Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Advanced Nanostructured Materials For Water Harvesting And Energy Storage, Ahmed Elsir Ali

Theses

This thesis presents the work done developing nanotechnology-based compositions contributing to the advancement of two main sectors: Water and Energy. For they present vital impact and correspondence for sustainability and development worldwide. Composites constituted following the most recent trends in material science and nanotechnology while revolving around Manganese Oxide as the material of investigation. Water security is one of the most important challenges in our current times. Moreover, reports warn of the predicted restricted access to clean water by 2050, which is expected to impact more than half the population. Thus, many scientists and societies are exerting efforts to develop …

Cfd Analysis Of Multi-Stage Phase Change Material For Latent Thermal Energy Storage In Solar Power Plants, Ahmad Wahbi Omari

Theses

The integration of latent thermal energy storage into concentrated solar power plants represents a promising solution for efficiently harnessing excessive solar energy during daylight hours and subsequently utilizing it during the nighttime when solar energy generation is limited or non-existent, all while catering to consistent energy demands. The core objective of enhancing latent thermal energy storage revolves around elevating its thermal capacity and minimizing the melting time, thus making it a more effective energy storage solution. This is achieved by employing three distinct organic phase change materials: Octadecanoic (PCM1), RT58 (PCM2) and Dodecanoic (PCM3), each characterized by variations in their …

Bitcoin Short-Term Price Prediction Using Time Series Analysis, Alanood Alkamali

Theses

This thesis explores the application of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model to predict Bitcoin prices, a prominent and volatile cryptocurrency. The research falls within the context of financial forecasting, focusing specifically on the cryptocurrency markets. The primary research question is: “Can time series analysis be used to predict the future price of Bitcoin?” To answer this question, historical Bitcoin daily price data from 17/09/2014 to 17/09/2023 was obtained from Kaggle and analyzed. The study employs ARIMA modeling techniques to capture the autocorrelation, seasonality, and trend present in Bitcoin price time series. As a prerequisite for ARIMA modeling, the data …

Frequency Multiplication Of Microwave Signals Via The Photonic Domain, Mohamed R. Maafa

Theses

Microwave signals play key roles in modern communication systems and frequency multiplication provide a way to create higher microwave-signal frequencies. Using the photonics domain to perform frequency multiplication can, in principle, take advantage of the low loss and high bandwidth features of the photonic domain. However, most research to date is limited by photonic system having too many active components, complicated means of frequency selectibility, and reliance on filters. I explore, model, and experimentally demonstrate new techniques of microwave signal multiplication, leveraging the notions of polarization diversity and multiplexing in the photonic domain. For doubling and quadrupling techniques, I demonstrate …

The Effect Of Emotional Demeanor Of Adult Sexual Assault Victim Testimonies On Mock Jurors' Verdicts, Callie Ahearn

Theses

Experiencing a sexual assault and testifying in trial are both highly emotional events that can influence a witness to display strong negative emotions. The display of emotion is referred to as the emotional demeanor and the present study examined the impact of a victim’s emotional demeanor on jury decision-making. Results revealed a main effect of crying during the direct examination with more guilty verdicts and higher pro-victim ratings (believability, credibility, and trustworthiness). Female participants provided higher pro-victim judgments on believability than male participants. Verdict reasoning demonstrated that participants had an idea of what they expected a rape victim to look …

A Study Of The Quantum Edge Extraction Technique Using Bitplane-Based Quantum Boolean Image Processing Algorithm, Sowmik Kanti Deb

Theses

Quantum image processing (QIMP) uses quantum information processing to create and work with quantum images. Due to the inherent properties of quantum computation, QIMP technologies have the potential to surpass their classical computing equivalents in terms of computing speed and storage requirements. In this thesis, we investigated quantum image edge detection, which is a fundamental tool used in image processing for feature detection and extraction. Quantum edge detection can exploit quantum mechanics' superposition and entanglement properties to perform operations simultaneously on all pixels and accelerate the process. To this end, we adopted the bitplane based framework of Quantum Boolean Image …

Small Molecule Modulation Of The P75 Neurotrophin Receptor Attenuates Neurodegeneration In An In Vitro Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Poshan Pokharel

Theses

The p75 Neurotrophin Receptor (p75NTR) is a multifunctional transmembrane protein expressed in distinct regions of the adult nervous system. p75NTR regulates various functions, including neuronal survival or apoptosis interacting with coreceptors Trk receptors or sortilin. Activation of p75NTR occurs through proteolytic processing, and we previously demonstrated that oxidative stress induces activation of p75NTR in LUHMES cells, a neuronal cell line derived from the human ventral mesencephalon. Dopaminergic neurons of the ventral mesencephalon are vulnerable to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus, we evaluated the mechanisms behind p75NTR activation and its physiological implications in a PD model. …

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 …

Application Of A Scale Resolving Turbulence Model To A Jet In Supersonic Crossflow, Noah Schwalb

Theses

The Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) methodology is applied to variable-density flow to derive the Blended PANS (BPANS) model. A supersonic jet-in-crossflow problem is numerically simulated using the BPANS model to show its capabilities in a variable-density flow with complex physics. The shock systems and vortex structures of this problem observed during experiments are numerically reproduced. The time-averaged Mach number and streamwise velocity contours show good agreement compared to LES and experimental data. The streamwise and wall-normal velocity profiles, wall pressure distribution along the flat plate, and trajectory of the jet are compared to LES and experimental data to show that BPANS …

Potential Mechanisms Maintaining A Conspicuous Polymorphism In Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia Holbrooki), Katelyn Giltner

Theses

Genetic variation often precedes adaptation, so the mechanisms that maintain this variation are a central topic in evolutionary biology. Gambusia holbrooki, or eastern mosquitofish, possesses a rare polymorphism for melanistic coloration. Melanics and typical silver males were examined for differences in behavioral and physiological traits that may impact the persistence of the melanism trait. No differences in standard metabolic rate were found via closed-chamber respirometry, but a detour task indicated that melanic males possess greater cognitive flexibility. Effects of the social environment on stress and reproductive traits were also evaluated by pairing males and comparing cortisol levels and sperm quality …

Constructing Other Worlds: An Intertextual Analysis Of Cow Eye Press, Adrian Jones Pearson And The Works Of A.J. Perry, James A. Galliher

Theses

Cow Eye Press, A.J. Perry, and the pseudonymous Adrian Jones Pearson have largely been ignored by academics. Between 2001 and 2021, Perry composed a collection of texts which this study calls the Cow Eye Project. The project received brief attention when critics and journalists began comparing Pearson to Thomas Pynchon. However, the online spectacle overshadowed engagement with the texts themselves. This thesis exists to document the project and foreground Perry’s works on their own merits to examine their value and position within contemporary American literature. Previous scholars have treated the texts individually. This thesis argues that the central texts of …

A Comparative Study Of Methods For Modeling Python Source Code Semantic Similarity, Binita Gyawali

Theses

In this thesis, we did comparative study of various methods for generating Python source code embeddings and evaluated their effectiveness using semantic labels. We used both word embedding models, such as Word2Vec and GloVe, and document embedding models to capture the semantic meaning of Python source code. In terms of word embedding evaluation, Word2Vec, combined with cosine distance, achieved the highest nearest neighbor precision of 0.5790. For evaluation of Python source code (or document) embeddings, our analysis across two datasets showed that Doc2Vec, paired with cosine distance, outperformed other methods in semantic code similarity detection, achieving an AUROC between 0.80 …

Advancing Elastomer Cutting Tool Development Through Material-Centric Cutting Mechanism Analysis, Shuhuan Zhang

Theses

Cutting elastomers is a very common procedure that is used in a wide variety of applications, including rubber product manufacturing, food processing, and surgical process. To conserve energy and improve cutting accuracy, decreasing the cutting force and elastomer deformation is always of interest. Numerous studies have concentrated on methods for reducing cutting force and deformation, but only a few have explained the underlying mechanics of these cutting techniques. Without a deep understanding of elastomer cutting mechanics, it's difficult to improve or develop a new cutting method. To understand the cutting mechanics, the mechanical, tribological, and rheological properties of the elastomer …

Optical Differentiation Wavefront Sensor With Pixelated Filters Toward High Performance Metrology, Biswa R. Swain

Theses

Freeform optics enables enhanced system performance and packaging due to the high degrees of design freedom they provide, but characterizing these optics remains challenging. Phase measurement of an optical wave is essential in the metrology of optical components, adaptive optics, and laser beam quality assessment. The Shack-Hartman Wavefront Sensors are limited by their dynamic range and resolution due to lenslet operation. Interferometric-method-based adaptive nulling requires high-performance wavefront sensor, and coordinate-scanning-based measurements are time consuming. We investigate and develop an Optical Differentiation Wavefront Sensor (ODWS) based on binary pixelated filter that enables high dynamic range, high resolution freeform metrology. Analysis of …

Differential Expression Analysis Of Treatment Resistant And Treatment Susceptible Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Paired With Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, Kinzie Bailey

Theses

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium which causes gonorrhea, is a public health threat as recognized by the CDC due to the risk of untreatable gonorrhea due to the high prevalence of resistance to antibiotics in the gonococcal population [1]. Current screening methods for resistance to antibiotics for clinical infections may take up to 2 days to produce results, which could result in delays in treatment, unnecessary follow-up appointments, inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions, and overall poor treatment outcomes [2]. In this study, we utilize RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to characterize the expression patterns of resistant and susceptible strains of N. gonorrhoeae. Here, we look …

Alabama Postcards, Katie Nethery

Theses

I chose to write Alabama Postcards to give my reader a clear view of what different areas of Alabama are like, as well as the kinds of people you can find there, based on personal experiences throughout life. I also feel these essays serve as a memoir about my family and how they have helped shape me into who I am today, even those I never got to meet. I chose to use “postcards” in the title since I chose to write about different areas of Alabama, and aimed to give my reader a clear image of what these towns …

Critical Reading Pedagogical Approaches To College Literature In A Post-Pandemic, Mckenzie London

Theses

This project uses a mixed methods approach to study the impact of COVID-19 on faculty and students in the English college classroom. Research indicates that COVID-19 correlates with changes in students’ academic performance, but there is a need for research concerning how to approach these changes in the English classroom through critical reading practices. “Critical reading” is complex to define and even more challenging to exemplify or illustrate. Critical reading practices are often the center of the college English classroom, but with changing technology and a cultural shift from COVID-19, students now approach critical reading differently. The purpose of this …

Exploring The Experiences Of A South Asian Client And Facilitators Of Men's Behaviour Change Programs In Western Australia, Madhuri Mathisen

Theses

This study explores the experiences of male perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) attending men’s behaviour change programs in Western Australia from the perspective of program facilitators and a South Asian client. Informed by social and contextual constructionism with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study examines the experience of 10 mixed culture facilitators who worked with South Asian intimate partner violence perpetrators in men’s behaviour change programs and one South Asian client of an intervention. The participants’ experiences were contextualised through a semi-structured interview. The facilitators’ findings revealed that South Asian clients demonstrated patriarchal beliefs with a victim-blaming tendency and …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of An Online Program For Emergency Nurses Caring For Victims Of Interpersonal Violence: A Mixed Methods Study, Melanie Brown

Theses

Forensic nursing encompasses a range of skills that can be utilised across healthcare services and legal services. The delivery of forensic nursing care covers a vast number of roles and practice areas that can improve patient outcome, including the care of victims of interpersonal violence who often face multiple barriers in achieving a positive medicolegal outcome. A nurse’s ability to identify a potential victim and initiate forensic nursing care in an emergency care setting can positively influence the patient’s engagement with support services and the justice system. Despite this, a review of the Australian literature has identified inconsistencies in forensic …

Economical And Environmental Evaluation Of Non-Residential Demand Response In The European Transition To Zero-Carbon Energy, Markus Fleshutz

Theses

To meet climate objectives, major energy consumers with local multi-energy systems (L- MESs) must transition to renewable energy sources soon. The variability of renewable energies requires increased operational flexibility for integration. In this context, demand response (DR), a strategy in which electricity consumers adjust their load profiles in response to incentives, has become crucial, offering cost-effective flexibility. It supports L-MESs in integrating renewable energy, reducing decarbonization costs, and enhancing resilience. However, quantifying the economic DR potentials for L-MESs under carbon emission constraints is complex, especially when considering investment options in distributed energy resources. This complexity hinders the rapid adoption of …

The Educational Development And Political Activism Of The Washington D.C. Black Elite 1877-1954, Chason Shackelford

Theses

This thesis seeks to explore how the Black elite impacted their spheres of influence in terms of education and civil rights activism. Were they trying to first and foremost retain their elite status in relation to the “black masses” or was their more nuance to their views? This work provides a detailed introduction to the Black elite and focuses on three representative historical figures, their families and inner circles: Blanche Kelso Bruce (1841- 1898), Daniel Alexander Payne Murray (1852- 1925), and Mary Church Terrell (1863- 1954). They were all born in different locations but exercised significant influence in Washington D.C. …

Relational Apophaticism And A Contemporary, Ecumenical Practice Of Christian Spiriutal Direction In The Western Church, Ian Raymond Wilson

Theses

Defining and nurturing Christian spiritual growth and maturity is challenging. This is especially so in a contemporary environment that might be considered individualistic and self-preoccupied and where the meaning of the term ‘spiritual’ has become increasingly vague. This thesis explores the concept of ‘relational apophaticism’ proposing it as a pathway of spiritual growth and the essence of spiritual maturity. A contemporary, ecumenical ministry of Christian spiritual direction in the Western Church, and perspectives on spiritual growth and maturity evident in St. Gregory of Nyssa’s mystical writings The Life of Moses and Homilies on the Song of Songs are drawn on …

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 …

Closing The Culture Gaps: Policies And Codesign In Remote Western Australia. A Long-Time Story Of A Community-Based Kimberley Aboriginal Organisation, Arjati Schipf

Theses

This research is the result of a collaboration with the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC), a remote community-based Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) located in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia. The research investigates the organisation’s strategies to overcome systemic barriers to support remote Aboriginal communities to achieve Closing the Gap (CTG) socioeconomic targets in improving education, employment, and health. KALACC believes that without culture at the centre of CTG strategies, the targets will not be achieved. The key question is how will diverse understandings of culture be achieved through codesign and engagement with Aboriginal people and their community-based organisations …

Living Charity: Beata Caterina, The Pizzicaiuoli Altarpiece And Lived Religion In Fifteenth-Century Siena, Susan A. Nolan

Theses

This thesis examines charity as a key element of early modern experience in the context of the Pizzicaiuoli altarpiece (1447). Painted by well-known artist Giovanni di Paolo, the altarpiece was commissioned by the Sienese guild of grocers, the Pizzicaiuoli, and was situated in the church of the Santissima Annunziata, located in the hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena. The central focus of the altarpiece is the main panel depicting the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Presentation), which is surrounded by iconic images of saints. Below the Presentation scene, in a predella (the lowermost horizontal component of …

Law And Identity: Whether The 2013 Amendments To The Sex Discrimination Act Are Laws With Respect To External Affairs, Joshua Paul Anderson

Theses

The external affairs power under the Australian Constitution gives the Commonwealth Parliament the power to pass legislation that implements the obligations in bona fide treaties to which Australia is a party, provided that the legislation is reasonably appropriate and adapted to that purpose.

The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (‘SDA’) was passed to implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981) (‘CEDAW’). There has never been any serious doubt that the SDA, as originally passed, is a valid law with respect to external affairs. The SDA was progressively amended to prohibit discrimination on …

A Paradox Theory Approach To Investigating Individual Level Responses To Corporate Social Responsibility In Small To Medium Enterprises, Muhammad Abdulsater

Theses

In Australia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) occupy important positions within their communities, contributing to employment and national economic growth. Despite their significance, it remains unclear how SME owners, as individuals, navigate and respond to the tensions arising from their unique business characteristics and the adoption of social and environmental activities. This research aims to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating how SME owners manage and respond to paradoxical tensions in implementing social and environmental responsibility practices within the SME context. The conventional definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) does not integrate with the lexicon or landscape of SMEs. This …

Pandemic Paradox: A Mixed Methods Study Unmasking The Impact Of Covid-19 On Australia's Nursing And Midwifery Workforce Job Satisfaction And Retention, Laura Lillian Hynes

Theses

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an outpouring of attention focusing on the global nursing and midwifery shortage and its damaging impact on healthcare systems worldwide. However, there is limited research, both globally and in Australia, on its impact on nurses’ and midwives’ job satisfaction and their associated intentions to stay or leave their job and/or profession, as a result. The lack of extensive research in this area highlights the importance of this Doctoral thesis. My research aimed to fill this gap by conducting a detailed study of the personal experiences of nurses and midwives who worked during the pandemic …

The Archaeology Of The Spiritual And Working Lives Of The Muslim Cameleers Of Western Australia In The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries, Roger Bateman

Theses

This thesis describes the lifeways of cameleers (also identifiable as males, Muslims, Asians, ‘Afghans’) who worked in Western Australia’s transport industry in the period 1887 to 1920. With their camels’ unique capabilities in the dry and sandy terrain of Western Australia’s arid and semi-arid areas, they provided a critical service in the early mining and settlement history of Western Australia. This research has been done through the archaeological record of their campgrounds, other sites, and the historical record. The research’s four aims were to gather and compile archaeological evidence associated with the Afghans and their religious lives as Muslims; describe …