Digital Commons Network^™

Salivary Microbiome Signature In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ghaidaa Mohammed Mesto

Theses

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). IBD mainly includes two distinct diseases, namely Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). To date, the precise etiology of these conditions is not fully elucidated, although a strong relationship between microbial dysbiosis in the GIT and IBD has been proposed. In general, limited data is available on the oral microbiome of IBD patients, despite its recognizable role in impacting gut health. There is a paucity of research on IBD in the pediatric population, although this disease is becoming more prevalent than in …

Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers Of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (Aceis) Induced Cough Among Healthy Emiratis And Multi-Ethnic Hypertensive Patients, Sahar Mohammad Altoum

Theses

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an emerging field that merges genetics with pharmacology. It focuses on how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to specific medications. This relatively new area of medicine seeks to understand the genetic factors that affect drug efficacy and safety. One practical application of PGx is in the context of treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), which are widely used medications for managing hypertension. However, ACEIs are often associated with cough as a side effect, leading to drug discontinuation and the adoption of alternative medications like Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). The prevalence of ACEIs-induced cough varies …

Mitochondrial Control Of Tumorigenicity And Immunogenicity Of Colorectal Cancer, Maram Esam Ahmed

Theses

The Methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ), also known as DNAJC15, serves as an endogenous negative regulator of mitochondrial respiration. MCJ plays a crucial role in cellular bioenergetics by regulating cellular metabolism, and its expression is inversely proportional to the extent of mitochondrial ATP production. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between MCJ expression and the tumorigenicity and immunogenicity of colon adenocarcinoma. To this aim, we utilized MCJ knockout (KO) mice to assess the impact of tumor-extrinsic MCJ expression in host cells, particularly immune cells, on anti-tumor responses. Comparing the growth of MCJ-expressing cancer cells in wild-type vs. …

The Association Between Body Image Satisfaction And Depressive Symptoms Among Young Women In The Uae With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos) And Non-Pcos: A Comparative Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study, Shaima Abdrahman Al-Mekhlafi

Theses

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common syndromes affecting women of reproductive age, (Laggari et al., 2009). PCOS not only impacts women's physical health but also their psychological well-being, often leading to depressive symptoms and lower body image satisfaction, Wang et al. (2023). Recent research indicates a growing prevalence of PCOS among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mirza et al. (2023). However, there is a noticeable gap in understanding the psychological effects of PCOS on women in the UAE, likely due to cultural sensitivities. This study aims to investigate the association of depressive symptoms and …

Studies On The Corrosion Of Bronze Artifacts From Sarouq Al-Hadid And Al-Qusais Archeological Sites In Dubai, Uae, Zainab Ali Salmin

Theses

This thesis compares the status of bronze artefacts from two archaeological sites in Dubai (UAE): the Sarouq Al-Hadid site (Stone Age to Early Islamic Period) and the Al- Qusais site (Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age). The main objective of this research is to understand the two sites' environment and their influence on the corrosion of archaeological bronze artifacts found at the sites. This study uses mCed methods to comprehensively understand the corrosion behavior of bronze objects, depending on their burial environment. The two different sites presented different soil types and rates of corrosivity on the buried bronze artifacts, …

Visualizing Privately Protected Data: Exploring The Privacy-Utility Trade-Offs, Sarah Hayi Alkaabi

Theses

In a data-driven era, achieving a balance between privacy and utility is crucial. Organizations often utilize data for research, analysis, and enhancement of services, which emphasizes the significance of effective privacy-preserving techniques to protect individuals' privacy and comply with regulations. This equilibrium is vital in data visualization to derive insightful decisions from data representations. The goal is to evaluate the trade-off between privacy preservation and data utility, understanding how differentially private parameters impact effective visualizations. Valuable insights will guide strategies for achieving optimal privacy-preserving visualization techniques. The study aims to investigate the effects on privacy and data utility in different …

Exploring English Language Teachers’ Selfefficacy Beliefs In Relation To Teaching Gifted Students, Shatha Mohammed Sobih

Theses

This study investigates the beliefs of English language teachers regarding their ability to identify and teach gifted students, focusing on how they perceive their own skills in teaching primary grade level students (grades 1, 2, and 3) with exceptional intellectual abilities in English language education. The study followed a qualitative research design and collected data using an open-ended survey consisting of questions that encouraged participants to provide detailed and unrestricted responses. This study also performed purposeful sampling to select respondents with the necessary knowledge and experience to offer rich and meaningful data. This study targeted English language teachers (n …

Investigating The Organizational Support For Educators Supporting Students With Disabilities: A Study On Administrative Strategies In The United Arab Emirates, Amal Mahmoud Al Badawi

Theses

The aim of the study is to explore whether organizational support can help general and special educators to provide effective services to their students with disabilities. Additionally, the study seeks to identify strategies that program administrators can employ to overcome barriers and provide better support to their staff. Using a mixedmethod approach, which includes a survey (N=25) with 10 participants working in special education and 15 in general education and interviews with five education leaders in both special and general education settings. These leaders, who hold positions such as Directors of General Education and Special Needs Coordinators, bring varied years …

الجريمةُ الأصليَّةُ كشرطٍ مُفترضٍ لجريمةِ غسلِ الأموالِ طبقًا للمرسوم بقانونٍ اتحاديٍ رقْم 20 لسنة 2018 في شأن مُواجهة جرائمِ غَسْلِ الأموالِ ومكافحة تمويل الإرهاب وتمويل التنظيمات غير المشروعة المعدل بالقانون رقم (26) لسنة 2021م, عذراء عبد الله الكعبي

Theses

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The Predicate Crime as a Presumptive Condition for the Crime of Money Laundering in Accordance with Federal Decree Law No. 20 Of 2018 Regarding Combating Money Laundering Crimes and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of Illegal Organizations, As Amended by Law No. 26 of 2021

The crime of money laundering is closely linked to the crime from which the funds being laundered are obtained. There is no talk of money laundering without funds derived from an illicit source. Hence the question arises about the nature of the original crime, and whether it includes every crime from …

Mathematical Modeling Of An Epidemic In Scalefree Network With Imperfect Vaccination, Heba Hameed

Theses

In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the mathematical epidemiological model has proven to be essential for understanding the disease dynamic and finding the best control tool to help contain the disease and minimize its impact. This thesis investigates the dynamics of an infectious disease spread with latent infection and vaccination. The aim is to study this model’s dynamic in a network that reflects the heterogeneity of the environment where the disease spreads. The vaccination is assumed to be not perfect, which means that vaccinated persons are likely to be infected and that the vaccinated person could lose their immunity, …

Performance Analysis Of Underground-To-Aboveground Communication In Agricultural Iot Networks, Irfana Ilyas Manzil

Theses

This thesis investigates the potential of LoRa, a low-power, wide-area networking technology, for establishing reliable communication between underground sensors and aboveground infrastructure. We comprehensively analyze LoRa's performance in both single-hop and multi-hop configurations, considering the impact of diverse environmental factors such as soil composition, moisture content, underground transmission distance, and path loss on signal propagation. We delve into the crucial role of the spreading factor (SF) within the LoRa communication system, analyzing its influence on network performance. Furthermore, we develop a comprehensive mathematical model for bit error rate (BER) under various channel conditions, including additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and …

The Anticancer Activity Of A Novel 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives Against 5-Fluorouracil Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells, Mazoun Talal Al Azzani

Theses

Cancer is a global health crisis for which 20 million new cases were diagnosed in 2022 alone, with 9.3 million cancer-related deaths. Nearly 900,000 deaths were due to colorectal cancer (CRC), which is the third leading cause of cancer related mortality. In the United Arab Emirates, 550 new cases of CRC were reported in 2022. A major clinical challenge with CRC treatment is the development of resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy regimens, which are the standard treatment for CRC. In the present study, the anticancer activity of two novel 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) derivatives AS45 and AS47 was examined against 5FU-sensitive (HCT116) …

Fish-Eye Camera-Based Real-Time Pedestrian Crossing Predicting System, Mohammed Abdulla Almesafri

Theses

Fisheye cameras are widely used in traffic monitoring for their broad view, yet their distortion challenges deep-learning models in pedestrian detection and tracking. Despite available datasets like FishEye8K, collected in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and the availability of several studies that have delved into pedestrian prediction systems, a notable gap remains: the absence of datasets specifically designed for the cultural context of the UAE. This study aims to address this gap by introducing an in-house fisheye dataset tailored to enhance the prediction and tracking of pedestrians in fisheye footage within the UAE's environment. The present study addresses the development of a Graphical …

The Differences Between Metacognitive Reading Strategies Used By Native Arabic Speakers In The Uae When Reading Digital Versus Printed Materials, Razan Majed Shehadeh

Theses

This study explores the differences between the metacognitive reading strategies that native Arabic speakers college students use in the UAE when reading digital vs. printed texts. A convergent Mixed-Methods Design was employed to achieve the purpose of this study. The first data comprised a background questionnaire and two metacognitive reading surveys reflecting reading from digital materials that were conducted with college students (n=100), and the second data set comprised semi-structured interviews with a subset of students sampled from the original pool (n= 8). This study's participants were college students selected randomly from some of the UAE universities. Generally, the results …

Diversity, Distribution, And Determinants Of Bacterial Communities In Arctic Soil, Amna Khaleefa Alhemeiri

Theses

Arctic soils host diverse bacterial communities crucial for ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling. Understanding the factors shaping their diversity and distribution is essential to assess ecosystem responses to climate warming. This study aimed to assess and compare bacterial diversity and community structure between high- and sub-arctic ecosystems and explore the environmental and climatic factors determining their distribution. We collected 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence data from 999 samples of high- and sub-arctic soils. All the data was pre-processed and quality-controlled using a similar bioinformatics methodology, followed by statistical analyses including alpha and beta diversity assessments, and volatility analysis using QIIME2. …

Exploring Emirati High School Students' Attitude Towards Reading In L2 (English), Seba Dabik

Theses

Reading in a second language (L2) is a crucial skill for high school students as it helps to develop their second language proficiency and broadens their understanding of the world. It also holds substantial significance in both their personal and academic endeavors. Additionally, proficient L2 reading skills pave the way for promising prospects and professional opportunities. This study examines students' attitudes towards reading academically and recreationally in L2 and the factors that contribute to these attitudes. The study sample comprised of 20 grade 11 UAE national male students (16-17 years old) enrolled in a public Applied Technology School (ATS) in …

Functional Characterization Of Potato Arp1 Gene Encoding Auxin-Repressed Protein, Sara Ali Alneyadi

Theses

Auxin-repressed proteins (ARPs) are conserved in higher plants and are involved in plant growth and development by controlling gene expression. ARP1 has been studied for its role in biotic stress response, but its role in abiotic stress response remains unclear. In this study, transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing potato (S. tuberosum) ARP1 were evaluated for their salinity stress response. By gradually increasing NaCl concentrations from 0 to 200mM, plants were subjected to high salinity stress. As compared to wild-type (WT) control plants under stressed conditions, the ARP1 transgenic plants demonstrated improved height and root length and higher chlorophyll content. Under …

Clonality And Epidemiological Studies Of E. Coli Strain Collected From Abu Dhabi Emirate Using Ngs And Bioinformatic Tools, Ahmed Abdelrahman Mohamed

Theses

In the current landscape, where antibiotic resistance in bacteria is steadily rising, the role of bacterial genomics has assumed increasing significance. Therefore, it is necessary for microbiologists to acquire proficiency in the utilization of these methods and tools to harness their potential in gaining valuable insights into bacterial genomes. This can facilitate the development of innovative strategies for managing and treating bacterial infections. Here we present the power of the whole-genome sequencing technology in characterization of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolates. Fourteen Escherichia coli isolates were selected for this study. Following the standard microbiological techniques to confirm the sample identification, …

Relationship Between Parents’ Feeding Styles, Nutrition Practices And Risk Of Obesity Among 3-5 Years Old Children In The United Arab Emirates, Reem Mohamed Alkarbi

Theses

Previous studies suggest that parental feeding practices shape preschool eating and physical activity habits, ultimately influencing children's weight status. Despite the high obesity rate in UAE youth, preschoolers’ nutrition habits and their links to parental feeding styles are explored. This study aims to describe parental feeding styles: Emotional (E), Instrumental (I), Prompting and Encouragement (PE), Control Over Eating (COE)), and their associations with nutrition practices, socio-demographic factors, and obesity in UAE preschoolers. Using an online questionnaire, a cross-sectional study surveyed Emirati families with 3-5-year-old children. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.29. 70 preschool Emirati children living in Abu Dhabi participated. …

Topological Indices And Their Applications In Designing Drugs, Fedaa Ismail Abunawa

Theses

This research delves into the use of indices, in the field of drug design with a specific focus on anticancer medications. Topological indices, values derived from representations of chemical structures provide meaningful connections to the physical and chemical characteristics of molecules. These Indices act as tools for predicting behavior playing a vital role in crafting therapeutic drugs. The study primarily delves into topological indices like the Sombor index, Randi´c index, and Atom Bond Connectivity (ABC) index, which are calculated for structures and their relationships with physical properties such as molar volume, refractive index, and flash point are explored using statistical …

Cellular Automata Modeling Approach Of Addiction, Ruba Hameed

Theses

The purpose of this thesis includes the application of a mathematical model, as well as cell automata simulation, to shed light on the behavior of addiction spread in a population. The model describes the key determinants of drug addiction which includes peer influence, availability of substances, support networks, and awareness campaigns. The research aims to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms and patterns of addiction spread to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies.

The study begins by creating a discrete dynamical system that captures the transitions between 4 different states of substance use, including non-users (N), experimental users (E), recreational …

Technology-Enhanced Mathematics Teaching And Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives On Digital And Generative Ai–Enabled Tool Integration Through A Tpack Lens In Abu Dhabi Schools, Abdalrahman A. Adlouni

Theses

Digital learning is an active approach to education in daily life, and it has been implemented in all the schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many strategies, such as platforms, online educational websites, and other applications, were used by teachers to support blended learning and assist students in achieving their goals and accomplishing what is required from their curriculum. The main objective of this study is to examine teachers’ perceptions toward teaching mathematics using digital learning tools in Cycle 2 and Cycle 3. Data was collected from (n=114) mathematics teachers in Abu Dhabi City, UAE, during the spring semester …

Design With, Not For, Local Community: Utilizing E- Participation Tools In The Design Of Socially Sustainable Vertical Emirati Public Housing, Omar Sherzad Shareef

Theses

Few years ago, local and federal governments in the UAE started to design and develop vertical public housing for Emirati residents as a new public housing typology that is believed to be more environmentally sustainable. Dibba Al-Hisn Housing Scheme in Sharjah and Al-Ghurfa Project in Al-Fujairah, are two recently developed vertical Emirati public housing projects developed by Sharjah Housing Directorate and Sheikh Zayed Housing Program (SZHP) respectively. Both projects, have been professionally designed, however, the residents’ opinions were not considered in the design process. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to explore the potentials of utilizing the advanced …

Optimization Methods For Parameter Estimation In A Scalar Partial Differential Equation: Stochastic Variants, Yidan Yang

Theses

In this work, we present stochastic variants of an optimization method for the problem of recovering a spatially varying parameter in a scalar partial differential equation (PDE) from measurement(s) of the state variable. In many inverse problems associated with PDE models, the goal is to utilize observational measurements of the state variable in the estimation of the model parameter(s). In the problem being studied, the hydraulic conductivity of an aquifer (a function of location) is the parameter/coefficient to be recovered and the hydraulic (or piezometric) head is the quantity observed/measured. We discuss the choices of objective functional (such as output …

Sustainable Energy Access And Irrigation Planning In Sub Saharan Africa, Fhazhil Wamalwa

Theses

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the least developed and most vulnerable region to climate change globally, with electricity access and irrigation rates at 45% and 5%, respectively. The region's high reliance on rain-fed farming results in significant yield gaps, increasing dependence on food imports and aid. Projected declines in rainfed agricultural productivity due to climate-induced rainfall variability, coupled with a rapid population growth rate of 2.8% per year, will likely exacerbate food insufficiency. SSA is largely rural, with an urbanization rate of 42%. Much of its population lives in sparsely populated settlements characterized by low electricity demand, which poses a significant …

Neural Operator For Accelerating Coronal Magnetic Field Computations In Bifrost Mhd Model, Yutao Du

Theses

The application of the Tensorized Fourier Neural Operator (TFNO) to significantly enhance the computational efficiency of coronal magnetic field calculations within the Bifrost Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model is introduced in this study. Leveraging simulated data from the European Sunrise Science Data Center, the TFNO? an extension of the Fourier Neural Operator (FNO) that incorporates tensor decomposition for improved handling of high-dimensional data?is employed to solve time-varying partial differential equations (PDEs) over a 3D domain. The performance of the TFNO is compared with traditional machine learning methods, including Vision Transformer and CNN-RNN (encoder-decoder) architectures, to demonstrate its accuracy, computational efficiency, and scalability. …

The Next Strike: Pioneering Forward-Thinking Attack Techniques With Rowhammer In Dram Technologies, Nakul Kochar

Theses

In the realm of DRAM technologies this study investigates RowHammer vulnerabilities in DDR4 DRAM memory across various manufacturers, employing advanced multi-sided fault injection techniques to impose attack strategies directly on physical memory rows. Our novel approach, diverging from traditional victim-focused methods, involves strategically allocating virtual memory rows to their physical counterparts for more potent attacks. These attacks, exploiting the inherent weaknesses in DRAM design, are capable of inducing bit flips in a controlled manner to undermine system integrity. We employed a strategy that compromised system integrity through a nuanced approach of targeting rows situated at a distance of two rows …

Strawberry Nectar Preservation Through Innovative Techniques And Energy Evaluation For High-Pressure Processing, Caterina Scaioli

Theses

Strawberries are universally adored by people of all ages, owing to their richness in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, offering myriad health benefits, including combating free radicals. However, despite their popularity, strawberry juices or nectars are not commonly found in markets due to their delicate structure, which makes them prone to rapid deterioration of their prized qualities and vibrant red color. In the food industry, preventing browning and nutrient deterioration are often the primary challenges faced when processing red juices. Traditional preservation methods, such as pasteurization, are inadequate in maintaining their freshness. The focus of this study is to explore alternative …

Tribological Performance Of Ceramic On Textured Polyethylene Contact For Artificial Hip Implants, Sandhya Vaidyanathan

Theses

Revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) is an expensive and surgically risky procedure that is necessary in the case of a failed primary total hip arthroplasty (pTHA). The cause of failure in artificial hip joints is often rooted in the tribological performance of the bearing surfaces such as increased wear and reduced lubrication. Surface texturing is a surface modification technique which has been studied for aerospace and automotive applications and has shown promise in the biomedical field of artificial human joints in the last two decades. Several studies have been done to assess the tribological performance of introducing surface micro-textures as …

Comparison Of Methods For Creating Populations Of Models By Solving Stochastic Inverse Problems, Elizabeth Epstein

Theses

Given a parametric family of models and observational data, a researcher may be faced with an inverse problem: what distribution of parameters best creates a set of models that produce the observed data? Traditionally, Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) has commonly been used as a method to solve these stochastic inverse problems. In recent years, however, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have been employed. The effectiveness of Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods as compared to a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) when applied to a family of models produced by a system of ordinary differential equations that model viral load over …