Digital Commons Network^™

Ai Chatbots In Uae Government Entities: An Empirical Investigation Of User Adoption And Acceptance Factors, Amna Ali Ghanem Alremeithi

Theses

Artificial intelligence, particularly its chatbot application, has become widely used across diverse sectors, including healthcare, commerce, and banking. Thus, the high traction of these tools led the UAE’s strategic partners to recognize the need to embrace this technology and apply it across its various governmental institutions. As such, this research explores the factors influencing UAE government employees' acceptance and utilization of AI-based chatbots, providing insights into the drivers and barriers to embracing this technology. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model was modified and used as the basis for this quantitative research methodology. The data …

Using Machine Learning To Analyze And Predict Crimes, And Their Impact On Society, Sally Samir Matter Isbaih

Theses

Criminal activity is on the rise everywhere and it refers to an illegal act that is subject to legal penalties. Crimes can range in severity from less serious offenses like traffic infractions and smalltime larceny to more serious ones like murder, robbery, and fraud. While those who have committed such crimes and been adjudged guilty by a court of law are known as criminals. They may lack education, be underprivileged, employed, or unemployed, or they may be wealthy. Add to this, crime may be committed differently depending on a number of variables, including family history, religion, gender, and so on. …

An Examination Of The Privacy Paradox Phenomenon In The Uae Context, Maitha Majdi Al Ahbabi

Theses

The proliferation of technology and the internet has led to the collection and sharing of personal information online. Privacy breaches and data breaches have become a growing concern, leading to the emergence of the "privacy paradox" phenomenon, where by individuals express concerns about privacy, but continue to engage in behaviors that compromise their privacy. Despite the importance of this issue, relatively little research has been conducted in the UAE on the topic of the privacy paradox. This study aimed to investigate the presence of the privacy paradox in the UAE and the factors that motivate individuals to use technologies that …

An Examination Of Bilateral Skill Proficiency And The Impact Of A Coach Mentoring Intervention In A Gaelic Football Development Academy, Kevin Murray

Theses

This programme of research had two aims which organised the research into two distinct phases. Phase one examined differences in bilateral skill proficiency and frequency of use between selected and non-selected Under 17 inter-county male academy Gaelic footballers. Phase two explored the coaching practices of three youth Gaelic football coaches in the same youth Gaelic football academy. In phase one, quantitative data from a bilateral skills test and match play analysis from 82 players which were retrospectively grouped as selected (n=19) and non-selected (n=63) to an Under 17 inter-county team revealed that selected players scored significantly higher than non-selected in …

Affordability Culture In Organizations, Taylor Yeazitzis

Theses

Affordability has been a growing interest in organizations over the years. Though affordability is an ever-present issue within organizations, there is a lack of research surrounding affordability culture as an organizational subculture. The current study aims to close this research gap by identifying organizational aspects associated with affordability in which current organizational practices can be evaluated by organization members. To accomplish this goal, 346 participants from NASA, industry, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville were surveyed to understand the organizational aspects associated with affordability. Results indicated that students tended to evaluate affordability in terms of budgets and funding, whereas …

Total-Ionizing-Dose Effects On Commercial 3-D Nand Flash Memory Chips, Mondol Anik Kumar

Theses

Commercial NAND flash memories are very attractive for space applications, characterized by their compact form factor, low weight, high bit density, and energy efficient performance. Nevertheless, the vulnerability of NAND flash memories to ionizing radiation-induced data corruption through threshold voltage shifts has been a significant concern. This thesis presents a comprehensive examination of total-ionizing-dose (TID) effects on commercial 3-D NAND flash memory through irradiation experiments conducted using a Co-60 source. One of the most intriguing findings of this study is the remarkable resilience displayed by a specific fraction of memory cells to the TID effects. To shed light on this …

A Comparison Of Metabolite Extraction And Data Manipulation Methods For ¹H Nmr Spectroscopy Of Skeletal Muscle Using Chicken Breast Tissue, Hannah Underhill

Theses

¹H NMR has become an incredibly useful tool in the field of metabolomics. Many tissue types may be examined via ¹H NMR in order to obtain a quantitative metabolic profile for an infinite number of phenotypes. In this study, I have tested three methods of metabolite extraction in conjunction with three methods of data analysis, in an attempt to determine which combination of the six methods (if any) are appropriate for extracting aqueous metabolites from skeletal muscle tissue for metabolite description and quantification via ¹H NMR. Metabolite extraction methods tested the use of methanol/ chloroform/ water, methanol/ …

A Case Study Of The 19 March 2018 Northern Alabama Tornadic Supercell And Its Relation To An Atmospheric Bore, Michael Graham

Theses

On 19 March 2018, a tornado outbreak affected Alabama. During this event a supercell that moved over northern Alabama into the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment-Southeast (VORTEX-SE) mesoscale network produced several tornadoes, one of which was high-end EF-2. Preliminary data shows that this supercell storm formed in a buoyantly stable environment. Surface observations of pressure rises indicate the passage of an atmospheric bore. Development of the bore caused the buoyantly stable environment to become buoyantly unstable and led the storm to survive in an environment in which it would otherwise would have been difficult to survive …

The Implications Of Information Load On Usability And Performance In Dashboards, Emily O'Hear

Theses

As learning analytics dashboards become ubiquitous in various industries, understanding how users process data and information is crucial to their design. Previous literature has brought valuable knowledge to dashboard design and cognitive load, but it is unclear how individuals perform with and digest a high or low information load. Tradeoffs are present as a dashboard with a lower information load requires more clicks and a dashboard with a higher information load could lead to information overload. This study presented a data-rich and minimalistic dashboard to active-duty airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base. Results indicated that participants largely preferred the data-rich …

Data In Action Story : Sharing And Exploring Earth Science Data, Dan Pham

Theses

To fill in the gap between the data vendors, who want to promote commercial datasets, and Earth Science researchers, who want an accessible method to the valuable datasets, the “Data in Action” story concept has been adopted by the NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program to encourage creating and sharing data information in story form. To aid researchers in exploring similar stories in their fields of interest, this researcher created an “Influence Network” within the “Data in Action” framework. The Influence Network is a data visualization feature which gathers information related to story relationships using a concept called “influence.” …

The Impact Of Framing Effects And User Role On Analytics Dashboard User Experience, Carly Gray

Theses

This study considered the design and formatting of data visualizations as framing effect catalysts among leader and subordinate Air Force personnel. Gain and loss framing was applied to dashboard prototypes by incorporating colors with known population stereotypes (i.e., red and green) and emphasizing completed or remaining tasks. Users’ performance, preferences, and risk tendency were measured in response. Risk-aversion, performance and preference were expected to be higher in the loss frame for leaders and higher in the gain frame for subordinates. Study results did not fully support the involvement of role with framing effects, and main effects were observed for some …

Large Scale Data Transfers In Cloud-Based Systems, Uday Kumar Bommala

Theses

My dissertation focuses on developing a High-performance, Scalable, and Efficient Data Transfer Framework with Configurable and Extensible Features. The exponential growth of high-volume data poses collaboration challenges for big data providers, particularly in global-scale scientific research. The Earth’s scientific sector experiences an ongoing trend of increasing temporal and spatial data resolution, resulting in massive data archives at organizations like NASA, ESA, and JAXA. To facilitate efficient scientific study with partner agencies worldwide, data transfer solutions must handle this vast data volume across platforms at reasonable costs. The dissertation proposes a 3-phase approach (Analysis, Evaluation, and Implementation) to address the implementation …

Environmental Factors Influencing Selection Of Cave Entrances As Nesting Sites By The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis Phoebe), J. Foster Sims

Theses

The Eastern Phoebe (Saynoris phoebe) is a medium-sized flycatcher found throughout eastern North America that traditionally nested in cave entrance zones. However, with the onset of human civilization and the adoption of man-made structures (e.g., barns, porches, bridges), the Eastern Phoebe’s population has dramatically increased (over 90%) in recent years. There has been little recent research regarding the continued use of cave entrances as nesting sites by the Eastern Phoebe. In this study, I surveyed 50 cave entrances in northern Alabama and south-central Tennessee to determine the environmental factors that influence the use of cave entrances as nesting …

Optical Transmission Of A Moving Fabry-Perot Interferometer, Nazar Pyvovar

Theses

In this thesis, I consider a novel way of using the Fabry-Perot interferometer - one of the most well-known optical instruments, extensively studied for over a century. I propose to use a moving Fabry-Perot cavity as part of a compound interferometer and find the most important implications of such design in the simplest case of uniform Fabry-Perot cavity motion. I separately build a general theoretical framework with which to analyze arbitrarily moving Fabry-Perot cavities and discuss leading-order effects resulting from non-uniform motion.

Assessing Activity Of Iot Smart Stuff Using Inertial Sensors, Juan Tarrat

Theses

Inertial sensors, including accelerometers and gyroscopes, are commonly used for capturing and quantifying motion and orientation data. IoT devices use inertial sensors to detect user activity. In this thesis we present the use of inertial sensors for determining user interactions with smart objects of everyday use, that we refer to as Smart Stuff. We present a novel use of inertial sensor to assess the use and state of the smart water bottle configured as IoT appliance. Staying hydrated is crucial for health and wellbeing; precise monitoring of user hydration is very important for the elderly and patients with chronic conditions. …

Enabling Multi-Modal Enhanced Search Using Self-Supervised Learning On Multispectral Images, Meghana Nagarahalli Paramesh

Theses

Advanced Deep Learning techniques have been widely used in Spatial Data Science specifically with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Petabyte scale data production is occurring due to advances in remote sensing capabilities within the commercial and government sectors. Discovering relevant data for science research and applications can become difficult with large volumes of spatially and temporally diverse data availability. The NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program acquires and archives data from commercial satellite remote sensing vendors. While the underlying observation characteristics may be similar, such as being visible imagery, varying orbital and acquisition strategies result in a disparate data archive. …

On The Existence Of Transversals In Latin Squares Generated From Algebraic Structures, Patrick Eads

Theses

A Latin square in an n x n array of symbols in which each row and each column is a permutation of the n symbols. A selection of n cells from this array that lie on different rows and different columns and contain all n symbols is a transversal of the Latin square. Two longstanding conjectures concern the existence of transversals, Ryser’s conjecture and Brualdi’s conjecture. This thesis examines some of the results that have been achieved in investigating these conjectures, particularly in the cases of Latin squares generated from the Cayley tables of non-associative algebraic structures. A new method …

Method To Determine Refractive Index By Use Of Optical Focal Shift, Michael Burleson

Theses

Documentation for optical polymer refractive indices tend to be listed for one wavelength, λ_d = 587.56 nm, out to only 2 decimal places. Optical glass catalogues generally list index values to 5 decimal places for 10-15 different wavelengths. This thesis describes a new approach to an old method to determine the indices of polymer samples at λ_HeNe = 632.8 nm (HeNe). It begins by introducing methods for measuring refractive index and their limitations. The property of Snell’s Law is then presented and it is shown how, with specific interferometer equipment, to determine the refractive index of a …

Learning To Calibrate Trust Through Explainability, Amber F. Chesser

Theses

Automation has been implemented in a range of machinery. Providing supplementary information about system processes (i.e., explainability) could mitigate over-reliance and enhance operator awareness of potential anomalies. Trust plays a critical role in human- automation collaboration, as over-trust can lead to misuse or over-reliance, while under-trust can result in disuse or the failure to engage automation when it could enhance performance. Dynamic learned trust and situational trust fluctuate during an operator's interaction with a system and can be influenced by the rate of system failures or workload respectively. Design features like explainability can impact perceived usefulness and help users identify …

Using Ml Algorithms To Predict Real Estate Units Valuations In Ajman, Heba Al Yazouri

Theses

This project applies machine learning algorithms to predict the real estate unit’s values in the emirates of Ajman. Adopting machine learning techniques to predict real estate unit prices helps us produce more accurate valuations. It allows us to use historical data that can’t be used in traditional valuation techniques.

Datasets from the Department of Land & Real Estate were used to run an exploratory analysis to explore the most critical factors influencing real estate unit prices in Ajman. It shows that the unit area is the most significant factor affecting Ajman's real estate unit prices. It also shows how the …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Quality Of Homicide Evidence Provided To Law Enforcement, Reilly Calloway

Theses

The present study investigated the perceived quality of homicide evidence provided to law enforcement by the coroner versus medical examiner systems. Respondents (N=15) from county law enforcement agencies in three different Southeastern states that utilize either the coroner, medical examiner, or combination of both systems were presented with a 17-question virtual survey that included questions regarding personal background, educational background, employment history, knowledge of the medical examiner versus coroner systems, and personal experience with one or both systems involving homicide investigations. Participants who resided in the state that utilizes the medical examiner system reported mostly negative feedback regarding the collection, …

The Characteristics Of Senior Leadership Teams In High Performing Western Australian Catholic Composite And Secondary Schools, Daniel Michael Groenewald

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore the perceptions of principals, senior leadership team members, and middle leaders regarding the characteristics of senior leadership teams (SLTs) in high-performing Catholic Education Western Australian composite and secondary schools (CCSS). The study investigated the characteristics that enhanced and inhibited SLTs. It explored the resources and professional learning that could improve SLTs and the role of the principal in the SLT. This research is the first study of SLTs in CCSS.

The study's literature review identified six areas of literature that formed the conceptual framework of this thesis. These six areas were: the …

The Perceptions Of Year 5 And 6 Students, Their Teachers And The School Principal Of Their Australian Identity And The School's Role In Developing Students' Australian Identity., Renae Nahajski

Theses

The aim of this qualitative research was to investigate the perceptions of Year 5 and 6 students, their teachers and the school principal of their Australian identity and the school’s role in the development of Australian identity. The study explores participants’ perceptions of their own identity and investigates where and when students feel they are taught about Australian identity.

The research also investigates where and when the principal and teachers feel the school develops students’ Australian identity. The review of the literature highlighted three areas that formed the conceptual framework for the study. The three areas were national identity; curriculum; …

Exploring Shear Wave Elastography And B-Mode Ultrasound Measurements As Potential Biomarkers In The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Novel Approach, Shereen Paramalingam

Theses

Background

Ultrasound (US) modalities, shear wave elastography (SWE), B mode US and power Doppler (PD) show great potential as imaging tools in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), but their utility requires further validation, reliability, and discrimination studies. This data are presented in five result chapters.

Methods

The initial literature review chapters set the foundation for the study. Chapter four assessed the face validity of US by comparing IIM patients and healthy controls. Chapter five aimed to establish criterion validity by comparing US with gold standard techniques. Chapter six and seven were longitudinal studies examining a non-inclusion body myositis (IBM) and IBM …

Improving Care In End-Stage Dementia With The End Of Life Care Assessment Tool For Advanced Dementia: A Multi Method Study, Carolyn Heather Bourke

Theses

Introduction

Often people living with advanced dementia do not receive person-centred palliative care until they are terminal. Two common barriers preventing provision of person-centred palliative care is staff’s uncertainty of dementia severity/stage and insufficient staff training in dementia symptom assessment. Evidence suggests that residential aged care nurses would benefit from gaining access to a measure that can build essential knowledge and skills in identifying advanced dementia symptoms, to ensure that planned care and support is responsive to the needs of the individual. The aims of this project were to develop and validate an advanced dementia symptom measure for use in …

Looking In Jefferson's Mirror: Thomas Jefferson's Evolving Representation In Public History, Julie Spent

Theses

Thomas Jefferson's legacy entertains a high level of debate and controversy. Though he left a dense record of historical documents, the debate surrounding his words and actions has allowed for differing interpretations and representations over time. This study will focus on Jefferson's representations in public history with specific emphasis on examining the limitations or distortions present in these interpretations. Analysis of the image of Jefferson in public history reveals larger social and cultural influences in American society. This investigation will incorporate the way in which public history interpretations of Jefferson reflect and influence public views on race, class, and gender. …

The Satiating Potential Of Plant Proteins Transiting The Upper Gut., Leo Nunn

Theses

Increasing the feeling of fullness through modulation of satiety hormones by dietary proteins may be a promising daily approach in the prevention of unnecessary weight gain and in the maintenance of a healthy weight over our lifetime. The effects of animal sourced proteins on satiety hormone (GLP-1, PYY and CCK) has been well documented. However to meet the EU Green Deal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a 15-20 % dietary shift to plant proteins is required. This thesis examined the satiating potential of six plant protein ingredients, Teff, Oat Fibre, Lentil Protein Isolate, Buckwheat, Quinoa and Strong …

The Transformation Of Cherokee Medicial Practices And The Hesitations That Surround Them, Rebecca Bills

Theses

Studies on traditional Cherokee medicine during the 1800s explained Cherokee religious beliefs and the treatments they used to heal the members of their community. However, no updated research has been done to see if Cherokees are still using traditional medicine and if they are, which kinds are they using in the 21st century. This is in part due to the fact that Native Americans and the U.S. government have a complicated relationship from centuries of mistreatment, broken treaties, and the removal from their ancestral homelands. This has created a distrust between native and non-natives. Today, traditional healers' identities are protected …

Feature Selection In High-Dimensional Space With Applications To Gene Expression Data, Nishan Pantha

Theses

Recent years have seen rapid growth in high-dimensional datasets. Most existing machine learning (ML) algorithms fail in high-dimensional settings where many features could be redundant. A critical process of feature selection is thus applied in such a setting that helps in identifying the most relevant features while removing redundant ones. With the increase in high dimensionality, one is also faced with problems of efficiency and interpretation in performing such selection methods. Therefore, this thesis proposes a “novel” feature selection framework that uses an ensemble of interpretable ML algorithms to perform feature selection and the ranking of final features. Finally, this …

The Age Of De Fer: Maps, Knowledge, And The Western World View, 1680-1720, Fiona Keating

Theses

This thesis determines the degree to which cartographic tools and maps such as Nicolas de Fer’s Carte de la Mer du Sud et de la Mer du Nord (Paris, 1713) might be considered ‘weapons’ of empire and examples of eighteenth-century ‘plundering’ of the Pacific. It analyses the connection between knowledge, power, empire and identity in the so-called ‘Age of Discovery’ by examining the map created by de Fer in the early years of the Scientific Revolution and the ‘Age of Enlightenment’. Carte de la Mer du Sud et de la Mer du Nord is an encyclopaedic, visual representation of western …