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PETITE ROUGE: A CAJUN RED RIDING HOOD, A SCENIC DESIGN
No full textThe purpose of this thesis is to document the design process for Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood, a musical by Joan Cushing. This musical is based on the children’s book Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood, written by Mike Artell and illustrated by Jim Harris. This production took place at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland, with public performances from December 11, 2024 to February 8, 2025.This thesis contains: research images; sketches; photographs of ¼” scale models; digital renderings; a complete set of drafting plates and paint elevations; research and renderings for built furniture; archival production photos to document the completed design as built; and a reflection on the process
Machine Learning-Based Troubled-Cell Indicators for RKDG Methods
No full textSolving partial differential equations (PDEs) numerically is an ongoing challenge, especially given the complicated PDEs that arise from scientific applications. Hyperbolic conservation laws are a specific type of PDEs arising from physical situations where a quantity such as mass, momentum, or energy is conserved in a fixed volume. However, the solutions to this class of PDEs often develop discontinuities as time evolves. These discontinuities often cause spurious oscillations in the numerical solution, reducing the solver's accuracy. To eliminate spurious oscillations, shock-capturing methods identify the location of discontinuities, labeling them as troubled cells, and smooth the solution in those cells. For this thesis, troubled-cell indicators are examined in the context of the Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin method for hyperbolic conservation laws. Unfortunately, many existing troubled-cell indicators rely on problem-dependent parameters that do not generalize across different initial conditions, conservation laws, or degrees of the solution. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to compare the performance of machine-learning based methods, which are free of problem-dependent parameters, to a selection of existing troubled-cell indicators in a variety of one-dimensional cases. This thesis will discuss the use of support vector machines (SVMs) and decision trees as alternatives to traditional troubled-cell indicators and neural networks (created by Ray and Hesthaven, for example). While neural networks have been successful, their complicated nature inhibits interpretation of the troubled cell decision function. We show that SVMs are competitive with other troubled cell indicators in a variety of conservation law examples and analyze the SVM in comparison to the neural networks of Ray and Hesthaven
Using Divalent siRNA for Targeted Post-Transcriptional Silencing in Huntington’s Disease
No full textHuntington’s Disease (HD) is a progressive, autosomal dominant disorder, which affects psychiatric, motor, and cognitive function. The progression of Huntington’s Disease is divided into 3 stages: presymptomatic, prodromal, and manifest. The age of onset for the disease is 35-44 years. There is currently no treatment or cure for Huntington's disease that alters, regresses, or otherwise reverses the progression of the disease. HD carries an approximately 100% mortality rate upon diagnosis, with most deaths occurring in the middle ages between 50-60 years old.
HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. This repeat expansion leads to the production of mutant Huntingtin protein (mHTT). The mHTT can disrupt important processes involved in protein transport, neuronal signaling, and apoptosis, leading to cell death. HD affects neurons in the cortex as well as in the striatum, affecting mainly medium spiny neurons (MSN) in the striatum.
The treatment for this experiment will be divalent small interfering RNA (di-siRNA). Divalent siRNA is designed to be effectively delivered to target cells to control gene expression. Once injected into the target cells, it degrades mRNA, effectively decreasing the amount of production of the mutant HTT protein.
This experiment uses both wild-type (WT) mice and Q175 mice, of both sexes, to test the effect of divalent small interfering RNA (di-siRNA) therapy on lowering levels of mHTT expression. Both di-siRNA NTC (Non-targeting control) and di-siRNA HTT are used as treatments, which are administered via intracranial injections. The Q175 mouse model of HD mimics the prodromal stage of HD and allows us to study both motor performance and motivation in mice.
The effectiveness of the therapy is being measured using the tapered beam test, 5mm beam test, and open field test, all of which quantify the motor coordination of each mouse. With the experiment ongoing, data from cohorts 1, 2, and 3 suggest nonresponsiveness to the treatment. Based on data collected so far, there may be an alternate mechanism by which HD occurs, but further research is needed to draw definitive conclusions
Barriers and facilitators of access to primary healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees: a systematic review of systematic reviews
No full textBACKGROUND: In 2019, 79.5 million individuals were forcibly displaced, with 38.8 million seeking refuge beyond their home countries. Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and a priority for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention. This umbrella review identifies evidence reporting barriers and facilitators to Primary Health Care (PHC) access for asylum seekers and refugees. METHODS: A comprehensive search of previously published systematic reviews focusing on refugee and asylum seeker populations in primary or community health care settings from 2012 to 2025 was conducted on February 27, 2025. Ten databases were searched [ xxxx - add names of some if wording permits]. Exclusion criteria included primary studies, non-systematic reviews, hospital or tertiary care-based studies, and gray literature. RESULTS: Out of 404 records screened by title and abstract, 95 full-text articles were assessed, and 18 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 83.3% (15/18) were conducted in high-income countries. Reported regions of origin for asylum seekers and refugees included South and Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. 27.8% (5/18) reviews focused exclusively on women; 72.2% (13/18) assessed access to physical healthcare (preventive, maternal, dental, cancer, medication, pharmacy services), and 27.8% (5/18) assessed access to mental healthcare. No reviews focused exclusively on children or reported barriers and facilitators to vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings highlight evidence gaps in PHC access for asylum seeker and refugee children and women, particularly regarding communicable disease prevention and mental health. Future research can identify evidence-based practices to reduce health disparities and improve PHC access for marginalized populations, aligning with UNHCR priorities
JAZZING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY: THE IMPROVISATION MINDSET AS AN INTERVENTION
No full textTask uncertainty—the unpredictability of task inputs, processes, and outcomes—often leads to adverse consequences, such as impaired decision-making and reduced task performance. Because uncertainty makes individuals feel like they are losing control (Matta et al., 2017), individuals usually react to it with control-maintaining strategies, such as seeking information. In the present study, I draw from arts (jazz music/improv theatre) and improvisation literature, then build on appraisal theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) to propose that an improvisation mindset—an approach that involves giving up some active control—can be a counterintuitive but potentially highly effective approach to dealing with task uncertainty. Specifically, I hypothesize that an improvisation mindset (triggered by situational interventions developed in this research) can help individuals see uncertain tasks as more of a challenge and less of a hindrance, thus improving their task performance. Three main studies (and six supplemental ones) provide evidence for my hypotheses, demonstrating both the effectiveness and distinctiveness of the improvisation mindset. I discuss the contributions to the literature on uncertainty, appraisals, and improvisation at the workplace, as well as future research
Speeding Up Density Functional Theory Calculations With Machine Learning: A Density Learning Approach
No full textThe electronic structure of molecules and materials determines chemical reactivity. If we could only compute it accurately and efficiently, we could accelerate molecular research and help solve some of society's biggest problems. One prominent approach to electronic structure is Density Functional Theory (DFT), at the heart of which are the Kohn-Sham (KS) equations. These equations are a nonlinear eigenvalue problem of the form H[rho] Psi = E Psi, where H is a real symmetric matrix called the Hamiltonian, Psi is an eigenvector called the wave function, E is an eigenvalue called the energy, and rho is a real-valued field called the charge density, which is unknown a priori. In this thesis, we investigate the use of machine-learning models for reducing the amount of computation to solve the KS equations. Our strategy is to develop models to predict the charge density using equivariant graph-neural-networks. We show on materials and molecules that our method may obtain highly-accurate results leading to computational savings, sometimes obtaining chemical accuracy, commonly defined to be 1 kcal/mol, using a single step of KS-DFT. Our results demonstrate that density learning is a reliable means of speeding up DFT computations
眼勢 (OCULARFORCE)
No full text眼勢 (ocularforce) follows gyopo, a Korean Jewish singer, journeying with his mother to small-town South Korea after a death in the family. Composed of two long poems, AMERICAN SIJO and just azn:, the collection navigates between the edges of memory and sound, ruminating the mute violence of familial separation and its effects within a situation of diaspora. Working in conversation with Shantal Jeewon Kim’s “exclusionary poetics” and Brandon Som’s “circuity of language,” 眼勢 (ocularforce) explores how words–with their homonyms, synonyms and miscommunication– can forge connections across barriers, as well as isolate, relegate and confound. AMERICAN SIJO, which opens the collection, adapts the classical Korean song form (sijo) into a colloquial tongue riddled with Hangul, Hebrew, Hanja/Classical Mandarin, slang, romanizations and faulty translation. Whereas other English language sijo sought to preserve regular, rhythmic pace—AMERICAN SIJO both breaks with and reinforces the practice’s tradition, considering Korean music theory (specifically regarding change in tempo; beat), as well as the disregarded history of improvisational and extemporaneous sijo. just azn: is a lyric essay narrating the racialized experiences of a restaurant worker in the wake of AAPI violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dotted with concrete forms illustrating the confinement of imposed racial marcation, just azn: challenges the reader to gloss its incessant racial epithets—rendering illegible the speaker crying out from within the textual monolith
MOST VALUABLE PERPETRATOR: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF RACE, LEAGUE, AND MARKET VALUE ON CONSEQUENCES FOR ATHLETES PERPETRATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
No full textThis dissertation examines gender-based violence in sport through a sociological lens, integrating theories of hegemonic masculinity, racial capitalism, and institutional power to explore how race, organizational policies, and market value impact the consequences received by athletes committing gender-based violence. Using a three-paper model, this dissertation analyzes (1) racial disparities in consequences administered to athletes for committing gender-based violence, (2) the differential administration of consequences across sporting organizations and the role of organizational policies in shaping consequences, and (3) how an athlete’s market value impacts the likelihood of experiencing a consequence. The findings highlight the racialized nature of consequences in sports, demonstrating that there is a higher percentage of Black athletes that experience a consequence for committing gender-based violence as compared to their white counterparts. The MLB, MNBA, and NFL all administer consequences differently and have changed the ways they administer consequences after a personal conduct policy is instituted. Additionally, this dissertation introduces the Market Value Index, a novel framework quantifying the market value of athletes, estimating their financial worth. Considering the market value of NFL players revealed that as an athlete’s market value increases, the probability of facing consequences decreases. These findings underscore the systemic inequalities embedded in sports institutions, where financial and racial considerations intersect to determine consequences. By situating these patterns within broader abolitionist and sociological frameworks, this dissertation argues for structural changes that move beyond carceral solutions, advocating for institutional accountability mechanisms that prioritize survivor-centered approaches to justice
DEVELOPMENT & APPLICATION OF HYPERSONIC BOUNDARY LAYER TRANSITION PREDICTION & ANALYSIS TOOLS
No full textAccurate prediction of boundary layer transition remains a fundamental challenge in hypersonic aerodynamics, where early transition can dramatically increase thermal loads and drag. This dissertation presents the development and application of a suite of advanced computational tools to simulate and analyze transition mechanisms in high-speed boundary layers in a variety of geometries and flow regimes.
At the core of this work is a novel high-fidelity framework that combines an Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) with Adaptive Mesh Refinement and Wave Packet Tracking (AMR-WPT). The resulting IBM-AMR-WPT solver enables efficient and robust simulation of the nonlinear disturbance field over complex, fully three-dimensional geometries without the need for body-fitted meshes. This approach retains all nonlinear terms in the governing equations and leverages adaptive mesh refinement to track evolving wave packets, offering significant computational savings compared to traditional Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS).
Complementing the IBM-AMR-WPT methodology, a Time Spectral (TS) solver is also adapted to high-enthalpy flows, validated against experiments and employed to study the effects of transpiration cooling on boundary layer transition. The TS approach, based on a harmonic balance formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, is particularly well-suited for capturing periodic or quasi-periodic disturbance evolution in the linear regime. It provides a powerful alternative to classical Linear Stability Theory (LST) and Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE), especially for configurations where global receptivity and mode interactions are of interest.
The combined framework is validated against canonical two- and three-dimensional test cases and then applied to a series of increasingly complex configurations, including finned cones, wavy walls, and the Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) experiment geometry. The tools are further extended to study particle-induced transition and the impact of transpiration cooling on flow stability. In each case, the simulation framework successfully captures key stages of transition: from receptivity, through linear and nonlinear instability growth, to eventual breakdown to turbulence.
The methods and results presented in this dissertation significantly advance the state of the art in transition prediction and provide new physical insights into hypersonic boundary layer behavior. The flexibility, accuracy, and computational efficiency of the tools developed make them valuable assets for both fundamental research and practical aerospace vehicle design
A PLACE TO STAY: BUILDING WITH COMMUNITY NOT OVER IT
No full textHow can infrastructure respond to discrimination, unhealthy living conditions, and community disinvestment–without triggering displacement? Gentrification and inequitable urban renewal displace vulnerable populations, dissolve cultural identities, and reduce access to safe, supportive spaces, perpetuating cycles of inequality. This thesis explores how infrastructure can advance equitable urban development through three themes: inclusive development, empowerment, and resiliency. Through interdisciplinary research, expert consultations, and community engagement in Langley Park, Maryland, the project identifies strategies that promote community stability while addressing systemic inequities in the built environment. Guided by five core principles–healthy living, diversity, flexibility, identity, and environmental awareness–the design proposes a phased, people-centered development model anchored by Market Street and a resilience hub. Market Street supports economic mobility and entrepreneurship, while the hub provides layered systems of care, connection, and recovery for daily life and times of disruption. All programmatic elements are shaped by community priorities and tested through developed personas. The result is a replicable approach to equitable urban regeneration, demonstrating how infrastructure supports inclusion, continuity, and resilience, without displacing communities