Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of The Relative Magnitude Of Combinations Of Relapse Types In Rats, Mary Bridges

Theses

Applied behavior analysis uses scientifically derived methods to create treatments for socially significant behaviors. A threat to these successful treatments is the recurrence of previously reduced behavior (i.e., relapse). Relapse can be categorized into several types depending on the variables that induce relapse. Three types prevalent in clinical settings are reinstatement (i.e., induced by re-exposure to reinforcers or stimuli paired with the target behavior), renewal (i.e., induced by changes in context), and resurgence (i.e., induced by worsening of alternative reinforcement). Because relapse is harmful to long-term treatment maintenance, prior research has developed and tested mitigation strategies for these relapse types, …

A Comparative Study Of A Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Associated Egfr Missense Variant Of Uncertain Significance, Vanessa Mejia

Theses

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a form of lung cancer that can be driven by heightened activity of epidermal growth factor receptor encoded by the EGFR gene. Genetic variants in EGFR have been identified that lead to abnormal cell growth and tumorigenesis. The objectives of this study was to 1) determine if an EGFR variant of uncertain significance (VUS) associated with NSCLC is potentially damaging based on evaluation of the ortholog let-23 in the model organism, C. elegans, and 2) identify conserved missense VUS loci associated with NSCLC. Through ClinVar, the EGFR VUS c.845G>C(p.Gly282Ala) was identified in …

“Jí'Dë'Ö:H” Means Bird: Decolonizing The Modern Birding Experience Through The Inclusion Of Narratives From Indigenous Communities Of Western New York, Angelique M. Armstrong

Theses

This thesis explores the efficacy of combining Indigenous culture narratives with elements of traditional Euro-American field guides to create an alternative form of birding1 field guide. The desired outcome is to create a more inclusive and well-rounded birding experience that celebrates the wisdom and worldview of the people who inhabited the New World before its European “discovery.” The intention is to approach birding from the standpoint of the past and present Caretakers of the land; the members of Indigenous communities whose ancestors lived (and still live) in harmony with the land and living creatures (including birds). It seeks to answer …

Organic-Based Nutrient Solutions For Sustainable Vegetable Production In A Zero -Runoff Soilless Growing System, Maitha Salem Almheiri

Theses

As the adoption of soilless production systems escalates to meet the rising demand for safe and healthy fresh produce, the growing environmental awareness and consumer’s preference for sustainable production systems are stimulating the reduction of synthetic inputs. A greenhouse study using an auto-pot zero-runoff hydroponic system and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as a model vegetable crop was conducted to evaluate the potential of substituting synthetic fertilizer Nutrient Solutions (NS) with organic-based NS. The use of organic NS resulted in lettuce plants with fewer leaves and a smaller leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, and fresh biomass compared to those …

Pea And Hemp Protein-Polyphenol Complexes For Improved Curcumin Delivery Via Emulsion System, Muhammed Suhail Ashraf

Theses

This study focuses on producing and characterizing protein-polyphenol complexes derived from pea and hemp proteins, paired with a variety of polyphenols including 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid, Ferulic acid, and Rutin. The complexes were characterized using various techniques: UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, total phenolic content analysis, and radical scavenging activities. Further, oil-in-water emulsions stabilised using these protein-polyphenol complexes and starch were explored as delivery systems for curcumin respectively. The formation of complexes was revealed by UV-visible spectroscopy, which indicated significant changes in the spectra of hemp and pea proteins upon complexation with polyphenols. The findings from UV-visible spectroscopy were supported by data from …

The Invasive Bank Vole (Clethrionomys Glareolus); A Longitudinal Investigation Into Rodents And Their Pathogen Communities, Using The Irish Rodent Invasion As A Model System., Andrew Mcmanus

Theses

The recent emergence of zoonotic pathogens such as, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola and Mpox, have emphasised the necessity to study wildlife and their pathogens. A knowledge gap currently exists in longitudinal studies of biological invasions, which are needed to understand the change in pathogen communities caused as the invader becomes more established. The invasion of Clethrionomys glareolus in Ireland provides a unique model system to study these changes at different stages of the bio-invasion. This is due to the depauperate small mammal community in Ireland, identifiable source population, introduction point, and ongoing expansion of C. glareolus in Ireland. Extensive work has been …

The Optimisation Of A Customised Methodology For The Determination Of The Lime Requirement Of Irish Soils, Fionan Mackessy

Theses

Soil pH plays a pivotal role in agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, influencing various soil processes crucial for plant growth and ecosystem functions. It is a master variable that affects the biological, chemical and physical properties of soil. Maintaining a correct soil pH – generally through the addition of a liming product - is central to sustainable and productive agriculture and therefore accurate determination of soil pH is a vital piece of information that is central to any soil lab test. However, the accuracy of any soil pH test will be dictated by a number of soil properties such as …

Ellagic Acid Inhibits Α-Synuclein Propagation And Alleviates The Neurotoxicity By Enhancing Autophagic Flux In Animal Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Nada Akram Abdellatif

Theses

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disorder pathologically characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc) as well as the formation of Lewy bodies composed mainly of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates. It has been documented that abnormal aggregation of α-syn is one of the major causes of developing PD. Ellagic Acid (EA) is a widely known dietary supplement found in pomegranates as well as a plethora of berries and nuts. EA has been shown to prevent α-syn aggregates’ toxicity in cellular model of PD. In the current study we aim to evaluate whether …

Investigating The Mass Mortality Induced Factors Of Pearl Oyster (Pinctada Radiata) At Abu Dhabi Pearls Farm, Uae, Hamad Ahmed Almansoori

Theses

The aquaculture of shellfish plays a crucial role in enhancing maritime environments by mitigating algal blooms and improving water quality through the filtration of organic matter, nutrients, and bacteria. This study investigated the environmental factors influencing oyster (Pinctada radiata) mortalities through a comprehensive analysis of water quality in Al Mirfa and Al Mughirah farming sites of Abu Dhabi (UAE), from February 2021 to February 2022. To reach such understanding of the main factors led to mass mortalities of cultivated oysters, different monthly sampling and both chemical and biological analyses of the farm water, sediments as well as for both living …

Advancing Cell Segmentation Methods Through An Innovative Technique And Systematic Evaluation, Yuxing Wang

Theses

In the biomedical field, downstream cell-level analysis is a crucial step for comprehensively characterizing cells' location, function, morphology, and phenotype, relying on the accurate identification of individual cells. Consequently, there is increasing interest in the high quality of identified cell boundaries for biologists or researchers. Currently, cell segmentation methods are categorized into two types: Image-based and RNA-based cell segmentation. However, these methods face significant challenges. For example, most image-based methods tend to identify cell nuclear boundaries rather than entire cell boundaries when only nuclear staining images are available, and their performance is affected by noise in images and training labels. …

An Integrated Framework For Video-Based Deepfake Forensic Analysis, Bashaer Mohamed Alsalami

Theses

Deepfakes are AI-generated synthetic media that use AI algorithms to mimic human faces, voices, and actions with high levels of realism. They utilize advanced machine learning and deep learning techniques to generate realistic synthetic media, making the distinction between real and fake content increasingly difficult. Deepfakes were initially developed for entertainment and creative applications. However, they are currently being misused in various domains, posing significant security and ethical challenges. These risks necessitate effective deepfake detection systems to mitigate potential harm and preserve the integrity of digital communication. Nonetheless, the existing detection methods are inadequate and lack a holistic detection mechanism, …

New Treatment Modality For Metastatic Cancer By Targeting The Endothelin Type A Receptor (Etar), Elbara Fathelrahman Abdelmoula

Theses

Ambrisentan, an FDA-approved selective antagonist of the Endothelin Type A Receptor (ETAR) for pulmonary arterial hypertension, has shown potential in limiting cancer growth and metastasis. While effective treatment options for melanoma remain elusive, this study investigates the effects of Ambrisentan on invasive, metastatic B16F10 melanoma using a syngeneic mouse model, aiming to assess Ambrisentan’s impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and overall host survival in B16F10 melanoma, along with gaining mechanistic insights into ETAR antagonism. C57Bl/6 mice were divided into two groups, receiving either dH2O or Ambrisentan orally. Treatments commenced prior to tumor implantation and continued post-implantation. Luciferase-expressing B16F10 cells facilitated …

What Are Munster Technological University Students’ Experiences Of Menstruation And Reusable Period Products?, Kate Dolan Crowley

Theses

This study examines the attitudes of students in Munster Technological University (MTU) towards menstruation and period products. It is estimated that in Ireland, between 53,000 and 85,000 Irish menstruators may be at risk of period poverty (Government of Ireland, 2021). There is also evidence to suggest that some students have experienced period poverty (Ministry of Education, 2023; Brinkley and Niebuhr, 2022; Munro et. al., 2021). Period poverty has an impact on the physical, mental, and social well-being of menstruators, ultimately affecting their quality of life.

A mixed-method study was undertaken, consisting of questionnaires (n=319) and one-toone semi-structured interviews (n=10) to …

Screening And Analysis Of The Urobiome For The Production Of Antimicrobial Peptides To Target Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli, Jennifer Jones

Theses

Urobiome research is currently at a nascent stage, due to a previously incorrect assumption that the bladder is a sterile environment. Improvements in bacterial culturing and DNA sequencing techniques have revealed a diverse resident bacterial community within the urinary tract (urobiome). As global incidences of multidrug- resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) continue to increase, so too does the demand for novel antimicrobial therapies. Due to its relatively understudied nature, the urobiome represents a reservoir that could be mined as a potential source of novel antimicrobial compounds (e.g., bacteriocins). The aim of this thesis was to identify urobiome bacteriocins that could …

An Ontology Based System For Cancer Diseases Knowledge Mining, Shinead Casey

Theses

National cancer registries play an important role in understanding the patterns and trends of cancer diseases, prevention methods, and treatment management. However, issues arising from data silos and an inability to link heterogeneous data sources have led to problems within the healthcare industry. This became apparent in Ireland in 2018 when Dr Scally’s scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck controversy highlighted patient safety issues relating to disjointed data and an inability to link datasets.

Worldwide, semantic technologies are being utilised for their ability to link diverse data and enhance analytical capabilities. Therefore, this thesis will examine the use of a knowledge …

Consumer Acceptance And Sensory Evaluation Of 3d Printed Dairy Snacks, Laura Davis

Theses

3D printing technology has been established since the early 1980s by the inventor Charles Hull, with its initial applications in the moulding of plastic veneers for furniture. More recently, 3D printing has been gaining popularity as a food technology due to its potential benefits, such as personalised nutrition and reduced environmental impact. This study explored the consumer acceptability of 3D printed dairy snacks across participants in the UK and Ireland, through an online survey and sensory trials. The online survey was designed and distributed across 402 UK participants and 400 Irish participants. The sensory trial was conducted with a group …

Strategic Use Of Once-A-Day Milking For Pasture-Based Dairy Cows In Ireland, John Paul Murphy

Theses

The current perception of dairy farming in Ireland is one of long hours, physically demanding work and poor remuneration, especially when compared to that of a modern, high-tech industry with career opportunities and advancement possibilities at many levels (Teagasc, 2018). One of the biggest factors in attracting and retaining people to work on Irish dairy farms is that they must be desirable places to work (Teagasc, 2018). Milking is the most labour demanding task on Irish dairy farms (Deming et al., 2018) and one, which necessitates farmers being present on the farm twice daily if milking twice-a-day (TAD). Altering milking …

The Impact Of Data Quality On Beef Genetics, Shauna Walsh

Theses

Efficiency and profitability in the beef industry are driven by cattle live-weight, therefore, to optimise live-weight data it is essential to maintain consistency across data collection methods. Data for this thesis was collected from 97,780 Irish suckler herds across the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive, with a total of 1,311,870 calf and dam live-weight records available. Live-weight data originated from five different sources including: professionally-recorded, producer recorded using either owned, borrowed or hired weighing scales, or from an unknown recording source. The objectives of this thesis were to: i) identify anomalies within cattle live-weight data for both calf and dam, …

Characterisation Of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (Abu) Isolates And Their Antimicrobial Activity Against Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (Upec), Ciara Kenneally

Theses

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common aetiological agent of community and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs caused by E. coli result in considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic loss worldwide due to increasing resistance to antibiotics. Substantial efforts are being made to develop novel alternatives to conventional antibiotic therapies. One approach is the principle of bacterial interference; using low-virulence, or commensal, bacteria to prevent colonisation of pathogens by competing for nutrients, or producing antimicrobial compounds such as bacteriocins. E. coli isolates inducing asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) have been proposed as a therapeutic alternative for UPEC infection. ABU is a …

The Exploitation Of Genomic Information For Dairy And Beef Cattle Breeding, Cliona Ryan

Theses

Genotype information is now available for over 4 million Irish dairy and beef cattle, and is primarily used for parent verification and genomic evaluations. Additional benefits that can be generated from genomic data should be explored to maximise the respective return-on- investment. This thesis investigated novel approaches that leverage genome-wide genomic information in cattle, focusing on using the genotype data to accurately determine breed composition, to quantify the association between major genes and performance traits, and to identify karyotype abnormalities. Furthermore, the value of genotyping for the purpose of identifying genetically superior animals depends largely on the accuracy of the …

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 …

Design And Kinematic Testing Of A Resin Artificial Monarch Butterfly Wing, Thomas Payne Clark

Theses

Due to its ability to travel long distances efficiently, as evidenced by its yearly migration, the monarch butterfly is a strong candidate upon which to base a micro-aerial vehicle. Of primary importance in this venture is designing artificial wings with similar kinematics to a monarch wing. A first attempt produced a wing that differed significantly from a monarch wing in terms of deformation while flapping and empirical force coefficient trends. Using a new resin-based 3D printer, a new wing has been designed and developed to improve upon the issue with the original artificial wing. Both wings are tested using a …

Establishment And Validation Of A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analytical Method For Targeted Metabolomics: Towards Comprehensive Profiling Of Metabolic Signatures, Ayan Barua

Theses

This research aims to establish advanced analytical methods for targeted metabolomics using Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The focus is on quantifying key metabolites involved in specific metabolic pathways, optimizing sample preparation, and ensuring rigorous validation of method development parameters. By targeting thirteen specific metabolites, the research seeks to enhance metabolite extraction efficiency and analytical sensitivity. Analytical parameters such as selectivity, specificity, range, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were evaluated. This study's findings will contribute to a more precise understanding of metabolic alterations in disease states and improve the robustness of GC-MS-based metabolomics.

Enhanced Suppression Of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In High Energy Fiber Lasers Through Novel Chaotic Phase Modulation, Zachary Helton

Theses

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) poses a significant challenge in the development of high-power, single-mode continuous-wave fiber lasers. SBS occurs when the laser intensity is sufficient to generate acoustic vibrations in the fiber, leading to the reflection of light and limiting the maximum achievable power. Spectral broadening of the laser linewidth is a common SBS suppression technique. This thesis presents a novel approach using sine waves phase-modulated by chaotically generated noise to achieve improved SBS suppression. Experimental results demonstrate that this method achieves flatter and broader optical linewidths compared to traditional white noise modulation, even at lower power levels. This approach …

Complexity, Grouping, And Similarity: Effects On Numerosity Estimations, Keighly Harris

Theses

This study looked at the effects of visual features like complexity, grouping, and similarity on numerosity estimations. I hypothesized that complex visual stimuli would be more difficult to accurately estimate than simple visual stimuli. Additionally, I hypothesized that stimuli that were visually similar or displayed in spread out, distributed patterns would have more accurate estimations compared to visually random or closely grouped stimuli. Lastly, this study was designed to assess the combined effects of these visual features on numerosity estimation accuracy. Participants were asked to briefly look at images displaying groups of items containing these visual features, estimate the number …

3d Co-Culture Of Human B Lymphocytes With Cd40l-Expressing Fibroblasts Using An Ultra-Hydrophilic Surface For In-Vitro Mimicry Of Secondary Lymphoid Organs, Ananta Kumar

Theses

B cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system that proliferate and differentiate within the secondary lymphoid organs. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fall short of replicating the intricate structures and dynamic evolution of 3D tissue environments, prompting more physiologically pertinent in vitro models. Our approach employs ultra-hydrophilic surfaces engineered from methacrylated N-hexanoyl glycol chitosan to cultivate a three-dimensional (3D) co-culture of CD40L-expressing MS5 stromal cells and naive B cells derived from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy human donors. This novel system aims to mirror the structural and cellular intricacies of germinal centers within the secondary …

A Novel Method For Time-Based Synchronization Of Acquired Force And Motion Data, Darnisha Detraniece Crane

Theses

Enhancing the performance of flapping wing micro air vehicles hinges upon a thorough comprehension of the intricate interplay between wing kinematics and resulting forces. This understanding necessitates a method of synchronization capable of establishing a precise correlation of wing motion and force generation. The objective of this project is to develop a time-based synchronization method using existing hardware in the ATOM lab. Algorithms were developed to control the Vicon motion-tracking system and the ATI force sensor to achieve the synchronization of acquired data. Experimental testing was conducted to validate the algorithms and system architecture. Results from testing revealed a time …

Impact Of The Substrate Stiffness On Macrophage Function, Aaron Newchurch

Theses

This study explores macrophage cell function in healthy and diseased tissue that alters the synovial membrane housing fibroblasts and macrophages by examining how substrate stiffness impacts macrophage function. Current research suggests macrophages adapt, becoming more inflammatory in this environment. Divalent ions (CaCl2 or SrCl2) are used to adjust alginate hydrogel stiffness. The monocyte cell line THP-1 is transformed into macrophages through PMA, LPS, and IFNγ treatment within hydrogels, then cultured for 12 days. Divalent ions affect macrophage functionality; Sr2+ crosslinked hydrogels show higher viability, as well as an increased expression of M1 markers CD197 and IL1β, while M2 marker expression …

Analyzing Trust In Automation Using Large Language Models, Derek Koehl

Theses

This thesis explores the measurement of trust in the context of human interactions with automated systems. Trust is influenced by factors like perceived ability, benevolence, and integrity which presents a measurement challenge. Given the lack of a universally accepted model for trust, there is an abundance of trust measurement methods in the literature. This research aimed to ascertain the reliability of NLP-based measurements to determine whether such methods can shed light on the dimensionality of trust as a construct and to isolate a Linguistic Fingerprint™ of trust. The results lent support to trust as a unidimensional construct. There was little …

Ambient Temperature Modelling With Ecostress And Private Weather Stations, Gaurav Khatri

Theses

This thesis explores the development and application of a novel data architecture for predicting ambient temperatures across US cities, focusing on integrating multi-source data i.e. ECOSTRESS land surface temperatures, urban surface properties, and crowdsourced weather data. The methodology is designed for scalability and adaptability across different urban regions, employing rigorous data quality control to enhance prediction accuracy. The validation of this model across diverse urban settings, demonstrated through rigorous RMSE comparisons and spatial mapping, validates its superiority over traditional models. Through experiments in diverse climatic conditions in Madison, Wisconsin, and Las Vegas, Nevada, the study assesses the model’s generalizability and …