Digital Commons Network^™

Multi Stage Modified Solvay Process For Co2 Capture And Reject Brine Desalination, Ameera Fares Mohammad

Dissertations

Brine management is an environmental concern, as many desalination plants need to find suitable approaches for the treatment or disposal of the large amounts of concentrated brine that are produced. Many conventional methods are used such as disposal through deep well injection, but these methods still suffer from many drawbacks. An alternative approach is to further process the brine by extracting the salts through reactions with carbon dioxide. The chemical reactions of reject brine with high alkalinity products and carbon dioxide are postulated to constitute a new, effective, economic and environmentally friendly approach. On the other hand, a major challenge …

Blood Pressure Management And Factors Affecting Adherence To Antihypertensive Medications In The United Arab Emirates, Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula

Dissertations

Hypertension is a significant public health problem worldwide and is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The dynamics of guidelines-recommended blood pressure (BP) control and adherence to antihypertensive medications in incident hypertensives remain unclear. This dissertation aims to assess guidelines-recommended BP management, adherence to antihypertensive medications, and factors associated with poor BP control among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in the UAE. A retrospective chart review of 5308 newly treated hypertensives across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2017 was conducted. These patients were diagnosed by the treating physician according to ambulatory (ABPM), or home-based BP monitoring (HBPM) …

Toward The Micro-Foundations Of Environmental Sustainability: Fostering Pro-Environmental Behavior Among Employees To Boost Corporate Environmental Performance In The United Arab Emirates, Tareq Zaal Al-Ali

Dissertations

Today, the world is still struggling to find ways to control pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Consequently, environmental sustainability has become an essential concept in the global business environment. This study examined the factors that can influence the environmental sustainability performance of organizations. While previous studies have examined the role of regulatory frameworks, industry standards, innovation, and the use of clean technologies in achieving environmental sustainability, little attention has been paid to the role of employees in improving a company's environmental performance. This study examined how employees' pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors are triggered in the workplace. It then …

Livestock Ticks In The Uae: Prevalence, Distribution, Population Dynamics, And Associated Microorganisms, Nighat Perveen

Dissertations

Ticks are important vectors of an array of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens resulting in a wide range of animal and human diseases in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In this study, ticks were collected from camels, cows, sheep, and goats in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The objectives of the study were to (1) identify tick species of livestock through taxonomic keys and using molecular markers, and determine their prevalence and distribution in the UAE, (2) assess Hyalomma dromedarii seasonal population fluctuation over a year under common camel breeding and management …

Molecular Mechanism Of Action Of The Natural Polyphenolic Compound And The P300 Inhibitor “Carnosol” Against The Triple Negative Breast Cance, Halima Ali Mohammed Salem Alsamri

Dissertations

Carnosol, a naturally occurring Phyto polyphenol found in sage, oregano, and rosemary, has been extensively studied by our laboratory for its anticancer effects in various types of cancer. In human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), carnosol was shown to inhibit cellular viability, colony growth, induced cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis. Nonetheless, very little is known about the molecular mechanism of action. In the current study, the ability of carnosol to inhibit metastasis and tumour growth was examined. Wound healing and invasion assays revealed that carnosol inhibited migration and invasion at non-cytotoxic concentrations of MDA-MB-231 cells. Also, carnosol was found to …

Factors That Affect The Actual Use Of M-Government From The User Perspective: The Case Of Abu Dhabi Government, Sara Saleh Saeed Al Kayyoomi

Dissertations

In recent years, the evolution of information technologies has shown vast growth. The popularity of and demand for mobile smartphones and applications also continue to grow, so governments are developing mobile business models and moving from electronic-government (e-government) to mobile-government (m-government) practices in order to enhance functioning and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their services. However, there are very few pieces of systematic evidence related to m-government implementation and the level of actual use of m-government applications and services in less developed countries. Therefore, the current study aims to identify factors that affect Abu Dhabi citizens' and residents’ actual …

Impact Of Date-Pit Activated Carbon In Different Applications: Biomedical And Environment, Betty Titus Mathew

Dissertations

Activated carbon (AC) or activated charcoal are black carbonaceous porous solid material with prominent physico-chemical properties such as low volume pore size distribution, high specific surface area, and high-degree of surface reactivity for adsorption and other chemicals reactions. AC as strong and reliable adsorbent have been reported to be employed in diverse applications stretching from water/air purification, medical, sewage treatment, energy storage devices, catalyst, supercapacitor electrodes fabrication, and as biosensors component. In this current work, AC was produced from date pits, which is a common biological waste product in UAE, and used for biomedical and environmental applications instead of using …

Investigating The Impact Of Pogil-Based Instruction Versus Lecturing Based Instruction On Grade 12 Performance In Circular Motion Unit, Self-Efficacy, And Attitudes, Saif Saeed Al Neyadi

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL)-based instruction versus lecture-based instruction on Grade 12 students’ performance in circular motion unit, self-efficacy, and attitudes. Four research questions guided the study. A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design was adopted as a methodology to investigate and assess the impact of POGIL-based instruction versus lecture-based instruction on students’ performance as measured by three types of cognitive outcomes; Knowing, Applying and Reasoning (KAR). Two government high schools in Alain were selected as research sites, one for the boys and one for the girls. The total number of participants was approximately …

Factors Facilitating Or Hampering Change Implementation: A Case Study On High Performing And Low Performing Cycle Iii Schools In Al Ain, Fatima Salem Al Kaabi

Dissertations

This is a qualitative multiple case study of four secondary schools’ administrators’ and teachers’ perceptions of factors facilitating and factors hampering change implementation. The sample consisted of four secondary schools in Al Ain city. Selected schools included two high performing schools and two low performing schools, according to the national inspection program reports. The four selected schools included two male schools and two female schools. Data collection methods included repeated, face-to-face semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews with selected teachers and administrators, and an open-ended survey for all staff in these schools. Data analysis revealed that the views of participants …

Factors That Affect Customer Intention To Revisit Green Hotels: The Case Of Abu Dhabi, Abdulaziz Faisal Ali Alremeithi

Dissertations

Given the Abu Dhabi 2008 Estidama sustainability initiative and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, hospitality is one of the sectors that can contribute most significantly to the long-term economic growth of Abu Dhabi and have the greatest impact on its environmental and natural resources. The results of this study will enable decision-makers to understand why consumers choose green hotels over conventional hotels. The purpose is to expand existing knowledge by investigating the factors that influence customer intention to revisit green hotels from four perspectives: the self-perspective, the prosocial perspective, the business-to-business marketing perspective, and the consumer-to-consumer marketing perspective. The …

Role Of Ebv In Neuroinflammation: Implications For Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis, Asma Hassani

Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the CNS with unknown cause. Individuals who are genetically predisposed and exposed to specific environmental factors have an increased risk of developing MS. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is linked to MS development, according to a large body of seroepidemiological and pathological evidence. EBV is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that typically produces silent infection but can also cause a wide range of illnesses. A large cohort of MS and non-MS control cases has been previously examined and revealed the prevalent presence of EBV in MS. However, the role of the virus in the …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Educational Reforms Implemented By Abu Dhabi Education Council On Teacher Efficacy In Al Ain Public Schools, Cherry Jean Recio

Dissertations

Teachers’ self- efficacy has been considered as one of the main contributors to quality teaching and job performance of teachers. Teachers’ self- efficacy may be influenced by factors such as educational reforms. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate teachers’ perceptions on whether educational reforms implemented by ADEC from 2005-2017 contributed to their self-efficacy and influenced their abilities to carry out their teaching jobs. The second aim of this dissertation is to investigate whether teachers’ perceptions of their self-efficacy differ in relationship to ADEC reforms based on a number of demographic factors such as gender, cycle, years of teaching …

Simple Procedure For Calculating Parameters Of Permanent Magnet Linear Generator And Methods For Maximizing Power Absorption Using Less Dependent Mathematical Model / Low Computationally Cost Controllers In Wave Energy Converters, Bisni Fahad Mon

Dissertations

The study comprises of designing permanent magnet linear generator (PMLG) for wave energy converters (WECs) and method for maximizing power absorption using less dependent mathematical model or low computationally cost controllers. There are three proposed controller methods: the damping control using maximum power point tracking (MPPT), the reactive control using MPPT, and finite control set model predictive control (FCSMPC).

The first part of the thesis is started with the design and testing of a laboratory scale test-rig for wave energy converters (WECs). The main element of the test-rig is a double-sided permanent magnet linear generator (PMLG). In this study, detailed …

Characterization Of The Lining Epithelium Of Normal And Precancerous Uterine Cervix In Mice, Reem Mamoun Shouk

Dissertations

Despite the fact that cervical cancer is a common health issue among women worldwide, little is known regarding the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix where cancer originates. Cancer development involves alterations in carbohydrate expression and changes in the dynamics of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define carbohydrate moieties and cellular dynamics of the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix in normal mice and then in mice developing cervical precancerous lesions. Since the uterus undergoes cyclic changes, mice in each of the four stages of the estrus cycle were first identified using both …

Soliton Based All-Optical Data Processing In Waveguides, Amaria Javed

Dissertations

The growing demand for higher data processing speed and capacity motivates the replacement of the current electronic data processing by optical data processing in analogy with the successful replacement of electronic data communication by optical data communication. In a quest to achieve comprehensive optical data processing we aim at using solitons in waveguide arrays to perform all-optical data processing operations. Solitons are special nonlinear waves appreciated for their ability to conserve their shape and velocity before and after scattering. They are observed naturally in diverse fields of science, namely, nonlinear physics, mathematics, hydrodynamics, biophysics, and quantum field theory, etc. with …

Soft Camel Milk Cheese Effects Of Coagulants And Processing Conditions, Mustapha Mbye

Dissertations

In recent years, camel milk (CM) has been acknowledged for several health benefits, including anti-diabetic, hypoallergic, and other effects. Accordingly, CM may provide a complementary or a healthier alternative to bovine milk (BM). This has led to increased interest in processing CM to products like cheese, yogurt, and powders to extend its shelf-life. However, CM is difficult to coagulate into hard gels, affecting its cheese quality and consumer preference. The current research aimed to investigate the impact of different coagulants (chymosin, Withania coagulans, citric and acetic acid) on CM cheese quality and sensory attributes compared to BM cheese. It …

الإحالة وأثرھا في التماسك النصي: دراسة تطبیقیة في أشعار مانع سعید العتیبة, عائشة عبد لله عرار الظاھري

Dissertations

یركز ھذا البحث على ظاھرة الإحالة، وجاء بعنوان (الإحالة وأثرھا في التماسك النصي: دراسة تطبیقیة في أشعار مانع سعید العتیبة).

وتعُد (الإحالة) من أھم وسائل الترابط النصي، فالنصوص تعتمد علیھا بشكل كبیر في تماسكھا، فینتج عن ذلك نصوص ذات دقة دلالیة عالیة، وركزت الدراسة على إبراز سبل التماسك الإحالي في الأعمال الشعریة للشاعر، وإسھامھا بشكل كبیر في تشكیل النص وإبراز معانیھ، كما أن إحكامھا یؤدي إلى دقة التعبیر وتجنب اللبس، فقامت الدراسة على جزء نظري وجزء تطبیقي على دواوین مختارة من شعره.

وقد تناولت الدراسة تعریفات الإحالة وعناصرھا وأنماطھا، ومعاییر صحة الإحالة، كما بینت الوسائل والتقنیات التي تتحقق بھا الإحالة، …

Faith News In The Digital Age: New Muslim And Non-Muslim Residents Seeking Islamic Information In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Urwa Tariq

Dissertations

When non-Muslims become immersed in an Islamic way of life—a common occurrence in the UAE, a Muslim country where the overwhelming majority of the resident population is foreign-born—some become interested in learning more about the Islamic faith. This interest is also evident among new converts to Islam from other countries when they reside in the UAE. Little is known about how information about Islam is disseminated to non-Muslims and new Muslims in the UAE, how these expatriates search for the religious information they desire, and the challenges they encounter in their enquiries. This study applies the theory of the diffusion …

Development Of A Decision Support System For Sustainable Water Planning In Abu Dhabi, Uae, Mohamed Ibrahim Kizhisseri

Dissertations

One of the main challenges for water managers is to foresee the future accurately; then, design appropriate policies and infrastructure plans accordingly. The use of decision support systems in the field of water resource management and planning is now widely implemented, but its use in sustainable water planning of a nation or state in arid and semi-arid areas, such as Middle East countries, remains limited. The main objective of this dissertation is to present a graphical software tool that can assist water planners and decision-makers in long-term water management and planning. Sustainable planning for Abu Dhabi’s future water supply is …

Insights Into The Packaging Of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Mmtv) Genomic Rna By Identifying Pr77ᴳᴬᴳ Binding Sites Involved During Its Selective Encapsidation, Akhil Chameettachal

Dissertations

Selective encapsidation and/or packaging of retroviral genomic RNA (gRNA) by Gag during retrovirus assembly is a crucial step for generating infectious virus particles. Despite having been studied extensively, the mechanism by which the retroviral Gag precursor selects and packages the retroviral genome remains largely unclear. Therefore, to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gRNA packaging, as a first step, expression of full-length recombinant Pr77^Gag -His6-tag fusion protein in bacteria was done. The recombinant Gag protein was then purified from the soluble fractions of bacterial cultures using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography …

Exposure And Handling Practices Of Healthcare Professionals For Cytotoxic Drugs In The Workplace Environment, Laila Masoud Al Alawi

Dissertations

Introduction: Occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs is associated with various unfavorable health outcomes. There is currently no safe level for occupational exposure to cytotoxic agents. Healthcare workers’ adherence to cytotoxics control measures is of primary importance to minimize the risk from exposure to these agents.

Aims: To develop a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on environmental assessment of cytotoxic drugs in healthcare settings and conduct an environmental assessment study of cytotoxic drugs in two Oncology centers of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to evaluate pharmacists’ and nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) towards handling of …

Experimental Investigation And Prediction Of Long-Term Effect Of Sustained Load And Harsh Environment On Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, Amir Hussain Idrisi

Dissertations

In this dissertation the durability of thermoset composites was investigated under sustained load. Two thermoset composites, E-glass/epoxy and E-glass/polyurethane were immersed in seawater under sustained load (10%, 15%, 20%, 25% of failure load) and varying temperature (23°C to 95°C) for the period of 15 months. Mechanical, physical and thermal properties were experimentally investigated. The effects of temperature, moisture, and immersion time on the deterioration of the composite material were studied for both composites. It was observed that the weight of the samples increased with the immersion time and temperature for both the composites. The highest increase in weight of the …

Development And Characterization Of Sustainable Novel Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites, John Victor Christy

Dissertations

Low crude oil prices have impacted the economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hence it is vital to accelerate the diversification of the economy. Among the many potential diversification avenues, manufacturing is a promising area that could add to the GDP. This work brings out a sustainable and cost-effective method for manufacturing AMCs and expanding their applications.

This work deals with the processing and characterization of recycled AMCs manufactured using a novel approach. With the emphasis on sustainable manufacturing, this work aims to use Scrap Aluminum Alloy Wheels (SAAW) of cars …

The Role Of Nutrient Sensitive Protein O-Glcnacylation In Developmental Cortical Neurogenesis, Shama Parween

Dissertations

The nutrient responsive O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic, posttranslational protein modification present on many nucleocytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. Previous research has indicated that hyperglycaemia increases the levels of total O-GlcNAcylation within cells. Transcription factors and histones are among hundreds of proteins that have been reported to be O-GlcNAcylated and have importance in cell fate determination during cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. However, the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in epigenome control in response to nutritional perturbations is poorly understood. Hyperglycaemia induced protein O-GlcNAcylation have been linked to several pathologies, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. …

Chemical And Biological Control Of Canker Disease Of Delonix Regia Caused By The Fungus Neoscytalidium Dimidiatum, Seham Mohammed Al Raish

Dissertations

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), royal poinciana (Delonix regia) trees suffer from stem canker disease. Symptoms of stem canker can be characterized by branch and leaf dryness, bark lesions, discoloration of xylem tissues, longitudinal wood necrosis and extensive gumming. General dieback signs were also observed leading to complete defoliation of leaves and ultimately death of trees in advanced stages. The fungus, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum DSM 109897, was consistently recovered from diseased royal poinciana tissues; this was confirmed by the molecular, structural and morphological studies. Phylogenetic analyses of the translation elongation factor 1-a (TEF1-α) of N. dimidiatum from the …

Epigenetic Modifications In Metabolic Syndrome: Identification And Evaluation Of Early Indicators Using A Rodent Model System, Ashok Daniel Pragasam

Dissertations

It is increasingly realized that mechanisms of developmental plasticity rather than pathology independently facilitate the size of developing embryos during early development. Changes in the early developmental environment alter the metabolic traits resulting in diseases, including metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and obesity in adulthood. Molecular and epidemiological studies have documented an association between Lower Birth Weight (LBW) and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Henceforth, using birth weight as a marker, two groups of normal birth weight range rat pups, Lower Birth Weight (LBW, 5th to 25th percentile) and Average Birth Weight (ABW, 50th to 75th percentile) as …

Establishing The Roadmap For The Implementation Of Genomic Medicine And Pharmacogenomics In The United Arab Emirates, Azhar Talal Mahmoud Rahma

Dissertations

The slow clinical application of genomic medicine and Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is attributed mainly to lack of knowledge of genomic medicine and PGx and confidence among healthcare professionals, scarcity of infrastructure, and absence of stakeholders’ interest. The objective of this study is to lay out a strategic plan for the implementation of genomic medicine and PGx in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by exploring multiple areas: (1) the educational environment of genomic medicine and PGx in colleges and universities; (2) knowledge, and attitude of the medical and health sciences students, academics, and the healthcare providers; (3) the current infrastructure of genetic …

Perceived Source Characteristics Of E-Wom Senders Effects On Purchase Intentions And Behaviours: An Experimental Study In The Uae, Hala Saeed Hasan Al Ghusain

Dissertations

The popularity and power of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM) have raised the attention of academia and businesses in the past decade. A plethora of relevant literature investigated the motives of the sender to engage in e-WOM, besides the actual content of the message, leaving unanswerable questions concerning the receiver’s perception of the message and the interpersonal similarities with the sender. This study aimed at filling this gap by assessing the potential impact of e-WOM cues on the receiver experimentally by consulting i) social comparison theory, and ii) social judgment theory. Two experiments were designed and conducted incorporating mixed-method research …

Design Of Graphene-Based Sensors For Nucleic Acids Detection And Analysis, Asma’ Wasfi Fayez Mustafa

Dissertations

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the blueprint of life as it encodes all genetic information. In genetic disorder such as gene fusion, Copy Number Variation (CNV), and single nucleotide polymorphism, Nucleic acids such as DNA bases detection and analysis is used as the gold standard for successful diagnosis. Researchers have been conducting rigorous studies to achieve genome sequences at low cost while maintaining high accuracy and high throughput. A quick, accurate, and low-cost DNA detection approach would revolutionize medicine. Genome sequence helps to enhance people’s perception of inheritance, disease, and individuality. This research aims to improve DNA bases detection accuracy, and …

Thermal Evaluation Of Advanced Leading Edge For Rotating Gas Turbine Blade: Numerical And Experimental Investigations, Amin Safi

Dissertations

Gas turbine engines play a vital role in our life. Our power demand is significantly and continuously growing. One approach to improve thermal efficiency in gas turbine engines requires a higher turbine inlet gas temperature. Advanced gas turbine engines operate at high temperatures, around 2000 K. Since operating at high temperatures may compromise the blade structure integrity, different cooling systems are used in a turbine blades. One of the most efficient cooling techniques is impingement cooling, mostly used in the leading edge. The leading edge experiences the highest temperature in the blade exposed to the hottest gas.

Researchers studied different …