Digital Commons Network^™

Limitations Of Using Large Language Models For Automated Essay Scoring, Thomas A. Fink

Theses

Background: Automated essay scoring (AES) is a challenging deep learning problem. The two most widely used methods for predicting essay quality scores, supervised learning-based and LLM-based, have their own limitations. Although supervised learning-based methods are more accurate, they only predict a score and do not offer descriptive feedback to students. On the other hand, LLM-based methods can offer rubric-guided feedback but are known to be less accurate.

Methods: This work focuses on improving the accuracy of state-of-the-art LLM-based AES methods. We began by thoroughly investigating why these methods were performing poorly for certain datasets and certain examples. This led us …

Calibration Of Detectors For The Tomographic Ionized-Carbon Mapping Experiment, Tessalie A. Caze-Cortes

Theses

Observations of the intensity of the sky at millimeter (mm) wavelengths require accurate calibrations for the spectrometers to work with radio telescopes. However, calibrating is a complex and lengthy process for sensitive detectors that catch single photons. To improve efficiency in locating defective detectors and optimizing bias current, my research involves taking data from previous lab characterizations and creating an algorithm that analyzes and plots the code of all 1920 detectors. This thesis will discuss the importance of mm-wavelength intensity mapping and the questions the TIME research team aims to address. Also, a detailed description of mechanical and computational components …

Macroscopic Roughness Modeling Of Satellite Multi-Layer Insulation Reflectance, Kevin P. Donnelly

Theses

Reflectance modeling of specular surfaces with irregular geometries remains difficult to solve for an array of applications. In the growing space industry, there are many spacecraft materials with high specularity and varying levels of roughness. Modeling these materials in simulations becomes difficult as any realistic amount of roughness is added, necessitating more accurate physical models to represent how light is interacting with these surfaces. While some work has been done to attempt to characterize the spectral signatures of the materials themselves using hyperspectral imaging systems, the scope of these efforts has been fairly limited and not representative of the conditions …

Impact Of Precursor Solvent Chemistry On Electrical Properties Of Indium Oxide Films For Thin-Film Transistors, Joshua Masri

Theses

Indium oxide In_2O_3 combines high carrier mobility with optical transparency, making it a promising candidate for next-generation thin-film electronics. However, its electrical performance is highly sensitive to fabrication parameters, particularly the chemistry of solution-based precursors, which can alter defect landscapes and carrier transport mechanisms. This work systematically examines how solvent choice influences the structural and electronic properties of solution-processed In_2O_3 thin films, isolating processing–property relationships that remain insufficiently understood. Films prepared from water and 2-methoxyethanol (2ME) precursors were characterized using temperature-dependent transmission line method (TLM) measurements from 30~K to 300~K. Water-processed films exhibited consistently lower sheet resistance, a reduced activation …

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 …

Bridging Classical Rhetoric And Ai: A Systematic Framework For Developing Authorial Voice Through Large Language Models, Daniel Plate

Theses

This project addresses critical gaps in AI-assisted writing by developing the first systematic framework that integrates classical rhetorical principles with modern large language model capabilities for authorial voice development. The primary focus is on creating reliable methods for stylistic control through strategic AI collaboration rather than ad hoc prompting approaches. The project develops a comprehensive coding system for analyzing prose style, creates ten distinct authorial personas, and establishes a dual curation methodology that structures both stylistic analysis and content preparation. Implementation through the AI Writing Guide website provides practical tools including prompt templates, annotated examples, and instructional materials that demonstrate …

The Effects Of Multiple Exemplar Instruction On A Bidirectional Naming Repertoire In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Madison Appelbaum

Theses

Neurotypical children normally acquire language skills in their natural environment. However, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically require specialized interventions to acquire language and communication skills (Yoon et al., 2023). A behavior repertoire that has been shown essential for the fast and incidental acquisition of language in children is bi-directional naming (BiN). Multiple exemplar instruction (MEI) has been used to facilitate the acquisition of BiN in children with ASD. In the present study, we replicated and extended previous research (e.g., Yoon et al., 2023) to evaluate the effect of MEI on the emergence of BiN repertoire in three elementary …

Consumer Behavior Of Gen Z In Kosovo: Purchasing Preferences And Brand Engagement, Sara Dumani

Theses

This capstone project examines the consumer behavior of Generation Z in Kosovo by analyzing their purchasing preferences and brand engagement. The Generation Z demographic, which includes individuals born between 1996 and 2010, is the focus of this study. This generation is characterized by digital savviness and a significant influence from social media platforms, shaping their purchasing decisions and brand engagement. Generation Z’s behavior is often marked by a preference for online shopping, collaborative marketing approaches, and sustainability, making it essential to understand these factors in the context of Kosovo. The data for analyzing Generation Z’s consumer behavior were collected through …

The Transition Of The Ict Sector In Kosovo From Service-Based Companies To Product-Based Companies, Erinda Elezaj

Theses

The capstone project will discuss the barriers and opportunities of the ICT sector of Kosovo to shift its business models into the product-based models, with an emphasis on the economic, social, and cultural determinants of the shift. ICT sector in Kosovo has been dominated long by outsourcing and service provision, yet the world trends and local ambitions require a shift towards innovation-based scalable product models that would create sustainable growth and competitiveness. The study is of qualitative nature and it takes the form of semi-structured interviews with 13 main stakeholders representing government, industry, education and cultural sectors. These interviews provide …

Development Of Nanopocket Membranes For The Isolation And Purification Of Extracellular Vesicles, Munther Alsudais

Theses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in intercellular communication and serve as significant biomarkers for various diseases. EVs carry biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA, which reflect the physiological state of their cells of origin, making them promising tools for non-invasive diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Effective isolation of EVs is essential for advancing scientific understanding of their biological roles and unlocking their clinical potential. Porous membranes have been widely used for the purification of various biological species from biological fluids. While membranes have prove highly effective for general size-based separation, recent innovations have focused on structurally refined …

Facial Color Matching In Optical See-Through Augmented Reality, Yanmei He

Theses

Augmented reality (AR) aims to combine elements of the surrounding environment with additional virtual content into a combined viewing scene. Displaying virtual human faces is a widespread practical application of AR technology, which can be challenging in optical see- through AR (OST-AR), due to limitations in its color reproduction. Specifically, OST-AR’s additive optical blending introduces transparency and color-bleeding, which is exacerbated especially for faces having darker skin tones, and for brighter and more chromatic ambient environments. Given the increasing prevalence of social AR applications, it is essential to better understand how facial color reproduction is impacted by skin tone and …

Something’S Gonna Give, Jonathan Dean Mills

Theses

This thesis examines the differences between structures of time and the relationships in which queer people orient themselves to develop an archive of a trans- body navigating the world they inhabit. Through deconstructing the notions of hegemonic time, queer identities and spaces are created, occupied, and left to be re-navigated. This study explores the fluidity of materials such as plaster, metal, and glass, in tandem with a transitioning body and identity, aiming to break down the structures of time and place to build new definitions of existence, identity, and the pursuit of a trans- future.

Investigating Spectral Rendering Techniques To Improve Colour Matching In Virtual Production, Vlad Simion

Theses

As rendering engines become increasingly important in film and television, with their use in virtual production (VP) to display rendered imagery, some underlying issues become more apparent. This thesis aims to investigate how we can improve asset color matching of VP elements with real-life objects found on sets. Experiments were conducted in which objects were exposed to various types of lighting setups, and digital twins were rendered using traditional computer graphics techniques. The renderings occurred in both classic RGB spaces and the spectral domain. Additionally, data reduction techniques were used for the spectral renderings to determine if any of them …

Dynamic Defenses To Systematically Secure Exposed Attack Surfaces In Wireless Systems, Naureen Hoque

Theses

While modern wireless systems rely on strong encryption, this alone does not secure the entire attack surface, including exposed signal attributes, pre-authentication exchanges, and protocol metadata. This dissertation challenges the assumption that existing cryptographic protections are sufficient to protect these vulnerabilities. Signal attributes, including phase and amplitude variations due to modulation, are physical-layer characteristics of encrypted data communication that remain observable and exploitable for attacks like traffic analysis. The pre-authentication phase—during which session keys are negotiated and installed—is vulnerable to spoofing and denial-of-service attacks. Protocol metadata, such as operating channel, sender’s address and location, and timestamps, is unencrypted and can …

Network And Tree-Based Approaches To Data-Driven Modeling Of Complex Climate Systems, Adam M. Giammarese

Theses

The guiding thread throughout this thesis work is data-driven modeling of Earth's climate. We investigate a variety of settings within the field of complex climate systems, such as gridded, high-resolution reanalysis data, lower-resolution climate indices, and incomplete paleoclimate records with missing values. We begin with reanalysis data of high spatial and temporal resolution, and use climate network analysis to uncover hidden trends in the data in regards to the Amazon rainforest and its changing role in the global climate system. We introduce a novel formulation of k-nearest neighbors climate networks to study changing trends at a local level, and apply …

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 …

Characterizing Tcap Set-Ups For Effective Separation On Hydrogen Isotope Species, James R. Hanby

Theses

Hydrogen isotope separation was investigated using a series of thermal cycling absorption process (TCAP) experiments. Pulse tests were conducted using deuterium injected into a protium flow over a range of superficial velocities, temperatures, particle sizes, and column diameters to quantify the efficiency of this process for a palladium on kieselguhr catalyst. The resulting response curves, obtained from residual gas analysis, were used to calculate the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) in each case. These values were then fit with van Deemter curves to illustrate the change in HETP over gas velocity. A strong positive correlation with temperature was …

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, …

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. …

Benedictine Art And Design: How Color Psychology Can Positively Influence Department Enrollment, Claire Pauline Fink

Theses

This thesis examines how design strategies informed by color psychology and experimental aesthetics can be used to strengthen the visual identity and recruitment efforts of the Benedictine College Art & Design Department (BCAD). Following the recent addition of Graphic Design as a major and the department’s name change in 2021, there has been a noticeable gap in public awareness and printed promotional materials tailored to prospective students. Grounded in theoretical frameworks, such as D. E. Berlyne’s optimal arousal theory, and supported by survey responses from current Art & Design students, this project identifies key needs in marketing to prospective students. …

Elisabetta Sirani’S Timoclea: Baroque Agency And The Aesthetics Of Feminine Rage, Shaylen Grace Gardner

Theses

This thesis examines Timoclea Kills the Captain of Alexander the Great (1659) by Elisabetta Sirani as a foundational example of feminine rage within the Baroque period. By framing Timoclea’s violent act not as an outlier or solely reactive gesture, but as a deliberate, composed assertion of power, Sirani constructs a model of feminine agency that defies patriarchal expectations of female submission and passivity. Through interdisciplinary analysis grounded in feminist theory, formal visual analysis, and retrospective cultural studies, this research argues that Sirani’s Timoclea exemplifies the Baroque’s strategic use of socially acceptable iconography to veil explicit challenges to gendered expectations. This …

Customizing Ai Strategies Across Multiple Generations, Matthew Harrer

Theses

This project investigates how artificial intelligence can help brands and marketers connect more effectively with Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. The literature review lays the groundwork that focuses on consumer behaviors and the integration of AI into digital marketing practices for each generation. The second part of the project involves a secondary data analysis of 21 recent marketing surveys and reports that explores topics related to trust, personalization, and social media. By integrating the findings into an insightful guidebook, marketers will be able to maximize these insights into clear actionable strategies.

Through A Mother's Eyes: The Psychology Of Color, Katie Kutz

Theses

This project investigates the intersection of color psychology, maternal experience, and visual perception through a series of five artworks. Using a qualitative methodology, this project draws upon interdisciplinary research such as neuroscience, marketing, art history, and personal experiences as a mother. This work explores how sensory changes during pregnancy and postpartum influence the emotional perception of color, and how this can be represented in art. Inspired by artists that have explored the theme of motherhood such as Mary Cassatt, Käthe Kollwitz, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Jenny Saville, and Alice Neel, this project uses an emotionally charged approach to depicting motherhood. Color changing …

Connecting Children With Artists Through A Children's Art History Book, Katie Meyer

Theses

This project is a children’s art history book that is set in an art museum. The goal of the book is to help children connect with Contemporary artists and their art. A museum setting is utilized to introduce children to museums and as an appropriate environment for viewing art. The theme of the exhibit that will be presented in the book is titled the “Innovators Exhibit.” This exhibit features six Contemporary artists from different art styles/mediums. The artists come from diverse backgrounds to expose children to a variety of cultures. Thought provoking questions will also be asked throughout the book …

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 …

Investigating Human Expertise In Manufacturing To Enhance Knowledge Preservation And Transfer Practices, Krzysztof Kamil Jarosz

Theses

In the US, the machining industry is a vital part of the economy, employing over 290,000 skilled machinists and over 89,000 mechanical engineers. Whilst employment figures for engineers in this crucial sector has been fairly steady, a rapid decline in machinist workforce has been observed in the last decade, along with retirement of aging expert machinists and engineers, creating workforce shortages and loss of valuable manufacturing knowledge inherent to those highly skilled and experienced individuals. As engineering design and manufacturing knowledge are closely intertwined, so is the knowledge pertaining to practical aspects of machining and design of components that are …

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 …

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 …

Secure Composite Digital Twin For Collaborative Ecosystems, Pasindu Kuruppuarachchi

Theses

The rise of collaborative digital ecosystems and the growing adoption of Digital Twins (DTs) in sectors like smart manufacturing, energy, and autonomous sys- tems underscore the need for secure, interoperable frameworks. This research proposes a Secure Composite Digital Twin Architecture (CDT) that enables seam- less integration and collaboration among DTs, addressing key challenges in trust, interoperability, and governance. The architecture features a trust analyser to assess DT behaviour and a repu- tation model to enhance security as the ecosystem scales. It supports centralised, decentralised, and hybrid governance via distributed ledger technology, enabling dynamic policies and secure, token-based asset management. For …

Advancements In Fabry-Pérot Cavity Fabrication And Its Applications In Photothermal Spectroscopy For Trace Gas Sensing., Giulia Malvicini

Theses

The detection of trace gases is essential in various applications, from environmental monitoring and industrial process control to medical diagnostics. The need for high-sensitivity, compact, and costeffective gas sensing systems drives continuous advancements in sensor technology. Among optical sensors, photothermal spectroscopy (PTS) offers distinct advantages, detecting the indirect effects of thermal waves induced in the sample by exciting the molecules with a laser. More particularly, photothermal interferometry (PTI) uses interferometric methods, such as the Fabry-Pérot (FP) interferometer for the read-out.