Digital Commons Network^™

Establishing A Kpis And Initiatives Classifying Model Based On Performance Datasets For A Supply Chain Health System, Jamal Alshanableh

Theses

With the increasing demand for advanced analytics in health care, the digital health department at PwC needs to have an automated process for automating and quantifying the current state of the client on a performance management level in a more effective and quantitative manner in order to generate for the client a common type of deliverables which are usually (KPIs and initiatives). The following research was done and evolved for the purpose of providing a quantitative, smart and analytical solution for current state assessment phase of a project engagement, which is a commonly required phase in most of the management …

Iot Smart Parking, Anas Hamdan

Theses

A Smart City is designed to improve the quality of life of its residents by utilizing the forefront innovations. Embedded within the smart city is the fundamental innovation using the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide novel solutions to residents, prompting to the enhancement of everyday life while promoting sustainability. This project highlights smart parking management that is a key pillar of a smart city. It implements IoT, sensors, and software to track the availability of parking spaces, the number of vehicles parked in a parking lot, the time for which these vehicles have been parked, and the real-time pricing …

Differentiating Between Invasive And Native Populations Of Bighead And Silver Carp Using Ms-Aflp, Erika Renee Sarvela

Theses

When a species is introduced outside their native range, the genetic diversity of the introduced population is generally decreased due to the founder effect, and the fitness of individuals in the introduced population may decrease due to inbreeding depression. Invasive species are a paradox to this paradigm because while the initial population size of an invasive species may be small in their non-native range, the individuals are able to survive, eat, and reproduce so successfully, that they have deleterious effects on native species. One mechanism that invasive species use to overcome a lack of genetic diversity and adapt to their …

Electrical Identification Of Innate Immune Cells, Rasha Ayman Nasser

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the electrical characterization of the key players of the innate immune cells. Innate immunity is basically the nonspecific immune response that is triggered by any foreign body that attacks the human system. The key players of the innate immune system are mainly dendritic cells and macrophages. Accurately classifying these cell types helps us understand the mechanism of the immune system thereby enabling the development of models to improve new prospects for therapeutics and diagnostics. The characterization described in this thesis is based on extracting the capacitance for each biological cell using I-V curves. The main …

Identification Of Micrornas Related To Type 2 Diabetic Osteopath, Mouza Mohammed Saeed Alfashti Alaleeli

Theses

T2DM is linked to an increase in the fracture rate as compared to the non-diabetic population even with normal or raised Bone Mineral Density (BMD). Previous studies have addressed the question of how T2DM induces osteoporosis; the exact underlying mechanism is still elusive. Bones undergo continuous remodelling throughout life. Bone remodelling implicates the coupling of osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation. This process is controlled by numerous genetic, hormonal, and neurogenic mechanisms. Osteoporosis is a result of bone loss that occurs by uncoupled remodelling. The existing evidence indicates that short non-coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs), are the key …

Exploring The Instructional Emergent Writing Strategies Of The Emirati Kindergarteners: A Mixed Method Study, Warda Suliman Al Azri

Theses

This mixed-method study aimed at exploring the nature and the types of instructional emergent writing strategies applied by UAE kindergarten teachers in their classrooms. The study also fathomed the teachers’ views toward the practicality of the instructional emergent writing strategies and the challenges they encountered when teaching emergent writing using these strategies. The study used an exploratory sequential mixed method design. In the first phase of the study, a qualitative mean was used by carrying out semi-structured interviews with a purposive-selected sampling of kindergarten English teachers (n=5). The second phase of the study featured a collection of quantitative data using …

Catch Me If You Can: Henri Matisse’S Chase For Symbolic Capital In The New York Art Market Of The Early Twentieth Century, Monica M. Mitchell-Werp

Theses

This paper analyzes how the development and consequence of symbolic capital influences an art market. This comprehensive, qualitative analysis examines the early twentieth century New York modern art market activated by French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and the 1913 Armory Show. This examination derived from the French sociologist, philosopher, and anthropologist Pierre Bourdieu’s (1930-2002) theories provides evidence of the use of symbolic capital by Matisse. The evidence points to the twofold function that symbolic capital holds within the emerging modern art market. The first function of symbolic capital manifests through the nonmonetary value Matisse received from the intangible qualities of …

A Best Practices Guide For The Web Designer Utilizing Search Engine Optimization And Social Media Optimization, Kimberlie Ann Nash

Theses

Today, searching on the Internet is a common everyday occurrence, and behind the scenes, search engines go to work finding websites based on keywords. This project focuses on the different methods applied within Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Optimization (SMO) and how they can benefit a web designer. The purpose of this study is to identify the best practices for a web designer utilizing SEO and SMO. This research is a blend of qualitative and quantitative methods, with the primary focus as a customized survey questionnaire designed to extract a list of best practices from the various SEO …

Churches Can Increase Membership Among Millennials And Generation Z By Using Social Media, Deja Erin Mcghaw

Theses

This project examines how churches can increase membership among Millennials and Generation Z on social media. The final deliverable is a 45-minute webinar offering tips for churches to create effective and relevant content online. This webinar will be housed on a website created called Social Media for Churches. It features many videos and resources to help churches with social media such as trends, recommendations, practical tips, and free tools for content creation. Doc

Starting Off Right: A Beginning Band Curriculum Guide, Emily Fiasco

Theses

This project is a curriculum guide for the first quarter of a beginning class. After researching ways to build engagement in beginning learners, this project was constructed to serve as an overview of the most important topics to be covered in a beginning band class. It contains five topics, each consisting of a set of lesson plans as well as a culminating assessment. This is not intended to be a comprehensive unit plan, covering everything a student needs to learn, but addresses a sampling of the most important skills that students need to develop. This guide is also not meant …

Shutdown University: Comparing Video Content Performance Against Non-Video In Digital Crisis Communications At Institutions Of Higher Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brian Patrick Vorce

Theses

This thesis project examines best practices in crisis communications at institutions of higher learning during the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a large amount of literature stating the importance of video content in the digital realm, video communications were closely examined and compared with non-video communications in terms of efficacy and successful engagement on social media platforms. The final deliverable for the project is a website where communications professionals can access resources, data, and research on these crisis communications, all delivered through accessible blogs and videos.

Native Activism And Materiality Through The Work Of Cannupa Hanska Luger: A 21st Century Indigenous Artist, Rachel Daniela Vera

Theses

This thesis focuses on a specific work by Cannupa Hanska Luger called This is Not a Snake. This project examines the materiality of the artwork, including beads, crochet, sewing, ceramics, and non-traditional materials. The materials used in this work address 21st-century indigenous issues while also promoting activism from the Water is Life movement, which is centered at Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota. The materials of this work are relative to Luger’s 21st-century contemporary style. The use of repurposed heavily merchandized inorganic materials refers to the protests in Standing Rock. This is Not a Snake was inspired by these events, activism …

Exploring The Visual Arts With Rog: A Four-Part Series, Roger Heuberger

Theses

This project report addresses the research which led to the choice of content, formatting of curriculum, delivery system, and video conference management. The combined art appreciation and art history classes are innovative as they are built around high-interest key art events or movements instead of linear chronologies or systematic reviews of art elements. The research for this Thesis II project extended beyond art historical materials. The literature review and analysis additionally explored educational theories which could be adapted for use with the target audiences of 65+ aged seniors and lifelong learners. The original project submitted in mid-2019 was for in-class …

Using Machine Learning Software In The Human Resource Recruiting Process For Candidates From Dubai Police Academy, Ibrahim Alkhazraji, Ali Saeed Buhaliba

Theses

Since Machine learning software explored the first recruitment software and found that utilizing technology improves their efficiency at work, speed, and makes the process easier, the use of machine learning for recruitment has become one of the major themes in human resources. In a few years, hiring top talents may lean entirely on the ability of the recruiters to automate their workflows intelligently. Over time, the function of human resource management has indeed evolved in organizations, as technology has been marveled for its greater efficiency in almost every sector. The use of Machine learning for recruiting in organizations has not …

Utilizing Data Analytics For Optimum Urban Transportation System, Hadeel Raed Shubair

Theses

This study addresses the challenges associated with urban transportation by providing a framework for exploiting data analytics, with application to transportation data, to achieve an effective and time-efficient metropolitan city transportation system. We aim to understand traffic in different areas of the city, as well as trying to categorize the various zones within numerous areas in the city, such as: business destination, residential destination, or touristic destination according to its popularity given both the time-range and the day of the week. In this project, a logistic regression classification model is built to classify locations into hotspots/non-hotspots.

Deafspace™: Existing Buildings Adapted To Provide A More Optimal And Sustainable Environment, Christopher William Brucker

Theses

Architectural design often creates spaces that are accessible to many, but not all people. In particular, many buildings are designed for hearing people; those who design with accessibility in mind typically consider the needs of blind people and wheelchair users, but often neglect the needs of Deaf people. Thus, most built environments are hearing-centric and unconducive for Deaf people. Furthermore, the relationship between architecture and accessibility for people with disabilities did not become a priority in the United States until 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced. The ADA requires architects to think differently and design barrier-free …

Fine-Tuning Sign Language Translation Systems Through Deep Reinforcement Learning, Joseph Panaro

Theses

Sign language is an important communication tool for a vast majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people. Data collected by the World Health organization states that there are 466 million people currently with hearing loss and that number could rise to 630 million by 2030 and over 930 million by 2050 \cite{DHH1}. Currently there are millions of sign language speakers around the world who utilize this skill on a daily basis. Bridging the gap between those who communicate solely with a spoken language and the DHH community is an ever-growing and omnipresent need. Unfortunately, in the field of natural language …

Engram, An Application Of Recording And Throwing Back Memories With Your Parents, Tong Wu

Theses

Adults can recall memories from the age of three. Our brains help us sort out important things for long-term memory and more trivial things for short-term memory. 1 We pull up these pieces of memory when we need them. We can remember a lot, but we also keep forgetting, forgetting details.

Therefore, humans have always had the habit of recording. Today we record our lives by posting in social media, taking photos, and so on. In most of the more modern methods, we record our life initiatively, which means we need to do something to record a piece of memory. …

We Eat, Maliheh Rahrovan

Theses

We Eat is an animated short film showing the struggles of a survivor living in an apocalyptic world within a cruise ship that holds the last of humanity, most of whom are wealthy, opulent, greedy people. We follow the protagonist on her journey through the ship as she attempts to save a single baby calf. The inhabitants on the ship are obese, obsessed with consumption, and all are wearing animal masks that cover their eyes. Justine, the protagonist, frightened as she slips from a room, closes an unseen item in her luggage case, and begins to flee the hungry passenger …

An Integrated Camera And Radar On-Robot System For Human Robot Collaboration, Anmol S. Modur

Theses

The increased demand for collaborative tasks between humans and robots has caused an upsurge in newer sensor technologies to detect, locate, track, and monitor workers in a robot workspace. The challenge is to balance the accuracy, cost, and responsiveness of the system to maximize the safety of the worker. This work presents a sensor system that combines six 60GHz radar modules and six cameras to accurately track the location and speed of the workers in all 360 degrees around the robot. While the radar is tuned to identify moving targets, the cameras perform pose detection to evaluate the humans in …

Evaluating Appearance Differences Of Color 3d Printed Objects, Matt Ronnenberg

Theses

Color 3D printing is a relatively young technology with several exciting applications and challenges yet to be explored. One of those challenges is the effect that three dimensional surface geometries have on appearance. The appearance of 3D objects is complex and can be affected by the interaction between several visual appearance parameters such as color, gloss and surface texture. Since traditional printing is only 2D, several of these challenges have either been solved or never needed to be addressed. Complicating matters further, different color 3D printing technologies and materials come with their own inherent material appearance properties, necessitating the study …

Price Prediction And Valuation Using Data Mining In Dubai Real Estate Market, Abdulla Alhathboor

Theses

The purpose of this study is to find out the impact of data mining in predicting prices and values of real estate units in the Dubai real estate market. This market has always been one of the biggest markets in the economy of any nation worldwide and has always been considered one of the biggest indicators on the health of any economy. After the devastating crash of the world economy in 2008, many real estate projects were halted and economies are still recovering from that incident. Real estate brokers and agents found it difficult to sell any property during that …

Application Of Machine Learning Models: Stock Price Forecasting Of The Philippines' Top Six Conglomerates, Anthony Rey Llanos

Theses

The advent of digital age dramatically changed the way all aspects of commerce is conducted. From the largest multi-national conglomerates to the least small-and-medium enterprises and to the unassuming business-savvy individuals have adapted to take advantage of the benefits afforded by the resulting digital technology. Investing in, and profiting from, shares of stocks of companies listed in an organized stock exchange is one such instance. Gone are the days wherein stock investors and brokers are inseparable from their telephones to handle trades. Online platforms, powered by machine learning algorithms, have made investing in stocks not only accessible and convenient but …

The Effect Of Deer Browse On Achyranthes Japonica, Nicholas R. Seaton

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFNicholas Seaton, for the Master of Science degree in Plant Biology, presented on December 4, 2019 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE EFFECT OF DEER BROWSE ON ACHYRANTHES JAPONICAMAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. David GibsonPlants respond in many ways to damage. These responses vary between sites depending on the severity and duration of the incident. One common form of damage in the forest understory is herbivory or browse. White tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been observed to change the dominant species of forests by selectively browsing palatable species in the understory. These changes in species dominance …

Constraint Satisfaction Techniques For Combinatorial Problems, David E. Narvaez

Theses

The last two decades have seen extraordinary advances in tools and techniques for constraint satisfaction. These advances have in turn created great interest in their industrial applications. As a result, tools and techniques are often tailored to meet the needs of industrial applications out of the box. We claim that in the case of abstract combinatorial problems in discrete mathematics, the standard tools and techniques require special considerations in order to be applied effectively. The main objective of this thesis is to help researchers in discrete mathematics weave through the landscape of constraint satisfaction techniques in order to pick the …

Plan 2014: A Case Study On Shared Water Governance, Bobby Moakley

Theses

Coastal areas of the United States are highly populated due to their richness in natural resources and economic opportunity. With this opportunity comes increasing competition for development. This places intensive strains on natural resources and land along coasts, resulting in damage to ecosystem health. In addition to competitive development, climate change poses a major threat to coastal communities as they are vulnerable to a variety of environmental factors (EPA, 2016). Many coastal communities have formed coordinated approaches to manage water levels and build resilience along shorelines. However, many of these approaches result in a variety of problems and are not …

Conducting A Feasibility Study For Generating Power From Renewable Energy Resources And Utilizing High Voltage Direct Current For Interconnection In The Middle East And North Africa, Rashid Al Maazmi, Mahmood Broushan

Theses

Electricity consumption is on the rise as the global population is increasing. The need of energy has been discussed in length over the years. Oil and gas have been the primary resource for generators fuel. As oil and gas are a finite resource, an alternative resource that does not harm the environment is needed to generate energy. The Middle East and North Africa have a huge potential for using solar and wind energy to generate electricity as MENA region has one of the highest levels on solar irradiation. A new system of transferring the power through the MENA region is …

Flow- Digital Gestural Expression, Senjal Pandharpatte

Theses

Overwhelming emotions affect the performance, productivity, and mental well-being of an individual. This has been a rising trend in highly sensitive young adults. To maintain well-being one can work towards developing emotional intelligence. With a higher emotional intelligence (EQ) the capacity to be aware of, control and express one’s emotions is better [1]. We lack an engaging way to communicate self-expression that feels in sync with us. The main problem being addressed here is to help people recognize their own emotions, by themselves, and then effectively communicate them to other people. Flow is an interactive creative outlet that allows highly …

An Evaluation Of Current Policy Guidelines For The Best Practices Of Robotic Surgery Training, Zachary Geffert

Theses

Robotic surgery is a young and new technology, becoming widely used only within the past twenty years. Robotic surgery is categorized as minimally invasive and has immense patient benefits, including shorter hospital stays, reduction of human errors, increased precision, and faster recovery time. A recent study looked “at more than 10,000 incident reports from the FDA spanning from 2000 to 2013…found [finding] that robots were involved in 144 patient deaths and 1,391 patient injuries” (Wagstaff, 2015, pp. 2). Wagstaff (2015) also notes that very little information regarding cause of death was provided by the incident reports, which brings forth the …

Trilepisium (Moraceae): Four New Species From Madagascar, Shawn Kelley

Theses

Trilepisium is a genus of tree with two member species: T. madagascariense and T. gymnandrum. This genus shows diversity in habit and morphology greatly exceeding that expected of a genus with two member species. Concerted collection efforts since the last revision have suggested there are several unrecognized species within Trilepisium and a revision is needed. Chapter one of this thesis details the history of this taxanomically challenging genus and presents the results of our study of 600 Malagasy herbarium specimens. Trilepisium is more adequately circumscribed as containing 17 species, 11 of which are new to science. Chapter two contains …