Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Startups’ Early Adoption Of Digital Platforms And Startups’ Pre-Money Valuation, Bader Hassan Faqeeh

Dissertations

The objective of this study was to explore whether there was a significant positive relationship between startups’ early adoption of the digital platforms, namely, 1) mobile application, 2) a premium domain name website, and 3) the existence of active startup social media accounts, and startups’ pre-money valuation. To achieve this objective, this research used a relatively novel method in entrepreneurial research to collect data, whereby LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator was used along with an automation tool in order to send hundreds of automated connection and message requests to investors on LinkedIn who were sent a copy of the survey questions along …

First Principles Investigation Of Energy Harvesting Materials For Green Environment, Mehreen Javed

Dissertations

The cutting-edge research of materials enables the discovery of novel energy harvesting materials. In this project the structural, electronic, magnetic, thermodynamic, thermoelectric, and optical properties of different energy harvesting materials are studied. The main objective of this work is primarily to study thermoelectrically efficient half-heuslers and photovoltaically active perovskites. Variant schematics of innovative compounds with defect introduction are investigated. The compositionally altered compounds designed by introducing crystallographic defects in terms of substitutional or interstitial dopants, offer new trends of material properties. To accomplish the task, Density Functional theory based computational packages (VASP and Wein2K) are used. Using defect and strain …

The Role Of School–Community Collaboration In The Inclusive Education Practices Concerning Students With Special Educational Needs In Public And Private Schools In Abu Dhabi, Hamdah Jibar

Dissertations

Strong school-community partnership has been found to play a critical role in the implementation of inclusive education. This dissertation investigates the multifaceted role of school–community collaboration in inclusive education (IE) practices for students with special educational needs (SENs) in Abu Dhabi’s public and private schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Over the past two decades, the UAE government has intensified its efforts to enhance the realm of special education, aiming to improve Students with SEN’s social, cognitive, and academic outcomes. National attention to these practices aligns with the broader aspiration to establish an inclusive and equitable society. In UAE, …

Biological Seawater Desalination Using Green Algae And Cyanobacteria, Abdul Mannan Zafar

Dissertations

Water shortage in many coastal parts of the world is reaching alarming situation, including the United Arab Emirates. Urbanization and rapid population growth are generating critical water demands with an increase in per capita consumption. Seawater is usually treated by membrane processes such as Reverse Osmosis (RO). However, this technology is energy intensive and generates excessive brine as a waste. The solution to this problem can be found in natural remediation techniques that can reduce salt concentration from seawater, such as halophytes. A salt-tolerant species can consume Na⁺ and Cl^- ions and increase cellular growth which is termed …

A Novel Multi-Model Patient Similarity Network Driven By Federated Data Quality And Resource Profiling, Alramzana Nujum Navaz

Dissertations

Smart and Connected Health (SCH) is revolutionizing healthcare by leveraging extensive healthcare data for precise, personalized medicine. At its core, SCH relies on the concept of patient similarity, which involves the comparative analysis of newly encountered patients with those who exhibit comparable similarities from the existing patient cohort. Yet, this approach faces significant challenges, including data heterogeneity and dimensionality. Our research introduces a multi-dimensional Patient Similarity Network (PSN) Fusion model tailored to handle both static and dynamic features. The static data analysis focuses on extracting contextual information using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), while dynamic features are captured through …

Assessing Preschool Children In Uae: Development Of The Preschool Autism Checklist (Pac) For Teachers, Omniah Gharib Alqahtani

Dissertations

This study aims to develop a new assessment tool for teachers to recognize and evaluate early signs of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in preschool children in the UAE. The study also discussed the cultural characteristics of the Gulf region and their impact on ASD. The available ASD instruments may be unclear in language and difficult to understand for regular teachers. However, a Preschool Autism Checklist (PAC) has been developed that is specifically tailored to the sociocultural norms of the Arab Gulf Countries. The ASD symptoms were taken from the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) as a reference source, while ASD scales incorporated …

Characterization And Structural Shear Behavior Of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Beams Reinforced With Basalt Fibers And Basalt Bars, Shahrukh Shoaib Ul Haq

Dissertations

Recycling construction waste material offers a sustainable solution to the problem of disposing of concrete construction and demolition waste. The use of basalt fibers (BF) and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) reinforcing bars in concrete structures made of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) would prolong their service life and reduce the maintenance cost. This research aims to investigate the potential use of BF, RCA, and BFRP reinforcing bars to produce sustainable and steel-free structural concrete. The study consisted of material characterization testing, numerical simulation, and large-scale beam testing.
/="/">Material characterization tests were performed on normal-strength concrete (NSC) and high-strength concrete (HSC). …

Electrical, Optical, And Thermal Properties Of Snse Based Materials With High Thermoelectric Performances, Najwa Qasem Al Bouzieh

Dissertations

This thesis conducts a thorough exploration of the characteristics and prospective applications of Tin Selenide (SnSe), a pivotal semiconductor for advancing contemporary electronics and optoelectronics. The investigation mainly focuses on comprehending the alterations in SnSe's properties when doped with elements such as Hafnium, Zinc, Bismuth, Germanium, Sodium, Iodine, and Silicon. 2D-SnSe allotropes, when doped with Hafnium, have exhibited remarkable optical characteristics, especially in the δ-SnSe allotrope, rendering it adaptable for varied optical uses like solar cells and LEDs. Additionally, evaluations of elasticity show improved resilience and augmented in-plane stiffness owing to Hf doping, occasionally reducing ductility. The work uniquely emphasizes …

Control Methods For Maximizing Power Absorption And Grid Integration In Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters, Abdin Yousif Elamin

Dissertations

Wave energy is an emerging renewable energy source with great potential attributable to its consistent availability and high energy density. Technologies responsible for harnessing this form of energy are referred to as wave energy converters (WECs), among which point absorbers (PAs) are a notable subcategory. Unfortunately, the unpredictable and variable nature of waves, coupled with their complex hydrodynamics, has hindered PAs from achieving maximum wave energy absorption. Moreover, the inherent variability in wave energy leads to fluctuations in the power output of PAs. These power fluctuations pose challenges for grid integration, which requires power quality compatible with grid code standards. …

Assessing Small And Medium Enterprises’ Innovation Capabilities Within A Rapid Economic Transformation: An Empirical Study In Saudi Arabia, Mohanad Jabreel Aboudayah

Dissertations

The theory of dynamic capability posits that environmental uncertainty and organizational flexibility drive the growth of innovation capability at the firm level. Environmental uncertainty is the inability of the firm to quickly and accurately forecast changes in economic conditions. Building innovation capability can mitigate environmental uncertainty and enable the firm to gain a competitive advantage by innovating continually in response to evolving circumstances. Organizational flexibility, a key element of the firm’s managerial capabilities, is necessary but not sufficient to attenuate environmental uncertainty. Organizational flexibility enables the firm to identify and assess emerging opportunities, but pursuing those opportunities requires innovation capability. …

A Data-Efficient Approach For Effective Diagnosis Of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy From Echocardiography Modality, Moomal Farhad

Dissertations

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is a medical condition characterized by the thickening and enlargement of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart. Accurate and timely diagnosis of LVH is vital for clinical prognosis and treatment decisions. Echocardiography has emerged as the gold standard for diagnosing LVH due to its ability to independently predict long-term risks such as heart failure and stroke. Echocardiography, a non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technology, is instrumental in assessing various aspects of heart health. Among the critical diagnostic calculations made possible by echocardiography, the determination of ejection fraction and heart chamber size is paramount in assessing LVH. …

Late Cretaceous Ophiolite Emplacement And Cenozoic Collisional Tectonics In The Northern Uae: Insights From Broadband Magnetotelluric Data, Biruk Abera Cherkose

Dissertations

The Late Cretaceous obduction of the Semail Ophiolite onto the rifted passive Arabian margin and the Cenozoic collisional tectonics with the final closure of the Neotethys Ocean are major contributors to the present-day crustal architecture of the northern United Arab Emirates. The emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite and the progressive accretion of the underlying thrust sheets onto the previous Arabian rifted margin in the Cenomanian resulted in lithospheric flexure of the Arabian Platform and led to the formation of a Foreland basin adjacent to the mountain belt in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Tectonic stacking of the foreland sediments …

Identification And Functional Characterization Of Two Novel Ring-Type E3 Ligases From Sesuvium Verrucosum, Fayas Thayale Purayil

Dissertations

Drought and salinity pose significant environmental challenges that impact the growth and productivity of plants. Sesuvium verrucosum is a succulent halophyte species of the Aizoaceae family. Halophytes have evolved specialized mechanisms to thrive in saline environments. Studying these adaptations can provide valuable insights into how plants cope with stress, thereby improving the resilience of crops and other plant species to combat salinity stress. In plants, the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) is crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating protein levels, particularly in stress responses. E3 ubiquitin ligases play a major role in identifying targets and transferring ubiquitin to those targets. Among …

2d Materials For Gas Sensors, Biosensors, Photonic, Energy And Information Storage Devices: Dft Study, Wadha Khalifa Al Falasi

Dissertations

2D materials exhibit tremendous properties, such as their tunable band gap, high surface to volume ratio, appropriate carrier mobility, and large Spin-Orbit Coupling, making them promising candidate for applications in optoelectronics, information storage, energy storage, toxic gas sensing, and biomarkers detection. My thesis focuses mainly on Transition Metal Di chalcogenide Monolayers (TMDs ML) for all previously mentioned applications and Mxene (Ti₃C₂T_x) for Lung Cancer (LC) biomarker detection. We have utilized two DFT-based packages: (i) VASP, based on plane-wave basis set, and is worldwide most reliable for probing the electronic and magnetic properties; (ii) ATK, …

Utilization Of The Endophytic Fungus Piriformospora Indica To Improve Salinity Stress Tolerance: An Insight Into The Date Palm’S Transcriptomic And Functional Genomic Approaches, Miloofer Sabeem

Dissertations

Sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions depends on managing soil salinity, which is a major environmental issue and a critical component of sustainable food production. Salinity has a significant impact on date palm growth and physiological functions. Plant growth promoting microbiota has become a viable option to improve plant growth and performance under salt stress. Piriformospora indica is a highly versatile root endophyte in agricultural fields capable of coping with salinity. Its role in increasing abiotic stress tolerance has been reported in several plant species, but not in date palms. This research study investigated the growth, biochemical and molecular …

Predictive Modelling Of Road Deterioration Using An Artificially Intelligent Bayesian Belief Networks Approach, Babitha Elizabeth Philip

Dissertations

The ability to predict road deterioration is the cornerstone for developing a reliable Pavement Management System (PMS) that optimizes pavement maintenance programs. Such prediction capacity becomes increasingly important, especially when highway agency funds are confined. This research focuses on the development of prediction models based on an artificial intelligence technique, Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN), that aid decision-makers in forecasting expected road distress curves on the lights of various (e.g., environmental, traffic, and road-specific) factors and maintenance decisions. The novelty of this research revolves around deploying BBNs which allow analysts to yield Markovian predictions of annual road deterioration based on incomplete …

To Study The Role Of Cb2 Receptor Agonists In Experimental Models Of Diabetes Complications, Hebaallah Mamdouh Hashiesh

Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its associated complications are considered one of the serious risks to contemporary society. Amongst numerous complications, diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by the increased accumulation of lipids, and reduced glucose utilization following abnormal lipid metabolism in myocardium along with oxidative stress, myocardial fibrosis, and inflammation, that eventually results in cardiac dysfunction. The cannabinoid 2 receptors (CB2) have a crucial role in themanagement of obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Provided the role of CB2 receptors in regulating glucolipid metabolic dysfunction, its antioxidative, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, we designed the present study to investigate protective effects and underlying …

Intelligent Computation Offloading In Edge And Cloud Internet Of Vehicles System, Huned Yusufbhai Materwala

Dissertations

The emergence of Internet of Vehicles technology through Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks represents a promising development in the realm of smart city. It empowers the development of smart city applications with a primary focus on improving traffic safety, optimizing traffic flow, and enhancing the overall driving experience. These applications come with demanding quality of service requirements outlined in Service Level Agreements (SLAs). They are communication-intensive, requiring a real-time response, and computation-intensive, demanding high processing. Due to inherent limitations in the computational and storage capacities of vehicles, the system relies on offloading application requests to edge and cloud computing infrastructures. However, the …

Effects Of Adropin On Metabolic Parameters, Oxidative Stress, And Cell Proliferation In Animal Model Of Diabetes Mellitus, Ifrah Ismail Ali

Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health condition that has reached alarming levels, affecting around 537 million of the global adult population. DM is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia with disturbance in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. The proposed therapeutic options for DM are different according to their mechanism of action, and peptide therapy is one of these options. Adropin, a peptide hormone involved in energy homeostasis, has shown promising results in the treatment of diabetes by lowering fasting blood glucose, reducing insulin resistance, and minimizing fat storage. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that adropin is engaged …

Aerodynamic & Aeroacoustic Performance Of Wind Turbine Blades Featuring Enhanced Flow-Control, Md Zishan Akhter

Dissertations

Wind energy, being one of the cleanest and most sustainable sources, has undergone remarkable growth in recent years due to advancements in aerodynamics and increased power output. The research community is actively pursuing the development of cutting-edge solutions to further optimize wind turbine technology, ensuring its maximum efficiency and revolutionizing the landscape of wind power.
/="/">This research aims to design and develop flow-control devices for wind turbine blades, employing both active and passive control mechanisms, namely morphing trailing-edge and slot-profile, respectively. The objective is to enhance wind turbine performance across a wide range of wind speeds. The morphing trailing-edge …

Characterization Of The Probiotic Properties Of Yeast Strains Isolated From Different Food Sources And Unraveling The Potential Nutritional Benefits Of Fermented Date Palm Pomace With Selected Probiotic Candidates: Untargeted Metabolomics And Carbohydrate Metabolites Of In Vitro Digested Fraction, Nadia Al Kalbani

Dissertations

The use of agricultural by-products, including date palm pomace (DPP), presents a promising opportunity for advancing sustainable food production. By fermenting DPP with novel probiotic yeast candidates, the bioactive properties of the by-product can be enhanced, potentially yielding health benefits. This dissertation aimed to (1) isolate yeast from fermented food products as well as to characterize their probiotic properties; (2) investigate the physiochemical properties of fermented DPP by selected yeast isolates; (3) evaluate the health benefits of non-fermented and fermented DPP samples both pre and post-digestion (bioaccessible portions); and (4) analyze the untargeted metabolites and carbohydrates metabolites in the bioaccessible …

Automation Of Crack Detection And Quantification In Civil Infrastructure Facilities Using Deep Learning Techniques, Luqman Ali

Dissertations

Cracks are the earliest signs of structural deterioration that reduce the lifespan and reliability of structures and can lead to severe damage. Assessment and monitoring of the facilities are required for lifetime maintenance and failure prediction. Structure condition information can be obtained manually, i.e., through subjective visual inspection and evaluation by human experts. Manual inspection techniques are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inspector-dependent, i.e., vulnerable to the inspector’s perceptiveness. Automatic crack detection is crucial at the earliest stage to avoid further structure degradation and allow fast intervention. Deep Learning algorithms have become more popular in crack detection systems in recent years. However, …

Not All Best Practices Result In Best Performances: Two Empirical Studies Of Online Accounting Education, Mark Sanders

Dissertations

Exploring the impact of specific pedagogical strategies in online accounting education on student learning outcomes is central to this research. This two-study dissertation focuses on the influence of course delivery methods on student performance and the mediating function of accounting efficacy. A diverse sample of accounting and business students was quantitatively analyzed to determine the relationship between course structure, classroom justice, students’ motivation and their accounting efficacy, applicability of learned material, and final grades. Even though certain teaching practices were advantageous, the combination of these practices did not always lead to improved student performance, according to the findings. Significant determinants …

Restricted Powers, Special-Purpose Districts, And Path Dependence: Economic Graveyards In Downstate Illinois, Bethany Behrhorst

Dissertations

Property taxation in the United States is a critical issue warranting examination because it involves the directed distribution of government costs and benefits for citizens. The central question exists: Why are Illinois’ property taxes so high? Path dependence was explored as a theory to explain Illinois’ property tax reliance issues, asserting that as local governmental units in the State face budget limitations, they find alternative revenue streams. For example, restricted powers could lead to the development of quasi-governments, which are known as special-purpose districts. In such cases, once general-purpose municipalities charter a course by creating special-purpose districts, it is difficult …

Student Retention Through Decision Making And Withdrawal: The Importance Of Course Scheduling In Higher Education, Danielle Faucett

Dissertations

Student retention is a fundamental issue in higher education, with student decision-making and withdrawal at the forefront of examining that issue. Previous research has shown that personal factors are not easily addressed, but institutional factors, such as the course scheduling process, can be modified. This research study examined how the course schedule can influence degree-seeking students at a state-funded, 4-year institution by exploring the correlation between class standing and the importance of how courses are scheduled, the correlation between class standing and the ability to register for a required course, and what factors predict a student’s decision to withdraw from …

The Influence Of Attachment Styles And Mental Health Symptoms On Marital Satisfaction Among Deployed Us Army Soldiers, Leo Mora

Dissertations

Since 2002, changes in the frequency, duration, and nature of military campaigns overseas have piqued efforts to understand the effects of deployment on the mental health of DoD service members, especially married Army soldiers. However, few studies have examined the influence of attachment styles on the emotional health of combat veterans and the wartime impact they have also imparted to their spouses. Thus, in the context of military deployments, this study examines how secure/insecure attachment styles, posttraumatic stress (PTS), and depressive symptoms significantly influence married soldiers and their perceptions of marital satisfaction. In addition, this study also examines pre-existent, internalized, …

A Narrative Analysis Of Spiritual Coping In Individuals With Terminal Heart Failure, Clayton C. Clark

Dissertations

Approximately 6 million Americans have heart failure with treatment costs estimated at $30.7 billion annually. Those in late stages of the disease experience profound physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. Spiritual wellbeing has been linked to quality of life as well as mental and physical health in patients with heart failure. While holistic nursing care promotes spiritual coping, barriers exist. Currently, nursing lacks theory to explain spiritual coping processes in patients with heart failure, which leaves nurses ill-equipped to promote spiritual wellbeing in providing care to patients. In this study, I employed open-ended interviewing and narrative analysis techniques to gain a …

Beyond Prognosis Communication: Exploring The Existential Dimensions Of Palliative Care Conversations With Adults With Advanced Cancer, Elise C. Tarbi

Dissertations

Communication about prognosis is integral to effective palliative care. However, prognosis communication often entails considering mortality, which can trigger existential questions. We understand very little about how existential experience is communicated in palliative care conversations. To fill this gap, this dissertation addresses the following aims: (1) Clarify the concept of the existential experience within the context of adults with advanced cancer (Chapter 2); (2) Describe how patients, families, and clinicians communicate about existential experience in palliative care conversations (Chapter 3); and (3) Explore the intersection between prognosis communication and existential dimensions of conversation (Chapter 4).

The Lived Experience Of Afghan Women Refugees In Three Metropolitan Areas Of The Southeastern Us: A Phenomenological Study, Brenda Brown

Dissertations

The global refugee crisis has reached epic proportions. Statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported that in 2015 a record 65.3 million people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced, either within their native countries or as asylees and refugees. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest number of outgoing refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the continuum the United States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled refugees from all countries, including Afghanistan. The refugee experience is fraught with challenges …

Understanding The Unique Needs, Experiences And Strategies Used By Icu Nurses To Be Resilient During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Teenu Xavier

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs), leading to a significant impact on their mental and psychological well-being. Despite these challenges, resilience is recognized as a protective factor for ICU nurses that can enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals and enable them to cope effectively with stressors and challenges. But there is a gap in the literature about the experiences, unique needs, and resilience strategies used by ICU nurses in the United States (U.S.).

The purpose of this dissertation research was to complete three interrelated projects in order to gain a better understanding …