Digital Commons Network^™

Those Thrice Marked By Time: The Significance Of The Last Known Survivor, Their Death, And Our Remembrance, Michael Tofte

Theses

Following Adam Zarakov, the last known survivor is a significant figure and a representative of a larger type that is under-considered. Last known survivors are ubiquitous in fictional media and how history is told. Some survivors like Frank Buckles are given lavish state funerals with participation of strangers. Yet, this under-analysis is concerning as the 21^st century will likely feature the recognition of last known survivors of many significant 20^th century events. I offer one attempt of addressing this lacuna.

The first aim is to motivate philosophical interest in the phenomenon of the last known survivor. I present …

A Framework For Evaluating Technology-Mediated Collaborative Workflow, Christopher Bondy

Theses

The adoption of new technology into collaborative workflows has permeated every aspect of our personal and professional lives with the promise of performing work processes more efficiently and with greater capability. The continued rise of ubiquitous computing and heightened need for collaborative features suggest that a view of enabling technologies in a workflow should include the physical computing infrastructure, the collaborative interaction between humans and computers, and the informatics (i.e., collection and representation of data within the workflow). The development and integration of technology for collaborative workflows introduces many variables that are of great concern to companies, organization, and individuals. …

Representational Enactivism, Zhexi Zhang

Theses

In the literature on enactive approaches to cognition, representationalism is often seen as a rival theory. In this paper, I argue that enactivism can be fruitfully combined with representationalism by adopting Frances Egan’s content pragmatism. This representational enactivism avoids some of the problems faced by antirepresentational versions of enactivism. Most significantly, representational enactivism accommodates empirical evidence that neural systems manipulate representations. In addition, representational enactivism provides a valuable insight into how to identify representational content, especially in brainless organisms: we can identify representational content by investigating autopoietic processes.

Understanding The Themes Of Disability Discourse Through Reddit Comments, Brandon Palonis

Theses

With the advent of internet forums, sharing opinions in a public sphere has never been easier, especially for those facing marginalization in their communities. Forums offer a neutral, semi-anonymous space wherein people may feel more compelled to share intimate details about the characteristics of their lives. This paper focuses on internet forums related to disabilities, specifically those found on Reddit, and uses Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to extract topics from the corpus of 3 subreddits: r/Blind, r/ADHD, and r/Disability. The features are then put into key term groups that are defined by a key phrase. This created category taxonomy is …

Transcriptomic Analysis Of The Glycophytic Crop Ipomoea Aquatica Under Salinity Conditions Compared To Its Wild Halophyte Relative Ipomoea Pes-Caprae, Ruwan Saeed Aljneibi Husam Saeed Aljneibi

Theses

This study focuses on the glycophytic crop Ipomoea Aquatica (commonly known as water spinach) and its wild halophytic relative Ipomoea pes-caprae. I. Aquatica is a crop with economic value; however, it is unable to tolerate high levels of salinity. Whereas its relative Ipomoea pes-caprae is able to grow and thrive in the harsh environment of the UAE. The main aim of this study is to analyze the genetic differences underlying the variation in the two plants’ response to salinity and determine the genetic components that can be used to enhance I. Aquatica's tolerance to salinity. Accordingly, the plants were subjected …

Dynamics Biological Efficiency Of Basidiomycetes Fungi In Date Palm Leaf Waste Composting And Suitability As Growing Media, Fatema Saif Alkaabi

Theses

Soil quality and fertility status is grossly poor in arid regions. The problem is compounded due to lack of organic matter in the coarse sandy soil. Therefore, agricultural practices tend to use different organic materials like peat moss, perlite, etc., as organic materials. Despite the role of these growing media in improving the chemical and physical properties of soils, they are non-renewable resources and have high price in the market which make cultivation noneconomical. Hence, renewable resources like biowaste such as date palm leaf waste has been used as alternative source in the experiment to compare with other composting materials …

أحكام المسؤولیة القانونیة للروبوت الطبي, زینب مسعود علي

Theses

تعتبر الروبوتات الطبیة من أحدث تقنیات الذكاء الاصطناعي، والتي یتم استخدامھا في العدید من المجالات الطبیة كروبوتات الرعایة الصحیة التي تعتني بكبار السن أو المعاقین، والروبوتات الجراحیة التي یتم استخدامھا في العملیات الجراحیة. وتثیر الروبوتات الطبیة العدید من الإشكالیات القانونیة، منھا ما یتعلق بالجوانب الأخلاقیة ومنھا ما یتعلق بالجوانب الاجتماعیة، والمسؤولیة عن الأخطاء الطبیة التي تسببھا الروبوتات.

وعلیھ یسلط ھذا البحث الضوء على موضوع الروبوتات الطبیة، والنظام العام والإطار القانوني لھذه الروبوتات والمسؤولیة المترتبة علیھا. ویعرض ھذا البحث للإطار القانوني الحالي لروبوتات العنایة الصحیة والروبوتات الجراحیة، وإسقاطھا على قانون المسؤولیة الطبیة في دولة الإمارات، والبحث في الطبیعة القانونیة والأساس القانوني …

Levels Of Testosterone Esters In Camel Hair, Aysha Khalid Alraeesi

Theses

Doping and steroid use represent a serious threat to animal health and can even lead to their untimely and painful death. However, doping is an acute problem in today's animal racing world, particularly in camel racing. Testosterone and its ten esters (benzoate, valerate, isocaproate, hexahydrobenzoate, decanoate, undecanoate, laurate, enanthate, cypionate, and caproate) are of utmost importance because when they are administered to animals it is difficult to measure them efficiently. The levels of testosterone and its esters in camels and other animals are typically determined using urine and blood tests. The aim of this study was to develop and validate …

Fabrication Of Chemically-Functionalized 3dprinted Porous Scaffolds For Biomedical Applications, Eiman Hamed Alblooshi

Theses

Hard tissues, such as bone and teeth, are natural composites of collagen nanofibers that are reinforced by inorganic calcium phosphate Nano crystallites, in the form of nanocomposites. The interlocking between these components in hard tissues explains their unique characteristics. Bone is mainly classified into two major types; compact and cancellous depending on the extent of porosity. Fractures in the compact bone can be treated using bone fixation implants, such as rods, screws, and plates, or can be totally replaced by bone implants if complete substitution is required. Cancellous bone, on the other hand, is highly porous and its substitution with …

Characterization And Bioactive Properties Of Young And Mature Soybean And Their Protein Hydrolysates, Amna Khalifa Alnuaimi

Theses

Soybeans are known for their high protein content that could be substituted for animal proteins. The potential bioactive properties of mature soybean (MS) proteins and their hydrolysates have been widely explored. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare various in-vitro bioactive properties (antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory) of young soybean (YS) and MS flour and their protein hydrolysates when subjected to in-vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. In the first phase, SGID of YS and MS flour was carried out to mimic the human digestion, while in the second phase, enzymatic hydrolysis of the …

Effectiveness Of Food Safety Training On Knowledge, Atitude, And Practices (Kap) Of Homebased Food Business (Hfb) In Al Ain, Uae, Mariam Mohammed Al Kaabi

Theses

This research aimed at evaluating the levels of knowledge, relevant attitudes, and food safety practices (KAP) of food handlers that have home food businesses (HFB) in Al Ain city, UAE. It examined the effectiveness of the Essential Food Safety Training Program (EFST) in providing food safety Knowledge, attitude, and practices. A quantitative research method was conducted using a sample of 68 participants who responded to the questionnaires. Three research questions were used to guide the study and explore the differences of the level of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) before and after training program by using a paired-samples t-test. This …

Using Ar And Vr Characters For Enhancing User Experience In A Museum, Kunal Shailesh Shitut

Theses

Museums and cultural heritage institutions have used technology to create interactive exhibits and pedagogical tools that help spark visitors’ interests. The rise of Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality Systems has further enabled the creation of a new generation of immersive experiences that can engage and educate visitors. These technologies can be used to develop digital characters that can serve as virtual tour guides and improve user engagement by answering questions and forming social bonds with the users. While such tour guides have been deployed as exhibits at many museums, the implementation is usually limited to a single exhibit or a …

Design For Hiking Safety & Fun, Tianyou Wu

Theses

With the urbanization of the world's population, more and more people have begun to choose outdoor hiking to get close to nature and get exercise. But outdoor hiking can be dangerous, and lack of relevant knowledge not only makes hikers have a poor or stressful time, but it can also be fatal. Losing your way in the wilderness encountering wild beasts, an unfamiliar poisonous plant, lack of physical strength, extreme weather, and other accidents will put many travelers into crisis every year. A safe and comfortable outdoor travel experience could not only increase the safety and fun of travel but …

Diabetes Education In Vellore, India, Nirja Desai

Theses

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has risen dramatically in developing countries over the past two decades, especially in India. There is a lack of awareness about the condition, how to treat it, and the symptoms of diabetes amongst the general population. Regular screening of adults is essential for early detection and care, but inadequate knowledge about type 2 diabetes is preventing the country from fighting a fair battle. Christian Medical College (CMC) in collaboration with Albert Einstein College of Medicine has taken the initiative to educate the general public and re-educate the physicians around the country about diabetes. There is …

Using Aerial Photogrammetry And Sexually Dimorphic Measurements To Investigate Seasonal Differences In School Composition Of Delphinus Spp. Off Southern California, Samantha Gm Leander

Theses

Insights into school composition can provide a means to understand basic biology and ecology, including reproductive patterns. They can also be applied to conservation assessments, allowing for better understanding of the potentially differential vulnerability of demographic groups to natural or anthropogenic disturbances that may influence their populations. However, the two subspecies of common dolphins in the waters off California (Delphinus delphis delphis and D. d. bairdii) form large, energetic groups that make characterization of school composition difficult. Remotely controlled drones now offer the opportunity for the study of school composition in Delphinus spp., allowing for precise morphometric measurements …

The Effects Of Temperature And Body Size On The Metabolism And Hypoxia Tolerance Of White Abalone (Haliotis Sorenseni) And Red Abalone (H. Rufescens), Stephanie Fan

Theses

In 2001, white abalone, Haliotis sorenseni, became the first marine invertebrate to be listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Allee effects due primarily to overharvesting and disease resulted in individuals being too far apart for successful fertilization. Despite the fishery closure in 1996, H. sorenseni still shows no signs of recovery. Today, the White Abalone Recovery Consortium (WARC), a group that includes federal and state agencies, aquaculture organizations, academic institutions, and public aquaria, is working to recover this endangered species back from the brink of extinction.

In order to better understand the metabolic demands and hypoxia tolerance of the …

Otolith Microchemistry Reveals Low Habitat Connectivity Of California Killifish (Fundulus Parvipinnis) Across A Range Of Spatial Scales, Lisa Robison

Theses

As wetlands face continued fragmentation worldwide, an understanding of habitat connectivity and how fishes that rely on these environments is imperative to conduct effective marine management. Site fidelity and habitat connectivity are vital measures of the interdependence of fish populations living in neighboring marshes (or in regions of a single marsh).

Here, we examine the habitat connectivity, site fidelity, and movement of California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) within and among three estuaries in Southern California through otolith microelemental analysis. Assessing the site fidelity of estuarine fishes is important to determine the level of connectivity between spatially distinct populations within …

Diet Of An Important Wetland Resident, The California Killifish, Fundulus Parvipinnis, In A Natural And Created Marsh Habitat In Mission Bay, California, Katie Robinson-Filipp

Theses

The California killifish, Fundulus parvipinnis Girard, is an ecologically important marsh resident. Fundulus parvipinnis is a low-level carnivore, displaying high-site fidelity and occurring in high densities across a range of environmental conditions. Despite the importance of F. parvipinnis to the ecosystem functions of the threatened coastal wetlands of southern California and the Baja California Peninsula, there are critical gaps in our knowledge of this species. In particular, information on their diet and food habits is lacking.

Understanding wetland food web linkages, interactions, and trophic transfer is essential for informing effective habitat management and contributes to our ability to evaluate the …

Defining The Potential Of Gene Therapy With Bone Morphogenetic Proteins As A Novel Therapeutic Approach In Parkinson’S Disease, Susan Rebecca Goulding

Theses

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterised by the progressive degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and the intracellular aggregation of the α-synuclein protein in neurons throughout the nervous system. These changes result in the characteristic motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease. Current treatments are solely symptomatic and therefore there is an unmet clinical need to develop new disease-modifying therapies that can alter disease progression. For over 25 years, one proposed experimental therapy has focused on the delivery of proteins called neurotrophic factors to the brain to prevent dopaminergic neuron degeneration. However, to date, clinical trials using the most well-known neurotrophic factors …

Prejudice And Participation - An Investigation Into Challenges Surrounding Access To Early Childhood Care And Education For Children From The Traveller Community In Ireland, Denise Baker

Theses

Travellers are a distinct cultural group, gaining ethnicity in March 2017 but who have traditionally experienced educational disadvantage (Pavee Point, 2018). This study examines the challenges that Traveller children encounter in accessing the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme (DCYA, 2019) in Ireland. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is widely acknowledged as having a positive impact on children’s holistic development, school success and later outcomes (Boyce et al, 2018; OECD, 2018, NCCA, 2009). This study is underpinned by the bio-ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007), which considers the child as a construct of their immediate surroundings and the …

Development Of Analytical Methods For The Determination Of Β-Lactam Antibiotic Residues In Meat, Milk And Dairy Products, Melissa Di Rocco

Theses

In this project, analytical methodologies for the determination of β-lactam antibiotic residues in meat and dairy products were developed and validated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The methods included the main penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems commonly employed in human or veterinary medicine for the treatment of bacterial infections. A multi-residue method for the analysis of 30 β-lactams was developed and validated in bovine muscle using dispersive-solid phase extraction (d-SPE), reversed-phase chromatography and mass spectrometry detection. A number of sorbent materials were assessed for clean-up, and a simple and straightforward sample preparation protocol developed for …

Using Goes-16 To Characterize Thunderstorms : Hail Scar Producing Storms Vs. Non-Hail Scar Producing Storms, Abigail Elizabeth Whiteside

Theses

Every year in North America, severe thunderstorms produce copious amounts of damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and lives. The United States relies heavily on the Next Generation Weather Radar for weather information. The U.S.’s reliance on radar has led to one of the most extensive radar networks in the world. However, this network has gaps in coverage that could put many at risk. Multiple studies have shown that satellite data provides valuable storm information to forecasters. The GOES-R series offers high resolution imagery of cloud tops. An important variable to examine is the overshooting top (OT). One variable that stems from …

Laser-Scribed Graphene Electrodes As Inflammatory Biosensors (Laserflame), Pei Shee Tan

Theses

Laser-scribed graphene electrodes (LSGE) are a low cost, portable, flexible and ideal electrochemical platform approach as point of care biosensors. It is anticipated that integrating the detection of immune cell inflammatory cytokines with LSGEs may present a useful diagnostic platform for managing the risk of inflammatory diseases as early detection of inflammatory molecules could significantly improve the treatment and outcome of diseases induced by protracted inflammation, such as cancer, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. This study proposed LSGE first time novel use in the detection of an inflammatory cytokine released by immune cells (monocyte THP-1 cell line), with high sensitivity and …

Predicting Carcass Cut Yields In Cattle From Digitalimages Using Artificial Intelligence, Darragh Matthews

Theses

Beef carcass classification in Europe is predicated on the EUROP grid for both fatness and conformation. Although this system performs well for grouping visually similar carcasses, it cannot be used to accurately predict meat yields from these groups, especially when considered on an individual cut level. Deep Learning (DL) has proven to be a successful tool for many image classification problems but has yet to be fully proven in a regression scenario using carcass images. Here we have trained DL models to predict carcass cut yields and compared predictions to more standard machine learning (ML) methods. Three approaches were undertaken …

Investigating The Antioxidant, Immunomodulatory And Anti-Obesogenic Propertiesof Novel Bsg-Derived Extracts And Their Potential As Ingredients In Functional Foods For Older Adults, Suzanne O Brien

Theses

Brewer’s Spent Grain (BSG) represents a substantial waste product of the brewing industry, with 39 million tonnes generated globally every year. To date the primary use of BSG is as animal feed but there is significant interest in identifying alternative uses for this agro-industry by-product. BSG is rich in protein and fibre and is known to contain health-promoting bioactive compounds, thus one application would be in the area of functional foods. People are living longer and as the older adult population continues to increase globally so too is the prevalence of age-related chronic conditions. Diet plays an essential role in …

Optimisation Of Grass Measurement Technologies Through Field Experimentation And Numerical Simulation Methods, Darren Joseph Murphy

Theses

Maximising pasture utilisation through optimal grassland management is vital in terms of ensuring the economic sustainability and mitigating the environmental impact of both Irish and global pasture-based livestock production. Frequent and accurate measurement of grass quantity and quality is one of the main methods of maximising grass production and utilisation on pasture-based farms. The most prominent grass measurement tool used on Irish pasture is the rising plate meter (RPM), however, there are a range of issues with this method including operator bias, precision and difficulties in accounting for spatial variation. Currently, there is no definitive protocol for grass measurement which …

Villains To Heroes: Celebrity Criminals In 1960'S Britain And Their Subsequent Rise In Popularity, Richard Nixon

Theses

This thesis sits at the intersection of history, media and cultural studies, and will undertake a study into the emergence of criminal celebrities in Britain in the 1960s and their subsequent rise in popularity. It will seek to explain the reasons for and cultural impact of this emergence and rise against an ever-changing social, cultural, political and media landscape, including changes in social and cultural attitudes. In doing so, the study will seek to establish the extent to which criminal celebrities are a product of their time.

The thesis will essentially comprise two main strands with reference to criminal celebrities, …

Maiden Voyagers: Exhibiting The Autonomy Of Travelling Women To Western Australia, 1818-1830, Toni Church

Theses

My thesis appraises critical problems of current museum practice concerning women, particularly interpretations of the physical female form and autonomous behaviours, through a wide-ranging field work study and in-depth analysis of recent Australian museum exhibitions and surveys of international exhibitions online. A working understanding of New Museology and empathetic museum practice was derived from this fieldwork experience and complemented by an academic study of museological theory to formulate future museum best practices. The second part of the thesis critiques written records and other artefacts to investigate autonomous behaviours in the experiences of European women who travelled to Western Australia in …

The Art Of Fiction: Fact, Myth And New Knowledge On The North Australian Expedition, 1855 - 1857, Stevie Cole

Theses

This thesis determines the degree to which the North Australian Expedition, 1855–1857, contested established European fiction of the Australian frontier by systematically collecting new knowledge. It analyses the outcomes of one of the most forgotten expeditions in Australian history by interrogating the journals, charts and artworks of the explorers. In 1855, the Royal Geographical Society and the British Colonial Office sent an expedition into northern Australia under the command of Augustus Gregory. It was a region that Britain hoped would hold lucrative resources to support further economic and population development. The artist-explorer, Thomas Baines, was made second-in-command of the expedition. …

The Experiences That Form And Sustain Generation Y Religious Education Coordinators In Catholic Secondary Schools, Dirk Gleghorn

Theses

Students in Western Australian Catholic schools learn about Catholic beliefs and practices in the Religious Education Learning Area. In Catholic secondary schools, Religious Education Coordinators (RECs) are delegated responsibility from principals, to coordinate the teaching of this learning area’s content. RECs are required to be committed Catholics who are active members of the Catholic Church. It is probable that RECs will increasingly be recruited from amongst Generation Y Catholics. For Catholic secondary school principals, recruiting religiously committed Generation Y Catholics into the position of REC will be challenging.

The primary aim of the research is to identify and describe the …