Digital Commons Network^™

The Psychogeographic Relationship With Memories, Popular Music, And Identity: A Case Study From 1995-2022 Of The Grateful Dead, Margaret Lane Walton

Theses

This paper will explore sonic geography and its impact on human and cultural geography through popular music, specifically the Grateful Dead, from 1995 to 2022. This research focuses on the eventization of the band and popular music post-Jerry Garcia’s death, whereas previous research has focused primarily on the band from 1965 to 1995. The infamous psychedelic rock and roll band was widely known for the created and imagined communities that it forged over their 30-year run. Recent research on soundscapes and music’s role in the study of geography precipitated the need for more attention to music geography. This paper explores …

Escaping Tradition: An Exploration Of Optimized Learning Environments, Mak W. Friery

Theses

This undergraduate interior design capstone research focuses on understanding how forward-thinking design approaches can improve student success and teacher effectiveness in the classroom environment. Addressing the ever-changing needs of students, this research investigates variables of classroom environments such as the impact of color, lighting, acoustics, technology, space planning, furniture, and biophilia. Understanding these factors in the classroom environment can inspire new approaches to design and class flexibility whilst positively impacting student learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and overall well-being.

This capstone research is conducted at a time of change within educational design approaches as they continually aim to determine which factors …

The Interstellar Scintillation Of Psr J1614-2230, Lekshmi Rajagopal

Theses

Observations of the millisecond pulsar J1614-2230 as part of the NANOGrav 12.5 yr dataset were utilised to study the scintillation and interstellar medium along the line of sight of PSR J1614-2230. Modelling noise signals in pulsar line of sight allows for isolation of the raw signal and therefore more precise pulse period measurements. These are extremely useful in Pulsar Timing Arrays and in their potential to be used as cosmic detectors for the gravitational wave background. J1614 presented clear, distinguishable intensity variations in a long observation taken in March 2014 by B.J.Shapiro-Albert et al. (2020), which provided motivation to further …

A Microscopic Investigation Of Chemically Modified Membranes For Potential Oil Water Separation Applications, Latifa Rashed Al Nuaimi

Theses

Oil spills can have catastrophic impacts on both the environment and human society, an enormous oil spill known as the Deepwater Horizon Disaster happened in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 caused by an explosion of oil rig which started the catastrophe. It is achievable to reduce oil spills by developing and advancing technologies including gravity settling, centrifugation, gas flotation, coagulation, electrochemical, adsorption, and membrane filtration. There are many materials that can be used to form membranes, and each one has unique properties and advantages. The current study used the 3D printing porous membrane which is manufactured with an …

Representing Color As Multiple Independent Scales, Hao Xie

Theses

The concept of color space has served as a basis for vast scientific inquiries into the representation of color including colorimetry, psychology, and neuroscience. However, the ideal color space that can model both color appearance attributes and color difference as a uniform Euclidean space is still not yet available. In addition, different color appearance phenomena such as the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect highlight the interference or lack of independence between the existing color metrics. Based on the alternative representation of independent one-dimensional color scales and the concepts of brilliance and zero grayness proposed by Ralph Evans, a series of psychophysical experiments were …

A Parametric Numerical Analysis Investigation To Optimize The Performance Of The Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube, Muneer Ahmad Sungur

Theses

A vortex tube is a device that separates compressed air into two streams: one with a higher temperature (hot stream) and the other with a lower temperature (cold stream). It is a popular cooling option because it is small, safe, and affordable. The main objective of this thesis is to examine the energy separation performance of RHVT by varying the internal tapering angles of convergent angles (2°, 1.75°, 1.5°, 1.25°, 1°, 0.75°, and 0.5°), straight angles (0°), and divergent angles (0.5°, 1°, 2°, 4°, and 6°), While the cold mass fraction is constant (0.317). Length-to-diameter ratio (Lt/Dt), inlet pressure, and …

The Reproducing Kernel Method For Solving Integro-Differential And Volterra Integral Equations, Khulood Gamal Qaid

Theses

Integro-differential equations are a class of mathematical equations that involve both derivatives and integrals. They have applications in a wide range of fields, including physics, engineering, finance, and biology such as the spread of diseases, population dynamics, and the behavior of financial markets. The study of these equations requires advanced mathematical techniques, including functional analysis, approximation methods, and numerical analysis. They are a rich area of research with many open questions and challenges.
In this thesis, we will develop and implement the reproducing kernel method to solve a class of integro-differential and Volterra integral equations. We discuss both cases when …

Cheating Detection In Online Exams Based On Captured Video Using Deep Learning, Aysha Sultan Alkalbani

Theses

Today, e-learning has become a reality and a global trend imposed and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are many risks and challenges related to the credibility of online exams which are of widespread concern to educational institutions around the world. Online exam system continues to gain popularity, particularly during the pandemic, due to the rapid expansion of digitalization and globalization. To protect the integrity of the examination and provide objective and fair results, cheating detection and prevention in examination systems is a must. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to develop an effective way of detection …

A Novel Approach For Detection Fault In The Aircraft Exterior Body Using Image Processing, Noura Nayef Almansoori

Theses

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop innovative techniques for the inspection and maintenance of aircraft structures. We aim to streamline the entire process by utilizing images to detect potential defects in the aircraft body and comparing them to properly functioning images of the aircraft. This enables us to determine whether a specific section of the aircraft is faulty or not. We achieve this by employing image processing to train a model capable of identifying faulty images. The image processing methodology we use involves the use of images of both defective and operational parts of the aircraft's exterior. …

A Comparative Study On Microchip Implants In Humans And Wearable Devices, Ltifa Mohammed Almansoori

Theses

After the tragic covid pandemic in 2020, many things changed in the world, from learning physically all the way to e-learning, as the whole world was forced to switch digitally. It is expected that a lot of people will be more willing to invest in new technologies that aid in human development and among them are human microchip implants. The emerging technology of human microchip implants is slowly catching the attention of various countries around the world after the sudden surge of adoption in Europe. With the introduction of Biohax microchip implants in the UAE by Etisalat it is most …

Heat Transfer Analysis Of Microchannels Heat Sink With Sidewall Fins, Ahmad Ala Eddin Rahhal

Theses

This study aims to investigate Microchannel Heat Sinks with side wall fins through a model-based approach. The primary objective of the project is to design and analyze the thermal performance of straight Microchannel Heat Sinks with square and triangle-shaped fins on sidewalls. To examine their performance, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation study is conducted using the ANSYS Fluent software. The study starts by creating a CAD model of the heat sink and then analyzing its thermal properties with the ANSYS Fluent software. From the CFD simulation study, numerical results are obtained for different operational and geometrical conditions. The study …

Design Of A Mini Leo Gnss Constellation And A Custom Gnss Signal Simulator Development, Mohamed Mohamed Yaser

Theses

This thesis is concerned with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) constellations and signals, and how can they provide rapid Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services for the emerging technologies. The first objective of this thesis is to perform a simulation of a new mini-LEO GNSS constellation at 1000 km and assess its performance in different scenarios. The second objective is to design a signal simulator for two signals that are propriety of the Global Navigation Satellite Augmentation Systems (GNSSaS), which are the BOC(2,2) and ATLBOC(7.5, BOC(2,2)) modulation schemes. To simulate the mini-LEO GNSS constellation, two software …

Content Analysis Of Activities Of The Emirati Science Textbooks For The Fifth Grade In Light Of Science Process Skills, Teba Abdulazeez Al-Faiadh

Theses

Similar to several other countries, the United Arab Emirates places a high value on the use of science textbooks in the process of teaching and learning science. Therefore, the content of science textbooks must always be evaluated and analyzed in light of scientific knowledge and skills. Providing science process skills in the activities of science textbooks is essential and has a significant role in pushing students toward balanced scientific knowledge because attention to skills is a tool that enables the student to succeed in understanding the nature of science. However, based on the literature, there is a scarcity of scientific …

Assessing The Impact Of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) Crop On Groundwater Resources In The Emirate Of Abu Dhabi Using Geospatial Techniques, Abdulaziz Abdulla Aljaberi

Theses

Groundwater is a major source of fresh water in the world, especially in arid and semi-arid countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where rainfall is not evenly distributed through the four seasons of the year. Therefore, it is necessary to pay serious attention to the importance of preserving groundwater resources. The agriculture sector poses a real threat to groundwater. Irrigated crop cultivation practices change groundwater levels as a result of cultivating crops or farming plants that consume large amounts of water. Alfalfa is an example of a high-water consuming crop, being a widely cultivated crop in the UAE. This …

A Support Theorem For A Wave Equation, Aysha Khaled Alshamsi

Theses

It is well known that the fundamental solution to the classical wave equation Δ�� (��, ��) − ∂_������(��,��) = 0 is supported on the light cone {(��, ��) ∈ ℝ^��× ℝ : ||��|| = |��|} if and only if the dimension �� is odd and ≥ 3. Because we are living in a 3-dimensional world we can hear each other clearly; One has a pure propagator without residual waves. In this thesis we consider the wave equation

2||��||Δ_����_��(��, ��) − ∂_������(��,��) = 0, (��, ��) ∈ ℝ^�� × ℝ …

The Impact Of Implementing A Gamified Application On Teaching And Learning Vocabulary In A Fourth Grade English Classroom In The Uae, Amani Mohammed Almostafa

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the impact of using digital games or gamification on learning vocabulary for English language fourth graders in a classroom in the UAE. The main objective of this thesis is to examine how the use of digital games may affect the process of learning vocabulary in a grade four classroom. Another purpose of this study is to investigate learners' and teachers' perceptions of learning vocabulary items. A Quasi-experimental mixed method design has been implemented in this study. Three Grade four classes experimented with independently engaging in gamified vocabulary software named Blooket. The three classes were each …

Biohydrogen Production Of A Co-Culture Consisting Of Halophytic Cyanobacterium Phormidium Keutzingianum And Activated Sludge Bacteria Using Different Exogenous Carbon Substrates And Salt Concentrations, Maitha Mohammed Al Nuaimi

Theses

Various studies have proved the ability of different types of cyanobacteria and algae to produce hydrogen (H₂) by splitting water molecules into H₂ and oxygen (O₂) using specialized enzymes (hydrogenase and nitrogenase enzymes) through the biophotolysis process. However, the production of O₂ acts as the main process inhibitor. Several researchers studied this O₂ sensitivity and proposed effective solutions to regulate O₂ concentration. By co-culturing algae with aerobic bacteria, the consumption of the resulting oxygen could be attained and thus reducing the sensitivity of the enzyme to the evolved O₂. In …

Data-Driven Modeling Of Student Performance In The Time Of Distance Learning, Iman Saad Megdadi

Theses

One of the important aspects that all academic institutions work towards improving is Student Performance. It is obviously the primary indicator of success or failure of institutions. Student performance predictions are vital to instructors and educational decision makers to help, across all levels, tailor learning according to the students’ needs. Therefore, it is essential for Higher Education Institutions to predict student performance in distance learning which has been, and remains, the primary method of learning in some countries due to Corona Virus pandemic. For this reason, this research is going to predetermine a fitting definition of student performance in time …

Interactive Emirate Sign Language E-Dictionary Based On Deep Learning Recognition Models, Ahmed Abdelhadi Abdelhadi

Theses

According to the ministry of community development database in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about 3065 people with disabilities are hearing disabled (Emirates News Agency - Ministry of Community Development). Hearing-impaired people find it difficult to communicate with the rest of society. They usually need Sign Language (SL) interpreters but as the number of hearing-impaired individuals grows the number of Sign Language interpreters can almost be non-existent. In addition, specialized schools lack a unified Sign Language (SL) dictionary, which can be linked to the Arabic language being of a diglossia nature, hence many dialects of the language co-exist. Moreover, there …

Valuation Of Asian Options In A High Volatility Market With Jumps, Zeeshan Khalid

Theses

The evaluation of financial derivatives represents a central part of financial risk management. There are many types of derivatives among other path-dependent options. In this study, we aim at valuing Asian options. They are path dependent and have several benefits. For instance, their values are habitually lower than European options. Also, an Asian option on a commodity drops the risk value close to maturity. Though, the disadvantage is that they are in general difficult to value since the distribution of the payoff is usually unknown. It is agreed in the literature that a stochastic process with a jumps model for …

A Survey Of Qubit Routing Algorithms, Harrison Barnes

Theses

Before applications actually run on quantum hardware, the design of the quantum application and its pre-processing take place in the classical environment. Transforming a quantum circuit into a form that is able to run on quantum hardware, known as transpilation, is a crucial process in performing quantum experiments. Routing is a particularly important and computationally expensive part of the transpilation process. The routing process can alter a circuit’s accuracy, execution time, quantum gate count, and depth. Several routing algorithms exist that aim to optimize some portion of the routing process. There are many variables to consider when choosing an optimal …

The Geometry And Topology Of Landslides, Kamal Rana

Theses

Landslides are often catastrophic, causing loss of life and destruction of property and infrastructure. Landslide susceptibility and hazard modeling help mitigate these losses by finding regions prone to landslides and providing probabilistic forecasting of landslide occurrence in a region. However, these landslide susceptibility and hazard models' efficacy depends on the quality of existing databases that often lack crucial information, like the underlying trigger and failure mechanism of a landslide. In this Ph.D. project, we developed methods to identify landslide triggering and failure mechanism information using their geometric and topological properties. For identifying landslide trigger information, we developed three different methods …

The Analysis Of A Passive Cooling Arrangement For Solar Pv Panels, Mohamad Abou Assali

Theses

The need for simple and effective solar Photovoltaics (PV) cooling techniques to enhance power generation and elongate the cell lifespan has become of greater interest in recent years. This research designs and optimizes a novel arrangement for solar photovoltaics, allowing for natural convection channel cooling and harvesting of radiation on both sides of the system. A numerical model was developed and validated to solve the conjugate radiation-convection and conduction utilizing the Monte Carlo, the 𝑘−𝜖 turbulence model and the Boussinesq approximation to solve the heat transfer in the system. The optimization was carried out for a 24% efficiency solar PV …

Understanding Environmental Art: A Case Study Of Jason Decaires Taylor's Coral Greenhouse (2019), Laura Dean Hinson

Theses

This thesis highlights the need for a new way to analyze environmental art. In the past, environmental artwork has been discussed in terms of the abstract concepts that drove their creation and the role they played in moving artists outside of the gallery space in the1960s and 70s. However, in recent years environmental artists are increasingly driven by themes of environmental conservation and preservation, using scientific research as the basis of their designs. Because of the shift in focus, developing a new way to discuss environmental art that takes into consideration the influence scientific research has on art production and …

Weingarten Surfaces: Curvature Flows And Stationary Properties, Morgan Robson

Theses

This work considers two related topics: Weingarten surfaces and classical curvature flows. The former being the stationary solutions of the latter. Firstly, the Weingarten relations satisfied by rotationally symmetric Weingarten surfaces in Euclidean 3-space E3 are considered from three perspectives: Restrictions on the slope of the relation at umbilic points, the action of SL2(R) as fractional-linear transformations on curvature space, and variational formulations for the relations. Concerning the first, bounds are obtained on the slope of a relation in terms of the fall-off of the astigmatism at an umbilic point. For the second, the action of SL2(R) on curvature space …

Feasibility Study On The Characterization Of Mars Atmospheric And Surface Features In Spacecraft Images By Machine Learning And Similar Automated Methods, Hind Hassan Alriyami

Theses

This thesis is focused on automated detection of Mars atmospheric and surface features in spacecraft images based on machine learning and similar automated methods using crater detection algorithm (CDA) software, named DeepMars2 algorithm. The purpose of this study is to perform machine learning to detect coarse and high-resolution topography craters on mars. The algorithm is applied to two digital elevation models (DEMs) of the Mars surface with high and coarse resolution in order to identify craters using machine and deep learning methods. The DEMs are based on the satellite instruments MOLA/MGS (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter/Mars Global Surveyor) and HRSC/MEX (High …

Energy Performance Of Double Skin Façade For High-Rise Residential Building In Abu Dhabi, Narmeen Tariq Abu Hilal

Theses

The hot climate of the UAE generates unique challenges for architects and building engineers looking for energy efficiency in high-rise residential buildings. The use of glass building facades has been increased; this type of façade usually comes with a high air-conditioning cost due to the higher heat gain. To design energy-efficient buildings, it is essential to adapt the principles of sustainability and innovative transparent glass façade design into practice as the building facade is a major element in determining the amount of energy used in buildings. Construction details, methods, and materials of the residential building facade play an important role …

Design And Assessment Of A Leo Gnss Miniconstellation For Positioning, Navigation, And Timing (Pnt), Mariya Abdulkhaleq Mohamad

Theses

Recently, there has been a resurgent demand in the United Arab Emirates for more accurate positioning, navigation, and timing signals, especially for some targeted applications such as autonomous vehicles and flying taxis. The existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide real-time positioning accuracy for up to several meters, while the targeted applications require fast convergence of centimeterlevel positioning accuracy. Recent studies have shown that transmitting GNSS signals from a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) instead of a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) would enhance positioning accuracy. The main objective of this thesis is to design and simulate an optimum scenario of a …

The Three-Dimensional Visualization Of Mars Dust Storms Based On Deriving Digital Elevation Maps From Satellite Imagery, Meirah Ali Alzeyoudi

Theses

This work focuses on generating a Three-Dimensional Visualization of Mars's local dust storms utilizing satellite images from publicly available archives. The work aimed to create a Three-Dimensional Visualization of two Local Dust storms, the first local dust storm occurred on May 20, 2020, in the Chryse Planitia Region of Mars, while the second one occurred on 8 June 2021, on the northern side of the Utopia Planitia Region of Mars. The visualization will assist in providing a better understanding of the dynamics of Dust Storms on Mars by indicating and analyzing the main features of dust storms on Mars. Also, …

Correlation Between The Preparation Methods And The Physiochemical Characteristics Of Mgal₂O₄ As A Support For Ni Catalysts In Partial Oxidation Of Methane, Fatima El Alem

Theses

Due to different technical challenges associated with direct use of methane, the main component of natural gas, its conversion to higher hydrocarbons has been a subject of great industrial importance. All of the known routes for methane conversion are catalytic processes, where the performance is largely dependent on the physicochemical properties of the catalyst. The catalysts that have shown promising performance in methane reforming are based on expensive metals such as Pt, Pd, and Ru. Ni, on the other hand, is a cost-effective metal and has shown promising catalytic activity. These catalysts are usually in the form of metal nanoparticles …