Digital Commons Network^™

A Relational Account Of Resolutions: Resolution As Reacquaintance, Daniel Grasso

Theses

A Relational Account of Self-Constraint: Resolution as Reacquaintance

Resolutions and self-promises are two much discussed tools of self-constraint in the face of weakness of will. However, the discussions often begin from a negative and alienated direction, emphasizing self-compulsion, fear of irrationality, or binding ourselves through self-obligation. Jorah Dannenberg has suggested a more optimistic agent-centered account of how to bind ourselves through self-promises. His account has much kinship with the influential Sartrean approach from Berislav Marusic. These more positive agent-centered accounts are appealing as they appear to answer three of the major puzzles of self-constraint: 1. How is self-restraint supposed to …

Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: What To Expect For Your Surgery?, Julia Lunavictoria

Theses

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting over 191,930 men, with an estimated 34,500 deaths for 2022 in the United States (NIH, 2022). As men age, the risk for prostate cancer increases; about 34% of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer are above the age of 50, and a staggering 70% are over the age of 80. Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat clinically localized prostate cancer. In some cases, hydrodissection is used in nerve-sparing surgeries, protecting the neurovascular bundle and ensuring a higher chance of potency for …

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 …

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 …

Utilizing Date Pits In Microencapsulation: Effect Of Different Variations On Probiotic Survivability Under In Vitro Digestion, Asmaa Samir Al Hamayda

Theses

This work deals with the medicinal use of date pit powder, which turns it from a waste product to a useful stabilizer for the release of beneficial probiotics in the human intestine. The main objective of this work is to encapsulate probiotics with date pit beads and their subsequent release in the human intestine. The beads were formed using gravitational dripping technique, while INFOGEST protocol was used to test the digested beads and the release of viable probiotic cells. For the three date varieties Raziz, Naghal and Khadrawy, it was found that 0.1 g of date pit powder per 0.2 …

The Design Of A Point Of Care Fet Biosensor To Detect And Screen Covid-19, Nisreen Amer Mohammad Alnaji

Theses

This work proposes and demonstrates a biosensor with reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) based Field Effect Transistor (FET) for rapid and selective detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The main objective of this thesis is to detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antigen on spot selectively and rapidly. The rGO channel is coated with the spike protein antibodies to achieve selectivity. Moreover, the biosensing performance and specificity are governed by decorating the sensor’s channel with Metal Nanoparticles (MNPs) such as, copper, and silver. The designed sensor successfully detects the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and shows singular electrical behavior for detection. …

The Potent And Selective Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist E169 Alleviates Cognitive Deficits And Mitigates Disturbed Pi3k/Akt/Gsk-3Β Signaling Pathway In Mk801-Induced Amnesia In Mice, Sabna Tagelsir Hassan Abdalla

Theses

The role of Histamine H3 Receptors (H3Rs) in memory and the prospective of H3R antagonists in pharmacological control of neurodegenerative disorders, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is well-accepted. Therefore, the procognitive effects of acute systemic administration of H3R antagonist E169 (2.5-10 mg/kg, i.p.) on MK801- induced amnesia using the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) paradigm in C57BL/6J mice were evaluated. E169 (5 mg) provided a significant memory-improving effect on MK801-induced short- and long-term memory impairments in NORT. The E169 (5 mg) provided effects were comparable to those observed with the Phosphatidyl Inositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and were abrogated with the …

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 …

Maternal Effects On Growth Parameters Of Chloris Gayana Under Co2 Enrichment, Ahmed Adnan Mohammed Mashli

Theses

Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana, is commonly used forage plant for grazers, livestock, and cattle. It significantly improves soil fertility and its overall structure by preventing nematode flourishment in soil. It is also used as a cover crop to upgrade soil health by reducing soil erosion and increasing water availability. The present study assessed the effects of CO₂ on the growth, development and maternal effects of C. gayana. The experimental setup was made in such a way that the potential impacts of CO₂ can be measured on the eco-physiological growth of C. gayana by studying successive generations. Generation 1 …

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 …

Improving The Growth Performance Of The Mangrove Avicennia Marina Seedlings Using Plant Growth Promoting Actinobacteria, Alanoud Abdulla Al Shamsi

Theses

The combination of commercial fish emulsion (FE) and plant growth-promoting actinobacteria capable of producing plant growth regulators (PGRs) was evaluated as a biofertilizer to enhance growth and development of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) in the United Arab Emirates. In vitro studies identified the rhizosphere-competent Streptomyces griseorubens UAE1 (Sg) that was able to solubilize phosphorus, produce auxins, cytokinins, gibberellic acid, polyamines, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase. Growth promotion, nutrient contents and PGR levels in tissues of treated mangrove plants with fish emulsion and/or S. griseorubens UAE1 were further assessed in vivo. Under greenhouse and natural open-field nursery conditions, …

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 …

‘Meet New Vcd’ Immersive Art Gallery, Wenting Toby Xue

Theses

Students of the Visual Communication Design (VCD) program may have a relatively distressing question about how to explain some details of this program to others. Someone will always ask how to define and explain the VCD. Therefore, in the spirit of redefining the VCD program and creating a platform to more intuitively demonstrate the current success of VCD students in visual design. The curriculum of this program and related student works are mainly user-centered design as the primary starting point. Innovation and forward-looking are necessary. To better communicate the VCD project and expand its influence. According to the questionnaire and …

Determining Suitable Green Biorefinery Locations In Ireland For Irish Agriculture Using Co-Design, Economic And Geographical Information Systems, Alice Hand

Theses

The aim of this thesis is to investigate potential locations for a suitable green biorefinery model in Ireland, which would offer an opportunity for sustainable diversification to grassland farmers. A mixed method approach was used to collect data to support the design and analyse a green biorefinery model. A three phased methodology was applied representing the Co-design, Economic and the Geographical Information Systems analysis phase. Key stakeholders identified in the co-design phase included farmers, cooperatives, market partners as having a direct impact on a biorefinery. This provided insight to the farmers preferred model. Using these findings, an economic assessment was …

Water Microbial Pollution Risk Simulation And Prediction Using Ml, Dania Al Safadi

Theses

Water quality has been a global concern due to its scarcity as well as it is direct effects on wellbeing and food production. Therefore, many studies have been addressing this matter in order to address the consequences left behind. Consider the harmful effects of polluted water moving uninterrupted over vast distances and through countless homes. The water we drink, cook with, and bathe in would not be safe requiring an immediate response in order to reduce the damage as a direct result of the pollution. The aim of this study was to develop models that could evaluate the microbial water …

Traffic Accidents Analysis & Prediction In Uae, Majid Alhosani

Theses

UAE has state-of-the-art roads and traffic infrastructure, and yet there has been a rapid increase in the number of traffic accidents. As per National Agenda 2021, the UAE traffic departments are working to minimize the rate of road traffic death per 100 thousand people. The Traffic and Patrols Directorate in Abu Dhabi launched a road safety management plan. This aims at decreasing the fatalities from traffic accidents to 3 per 100,000 inhabitants by 2021. According to police, distracted driving, sudden swerving, entering a road without ensuring that it is clear, tailgating and speeding without considering the road conditions has caused …

Correlation Of Gut Alteration With The Progression Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (Eae) In C57bl/6 Mice, Al Anood Ahmed Al Naqbi

Theses

Background: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the mouse disease model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease targeting the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in neuroinflammation, neuroaxonal degeneration, and demyelination. Autoreactive CD4⁺ T cells are known for their role in the pathogenesis of MS. CD8⁺ T cells and NK cells were also found to be associated with the disease.

Aim: There is a limited number of studies investigating the link between gut alterations and immune cells in the gut influencing the outcome of the disease since the vast majority of MS patients experience gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Here, …

Investigating The Role Of Natural Killer (Nk) Cells In Ozanimod-Mediated Remission In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (Eae) In C57bl/6 Mice, Doua Youssef Kamyan

Theses

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an important model of multiple sclerosis (MS) in rodents. The disease is characterized by axonal damages mediated by activated autoreactive T lymphocytes, microglia, and macrophages. Ozanimod (RPC1063) is an immunomodulator that has been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (2020) and ulcerative colitis (2021). It is a selective agonist of the sphingosine1-phophate receptors (1 and 5) involved in lymphocyte trafficking and expressed on naïve and central memory T and B cells as well as NK cells. Ozanimod acts by inducing internalization and degradation of the S1PR which in turn …

Associated Risk Of Blastocystis Infection In Colorectal Cancer, Lena Abdulbaset Labania

Theses

Blastocystis species is an anaerobic intestinal protozoan seen in humans and a wide range of animals. Only nine Blastocystis subtypes are seen in humans. The pathogenicity of Blastocystis spp. has long been controversial. Recently, a subtype-dependent association between Blastocystis spp. and colorectal cancer (CRC) is being debated. Thus, this thesis aims to assess the possible association between Blastocystis spp. infection and CRC condition compared to cancer outside the gastrointestinal tract (COGT) and a cancer-free control (CF) group. This study is the first of its kind in the UAE. Participants were divided into two groups; cancer patients and CF participants. The …

Development Of Phage Therapy Strategies Against Gram-Positive Bacterial Pathogens, Sara Arroyo Moreno

Theses

Bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics has become an urgent healthcare issue worldwide. In this light, a renewed interest has emerged for therapy with bacteriophages (phages), which are viruses that can specifically infect bacteria. These viruses encode different proteins that degrade specific bonds within the bacterial cell wall, both to inject their genomic material into the bacterial cells and to release the viral progeny: virion-associated hydrolases and endolysins, respectively. Elimination of Gram-positive pathogens with recombinant versions of phage enzymes represents a promising alternative to classical antibiotics. In this thesis, different phage therapy strategies involving either whole phages or the use of …

The Performance Of Biomimicry Architecture In Sustainable Design For A Mixed-Use Workplace In Shanghai (Sustainable Design), Weihong Liu

Theses

Abstract Sustainable architecture design is becoming more and more popular all over the world, especially in China. Active sustainable strategies play an important role in sustainable architecture design such as solar panels, wind turbines, and roof gardens. However, this Thesis will find some new passive ways to improve the sustainability of buildings by proving bionic technology. The thesis seeks to integrate living organisms into buildings to improve the sustainability of buildings and generate sustainable resources. This main focus is biomimetics. The technology used in the design of architecture sustainability. Bionics or biomimicry refers to artificial processes or systems that mimic …

Impacts Of Drugs On Neurotransmission, Wenrong He

Theses

The most sophisticated and mysterious human organ is the brain. The human brain is made up of billions of neurons, which are working nonstop to send and receive messages to regulate the body’s basic functions. Neurons communicate by releasing neurotransmitters from a sending neuron into the synapse, then a receiving neuron picks up the signals on its receptors from neurotransmitters. Drugs can interfere with the communication between neurons in the brain. They can affect the way people feel, react or behave. Drug use impacts the brain’s neuronal circuits which may lead to inflexible behaviors, lack of self-control, and compulsive drug …

Framing Trust In Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Ethics Communication: Analysis Of Ai Ethics Guiding Principles Through The Lens Of Framing Theory, Namrata Nagar

Theses

With the fast proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in our society, several corporations, governments, research institutions, and NGOs have produced and published AI ethics guiding documents. These include principles, guidelines, frameworks, assessment lists, training modules, blogs, and principle-to-practice strategies. The priorities, focus, and articulation of these innumerable documents vary to different extents. Though they all aim and claim to ensure AI usage for the common good, the actual AI system outcomes in various social applications have invigorated ethical dilemmas and scholarly debates. This study presents the analysis of AI ethics principles and guidelines text published by three pioneers from …

Architecture Of Video Games: Potential Reference, Wael Mkaouar

Theses

The Architecture perspective / scale in video games has evolved throughout time to an extent that it is no longer a mere spatial visualization to host the game, but it has become an interaction medium between the player and the game. Architecture in recent video games played a fundamental role in bridging the gap between the real and the digital world. The analogy between these two is increasingly established through the representational immersion and the participation of the player in a highly realistic environment transforming the gaming experience into an entertaining and educational journey. The aim of this thesis is …

Painting As A Vehicle For Identity Formation And Survival, Chunbum Park

Theses

Through the thesis, I produce a highly rigorous body of works and explore the theoretical and philosophical reasons behind my paintings. I explore why I repeatedly paint myself as a woman and why the symbols of tigers, frogs, Frankenstein, and other aspects of Northeast Asian and Korean culture and heritage appear in my paintings. I find that painting is a process by which I can reflect on my own identity as a Korean who alternates between masculine and feminine identities. Painting allows me to react against the problems threatening my identity such as the worldwide trend of the racialization of …

Bioinformatics Analyses Of New Genes Of Focus In The Research Of Autism With Dogs, Rats, And A Variety Of Other Model Organisms, Aaron Pennington

Theses

Autism is a mental disorder in which multiple genes are involved in the development of its various symptoms. However, as a result of the challenges inherent to identifying the responsible genes, many studies are ongoing and inconclusive. 1 To date, studies have shown that two genes, BAG3 and PALLD, were upregulated in autistic individuals. 2–6 BAG3 encodes BAG cochaperone 3 32; while PALLD encodes Palladin, Cytoskeletal Associated Protein 33. This project analyzed the similarities and differences between the human BAG3 and PALLD genes and those in various model organisms. While it is likely that epigenetic modifications affect the expression and …

Ruminations, Maria Barbara Ileana Kane

Theses

Ruminations is an experimental exhibition which seeks to explore the integration of technology into traditional art. By combining traditional woodblock prints with augmented reality, Ruminations attempts to evoke empathy from the viewer regarding the topic of mental illness. Each AR experience illustrates, though imagery and animation, a different mental illness or psychological phenomenon. The viewer sees each experience separately over a printed background, expanding on the traditional frame and reaching into the world around us.

Coffit: An Interaction Design Project For Remote Employees To Enjoy Casual Talks And Interact With Each Other In A Virtual Environment, Yifei (Effie) Wang

Theses

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed a portion of people’s way of living and forced a radical shift in working habits. Due to restrictions of non-essential travel and the need for social distancing, many companies have adopted a work-from-home policy for their employees; with some even allowing it to be a permanent move. The policy creates a number of benefits such as increased productivity, reduced commuting time costs, attracting the best talent from any location, and more. And yet challenges have appeared. Long-term remote workers frequently experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, as well as a decline in …

Contraband, Omer Enes Demir

Theses

Contraband is a short fiction film about a young woman’s struggle to escape from a criminal life. As she is forced to smuggle drugs during prison visits to her husband, she must decide whether to protect him or abandon him. Leaving might give her a chance to save herself and her child from this life and have a better future. The movie takes place in modern-day Los Angeles. This paper describes and analyzes my filmmaking process as the writer and director of Contraband, and how my life experience and inspirations influenced my work.

A Method For Measuring Puffing And Respiratory Parameters Of Tobacco Users Within Their Natural Usage Environment, Shehan Jayasekera

Theses

Background: Although researchers have investigated the puffing behavior of tobacco products, no attempt has yet been made to observe both puffing and respiratory behaviors simultaneously in the natural use environment. Observation of puffing behavior alone is insufficient for predicting the health effects of tobacco use, as it can only be used to estimate the amount of emissions generated and transferred to the oral cavity. Respiration behavior must be observed for the estimation of delivery and retention of nicotine and other HPHCs in the lungs. Parameters that quantify respiratory behavior include inhalation and exhalation volumes, flow rates, and durations, as well …