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Emirati Women’s Political Participation: A State-led Story of Empowerment
No full textA Master of Arts in International Studies by Mai Sultan Bin Haddah entitled, “Emirati Women’s Political Participation: A State-led Story of Empowerment”, submitted in July 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Bethany Shockley. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of International StudiesMaster of Arts in International Studies (MAIS
Development of High-Resolution MT-InSAR System for Long-Term Infrastructure Monitoring
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Civil Engineering by Haifa Parayil Valappil entitled, “Development of High-Resolution MT-InSAR System for Long-Term Infrastructure Monitoring”, submitted in November 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Tarig Ali and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Mohammad AlHamaydeh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form)College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE
Removal of Ciprofloxacin from Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using White Eggshells as Biosorbents
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Biomedical Engineering by Maryam Khalid Bin Hammad entitled, “Removal of Ciprofloxacin from Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using White Eggshells as Biosorbents”, submitted in July 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameer Al-Asheh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Pharmaceutical technology and industries are evolving and improving. However, the pharmaceutical wastewater that results from those industries has a complex composition, including high organic matter content, high salt content, microbial toxicity, and difficulty in biodegrading. Additionally, the impact of pharmaceutical wastewater on the environment is dramatically growing, resulting in the disposal of hazardous waste, an increase in microbial resistance, and adverse effects on marine life. Hence, this thesis aims to investigate a method for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater effluents using a waste-to-treat-waste method using discarded white chicken eggshells as an abundant, low-cost biosorbent for ciprofloxacin removal. Batch adsorption tests were conducted with an initial ciprofloxacin concentration of 10 μg/mL, 3.0 g of eggshell biosorbent per 100 mL solution, 625 μm particle size, at pH 7 and 25 °C. Untreated eggshells achieved 83 % removal under optimized conditions, reaching equilibrium in 90 min at 300 rpm (85 % removal) versus 47 % removal after 120 min at 100 rpm. Chemical activation with 1 M HCl for 48 h enhanced removal to 91 %, while thermal conversion to CaO further increased it to 96 % under identical test parameters. These findings demonstrate that both raw and modified eggshells can remove up to 96 % of ciprofloxacin, offering a sustainable, cost-effective solution for pharmaceutical wastewater remediation. SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analyses revealed strong interactions between ciprofloxacin and the eggshell surface, as indicated by morphological change and shifts in crystalline phases, underscoring the adsorbent’s chemical affinity for the antibiotic. Batch desorption with 0.1 M HCl effectively recovered ciprofloxacin from all eggshell adsorbents, with thermally activated CaO achieving the highest desorption efficiency (75 %).College of EngineeringMultidisciplinary ProgramsMaster of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME
An Explorative Study of The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Sharjah
No full textA Master of Business Administration (MBA) thesis by Nour Nasir AlNaqbi entitled, “An Explorative Study of The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Sharjah”, submitted in May 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Rodrigo Basco. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).School of Business AdministrationDepartment of Management, Strategy and EntrepreneurshipMaster of Business Administration (MBA
The n-Total Graph of an Integral Domain
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Mathematics by Myriam Abi Habib entitled, “The n-Total Graph of an Integral Domain”, submitted in May 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Ayman Badawi. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Let n ≥ 1. This thesis introduces the n-total graph of an integral domain, denoted by n-TG(R) where R is an integral domain i.e. the only zero divisor of the ring R is 0. The n-total graph is an undirected graph with vertex set R. Two vertices x and y are connected by an edge if xⁿ + yⁿ Є D where D is a prime ideal or the union of prime ideals. This study will explore both the graph-theoretical and ring-theoretical properties of the n-total graph of an integral domain or a product of integral domains, such as connectedness, completeness, diameter and girth.College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Mathematics and StatisticsMaster of Science in Mathematics (MSMTH
Cost Effective Transition Toward Electric Bus Fleets in Urban Transport
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Engineering Systems Management by Mohamed Ali Hassan Mohamed entitled, “Cost Effective Transition Toward Electric Bus Fleets in Urban Transport”, submitted in April 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Mohamed Ben-Daya and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Rami Afif As'ad. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The transition to electric bus (EB) fleets signifies a critical shift in urban transportation, curbing the pressing environmental issues caused by traditional diesel buses. To ensure a successful transition, transit authorities must overcome challenges such as limited EB driving range, the need for charging infrastructure, and the resulting strain on the electrical grid—while also capturing opportunities including bus fare increases, government subsidies, and environmental and social benefits. This research develops a multi-period mixed-integer linear programming model, which optimizes long-term EB transition through the integration of key inherent transition planning elements: (1) Financial planning, addressing internal, environmental and social costs along with revenue generation and budget limitation; (2) Technical and infrastructure requirements, covering EB and charging infrastructure selection and placement; (3) Existing bus network operations, analysing route and fleet characteristics; (4) multiple stakeholder perspectives, from government subsidy provision to electric utility grid capacity alignment; and (5) Modelling elements, considering time-dependent factors, fleet age, and a flexible optimization model. This comprehensive approach addresses a notable gap in existing literature. The model's effectiveness is validated using simulated and practical data drawn from Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority, with scenario testing to assess robustness and adaptability. Major findings highlight the importance of long-term transition planning, revealing that: (1) dwell time significantly affects total cost and full electrification feasibility; (2 profit maximization—via fare adjustments, subsidies, and environmental/social benefits—emerges as a primary objective; (3) a pure EB purchasing policy accelerates full fleet electrification by a decade, with minimal financial impact; and (4) enforced electrification targets carry significant financial implications and directly shape the transition plan. The developed model provides transit authorities with a valuable tool to evaluate trade-offs, optimize fleet and infrastructure investments, assess policy levers, and develop realistic electrification targets. Future work may explore interplay of bus requirements, dwell time, and route frequency, enhance data accuracy, and analyse electrification rate trade-offs.College of EngineeringDepartment of Industrial EngineeringMaster of Science in Engineering Systems Management (MSESM
EEG-Based Multi-Level Mental State Classification Using Partial Directed Coherence and Graph Convolutional Networks: Impact of Binaural Beats on Stress Mitigation
No full textThis study addresses limitations in EEG-based stress detection research by developing a novel approach to differentiate multiple mental states in different stress baseline population samples. Utilizing EEG signals, graph convolutional neural networks (GCNs), and binaural beats stimulation (BBs), the research investigates stress detection and reduction in two population sample groups with distinct baselines (group 1: low daily baseline, and group 2: stressed daily baseline). The experiment comprises four phases: rest state, control alertness, stress induction, and stress mitigation. Mental states were assessed using behavioral data: reaction time to stimuli (RT) and target detection accuracy, subjective reports: Perceived Stress Scale scores (PSS-10), biochemical indicators: salivary cortisol levels, and neurophysiological measure: EEG effective connectivity via Partial Directed Coherence (PDC). BBs significantly improved target detection accuracy by 31.6% and 22.8% for low and high-stress groups, respectively. PDC connectivity showed a shift to the temporal region during mitigation, indicating a return to a more balanced state. GCN classification achieved accuracies of 76.43 ± 9.01% and 76.32 ± 7.79% for each group, and 76.37 ± 8.40% for a common baseline. While 16-Hz BBs enhanced focusing abilities they did not significantly reduce subjective stress scores. This study highlights the complex relationship between cognitive performance, perceived stress, and neurophysiological measures, emphasizing the need for multifaceted stress research and management approaches.American University of SharjahFourth Forum for Women in ResearchCollege of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical Engineerin
Impact of transcranial alternating current stimulation on psychological stress: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
No full textThis pilot study investigates the impact of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on psychological stress using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Forty volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups: the tACS and the control. The experiment was divided into three distinct stages: pre-stimulation, stimulation, and post-stimulation. The Stroop Color-Word Task (SCWT) was employed as a validated stress-inducing paradigm to assess pre- and post-stimulation changes. During the initial phase, the participants completed the SCWT. This was followed by either tACS or sham. In the third session, the individuals solved the task again. The anode and cathode for the transcranial tACS were placed on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). tACS, was applied with current intensity of 1.5 mA at 16 Hz over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), aimed to modulate cortical activation and mitigate stress. Sham included 5-second ramp periods. Physiological data using alpha amylase and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) were utilized. The results revealed significant hemodynamic changes and reduced stress levels in the tACS group compared to the sham group (p < 0.001). The connectivity network changed significantly (p < 0.001) following tACS. In addition, the NASA-TLX results showed a statistically significant difference between the pre-and post-tACS sessions. In contrary, no statistical significance was noticed for the sham control group. An increase in the blood flow in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain was observed, demonstrating the potential of tACS as a non-invasive neuromodulation technique for stress mitigation.American University of SharjahCollege of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical Engineerin
The Effects of Subtitles on Second Language Vocabulary Learning
No full textA Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Shaymaa Hesham Abouelasaad entitled, “The Effects of Subtitles on Second Language Vocabulary Learning”, submitted in April 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Ji Young Shim and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Ozgur Parlak. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Language teachers have long been encouraged to integrate modern technologies into their instruction to enhance language learning, particularly through practices that can be extended beyond the classroom setting (Ercan, 2020; G‘aniyeva, 2024). One such approach involves incorporating intralingual and interlingual subtitles into audiovisual materials. This study examined the effects of intralingual (English) and interlingual (Arabic) subtitles on incidental vocabulary learning among native Arabic speakers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an underrepresented demographic in existing research. The study involved 125 upper-intermediate English learners enrolled in the Basic Academic Writing course (WRI 001) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). Using a pretest-intervention-posttest design, participants were assigned to one of four groups: Experimental Group 1 (Arabic subtitles), Experimental Group 2 (English subtitles), Control Group 1 (No subtitles), and Control Group 2 (No dialogue). To analyze the data, linear mixed-effects (LME) models were fitted using the lme4 package in R (Bates et al., 2015). Results revealed a statistically significant effect in the meaning recall test, with Experimental Group 2 (English subtitles) outperforming Control Group 1 (no subtitles) when words are encountered multiple times. However, no significant differences were found between groups in the form recognition and meaning recognition tests. These findings highlight the pedagogical potential of intralingual subtitles in supporting incidental vocabulary learning and provide insights for L2 teaching strategies.College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of EnglishMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL
INScription: Department of International Studies (INS) Issue #30 (April 30, 2025, Issue 8)
No full textCollege of Arts and SciencesDepartment of International Studie