Digital Commons Network^™

Cyber-Physical Security Through The Lens Of Ai-Enabled Systems, Zhiyuan Yu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cyber-physical systems (CPS), powered by emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, have become integral to various critical domains such as the Internet of Things (IoTs), medical devices, and autonomous vehicles. A unique aspect of these systems lies in their interactions with the physical world, by perceiving environments through heterogeneous modalities (perception), processing digital data with human-in-the-loop intelligence algorithms (computing), and autonomously actuating controls that affect physical processes (actuation). While this intricate fusion of cyber and physical components has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, it has also introduced new security challenges. However, traditional security measures often fall short in addressing these multifaceted threats. This …

On The H-Property For Step-Graphons: Residual Case, Wanting Gao

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

We investigate the H-property for step-graphons. Specifically, we sample graphs Gn on n nodes from a step-graphon and evaluate the probability that Gn has a Hamiltonian decomposition in the asymptotic regime as n → ∞. It has been shown in Belabbas and Chen (2023); Belabbas et al. (2021) that for almost all step-graphons, this probability converges to either zero or one. We focus in this paper on the residual case where the zero-one law does not apply. We show that the limit of the probability still exists and provide an explicit expression of it. We present a complete proof of …

Sown In Soil: Black Mississippi Landowners, Heirs Property, And New South Neoliberalism, Jermicah Lott

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines the history of how Black Mississippians in the greater Madison County area have conceptualized land ownership since circa 1970 in order to understand how acquiring land has historically been seen as a significant source of financial, social, and mental security for Black folks in rural Madison County. By looking at oral history interviews from mostly the Garrett family and other Black Madison County citizens and archival materials, one will see how connection to land and place—despite the land being listed under heirs’ property— is the underpinning of familial affinity and association. To understand how heirs’ property is …

Observational Properties Of Near-Maximal Spin Black Holes With The Eht, Tegan A. Thomas, Angelo Ricarte, Yajie Yuan

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

In 2021 and 2024, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration published the first polarized images of the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) M87* and Sgr A*, which allowed us to place important constraints on the accretion flow and underlying space-time. Of particular interest is the dimensionless spin parameter "a_•", which theoretically may attain a maximum value of a_• = 0.998 when spun up by a thin accretion disk. On the other hand, mechanisms including incoherent accretion, SMBH mergers, and spin extraction via jets, are hypothesized to spin down SMBHs from these near-extremal values. In this work, we perform …

In Search Of Extreme Extragalactic Energy: A Catalog Of Tev-Emitting Bl Lac Candidates From Erosita And Wise, Cassidy M. Metzger, Manel Errando, Andrea Gokus

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are supermassive black holes that reside at galactic centers and are actively accreting matter. In approximately 10% of cases, AGN produce relativistic jets: collimated streams of particles that travel for thousands of light years and have been detected at TeV energies by ground-based gamma-ray observatories. However, the mechanisms that accelerate particles beyond the TeV scale are largely unknown. Currently, only 56 objects are confirmed to accelerate particles to these extreme energies. Here we provide a selection of over 150 sources that exhibit infrared (IR) and X-ray emission profiles similar to those of the 56 TeV sources. …

Latino Voter Registration And Participation Rates In The 2016, 2020, And 2024 Presidential Elections, Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Abstract

This report examines Latino voter participation in U.S. presidential elections from 2016 to 2024, highlighting significant increases in registration and turnout between 2016 and 2020, followed by declines in 2024.

Methods

The study is a descriptive and comparative analysis using data from the Voting and Registration Tables issued by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Discussion

In 2020, Latino voter registration and turnout reached historic highs but these gains plateaued in 2024 despite continued population growth.

Persistent disparities in Latino voter participation remained across age groups and sex. Additionally, Latino participation rates in 2024 remained lower than that of non-Hispanic white, …

Enabling New Synthetic Platforms For Aryne Synthesis With Aryl Thianthrenium Reagents, Riley Augustus Roberts

Dissertations and Theses

The enormous importance of aromatic rings in organic molecules cannot be understated. Aromatic rings are present in the majority of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and consumer products. The way in which these rings are arranged and substituted results in a molecule’s unique properties. Because of this, the current limitations of the chemical methods used to synthesize these molecules results in limited structural diversity and thus missed opportunities for the development of value-added products. To this end, this work demonstrates novel methods of aryne synthesis, aryl thianthrenium synthesis and a unique approach to structural scaffold hopping. The approaches presented herein allow for rapid …

Should Physicians Take The Rap? Normative Analysis Of Clinician Perspectives On Responsible Use Of 'Black Box' Ai Tools, Ben H Lang, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Jared N Smith, Meghan Hurley, Rita Dexter, Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Increasing interest in deploying artificial intelligence tools in clinical contexts has raised several ethical questions of both normative and empirical interest. One such question in the literature is whether "responsibility gaps" (r-gaps) are created when clinicians utilize or rely on such tools for providing care, and if so, what to do about them. These gaps are particularly likely to arise when using opaque, "black box" AI tools. Compared to normative and legal analysis of AI-generated responsibility gaps in health care, little is known, empirically, about health care providers views on this issue. The present study examines clinician perspectives on …

Defining Three Principles For Credible Evidence Synthesis And Reviews In Health Professions Education, Michelle Daniel, Morris Gordon, Hussein Uraiby, Peter Boedeker, Janice Hanson, Diana Dolmans, Satid Thammasitboon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

As reviews become increasingly central to informing educational practice and guiding research in health professions education, the need for methodological clarity and quality has grown. This Commentary highlights three foundational principles - alignment, rigor, and transparency - that underpin high-quality reviews, regardless of type. We illustrate how these principles apply across commonly used review types, including systematic, scoping, realist, and narrative reviews. By aligning the research question with the appropriate review methodology, employing rigorous processes for evidence collection and synthesis, and maintaining transparency in methodological reporting, review teams can produce credible, transferable, and dependable findings. Embracing these principles not only …

Temperature-Driven Air Circulation In Caves With Blind Passages, Chris Hendy Dr, David J. Merritt, Shannon Corkill, Cross Cross

International Journal of Speleology

Two blind-passage show-caves in the Waitomo district of New Zealand, Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave, have been monitored for the impact of visitors on their environment, especially focusing on partial pressures of carbon dioxide because high levels cause speleothem degradation. In Ruakuri Cave, annual cycles of daily mean pCO₂ correspond with annual cycles of visitor numbers, both peaking in summer. The origin of the high pCO₂ had been assumed to be anthropogenic due to respiration from visitors. Prolonged intervals with no visitation during the Covid-19 pandemic saw the daily mean pCO₂ continuing to show the annual cycle, …

Western Photography, Bradley Clompus

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Variations, Leandro Fefer

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

The Lake House, Vanessa Blakeslee

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Prefatory Notes

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Wrong Use Of Smcp In Marine Communication: A Review Study, Fahimeh Farjami

Seatific Journal

The Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) are largely used on commerce ships to ensure safe navigation and to standardize communication between ships and between ships and shorelines. Therefore, it is crucial to raise training standards among important players in the sector: institutions for maritime education and training. This review study uses a theoretical and comprehensive systematic methodology and gathers data through analyzing SMCP previous papers in the context of onboard and external communication. The main objective of this research is to examine the improper usage of the SMCP, and marine safety to determine the needs and prospects for further future …

Exploring Hindrances To Artistic Expression In The High School Art Classroom, Meagan Matticks

Art 895 Research Papers

This qualitative phenomenological research study focuses on the exploration and understanding of the experiences of students who may feel hindered in their creativity and artistic expression in the high school art classroom due to various constraints. The major objectives of this study include researching ways artistic expression and creativity are hindered, including institutional policies, time limitations, resource availability, and other potential external pressures, such as curricular mandates. Data will be gathered through classroom observations, the collection of ninth through twelfth-grade student artwork created under varying levels of constraint, and written student reflections. This study will provide potential insights that result …

The Art And Science Of Observation: Visual Journaling In A Collaborative Classroom, Jennifer Mercado

Art 895 Research Papers

This case study explores the impact of explicitly teaching observation and visual journaling skills on student retention and comprehension of scientific concepts upon a co-taught science classroom. It aims to measure the impact of collaboration between science and art teachers in ac o-taught science classroom on student outcomes and teaching practices. This research is a case study, which is a qualitative data collection method, of student science observations, analysis, and data in art/science journals. After receiving informed consent, the partnered teachers’ reflections regarding the collaborative process and outcomes will be included. This study is important as it will examine the …

Leading Like Jesus In Organizations: Assessing The Practices Of Servant Leadership, Keenan A. Siegal

M.S. in Leadership

This project explores the concept of servant leadership through examining biblical accounts of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings. This project highlights how Jesus exemplified key principles of servant leadership, including humility, empathy, self-sacrifice, and a deep commitment to serving others before himself. The project contrasts Jesus’ leadership style with modern leadership models and discusses its relevance in today’s professional settings. Overall, it aims to explore a transformational approach to leadership in which it that prioritizes compassion, integrity, and the empowerment of others over meeting the needs of the business or serving yourself as a leader.

A Movement In Process: The Effects Of Post-Dictatorship Politics On The Legalization Of Abortion In Argentina, Corinne J. Robbins

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

Access to abortion is an inherently critical aspect of sexual and reproductive rights. That is to say that access to safe abortions is of equal importance to guaranteeing a person’s right to safety during the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period. This research primarily focuses on the trajectory of the legalization of abortion in Argentina after the end of the last military Dictatorship (1976-1983), the factors that impacted the movement, and how the movement is received in Argentina today. Argentina’s current administration has been unsupportive of the current abortion law, but past successes demonstrate that abortion rights activists in Argentina are …

Globalization Of The Japanese Startup Ecosystem Through Transnational Entrepreneurship, Wonkyung Lee

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

In 2022, Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a “new form of capitalism,” aimed at boosting investment in startups. When people think of major Japanese firms, they often envision corporations like Honda and Sony. However, Kishida highlights that these giants were once startups founded by young entrepreneurs, and emphasized the necessity of cultivating such innovation in Japan today. Furthermore, the introduction of a startup visa in 2015 has made it easier for transnational entrepreneurs to establish businesses in Japan. However, there are significant key issues within the Japanese startup ecosystem that make it difficult for foreign entrepreneurs to launch …

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Spring 2025, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Spring 2025 graduation. The commencement service took place on May 1, 2025 at 9 am and 1 pm in Iles Physical Education Center.

Evidence Of The Evolution Of Interdisciplinarity: A Study Of Boundary Objects In Information Science, Susan Berrigan Corieri

Dissertations - ALL

This research investigates interdisciplinarity within the field of information science through the lens of boundary objects, addressing the primary research question: How does an examination of academic boundary objects provide evidence of the evolution of interdisciplinarity? By analyzing four boundary objects, (1) a peer-reviewed journal, Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology (JASIS&T) (2) an academic conference, the iConference, (3) university organizational structures of U.S. iSchools, and (4) the nomenclature used to refer to U.S. iSchool academic units, the study explores how these artifacts document the collaboration and evolution of academic communities in information science. Motivated by the …

“Because I Felt Like We Weren't Chained Down Anymore”: The Experiences Of Families Of Students With Intellectual Disability Who Revoke Consent For Special Education Services, Sara Jo Soldovieri

Dissertations - ALL

“Because I Felt Like We Weren’t Chained Down Anymore” investigates a rarely discussed yet profoundly consequential choice: families of students with intellectual disability who revoke consent for special education services. Drawing upon Disability Studies in Education (DSE), Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), and Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS), this dissertation situates revocation of consent within a larger struggle against entrenched ableism, racism, and segregation in American schools. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, I explore the lived experiences of five families who navigated and resist the special education system, clashed with segregated placements, and ultimately decided their children would be better …

Machine Learning Course: A 15-Week Interactive Curriculum With Code And Case Studies, Pegah Khosravi

Open Educational Resources

This open-access machine learning course is a comprehensive 15-week curriculum developed and published on GitHub with full Google Colab compatibility. It combines theoretical concepts with hands-on Python coding, real-world datasets, and structured projects covering regression, classification, clustering, deep learning, transformers, and multimodal AI. The course is designed for students, educators, and researchers interested in applied machine learning, including biomedical applications. It includes explainable AI components and ethical discussions to align with modern AI standards. The course is maintained by BioMind AI Lab at CUNY.

Climate Change Behind Prison Walls: Environmental Justice, Prison Abolition, And Social Welfare, Mia Moody

Student Theses 2015-Present

Unbeknownst to many, human rights violations occur on a large scale behind prison walls. This paper examines some of these violations, especially those exacerbated by climate change, through an environmental lense in order to emphasize the need for social welfare-based solutions in the abolition of the prison industrial complex. It also seeks to illustrate the connection between the environmental justice movement and the prison abolition movement so that marginalized peoples may be free from shouldering disproportionate effects of environmental hazards and imprisonment. This paper is introduced with a brief overview of the human rights violations occurring in prisons. Using quantitative …

An Examination Of Writing Attitudes And Writing Proficiency Throughout A Performance Feedback Writing Intervention, Sophia Victoria Alderman

Theses - ALL

Writing attitudes, defined as self-assessments of liking or disliking writing (Ekholm et al., 2017), are important motivational factors that can impact writing development. A review of the literature on writing attitudes found that attitudes positively predicted writing achievement and that writing interventions can increase writing attitudes (Ekholm et al., 2017). Existing empirical literature has primarily focused on examining writing attitudes before and after implementing writing interventions, which vary in empirical support (Boscolo et al., 2012; ; Knudson, 1991b, 1992; Seban, 2012). However, no studies have dynamically assessed writing attitudes throughout the course of an evidence-based writing intervention with emerging writers. …

Avatars In Virtual Live Streaming: Identity, Authenticity And Interaction, Yifan Wu

Theses - ALL

With the advancement and development of technology, people now have more and more choices for entertainment. Virtual live streaming, as a rapidly growing form of entertainment, is receiving increasing attention. As an intersection of emerging technology and traditional entertainment modes, virtual live streamers interact with audiences through virtual avatars, bringing a new entertainment experience while also raising many interesting research questions. This thesis focuses on virtual avatars, discussing how virtual live streamers and audiences perceive virtual avatars and how these avatars influence both streamers and the audience. More importantly, this thesis explores the role that virtual avatars play in the …

The Media Coverage Of The Israel And Gaza War: A Comparative Study Of Cnn And Al Jazeera, Fuhaid Alajmi

Theses - ALL

The Israel-Gaza War, which officially started on October 7, 2023, caused immense loss in the Middle East and attracted the international media's eyes. This study discusses the media’s framing in its reporting on the Israel-Gaza War, particularly as disseminated on two prominent global news providers’ online websites: CNN and Al Jazeera. The research explores the differences and similarities in framing the war using framing theory. The study examines how these news outlets covered these current events online in a period ranging from October 7, 2023, to April 7, 2024, using quantitative content analysis. It investigates the main framing of news …

Foraging Connections: Exploring The Relationship Between Optimal Foraging And Phonological Fluency Performance, Kimberly Savika Arjune

Theses - ALL

The semantic fluency task is a timed listing of as many words as possible within a certain category (Bousfield & Sedgewick, 1944). Optimal search requires traversing resource-rich clusters (groups of consecutive responses with shared characteristics) and weighing the benefit of staying in the current cluster, decreasing the rate of return, or switching to a new cluster with more easily accessible resources, but with the cost of search time (Charnov, 1976). According to the marginal value theorem, a switch to a new cluster should occur when the rate of finding words in the current cluster drops below the average rate for …

Encrypted Eroticism: Encoding And Decoding Strategies Against Censorship In Chinese Slash Fandom, Xiyin Li

Theses - ALL

This study examines how Chinese slash fans circumvent censorship through coding and decoding strategies (Hall, 1980). Based on online ethnography and participant observation of a 20-year slash fandom of a popular online novel, DMBJ, I find that fans employ linguistic wordplay across morphological, phonetic, and semantic dimensions with their linguistic literacy in Chinese. Fans actively extract scenes or descriptions from the original novel that align with erotic contexts and collage them into new slash fiction. This form of creation is not entirely original but involves poaching and recombining canonical texts to assign new sexual meanings. At the same time, fans …