Digital Commons Network^™

Stochastic Derivative-Free Deep Learning Methods For Solving High Dimensional Partial Differential Equations, Qing He Mr.

Mathematics Theses and Dissertations

Solving high-dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) is a fundamental challenge in scientific computing, with applications ranging from quantum chemistry and computational finance to statistical physics and stochastic optimal control.  Classical numerical methods such as finite element or finite difference schemes suffer from the curse of dimensionality, rendering them computationally infeasible when the dimension $d$ exceeds a handful. Physics-informed neural network (PINN) methods alleviate this by embedding the PDE residual directly into a loss function, but they require computing derivatives of the network with respect to its spatial inputs---an operation that scales poorly in high dimensions and demands that the approximate …

Ethelyn Louise Barnes Mitchell Papers, 1870-1996, Ethelyn Louise Barnes Mitchell

Center for Restoration Studies Archives, Manuscripts and Personal Papers Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

The Motivation Tapes: Employee Narratives Of Leadership That Matters, Jessica Gray

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how employees describe their lived experiences at work. The purpose of the research was to understand the relational, emotional, and developmental dimensions that shape employees’ day-to-day workplace realities and the meanings they assign to those experiences. Four participants from diverse occupational backgrounds were interviewed using semi-structured protocols designed to elicit rich, descriptive accounts of their work environments, relationships, and sense-making processes. The findings reveal that participants shared experiences of supportive and hands-on leadership, opportunities for autonomy and ownership, and moments of connection, meaning, and long-term growth. Participants also described disruptions to these experiences. The implications …

Active Memory Civil Association Vs. Argentina, Kamila Knaudt

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

This case is about the botched investigation of the bombing of the building hosting the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The State admitted responsibility for the faulty investigation, which took more than twenty years, and the Court found Argentina in violation of several articles of the American Convention.

Kinetic Study Of Oil–Water Separation In A Dual Port Inlet Cyclone Separator, Ikhwanul Qiram, Agung Nugroho

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

In this study, a Computational Fluid Dynamics method is used to investigate the oil–water separation kinetics in a dual-port inlet cyclone separator. This was achieved using the Reynolds Stress Model coupled to an Eulerian multiphase framework. Three Reynolds numbers were studied (Re = 1.41×10⁵, 1.94×10⁵ and 2.52×10⁵) to analyse the flow; axial velocity distribution, vortex stability, radial migration velocity and separation efficiency were examined individually. Results indicate that both the radial migration velocity (vᵣ) and separation probability (p_remove) grow with Reynolds number, especially for larger oil droplets (10–100 µm). The best condition concerned is that …

Examining The Glat As A Measure Of Ai Literacy, Hunter R. Castleton

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The current study examined the Generative AI Literacy Assessment Test (GLAT) as a promising test of AI literacy due to its content, which is grounded in relevant AI literacy theory, and its design as a cognitive measure of AI literacy. To examine the GLAT, data were collected from a sample of 543 graduating seniors at James Madison University (JMU) who took the GLAT as part of a longer series of tests. Their responses were first analyzed to assess the test’s item characteristics and internal structure. Following this initial analysis, a final item set was established to ensure that low-quality items …

Using Behavior Skills Training To Shape Paraprofessional Fidelity And Reduce Student Latency To Begin Non-Preferred Academic Tasks During Transitions, Maria C. Cole

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of behavior skills training (BST) to improve a paraprofessional’s implementation fidelity of evidence-based strategies targeting transition-related behaviors in a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A changing criterion design was used to evaluate whether a functional relation between BST and the implementation of a task-analyzed transition protocol existed. The staff participant was assessed across baseline, three phases of BST intervention, and a mini-reversal phase included to further assess experimental control. Student data were collected tangentially in further evaluating experimental control. The paraprofessional participant demonstrated improving implementation fidelity trends within and …

The Effects Of Behavior Skills Training To Teach A Clinician To Implement A Structured Work System, Megan E. Bowling

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Many children with autism spectrum disorder present with deficits in completing daily living tasks, which may be due to the sequencing of information required to complete these skills. Structured work systems present a support for children to visually organize and sequence events, though they are most used in the classroom setting. The study tested the effectiveness of behavior skills training to teach a behavior support clinician to implement a structured work system via least-to-most prompting. Data was collected on the clinician’s percent of accurate implementation, which was then analyzed across three daily living behaviors in a multiple probe design. Results …

Honorato Et Al. V. Brazil, David Randall

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

This case is about the extrajudicial killing during a staged ambush of a group of suspected members of a crime syndicate. The Court found Brazil in violation of several articles of the American Convention.

Rodríguez Pacheco Et Al. V. Venezuela, Katrina Karaguzian

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

This case is about medical malpractice and the failure of the State to provide justice to the victim. The Court found Venezuela in violation of several articles of the American Convention, including Article 26.

Córdoba V. Paraguay, Madeline Prokop

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

This case is about the abduction in Argentina of a minor by a parent. The child was taken to Paraguay without the father’s consent. It took more than nine years for Paraguay to return the child to Argentina. The Court found Paraguay in violation of several articles of the American Convention for the prolonged return proceedings.

2026 Lynn University Commencement Program, Lynn University

Commencement Programs

The commencement exercises program for Lynn University's class of 2025. The ceremony, held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Palm Beach Convention Center, included all graduating students (undergraduates and graduates).

The commencement speaker was was Bruce J. Himelstein, former Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Loews Hotels.

Commencement 2026

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Symbolists Beyond The Magic: Appropriation In The Art Of Elihu Vedder And Gustave Moreau, Rebecca B. Shalliker

Art & Art History ETDs

This thesis examines the paintings of Elihu Vedder and Gustave Moreau as examples of how the late nineteenth-century Symbolist movement drew on Eastern regions as aesthetic sources for representing the spiritual. Considering the iconographic and conceptual overlap with the Spiritualist movement, it explores how these groups contributed to constructing an image of the “East” as inherently mystical. While existing scholarship analyzes the Symbolist movement’s engagement with psychoanalytical concepts such as the subconscious and dream state, the role of cultural appropriation in shaping the Symbolist aesthetic has been largely overlooked.

The depiction of Eastern iconography as fantastical will be explored through …

Brain-Based Mechanisms Of Behavioral Impairment In Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd): The Neuroimaging Biomarkers Of Inhibitory Control, Zinia Pervin

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

The developing brain is highly susceptible to alcohol-induced toxicity, often resulting in long-term deficits in executive function and behavioral regulation. Inhibitory control impairments are among the most prominent deficits observed in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This study investigated the neural mechanisms of inhibitory dysfunction using a multimodal MEG–DTI approach in 67 children aged 6–8 years (34 with FASD, 33 controls) who performed a Go/No-Go task. Source-level MEG analyses revealed reduced stimulus-locked cortical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and significant group-by-hemisphere interactions in the superior parietal cortex and cuneus. Time–frequency analyses showed diminished response-locked beta power in the sensory-motor …

Benefits Of Advisory & Culturally Responsive Advisory Framework (Craf) Within A Southwestern, Urban, Dual Language Middle School, Mariana Anguelova Castañon

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

In this research report, I examine the benefits of a daily Advisory period at a southwestern, urban, dual-language middle school and explore the impact of the Culturally Responsive Advisory Framework (CRAF), a curriculum I developed as a researcher-practitioner. This work is situated within research on Advisory programs, urban schooling, and dual-language education, while addressing implementation challenges. Grounded in democratic learning theory, CRAF integrates social-emotional learning (SEL), social-cultural learning (SCL), and literacy. To evaluate its impact, I collected qualitative data through anonymous Google Surveys and semi-structured student interviews, supported by quantitative teacher and student surveys. Data were analyzed using open and …

Amplifying Strengths: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Elementary Teachers’ Culturally Proficient Practices With Newcomer Students Through An Appreciative Inquiry Lens, Mary Elizabeth Bradford

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of elementary educators working with newcomer students in a Southwest urban school district, with the purpose of identifying culturally proficient strengths that support student belonging and learning. Guided by an interpretive (hermeneutic) phenomenological approach and informed by Appreciative Inquiry, the study centered educators’ meaning-making rather than deficit-oriented perspectives. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five elementary educators serving newcomer students across kindergarten through fifth grade. Analysis followed van Manen’s phenomenological methods and resulted in six interrelated themes: belonging before language; school as a cultural system; language as agency and identity; cultural …

The Seeds Of Empire: Endogenous Influences On The Politics Of Bakumatsu And Meiji Era Japan (1853-1912), Benedict M.D. Talley

History ETDs

In this thesis, I argue the roots of Japanese nationalism, exceptionalism, and imperialism long preceded renewed contact with the West following American Commodore Matthew Perry’s historic 1853 expedition. Rather, late Edo Period (1603-1868) and Meiji Era (1868-1912) intellectuals and political figures looked to and were inspired by endogenous forces, ideologies, and intellectual movements of the Edo Period. Through a synthesis of secondary scholarship and analysis of Bakufu and Meiji Era figures’ writing, I seek to uncover the endogenous influences and de-emphasize western influence on the development of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Japanese nationalism and imperialism.

La Raza In The U.S.-Mexico Borderlands: A Comparative Regional Study Of Mexican American Elite Identity-Making From Texan Independence To The Mexican Revolution, Davis Diego Massey

History ETDs

After the U.S. annexed much of Mexico following the Mexican-American War, Mexicans in the incorporated regions began to think of themselves as a racial group within the U.S. rather than a distinctive nationality. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo promised citizenship rights to all Mexicans in the area. The Treaty promises rarely were put into practice, as they were left up to the enforcement of territories and states. Even where enforced, the rights of citizenship were restricted and defined on the basis of race. Local laws excluded Afro-Mexicans and Mexican Natives from exercising the rights promised by the Treaty. This …

Nuclear Deterrence: Enhancing The Mission Through Smart Factory Predictive Solutions, Jarrod Matthew Ronquillo

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

To meet the stewardship and modernization initiatives set by the Department of Energy new technologies must enter the manufacturing facilities within the nuclear deterrent complex. Predictive solutions begin with collecting data. An equipment health monitoring device was created to streamline data collection and organization for equipment and processes. A predictive and process performance dashboard was developed for a deionized water system. The dashboard used Western Electric statistical process rules and a machine learning regression algorithm to predict when the resistivity would fall out of specification. Lastly, a remaining useful life calculation was developed for all equipment related to nuclear deterrent …

Assessing Uranyl-Specific Dnazymes And Dna-Aptamers For Uranium Binding In Environmentally Relevant Waters, Ashley R. Apodaca-Sparks

Civil Engineering ETDs

The legacy of uranium mining affects many communities in the western United States, resulting in elevated levels of uranium in surface water. The ability to quickly and accurately detect uranium on site in affected communities can lead to real-time water quality analysis that informs risk assessment and remediation efforts. The objective of this work is to advance the application of biosensing technologies for the measurement of uranium in waters affected by mining legacy. The third chapter of this thesis compares ANDalyze by AlpHa Instruments, a commercially available uranium biosensor, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (an EPA-verified method for uranium …

Computational Design Of Peptides And Proteins Through Machine Learning Approaches, Emily J. Hendrix

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Advancements in machine learning have emerged as a pivotal tool in computational biochemistry, offering new advancements to address challenges in protein structure and function. However, current machine-learning approaches offer limited insight in understanding protein dynamics. The purpose of this work is to combine traditional physics-based computational tools, such as molecular dynamics and coarse-grained simulations, with recently developed AI-driven computational tools to bridge gaps and advance the understanding of proteins in both structural and dynamic aspects. I investigated several approaches such as (i) traditional physics-based methods to study protein conformation and ensembles; (ii) identifying a peptide inhibitor for the PICK1 PDZ …

Reassembling Riparian Ecosystems: Stream Restoration Effects On Vegetation, Arthropods, And Aquatic-Terrestrial Connectivity, Katelyn P. Driscoll

Biology ETDs

Riparian areas exist at the aquatic-terrestrial interface and provide disproportionate ecosystem services, yet multiple stressors have degraded these zones globally. Stream restoration seeks to reverse degradation, but rigorous evaluation of treatment effectiveness remains limited. I conducted a before-after-control-impact (BACI) study in the southern Rocky Mountains to evaluate two stream restoration treatments—beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and plug-and-ponds (P&Ps)—across three dimensions of riparian ecosystem response. Using Bayesian analysis, I quantified treatment effects on functional diversity and composition of riparian plant communities. Using generalized linear mixed models, I evaluated restoration effects on riparian arthropod abundance, richness and guild composition across lateral gradients and …

Assessing The Impact Of Multi-Physics Effects On Photovoltaic Module Degradation Using Computational Modeling, James Yuan Hartley

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation describes research to develop and apply multi-physics simulation capabilities using finite element methods to analyze photovoltaic module damage mechanisms. Analyses of full-scale solar modules under mechanical load are presented, including experimental validation against measurements of external deflection and internal strain. Module damage by solar cell breakage and interconnection fatigue are discussed, and the applicability of simplifying analyses using mathematical plate theory is assessed. Detailed sub-module component models undergoing thermal-mechanical stressors are also presented, to identify the design features and materials most influential to stress generation and to assess the representativeness of using sub-module assemblies in accelerated testing. Finally, …

Al-Manfiyun Exiliados: Voices Of The Lebanese Diaspora In Mexican Literature, Mia Del Rosario

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

This thesis explores two key works of Mexican literature published in the late 20^th century in terms of their cultural relevance in the Mexican literary sphere. The novels En el verano, la tierra by Carlos Martínez Assad and Las hojas muertas by Bárbara Jacobs center around the infrequently-explored identities of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico and their Mexican-born descendants through a sociocultural lens, discussing their identity negotiation in the context of 20^th-century Mexico, which was in the process of redefining its national identity after the Mexican Revolution. During this time, people of ethnicities that did not fall into …

A Constructional Approach To Multimodal Linguistic Analysis, Fredy A. Mendieta Rodriguez

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

This dissertation investigates the systematic organization of co‑speech gestures in referential communication, using data from Spanish‑speaking monolinguals and Spanish–English bilinguals. While traditional gesture research treats pointing as a universal phenomenon, the current analyses show that gestural productions display internal phonological patterning and context‑conditioned variability that parallels spoken constructions. Quantitative results demonstrate how referential distance and communicative context (find‑it versus misunderstanding situations) shape the selection of embodied phonological features—handshape, orientation, movement, and beats—revealing consistent associations between form and interactional demands. Qualitative analyses trace how gestural realizations reduce across discourse as shared understanding emerges. A new complexity metric, based on token frequency …

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies And Southwest Cities In The Mexican American Spatial Imaginary, Jorge A. Hernández Jr.

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies and Southwest Cities in the Mexican American Spatial Imaginary examines how Mexican American writers from Tucson, San Antonio, and Albuquerque narrate, critique, and reimagine urban space across the U.S. Southwest in the twentieth century. Integrating literary studies, cultural geography, urban history, and critical regionalism, the project analyzes responses to racialized development, urban renewal, and gentrification that have displaced Mexican American communities from historic downtowns. Moving beyond borderlands and transnational models, it advances a critically regional approach attentive to local histories, municipal policies, and community pressures shaping urban life. Through close readings of creative and nonfiction texts …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Silicon Nitride Microresonator Optical Frequency Combs, Lala Rukh

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Optical frequency combs consist of equidistant optical frequencies and have numerous applications ranging from optical metrology to medical diagnostics. Initially, frequency combs were based on bulky mode-locked lasers, but advancements in integrated photonics enabled the generation of frequency combs in chip-scale resonators (microcombs) using Kerr nonlinearity. These miniaturized systems present various challenges, including increased propagation losses, enhanced thermal effects, and the extension of microcombs to visible wavelengths. In this dissertation, I will focus on addressing these challenges in silicon nitride (SiN) resonators. First, this thesis focuses on the fabrication of high-Q SiN resonators and the impact of fabrication parameters on …

A Quantum Phase Space Description Of Local Noise In Atomic Ensembles, Andrew Kolmer Forbes

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Nonclassicality in quantum sensors can improve sensitivity, but often increases susceptibility to noise. Thus, modeling physically relevant noise sources and analyzing their effect on quantum metrology are both of importance to the field of quantum sensing. In this dissertation, I demonstrate that local noise sources, which are present in almost all many-spin systems, can be tractably modeled when assuming permutation symmetry of the noise, and we show that many common local noise sources can be mapped to a Fokker-Planck equation on quantum phase space. We apply this description of noise to study quantum sensing using noisy probe states and establish …

Optical Nuclear Spin Detection In Diamond And Varifocal Metasurface Optics, Maxwell D. Aiello

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This dissertation presents two experimental investigations at the intersection of quantum sensing and precision optical instrumentation. The primary project demonstrates optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of ¹³C nuclear spins in diamond, using state-selective Landau-Zener transitions under microwave frequency sweeping to bidirectionally transfer spin polarization between nitrogen-vacancy (NV) electron spins and remote ¹³C nuclear spins. This enables optical polarization and readout of large ensembles of polarized nuclear spins at low magnetic fields and room temperature, with spin dephasing times limited by longitudinal relaxation of nearby NV electron spins. The secondary project reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of …