Digital Commons Network^™

Therapeutic Role Of Bioactive Peptides Derived From Hemoglobin, Priya Antony Pereppadan

Dissertations

Bioactive peptides are peptide fragments derived from the proteolytic cleavage or maturation of functional proteins that have shown promising therapeutic potential in addressing major health challenges, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and pain management. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or utilization. There are several therapeutic targets for managing diabetes, and one key target is dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) due to its role in glucose metabolism. In hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) is critical for regulating blood pressure by forming angiotensin II, and its inhibition represents an established treatment strategy. Additionally, the …

Development Of Al Ain Flash Flood Risk Maps\ Utilizing High-Resolution And Accurate Remote Sensing Data, Khaled Khamis Al Arfati

Dissertations

Al Ain City has undergone significant land use transformations from 1992 to 2022, marked by a population increase of over 50% and extensive development activities. This period has seen the construction of new residential areas, infrastructure, and commercial establishments, as well as enhancements to green spaces. An analysis of the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) revealed an 83% alteration in the terrain due to urbanization and shifting sand dunes, with most elevation changes under 5 meters.

The primary aim of this dissertation is to develop accurate flash flood risk maps for

Al Ain using high-resolution remote sensing data. This research highlights …

The Epidemiology Of Major Congenital Anomalies In The United Arab Emirates: The Mutaba'ah Study, Hiba Mahdi Adam

Dissertations

Major Congenital Anomalies (MCAs) are significant contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. The absence of clear baseline prevalence data for MCAs hinders the development of targeted interventions to mitigate their burden. Furthermore, studies on adverse obstetric and birth outcomes in pregnancies complicated by MCAs are scarce, emphasizing the need for research to enhance management strategies. This dissertation aimed to: (1) estimate the live birth prevalence of perinatally diagnosed MCAs and describe study population characteristics by MCA status, (2) investigate the impact of MCAs on fetal presentation and delivery mode, and (3) investigate the impact of MCAs on preterm and low …

Measurement Of Groundwater And Contaminant Fluxes In Fractures Using A Combined System Of Passive Flux Meter And Multiport Sampler, Qasim Raza Khan

Dissertations

Groundwater and contaminant movement in fractured rock aquifers is highly variable. Its dependence on fracture apertures and orientation as well as fracture network interconnectivity is not well understood. This poses a challenge to the measurement of groundwater and contaminant fluxes, especially when using open-hole techniques, which significantly alter natural flow conditions by connecting different fractures along an open borehole or a well. Hence, downhole techniques to directly measure groundwater fluxes and map fractures' locations, orientations, and apertures are considered valuable tools. In this work, the use of Fractured Rock Passive Flux Meter (FRPFM) with invisible tracer and visible dye component …

From Microplastic Impact To Biodegradation Solutions: Investigating Microplastic Pollution, Microbial Responses, And Efficacy Of Synthetic Microbial Consortia In Plastic Degradation, Rener Sahot De Jesus

Dissertations

Plastics, including microplastics, pose significant environmental threats due to their widespread presence and harmful ecological effects. This dissertation present three distinct, yet interconnected studies. First, a study on microplastic contamination in urban recreational parks was conducted in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Results showed that low-density microplastics were present in 87% of soil samples, with spectroscopic analysis identifying synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Additionally, these microplastics were found to negatively affect soil pH and moisture levels, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring and management strategies. Second, the effects of ground microplastics on Photobacterium leiognathi strains, a marine luminous …

Overcoming Motor Imagery Bci Illiteracy: Adaptive Decoding And Knowledge Transfer In Eeg-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces, Zaid Shuqfa

Dissertations

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), also known as brain–machine interfaces (BMIs), enable direct communication between the brain and external devices without the involvement of peripheral nerves or muscles. Among various BCI paradigms, motor imagery (MI)–based BCIs are particularly appealing due to their intuitive, cue-independent nature, allowing users to issue control commands at will. MI–BCIs hold substantial promise for improving the quality of life of individuals with motor impairments, as well as enhancing hands-free control for healthy users. However, their widespread adoption remains limited by challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio, inter- and intra-subject variability, and the need for frequent calibration. These challenges …

Exploring The Relationships Between G2g, G2e And G2c E-Government Interactions And Organizational Readiness For Citizen Centricity In The Uae Government: Organizational Culture As A Moderator, Esam Al Sayed Ahmed

Dissertations

The UAE has topped the e-Gov development rankings globally over the last two decades. But during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain problems befell the model of e-Gov, like no coherent strategy, inconsistencies in digital practice, inadequate collaboration, the lack of mechanisms for innovation, poor digital talent, and concerns with public trust. After the pandemic, the government released its digital strategy (2021-2025) as part of the rapid recovery plan to stimulate the economy and society. The strategy aimed at increasing sustainability and innovation and putting citizens first. Yet, the strategy can be improved in regard to how prepared government …

Nonparametric Finite Mixture Of Ising Graphical Models, Manal Hamadi Alloqmani

Dissertations

Statistical applications in fields such as bioinformatics, genomics, speech processing, image processing, and communications often involve large-scale models in which thousands or millions of random variables are linked in complex ways. Graphical models provide a general methodology for approaching these problems, and indeed many of the models developed by researchers in these applied fields are instances of the general graphical model formalism. This formalism gives a nice framework for capturing complex dependencies among the random variables and building a large-scale model for high-dimensional data. Recently, high-dimensional data are more assumed to come from one population and follow a parametric or …

Resilient Learning For Anomaly Detection In Smart Living Systems, Sahar Abedzadeh

Dissertations

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) rely on anomaly-based detection methods to ensure the integrity and security of critical infrastructures such as smart grids, smart water metering systems, and advanced metering infrastructures (AMI). Anomaly detection methods are commonly used to identify deviations from normal system behavior by establishing learned profiles and thresholdbased distinctions between benign and anomalous events. However, conventional frameworks often fail to account for adversarial data poisoning attacks, unlabeled unsafe events, and environmental noise—factors that distort training data, degrade detection accuracy, and increase false alarms. This dissertation proposes a resilient learning framework that mitigates these biases by integrating quantile regression, M-estimation …

Utilizing Drainage Induced Pfas Enrichment In Cascade Generated Foam For Efficient Removal At Wastewater Treatment Plants, Ethan Samuel Coffin

Dissertations

Observed trends in municipal solid waste landfills reveal a distinct disparity between per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) composition entering in waste, mostly as diPAP and FTOH, and leaching out as FTCA and PFCA. These patterns are elucidated by compiling PFAS compositions in paper, textiles, and carpet, with known precursor transformations that generate FTCA and PFCA in leachate. Landfill leachate is commonly discharged to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which are ineffective at degrading PFAS and only serve as key conduits and discharge points for PFAS to the environment. Foam fractionation has been identified as a promising technology for concentrating and …

Techniques For Enabling Advanced Adas Features: Operation In Inclement Weather And Use Of Infrastructure Information, Parth Kadav

Dissertations

Modern vehicles have undergone a transformation with the widespread integration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology becoming the new standard and are set to be mandated by the by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for all passenger vehicles and light trucks. ADAS features have proven to prevent or mitigate crashes by either alerting or assisting the driver. ADAS typically utilizes a forward-facing camera, which comes standard in modern vehicles to provide limited automation features such as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Lane Centering Assist (LCA) to improve driver safety. These systems rely on the assumption that vehicle …

Emission Behavior At The Single Emitter Scale From A Porous Media Ionic Liquid Ion Source, Thomas Victor Kerber

Dissertations

Ionic liquid ion sources (ILIS) are being developed as one solution to fill a technology gap in low power, high efficiency, high specific impulse space propulsion systems. With a sufficiently intense electric field applied between an emitter electrode and an extractor electrode, charged particles are extracted from the fluid surface and accelerated out of the thruster. In this work, three experimental campaigns examine emission behavior of a single emitter ILIS made of porous material that allows passive propellant feed via capillary action of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI-BF₄).

Repeated measurements of the emitter and extractor current as …

Data-Driven Decision Making For Quality Control In Foundry Applications, Ronit Shetty

Dissertations

In the transformative landscape of Industry 4.0, advanced quality control in manufacturing demands innovative methods for processing and analyzing datasets. This dissertation presents a comprehensive study on leveraging high volume data and machine learning to enhance decision making in the foundry industry. The research explores three crucial challenges in the foundry industry: predicting surface roughness, monitoring refractory coating thicknesses, and comparing feature extraction techniques for surface quality classification. The findings underscore the transformative potential of integrating advanced feature engineering techniques and machine learning into manufacturing quality control.

The first of the three challenges introduces a framework that integrates digital images …

A Multiple Case Study Of Four-Year Public, Non-Flagship Universities: Meeting Common Institutional Goals Of Increased Enrollment And Academic Profile, Alicia Kornowa

Dissertations

For several reasons, the number of students seeking and enrolling in a postsecondary education has started to decline in the United States (U.S.) and the decrease is expected to intensify for the foreseeable future. This trend is cause for concern among higher education enrollment leaders, especially those who serve at institutions not among the most elite universities or without a national brand—the campuses researchers project will have the greatest difficulty maintaining enrollment levels. Using strategic enrollment management (SEM) as an example of general systems theory and systems thinking, this multiple case study explored how four public, four-year, non-flagship institutions increased …

Turbulence And Energetic Ion Production In The Partially Magnetized Hollow Cathode Plume, Margaret Mary Mooney

Dissertations

Hall effect thrusters (HETs) are the most widely used electric propulsion (EP) device for in-space satellite propulsion. EP devices provide high efficiencies for extended mission lifetimes and low thrust for precision maneuvers. The hollow cathode is a critical HET component and undergoes extensive lifetime testing in addition to the lifetime testing of the full HET. Significant density gradients, non-Maxwellian electron behavior, and magnetic fields sufficiently strong enough to magnetize electrons in hollow cathode plumes create favorable conditions for the formation of plasma instabilities, which have an impact on cathode lifetime. Cathode qualification testing is typically conducted independently and includes a …

Administrators’ Lived Experiences Of The Implementation And Teacher Efficacy Of Professional Learning Communities In Rural Title 1 Middle Schools, Jennifer J. Wilson

Dissertations

This study investigates administrators' lived experiences regarding the implementation and efficacy of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in Title 1 rural middle schools in the Southeastern United States. The research aims to provide insights into the organizational dynamics and effectiveness of PLCs in schools serving diverse student populations, particularly those families in economically disadvantaged hardships. Through qualitative methods, including interviews and document analysis, the study explores administrators' experiences, perceptions, and strategies related to the establishment, management, and outcomes of PLCs.

Teachers are constantly pressured to perform well on high-stakes testing, improve their professional practices, and work collaboratively. Over the past 10 …

Investigating The Proviral And Immunogenic Effects Of Sars-Cov-2 Accessory Protein 7a, Grant Michael Hawkins

Dissertations

SARS-CoV-2 and related sarbecoviruses encode a set of accessory proteins (3a, 3b, 6, 7a, 7b, 8, 9b, and 10) that control host responses to infection and promote virus growth. Of these accessory proteins, 7a is set apart by its intracellular localization near coronavirus (CoV) budding sites and its incorporation into secreted virions. Initial studies utilizing a virus-like particle (VLP) system identified significant proviral effects mediated by 7a, but the system lacked the context of an actual CoV infection. To investigate 7a functions during CoV infections, we constructed recombinant Mouse Hepatitis Viruses (rMHV strain A59) that express 7a genes. Comparative infections …

Refinement Of Megakaryocyte Lineage Commitment In Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells During Postnatal And Adult Hematopoiesis, Ryan Michael Mack

Dissertations

Mammalian hematopoiesis ensures the continuous production of specialized blood cells, yet the mechanisms that govern megakaryocyte/erythroid (MK/E) bifurcation remain incompletely understood. While HSPCs sustain all blood lineages, how transient waves of progenitors arise and adapt from fetal to adult stages is less clear. This gap in knowledge limits our capacity to precisely manipulate platelet and red blood cell outputs in both developmental and therapeutic contexts. Using refined gating strategies and various bulk- and single-cell transcriptomics, we dissected the traditional “common myeloid progenitor” and Multipotent Progenitor (MPP) compartment into multiple functionally distinct subsets (C1, C2, C3). Within C1, an ESAM⁺ fraction …

The Role Of Teacher Leaders In Sustaining School Culture During Principal Transitions: A Case Study, Leah Curtright

Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the lived experiences of eight teacher leaders at a public high school navigating rapid principal turnover, with five principals in 36 months. It sought to understand their perceived roles in maintaining school stability, focusing on how they countered adverse effects on culture, morale, and achievement. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with eight teacher leaders. After the interviews were transcribed and codes identified, four themes emerged. The findings were aligned with the frameworks of this study: Eco-leadership, Distributed Leadership, and Teacher Leadership. Findings indicated that teacher leaders actively attempted to mitigate the adverse effects of principal …

Examining Rural High School Students’ Perceptions Toward And Experiences With The Reading Plus Intervention Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Deshonda Wolfe

Dissertations

Reading is the gateway to all other academic skills and across all disciplines of learning. Content courses at the high school level central focus are on reading to learn core curriculum verses learning to read. However, research shows that if students read significantly behind their typical peers, the reading gap widens throughout high school. Learning is stalled, and access to other contents, curriculums, and instructions becomes limited. To address the reading proficiency gap of high school students struggling to read in grade level, school districts have turned to computer assisted interventions programs, such as Reading Plus, to combat the reading …

Anchored Networks: Navigating Formal And Informal Pathways To Access Educational Resources In Transient And Military Families, Lara Ray

Dissertations

This study examines how Navy families in San Diego establish and use formal and informal networks to access educational resources for their children following relocation. Grounded in social capital theory, the research employed a multiple-case study approach, integrating data from interviews, focus groups, and digital analysis of Navy-affiliated social media platforms. The study explores how parents navigate these networks to promote their children’s academic success, with particular attention to key decision-making moments, resource negotiation, and equity considerations. Participants included Navy spouses from diverse ranks (E-3 to O-6) and socioeconomic backgrounds, providing insight into disparities in resource access. Findings reveal that …

A Mixed Methods Design-Based Study Of Effective Supports Provided By School Administrators To Increase Trust Among Special Education Staff, Margaret Dyer

Dissertations

The scholar-practitioner used a mixed-methods design-based study to address the problem of increased teacher attrition in the field of special education. The problem was an urgent issue within the schools the scholar-practitioner supervised as the special education coordinator. The symptoms the scholar-practitioner observed within the problem of practice were a lack of collegiality among staff. The behaviors observed demonstrated that special education teachers were visibly stressed. Due to the critical importance of quality teaching on student success, the scholar-practitioner believed the problem of increased attrition among special educators was urgent. The study took place in St. Louis County, Missouri, where …

Domino Effect: A Case Study On The Impact Of Education Legislation On The Emotions, Self-Efficacy, Job Satisfaction, And Retention Of English Language Arts Teachers In A Rural Middle School, Melinda Palmer

Dissertations

This multiple case study uses the appraisal theory of emotions to examine how Georgia education legislation, the Georgia Parents’ Bill of Rights and Senate Bill 226, impacted the emotional experiences, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction of ELA teachers in a rural middle school. This study also examines how this legislation impacted the retention of ELA teachers at the site school. The study highlights the experiences of 3 veteran teachers who were teaching ELA during the year immediately following the passage of the legislation. The findings indicate that the subsequent procedural changes initiated unpleasant emotional experiences: anger associated with the loss of …

Middle School Teacher Perceptions Of Digital Game-Based Learning In A 1:1 School District, Brennen Knight

Dissertations

This study examines middle school teachers' perceptions of Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) within a 1:1 school district. In this district, each student is provided with a personal digital device. With the increasing integration of technology in education, DGBL has been recognized as a tool that enhances student engagement, fosters differentiated learning, and improves achievement. However, despite its potential benefits, teacher adoption of DGBL varies widely due to personal beliefs, pedagogical challenges, and institutional barriers. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this qualitative multiple-case study explores how middle school teachers perceive, implement, and what …

High School Students' Mathematics Experiences And Mathematics Learner Identities In A Rural Georgia Town: A Qualitative Study Using Autophotography With Photo-Elicitation, Wesley Cooper

Dissertations

This study examines the mathematics experiences (MEs) and mathematics learner identities (MLIs) of high school students in a rural Georgia town, addressing the underrepresentation of rural perspectives in mathematics education through an asset-based lens. Using autophotography with photo-elicitation, ten participants captured images reflecting their MEs, MLIs, and recommendations for improvement. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups along with two mini-cases amplified participant voices, guided by the frameworks of Four Faces of Mathematics Learner Identity (4F), Content Learning and Identity Construction (CLIC), and Critical Rural Theory (CRuT). Findings highlight how rural students’ MEs and MLIs are shaped by both the strengths of …

The Lived Experiences Of Disabled Students In Inclusive Classrooms, Tanner Mizel

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of disabled students in inclusive classrooms, with a focus on those participating in extensive support needs (ESN) programs. Intentionally inclusive of students who communicate through diverse methods, including augmentative and alternative communication devices, picture exchange communication systems, American Sign Language, and other nonspoken forms, this phenomenological case study centers the perspectives of students in one middle school’s ESN program through mobile interviews and reflective document analysis. Student perspectives are triangulated through surveys reflecting the perspectives of parents, guardians, and school staff. Grounded in disability studies in education, this study challenges deficit-based approaches to inclusive …

Enhancing Interoperability In Geospatial Analytics Systems: Navigating Diverse Standards For Optimal Data Integrity, Justin W. Bennett

Dissertations

In this study, we explore the domain of geospatial analytics, focusing on how different geographic information systems (GIS) and technology solutions can better communicate and maximize interoperability. Central to our study is the impact of this interoperability on data integrity, which is critical for accurate decision-making in domains like urban planning, environmental management, and national security. Accurate decision-making requires modeling ecosystems that are easy to comprehend and are often intricate due to their physical or artificial nature and the diversity of geospatial parameters; therefore, it is essential to gather a comprehensive array of spatial and temporal measurements. We examine the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Southern California Charter School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Creating An Inclusive School Culture, Barbara Hale

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the culturally responsive leadership practices that charter school leaders use to create a culture of inclusiveness. A second purpose of the study was to identify and describe the supports and barriers charter school leaders perceive affect the development of a culture of inclusiveness for students. Methodology: This study identified and described the culturally responsive leadership practices implemented by charter school leaders to create a culture of inclusiveness and identify the supports and barriers the leaders perceived to affect the development of the inclusive culture. I interviewed 10 participants …

Adaptive Leadership: Strategies Used By U.S. Navy Command Senior Enlisted Leaders To Build Adaptive Capacity In Times Of Great Change, Derek Wayne King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by U.S. Navy command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of U.S. Navy CSELs. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from the interviews and artifacts were analyzed to identify themes related …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Counselor's Experience Of Breathwork And Its Impact On Their Therapeutic Practice, Jennifer Zúñiga Agüero

Dissertations

Breathwork, a transpersonal and experiential approach to psychotherapy, has been used for healing and transformation throughout the years. When applied in clinical practice, breathwork can serve as a conduit to access nonordinary states of consciousness for self-exploration and transformation. Traditional psychotherapy does not engage with nonordinary states of consciousness as part of the therapeutic process; thus, research in relation to counselors’ experiences of breathwork and their impact on therapeutic practice has yet to be explored.

Counselors’ experiences of breathwork and the influence they have in clinical practice is the phenomena explored in this research study. Exploring counselor experience with a …