Digital Commons Network^™

Type Unbound: An Exploration Of Typography, Ar, And Its Creative Power, Honey Ashvinkumar Gardharia

Theses

‘Type Unbound’ is a typographic poster series and campaign designed to celebrate typography, exploring its dynamic possibilities through Augmented Reality (AR) simulation. This project bridges traditional and digital design by allowing users to scan posters and experience typography that defies its static nature, coming alive with animations. Each poster focuses on a distinct theme and these themes showcase the multifaceted powers of typography, highlighting its ability to communicate, inspire, and transform. The animated interactions go beyond aesthetic appeal, serving as a means to understand what type can do—how it shapes rhythm, creates form, adds dimension, and alters perspectives. By combining …

Investigating The Effect Of Active Living Wall On Indoor Air Quality And Energy Consumption: Case Study In Uaeu Closed Offices, Atina Mohsen Ghunaim

Theses

Extreme hot climates can significantly affect Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and ventilation, resulting in higher energy demands. Numerous studies have demonstrated that outdoor greening, such as trees and landscaped areas, can reduce a building’s energy consumption. However, less research has been conducted on the impact of indoor vegetation on energy use and air quality. Indoor vegetation decreases Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) concentration by absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen (O₂), while the evapotranspiration process further enhances (IAQ) and reduces energy expenditure. The United Arab Emirates has dry arid climate and summers with high humidity levels, causing individuals to stay longer indoors, which …

Induction Program Practices On New Teachers In Public School In The United Arab Emirates, Reem Mohammed Al Hajri

Theses

This study examines the induction program practices for new teachers in United Arab Emirates (UAE) public schools. It evaluates key components—including orientation, mentoring, professional development, teacher networking, and administrative support— and analyzes their impact on new teachers’ integration, professional growth, and overall satisfaction. Additionally, it investigates how demographic factors such as nationality, educational qualifications, and teaching experience influence teachers’ experiences and perceptions. By employing a cross-sectional survey design, quantitative data were collected from 150 public school teachers across various emirates. Findings revealed that most new teachers held positive perceptions of the induction program domains. Gender comparisons indicated minimal differences, except …

In Vitro Investigation Of The Potential Therapeutic Implications Of Safranal On Gastric Cancer, Aisha Juma Al Otaibi

Theses

Despite the fact that gastric cancer patients are indispensable to conventional radiation and chemotherapy, the detrimental side effects of those approaches prompt cancer research to seek new integrative treatments. In this respect, safranal (SAF) stands out as a complementary phytotherapeutic drug with exceptional anticancer properties. Concurring studies have shown that SAF is negatively associated with several cancer types, yet its potential therapeutic impact on gastric cancer remains vastly obscure. Thus, this dissertation sought to investigate SAF's prospective tumoricidal ability and its underlying mechanisms of action on gastric cancer in vitro. Herein, the study evaluated the cytotoxicity of SAF on …

Barriers To The Adoption Of Cross Laminated Timber For Mid-Rise Residential Buildings In Uae, Sabika Nasrim Pilathottathil

Theses

Buildings consume about 40% of the total annual energy produced globally, with significant energy usage across different life cycle stages, including construction and operational phases. The energy associated with the construction of buildings is substantial due to the energy required for the manufacture of materials and products. This underscores the need for stakeholders in the building industry to find construction materials and systems with low embodied energy. In the pursuit of low-energy materials, massive timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), are gaining popularity in mid-rise buildings around the world. The development of CLT, which boasts excellent load-carrying capabilities, has …

Enhancing Medical Cybersecurity: A Machine Learning Solution For Intrusion Detection In Iomt Devices, Afra Yaqoob

Theses

In the past few decades, the healthcare sector has undergone major technological advancements, which have included the adoption of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and networked medical devices. These advancements have changed the manner in which patient care is provisioned, enabling for more accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, among other benefits. However, as healthcare providers are growing more reliant on interconnected systems, they have also been exposed to critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Medical devices have now become targets for cyberattacks, threatening patient data and its security and endangering patient's health and safety. This thesis examines the affects that inadequate cybersecurity measures, …

An Automated Approach To Detect Cyber Threats With Smart Contracts In Blockchain Systems., Alia Mohammad Ahli

Theses

Blockchain is becoming one of the main components of the modern world due to its rapid development. Considering its main characteristics as a collaborative distributed database that provides transparency and scalability, blockchain development and application have grown dramatically over the past decade. While the blockchain is a key feature and is used in the industry, it is subject to many risk factors and attacks. Advanced technologies that can successfully detect and mitigate vulnerabilities must be developed for solving these security challenges. This thesis presents the development of a machine learning based approach to discover vulnerabilities in blockchain-based systems. It begins …

Applying Machine Learning For Crime Trend Analysis, Dana Alsoori

Theses

The analysis of crime rates has always been a critical component in shaping law enforcement strategies and public policy. This study focuses on the U.S. crime rates from 1975 to 2015, as reported by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, to explore patterns and trends over four decades. By analyzing this extensive dataset, the project aims to provide insights into the dynamics of criminal activity across different regions and crime categories. The goal is to uncover both visible and hidden trends that can inform better decision-making in crime prevention and resource allocation. With the rise of data-driven methods, this …

Leveraging Ai To Improve Service Quality For Better Passenger Satisfaction At Airport, Abdulrhman Alsaleh

Theses

The aim of this research is to explore the impact of airport service quality on passenger satisfaction level in Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the study employed machine learning approach to establish the services quality dimensions relationship with passenger satisfaction. However, the initial objective is to analyze patterns and make future forecasts that DXB could use to enhance service delivery. The research focuses on key service quality dimensions: The study investigates the causal relationship between five constructs: reliability, service quality tangibility, assurance, responsiveness, and empathy using machine learning models such as regression and classification. The information data applies to the …

Analyzing The Effects Of Economic Factors On Residential Real Estate Market Dynamics Of Dubai: Using Machine Learning Methods, Zarrina Shokirova

Theses

Dubai’s residential real estate market is known for its rapid growth and dynamic nature, making it an intriguing subject for analyzing the impact of various economic factors. This thesis examines how key economic elements such as GDP growth, inflation rates, and foreign investment influence property dynamics in Dubai. By synthesizing current research, this study aims to understand how these economic conditions affect real estate values, demand, and supply. Additionally, modern analytical methods, including decision trees, logistic regression, and random forest models, are employed to predict market trends and uncover significant patterns. This research contributes to both academic understanding and practical …

Mitigating Network Congestion In High-Density Areas Through Advanced Distributed Antenna Systems, Amal Abdulrahman Albeshr

Theses

This dissertation investigates the optimization of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) to address network performance challenges, enhance user satisfaction, and improve operational efficiencies in high-density environments. The study explores the integration of DAS with smart city infrastructure to support modern urban needs, such as real-time monitoring and IoT device connectivity. Set against the backdrop of growing urbanization and increasing demand for reliable connectivity, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of DAS as a transformative solution for telecommunications and smart city applications. The primary research question guiding this study was: How can Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) be optimized to enhance network performance …

Robust And Efficient Active Inference For Perception, Action, And Learning, Zhizhuo Yang

Theses

Active Inference (AIF) is an emerging framework rooted in neuroscience aimed at elucidating human perception, action, and cognitive processes. Recent advances in machine learning have facilitated the non-invasive study of human cognition through the lens of this framework. This dissertation expands upon this theoretical foundation to address practical challenges in robotic control and human cognitive behavior analysis. We initiate our exploration with a review of the eye-tracking studies that underpin the motivation for AIF research. This provides a background for understanding how AIF can model cognitive processes. First, we present a minimal AIF model within a discrete state space, framed …

The Tale Of Mari, Anya Vaughn

Theses

The Tale of Mari is a mixed media animated documentary which follows the life of Mari Arakaki Gaskins. Shortly after moving to America in the 1970s, Mari began illustrating comic strips about a Japanese family, emulating the cartoons she saw in newspapers. She sent a letter to the creator of Garfield, Jim Davis, and included her comics. Davis sent her a response, and told her that her artwork was good. However, he believed that the strips were unlikely to be published, because comics about a young Japanese girl would not be relatable to American audiences. Mari grew up during a …

Scalable Access-Pattern Aware I/O Acceleration And Multi-Tiered Data Management For Hpc And Ai Workloads, Avinash Maurya

Theses

The exponential growth of data-intensive scientific simulations and deep learning workloads presents significant challenges for high-performance computing~(HPC) systems. These workloads generate massive data volumes at unprecedented velocities, straining the capabilities of existing memory hierarchies, I/O subsystems, and scheduling mechanisms. This dissertation addresses critical challenges in data management and workload scheduling to enhance performance, scalability, and resource efficiency in next-generation HPC and Artificial Intelligence~(AI) applications. Firstly, we develop advanced data and memory management strategies to alleviate I/O bottlenecks in deep memory hierarchies of modern HPC environments. We significantly mitigate data movement overhead by exploiting application-specific data access patterns and optimizing data …

Predicting Newborn Low Birth Weight: A Machine Learning Approach Using Maternal Health And Demographic Data, Rayan Elsayed

Theses

Low birth weight (LBW), defined by the World Health Organization as a birth weight under 2500 grams, remains a major global health challenge due to its association with increased risks for adverse neonatal and long-term health outcomes. This study aims to identify maternal health factors that contribute to LBW and to develop predictive models to support early identification of at-risk pregnancies. Two machine learning models, Logistic Regression (LR) and Random Forest (RF), were developed to analyze the relationship between maternal factors and LBW outcomes. The RF model achieved an accuracy of 96.36%, demonstrating robust predictive performance across metrics, making it …

Tehran Is Ours, Hamideh Azimi

Theses

Tehran is Ours is a thesis film, mainly 2D animation, with some experimental and 3D parts. This film dramatizing the movement that is happening in Iran which is about women’s rights. 2D fluid animation represents the movement that never stops.

Recast, Reform, Reshape: Surreal Figurative Painting, Keely Wu

Theses

This thesis explores the use of surreal imagery and the reimagining of historical subjects as a means to discuss complex ideas of identity. In this exploration, I chose to use the human figure as a vessel for expressing my own intimate viewpoints and experiences. Through a series of paintings, I investigate how the juxtaposition of human forms with non-human elements challenges conventional notions of gender and sexuality to empower marginalized perspectives. My Master’s degree started with my transition from commercial illustration to fine art. The study examines my evolution of thematic and stylistic choices, emphasizing the creation of new works …

Utilizing Machine Learning For Categorizing Disaster-Related Tweets, Ahmad Alfalasi

Theses

This study presents the development of a machine-learning model that recognizes tweets about disasters in real-time. The fast-paced development of social media, especially Twitter, has drastically changed the field of news transmission during crises. This change creates new challenges for the management of the volume, velocity, and veracity of data that are generated in such situations. The present tools do not have the capabilities of real-time processing of the huge volume of data; hence, new solutions are required. The model we are proposing addresses this problem by using advanced machine learning methods, such as natural language processing, to filter and …

What Explains State-Level Variation In Refugee Resettlement In The United States?, Rebekah Walker

Theses

The history of refugee resettlement in the United States reveals an ad hoc system that relies heavily on non-governmental agencies and state social services. Rates of acceptance for refugees vary greatly by state, yet the particulars of refugee placement are under-studied. This thesis seeks to explain why refugees are likely to be resettled in some states more than others–what factors are associated with higher or lower levels of refugee resettlement? Most literature looks at the economic impact from refugees and on refugees or analyzes the political environment that supports (or does not support) them, but refugee resettlement itself–the how and …

Enhancing Healthcare Services Through Machine Learning-Driven Anomaly Detection, Mohammad Ayoub Nather Hussain Natheruddin

Theses

The healthcare industry’s expanding data presents opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Despite advancements in medical technology, medical errors remain a significant issue. Anomaly detection, identifying data points that deviate from normal patterns, is crucial for addressing these errors and detecting healthcare fraud. This study uses the “Healthcare Providers Data for Anomaly Detection” dataset to identify fraudulent activities. Clustering and two-step clustering, two unsupervised anomaly detection methods, are employed to uncover anomalies without prior knowledge. These techniques are applied to detect unusual events, such as anomalous patient health states and time-series data deviations. The study focuses on …

Early Career Nurses' Attitudes Toward Climate Change And Its Relationship To Nursing Practice And Education: A Qualitative, Descriptive Exploratory Study, Ongelique Conflenti

Theses

Background: Climate change is accelerating rapidly, and its adverse effects on human health are expected to worsen in the coming decades. Nurses have a professional and ethical responsibility to address climate change and help the healthcare sector adapt to its challenges. Due to a lack of education on the topic, however, many nurses are not aware of the relevance of climate change to their nursing practice. Little is known about the attitudes of early career nurses (ECNs) toward climate change or their perspectives on integrating it into their continuing education.

Aims: This research will aim to explore the attitudes of …

Bridging Blobs: The Transformative Communication System, Philip Pham

Theses

In an increasingly interconnected world, language diversity can pose significant barriers to communication and understanding. "Bridging Blobs: The Transformative Communication System" introduces an innovative solution towards overcome these challenges. This thesis presents an immersive and interactive technology experience designed to seamlessly translate both spoken and sign languages and foster clear communication by visually demonstrating relationships between individuals using English and/or American Sign Language. The system integrates into various social and physical spaces, from bars to museums, creating dynamic displays that celebrate the richness of human language and culture. Interactive screens showcase animated sequences, representing inclusivity and collaboration. Powered by cutting-edge …

Holistic Correlation Measure For Enhanced Encapsulation Of Trait Heterogeneity And Discovery Of Co-Expression, Zachary Valleroy

Theses

Large-scale, high-dimensional data analyses can be computationally prohibitive due to combinatorial explosion of the search space for finding complex patterns; a viable alternative is network modeling for abstraction and quantifying intrinsic data associations. Prominent network analysis methods furnish frameworks for model synthesis and validation but rely on standard correlation measures impaired by semi-supervised biases, latent heterogeneity, and uneven discretization techniques. Here we investigate a holistic measure for encapsulating data heterogeneity for enhanced efficacy of revealing complex patterns through network analysis. Our unique correlation metric, K-medoids Utility for Duo Original Similarities (Kudos), exhaustively factors real-valued analyte data to compute …

Pawlingo: Bridging Virtual And Real-World Language Learning Through Mixed Reality, Xueer Wang

Theses

PawLingo harnesses the power of mixed reality (MR) technology to enable users to learn new languages anytime, anywhere. By enhancing the interactivity and immersion of language learning, PawLingo revolutionizes how users engage with new languages. The platform features virtual non-player characters (NPCs), such as a panda representing Mandarin, who guide and interact with users in their daily environments. Whether navigating everyday scenarios like markets or public transit or practicing vocabulary in real-time, PawLingo seamlessly integrates language instruction into the user's surroundings. This research explores the development and impact of PawLingo, highlighting its ability to enhance user engagement, retention, and cultural …

Vitamin D Clinical Relevance In The Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injury Among The Military Population, Yuisa Mariceli Colón

Theses

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains a difficult disorder to treat. TBI has been associated to chronic neuroinflammation and a high risk for neurodegenerative disorders. Since 2001 between ten to twenty percent of all deployed military members have suffered a combat-related TBI. Nearly twenty to thirty percent of those will experience chronic cognitive, behavioral and somatic symptoms after suffering a TBI. This review found compelling evidence to support that the pathology of TBI is closely associated with neuroprotective mechanisms of vitamin D.

Hope Vs. Hate: Understanding User Interactions With Lgbtq+ News Content In Mainstream Us News Media Through The Lens Of Hope Speech, Jonathan Pofcher

Theses

This thesis makes three contributions. First, via a substantial corpus of 1,419,047 comments posted on 3,161 YouTube news videos of major US cable news outlets, we analyze how users engage with LGBTQ+ news content. Our analyses focus both on positive and negative content. In particular, we construct a fine-grained hope speech classifier that detects positive hope speech, negative, neutral, and irrelevant content. Second, in consultation with a public health expert specializing on LGBTQ+ health, we conduct an annotation study with a balanced and diverse political representation and release a dataset of 3,750 instances with fine-grained labels and detailed annotator demographic …

A Comparative Study Of Weavings Of Two Disparate Cultures: Finding The Similarities In Handcrafts, Monica Lowe

Theses

This thesis is a study of the similarities between the traditional weavings of two indigenous cultures who appear to be culturally unrelated, the West African Ewe and the Peruvian Quechua located in the Cusco Province. Its purview includes the purpose it serves, who does the craft, and meanings woven into the textiles. The focus of this thesis is based on a theory that across human cultures, iconographies and archetypes are demonstratively the same, with similar collective, unconscious meanings. The overall theory is that handcrafts are an important consideration when demonstrating a reflection of human cultural similarities in beliefs, community, and …

Ai-Powered Pedagogy: Revolutionizing Students’ Learning Experiences Through Integration Of Ai Technologies, Amna Awad Alsaedi

Theses

This research examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the educational sector with the aim of enhancing student learning outcomes. AI offers tailored learning experiences, interactive educational content, prompt feedback, and access to diverse learning resources. Nonetheless, challenges including addiction, costliness, privacy infringement, bias, ethical dilemmas, market competition, and moral considerations require resolution. Research particularly delves into the utilization of chatbots, and algorithms designed to simulate human interactions and generate text resembling human speech. Educational applications powered by AI have the potential to heighten student engagement, comprehension, and academic performance by substituting traditional assignments with concise, information-rich lessons. Furthermore, …

The Effect Of Nerolidol On The Renal Dysfunction Following Bilateral Ureteral Obstruction In The Rat, Harun Rashed Toumi

Theses

This thesis addressed nerolidol’s potential therapeutic and protective effects on bilateral ureteral obstruction-induced uropathy in rats. Obstructive uropathy stands as a notable contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI), accounting for 5-10% of all AKI cases worldwide, with a particularly high prevalence among the elderly, constituting 22% of AKI cases in this age group. Urinary tract obstruction, often attributed to factors such as kidney stones, urinary tract deformities and benign/malignant growths such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in older men can lead to detrimental outcomes if left untreated, potentially progressing to kidney failure and even mortality. The severity of the kidney …

Analysis, Design, And Experimental Validation Of The Thermal Subsystem Of Alainsat-1 Cubesat, Ameereh Seyedzadeh

Theses

This thesis investigates the thermal management techniques of AlAinSat-1 during extremely harsh space conditions. It presents a comprehensive analysis of its thermal behavior using numerical techniques and validates the CubeSat's survivability in space via experimental testing. AlAinSat-1 is a nanocube-shaped satellite carrying Earth observation payloads, including RITA (Remote sensing and Interference detector with radiome-Try and vegetation Analysis) and Locana. Understanding how the CubeSat behaves in harsh space conditions and maintains thermal stability during its mission is critical to its success. The main aim of this study is to employ finite element analysis (FEA) techniques to simulate the thermal behavior of …