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Advancing The Utility Of Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas)-Based Imaging Techniques In Broadacre Agriculture: A Multimodal Case Study On Table Beets, Mohammad Shahriar Saif Aug 2025

Advancing The Utility Of Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas)-Based Imaging Techniques In Broadacre Agriculture: A Multimodal Case Study On Table Beets, Mohammad Shahriar Saif

Theses

Efficient and sustainable food production and management are growing concerns in the context of an ever-increasing global population. It is in this context that the integration of remote sensing with advanced imaging technologies presents transformative opportunities for data-driven decision-making in agriculture. This study therefore explores the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped with multispectral, hyperspectral, and LiDAR sensors for the non-destructive monitoring of table beet (Beta vulgaris) crop traits, with a specific focus on root yield estimation and foliar disease assessment. Table beet, a subterranean crop of increasing commercial and nutritional importance, poses unique challenges for above-canopy sensing due …


On The Adaptation Of Latent Dynamics Models, Ryan Missel Aug 2025

On The Adaptation Of Latent Dynamics Models, Ryan Missel

Theses

Predicting future states of high-dimensional, partially observed dynamical systems - such as cardiac electrical propagation - is crucial for advancing fields like healthcare and physics. While univariate time-series forecasting is well-explored, high-dimensional time-series forecasting presents unresolved challenges. These challenges include the computational burden of processing high-dimensional data and the difficulty of accessing the system’s underlying dynamics directly. Classical optimization and analytical approaches become impractical as the dimensionality increases, leading to a growing interest in data-driven deep learning models, particularly those based on latent dynamics functions. Latent dynamics models provide an efficient way to map high-dimensional observations into lower-dimensional latent spaces, …


Meta-Learning Coordinated Eye–Hand Dynamics, Chengkuan Zhao Jul 2025

Meta-Learning Coordinated Eye–Hand Dynamics, Chengkuan Zhao

Theses

The analysis of fine-grained behavioral time-series, such as eye-hand coordination, offers a powerful lens for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Traditional assessments often miss subtle dynamic patterns that are critical for characterizing individual differences. This thesis investigates the temporal dynamics of coordinated eye and hand behavior in adolescents with and without ASD during a structured ”maze painting” tablet task. The goal is not to propose a new predictive model, but to use a state-of-the-art meta-learning framework based on latent Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs) as a ”computational microscope” to explore how these behavioral dynamics vary within …


Structure/Property/Processing Of Covalent Adaptable Networks Bearing Hindered Urea Bonds, Kory Schimmelpfennig Jul 2025

Structure/Property/Processing Of Covalent Adaptable Networks Bearing Hindered Urea Bonds, Kory Schimmelpfennig

Theses

Dynamic covalent chemistry provides the functional basis for the efficient and reliable exchange of reversible binding groups which enable self-repair thus avoiding structural impairment or permanent damage of material properties. Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) have garnered attention for the sustainable development of polymers capable of mending damages thus facilitating eco-friendly recyclability. This work aims to address the role of reaction pathway and manufacturing process on the subsequent properties of CANs bearing hindered urea bonds (HUBs). HUBs have proven easy to incorporate into polymers and exhibit moderate temperature thermo-reversibility and creep resistance. In this investigation we study the effects of preparing …


Critical Black Expressionism: A Womanist Manifesto, Rolanda Jw Spencer Jul 2025

Critical Black Expressionism: A Womanist Manifesto, Rolanda Jw Spencer

Theses

This thesis introduces Critical Black Expressionism (CBE) as a visual, spiritual, and intellectual methodology rooted in Black feminist traditions, ancestral knowledge systems, and artistic practice. Grounded in womanist theory and decolonial inquiry, the central argument asserts that Black women’s lived experiences, cultural memory, and spiritual cosmologies constitute a rigorous and sovereign framework for artmaking. Rather than borrowing from Eurocentric pedagogies, this approach draws from oral traditions, sacred ritual, and master-apprentice models that have long existed within African and African American communities. The Iyami Aje: Mothers + Witches collection is the visual embodiment of this research. Composed of multimedia sculptures, altar-based …


Fostering Human Rights Awareness In Kosovo: A Case Study On The Sustainability Of Ngo Trainings, Hana Kaja Jul 2025

Fostering Human Rights Awareness In Kosovo: A Case Study On The Sustainability Of Ngo Trainings, Hana Kaja

Theses

The sustainability of human rights trainings in Kosovo remains a critical issue, particularly as the country seeks to develop a rights-oriented society aligned with Euro-Atlantic values. This case study evaluates the sustainability efforts of two trainings conducted by a non-governmental organization, focusing on their alignment with objectives, participant feedback, and systemic factors such as institutional support and follow-up mechanisms. It also explores broader challenges like participant disengagement and the limited integration of human rights education into the national curriculum. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining survey data from participants, interviews with NGO representatives, and analysis of internal documents. To ensure …


How Do You Know? Parsing The Infocalypse Using Art-Based Data Visualization, Michelle Sylvia Weintraub Jul 2025

How Do You Know? Parsing The Infocalypse Using Art-Based Data Visualization, Michelle Sylvia Weintraub

Theses

Since the advent of the World Wide Web, vast interconnected digital networks have increasingly provided access to diverse data sources for Internet users. Towards the turn of the 21st century, social media sites opened opportunities to produce and consume (i.e., prosume) data, empowering users to publish their own content online (Manovich, 2009). The ability to publish user-generated content results in more voices being heard, creating more seats at the proverbial table. However, more recently, persuasive media has increasingly been weaponized to disseminate misinformation and disinformation online (Howard, 2020). Consequently, the agency exercised by Internet and social media users is diminished. …


Engraving Goddesses: Hendrick Goltzius’S Mannerist Prints, Emily Seils Jul 2025

Engraving Goddesses: Hendrick Goltzius’S Mannerist Prints, Emily Seils

Theses

This project analyzes the reception of Hendrick Goltzius’s (1558-1617) prints within the court of Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612), specifically how his technical expertise in his mythological compositions presented bodily transformation as an alchemical act. He produced images that were intellectually coded for a sophisticated audience while simultaneously capturing the viewer’s gaze and emotions. In doing so he created, alongside his contemporaries, a niche market of high demand art and enabled the "viral" circulation of collectable prints among Northern European elites. Three main topics structured my approach. First, the distinctive development of Rudolf II of Prague’s prestigious art collection, the Kunstkammer, …


Exploring Kosovo's Need For A Technology-Driven Offset Strategy, Alba Cikaqi Jul 2025

Exploring Kosovo's Need For A Technology-Driven Offset Strategy, Alba Cikaqi

Theses

At a time where technological innovation is redefining national security, Kosovo risks falling behind by failing to adopt emerging technologies for defense and security. This research addresses that vulnerability by exploring the need for a dedicated national strategy as a solution. Drawing on global best practices, including the United States Offset Strategy, NATO frameworks, and innovation models from the Baltic countries, the study outlines a potential path forward. Additionally, through qualitative analysis, including interviews with key stakeholders across public, private, and academic sectors, this study looks into the opportunities and challenges of developing a context-specific strategy for integrating emerging technologies …


Investigating Human Expertise In Manufacturing To Enhance Knowledge Preservation And Transfer Practices, Krzysztof Kamil Jarosz Jun 2025

Investigating Human Expertise In Manufacturing To Enhance Knowledge Preservation And Transfer Practices, Krzysztof Kamil Jarosz

Theses

In the US, the machining industry is a vital part of the economy, employing over 290,000 skilled machinists and over 89,000 mechanical engineers. Whilst employment figures for engineers in this crucial sector has been fairly steady, a rapid decline in machinist workforce has been observed in the last decade, along with retirement of aging expert machinists and engineers, creating workforce shortages and loss of valuable manufacturing knowledge inherent to those highly skilled and experienced individuals. As engineering design and manufacturing knowledge are closely intertwined, so is the knowledge pertaining to practical aspects of machining and design of components that are …


Potential Of Blood-Based Assays To Enhance The Diagnosis, Risk Stratification And Monitoring Of Multiple Myeloma Patients, Aisling O Brien Jun 2025

Potential Of Blood-Based Assays To Enhance The Diagnosis, Risk Stratification And Monitoring Of Multiple Myeloma Patients, Aisling O Brien

Theses

Multiple Myeloma (MM) remains an incurable haematological malignancy; however, continuous advancements in treatment strategies have significantly improved patient survival. There is now a pressing need for enhanced detection methods to ensure optimal patient outcomes. This includes rapid diagnosis, early detection of relapses, and identification of high-risk patients. Diagnosis: For optimal patient results, initiating early MM diagnosis at the primary care level is essential. Delays in diagnosis can result from nonspecific presenting symptoms such as anaemia and bone pain. A retrospective observational study identified calculated globulin as a promising clinical biomarker to indicate MM in primary care. Subsequent implementation of calculated …


Data-Driven Machine Learning Applications For Predictive Modeling Of Petrochemical And Ecofriendly Systems, Noora Saleh Al Mansoori Jun 2025

Data-Driven Machine Learning Applications For Predictive Modeling Of Petrochemical And Ecofriendly Systems, Noora Saleh Al Mansoori

Theses

Traditional experimental approaches in industrial processes, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and well-drilling operations, are often constrained by time, cost, and operational limitations. This research explores the application of data-driven Machine Learning (ML)-based predictive modeling to improve efficiency and reduce dependency on resource-intensive experimentation. The study develops ML models for three distinct processes: FTIR intensity prediction of bitumen thermal cracking products, thermal degradation of Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) using TGA data, and Rate of Penetration (ROP) prediction in petrochemical industry. Six algorithms: Linear Regression (LinReg), Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gradient …


Mechanisms For Oxygen Vacancy Defect Migration In Srtio3/Nio Heterostructures, Anish Rajesh More Jun 2025

Mechanisms For Oxygen Vacancy Defect Migration In Srtio3/Nio Heterostructures, Anish Rajesh More

Theses

Perovskite-based oxide heterostructures display promising properties resulting from interface phenomena, making them good candidates for next-generation solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes. Amongst the different features exhibited by these interfaces, misfit dislocations play an important role in influencing ionic transport, yet their role remains poorly understood, which is the case in rock salt-perovskite interfaces too. In SrTiO3/NiO heterostructures, to comprehend interface ionic transport, we investigate oxygen vacancy migration near misfit dislocations. To this end, we developed a high-throughput framework that integrates atomistic simulations with nudged elastic band method to predict migration energy barriers across disparate interface atomic environments. By comprehensively mapping …


Personifying The Goddess: Contrasting Representation Of The Deified Body In Feminist Art, Kelly Lorraine Phillips Jun 2025

Personifying The Goddess: Contrasting Representation Of The Deified Body In Feminist Art, Kelly Lorraine Phillips

Theses

Goddess imagery, the representation of a female deity or a concept of divine feminine power through various forms, symbols, and narratives, has been used by artists to communicate a multitude of sentiments, from spiritual reverence to political ideology. This study probes the evolution of representations of the deified female body from the 1970s to the current era to reveal contrasts in how these icons of female power have transformed over time. The artwork of second-wave feminist and self-identified “Goddess artist” Mary Beth Edelson is examined as a foundation for second-wave Goddess sentiment. Edelson’s collage work, which incorporates figures from a …


Exploring The Quality Of Professional Development In Addressing Challenges With Behavior Management Of Special Needs Students In Inclusive Classrooms: An Instrumental Case Study, Reem Hussein Abuwatfa Jun 2025

Exploring The Quality Of Professional Development In Addressing Challenges With Behavior Management Of Special Needs Students In Inclusive Classrooms: An Instrumental Case Study, Reem Hussein Abuwatfa

Theses

Inclusive education has become a major educational priority globally and within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), driven by policies promoting the full participation of students with special educational needs (SEN) in inclusive classrooms. This study explores how elementary-level general education teachers perceive the quality of professional development (PD) in addressing their challenges with behavior management of students with SEN in inclusive classrooms. A qualitative case study approach was used, utilizing semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that teachers face challenges from the behavioral issues of SEN students in inclusive classrooms, affecting both typical peers and teachers. Moreover, teachers had mixed perceptions …


Transmit And Deceive: Addressing The Insider Threat To Beacon Security, Noah Troy May 2025

Transmit And Deceive: Addressing The Insider Threat To Beacon Security, Noah Troy

Theses

IEEE 802.11 Beacon frames exist at the forefront of modern Wi-Fi networks and facilitate a wide array of essential network functionality, from discovery to time synchronization and even transmit power control. However, the central role Beacon frames play in initial network advertisement comes at the price of incomplete security guarantees, leaving these frames historically vulnerable to forgery and granting significant leverage over proximal wireless devices to a malicious actor that can effectively spoof them. With the publication of IEEE Std 802.11-2020, beacon protection was introduced to enable the authentication of received Beacon frames, placating most concerns. However, beacon protection is …


Enhancing Aptv Reliability: A Study Of Design And Operational Efficiencies At An Aluminium Manufacturing Company, Mohammad Tayeb Alawadhi May 2025

Enhancing Aptv Reliability: A Study Of Design And Operational Efficiencies At An Aluminium Manufacturing Company, Mohammad Tayeb Alawadhi

Theses

This paper aims to focus on enhancing the reliability of Anode Pallet Transport Vehicles (APTVs) used in Aluminium Manufacturing Company. The primary objective of the project is to establish the causes of failure modes, assess the operational problems, and implement strategies that would prevent, reduce, or minimize the frequency of failure, low equipment utilization, and high maintenance costs. APTV performance analysis involves the use of maintenance logs, operational data, and engineering specifications to obtain the best results. Applying Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), the study highlights the most critical parts causing the largest effect on operations, which include traction …


Access To Justice For Deaf Defendants, Anna Zieba May 2025

Access To Justice For Deaf Defendants, Anna Zieba

Theses

Deaf individuals face systemic accessibility within the criminal justice system, which emphasizes the importance of the gaps in accommodations by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Inconsistent legal protection, limited access to interpreters, inadequate training for legal professionals, and a lack of technology resources obstruct effective communication for Deaf individuals. As a result, it prohibits achieving an effective and equitable legal outcome. This research paper will examine case studies, legal frameworks, and academic literature to highlight the critical need for reform, including mandatory Deaf culture training, standardized interpreting qualifications, and more resources to enable equitable access to justice.


Silicon Photonics For Quantum Information, Evan Manfreda-Schulz May 2025

Silicon Photonics For Quantum Information, Evan Manfreda-Schulz

Theses

Quantum information science and technology (QIST) combines principles of quantum mechanics and information theory to develop new approaches for processing, transmitting, and sensing information. Practical realization of applications in QIST requires generation and validation of a significant amount of entanglement, which is not only a property but a logical resource. Silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are an attractive platform for applications in QIST and for generating the entanglement resource because they are foundry-fabricated, are compatible with existing fiber optic infrastructure, have a small spatial footprint, and afford access to several high-dimensional (HD) degrees of freedom. This dissertation covers three projects …


Criminal Activity Monitoring System: Targeting Africans And East Asian Communities In Dubai, Hamdan Kalantar May 2025

Criminal Activity Monitoring System: Targeting Africans And East Asian Communities In Dubai, Hamdan Kalantar

Theses

This dissertation investigates crime patterns among African and East Asian communities in Dubai, focusing on geographic hotspots, temporal trends, victim demographics, and the use of machine learning for predictive crime modeling. The research addresses the challenges faced by these communities, including labor exploitation, financial fraud, and human trafficking, within the socio-economic context of a rapidly growing urban city. Building on existing studies of urban crime, this research aimed to explore the spatial, temporal, and demographic dynamics of crimes and assess the potential of predictive models to assist law enforcement in crime prevention and resource allocation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, …


Forecasting Load At Residential, Industrial, And Commercial Stations For Dubai Electricity And Water Authority: A Machine Learning Approach To Managing Generation During Peak And Off-Peak Times Over The Coming Years, Mohammad Anoohi May 2025

Forecasting Load At Residential, Industrial, And Commercial Stations For Dubai Electricity And Water Authority: A Machine Learning Approach To Managing Generation During Peak And Off-Peak Times Over The Coming Years, Mohammad Anoohi

Theses

In Dubai, with the rapid growth of energy demand, efficient demand side management is necessary to optimize the distribution of electricity, reduce peak loads, and improve grid stability. Traditional DSM strategies are based on historical data and reactive control mechanisms that cannot adapt to evolving consumption patterns. This research uses Machine Learning techniques to enhance DSM in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors by developing predictive models that forecast energy demand based on seasonal variations. The dataset used was from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), covering the consumption patterns across Summer, Winter, Transition from Winter to Summer, and Transition from …


Intellimad: A Framework For Secure Machine Learning Models Evaluation And Fine-Tuning In Federated Setting, Dmitrii Korobeinikov May 2025

Intellimad: A Framework For Secure Machine Learning Models Evaluation And Fine-Tuning In Federated Setting, Dmitrii Korobeinikov

Theses

In contemporary artificial intelligence (AI) appli- cations, Machine Learning (ML) models are core components enabling AI-driven functionalities, yet selecting and fine-tuning a model and its hyperparameters remains challenging. ML model architecture, as well as key model training parameters, such as the number of training epochs, batch size, and learning rate, are highly dependent on both the dataset modalities and the specific task resolved in a particular application. More sophisticated execution setups may require determination of additional environment-related parameters, such as identifica- tion of computational capabilities required for execution of a particular AI-driven task, or discovery and establishment of desired security-related …


Proactive Approach To Identify And Mitigate Cybersecurity Threats In Smart Building Using Ai, Shayma Abdulla Alhayyas May 2025

Proactive Approach To Identify And Mitigate Cybersecurity Threats In Smart Building Using Ai, Shayma Abdulla Alhayyas

Theses

Smart buildings form a cornerstone of modern urban development. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in buildings has revolutionized facility management, improving system intelligence and user experience. However, these smart devices also introduce cybersecurity challenges and risks. The initiative "Identifying and Mitigating Cybersecurity Threats in Smart Building using AI" focuses on leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to address and mitigate cybersecurity threats within smart buildings. This study integrates predictive analytics, deep learning, and machine learning to identify and prevent cyberattacks, protecting sensitive data and networked IoT devices. By analyzing previous attack patterns, network behaviors, and potential vulnerabilities, this …


Stories In Style: Interactive Fashion Exhibits As Tools For Activating Special Collections, Riley Mason May 2025

Stories In Style: Interactive Fashion Exhibits As Tools For Activating Special Collections, Riley Mason

Theses

Interpretation is a museum’s most significant form of communication with visitors. Historic collections, material representations of distinct historical narratives and themes, hold objects and cultural knowledge that enable them to contextualize contemporary concepts like fashion through exhibit-based interpretation and extend these concepts beyond labels through interactivity. To investigate the role of these specialized repositories in challenging existing narratives and connecting with modern audiences, this thesis developed a collection-driven exhibit to answer the following question: how can institutions activate special collection objects through relevant interpretation and non-digital interactive experiences in exhibits? Through researching and analyzing four objects from the Bruce and …


Unveiling: The Exploration Of The Self And Ego Dissolution, Joseph Gonzales May 2025

Unveiling: The Exploration Of The Self And Ego Dissolution, Joseph Gonzales

Theses

This project explores self and ego dissolution through painting, engaging with Buddhist notions of no-self (Anatta), Christian Mystical union, and Jungian psychology to challenge the idea of a fixed identity. Through portraiture and figurative representation, the work visually explores impermanence and the tension between the individual and the collective consciousness, utilizing transparency, multiplicity, and symbolism. This research is grounded in a multidisciplinary approach, synthesizing visual art, philosophy, and psychology. By integrating Eastern and Western philosophies, this work expands the discourse on identity in contemporary art, contributing to broader conversations on the self and the ego within wisdom traditions and psychology. …


Definitively Unfinished: Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción, Disability Aesthetics, And Crip Materiality, Benjamin Brobst-Renaud May 2025

Definitively Unfinished: Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción, Disability Aesthetics, And Crip Materiality, Benjamin Brobst-Renaud

Theses

Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción project is the sculptural manifestation of an approach to artmaking rooted in the self-built and continually evolving forms of the neighborhood where Cruzvillegas grew up (Colonia Ajusco near Mexico City). While it might seem surprising to draw a comparison between the forms of Autoconstrucción and Disability Studies, and while Cruzvillegas does not literally depict the disabled human form, Autoconstrucción resonates deeply with this critical space. Disability Aesthetics, in Tobin Siebers’ formulation, is “an attempt to theorize the representation of disability in modern art and visual culture.” Similarly, Jessica Cooley’s Crip Materiality is a methodology that “locates disability …


Nextgen Humanities: A Digital Art History Pedagogical Revolution, Analisa Soverns-Reed May 2025

Nextgen Humanities: A Digital Art History Pedagogical Revolution, Analisa Soverns-Reed

Theses

In response to the urgent need for more accessible, inclusive, and technologically relevant humanities education, the NextGen Humanities project was conceived as a digital initiative to reimagine pedagogical practices within art history and the broader humanities. Traditional perceptions of humanities disciplines as elite and static have contributed to declining engagement, necessitating innovative solutions that integrate open-access resources, digital tools, and inclusive frameworks. This project developed a publicly accessible platform curating free, vetted resources grounded in artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and open educational resources (OER), emphasizing critical engagement, cultural inclusivity, and technological adaptability. Methodologically, NextGen Humanities combined extensive literature …


Beatrice Wanjiku: A Portrait Of Human Vulnerability, Suzanne R. Vuoncino May 2025

Beatrice Wanjiku: A Portrait Of Human Vulnerability, Suzanne R. Vuoncino

Theses

Abstract artist Beatrice Wanjiku uses an anatomical composition to illustrate a sense of vulnerability, an element of human identity, in relation to one’s social environment. Going beyond the skin, Untitled excavates the mental and emotional aspects of the human condition and gives expression to experience. By observing her figural composition, examining the foundation of identity theory, and interpreting her use of abstraction, I will describe how Untitled speaks to a message of connectivity through a portrait of human vulnerability. This thesis argues that one’s environment affects the individual and exemplifies how vulnerability is seen as a pervasive aspect of human …


Trembling At The Threshold: Zurbarán's Saints And The Crisis Of Masculine Virtue, Andrew T. Epsilantis May 2025

Trembling At The Threshold: Zurbarán's Saints And The Crisis Of Masculine Virtue, Andrew T. Epsilantis

Theses

No abstract provided.


Beyond The Badge: Predicting Military Employee Attrition In The Police Force, Alia Abdulla Alhajji May 2025

Beyond The Badge: Predicting Military Employee Attrition In The Police Force, Alia Abdulla Alhajji

Theses

This study explores the issue of employee attrition within the military police force, with a focus on predicting which employees are at risk of leaving. Attrition in law enforcement is costly and disruptive, especially in roles that require long training periods and operational readiness. The research specifically targets the internal organizational factors influencing turnover in military police environments and aims to leverage machine learning models to support the early identification of high-risk individuals. Guided by the CRISP-DM framework, the study followed a structured process across six stages: business understanding, data exploration, preparation, modeling, evaluation, and insight generation. A simulated dataset …