Digital Commons Network^™

Health, Productivity, And Engagement: Using Modular Product Design To Integrally Improve The Workplace Environment, Xinyue Guo

Theses

With the fast pace of city life and workplace stress, there are growing concerns in relation to well-being and staying healthy. As a space that has relatively undefined functions in a work environment, breakrooms are increasingly expected to contribute to reducing these concerns. However, the vast majority of workplace breakrooms that exist are insufficiently designed achieving only basic functions such as sitting and eating. This thesis questions why existing workplace breakrooms are so neglected, when they have great potential to play a much more important role in the workplace. Firstly, this thesis discusses current literature and qualitative research on the …

Pun Monster: How To Effectively Maintain Fitness And Improve Socialization, Yue Yuan

Theses

With the global outbreak of the COVID-19 in 2020, national governments have introduced policies of home quarantine and closing public places, and following social distances. As people spent more time at home, lifestyles changed dramatically, people spent more time looking at their phones and computers, and eating habits changed. This has brought about weight gain and increased anxiety and stress. People have started to do fitness activities at home, but have encountered various problems such as lack of motivation to exercise and lack of peers to supervise each other. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key factors …

Access To Physical Activity: How Does Access To Physical Activity In Deaf Adolescence Affect Their Activity Levels In College?, Kenly Nicole Vater Ciampaglione

Theses

Background: Individuals who identify as deaf and hard of hearing are overlooked or excluded from public health research, surveillance, and outreach and education programs. Studies have shown that there is a connection between motor skill development in children and their participation in physical activities. Generally, deaf children lag in motor skill development when compared to their hearing peers, and these developmental discrepancies can be minimized with increased participation in physical activity and sports. Purpose: This project involved the creation and validation of a survey that retrospectively assessed how both parental hearing status and the number of barriers experienced by a …

Ivalet – A Smart Parking Reservation System, Aaesha Alrefaei

Theses

In the current time with the continuously increasing population in the world generally and in big cities like Dubai particularly, many problems arise related to traffic and transportation. Due to covid-19 virus spread pandemic, WHO is submitting different regulations and recommendation for the need of social distancing along with avoiding any activities that might increase the possibility of the virus spread and minimize the number of infected people to save more lives. The need for decreasing the usage of the public transportation in Dubai have created parking issues in the city, streets, and buildings. One of the preferred solutions by …

Augmented Reality Emergency System, Chun-Hsiang Yang

Theses

Fire hazards in a building can be deadly. Knowing what to do is extremely important when a fire occurs in order to survive. However, even with the emergency exit sign, it can still be dangerous to escape recklessly. The goal of this thesis is to find solutions to increase victims' chance of survival during a building fire hazard. This thesis project aims to design an interactive augmented reality system that provides real-time information in fire hazard situations as well as guided escape routes. Specific instructions help to remove the decision-making process from panicked victims who may not be able to …

Pranayama Breathing Detection With Deep Learning, Bikash Shrestha

Theses

Yoga, a complementary health approach, according to a 2017 National Health Interview Survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a choice of around 14.3% adults in the US. Kapalbhati pranayama, a yoga practice of alternating fast exhales and longer passive inhales, is understood to improve our health. Incorrect and irregular practices, however, can cause injuries and adverse effects. To avoid these undesired effects, it is essential to maintain a pace fit for the practitioner. In the absence of any tools to observe a pace of practice, this work develops a deep learning method that listens to …

Journo: Organize And Share The Memory Of Travel Experience, Ziyi Tao

Theses

With the improvement of living standards and the construction of public transportation, many people travel more frequently. They want to record those experiences and get more enlightenment when they look back upon the memory. Additionally, many people have eagerly requested to share their travel experiences due to the development of social media and the information explosion era. Less than a decade ago, people would travel without a smart device. They tended to take photos along the way with a film camera, and stick them on a physical photo album to share with friends and family. The other traditional method of …

Digital Transformation Of Issuing Final Clearance Certificate For Infrastructure Projects In Dubai, Anmar Mohammed Alobaidi

Theses

This paper investigates the essential practices to digitally transform the process of issuing final clearance certificates. In Dubai, a final clearance system enhancement was introduced recently to combine all stakeholders as it is part of eNOC portal (electronic no objection certificate) to issue the certificate. The eNOC platform acts as a centralized hub, bringing together multiple service entities from both government and private organizations to issue unified No-Objection-Certificates (NOCs) for infrastructure projects within the Right-Of-Way (ROW). In this chapter, we employ the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) approach to engineering management, facilitating a systematic evaluation of various project aspects. …

Using Prediction Ml Algorithm For Predicting Early Student Attrition In Higher Education, Zainab Alhashemi

Theses

This research aims at using predictive models that enable us to predict students who are at risk of dropping out and identify the factors that possibly lead to this dropout. Through the results obtained, concerned stakeholders will be able to effectively develop strategies and initiatives to help decrease the percentage of students’ attrition. There are different reasons why students drop from their courses which could be related to academic issues or personal issues that stop them from being active students. Due to these many reasons of students dropping out, universities are impacted negatively in terms of the financial costs as …

Ambiguity, Rinoi Imada

Theses

Ambiguity explores the sense of ambiguous identity through conceptual investigations of glass and language structure. This body of work and thesis refer to my personal experience and scholarly research to observe transformation and transition of identity. My thesis considers glass as a phenomenal substance through its transformative materiality; my body of work reflects materiality of glass as an ephemeral identity of humanity. Utilizing glass as a transformative material, my body of work is the result of experimental art practices which are observations of photography, fusing glass techniques, live and site-specific gestures, and hotshop glass techniques.

Toward Improved Crop Management Using Spectral Sensing With Unmanned Aerial Systems, Robert Ormal Chancia

Theses

Remote sensing applications in agriculture are established for large-scale monitoring with satellite and airborne imagery, but unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are poised to bring in-field mapping capabilities to the hands of individual farmers. UAS imaging holds several advantages over traditional methods, including centimeter-scale resolution, reduced atmospheric absorption, flexible timing of data acquisitions, and ease of use. In this work, we present two studies using UAS imaging of specialty crops in upstate New York to work towards improved crop management applications. The first study is an investigation of multispectral imagery obtained over table beet fields in Batavia, NY during the 2018 …

Network Traffic Analysis Using Local Outlier Factor, Khalifa Almheiri

Theses

The issue that this study addresses is the high rate of false positives, high maintenance, and lack of stability and precision that the existing network intrusion detection algorithm faces. To address this problem, we proposed a Local Outlier Factor (LOF) Algorithm that locates outliers and anomalies by comparing the deviation of one data point with respect to its neighbors. To gather data, we will use DARPA’s KDDCup99 as well as questions towards analysts. This data will help determine whether the LOF algorithm is more effective than existing solutions that are presented in the network intrusion detection space.

Feasibility Of Twitter Sentiment Analysis In Predicting Crime In The Uae, Rashed Khalifa Alsubousi

Theses

In this study, we demonstrate how the information provided by individuals on social media can represent some aspects of their behavior to predict criminal activities and intentions in societies. The problem discussed in this study is finding a model that can analyze social media posts to infer the intentions and feelings of the publisher behind those posts to predict the probability of committing a crime. This is a preventive technique that can be used to monitor individuals or organizations who have a behavioral pattern that can be inferred as criminal intent. To help detect and predict criminal activities, we observe …

Used Cars Price Prediction And Valuation Using Data Mining Techniques, Abdulla Alshared

Theses

Due to the unprecedented number of cars being purchased and sold, used car price prediction is a topic of high interest. Because of the affordability of used cars in developing countries, people tend more purchase used cars. A primary objective of this project is to estimate used car prices by using attributes that are highly correlated with a label (Price). To accomplish this, data mining technology has been employed. Null, redundant, and missing values were removed from the dataset during pre-processing. In this supervised learning study, three regressors (Random Forest Regressor, Linear Regression, and Bagging Regressor) have been trained, tested, …

Invasive Carp Movement, Behavior, And Habitat Use: Evaluating Common Carp As A Surrogate For Bigheaded Carps, Alexander Catalano

Theses

Invasive species are a major concern for fish populations globally, and the ability to predict the susceptibility of ecosystems to additional invasions or range expansions is needed. Bigheaded carp [Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys moltrix) and Bighead Carp (H. nobilis)] pose a serious threat to the Great Lakes Basin and numerous other aquatic ecosystems, where suitable habitat for spawning could allow for the establishment of breeding populations. Evaluating a surrogate would be useful to predict how bigheaded carp behave beyond their current range. To determine whether Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an appropriate surrogate for bigheaded carp, their potential overlap in diets, …

Adaptability And Revisability In Climate Models, Kristopher Edelman

Theses

The global climate is shifting rapidly, bringing with it increased risk for climate-related harms to human societies. Climate science is a multi-disciplinary field, requiring experts from diverse specialties to collaborate in order to model complex systems. The complexity and uncertainty of these scientific models raise philosophical questions such as:

• What epistemic, ethical, and social assumptions go into model creation?
• What mathematical and statistical principles are incorporated into their design?
• How is interpretation involved in the selection and analysis of data to generate climate models?

Philosophical issues related to complexity, uncertainty, and the role of values require that modelers evaluate trade-offs. …

Developing Risk Assessment Tool For Patients’ In-Hospital Falls Using Predictive Modeling, Rasika Patil

Theses

Inpatient falls are a serious cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among patients of all ages leading to disability and stillness. The post-fall treatment comes with rising medical costs and a stressful recovery phase. The present assessment tools align with analyzing causes of falls from historical data instead of present conditions. The key focus area of this research is to develop general-purpose fall risk assessment tools using machine learning-based predictive modeling. We used performance metrics to compare the accuracy and suggest the best suitable model for each shift. This general-purpose fall risk assessment tool can be used for all age …

Retail Demand Forecasting, Mohamed Al Ali

Theses

Sales and demand forecasting is one the most critical tasks of enterprises. It lays the foundation for many other essential business assumptions, such as cash flows, profit margins, turnover, capacity planning, and capital expenditure. This report presents a solution for the case study of forecasting monthly sales of one of the largest retail stores in Europe, Rossman chain stores. There are three steps in which this problem will be handled. First, a complete and comprehensive exploratory data analysis will be done to understand the data and perform feature engineering. Secondly, a time series will be modeled by autoregressive models using …

Strategic Social Media For Small Congregations, Heather R. Sparkman

Theses

Utilizing social media to draw and build a community of followers is the typical work of the modern Influencer and large organizations. But for a small church, using social media may seem like a wasteful or exasperating experience due to the sheer work that is involved in the enterprise and inconsistency brought on by a lack of strategic thought. The development of this assessment and philosophical metric focuses less on statistical metrics and more on stable principles that relate to values, context, and culture.

Portraits: A Study In Objects, Family Relations, And Race, Julie Quintero

Theses

My final project is a body of mixed-media portraits which were exhibited at SculptureWorks Ferguson in December, 2021. Each of the twenty works are visual representations of events, identities, or relationships, experienced in both the past and the present. The materials used to help push each narrative include fabric, yarn, coffee filters, embroidery, wood, stain, plaster, metal, concrete, inks, conte, paints, and/or found objects. Each piece demonstrates a unique combination of image, media, and technique in the field of contemporary art. Some of the works include objects made by the people being portrayed. Others include materials that were acquired via …

Cultural Connection: The Value Of Art History In Early Childhood Development And Education, Sara Ashley Turner

Theses

This thesis focuses on the utilization of art historical inquiry to improve the relationship and narrative of culture within appropriate settings. Although this thesis will prove the beneficial and important role that the subject matter of art history can have in early education, the subject matter will also show the specific possibilities of using such inquiries in art therapy, museum education, and in general education classrooms. The aim of the thesis is to present these practical and useful employments of art historical inquiry, within subject matter for young children, to be a tool for finding cultural identity and inclusivity in …

Further The Field: Revamping Collegiate Athletic Digital Marketing Efforts, Ryan Sells

Theses

This paper closely analyzes digital marketing strategies and athletic communications campaigns in a more technologically and content-driven era. Recent scholarly research has indicated the shift from traditional marketing methods to more current applications. This thesis paper helps to guide potential sports marketing or communications professionals in the everchanging industry of collegiate athletics. Successful campaigns have been closely analyzed and serve as an indicator of potential future marketing plans that can be put in action. Scholarly articles were strong components in the research process and helped to explain the impact of two-way communication and personalization content ideas. To implement successful digital …

2d Motion Graphics Enhancement Of The User Experience On Web Applications, Lora Paro

Theses

This project focuses on the creation and use of 2D motion graphics to enhance the user experience of applications on the web including but not limited to social media, educational and entertaining digital videos. The aim of this project is to enhance skills in the creation of 2D motion graphics using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Character Animator, and Adobe Illustrator while benefitting the user experience of visually delivered moving graphics to capture more of the audience’s attention rather than the traditional use of static imagery. Experience gained with research on 2D motions graphics and Adobe After Effects with then be …

Smart Urban Solutions For Low-Income Neighborhoods In Dubai: Hor Al Anz Area As A Case Study, Alaa Yahia Ragab Eleraqi

Theses

The project’s main objective is to study and assess the current situation and future setup of implementing smart solutions technologies, and the main challenges facing the growth in Dubai in general and the Hor Al Anz neighborhood in Dubai in particular. The expected results and outcomes of this study are illustrated in this research report. The project report consists of 5 parts. Part 1 covers the implemented initiatives and presents the problem statement and the historical background of the case study area by showing why did I select the Hor Al Anz neighborhood in Dubai (Figure 1 below). The purpose …

Predicting Risk Of Readmission In Heart Failure Patients Using Electronic Health Records, Pradumna Suryawanshi

Theses

This thesis research investigates the prediction of readmission risk in heart failure patients using their electronic health record (EHR) data from previous hospitalizations. We examine three primary questions. First, we study the use of attention mechanism in readmission prediction model based on long short-term memory(LSTM) networks and investigate the interpretability it offers regarding the importance of critical time during the visit in readmission prediction. Second given that, generally dataset is curated by combining data from multiple hospitals we investigate model generalization across multiple sites. Finally since in real life scenario model will be trained on past data and used to …

Radio Carbon - Hybrid Documentary Process, Robert Stokes

Theses

Radio Carbon is a documentary made using a methodology for creating conscious digital video projects with a process privileging respect for crew, subject, and environment over the needs of a commercial, or market driven product. The guidelines imposed by this method are fluid, and project-specific in terms of their exact interpretation for each film. This project is meant to demonstrate a production style that allows for work to be made by the participants without a dominating creative force at every stage of production. This is made possible through the introduction of chance operations at several key points along the production …

Test Naming Failures. An Exploratory Study Of Bad Naming Practices In Test Code, Zachariah Wigent

Theses

Unit tests are a key component during the software development process, helping ensure that a developer's code is functioning as expected. Developers interact with unit tests when trying to understand, maintain, and when updating code. Good test names are essential for making these various processes easier, which is important considering the substantial costs and effort of software maintenance. Despite this, it has been found that the quality of test code is often lacking, specifically when it comes to test names. When a test fails, its name is often the first thing developers will see when trying to fix the failure, …

A Deep Learning Classifier For Detecting Atrial Fibrillation In Hospital Settings Applicable To Various Sensing Modalities, Kamil Bukum

Theses

Cardiac signals provide variety of information related to the patient's health. One of the most important is for medical experts to diagnose the functionality of a patient’s heart. This information helps the medical experts monitor heart disease such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most major diseases that are threatening patients’ health. Medical experts measure cardiac signals usng the Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), the Photoplethysmogram (PPG), and more recently the Videoplethysmogram (VPG). Then they can use these measurements to analyze the heart functionality to detect heart diseases. In this study, these three major …

An Examination Of Environmental Applications For Uncooled Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Instruments, Cody M. Webber

Theses

Advancements in system design for thermal instruments require assessment of potential environmental applications and appropriate data processing techniques. A novel multi-band thermal imaging system was proposed by DRS Leonardo for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth Science Technology Office Instrument Incubator Program, for which these criteria were assessed. The Multi-Band Uncooled Radiometer Imager (MURI) is a six spectral channel instrument designed to collect images in the thermal infrared, specifically in the range of 7.5 to 12.5 μm. The work detailed in this thesis characterizes the ability of a thermal imager with an uncooled microbolometer focal plane array to provide …

Possibilities In Simulated Reality, Yuan Yuan

Theses

This thesis work is based on two simple questions- what is reality, and is there any way to determine if you live in a real world. Whether from ancient times or the present, the east or the west, or fiction movies to philosophical reflection, countless people have ruminated on these questions. The answer seems obvious that reality is anything we can perceive based on our perceptions, but it’s not necessarily factual even though it feels very real. A philosophical viewpoint called epistemological skepticism indicates that we cannot be certain of anything, and there is a philosophy hypothesis named simulation theory …