Digital Commons Network^™

Personal Decontamination Of Copper Oxide Powder As A Radiological Surrogate On Ambulatory Patients In Arctic Environments: Assessing Residual Airborne Risks After Air Shower Or Vacuum Decontamination Of A Manikin, Quinn G. Pelichoff

Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed air-based decontamination methods for treating patients exposed to dry radiological contamination while minimizing reaerosolization during disrobing, particularly in extreme cold environments. A full-size manikin,  simulating an able-bodied Airman, was dressed in military-issue extreme cold weather gear and coated with 28 grams of Copper Oxide. The manikin underwent one of three treatments: HEPA vacuuming, a mobile personal air shower, or no treatment (control). After treatment, researchers removed the uniform and used optical particle counters to measure airborne dust concentrations that could pose risks during disrobing. Each method was tested ten times (30 trials total). Statistical analyses (ANOVA, Tukey’s …

Forecasting Army Recruiting Mission Distribution, Maxwell A. Deihl

Theses and Dissertations

The Army’s recruiting landscape has changed markedly in recent years, raising questions about whether forecasting methods of Army contracts remain robust. This thesis recreates the presented models in Joshua McDonald’s 2015 thesis. It replicates and evaluates the models with updated data (2018–2023) to assess their current validity and compare them to novel alternative approaches, such as simpler regression models or neural networks. While the 2015 model remains a valuable baseline, results suggest that either refining its variables or adopting alternative methods can improve predictive accuracy and interpretability. Ultimately, the United States Army Recruiting Command has many options regarding how it …

Correlating Aerosol Morphology And Optical Properties With Image Blur: An Investigation Of Aerosol-Induced Image Degradation, Patricia A. Byrd

Theses and Dissertations

Small-angle scattering by relatively large cloud/fog droplets and ice crystals is known to degrade imagery. However, it is not well investigated how much of an impact aerosols, especially the prevalent anthropogenic fine/ultra-fine/coarse particles, have in image degradation. This thesis explores the contribution of aerosols to image blur but focuses on collecting field data with a relatively large variety of ambient aerosol characterization and optical instrumentation. Field experiments were conducted over six days, correlating aerosol measurements (particle counters and nephelometer) with image quality from a visible camera along a 450m path. Image blur was quantified using the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), …

Design, Simulation, And Characterization Of A Deuterated Plastic Scintillator For A Portable Neutron Spectrometer, Anders M. Kinney Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the design, simulation, and experimental characterization of a novel deuterated plastic scintillator for portable neutron spectroscopy applications related to homeland security and nuclear non-proliferation. Using Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations and experimental tests with gamma-ray (¹³⁷Cs) and neutron sources (AmBe, ²⁵²Cf), this research shows that deuterium substitution in scintillators significantly enhances pulse shape discrimination (PSD) and neutron energy spectrum unfolding capabilities. Although deuterated scintillators demonstrate reduced overall light output, their higher stopping power and increased ionization quenching lead to superior neutron event differentiation, particularly between (α, n) and spontaneous fission neutrons critical for detecting …

Post-Irradiation Fault Injection For Complex Fpga Designs, Nathan G. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Fault injection is a common technique for estimating the impact of single-event upsets (SEUs) within the configuration memory (CRAM) of an FPGA design. Fault injection is typically conducted prior to a radiation test to evaluate the effectiveness of SEU mitigation techniques, estimate the FPGA design's behavior at the radiation test, and prepare the radiation test infrastructure. This thesis explores how fault injection can be used after radiation testing to reveal additional insight into an FPGA's behavior during a radiation test. A unique methodology, referred to as post-irradiation fault injection (PIRFI), was developed in which the locations and timestamps of CRAM …

Arabizi (Franco) In Egypt: A Study Of Features, Reasons, Attitudes, And Educational Influence Among Youth In Online Communication, Muhammad Wafa

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the phenomenon of Arabizi (Franco) as it is employed by Egyptian youth in online communication, focusing on the sociolinguistic factors that influence language choice, particularly educational background. Through a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative analysis of an online questionnaire using inferential statistics and qualitative examination of text samples, this study investigates the most common language varieties used by Egyptian youth, the underlying reasons for Arabizi's adoption, attitudes towards its usage, and the salient features of this variety of online communication. The findings reveal that Arabizi is widely used among Egyptian youth from all educational backgrounds. It is especially …

A Multi-Model And Multi-Agency Approach To Expand The Flood Inundation Mapping Capacity Of The Us National Water Center, Samuel Jay Oldham

Theses and Dissertations

The most accurate numerical model for simulating flood extents of rivers has long been a subject of debate. While specialized models exist for specific hydraulic features, we advocate for the principle that the best model is the one the user is familiar with, has adequate data to support input requirements and limitations, and will consistently employ. To support this approach, we have developed a database schema optimized to store riverine flood inundation model output files. This schema is designed to assist U.S. cities, counties, states, and other flood management agencies in leveraging their existing model-generated flood maps, regardless of the …

Two-Key Dependent Permutation (Tkdp) And Its Applications In Information Security, Arulmani K

Theses and Dissertations

Two-Key Dependent Permutation (TKDP) algorithm for generating permutation sequences of fixed sizes, TKDP based Symmetric Block Cipher (TKDPSBC) and TKDP Audio encryption are being proposed in this thesis. TKDP algorithm is capable of generating different sequences for different key pairs. This makes it suitable for constructing dynamic S-boxes and P-boxes that have more degree of randomness and non-linearity to resist cryptanalytic attacks. Rigorous statistical tests validate the efficacy of the generated permutation sequences, affirming their suitability for cryptographic applications in conjunction with Fiestel network-based block ciphers. TKDPSBC encrypts a plaintext block into a ciphertext block of the same size. TKDP …

Fatigue Behaviour Of Al 6063 Alloy In Heat Treated, Deep Cryogenic Treated And Equal Channel Angular Pressing (Ecap) Processed Conditions, Sreearravind M

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on improving the Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) life of Al6063 using three different processing techniques – Heat Treatment (HT), Deep Cryogenic Treatment (DCT), and Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP). Al 6063, widely used in structural applications, has limited fatigue performance, necessitating the exploration of advanced processing techniques to enhance its LCF life.

In HT phase, Al 6063 T5 samples were subjected to solid solution HT followed by air and water quenching. The air-quenched (T6A) and water-quenched (T6W) samples were subjected to precipitation hardening. The Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of the T6A sample increased to 188 MPa from …

Numerical Analyses Of Construction Materials At Different Scales For Improved Resilience And Sustainability Of Civil Infrastructures, Chenchen Huang

Theses and Dissertations

The resilience and sustainability of civil infrastructure are fundamental to supporting modern society in the face of growing environmental challenges and resource limitations. This study aims to use multi-scale numerical tools to evaluate mechanical performance of different construction materials under various environmental and loading conditions. Firstly, we adopt the discrete element method (DEM) to evaluate the influence of freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) action on the mechanical properties of rock from the micro perspective. A simplified plastic model is proposed to capture the residual deformation produced during FTCs. To further explore the deterioration of FTCs on rock, the water-contained grain-based model (GBM) …

Microfabrication Of Sic Using Femtosecond Lasers, Jared Eldon Payne

Theses and Dissertations

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a desirable material in a wide variety of semiconductor fields. The impressive thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties that make SiC an attractive material also make it very difficult to machine. New fabrication techniques are required to take full advantage of the potential of SiC. First, a new 3-dimensional (3D) non-line-of-sight (NLOS) fabrication technique using two-photon absorption is demonstrated in SiC. NLOS microchannels are shown with aspect ratios higher than 100:1. The process is the only method known, at this time, that can create truly 3D subsurface structures in SiC without direct line of sight to the …

Nature-Based Education As A Learning Tool: Unleashing The Power Of Nature-Based Education In Egyptian Primary Schools. "The Effects Of Outdoor Learning And Open-Air Classrooms On Primary School Students In Egypt.", Nermeen Bekhiet

Theses and Dissertations

When learning modalities are tailored to each student's preferences and needs, academic success follows. This effect is contingent upon both individual and surrounding factors. Many schools in Egypt and the Middle East do not concentrate on how exposure to nature and nature-based learning can affect how the learner perceives his or her learning area. Most schools in Egypt have no exposure to nature to allow students to explore the world in their way; there is no room for diverse students to excel. Therefore, this exploratory research aims to reestablish a connection between private primary school students and the natural world …

Social Media’S Influence On Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies In Egypt (2014-2024)900, Yasmine Elleithy

Theses and Dissertations

The study examined the role of social media and women’s online activism in the development of anti-sexual harassment policies in Egypt, specifically from 2014 to 2024. Through employing a qualitative research method involving semi-structured, in-depth interviews, the study engaged different actors, including members of the parliament, the National Council for Women, female online activists, and women’s rights specialists. During this time frame, there has been a remarkable shift in the political, social, and legislative landscape, marked by significant restrictions on traditional activism and the enactment of laws addressing sexual harassment. Throughout this period of unprecedented changes, social media has emerged …

The Role Of Non-Coding Rnas As An Innovative Therapeutic Tool For Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Nabila Mohamed Hosni El Kramani

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second lethal cancer worldwide, with over 60 million new patients added annually. Hepatitis B infection and toxins, e.g., aflatoxin, contribute to the incidence of HCC. Egypt and China show the highest prevalence of viral hepatitis and HCC in the world.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein-coding transcripts larger than 200 nucleotides. These transcripts work at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels to regulate gene expression by interacting with various biomolecules, such as RNA, DNA, and proteins. They serve essential functions in chromatin remodeling and cell survival, differentiation, and proliferation. The role and biological interactions of …

Incorporating Sustainability In Facility Layout Planning Algorithms And Assessing Hybridization Techniques On An Egyptian Case Study, Islam Atia

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the growing consequences faced as a result of global warming and climate change; humanity has come together to take an inclusive stance to combat this serious phenomena and work towards a more sustainable future. Large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions are a major contributor to global warming, and a vast proportion of this emission come from industrial and commercial facilities. Hence, if industrial facilities are built with a larger focus on carbon footprint, it will yield a significant reduction in global emissions throughout the lifetime of the facility and will constitute a huge milestone in the journey to …

Cervical Cancer Screening And Hpv Vaccine Intentions: An Egyptian Population Assessment Through University Channels, Rita Hany Ebeid

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. While HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programs have shown promise in reducing incidence and mortality, access to these interventions remains limited in Egypt. The purpose of this study was to analyze female and male beliefs, knowledge of, and perceptions related to cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, and how these factors influence women and men’s intentions to respectively undergo or promote these behaviors in Egypt. This study also aimed to develop recommendations for more effective cervical cancer prevention measures that promote greater uptake among …

“I Remember It...I Feel It” Place’S Intangible Identity: Explorations Through The Lens Of Micro-Phenomenology- Case Study Of Al-Sultan Hassan Complex, Sarah Mohamed El Zoheiry

Theses and Dissertations

In today’s contemporary architecture, the growing of anonymous and interchangeable spaces has diminished the distinctive character of the place, its individuality and experiential signification, fostering placelessness. This research argues that the framework of reconsidering place’s atmosphere offers a pathway to reconnect people with places through emotional, sensory, and embodied encounters. This research investigates the phenomenology of place, focusing on the atmosphere as an intangible identity that transcends physical attributes and engages people's senses and feelings. By exploring the Al-Sultan Hassan complex, the study deepens the understanding of the transcendental quality of the atmosphere, it’s unfolding over time, and it’s associated …

Rural Entrepreneurship In Upper Egyptian Communities: Exploring The Intervention Of Agri-Tech Startups, Marwa Wael Abohamda Hulail

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change and economic disturbance have changed the state of the world and increased the dependence on digitization in running people's daily life. In Egypt, the economic instability and climate change have affected people’s standard of living, making it challenging to sustain their life, especially in the agriculture sector. Farmers have been affected by the risks of climate change, economic shocks, and trends of digitization, which have impacted their profit, employability, and livelihood.

Several Egyptian Agri-tech startups were launched to support the farmers in the digital revolution that came to agriculture, attempting to make a change in the Egyptian farming …

Predicting The Indirect Cost Of Construction Projects In Egypt: An Artificial Neural Network Approach, Aya Effat

Theses and Dissertations

Cost estimation is one of the vital processes in construction management that needs to be done early in any project in order to determine the project's budget. The accuracy of the cost estimate is a key factor in the success of construction projects since it enables project managers to successfully control the project’s expenses. Construction costs mainly consist of direct cost and indirect cost. Generally, indirect costs can be categorized into two types: site overheads and general overheads. In a construction project, overheads, particularly site overhead costs, make up a considerable portion of a contractor's budget. Accordingly, accurately estimating the …

Identification Of Novel Genetic Biomarkers Linked To The Prodromal Stage Of Parkinson’S Disease (Pd) Patients, Marwa Tawfik Badawy

Theses and Dissertations

Background and Objective: The early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), is particularly challenging because symptoms appear only after significant neuronal damage has already occurred. This study is utilizing variant call format (VCF) analysis to identify genetic variants and novel genes that could serve as early prognostic markers for prodromal PD. Materials and Methods: Data were sourced from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), focusing on prodromal patients with gVCF data from the 2021 cohort. The study included 304 participants, comprising 100 healthy controls, 146 individuals with prodromal genetic indicators, 21 individuals with prodromal hyposmia, and 37 …

Internet Penetration And Firm Innovation In The Digital Era: A Sectoral Analysis Of U.S. Firms, Mariam Elgarf

Theses and Dissertations

This paper studies the effect of macro-level internet penetration on firm-level innovation in the United States, proxied by research and development expenditure. The IV approach is used to address the problem of potential endogeneity, covering data from 2000 to 2022 across five super industries: consumer goods and retail, energy and electricity, media and entertainment, financial services, and technology and telecommunications. The results show that internet penetration has a positive effect on the innovative performance of all sectors; however, this effect is more pronounced in the financial service and media sectors. Firm-specific characteristics also influence this relationship, such as debt-to-assets ratio, …

Identification Of Novel Argonaute Proteins Using A Metagenomic Mining Approach, Lobna Abdallah Ghonaim

Theses and Dissertations

Gene editing is one of the most promising tools in science. It enables precise modifications of an organism's genetic material. Metagenomics is considered a powerful tool that unlocks the broad genetic potential found in uncultured microbial communities. Exploring the genetic diversity of uncultured microbial communities helps identify novel functional proteins with unique properties and make the best use of these diverse microbial ecosystems.

We developed and employed a metagenomic-based approach to mine more than 1000 metagenomes for prokaryotic argonaute proteins (pAgos), a potential gene editing machinery encoded in bacterial and archaeal genomes. Our workflow involved strict quality control, sequence assembly, …

Integrating Planetary Health Into Public Health Education For Sustainable Healthcare Practices, Eman Aboualy

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Integrating planetary health in public health education became an urgent global call for action since the WHO announced that the climate change and environmental degradation are the most threat facing the humanity in the recent decades (1). According to that, many countries are developing strategies for counteracting and mitigating the impact of climate change and restore the planetary health. These strategies are including policy drafting and preparing their public health professionals to recognize and address the health effects of environmental change, promote practices for sustainable healthcare. Although Egypt is formulating different policies to cope with and respond to the …

Partial Replacement Of Ordinary Portland Cement In Concrete By Limestone Calcined Clay (Lc2), Merna Abdelaziz

Theses and Dissertations

Limestone calcined clay (LC2) technique is a new approach that could address the environmental problem corelated with the construction industry due to its vital reliance on the ordinary Portland cement in its various applications. LC2 technique involves partial replacement of the OPC in concrete by limestone and calcined kaolinite clay with a ratio of 1:2 respectively. The main advantage of this technique is its high applicability due to its direct application on site. This study investigated the applicability of incorporating the LC2 technique in the construction industry. Three replacement percentages of OPC by LC2 in concrete were explored, which are …

The Role Of Business Viability Assessments In Microcredit - The Case Of Egypt, Ahmed Fadl

Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to examine the role of business assessments of microfinance applicants and its correlation with microbusiness success as measured in income generated. The key research question of this study is: How do the results of business viability assessments influence the income generated by these businesses? The research methodology used in this study is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative research includes in-depth interviews with 10 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in five governorates (Al-Sharqia, Assiut, Beni Suef, Giza, and Minya) across Egypt. The quantitative research includes an interviewer-administered questionnaire of 151 micro-business owners who have been in …

Comparing The Quality Of Ai-Generated And Instructor Feedback In A University Writing Program, Hana Mohamed Nassar

Theses and Dissertations

Feedback is an undeniably important aspect of the language learning process. It helps students recognize their strengths and weaknesses and identifies ways they can improve. Over the years, feedback has been provided by teachers, peers and Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) tools. However, in recent years, artificial intelligence applications have proliferated significantly. With abilities to analyze and generate any kind of content, these models are being used to generate scores and feedback on written assignments to help lighten teachers’ load. ChatGPT has been called “the world’s most advanced chatbot” and “a potential chance to improve second language learning and instruction” (Shabara …

Mir-125a-3p And Its Targets: Promising Biomarkers For Ovarian, Liver, And Breast Cancers, Offering A Beacon Of Hope For More Effective Diagnosis And Treatment Strategies, Eman Kamaleldien Anwer

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is a worldwide health problem with various genetic and epigenetic alterations, resulting in disease heterogeneity. Effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring markers have been determined recently; however, new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers are needed. MicroRNAs (miRNA), short non-coding RNAs, have a highlighted role in cancer progression, migration, and programmed cell death. Our study aims to investigate the significance of miR-125a-3p and its downstream targets in breast (BRCA), hepatocellular (HCC), and ovarian (OVCA) malignancies and their possibility as diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic agents. Bioinformatics and online tools were used to determine the miRNA-predicted downstream targets, analyze GEO datasets, …

Sustaining Private Higher Education Institutions’ Quality With Expandability And Inclusivity, Amal Salah

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract The private higher education sector in Egypt is rapidly expanding. The Government of Egypt (GOE) supports its growth by providing legislation and incentives with the main objective of offering high-quality higher education to the growing youth bulge. Private universities react to the successive economic crises by raising their fees in order to maintain the quality of education. In the absence of supporting financial schemes for individual students, the surge in fees perpetuates inequity in access to private higher education for the lower socio-economic strata of the Egyptian society. This paper aims to address a gap in research concerning the …

1 Studying The Determinants Of Successful Aging: Diet, Lifestyle, And Social Relations In Egypt, Fayrouz Shaltout

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background

The global population is aging rapidly, with projections indicating that by 2050, one in six people will be over the age of 65. In Egypt, the aging population, particularly those aged 60 and above, is expected to grow significantly, posing a growing public health concern. Unhealthful diets (that are associated with overweight and obesity), are one of the main reasons associated with non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) are major risk factors for poor aging outcomes. Despite this, there is limited research on the specific determinants of successful aging (SA) in Egypt, especially among individuals aged 50 …

Flexural Strengthening Of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Nsm Gfrp: Assessing Key Parameters, Berlant Arab

Theses and Dissertations

The structural integrity and longevity of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams are critical to modern construction, influencing safety, usability, and maintenance costs over time. As civil engineering endeavors to meet the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and evolving usage demands, rehabilitating and strengthening RC structures have become essential practices globally. This research focuses on a prevalent yet innovative method of enhancing RC beams: the application of Near Surface Mounted (NSM) Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars.

GFRP is increasingly favored in structural engineering due to its superior properties to traditional materials. These include high tensile strength, resistance to corrosion, lightweight nature, …