Digital Commons Network^™

Catholic Agency In International Society: An International Relations Analysis Of The Santa Marta Group, Marianne L. Rozario

Theses

This research examines the issue of Catholic agency in the academic discipline of International Relations (IR). Situated in the IR discourse on religion, its investigation is based on a select Catholic initiative in the international anti-slavery realm named the Santa Marta Group (SMG). It is a transnational Catholic-initiated and led coalition of predominantly Catholic and state actors collectively working together to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking. I specifically analyse dimensions of the SMG from April 2014 to May 2018. Methodologically, a mixed-methods approach is adopted, combining a desk review and key informant interviews. This thesis has two interrelated questions …

Martuwarra First Law Multi-Species Justice Declaration Of Interdependence: Wellbeing Of Land, Living Waters, And Indigenous Australian People, Anne Poelina

Theses

The thesis is comprised of experiential research, poetry, film and peer reviewed publications, and book chapters culminating in twelve chapters and two appendices. The study is in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. The study used an Indigenous decolonising research paradigm. It calls for a powerful policy and investment approach to the planning and development of regional governance. The author engaged ‘cooperative participative inquiry’ with leaders from six independent Indigenous Nations. These Nations are connected through Warloongarriy, the First Law for Martuwarra, the Fitzroy River.

First law is the spirit that connects all things and promotes multispecies justice through …

Elucidation Of Multi-Origin Inula Helenium L. For Antimicrobial Activity And Heavy Metal Profiling As An Exemplar For The Use And Regulation Of Plants As Antibiotics., Ciara Ruth Kenny

Theses

An impending post-antibiotic era looms, thus new sources of therapeutic chemical entities are crucial to sustain effective antimicrobial chemotherapy worldwide. Plant natural products are a source of accessible, structurally diverse compounds that provide therapeutic potential. The pharmacological applications of plants in medicine can be guided by the attestation of traditional use or the application of this knowledge to uncover new leads in the drug discovery process. The range of modified in vitro methods commonly used to investigate preclinical antimicrobial efficacy of plant-derived natural products, and the associated limitations and challenges in the provision of new antimicrobial drugs from plants is …

Evaluation Of A ‘Well-Elderly’ Physical Activity Programme, Robert Purcell

Theses

Both in Ireland and internationally people are living longer and there is an increasing proportion of older adults in the population (Clark 2020). As such, the maintenance of health and physical function for older adults is of critical importance. Physical activity is widely acknowledged as being crucial for the maintenance of positive health, particularly for older adults (Spartano et al., 2019). Research has suggested that physical activity programmes are an effective means of engaging older adults in physical activity for the promotion of positive health (Sherrington et al., 2017). The central aim of this research project was to explore the …

Artisanal Mining Impacts In Urbanized Semi-Arid Environments: Lessons From Historic Arsenic Mining Near San Diego, California, James A. Wright

Theses

Anomalously elevated arsenic concentrations occur at an abandoned artisanal mine site in an open space recreational park in urban San Diego County, California. Although mining at the site ceased 100 years ago little to no remediation efforts took place leaving shafts, adits, waste piles and derelict infrastructure accessible by inquisitive hikers and adventurers frequenting Black Mountain Open Space Park. This study evaluates the geochemical mechanisms of As transport downgradient from the mine and examines the contribution of both climate and urbanization on the restriction of As mobility. Sediment As concentrations reach 2,320 mg/kg (483 times background crustal concentrations; n=73) along …

Ergonomic Assessment Of A New Back Table For Perioperative Nurses, Ketan Prakash Thakur

Theses

Perioperative nurses use back tables (BT) to set up instruments for surgeries consisting of a single surface requiring repetitive lifting due to the stacked trays of surgery tools. Since such actions lead to increased physical (heavyweight of trays) and cognitive (reduced visibility and increased access time) demand, the new DinamicOR table (DT) has been developed. DT has the height adjustment capability and can add up to two shelves providing an extra working area for nurses. We evaluated DT vs. BT by conducting a laboratory experiment involving 16 participants, estimating the kinematics, kinetics, and collecting their subjective feedback, NASA task load …

Model Extraction And Adversarial Attacks On Neural Networks Using Side-Channel Information, Tommy Li

Theses

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have gained significant popularity in the last decade for solving narrow AI problems in domains such as healthcare, transportation, and defense. As ANNs become more ubiquitous, it is imperative to understand their associated safety, security, and privacy vulnerabilities. Recently, it has been shown that ANNs are susceptible to a number of adversarial evasion attacks - inputs that cause the ANN to make high-confidence misclassifications despite being almost indistinguishable from the data used to train and test the network. This thesis explores to what degree finding these examples may be aided by using side-channel information, specifically power …

Cold Storage Work And Cold Protective Gloves – A Review, Daena Charles

Theses

The rise of e-commerce and the increasing demand for online grocery shopping and delivery has prompted the growth of warehouse workers subjected to cold temperature working conditions. To ensure food safety and the preservation of inventory, majority of these e-grocery warehouses are cold storage with temperatures from 10°C to -23°C. Exposure to such cold working environments can have effects on the workers comfort, performance and health. As the demand for workers in cold temperature environments increases, it is important to understand how this environment affects the workers and the challenges it may present.

This review evaluates how working in cold …

Human Activity Recognition Using Wearable Sensors: A Deep Learning Approach, Jialun Xue

Theses

In the past decades, Human Activity Recognition (HAR) grabbed considerable research attentions from a wide range of pattern recognition and human–computer interaction researchers due to its prominent applications such as smart home health care. The wealth of information requires efficient classification and analysis methods. Deep learning represents a promising technique for large-scale data analytics. There are various ways of using different sensors for human activity recognition in a smartly controlled environment. Among them, physical human activity recognition through wearable sensors provides valuable information about an individual’s degree of functional ability and lifestyle. There is abundant research that works upon real …

Impact Of The Emergency Use Authorization On Ventilator Innovation, Krista Stanislow

Theses

Innovation in the medical device industry is crucial to continuously improve the health and wellbeing of society. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices on the market while balancing the need for continuous innovation. One way the FDA has tried to support innovation is through the development of the 510(k) pathway, which does not require clinical testing as the safety of the device is determined based on a predicate device. Many companies choose to develop products that can obtain approval through the 510(k) pathway. While the 510(k) pathway is …

Social Isolation, Fear Of Missing Out, And Social Media Use In Deaf And Hearing College Students, Conor Lake

Theses

This study investigated the relationships between social isolation, fear of missing out, self-esteem, and social media usage, and whether these relationships are different in deaf and hearing college students. Data were collected from 191 individuals (46 Deaf/Hard of Hearing, 145 hearing) via an online survey. Variables included number of social media accounts, time spent (in hours) on social media, number of times per day social media is accessed, FOMO, social media use, hearing status/identity, self-esteem, social isolation, and social media disorder. Correlational tests were conducted separately for hearing and for Deaf/HH participants. The groups had an unequal distribution of gender, …

The Role And Mechanism Of Cytochrome P450 1b1 On The Development Of Atherosclerosis; Producing The Animation For Visual Communication And Education., Joon Yeol Ryu

Theses

A large number of people are suffering from cardiovascular disease and losing their lives because of it. Atherosclerosis, a classic example of cardiovascular disease, is related to cytochrome p450 1B1 and other molecules in the development of the disease. Educational materials for patients and students on this topic are expected.

Advantage, role and effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D) animation as a communication tool in biomedical science research and education have been proved. Therefore, 3D animation is a suitable medium to create visual material for atherosclerosis and related subject.

Autodesk Maya 3D computer graphics software used for animation from modeling to animating …

Incorporating Electrical Trucks And Automated Container Stacking System In The Ports For Sustainable And Efficient Operations, Maryam Ali Alzaabi, Mariam Ali Abdulla

Theses

In our research we discuss the sustainability and efficiency advantages that come from switching from diesel to electrical trucks and the use of the automated container stacking system in the context of a port operation as an integral part of the economy that contributes to the progress of any city. The main objective is to explore the methods that can be applied to ensure the success of these initiatives, cost barriers, pre-requisites and challenges that go with this decision. In this research our findings demonstrate that switching to electrical trucks instead of diesel significantly reduces the level of emissions, lowers …

Automatic Pain Assessment Through Facial Expressions, Ilham Seladji

Theses

Pain is a strong symptom of diseases. Being an involuntary unpleasant feeling, it can be considered as a reliable indicator of health issues. Pain has always been expressed verbally, but in some cases, traditional patient self-reporting is not efficient. On one side, there are patients who have neurological disorders and cannot express themselves accurately, as well as patients who suddenly lose consciousness due to an abrupt faintness. On another side, medical staff working in crowded hospitals need to focus on emergencies and would opt for the automation of the task of looking after hospitalized patients during their entire stay, in …

A Comparative Study On Statistical And Machine Learning Forecasting Methods For An Fmcg Company, Zenah Yaser Alzubaidi

Theses

Demand forecasting has been an area of study among scholars and businessmen ever since the start of the industrial revolution and has only gained focus in recent years with the advancements in AI. Accurate forecasts are no longer a luxury, but a necessity to have for effective decisions made in planning production and marketing. Many aspects of the business depend on demand, and this is particularly true for the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry where the high volume and demand volatility poses a challenge for planners to generate accurate forecasts as consumer demand complexity rises. Inaccurate demand forecasts lead to multiple …

The Portrayal Of African Immigrants: A Framing Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage, Oluwatosin Arowosola

Theses

Immigration has been an interesting subject to the public and a prominent issue that cannot be ignored. Issues such as immigration policies and reforms, fear of immigrants bringing crime, immigrants taking jobs from native-born families, and many more. With the growth of African immigrants increasing in the United States (Pew Research, 2017), and new immigration policies put in place in 2017 during the first year of President Trump’s presidency, this study investigates how African immigrants are portrayed in The New York Times Newspaper. Using Framing theory, this study employed the content analysis method and examined newspaper articles published from 2017 …

Combating Human Trafficking: Assessing Justice Systems Response, Carly Stephens

Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to examine and assess justice system efforts in combating human trafficking; more specifically sex trafficking. The goal was to understand how efforts of combating human trafficking started, how they progressed, and to explore where efforts remain at this time. Additionally, the goal was to identify and understand what is working in law enforcement, human trafficking courts, and policy. This included identifying issues such as disparity in law enforcement reporting, lack of recognition of sex trafficking, and outdated policies. To assess these issues, this project utilized human trafficking data available through the FBI Uniform Crime …

Suicide By Cop: A Secondary Analysis Using Open-Source News Data, Mckayla Nolan

Theses

Suicide by cop (SBC) has recently become a known phenomenon in the United States, Canada, Australia and parts on the United Kingdom as another way to complete suicide (Patton & Fremouw,2015). SBC refers to when an individual creates a scenario in which law enforcement agencies are called and have to use deadly force in order to protect themselves and the people around the individual who is attempting to take their life (Mohandie, Meloy, & Collins, 2009). The term suicide by cop was originally coined by a police officer and psychologist Karl Harris in 1983 and is the term that is …

Implementation Of Cloud Services By Using Real-Time Analysis To Reduce Energy Consumption, Ghaith Ahmed Al Zubairi

Theses

Through the continual application of sensors, wireless networking, network communication and cloud computing technology, vast volumes of data are increasingly collected in the energy sector which needs to be utilized for effective management. In this project, the overall perspective is to analyze energy consumption data collected from households’ smart meters in London and combining it with the application of cloud data technology. I will explore and utilize a state-of-the-art cloud service infrastructure to analyze and make smart decisions on managing energy usage. There is interest in using data mining techniques and time series for machine learning modelling to deliver a …

Fda Regulation Impact On Early Stage Medical Device Innovation In Academia, Keyana Fariello

Theses

The commercialization of medical products at the university level is a multilayered and challenging process. One barrier to commercialization is the difficulty of meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory requirements. Regulations and standards are undoubtedly necessary to maintain the highest product safety levels, but it creates many obstacles. This paper will analyze how researchers involved with early-stage medical device innovation in a university setting deal with FDA compliance issues and the implications of this engagement for innovation. I conducted an exploratory case study of ten medical product development projects at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Overall, I found …

Bringing Batavia Armory Building Back To Life – Community Center Adaptive Reuse Design, Jiangcheng Li

Theses

Built in 1963 and situated on a 4.6-acre lot in the City of Batavia, the Batavia Armory once housed tank battalions A and B of the Genesee National Guard, but has now remained vacant for decades. Instead of demolishing the armory buildings, providing them with a new role could alleviate the environmental impact, reduce construction time, and lower the cost of investment. At the same time, new features could be brought into the existing building from aesthetic and functional perspectives, and be beneficial to the community. Currently, we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic, and the virus impacts our lives and …

Exposure To Pesticides And Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hcc) Risk In And Around Monroe County, Ny, Theodros Woldeyohannes

Theses

The impact of long-term exposure and persistence of pesticides in the environment on human biology is not completely understood. With the proliferation of pesticide application technologies, there have been documented associations between exposure to every major functional group of pesticide and adverse health effects in humans such as cancer and neurological disease. Of observed pesticide-induced cancer health-risks, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has shown some of the most significant associations. Epidemiological study is complex, especially when examining pesticide health risks. It is difficult to understand the significance behind interactions between the large list of pesticide compounds, external environmental factors, and biological variables. …

Effects Of Eye Imagery On Criminal Justice And Forensic Students Cheating In Online Testing, Kortni Larue

Theses

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a well-established subsection of environmental criminology in which aspects of the environment are altered in order to prevent crimes before they happen. This is primarily accomplished in two ways: physical and psychological. CPTED strategies often utilize both in order to prevent crime, but there is a lack of primarily psychologically based research in circulation. This includes the manipulation of the biopsychological response to gaze detection in order to increase prosocial behavior. Additionally, there is a lack of studies indicating if CPTED strategies are effective in a classroom setting and even less concerning online …

Finding A Wells Way: Using Sustainability Metrics To Determine Best Practices For Relocating Wells Barns, Sara P. Hall

Theses

Serving as a visual representation of a different time and place, barns and agricultural architecture across America have both historical and cultural values that are imitable. Evoking a strong sense of nostalgia and simplicity, barns are an often-overlooked architectural typology worth preserving. Native to Western New York, historical Wells style barns have served as an iconic agricultural symbol since the late 1800s. As the means and methods of agriculture change with technological development, more and more of these exemplary structures are becoming neglected and obsolete. Typically located in remote, rural areas, this thesis looks to determine alternate, sustainable options in …

Digime: An Interactive Experience To Ease The Education Of Social Information Sharing, Kexin 'Coco' Wang

Theses

Ever since digital and social media activities made their way into our day-to-day lives, things have become very different. People are continuously glued to their mobile devices, including children. Besides the tv screen time, mobile media time for 0-to-8 year-olds has tripled between 2013 and 2017, from an average of 15 minutes per day to 48 minutes per day1. As digital exposure is increasing at earlier ages, the danger of social information sharing increases as well.

Children do not often realize that they are giving out a vast quantity of their personal information, and even their parents' to the internet …

Mental Illness Campaigns, Yiming Cui

Theses

The target population of the research is people with mental diseases. It aims to study the symptoms of their illnesses and to understand the pain they encounter from the perspective of these patients. Based on that, this research combines with strong visual design and creative layout, presents art posters with impact and influence. The purpose of the research is to give mental patients recognition, encouragement and care to a certain extent through the art form of posters. This series consists of five posters, each poster describes the five most common mental illnesses in the United States, which are anxiety, obsessive-compulsive …

The Role Of Ai & Big Data In Habit Formation, Jingyu Cao

Theses

Forming habits are not easy for everyone. It requires professional methods and strong perseverance, which people usually feel hard to do by themself. However, people are eager to form good habits to have a better life.

This study aims to determine how AI & big data could help people to form habits. There are many applications on the market that already use this method to study user behavior in order to provide better service. My research has focused on how to conduct the personal plan and its effects on the action.

In this context, Marvelous is defined as the AI …

Algal Wrack Community Composition And Succession On A Sandy Beach In San Diego, Ca, Marisol Palomares

Theses

Sandy beaches are high-energy impact zones that produce little to no organic material. Much of the organic matter on beaches is washed up on shore in the form of algal wrack, providing a vital source of nutrients, food, and habitat for a variety of organisms on the sandy beach. Over time wrack will decay and decompose, releasing nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus, which are consumed by benthic microalgae and bacteria. The type of wrack and geomorphology of the beach environments affect decomposition, which in turn supports a variety of different wrack associated macrofaunal communities. Different species of algal wrack will …

Reducing Body Contact Using Smart Mobile App And Machine Learning Soltutions, Rashed Saeed Abdulrahman Shaliya

Theses

The physical contact or the daily body interaction with people by shaking hands, using electronic and payment cards or touching objects such as devices, pens, access cards and gates, all these habits increase the proportion of spreading microbes, viruses and spread diseases among the people all over the world. This project illustrates how body contact can lead to a global disaster by spreading dangerous diseases and deadly viruses among people because of their daily dealings and routine. Analytical techniques were used to explore the relevant data and visualize how body contact increases the infection of a disease to become a …

A Convolutional Neural Network (Cnn) Based Pill Image Retrieval System, Ezekiel Adebayo Adewumi

Theses

Several works have been done in the area of image retrieval systems, and many are still trying to provide improvements for a better model for retrieving said images. Image segmentation using clustering techniques is one of the most used approaches. There are various clustering methods available, but the non-linear k-means clustering technique is the most used method. In the following research, a model of retrieving images using a non-linear classifier aided with a convolutional neural network is proposed. Both algorithms were exploited and paired in terms of feature extraction and classification. Comprehensive evaluations over a dataset containing over 7,000 pill …