Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Color Shift: A Graphic Design Process Book Exploring How Color And Motion Influence Emotional Perception And Brand Connection In Affordable Women's Fashion Jewelry, Elizabeth Voight

Theses

This study examines how manipulating color and motion within a single brand identity system influences consumer emotional response and brand consistency. Using a fictional modern jewelry brand, Quanta & Co., the research isolates color as the primary variable by applying nine distinct mid-range color palettes to identical layouts, logos, and structures across both print and digital touchpoints. These collateral assets include jewelry packaging, vehicle wraps, digital advertisements, and an animated logo. A quantitative survey was executed to capture real-time audience impressions regarding brand traits, perceived quality, and the overall alignment of each color variation with the brand's identity.

The findings …

What’S Kept, Caitlin Smith

Theses

This thesis examines the collective psychological aftermath of de-industrialization in a rust belt city, processed through perspectives of nostalgia and betrayal. By reframing childhood memories of instability and inherited narratives, a framework is established for investigating the modalities through which love and attachment may obscure entangled harm, and how grief operates across both collective and personal registers. Found objects are situated as sites of projection where memories are abstracted and reconstituted. The processes of decay and weathering serve as analogues for psychological trauma, reframing deterioration as an inevitable and generative condition. Natural elements act as metaphors for neutrality, challenging imposed …

Improving Neutron Scattering And Fission Modeling With Modern Machine Learning, Karl Daningburg

Theses

We describe the development of a novel emulator for the fission fragment decay code, $\texttt{CGMF}$, which calculates the emission of prompt neutrons and $\gamma$ rays from fission fragments.  The emulator described in this work uses a combination of a noisy emission model and mixture density network to model the neutron and $\gamma$-ray multiplicities and energies.  In this manuscript, we display the power of this type of emulator for not only modeling average prompt fission observables but also correlations between fission fragment initial conditions and these observables, using both neutron-induced and spontaneous fission reactions. We find that neutron ($\gamma$-ray) multiplicities can …

Understanding The Lubrication Mechanisms Of Environmentally Compatible Protic Ionic Liquids, Davis Kipkania Kiboi

Theses

The development of environmentally sustainable lubricants is increasingly important as industries seek to reduce friction, wear, energy losses, and environmental impact. Choline amino acid protic ionic liquids (PILs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their bio-based constituents, tunable molecular structures, and favorable lubrication properties. However, the influence of amino acid structure on their lubrication mechanisms and tribological performance remains poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the physicochemical properties, tribological behavior, and tribofilm formation mechanisms of choline amino acid PILs to establish structure–property–performance relationships for sustainable lubricant design. Ten choline amino acid PILs containing glycine, alanine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, …

Modernizing Civic Building Design For Emergency Shelter Operations: An Architectural Framework With Proposed Design Guidelines For 21st-Century Shelter Readiness, Enrique M. Peralta

Theses

The frequency and severity of climate-related disasters are rising globally, resulting in the displacement of millions of individuals each year. Although this is a worldwide issue, the present research concentrates on the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state region, where severe storms, flooding, prolonged power outages, and other natural hazards frequently necessitate the activation of emergency shelters. While schools, community centers, and other civic buildings are commonly designated for emergency shelter operations, these facilities were not originally designed to accommodate displaced groups during such events. This study focuses on the immediate sheltering period following a disaster, defined as the …

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 …

Learning-Based Multi-Objective Operation Of Microgrid With Renewable Uncertainty And Demand-Side Management, Zeina Bahij

Theses

A microgrid is a small-scale power grid that can operate in either the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode. It consists of energy generation and storage devices for both power and thermal demands, where the thermal energy from the exhaust heat that cannot be transmitted over long distances can be utilized locally. The supply side may include dispatchable generation units with adjustable outputs and energy storage, alongside non-dispatchable renewables that depend entirely on resource availability. On the demand side, thermal loads are satisfied through waste heat recovery from exhaust gas (to maximize overall system efficiency) and direct fuel combustion. Electrical …

Rooted Worlds, Eli Groborchik

Theses

Plant Awareness Disparity (PAD) describes a widespread cognitive bias where plant life is systematically overlooked in favor of its animal counterparts. This disconnect is acutely visible in natural history museums where plant life is notoriously difficult to display. Rooted Worlds is an interactive, physical-digital installation designed to combat this bias by bridging the emotional and educational gap between audiences and Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Rejecting traditional flat screens and passive dioramas, the exhibit utilizes a fourteen-foot, 270-degree cylindrical projection screen to immerse visitors in six distinct, digitally rendered global biomes, creating a restorative and engaging space that leverages Attention Restoration Theory …

Development Of Blue And Near-Uv Iii-Nitride Laser Diodes, Matthew Seitz

Theses

III-Nitrides show tremendous promise for a wide range of laser diodes and other optoelectronics devices. The wide range of emission wavelengths possible makes these devices ideal candidates for a wide range of applications. Despite this, several challenges remain unsolved, limiting the efficiency and output power from III-Nitride optoelectronics. Three of the most significant remaining challenges surround the formation of low resistance ohmic electrical contacts, poor p-type doping of III-Nitride crystals as well, and the fabrication of the smooth, mirror facets needed for optical feedback and laser operation. Inefficient dopant activation leads to poor conductivity and increased electrical resistance due to …

Lubricating Abilities Of Choline Amino Acid Protic Ionic Liquids Under High Temperature And Electrified Conditions, Esmond Lau

Theses

This work explores the tribological properties of choline amino acid protic ionic liquids (PILs) as environmentally friendly lubricants under high temperatures and electrified conditions. These conditions are found in the automotive sector, notably in internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Lubrication technologies are vital to improving the efficiency and operating lifetime of moving components in automotive drivetrains. The use of ionic liquids (ILs) is actively being researched, with ongoing exploration of their lubricating potential and unique physicochemical characteristics. Compared to traditional petroleum-based lubricants, ILs’ ability to thrive in these conditions will offer substantial benefits, immediately extend operational …

Towards Efficient Continual Deep Learning, Md Yousuf Harun

Theses

Modern AI systems can achieve remarkable performance on tasks such as image recognition, object detection, and language understanding, but they often struggle with a basic ability that humans rely on every day: learning continuously. When deep neural networks (DNNs) are updated with new information, they can unexpectedly forget what they previously learned, making them difficult to deploy in changing real-world environments. This dissertation explores how to build AI systems that can learn more like humans: adapting to new data, preserving past knowledge, and using prior experience to learn future tasks more efficiently. Rather than focusing only on preventing forgetting, this …

Gender Relations Within 18th And 19th Century Art And How It Affects A 21st Century Learner, Sophie Lima

Theses

This study constructs a curriculum unit comprising five lessons in feminist art history for middle school learners in 5th-8th grade. Drawing on theories and concepts from feminist art history, visual culture, and inquiry in art education, this curriculum aims to address the scarcity of age-appropriate materials in feminist art history. There is a need for curricular materials that help learners critically analyze issues of gender, identity, and power conveyed through visual culture. The curriculum encourages middle-grade students to engage with three approaches to art analysis: formalism, iconography, and feminism. The organized unit focuses on inquiry, interpretation, comparison, production, and evaluation. …

Developing Sight-Reading Proficiency In Music Education: A Synthesis Of Instructional Strategies And Pedagogical Approaches, Charles Clements Ii

Theses

Sight-reading is a foundational skill in music education that enables students to perform unfamiliar musical material independently. Despite its importance, instruction is often inconsistent and driven by performance priorities rather than systematic skill development. This thesis synthesizes existing research on sight-reading pedagogy to identify effective instructional strategies and organize them into a cohesive framework for educators.

By connecting research to classroom application, this project provides a practical, research-informed model for sight-reading instruction. The findings suggest that effective instruction requires a structured and integrated approach that supports both cognitive processing and musical performance, ultimately promoting greater student independence and musical literacy.

Assistive Active Safety, Long Nguyen

Theses

As electric bicycles become faster and more prevalent in urban environments, the safety systems designed to protect riders face significant challenges. The current industry standard relies heavily on auditory warnings—which can exclude Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) cyclists—and digital dashboards that often demand intense visual focus. Forcing a rider to process cluttered screen data while navigating high-speed traffic can contribute to cognitive overload and physical danger. This thesis explores how micro-mobility safety might be improved by shifting away from auditory-dependent alerts toward intuitive, multi-sensory communication. To address this safety gap, this project introduces the Assistive Active Safety (AAS) framework. …

Advanced Mathematical Modeling And Data-Driven Techniques For The Diagnosis Of Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (Cgm) Data, Farah Morsi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus is a major and growing health challenge, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) provides high-resolution time-series data that capture detailed glucose fluctuations over time. However, conventional CGM summary measures, such as mean glucose, standard deviation, and time-in-range, may not fully describe the nonlinear temporal structure of glucose dynamics.

This thesis investigates nonlinear dynamical approaches for analyzing CGM time series, with a focus on recurrence-based analysis and ordinal-network analysis. Recurrence-based methods, including recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), are used to characterize geometric and temporal patterns in reconstructed phase space, while ordinal networks …

استخدام تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي في إجراءات الاستدلال والتحقيق "دراسة مقارنة", حمد مصبح اليليلي

Theses

The Use of Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Reasoning and Investigation Procedures: Comparative Study

This research aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the stages of criminal investigation and inquiry through an applied analytical study. It focuses on the use of these technologies to support law enforcement and investigators with advanced scientific methods, particularly in analyzing digital evidence and accurately linking it to suspects. The study also explores the future development of these systems through their integration with AI technologies to enhance the efficiency of criminal investigation.

The United Arab Emirates has consistently been keen to develop …

On The Fractional Laplacian Type Operator, Maysam Abdulnaser Zain

Theses

In this thesis, we study analytical structures arising from Dunkl theory and their

applications to harmonic analysis and fractional Laplacian operators. Dunkl operators are differential–difference operators associated with finite reflection groups, providing a natural generalization of the classical Fourier analysis through the introduction of root systems and multiplicity functions. Within this framework, several classical transforms appear as special cases of the (k,a)-generalized Fourier transform. We study the generalized Fourier transform ��ₖ,ₐ, its kernel B_k,a (x,y), and the associated translation operator and convolution structures. Using these tools, we construct the corresponding heat …

Ai-Powered Student Support And Development Platform, Wadha Rashed Alyammahi

Theses

Over the past few years, academic stress and student mental well-being have become critical concerns in educational settings, significantly affecting academic performance and overall quality of life. Students increasingly rely on digital platforms for academic support; however, many existing solutions lack the ability to adapt to users’ emotional states or provide personalized, context-aware assistance. In response to this challenge, this study presents the design and development of an intelligent, stress-aware conversational support system for students based on advanced natural language processing techniques and large language models.

The main goal of this study is to explore the effectiveness of an LLM-based …

Edge Co-Occurrence Regularization For Node Classification, Kadir Altunel

Theses

We propose a simple yet effective regularization technique for node classification on graphs that leverages edge-based label co-occurrence patterns. We first train an MLP on node features to produce class probability distributions, then compute a fixed penalty matrix from edge-based co-occurrence statistics of these predictions. This penalty matrix, which captures unlikely class combinations on connected nodes, is then used to regularize GNN training without further updates. We evaluate this approach across multiple homophilic datasets (Cora, CiteSeer, PubMed, ogbn-arxiv) and heterophilic benchmarks (Chameleon, Squirrel, Actor, Roman-Empire) using three GNN architectures: GCN, GraphSAGE, and H2GCN. Results show consistent improvements on homophilic graphs, …

Autonomous Exploration Of An Environment With Static Obstacles Using A Ppo Agent, Brandon Knight

Theses

Research in autonomous exploration has created many effective algorithms that have been tested and proven to work in many different virtual and physical environments. Many optimizations have also been developed to reduce computational effort and increase exploration speed.

However, despite optimizations, these algorithms can still require considerable computational effort and time to explore even small environments. To obtain further improvements in computation and exploration speed, a reinforcement learning agent using actor-critic style proximal policy optimization (PPO) is trained to explore various environments efficiently, then compared to an algorithm using contemporary exploration methods.

Testing is performed in virtual environments with ideal …

Comparative Analysis Of Standard Building Materials In Earth-Sheltered Architecture, Austin Greifenkamp

Theses

In an industry that significantly contributes to the ever-increasing environmental destruction witnessed globally, architects are responsible for ensuring human comfort without sacrificing environmental health. Earth-sheltering, an architectural design technique that uses earth to partially or fully cover a building, results in reduced operational energy consumption but introduces structural components to increased loads and higher levels of humidity. Using the material properties and life cycle data of wood, concrete, and steel, this study analyzes the viability of each material in a below-grade environment and the resulting embodied impact of a typical earth-sheltered structure. To align the results of this research with …

The Impact Of Employment On Sense Of Belonging And Metacognitive Awareness: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Undergraduate Students’ Mathematical Performance, Erin Ryan

Theses

This study investigated how employment intensity affects two critical factors for academic success: a student’s sense of belonging and their metacognitive awareness (the ability to monitor and manage their own learning). Using a mixed-methods approach at the Rochester Institute of Technology, we analyzed survey data through multi-level modeling and conducted qualitative interviews to capture the personal experiences of employed students. Results reveal that students working off-campus for more than eleven hours a week showed significantly lower sense of belonging and metacognitive awareness scores than unemployed students. However, on-campus employment did not show the same effect. Both quantitative and qualitative results …

Confederate Women In The Field Of Nursing And Their Impact On Southern Women’S Roles In Society, Laura Leigh L. Prater

Theses

During the Civil War, Confederate women had the opportunity to go to work as nurses. The majority of these women had never been allowed to take on roles beyond the domestic sphere in antebellum society.  Despite most of these women having limited medical training, they developed an expertise in nursing, extraordinary organization skills and gained respect for their achievements.  Their achievements proved that women were able to do far more than many in the South believed prior to the war.  This paper will show how the demands of war opened doors of greater opportunity for women in the South for …

A Comparative Static Analysis Of Identifier Clones And Homonyms In Open Source Projects, Jose Palomino Lau

Theses

Identifier naming is a core element of software engineering and program comprehension. While existing literature suggests that naming consistency is ideal, there is limited empirical data on identifier homonyms, instances where the same name is used for different behaviors. This thesis investigates these naming patterns through a manual analysis inspired by grounded theory, supported by static analysis with srcML across three open source projects in Java, C and Python. By establishing a behavioral framework through axial coding, this research classifies 771 identifiers into functional categories to document their presence and role within the code. The results reveal that naming redundancy …

The Development Of The Hagiography Of Saint Servatius: From The 6th To 16th Century, David Krista

Theses

This paper follows the development of the hagiography of St. Servatius from its foundation in the sixth century until the sixteenth century. In this analysis eight different hagiographical works on St. Servatius are discussed including a previously unstudied French Vie de Saint Servais produced in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. First, the foundational work which introduced St. Servatius to the world of hagiography by Gregory of Tours will be explored in order to understand who St. Servatius was. From here the paper moves onto the Latin vitae tradition which consists of the Vita Antiquissima, the Gesta Antiquiora, and …

Understanding Communication In Green Infrastructure Project Teams In Rochester Ny Region: Coordination, Negotiation, And Constraints, Hayden Berner

Theses

This study explores how communication is perceived and used within multidisciplinary green infrastructure (GI) project teams. As GI continues to grow in the United States, projects increasingly rely on collaboration between professionals from different fields, making communication a critical factor in project success. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals working on GI projects in the Greater Rochester, New York region. The data were analyzed using an inductive, grounded theory approach to identify key themes related to communication practices, challenges, and outcomes. Results show that communication is not just a tool for sharing information, but a …

Neuroarchitecture: Color Psychology And Its Impact On The Built Environment, Jean Morgan

Theses

Neuroarchitecture merges neuroscience and architecture, examining how built environments affect our emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. One of the principles of this interdisciplinary topic focuses on Color psychology, which explores the profound influence of colors on human emotions, behaviors, and cognitive responses. In the built environment, the strategic use of color extends beyond aesthetics, shaping user experiences, functionality, and psychological well-being. This thesis explores the interplay between color psychology and architectural design, highlighting how color choices influence mood, productivity, and social interactions within spaces. The main focus will examine the relationship between colors and equal causation in psychological effects. The …

Support Systems, Capability Configurations, And Enabling Conditions For Circular Entrepreneurship, Israa Thiab

Theses

The transition to a circular economy requires entrepreneurs who can create value from waste, design regenerative business models, and navigate resource-constrained environments. Yet understanding what enables circular entrepreneurial success remains fragmented across the sustainability and entrepreneurship literatures. This dissertation examines how entrepreneurial support systems, capability configuration, and external enabling conditions shape circular venture development and performance through three complementary studies that together advance a unified framework of circular entrepreneurial effectiveness. Study 1 employs participatory action research with a donor-funded incubation program in Jordan, examining how stakeholder priorities reconfigure support systems for circular entrepreneurs. Analysis of two cohorts reveals that stakeholder-driven …

Abigail Sarai: A Neuroaesthetic Approach To Fashion Brand Development, Abby Martos

Theses

This thesis project presents a comprehensive direct-to-consumer business plan for an independent women’s fashion brand, Abigail Sarai, strategically positioned around the commercial value of aesthetic design. The project is grounded in an interdisciplinary theoretical framework integrating neuroaesthetics and consumer behavior research. Existing literature demonstrates that visual principles such as symmetry, harmony, and proportion activate neural reward systems associated with pleasure, while consumer research identifies happiness and emotional well-being as central drivers of purchasing behavior. Building upon these findings, this project proposes that aesthetic beauty can function as a deliberate and measurable value proposition within fashion entrepreneurship. By aligning brand design …