of applications, including biosensors, virtual and augmented reality, medical imaging, and micro-electronics. However, it is challenging to meet the demands of these applications with conventional chemical and mechanical fabrication methods, as they can introduce chemical waste, mid-spatial-frequency errors, and subsurface damage that degrades image quality. Femtosecond lasers have emerged as a promising alternative, offering fast, non-contact, and chemical-free machining with single digit nanometer precision. This thesis presents a computational model designed to investigate the interaction process between a high-intensity femtosecond laser pulse and dielectric material. A pulse propagation model …

Engineering Microphysiological Systems To Investigate Cellular Responses To Biophysical Cues In Human Tissue Microenvironments, Mehran Mansouri

Theses

Cells constantly sense and respond to biophysical cues in their microenvironment. Understanding how they interpret these mechanical signals is essential for advancing tissue modeling, studying disease mechanisms, and developing more predictive in vitro platforms. This dissertation presents a series of engineered microphysiological systems (MPS) designed to investigate how mechanical stimuli shape cellular behavior in distinct human tissue microenvironments. In Aim 1, I developed a reconfigurable microfluidic platform that mimics key features of human vascular barriers. This system supports the integration of porous membranes, 3D hydrogels, and flow channels, enabling precise control over both mechanical and biochemical cues. The modularity of …

Personifying The Goddess: Contrasting Representation Of The Deified Body In Feminist Art, Kelly Lorraine Phillips

Theses

Goddess imagery, the representation of a female deity or a concept of divine feminine power through various forms, symbols, and narratives, has been used by artists to communicate a multitude of sentiments, from spiritual reverence to political ideology. This study probes the evolution of representations of the deified female body from the 1970s to the current era to reveal contrasts in how these icons of female power have transformed over time. The artwork of second-wave feminist and self-identified “Goddess artist” Mary Beth Edelson is examined as a foundation for second-wave Goddess sentiment. Edelson’s collage work, which incorporates figures from a …

Evidence Of The Complexity Of The Conversion To Christianity In Early Medieval Funerary Stone Carvings Of Pagan Cultures In Scotland And Scandinavia, Cameron Genet

Theses

This thesis focuses on stone monuments created between the late fifth to late twelfth centuries CE, specifically in Scotland and Sweden. The aim of this thesis is to interpret the symbols or images inscribed onto the stone monuments to determine what they reveal about the Christianization of these regions. The Picts in Scotland and the Norse in Sweden left behind several standing stones such as the Craw Stane from the Picts and the Ledberg Stone from the Norse which have various symbols carved into them. These stones were sometimes created in connection with a burial, allowing the interpretations of their …

Utilizing Date Fruit Pomace As A Corrosion Green Inhibitor For Non Ferrous Alloys, Sardor Rustam Odilov

Theses

This thesis explores a novel green corrosion inhibitor derived from date fruit pomace extract (DFPE) for the protection of aluminum alloy 3003 in highly corrosive environments, specifically hydrochloric acid (HCl) and natural seawater. The central aim is to promote the sustainable reuse of agro-waste as an effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional toxic inhibitors, aligning with environmental and industrial safety goals.

A comprehensive methodology was employed, including Soxhlet extraction (using both non-polar n-hexane and polar methanol-water solvents), rotary evaporation, and FTIR analysis to identify the active functional groups responsible for inhibition. Corrosion behavior was systematically evaluated using both mechanical (weight …

Associations Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle Behaviors, And Metabolic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study From The Hnnhs In Greece, Asmae Mohamad Sadek

Theses

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a widespread global health concern associated with various sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and metabolic factors. While previous studies examined VDD in Greece, few provided a comprehensive analysis across multiple determinants using representative national data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of VDD among Greek adults and to examine its associations with sociodemographic, dietary, behavioral, and metabolic variables using data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 978 adults (≥19 years) from the HNNHS. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations < 20 ng/mL were defined as deficient and ≥20 ng/mL as normal. The median age of participants was 40.2 years, and 62.0% were female. The overall prevalence of VDD was 46.0%, with the highest rate observed among adults aged ≥60 years (62.2%). VDD was significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001), retirement status (62.9% among retired; p < 0.001), low and sedentary physical activity (32.7% and 32.6% vs. 50.8% among highly active; p < 0.001), higher HDL (median 52.0 vs. 49.0 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.001), elevated serum calcium (median 9.4 vs. 9.2 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.020), and lower insulin levels (median 7.5 vs. 8.0 μIU/mL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.044). Dietary intake (total energy and macronutrients) and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. In the multivariate model, significant independent predictors of VDD included being retired (AOR = 2.383; 95% CI: 1.596–3.558; p < 0.001), having higher serum calcium levels (AOR = 1.563; 95% CI: 1.078–2.266; p = 0.019), and higher HDL levels (AOR = 1.016; 95% CI: 1.005–1.027; p = 0.001). Physical activity level was also a key determinant; participants classified as sedentary or low active had significantly higher odds of deficiency compared to highly active individuals (AOR = 0.468; 95% CI: 0.319–0.690; p < 0.001). This counterintuitive result may be influenced by factors such as increased indoor physical activity, and warrants further investigation. Dietary intake and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating sociodemographic and lifestyle factors into prevention strategies. Interventions should particularly focus on older adults, retired individuals, even if they have higher HDL and calcium levels, and are physically active.

On-The-Go Handbag: Sustainable & Biodegradable Handbag Design, Sydney Neff

Theses

Handbags have been an ever-present accessory in society for centuries, coming to symbolize not only fashion trends but status and femininity. They have evolved to hold extreme significance, being able to show a snapshot of who a woman is by taking a simple look inside. Purses have become a companion for consumers in many ways, accompanying them throughout important days and events, providing talking points, and even compliments for the user. However, these constant companions come at a cost. The fashion industry and the accessories produced within are an immense cause of environmental pollution. This provides an ever-present internal fight …

The Intersection Of Spirituality, Commerce, And Art In The Work Of William Keith, Joan Gallagher

Theses

This thesis examines the nineteenth-century Tonalist artist William Keith, focusing on how he successfully integrated commerce, art, and spirituality to achieve financial success, artistic innovation, and spiritual depth. While scholars often emphasize the symbolism and religiosity in his work, they tend to overlook his financial accomplishments. This study explores Keith's background, religious influences, and artistic development within the cultural, economic, and social context of nineteenth-century America. As a Tonalist, Keith produced popular works for the art market; as a Swedenborgian, his art reflected the spiritual principles of that faith. Unlike his East Coast counterparts, Keith’s California-based landscapes captured the dramatic …

Realmweaver: Designing A Sandbox Simulation Game With Ai-Driven Storytelling, Tianzhe Fan

Theses

This paper introduces Realmweaver, a sandbox simulation game concept that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and procedural generation to balance player creativity and system automation. Realmweaver empowers players to create dynamic characters, build expansive worlds, and co-author narratives through adaptive AI systems. By leveraging technologies such as natural language processing and layered procedural algorithms, the game addresses challenges in maintaining narrative coherence and balancing user agency with system autonomy. The design framework integrates intuitive interfaces, including highlighted narrative systems and interactive hover functionality, ensuring accessibility while enhancing engagement. These features enable players to navigate complex systems and shape immersive worlds with …

Development Of A Miniaturized Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (Ecmo) Device On A Microfluidic Platform, Nayeem Imtiaz

Theses

This research investigates the design, performance, and optimization of blood-contacting microfluidic medical devices, with each aim contributing to a broader understanding of how engineering choices influence hemocompatibility and oxygen transfer. Collectively, the findings from Aims 1A–2B offer integrated strategies to develop safer, more effective microfluidic systems for ECMO and dialysis. Aim 1A assessed hemolysis across device geometries using computational and experimental methods. All designs showed low device-induced hemolysis (< 2 ppm), validating their hemocompatibility. However, Power-Law models frequently overpredicted hemolysis, indicating a need for refined parameters tailored to microfluidic flow conditions. Aim 1B demonstrated the effectiveness of thrombosis assay techniques in evaluating clot formation in microfluidic device geometries. Results showed that geometry and local shear patterns strongly influence thrombogenesis. While hemolysis remained minimal even in high-shear devices, thrombus formation was more geometry-sensitive—underscoring the need to account for both factors in design. Modifying surface properties and accounting for blood composition could further reduce thrombotic risk. In Aim 2A, we compared PDMS, polypropylene (PP), and nanoporous silicon nitride (NPSiN) membranes for oxygen transport. Findings showed that in ECMO devices, blood-side resistance, not membrane permeability, often dominates oxygen transfer. Thus, membrane choice must be paired with optimized blood-side flow for full performance gains. Aim 2B directly addressed these limitations by integrating staggered herringbone mixers (SHBs), which introduced secondary flows and enhanced mixing. The Single Channel Herringbone design yielded the highest oxygen transfer, confirming the synergy between flow geometry and oxygen transport performance. Altogether, Aims 1A and 1B establish a strong framework for hemocompatibility evaluation, while Aims 2A and 2B provide complementary insights into optimizing oxygen transfer. Their interconnections highlight the value of a systems-level approach to designing microfluidic blood-contacting devices.

Fantasy Exchange, Ella Tunis

Theses

Fantasy Exchange is a visual and written examination of the perpetuation of violence against women and the influence it has on the performance of femininity within structural patriarchy. After briefly working with the Rochester Police Department in Rochester, New York, I found myself incredibly struck by the everyday violence that I was made to watch people endure. During my time there, I made note of everything I witnessed and noticed the way that women's pain always seemed to have such a profound impact on me. Through image and text, this body of work explores visual metaphors of abuse found in …