Digital Commons Network^™

Semiconductor Laser Calibration Through Photonic Chip With Microcontroller Driven Wavelength Inference, Clayton Acheson

Theses

Integrated Silicon Photonics leverages light-speed operation with lower power and higher data rates than electronic counterparts. To achieve this, light is sent through a silicon circuit, where it is manipulated to perform various operations. Primarily, the light for these circuits comes from laser sources. Semiconductor lasers are typically used for their small form factor and ability to be heterogeneously integrated into larger, more complex systems. Because the optical phase and wavelength of light respond to minute changes in local refractive index, light is increasingly used for high-sensitivity sensing in integrated photonic circuit applications. As such, schemes that integrate the laser …

Passive House Envelope Retrofit For Heritage Buildings In Hot Semi-Arid Climates: A Shoebox Energy Simulation Study Of The Former British Residency (Osmania University College For Women), Hyderabad, India, Hasini Kadaru

Theses

This study assesses interior-oriented envelope retrofits based on Passive House principles, applied to the British Residency of Hyderabad, now called Telangana Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam since 2022, and to Osmania University College for Women (OUCW) for the prior 70 years. This Grade 1-listed building was constructed in several phases starting in the 1790s, then remodeled and extended under Resident James Achilles Kirkpatrick from 1798 to 1805 and completed around 1808. It served as the Residency until 1947, when it was handed over to Osmania University.    Due to the conservation approach applied to the site, which does not allow any external changes, …

What Representations Preserve: Information-Theoretic And Geometric Conditions For Out-Of-Distribution And Hallucination Detection, Hong Yang

Theses

Models deployed outside controlled settings encounter inputs unlike their training data and may generate outputs unsupported by what they learned. A reliable system should recognize these cases. Out-of-distribution detection and hallucination detection are usually studied separately, but both depend on the same condition: the model's representation must retain the information that distinguishes an anomalous case from an ordinary one. If training never captures that information, or later suppresses it, no downstream detector can recover it. We study this condition from two complementary perspectives. Mutual information measures how much information about the relevant distinction remains in a representation, while feature-space geometry …

A Best-Practice And Risk-Assessment Framework For Auditable Ai Integration In Uae Government Socs, Nasser Hassan Nasser Abdulrazaq Alrazooqi

Theses

The growing use of artificial intelligence and generative AI in security operations centres  have the ability to improve alert triage, investigation, threat-intelligence enrichment,  and incident response. It also introduces governance risks including explainability, data  leakage, prompt injection, model lifecycle management, human oversight, and the  traceability of AI-assisted decisions. This study has developed a best-practice and risk assessment framework for the auditable integration of AI in UAE’s governmental SOCs.  The research follows a qualitative and practitioner-informed documentary analysis.  Publicly available UAE cybersecurity policies, internationally recognised NIST and  ISO/IEC standards, academic literature, industry guidance and compliance  publications were reviewed. Moreover, they were …

Modeling Active Galactic Nuclei Spectra Of Supermassive To Hypermassive Black Holes, Priti Finavia

Theses

It is generally believed that most massive galaxies host supermassive black holes (SMBHs) at their centers, with masses ranging from 10^6 -10^{10} M☉. During phases of rapid accretion, these SMBHs emit electromagnetic radiation across the entire spectrum, resulting in luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN). An open question is whether SMBHs can grow to exceed 10^{10} M☉ through continued accretion and successive mergers, potentially forming hypermassive black holes (HMBHs).  The broad line region (BLR) consists of dense gas clouds located within sub-parsec distances of the central SMBH. The clouds are photoionized by continuum radiation emitted by the accretion disk and hot …

Detecting Eccentric Kozai–Lidov Imprints On Gravitational Waves From An Intermediate–Stellar-Mass Binary Black Hole Around A Supermassive Black Hole, Zainab Mangi

Theses

The gravitational-wave signal of a compact binary carries the imprint of its environment. In a galactic nucleus, the tidal field of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) drives Kozai--Lidov (KL) oscillations in the eccentricity of an orbiting binary, modulating the emitted signal. As a proof of concept, previous work showed that for an IMBH--stellar-mass black hole binary, this modulation is detectable with LISA out to about a megaparsec (Deme et al. 2020). This detectability depends on the parameters of the triple; among them, the outer eccentricity plays a special role: it switches on the octupole order of the secular approximation, …

Population Inference Of Compact Binaries With Eccentricity, Muhammad Zeeshan

Theses

Gravitational waves opened a new window to study the properties of compact binary systems, providing insights into their astrophysical formation and evolution. Initially, population studies relied on mass and spin distributions to distinguish between isolated, dynamical, and hierarchical merger channels; however, orbital eccentricity offers a complementary probe of binary formation scenarios. Historically, eccentricity received limited attention due to the lack of eccentric wave- form models and the absence of strong observational evidence within the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA sensitivity band. A growing catalog, recent advances in eccentric waveform modeling, and analyses reporting candidates consistent with non-zero eccentricity motivate a systematic population-level study with …

Sar Moving Target Detection With Colorized Subaperture Imagery Via Graph Partitioning, Grant Mason

Theses

One of the first steps within an automatic target recognition (ATR) system is to locate and then discriminate the desired moving target from from stationary clutter of the image. Due to the image formation processing, the detection of slow moving targets is a challenging problem with single phase center radar systems. If the Doppler shift due to target’s radial velocity is insufficient to displace it from the endo-clutter region then the signature must compete with generally brighter background rather than the power to noise floor in the exo-clutter region. Many commercial satellite vendors now provide long-dwell mode collections to create …

Model-Free Sliding Mode Control On Dc Motor Modules Using Coulomb Friction Simulation, Donovan Barros

Theses

Classical control methods such as PID control are effective for simple systems where the system model is well-known and tuning can be completed without significant time and financial investment. However, systems in the modern world have become more intricate and complicated to model, which also results in more extensive tuning being required to develop effective controllers. Sliding Mode Control was developed as a more robust way to handle nonlinear systems while ensuring global asymptotic stability using Lyapunov’s stability theorem. Traditional Sliding Mode Control does still require a well-known system model, necessitating the development of a new control method. Model-Free Sliding …

Pixel Weave: Explore The Craft, Share The Story, Janki Akbari

Theses

Traditional craft practices are often preserved as finished objects rather than experienced as active systems of knowledge. As a result, the techniques, visual logic, and cultural meaning behind these crafts become less accessible to broader audience. Pixel Weave addresses this challenge by translating the double ikat (a premium, highly complex weaving technique in which both the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) yarns are individually resist-dyed to a preplanned pattern before being placed on the loom, so that the design only fully emerges once the two dyed yarn sets are woven together) weaving logic of Patan Patola, a centuries old textile …

Buddy Up: An Interaction Design Project For Supporting Task Initiation And Academic Progress Through Peer Accountability Among University Students, Ruijun Li

Theses

Academic procrastination is a common challenge among university students. Although students often understand what they need to do and when their work is due, they may still have difficulty starting tasks, maintaining progress, and avoiding digital distractions. Many existing productivity tools depend on individual self-discipline and provide limited social support. My thesis explores interaction methods that use peer accountability to help university students begin academic work and maintain consistent progress. Buddy Up aims to turn academic work from an isolated activity into a voluntary and mutually supportive accountability experience.

The Mediating Role Of Moral Disengagement In The Relationship Between Facets Of Empathy And Aggression, Romiere J. Horace

Theses

Aggression is a major social and public health concern with economic, psychological, and interpersonal implications. Extensive research has examined the potential antecedents for aggressive behavior, with many different environmental, biological, and intrapsychic factors being significantly associated with aggression. Researchers have also focused on cognitive mechanisms, like empathy, as a protective factor for aggression. More specifically, research has linked lower levels of empathy to higher levels of aggression; however, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain underexplored. A potential explanatory mechanism is moral disengagement, which allows individuals to justify harmful behaviors and avoid self-sanctions. However, limited research has examined these constructs …

Modeling Comparative Judgments With Machine Learning, Monoshiz Mahbub Khan

Theses

Many tasks can involve analyzing data points and assigning unbound numerical scores or labels. However, without a well-defined standard or point of comparison, such data annotation can require significant cognitive effort from human judges. To mitigate this issue, I propose the use of comparative judgments. Comparative judgments involve pairs of data points and a comparative label instead of a direct one. This process would only ask the human judge to compare the pair of data points and decide which one should have a higher label, but would not ask for the exact value. Moreover, ranking or sorting based tasks with …

A Minimum-Phase Approach To Optical Signal Processing, Hector Alejandro Rubio Rivera

Theses

Phase retrieval is the algorithmic process of recovering the phase of a signal from more accessible quantities, such as iterative transformations of its magnitude response. The phase often reveals far more about the underlying system than the magnitude alone, yet conventional retrieval methods rely on software approaches that use computationally expensive iterative algorithms or hardware solutions that are sensitive to manufacturing variations.  In this dissertation, we show that the phase can be retrieved via a Hilbert transform of the magnitude response, bypassing iteration entirely, provided that the underlying system structure satisfies the minimum-phase condition. We apply this to three classes …

Machine Learning For Practical Quantum Computing: Adaptive Mitigation And Data-Driven Noise Characterization, Steven Szachara

Theses

Quantum error mitigation (QEM) is essential for reliable near-term quantum computing, yet practical deployment requires balancing mitigation strength against runtime overhead under nonstationary noise. This work introduces GSC-QEMit, a telemetry-driven context–forecast–bandit framework that adaptively selects mitigation intensity using unsupervised context discovery, uncertainty-aware Gaussian process forecasting, and a cost-aware contextual bandit. Evaluated on benchmark quantum circuits under drifting noise in simulation, the approach improves logical fidelity while reducing unnecessary intervention cost. Complementing this systems-level contribution, we apply unsupervised machine learning to broadband cryogenic transient dielectric spectroscopy data to analyze two-level system (TLS) noise mechanisms. Through clustering, dimensionality reduction, and spectral analysis, …

Too Big, Too Soon: Investigating Black Hole Masses In High-Redshift Jwst Agn Using Belmac, Katrina Mcmaster

Theses

The masses of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in high-redshift quasars are commonly estimated using virial mass estimations calibrated on active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the local universe. However, when applied to new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations at high redshift, these methods often yield SMBH masses that exceed theoretical growth limits, implying the need for heavy black hole seeds or periods of high mass accretion rates, also known as super-Eddington accretion. This tension highlights potential limitations of the virial approach at early cosmic times. This work investigates an alternative method for estimating high-redshift SMBH masses using the Broad Emission …

Numerical Range Of Rank-1 Partial Isometries And Elliptical Range Theorem, Lucas Saone

Theses

The Elliptical Range Theorem states that the numerical range of a 2x2 complex matrix A is an elliptical disc with foci at the eigenvalues of A and center at tr(A)/2. Many proofs have been offered for this theorem. In this paper, we provide another one. The strategy we will use is to decompose the matrix A into the sum of rank-1 operators of the form YxX*, where X and Y are in 2-D complex vectors. When analyzing the numerical range of a rank-1 operator of this form, three results can happen: i) the numerical range forms a disc at the …

Framework For Building A Social Media Marketing Strategy For Micro-Small Businesses, Joanna Byrne

Theses

Existing social media marketing literature consistently fails micro-small businesses with five or fewer staff. These sources default to models built for brands with dedicated marketing teams and large budgets. This project addresses that gap using a mixed-methods, practitioner-based action research design. It combines quantitative platform analytics with qualitative process documentation. The research covers four businesses at distinct stages of digital development: Torched Motorsport Supply, a new automotive parts retailer built from zero digital infrastructure; Byrne Diesel Performance, an established diesel shop with an unoptimized presence; Texas Best Compost, a startup developing its brand identity and digital launch disrupted by supply …

Beyond Affection Meters: A Framework For Relationship Repair Mechanics And Meaningful Play, Christopher B. Del Gesso

Theses

This thesis develops and tests a repair-centered framework for relationship mechanics in narrative games, positioned as an alternative to the affection-meter model that reduces relationships to a single accumulating score. Drawing on eudaimonic media research, relational repair theory, and interpretive-attribution research, the framework argues that meaningful relationship play depends on tracking multiple, potentially divergent relational dimensions; distinguishing repair attempts from repair outcomes; modeling interpretation of player actions rather than fixed action-to-effect mappings; and treating stable, non-restorative endings as legitimate outcomes rather than failure states. A comparative survey of five commercial games, Fallout 4, Tell Me Why, Life is Strange Remastered, …

Lab Escape, Peter Brauninger

Theses

The core subject of this paper focuses on several key traits of effective horror games. Using a paper and prototype level, the project conducts a thorough examination of horror in the medium to better understand how to develop effective games in this genre. Looking at examples from different media, the objective of this research is to identify key components of effective horror games. Going through the research, we can identify three key traits that are critical to the genre. Within horror games, accuracy of these elements is even more essential. Having the player be constantly tense, and enjoying the game …

Ethical Visual Truth: An Analysis On Vietnam War Photojournalism, Anna Lauryn Carmichael

Theses

This thesis examines the ethical dimensions of Vietnam War photojournalism through close analysis of four iconic photographs: Nick Ut's The Terror of War (Napalm Girl) , Eddie Adams's Saigon Execution , Catherine Leroy's Vietnam, February 1967 , and Gilles Caron's Untitled (Who's the Enemy Here?) . Rather than treating these images as transparent documentation, this thesis argues that Vietnam War photojournalism functioned as a contested medium of narrative construction, one whose most celebrated images achieved iconic status by conforming to Western visual conventions and institutional demands, rather than by capturing some unmediated truth. Drawing on the interconnected frameworks of visual …

What Is Media Authenticity?: A Guide To Detecting Authentic Media Literacy, Kawan Yarbrough

Theses

This project seeks to answer the question of what media authenticity is, as it relates to different forms of popular media such as social media and content creators, content consumers that also actively post on social media, Reality Television and also touching base on how Artificial Intelligence has infiltrated the lives of many. Aside from discussing academia that has been published on this topic prior, my project will additionally include a quick guideline for being able to detect inauthentic media, and give quick points and recommendations for people that have no active media literacy training of any kind that can …

Choice-Based Artmaking And Critical Pedagogy Through Art As Activism: A Classroom Case Study And Teaching Framework, Emma Klindworth

Theses

This practice-based graduate project examines how choice-based artmaking in a student-centered art classroom can foster critical thinking, reflection, and engagement with contemporary social, political, and cultural topics through art education. Built upon literature on critical pedagogy, student-centered art education, and creative problem-solving, this project combines a pilot lesson, “Art as Activism”, with a qualitative case study. By analyzing student reflections, this project examines how revisions, informed by those findings, demonstrate the ways student choice and student connection to subject matter influence engagement and critical thinking.

The findings of the case study following the “Art as Activism” pilot lesson, suggest choice-based …

Towards Reliable Large Language Models For Cyber Threat Intelligence, Md Tanvirul Alam

Theses

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) helps security analysts respond to evolving threats, but the evidence it draws on is often scattered across noisy reports, advisories, and threat descriptions. Large language models (LLMs) provide a flexible interface for security analysis, yet reliable use requires grounding their outputs in source evidence, domain schemas, and CTI standards. We address this problem through structured threat representation, task-specific evaluation, and verifier-guided post-training. First, we study how unstructured CTI reports can be converted into structured threat knowledge. We develop an ontology-guided extraction framework that normalizes attack patterns, extracts typed entities and relations, and constructs a threat intelligence …

Valorisation Potential Of Microalgae As A Sustainable Source Of Lipids And Health Promoting Compounds, Bozena Mccarthy

Theses

The transition toward a circular bioeconomy requires sustainable strategies for managing and valorising food industry effluents while reducing reliance on environmentally damaging raw materials such as palm oil, which is associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Microalgae represent a promising platform for converting nutrient rich industrial by-products into biomass and high-value compounds for food, nutraceutical and bio-based applications. Dairy processing generates large quantities of whey, creating environmental challenges due to its high organic load. Improved whey treatment and valorisation strategies are therefore essential for enhancing sustainability in food production systems. In this study, the biomass productivity …

Prototyping Of A Spectropolarimetry Module For Lenslet-Based Integral Field Spectrographs, Manasa Lakshmi Narasimhan

Theses

Integral-field spectropolarimetry enables simultaneous spatial, spectral, and polarization measurements. Observations of polarized light allow researchers to map magnetic fields, distinguish scattering from intrinsic emission, and characterize the geometry of sources illuminating the large-scale dust distribution within and around galaxies. In tandem with spectral information, polarized emission can be used to detail the kinematics of dust expelled from galaxies and to probe the underlying spectrum of scattered light—measurements that help constrain key open questions such as the missing baryon problem and the role of feedback in galaxy evolution. However, spectropolarimetry is a rare capability among ground-based observatories. This thesis showcases a …

Comparing Deposition-Dependent Variations In Tungsten Oxide Thin-Film Composition Using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Tevfik Ozkaynak

Theses

In this work, tungsten oxide thin films were fabricated using magnetron sputter deposition and electron beam evaporation under varying oxygen conditions to produce a range of stoichiometries, including substoichiometric compositions near WO₂.₇. The primary goal was to evaluate how reliably X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can quantify the stoichiometry of WOₓ thin films, determine how deposition conditions influence measured composition and oxidation states, and assess how argon ion sputtering, used for surface cleaning, alters tungsten oxidation states and affects XPS based stoichiometry. The films were analyzed using XPS under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Survey spectra were used to identify elemental composition, while …

Assessing The Imprint Of Eccentricity In Gravitational-Wave Signatures, Natalie Malagon

Theses

The gravitational wave signal from merging compact binaries encodes information about their orbital and intrinsic properties. Over the last few years, state-of-the-art waveform models have begun to incorporate the effects of orbital eccentricity into their estimated signal. Over a similar period, many groups have applied these waveforms to characterize whether the imprint of eccentricity is present and, if so, measure this time-evolving property (at a suitably-defined reference point). In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of 173 confident sources identified in the O1 through O4a observing runs of the International Gravitational Wave Network (LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA). Using the RIFT parameter inference …

Large Language Model-Driven Agents In Virtual Reality For Inclusive Communication Training, Ziming Li

Theses

Vocational training programs aimed at improving the employability and autonomy of autistic individuals primarily focus on enhancing social communication skills. However, developing and implementing such training activities often demands significant time and effort from job coaches, who must adapt to various interview and workplace scenarios while customizing the training to meet the specific needs of autistic trainees. These challenges create barriers for job coaches to efficiently train autistic individuals and objectively evaluate their performance. To address these challenges, this dissertation explores the use of virtual reality (VR) and large language model (LLM)-driven agents to create customizable and interactive training platforms …

Characterizing The Relationships Between Hydrology, Soil Biogeochemistry, And Green Ash Canopy Structure In Emerald Ash Borer-Affected Wetlands, Eva Switala

Theses

The invasion of the emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) has caused mass mortality of native ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), devastating forested wetlands in the northeastern United States. Fifteen years post-introduction, the long-term ecological shifts and "new normals" of these ecosystems remain poorly understood. This project characterized patterns in EAB-affected forested wetlands by evaluating soil characteristics, biogeochemical cycling, hydrology, and green ash canopy across 12 sites with varying initial ash presence. Results revealed a clear separation between biogeochemically active and less active sites. Hydrologic differences emerged as a key driver of biogeochemical cycling, with higher soil moisture significantly increasing rates …