Digital Commons Network^™

Prediction Of Diabetes Using Machine Learning, Walid Abdulla Abdulrahim

Theses

This research seeks to compare the overall health of diabetic patients with that of their healthy counterparts based on various heath indicators obtained from a large dataset comprising of pregnancies, glucose levels, blood pressure, skin thickness, insulin, BMI, diabetes pedigree function and age. Relative to the healthy group, increased average glucose level, higher BMI, and older age are identified in the diabetic participants. Most importantly, the results show that obesity is a significant risk factor for diabetes, and many diabetics have BMIs that are elevated above healthy levels. The data also points towards the fact that insulin resistance and prevalence …

Mundane, Ordinary And Eerie Undertones, Yixuan Xia

Theses

When people encounter fear and uncertainty, their mental and physical reactions can vary. Drawing from my personal experience and the ‘Uncanny Valley’ theory [2], I explore various materials and juxtapose ordinary elements with unsettling imagery. In this project, I focus on donuts, transforming them by adding surreal details to imbue them with eerie undertones. For example, in one of my works, a delicious-looking donut appears perfectly normal at first glance. When viewers have a close look at the donut, its surface is crawling with worms, creating an unsettling contrast between the familiar and the disturbing. By altering these familiar items, …

Effects Of Emerald Ash Borer On Temperate Wetland Ch₄ Emissions, Ethan T. Potter

Theses

Forested wetlands are a globally significant source of atmospheric methane (CH₄), and tree stems potentially contribute a large portion of emissions from these systems. However, tree stem emissions in temperate wooded wetlands, particularly those experiencing disturbance, remain largely unexamined. This study investigated the effects of emerald ash borer invasion on CH₄ fluxes from soils and tree stems in temperate wetlands of Western New York. Methane fluxes were measured from live trees, dead trees, and soils in wetlands with different emerald ash borer impact levels (high/open canopy and low/closed canopy). During eight campaigns carried out across the majority of the growing …

An Investigation Of Electrical Surface Impact As A Three-Dimensional Low-Energy Defibrillation Method, Rhiannan Ruef

Theses

Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency that leaves the heart unable to beat properly, and is fatal within minutes if left untreated. Furthermore, it’s the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest according to the NIH, killing over 400,000 Americans every year. Previously, we’ve proposed a new low-energy defibrillation method to restore the heart to its normal rhythm during fibrillation. Our method required further investigation due to the presence of several important dynamical processes. In this dissertation, we report the results of these investigations. First, we will present our results related to a novel behavior called “flopping,” which occurs when a …

Urban Pollinator Vertical Garden: Design Strategies For Sustainable Human - Pollinator Interaction In Urban Environments, Chungmin Park

Theses

The project focuses on the urban spaces as vibrant ecosystems, integrating pollinator habitats, vertical gardens, and green spaces. It emphasizes community engagement and education to promote environmental responsibility and calls for global urban stakeholders to prioritize collaboration and innovation for sustainable urban development. Ultimately, it aims to create resilient and vibrant cities for future generations.

Neural Patterns Of Self-Efficacy And Resulting Changes After Cognitive Rehabilitation In Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Emma N. Tribbey

Theses

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often leads to cognitive impairments, which can significantly affect recovery outcomes. Although there are many different interventions available for individuals with mTBI, evidence-based research has indicated that cognitive rehabilitation programs can lead to significant improvement in psychological symptoms as well as psychosocial and vocational functioning in mTBI. Additionally, clinical research has identified a construct, self-efficacy, or the belief in one's capacity to achieve goals, that may play a critical role in further improving cognitive rehabilitation outcomes. Current research examining self-efficacy and cognitive rehabilitation in mTBI has found that higher self-efficacy is associated with greater treatment …

Moonstorm In The Mainstream Or On The Margins?: Constellating St. Louis Lesbian Rhetorics From The Archives, Aurora Blanchard

Theses

Combining rhetorical analysis, oral history collection, and archival study, this multi-genre research project explores lesbian feminist organizing in the 1970s. Moonstorm was a St. Louis lesbian feminist magazine that operated in the 1970s and 1980s. The sample in this research project focuses on the issues of Moonstorm published between 1973 and 1977. Issues of Moonstorm are available for viewing in the archives of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Building on V. Jo Hsu’s theory of constellating, the poems and stories found in Moonstorm serve as sites of both contested and unconditional belonging for modern LGBTQ+ activists. Constellating, specifically in …

Colloidal Control Via Micellar Solutions, Timothy F. Niper

Theses

Mesoscale colloids composed of polyoctahedral silsesquioxanes (POSS) are promising candidates for the self-assembly of hierarchical structures as a continuum of size and morphology can be readily synthesized. However, there are substantial challenges in creating customized colloids that exhibit specific structural features, programmable binding, and stimuli responsiveness. Here, we explore a novel route to gain structural and directable control of these colloids by pairing them with thermoresponsive, polymeric micelles. These polymeric micelles cannot only swell the interstices of oligomeric colloidal droplets with the accuracy provided by the well-defined polymer micellization transition, but also act as absorbable colloidal depletants—a new class of …

Vigilante Justice Violence In Ghana: Does A Visible Police Force Reduce Support For Instant Justice?, John Ampomah

Theses

Vigilante justice remains a persistent issue in Ghana, with a significant portion of Ghanaians subscribing to it to address their grievances. While existing research has examined the social and cultural drivers of vigilante justice in Ghana, the role of visible police presence (i.e., police station and police patrol) on vigilante justice has received limited attention. This study seeks to add to the literature by exploring the relationship between visible police presence and support for vigilante justice by drawing on Black’s (1983) Self-Help Theory. First, I argue that a visible police force directly reduces public support for vigilante justice and indirectly …

The Impacts Of Water Lily Invasion And Removal On Wetland Ecosystem Function, Vanessa R. Baker

Theses

Colonization by native and non-native invasive plants is considered a primary reason for the failure of wetland restoration and creation projects. We investigated the impact of invasion and subsequent removal of Nymphaea odorata (white water lily) in two permanently flooded wetlands in Western New York State. Long-term grazer exclusion experiments at these sites demonstrated that selective grazing by herbivores, such as waterfowl, reduced emergent vegetation and overall plant diversity, simultaneously facilitating N. odorata expansion. This interaction ultimately promoted a negative feedback to waterfowl use of the wetlands because of the lack of open water space. To evaluate potential remediation options, …

Investigating The Impact Trichoderma Virens On Maize Phytohormones During Drought, Salt, And Cold Stress, Kathryn Spencer

Theses

Abiotic stresses are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change, leading to significant reductions in crop yields. Though sessile, plants are not defenseless. They can invite plant-growth promoting microbes to colonize their rhizosphere and help reprogram their chemical defense systems. Through these partnerships, plants can more rapidly and robustly recover from environmental stressors compared to those grown in isolation. In this study, the role of the beneficial microbe Trichoderma virens in phytohormone production was explored in maize, a globally important staple crop, under drought, salt, and cold stress, with or without microbial inoculation. Using a liquid chromatography mass …

A Computational Framework For Investigating Novel Bacterial Conjugation Inhibitors, Serena Tuytschaevers

Theses

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global threat, contributing to an estimated 700,000 deaths annually. One of the main ways that AMR genes spread among bacteria is through conjugation. Therefore, it is crucial to develop conjugation inhibitors (COINs) to combat AMR. Shared characteristics between known COIN molecules are a hydrophobic tail, unsaturations, and a polar head. Considering these characteristics and accounting for the efficacy of 2-hexadecynoic acid and Tanzawaic Acids (TZAs) low toxicity, we designed a new set of TZA analogs. The predicted protein target of previously identified COINs is TrwD, an ATPase in the type IV secretion system (T4SS). …

Examining The Influence Of Sports Nutrition Counseling On Collegiate Athletes, Jenelle Leon Saravia

Theses

This study explored the influence of nutrition counseling provided by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) on collegiate athletes’ dietary behaviors, knowledge, and perceptions of nutrition. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating qualitative interviews with 15 athletes from six sports across four schools. Participants reflected on their counseling experiences, focusing on its impact on their nutritional habits, health, and athletic performance. Quantitative data, including a one-sample t-test on recommendation scores, revealed a mean score of 6.73 (SD = 0.46) on a 7-point scale, indicating consistently high satisfaction with nutrition counseling. Thematic analysis identified five themes: Influence of Counseling, Behavioral Changes, Self-Reported Understanding …

Application Of Science And Technology Studies To Global Medical Device Donation Policy, Jolie Crunelle

Theses

In low and middle income countries, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 80% of medical devices and equipment are procured through donation (WHO 2000). While these donations have the potential to play a critical role in the recipient communities’ health, the donated devices sometimes fall short of their potential due to improper use or lack of support—despite the existence of a variety of guidelines and regulations for medical equipment donations. While conducting volunteer biomedical equipment technician work in Guatemala and Uganda, I came to notice the disparity between the guidelines and the reality on the ground. This study aims …

Animating The Mechanism Of Action Of The Novel Glioblastoma Vaccine Survaxm, Sheila Figel

Theses

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly type of malignant brain tumor affecting over 11,000 people in the United States each year. Treatment options for GBM are limited, with the majority of patients receiving surgery and chemoradiation, and surviving around 15 months. New therapies are desperately needed. A novel peptide vaccine, SurVaxM, has shown promise in phase I and II clinical trials, and is currently under investigation in a Phase IIb trial (the “SURVIVE” trial) for newly diagnosed GBM. As SurVaxM moves closer to FDA approval, there is a need for education about the agent and how it works. In order to …

Basking In Abundance: Distribution And Abundance Of Alabama Map Turtles (Graptemys Pulchra) In The Upper Coosa River, Abigail Wilkins

Theses

The Alabama Map Turtle (Graptemys pulchra) is one of the least studied species of turtle in the United States. Little is known about the species distribution and abundance within the northeastern portion of its range. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of G. pulchra in the Upper Coosa River drainage as well as estimate population sizes for G. pulchra at 6 sites accessible in the Upper Coosa River Drainage. I used a variety of methods (e.g., rapid assessment surveys, trapping, mark-resight population estimates) to determine the presence and abundance of the species in the Upper …

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

Flood Risk Assessment In Humanitarian Contexts: A Remote Sensing And Gis Methodology Applied To Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania, Carolyne Vincent Mbirika

Theses

Flooding is a global challenge, with effects mostly experienced in developing countries due to insufficient data for effective flood risk assessment and management. Refugee settlements are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their remote locations, high population density, and temporary shelters, necessitating flood susceptibility mapping to effectively mitigate risks and minimize damage prior to flooding events. This study assessed flood susceptibility in the Nyarugusu refugee camp, Tanzania, through Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approaches. The flood susceptibility map that resulted from this process categorizes flood-prone areas into three classes: …

Adaptive Reuse Of Abandoned Schools, Dayana Williams

Theses

This thesis investigates the adaptive reuse of abandoned school buildings in economically declining communities, mainly focusing on how these transformations can contribute to sustainable community revitalization. The research highlights Columbus, Ohio, where school closures and grade realignments threaten to leave many school properties vacant, especially in minority neighborhoods. This adaptive reuse strategy presents an opportunity to address issues such as urban decay, resource efficiency, and social equity by repurposing these buildings into multifunctional community assets. The study adopts a multi-method approach, including literature reviews, case study analysis, and community needs assessments, to identify best practices and critical challenges in adaptive …

An Ultra-Low-Power, Area-Efficient All-Analog Trojan With Temporal Power Supply Triggering, Roberto Ramos-Brito

Theses

With the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things and rising concerns over intellectual property protection, hardware security has become increasingly vital—particularly in defending against hardware trojans. While much of the existing research targets digital trojans, analog hardware trojans remain largely unexplored, presenting unique opportunities for developing innovative attack vectors and mitigation strategies. This thesis introduces a novel all-analog temporal trojan that functions entirely within the analog domain. The design incorporates power supply noise detection and charge-accumulator techniques to enable precise control over attack execution and payload delivery. It also leverages novel circuit techniques to reduce power and area overhead, …

Color Constancy In Virtual Environments With Head-Mounted And Flat-Panel Displays Across Different Illuminants And Lightness Levels, Andrea Avendano Martinez

Theses

Virtual reality (VR) is commonly used as a tool for enhancing immersion within virtual environments, with one of its primary goals being to approximate real-world perception as closely as possible. In everyday life, variations in lighting conditions significantly influence how colors are perceived across different times and settings. However, the human visual system compensates for these changes, maintaining relatively stable color perception; a phenomenon known as color constancy. This process is driven by chromatic adaptation, the visual system’s adjustment to changes in illumination. Despite the growing use of VR, little research has explored how color constancy operates in virtual environments …

This Night, Roshni Jayakrishnan Nair

Theses

"This Night" is a 2D animated Graduate Thesis Film. The story centers on a devout elderly woman who receives a vision foreshadowing her departure from life. Guided by this vision, she embarks on a profound journey. In her garden, she plucks a hibiscus and offers it to the deities in her home. As she prays with closed eyes, she envisions her hibiscus offering reaching the temple doors. Recognizing this as her sign to depart, she resolves to set out on her journey to meet the goddess at the temple. Plucking another hibiscus to carry with her, a sudden gust of …

Implementation And Dissemination Of The 'About Eating' Program: Evaluating Participant Engagement, Usability, And Module Interest, Justin Konrad Walker

Theses

Abstract Background: Online nutrition education can improve food choices among underserved populations. The About Eating New York (AENY) program is a web-based, self-paced series of modules designed to enhance nutritional literacy, resource management, and confidence in healthy eating. Leveraging dissemination and implementation (D&I) science, AE partnered with community organizations across New York’s ten fiscal regions to extend its reach. Methods: This study analyzed secondary data from the AENY dissemination effort. Participants were recruited via social media and community organizations. Pre- and post-program surveys and end-of-lesson surveys assessed demographics, engagement, and perceptions of usability. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVAs, …

The Use Of Robotic Surveillance In The Uae In 2035: Balancing, Innovation, Regulation, And Privacy, Oasha Yousuf Almohier

Theses

This research explores the future of robotic surveillance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 2035, aiming to balance innovation, regulatory oversight, and privacy protection. It investigates the intersection of national security objectives, ethical AI governance, and public trust within the UAE’s rapidly advancing smart city and law enforcement environments. The focus areas include regulatory gaps in current AI laws, ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic bias, and the societal perception of AI-powered surveillance systems. The background of this study stems from the UAE’s ambition to lead in AI deployment, especially within public security initiatives such as autonomous …

Ferroelectric Field-Effect Transistors In Analog Applications: Demonstrated In Time-Domain Neuromorphic Computing Cells, Jacob O'Donnell

Theses

In response to diminishing improvements from transistor scaling, the semiconductor field has shifted its focus to architectural innovation and emerging device technologies. Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs) are non-volatile memory elements which offer new opportunities for energy-efficient computing, particularly in compute-in-memory (CIM) architectures. This thesis presents a novel FeFET-based computing cell integrated into a time-domain (TD) computing architecture. The proposed design is evaluated using a device model derived from experimental data and compared with competing non-volatile memory implementations. Results demonstrate improvements in area efficiency and performance, highlighting the potential of the FeFET cell for next-generation TD-CIM systems.

The Relationship Between Perceived Stress, Rumination, And Sleep Quality Among University Students, Aljazeeya Almansoori

Theses

Sleep is a crucial physiological function that underpins human health and wellbeing, profoundly affecting cognitive abilities, emotional stability, and the overall quality of life. Disruptions in sleep quality and quantity are commonly associated with increased perceived stress and rumination. This study aimed to investigate the correlations among perceived stress, rumination, and sleep quality in university students in the UAE, while also considering demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and educational level. It was hypothesized that higher levels of perceived stress and rumination would be associated with lower sleep quality. The study employed a cross-sectional design, involving a sample …

Study Of The Extension Of Cavities In Jebel Hafeet By Implementing Geophysical Methods, Mai Rashed Alkaabi

Theses

Subsurface cavities pose challenges to the buildings and their stability, leading to ground instability and subsidence. In Al Ain City, UAE, particularly in Jebel Hafeet, cavities within carbonate formations and sedimentary rocks present risks to infrastructure and urban development. This study employs Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Gravity Surveys to detect, locate, and determine the depth of these cavities, enhancing geological understanding and geohazard assessment. The ERT survey, using a pole-dipole array, was conducted along eight lines to identify subsurface anomalies. It revealed high-resistivity anomalies (> 45 Ω·m), indicative of air-filled cavities, and low-resistivity zones (< 6 Ω·m), corresponding to water-saturated or clay-rich deposits. The ERT survey detected resistivity variations, highlighting anomalies ranging from 45 to 120 Ω·m at depths between 1 m and 17 m. The gravity survey, conducted at 28 stations, detected low-density anomalies, which aligned with high-resistivity ERT zones, confirming subsurface cavities at depths between 10 m and 220 m (below ground level). Five 3D gravity inversion models visualized density variations, revealing cavities at different depths for the models from 0 m to 195 m (a.s.l). The integration of ERT and gravity methods significantly improved cavity detection accuracy, demonstrating a strong correlation between low-density gravity anomalies and high-resistivity features. This study recommends increasing gravity station density, and avoiding heavy infrastructure in cavity-prone areas. The findings contribute to the geological understanding of Jebel Hafeet, providing insights for sustainable urban planning, risk mitigation, and infrastructure safety in Al Ain City.

A Data-Driven Recommendation System For Selecting The Appropriate Mode Of Learning And Instructional Tools Based On Course Characteristics, Ayisha Manzoor

Theses

The rapid transformation of educational delivery methods during the COVID-19 pandemic required institutions to transition between online, hybrid, and offline learning approaches, creating both challenges and opportunities for educators and students. While online and hybrid learning modes ensured continuity, their effectiveness across different course types remained uncertain. This thesis addresses this gap by developing a datadriven recommendation framework that predicts Course Learning Outcome (CLO) achievement scores using regression, and recommends the most appropriate learning mode (online, hybrid, or offline) along with instructional tools based on course characteristics. This study analyzed 100 undergraduate and postgraduate courses from the College of Information …

Assessing Readiness For Transformation From Rulebased To Ai-Based Chatbot In Uae Healthcare: A Case Study Of A Rehabilitation Hospital In Abu Dhabi, Mubarak Alketbi

Theses

This study investigates the readiness for transforming rule-based chatbots to AI-based chatbots in UAE healthcare, examining a rehabilitation hospital in Abu Dhabi through quantitative research involving healthcare professionals (N=96) and technical analysis. Findings revealed positive perceptions of the current system alongside enhancement opportunities through AI capabilities, with perceived usefulness strongly correlating with behavioural intention, high service quality ratings for empathy and responsiveness, midcareer professionals demonstrating the highest AI acceptance levels, and system integration identified as the highest priority implementation area.

The research contributes to healthcare technology transformation knowledge in the UAE by providing a structured implementation framework addressing technical requirements, …

Design And Evaluation Of Geopolymer Composite As A Potential Sorbent Of Heavy Metals From Water, Ebtesam Mohammed Alghafri

Theses

Reducing the levels of heavy metals in water is crucial, given their severe environmental and health impacts. Various methods exist for heavy metals removal. Yet, they mostly come with multiple drawbacks, such as costly treatments and limited efficiency. Previous studies have found geopolymer to be a promising sorbent because it is synthesized using by-product materials, making it an eco-friendly and economically sustainable alternative. Limited studies explored the sorption potential of fly ash-slag blended geopolymers; none examined the effect of mix design factors synergically on sorption, mechanical properties, and durability, and few considered solution characteristics and operating conditions simultaneously. Therefore, this …