Digital Commons Network^™

Methods Of Quantum Circuit Simulation: A Comprehensive Comparative Analysis, Anthony Peter Bacchetta

Theses

The advent of quantum computing has ushered in a new era of computational capabilities, promising to solve problems that were previously intractable for classical computers. Quantum circuit simulation is an essential aspect of harnessing the potential of quantum algorithms, and understanding quantum systems. This thesis presents an exploration and comparative analysis of various methods used in the simulation of quantum circuits, aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and practical applications. This starts with a dive into the foundational concepts of quantum circuits, quantum gates, and the fundamental principles underlying quantum computation. Quantum circuit simulation emphasizes the …

Personalized Nutrition Recommendations For Arab Communities: Transforming Diet And Health Through Machine Learning, Khalfan Aldoobi

Theses

A lack of cultural understanding in traditional nutrition approaches prevents proper adherence to healthy dietary patterns among individuals. The Arab population faces unique challenges due to cultural dietary customs and lifestyle changes that have made obesity and diet illnesses major global public health challenges. The rapid shift to high-calorie but undernourished foods and less physical activity has resulted in alarming rate increases of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. The lack of cultural understanding in traditional nutrition approaches prevents proper adherence to healthy dietary patterns among individuals. This study focuses to fills the existing gap by applying Artificial Intelligence …

Sesp Plinko: Dynamics Of C-Shaped Particles Moving Through An Obstacle Field, Ollie Yakimow

Theses

We examine the behavior of C-shaped superellipse sector particles (SeSPs) as they travel through an obstacle field. SeSPs are two-dimensional particles parameterized by corner sharp- ness, aspect ratio, and opening angle; these parameters are sufficient to represent a large variety of shapes, including discs, rods, and concave and convex particles. Our obstacle field is a rhombic Galton Board, an array with alternating rows of pegs. Galton Boards are common not just in experiments but in popular media, such as in boardwalk games and in The Price is Right’s game segment known as "Plinko." Round particles dropped through a Galton Board …

Innovative Solutions For Data Accessibility: Utilizing Synthetic Data In Dewa Operations, Saif Khalid Alshahin

Theses

Smart‑meter data are pivotal to modern demand‑side management and predictive maintenance, yet strict confidentiality rules at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) hinder internal access. Synthetic data generated by Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) offers a promising privacy‑preserving alternative, potentially unlocking analytics without exposing customer information. This study assesses the ability of three GAN variants—vanilla GAN, Tabular GAN (TGAN), and Conditional Tabular GAN (CTGAN)—to replicate real consumption patterns. A publicly available \emph{Smart Meters in London} daily dataset comprising 3.51 million records was utilised. After exploratory data analysis (EDA) and cleansing, identifier (\texttt{LCLid}) and date (\texttt{day}) variables were removed, leaving seven numerical …

Nest: Portable Seating And Positioning Device, Angeline Hamele

Theses

Abstract Seating and positioning are essential components of wheelchair technology that provide comfort, support, and protection for the user throughout all of their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These components are even more crucial for nonambulatory, full-time wheelchair users, and/or those with reduced-to-no sensation who are at a high risk of discomfort, injury, and even death from improper seating and positioning setups. However, there are several instances when this group of users must be out of their wheelchairs and seating and positioning setup, such as when traveling by car or plane, when participating in adaptive sports, and when engaging in …

Modelling And Load Frequency Control (Lfc) Design Of Microgrid Frame-Worked As Technological Norm To Multi Energy System (Mes), Mekonnen Shewarega Worku

Theses

In today's world, the trend of using renewable energy sources as an alternative energy source is becoming more and more common due to various driving factors, such as energy scarcity (fossil fuel depletion, etc.) and environmental issues (carbon footprint). This trend is leading to a steady increase in the penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) through microgrid (MG), which is formed from combination of various distribution energy sources (DERs). The inherent intermittent nature of RESs coupled with abrupt load changes can instigate sustained frequency fluctuations and can keep the frequency deviation out of the allowable range that leads to an …

Towards Vision Intelligence-Based Liver Surgery, Zixin Yang

Theses

Despite advancements in surgical interventions, modern procedures still heavily rely on surgeons' expertise, requiring extensive training while maintaining limited accuracy. Although image guidance systems have been developed, “GPS-like” surgical navigation systems have yet to become standard practice due to their high costs and accuracy limitations. This thesis aims to enhance surgical navigation and mitigate some of its current limitations by leveraging vision intelligence: integrating image processing, modeling, and computer vision to extract rich, underlying information from images. The key to achieving these improvements lies in improving surgical perception, which involves understanding the spatial relationships between the endoscopic camera, surgical instruments, …

Crafting Human-Ai Collaborative Analysis For Usability Evaluations, Emily Kuang

Theses

In the rapidly evolving domain of human-computer interaction (HCI), ensuring a high-quality user experience (UX), which encompasses all aspects of a user’s interaction with an interface, is critical to the success and adoption of technology. Central to this is the concept of usability: the degree to which an interface can be effectively, efficiently, and satisfactorily used by its intended audience. Usability testing is a key method for uncovering usability problems, relying on structured evaluations involving real users. However, traditional approaches to analyzing usability test recordings—where UX evaluators observe user behavior and verbalizations while taking notes—are labor-intensive and prone to human …

Enhancing Third-Party Risk Management In Aviation: A Comprehensive Framework For Modern Challenges, Shamma Hussain Hammad Bin Hammad

Theses

This thesis is focused on improving the way airlines have managed risks from third-party vendors. Emirates and Etihad have been used as case studies. The thesis identifies major issues, including cybersecurity threats, slow manual processes, and the challenges in the following global regulations. To To solve such problems, the research proposes a new framework that integrates advanced tools including machine learning, blockchain, and real-time updates about threats. The framework includes different features like automatic risk scoring and detection of unusual vendor behavior and keeping the secure digital records through the blockchain. This will highlight the need for the staff to …

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

Theses

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

Steering Through Change: How Aging Eyes And Stroke-Induced Vision Loss Affect Driver Control, Arianna P. Giguere

Theses

Imaging system engineers could greatly benefit from understanding how biological systems have evolved to solve difficult imaging problems. In this thesis, we study how the human visual system has evolved to address the complex task of visually-guided steering, particularly as a person ages and experiences a prevalent type of vision loss from stroke called cortical blindness (CB) that results in the loss of one quarter to one half of the visual field. In a series of three studies, we test the hypothesis that the effects of CB on vision and steering extend beyond those that accompany healthy aging, and we …

“For There Is Hope Of A Tree…”: A Study Of Two Historic African American Cemeteries In Pope County, Illinois, Martha Clare Buchert

Theses

To add to a growing body of academic literature regarding historic African American cemeteries, this study examines two such cemeteries located in Pope County, Illinois: the Miller Grove Cemetery and the Hill Cemetery. Utilizing several different investigative methods, including pedestrian survey, geophysical survey, and historic research, the archaeological features and material culture of both cemeteries were studied to see what could be learned about their associated communities without ground disturbance. The results of these methods demonstrate the connections of members within these communities and the interconnectedness of historic African American settlements throughout southern Illinois and the greater Midwest. They also …

Don’T Stop Game, The Effects Of A Demerit-Based System, David Buckles

Theses

Physical activity is an essential component of an overall healthy lifestyle. It has been shown that implementing weekly physical activities reduces the risk of non-communicative diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. There have been an increasing number of studies showing that the physical activity of those with learning disabilities is much lower than that of neurotypical individuals. More studies are needed to identify effective interventions to increase the physical activity of those with learning disabilities. The current study evaluated the effect of the Don’t Stop Game on the mean number of steps taken per minute with adults …

Crystallization Of Pyrite From Acidic Hydrothermal Solutions, Junior Osei Agyemang

Theses

The crystallization of iron sulfides, such as pyrite and pyrrhotite, is of great significance due to their common association with most ore deposits around the world. Understanding the formation of these iron sulfides can give as insight into the genesis of the associated ore deposits. This study examines some of the factors influencing the crystallization of these iron sulfides from acidic hydrothermal solutions, with a focus on variations in solution composition and temperature. Under a well-controlled laboratory environment, the effect of variations in concentration and temperatures were studied. Analytical methods such as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) …

الحماية الجنائية للبيانات الجينومية (دراسة تحليلية مقارنة), ميثاء حارب العميمي

Theses

Criminal Protection of Genomic Data

This research examines the criminal protection of genomic data through a comparative study between the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, with the aim of analyzing how each legal system addresses these sensitive data and the associated risks، Genomic data, which relates to individuals' genetic information, is crucial in various fields such as medicine, insurance, and employment, making its protection essential to ensure individuals' privacy and to safeguard them from genetic discrimination or unlawful exploitation.

The UAE legislature is showing an increasing interest in regulating aspects related to genetic data and genomics, …

Effect Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Quality Of Life, Mohammad A. Al Rjoob

Theses

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from external events, such as falls and motor vehicle accidents leading to brain damage. This study investigated quality of life (QoL) in individuals with TBI and its relation to demographic and clinical variables, including gender, age, educational level, time since TBI onset, fatigue, depression and cognitive function. Twelve individuals with TBI participated in this cross-sectional study. Quality of life was assessed using Quality of Life after Brain Injury and ASHA Quality of Communication Life Scale measures. Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale, depression was measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale, and cognitive function …

Gender Knobs, Jordan Faye Bardgett

Theses

Gender Knobs is a performance art piece that tells the histories of both the technology surrounding pitch shifting devices like the vocoder as well as well as the personal history of the voice of the performer, Jordan, regarding their queer identity as non-binary trans woman. The performance is a combination of lecture, personal storytelling, and sound performance within a theatrical setting with musical accompaniment and projected visuals.

A Costuming Carol: A Costume Design Thesis On A Christmas Carol, Aleka Fischer

Theses

This thesis is a collection of research, analysis, design, and production work done for the costumes for A Christmas Carol. The play production took place in the McLeod Theater at Southern Illinois University from December 5th- December 8th, 2024. The play was written by Darwin Reid Payne and published in 1981. It is an adaptation of the novella A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens. Chapter 1 contains the research and script analysis used to make design decisions for this production. Chapter 2 documents the design process, and how the costume design evolved between the first and final design meetings. Chapter 3 …

Determinants Of Agricultural Productivity In The Leading Producing Countries Worldwide, Seidu Musah

Theses

Agricultural production is one of the widely expanded business sectors in the world. The aim of this study is to find out the driving factors behind cereal and soybean productivity as well as the production trends in the top twenty cereal and top seven soybean producing countries, respectively. Secondary data, which include both time series and cross-sectional data, were used for the analysis of 520 observations from the top twenty cereal producing countries and 427 observations from the top seven soybean producing countries.The panel data regression model was the statistical tool adopted in this study to determine the factors driving …

Elliptic Curves And Their Applications In Cryptography, Mercedes Danange Moll

Theses

This thesis explores the mathematical foundations and cryptographic applications ofelliptic curves. To understand elliptic curves, we start by introducing group theory, ring theory, and field theory. Then, we dive into elliptic curves, their algebraic structure, and the group law defined on their points. We then examine elliptic curves over finite fields, leading to the discrete logarithm problem and key cryptographic applications such as Weil Pairings, the Diffie-Hellman key exchange, Digital Signature Algorithm, and Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithms. Using the theory and its application, this thesis highlights the significance of elliptic curves in modern cryptography.

You! Me! Dancing!, Aaron Ickler

Theses

YOU! ME! DANCING! is a 3-piece photo installation consisting of photographs of myself and the Rochester area furry community. YOU! contains 145 medium format slides across two light panels exploring my relation to the masculine aspects of the Furry Fandom through staged studio portraits, intimate looks into furries in their natural habitats, and moments from local meetups. ME! uses large format sheet film layered in acrylic to highlight the change of character of wearing a fursuit, featuring my own custom fursuit. Lastly, DANCING!, is a visually inaccessible 80 image slideshow in which the pace and interval timed start of the …

Lovejoy: Imagination And Community, Julia D'Amico

Theses

Lovejoy is a photographic portrait of memory, imagination and the future of a neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. For nearly a century, my great-grandparents, grandfather, uncles and cousins lived in the house on Goethe Street in Lovejoy. It was once a vibrant working-class community of immigrants from a few towns in Central and Southern Italy. In 2020, I moved back to Buffalo, regularly visiting my elderly relative who still lived there. She died later that same year. Photography, which has long been a form of self-expression for me, was the medium I had at hand when we started to clean …

Embracing Unpredictability, Stella Huang

Theses

This paper explores the theory and practice of combining unpredictability in life with reverse thinking in modern jewelry design. Traditional jewelry design is often based on fixed aesthetics and strict craftsmanship. This study uses three concepts of jewelry design and clothing wear that break the conventions - a silver mask worn on the face, a skirt worn above the head and not touching the human body, and jewelry made of gallium that melts at human body temperature - as cases to analyze how to express the artistic concepts of "change" and "breaking boundaries" by breaking traditional rules and using material …

The Cutting Edge: A Virtual Reality Simulation For Surgeons To Learn And Understand Carpal Tunnel Surgery, Chenhao Angel Yang

Theses

As virtual reality (VR) technology becomes increasingly popular, its applications in healthcare have gained significant traction. Many current VR training tools for surgeons lack aesthetic and functional depth; they lack an understanding of the tools needed in the operating room and have limited user experience design and interactivity. In addition, there is an opportunity for specialization with immersive training models tailored to specific procedures like carpal tunnel surgery, making it difficult for surgeons to visualize complex techniques before practicing on real patients in a realistic and guided environment. This project investigates the intersection of VR experiences and their potential to …

Robust Multimodal Fusion For Oncology, Dominic Flack

Theses

Multimodal deep learning models have the potential to significantly improve survival predictions and treatment planning for cancer patients. These models integrate diverse data modalities using early, intermediate, or late fusion techniques. However, many existing multimodal models either underperform or show only marginal improvements over unimodal models. To establish the true efficacy of multimodal survival prediction models, it is critical to demonstrate consistent and substantial advantages over unimodal counterparts. In this thesis, we introduce the Robust Multimodal Survival Model (RMSurv), a novel discrete late fusion model that leverages synthetic data generation to compute time-dependent weights for various modalities. RMSurv utilizes up …

The Role Of Cognitive Theory In Designing Effective E-Learning Modules For Police Cadets, Ebtisam Yateem

Theses

The growing adoption of e-learning in police education underscores the need for instructional designs that are cognitively efficient, pedagogically grounded, and informed by data driven insights. This study integrates Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), Multimedia Learning Theory (MLT), and Learning Analytics (LA) to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of digital learning modules at the Dubai Police Academy. Using LMS behavioral data from 321 cadets, the research analyzes engagement patterns, performance indicators, and learner perceptions of instructional clarity, multimedia integration, and cognitive load. A Random Forest model was developed to examine whether pre-assessment behavioral metrics specifically logins, time spent on tasks, and …

Transforming Through Art: Trauma & Domestic Violence, Bridget Provan

Theses

In this thesis, I explored bodily transformation and resilience after trauma through the lens of personal experience with domestic violence. I created sculptural installations using my imagery of bruises, scars, and injuries to convey the ideas of reclamation, healing, and empowerment. The ephemeral quality of natural dyes reflects the impermanence of bruises mirroring the organic journey of recovery. I approach my work from a personal perspective. The sculptural forms serve as fragmented representations of traumatic memory. My artistic practice is deeply tied to materiality and process—choosing natural dyes, textiles referencing care and domestic spaces, sculptural forms derived from personal documentation, …

Prediction Of Diabetes Using Machine Learning, Walid Abdulla Abdulrahim

Theses

This research seeks to compare the overall health of diabetic patients with that of their healthy counterparts based on various heath indicators obtained from a large dataset comprising of pregnancies, glucose levels, blood pressure, skin thickness, insulin, BMI, diabetes pedigree function and age. Relative to the healthy group, increased average glucose level, higher BMI, and older age are identified in the diabetic participants. Most importantly, the results show that obesity is a significant risk factor for diabetes, and many diabetics have BMIs that are elevated above healthy levels. The data also points towards the fact that insulin resistance and prevalence …

Mundane, Ordinary And Eerie Undertones, Yixuan Xia

Theses

When people encounter fear and uncertainty, their mental and physical reactions can vary. Drawing from my personal experience and the ‘Uncanny Valley’ theory [2], I explore various materials and juxtapose ordinary elements with unsettling imagery. In this project, I focus on donuts, transforming them by adding surreal details to imbue them with eerie undertones. For example, in one of my works, a delicious-looking donut appears perfectly normal at first glance. When viewers have a close look at the donut, its surface is crawling with worms, creating an unsettling contrast between the familiar and the disturbing. By altering these familiar items, …

Effects Of Emerald Ash Borer On Temperate Wetland Ch₄ Emissions, Ethan T. Potter

Theses

Forested wetlands are a globally significant source of atmospheric methane (CH₄), and tree stems potentially contribute a large portion of emissions from these systems. However, tree stem emissions in temperate wooded wetlands, particularly those experiencing disturbance, remain largely unexamined. This study investigated the effects of emerald ash borer invasion on CH₄ fluxes from soils and tree stems in temperate wetlands of Western New York. Methane fluxes were measured from live trees, dead trees, and soils in wetlands with different emerald ash borer impact levels (high/open canopy and low/closed canopy). During eight campaigns carried out across the majority of the growing …