Digital Commons Network^™

Unforeseen Connections, Miranda Mattson

Theses

Using floriography within my own work, I captured the essence of human emotion and used its familiarity to bring mental health issues to the foreground of conversation. The parallels of hidden emotion and social discordance between the Victorian era and the 21st Century inspired my introspective research into "invisible" illnesses: health issues that affect both the mind and the body, respectively. Utilizing knowledge in mixed media, as well as traditional metalsmithing techniques, these ideas manifested into a series of wearable art and sculpture with the intention of prompting in-depth discussions on mental health stigmas. Without compromising the ambiguity of floriography, …

Beneath The Bandage: The Impact Of Violence On Individuals And Communities, Jessica Burt

Theses

Violence is an issue nationally and locally within the City of Rochester. It is one of the most complex issues that society faces and attempts to resolve. However, despite many efforts to combat violence, it persists. Research shows that since the early 2000’s, there have been fluctuations in the number of homicides and shootings in Rochester, but long-term analyses on the level of violence show that it has remained relatively stable over time (Altheimer et al., 2017). Although stable, there is a concentration of violence and many individuals, communities, and institutions are affected by it. This paper will discuss violence …

Half A Heart, Maria Gesek

Theses

Half a Heart is a screenplay that follows a character’s journey to find happiness in her life and learn to be strong enough to stand on her own. Cara has spent a significant portion of her life in a relationship with Sal, and while this relationship has made her happy and could be considered true love, it is something she must learn to walk away from as it is not moving forward. Cara must learn to find other forms of happiness while also learning to stick up for herself. One of the most difficult struggles she needs to overcome is …

Exploring The Impact Of Legalization Of Recreational Marijuana On Adolescent Drug Use, Camila Camps

Theses

This paper provides an overview of the history of America’s war against drugs and the impact that this figurative war has had on American society. It is clear that the war on drugs has disproportionately harmed racial/ethnic minorities. Punitive policies currently in place have diverted resources away from the social and economic growth of these communities. This is why there is a movement towards working to reform drug laws in order to address the country's drug crisis. The final section includes recommendations that can improve our current response against marijuana.

A Mobile App That Helps Asthmatic Patients Monitor Air Quality In Real Time, Jiani Su

Theses

Asthma is a chronic disease that cannot be cured. Every attack of asthma is a physical and mental destruction to patients, bringing pain and economic burden to patients, and seriously affecting the quality of life and happiness index of patients. But the vast majority of asthma cases can be completely controlled with appropriate treatment and intervention. Investigations at home and abroad have found that the self-health management level of asthma patients is still at a relatively low level, and more than half of asthma patients are in a state of out-of-control.

Currently, there is no online software that can effectively …

Basic Police Officer Training In The U.S., Bryan Cammerino

Theses

Policing in America has grown to become a topic of paramount interest within society today. This interest has included increased attention to the role that the police play within local communities. Gaining a greater understanding of where policing started, how it has evolved, and where it is today can help us better understand the importance of police officer training. Focusing on Americas policing eras and various policing models will establish a precedent to explain why policing is the way it is today. This paper will then be able to pinpoint various current events that make the history of policing come …

Facilitating Serendipitous Communication, Interaction And Collaborative Flow In Mixed Realities While Working Remote., George Deacon Theodore Harvey

Theses

Working remotely can often lead to fatigue and stress which in turn reduces productivity. The author will explore the concept that with proper communication, environments that promote serendipitous meeting and effective collaboration, can result in happier workers. The author will also explore how speculative design can improve remote work and provide vision for future work scenarios. This concept will focus on the development of interaction design for use with mixed realities, 3D capture systems and mid-air haptic technology to create a seamless and engaging remote working environment.

This paper will show how work culture and communication can affect mental health …

Examining The Associations Between Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status And The Potential Distribution Of Four Urban Ecosystem Services In Rochester, Ny, Joshua Greene

Theses

As populations and the total area of impervious surfaces continue to grow in cities, city planners and policymakers must consider how local ecological resources can be utilized to meet the needs and develop climate-resilient and sustainable cities. Urban green spaces (UGS) have been identified as critical resources in improving the climate resiliency of cities and the quality of life for residents through the urban ecosystem services (UES) that they provide. However, certain communities within cities do not have uniform access to these UGS, and this may be due to historical legacies (i.e. redlining) and/or contemporary practices (i.e. urban planning). Therefore, …

Port-All: Reproduction Of The Sense Of Companionship In A Long-Distance Relationship, Xincan Yang

Theses

The long-distance relationship is a common phenomenon in contemporary society. Nowadays with the development of the Internet, we have various instant messaging software which gives us an effective way to keep communication with distant others. But it also brings a series of new problems.

Due to the lack of physical contact, time difference, and high dependence on the Internet, people often experience negative emotions in long-distance relationships from delayed communication, suspicion, and misunderstanding of messages. Research shows that most couples feel tired and anxious for a long time in a long-distance relationship, and one of the core reasons is the …

Human Augmentation: A System Engineering Conceptual Framework, Hazel Colleen R. Gamboa

Theses

In today’s literature, there is not one clear definition for ‘Human Augmentation’ and quite often, it is used interchangeably with the term ‘Human Enhancement’. Human enhancement is a field that has relatively more research and has a broader definition that encompasses both invasive and non-invasive procedures aimed at restoring or enhancing the capabilities of the human body. Medicine, implants, genetic engineering – there are some examples of procedures attributed to human enhancement. On the other hand, the word ‘augment’ is defined as the addition or making something better; this research will focus and narrow down the definition of Human Augmentation …

What Is Depression?, Megan Wade

Theses

“What is Depression?” is a book design that investigates how simple graphical forms can be used to communicate a complex idea. It explores the principles and elements of design and how they can be abstracted to illustrate emotions, and it experiments with pushing the boundaries of what educational book pages can look like. Education regarding complicated subject matters such as depression are frequently overlooked or misunderstood within our society. People who are not affected by depression have a difficult time understanding what it feels like to suffer with the symptoms and emotions of the disease. This thesis investigates how to …

Research The Possibility Of Revitalizing Rochester By Creating A Landmark Architecture – Redesign The Abandoned Subway Bridge, Rifeng Jin

Theses

Located in upstate New York, Rochester is a city with a glorious history and rich culture. However, due to the changes in its internal and external environment, the city has slowly lost its vitality in the past few decades. Apart from the occasional holiday celebration and protest parade, it is difficult to find a bustling scene in downtown Rochester. This study proposes to create a reasonable possibility of revitalizing Rochester by designing a landmark architecture for the city. After field investigation and comparison, the abandoned subway bridge in the center of the city has become the main potential location for …

Augmented Reality Application ‘Finder’, Yiran Li

Theses

Children are always curious and excited about the world, but there are often accidents around them. According to some previous studies, each year in the United States, more than 2,200 children – or six kids a day – die from an injury at home. To deal with this situation, parents usually set simple life safety rules for their children and be consistent about enforcing them in a reasonable manner. At the same time, they try to reduce the possibility of psychological harm to children when correcting errors. As a result, parents desperately need a way to watch and improve their …

Harness, Nickolas Viele

Theses

The struggles individuals encounter in their lifetime have as many peaks and valleys as a roller coaster at an amusement park. The goal of my thesis work is to unpack the complex feelings of personal breakdowns so that the viewer can empathize with the raw emotions of these chaotic situations and establish a bridge of empathy from person to person. My investigation uses the relationship of life casting and found objects to create a personal, tangible connection for my audience. The struggle and turmoil we encounter in life can create the common ground needed for others to identify with these …

Complexion, Jordan Funk

Theses

Polaroids are made up of several microscopic layers that come together to form an image. Complexion investigates the ties between this structure and the way that our skin functions. Being diagnosed with eczema as an infant, I have always been hyper-aware of how my emotional stress aggravates my eczema. Complexion depicts how my emotional state alters my skin and warps my experience of reality. Similarly, my imagery undergoes a metamorphosis and influences the chemical changes I create within the Polaroid’s white border. I scan at a high resolution, crop, and reprint the Polaroids at a larger scale. The high-quality scanning …

Quantifying The Risk Of Hospital Readmissions: A Data Analysis And Predictive Modeling Approach, Jigar Adhiya

Theses

Despite several improvements in various domains of healthcare systems, the inability to reduce patients’ readmission rates is still a major problem faced by healthcare providers. It is extremely important to reduce the probability of readmissions because these not only increase the burden of healthcare costs on the patient but also expose them to prolonged psychological stress (e.g., trauma, pain, and discomfort due to altered physical functions) and healthcare-associated infections. Readmissions basically lead to the use of healthcare resources by the same person twice instead of being utilized by another patient. Furthermore, the readmission rate is used as a potential measure …

Ibid., Dengfeng Yang

Theses

Ibid. is an installation of five images in juxtaposition to each other that explores expectation and interpretation on photographic images. It is a response to my struggle in finding meaning in my creative process of making images. I disrupt the representation of the images using strategies of appropriation, photo manipulation, sequencing, repetition, and performative photo handling. Highlighting the characteristics of both indexicality and ambiguity in photography, Ibid. calls attention to how we develop our phycological desire to address meaning on images. Although Ibid. is rooted in my personal creative experience, it questions image- making under a broader context. When the …

Monstrosity In Religious Art: An Analysis Of Hieronymus Bosch’S Temptation Of Saint Anthony, Jennifer Beaudoin

Theses

This paper analyzes the artist Hieronymus Bosch and his triptych The Temptation of St Anthony in an attempt to elucidate the creative adoption of medieval tropes to invent new forms of monstrosity in his art and exciting imagery. Throughout this paper, I will review how historians have viewed Bosch’s art and an understanding of the ideas surrounding why Bosch chooses to take on the task of telling the stories of creation and St Anthony’s torment. The Middle Ages saw a spike of creative freedoms and visual interpretations of exotic, otherworldly beasts, from dragon-like beings to inhabitants of far-off lands. Bosch …

Daylighting In Supermarket Retrofits To Improve Social & Economic Features, Kaytlyn Johnson

Theses

Supermarkets are capable of retrofits with remodeling expansions using existing infrastructure. However, most are not sustainable. The application of daylighting offers these reuse projects three equally significant benefits. First, the daylighting system enhances the shopper’s experience. Second, it offers the supermarket reduced economic costs. Third, this technique enhances environmental benefits by reducing energy loads. Because this case study is in Rochester, New York both the local climate and visiting hours of the buildings factor into the daylight design practices. The objective of the thesis is to propose a re-design of an existing supermarket by testing the light quality with Illuminance …

Artificial Intelligence For Smarter Surveillance Using Cctv Cameras In The Uae, Fatma Sabeel Alblooshi

Theses

Nowadays there are many technologies being developed worldwide, and people should keep abreast of new technologies and developments. In addition, many companies are focusing on developing new features and technologies for cameras in several sectors. It’s very important to have cameras in public places, schools or hospitals. For instance, in these public places they need to install cameras that recognize image processing, avoiding recording people’s information and data, when the crime happened, or for safety purposes. On the other hand, CCTV cameras pose risks since we don’t know who is monitoring the screen, and this sensitive footage can be shared …

Examining Awareness And Identification Procedures Of Students With Specific Learning Disabilities In Uae Elementary Government Schools, Hana Aidrous Omar

Theses

Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is the most prevalent type of disability. Many students have been incorrectly identified as having SLD when, in fact, they have a different issue or disability. Other students with serious academic problems have been ignored and have not been evaluated. This study, therefore, examines the procedures used to identify students with SLD in UAE elementary government schools. The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to examine the diagnostic procedures and steps that UAE elementary government schools follow to identify and place students with SLD and (b) to investigate school professionals’ awareness of SLD. A mixed …

Mindful Consumption, Hind Ali Almualla

Theses

This study explores the impact of human behaviour on spaceship earth. It also explores the possibilities systems thinking offers to address complex problems such as climate change by influencing human behaviour. This study hypothesizes that the level of information the consumer knows about the ecological footprint of a product has an impact on his purchasing decisions in favour of the environment. The hypothesis was tested by running an experiment on an online shopping experience. Fourteen respondents completed the two phases of the experiment and answered two questionnaires. They were followed by 4 in-depth interviews. The analysis measured if there is …

Challenge: An App To Help Users To Leave Their Food Comfort Zone., Jieting Qian

Theses

We are living in an environment with diversified culture and too many choices in front of us make us overwhelmed. Trying something new and having new experiences is important, but a lot of people refuse to leave their comfort zone. In the long run, leaving our comfort zone will also help us gain new/refreshed experiences and realize a new self in the future.

People do not want to leave their comfort zone because of various reasons, but when some of us want to there may be mental barriers in front of us. People are hesitant to make the decision at …

A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Eclipse Narrative In American Philosophy, Noah W. Collins

Theses

Philosophical pragmatism originated in the United States in the late 19th century. Some historians of philosophy have described the history of American pragmatism in terms of an “eclipse narrative”: dominant in the early 20th century, followed by a mid-century decline and, eventually, a late-century resurgence. Defenders of this narrative often point to the influx of European philosophers around WWII, and the rise of “analytic” philosophy, as the main reasons for pragmatism’s initial eclipse. While the eclipse narrative is common in the philosophical literature, it is not without controversy. Unfortunately, the contemporary debate tends to rely on anecdotal evidence and contested …

Early Exposure To Marital Conflict And Adolescent Emotion Regulation, Kassidy Colton

Theses

Exposure to both physical and psychological stress has a negative impact on one’s regulatory processing, and stress within the family context may be especially impactful on emotional regulation and development. Early experiences of exposure to parent marital conflict or parent relationship discord, such as divorce, are stressors often associated with poor emotional well-being, including emotion dysregulation, in both children and adults. However, the influence of these experiences on regulatory development is complex as there are many factors that impact the pathways of risk (e.g., parenting behaviors, child perceptions). Furthermore, emotion regulation has not been well-studied in adolescence in the context …

Matter: Creating An Action Loop Of Mindfulness, Mriganka Gupta

Theses

In the past, radical innovation changed the way we live our daily lives without causing a change in fundamental human behaviour. Our “social suite” of behaviours - something that has evolved within us over centuries had mostly remained consistent in the early days of this innovation. Today, modern technology has slipped into our lives without any friction. Products are now designed to blend in with our homes, so well that we almost forget they’re there. And this has caused a concerning change in human behaviour - to the extent that people now think of computer behaviours as analogous to human …

Epilogue To Resonance, Robert Arthur Stone Iii

Theses

Epilogue to Resonance is a body of photographic work that focuses on how the resonance of imagery can be used as a tool for communication. This thesis expounds upon that idea, reflecting on photography as a medium to convey emotional affect and thought in a non-verbal form. After situating the photographic project within the historical moment of the 2020-21 coronavirus pandemic, this thesis goes on to analyze historical, psychological, and philosophical groundings as they relate to the processing of thoughts in the mind. This is accomplished through research into concepts by Thomas Nagel, and Stephen Kosslyn, and through interviews with, …

Medical Expertise, Patient Expertise, And Surrogate Decision Making: The Importance Of Co-Deliberation In Medical Decision-Making, Lindsey Grossheim

Theses

In biomedicine, there are many cases where a patient is incapacitated and unable to make their medical decisions. Often, these patients have no declared decision-maker. This thesis explores solutions which promote these patients’ ability to receive beneficent care and have a respect for their autonomy by proposing a requirement for co-deliberation between a medical professional (medical expert) and someone who knows the patient well (patient expert). This thesis studies a case and applies three solutions: one where each expert has full authority and a final solution where the two experts co-deliberate. Co-deliberation is a conversation between the two experts to …

Who Do They Think We Are? Analyzing Misrepresentation Of Races In Netflix Original Films Using Critical Race Theory And Social Identity Theory, Jacob Osseck

Theses

In a society like today’s, racial misrepresentation can be found across a vast number of different forms of media. Racial misrepresentation has been found in television portrayals of characters within series and programs during primetime television. This sort of misrepresentation creates obstacles for certain minorities to overcome prejudice, racism, and bigotry that oppresses their ingroup. A content analysis of 20 Netflix Original films which were chosen through random purposive sampling, to include comedy and drama genres, was conducted for the research. The analysis produced results that helped explain that Netflix’s representation of minorities through inclusion has improved for Blacks, yet …

The Impulse Of Destruction, Chenyue Yang

Theses

Driven by the impulse to destroy, I use glass as a proxy for my own body and identity. Through a series of destructive experiments, provocations, dialogues, and games with materials, this body of work addresses this complex human mechanism of self-destruction by creating empathy with materials. Based on the introduction of my personal experience and cultural background, this work puts forward my obsession with the paradoxical aspect of human nature. I verify the self-destructive tendency of myself through the study of psychology and historically similar art movements. I discuss, the reflection that the research content brought to my creation. I …