Digital Commons Network^™

Analytical Method For Solving Systems Of Fractional Initial Value Problems Using The Modified Atangana-Baleanu Derivative, Lana Mohammad Aref

Theses

This thesis presents an analytical method to solve systems of fractional initial value problems using the Modified Atangana-Baleanu Fractional Derivative. The proposed approach leverages an improved operational matrix method, incorporating an iterative, direct computation technique to simplify the solution process and reduce computational costs. Foundational concepts in fractional calculus and block pulse functions are introduced, followed by the derivation of operational matrices tailored for fractional systems. Theoretical analysis establishes the existence and uniqueness of solutions, along with uniform convergence and error estimates. Practical examples and applications are presented that demonstrate the efficiency, accuracy, and versatility of the method in solving …

Collection Of Self-Research Papers Analyzing The Enhancement Of Uae-China Cooperation Through Public Policy Lenses, Jiaming Lu

Theses

This thesis examines how UAE public policies can align with China’s commercial and political interests to strengthen the current strategic partnership between the two nations, with a focus on bilateral business cooperation encompassing diplomatic collaboration, free zone trade, and energy sector corporate governance. The primary objective of this thesis is to analyze whether this comprehensive relationship can be sustained or elevated to “allweather, all-round, strategic, and future-oriented” strategic partnership amid global challenges. To achieve this objective, multiple analytical models were employed to assess relevant public policies and their implementation mechanisms, including historical analysis, dynamic modeling, and socio-legal analysis. The findings …

Test Of Strategies For Production And Harvest Of Edible Roots From Hydroponic Plants, Mariam Yaslem Albreiki

Theses

Hydroponic plant cultivation is becoming increasingly popular in the UAE, especially for leafy greens and fruit vegetables. By the end of the growing cycle, the roots of hydroponic plants are usually treated as crop residues, even though roots of several species are potentially edible and could be processed into food or nutraceuticals. Root crops like sweet potato or carrot might even be grown in hydroponic systems for the primary purpose of producing edible fibrous or tuberous roots. However, the use of hydroponic systems for the production of root biomass is not yet common, and most farmers strive to produce plants …

Under The Bay: Analysis Of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Dive Behavior In The Urban San Diego Bay, Emily Carter

Theses

Sea turtles are air-breathing marine reptiles that spend their lives performing dives to travel, forage, and rest. Several dive types have been previously recorded for sea turtles, each type being associated with a different set of behaviors. U-dives, or Type 1 dives are widely characterized by extensive benthic periods preceded by and concluding with abrupt descent and ascent phases respectively (Minamikawa et al. 1997; Houghton et al. 2002; Seminoff et al. 2006). These dives are widely affiliated with turtle resting behavior though can be indicative of additional activities including benthic travel and foraging. Previous research of green turtle dive behavior …

Determining The Physiological And Behavioral Tolerance To Hypoxia In Two Species Of Rockfish (Sebastes Spp.), Makenna Chan

Theses

In the eastern North Pacific, the oxygen minimum zone naturally shoals seasonally and impacts demersal fish habitat along the continental margins and on offshore seamounts. This hypoxic layer has been shoaling in recent decades, likely affecting the habitat and distribution of commercially-important fish species such as rockfishes (genus Sebastes). Respirometry and shuttle box behavioral experiments were used to determine the hypoxia sensitivities of two rockfish species with contrasting movement patterns and habitat use: cowcod (Sebastes levis) and bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis). Although both species inhabit similar deep-water, rocky-reef habitat, they have different lifestyles, in which cowcod …

Understanding Vaccines: A 3d Animation And Print Materials For Clinical Trial Patients, Shannon Gregory

Theses

This project covers the importance of patient education, and the decisions that go into making patient facing materials. The topic of this piece is “Understanding Vaccines” and will explore several key aspects: what vaccines are, how they work, their important role in public health, and how to best communicate with patient audiences. Given the growing challenges in vaccine education, this piece will address common misconceptions and emphasize the importance of clear, accessible communication. The goal of this piece is to educate, but also to encourage individuals to make well-informed decisions regarding vaccination. The artwork created for this thesis was developed …

Climate Influence On Both Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Rocky Intertidal Community Structure In San Diego, California, Emily Jenkins

Theses

The rocky intertidal ecosystem, the coastal area between high and low tides, serves as a critical buffer between land and sea. This ecosystem supports a diverse array of species and provides rich opportunities for exploration and education. With the influence of climate change, this ecosystem faces significant shifts in species distribution, resilience and recovery from environmental disturbances, as well as habitat loss (Jackson & McIlvenny 2011; Jueterbock et al. 2013; Menge & Gravem 2022; Rilov et al. 2021; Sagarin & Barry 1999). Between 2014-2016, climate anomalies El Niño (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) combined to create a period …

Enhancement Of Firefighter Mental Performance: A Review, Nicole A. Ness

Theses

Background: The life-or-death nature of firefighting exposes those who respond to calls to an increased number of stressors that can impact performance and overall well-being. To combat this, the mental element of firefighting can be optimized through psychological skills training programs and mindfulness training. Other tactical populations, such as the police force, military, and emergency medicine units have found success in implementing these interventions, Literature suggests a similar effect may be observed in firefighters because of their similar demands; although, little research exists regarding the effects of mental performance programs on firefighter populations specifically.

Methods: A review of existing literature …

Predicting Customer Churn In B2b Consulting Services, Mediya Alfalasi

Theses

The aim of this research was to develop a machine learning model that can predict customer churn in the consulting industry. The goal was to help businesses identify customers who might leave, allowing them to take action before it happens. To achieve this, a dataset was created by combining different data sources to reflect real-world customer behaviors. After cleaning the data and addressing issues like missing values and data imbalance, four machine learning algorithms—XGBoost, Neural Network, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, and Support Vector Machines (SVM)—were used to build the prediction models. The findings showed that XGBoost performed the best, achieving …

Fake News Detection On X (Twitter), Sultan Mayoof Almutaiwei

Theses

The most important innovation globally is the internet, which is used by a huge number of people all around the world. People use the internet for different purposes. By using different social media platforms people share content and news. Thus, some people use these internet platforms to share false news or fake news among people. Propaganda against a person, group, organization, or political party may be present in this news. For an individual, it is difficult to distinguish between false and true news over the internet. Therefore, machine learning is the smart solution that can identify fake news on the …

Enhancing Waste Management And Circular Economy Practices In Higher Education Institutions In Uae: A Study On Current Policies And Strategic Framework, Muna Ali

Theses

This study investigates the integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles within higher education institutions (HEIs) in UAE as a method to address waste challenges in UAE. Despite the announcement of UAE 2021-2031 Circular Economy Policy, and the nationwide continues promotion of sustainability initiatives, HEI’s lack the availability of tailored policies and procedures as well as guiding framework to address their waste challenges and adapt CE within their institutions. To assess this problem, a survey has been distributed to 45 CAA accredited public and private universities in UAE. A qualitative approach has been used to analyze the survey responses. The survey …

An Integrated Decision Support System (Dss) For Sustainable Supplier Selection, Evaluation, And Benchmarking Using A Fis And Molp Approach, Saleem Ghannam

Theses

Applications of sustainable supplier selection criteria in supply chain management are less developed compared to other evaluation methods. This study focuses on three main dimensions of sustainable supplier performance: economic, environmental, and social criteria. The research aims to identify significant criteria within each dimension that are crucial for the sustainable supplier selection process. These criteria will be utilized to develop a hybrid decision support system that integrates a fuzzy inference system with multi-objective linear programming. This comprehensive model will evaluate and benchmark supplier sustainable performance, providing an overall assessment of supplier performance. The proposed model offers a holistic approach to …

Prediction Of Vessel Arrival Time To Optimize Berth Allocation In Ports Using Machine Learning Methods, Anfal Mansour Albloushi

Theses

80% of the world trade is carried out through the sea, which shows the importance of maintaining transportation efficiency in the maritime industry. The vessel arrival time and berth allocation pose a significant challenge in the marine field's day-to-day operation, especially when a high number of vessels are waiting at the anchorage to deliver the goods on time. This increases the pressure on the responsible stakeholders and good owners as some cargo must be delivered urgently. Artificial intelligence and machine learning play a vital role in improving the operation of different fields; utilizing such technologies in the maritime industry will …

The Effect Of Biochar As Partial Cement Replacement On Mechanical, Durability, Thermal, And Microstructural Properties Of Concrete - Comparison With Biomass, Aysha Yousef Alsaadi

Theses

This thesis paper examines the use of 1% cement replacement with date palm derived biochar and compares it to 1% replacement of biomass. The main aim of this idea is to reduce the carbon emissions from concrete production factories and utilize the abundant waste from date palm plants, which is prevalent in the UAE. Three samples of concrete were used: 1% biochar mix, 1% biomass mix, and a control mix. Mechanical tests, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, were evaluated. Thermal conductivity, chloride penetration, water absorption, and characterization testing by XRD, TGA, SEM, and FTIR were conducted. As for compressive …

Perceived Stress, Psychological Wellbeing, And Sleep Quality Of Passport Control Officers, Roudha Abdulla Almazrouei

Theses

Research on the stress experienced by officers has identified several key findings that illustrate the diverse nature of their workplace stressors. Research specifically addressing the stressors encountered by passport control officers is limited when compared to studies on other law enforcement roles. This study aims to assess stress levels among passport control officers, identify psychological health impacts, determine the intersection of personal and occupational stress, and investigate the effects of shift work on stress intensity and related psychological issues. A mixed methodology incorporating qualitative and quantitative was used. The sample included 166 participants with a job title of passport control …

Space-Time Analysis Of The Sea Level Variability Of The Arabian Sea Using Satellite Altimetry Data, Saleha Saeed Binishaq

Theses

The ongoing effects of climate change are contributing to a gradual rise in sea levels, which has become a significant environmental concern. It creates a serious threat to coastal areas, especially in the Gulf Region, which includes various cities bordering the Arabian Gulf, the Red and the Arabian Sea. This phenomenon has the potential to significantly influence the socioeconomics of the region by altering coastal marine ecosystems and can pose serious infrastructure sustainability challenges. This research focuses on analyzing the sea-level variability in the Arabian Sea using satellite altimetry data from 1993 to 2023. The analysis was conducted along a …

Extraction Of Activated Carbon From Date Palm Biowaste And Subsequent Preparation Of Ferrite Nanocomposite For Water Treatment In Uae, Anood Lashkary Ahmed Ibrahim

Theses

Ensuring access to clean and safe water remains a pressing global challenge, particularly in arid regions like the Gulf, where freshwater scarcity is severe. The United Arab Emirates heavily depends on energy-intensive desalination, which is increasingly turning to treated wastewater as a sustainable alternative. In this context, the recovery and reuse of biowaste and the development of advanced treatment technologies are critical. This study presents an innovative approach to wastewater treatment by utilizing biomass waste—specifically date palm leaves, an abundant agricultural residue in the UAE—as a raw material for producing activated carbon. Through pyrolysis, the biowaste is transformed into porous …

The Role Of Ai In Digital Propaganda And Its Influence On Public Political Perception. A Case Study Of The Uae Citizen, Maitha Salem Mohamed Alshamsi

Theses

The study investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital propaganda and its influence on public political perception, using the United Arab Emirates as a case study. It aims to understand how AI-generated content shapes political opinions by analyzing the relationships between digital propaganda exposure, AI content interaction, social media engagement and media literacy. In addition, the study uses the Framing Theory (1974) by Erving Goffman. It posits that individuals interpret information and events through cognitive frameworks or "frames" that organize and influence their understanding. It implies that AI amplifies specific frames by customizing content and targeting audiences, which …

User Perceptions Of Ai Services In Abu Dhabi Government: An Empirical Study Of Satisfaction And Acceptance Factors On The Tamm Platform, Muneera Ali Zaher Alsulaimani

Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how governments deliver services by enabling automation, personalization, and data-driven decisionmaking. In the United Arab Emirates, particularly in Abu Dhabi Emirate, the TAMM platform exemplifies this transformation, integrating AI to streamline citizen-government interaction. Understanding the factors that influence the user’s satisfaction of Powered AI services in the public sector is crucial for effective policy implementation and user engagement. This study employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), extended with User Satisfaction as a fifth construct. Quantitative data were collected from 137 TAMM platform users …

A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models For Predictive Process Monitoring Using Objectcentric Event Logs, Buthaina Hasan Aidaros Alhebshi

Theses

The increasing complexity of business processes drives the need for advanced predictive monitoring solutions capable of handling multi-entity interactions. Traditional case-centric event logs fall short of capturing these complexities, leading to the emergence of Object-Centric Event Logs (OCEL). Despite the growing interest in OCELs, their structural complexity and impact on predictive performance remain unexplored. This thesis investigates how process complexity influences the performance of machine learning models in predictive process monitoring using OCEL. A framework combining Graph Neural Networks and graph embedding-based models is applied across three predictive tasks: next activity, next timestamp, and remaining time prediction. The evaluation covers …

Sustainable Hydrogels: Advancing Soil And Water Retention In The Uae, Mariam Abdulla Alhosani

Theses

Long-term climatic issues like soil erosion and water scarcity affect arid regions, making sustainable agricultural systems more challenging to put into practice. By creating different hydrogels from local agricultural biomass (cellulose extracted from date palm tree waste).This will assist in overcoming the limitations of synthetic water- retentive materials. Several hydrogel samples were created using physical and chemical crosslinking techniques, forming several hydrogel variants samples that were labelled as (T1 to T4). TGA, SEM, FTIR and swelling tests were used. TGA results revealed improved thermal stability in T2 (physically crosslinked), and T3 (dual cross-linking citric acid with gelatin), with degradation temperatures …

Remember The Ladies: A Consideration Of The Subtle Contributions Of Women To The Patriot Cause, Davon Howard

Theses

Before the American Revolution, colonial women lived in a hierarchical society. When the fighting began, the constructs of that hierarchy were challenged and, in some cases, broken down, with only few remaining while the fight for freedom was in full effect. The battle for independence was not fought only on the battlefield. Women were left at home to survive in a harsh wartime world and desperately doing what they could to make sure there was a home to come back to. Even with such tremendous responsibility on their shoulders, and in addition to their struggles to secure the home front, …

Evaluating Bias In Facial Recognition Datasets : A Study On Representation And Classification Fairness, Milyonta Williams

Theses

Facial recognition technology is widely used in security and identity verification but exhibits biases that disproportionately impact certain demographic groups. This thesis examines racial and skin tone biases in commonly used facial recognition datasets, assessing their influence on classification models. Using manual classification via the Fitzpatrick scale and numerical skin tone representations from LAB color values, we identified significant dataset imbalances, with lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick Types 1 and 2) overrepresented and darker tones (Types 4-6) underrepresented. Model evaluation using Random Forest, SVM, and XGBoost showed an overall accuracy of 72\%, but classification for Asian individuals was notably weaker (0.45 …

Aviation Weather Forecasting Utilizing An Artificial Neural Network, Joshua Mote

Theses

Weather forecasting is critical to minimize risk and maximize efficiency for flying operations and is challenging due to the uncertainty involved in atmospheric changes. Operational area weather is becoming more critical with the growing reliance on air domain for transportation. This study investigates whether the forecasting accuracy using a Hybrid Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) Artificial Neural Network (ANN) outperforms the San Antonio International Airport (KSAT) Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) by integrating diverse data sources – regional Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR), TAF, Avian Advisory System (AHAS) Data and geomagnetic activity K Index Data. When tested on one year of historical data, …

Improving Satellite Needs Working Group Assessment Process Through Automation And Process Consolidation, Raj Dangol

Theses

The increasing complexity of modern software ecosystems, presents significant challenges to system resilience, maintainability and automation. This work presents a proof-of-concept implementation of an automation system to address these challenges for a large scale fragmented software systems. Succinctly we address these challenges in the context of Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG), which is responsible for collecting and communicating federal agencies' Earth observation needs to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Multiple automation scripts and applications exist to support the SNWG's assessment cycle, encompassing the areas of data validation, visualization, report generation, and user management. However, the dispersion of these tools …

Surveying Subterranean Biodiversity Of The Tongass National Forest Using Traditional Survey Approaches And Environmental Dna (Edna) Metabarcoding, Jared P. Higgs

Theses

The Tongass National Forest (TNF) is a large temperate rainforest in southeastern Alaska, much of which is underlain by karst. Timber harvest, among other threats, can have detrimental effects on karst habitats; however, the subterranean fauna of this region is understudied and lacks a baseline for monitoring. I spent three field seasons conducting biological assessments of caves in the TNF using two approaches: traditional specimen-based sampling and eDNA metabarcoding. To improve the reference sequence database, I generated 213 novel sequences from invertebrate specimens collected from 35 caves. I also collected 125 water samples from 39 sites for environmental DNA (eDNA) …

Blockchain Poisoning Attacks In Federated Learning, Mohammad Raihan Uddin

Theses

Federated Learning (FL) enables collaborative model training across distributed clients without sharing raw data, thereby preserving privacy. However, conventional FL depends on a centralized aggregator, exposing it to poisoning and backdoor attacks that threaten model integrity. This thesis introduces B-ZkFed, a blockchain-based and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP)-enhanced FL framework designed to ensure verifiable trust, transparency, and robustness. The blockchain layer decentralizes aggregation through smart contracts, while the ZKP module allows clients to cryptographically prove the correctness of updates without revealing private data. A multi-layer adaptive defense combining gradient-norm filtering, model-similarity analysis, and robust aggregation mitigates poisoning threats under both IID and …

A Study On The Nocturnal Evolution During Perils 2023 Iop3’S Supercells To Qlcs Development, Meredith Bean

Theses

The Propagation Evolution and Rotation of Linear Storms (PERiLS) field campaign deployed mobile facilities on 24 March 2023 to the Mississippi Delta region. During the intensive operational period, a storm system passed over the PERiLS network that later produced multiple tornadoes in Mississippi and North Alabama. This mesoscale convective system evolved from supercells and merged into a QLCS. This study aimed to document and understand the changes in environmental parameters and associated convective-scale structures as the system moved from initiation over the PERiLS network to North Alabama. The analysis methodology utilizes ground-based assets to ascertain if the MCS was surface …

Multiscale Finite Element Analysis Of Cylindrical Jellyroll Based Energy Storage Devices, Wesley James Knee

Theses

Lithium batteries are an ever-expanding solution for energy storage; however, their internal chemistry is highly prone to combustion. Any severe mechanical failure can lead to this scenario, which is problematic as their use in electric vehicles increases. As such, finite element modeling efforts need to improve in order to properly define the failure mechanics of these batteries. Efforts have already been made to create an accurate model of the battery as a whole, but this generalized model does not capture the short-circuiting phenomena within the internal components. To solve this problem, a representative volume model that generates input data and …

Comparing Role Differences Among Systems Architects, Systems Designers, And Systems Engineers, Kelly X. Campo

Theses

The roles of a systems architect (SA), systems designer (SD), and systems engineer (SE) often work together to develop systems, especially as the scale and complexity of engineered systems increase. However, management of these roles can result in ambiguity of task assignments and may reduce accountability for deliverables. Furthermore, there are few published works examining the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs collectively. This research explores perceptions of the similarities and differences between the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs by conducting a systematic literature review of 57 sources containing 1064 quotes in addition to a thematic content analysis, analyzed …