Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Tio2/Nh2-Mil-125 Nanocomposite For The Removal Of Ciprofloxacin Under Induced Solar Irradiation, Bilkis Mojisola Ajiwokewu

Theses

This research focuses on the development and application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)-based nanocomposites for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, with a specific emphasis on ciprofloxacin (CIP). The photocatalytic degradation of CIP was investigated using as-synthesized photocatalysts of TiO₂ nanowires (TiO₂NWs), bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125, TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite, and Lanthanum (La)-doped composite. Intriguingly, the TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving a photodegradation rate of 0.0111 min-1, surpassing the independent performances of bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125 and TiO₂NW. The observed efficiency was attributed to …

Study On The Chemical Composition And Antioxidant Activities Of Essential Oil Extracted From Horwoodia Dicksoniae Growing In The Uae, Salama Sari Al Mansoori

Theses

Plant-derived substances including essential oils, secondary metabolites and other chemical substances are gaining attention due to their broad spectrum use in different fields. Native medicinal plants can play a key role in the healthcare field in any country. Horwoodia dicksoniae is a native endangered plant in UAE. The current study is about the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of H. dicksoniae’s essential oil as well as the evaluation of growth of this native endangered plant under different environmental conditions. For this purpose, the first step included confirmation of the viability of seeds obtained from a seed bank following the …

Deconstruction Of Body Representation Of The Back In Healthy Back Pain-Free Individuals And People With Chronic Low Back Pain, Simon Pratt

Theses

Changes in various body representations have been increasingly investigated and subsequently posited to be potentially important factors in the development and maintenance of chronic low back pain. Three main domains of body representation are considered here: body model, body schema (comprising superficial and postural schema), and body image. Most studies informing our contemporary understanding of these body representations have been undertaken in areas such as the hand and forearm, with a comparative dearth of studies performed on the low back. Consequently, this thesis consists of a comprehensive investigation of body representation initially in healthy back pain-free individuals and then in …

Analysing The Prevalence Of Servant Leadership Characteristics And Cultural Values In A Uae-Based Multinational And Multicultural Workforce, Richard John Atkinson

Theses

In an increasingly virtual, pandemic-affected working environment, cross-cultural and people-centric leadership approaches are needed. Scholars have explored leadership effectiveness under different conditions and influences. However, in the body of leadership literature, there is scant attention to the variance across cultures for servant leadership to manage workers effectively.

This mixed-methods study explores whether servant leadership relates to cultural characteristics across three different nationalities in a UAE-based multinational organisation, providing a more comprehensive understanding of these relationships and differences and employees' perceptions. The quantitative method is examined using context-specific knowledge and the qualitative method explores the nuances of participant responses making the …

The Perception Of Year 11 Students In Catholic Secondary Schools Towards Christian Service-Learning, Salvatore Pietro De Luca

Theses

The purpose of this research was to firstly, explore the perceptions of Year 11 students in four Catholic secondary schools in Western Australia towards Christian Service-Learning (CSL), and secondly to assist improvement in the delivery of CSL programs through an understanding of the students’ perceptions. The study explored Year 11 student perceptions regarding their understandings of CSL, as well what they perceived to be the benefits, challenges, and impacts of participating in a CSL program. A key informant (KI) from each school provided contextual understanding about the CSL program within their school and how the program is delivered within the …

Ngala Kaditjiny ’Our Culture’, Barbara Bynder

Theses

In this study I explored some of the key components of Noongar cultural practice that remain embedded within Noongar society today yet have adapted, changed, and evolved over time and demonstrate that there remains a sense of duty and commitment among Noongar women to follow cultural values and value systems that determine rights, responsibility, and obligation during the practice of disputes.

The target group for this inquiry is Noongar women, The target group is made up of nine Noongar women who shared their personal story, a group of senior Noongar women called the Kookaburra Club who guided me through the …

Lived Experiences Of Former Secondary School Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Phenomenological Study, Dinoshi Sajivini Keiper

Theses

This study was an exploration of the lived experiences of students with ADHD in the Australian secondary school classroom in identifying factors influencing their learning outcomes. Students with ADHD face short-term issues, such as strained relationships with teachers, peers, and parents, a lack of relatedness and engagement with school, late arrival and absenteeism, and high drop-out rates, leading to poor academic outcomes (Dembo et al., 2016; Fried et al., 2016). In the long-term, their poor academic achievements have led to many other negative outcomes including psychological conditions, under-employment, substance abuse, criminality, and an overall poorer quality of life, causing significant …

First Nations Children: Investigating Elements For A Successful Education Model, Frances Mccarthy

Theses

This study was undertaken at the request of and in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community members and families, and educators. These First Nations participants allowed the study to explore what might contribute to the creation of a successful model of education for First Nations children to lead them to be successful contributing members of the community.

The cultural interface theory is the theoretical framework used in the design of this research project. Through the implementation of the phenomenographic methodology, knowledge was gathered through semi-structured interviews with participants. By listening and questioning, a picture of the educational …

Uncovering The Link Between Diabetes And Pulmonary Hypertension, Nishant Nundlall

Theses

Background

Diabetes is a common disorder in the general population with most studies focusing on its role on the left ventricle and coronary artery disease, however it effects on pulmonary hypertension (PH) have not been fully studied. There is a pressing need to more completely explore the cardiovascular impacts of diabetes. The impact of diabetes might vary according to the various forms of PH, their predominant contribution is likely to be in PH due to left heart disease (group II, the most common form of PH).

Thus far, most studies have offered a focussed perspective with data from specialised referral …

Teachers’ Perspectives And Practices For Ameliorating Dysregulation In School-Aged Children Through Trauma-Informed Education Practice, Linda Lane

Theses

The research investigates Western Australian (WA) teachers’ understanding of the impact of trauma-informed education practice. The main research question, which forms the basis of the study, is How do the trauma-informed education practices, currently being used in Western Australian public schools, impact the capacity of children to self-regulate their behaviour? The literature examines the impact of unresolved trauma on the developing child and reviews the trauma-informed education practices that are designed to ameliorate the negative effects of trauma. The research also investigates the trauma-informed practices that are currently being used in WA public school classrooms, as described by teachers, and …

"Where You Do Not Wish To Go": Petrine Ministry Between Charism And Institution, In The Thought Of Erich Przywara And Hans Urs Von Balthasar, Daniel Uremovic

Theses

Since the First Vatican Council’s solemn definition of papal primacy and infallibility, the Catholic ecclesial consciousness has been shaped by a unique form of devotion to the office of the Supreme Pontiff. While the scope of these charisms had been clearly defined and delimited, a sentiment described as “creeping infallibility” has nevertheless complicated the proper understanding of the Petrine office and its demands on the faithful. Before the episcopal college, local church communities, the laity at large, and the individual churchman, this office has been regularly viewed in tensions that feel the prerogatives either of institution or charism threated. Even …

The Cumulative Incidence And Site Of Recurrent Metastatic Breast Cancer And Post-Metastasis Survival Of Females With An Initial Diagnosis Of Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer In New South Wales, Sarah Jane Lord

Theses

This dissertation aimed to investigate the population-level incidence, site, and survival of recurrent metastatic breast cancer (rMBC) occurring after stage I−III breast cancer, and changes over time. Breast cancer mortality has declined over the last 30 years due to advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. However, the impact of improved cancer care on rMBC is not yet well understood because cancer registries do not routinely report on cancer recurrence (Chapter 1). A systematic review of 20 population-based studies provided evidence of improvements in survival for people with de novo metastatic breast cancer (stage IV at diagnosis) since 1995 in high-income …

Optimising Care For Musculoskeletal Conditions To Reduce Burden On Hospital Emergency Department And Orthopaedic Services, Piers Truter

Theses

Worldwide health care systems are under increasing pressure due to aging amongst ever growing populations with increasing co-morbidity and treatment options (WA DoH, 2019). Furthermore, how people choose to engage with health care and access and literacy for health information is also changing, as is understanding of the factors associated with good health outcomes. These changes are driving evolution in health care delivery. There is a need for high quality and sustainable models of care accompanied by judicious evaluation of impact in terms of health services deliverables and the consumer experience of care. This thesis explores the feasibility and applicability …

An Investigation Into The Nature Of The Knee Pain Experience In People With Knee Osteoarthritis, Gemma Mary Orange

Theses

Knee osteoarthritis poses a substantial and escalating socioeconomic burden globally, exacerbated by demographic trends towards an aging population, sedentary lifestyles and increasing obesity rates. Defined by knee pain and functional limitations (Wood et al., 2023; Zhang, Doherty, et al., 2010), traditional approaches have viewed knee OA related pain and disability primarily through a biomedical lens, linking symptoms directly to structural damage and advocating surgical interventions such as total knee arthroplasty to address presumed causative pathology (Bunzli et al., 2019; Darlow et al., 2018). Despite the capacity of surgery to ameliorate structural pathology, patient centred outcomes vary considerably. Up to 30% …

Access, Security, And Trust: Balancing Agencies' Need-To-Access Encrypted Data With Digital Security And Public Trust In Australian Government's Policy Approaches To Law Enforcement And National Security, Stephen Anthony Haydon

Theses

In the 21st Century, governments around the world are confronted by the challenges of policing against serious crime, terrorism, and other malicious-actor threats in an increasingly complex and convoluted digital landscape. Accelerating social changes and advances in secure and anonymising technologies (including end-to-end encryption) are providing regular frustrations to law enforcement and intelligence organisations. These agencies must detect, deter, and disrupt the threats to lives, public safety, and national security posed by malicious foreign and domestic actors who are utilising such technologies to communicate securely and ‘go dark’ online. Accessing encrypted data to identify and investigate these threats frequently requires …

Sms : A Smartwatch Application Suite For Mobility Assessment, Suresh Avula

Theses

Regular assessment of mobility can detect changes in physical health over time and discover underlying health issues. Some of these changes in mobility may indicate an increased risk of falls, which can lead to serious injuries. Identifying mobility changes can help prevent these incidents. Wearable technology can facilitate mobility tests at home and alert caregivers or medical professionals to any irregularities and promote proactive healthcare. Adoption of smartwatches with various built-in sensors like accelerometer and gyroscope creates new opportunities for wearable health monitoring. We developed the Smartwatch Application Suite to evaluate functional mobility using standard mobility tests: Timed Up and …

Interactions Of Caffeine With Anticancer Drugs Studied By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Baylee Parish

Theses

Caffeine can form stacking through pi-pi interactions with aromatic anticancer drugs. While caffeine can reduce the toxicity of the anticancer drugs, caffeine can also reduce the efficacy of the anticancer drugs. Aromatic anticancer drugs, such as daunorubicin and irinotecan, work by intercalating into DNA. When caffeine binds to an anticancer drug, the new complex formed cannot easily intercalate into DNA strands. Through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, chemical shift values for pure caffeine, daunorubicin, and irinotecan, as well as, caffeine mixed with daunorubicin and irinotecan were analyzed. Different concentrations for the pure compounds and the mixtures were analyzed by NMR. …

The Impact Of The 2018 Camp Fire On Land-Atmosphere Interactions, Andrew C. Blackford

Theses

Research on the effects of wildfire-induced changes in land use and land cover (LULC) on atmospheric processes is limited. This thesis presents a thorough analysis using satellite remote sensing and numerical modeling to examine how land-atmosphere interactions have been altered by the burn scar from the 2018 Camp Fire event in California. Satellite data reveals significant changes in surface characteristics affecting land-atmosphere interactions, such as land cover type, vegetation fraction (-0.12), albedo (+0.01), daytime temperature (+2.5 K), and roughness length (>-90%). Numerical modeling, based on satellite-derived LULC change scenarios, indicates notable shifts in net radiation (-0.2 MJ m-2), sensible …

Small Molecule Modulation Of The P75 Neurotrophin Receptor Attenuates Neurodegeneration In An In Vitro Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Poshan Pokharel

Theses

The p75 Neurotrophin Receptor (p75NTR) is a multifunctional transmembrane protein expressed in distinct regions of the adult nervous system. p75NTR regulates various functions, including neuronal survival or apoptosis interacting with coreceptors Trk receptors or sortilin. Activation of p75NTR occurs through proteolytic processing, and we previously demonstrated that oxidative stress induces activation of p75NTR in LUHMES cells, a neuronal cell line derived from the human ventral mesencephalon. Dopaminergic neurons of the ventral mesencephalon are vulnerable to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus, we evaluated the mechanisms behind p75NTR activation and its physiological implications in a PD model. …

Curation And Analysis Of Ai Ready Environmental Justice Datasets : A Proof-Of-Concept Study, Paridhi Parajuli

Theses

Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) advocates for unbiased distribution of environmental impacts across communities, regardless of social and economic characteristics. After extreme events like natural disasters, EEJ gains importance due to evident disparities in impact among communities. Addressing these injustices requires comprehensive datasets and analytical methods for quantification and resolution. While AI and advanced data analysis offer promising solutions, creating AI-ready EEJ datasets is challenging due to heterogeneity in the data surrounding EEJ. In this work, we focus on curating novel datasets for EEJ targeting a few recent extreme events - Maui Wildfire, Hurricane Harvey, and Hurricane Ida. We demonstrate …

Functionalizing Silicon Oxide Like Surfaces With Fatty Acids, Maman Sani Maman Brah Maman

Theses

The goal of this project was to make flat hydrophilic, silicon oxide-like surfaces hydrophobic. Using fatty acids in a wet chemistry approach. Glass, mica, and silicon wafer surfaces were cleaned with standard methods from the literature. The substrates were functionalized with oleic acid and stearic acid in ethyl alcohol. The solution concentration was held constant at 100 times a theoretical minimum concentration. The substrates were immersed at various functionalization times and various solution temperatures. Contact angle goniometer was used to measure the contact angle for water on the functionalized surfaces. The results confirmed that glass and oxidized silicon wafer surfaces …

The Effectiveness Of Online Video-Based Training Methods, Chloe L. Wood

Theses

Employee training is considered critical for organization success legitimacy. The present study investigated the effects of four different online training methods on post- test recall. Student participants from UAH viewed one of four types of videos covering diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts--generative scenarios in which participants generated a label for what the scenarios covered, descriptive scenarios that included a label, a control with scenarios, and a control with no scenarios. Scenarios involved school-based and work-based examples to assess how the relevance of context for student non-workers versus student-workers impacted recall. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed that across all four conditions …

Physiological Effects Of Facial Expressions During Cognitive And Social Stress, Emily X. Sorrells

Theses

This study explored the dynamics of facial expressions during stress. This 2 X 2 (Facial Expression by Task) mixed design evaluated how smiling and grimacing affected physiological and self-report measures of cognitive and social stress. The study implemented continuous monitoring of electrodermal activity (EDA). Facial expression was manipulated between-subjects as a genuine smile or grimace using chopsticks in the mouth. Task was manipulated as a counterbalanced within-subjects as a cognitive stressor using the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and a social stressor using Cyberball. Time was analyzed as repeated measures of change from baseline of EDA. Participants provided ratings …

Enhancing Accessibility : A Pilot Study For Context-Aware Image-Caption To American Sign Language (Asl) Translation, Oluwafolahanmi Adedamola Aluko

Theses

Since the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the explosion of Generative AI, much work has been done around image captioning, providing wildly accurate captions from still images, and more recently videos [3]. Alt-Text has improved dramatically with efforts to enhance context and sentiment captured during automated captioning. This thesis attempts to expand on a section on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its relevance to promoting accessibility and context-awareness in the premise of the American Sign Language (ASL) application. This thesis explores what it means to give full context about a caption or image to the end user, including sentiments, …

Assessing Neurobehavioral Deficits And Neuroinflammation Following Rllb In A Transgenic Mouse Model, Aakaash Gosain

Theses

As global conflicts are escalating, military personnel have long faced the constant threat of explosions, heightening the risk of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). The recent increase in war conflicts and combat zones worldwide not only puts the military, service members, and police forces at risk but also innocent civilians who are caught in the crossfire. While moderate to severe bTBIs have been extensively studied, the pathology of repeated low-level blasts (rLLB) remains less understood. This research addresses the gap in knowledge regarding the long-term consequences of rLLB injuries in the neural anatomy. A transgenic mouse model was subjected to …

The Effects Of Blue Light From Digital Displays On Visual Fatigue, Victor Taboadela

Theses

With the ever-increasing viewing time of digital displays, the potential effects of blue light emitted from these displays on eye health and eye fatigue are a real concern. This study presents a literature review of six laboratory studies conducted between 2014 and 2022 on the effect of using filters to attenuate the harmful effects of blue light. The review delves into smartphone and computer screen effects, recent literature reviews on blue light, and potential hazards associated with short-wavelength light. Although the majority of the studies recommended blue light filters, only three of the six laboratory studies (Shi et al. 2021, …

Evaluation Of Electrical Grid Resilience Based On Φλεπ Metrics And Integration Of A Nuclear Power Plant, Abdulla Darwish Alblooshi

Theses

This study analyzes electrical grid resilience, the evaluation methods, and resilience metrics, as well as the impact of a nuclear power plant as a base-load supplier on the resilience of an electrical grid during extreme events such as high-speed winds or hurricanes. The case study was implemented on a 10-generator 39-bus system (New England) using PowerWorld, and the data extraction and plotting were performed using MATLAB. The wind speeds, fragility curves, and time-to-restore function were randomly created based on previous models, and their values were extracted from MATLAB calculation using randomly generated but uniformly distributed wind speeds. The resilience metrics …

Characterization Of 3d Printed Lattice Structures Used In The Design Of Modified Compression Release Stabilized Transhumeral Prosthetic Sockets, Jade Myers

Theses

Abstract A prosthetic socket is the critical interface between a person and their prosthetic device. Pressure, shear, and friction experienced by the residual limb from wearing a socket can damage soft tissue. While Compression Release Stabilized (CRS) style sockets are beneficial for enhancing prosthesis stability, range of motion, and control, the abrupt differences in compression throughout the socket present risks for tissue damage to the residual limb. A socket design that enables clinicians to control a progressive decrease in firmness in the transition areas between compression and release could mitigate such undesirable effects. Density-graded lattice structures designed and produced with …

Visualizing Visual Neural Pathways In Virtual Reality A Neuroanatomy Tool, Mary Nguyen

Theses

Visualizing the human brain and its structures in three dimensions is a complex and overwhelming task. Sensory pathways such as visual neural pathways, are important but difficult to visualize. With the rising popularity of extended reality (XR) in modern education, a Neuroanatomy tool in virtual reality (VR) was developed to allow students and other learners to explore the human brain and learn about its functions in an engaging way. Virtual reality enables a user to have the ability to visualize complex structures in the brain in a way that is otherwise impossible to see in a cadaver lab or web-based …

Digital Fitness Support - Proplus, Weinan You

Theses

This thesis presents the design of a fitness app aimed at enhancing the workout experience by providing advanced video tracking and data visualization tools. Utilizing user-centric methods like personas, journey maps, competitive analysis, and user testing, the app features innovative video tracking for real-time feedback and a personal fitness log for tracking progress and physical changes. Findings indicate that such comprehensive tracking significantly boosts motivation, aids in continuous progress, and minimizes the risk of injuries and inefficiencies in workouts, demonstrating the app's potential to revolutionize fitness routines for enthusiasts.