Digital Commons Network^™

An Effective Heuristic To Reduce Total Flowtime For Randomly-Structured Flowshop Problems, Arun John Abraham

Theses

We propose a heuristic to reduce total flowtime in a six-job, four-machine permutation flowshop scheduling problem. This work contributes to the prolific research efforts reported in the permutation flowshop scheduling problem (PFSP).

The heuristic was applied to 102 randomly structured flowshop scheduling problems, with job processing times generated using an integer uniform distribution in the interval [1,100]. The results of computational experiments were deemed satisfactory after being evaluated by using the ordinal and percentile ranks of the resulting total flowtime for the six jobs.

Degradation Of Biodegradable Products In Simulated Home Compost Environments, Jaclyn Neubauer

Theses

Due to the persistent use and disposal of single-use plastics, plastic waste has become the second most prevalent material found in landfills, trailing only food waste. The adoption of biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics could introduce composting as a sustainable method of disposal. The composting of these materials alongside food waste would effectively reduce the accumulation of plastic and food waste in landfills. Products that are marketed as biodegradable and compostable were evaluated to determine the percentage of weight loss that occurred when they were buried in soil and soil amended with 30% food waste. The impact of forced aeration …

Electromagnetic Signatures Of An Analytical Mini-Disk Model Of Supermassive Binary Black Hole Systems, Kaitlyn Porter

Theses

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are thought to be located at the centers of most galactic nuclei. When galaxies merge they form supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) systems and these central SMBHs will also merge at later times, producing gravitational waves (GWs). Galaxy mergers are gas rich environments and there is likely to be matter surrounding the binary system as well as accreting onto the individual black holes. Therefore, SMBHBs are potential sources of electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The EM signatures depend on gas dynamics, orbital dynamics, and radiation processes. The gas dynamics are governed by general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics in a time-dependent …

How Do We Recognize Masked Faces?, Archana Pandurangan

Theses

The COVID pandemic raised concerns about our ability to recognize occluded faces because of impairments caused by face masks. Research has suggested that face occlusions impair our face recognition. Yin (1969) found that faces are harder to recognize upside-down. By showing a reduced inversion effect for masked faces, Freud et al. (2020) suggest that masking reduces holistic processing, although Fitousi et al. (2021) found mixed results for the inversion of occluded faces. Estudillo and Bindemann (2014) have suggested the type of task task affects recognition. The present study investigated the effect of inversion on faces occluded by masks and sunglasses …

Phylogeography Of The Pacific Sardine, Sardinops Sagax, In The Northeastern Pacific, Ella Adams

Theses

The Pacific Sardine, (Sardinops sagax), is a small, coastal pelagic species in the family Clupeidae. Sardine are an ecologically important forage fish for many animals, including larger, economically and ecologically important fishes, and have historically supported an important commercial fishery. When the fishery declined in the 1940s, a massive effort in understanding population structure for the Pacific Sardine resulted in a wealth of literature. Initially, these studies agreed on a large panmictic population with high annual variation, but the general consensus has since been that there are multiple subpopulations of the Pacific Sardine along the West Coast of …

An Examination Of The Associations Between Eating Competence, Physical Activity, Mealtime Activities And School Behavior In Adolescents, Nicole Watson

Theses

Background: An association between eating competence (EC) and physical activity, diet quality, less stress, greater weight satisfaction and many other outcomes has been identified in adult populations. However, limited research has been conducted into EC and associations in the adolescent population. Specifically, the associations between eating competence and physical activity, mealtime activities, and school behavior in adolescents has not been examined. Purpose: To examine the congruence between eating competence and physical activity, mealtime activities, and school behavior in adolescents (ages 11-16) who had participated in the Fuel for Fun study as 4th graders. Methods: Secondary data analysis of collected data …

Enhancing User Learning Experience Of A New Therapeutic Approach For Scleroderma Using Vr, Joanne Park

Theses

The transient receptor potential cation 6 (TRPC6) channel is an integral membrane protein that alters the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration and is also responsible for a variety of tissue expression, physiological functions and channel properties (Ong et al., 2016). Recently, researchers at RIT have discovered a new therapeutic approach for scleroderma, also known as skin fibrosis, that involves the inhibition of the TRPC6 channel. To help spread awareness of their research and to enhance the user learning experience, an interactive virtual reality (IVR) experience was created, as well as supplemental 3D animations, that will be available through the researcher’s website. …

Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Activity Of Rhus Coriaria (Sumac), Yassine Elmahi

Theses

Cancer is a major health problem and is considered a chronic disease globally. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. That is because symptoms increase until the cancer is spread to other parts of the body in late stages. Among the many different therapeutic approaches to treat cancer, it appears that many plants have promising treatment effects, and one of these plants is Rhus coriaria, commonly known as Sumac. Previous studies have indicated that the Sumac plant, which is used in cooking, possesses various therapeutic values, including antioxidant and antibiotic activities. This study investigates the effect …

Screening And Genomic Characterization Of Multi-Drug Resistant (Mdr) Bacteria From Hospital Wastewater, Showq Abdelaziz Abdelaziz

Theses

Antimicrobial resistance poses an imminent global threat to public health, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria being particularly worrisome due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics. Hospital wastewater has been identified as a potential source of MDR bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study aimed to investigate MDR bacteria's prevalence, diversity, and genomic potential in hospital wastewater samples collected from three different hospitals in the UAE. Samples were processed for culturing antibiotic-resistant bacteria using different HiCrome™ chromogenic media to screen for ESBL-producing, Vancomycin, Carbapenem, colistin, and Methicillin-resistant bacteria. The isolates were characterized using VITEk2 antibiotic profiling and identified using 16S rRNA sequencing …

Digital Transformation In Local Governments: A Case Study Of Abu Dhabi Municipality Transport Department, Alia Sahmi Al Ahbabi

Theses

The new generation is rapidly adapting to the digital era, where government and private services are being transformed into electronic services, commonly known as Eservices. Cities are leveraging digitalization to streamline their business processes and business services. This digitalization has improved service delivery time and quality for individuals. With digitalization, business processes align with technology, enhancing performance and customer satisfaction. However, there are challenges associated with digitalization, particularly people working in various municipality departments who find it challenging to adapt to digitization. Employees may take time to adjust to the new techniques and technologies, which may hamper the actions of …

Numerical Simulation Of Concrete Beams With Discontinuity Regions Reinforced With Nonmetallic Reinforcing Bars, Amena Mohammad Ousama

Theses

Nonmetallic Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars are considered a viable alternative to the conventional steel reinforcement because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and noncorrosive nature. This research aimed to investigate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams with discontinuity regions (D-regions) through numerical analysis. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical models were developed to simulate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced deep beams with and without web openings. The models adopted realistic constitutive laws that accounted for the nonlinear behavior of the materials used. Predictions of the numerical models were validated against published experimental data. A parametric study was conducted to …

الطرق الإدارية للفصل في المنازعات الضريبية في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة, محمد أحمد الشقفه

Theses

This thesis studies and analyses administrative methods for settling tax disputes in the UAE as set in the newly issued Federal Law No. 28 for year 2022 regarding tax procedures, which will take effect on June 2, 2023, as this new Federal Law includes new administrative tax dispute settlement channels.
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/="/">Additionally, this study explores the methods through which UAE’s procedural tax legislations handled the most complicated issue that most procedural tax legislators usually encounter, which is balancing between fair tax assessments and speedy tax collection procedures. Making such balance requires robust regulation of administrative methods to settle tax …

Standardizing Sustainable Aquaponic Production Of Leafy Greens And Fish: A Comparison With Conventional Systems In The United Arab Emirates, Drishya Nishanth

Theses

The production of leafy green vegetables through aquaponics is established worldwide, but the production of herbs which are used in day-to-day life in the United Arab Emirates is not yet explored in this system in terms of production efficiency, water usage and the nutrient parameters. In the current study, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), the two commonly used herbs, were grown in a traditional aquaponics system using tilapia fish and catfish effluent water (soil-less agriculture) and an irrigation-based greenhouse cultivation system (soil cultivation). The study's major goal is to evaluate several growth techniques for …

Design Modular Command And Data Handling Subsystem Hardware Architectures, Abdullah Alsalmani

Theses

Over the past few years, On-Board Computing Systems for satellites have been facing a limited level of modularity. Modularity is the ability to reuse and reconstruct the system from a set of predesigned units, with minimal additional engineering effort. CDHS hardware systems currently available have a limited ability to scale with mission needs. This thesis addresses the integration of smaller form factor CDHS modules used for nanosatellites with the larger counterparts that are used for larger missions. In particular, the thesis discusses the interfacing between Modular Computer Systems based on Open Standard commonly used in large spacecrafts and PC/104 used …

Cloud Tracking Winds On Mars Using Emm-Exi Imaging, Shaimaa Ahmed Alblooki

Theses

The Martian atmospheric wind structure is a major unknown in our understanding of Mars’ climate because it is difficult to measure wind remotely. The Emirates eXploration Imager (EXI) instrument on board the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) takes visible and ultraviolet images of the whole hemisphere of the planet at a time, and can capture complete weather systems at once, along with their evolution over time. This project uses EXI 320 nm observations to measure winds on Mars using Correlation Imaging Velocimetry (CIV), a cloud tracking method based on software developed for laboratory fluid dynamics experiments, and with significant heritage in …

الأحكام القانونية للمُصاب باضطراب طيف التوحد, مريم محمد علي

Theses

According to the latest statistics, 1% of the world population has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in its various levels. The one percent of the world population counts in millions; hence, this segment of society deserves the legislator's attention to ensure fair treatment. Therefore, this study will shed light on whether the Emirati Legislator have fairly regulated the financial transactions of people with autism, by examining the relevant regulations and laws in the United Arab Emirates and in comparison, with the principles of Sharia'a. Accordingly, this study is divided into two main chapters. The first chapter defines autism in …

Biochemical Characterization Of Date Palm (Phoniex Dactylifera L) Seeds Maintained At Microgravity In Outer Space Iss, Shamma Khalid Aldhaheri

Theses

The UAE’s vision to reach space dates to 1976 when Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan met with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Apollo group; this meeting marked the first attempt of UAE to enter the field of space science. The UAE is currently one of the top countries executing space missions and research. This research focuses on the biochemical characterization of date palm seeds that are sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in outer space. The research methodology involves biochemical analysis of seeds maintained under two different environmental conditions-microgravity and standard gravity. In total, 30–45 seeds …

جرائم المنافسة غير المشروعة والاحتكار في القانون الإماراتي, أحمد حسن الهاشمي

Theses

Unfair Competition and Monopoly in the UAE Penal Code

This study dealt with unfair competition and monopoly in the UAE penal code. The study was divided into an introduction and three sections. The first section dealt with the nature of competition and monopoly and their types, the second section dealt with the elements of the crime of unfair competition, and the third section dealt with the penalties prescribed for the crimes of competition law and monopoly prevention. The study concluded with the most important findings and recommendations. One of the most important results is that it was noted that the …

Understanding The Intracellular Positive Regulatory Interactions In The Metabolic Network, Sultana Mohammed Al Zubaidi

Theses

Metabolism is an essential cellular process that produces essential components such as energy molecules and cellular building blocks. It is regulated by intracellular metabolite-enzyme interactions, which can increase or decrease enzyme efficiency. Each metabolic process is not evolved in nature and may not contribute to the optimal efficiency of the organism's metabolism. However, this study aims to clarify the relationship between cellular positive regulatory interactions and the cell's metabolic network, especially how these relationships regulate metabolism and how it evolved in nature. To obtain that, for each enzyme, the activation molecules from the BRENDA database were downloaded, mapped data to …

Using The Hirota Method To Investigate The Integrability And New Exact Solutions Of The Non-Autonomous Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation, Islam Majed Albazlamit

Theses

In this thesis research, we investigate the existence of Hirota bilinear systems for the non-autonomous nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) with position- and time-dependent coefficients and external potentials. To that end, we employ a semi-analytical systematic method that employs some exact solutions. The Hirota bilinear system is then employed to derive new solutions to the same nonlinear differential equation. We have applied this approach to a number of different versions of NLSEs to find that each family of solutions shares the same Hirota bilinear system. Furthermore, properties of solutions such as stability are investigated.

Fabrication, Characterization And Analytical Applications Of Planar Solid Metal And Planar Cavity Electrodes, Fatima Salmeen Alnuaimi

Theses

The present thesis describes the design, construction, and applications of a versatile flow cell (VFC) for used with different types of planar working electrodes. These included the commercially available planar 3-electrode screen-printed electrode chips (SPECs), custom planar metallic electrodes (PMEs), and cavity-type electrodes (CTEs). The PMEs are fabricated from platinum, titanium, stainless steel and copper rods inserted in a rectangular-PEEK housing, respectively. The dimensions of the PEEK blocks were 13.5 mm width x 39 mm length x 12.5 mm height. The VFC was constructed from a cell cover and base machined from acrylic sheets. The cover incorporated a built-in Ag/AgCl/Cl …

Preparation Of Copper Oxide Nano-Architectures For Fog Harvesting Applications, Ola M. Abu Draz

Theses

The issue of limited freshwater resources is a significant problem for humans, especially in desert areas where water scarcity poses a serious risk to human survival. In nature, there are several species that harvest fog based on their tuned surface structure, e.g.., Cactus, desert beetles, etc. In addition to surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic architecture, another key factor in effective water collection is the porosity of the surface, which helps droplets to form, grow, and be removed. To address the challenge of water scarcity, we inspired, from nature, to design surfaces that have features that favor water collection. In this aspect, we introduced …

Dominance Of Blaoxa-48-Like Among Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated From Abu Dhabi Hospitals, Mohammed Awase Baig

Theses

Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for public health worldwide due to its associated morbidity and mortality, which is primarily attributed to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. This, in turn, leads to the evolution of bacteria which can develop genetic mechanisms to combat antibiotics. Despite the discovery of various antibiotics with different mechanisms of action, many have become ineffective due to the development of resistance over time. Carbapenems, in particular, are considered the last line of defense against some bacterial infections, making their resistance a major concern. Among the various carbapenem-resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is of utmost concern …

Assessment Of Microplastics Consumed By Fishes In The United Arab Emirates Waters Of The Arabian Gulf, Maisan Mhd Al Wattar

Theses

Microplastics are plastic particles that are between 1 μm to 5 mm in size. Microplastics are currently threatening the marine ecosystems, including the water, sediments, and biota. Due to microplastics being relatively mobile, evidence of microplastic pollution is found in all water bodies, even in remote places such as the Antarctica. Although the Arabian Gulf is subjected to a number of anthropogenic stressors, to date, only few studies on the presence of microplastics have been carried out. This study assesses the microplastic presence in 60 fish samples from the emirates Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The 5 fish …

Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation In Benthic Flatfishes From Territorial Waters Of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Shima Mohammed Albadi

Theses

Marine pollution from anthropogenic sources is a major threat to many coastal and offshore species. A variety of potentially harmful elements are released from wastewater runoff, leached from landfills or industrial effluents. I measured trace metal concentrations in the liver, gills, and muscles of two benthic flatfish species, the halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), and the Dover sole (Solea solea). The primary objective of this thesis was to evaluate the status of the benthic fish species in the Fujairah waters to understand the pollution status of regional waters and assess their effects on human consumption. Inductively Coupled Plasma …

Assessing The Contribution To Opv Efficiency Of Energy Transfer In Charge Transfer Coupled H-Aggregates., Tyler James Wiegand

Theses

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are intended to be low-cost, long-lived devices with an array of possible applications. While record device power conversion efficiencies continue to improve, developments have largely been achieved with increasingly synthetically complex, high-cost molecules. Meanwhile, a deeper understanding of underlying molecular excited states and active layer structures influencing long-term performance is often neglected. To improve understanding of what drives efficiency in OPVs, Squaraine, a synthetically simple, low-cost organic molecule with a diverse array of excited state species and blending properties, is considered here. Focus is placed on the Squaraine charge transfer H aggregate (HCT) and how active layer …

The Evolution Of The Nba’S Culture, Trey Jones

Theses

This project focuses on the National Basketball Association’s dress code problems from 2004-2005 to the 2022-2023 NBA season. Highlighting how a predominantly black athletes' association, run by white men, changed in multiple ways to respect the fashion and culture of its community over this 20-year period. The community that was most represented on the court, and those who support the league at home. Doing so through the influence of the media, player opinions, race, fashion, time, and executives. Showcasing how a prominent business, such as the NBA, can change it its brand to be acceptable and successful.

The Impact Of User-Generated Content On Consumer Purchase Intention, Alyssa Anderson

Theses

This project investigates how various forms of user-generated content impacts consumer purchasing decisions. Primary and secondary research is executed for a broader understanding of UGC implications on modern consumers. The final deliverable is a website that offers an in-depth analysis of the culture of creators and how the dynamic has shifted in recent years. Additionally, UGC cases are studied to determine the impact they have on consumers, and guides are offered to director brands on how ensure consistency and alignment with their brand identity and implement UGC into their marketing strategy.

A Study On How Twitch Streaming Can Impact The Success Of A Game, Nadine Kassassir

Theses

The aim of this project is to assess the variables that impact the success of a video game taken as a function of prizepool earnings awarded in tournaments. With the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch the reach for esports and online gaming has dramatically increased. After analyzing two datasets found on Kaggle, and performing linear regression on a newly created dataset, no relationship between viewership and earnings can be established. Irrespective of this, the increasing trend of earnings and viewership can be observed in both the datasets and online publications and statistics. This indicates the possibility of an existing …

Establishing A Scootability Index To Prioritise Road And Footway Infrastructure Improvements For Smooth And Safe E-Scooter Usage, Nadia Jalal Maksoud

Theses

The intensifying use of electric scooters as a form of transportation calls for new infrastructure assessment methods to improve the smoothness and safety of facilities in which these devices are ridden. Despite the extensive research on the infrastructure requirements of bicycles, there is a dearth of studies on electric scooters. This study aims to define the main infrastructure requirements for electric scooters in an urban context. A mixed-methods approach is employed combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and regression analysis. To provide a basis for a so-called multi-dimensional “scootability” index that covers all aspects pertaining to the safety and smoothness …