Digital Commons Network^™

Active Oxygen Scavenging Film For Sliced Bread Packaging, Chayanit Wongpradit

Theses

The primary goal of this study is to develop value added, oxygen scavenging plastic film for extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of white sliced bread. Such film will benefit society by providing a product with extended shelf life that would match modern lifestyle, and potentially reduce food waste. The effects of the added oxygen scavenger in the packaging film on sliced bread qualities, the shelf life of sliced bread, and also properties of packaging film were investigated. Key findings of the study have demonstrated the development of active oxygen scavenging film, film characterization in chemical, morphological, mechanical, …

Determination Of The Ideal Plant Density Of Tomato Solanum Lycopersicum Under An Aquaponic Production System With Tilapia Oreochromis Aureus Under Uae Conditions, Mohamed Ahmed Al Dhanhani

Theses

Aquaponics is an agricultural system that saves water and fertilization and offers a way of growing plants without soil pest infestation or pesticide residues. This system ensures the production of hazardous chemical free food for humans. This system also ensures sustainability by creating a natural relationship between fish and plants and makes gardening more productive and economical.

Aquaponics system is a dynamic ecosystem that can be integrated to achieve food security through the production of fish and vegetables without the intervention of fertilizers.

The focus of this study is optimizing planting density of tomato in an aquaponics system; with assess …

Assessing The Influence Of Variable Cognitive Load On Fatigue Development And Recovery Of The First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle, Sidharajsinh Jadeja

Theses

Localized muscle fatigue (LMF) has been associated to many adverse effects on human performance and the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). While the development of LMF can be dependent on several factors, the influence of cognitive demands is still uncertain. This study analyzed the influence of varying levels of cognitive load for a simple biomechanical system involving static exertions at a moderate level (25% of maximum voluntary capacity). Participants performed 1-hour sessions of intermittent isometric abductions of the index finger for four experimental conditions including passive rest and added cognitive load in the form of an arithmetic task. Both …

Study Of Rheological, Chemical, And Microbiological Properties Of Chami, A Traditional Emirati Soft Cheese, Aysha Othman Abdullah Al Katheeri

Theses

In this work, ten Emirati Chami cheese samples were collected and analyzed to determine their chemical composition, texture, rheology, and microbiological properties. Chami cheeses showed large variations in moisture (60.9–84.1%), protein (7.5–14.6%), fat (0.5–7.8%), and ash (3.4–8.0%) contents as well as in pH (3.6–4.4), and water activity (0.977–0.999%). The variation in fat content of samples suggested that extra fat was added; this added fat was either butter or vegetable oil as indicated by the fatty acid composition. The different samples showed peaks of variable size for fat melting. The sodium content in the 10 cheese samples varied from 223–2410 mg/kg, …

Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging Of Populus Tremuloides Rhizosphere Nutrient Exchange Interactions With Laccaria Bicolor And Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Carli S. Salvador

Theses

Plants form interactions with other symbiotic organisms such as mycorrhizal fungus and bacteria in the rhizosphere; therefore, it is pivotal to understand the nutrient exchange that takes place. In this experiment, Populus tremuloides seedlings were grown on a thin, nutrient dense media for the control as well a limited-nitrogen media. Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging is used in this study to analyze nitrate and ammonium concentrations in the rhizosphere of P. tremuloides with Laccaria bicolor and Pseudomonas fluorescens after 7 weeks of growth. Plants were grown on low-emission slides in the first experiment; however, due to media thickness issues, Polyethylene and …

The Use Of Machine Learning To Detect Suckling In Pre-Weaned Calves, Sukumar Katamreddy

Theses

The weaning of cattle is a process which is known to be labour intensive and to have stressful effects on both cow and calf Common methods used in the weaning process include the temporary removal of a mother from the calf and manual observation and intervention. Early and speedy weaning is known to have a number of benefits, including health benefits for both cow and calf, additional weight gains for the calves as well as reduced labour and feed requirements. The process known as Two-Stage Weaning is recognised to be an effective low-stress approach to weaning in which the calf …

Parent Rated Importance Of Active Play And Organised Physical Activity For Young Children, Casey Murphy

Theses

Background: Children participate in less daily physical activity, both organised and informal, often referred to as active play (AP), than in the past. For young children, parents are primarily responsible for planning their child’s day including their engagement in physical activity.

Purpose: As there has been little research in this area, the purpose of this study was to examine how parents rated the importance of their child’s level of AP and organised physical activity (OPA), how this affected the amount of time their child participated in these activities, and whether their child’s physical activity (PA) related to their own level …

“First Time Here, I Didn’T Know It Was Hospital”. Travelling For Treatment: The Structural Complexities Identified Via The Stories Of Aboriginal Women Who Relocated For Treatment In The State Adult Burns Unit At Fiona Stanley Hospital., Tiffany Ryan

Theses

Background: International and national research confirms the disparity in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. Inequity of access to healthcare for remote and very remote Aboriginal people makes relocation for specialist medical services a necessity. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of relocation on Aboriginal patients admitted to the State Adult Burn Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Aims: This qualitative study sought to define and describe this experience of relocation, with a strong focus on structural complexities. Aboriginal women were asked to describe their experiences of relocating from remote and very remote communities to the …

The Ernie Els #Gameon Autism™ Golf Program For Young People With Autism: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Jerrome Suganthy Selvaraj

Theses

The first evaluation of the #GameON Autism^^ Golf Program was conducted outside of the USA by the UNESCO Chair, I.T. Tralee in conjunction with the Els for Autism Foundation in partnership with LD Golf Ltd. The central aim of this research study was to evaluate the efficacy of the #GameON Autism^ Golf Program on young people with autism (ASD), their families, PGA golf coach, and volunteers. The two main objectives of the research were to analyse the impact of the program on the socia/communication, motor, and golf skills of individuals with autism and to assess the potential for the #GameON …

The Role Of The Public Health Nurse In Rural Areas Of Kerry And Cork, Hannah Healy

Theses

Aim of Research: To understand and gain insight into the role of the Public Health nurse in rural communities in Kerry and Cork.

Background: Public health nursing is the single largest group in community care, current figure employed by the HSE stands at 1,438. Demographic, changes such as the increase in population coupled with the shift in care from the acute sector to primary care has provided many challenges to the PHN service .

Objective: Whilst there have been substantial reviews on the role and workload of the PHN in Ireland, there is limited qualitative research available on what the …

A Mixed Methods Sequential Explanatory Study Of Male Farmers' Health Beliefs, Attitudes And Practices In Rural Kerry, Chrystal O'Brien

Theses

Aim/Background: Beliefs and attitudes about health directly and indirectly influence concomitant behaviours, practices and health outcomes. In Ireland, male farmers are experiencing a disproportionate burden of ill health in preventable lifestyle diseases, yet there is a lack of behavioural research in relation to male farmers and their health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the health beliefs, attitudes and practices of male farmers in rural Kerry, and to explore healthcare professionals' insights of male farmers' health beliefs, attitudes and practices.

Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methods design. Phase one of the study involved structured interviews with …

Stuck, Whitney Walters

Theses

Stuck is six-minutes and five seconds in duration. The film starts in an artist’s studio, a blob creature gingerly applies paint to a canvas. The goopy creature is exhausted and slumps onto their canvas. It rests its head there, but is startled by an alarm and remembers something. The blob panics and seizes its portfolio before rushing off.

The blob sits in an office while a bored man flips through the portfolio and hands back the book. Rejected, the blob melts and flows out the door into a hallway of parody movie posters and a display case of ‘mockquettes.’ The …

Food Watch: Helping People To Live A Healthy Life, Jiaqi Yang

Theses

Food is one of the great pleasures of life. However, due to cultural backgrounds and physical conditions, the same food is not suitable for all consumers. Peanuts, dairy products, and wheat can be deadly for people with food allergies. These consumers must carefully check the ingredients of all of their food.

This article outlines a system that combines product labeling and mobile technology to help those with food allergies and food intolerances easily manage their diet and protect their health.

With this new system, a user with dietary restrictions only needs to scan a label barcode with a mobile phone …

"Falling Hair And Drilling Bone": A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Lives Of Adolescents Undergoing Chemotherapy, Rudolf Cymorr Kirby P. Martinez

Theses

This study, employing the interpretative phenomenological approach, explored the adolescents' experience of undergoing chemotherapy. Five (5) coresearchers were carefully chosen based on a present criteria set upon by the researcher and are as follows: 1) They are willing to articulate, share, participate, and describe their lived experiences, 2) They have undergone at least the second chemotherapy sessions, either as an in-patient or out patient, as one of their treatment modality for their cancer regardless of its type and severity. And 3) that they are adolescents between 12-18 years of age.

Automatic Protein Shake Freestyle Vending Machine, Balaji Salunkhe

Theses

This paper discusses the design and implementation of an automatic protein shake freestyle vending machine. This machine is capable of providing protein shakes as per the customer’s requirement. Customers are able to decide what kind of protein supplement they want according to their fitness needs, and they can give the appropriate instructions to the machine to prepare their protein drink by use of a touch system. Other customers, who are unable to decide or new to fitness supplements can choose a pre-designed drinks according to their personal fitness. As such, the machine gives the freedom of selection to the customer …

Evaluating The Effect Of Contextual Variables On Discounting Of Health Related Behaviors, Jessica Hubrich

Theses

The present study used a discounting task with differing contextual variables to examine how variables effect discounting between studies and future health related behaviors. Thirty nine participants completed two discounting questionnaires, each included hypothetical food choices paired with a weight loss or stable weight. Participants were instructed to complete each survey based on either their current weight or a gain of 75 pounds, and each survey included two identical hypothetical menu options. One menu incorporated low calorie foods, while the other incorporated moderately healthy foods, and participants were instructed to select the menu they preferred based on weight loss/no weight …

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For Children With Autism, Tiffany Thomas

Theses

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive lifelong developmental delay with a prevalence of 1 in 68 children. This growing epidemic occurs for unspecified causes and researchers continue to explore evidence-based treatments available. Parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT) is a parent training program, initially developed for implementation with typically-developing children. PCIT has shown effectiveness in increasing child compliance, minimizing disruptive problem, improving parent-child relationship satisfaction, and communication. The present study investigated the efficacy of PCIT as an evidence-based practice (EBP) for children with ASD by implementing a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across three participants. Results indicated socially significant increases in child …

Indoor Garden, Yuge Wang

Theses

A garden has a similar meaning in different cultures which is an expression of an individual’s or culture’s philosophy. It also has a long history in China. In the past, each Chinese scholar had an intimate garden which was a reflection of their inner world. But this garden culture was tightly connected with the lifestyle at that time. Many people living in modern society feel that they have lost their attachment to a traditional garden, which is too far away from daily life and only can be appreciated in a picture album. As a person who has a great interest …

Evaluation Of Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles For The Removal Of Heavy Metal Ions From Aqueous Media, Khaula A. Ai Jahoushi

Theses

Sorption is one of the most efficient techniques for the removal of heavy metal ions from waste water. It involves the use of solid materials, known as sorbents, which can be natural of synthetic in origin. Recently, synthetic nanomaterials of various compositions have been used as sorbents. Among these materials, calcium phosphate; also known as hydroxyapatite (HAp), and magnetite were previously investigated as potential sorbents. In the current study, commercial HAp, and magnetite nanoparticles as well as their physical and chemical mixtures were investigated as potential sorbents for the removal of Cd²⁺ ions from simulated wastewater. A comparison is made …

Moderators In The Relationship Between Child Maltreatment And Symptoms Of Depression, Sarah Nowalis

Theses

Experiencing child maltreatment is a risk factor for later psychopathology, however, not all survivors of child maltreatment go on to develop mental illness. Therefore, there are likely important moderators that interact with child maltreatment to contribute to the development of psychopathology. The present study examined attachment and stress severity of life events as possible moderators in the association between child maltreatment and later depressive symptomatology in a population of college students. Participants completed measures of attachment, stressful life events, current mood symptoms, and demographic information. An attachment style characterized by anxiety and avoidance, and greater cumulative stress severity were expected …

Determination Of Primordial And Anthropogenic Radionuclide Concentrations In Agricultural Soil Of The United Arab Emirates Using Gamma-Ray Spectrometry, Rahaf Moutaz Billah Ajaj

Theses

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has initiated the first civilian nuclear power plant, and it will be operating four reactors between (2018-2020). The establishment of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which will employ the nuclear power to generate clean energy, is a significant step forward minimizing the UAE carbon footprint. Before the construction of any regulated nuclear facility, it is essential to investigate the environmental background radiation level in the country. Such an investigation is critical for providing the background data for the environmental impact assessment of the nuclear facility. The present study represents the first research effort in the (UAE) …

Understanding And Optimizing Growth And Development Of California Yellowtail (Seriola Dorsalis) In Aquaculture Using Physiological Tools, Laura Schwebel

Theses

Physical fitness metrics were used to assess the health and development of California Yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis, in an aquaculture environment during two grow-out experiments. The first experiment sought to evaluate the effects of a common aquaculture deformity (an improperly inflated swim bladder) that has been hypothesized to impact energy allocation, growth, and development. Metrics including metabolic rate, critical swimming speed, feed conversion ratio, and growth rate, were monitored over a 32-week period in three groups of California Yellowtail: wild-caught (“wild”), healthy hatchery-reared (“inflated”), and hatchery-reared with uninflated swim bladders (“uninflated”). At the start of the grow-out period, wild fish …

Comparative Phytochemical Screening And Antioxidant Activities Of Calligonum Comosum And Calligonum Crjnitum, Khalfan Mohamed Abdulla Ai Naqbi

Theses

Medicinal plants are vital source of present day prescription and the majority of the recommended modern medications contain their subsidiaries. Calligonum comosum and Calligonum crinitum are perennial shrub plants growing in the United Arab Emirates, and are being utilized as a part of traditional medicinal system of UAE. The aims of proposed study were to evaluate and compare the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of these two plants. The extraction and fractionation were conducted by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. The extracts were tested for their antioxidant activity. Phytochemical studies with total phenolics and flavonoid contents were …

Hyperspectral Spectroscopy For Detection Of Charcoal Rot (Macrophomina Phaseolina) Toxin Effect On Soybean (Glycine Max) Seedlings, Ameer H.A. Al-Ahmadi

Theses

The objective of this study was to test the potential of using hyperspectral spectroscopy to detect the effect of the charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) toxin in soybean (Glycine max) seedlings and to discover the most sensitive spectral range to that effect. This study consists of two experiments. The first experiment used one cultivar of soybeans called “Pharaoh” with two levels of treatment (control and toxin-treated). Hyperspectral data were collected during five measurement events. Four analytical methods were used including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Jeffries Matusita distance (JM distance), principal component analysis (PCA), and spectral angle mapper (SAM). The ANOVA …

Instruments Of Generation, Bradley Dunn

Theses

This Thesis is a study into possible outcomes on products from recent trends in business culture, virtual and physical tools, and marketing and sales.

We will first look at our changing economic and political systems. The situations provide insight into the way goods are produced, by whom they are produced, and the general mood of consumers insights. From there we will consider how changing tools and strategies may lead to similar changes in how we design. And finally we will consider research in customer choice in a world of abundance.

My own explorations into different product sets will attempt to …

Factors Influencing Snap Benefit Acceptance Program Utilization Rates At Farmers Markets, Nicole Howley

Theses

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) run under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service is the largest program aimed at addressing food access and hunger in the country. Since the conversion of benefit provision from physical "stamps" to Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (EBT cards), tracking and administering of benefits has become more efficient, but the change has also placed limits on farmers’ and farmers markets’ ability to accept these benefits as payment in exchange for affordable and nutritious food products. Within the past few decades, the federal government, states, cities, and farmers markets across the …

Hydrology, Nutrient Availability, And Herbivory Interacting To Control Ecosystem Functions And Services In Created Emergent Freshwater Wetlands, Kimberly A. Lodge

Theses

The loss of natural wetlands to anthropogenic development has warranted the creation of wetlands to mitigate the reduction of valuable ecosystem functions and services. However, the complex interactions between the main drivers of wetland community structure – hydrology, nutrient availability and herbivory – makes creation of fully functional wetland replacements challenging. In this study, we examined the interactions among these drivers, and their impacts on plant diversity and nitrogen removal in two created wetlands with different land use histories: A1N (previous gravel depository) and A3 (previous cattle pasture). We established paired plots protected from – and open to – large …

The Effectiveness Of Social Assistance Scheme In Kosovo, Jehona Karavidaj

Theses

Social Assistance Schemes are part of social protection systems that aim poverty alleviation. Social assistance benefits are designed with the purpose of providing the poor with minimum standards of living as means to escape from poverty. Different countries have implemented different provisions regarding the amount of social assistance benefits, the eligibility criteria, as well as the types of cash and in-kind benefits provided as part of social assistance schemes. These differences have been based on the conditions and instruments each country has used to target the marginalized groups.

The development of social protection schemes in Kosovo has started in the …

The Influence Of Ethnocentrism In Food Neophobic Students, Ana Carolina Jurza Rios

Theses

Economic and social changes occurring after Croatia´s entrance to European Union require a more intense research on consumers´ openness to a new and globalized market. A concept known as Consumer Ethnocentrism, when consumers prefer buying domestic rather than foreign products because is detrimental to national economy, is strongly present in post-war markets in the West Balkans. Another phenomenon related to peoples´ fear of trying new or unknown food, called Food Neophobia, has been under study in America and in some European countries. Despite the long list of articles focusing their attention on Consumer Ethnocentrism in the Balkans, none research has …

High-Dimensional Linear And Functional Analysis Of Multivariate Grapevine Data, Uday Kant Jha

Theses

Variable selection plays a major role in multivariate high-dimensional statistical modeling. Hence, we need to select a consistent model, which avoids overfitting in prediction, enhances model interpretability and identifies relevant variables. We explore various continuous, nearly unbiased, sparse and accurate technique of linear model using coefficients paths like penalized maximum likelihood and nonconvex penalties, and iterative Sure Independence Screening (SIS). The convex penalized (pseudo-) likelihood approach based on the elastic net uses a mixture of the ℓ1 (Lasso) and ℓ2 (ridge regression) simultaneously achieve automatic variable selection, continuous shrinkage, and selection of the groups of correlated variables. Variable selection using …