Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Investigating The Factors That Cause Cost And Time Overrun In The Residential Construction Projects In The Uae: Project Managers Perspective, Enas Jamal Abu Namous

Theses

The construction industry is considered an essential element to stabilize countries economically. In the UAE, this sector has received a lot of attention and development since the discovery of oil. This has enhanced the continuous expansion in construction activities. Recently, the construction projects in the UAE and KSA together reached 60% of the whole projects in the Middle East region, and the majority of it was in Dubai, which in 2018 enhanced its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reach 14.5%. Therefore, the decision-makers apply multiple methods at different projects in order to achieve the prime factors for project success which …

Production And Characterization Of Natural Date Fruit Powder (Pheonix Dactylifera L.), Fayeza Hasan

Theses

The aim of this thesis was to study the possibilities for production and the characterization of powder from ripened date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Various techniques including tray drying, freeze-drying, vacuum drying, microwave drying, convection drying were tested for their ability to dry the dates sufficiently to produce a dated powder. Six varieties of dates namely Barhi and Khalas (soft varieties), Sagi and Sukari (semi-dry varieties), and Barakawi and Gundeila (dry varieties) were evaluated for their drying characteristics. The drying parameters and the physicochemical characteristics were compared and a storage study for the date powder was conducted. It …

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 …

Effect Of High-Pressure Processing On Quality And Shelf Life Of Green Fresh Juice Produced From A Blend Of Fruit And Vegetable, Ahlam Abdulla Al Hammadi

Theses

Background: The technology of high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) in food processing started to take a huge attention in food industries due to its ability to increase the shelf life of processed products by inactivating food-borne microorganisms and undesired enzymes that cause changes not acceptable by the consumers. Because of the treatments take place at low temperature and because no chemical preservatives are added, advantageous and gives more value to the product and matches consumer demand for healthy products.

Aims: The aim of this thesis was to study the effect of HPP on certain quality parameters of green fruit juice compared …

Development Of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting System For Low-Frequency Vibrations, Mai Rabie Mahmoud Ismail

Theses

Harvesting energy from vibration sources has attracted the interest of researchers for the past three decades. Researchers have been working on the potential of achieving self-powered MEMS scale devices. Piezoelectric cantilever harvesters have caught the attention in this field because of the excellent combination of high-power density and compact structure. The main objective of this thesis is to develop a novel and optimum piezoelectric harvester system using lumped parameter model (LPM) for given vibration sources. The finite element model (FEM) is used in this work as an original approach to be utilized for optimal design optimization. Three types of validations …

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 …

Development Of Heat Insulation Composite Materials Based On Bio-Polyesters And Natural Filler, Hyder Ali Reyah Al Abdallah

Theses

The increasing waste - bio or synthetic - is a critical issue, and managing this waste is a huge challenge for industry and academia. The use of biodegradable materials is sought as an eventual factor in decreasing the current level of waste generation. Therefore, one of the main research areas nowadays is to develop bio-composite materials over fuel-based materials where the bio-composites or waste-based composites serve several advantages both environmentally and economically, including the biodegradability feature of the bio fillers, and the affordability due to its abundant presence in nature. Bio-waste, specifically from agricultural sources, can be used as fillers …

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 …

Controllability And Observability Of Blood Glucose Levels And The Impact Of Covid-19 On Diabetic Patients, Mahra Salem Nasser Abdulla Alblooshi

Theses

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose concentrations resulting from insulin deficiency in case of type 1 or insulin inefficiency in case of type 2. While no cure for diabetes exists, the artificial pancreas is a possible way to manage diabetes, especially for type 1 diabetics. Where an artificial pancreas is a closed-loop control system with an integrated mathematical model. This control system imitates the function of a healthy pancreas. The first part of this thesis is concerned with the control system of an artificial pancreas that is based on Bergman’s minimal model of glucose-insulin …

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 …

Voicer: A Sign Language Interpreter Application For Deaf People To Better Communicate With Others, Yezhang Wang

Theses

In the past two decades, the rapid development of technology has made our daily life has changed dramatically. Everything has become easier and more convenient. However, while we can already communicate with people anywhere in the world in real time, most deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) people still need the intervention of a sign language interpreter to carry out their daily studies and work. Undeniably, Internet technology and smartphones have also significantly changed the lives of deaf people. But the barriers between them and the hearing world still exist. A significant number of studies have pointed out that cultural …

Healthway: A Personal Health Record System For User To Manage Their Own Health Condition, Jie Zhang

Theses

The 21st century is the era of the Internet, big data, but also the era of AI. The vigorous development of AI and Internet technology has also injected fresh blood into the traditional medical industry. Today, the Internet affects every aspect of the medical and health industry. For example, medical providers can use the Electronic Health Record System (EHR) to quickly obtain the necessary information and data to assist them to make disease diagnoses. The remote consultation and consultation of medical staff also require the help of the Internet, especially the 5G Internet. In this context, the demands of individual …

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 …

Guavanet: A Deep Neural Network Architecture For Automatic Sensory Evaluation To Predict Degree Of Acceptability For Guava By A Consumer, Vipul Mehra

Theses

This thesis is divided into two parts:Part I: Analysis of Fruits, Vegetables, Cheese and Fish based on Image Processing using Computer Vision and Deep Learning: A Review. It consists of a comprehensive review of image processing, computer vision and deep learning techniques applied to carry out analysis of fruits, vegetables, cheese and fish.This part also serves as a literature review for Part II.Part II: GuavaNet: A deep neural network architecture for automatic sensory evaluation to predict degree of acceptability for Guava by a consumer. This part introduces to an end-to-end deep neural network architecture that can predict the degree of …

Learning With Limited Labeled Data In Biomedical Domain By Disentanglement And Semi-Supervised Learning, Prashnna Kumar Gyawali

Theses

In this dissertation, we are interested in improving the generalization of deep neural networks for biomedical data (e.g., electrocardiogram signal, x-ray images, etc). Although deep neural networks have attained state-of-the-art performance and, thus, deployment across a variety of domains, similar performance in the clinical setting remains challenging due to its ineptness to generalize across unseen data (e.g., new patient cohort).

We address this challenge of generalization in the deep neural network from two perspectives: 1) learning disentangled representations from the deep network, and 2) developing efficient semi-supervised learning (SSL) algorithms using the deep network.

In the former, we are interested …

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 …

Coastal Watershed Monitoring And Management: Geomorphology, Geochemistry, And Hydrologic Modeling Of Los Peñasquitos Creek, Ca, Ravleen Khalsa-Basra

Theses

Rivers in semi-arid climates are directly influenced by local geographic and hydrologic conditions and impacted by modifications to hydrology via urbanization. Changes can influence erosion, morphology, habitat sustainability, and watershed health. In highly urbanized southern California coastal regions, these rare open spaces provide vital ecosystem services. Los Peñasquitos Creek in San Diego County is one such watershed. Using stream surveying and laboratory methods we quantified channel characteristics, grain size distribution, total metal concentration [M], organic carbon (%OC), and phosphate to longitudinally characterize the creek for improved management. Results identified three distinct reaches in the watershed (upper, middle, lower). Downstream, depth …

Communication At The Core: Exploring Decision-Making When Communication Is At The Heart Of An Organisation’S Strategy Development, Sinead Hewson

Theses

This investigation considers whether the position, territory and scope of the public relations function in organisations influences strategic thinking, decision-making, and results. Scholars say communication is a strategic management function and has a significant role to play (Grunig J.E., Dozier and IABC Research Foundation 1992, pp. 325–356; Kitchen, 1997, pp. 43–73). Yet, the strategic expertise of communicators is neither understood nor acknowledged outside of the sector. The study’s investigation into the issue and level of access to industry opinion-makers adds to the strategy discussion, while the proposed model of Adaptive Communication contributes to new knowledge.

Predicting, Monitoring And Controlling The Growth Of Listeria In Complex Food Matrices, Laura Mary Nyhan

Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen which is a significant challenge in food production, particularly for ready-to-eat (RTE) products. Incidence of Listeria in RTE foods can be reduced by the application of intelligent combinations of preservative factors or hurdles, while data quantifying the efficacy of hurdle combinations can be exploited and used in the area of predictive microbiology. Traditional culture-based techniques, such as viable plate counts, are commonly used to monitor the growth/survival of microorganisms in foods, however these methods are tedious, time-consuming and due to their destructive nature, are associated with low reproducibility and high variability. Therefore, rapid, non-invasive …

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 …

Lighting Up The Black Box –Digital Transformation In German Lobbying, Kathrin Barabara Stürmer

Theses

Digital transformation, alongside social media channels, influences policymaking. The aim of this research is to build knowledge of the consequences of digital transformation on lobbying at German federal level. This analysis uncovers how digital lobbying works in Germany and how it changes classic communication within the political sphere. Taking a grounded theory approach, the study addresses both communicating sides: lobbyists, on the one hand, and members of the German Bundestag and their employees, on the other. A profound understanding of, and differentiation between, lobbying and digital lobbying is gained through a first data-gathering step of 15 interviews with representatives of …

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 …

An Exploration Of Experiential Marketing In The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry: Development Of The Experiential Marketing Implementation Model And The Return On Integrated Experience Formula, Holly Anne Barry

Theses

The nature of brand-customer relationships has long been the focus of marketers’ attentions, however, the competitive environment of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry in the modern era, has significantly elevated the importance of that relationship in the literature. This is primarily due to the evolution of consumers’ needs and wants and their growing expectation of brands playing a key role in their daily lives. As a result, brands face the challenge of trying to communicate with their target audience through a multitude of marketing communications tools that both engages and excites them, while at the same time building effective memory …

Smart Ageing And Renewal Through Entrepreneurial Skills Training, Sarah Davis

Theses

Globally, while the population is ageing, only 3% of older (≥65 years) adults are engaged in entrepreneurship. The Healthy Ageing agenda is responding to the population trends by increasing its focus on elements of active or productive ageing (incorporating older working) with quality of life as a primary outcome. Alignment and exploitation of the synergies between healthy ageing and older entrepreneurial engagement are lacking. Entrepreneurship education is broadening its focus and targeting inclusivity, albeit with as yet little focus on the older population. Older entrepreneurship, while tentatively linked with increased quality of life, has yet to receive direct attention in …

Material Handling System For An Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Environment, Con Cronin

Theses

A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is a method of production that is designed to easily adapt to changes in the type and quantity of the product being manufactured. Machines and computerised systems can be configured to manufacture a variety of parts and to handle the changing levels of production that is required. The aim of this project was to investigate the current manufacturing processes of Kostal Ireland GmbH with the aim of developing a bespoke prototype material handling system to achieve flexible manufacturing. Kostal Ireland GmbH currently do not have the ability to change their manufacturing operations easily when a …