Digital Commons Network^™

Measurements Of Radiation Pressure On Diffractive Films, Ying-Ju Lucy Chu

Theses

One of the few ways to reach distant stars is by radiation pressure, in which photon momentum is harnessed from free sunlight or extraordinarily powerful laser systems. Large but low mass light-driven sails reflect photons and transfer momentum to the sailcraft, providing large velocity from continuous acceleration. Over the past decade, demonstrative reflective light sail missions were enabled by cost-efficient small satellites and the emerging private space economy. The maneuver of these metal-coated polyimide films is mechanically cumbersome because the sail must be rapidly tilted towards and away from the sun line during navigation. Modern diffractive films such as high-efficiency …

Promol: Updating The Template Based Structural Alignment Plugin, Mariah Robertson

Theses

Abstract In silico methods have contributed greatly to our understanding of the molecular world. PyMOL, an open-source 3D molecular visualization software, produces high quality images and videos of proteins. Here, we discuss a plugin called ProMOL that augments PyMOL’s capabilities by adding a way to decipher unknown proteins using template-based structural alignment. Software is constantly updated to meet the demands of users. ProMOL fell behind in this regard and required a major overhaul in its code to work with older and newer versions of PyMOL. This included multiple API updates, Python language migration, and code optimizations. The result of the …

Literature-Assisted Validation Of A Novel Causal Inference Graph In A Sparsely Sampled Multi-Regimen Exercise Data, Aditya Gupta

Theses

Background. Causal mechanisms supporting the cardio-metabolic benefits of exercise can be identified for individuals who cannot exercise. With the use of appropriate causal discovery algorithms, the causal pathways can be found for even sparsely sampled data which will help direct drug discovery and pharmaceutical industries to create the appropriate drug to maintain muscles. Objective. The purpose of this study was to infer novel causal source-target interactions active in sparsely sampled data and embed these in a broader causal network extracted from the literature to test their alignment with community-wide prior knowledge and their mechanistic validity in the context of regulatory …

An Exploratory Assessment Of Peer-Reviewed Life Science Literature Statement Readability Used In Text-Based Interpretive Analyses, Jeremy Jackson

Theses

This project looked to explore the process of one of the scientific community’s leading text mining software, Pathway Studio, which efficiently streamlines the tedious task of information sorting and gathering in a clinical setting. To do this Pathway Studio implements a sentiment scoring algorithm which decides, based on interpreting literature similarly to natural human understanding, what sections of literature are most relevant to a given search request and provides corresponding peer-reviewed work in the industry. The novel statistics derived of its performance are used to establish an average form of a statement which reflects that of a standard level of …

The Relationship Between Augmented Reality Games And Well-Being Outcomes: A Self-Determination Theory Approach, Matt Poquadeck

Theses

Video games have become a prevalent source of media entertainment globally. Their popularity has made them a topic of interest to researchers, medical professionals, educators, politicians, and many more who are concerned about the role and impact video games have in society. Research has often focused on the effects of violence and addiction; however, the use of video games as an educational tool has been explored as well. Additionally, the literature suggests that video games may also be a useful medium for increasing positive health behaviors such as exercise. A popular type of video game known as an augmented reality …

Effects Of Microplastic On Freshwater Benthic Ecosystems: Toxicity And Impacts On Biogeochemical Cycling, Kristina Chomiak

Theses

The accumulation of plastic debris in waterways is an increasingly complex environmental problem due to the ubiquity and magnitude of plastic debris across freshwater ecosystems, along with the unknown impacts on ecosystems and public health. However, “plastic” is a catchall term for numerous polymers with unique physical and chemical properties. Further complicating the prediction of risk, plastic characteristics may change from environmental exposure, with changes in density, adsorption or leaching of toxins, and accumulation of biofilms that further influence material properties, fate and impact. Recent studies suggest that a substantial proportion of plastic entering freshwater systems is deposited in the …

The Influence Of Pollinator Behavior On Patterns Of Pollen Dispersal And Its Implications For Floral Evolution, Alex Lascher

Theses

Despite a storied history of pollination research, little information exists on how the unique characteristics of individual pollinators effect patterns of pollen dispersal. As these patterns of pollen dispersal inform our understanding of floral evolution, filling in this knowledge gap is imperative. I attempted to do so by analyzing two different outcomes of pollen dispersal: 1) pollen carryover, and 2) geitonogamy (i.e., intra-plant movements). For the pollen carryover, I analyzed the results of an experimental study in which bats in flight cages removed pollen from the male flower of a Burmeistera glabrata plant, and then visited 10 female flowers of …

Zygomorphic Flowers May Reduce Extinction Rates By Allowing Angiosperms To Occur In Low Abundances, Maria Belen Alvestegui

Theses

The high species richness that angiosperm show has been extensively correlated with key floral innovations. Key floral traits contribute to species boundaries and the origin of new species. However, how these relate to extinction remains largely untested. Among the multiple theories that attribute diversification to floral innovations, the reduced extinction model predicts that floral specialization allows the persistence of small populations and avoids their loss. Bilateral symmetry (zygomorphy) is a trait that has evolved recurrently in angiosperms. It is a form of floral specialization that restricts pollination to fewer visitors and precisely places pollen to ensure more effective transmission of …

A Comparative Study On Cannabidiol In Melanoma Migration And Invasion: Charlotte's Web Vs. Purified Cbd, 2020–2021, Ruby Thamert

Theses

Over the last decade, much attention has been focused on compounds from Cannabis sativa in treating a variety of diseases including cancer. This study examines the abilities of two different cannabidiol oils to decrease the migration and invasion of melanoma cells in vitro. Skin cancers are the most common cancers in the world. While malignant melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, it is the deadliest. Patients diagnosed with stage IV disease have only a 15-20% five-year survival rate even with aggressive multimodal treatment, demonstrating the need for additional therapeutic options. Because melanoma is often fatal when …

Select Heresies Issues Published From 1977-79: Situating The Individual In Late Second-Wave Feminism, Audra Verona Lambert

Theses

Heresies was a grassroots second-wave feminist publication based in New York City that produced issues from 1977-93. The publication was spearheaded by recognizable feminist artists and critics, and it designated one issue to each theme, covering topics such as The Great Goddess (1978) and Sex Issue (1981), soliciting contributions from feminist writers and artists to engage with each issue’s specific subject matter. To contextualize the environment of late stage second-wave feminism, Heresies issues were published a half-decade after feminist milestones like the Roe v. Wade decision (1973) and the Equal Rights Amendment vote (1972).

Heresies, as a critical theory-driven, self-published …

Elementary Rhythm Pedagogy Analysis, Antonio D. Griffin Jr.

Theses

Rhythm is a foundational element for a child’s development. Rhythm builds motor skills, aids in language acquisition, and is at the root of all musical experience. While the concept of rhythm is universal, there is no universal approach that educators agree best helps students develop rhythmic ability. This research seeks to discover the most common research-based methods and better practices for elementary rhythm instruction and align each to current national music standards and expectations.

Textile Artists And The Incorporation Of Sustainability: Evaluating Perceived Eco-Friendly Textile Art Processes, Mallary C. Owens

Theses

Environmentalism is a topic that has permeated all facets of society, to include the arts community, especially in textile art. Textile art has shown promising potential for the purposeful incorporation of eco-friendly materials in the creation of textile art. This allows for the textile artist to follow their primary goal of creative freedom while obtaining a secondary goal of being environmentally friendly in art creation. There are six identifiable areas of choice for use of materials, these being use of recycled textiles, reuse of textiles, use of natural fibers (animals as one category, plants as the second category), use of …

Visual Communication – A Designer’S Guide To Reaching Target Audiences, Timothy Lerch

Theses

Visual communication is the cornerstone of graphic design. All graphic design projects communicate a visual message. As with all forms of communication, visual communication is a two-way street. For a message to be effective, a designer must understand how to reach their audience. Scholarly design programs focus primarily on visual cues, while marketing programs focus on in-depth audience analysis and consumer behavior. This creates a problem for designers as they complete their degree program and enter the job market, particularly if they intend to seek freelance work. This guide is innovative because it presents components of visual communication from perspectives …

Protic Ionic Liquids As Neat Lubricants & Lubricant Additives To Nonpolar And Polar Base Oils: Lubricating And Wear Mechanisms Of Sliding Steel-Steel And Aluminum-Steel Contacts, Hong Guo

Theses

Friction and wear are unavoidable problems that affect moving workpieces in all machines, resulting in significant energy and lifespan losses. Researchers have estimated that almost 23% of the world’s total energy consumption is generated from friction and wear in mechanical moving parts. The aforementioned energy loss could be reduced by up to 62% when employing advanced lubricants between the contacting surfaces to increase the durability and efficiency of working components. In the recent decade, ionic liquids have shown great potential as high-performance lubricants and “tailor-made” lubricating additives across different tribological systems due to their unique properties such as nonvolatility, excellent …

Study Of Tribological Properties Of Laser Micro-Texturing Titanium Surfaces Under Lubrication With Protic Ionic Liquids, Junru Pang

Theses

Adding micro textures by laser texturing technology to one or both sliding surfaces of relative motion has been recently studied as an environmentally friendly and efficient way to improve tribological behaviors of metals, including the reduction of friction and wear. Meanwhile, protic ionic liquids are gradually gaining increasing attention as neat lubricants and lubricant additives because of their simple synthetic procedures where the halogen elements can be easily avoided from their molecular components. The eco-friendly protic ionic liquids can be strongly adsorbed on the substrate surfaces to form ordered lubricant films which prevent the rubbing pair from direct contact. Also, …

Synthesis Of Single-Modal And Dual-Modal Targeted Molecular Imaging Agents For Mri-Nir Imaging Of Breast Cancer, Basant Kaur

Theses

Our research is focused on the early and accurate detection of breast cancer (BrCa) by molecular imaging. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Each year about one in eight women will be diagnosed, and over 500,000 deaths occur from breast cancer globally. To improve chances of survival, breast cancer must be diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Conventional imaging uses mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. Limitations in these can result in false-positive results or undetected tumors. It is vital to create more sensitive imaging methods to diagnose BrCa, to reduce false-positives and …

Fraud Detection Using Data Analytics, Ayesha Karmustaji

Theses

At present, the biggest concern of every organization is to detect and control financial fraud. Tax frauds cause the loss of billions of dollars every year. As a result, data mining techniques are used to combat the growing problem of tax fraud. Tax evasions cause a reduction in revenue collection. It also has a bleak impact on government policies and budget. The goal of this study is to describe the use of data analytics tools to process and analyze tax data related to value-added tax evasions. This study is a conceptual perspective that provides a theoretical and methodological basis for …

Can Home Garden Be A Safe Haven In Times Of Crisis? To Measure Householders Attitudes, Preferences And Willingness To Have Home Garden At Time Of Pandemics, Noura Mubarak Al Mansouri

Theses

The new coronavirus that has rapidly become a worldwide outbreak leads people to Self-quarantine, where work, school, and shopping have become through remote applications. Keeping fit and being healthy is important at any time, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Having a garden or outdoor space provides the opportunity to have a place that can be used to maintain a healthy life and well-being of an individual. The coronavirus lockdown has provided the time ad opportunity to create a garden that has been always wanted by householders. A Garden is a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, vegetables, and etc. …

Molecular Mechanisims Underlying The Anti-Cancer Activity Of Gum Arabic From Acacia Sp. In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Sawsan Yaslam Hussein Alyafii

Theses

Metastatic breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive, accounting for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases. As TNBC cells lack the expression of hormone receptors estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), TNBCs are unresponsive to hormonal therapy and often become highly resistant when exposed to standard chemotherapy, which has been identified as a major obstacle in TNBC treatment. Gum Arabic, a natural exudate produced from plants, is widely used traditionally for religious, cosmetics as well as medicinal purposes …

Anticolon Cancer Activity Of Aristolochia Rotunda Root Extract, Ghufran Ayman Al Salloum

Theses

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the first cause of cancer death in the UAE. While the conventional cancer therapy options like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are effective in the treatment of most cancers, they exhibit precarious side effects that can endanger the life of the patient. The present study explores the potential anticancer effect of Aristolochia rotunda root extract against human colorectal cancer cells. The root extract exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner against human colorectal cancer cell lines. A. rotunda root extract also inhibited colony growth and induced …

Lipocalin-2 Ameliorates The Signs And Outcomes Of Diabetes Mellitus In An Animal Model, Saeeda Mohammed Al Jaberi

Theses

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a new adipocytokine consisting of 198 amino acids. It is also referred to as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, siderocalin, uterocalin, α1-microglobulin related protein, or 24p3. LCN2 belongs to a large group of transport proteins that are capable of carrying small and lipid soluble molecules in blood circulation. It has two membrane receptors, megalin/glycoprotein GP330, which binds human LCN2 and SLC22A17 or 24p3R, which forms complexes with mouse Lcn2 protein. LCN2 is encoded by a gene located at chromosome locus 9q34.11. LCN2 was initially isolated from neutrophil granules released at site of infection and inflammation in human and from …

Population Structure And Relative Abundance Of Elasmobranch Species Utilizing Inshore Waters Of Abu Dhabi, Shamsa Mohamed Al Hameli

Theses

The diversity, abundance, and distribution of elasmobranchs is poorly documented along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates, with only a handful of publications focusing on elasmobranchs with the majority of data are collected through landing site and market surveys lacking site and species-specific data that are crucial for conservation management plans. The main objectives of this research were to determine the occurrence and utilization; quantify the relative abundance across different seasons; and describe the demographic structure of elasmobranch species that occurs in shallow waters around mangroves in Khor Al Saadiyat and adjacent islands, northeast of Abu Dhabi, …

In-Vitro Analysis Of Potential Autophagy Mediated Safranal-Sorafenib Combined Effect On Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Aaminah Farrukh

Theses

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide. The risk factors include obesity, hepatitis, alcoholism, smoking etc. One of the biggest associated challenges is the current treatment strategies. The therapeutic options are limited with economical and accessibility challenges, especially with increased HCC incidence. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is one of the first FDA approved drugs for HCC. But drug resistance and cancer relapse are a common drawback for this treatment. The need for better treatment is crucial now more than ever. The use of saffron as a potential natural therapeutic option is not a novel strategy. …

Molecular Mechanisims Underlying The Anti-Cancer Activity Of Gum Arabic From Acacia Sp. In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells., Sawsan Yaslam Alyafii

Theses

Metastatic breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive, accounting for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases. As TNBC cells lack the expression of hormone receptors estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), TNBCs are unresponsive to hormonal therapy and often become highly resistant when exposed to standard chemotherapy, which has been identifies as a major obstacle in TNBC treatment. Gum Arabic, a natural exudate produced from plants, is widely used traditionally for religious, cosmetics as well as medical purposes …

Hormone Receptors And Steroidogenic Enzymes In Oocytes, Cumulus And Granulosa Cells, Follicular Fluid Hormone Milieu, And Follicle Blood Perfusion In Mares, Marilia Pastorello

Theses

Ovulatory follicle development and associated oocyte maturation involve complex coordinated molecular and cellular mechanisms not fully understood. This study addresses, for the first time in any species, the relationships among diameter, vascularization, follicular-fluid factors, and gene expression for follicle growth, steroidogenesis, angiogenesis and apoptosis in granulosa/cumulus cells and oocytes during different stages from the beginning of largest/ovulatory follicle to impending ovulation. Follicle dynamics was tracked and follicle-wall blood flow evaluated daily through transrectal ultrasonography in mares. The largest follicle of the ovulatory wave was distributed in six diameter groups (predeviation, deviation, postdeviation, early preovulatory, preovulatory, and impending ovulation) according to …

Characterization Of Proteostasis Mechanisms In Chlamydia Trachomatis, Amanda M. Blocker

Theses

Chlamydia trachomatis is a gram negative, obligate intracellular pathogen with a highly reduced genome of ~1 Mbp. It is the leading cause of the reportable sexually transmitted infection known as chlamydia in the United States and is the leading cause of preventable blindness (trachoma) worldwide. While treatment of infections is possible, weaknesses of current approaches include treatment failure, antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, and resistance development of bystander bacteria during chlamydial treatment. These weaknesses support the need for improved therapeutic approaches. C. trachomatis undergoes a biphasic developmental cycle with two forms, the infectious elementary body (EB) and replicative reticulate body (RB), that have …

Lipocalin-2 Ameliorates The Signs And Outcomes Of Diabetes Mellitus In An Animal Model, Saeeda Mohammed Al Jaberi

Theses

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a new adipocytokine consisting of 198 amino acids. It is also referred to as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, siderocalin, uterocalin, α1-microglobulin related protein, or 24p3. LCN2 belongs to a large group of transport proteins that are capable of carrying small and lipid-soluble molecules in blood circulation. It has two membrane receptors, megalin/glycoprotein GP330, which binds human LCN2 and SLC22A17 or 24p3R, which forms complexes with mouse Lcn2 protein. LCN2 is encoded by a gene located at chromosome locus 9q34.11. LCN2 was initially isolated from neutrophil granules released at the site of infection and inflammation in humans and from …

Forensic Evaluation Of Qiagen Investigator Argus Y-28 With Case Work Samples, Afnan Mohammed Alshamsi

Theses

Short Tandem Repeats polymorphisms on the Y-chromosome (Y-STRs) play a significant role in history of human hereditary. The recently introduced 6-dyes Qiagen investigator Argus Y-28 Kit which include 28Y-STR loci (DYS389I, DYS391, DYS389II, DYS533, DYS390, DYS627, DYS458, DYS393, DYS19, DYS437, DYS449, DYS460, DYS576, YGATAH4, DYS481, DYS448, DYS518, DYS439, DYS549, DYS438, DYS456, DYS643, QS1, DYS570, DYS635, DYS385, DYS392, QS2) has been used for internal validation study used in the forensic laboratories which followed sensitivity study, mixture studies, PCR parameter limits, stability study, and performance on mock casework samples. The results were reported by statistical analysis using ANOVA program. The results validate …

Extraction And Bioactivity Evaluation Of Antioxidant Components From Teucrium Stocksianum Bioss Collected From Uae, Ahmad Ayman Al Salloum

Theses

Recently, the industry of Natural Bioactive Compounds (NBAC) is expanding dramatically due to its high medical potentials. High bioactivity of natural extracts from a wide range of plants is evident from the reported literature. For instance, NBACs show antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant activities. Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. from the Lamiaceae family is a known herb in the traditional medicine in United Arab Emirates. Multiple bioactivities of T. stocksianum were recorded such as anti-inflammation, analgesia, antioxidation, anticancer, antinociception and antimicrobial bioactivity. In this thesis, the extraction of NBACs from T. stocksianum was studied with Microwave-assisted extraction using Deep eutectic …

A Comparison Of Virtual And In-Person Learning On The Observation Of Puzzle Manipulation Among Neurotypical And Neurodiverse Children, Katrina Verhagen

Theses

Virtual learning has been used long before the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health care or acute conditions but was rarely used as a replacement for in-person visits. Additionally, virtual learning was primarily used for those earning graduate and undergraduate degrees. Virtual learning for individuals younger than eighteen is not typically researched, as it has not been a subject of importance or seen as a replacement for in-person learning. The current study worked with four male children under the age of eighteen from both the neurotypical and neurodiverse populations. Participants were paired into dyads to assess learning done both virtually and …