Digital Commons Network^™

Optimized Generative Pre-Training Eeg To Sentiment Classification (Ogptsc), Amira Hassan

Theses

This research aims to revolutionize electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis by proposing and developing an innovative method for sentiment classification, introducing the groundbreaking "Optimized Chat Generative Pre-training EEG to Sentiment Classification (OGPTSC)." This novel approach harnesses the power of Generative Pre-training (GPT2) as the vocabulary language model while utilizing an intelligent hyper-parameter selection method to fine-tune and optimize the model's performance. Extensive testing is conducted on a widely recognized dataset to evaluate the OGPTSC's prowess, demonstrating its exceptional capabilities in sentiment classification. Notably, this research extends its scrutiny beyond the OGPTSC by applying the same hyper-parameter selection technique to well-established models such …

The Future Of Deep Fakes: Analyzing The Potential Future Consequences Of The Widespread Use Of Deepfakes On The Policing Sector, Maryam Salem Alshamsi

Theses

In today’s world there is a growing uncertainty in terms of the truthfulness of what we see and hear. People digest a great amount of information throughout the day using their devices, yet the quality and credibility of content is in question. People question if we are experiencing and perceiving the same reality at this point. This issue is not novel, however, it has progressed and developed to a level of realism that deceives people and affect their comprehension of information. Rapid technological advancement has raised the concern of what is referred to as “Deepfakes”, a machine learning technique that …

Agency And Matrilineal Ties; Queen Victoria And Her Daughters, Lydia Catherine Pensel

Theses

This study examines the impact of Queen Victoria's political and diplomatic power on the marriages of her five daughters. Queen Victoria's influence on her daughters' marriages highlights her enduring behind the scenes power despite some claims to the contrary. Unlike the sons’ marriages, where considerable outside political influences brought to bear, the daughters’ marriages were almost solely influenced by Victoria. Examining the Queen's five daughters offers an alternate view of her motherhood while simultaneously exploring the diverse gender dynamics between her and her daughters.

Amulet: Addressing Emotional Abuse, Wentao Sun

Theses

In a world grappling with the scourge of psychological violence, particularly gaslighting, in intimate relationships, the "Amulet" project presents a visionary design solution. Positioned at the intersection of emotional abuse and technology, the project conceptualizes Amulet as a biometric system embodied in a hypothetical skin tattoo and extendable across digital devices. The Amulet project explores the potential role of design in challenging and addressing this insidious form of abuse. The core elements of the project include designing a unique brand identity for Amulet and the creation of a user-friendly interface that offers an intuitive and empowering user experience. The designed …

Programmable Processing-In-Memory Core And Cluster Design And Verification, Namita Bhosle

Theses

The surge in demand for semiconductors and AI-driven applications has led to an amplified requirement for swift and efficient semiconductor design production cycles. These shortened cycles, however, pose a challenge as they reduce the time available for complex chip design and verification, consequently increasing the likelihood of producing error-prone chips. Current research concentrates on utilizing a Lookup Table (LUT) based pPIM (Programmable Processor in Memory) technology to deliver efficient, low-latency, and low-power computation specifically tailored to 4-bit data requirements, ideal for repetitive and data-expensive AI algorithms. This thesis presents the user-defined Generation 2 pPIM, a redesigned and enhanced version of …

Biomimetic Aerosol Exposure System For In Vitro Human Airway Exposure Studies, Samantha Emma Sarles

Theses

Tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, disproportionately affecting residents of rural areas, people who are financially disadvantaged, and adults who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The impact that electronic cigarettes will have on public health is not yet fully understood. Combinations of electronic cigarette products, human airway geometries, and user behaviors create barriers to understanding products’ interaction with the human airway and their health effects. Current in vitro emissions systems, also called smoking robots, lack biomimicry, use unrealistic flow conditions, produce unrealistic aerosol dose, and provide inaccurate bio-mechanical cues to cell …

A Familiar Unknown, Samantha Sonnenfeld

Theses

This thesis examines how using glass can challenge perceptions of small moments and their importance by overlaying stellar imagery on everyday spaces to imbue notions of investigative leisure with cosmic importance. I use many types of glass to reinterpret what function can mean and how objects can create lenses for understanding each other, our universe, and ultimately ourselves. Looking at where conversations are shared and introspection blossoms, I find that objects hold their own gravity and can draw us into a moment that sets the scene for solo or group development.

A Search Of M31 For Giant Radio Pulses From Radio Pulsars And Magnetars, David Saroff

Theses

We present results of a 40-hour survey of the nearby galaxy M31 for giant radio pulses (GRPs) from radio pulsars using the Green Bank Radio telescope (GBT) in the 300 MHz to 400 MHz band. We note that GRPs from known pulsars in the Milky Way or its nearest companion galaxies, the Magellanic clouds, if relocated to M31, would not be detectable with the GBT in the 300 MHz to 400 MHz band. However, the brightest GRPs from a pulsar in M31, like the Crab pulsar B0531+21, are within a factor of 2 of detectability. Our observations cover a projected …

Kilroy Was Never Here: An Ar Mystery Game, Madeleine Baum

Theses

Kilroy Was Never Here is an augmented reality mystery game which uses design to influence urban exploration. It uses storytelling to enhance engagement with an environment, and generates an immersive experience for the user. It invokes a variety of methodologies, most notably discovery, transformation, and engagement. An alternate reality is generated through colored filters, motion graphics, and moving typography which both informs the user of the story and guides them through their environment. Discovery encompasses both clues and new locations for the user to visit as they unravel the mystery of the disappearance of the main character, Kilroy. Clues transform …

Design And Optimization Of Devices And Architectures For Neuromorphic Silicon Photonics, Matthew Van Niekerk

Theses

Neuromorphic photonics is an exciting field at the intersection of neuroscience, integrated photonics, and microelectronics. To realize large-scale neural network-inspired systems, we must have a toolbox of linear and nonlinear operators. Here, we review state of the art for integrated photonic linear operators, which can perform linear operations using interference or wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) techniques, and nonlinear operators, which perform nonlinear operations with a combination of photodetection and modulation. We present some devices that fit into the needed toolbox. A new type of directional coupler, using skin depth engineering of electromagnetic waves, suppresses optical crosstalk and eliminates the need for waveguide …

Artificial Games, Jake Johnson

Theses

This thesis project is an attempt to create an integration of augmented reality (AR) technology and tabletop board games, with a focus on tackling the challenge of maintaining engagement and capturing the attention of modern audiences who are often drawn to more interactive forms of entertainment like movies and video games. Specifically, the project explores the concept of augmenting older tabletop games with a combination of futuristic digital graphics and overlays with original physical game elements. The project sees and recognizes the problem, which is that the disparity between the level of engagement offered by traditional tabletop games and the …

Development And Validation Of Epidemiological Models For Informing Intervention Strategies And Preventing Critical Resource Shortages, Kimberly A. Dautel

Theses

Epidemiological models have been used to measure, understand, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Both model development and model validation are important when utilizing models to help inform public health responses. The goal of this work is to advance mathematical modeling efforts of infectious diseases of current worldwide importance through model development and validation. The model development portion focuses on modeling interventions strategies for two infectious diseases. The first model formulated captures education campaign as the collective effort aimed at educating the public about the nature of the Ebola virus, its transmission routes, and the importance of early detection and …

Cast Iron Repair Through Directed Energy Deposition And Ancillary Processing Modes, Jakob D. Hamilton

Theses

A cast iron repair process that restores above 80% of the original tensile strength without thermal pre-conditioning is presented. Cast iron, an integral alloy to transportation and agricultural sectors, is a difficult alloy to repair owing to the presence of discrete graphite flakes and the tendency to form brittle iron-carbide phases and porosity. Preheating and post-process annealing assist in preventing premature fracturing but are economically and environmentally impractical for large castings. Thus, methods that circumvent these limitations while avoiding defect formation are crucial. Laser-based directed energy deposition (DED) offers a highly controllable method of remanufacturing cast iron and high carbon …

The Implications Of Venus In The Interwar Oeuvre Of James Guy, Emily Cooper

Theses

American Social Surrealist James Guy was a Communist proletarian artist who created works of art that depicted the social inequities he witnessed and experienced during the Great Depression. As a working-class artist, Guy painted images of daily life with recognizable and accessible iconography that allowed his fellow manual laborers to relate to the depicted scene. Guy distorted commonplace experiences through the filter of Surrealism to create absurd, illogical, and nightmarish environments to critique contemporary society. Guy worked to spark the realization of the viewer that they were subjected to the same injustices as the figures in his paintings. In this …

Stacking The Deck In The Learner's Favor: Behavioral Skills Training Improves Safmeds Implementation, Lauren Olsen

Theses

“Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled” (SAFMEDS) is a structured, evidence-based protocol for using flashcards. The protocol is a sequence of steps that are designed to promote accurate and quick responding to learn the information presented on flashcards. Although the benefits of using SAFMEDS have been well-documented, much of the literature fails to adequately describe the methods used to train participants on how to use the protocol. In addition, few studies measure participant procedural integrity (i.e., the extent to which the protocol is implemented as planned). To date, no study has systematically examined the effects of different training methods …

Being Authentic On Social Media With Generation Z, Soyombo-Erdene Ariunbold

Theses

This paper discusses the evolving landscape of social media and the significance of authenticity on social media platforms for Generation Z. It emphasizes the rise of social media platforms, shedding light on their authenticity and the profound influence they have on users' mental well-being. The paper also highlights the necessity for content creators and brands to adapt by incorporating more unpolished content on social media platforms.

The final deliverable will include a detailed survey analysis of the content authenticity on BeReal application. The findings of this study will offer valuable insights into the increasing demand for authenticity on social media …

Degradation Of Biodegradable Products In Simulated Home Compost Environments, Jaclyn Neubauer

Theses

Due to the persistent use and disposal of single-use plastics, plastic waste has become the second most prevalent material found in landfills, trailing only food waste. The adoption of biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics could introduce composting as a sustainable method of disposal. The composting of these materials alongside food waste would effectively reduce the accumulation of plastic and food waste in landfills. Products that are marketed as biodegradable and compostable were evaluated to determine the percentage of weight loss that occurred when they were buried in soil and soil amended with 30% food waste. The impact of forced aeration …

An Examination Of The Associations Between Eating Competence, Physical Activity, Mealtime Activities And School Behavior In Adolescents, Nicole Watson

Theses

Background: An association between eating competence (EC) and physical activity, diet quality, less stress, greater weight satisfaction and many other outcomes has been identified in adult populations. However, limited research has been conducted into EC and associations in the adolescent population. Specifically, the associations between eating competence and physical activity, mealtime activities, and school behavior in adolescents has not been examined. Purpose: To examine the congruence between eating competence and physical activity, mealtime activities, and school behavior in adolescents (ages 11-16) who had participated in the Fuel for Fun study as 4th graders. Methods: Secondary data analysis of collected data …

Enhancing User Learning Experience Of A New Therapeutic Approach For Scleroderma Using Vr, Joanne Park

Theses

The transient receptor potential cation 6 (TRPC6) channel is an integral membrane protein that alters the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration and is also responsible for a variety of tissue expression, physiological functions and channel properties (Ong et al., 2016). Recently, researchers at RIT have discovered a new therapeutic approach for scleroderma, also known as skin fibrosis, that involves the inhibition of the TRPC6 channel. To help spread awareness of their research and to enhance the user learning experience, an interactive virtual reality (IVR) experience was created, as well as supplemental 3D animations, that will be available through the researcher’s website. …

The Evolution Of The Nba’S Culture, Trey Jones

Theses

This project focuses on the National Basketball Association’s dress code problems from 2004-2005 to the 2022-2023 NBA season. Highlighting how a predominantly black athletes' association, run by white men, changed in multiple ways to respect the fashion and culture of its community over this 20-year period. The community that was most represented on the court, and those who support the league at home. Doing so through the influence of the media, player opinions, race, fashion, time, and executives. Showcasing how a prominent business, such as the NBA, can change it its brand to be acceptable and successful.

The Impact Of User-Generated Content On Consumer Purchase Intention, Alyssa Anderson

Theses

This project investigates how various forms of user-generated content impacts consumer purchasing decisions. Primary and secondary research is executed for a broader understanding of UGC implications on modern consumers. The final deliverable is a website that offers an in-depth analysis of the culture of creators and how the dynamic has shifted in recent years. Additionally, UGC cases are studied to determine the impact they have on consumers, and guides are offered to director brands on how ensure consistency and alignment with their brand identity and implement UGC into their marketing strategy.

A Study On How Twitch Streaming Can Impact The Success Of A Game, Nadine Kassassir

Theses

The aim of this project is to assess the variables that impact the success of a video game taken as a function of prizepool earnings awarded in tournaments. With the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch the reach for esports and online gaming has dramatically increased. After analyzing two datasets found on Kaggle, and performing linear regression on a newly created dataset, no relationship between viewership and earnings can be established. Irrespective of this, the increasing trend of earnings and viewership can be observed in both the datasets and online publications and statistics. This indicates the possibility of an existing …

Using The Hirota Method To Investigate The Integrability And New Exact Solutions Of The Non-Autonomous Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation, Islam Majed Albazlamit

Theses

In this thesis research, we investigate the existence of Hirota bilinear systems for the non-autonomous nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) with position- and time-dependent coefficients and external potentials. To that end, we employ a semi-analytical systematic method that employs some exact solutions. The Hirota bilinear system is then employed to derive new solutions to the same nonlinear differential equation. We have applied this approach to a number of different versions of NLSEs to find that each family of solutions shares the same Hirota bilinear system. Furthermore, properties of solutions such as stability are investigated.

Screening And Genomic Characterization Of Multi-Drug Resistant (Mdr) Bacteria From Hospital Wastewater, Showq Abdelaziz Abdelaziz

Theses

Antimicrobial resistance poses an imminent global threat to public health, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria being particularly worrisome due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics. Hospital wastewater has been identified as a potential source of MDR bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study aimed to investigate MDR bacteria's prevalence, diversity, and genomic potential in hospital wastewater samples collected from three different hospitals in the UAE. Samples were processed for culturing antibiotic-resistant bacteria using different HiCrome™ chromogenic media to screen for ESBL-producing, Vancomycin, Carbapenem, colistin, and Methicillin-resistant bacteria. The isolates were characterized using VITEk2 antibiotic profiling and identified using 16S rRNA sequencing …

Preparation Of Copper Oxide Nano-Architectures For Fog Harvesting Applications, Ola M. Abu Draz

Theses

The issue of limited freshwater resources is a significant problem for humans, especially in desert areas where water scarcity poses a serious risk to human survival. In nature, there are several species that harvest fog based on their tuned surface structure, e.g.., Cactus, desert beetles, etc. In addition to surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic architecture, another key factor in effective water collection is the porosity of the surface, which helps droplets to form, grow, and be removed. To address the challenge of water scarcity, we inspired, from nature, to design surfaces that have features that favor water collection. In this aspect, we introduced …

Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Activity Of Rhus Coriaria (Sumac), Yassine Elmahi

Theses

Cancer is a major health problem and is considered a chronic disease globally. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. That is because symptoms increase until the cancer is spread to other parts of the body in late stages. Among the many different therapeutic approaches to treat cancer, it appears that many plants have promising treatment effects, and one of these plants is Rhus coriaria, commonly known as Sumac. Previous studies have indicated that the Sumac plant, which is used in cooking, possesses various therapeutic values, including antioxidant and antibiotic activities. This study investigates the effect …

Digital Transformation In Local Governments: A Case Study Of Abu Dhabi Municipality Transport Department, Alia Sahmi Al Ahbabi

Theses

The new generation is rapidly adapting to the digital era, where government and private services are being transformed into electronic services, commonly known as Eservices. Cities are leveraging digitalization to streamline their business processes and business services. This digitalization has improved service delivery time and quality for individuals. With digitalization, business processes align with technology, enhancing performance and customer satisfaction. However, there are challenges associated with digitalization, particularly people working in various municipality departments who find it challenging to adapt to digitization. Employees may take time to adjust to the new techniques and technologies, which may hamper the actions of …

Biochemical Characterization Of Date Palm (Phoniex Dactylifera L) Seeds Maintained At Microgravity In Outer Space Iss, Shamma Khalid Aldhaheri

Theses

The UAE’s vision to reach space dates to 1976 when Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan met with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Apollo group; this meeting marked the first attempt of UAE to enter the field of space science. The UAE is currently one of the top countries executing space missions and research. This research focuses on the biochemical characterization of date palm seeds that are sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in outer space. The research methodology involves biochemical analysis of seeds maintained under two different environmental conditions-microgravity and standard gravity. In total, 30–45 seeds …

Energy-Aware Resource Control For Dual Connectivity Devices Running Multipath Tcp, Ramiza Shams

Theses

The introduction of Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) allows uninterrupted data transmission through different wireless interfaces simultaneously. It surpasses the performance and reliability of conventional Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Alternatively, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has revolutionized traditional network management and control by introducing significant changes. It enables the networks to be programmed through a centralized controller that oversees the entire network. Despite that, energy consumption is a remarkable issue when using dual-connectivity wireless devices, most of which are battery-powered. This thesis work primarily investigates the energy value differences of devices under different congestion control algorithms by using different interface configurations …

The Impact Of Leadership Behavior On Employee Engagement: A Qualitative Study, Torie M. Bonnet

Theses

Employee engagement has been shown by previous researchers to improve the quality of work that is produced. Previous researchers have focused on how various leadership styles impact engagement. Researchers have revealed that the concepts of structural empowerment, authentic leadership, transformational leadership, and leader-empowering behavior have positively impacted employees' levels of engagement. The knowledge gap includes what behaviors lead to improved employee engagement, resulting in an upbeat team climate and decreased intention to leave a position. This study was designed to glean knowledge from experienced nurse managers regarding employee engagement and understand what skills could be taught to novice managers to …