Digital Commons Network^™

Process And Play: Investigating Connections And Form, Mary Catherine Fruehan

Theses

This project focuses on the body of sculptural work I created and the influences and outcomes surrounding it. Throughout this project, I focused on making both physical and conceptual connections and working with materials in playful and novel ways. Process, play, and experimentation all came together to create improvisational works of collage and sculpture. These works, often made from repurposed, discarded or mundane materials, have formal references to functional or recognizable objects, but the focus is on the relationships and connections between pieces. An ethos of resourcefulness and “making do” permeates the work, much of which is built with tenuous …

Ellen Couture Designs Vintage Lingerie Fashion Line, Robyne Grier

Theses

Grier and Associates d/b/a Ellen Couture Designs (ECD) is a fashion subsidiary that creates garments comprised of vintage inspired lingerie and nightwear. This line is paying homage to the owner, Robyn Grier’s, grandmother, Ellen Sutton, who was a professional seamstress, patternmaker and designer. My final project will be an illustration of 10 garments created for Ellen Couture Designs Fashion line.

have sketched 10 designs that will be the initial collection for Ellen Couture Designs. A description of the garment and its historical significance will be provided. It is a common trend for the fashion designers and the industry to create …

Virtual Laboratories For Stem Education: An Evaluation Model And Comparison, Jumana Mahmoud Kharsa

Theses

Laboratory work is key to science education, and virtual environments play a vital role in remote learning. This thesis is concerned with the evaluation of virtual laboratories used in educational fields, mainly in STEM courses. This research investigates the basic criteria for evaluating virtual environments used in science education in order to create an evaluation scale. We reviewed the literature to highlight the main guidelines of evaluating virtual laboratories and found that the most common evaluation features for virtual tools are Ease of Use, Usefulness, Motivation, Interface Design, and Realism. Upon generating the assessment scale, we selected two web-based interactive …

Enhancement Of Phenolic Recovery And Bioactivity Of Date Palm Leaf Extract Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents And Green Extraction Technology, Raghad Shehadeh Abdal Rahman

Theses

This study was designed to explore date palm leaves, an agro by-product, as a potential source of natural polyphenolic compounds using appropriate green Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) and emerging green extraction technologies. Herein, six different NADES were prepared using six different hydrogen donors and choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor at a molar ratio of 1:2 (w/w) and different NADES concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 80%, in water, at 40°C). Among the studied NADES, Glycerol-based NADES showed higher phenolic yield compared to saccharide and organic acid-based NADES. Afterward, to enhance the extraction efficiency, NADES were coupled with microwave (MAE-NADES) …

Design Of Low-Cost Power Quality And Energy Monitoring System For Low Voltage Distribution Network, Rami Moustafa Mohyeldeen

Theses

The constant increase of non-linear loads and the future high integration of renewable energy sources in the power grid make power quality monitoring systems crucial to maintain maximum efficiency and reliability. However, the current devices for power quality monitoring are costly, limiting PQ monitoring systems' usage to specific applications and for a particular time. This thesis aims to present a design and the implementation of a low-cost power quality monitoring system using a single-board computer (Raspberry Pi) and highly accurate multiphase power quality monitoring ADE9000 IC. The proposed PQM system is configured to work remotely through either a wireless connection …

The Impact Of Stem-Based Curriculum On The Development Of Creative Thinking Of High School Students In The United Arab Emirates, Rana Yousef Khalil

Theses

STEM-based curriculum is an integrated structure for teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics using project- and inquiry-based learning to produce creative outcomes. This study aims to assess the impact of STEM-based curriculum on the development of creative thinking of high school students while studying physics. Further, this study aims to assess the impact of students’ gender and grade level on the development of creative thinking after implementing a STEM-based curriculum. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental design was used to collect data using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) and its metrics (fluency, elaboration, flexibility, and originality). In one of …

Investigating The Role Of Irc20 And Cdc48 In The Maintenance Of Yeast Genome, Asma Albadi Alnuaimi

Theses

DNA, the basic unit of inheritance, is continuously exposed to numerous endogenous and exogenous damaging agents that compromise its function and adversely impact health. However, the cell has evolved intricate DNA repair mechanisms to mitigate the negative consequences of genomic instability. The repair of DNA double-strand break (DSB) is potentially accomplished by various mechanisms, including homologous recombination (HR). An HR-mediated DSB repair requires controlled regulation of repair proteins to ensure timely function. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), such as ubiquitylation and SUMOylation, are regulatory mechanisms that significantly fine-tune proteins activities. Central to these processes is Rad52, a conserved oligomeric protein that forms …

Towards The Detection And Analysis Of Performance Regression Introducing Code Changes, Deema Adeeb Alshoaibi

Theses

In contemporary software development, developers commonly conduct regression testing to ensure that code changes do not affect software quality. Performance regression testing is an emerging research area from the regression testing domain in software engineering. Performance regression testing aims to maintain the system's performance. Conducting performance regression testing is known to be expensive. It is also complex, considering the increase of committed code and developing team members working simultaneously. Many automated regression testing techniques have been proposed in prior research. However, challenges in the practice of locating and resolving performance regression still exist. Directing regression testing to the commit level …

Optical Properties Of Macetch-Fabricated Porous Silicon Nanowire Arrays, Kyle G. Tezanos

Theses

The increasing demand for complex devices that utilize unique, three-dimensional nanostructures has spurred the development of controllable and versatile semiconductor fabrication techniques. However, there exists a need to refine such methodologies to overcome existing processing constraints that compromise device performance and evolution. Conventional wet etching techniques (e.g., crystallographic KOH etching of Si) successfully generate textured Si structures with smooth sidewalls but lack the capabilities of controllably producing high aspectratio structures. Alternatively, dry etching techniques (e.g., reactive-ion etching), while highly controllable and capable of generating vertically aligned, high aspect-ratio structures for IC technologies, introduce considerable sidewall and lattice damage as a …

Societal Impact Assessment Of Depression, Mohammed Salah Almazrouei

Theses

Depression is a mental problem characterised by unusual changes in the mood of a person, accompanied by a temporary different emotional response to everyday changes in the phenomena (WHO, 2020). Affected people suffer greatly, hence functioning poorly in the workplace, school, or at home in a family setup. Even though the public is well aware of its existence, there is little going on to combat this condition. Amongst the various stumbling blocks towards achieving an effective approach to address the problem include limited resources and associated well-trained personnel to help the victims.

A mental disorder associated with social stigma and …

مبدأ سمو الدستور وآلیة الحفاظ علیه في دولة الإمارات العربیة المتحدة (دراسة تحليلية), أحمد علي محمد مسعود البلوشي

Theses

The study concluded that the constitution, which is the basis of all legal activities practiced by the state, is superior to all legal rules that make up the legal system in the United Arab Emirates. The manifestations of the supremacy of the constitution are represented in two aspects: The objective transcendence that proves for all constitutions, both flexible and rigid, and does not have legal effect, and the formal transcendence that prove only for rigid constitutions, which require special procedures to be followed to amend them, so that the legislative authority is not able to manipulate the constitutional rules and …

Effect Of Carnosol On G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling In Cancer Cells, Laith Jehad Ahmad Abudawood

Theses

Carnosol is a plant polyphenol compound known for its beneficial properties against human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. However, the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms involved, and its molecular targets are not fully known. Carnosol was shown to bind and to modulate specific intracellular signaling proteins in cancer cell lines. In this study, we hypothesized that carnosol may pharmacologically target specific cell surface receptors including G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTKs). Therefore, we tested the pharmacological effect of carnosol on the following receptors: Insulin Receptor (IR), Chemokine CXCL12 Receptor (CXCR4), Angiotensin II (AngII) Receptor (AT1R), Glucagon-Like …

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Fresh Vegetable Products: Potential Probiotic And Postbiotic Characteristics Including Immunomodulatory Effects, Fatima Khaled Alameri

Theses

The ability to perform effectively in the gastrointestinal system (GIT) is one of the most significant criteria for selecting the best probiotic bacteria. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential probiotic characteristics of some selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from vegetable products. Probiotic characteristics included tolerance to acid and bile, cholesterol removing ability, bile salt hydrolysis, resistance against lysozyme and antibiotics, production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), antimicrobial and hemolytic activities, and cell surface characteristics (auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, and hydrophobicity). Out of 46 isolates, 17 isolates that exhibited remarkable survivability under gastrointestinal conditions were selected for further analysis. Almost all …

خصوصیات التقاضي في المنازعات الضریبیة (دراسة في التشریع الإماراتي وتطبیقات القضاء), سیف صالح الحربي

Theses

This study deals with the legal regulation of the procedures for filing a tax lawsuit. The subject of the study is determined by dealing with the stages prior to the establishment of the tax lawsuit, which are; the stage of reconsideration that is before the tax administration represented by the Federal Tax Authority and the stage of the tax dispute settlement committee that was singled out by the federal legislator in particular and made its subordination to the Ministry of Justice.
The subject of the study revolves around the legal system for the reconsideration phase, in order to determine what …

Orbit Propagation And Determination Algorithms For Satellite Ground Stations, Shamma Esmaeel Jamali

Theses

The satellite orbital parameters are essential for satellite operations. With these parameters, it is possible to estimate the satellite position in the recent past and near future, which is essential to effectively plan satellite operations and associate satellite telemetry with geographical locations.
However, for small or medium satellite operators who do not possess the infrastructure required to track their satellites, the problem of determining the satellite orbit is problematic. To access the orbit for their satellites, these organizations have to rely on third parties such as Celestrak. These entities provide the service free of charge but do not provide orbital …

On The Projections Of Commutative C*-Algebras, Alaa Ahmad Hamdan

Theses

Gelfand and Naimark proved that the Banach algebra of continuous complex-valued functions on a compact space Ω is the only example of commutative unital C*-algebras. We study the C*-algebra C(Ω) and its main elements, such as projections. Also, we discuss the mapping between projections, which preserves orthogonality (orthoisomorphism). A bijective θ between projections induces a bijective Θ between the Boolean algebra of clopen subsets of X. Then, we give main properties of such Θ. For a compact subset X of ℝ, we classify the projections of C(X) by introducing the similar relation on P(C(X)). We introduce an …

The Status Of Homogeneous Grouping Implication In English Language Classrooms In The United Arab Emirates, Eman Mohamed Abdelwahab

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the status of homogeneous grouping implication in English language classrooms in the United Arab Emirates public schools. The study aims at exploring students’ and teachers’ perceptions toward homogeneous learning in English language classrooms, encountered challenges and possible suggestions of improvement. The Mixed method was used for data collection and analysis, by using both qualitative (Interview and short-essay questions) and quantitative (Likert-scale questionnaires) data as main sources of data.

The Study sample included 645 participants, consisting of 30 English language teachers and 615 high school students from 13 public schools in the United Arab Emirates. The …

Why Post- Leaving Certificate Students In Ireland From Disadvantaged Backgrounds Are Less Likely To Proceed To Third-Level Education, Edward Hayes

Theses

Educational disadvantage continues to be a cause for concern, and addressing it remains at the forefront of education policy in Ireland (Houses of Oireachtas, 2019; Weir et al., 2017). This research extended across the academic years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and during the period of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed public health measures, and enforced an emergency online digital learning environment. A socio-economic profile of Ireland’s student body registered an attainment gap between rich and poor, finding that young people from backgrounds of disadvantage continue to be underrepresented at third-level when compared to their middle-class counterparts (HEA, 2020). The primary …

Tailoring The Rehabilitative Environment For People With Sensory Overload, Jennifer Cotter

Theses

Sensory overload is a complex sensory processing disorder which can develop post Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). The condition can be extremely debilitating and people who develop it are further hampered by lack of informational resources, sensory overload is currently under researched in the Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation sector. This qualitative study documents participants first hand experiences of sensory overload post ABI and includes insights and observations from professionals working in the Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation sector in Ireland. In this study, sensory overload is the focal point and a new rehabilitation tool in the form of a sensory menu is …

سلطات الإدارة في العقد الإداري بين مقتضيات الصالح العام والتوازن المالي, جاسم محمد سعيد الشرياني

Theses

This study deals with the concept of financial balance of the administrative contract as a right of the contracting party against the exceptional and unusual powers the Administration enjoys in this type of contracts in the light of the legislation and judicial rulings in the United Arab Emirates at the federal and local levels of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The study clarifies the concept of the financial balance of the contract, the legal nature of such concept and the circumstances of establishment of this concept. As well as this study deals with the powers vested in the contracting Administration, …

Modified Titani Derived From Ti – Oxo Clusters: Synthesis, Structure, And Photocatalytic Activity, Fatmah Rashed Ali Alkindi

Theses

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), an important semiconductor, has been used in various applications ranging from sunblock additives to self-cleaning window coatings, antibacterial agents, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis. Due to its photostability, TiO₂ is an extensively used semiconductor photocatalyst in many industries. This thesis represents the synthesis, structure, and photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ (Anatase) photocatalyst, which was prepared using hexanuclear titanium-oxo cluster precursor via temperature-controlled calcination. The optical property of the prepared photocatalyst was investigated using UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) for phase determination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology and structural analysis, Brunauer−Emmett−Teller …

Addictive Social Media Use: Examination Of The Psychometric Properties Of The Arabic Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale And The Mediational Role Of Sense Of Control In The Relationship Between Depression And Social Media Addiction, Louis J. Fourie

Theses

The period of COVID-19 has proven to be a turbulent period where extreme psychological trends can be examined due to lockdown procedures, social isolation, and public fear. The use of technology such as social media has increased with research highlighting the harm of overuse. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the psychometric properties of an Arabic translated version of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) to assess for addictive social media use. Secondly, the study further examines the association between depression, social media addiction, and an individual’s sense of control. Specifically, the potential mediational role of …

Phubbing And Fear Of Missing Out As Mediators Between Problematic Social Media Use And Life Satisfaction Among Young Adults, Najeera Peer Meera Levai

Theses

Recent studies have shown certain risk indicators for young adults' decreased life satisfaction as a result of excessive social media use. However, few studies have looked at possible impact of problematic social media on life satisfaction, and less information is known about the mediating factors that contribute to this association. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether problematic social media use predicts life satisfaction among young adults. It also explored whether phubbing behaviour and fear of missing out might both serve as mediators in this relationship. A sample of 351 young adults (18–25, M_age = 19.74 …

Valuation Of Options In A High Volatile Regime Switching Market, Tasnim Mazen Sharif Alhamad

Theses

Financial modeling by Stochastic Differential Equations-SDEs with regime-switching has been utilized to allow moving from one economic state to another. The aim of this thesis is to tackle the pricing of European options under a regime-switching model where the volatility is augmented. Regime-switching models are more realistic since they encompass the effect of an external event on the underlying asset prices. But they are challenging, considering in addition increased volatility in the model will for sure make the option pricing problem more complicated and its solution may not exist analytically. Numerical methods for finance could be very helpful in this …

Sludge-Based Activated Carbon: Characterization And Performance For Removal Of Methylene Blue From Aqueous Solution, Ahmad Anwar Al Madhoon

Theses

Domestic wastewater treatment plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) produce 122 thousand tons of dried sludge annually. About 70% of this sludge is dumped in landfills, creating water and soil contamination. Sludge is an energy-rich organic material that could be converted into activated carbon by thermal or chemical processes. Potassium hydroxide has shown great potential as an activating agent for producing high-quality sludge based activated carbon (SBAC). However, its use adds to the cost of the production process. Thus, there is a need for an alternative activating agent that is not costly. One possible chemical is carbide lime which …

The Effect Of Licogliflozin (Sglt1/2 Inhibitor) On Diabetes And Cardiac Complications, Alanoud Gharib Alblooshi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic endocrine disease affecting millions of people worldwide. In spite of the advances made in the management of DM, poor glycemic control and diabetes complications are still very common. There is a continuous search for new and more effective drugs to treat DM. One of the drugs currently in clinical trials for the treatment of DM is licogliflozin (LIK066), a dual SGLT1/2 inhibitor, which can be used to treat obesity and diabetes. LIK066 inhibits glucose reabsorption in the kidney and small intestine, thereby reducing hyperglycemia. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of licogliflozin on …

Screening For Endophytic Actinobacteria To Enhance Growth And Salinity Tolerance Of Tomato Plants In The United Arab, Amira Hamdy Hassan

Theses

Salinity is one of the most decisive environmental factors limiting the productivity of crop plants, mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. An eco-friendly technology can be used to boost crop production in saline areas by using plant growth-bacteria. Endophytic actinobacteria that produce the enzyme 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic acid (ACC) Deaminase (ACCD) can modulate the levels of Ethylene (ET) in plants to reduce the effect of abiotic stresses including high salt stress. The main objectives of this study were to: (1) Evaluate endophytic actinobacterial isolates from healthy tomato plants cultivated in the UAE that are capable of producing ACCD in vitro; (2) …

Investigating Teachers’ And Lead Teachers' Perspectives On The Impact Of Stream On Enhancing Teaching, Learning And Professionalism In The Emirates Schools Establishment, Hosam Rashad Badawy

Theses

STREAM education is the latest development of STEM and STEAM educational approaches in the United Arab Emirates schools. It is gaining traction because of the global market's massive economic and technological advancement, as STREAM employment is in growing demand. Educational policymakers and leaders in the UAE advocate for the development and implementation of STREAM to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship skills, leading to a drastic shift in teaching, learning and professionalism. According to the study, the STREAM approach enhances teachers' professionalism, students' creative skills and the learning of 21^st century survival skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, digital …

Distribution Of Erm Proteins In The Stomach Mucosa Of Normal And Diabetic Rats, Asmaa Salem Al Sereidi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM), or simply diabetes, refers to a group of metabolic disorders that include a variety of diseases that disrupt our body's metabolism. The long-term uncontrolled disease can lead to stomach complications such as gastroparesis, as well as disruption in several proteins, such as ERM (Ezrin, radixin, moesin) proteins. ERM proteins are three proteins that are structurally and functionally related. ERM proteins have molecular masses of 82, 80, and 75 kDa, respectively. Ezrin is highly expressed in the stomach, especially in parietal cells that secrete gastric acid. ERM proteins function as scaffolding proteins in lipid rafts and granule trafficking …

A Data Driven Model To Promote Preparedness And Respond Intelligently To Pandemic Outbreaks, Safea Mohammed Al Senani

Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on various vital sectors of the economy, including education healthcare, and the industry. Governments have imposed strict regulations to reduce the spread of this global disease outbreak. Consequently, working from home, online learning, social distancing and various control measures were enforced. In response, many schools shifted to distance learning, although most of these schools were neither technically ready nor administratively prepared for the online transition. Despite recent progress, countries are still experiencing daunting challenges to control the infection rate and magnitude, stabilize the economy, and relax socialization and public life activities. Decision-makers …