Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Food: A Scoping Review Of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (Arfid)'S Comorbidities, Nutrition, And Growth Outcomes, Emily Szewczyk

Theses

Objective A scoping review design was chosen for this study to appropriately assess and understand the knowledge on ARFID and to identify psychological or developmental comorbidities, growth outcomes, and nutrient deficiencies and/or excesses in children and adolescents. Introduction Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new eating disorder, characterized by the DSM-5 in 2013.1 Individuals with ARFID exhibit selective eating due to lack of interest in eating food, sensory sensitivity, or a fear of possible vomiting or choking.2 The malnutrition seen in individuals with ARFID can result in physical health complications including weight loss, malnutrition, growth delay, decreased bone …

Detection And Quantitation Of A Drug And Pesticides In Food Products Of The Uae (Dates And Camel Milk) By Liquid Chromatographic Techniques, Afnan Wael Alanqar

Theses

In this thesis the detection and quantification of the traces of multi-residue pesticides in 26 date fruits samples as well as the presence of the anthelmintic drug thiabendazole in pasteurized commercial camel milk consumed in the United Arab Emirates is examined. The main objective of this thesis is two folds; first is to determine whether a selected 12 pesticides of 8 different chemical groups- in the case of date fruits- and the drug thiabendazole-in case of camel milk- exists in the randomly collected samples of corresponding matrices. Second, is to quantify these compounds and compare their amount to the established …

Performance Comparison Of Iot-Powered Indoor Hydroponic Systems And Outdoor Traditional Environment, Saleha Alharthi

Theses

Traditional agriculture faces challenges, including high water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and fluctuations in environmental conditions. The research aims to develop alternative sustainable solutions to address issues related to traditional farming. Hydroponics provides opportunities to grow different types of vegetables indoors, where conventional agriculture is challenging. This thesis presents a comparative study of soil-based and hydroponic arugula cultivation using the nutrient film technique (NFT). The proposed methodology focuses on maintaining high similarity in the implementation of components across systems to ensure fair comparison. This thesis utilized distinct approaches. The first approach compared an outdoor soil-based system with an indoor hydroponic …

Culex Quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes In Abu Dhabi Emirate: Assessing Deltamethrin Insecticide Resistance And Associated Microbial Communities, Amgdsayed Ismat Ali

Theses

Culex quinquefasciatus is a major vector of West Nile virus, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses, which represent public health risk. Widespread application of pyrethroid insecticides has increased resistance in mosquito populations threatening the effectiveness of control strategies. This study aims to (1) assess deltamethrin resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus populations across the Abu Dhabi Emirate, (2) characterize the microbial communities associated with these mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes from sites around the Abu Dhabi Emirate were collected and genomic DNA extracted for molecular analysis. PCR and allele-specific primers were used to detect knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the sodium channel gene, classifying mosquitoes as susceptible …

Enhancing The Immunogenicity Of Extracellular Vesicle-Based Vaccines Against Pathogenic Nthi Bacteria, Christina Ciko

Theses

Acute otitis media (AOM), or ear infections, are highly prevalent in children, with nearly 80% experiencing at least one AOM by the age of three. As such, there is an urgent need for a vaccine against Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), a main cause of AOM in the US. Most vaccines contain multiple antigens from the pathogen, inducing an immune response and antibodies to those antigens. Here, we describe a novel approach to creating a vaccine against NTHi, incorporating a unique recombinant trivalent protein (Tri) featuring three NTHi antigens (OMP26, P6, and protein F) in a single peptide chain with an …

Assessment Of Physiological & Biochemical Changes In Tomato Plants Treated With Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (Pgpr) Under Salinity Stress Conditions, Mohammed Sharif Alhosani

Theses

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) can effectively mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress on plants. The present study reports the isolation of PGPRs from a high-saline mangrove ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, with isolates exhibiting ACC deaminase (ACCD) activity to reduce stress-induced ethylene, along with additional plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics, including phosphate solubilization (P+). A total of 57 salt-tolerant bacterial isolates from the mangrove rhizosphere were initially screened for ACCD and P+ activities. Of these, 24 isolates tested positive for PGP characteristics and were further evaluated for their ability to enhance salt stress tolerance in tomato seedlings. In addition, seedlings inoculated …

Alternative Antimicrobial Strategies For Neonatal Infections, Anna Desmond

Theses

Neonatal infections, a significant contributor to infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, are predominantly caused by pathogenic bacteria. Globally, bacterial sepsis accounts for 11.3% of neonatal deaths with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) being the leading cause, along with Escherichia coli, and coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS). Neonatal infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria is now a worldwide concern, further increasing mortality rates and associated healthcare costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternative antimicrobial strategies to combat resistance and/or enhance the efficacy of existing antibiotics. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate alternative antimicrobial strategies for treating and …

Reusing Underutilized Warehouses: Impact Of Iot Integration On Water Conservation In Hydroponic Farming Within Mina Zayed Warehouses In Abu Dhabi, Aysha Benyas

Theses

Urban farming is seen as an essential approach to sustainable development, particularly in arid regions like Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where limited arable land and water resources pose significant challenges. With an emphasis on reusing underutilized urban spaces like the industrial warehouses in Mina Zayed, this thesis explores the transformative potential of shifting from conventional agricultural methods to advanced smart farming approaches. The main objective of this project is to optimize the effective use of urban areas and improve water conservation in agricultural operations by integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technology into hydroponic systems within these warehouses. The research …

Test Of Strategies For Production And Harvest Of Edible Roots From Hydroponic Plants, Mariam Yaslem Albreiki

Theses

Hydroponic plant cultivation is becoming increasingly popular in the UAE, especially for leafy greens and fruit vegetables. By the end of the growing cycle, the roots of hydroponic plants are usually treated as crop residues, even though roots of several species are potentially edible and could be processed into food or nutraceuticals. Root crops like sweet potato or carrot might even be grown in hydroponic systems for the primary purpose of producing edible fibrous or tuberous roots. However, the use of hydroponic systems for the production of root biomass is not yet common, and most farmers strive to produce plants …

Enhancement Of Firefighter Mental Performance: A Review, Nicole A. Ness

Theses

Background: The life-or-death nature of firefighting exposes those who respond to calls to an increased number of stressors that can impact performance and overall well-being. To combat this, the mental element of firefighting can be optimized through psychological skills training programs and mindfulness training. Other tactical populations, such as the police force, military, and emergency medicine units have found success in implementing these interventions, Literature suggests a similar effect may be observed in firefighters because of their similar demands; although, little research exists regarding the effects of mental performance programs on firefighter populations specifically.

Methods: A review of existing literature …

The Effect Of Biochar As Partial Cement Replacement On Mechanical, Durability, Thermal, And Microstructural Properties Of Concrete - Comparison With Biomass, Aysha Yousef Alsaadi

Theses

This thesis paper examines the use of 1% cement replacement with date palm derived biochar and compares it to 1% replacement of biomass. The main aim of this idea is to reduce the carbon emissions from concrete production factories and utilize the abundant waste from date palm plants, which is prevalent in the UAE. Three samples of concrete were used: 1% biochar mix, 1% biomass mix, and a control mix. Mechanical tests, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, were evaluated. Thermal conductivity, chloride penetration, water absorption, and characterization testing by XRD, TGA, SEM, and FTIR were conducted. As for compressive …

Sustainable Hydrogels: Advancing Soil And Water Retention In The Uae, Mariam Abdulla Alhosani

Theses

Long-term climatic issues like soil erosion and water scarcity affect arid regions, making sustainable agricultural systems more challenging to put into practice. By creating different hydrogels from local agricultural biomass (cellulose extracted from date palm tree waste).This will assist in overcoming the limitations of synthetic water- retentive materials. Several hydrogel samples were created using physical and chemical crosslinking techniques, forming several hydrogel variants samples that were labelled as (T1 to T4). TGA, SEM, FTIR and swelling tests were used. TGA results revealed improved thermal stability in T2 (physically crosslinked), and T3 (dual cross-linking citric acid with gelatin), with degradation temperatures …

Upper And Lower Body Volume-Equated Resistance Exercise Increases Post-Exercise Lipid Oxidation In Trained Eumenorrheic Females., Alyssa L. Parten, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Eric K. O'Neal, T Scott Lyons, Hunter S. Waldman

Theses

Exercise strategies targeted to increase lipid oxidation (LOx) in the resting state present an opportunity to optimize long-term metabolic health. However, research examining the effects of resistance training (RT) on LOx in females remains scarce, particularly with no studies yet examining whether differences exist in LOx between upper and lower body RT. This study examined LOx changes following volume-load equated upper and lower body RT in well-trained, eumenorrheic females. Twenty-two (age: 25.4 ± 5.6 years, BMI: 24.6 ± 2.7) females completed a 3-repetition-maximum (RM) and 1RM test for the barbell back squat (BS) and bench press (BP), respectively. From these …

Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Organic Food In Sri Lanka: Imports From Australia, Nalaka Kaushayla Mohotti

Theses

The Australian organic agriculture industry is thriving, with 9.9% of its agricultural land certified organic and production concentrated in fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy, collectively valued at over AUD 2 billion. At the same time, South Asia, including Sri Lanka, is experiencing significant growth in organic agriculture markets. In 1994, Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) was discovered among Sri Lankan paddy farmers. Research in 2012 linked it to hard water, pesticides, and heavy metals, triggering a pesticide ban and the ‘A Pesticides Free Nation’ program. This study analyses consumer buying behaviour for organic food in Sri Lanka, focusing …

Assessment Of Food Allergy Management And Interactions With Campus Dining Halls Among College Students At Rochester Institute Of Technology, Meghan Taylor

Theses

Objective: This study explored college student dining experiences to identify areas for improving Dining Service allergen management. Method: A cross-sectional survey assessed specific allergies, frequency of allergic reactions, confidence and satisfaction with Dining Services, epinephrine auto-injector use, challenges, suggestions and use of dietitian services. Analyses included quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Of 74 survey respondents, 28 were eligible, with 61% reporting two or more allergies (mean 2.4 ± 2.0). Tree nuts, peanuts, and milk were most common. Students with multiple allergies were more likely to carry epinephrine auto-injectors (p=0.015), though overall adherence was low. Concerns included cross-contact, inconsistent allergen labeling, …

Integrative Hyperspectral Approaches For Advanced Soil Property Analysis And Environmental Monitoring, Nayma Binte Nur

Theses

Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing the analysis of diverse soil properties and environmental monitoring. This study refines the precision of soil biogeophysical analyses by improving the estimation of soil moisture content (SMC), soil organic matter (SOM), total carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) through hyperspectral remote sensing techniques. The research examines the capabilities of two prominent moisture retrieval models: the multilayer radiative transfer model (MARMIT) and the modified soil water parametric (SWAP)-Hapke model. These models are evaluated using hyperspectral imagery derived from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and goniometric data collected across various environmental settings. The findings …

Predicting Newborn Low Birth Weight: A Machine Learning Approach Using Maternal Health And Demographic Data, Rayan Elsayed

Theses

Low birth weight (LBW), defined by the World Health Organization as a birth weight under 2500 grams, remains a major global health challenge due to its association with increased risks for adverse neonatal and long-term health outcomes. This study aims to identify maternal health factors that contribute to LBW and to develop predictive models to support early identification of at-risk pregnancies. Two machine learning models, Logistic Regression (LR) and Random Forest (RF), were developed to analyze the relationship between maternal factors and LBW outcomes. The RF model achieved an accuracy of 96.36%, demonstrating robust predictive performance across metrics, making it …

Vitamin D Clinical Relevance In The Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injury Among The Military Population, Yuisa Mariceli Colón

Theses

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains a difficult disorder to treat. TBI has been associated to chronic neuroinflammation and a high risk for neurodegenerative disorders. Since 2001 between ten to twenty percent of all deployed military members have suffered a combat-related TBI. Nearly twenty to thirty percent of those will experience chronic cognitive, behavioral and somatic symptoms after suffering a TBI. This review found compelling evidence to support that the pathology of TBI is closely associated with neuroprotective mechanisms of vitamin D.

Evaluation Of Opportunities For The Cultivation Of Heterotrophic Plant Root Organ Cultures As Food: Optimization Of Culture Conditions And Carbohydrate Sources, Fatima Mohammed Alkaabi

Theses

All agricultural plant production requires investment of water, energy, and land, especially in the Gulf Region, where environmental conditions are not ideally suitable for crop farming. Currently, less than 40% of agricultural plant biomass production constitutes food, which greatly limits the overall feasibility of food production systems worldwide. Crop residues constitute over half of global agricultural biomass, and food waste and biomass from public parks and gardens further add to the vast pool of non-edible plant material. Existing valorization strategies for such material cannot compensate for the enormous amounts of water, energy, land, and human resources invested in their production. …

Assessment Of Heavy Metal Concentration In Orange-Spotted Trevally (Flavocaranx Bajad) From Two Coastal Locations In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Kholood Khaled Aljaberi

Theses

This study investigates concentration of heavy metals in the Orange-spotted Trevally (Flavocaranx bajad) from two distinct coastal areas in Abu Dhabi Emirate, Sila and Abu Dhabi. Heavy metals pollution poses a significant risk to both marine ecosystems and human health; thus it is vital to conduct comprehensive assessments of heavy metal contaminations in aquatic life. The main aim of this study is to quantify the levels of heavy metals and assess their concentrations in gill, muscle, and liver tissues of the Orange-spotted Trevally from both sites. The samples were prepared and analyzed using microwave digestion system and ICP …

The Effect Of Nerolidol On The Renal Dysfunction Following Bilateral Ureteral Obstruction In The Rat, Harun Rashed Toumi

Theses

This thesis addressed nerolidol’s potential therapeutic and protective effects on bilateral ureteral obstruction-induced uropathy in rats. Obstructive uropathy stands as a notable contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI), accounting for 5-10% of all AKI cases worldwide, with a particularly high prevalence among the elderly, constituting 22% of AKI cases in this age group. Urinary tract obstruction, often attributed to factors such as kidney stones, urinary tract deformities and benign/malignant growths such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in older men can lead to detrimental outcomes if left untreated, potentially progressing to kidney failure and even mortality. The severity of the kidney …

Practices And Perceptions Of Uae Residents: Food Safety In Handling And Preparation Of Fish, Consumption, And Nutrition From Fish, Noof Ahmad Al Marzooqi

Theses

Background: UAE is uniquely located with an extensive seafront, which has led to the development of fishing and fisheries in the country. As a result, the UAE's diverse population has become one of the highest fish consumers among the Gulf countries. The high fish consumption in the UAE was a part of the traditional diet; however, a better understanding of UAE residents' practices and perceptions of fish food safety, fish preparation, and nutrition from fish consumption was needed. Objective: This study investigates food safety practices in handling and preparation of fish, consumption trends, and perceptions of nutrition from fish among …

Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Biological Characterizations Of Hydrolysates Enzymatically Produced From Proteins Extracted From Microalgae, Hebah Al-Amodi

Theses

This thesis aims to explore the use of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-L (ZIF-L) as a support for immobilizing alcalase and its potency in producing protein hydrolysates. ZIF-L was synthesized at room temperature using an aqueous solution, and alcalase was immobilized through adsorption batch experiment. The successful immobilization of alcalase on ZIF-L was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum adsorption capacity of alcalase on ZIF-L was determined to be 672.1 ± 5.5 mg g^-1 at 40°C using an initial protein concentration of 5 mg mL-1. Adsorption equilibrium data …

Food Neophobia, Food Pickiness, And Physical Growth Status In A Sample Of Emirati Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders And Neurotypical Development In The United Arab Emirates, Hessa Salem Al Derei

Theses

Eating habits and expression of independence in food selection typically starts at about 18 months of age, reaching its peak between 2 and 6 years. However, child feeding problems are common in boys and girls, both- in children with neuro-typical development (NTD) and those with neuro-development disorders (NDDs). Food Neophobia (FN) and Food Pickiness (FP) are considered as the main forms of food rejection in children, affecting their diet variety, and consumption of foods. If unresolved, these may result in nutrient deficiencies and compromised growth and development in children. There is a dearth of evidence on this important topic in …

Comparison The Impact Of Co2 And Uvb On Moringa Peregrina And Moringa Oleifera Growth Under Open Top Chamber, Omar Mohammed Alshehhi

Theses

Climate change has had a tremendous impact on ecosystems, with an apparent connection between farming methods and environmental change. Climate change has a substantial effect on both abiotic and biotic factors that affect crop plants. The increasing number of abiotic stressors has highlighted the impact of global warming on plant productivity. This study compared and evaluated the abiotic stress resistance of two Moringa species (Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina) to UV radiation, increased CO₂ levels, and their combined effects. The evaluation mainly focused on key morphological features, including plant height (cm) and fresh and dry weights, to assess …

Polyphenol Profiling And Bioactivities Of Date Seed: A Comparative Assessment Of Extraction Techniques In Different Date Seed Varieties, Fatima Ibrahim Albedwawi

Theses

Plant-waste-derived bioactive compounds have generated growing interest recently. In this context, this project examined the phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and antibiofilm capability of the seed extract of Phoenix dactylifera. Six date seed varieties (Fardh, Sukarri, Negal, Majdool, Zahidi, and Khadrawy) were studied. In this study, a novel ultrasound-assisted extraction technique is compared with the conventional extraction method (maceration using 80% ethanol), taking into account both the quality and quantity of polyphenols. Among the primary objectives, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), aiming for maximum TPC and DPPH radical scavenging. By …

Cultivation Of Food And Fodder Crop Millets And Quinoa In The Aquaponics System For Sustainable Food Security In The United Arab Emirates, Salama Yousef Al Khoori

Theses

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production technology that integrates aquaculture with hydroponics. This study aimed to evaluate the possible impact of an aquaponics system on the cultivation of pearl millet, finger millet, and quinoa, utilizing water from tilapia aquaculture. The duration of the experiment is six months utilizing the manually constructed backyard aquaponics system. Tilapia fish serves as the principal biological material for nutrient generation in the experiment. This study investigated and recorded water quality indicators, including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels over the experimental period. The parameters of fish growth, …

The Effects Of Cannabinoids On Migration-Related Protein Expression In Ewing’S Sarcoma, Allison Lashall

Theses

Ewing’s sarcoma is an aggressive pediatric bone cancer that has low five-year survival rates, primarily due to metastatic disease and resistance of recurring tumors to traditional treatment options; therefore, novel treatment options are needed. The compound cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to reduce cell viability, migration, and invasion in several tumor types, though the cellular mechanism of action is not well understood. Our lab has demonstrated the ability of CBD to reduce viability, migration, and invasion of Ewing’s sarcoma cells in vitro and is investigating differential protein and cytokine expression of known mediators of migration, such as intercellular adhesion molecule …

Digital Marketing And Consumer Consumption Of Breast-Pumps On Social Media, Leanne Clark

Theses

A breast pump brassiere, designed to provide hands free experience for the mother when collecting mother's milk, and which integrates various operative components in the category of a micro pump, at least one suction cup, and a milk reservoir, preferably within each cup, to provide for hands free collection of expressed milk, as desired and required by the mother for use in the feeding of her infant.

Being Korean, Silver Eun Hyung Kim

Theses

Being Korean is a thesis driven by a cultural investigation of what it means to be Korean today by revisiting historical events of the past two centuries in Korea through video sculpture highlighting Korean food, Hansik. The artwork and this thesis rediscover haehak, a cultural value that harmonizes society through humor, in order to encourage reconnection in a politically divided society through the ordinary activity of sharing food. To define ordinary Korean-ness, my thesis explores how historical events, such as colonization and war, have influenced our dining table. My work utilizes glass as metaphorical vessels, defamiliarizing traditional elements to reveal …