Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Role And The Limitation Of Ai Implementations In Pcb Defect Detection, Hamad Saeed Mohammed Alyammahi

Theses

This research explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on quality control in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication, explicitly focusing on enhancing defect detection processes. As PCB designs become increasingly complex and dense, traditional inspection methods, such as manual inspection and Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), need to be revised to meet the precision and efficiency demands of modern electronics manufacturing. Manual inspection is often slow and labor-intensive, while AOI needs help with accuracy in detecting subtle defects in intricate designs, leading to potential errors in quality assurance. This study investigates AI-driven techniques to overcome these challenges, leveraging deep learning …

An Inclusive Learning Metaverse: A Virtual Reality Approach To Supporting Dyslexic Children, Reem Salem Mohammed Salem

Theses

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning difficulties worldwide, often requiring tailored interventions targeting phonological awareness, reading comprehension, and cognitive support. This study explores the design and evaluation of a metaverse-based virtual reality (VR) application to support dyslexic children in the UAE. Using a usercentered, explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, the research involved three phases: a stakeholder survey with therapists, educators, and parents (N = 151), development of a multi-featured VR prototype, and evaluation by six dyslexia experts. The survey identified key priorities such as progress tracking, adaptive learning, accessibility, working memory, and attention, along with concerns about VR unfamiliarity, …

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 …

Burnout Among Social Care Providers In The Uae: The Role Of Coping Strategies And Institutional Support, Faiza Saleh Alothali

Theses

This study focuses on the self-reported levels of burnout, the coping strategies employed, and the perceived institutional support of a sample of social care workers in the UAE. The research also explores how coping strategies and institutional support influence burnout levels and the role of demographic factors such as gender, age, and years of experience. A total of 204 social care providers participated in the study, which used a survey to gather data on burnout, coping strategies, and institutional support. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure burnout, the Brief COPE Inventory was used to assess coping strategies, …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Metacognitive Awareness Of Learning, Kara R. Muscha

Theses

The present study examined knowledge updating abilities in individuals with and without ADHD when forced to metacognitively evaluate the effectiveness of different study strategies. Participants with and without ADHD were randomly assigned to either a spontaneous or a forced knowledge updating condition, with those in the latter condition being asked to keep track of encoding strategy-recall outcome results, but no additional instructions for those in the spontaneous condition. I expected that healthy control participants would show greater knowledge updating abilities than those with ADHD, the participants in the forced knowledge updating condition would show greater knowledge updating abilities than participants …

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, …

Experimental Evaluation Of Recent Theoretical Real-Time Signal Higher-Order Sliding Mode Differentiators On Noisy Sensors, Jessica Hamer

Theses

This thesis explores the performance of higher-order sliding mode differentiators applied to sensor signals under varying sampling rates and switching functions. Two differentiator designs are evaluated: a hybrid algorithm that combines a super-twisting algorithm with a linear observer, and a fixed-time higher-order sliding mode differentiator. Each was tested on a physical sensor testbed using position data from a servomotor and electronic compass. The differentiators were implemented in a ROS2 environment, and their estimates were evaluated by obtaining the minimum and maximum position and velocity values, as well as analyzing graphs to capture the nature of the algorithms' noise reduction. The …

Utilization Of Artificial Intelligence To Predict Surface Energy Budget, Joseph Bonucchi

Theses

Estimating heat and moisture exchange between the land and atmosphere has several important practical applications, including water resource management, air pollution forecasting, and atmospheric propagation modeling. Turnkey systems for measuring the surface energy budget typically cost between $5,000 and over $50,000. This study explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict sensible heat flux (SHF) and latent heat flux (LHF) using inexpensive surface meteorology data and downwelling solar radiation measurements as inputs. Observations from Amer- iFlux sites were used to train several AI models—Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), One Dimensional Transformers (1D Transformers), Artificial Neural Net- works (ANNs), and Long …

Particle Image Velocimetry (Piv) Measurements Of Flow Characteristics Of An Unsteady Oblique Shock Wave Train, Andrew Girgis

Theses

Presented is the development of a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) apparatus to quantify the velocity field produced by an oblique shock wave and its reflections in a supersonic/transonic wind tunnel. A flow seeding system is developed using mesquite wood smoke generated in a metal vessel heated with a Vevor TDGC-2KVA variable autotransformer. A pressurized K-bottle drives the smoke through a cooled copper coil and moisture trap to remove contaminants before injection. A dual-pulsed class IV Nd:YAG Big Sky laser with Thorlabs optomechanical components, including two cylindrical lenses, is used to create a pulsed light sheet to illuminate tracer particles. Image …

Safe Reinforcement Learning For Trajectory Tracking Of Mobile Robots With Minimal Intermittent Observations, Mahtab Noor Shaan

Theses

Autonomous wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) are widely used for safe operation in safety-critical systems, such as robotic visual inspection of confined spaces in energy infrastructure, warehouse automation, delivery robots, and autonomous vehicles. The operating environments for these safety-critical systems are often uncertain. Therefore, in such environments, it is essential for WMRs to reliably follow predetermined paths while effectively maintaining lane position and avoiding collisions. However, frequent observations required for control execution to account for environmental uncertainty result in increased sensing, computation, and energy costs. This necessity drives the research for safe and resource-aware trajectory-tracking control methods. Although several state-of-the-art trajectory …

Information Capacity For Time-Varying Adversarial Networks, Raphael Thorp

Theses

This thesis investigates the capacity of time-varying adversarial networks where intelligent adversaries can corrupt transmissions on restricted subsets of network edges that change availability over time. Building upon the work of Beemer et al. on adversarial network coding with restricted adversaries, we analyze networks whose topology evolves temporally, motivated by applications in space networking and delay-tolerant systems. We introduce different adversarial modes that capture different temporal aspects of corruption behavior and establish their hierarchical relationship with respect to network capacity. The analysis employs time-expanded graph representations and develops recursive counting methods for computing expected network capacity under random time assignments, …

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 …

Simplified Soil-Based Approach For Maximum Pressure Prediction In Horizontal Directional Drilling Operations, India Clark

Theses

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless pipeline installation method used in areas where traditional trenching is not feasible due to environmental concerns, existing infrastructure, or other constraints. However, HDD presents significant engineering challenges, with design failures often resulting from excessive installation stresses and Hydro Fracture. Hydro Fracture occurs when the pressure of drilling fluid exceeds the soil’s bearing capacity, leading to unintended subsurface fractures. To mitigate this risk, researchers have relied on the Delft Equation to estimate the maximum allowable mud pressure for borehole stability. However, this equation does have notable limitations and assumptions, which may not accurately reflect …

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 …

Average Heat Flux Measurements In An Additively Manufactured Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Calorimeter, Matthew Aaron Maybee

Theses

Rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) offer benefits over traditional deflagrative engines, including increased engine performance, compact combustion and negligible detrimental thermoacoustic instabilities due to mode-locking. Realizing the benefits of a detonation-based propulsion system will be accompanied by increased thermal loads due to a combination of heat release at elevated pressure and temperature, as well as compact heat release due to detonation. Managing these heat loads necessitates the development of thermal management strategies. As a first step towards establishing the requirements for detonation-based engine thermal management strategies, this work develops an additively manufactured (AM) water-based, axially resolved calorimeter for integration in …

Ammonium Perchlorate Manufacturing Effects On Propellant Burning Rate, Erin Faith Wallace

Theses

This thesis investigates the effect of ingredient variations on the burning rate of reduced smoke, low burning rate composite solid propellant. The effort focused on identical propellant formulations which presented significant burning rate differences correlated with the ammonium perchlorate (AP) source. A series of 1-gallon propellant mixes were prepared and tested utilizing both Manufacturer A and Manufacturer B ammonium perchlorate to investigate the propellant burning rate and pressure exponent shift anomaly and correlate those findings to the differing ingredient properties between the two AP lots. Each propellant mix was evaluated for burning rate utilizing subscale test motors and a scanning …

Near-Field Analysis Of Horn Antennas For Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing, Landon Riley Carroll

Theses

Standard gain horn antennas are widely used in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and antenna measurements. In EMC testing, it is often required to generate high electric field intensities across a wide frequency range within the near-field region. However, the focusing properties of antennas are deteriorated in the radiating near-field region. In order to increase engineering confidence in EMC testing, it is desirable to understand the root causes of the aforementioned radiation degradation. In this thesis, the near-field characteristics of three different pyramidal standard gain horns are investigated using full-wave analysis, analytical methods, and measurement. The causes of near-field gain reduction …

Factors Affecting Freshwater Fish Communities In Two North Alabama Counties, Joshua Fitts

Theses

This study examined how physical habitat characteristics influence freshwater fish diversity in streams of Madison and Limestone Counties, Alabama. Ten 150-meter stream reaches were sampled using backpack electrofishing and seining, with habitat variables measured at fixed transects. Principal component analysis identified four main habitat gradients representing flow and substrate, channel size, gravel dominance, and canopy–bedrock conditions. Although overall species richness and Shannon diversity were not significantly related to these gradients, species-specific correlations revealed clear ecological preferences. Regression models showed that root wads, herbaceous vegetation, and riprap modestly increased richness, emphasizing the role of structural diversity. These findings highlight the importance …