Digital Commons Network^™

Non-Invasive Glucose Detection Using A Triple Pole Csrr Sensor, Chibuike Nnabuife Okika

Theses

A compact, low-cost, portable, non-invasive blood glucose sensor has been designed and presented in this paper. The proposed sensor is a triple-pole square Complementary Split Ring Resonator (CSRR) sensor that is etched on an FR4 substrate. At the bottom of the sensor is coupled an etched Microstrip Transmission Line (MTL) with an impedance matching of 50 Ω, which excites the sensor elements. Utilizing the CSRR-based sensor overcomes the disadvantages of pain and discomfort that the traditional method of pricking the skin to measure blood glucose levels could pose. The sensors work in such a way that as the glucose concentration …

Software-Based Property Enforcement For Detecting Hardware Anomalies, Jacob Thomas

Theses

As the world grows more and more reliant on microcomputing systems, security becomes a greater and greater concern. Malicious code is an ever-present issue in the field of computing and hardware vulnerabilities pose a rising threat to an increasingly connected landscape. This variety in threats can be mitigated through invariant rules for device operation, which form a policy for acceptable device behavior such that policy violations can be interpreted as either erroneous or malicious. This defense architecture disregards threat source and identifies issues based on their symptoms. Such systems are usually enforced through hardware implementations, which can become expensive in …

Knowledge Integration For Human-In-The-Loop Machine Learning, Ervine Zheng

Theses

Machine learning has evolved into advanced techniques for vision, language, and applications in different areas. However, human expertise is still essential in providing meaningful interpretations of the semantics for tasks in knowledge-rich domains, such as medicine, science, and security intelligence. It is beneficial to incorporate human knowledge into a machine learning system, and we consider human-in-the-loop an increasingly important area for future research. Human-in-the-loop machine learning aims to develop a reliable prediction model with minimal costs by integrating human knowledge and experience. In this thesis, we propose human-in-the-loop methods to address knowledge-rich data understanding challenges for different machine-learning tasks. Specifically, …

Renewable Energy Integration Strategy Development For Dubai South, Oshba Almheiri

Theses

Dubai South is an aerotropolis city, a global aviation and logistics hub, home to the world’s largest airport, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Along with such growth, a high demand of energy is expected therefore in response to address such need for the implementation of sustainable energy practices in Dubai South’s aviation, logistics, and residential districts. The development of an integrated renewable energy strategy for the region is the subject of this capstone project. The project relies on three pillars; first environmental impact to battle climate change, secondly alignment with local and international standards like as the UN Sustainable Development …

Enhancing Human-Robot Collaboration Through Intuitive Augmented Reality Interface And Precise Visualization, Wenhao Yang

Theses

In terms of changing production in the transformation to the Industry 4.0 landscape and increasing demand for customized products, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) utilizing industrial robots encounter a shortage of skilled labor. Open questions in human-robot interaction encompass the need for natural and effective interfaces, path planning within intricate environments, and the design and execution of human-robot collaborations. This dissertation aims to tackle these challenges by leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance robot operations in manufacturing scenarios, with a focus on optimizing the efficiency of the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) system, improving the bidirectional trust between humans and robots, and …

Exploitation Of Spatial Content For Enhancing Pansharpening And Image Fusion Performance, Rey Ducay

Theses

Designing algorithms that spatially enhance hyperspectral imagery is an active area of research due to their many wide-ranging applications such as target detection, precision agriculture, forest management, security/defense applications, among others. This body of work focuses on the effects of spatial content on one’s ability to fuse imagery. Different types of spatial content (e.g., spatial clutter of man-made structures like buildings, types of trees in a forest, different species of grain in a farm, pixels containing water, plumes/clouds, etc.) and spatial artifacts such as edges and corners are explored as to how they affect the sharpening process. This is achieved …

Biodov: A Tool Used To Encourage Discovery In Bioinformatics Through Gamification, Gregory D. Johnson Jr.

Theses

Expressing big data in a meaningful manner is exceptionally difficult. Scientists often struggle with the visualization of data due to several limitations. Currently, many scientists use two-dimensional figures to display and analyze meaningful data. However, I believe using game design theory and game technologies, we can create more robust visualizations. These visualizations will allow scientists to easily communicate science to the masses and make better discoveries. Therefore, we introduce BioDOV (Biological Data Oriented Visualization). This tool will utilize game design principles to expand upon current visualization methods in the scientific community. Through this proof of concept, we will create the …

Pseudo-Dionysius’S Response To Neoplatonism: An Exploration Of Pseudo-Dionysius’ Historical Context And His Source Utilization In “The Mystical Theology”, Mhanna Joseph Kallas

Theses

This research delves into the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, particularly his blending of Neoplatonic ideas with Christian theology in his work "The Mystical Theology." Pseudo-Dionysius, a significant figure in Christian mysticism, draws upon a diverse array of sources to articulate his theological vision. An in-depth analysis of "The Mystical Theology" and its foundational texts reveals Pseudo-Dionysius's aim to align Neoplatonic apophatic strategies with Christian thought, suggesting that the essence of many Neoplatonic theological concepts is either inherent in or can be extrapolated from Christian doctrine. By shedding light on Pseudo-Dionysius's strategic selection and adaptation of various sources, this study …

Maladaptive Daydreaming And Social Anxiety: Prevalence And The Mediating Role Of Emotional Regulation, Riffa Fathima Abuthahir

Theses

Previous studies have generated mixed evidence regarding the magnitude of the prevalence of Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD). In addition, although previous studies have identified an association between Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) and Social Anxiety (SA), literature is sparse in exploring the underlying factors such as emotional regulation difficulties that might mediate this relationship. The current study attempted to investigate the prevalence of MD and self-perceived levels of Social Anxiety (SA) among undergraduate students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also attempted to explore whether difficulties in regulating emotions mediate the relationship between MD and self-perceived levels SA. A cross-sectional design with …

Real-Time Object Tracking With Yolov5 And Recurrent Network On A Hardware Platform, Mohammed Abdulhakeem Alameri

Theses

The advancement of computer vision, particularly in the domain of object tracking, involves the integration of conventional feature-based approaches with contemporary deep learning methodologies. The initial phase of object detection plays a fundamental role in generating prospective objects for further tracking, and its level of success has a direct influence on the overall effectiveness of the tracking process. Many of the methods used to generate candidate objects start with object detection, and then object tracking algorithms are developed to link the object instances together to create the trajectories.
The primary difficulties in object tracking pertain to the establishment of reliable …

Exploring Food And Physical Activity Behaviours Of Adolescents After Bariatric Surgery: A Qualitative Study, Baraa Osama Alries

Theses

In recent years, both globally and in the United Arab Emirates, adolescent obesity has emerged as a severe public health concern. Bariatric surgery is a viable treatment for adolescent obesity. However, an equally important aspect is examining the lifestyle changes, specifically concerning dietary habits and physical activity after this surgical intervention. Moreover, there is limited research on the postoperative nutrition-related nutritional and physical activity behaviors of adolescents after bariatric surgery globally, regionally, and in the UAE. The main aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators of diet and physical activity regimens of adolescents who had undergone bariatric …

A Smart Chatbot System For Digitizing Service Management To Improve Business Continuity, Asraa Mohammed Albeshr

Theses

Chatbots, also called digital systems that require a natural language-based interface for user interaction, are increasingly being integrated into our daily lives. These chatbots respond intelligently to voice and text and function as sophisticated entities. Its functioning includes the recognition of multiple human languages through the application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. These chatbots find applications in various areas such as e-commerce services, medical assistance, recommendation systems, and educational purposes. This reflects the versatility and widespread adoption of this technology. AI chatbots play a crucial role in improving IT support in IT Service Management (ITSM) for better business continuity. …

Perceived Speed In Transitions Between Neutral And Chromatic Illumination, Abby Weymouth

Theses

Lighting that gradually changes over time, also known as dynamic lighting, is an integral part of our experience of illumination. Daylight is a prime example of this, and LED technology has led to its increasing use in artificial lighting as well. However, perception of dynamic lighting has not been extensively studied. Previous work has focused exclusively either on daylight illumination or relatively chromatic illumination, and most research examined lighting transitions at speeds near detection thresholds. Past studies have found that the perception of illumination changes is far from uniform across color space. Perception of transitions has been found to vary …

Fabrication Of Diffraction Grating Prototype Solar Sails For In-Space Propulsion, Qing Xian Wang

Theses

Solar sails offer advantages over rockets for heliocentric navigation by utilizing sunlight as an unlimited source of radiation pressure for propulsion. This eliminates the need to carry fuel and allows the sail craft to reach destinations that are difficult or impossible for rockets to reach. Solar sails provide a small but continuous acceleration that produces large changes in the sail craft velocity over time. A conventional solar sail makes use of the law of reflection to achieve in-space propulsion. By tilting the reflective sail away from the sunline, an optimal angle of reflection is achieved, generating a transverse force for …

Coastal Bathymetry Of The United Arab Emirates Using Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Data, Naser Salem Aldahmani

Theses

Bathymetry is the study of the bed under the water's surface, giving us the water's depth. The Thesis will be about studying the coastal area of the UAE by using satellite images that can help access large regions of the UAE Coast. Also, by using a history of 5 years of satellite visible bands and NIR images, we can see the change of depth near the coastal. The benefit of that study will help to build ship baths through shallow water and to go in and out of ports of UAE. Early warnings of the sea level increasing near the …

Parental Participation In An Esl Take-Home Book Bag Program For A Second Grade Class In Al Ain, Dina Ahmad Al Khawaldeh

Theses

The purpose of this current study is to explore Emirati parents' attitudes toward their involvement in their children's ESL take-home book reading experience. The study aims to explore the reading habits of Emirati families and their perceptions of reading books in English with their children.

This study employed a sequential mixed methods design to gather data from parents and students. A pre-experimental demographic survey was sent to the parents and students to ask about their reading habits at home before experiencing it and after the book reading experience. In addition, a take-home literacy bag activity was disseminated to students and …

Dress-Code Violation Detection In Arabic Regions Using Object Detection Machine Learning Model, Maha Sadat Aghaei

Theses

The dress code violation detection system is crucial for assessing clothing appropriateness in public areas. This study aims to improve this system using advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques to more effectively categorize people's attire in images and videos. To enhance adaptability and create a user-friendly graphical interface for system management and deployment, we have generated a unique dataset from various contexts mix of Western and Arabic clothing. This allows users to interact with graphical components, including the ability to upload images or use live video for clothing detection. Moreover, we have taken privacy concerns into account and implemented …

Biochemical Charactrization Of A Fructosyltransferase Enzyme From A Halophilic Archaeon, Haloarcula Marismotui, For Biotechnological Applications, Ahlam Khalifa Al Ameri

Theses

Fructosyltransferase enzymes are involved in the production of fructans, which are polymers of fructose and naturally present in many foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and cereals. Fructans with short chain lengths are called Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are small dietary fibers having low caloric values and are known as “prebiotics”. Fructans have a broad range of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical industries. They have unique physiochemical properties and functionalities depending on the source of enzyme used for their production. The present study aimed at the utilization of a recently discovered unique fructosyltransferase enzyme from an extremely halophilic microorganism, …

Development Of A Vortex-Cooled Bipropellant Thruster And Evaluation Of Performance Characteristics With Respect To Injection Parameters, Mousa Adnan Aqailan

Theses

This study presents an experimental assessment of the cooling performance and efficiency of a 10N-vortex-cooled Propane/Gox bi-propellant thruster that was fabricated using metal and thermoplastic material. The proposal of injecting an oxidizer in a vortex pattern was suggested as a potential cooling method for semi-thermoplastic constructed thrust engines. This method has been demonstrated as a promising candidate for integrated cooling and can be manufactured using 3D printing technology. In contrast to typical complicated cooling systems and their attributed common downsides; the vortex injection can be 3D printed as a single solid piece thruster, thereby reducing design complexity, weight, and manufacturing …

Use Of Root Endophytic Enterobacter Sp. Sa187 For The Improvement Of Abiotic Stress Tolerance Of Tomatoes Grown Under Greenhouse Conditions, Aysha Mohammad Rahmani

Theses

Agricultural productivity is largely affected by climate change. These climatic alterations translate into adverse abiotic stress conditions, such as heat, drought, and salinity, which restrict the geographical distribution of plants and limit their crop yields. Extreme conditions primarily affect semiarid and arid regions, causing severe environmental and economic repercussions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been proposed to overcome these challenges. The desert plant endophytic bacterium Enterobacter sp. SA187 has shown beneficial effects on plant growth and salt stress tolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in vitro, as well as under field conditions in different crops. This study aimed to …

Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Of Dietary Supplement Use Among Students Enrolled In The United Arab Emirates University, Aaesha Hamad Alnaqbi

Theses

An adequate diet, with proper nutrients, is key to a healthy life. However, managing an adequate diet with a proper intake of nutrients is difficult. Therefore, dietary supplements (DS) represent an important source of essential nutrients which often help maintain a healthy intake of required nutrients. However, there is limited knowledge about DS usage among the younger generation. The main objective of this research study was to analyze the prevalence of usage, level of knowledge, and attitudes toward DS among Students enrolled in the United Arab Emirates University. The current research adopted a cross-sectional design. Participants completed a valid and …

Data Sharing And School Improvement: A Phenomenological Study Of Source, Mechanisms, Lacunes And Usefulness, Maitha Khalifa Al Mansoori

Theses

This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the datafication process and determine whether it contributes to school improvement in public schools. A particular focus was placed on investigating the methods used in data collection from various sources, the mechanisms in place for data sharing, the ways in which data are collected and shared, the gaps in data sharing, and the ways in which school administrators and teachers are sharing data for the school improvement. The use of a transcendental phenomenological approach contributes to the development of a theoretical model that illustrates how school data sharing works and how …

Commissioning Of The Uaeu Radio Array And Pilot Low-Frequency Radio Astronomy Studies, Aisha Ali Alnaqbi

Theses

As part of the UAEU Radio Astronomy Pathway Project, a 256-element Ground based Radio Array Facility was deployed at the UAEU. A comprehensive exploration of radio astronomy, and investigations on existing radio arrays, emphasizing low-frequency radio signals and the challenges faced at this range, are crucial for the commissioning phase of the array. A core aspect discussed is the vital role of coaxial cables in preserving the integrity of low-frequency radio signals. To address the electrical length differences between the coaxial cable pairs used to connect the array’s beamformers in the field to the beamformer controllers in the control room, …

Ai Application In Architecture In Uae: Developing And Testing Advanced Optimization Model For A Parametric Shading Structure As A Retrofit Strategy Of A Midrise Residential Building Façade In Downtown Abu Dhabi, Anwar Ghaleb Ahmad

Theses

Artificial intelligence is a phenomenon that influences every aspect of our lives. AI applications have already started to change the methods in different disciplines. Architecture is one of the disciplines that is highly affected by the developments of AI technologies. With the United Arab Emirates heading to employ new technology to lead the country and region development, it is important to explore and develop the application of AI in the strategic disciplines of the country in which the built environment is essential. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an advanced model script (to be used as a tool) using …

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Eating Disorders, And Mental Stress Among United Arab Emirates University Students, Maram Braikan Alotaibi

Theses

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Eating Disorders (EDs), and mental stress are understudied in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially among university students. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of IBS, ED, mental stress, their associations, and the determinants of IBS among United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) students. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted via a 48-item online-survey shared with 14,268 undergraduate/graduate students, registered during academic year 2021-2022 in UAEU. Logistic regression models were performed to examine the predictive factors associated with IBS among UAEU students in total and by ED status. Significance was determined at p< 0.05. The prevalence of IBS was 39%, ED 55.9%, and high mental stress 53.2%, and they co-existed in 15.9% of UAEU students. Students who reported consuming trigger-food were 6 times more likely to have IBS than their counterpart [AOR: 5.859; 95% CI: 3.092–11.102, p< 0.001]. Those who reported intakes of relief-food were 4 times more likely to have IBS compared to their counterpart [AOR: 3.881; 95% CI: 1.669 – 9.022, p=0.002]. Students with family history of IBS (FHIBS) were 2.6 times more likely to have IBS than their counterpart [AOR: 2.572; 95% CI: 1.420–4.660, p= 0.002]. Students with high mental stress were 1.7 times more likely to have IBS than those with low-moderate stress, when adjusted for sex and age [AOR:1.730; 1.058–2.830, p= 0.029). No significant associations existed between IBS and ED, Socioeconomic Characteristics (SEC), lifestyle, dietary, and health-related factors. UAEU students reported high prevalence of IBS, ED and mental stress. A significant relationship was found between IBS and FH-IBS, trigger- and relieving- food. This study confirmed the prevalence of IBS, ED and mental stress. Large cohort studies on university students in the UAE are warranted to establish the relationships among IBS, ED, mental stress and their determinants.

Investigating Bim Applications In Reducing Co2 Emissions In The Built Environment – Uae Context, Rua Ahmed Maali

Theses

Large amounts of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere throughout the life cycle of a building starting from the production of materials and products, in the construction phase of the building itself, in the site setting, the renovations, the later rehabilitation, and up to the final demolition. Hence, this thesis aims to investigate the potential of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in making informed decisions that can help in reducing CO₂ emissions in the life cycle of built environment projects. This study has used a mixed method approach that includes literature review, a case study and semistructured interviews. …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Security Vulnerabilities Of Learning Management Systems: A Study Towards Security And Sustainability Enhancement, Souheil Abdel-Latif Akacha

Theses

The rapid adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) like Moodle, Chamilo, and Ilias became essential for online education due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, revolutionizing online learning while exposing security vulnerabilities. This thesis explores security concerns within these LMSs across different pandemic periods. By analyzing existing patches, security measures, and emerging cybersecurity technologies, recommendations are formulated to enhance LMS security against evolving cyber threats, providing actionable insights for educational institutions to ensure secure online education continuity. The numerical findings highlight the increasing need for proactive security measures in Moodle, the fluctuating nature of vulnerabilities in Chamilo, and the …

Selection Of Natural Surfactants For Possible Use In Improving Oil Recovery Of Carbonate Oil Reservoirs, Hiba Hachem Limam

Theses

Middle East petroleum industry is currently searching for the most suitable enhanced oil technique to improve the oil recovery from local oil reservoirs. The biggest challenge for the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Middle East is the harsh environment (high salinity and temperature). Surfactant (synthetic or natural) is one of the EOR major players considered for application in the Middle East. However, synthetic surfactants have several drawbacks, such as economically unattractive and environmental impacts. This study investigated the possible use of natural surfactant extracted from the leaves of three types of plants, namely Aloe Vera, Tetraena qatarensis, …

Psychosocial Predictors Of Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance Among Young Adult Women In The Uae. The Role Of Selfie Behavior, Narcissism And Religiosity: A Cross-Sectional Study, Amna Ahmad Alsadani

Theses

Cosmetic surgery is prevalent in the UAE and has been linked to negative psychological and physical consequences. The present study investigates psychosocial factors expected to predict an acceptance of cosmetic surgery among young adult women in the UAE. It was hypothesized that high selfie behavior, high narcissism, and low levels of religiosity would have a positive association with an interest in cosmetic surgery. The factors that motivate people to undergo cosmetic surgery were assessed using the 15-item Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale. Selfie behavior was examined using two questions derived from previous research. Narcissism was assessed using the 16-item Narcissistic …

Estimating Mars Surface Wind Stress And Dust Lifting Using Reanalyses Based On Emm And Other Spacecraft Observations, Haneen Abouhaligah

Theses

Studying Mars offers insights into terrestrial planet evolution and informs future human expeditions. This thesis examines dust dynamics in Mars’ lower atmosphere, focusing on understanding its weather and climate. We investigate the role of Near-Surface Wind Stress (NSWS) in dust lifting, using six reanalysis datasets, respectively: MACDA, EMARS, OpenMARS, ACS–TIRVIM (ExoMars observations of the MY34 Global Dust storm), EMM1 and EMM2. Following the parameterization approach by Newman et al. (2002a), areas of agreement and discrepancy among datasets were identified. Time series analysis revealed consistent results where datasets overlap temporally. Some differences were expected and shown due to the different Global …