Digital Commons Network^™

Spikerff: Learning Forward With Layer-Local Plasticity And Semi-Hard Negatives, Karthik Tumkur Kumar

Theses

Effective contrastive learning relies on choosing useful, informative "hard" negative samples. Current hard negative sampling methods designed for traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs) are, in general, computationally costly and are ill-suited to account for the temporal structure relevant to neuromorphic data. To tackle these issues, in this work, we formulate a similarity-guided semi-hard negative sampling strategy for neuromorphic computing based on spiking neural networks (SNNs). We propose SpikeRFF (Spiking Recurrent Forward-Forward), a gradient-free and unsupervised recurrent spiking framework that combines layer-local Forward-Forward learning with semi-hard negative selection and temporally structured negative construction. Positive samples are encouraged to produce high goodness, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Examining The Relationship Between Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices And School-Level Chronic Absenteeism In Maine Secondary Schools, Tina Nightingale

Dissertations

School safety practices can influence students' perceptions of safety, emotional well-being, and engagement in the educational environment; however, limited research has examined whether trauma-informed safety drill practices are associated with measurable educational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study was to examine the relationship between trauma-informed safety drill practices and school-level chronic absenteeism in Maine middle and high schools. Guided by trauma-informed care, adolescent neurodevelopment, and Protection Motivation Theory, the study investigated whether higher levels of trauma-informed implementation of safety drills, as measured by the Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices Index (TISDPI), were associated with lower rates of chronic …

Exploring Primary Care Providers’ Compassionate Care And Their Evidence-Based Practice With Death, Grief, And Loss: Patient Experience And Perspective, Kathryn Krzykala

Dissertations

Research on primary care providers’ (PCPs) education regarding Death, Grief, and Loss (DGL) remains limited. Specifically, data is lacking regarding patients' perceptions and opinions on what they need and expect from their PCPs regarding grief and loss. This exploratory mixed-method study comprised 146 participants who had experienced death and non-death loss. It examined participants' perceptions of 1) PCP compassion, 2) PCP utilization of evidence-based grief and loss practices, 3) their own level of comfort discussing DGL with their PCPs during medical visits, and 4) their personal grief and loss experiences. The findings revealed that PCPs' grief-informed evidence-based treatment, as reflected …

Strengthening The Shield: Exploring Post-Traumatic Growth In Law Enforcement, Aaleiyah C. Spaulding

Dissertations

Law enforcement officers are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents that can lead to psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, emerging literature highlights the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG), a positive psychological change following adversity. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of PTG in a sample of 33 police officers from a Midwestern department. Using validated self-report measures, the study assessed the role of trauma exposure, cognitive restructuring of core beliefs, and perceived organizational culture, particularly supervisor support. Results indicated that both internal (core belief reflection) and external (supervisory support) factors significantly predicted PTG. Additionally, involvement in a …

The Mental Health Of Athletes: Channeling Frustration, Aggression, Internal/External Behaviors In The Real World To Improve Performance, Jabari Johnson

Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how college athletes, 18 years and older, experience and interpret internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors within contact and non-contact sports, and how those experiences are shaped by gender, racial/ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. The study addressed a gap in the literature by centering athletes’ own perspectives on how emotions, coping, identity, and performance intersect within collegiate sport contexts. A purposive sample of 12 athletes completed a demographic questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews conducted in person between December 2025 and February 2026. Interview transcripts were deidentified and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s …

Physical Drivers Of Pismo Clam (Tivela Stultorum) Populations At The Northern Range Edge In Monterey Bay, California, Olivia M. Beaudoin

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Environmental factors and physiological tolerances shape species abundance and distribution across their geographic ranges. Species inhabiting coastal systems are subject to a range of conditions driven by both geology and oceanography. For example, infaunal organisms are influenced by sediment characteristics and beach morphology, nearshore wave dynamics, and sea surface temperature (SST). An infaunal resident of the sandy beach intertidal, the Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum), was once a valuable commercial resource along the California coast, ranging from Santa Cruz County, CA to Magdalena Bay, BCS, Mexico. Pismo clams experienced considerable population declines due to overexploitation in the early 20th century. Populations …

Resilience In Restoration: Investigating The Thermal Tolerance Of Galapagos Corals During El Niño, Ava Besecker

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Rising sea surface temperatures have driven widespread coral bleaching and mortality, yet some corals persist through repeated marine heatwaves. In the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), extreme conditions provide a natural laboratory for studying resilience, and some corals have persisted even after declines due to repeat El Niño-driven mortality events. This study investigates drivers of coral resilience by fate-tracking three dominant genera in the ETP at a restoration site on Isabela Island, Galapagos during a natural warming event. I evaluated how algal symbiont community composition, genetic lineage, temperature, and site-specific environmental conditions interacted to shape coral growth, bleaching, and survival before, …

Improving Iv Access Outcomes In Obstetric Care Through A-Diva Scale Utilization And Point-Of-Care Ultrasound, Parth S. Patel, Matthew T. Komorowski

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Obstetric (OB) patients frequently present physiological changes, including edema, obesity, and peripheral vasoconstriction, that increase the risk of difficult intravenous access (DIVA). Multiple IV attempts can delay time-sensitive therapies in obstetric emergencies and increase patient discomfort and provider workload. Research studies have supported the use of the Modified Adult Difficult Intravenous Access (A-DIVA) scale to assess patients for DIVA, and the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) guided peripheral intravenous access (PIVA). In 2025, a preceding Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) project implemented A-DIVA in the Labor & Delivery (L&D) unit of an OB department and found that 35% of …

Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors Through Community-Based Self-Regulation Suppor, Xen Gabrielle O. Advincula

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Purpose: Program development of trauma-informed, occupation-based resources and program and incorporating OT-related principles to support occupational balance and engagement of survivors of DV and IPV

Goal: Enhance and support the staff’s capacity and understanding of OT-scope in community settings and incorporation of OT-focused self-regulation strategies

Outcome: Increase the staff’s confidence levels of knowledge on the scope of OT within community-based settings and OT-related strategies to support self-regulation levels

An Epilepsy Community Collective Towards Occupational Justice And Empowerment, Tyler Debuty

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Underutilization of epilepsy-specific resource programs, lack of public awareness about epilepsy, limitations in community belonging, and implications for self-management programs aimed towards improving quality of life and reducing the burden of care during the transition into adulthood and throughout the lifespan for people with epilepsy.

Improving Quality Of Life For Informal Caregivers Of Post-Stroke Survivors: Implementing Preventative, Advocacy And Educational Strategies, Joann Bennett

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Stroke recovery extends beyond hospital discharge, yet community-dwelling stroke survivors and their informal caregivers often have limited access to continued education, wellness resources, and community-based support.

This gap contributes to caregiver burden, reduced occupational participation, and decreased quality of life.

Amplifying Parental Well-Being: Ot-Informed Support For Families Of Children With Hearing Loss, Joelle Barth

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite the many demands placed on parents of children diagnosed DHH, limited support exists to specifically address their mental health needs

Bridging Gaps In Spanish-Speaking Individuals In Rural Areas About Parkinson’S Disease, Fabiola Barajas Velasco

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Provide education and bring awareness of Parkinson’s disease in rural areas through educational trainings and community outreach, specifically those close in contact with farmworkers or farmworkers themselves.

Occupational Therapy Approaches To Mitigating Cancer-Related Fatigue (Crf): A Scoping Review And Practice Framework, Brooke Carson

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Goal: Improve knowledge and competence in CRF management through evidence-based education to improve CRF interventions in oncology rehabilitation

Outcome: Increased confident and application of evidence based CRF intervention strategies, leading to improved functional performance and occupational engagement for individuals experiencing CRF

Promoting Mental Health Awareness, Advocacy, And Occupational Justice For First-Generation College Students, Gilberto Duran Garcia

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

First Generation College Students (FGCS) face a high prevalence of mental health concerns

Stress, anxiety, depression, financial burden, cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, pressure to meet expectations, fear of the unknown, lack of guidance, and lack of preparedness

Enhancing New Mother's Mental Health And Confidence After Discharge, Breana De La Cruz

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

New mothers lack guidance, education and resources for common postpartum complications resulting in a decreased overall wellbeing in the postpartum period.

Exploring The Role Of Functional Cognition In Early Psychosis Care: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Angelica Detata

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of psychosis significantly impacting functional outcomes. Functional cognition as a target in early psychosis treatment is insufficiently addressed.

Fostering Wellness: Developing Strategies To Improve Mental Health And Decrease Burnout For Professionals Serving Foster Youth, Amaya Dorado Ledesma

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

High burnout rates, turnover, and decreased mental health are limiting not only foster youth professionals, but also the families and children they serve.

Going With The Flow: Psychological Flow & The Mental Health Of Occupational Therapy Students, Sydney Buchanan

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite a growing interest in psychological flow as a factor associated with positive mental health outcomes, its relationship to OTD student well-being has remained underexplored.

Post-Stroke Fatigue: Bridging Neuropathology And Neurorehabilitation-Translating Research Into Clinical Assessment And Intervention Strategies, Wesley Green

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Current clinical approaches to post-stroke fatigue are challenged by limited evidence and an incomplete understanding of its underlying mechanisms.

Healing After Loss: Maternal Wellness Following Perinatal Loss, Farah S. Hakim

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Perinatal loss can disrupt women's roles, routines, identity, and emotional well-being.

Postpartum services often focus on medical recovery within healthcare settings.

Limited occupational therapy and culturally responsive resources exist after perinatal loss

Neurodivergent Well-Being In Independent Living Skills Programs: Impact Of Ot-Informed Resources And Community Programming, Grace Hepner

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

There is a need for multidimensional support for neurodivergent college students due to an increasing number of these students enrolling in higher education.

Kickin' It Old School: Connecting The Ages, Elyssia Lambert

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement

Lack of social participation is associated with negative impacts on QoL in individuals with dementia

Lack of awareness and knowledge of OT as a career option

Connection For All: Supporting Neurodivergent-Accessible Sex And Dating Education, Emma Martinho

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

While engaging in sexuality and dating are expressed interests for neurodivergent young adults, there is a lack of support limiting their participation.

Supporting The Transition: A Summer Camp Model For Students With Adhd Entering Middle School, Anna G. Schene

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Students transitioning from elementary school to middle school experience newfound independence, requiring sufficiency in their executive functioning skills. The school-based OT service delivery does not always include or target this population, leaving students without the support needed to develop these skills.

Unequal Access, Unmet Needs: Rethinking Occupational Therapy In Private Practice, Meghan Smith

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Individuals from low-SES backgrounds often experience barriers to occupational therapy services, while private practitioners face challenges balancing accessibility with financial sustainability. These challenges underscore the need to better prepare future occupational therapists to provide equitable, accessible, and sustainable services within private practice.

Learn As You Are: Equipping Key Educational Stakeholders With Neuro-Affirming Knowledge To Support Inclusion Of Autistic Students, Jessalyn Sulamo

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Students throughout the autism spectrum often experience challenges relating to social and communication difficulties, sensory challenges, and inflexible approaches that hinder their social, emotional, and academic well-being (Black et al., 2024).